Paul of the Cross' Spirituality

"...If, while saying these vocal prayers, you feel drawn toward mental prayer with a profound recollection, leave off the vocal prayer and follow the mental. Afterward, continue the vocal prayers. Give each their time. Recite your prayers without hurrying, gently with your spirit in God... morning about an hour of mental prayer, followed by spiritual communion... (late afternoon) prepare yourself for mental prayer and give it an hour..."

Paul of the Cross to Agnes Grazi 15th letter on October 28, 1734 in Vol. 1 on Page 102

"...when you feel drawn to a repose in God, lose yourself in the Immense Good. Leave off vocal prayer for mental prayer... no need whatever to concern yourself about distractions and temptations that occur during holy prayer. Simply withdraw into the deepest part of your spirit, and there enter into the sanctuary to treat with God in spirit and in truth, mocking the exterior uproar of the enemy, who makes a clamor around the soul but cannot enter within. If you are humble, God will make you understand what I am saying here..."

Paul of the Cross to Francis Appiani 2nd letter on March 23, 1736 in Vol. 1 on Page 125

"...True preparation, whether for prayer or Communion, is a living faith, a profound humility, from which comes a great knowledge of God and of our own nothingness. Have no doubt that God will teach you, especially when you are here. After all, the great master of prayer is the Holy Spirit... Take an hour for mental prayer in the morning and about an hour in the evening before dinner — if you can, do it in church. During the day stay in the Divine Presence, read a bit, make use of ejaculatory prayers, but gently, walk in the country a bit to refresh yourself out of love for God..."
Paul of the Cross to Francis Appiani 13th letter on July 16, 1738 in Vol. 1 on Page 235

"...Make your mental prayer, morning and evening, and your accustomed Communion as well as study in accord with your state. Do not load yourself down with so many vocal prayers, but recite the ones you use well. Help yourself with ejaculatory prayers. Rest your spirit with some licit recreation and take the necessary sleep. When you take your solitary walks, listen to the sermons of the flowers, the trees, the bushes, the heavens, the sun, and all the world. You will find they preach of love and praise of God, and invite you to magnify the greatness of the Sovereign Artist, who gave them being..."
  Paul of the Cross to Lucrezia Bastiani1st letter on January 9, 1760 in Vol. 3 on Page 45

"...Every morning in your room make at least a half-hour of mental prayer on the Passion of Jesus Christ.... Every evening, after you have taken care of your household tasks and before supper, as often as you can, make another half-hour of mental prayer..."

   Paul of the Cross to Teresa Palozzi 12thletter on March 9, 1760 in Vol. 3 on Page 53

"...As regards your prayer, it could not go better, so continue to remain in pure faith in your interior, allowing your soul to rest on the bosom of God, and do so in Communion. In vocal prayer, when God draws your soul to this peace and quiet of interior recollection and you sense that your soul wants to remain in God in a sacred silence of faith and love, then leave off the vocal prayers and continue with your mental prayer in that holy recollection of love in which the soul is enriched with every good..."

  Paul of the Cross to John Francis Sancez 22thletter on August 15, 1760 in Vol. 3 on Page 68
"...Behold what the Most High desires of you at this time! Give your attention, first of all, to mental prayer, now is the time to give yourself specifically. I say the same thing for spiritual reading and being withdrawn in accord with your state, etc. Doing this, the Lord will give you holy lights to bring up your children in a Christian manner in the fear of God, and your soul will go on growing in holy divine love..."
Paul of the Cross