"If you would suffer with
patience the adversities and miseries of this life, be a man of prayer. If you
would obtain courage and strength to conquer the temptations of the enemy, be a
man of prayer. If you would mortify your own will with all its inclinations and
appetites, be a man of prayer. If you would know the wiles of Satan and unmask
his deceits, be a man of prayer. If you would live in joy and walk pleasantly
in the ways of penance, be a man of prayer. If you would banish from you soul
the troublesome flies of vain thoughts and cares, be a man of prayer. If you
would nourish your soul with the very sap of devotion, and keep it always full
of good thoughts and good desires, be a man of prayer. If you would strengthen
and keep up your courage in the ways of God, be a man of prayer. In fine, if
you would uproot all vices from your soul and plant all virtues in their place,
be a man of prayer. It is in prayer that we receive the unction and grace of
the Holy Ghost, who teaches all things."
— St. Bonaventure, The
Ways of Mental Prayer, p. 25-26
No comments:
Post a Comment