St. Thérèse on Prayer
From Story of a Soul reprinted in the "Magnificat" as the meditation for the day.
St. Thérèse of Lisieux--Story of a SoulHow great is the power of prayer. One could call it a queen who has at each instant free access to the king who is able to obtain whatever she asks. To be heard it is not necessary to read from a book some beautiful formula composed for the occasion. If this were the case, alas, I would have to be pitied! Outside the Divine Office which I am unworthy to recite, I do not have the courage to force myself to search out beautiful prayers in books. There are so many of the them it really gives me a headache! and each prayer is more beautiful that the others. I cannot recite them all and not knowing which to choose, I do like children who do not know how to read, I say very simply to God what I wish to say, without composing beautiful sentences, and he always understands me. For me, prayer is an aspiration of the heart, it is a simple glance directed to heaven, it is a cry of gratitude and love in the midst of trial as well as joy; finally it is something great, supernatural, which expands my soul and unites me to Jesus.
Ultimately prayer is not about petitions, although certainly those are good prayers, it is about being with God. It is "an aspiration of the heart." Such an aspiration is usually wordless--a glance directed heavenward has no syllables; you cannot say how you feel when you feel in love except to note that it is love.There are no words to describe the true changes, the turns the heart makes, when one loves. An aspiration of the heart is flung, wordless to heaven, and received there by the most receptive of Lovers, the kindest of Kings, who recognizing the value and importance of each of these gaudy baubles deigns to answer them with Love incarnate--Jesus Christ, sufficient for all needs.
