Strive in prayer…
You should strive in your prayer for a pure conscience, a will that is wholly with God, and a mind truly set upon Him.
–Saint John of the Cross (1542-1591)
Confidence in God alone…
God wishes us not to rest upon anything but His infinite goodness; do not let us expect anything, hope anything, or desire anything but from Him, and let us put our trust and confidence in Him alone.
–Saint Charles Borromeo (1538-1584)
Settle little store by consolations…
Set little store by consolations and tenderness in devotion, and do not be elated when the Lord gives them nor disconsolate when he withholds them. When I hear men of learning and intelligence making such a fuss because God is not giving them feelings of devotion, it revolts me to listen to them: they should master themselves and go on their way.
–Saint Teresa of Avila (1515-1582)
Prayer is a…
Prayer is a pasturage, a field, wherein all the virtues find their nourishment, growth, and strength.
–Saint Catherine of Siena (1347-1380)
Approach God with…
When you come before God in prayer, be in your thought like an ant, like something crawling on the ground, like a child lisping. And in his presence make no pretence of knowledge. Approach God rather with the heart of a child. Go into his presence to receive the loving care with which parents look after their little children.
–Saint Isaac of Syria (Seventh Century)
Pray to acquire tears…
First of all, pray to acquire tears, in order to soften with mourning the savageness of your soul. You will then easily confess with honesty before the Lord all the sins that you have committed and you shall receive forgiveness from Him. Use your tears to succeed in every request of yours. For the Lord is greatly pleased when you pray with tears. If during your prayer you shed fountains of tears, do not pride yourself that you are above many others. This is not your accomplishment; it is assistance for your prayer from the Lord, so that you will be able to thus confess your sins willingly and appease Him. When you believe that you do not need tears in your prayer for your sins, consider how far you have drifted away from God, when “you should constantly be near Him” and then you will weep more fervently.
–Saint Nilus of Sinai (d. 430)
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