aeternus

Since today’s Mass reading was from Matthew 6:7 - 15 where Our Lord teaches us how to pray by giving us the words to the “Our Father”, I thought it would be a good time to refer to St. Teresa of Avila who spoke so very long and well about the Paternoster. Indeed, Teresa tells us of how a nun she knew could almost never finish the prayer for she was wrapped in the beauty and mystery of each word. The nun would find herself lost in contemplation before she finished a few lines of the prayer.

Teresa also teaches us, however, that when we recite the prayer, we should pay CLOSE ATTENTION to what we are saying and doing as she rightly councils we must remember to WHOM we are praying. She warns us not to recite the words flippantly or casually. She reminds us that these words were chosen carefully for us by our Lord and Master who wanted us to show our love for our Heavenly Father the creator of the Universe.

So, indeed, as the Word has given us the words, let us recite them with the love, ardor and affection which we have in our hearts. In Chapter 22 of the Way of Perfection, Teresa, the Doctor of Prayer, teaches us how mental prayer is a part of vocal prayer and in fact, vocal prayer MUST be accompanied by reflection.

Here is Teresa:

St. Teresa of Avila — The Way of Perfection
CHAPTER 22
Explains the meaning of mental prayer.

“You must know, daughters, that whether or no you are practicing mental prayer has nothing to do with keeping the lips closed. If, while I am speaking with God, I have a clear realization and full consciousness that I am doing so, and if this is more real to me than the words I am uttering, then I am combining mental and vocal prayer. When people tell you that you are speaking with God by reciting the Paternoster and thinking of worldly things — well, words fail me. When you speak, as it is right for you to do, with so great a Lord, it is well that you should think of Who it is that you are addressing, and what you yourself are, if only that you may speak to Him with proper respect. How can you address a king with the deference due to him, or how can you know what ceremonies have to be used when speaking to a grandee, unless you are clearly conscious of the nature of his position and of yours? It is because of this, and because it is the custom to do so, that you must behave respectfully to him, and must learn what the custom is, and not be careless about such things, or you will be dismissed as a simpleton and obtain none of the things you desire.

Do Thou never allow it to be thought right, Lord, for those who praise Thee and come to speak with Thee to do so with their lips alone. What do you mean, Christians, when you say that mental prayer is unnecessary? Do you understand what you are saying? I really do not think you can. And so you want us all to go wrong: you cannot know what mental prayer is, or how vocal prayers should be said, or what is meant by contemplation. For, if you knew this, you would not condemn on the one hand what you praise on the other.

Whenever I remember to do so, I shall always speak of mental and vocal prayer together, daughters, so that you may not be alarmed. I know what such fears lead to,[83] for I have suffered a certain number of trials in this respect, and so I should be sorry if anyone were to unsettle you, for it is very bad for you to have misgivings while you are walking on this path. It is most important that you should realize you are making progress; for if a traveler is told that he has taken the wrong road, and has lost his way, he begins to wander to and fro and the constant search for the right road tires him, wastes his time and delays his arrival. Who can say that it is wrong if, before we begin reciting the Hours or the Rosary, we think Whom we are going to address, and who we are that are addressing Him, so that we may do so in the way we should? I assure you, sisters, that if you gave all due attention to a consideration of these two points before beginning the vocal prayers which you are about to say you would be engaging in mental prayer for a very long time. For we cannot approach a prince and address him in the same careless way that we should adopt in speaking to a peasant or to some poor woman like ourselves, whom we may address however we like.”