From suffering I have learned this: that whoever is sore wounded by love will never be made whole unless she embraces the very same love which wounded her.
That prayer has great power which a person makes with all his might. It makes a sour heart sweet, a sad heart merry, a poor heart rich, a foolish heart wise, a timid heart brave, a sick heart well, a blind heart full of sight, a cold heart ardent. It draws down the great God into the little heart; it drives the hungry soul up into the fullness of God; it brings together two lovers, God and the soul, in a wondrous place where they speak much of love.
Interpretation
What this quote means
True prayer has transformative power, impacting various aspects of the soul and heart.
This quote emphasizes the profound impact that sincere prayer can have on an individual's emotional and spiritual state. It suggests that when one prays with genuine intensity, it can transform sorrow into joy, poverty into richness, ignorance into wisdom, and fear into courage. Ultimately, it highlights the transformative communion between the individual and the divine, suggesting that sincere prayer enables a deep connection with God and fosters a fulfilling relationship with the divine.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
During a motivational seminar, one could use this quote to inspire individuals to harness the power of prayer in their lives.
More from Mechthild Of Magdeburg
All quotes →The day of my spiritual awakening was the day I saw and knew I saw all things in God and God in all things.
A fish cannot drown in water,_x000D_ A bird does not fall in air._x000D_ In the fire of creation,_x000D_ God doesn't vanish:_x000D_ The fire brightens._x000D_ Each creature God made_x000D_ must live in its own true nature;_x000D_ How could I resist my nature,_x000D_ That lives for oneness with God?
The soul is made of love and must ever strive to return to love. Therefore, it can never find rest nor happiness in other things. It must lose itself in love. By its very nature it must seek God, who is love.
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