To love God with the whole heart, it is necessary to have a great desire to love him. Holy desires are the wings with which we fly to God; for, as Saint Lawrence Justinian says, a good desire gives us strength to go forward, and lightens the labor of walking in the way of God. According to the spiritual masters, he that does not advance in the way of the Lord, goes back; but, on the other hand, God cheerfully gives himself to those who seek after him...
It is necessary to resolve courageously to arrive at the perfect love of God. Some persons desire to belong entirely to God, but do not resolve to adopt the means. It is of them the Wise Man says, "desires kill the soul" (Prv 21:25). I would wish, they say, to become a saint; but still, with all their desires, they never advance a single step. Saint Teresa used to say that "of these irresolute souls the devil is never afraid." Because, if they do not resolve sincerely to give themselves to God without reserve, they shall always continue in the same imperfections. But, on the other hand, the saint says that God wishes only from us a true resolution to become saints; he himself will do the rest. If, then, we wish to love God with our whole heart, we must resolve to do without reserve what is most pleasing to him, and to begin at once to put our hands to the work. - from The Sermons of St. Alphonsus de Liguori
tip to the Magnificat August 1st, this feast day of Saint Alphonsus Liguori
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