Better to sing one Psalm with feeling, than to recite a hundred with a wandering mind. But if you haven’t yet received the grace of singing from your heart, do not give up hope. Be constant in your practice, and one day He who gave you the desire for the prayer of the heart will give you that prayer itself.
–Saint Romuald of Ravenna (951-1027)
Imitate God. Remember God is all good, and don’t let yourself indulge in pride, envy, schisms, and other sins that fight against the spirit. These lead to decadence. Instead, be like newborn babies. Be people of integrity. Never be duplicitous. Why? Remember that the Lord said in Leviticus to His loyal friends that they were to be holy because He was holy. The Lord has blessed you for many years. He’s shown you treasure hidden in a field, and you’ve enjoyed it for such a long time. With your joy you bought God’s priceless treasure, the best pearls and gems. Remember that—without a doubt—if you respect these jewels as you should, they’ll always stand before the face of God, praying for you and begging for the salvation of your body and soul.
–Elisabeth of Schönau (1129-1165)
Whoever wishes to listen well to divine speech must enclose himself in great silence.
–Saint Umilta of Faenza (c. 1226-1310)
The most perfect prayer, one well nigh omnipotent, and the worthiest work of all is the outcome of a quiet mind. The quieter it is, the more powerful, the worthier, the deeper, the more telling and more perfect prayer. The quiet mind is one which nothing weighs on, nothing worries, which is free from ties and all self-seeking, is wholly merged into the will of God and dead to its own.
–Meister Eckhart (1260-1328)
Repentance which is true and truly from the heart persuades the penitent not to sin any more, not to mix with corrupt people, and not to gape in curiosity at evil pleasures, but to despise things present, cling to things to come, struggle against passions, seek after virtues, be self-controlled in every respect, keep vigil with prayers to God, and shun dishonest gain. It convinces him to be merciful to those who wrong him, gracious to those who ask something of him, ready with all his heart to bend down and help in any way he can, whether by words, actions or money, all who seek his assistance, that through kindness to his fellow-man he might gain God’s love in return for loving his neighbor, draw the Divine favour to himself, and attain to eternal mercy and God’s everlasting blessing and grace.
–Saint Gregory Palamas (1296-1359)
Prayer is a right understanding of that fullness of joy which is to come, with true longing and trust.
–Saint Julian of Norwich (1342-1416)
