Strong passions are the precious raw material of sanctity…
““Strong passions are the precious raw material of sanctity. Individuals that have carried their sinning to extremes should not despair or say, “I am too great a sinner to change,” or “God would not want me.” God will take anyone who is willing to love, not with an occasional gesture, but with a “passionless passion,” a “wild tranquility.” A sinner, unrepentant, cannot love God, any more that a man on dry land can swim; but as soon as he takes his errant energies to God and asks for their redirection, he will become happy, as he was never happy before. It is not the wrong things one has already done which keep one from God; it is the present persistence in that wrong.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
True sanctity arises when intense passions are redirected toward God; despair is unnecessary because even the gravest sinner can find joy through sincere repentance and divine love.
In simple terms: Passions can become holy when turned to God.
Key Takeaway
Redirect strong emotions toward divine love.
Themes
redity
repentance
joy
spiritual transformation
Mood
hopeful
reflective
Type
spiritual
inspirational
When to use this quote
- confession
- prayer
- spiritual counseling
- personal crisis
- life coaching
Key Concepts
Grace
redirection of desire
inner conflict
Questions to Reflect On
- What passions can you offer to God?
- How does surrender change your sense of happiness?
A Different Perspective
Change requires genuine willingness, not merely intellectual assent.