Saintly Sayings

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September 30, 2011
 

Prayer: September 30

The highest and most perfect prayer is contemplation. But this is entirely the work of God, since contemplation is supernatural and superior to our nature. Hence in this type of prayer the soul can do nothing. It can only prepare itself for it. Now, the best preparation is to be humble, to try sincerely to acquire virtue, especially fraternal charity and love of God, have a firm resolve to do God's will in all things, walk along the way of the cross and extinguish self-love.
– St. Teresa of Avila

When St. Augustine the Abbot was asked how he could spend entire nights in prayer, he answered: "I never knew what true contemplation was while I was concerned about myself. But when I succeeded in ridding my mind of all restless thoughts and detaching my heart from all earthly affection, I began to taste that admirable fruit of the divine will which purified souls customarily enjoy in contemplation."

A very enlightened soul wrote thus: "Through experience I have found that to learn mystical theology one must study the crucifix more than books. I mean that one must strive to practice virtue by imitating Jesus Christ and attending to purity of life, prayer, and constancy in doing and suffering whatever God wants of us."

Filed under  //   Prayer   September  
September 29, 2011
 

Prayer: September 29

There is a certain way of living in the presence of God through which, if the soul so desires, it can remain always in prayer and continually aflame with love of God. It is realized by carrying out one's duties with the thought of doing God's will, and taking delight in that.
– St. Alphonsus Rodriguez

Many years before his death, St. Francis de Sales found himself so taken up by many duties that he hardly found time for his prayer. When St. Jane Frances de Chantal asked one day whether he had prayed, he answered: "No, but I did the equivalent." In other words, he did his best to be continually united to God. He was wont to say that in this way his was a prayer of work and action. Thus his life was a continual prayer. He was not content to enjoy only a delightful union with God during prayer, but loved His will equally well.

Filed under  //   Prayer   September  
September 28, 2011
 

Prayer: September 28

The majority of the faults committed by Religious against their Rules and all their practices of piety stems from the fact that they easily lose the sense of God's presence.
– St. Francis de Sales

Of St. John Berchmans it is said that he never lost sight of the presence of God, and that this practice came unusually easy and natural to him. Yet he was always present to himself and to what he was doing and exact in his dealings with all. Because he lived in the presence of God he fulfilled his spiritual practices with great devotion and was never known to transgress the least Rule or commit the smallest defect.

Filed under  //   Prayer   September  
September 27, 2011
 

Prayer: September 27

If for one year we have faithfully walked in God's presence, at the end of that time we shall have reached the heights of perfection without having noticed it.
– St. Teresa of Avila

It is narrated in the lives of the Fathers of the desert that a holy Abbot advised one of his Novices never to lose sight of God, remembering the He is ever-present. This is the method of all methods, the one God taught Abraham when He said: "Walk in My presence and you will be perfect."

Filed under  //   Prayer   September  
September 26, 2011
 

Prayer: September 26

There is a certain way of praying which is very easy and very beneficial. It consists in accustoming our soul to God's presence, but in such a way as to produce in us an intimate, simple and perfect union. Oh, what a precious prayer this is!
– St. Francis de Sales

For St. Aloysius Gonzaga nothing was easier than to keep his mind continuously united to God. In fact, he found it as difficult to tear his thoughts from God as others do to keep united to God.

Filed under  //   Prayer   September  
September 25, 2011
 

Prayer: September 25

It requires great humility to accustom one's self to make of everything a subject for reflection in order to rise from these things to God, contemplating in them His perfections and His love for us as well as our obligation to serve Him faithfully.
– Scupoli

This was habitual with St Francis de Sales. At the sight of beautiful fields, he used to say, "We are the fields cultivated by God. Magnificent and beautifully decorated churches would cause him to exclaim:  "We are the living temples of God, and why are souls not so beautifully adorned with virtues?" Upon seeing flowers: "When will our flowers bear fruit?" On contemplating rare and precious works of art: "There is nothing more beautiful than a soul made to the image and likeness of God." Thus everything he beheld served to lift his mind to God.

Filed under  //   Prayer   September  
September 24, 2011
 

Prayer: September 24

The great work of our perfection is born, grows, and thrives by means of two little but valuable practices: aspirations and spiritual retreats. Aspirations are transports of the spirit toward God. The more intense and loving they are, the better they are. Retreats are interior glances of the soul toward God. The simpler they are, the more worthwhile they are. A simple consideration is made of Who God is and what He has done for us. Then the heart is moved to make acts of humility, love, resignation, confidence, and the like, according to the particular occasions.
– St. Francis de Sales

Every time the hour struck, St. Ignatius would withdraw within himself and raise his mind to God. Likewise at each stroke of the hour, St. Vincent de Paul would remove his hat and recite an aspiration, even when in the company of very important persons.

Filed under  //   Prayer   September  
September 23, 2011
 

Prayer: September 23

We must never forget to keep striving to know ourselves. This is most essential for progress in prayer. But it must be done with moderation. I mean that after a soul has become convinced that of itself it possess nothing good, and is filled with shame and confusion in the presence of so great a King, realizing how little it gives in return for all it owes, what need is there, then, to hold it back and, make it spend more time in this? It must be permitted to go to the consideration of other things which God places before it, so that forgetting itself it will fly to consider the wonders of its God.
– St. Teresa of Avila

It is narrated that a young monk said to an older one, "Father, my reason tells me I am good." And the older one answered, "He who does not see his sins always think himself good. But he who see his sins cannot be so persuaded. Hence the need to strive to know oneself."

Filed under  //   Prayer   September  
September 22, 2011
 

Prayer: September 22

Just as one often visits a friend, wishing him good morning at the start of the day and good night at the close, and calls on him frequently in the hours between, so should you often visit Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament. In every visit offer His Most Precious Blood to the Eternal Father several times and you will find these visits marvelously increasing your love.
– St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi

St. Vincent de Paul used to visit Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament as frequently as possible. The only respite he took from his pressing duties were his long vigils before the Blessed Sacrament. His demeanor when kneeling there was so humble and his whole appearance so modest and devout that it seemed he actually beheld Jesus Christ in person.

Filed under  //   Prayer   September  
September 21, 2011
 

Prayer: September 21

We must give great importance to meditation on the Passion of our Redeemer. Simply remembering or reflecting on the Passion is worth more than scourging one's self once a week for a year and fasting on bread and water, or reading the entire Psalter every day.
– St. Albert the Great

From meditating for a long time on the Passion, the Empress Leonora conceived such a tender love for Jesus Crucified that she said should she be sure of saving herself amidst riches and honors she would nevertheless choose the way of the cross in order to be like her Lord. For this reason she made light of her ills and sufferings, never complaining. And if someone showed sympathy for her, she would say: "This cross is very light and very dear to me. Without it I would not be happy."

Filed under  //   Prayer   September