aeternus

Do not be dismayed, daughters, at the number of things which you have to consider before setting out on this Divine journey, which is the royal road to Heaven. By taking this road we gain such precious treasures that it is no wonder if the cost seems to us a high one. The time will come when we shall realize that all we have paid has been nothing at all by comparison with the greatness of our prize.

Let us now return to those who wish to travel on this road, and will not halt until they reach their goal, which is the place where they can drink of this water of life. Although in some book or other — in several, in fact — I have read what a good thing it is to begin in this way, I do not think anything will be lost if I speak of it here. As I say, it is most important — all-important, indeed — that they should begin well by making an earnest and most determined resolve not to halt until they reach their goal, whatever may come, whatever may happen to them, however hard they may have to labor, whoever may complain of them, whether they reach their goal or die on the road or have no heart to confront the trials which they meet, whether the very world dissolves before them. Yet again and again people will say to us: “It is dangerous”, “So-and-so was lost through doing this”, “Someone else got into wrong ways”, “Some other person, who was always praying, fell just the same”, “It is bad for virtue”, “It is not meant for women; it may lead them into delusions”, “They would do better to stick to their spinning”, “These subtleties are of no use to them”, “It is quite enough for them to say their Paternoster and Ave Maria.”

St. Teresa of Avila,

The Way of Perfection — CHAPTER 21

If we are to begin upon this journey of prayer, we must have a firm resolve and a determination of spirit. It is so easy to say to ourselves that I am not good enough for prayer or I’ll forget to pray or I’m too distracted in my own day to day thoughts. The truth is, that the time to start prayer is always NOW. Your prayer, if it comes from the heart, will help to transform your will. It will eventually overpower your many distracting thoughts and allow you to soak into the unknowing love of our most generous and merciful Heavenly Father. St. Teresa of Avila the famous Carmelite saint and Doctor of Prayer spent over 10 years in determined effort to overcome her distractions!! If it was this hard for her, no doubt it will be difficult for us, but the reward is great for those who practice!