Day 26: The Simplicity of Prayer (Story of a Soul)
Oct 26, 2024
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St. Thérèse of Lisieux, a Carmelite nun celebrated for her "Little Way" of spiritual growth, shares insights on prayer as a friendship with God. She emphasizes that while prayer may not be easy, it can indeed be simple. The conversation explores humility in guiding others, the transformative power of prayer and sacrifice, and how embracing suffering can deepen love. Thérèse advocates for compassion towards imperfections and highlights that true faith is forged through challenges, leading to authentic connections with the divine.
St. Thérèse emphasizes that genuine prayer is rooted in simplicity, allowing for authentic communication with God through heartfelt desires rather than complex formulas.
She encourages embracing suffering as a vital aspect of spiritual growth, highlighting its potential to deepen one’s union with Christ and foster charity.
Deep dives
Reflections on Relationships and Spiritual Authority
St. Therese of Lisieux reflects on her various relationships and how they shape her spiritual life. As a novice mistress, she learns valuable lessons from her interactions with novices, recognizing that each soul has unique struggles despite common challenges. She emphasizes the importance of adapting her approach, sometimes needing to humble herself to connect with others, while at other times requiring firmness to foster growth. Through these experiences, she gains insight into the balance of authority and humility in spiritual guidance.
The Simplicity of Prayer
Therese highlights the foundational role of simplicity in prayer, asserting that authentic communication with God does not require elaborate formulas. She expresses her preference for straightforward conversations with God, describing her prayers as heartfelt desires instead of rehearsed phrases. This approach allows her to maintain a genuine connection with the Lord, nurturing her spiritual growth. Therese reassures that even in struggles with formal prayer, such as the rosary, the intention behind the prayer holds more significance than perfection.
The Transformative Power of Suffering
St. Therese reflects on suffering as an integral part of the human experience and a path to spiritual growth. She acknowledges that suffering can lead to a deeper union with Christ and emphasizes that enduring difficulties can cultivate charity within oneself. Rather than viewing suffering as purely negative, Therese sees it as an opportunity for love and compassion for others. This perspective encourages acceptance of suffering as a means to draw closer to Jesus and deepen one's spiritual journey.
Charity in Community
Therese draws connections between her experiences with the novices and the call to practice charity amidst challenges. She identifies that being close to those who are difficult to love can enhance spiritual growth and foster an atmosphere of compassion. Rather than avoiding uncomfortable interactions, she chooses to embrace them, understanding that love often flourishes in adversity. Through these relatable experiences, Therese models the virtues of patience and kindness, inspiring listeners to cultivate love in their own relationships.
Not many people would describe prayer as something simple. However, the way in which St. Thérèse describes it conveys the possibility of simplicity in prayer. Fr. Jacob-Bertrand and Fr. Michael-Joseph reflect on prayer as friendship with God and how prayer may not be easy, but it can be simple.
To get your copy of the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/catholicclassics or text "SOUL" to 33-777.
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