When the Spirit dwells in a person, prayer never from then on departs from his soul. Whether he is eating or drinking or sleeping or whatever else he is doing, even in deepest sleep, the fragrance of prayer rises without effort in his heart. Prayer never again deserts him. Even his silence is prayer, and the movements of his heart are like a secret and silent voice that sings to God.
–Saint Isaac of Syria (Seventh Century)
The Holy Spirit takes away the hunger our heart feels when wandering amongst creatures, and fills it with the bread of fulness and satisfaction.
–Saint John of Avila (1500–1569)
Life is often irksome and bitter; it is hard to begin a laborious day, above all when Jesus hides Himself from us. What is this tender Friend doing? Does He not then see our anguish, the load that oppresses us; where is He? Why does He not come to console us? Ah, fear not … He is there, quite near! He is watching us; He, it is, who begs for these our labors and our tears … He has need of them for souls, for our soul; He wants to give us so glorious a recompense. Ah! Truly, it costs Him to make us drink of this bitter cup, but He knows that it is the one way by which to prepare us to know Him as He knows Himself and to become ourselves God-like.
–Saint Therese of Lisieux (1873-1897)
Consider the surface of a lake, above which the sun is shining. If the surface of the lake is peaceful and tranquil, the sun will be reflected in this lake; and the more peaceful the lake, the more perfectly it will be reflected. If on the contrary, the surface of the lake is agitated, undulating, then the image of the sun can not be reflected in it. [Hence,]…The more our soul is peaceful and tranquil, the more God is reflected in it, the more His image expresses itself in us, the more His grace acts through us…God is a God of peace…[thus] it is of greatest importance that we strive to remain an interior peace, the peace of our hearts.
–Jacques Philippe (1947-
The first stage of the spiritual life, the beginning of it all, is to gain some control over the passions. The second stage is to devote oneself to the vocal recitation of the psalms, for when the passions have been calmed and prayer has brought some order in our quest for pleasure, then the psalms can bring us great delight, and they are pleasing in God’s sight. The third stage is to pray with our mind. The fourth is when we ascend to contemplation.
–Saint Symeon the New Theologian (949-1022)
With a modest mind and a humble heart, let us repeat over and again the prayer that the great saint Arsenios used to offer to the Lord:
“My God, do not abandon me, though I have done nothing good in your sight, but because you are compassionate, grant me the power to make a start.”
And how true it is that all our salvation lies in the mercy, and in the deep love, that God has for us. To him be glory, dominion, and worship.
–Saint Theodorus the Ascetic (Seventh Century)
