Presentation of Our Lady in the Temple

O Thou Lord of my soul, and my Eternal Good, why is it that when a soul resolves to follow Thee, and to do her best to forsake all for Thee,—why is it that Thou dost not instantly perfect Thy love and Thy peace within that soul?  But I have spoken unadvisedly and foolishly, for it is we who are at fault in prayer, and never Thee.  We are so long and so slow in giving up our hearts to Thee.  And then Thou wilt not permit our enjoyment of Thee without our paying well for so precious a possession.  There is nothing in all the world wherewith to buy the shedding abroad of Thy love in our heart, but our heart’s love.  If, however, we did what we could, not clinging with our hearts to anything whatsoever in this world, but having our treasure and our conversation in heaven, then this blessedness would soon be ours, as all Thy saints testify.  God never withholds Himself from him who pays this price and who perseveres in seeking Him.  He will, little by little, and now and then, strengthen and restore that soul, till at last it is victorious.  If he who enters on this road only does violence enough to himself, with the help of God, he will not only go to heaven himself, but he will not go alone: he will take others with him.  God will give him, as to a good leader, those who will go after him.  Only, let not any man of prayer ever expect to enjoy his whole reward here.  He must remain a man of faith and prayer to the end.  Let him resolve, then, that whatever his aridity and sense of indevotion may be, he will never let himself sink utterly under his cross.  And the day will come when he will receive all his petitions in one great answer, and all his wages in one great reward.  For he serves a good Master, who stands over him watching him.  And let him never give over because of evil thoughts, even if they are sprung upon him in the middle of his prayer, for the devil so vexed the holy Jerome even in the wilderness.  But all these toils of soul have their sure reward, and their just recompense set out for them.  And, I can assure you, as one who knows what she is saying, that one single drop of water out of God’s living well will both sustain you and reward you for another day and another night of your life of life-long prayer. St Teresa On Prayer 

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