Prayer.
“We ought always to pray.” — St. Luke 18.1.
SEVENTEENTH DAY.
Those who can enclose themselves in the little heaven of their soul where He is Who created the heavens and the earth are treading a most excellent path, where, before long, they will find the waters of the fountain of life; in a short time they will have made much progress. — St. Teresa.
St. Catharine of Siena, who loved retirement, finding that her parents gave her the charge of many laborious and dissipating occupations, made an oratory of her own heart, where in thought she continually dwelt and from which nothing could distract her. She there meditated upon God, and lovingly conversed with Him. She was accustomed to say that our hearts are the kingdom of God, where He fixes His throne when with the angels we adore Him with faith and with love.
A fervent person abhorred very much to entertain visitors in the parlor, and would never be there except through necessity, lest she might lose the spirit of recollection. Her parents tried to persuade her that conversation was good to relax and refresh the mind. She replied that she conversed continually with Jesus Christ; that she could never find conversation more instructive and at the same time more delicious.
Hat a source of delight for me,” said St. Teresa, “to recollect that I have God within me, and that He alone dwells in me!”
Prayer.
My God, Thou art within me; reign over all the power of my soul; do Thou alone dwell in my heart. What happiness that my heart is Thy home, Thy kingdom, a heaven! How delicious to possess Thee, to converse with Thee at all times!
