Day 1: Setting out on a spiritual journey

*Silence that comes from trusting in and surrendering to God:

"Silence is not emptiness but that general attitude of inwardness that enables us to have an "inner cell" in our heart, to use an expression of St. Catherine of Siena's, where we are in God's presence and converse with him."

(Jacques Philippe, In the School of the Holy Spirit)

"What often happens is that, when we are confronted with painful occurrences, we either rebel, or

endure them unwillingly, or resign ourselves to them passively. But God invites us to a much more

positive and fruitful attitude: that of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, who, as a child, said: "I choose it all!" We can give this the meaning: I choose everything that God wants for me."

(Jacques Philippe, In the School of the Holy Spirit).