. Discussion of CHAPTER 24 The Way of Perfection Describes: - how vocal prayer may be practised with perfection and - how closely allied it is to mental prayer. . |
St. Teresa wants to teach her Nuns
regarding the practice of mental prayer.
(She often refers to The Lord's Prayer
but her instruction is beneficial
for all prayers and prayer times.)
She takes into account
why some can not or do not practice mental prayer:
▫ They don't know what mental prayer is and
are "terrified at the very name
of contemplation or mental prayer".
▫ Some "do not even wish to practise it,
but are content with vocal prayer"
Others may pray vocally by "mere habit,
repeating the words and
thinking that this will suffice".
▫ They "cannot...tie down their minds
to mental prayer"
due to distractions.
▫ They experience an inability
to concentrate or
to recollect their thought.
▫ They resist the discipline and effort needed
"For there are impatient people
who dislike giving themselves trouble,
and it is troublesome at first
to practise recollection of the mind
when one has not made it a habit".
. ♦Regarding what mental prayer is, St. Teresa said that it is directing one's thoughts to God with devotion, love, praise, and gratitude. "that I cannot distinguish it from vocal prayer faithfully recited with a realization of Who it is that we are addressing." Jesus, Himself, taught us the importance of Mental Prayer ( with attention and devotion) with our Vocal Prayer: He taught the "Our Father", to the apostles when they asked of Him, "Lord, teach us to pray" [Luke 11:1]. He advised, "In praying, do not babble… (do not use meaningless repetition) Think(ing)…that (you) will be heard because of …many words". [ Mt:6;7 ] . |
. ♦ Regarding Vocal prayer: Since all are familiar with vocal prayer, St. Teresa describes how vocal prayer when properly said consists of mental prayer: "I want...to teach you how you must practise vocal prayer" She states: "...you should understand what you are saying" rather than "say(ing) ...prayers as a mere habit, repeating the words..." "I should like...for us not to be satisfied with that alone" Similarly in Chapter 22, she taught: Before and while praying consider: - "Whom we are going to address, and - who we are that are addressing Him, so that we may (pray) in the way we should..." "if you gave all due attention to a consideration of these two points before beginning the vocal prayers which you are about to say you would be engaging in mental prayer for a very long time" [WofP: Ch. 22] In discussing vocal prayers, she says that there may be a difficulty for some to continuously focus on God during long vocal prayers, "Anyone unable to think of God may find herself wearied by long prayers" But with "the Pater Noster and the Ave Maria ... no one will be able to say of us that we are repeating words without understanding what we are saying" "when I repeat the "Our Father", my love should make me want to understand Who this Father of ours is and Who the Master is that taught us this prayer" And when it comes to the Master Who taught us this prayer, and Who loves us so much and (Who) is so anxious for us to profit by it, may God forbid that we should fail to think of Him often when we repeat it, although our own weakness may prevent us from doing so every time. Similarly, "when I say the Creed, ...I should understand and know what it is that I believe" . |
. ♦ Regarding distractions in prayer, St. Teresa advised - solitude and - withdrawal from noise and activity - intention and effort to focus on God: "His Majesty teaches that this prayer must be made when we are alone, just as He was often alone when He prayed, not because this was necessary for Him, but for our edification" "that it is impossible to speak to God and to the world at the same time; yet this is just what we are trying to do when we are saying our prayers and at the same time listening to the conversation of others or letting our thoughts wander on any matter that occurs to us, without making an effort to control them" "...we are under the obligation of trying to pray attentively" "...not find ourselves thinking of something irrelevant. "the best remedy I have found for it is to try to fix my mind on the Person by Whom the words were first spoken". . |
. ♦ Regarding inability to meditate, whether due to illness, worry, or weakness: "however hard we try, we cannot concentrate; or times when, for their own good, God allows His servants for days on end to go through great storms" "...unable to...calm themselves ...incapable of attending to what they are saying, however hard they try, nor can they fix their understanding on anything: they seem to be in a frenzy, so distraught are they" St. Teresa advises: • "The very suffering of anyone in this state will show her that ◦ she is not to blame, and ◦ she must - not worry, for that only makes matters worse, - nor must she weary herself by trying to put sense into something --namely, her mind-- which for the moment is without any. ◦She should pray as best she can: indeed, she need not pray at all, but may try to - rest her spirit as though she were ill and - busy herself with some other virtuous action... - keep careful guard over themselves and - know that they must not speak to God and to the world at the same time... ◦ try to be alone and God grant that this may suffice... to make us realize - in Whose presence we are and - how the Lord answers our petitions. ◦ It would be a good idea for us to imagine [consider / reflect] - that He has taught this prayer to each one of us individually, and - that He is continually expounding it to us. . |
. ♦Regarding "impatient people who dislike giving themselves trouble" in developing the discipline and effort needed, She taught: - that they are already performing mental prayer since their vocal prayer is "faithfully recited with a realization of Who it is that we are addressing" She explained that mental prayer is not a complicated practice but is already included in vocal prayer when vocal prayer is practiced reverently. - "Have patience, then, and try to make this necessary practice into a habit, for necessary it is... for all who would pray like good Christians" - that God is pleased by this intention and effort: "Do you suppose that, because we cannot hear Him, He is silent? He speaks clearly to the heart when we beg Him from our hearts to do so. The Master is never so far away that the disciple needs to raise his voice in order to be heard: He is always right at his side" "if you are to recite the Pater Noster well, one thing is needful: you must not leave the side of the Master Who has taught it you". . |
End of Discussion of Chapter 24 The Way of Perfection |
