A good prayer…
A good and perfect prayer requires that we forget self, that we be ready to sacrifice all that we are for God.
–Saint Jane Frances de Chantal (1572-1641)
For prayer, we need only…
For prayer, we need only to keep ourselves simply and calmly attentive to God by breathing aspirations of love without voluntary distractions. The whole time we are thus present before Him will be taken for a prayer in God’s sight.
–Saint Jane Frances de Chantal (1572-1641)
Remain still…
We should go to prayer with deep humility and an awareness of our nothingness. We must invoke the help of the Holy Spirit and that of our good angel, and then remain still in God’s presence, full of faith that He is more in us than we are in ourselves.
–Saint Jane Frances de Chantal (1572-1641)
Raising our minds to God…
There is no danger if our prayer is without words or reflection because the good success of prayer depends neither on words nor on study. It depends upon the simple raising of our minds to God, and the more simple and stripped of feeling it is, the surer it is.
–Saint Jane Frances de Chantal (1572-1641)
Silent prayer is…
Silent prayer, in its common form, is also profitable. Each has its peculiar advantages, as each has its place. There is also a modification of prayer, which may be termed the prayer of silence. This is a prayer too deep for words. The common form of silent prayer is voluntary. In the prayer of contemplative silence, the lips seem to be closed almost against the will.
–François Fénèlon (1651-1715)
Speaking to God…
Acquire the habit of speaking to God as if you were alone with Him, familiarly and with confidence and love, as to the dearest and most loving of friends.
–Saint Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787)
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