--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We must approach our meditation realizing…" description: "\"“We must approach our meditation realizing that 'grace,' 'mercy,' and 'faith' are not permanent inalienable possessions which we gain by our efforts an..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc2/thomas-merton-231_compassion_we-must-approach-our-meditation-realizin_3048843.jpg" --- # We must approach our meditation realizing that 'grace,'… ![“We must approach our meditation realizing that 'grace,' 'mercy,' and 'faith' are not permanent inalienable possessions which we gain by our efforts and retain as though by right, provided that we behave ourselves. They are CONSTANTLY RENEWED GIFTS. The life of grace in our hearts is renewed from…” quote by Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc2/thomas-merton-231_compassion_we-must-approach-our-meditation-realizin_3048843.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc2/thomas-merton-231_compassion_we-must-approach-our-meditation-realizin_3048843.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc2/thomas-merton-231_compassion_we-must-approach-our-meditation-realizin_3048843.jpg) > ““We must approach our meditation realizing that 'grace,' 'mercy,' and 'faith' are not permanent inalienable possessions which we gain by our efforts and retain as though by right, provided that we behave ourselves. They are CONSTANTLY RENEWED GIFTS. The life of grace in our hearts is renewed from moment to moment, directly and personally by God in his love for us.”” [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Grace, mercy, and faith are not permanent possessions but gifts continually renewed through proper behavior and divine love. **In simple terms:** Spiritual gifts require ongoing renewal. Key Takeaway Live righteously to receive continual grace. Themes spirituality grace faith renewal divine love Mood reverent hopeful Type theological inspirational When to use this quote - prayer - daily reflection - ethical decision‑making Key Concepts theology ethics personal growth Questions to Reflect On - How do you maintain humility? - What practices sustain spiritual renewal? A Different Perspective Human effort alone cannot secure grace. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Faith Permanent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith-permanent-3923397/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grace/) [Life Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-grace-1388665/) [Meditation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meditation/) [Mercy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mercy/) [Mercy Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mercy-faith-5061048/) [Nature of Beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-beauty/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Realizing Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realizing-grace-3726325/) [Spiritual gifts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual-gifts/) ## Related quotes > [“I resolutely came around to realizing that it would take grace and courage to obey”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-wambui-ngabura/i-resolutely-came-around-to-realizing-that-it-would-take-grace-and/) [Carol Wambui Ngabura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-wambui-ngabura/) > [Faith is a permanent and vital endowment of the human mind-a part of reason itself. The insane alone are without it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eden-phillpotts/faith-is-a-permanent-and-vital-endowment-of-the-human-mind-a-part-of/) [Eden Phillpotts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eden-phillpotts/) > [“The most holy Mother is Mediatrix of all graces without exception. . . . Therefore the life of grace of a soul depends on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-maximilian-kolbe/the-most-holy-mother-is-mediatrix-of-all-graces-without-exception/) [St. Maximilian Kolbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-maximilian-kolbe/) > [Listen to your life. See it for the fathomless mystery it is. In the boredom and pain of it, no less than in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/listen-to-your-life-see-it-for-the-fathomless-mystery-it-is-in-the/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [“If I were called upon to state in a few words the essence of everything I was trying to say both as a novelist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/if-i-were-called-upon-to-state-in-a-few-words-the-essence-of/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [“As soon as man is fully disposed to be alone with God, he is alone with God no matter where he may be--in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/as-soon-as-man-is-fully-disposed-to-be-alone-with-god-he-is-alone/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [Throughout our lives, God's grace bestows temporal blessings and spiritual gifts that magnify our abilities and enrich our lives. His grace refines us. His…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/throughout-our-lives-god-s-grace-bestows-temporal-blessings-and/) [Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/) > [Life is grace. Sleep is forgiveness. The night absolves. Darkness wipes the slate clean, not spotless to be sure, but clean enough for another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/life-is-grace-sleep-is-forgiveness-the-night-absolves-darkness-wipes/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [Take it... Gratitude is a response to life itself. It begins as a recognition that life is grace, which means that it has no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemmy-nola-http-wwwamoreloveforlifecom/take-it-gratitude-is-a-response-to-life-itself-it-begins-as-a/) [Kemmy Nola Http://wwwamoreloveforlifecom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemmy-nola-http-wwwamoreloveforlifecom/) > [“You are the grace of my life So tender, so undeserved Hard to believe you're my wife Even harder to put what I feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-littrell/you-are-the-grace-of-my-life-so-tender-so-undeserved-hard-to-believe/) [Brian Littrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-littrell/) > [Living well has something to do with the spirituality of wholeheartedness, of seeing life more as a grace than as a penance, as time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-d-chittister/living-well-has-something-to-do-with-the-spirituality-of/) [Joan D. Chittister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-d-chittister/) > [God has a plan for your life.God always provides a way for YOU to handle the difficulties in YOUR life through His grace and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-has-a-plan-for-your-life-god-always-provides-a-way-for-you-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Never confined yourself by the walls of past debacle, you must light the flame of trust in self & pave way for a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/never-confined-yourself-by-the-walls-of-past-debacle-you-must-light/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) > [Grace must find expression in life, otherwise it is not grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-barth/grace-must-find-expression-in-life-otherwise-it-is-not-grace/) [Karl Barth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-barth/) > [Let us give today first the vital things of life and all the grace and ornaments of life will follow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/let-us-give-today-first-the-vital-things-of-life-and-all-the-grace/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) ## More by Thomas Merton > [“Let no one hope to find in contemplation an escape from conflict, from anguish or from doubt. On the contrary, the deep, inexpressible certitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/let-no-one-hope-to-find-in-contemplation-an-escape-from-conflict-from/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [If nothing that can be seen can either be God or represent Him to us as He is, then to find God we must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/if-nothing-that-can-be-seen-can-either-be-god-or-represent-him-to-us/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [It is almost impossible to overestimate the value of true humility and its power in the spiritual life. For the beginning of humility is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/it-is-almost-impossible-to-overestimate-the-value-of-true-humility/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [We are not perfectly free until we live in pure hope. For when our hope is pure, it no longer trusts exclusively in human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/we-are-not-perfectly-free-until-we-live-in-pure-hope-for-when-our/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [The desire to kill is like the desire to attack another with an ingot of red -hot iron: I have to pick up the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-desire-to-kill-is-like-the-desire-to-attack-another-with-an-ingot/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [To enter into the realm of contemplation one must in a certain sense die: but this death is in fact the entrance to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/to-enter-into-the-realm-of-contemplation-one-must-in-a-certain-sense/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [The mission of Christian humility in social life is not merely to edify, but to keep minds open to many alternatives. The rigidity of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-mission-of-christian-humility-in-social-life-is-not-merely-to/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [Peace cannot be built on exclusivism, absolutism, and intolerance. But neither can it be built on vague liberal slogans and pious programs gestated in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/peace-cannot-be-built-on-exclusivism-absolutism-and-intolerance-but/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [Things that are good are good, and if one is responding to that goodness one is in contact with a truth from which one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/things-that-are-good-are-good-and-if-one-is-responding-to-that/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [Love winter when the plant says nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/love-winter-when-the-plant-says-nothing/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [The logic of worldly success rests on a fallacy: the strange error that our perfection depends on the thoughts and opinions and applause of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-logic-of-worldly-success-rests-on-a-fallacy-the-strange-error/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [“The wisdom of the flesh is a judgement that the ordinary ends of our natural appetites are the goods to which the whole of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-wisdom-of-the-flesh-is-a-judgement-that-the-ordinary-ends-of-our/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [I will no longer wound myself with the thoughts and questions that have surrounded me like thorns: that is a penance You do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/i-will-no-longer-wound-myself-with-the-thoughts-and-questions-that/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [If you write for God you will reach many men and bring them joy. If you write for men--you may make some money and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/if-you-write-for-god-you-will-reach-many-men-and-bring-them-joy-if/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [“Contemplation means rest, suspension of activity, withdrawal into the mysterious interior solitude in which the soul is absorbed in the immense and fruitful silence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/contemplation-means-rest-suspension-of-activity-withdrawal-into-the/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) [Explore all 851 Thomas Merton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) ## More Compassion quotes > [Half the misery of human life might be extinguished if men would alleviate the general curse they lie under by mutual offices of compassion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/half-the-misery-of-human-life-might-be-extinguished-if-men-would/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [“I fight with love and kindness as my weapons and compassion as my defense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/i-fight-with-love-and-kindness-as-my-weapons-and-compassion-as-my/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [I really enjoy making people laugh; I've discovered that's a great technique. That's as powerful as stirring their sorrow, stirring their compassion, because that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-really-enjoy-making-people-laugh-i-ve-discovered-that-s-a-great/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [“If you refuse to use physical force, then you will be at the mercy of your oppressor!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/segun-magbagbeola/if-you-refuse-to-use-physical-force-then-you-will-be-at-the-mercy-of/) [Segun Magbagbeola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/segun-magbagbeola/) > [For some reason, we are truly convinced that if we criticize ourselves, the criticism will lead to change. If we are harsh, we believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/for-some-reason-we-are-truly-convinced-that-if-we-criticize-ourselves/) [Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/) > [I could not have slept tonight if I had left that helpless little creature to perish on the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-could-not-have-slept-tonight-if-i-had-left-that-helpless-little/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [We are puzzled and bewildered whenever we see suffering in this world because we have become accustomed to the mercy and the long-suffering of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/we-are-puzzled-and-bewildered-whenever-we-see-suffering-in-this-world/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [“Helpers in every corner, helpers in every hood. That's how we'll make the move, to reform from rude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/helpers-in-every-corner-helpers-in-every-hood-that-s-how-we-ll-make/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [There are a number of qualities which are important for mental peace, but from the little experience I have, I believe that one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/there-are-a-number-of-qualities-which-are-important-for-mental-peace/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [May the gods have mercy on whoever pisses them off, because Zarek and Jericho will have none for them. (Madoc) You’d better be glad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/may-the-gods-have-mercy-on-whoever-pisses-them-off-because-zarek-and/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [When you need empathy, you cannot give empathy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/when-you-need-empathy-you-cannot-give-empathy/) [Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/) > [But victimhood was seductive, a release from responsibility and caring. Fear would be transmuted into weary resignation; failure would no longer generate guilt but,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/but-victimhood-was-seductive-a-release-from-responsibility-and-caring/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [“No one has any right to tell you that the way you perceive yourself is wrong. Because by doing so, they also discourage the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/no-one-has-any-right-to-tell-you-that-the-way-you-perceive-yourself/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [“la ilaha ilallah muhammadun rasulullah, alaihi salatullah wa alihi wal ahibba "shine your mercy like the sun, and be gracious as the earth let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-al-habib/la-ilaha-ilallah-muhammadun-rasulullah-alaihi-salatullah-wa-alihi-wal/) [Talib al Habib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talib-al-habib/) > [The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/the-love-for-all-living-creatures-is-the-most-noble-attribute-of-man/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) [Browse all 9,892 Compassion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“We must approach our meditation realizing that 'grace,' 'mercy,' and 'faith' are not permanent inalienable possessions which we gain by our efforts and retain as though by right, provided that we behave ourselves. 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