October 15: Saint Teresa
For mental prayer is a treaty of friendship with God, and a frequent and private communication with Him, by Whom we know we are beloved. , Saint Teresa. There is a lot in this one little sentence. If we love God we will perform mental prayer or meditation as it is also known. If we do not meditate, then we do not really love God, because we take no time to listen to God's voice speaking to us through this private communication with God .
PRAYER: Saint Teresa, lead all to consider in the heart through the true prayer of meditation. Amen.
Four Degrees of Mental Prayer
Saint Teresa gives us four degrees or four levels of mental prayer:
1. In the first, the soul applies herself to holy meditation, for which a calm state of mind, and a retired place are necessary, and the life of Christ one of the first and most important subjects. Nothing should stop us from this holy practice, and we should resign ourselves completely to the will of God.
2. The next is the prayer of quiet , in which the powers of the soul are recollected, but not absorbed in God. The powers of the soul are now applied without labor or pain.
3. The third is that of repose of the soul , where the soul overflows with greater joy, ardor, and delight in divine love.
4. The fourth level is marked by a more perfect union of all of the powers of the soul, so that they are absorbed with God.
