There is, in a word, nothing comfortable about the Bible...

but the one counsel he did give me is something that I will not easily forget: "There are many beautiful mystical books written by the Christians. You should read St. Augustine's Confessions, and The Imitation of Christ

Had I ever read the Life of St. Bernard by Dom Ailbe Luddy?—

Over the years my mom has become a self-taught Biblical scholar.

One of the advantages of laws is that you can follow them blind, when you have lost all your moorings. You can't follow your instincts, but you can remember your rule.

if the scriptures don't sometimes pierce us like a sword, we're not paying close enough attention.

Just the knowledge that a good book is awaiting one at the end of the long day makes that day happier.

Like an exasperating but invaluable friend, the Bible keeps bringing me back to my senses, often in bracing (and comical) ways.

Faith simply is, and what the religious traditions of the world do is to give us guidance as to how to interpret our own experience in the light of what our ancestors have made of it over the centuries.

Just the knowledge that a good book is awaiting one at the end of a long day makes that day happier. [Allein schon das Wissen, dass einen am Ende eines langen Tages ein gutes Buch erwartet, macht diesen Tag zu einem glücklicheren.]

Listening to Jeremiah is one hell of a way to get your blood going in the morning; it puts caffeine to shame.

Through a diligent study of God's Word, under the guidance of His Spirit, you'll drop a strong anchor that will hold in the storms of life. You will know your God. And when you know your God, not only will you be strong, but you will do great exploits for Him (Daniel 11:32).