PRAYER

1. Prayer is the elevation of the mind to God. However, one who does not elevate the mind does not pray but stammers and falls asleep. Can you imagine that any such prayer would have much value?

2. The one who, in prayer, thinks about himself and other things is distracted. He has not obtained any fruit and has not yet tasted the virtue of prayer.

3. Prayer is a bond [of love] through which the loved soul unites itself to the beloved Christ, unaware of itself or anyone else.

4. If you want to pray well, first detach yourself from things of the world, purify yourself from your passions which deprive the soul of trust in prayer, then pre­pare yourself for prayer through meditation.

5. The prayer through which we honor God is good, but the breath of life which God prays within us is much better.

6. The aspiration prayer is not known to the Demon. It is useful and as praiseworthy as a long prayer.

7. Often a truly prayerful person will approach Christ to ascertain his own state as being pleasing or dis­pleasing to Him.

8. Usually the beloved does not deny anything from his loved one except, perhaps, unless it allows him more abundant graces. Hence, our petition must be placed in the hands of Christ; in this way it will have better success than if done according to our will.

9. Our petition is just and dis­creet when it is entrusted to­tally in the hands of our beloved Christ.

10. If one would honestly know himself, how could he petition God for any reward?

11. What good thing could God deny us, when He is the One who invites and spurs us to ask?

12. In an effort to obtain what you pray for, adapt yourself to your petition because you will not obtain humility if you avoid humiliations.

13. Prayer consists in the spirit present in your heart. So, do not use lack of understanding writ­ten prayer as an excuse for not praying.

14. A supplication takes place when the praying soul appears malevolent towards God, like Moses, without any consider­ation for self or for convenience.

15. When God induces the soul to supplication, first He lowers it through perfect humility, then He raises it with the hope for obtaining what is desired.

16. If the imperfect petitioner is not granted his prayer, he complains against God, even if it is to his detriment if that be granted.

17. Some, in their petitions, say, “Lord, grant me what you would grant to yourself if you were in me and I in you.” They should be aware that this is dangerously presumptuous and self-centered.

18. Some people think to pray, saying, “I absolutely want this, and I want it now.” This is very displeasing to God.

19. The one who receives more than he asks is afraid of suffo­cating by the abundance of the gifts, just as the body chokes on the abundance of food.

20. It can be assumed then that a person must go beyond the vari­ous ways of prayer and dwell in continuous thanksgiving.

21. It is not a surprise that St. Dominic always had his prayers answered, since he always thanked God.

22. Older and experienced people sometimes ebb from their prayers, petitions, and supplications to pass to a more noble exercise because when the soul feels its prayers are always granted, the petition diminishes, but the experience of heavenly graces increases.

23. The one who has reached this level recognizes the antici­pated divine favors, yet he does not thank God less in his abun­dance than in his want, or less when He grants them than when He denies them.

24. The most pleasing thanksgiv­ing to God, either for the thing granted or for the thing denied, occurs when one has intensely acknowl­edged what he has been granted.

25. God usually grants this grace to His beloved who understand that they have been granted more by the denied favor than by the granted one. The one who
has reached this level knows the divine goodness and providence in himself.

26. When bad things happen, the soul gains more by thanking God than by making constant re­course to good petitions.

27. The one who complains for not receiving, or wants to tell God how to grant, or is disturbed by some doubts, or feels his pe­titions are not always answered, does not deserve to reach this perfect state.

28. If you desire to reach this perfect level of prayer, then you must obtain the breaking of your will, either on your own or through others. Then abandon yourself completely and joyfully to the will of God, respectfully trusting His great gen­erosity.

29. If you want to reach this level, you must have perfect victory over every passion and over your very self.

30. If through perfect humility will you be able to objec­tively know yourself, then you will be able to reach this level.