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  1  Outl,   0     |         twenty years' experience of prayer": L XXIII).~(1557. Visit
  2  Intr,   0     |            beginners in the life of prayer. Yet they have also entered
  3  Intr,   0     |            commentary on the Lord's Prayer, the seven petitions of
  4  Intr,   0     |           meditations on the Lord's Prayer. Since the Life contained
  5  Unic,   4     |       Alphabet, which treats of the Prayer of Recollection.81 During
  6  Unic,   4     |            not know how to practise prayer, or how to recollect myself,
  7  Unic,   4     |    determined to follow that way of prayer with all my might. As by
  8  Unic,   4     |            to start upon the way of prayer with this book for my guide.
  9  Unic,   4     |       gracious to me on this way of prayer that He granted me the favour
 10  Unic,   4     |         favour of leading me to the Prayer of Quiet, and occasionally
 11  Unic,   4     |           substitute for the mental prayer which he is unable to practise.
 12  Unic,   4     |             a great deal of time in prayer without this aid it will
 13  Unic,   4     |            much afraid to engage in prayer without one as if it were
 14  Unic,   5     |          Well, His Majesty heard my prayer; for, before two years had
 15  Unic,   5     |           had begun the practice of prayer, so that I could bear everything
 16  Unic,   6     |          God had granted me through prayer, for this made me realize
 17  Unic,   6     |           the Lord was giving me in prayer, and of all that I owed
 18  Unic,   6     |           fear of God came to me in prayer. The chief of them was that
 19  Unic,   6     |             him. Those who practise prayer should have a special affection
 20  Unic,   7     |         friendship which comes from prayer. This shame was increased
 21  Unic,   7     |          and not to practise mental prayer or hold so much converse
 22  Unic,   7     |       deriving from the practice of prayer myself, for I thought that
 23  Unic,   7     |             and no longer practised prayer, I could not bear him to
 24  Unic,   7     |       thinking that to refrain from prayer was a sign of greater humility.
 25  Unic,   7     |         during the time I practised prayer, if I had offended God one
 26  Unic,   7     |            can still engage in true prayer, when there is love in the
 27  Unic,   7     |         deprives us of our hours of prayer by sending us trials; and
 28  Unic,   7     |        reached such a high state of prayer he used not to stay with
 29  Unic,   7     |           lead into the practice of prayer. Indulging in vanities myself
 30  Unic,   7     |         trials, because by means of prayer I learned more and more
 31  Unic,   7     |            suffered great trials in prayer, for the spirit was not
 32  Unic,   7     |        consisted my whole method of prayer) without at the same time
 33  Unic,   7     |       longer in my power to give up prayer, because He who desired
 34  Unic,   7     |           advise those who practise prayer, especially at first, to
 35  Unic,   7     |             and people who practise prayer have plenty of both. For,
 36  Unic,   7     |            with people who practise prayer, I should have gone on rising
 37  Unic,   8     |         from not entirely giving up prayer lest she should ruin her
 38  Unic,   8     |         Describes the excellence of prayer as a help towards regaining
 39  Unic,   8     |          upon this strong pillar of prayer.~
 40  Unic,   8     |         gave me courage to practise prayer. I say courage, because
 41  Unic,   8     |             that those who practise prayer are specially so, because
 42  Unic,   8     |         devoted myself earnestly to prayer and took various and very
 43  Unic,   8     |            spending long periods in prayer, unless I was very ill or
 44  Unic,   8     |          have gone by since I began prayer have been spent in this
 45  Unic,   8     |             to love the practice of prayer, though it may not be as
 46  Unic,   8     |      possessed by one who practises prayer -- I mean mental prayer --
 47  Unic,   8     |             prayer -- I mean mental prayer -- have been written of
 48  Unic,   8     |          being rewarded; and mental prayer, in my view, is nothing
 49  Unic,   8     |          are afraid to begin mental prayer: I do not know what they
 50  Unic,   8     |          was the whole extent of my prayer, and remained so for as
 51  Unic,   8     |      occupied in wishing my hour of prayer were over, and in listening
 52  Unic,   8     |    recollection as a preliminary to prayer. It is a fact that, either
 53  Unic,   8     |            at once betake myself to prayer; and whenever I entered
 54  Unic,   8     |        Himself forced me? If, then, prayer is so good, and so necessary,
 55  Unic,   8     |     possibly discover any harm that prayer can do him which would not
 56  Unic,   8     |            not give them the joy of prayer. I am indeed sorry for such
 57  Unic,   8     |            But when people practise prayer the Lord Himself bears the
 58  Unic,   8     |           to those who persevere in prayer, I am saying nothing here:
 59  Unic,   8     |            I will only observe that prayer is the door to those great
 60  Unic,   8     |           me that I did not give up prayer and reading, I will now
 61  Unic,   8     |             was spending my time in prayer, they thought I was doing
 62  Unic,   8     |           after I began to practise prayer. In one way I used to find
 63  Unic,   9     |            to improve. My method of prayer was this. As I could not
 64  Unic,   9     |        particularly attached to the prayer in the Garden, where I would
 65  Unic,   9     |         little of that scene -- the prayer in the Garden -- and this
 66  Unic,   9     |         because I began to practise prayer without knowing what it
 67  Unic,   9     |           them very speedily to the Prayer of Quiet, as He has called
 68  Unic,   9     |            to devote myself more to prayer and to have less to do with
 69  Unic,  10     |             the Lord granted her in prayer. Explains what part we ourselves
 70  Unic,  10     |             joys which come through prayer are something like what
 71  Unic,  10     |            blessing that comes from prayer founded on humility. What,
 72  Unic,  10     |      favours which God grants me in prayer), if it be in accordance
 73  Unic,  10     |         these matters which concern prayer, they will be very obscure
 74  Unic,  10     |        which I have been practising prayer, His Majesty has given me
 75  Unic,  11     |            describe four degrees of prayer, concerning the first of
 76  Unic,  11     |        receiving no consolations in prayer.~
 77  Unic,  11     |            to follow in this way of prayer Him Who so greatly loved
 78  Unic,  11     |             In the other degrees of prayer the chief thing is fruition,
 79  Unic,  11     |            has resolved to practise prayer and has already begun to
 80  Unic,  11     |           about the four degrees of prayer to which the Lord, of His
 81  Unic,  11     |                        Beginners in prayer, we may say, are those who
 82  Unic,  11     |          doing this during hours of prayer; they must be alone and
 83  Unic,  11     |            earth or ever cease from prayer; and so let him resolve,
 84  Unic,  11     |          keeping up the practice of prayer. I believe myself that often
 85  Unic,  11     |    resolutely in this way of mental prayer and can persuade itself
 86  Unic,  11     |        alteration in their hours of prayer; very often it will be advisable
 87  Unic,  11     |              and so it is well that prayer should not always be given
 88  Unic,  12     |       reaching the second degree of prayer, and, in the final stages,
 89  Unic,  13     |          stronger when we return to prayer. In everything we need discretion.~
 90  Unic,  13     |          harm to those who practise prayer by encouraging misunderstandings
 91  Unic,  13     |           because anxieties disturb prayer.~
 92  Unic,  13     |            I have said, to practise prayer and yet to live according
 93  Unic,  13     |           when we begin to practise prayer, not to let ourselves be
 94  Unic,  13     |           to get others to practise prayer, and when on the one hand
 95  Unic,  13     |            about the blessedness of prayer, while on the other they
 96  Unic,  13     |             the soul that practises prayer will consist in its ceasing
 97  Unic,  13     |           doing so; their method of prayer is most meritorious, but,
 98  Unic,  13     |            these matters concerning prayer are difficult, and, if no
 99  Unic,  13     |            these matters concerning prayer would suffice for the keen
100  Unic,  13     |           the middle and the end of prayer for all of us: it is a most
101  Unic,  13     |            already granting her the Prayer of Quiet, so she was suffering
102  Unic,  13     |            For there is no state of prayer, however sublime, in which
103  Unic,  13     |             may be, on this road of prayer: without this bread we could
104  Unic,  13     |         beginners, except in men of prayer. I do not mean that beginners
105  Unic,  13     | spirituality to be unaccompanied by prayer than not to be founded upon
106  Unic,  13     |            A nun begins to practise prayer: if her director is a simpleton
107  Unic,  13     |            for her to be engaged in prayer when she has work to do
108  Unic,  13     |        Those who walk in the way of prayer have the greater need of
109  Unic,  13     |             men who do not practise prayer are not suitable directors
110  Unic,  13     |           if a person who practises prayer consults learned men, the
111  Unic,  13     |   unsuitable for those who practise prayer. I have already said that
112  Unic,  13     |           we practise a little more prayer than they.~
113  Unic,  13     |            may be but a beginner in prayer, will derive great benefit
114  Unic,  13     |           from it, for this kind of prayer brings many benefits: at
115  Unic,  14     |       describe the second degree of prayer, in which the Lord grants
116  Unic,  14     |         this method, applied to the prayer called the Prayer of Quiet,
117  Unic,  14     |            to the prayer called the Prayer of Quiet, that I now wish
118  Unic,  14     |           is involved that, even if prayer continues for a long time,
119  Unic,  14     |           great deal of practice in prayer it will have as much as
120  Unic,  14     |          reached the very summit of prayer. The little time I have
121  Unic,  14     |           years I may have spent in prayer. And so I think it is a
122  Unic,  14     |         advantage to be immersed in prayer when I am writing. I realize
123  Unic,  15     |            soul must behave in this Prayer of Quiet. Tells how there
124  Unic,  15     |            souls who attain to this prayer and few who pass beyond
125  Unic,  15     |           for unless they return to prayer they will go from bad to
126  Unic,  15     |             to do is not to give up prayer, for prayer will enlighten
127  Unic,  15     |          not to give up prayer, for prayer will enlighten them as to
128  Unic,  15     |             that if they cease from prayer they are running (or so
129  Unic,  15     |                                This prayer, then, is a little spark
130  Unic,  15     |           He may hear us. This is a prayer that comprises a great deal
131  Unic,  15     |      learning both before and after prayer, they will have little need
132  Unic,  15     |             their actual periods of prayer, when it will only make
133  Unic,  15     |          rhetoric. In short, mental prayer must not be completely given
134  Unic,  15     |        given up, nor yet must vocal prayer, if we ever wish to turn
135  Unic,  15     |            effects produced by such prayer when it comes from God.
136  Unic,  15     |           it will often come to its prayer with a desire for Him; and
137  Unic,  15     |         humble in all that concerns prayer and consolations), he will
138  Unic,  15     |        writing of the first kind of prayer, and of the first water,
139  Unic,  15     |         when they begin to practise prayer, to start by detaching themselves
140  Unic,  15     |             and to enter upon their prayer with one sole determination,
141  Unic,  15     |            reached great heights of prayer will find it necessary,
142  Unic,  15     |      primary weapons -- that is, of prayer -- and thus to recall to
143  Unic,  15     |          desire to make progress in prayer, and not to abandon it,
144  Unic,  15     |          weary, by saying that this prayer is the beginning of all
145  Unic,  16     |       Treats of the third degree of prayer and continues to expound
146  Unic,  16     |            the Lord granted me this prayer in abundance, and granted
147  Unic,  16     |          than the previous state of prayer; but I confess that I could
148  Unic,  16     |            the Lord granted me this prayer, without allowing me to
149  Unic,  17     |             of this third degree of prayer. Concludes her exposition
150  Unic,  17     |             concerning this mode of prayer and of what the soul must
151  Unic,  17     |            When God grants the soul prayer as sublime as that which
152  Unic,  17     |             were previously, in the Prayer of Quiet, for the soul sees
153  Unic,  17     |                        This kind of prayer, I think, is quite definitely
154  Unic,  17     |             be just the same as the Prayer of Quiet of which I spoke,
155  Unic,  17     |              partly because in that prayer the soul would fain neither
156  Unic,  17     |      belongs to Mary, while in this prayer it can also be a Martha.
157  Unic,  17     |        spoke of when describing the Prayer of Quiet: the soul must
158  Unic,  17     |               In all these types of prayer which I have described in
159  Unic,  18     |             of the fourth degree of prayer. Begins to describe in an
160  Unic,  18     | encouragement of those who practise prayer to the end that they may
161  Unic,  18     |          signs. In the whole of the prayer already described, and in
162  Unic,  18     |             bliss. In this state of prayer to which we have now come,
163  Unic,  18     |       dealing with the last kind of prayer, His Majesty seems to be
164  Unic,  18     |      attained to the experiences in prayer which the Lord has granted
165  Unic,  18     |             comes after long mental prayer: as one degree of prayer
166  Unic,  18     |            prayer: as one degree of prayer succeeds another, the Lord
167  Unic,  18     |                                This prayer, for however long it may
168  Unic,  18     |        happening, the time spent in prayer may last, and does last,
169  Unic,  18     |         been experiencing this very prayer of which I am writing),
170  Unic,  19     |          the soul by this degree of prayer. Exhorts souls earnestly
171  Unic,  19     |            fall, and not to give up prayer. Describes the harm that
172  Unic,  19     |           that has experienced this prayer and this union is left with
173  Unic,  19     |             reached the end of this prayer, I have been so completely
174  Unic,  19     |         from the previous states of prayer; and its humility is also
175  Unic,  19     |             that the fruits of this prayer are not its own, it can
176  Unic,  19     |           who has begun to practise prayer should be discouraged and
177  Unic,  19     |             not to go on practising prayer." I think it will be if
178  Unic,  19     |           if such a person gives up prayer and does not amend his evil
179  Unic,  19     |            may have confidence that prayer will bring him into the
180  Unic,  19     |             humility for continuing prayer, when I was so wicked, that,
181  Unic,  19     |            perseveres in practising prayer it will be lost to him,
182  Unic,  19     |        wicked as I, approach God in prayer? It was enough for me, he
183  Unic,  19     |           God, let all who practise prayer consider this. Let them
184  Unic,  19     |            led was when I abandoned prayer. Let them consider with
185  Unic,  19     |            though I had recourse to prayer and reading, and these revealed
186  Unic,  19     |             same thing as giving up prayer. May God, for His name's
187  Unic,  19     |           great favours from God in prayer, it must put no trust in
188  Unic,  19     |            trick it into abandoning prayer, in the way he tricked me,
189  Unic,  20     |           me, for since making that prayer I have never again received
190  Unic,  20     |            during which I practised prayer and the Lord granted me
191  Unic,  20     |              and which consisted in prayer and solitude, wherein the
192  Unic,  20     |            describing the preceding prayer of union, this complete
193  Unic,  20     |           of the preceding state of prayer, it makes itself felt intermittently.
194  Unic,  20     |          all if they are persons of prayer to whom God is still granting
195  Unic,  21     |      account of this last degree of prayer. Describes the feelings
196  Unic,  21     |             described by writers on prayer, following their principles
197  Unic,  21     |            serious people -- men of prayer, leading the religious life --
198  Unic,  22     |            some books written about prayer which say that, although
199  Unic,  22     |          experience of supernatural prayer -- I mean of the Prayer
200  Unic,  22     |             prayer -- I mean of the Prayer of Quiet -- I tried to put
201  Unic,  22     |          recollection. This type of prayer, if God has a part in it,
202  Unic,  22     |      succeeding in experiencing the Prayer of Union, do not make further
203  Unic,  22     |      imaginable kind of penance and prayer and suffered every kind
204  Unic,  22     |             He does in the modes of prayer already described, it is
205  Unic,  22     |            the entire foundation of prayer must be established in humility,
206  Unic,  22     |             a soul abases itself in prayer, the higher God raises it.
207  Unic,  22     |            its own progress in this Prayer of Union, it may seem to
208  Unic,  22     |          not comfort or pleasure in prayer (for it has already abandoned
209  Unic,  22     |         than in the first degree of prayer and does much greater harm:
210  Unic,  22     |           that I have written about prayer with spiritual persons,
211  Unic,  23     |    direction of souls that practise prayer to know how they must conduct
212  Unic,  23     |            these matters concerning prayer is the life which God has
213  Unic,  23     |            to devote myself more to prayer, the Lord began to bestow
214  Unic,  23     |             me quite frequently the Prayer of Quiet, and often, too,
215  Unic,  23     |          Quiet, and often, too, the Prayer of Union, which lasted for
216  Unic,  23     |    especially when I was engaged in prayer, and I found that I was
217  Unic,  23     |          might deprive me of mental prayer, and prevent me from thinking
218  Unic,  23     |            their method of life and prayer alone. But I did not consider
219  Unic,  23     |           ask him what that kind of prayer was which I was practising
220  Unic,  23     |             had done when I gave up prayer. It may be that I should
221  Unic,  23     |      progressing in the practice of prayer, it seemed to me that there
222  Unic,  23     |     virtuous, and so outstanding in prayer and charity, that everything
223  Unic,  23     |    astounding; for he has practised prayer, I believe, for nearly forty
224  Unic,  23     |            my soul and my method of prayer, but he would not hear my
225  Unic,  23     |              as he saw, I practised prayer), so that I should give
226  Unic,  23     |         well over my experiences in prayer, so far as I understood
227  Unic,  23     |            to describe my method of prayer, I found in one, called
228  Unic,  23     |           experiencing that type of prayer I could think of nothing.
229  Unic,  23     |            it well, I would give up prayer altogether, for why should
230  Unic,  23     |         twenty years' experience of prayer I had gained nothing, but
231  Unic,  23     |            my soul was like without prayer. Whichever way I looked,
232  Unic,  23     |         discussed my experiences in prayer. By talking about them to
233  Unic,  23     |            I needed to return to my prayer: I was not working upon
234  Unic,  23     |          must on no account give up prayer; on the contrary, since
235  Unic,  23     |            He told me that my daily prayer should be based upon one
236  Unic,  24     |           was to receive favours in prayer, I must go apart by myself
237  Unic,  24     |             about my experiences in prayer, as they knew him to be
238  Unic,  24     |               who was much given to prayer, and had a great deal to
239  Unic,  24     |            part of one whole day in prayer; and then, beseeching the
240  Unic,  24     |       person loves God or practises prayer, it is a real cross to me
241  Unic,  25     |            himself at this stage of prayer because the exposition is
242  Unic,  25     |            be quiet in its times of prayer and not to have these experiences,
243  Unic,  25     |          are no farther advanced in prayer than this might easily be
244  Unic,  25     |      goodness alone, granted me the Prayer of Union, unless it were
245  Unic,  25     |       afraid of this except when at prayer, for at these times I was
246  Unic,  25     |            I did not offend God, my prayer could do me no harm even
247  Unic,  25     |          time which I set apart for prayer in begging His Majesty to
248  Unic,  25     |          spent hours of solitude in prayer, the Lord caused me to be
249  Unic,  26     |           he caused me disturbed my prayer. But each time I determined
250  Unic,  26     |             gave me some command in prayer and the confessor told me
251  Unic,  27     |      following experience. I was at prayer on a festival of the glorious
252  Unic,  27     |           clearly; that when in the Prayer of Quiet my soul was now
253  Unic,  27     |              that the effects of my prayer were very different from
254  Unic,  27     |          those who have reached the Prayer of Union and the Prayer
255  Unic,  27     |             Prayer of Union and the Prayer of Quiet. There we are on
256  Unic,  27     |          the point of beginning our prayer when we seem to find Him
257  Unic,  27     |             is a very lofty form of prayer. But it is not a vision.
258  Unic,  27     |      present. In that other kind of prayer there come to it influences
259  Unic,  27     |            recollected and given to prayer. The world is bad enough
260  Unic,  27     |         been when he was engaged in prayer, for he used to have great
261  Unic,  28     |             good that I remained in prayer unceasingly and contrived
262  Unic,  28     |              One day, when I was at prayer, the Lord was pleased to
263  Unic,  28     |            has experienced only the Prayer of Quiet, it will become
264  Unic,  28     |           for, being a man of great prayer and learning, he did not
265  Unic,  29     |             I always came away from prayer comforted and with new strength.
266  Unic,  29     |           When they made me stop my prayer He seemed to me to have
267  Unic,  29     |           them, I never ceased from prayer; even when asleep I used
268  Unic,  29     |          stifle the spirit. That is prayer of a much lower kind, and
269  Unic,  29     |         soul hushed and still. Such prayer is like the violent sobbing
270  Unic,  29     |            was not fit to return to prayer. Great discretion, then,
271  Unic,  30     |             of some little books on prayer, written in Spanish,235
272  Unic,  30     |            with great experience of prayer, his writings are very profitable
273  Unic,  30(235)|           extant is the Treatise of Prayer and Meditation: S.S.M.,
274  Unic,  30     |            favours from the Lord in prayer, His Majesty was pleased
275  Unic,  30     |            of my life and method of prayer with the greatest clarity
276  Unic,  30     |             continue confidently in prayer and not to doubt that the
277  Unic,  30     |           and not to doubt that the prayer came from God. For my greater
278  Unic,  30     |          and an ill-disposition for prayer and for everything that
279  Unic,  30     |           derive great comfort from prayer. What happens on such occasions
280  Unic,  30     |      anything good, or to engage in prayer, even when I am alone; yet
281  Unic,  30     |          all the books dealing with prayer which I read, and that,
282  Unic,  30     |           had bestowed this gift of prayer upon me, I no longer needed
283  Unic,  30     |           had received that gift of prayer, and, as I could not succeed
284  Unic,  31     |            deeply immersed was I in prayer that I heard nothing at
285  Unic,  31     |       prevent me from finishing the prayer. I made the sign of the
286  Unic,  31     |          back. I think I began that prayer three times and not until
287  Unic,  31     |          some persons who practised prayer and others who did not,
288  Unic,  31     |           and to make it my special prayer, that when a person thought
289  Unic,  31     |            all the books written on prayer and contemplation a description
290  Unic,  31     |           unless they be persons of prayer, not desiring converse with
291  Unic,  31     |           break it, with the aid of prayer and great effort on our
292  Unic,  31     |          occurs; but in the life of prayer it is pestilential.~
293  Unic,  32     |           very great ones, I was at prayer one day when suddenly, without
294  Unic,  32     |          time, both among people of prayer and in the whole place,
295  Unic,  32     |      founded, as in fact it was, on prayer, would lead to great perfection,
296  Unic,  33     |          the very persons, given to prayer as they were, with whom
297  Unic,  33     |            were illusory, if all my prayer had been a deception and
298  Unic,  33     |         about my visions, my way of prayer and the great favours which
299  Unic,  33     |        devoted himself much more to prayer, and retired to a monastery
300  Unic,  33     |           might the better practise prayer; and here he stayed for
301  Unic,  33     |          exalted and recollected in prayer, and so full of tender devotion,
302  Unic,  34     |         after what I had learned in prayer, went without any fear,
303  Unic,  34     |          was already recollected in prayer, this seemed to me a waste
304  Unic,  34     |      troubled during those hours of prayer, wondering if I had incurred
305  Unic,  34     |          resolve to give himself to prayer, though he did not fulfil
306  Unic,  34     |             Lord has granted him in prayer, for there is no mistaking
307  Unic,  34     |           certain things concerning prayer. There was little enough
308  Unic,  34     |            desires and had heard my prayer that He would awaken such
309  Unic,  34     |           confession, I was told in prayer that my sister, too, would
310  Unic,  35     |      greatly devoted to penance and prayer and the Lord granted her
311  Unic,  35     |             when I betook myself to prayer again and looked at Christ
312  Unic,  35     |          took all the joy out of my prayer. In fact, I found myself
313  Unic,  35     |           of spending many hours in prayer. I saw that I was about
314  Unic,  35     |      delight -- once, when I was in prayer, He told me that this house
315  Unic,  35     |           enclosure and poverty and prayer. Such is the joy and happiness
316  Unic,  36     |          great perfection, given to prayer, and carry out a work which
317  Unic,  36     |         away by the intensity of my prayer.~
318  Unic,  36     |                            While at prayer in the church, before entering
319  Unic,  38     |           excuse myself from mental prayer, I took a rosary, so as
320  Unic,  38     |           to occupy myself in vocal prayer, trying not to be recollected
321  Unic,  38     |        things. He was such a man of prayer that although, before he
322  Unic,  38     |            One night, when I was at prayer, the Lord began to talk
323  Unic,  38     |            tried to find comfort in prayer, I have been soundly rebuked
324  Unic,  39     |         course, have been due to my prayer; but, as I had seen this
325  Unic,  39     |         days he had been engaged in prayer, in the course of which
326  Unic,  39     |            perilous, he gave up his prayer. This caused me the greatest
327  Unic,  39     |              One day, when I was at prayer, I saw beside me a devil,
328  Unic,  39     |           to him. The first type of prayer, we might say, is like vocal
329  Unic,  39     |            might say, is like vocal prayer; the other is like contemplation
330  Unic,  39     |             we have been practising prayer. We even seem to be trying
331  Unic,  39     |          which people have spent in prayer but the extent to which
332  Unic,  39     |         granted them consolation in prayer. They have not been expecting
333  Unic,  39     |            years in the practice of prayer, to retrace that period
334  Unic,  39     |           is to explain why I value prayer which has lasted for only
335  Unic,  39     |           of love. I prefer this to prayer which has continued for
336  Unic,  39     |        cannot consider as fruits of prayer or signs of great mortification.
337  Unic,  39     |             which we have practised prayer, for, even though we may
338  Unic,  39     |           of years he has practised prayer has earned him these spiritual
339  Unic,  39     |          commit before he practised prayer? Must he sue God, as we
340  Unic,  39     |         soul has been humble in its prayer, it does not make progress,
341  Unic,  39     |    following vision. While I was at prayer, I saw myself in a great
342  Unic,  40     |                 Once, when I was in prayer, I felt within myself such
343  Unic,  40     |             books do which treat of prayer, telling us where we are
344  Unic,  40     |         force themselves to give up prayer and to take it up again
345  Unic,  40     |                 Once, when I was in prayer, I saw, for a very brief
346  Unic,  40     |                  Once when I was in prayer, and deep in recollection,
347  Unic,  40     |         another time, when I was in prayer, my spirit was carried away
348  Unic,  40     |           me to go to bed, I was in prayer, and I was suffering very