How we cite our quotes: (Book.Chapter.Page)
Quote #7
"Daughter, it is more pleasing to me that you suffer scorn and humiliation, shame and rebukes, wrongs and distress, than if your head were struck off three times a day every day for seven years." (I.54.170)
Jesus's comparison may strike you as odd and unnecessarily violent, but he is in fact responding to Kempe's desire to be martyred for Christ's love. He's telling her that a life of lived spirituality is a kind of martyrdom that is more difficult (and therefore more pleasing) to achieve.
Quote #8
So by process of time her mind and her thoughts were so joined to God that she never forgot him, but had him in mind continually, and beheld him in all creatures. (I.72.212)
The whole point of Kempe's narrative is to show the process of spiritual growth—an often imperfect process—rather than a person who has attained perfection seemingly overnight. The result of her struggle may seem humble, but Kempe does something quite amazing. She is able to bring the material world into alignment with the spiritual one.
Quote #9
"Daughter, you shall have as great reward with me in heaven for your good service, and the good deeds that you have done in your mind and meditation, as if you had done those same deeds with your bodily senses outwardly." (I.84.244)
Did you catch that? Kempe gets spiritual credit for good deeds she even thinks about doing. That's a pretty sweet deal. But don't get too excited: we're pretty sure there are spiritual demerits in store for those who even think wicked thoughts, too.