Mastering our emotions has nothing to do with asceticism or repression, for the purpose is not to break the emotions or deny them but to "break in" the emotions, making them teachable because they are tamed.

We betray our modern arrogance and forget the place of mystery in God's dealing with us.

Followers of Jesus who count the cost and are willing to take up their crosses after him must have broad shoulders.

The opposite of having faith is having self-pity.

For the grand and inescapable tradition of western literary classics confronts us with fundamental choices over our understanding of words, reading and art, as well as citizenship, civilization, faith, and the whole notion of the true, the good, and the faithful.

We human beings are never happier than when we are expressing the deepest gifts that are truly us.

We are not primarily called to do something or go somewhere; we are called to Someone. We are not called first to special work but to God. The key to answering the call is to be devoted to no one and to nothing above God himself.