We arrive at a grasp of the things of God more by prayer than by discussion. The reason for this is that, since divine truth exceeds our rational powers, we cannot of ourselves lay it bare unless it designs to give itself to us. It is itself the inner teacher, without whom the external teacher toils in vain, as Augustine says.
Source: Commentary on the Mystical Theology of Dionysius - C.1250-1255
This reveals the twofold perfection which is required of the student of this science: clarity of understanding in order to see God and right behavior in practice, which is how we come to such clarity or sharpness of understanding.
Source: Commentary on the Mystical Theology of Dionysius - C.1250-1255
And he says “of the Christians” to distinguish this wisdom from the knowledge of God which even philosophers possessed, which has mixed up with a great many errors because of the weakness of human reason.
Source: Commentary on the Mystical Theology of Dionysius - C.1250-1255
I have had the idea of writing something for myself on and about the state of complete and full abstraction from everything and of cleaving freely, confidently, nakedly and firmly to God alone, so as to describe it fully (in so far as it is possible in this abode of exile and pilgrimage), especially since the goal of Christian perfection is the love by which we cleave to God. In fact everyone is obligated, to this loving cleaving to God as necessary for salvation, in the form of observing the commandments and conforming to the divine will, and the observation of the commandments excludes everything that is contrary to the nature and habit of love, including mortal sin.
Source: On Cleaving to God
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