Contemplatives in the market place

Contemplatives

in the market place

Christ

Mary

Paul

Charism

Spirituality

Ignatius

Eckhart

Meditation

Directory

Home

Paul of the Cross on In the Spirit...

"...prayer is more perfect when it is ...in the essence of the soul which prays in the spirit of God..."

If my soul were purified of the cross of its vices in the fire of Divine Love, I am certain your letter would have caused great flights of love of God and would have made me take a long sleep of faith and love. I am as I am. ... I fear much and do not express it because I do not have the words, and I ought not mention it in order to practice that holy silence that Jesus taught during his pains: “Jesus, however, kept silent.” ... My blessed daughter, know that prayer is more perfect when it is in the interior, in the essence of the soul, which prays in the spirit of God. “In the spirit of God.” ... Let that Immense Good repose in your spirit. This is a mutual repose: God in you and you in God. ... Now I want you to enter always more into the depth of the desert. There in that divine solitude, which is within you in your essence, in the intimacy of your soul, be reborn in the Divine Word to a new life of love. God reposes in you. God penetrates you completely and you are completely in God, all transformed in his love..." ~Paul of the Cross to Lucy Burlini (Burlini's 3rd letter on May 25, 1751 in Vol. 2 on Page 255 for Paul's Letter 752)

Paul on