Quote of the day, 12 April: Père Jacques

Jesus therefore no longer walked about openly among the Jews, but went from there to a town called Ephraim in the region near the wilderness; and he remained there with the disciples.

John 11:54

I would like to join with you in observing Christ at prayer. On occasion, his apostles observed Christ at prayer, perhaps at sunset or after the last of the sick and the curious headed home.

Then, when the weary apostles searched for lodgings and longed for rest at the end of the day, Christ sought solitude, usually on the top of a hill, looking out toward the distant horizon. There he remained for some time, absorbed in prayer. What was his prayer like? […]

How boundless and constant is Christ’s prayer! Throughout his life, Christ beholds God, as we will do in heaven. Yet, that vision does not prevent Christ from acting in accordance with his human nature. He develops his faculties and learns to say “Daddy” and “Mama” at the same pace as other children. He works with his hands and earns his livelihood by the sweat of his brow.

Later on, he watches out for his family and his apostles, making sure that they have food to eat. He fulfills all his daily duties. However, these practical tasks never impinge upon his profound prayer. Whether he is planing planks at work or going to school or doing errands for his mother, he is uninterruptedly engaged in deep prayer.

Those who maintain that basic duties, social service, physical labor, or intellectual activity can interrupt prayer are mistaken. Recall the episode in the life of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, when she was in her room sewing. One of the novices came along unexpectedly and was struck by the radiant beauty of her face.

The novice asked: “What are you pondering, Sister?”

Saint Thérèse replied unassumingly: “I was just meditating on the Pater Noster and reflecting on how beautiful it is to say ‘Our Father’ when speaking to God.”

Her hands were at work, but her heart was at prayer. Bear in mind, her state of prayer was the same, even in the laundry.

No work can interrupt prayer.

The Servant of God Père Jacques de Jésus, O.C.D.

Retreat conference 4: Christ at Prayer
Tuesday evening, 7 September 1943
Carmel of Pontoise, France

Jesus Goes Up Alone onto a Mountain to Pray
(Jésus monte seul sur une montagne pour prier)
James Tissot, (French, 1836-1902)
Opaque watercolor over graphite on gray wove paper, 1886-1894
Brooklyn Museum (No known copyright restrictions)

Jacques, P 2005, Listen to the silence: A retreat with Père Jacques, translated from the French and edited by Murphy F, ICS Publications, Washington DC.

⬦ Reflection Question ⬦
How might you carry prayer into the ordinary tasks of your day today—uninterrupted?
⬦ Join the conversation in the comments.

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What I tried to explain in the previous chapters—although I digressed a great deal in speaking of other things since mentioning them seemed to me very necessary—was the work we can do through our own efforts and how in obtaining this initial devotion we can help ourselves in some way.

For in thinking about and carefully examining what the Lord suffered for us, we are moved to compassion; and this sorrow and the resulting tears bring delight. In thinking about the glory we hope for, the love the Lord bore us, and His resurrection, we are moved to a joy that is neither entirely spiritual nor entirely of the senses.

But the joy is virtuous and the sorrow very meritorious. Virtue and merit are found in all the things that cause the devotion acquired partly by the intellect, even though this devotion could not be merited or obtained if God did not give it.

The soul can place itself in the presence of Christ and grow accustomed to being inflamed with love for His sacred humanity. It can keep Him ever-present and speak with Him, asking for its needs and complaining of its labors, being glad with Him in its enjoyments and not forgetting Him because of them, trying to speak to Him, not through written prayers but with words that conform to its desires and needs.

This is an excellent way of making progress and in a very short time. I consider that soul advanced who strives to remain in this precious company and to profit very much by it, and who truly comes to love this Lord to whom we owe so much.

As a result, we shouldn’t care at all about not having devotion—as I have said—but we ought to thank the Lord who allows us to be desirous of pleasing Him, even though our works may be weak.

This method of keeping Christ present with us is beneficial in all stages and is a very safe means of advancing in the first degree of prayer, of reaching in a short time the second degree, and of walking secure against the dangers the devil can set up in the last degrees.

Keeping Christ present is what we of ourselves can do.

Saint Teresa of Avila

The Book of Her Life, Chapter 12

Note: This passage from The Book of Her Life shows how Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection firmly grasped the essence of Teresian prayer, which he expressed in his letters and maxims as the practice of the presence of God.

Teresa of Avila, St. 1985, The Collected Works of St. Teresa of Avila, translated from the Spanish by Kavanaugh, K; Rodriguez, O, ICS Publications, Washington DC.

Featured image: Photographer Christopher Riggs captured this image of a woman praying the Holy Rosary. Image credit: xopheriggs / Unsplash (Stock photo)

https://carmelitequotes.blog/2024/10/02/stj-keepingchrist/

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