A life without a lonely place, that is, a life without a quiet center, easily becomes destructive. When we cling to the results of our actions as our only way of self-identifiction, then we become possessive and defensive and tend to look at our fellow human beings more as enemies to be kept at a distance than as friends with whom we share the gifts of life.

Asking people for money is giving them the opportunity to put their resources at the disposal of the Kingdom.

I have always felt that if I am very personal and connected with what I myself am living, my writing will transcend ecclesial boundaries.

It is precisely in times of spiritual dryness that we must hold on to our spiritual discipline so that we can grow into new intimacy with God.

Through prayer we can carry in our heart all human pain and sorrow, all conflicts and agonies, all torture and war, all hunger, loneliness and misery, not because of some great psychological or emotional capacity, but because God's heart has become one with ours.

The real 'work' of prayer is to become silent and listen to the voice that says good things about me.

The journey from teaching about love to allowing myself to be loved proved much longer than I realised.