Illumine my eyes also to see and behold so great a mystery, and to strengthen me so that I may always faithfully and unswervingly believe it. It is Your operation, and not the power of man; Your holy institution, and not man's invention. Therefore, no man is sufficient unto himself to grasp and understand these things, for they surpass the subtlety of all angels and heavenly spirits. pp 211-212
If a man do all he can and if he is truly penitent, as often as he comes to Me for grace and forgiveness, I am the Lord who says: I will not the death of a sinner, but rather that he be converted and live. I shall no more remember his sins, but they will all be forgiven and pardoned him. p 217
A free offering of yourself into the hands of God must precede all your works if you will obtain grace and true liberty. And so it happens that so few are inwardly illuminated and free, because they cannot wholly forsake themselves. p 218
If you desire that I should come to you and dwell with you, free yourself of the old filth of sin and cleanse also the habitation of your heart. Exclude the world and all the clamorous noise of sin, and sit solitary as a sparrow on the eaves of a house, and think upon your own offenses with great bitterness of heart, for a true lover will prepare for his beloved the best and fairest place he can for that is a sign of the love and affection of him who receives his friends. Nevertheless, I know that you cannot, by yourself, make this preparation fully as it ought to be in every point, though you were to go about it for a whole year together and had nothing else in your mind to think about. By My mercy and grace alone you are allowed to go to My table, as if a poor man were called to the dinner of a rich man and had nothing to give him in return, save only to humble himself and thank him. Do this as far as you can with your best diligence and do not do it out of custom only, or out of necessity only, because you are bound to do it, but out of awe and reverence and great affection. p 226
KEMPIS, BOOK IV: WHICH TREATS ESPECIALLY OF THE SACRAMENT OF THE ALTAR