“When the devil wants to destroy someone, he begins by instilling in that person a great aversion to prayer.” (St. John Vianney)
We must always expect resistance to our progress in the spiritual life. Although it can happen on our path of following Christ that a certain aversion to vocal prayer may arise in contemplative souls, this aversion is not directed against prayer itself but rather points to the need to seek more silent prayer and contemplation.
‘By virtue of grace, I can grant you everything that my Son possesses by virtue of His divine nature’ (Inner Word).
“If people knew what power the dear poor souls have over God’s heart, and if they knew what graces can be obtained through their intercession, they would not be so forgotten. We must pray much for them so that they may pray much for us.” (Saint John Vianney, Curé of Ars)
“How beautiful and great it is to know and serve God! We have nothing else to do in this world but this. Everything else we do is a waste of time.” (St. John Vianney).
“God is searching for you, because from time immemorial He has been intent on bringing back the lost sheep.” (Hildegard of Bingen).
We are learning to understand ever more deeply this movement of our Father’s love.
“Do everything, endure everything, to win souls for the Lord.” (Don Bosco)
“A man who masters his passions is master of the world. We must either master them or be mastered by them. It is better to be the hammer than the anvil.” (St. Dominic).
“The saints will help and serve you” (Inner Word).
“Just as the sun shines on all trees and flowers as if each were the only one on earth, so too does God care for all souls in a special way.” — Therese of the Child Jesus.
This helps us understand well what St. Therese of Lisieux is saying. Our Father’s love is for all people, and He wants to call everyone into His kingdom. No one is excluded from this love, neither the righteous nor the sinner. Yet the difference lies in whether one accepts God’s love and begins to live in it, or whether one’s heart remains closed. And it is indeed true that each person is loved uniquely by God, as if our Father were caring for only that one person. This is possible for God because He is love. There are no limits within our Father, and therefore His love never ceases. He calls those who are far from Him to repentance so that He may bestow His gifts upon them. He teaches those who already live with Him to grow in His love. Read More
