Babbling, reciting prayers…
Never believe that true prayer consists in mere babbling, reciting so many psalms and vigils, saying your beads while you allow your thoughts to roam.
–Johannes Tauler (c. 1300-1361)
Prayer most pleasing to God…
Pray, even if you feel nothing, see nothing. For when you are dry, empty, sick or weak, at such a time is your prayer most pleasing to God, even though you may find little joy in it. This is true of all believing prayer.
— Saint Julian of Norwich (1342-1416)
Sometimes during prayer…
Sometimes during a lengthy prayer only a few minutes are really pleasing to God, and constitute true prayer, true service to Him. The chief thing in prayer is the nearness of the heart to God.
–Saint John of Kronstadt (1829-1908)
I have many distractions…
While praying I have many distractions, but as soon as I’m aware of them, I pray for those people, the thought of whom is diverting my attention. In this way, they reap the benefit of my distractions.
–Saint Therese of Lisieux (1873-1897)
Our wandering minds…
Though our bodies may be in an attitude of prayer and our mouths babbling some pious formula, can we really claim to be praying in the presence of God when our minds are wandering hither and thither in home and market-place?
–Saint John Chrysostom (347-407)
A person who prays carelessly…
A person who prays carelessly, and still expects his prayers to be heard, is likened to a man who pours into the mill bad grain, and expects to receive good flour in return.
–Saint Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153)
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