. . . you must not build upon foundations of prayer and contemplation alone for unless you strive after the virtues and practice them you will never grow to be more than dwarfs.

O infinite goodness of my God It is thus that I seem to see both myself and Thee. O Joy of the angels how I long when I think of this to be wholly consumed in love for Thee How true it is that Thou dost bear with those who cannot bear Thee to be with them Oh how good a Friend art Thou my Lord How Thou dost comfort us and suffer us and wait until our nature becomes more like Thine and meanwhile dost bear with it as it is Thou dost remember the times when we love Thee my Lord and when for a moment we repent Thou dost forget how we offended Thee. I have seen this clearly in my own life and I cannot conceive my Creator why the whole world does not strive to draw near to Thee in this intimate friendship. Those of us who are wicked and whose nature is not like Thine ought to draw near to Thee so that Thou mayest make them good. They should allow Thee to be with them for at least two hours each day even though they may not be with Thee but are perplexed as I was with a thousand worldly cares and thoughts. In exchange for the effort which it costs them to desire to be in such good company for Thou knowest Lord that at first this is as much as they can do and sometimes they can do no more at all Thou dost prevent the devils from assaulting them so that each day they are able to do them less harm and Thou givest them strength to conquer. Yea Life of all lives Thou slayest none of those that put their trust in Thee and desire Thee for their Friend rather dost Thou sustain their bodily life with greater health and give strength to their souls.

...aconsejara yo a los que tienen oracin en especial al principio procuren amistad y trato con otras personas que traten de lo mismo. Es cosa importantsima aunque no sea sino ayudarse unos a otros con sus oraciones cunto ms que hay muchas ms ganancias Y no s yo por qu no se ha de permitir que quien comenzare de veras a amar a Dios y a servirle deje de tratar con algunas personas sus placeres y trabajos que de todo tienen los que tienen oracin.

I used unexpectedly to experience a consciousness of the presence of God or such a kind that I could not possibly doubt that He was within me or that I was wholly engulfed in Him. This was in no sense a vision I believe it is called mystical theology. The soul is suspended in such a way that it seems to be completely outside itself. The will loves the memory I think is almost lost while the understanding I believe thought it is not lost does not reasonI mean that it does not work but is amazed at the extent of all it can understand for God wills it to realize that it understands nothing of what His Majesty represents to it.

It is of great importance when we begin to practise prayer not to let ourselves be frightened by our own thoughts.