"81. Agape is the progeny of apatheia. Apatheia is the very flower of ascesis. Ascesis consists in keeping the commandments. The custodian of those commandments is the fear of God which is in turn the offspring of true faith. Now faith is an interior an interior good, one which is to be found even in those who do not yet believe in God."

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“119. Happy is the spirit that becomes free of all matter and is stripped of all at the time of prayer.”

“97. One of the brethren owned only a book of the Gospels. He sold this and gave the money for the support of the poor. He made a statement that deserves remembrance: "I have sold the very word that speaks to me saying: 'Sell your possessions and give to the poor.'”

“150. Just as sight is the most worthy of the sense, so also is prayer the most divine of the virtues.”

“36. Do you wish to pray? Renounce all things. You then will become heir to all.”

“35. Prayer is an ascent of the spirit to God.”

“118. Happy is the spirit which, praying with distraction, goes on increasing its desire for God.”

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