Abbey-Roads2

On recollection. 

At recreation a Sister expressed her opinion on the primacy of the exercise of virtue  in the spiritual life.   Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity later reflected upon this thought:

“I think this Sister is right: virtue should come first of all, nevertheless I feel within me such great depths of misery that I could not proceed in the same way.  It is only by being united with God that I feel strong and capable of overcoming my faults, and of practicing virtue.  By the fact of being united to God, from how many things one feels delivered and in what peace this union establishes one.” - Elizabeth Still Speaks”

Teresa of Avila said, “Prayer and self-indulgence cannot go together”.  I used to think this meant one must be totally mortified before attempting to practice prayer, until I realized, that in and through the practice of prayer, one is freed from self-indulgence, worldly cares, and even sin.

To pray, it is enough to believe that God dwells within, and to gather our attention upon Him there.  I think the reason many do not pray is because they haven’t this faith.  It seems to me faith is more than simply believing in God and performing good works, it is communing with Him in loving recollection.