Quote of the day, 27 October: St. Teresa of Avila

In sum, Sisters, what I conclude with is that we shouldn’t build castles in the air.

The Lord doesn’t look so much at the greatness of our works as at the love with which they are done. And if we do what we can, His Majesty will enable us each day to do more and more, provided that we do not quickly tire.

But during the little while this life lasts—and perhaps it will last a shorter time than each one thinks—let us offer the Lord interiorly and exteriorly the sacrifice we can. His Majesty will join it with that which He offered on the cross to the Father for us.

Thus, even though our works are small they will have the value our love for Him would have merited had they been great.

Saint Teresa of Avila

The Interior Castle, VII, Chap. 4, no. 15

Teresa of Avila, St. 1985, The Collected Works of St. Teresa of Avila, translated from the Spanish by Kavanaugh, K; Rodriguez, O, ICS Publications, Washington DC.