--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: God has made me so that when once I love…" description: "\"“God has made me so that when once I love I love for ever, and so I continue to pray for this girl and I love her still. When I saw how Céline loved on..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f4/john-beevers-27930_fading-light_god-has-made-me-so-that-when-once-i-love_518998.jpg" --- # God has made me so that when once I love I love for ever… ![“God has made me so that when once I love I love for ever, and so I continue to pray for this girl and I love her still. When I saw how Céline loved one of the nuns, I tried to imitate her, but I didn’t succeed, as I didn’t know how to get into people’s good graces. It was a fortunate ignorance…” quote by John Beevers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f4/john-beevers-27930_fading-light_god-has-made-me-so-that-when-once-i-love_518998.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f4/john-beevers-27930_fading-light_god-has-made-me-so-that-when-once-i-love_518998.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f4/john-beevers-27930_fading-light_god-has-made-me-so-that-when-once-i-love_518998.jpg) > ““God has made me so that when once I love I love for ever, and so I continue to pray for this girl and I love her still. When I saw how Céline loved one of the nuns, I tried to imitate her, but I didn’t succeed, as I didn’t know how to get into people’s good graces. It was a fortunate ignorance which has saved me from much evil. I am profoundly grateful to Jesus who has never let me find anything but bitterness in earthly friendships. With a nature like mine, I should have been trapped and had my wings clipped and then how should I have “flown away and found rest”? It’s impossible for one bound by human affection to have intimate union with God. I’ve seen so many souls, dazzled by this deluding light, fly into it and burn their wings like silly moths. Then they turn again to the true unfading light of love and, with new and more splendid wings, fly to Jesus, that divine Fire which burns yet does not destroy. I know that Jesus considered me too weak to be exposed to temptation. If I had seen this false light shining before me, I should have been wholly destroyed. I’ve been saved from that. I have found nothing but bitterness where stronger souls have found happiness and yet remained properly detached. So it’s no merit on my part that I never became entangled by love of creatures; I was saved only by the great mercy of God.”” [John Beevers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-beevers/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author reflects on the tension between human love and divine devotion, claiming divine mercy protected him from earthly bitterness and false passions. **In simple terms:** Divine love protects from earthly pain. Key Takeaway Seek divine grace over worldly attachment. Themes spirituality detachment faith love redemption Mood contemplative solemn hopeful Type aphilosophical inspirational reflective When to use this quote - prayer - spiritual counseling - personal reflection - religious study Key Concepts theology mysticism human frailty Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance love for others with spiritual devotion? - Can divine mercy replace human companionship? A Different Perspective Human love can distract from spiritual union; divine protection may be seen as limiting personal experience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fading light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fading-light/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Mercy of god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mercy-of-god/) ## Related quotes > [I was raised Irish Catholic and went to Holy Names Academy, an all-girl's private Catholic school. I loved the nuns there and I love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kitty-kelley/i-was-raised-irish-catholic-and-went-to-holy-names-academy-an-all/) [Kitty Kelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kitty-kelley/) > [I loved nuns when I was growing up. I thought they were beautiful. For several years I wanted to be a nun. I saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/i-loved-nuns-when-i-was-growing-up-i-thought-they-were-beautiful-for/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [“Do you know the first thing Jesus did with that meager offering? He looked up to heaven and gave thanks to God for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-caine/do-you-know-the-first-thing-jesus-did-with-that-meager-offering-he/) [Christine Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-caine/) > [“We can be grateful that Jesus embraced the cross and then entered his glory instead of demanding glory first.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-s-horton/we-can-be-grateful-that-jesus-embraced-the-cross-and-then-entered-his/) [Michael S. Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-s-horton/) > [God has given me reason to hope Simply because no matter where I am in life nor the situation at hand He is STILL…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-s-voice/god-has-given-me-reason-to-hope-simply-because-no-matter-where-i-am/) Lisa's Voice > [I think for much of the middle classes, nothing could be more fantastic than to have a contact with fame. But once you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-douglas/i-think-for-much-of-the-middle-classes-nothing-could-be-more/) [Lawrence Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-douglas/) > [“This day is getting older. In fading light, it's beautiful. This wind is blowing colder, and too soon I'll feel its pull. So sturdy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-beautiful-girls/this-day-is-getting-older-in-fading-light-it-s-beautiful-this-wind-is/) The Beautiful Girls > [“But gifts can be victories, can’t they. It’s what you said. The garden could have been your gift, a dowry of talent, skill, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/but-gifts-can-be-victories-can-t-they-it-s-what-you-said-the-garden/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [Fading light buttered the ridges until shadows licked them clean and they were lost to nightfall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-woodrell/fading-light-buttered-the-ridges-until-shadows-licked-them-clean-and/) [Daniel Woodrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-woodrell/) > [“There he is, in the fading light, certain of what he wants, certain of her. If Gillian were speaking to her sister, or more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-hoffman/there-he-is-in-the-fading-light-certain-of-what-he-wants-certain-of/) [Alice Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-hoffman/) > [“Nonetheless, after we've dropped off the birds and volunteered to go back to the woods to gather kindling for the evening fire, I find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/nonetheless-after-we-ve-dropped-off-the-birds-and-volunteered-to-go/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Fading light means more than just the end of another day. Night is when terrible things emerge from their sleep and seek soft flesh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/fading-light-means-more-than-just-the-end-of-another-day-night-is/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [Yes, God loves you this very day and always. He is not waiting to love you until you have overcome your weaknesses and bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/yes-god-loves-you-this-very-day-and-always-he-is-not-waiting-to-love/) [Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/) > [With a secret smile, not unlike that of a healthy child,he walked along, peacefully, quietly. He wore his gown and walked along exactly like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/with-a-secret-smile-not-unlike-that-of-a-healthy-child-he-walked/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [“I gazed at his face in the rapidly fading light of day, admiring his five o-clock stubble and ruggedly handsome features. If you were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-deplume/i-gazed-at-his-face-in-the-rapidly-fading-light-of-day-admiring-his/) Jules Deplume ## More by John Beevers > [“I burned to defend myself, but fortunately I had a bright idea. I knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that if I began…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-beevers/i-burned-to-defend-myself-but-fortunately-i-had-a-bright-idea-i-knew/) [John Beevers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-beevers/) > [“It still stops my having any feeling of pride when people think well of what I do, for I say to myself: Since any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-beevers/it-still-stops-my-having-any-feeling-of-pride-when-people-think-well/) [John Beevers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-beevers/) > [“I am no longer surprised by anything and I feel no distress at seeing my complete helplessness. On the contrary, I glory in it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-beevers/i-am-no-longer-surprised-by-anything-and-i-feel-no-distress-at-seeing/) [John Beevers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-beevers/) > [“It wasn’t long before God made me realise that the true glory is that which is eternal and that, to achieve it, there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-beevers/it-wasn-t-long-before-god-made-me-realise-that-the-true-glory-is-that/) [John Beevers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-beevers/) > [“As you will soon see, dear Mother, being charitable has not always been so pleasant for me, and to prove it I am going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-beevers/as-you-will-soon-see-dear-mother-being-charitable-has-not-always-been/) [John Beevers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-beevers/) > [“Earth seemed a place of exile and I dreamt of heaven.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-beevers/earth-seemed-a-place-of-exile-and-i-dreamt-of-heaven/) [John Beevers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-beevers/) > [“When we meet someone with a deeper spiritual insight, we think God cares more for them than for us. 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Some things lose their fragrance when opened to the air, and there are stirrings of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-beevers/but-i-am-not-going-to-give-every-detail-some-things-lose-their/) [John Beevers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-beevers/) > [“But sometimes, I have a great longing to hear something different from praise, for my soul sickens of too sweet a diet. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-beevers/but-sometimes-i-have-a-great-longing-to-hear-something-different-from/) [John Beevers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-beevers/) > [“I have said that I learned a lot by teaching others. I discovered that every soul has almost the same difficulties and that there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-beevers/i-have-said-that-i-learned-a-lot-by-teaching-others-i-discovered-that/) [John Beevers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-beevers/) > [“Oh, how sweet the first kiss of Jesus was! It was a kiss of love. I knew that I was loved and I declared:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-beevers/oh-how-sweet-the-first-kiss-of-jesus-was-it-was-a-kiss-of-love-i-knew/) [John Beevers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-beevers/) > [“Though I’m quite unworthy, I love to say the Divine Office every day, but apart from that I cannot bring myself to hunt through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-beevers/though-i-m-quite-unworthy-i-love-to-say-the-divine-office-every-day/) [John Beevers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-beevers/) > [“But how good God is! How well He fits our trials to our strength!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-beevers/but-how-good-god-is-how-well-he-fits-our-trials-to-our-strength/) [John Beevers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-beevers/) [Explore all 20 John Beevers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-beevers/) ## More Fading light quotes > [“I gazed at his face in the rapidly fading light of day, admiring his five o-clock stubble and ruggedly handsome features. If you were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-deplume/i-gazed-at-his-face-in-the-rapidly-fading-light-of-day-admiring-his/) Jules Deplume > [With a secret smile, not unlike that of a healthy child,he walked along, peacefully, quietly. He wore his gown and walked along exactly like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/with-a-secret-smile-not-unlike-that-of-a-healthy-child-he-walked/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Yes, God loves you this very day and always. He is not waiting to love you until you have overcome your weaknesses and bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/yes-god-loves-you-this-very-day-and-always-he-is-not-waiting-to-love/) [Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/) > [Fading light means more than just the end of another day. Night is when terrible things emerge from their sleep and seek soft flesh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/fading-light-means-more-than-just-the-end-of-another-day-night-is/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [“Nonetheless, after we've dropped off the birds and volunteered to go back to the woods to gather kindling for the evening fire, I find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/nonetheless-after-we-ve-dropped-off-the-birds-and-volunteered-to-go/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“There he is, in the fading light, certain of what he wants, certain of her. If Gillian were speaking to her sister, or more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-hoffman/there-he-is-in-the-fading-light-certain-of-what-he-wants-certain-of/) [Alice Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-hoffman/) > [Fading light buttered the ridges until shadows licked them clean and they were lost to nightfall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-woodrell/fading-light-buttered-the-ridges-until-shadows-licked-them-clean-and/) [Daniel Woodrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-woodrell/) > [“But gifts can be victories, can’t they. It’s what you said. The garden could have been your gift, a dowry of talent, skill, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/but-gifts-can-be-victories-can-t-they-it-s-what-you-said-the-garden/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [“This day is getting older. In fading light, it's beautiful. This wind is blowing colder, and too soon I'll feel its pull. So sturdy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-beautiful-girls/this-day-is-getting-older-in-fading-light-it-s-beautiful-this-wind-is/) The Beautiful Girls > [I think for much of the middle classes, nothing could be more fantastic than to have a contact with fame. But once you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-douglas/i-think-for-much-of-the-middle-classes-nothing-could-be-more/) [Lawrence Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-douglas/) > [“He was some exotic planet and I was his favorite satellite. But he’s no planet, just the final fading light of an already dead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-yoon/he-was-some-exotic-planet-and-i-was-his-favorite-satellite-but-he-s/) [Nicola Yoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-yoon/) > [“Watching the hole in the ever-fading light. It’s the size of a baby now, closing all the time. 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When I saw how Céline loved one of the nuns, I tried to imitate her, but I didn’t succeed, as I didn’t know how to get into people’s good graces. It was a fortunate ignorance which has saved me from much evil. I am profoundly grateful to Jesus who has never let me find anything but bitterness in earthly friendships. With a nature like mine, I should have been trapped and had my wings clipped and then how should I have “flown away and found rest”? It’s impossible for one bound by human affection to have intimate union with God. I’ve seen so many souls, dazzled by this deluding light, fly into it and burn their wings like silly moths. Then they turn again to the true unfading light of love and, with new and more splendid wings, fly to Jesus, that divine Fire which burns yet does not destroy. I know that Jesus considered me too weak to be exposed to temptation. If I had seen this false light shining before me, I should have been wholly destroyed. I’ve been saved from that. 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