Observe carefully, that the interior life, which a Christian should cultivate, as the preparation for, and earnest of eternal life, is the result of union with Christ. Because I live (said the Lord) and you shall live. Also, I am the vine (He said again), you are the branches. He that abides in me, and I in him, the same bears much fruit, for without me you can do nothing. He, whose life is hid with Christ in God, will not doubt that His spiritual growth is sustained only in that divine source. It is a life the world neither knows nor appreciates. The world knows not us, (writes Saint John) because it knew not Him. A man of the world understands and appreciates a man of the world, and many who profess to be Christians have such a mixture of the world and of religion in their principles of action and daily life, that men of the world can pretty well understand, and appreciate them. But of the interior life of that Christian who truly follows after holiness of heart and life, and loves it for its own sake, they have no clear idea. They are quite at a loss to understand the intimacy and friendship which there is between God and the sanctified heart and mind. They who in the principles of their lives are saints, can alone understand, so as to properly appreciate, saints. Herein in part is the communion of saints. The sensual man perceives not these things that are of the Spirit of God; for it is foolishness to him, and he cannot under stand, because it is spiritually examined. But the spiritual man judges all things, and himself is judged of no man. See, to what an high pursuit you are called: follow after it, that you may attain. Give God an whole heart. Why will ye be unwise and hate knowledge, when God says, I will utter my spirit to you, and shew you my words? and when the spirit searches all things; yea, the deep things of God, and shews them to the sons of God.
- text taken from Daily Bread - Bring a Few Morning Meditations for the Use of Catholic Christians by Father Richard Waldo Sibthorp