Contemplative Prayer as described by the saints - An Experience of God
"St. Therese of Lisieux (1873-1897), in her Story of a Soul, asked how could one prove her love since love is proved by works? She answered this by saying that she would strew flowers and would sing the canticle of love. She would not let one little sacrifice escape, not one word nor look, but would do everything through love. She was willing to suffer for love. And while she was strewing her flowers, she would sing, even if her flowers had thorns (Ch IX, p. 196.)
St. Terese would pick up a pin from the floor and say, "For the love of You, O Lord."
We should do the least little thing - and the greatest thing of the day - for the love of God.
We need to remember to start the day with the morning offering. There are many forms of the popular prayer. Sister teaches the children a very simple form "I offer You this day, everything I think, do, and say, - with love."
My form of daily offering has expanded from that: I offer this day to You, everything I think, say and do, with love. You are the potter, I am the clay. Mold me, meld me, and then do with me what you will. Help me with my difficulties so that I may bear witness to others, Your Love, Your Power, and Your Way of Life. May I always do Your will. I offer to You all my prayers, joys, pain and suffering to You, Almighty Father, united with the Passion, Death, and Glorious Resurrection of Your Son, Jesus Christ, and united with all the Masses said today throughout the world, in reparation for my sins, the sins of those I pray for, the sins of my family, and the sins of the whole world. For the intentions of Sister Matthew and myself, the intentions of our benefactors and associates, the intentions of the Sacred Heart of Mary and the Immaculate Heart of Jesus and the intentions of Pope Benedict XVI. Amen.
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Saint Therese of Lisieux, Story of a Soul, The Autobiography of St. Therese of Lisieux (1897), translated by John Clarke, O.C.D. (Washington, DC: ICS Publications, 1996).
"St. Therese of Lisieux (1873-1897), in her Story of a Soul, asked how could one prove her love since love is proved by works? She answered this by saying that she would strew flowers and would sing the canticle of love. She would not let one little sacrifice escape, not one word nor look, but would do everything through love. She was willing to suffer for love. And while she was strewing her flowers, she would sing, even if her flowers had thorns (Ch IX, p. 196.)
St. Terese would pick up a pin from the floor and say, "For the love of You, O Lord."
We should do the least little thing - and the greatest thing of the day - for the love of God.
We need to remember to start the day with the morning offering. There are many forms of the popular prayer. Sister teaches the children a very simple form "I offer You this day, everything I think, do, and say, - with love."
My form of daily offering has expanded from that: I offer this day to You, everything I think, say and do, with love. You are the potter, I am the clay. Mold me, meld me, and then do with me what you will. Help me with my difficulties so that I may bear witness to others, Your Love, Your Power, and Your Way of Life. May I always do Your will. I offer to You all my prayers, joys, pain and suffering to You, Almighty Father, united with the Passion, Death, and Glorious Resurrection of Your Son, Jesus Christ, and united with all the Masses said today throughout the world, in reparation for my sins, the sins of those I pray for, the sins of my family, and the sins of the whole world. For the intentions of Sister Matthew and myself, the intentions of our benefactors and associates, the intentions of the Sacred Heart of Mary and the Immaculate Heart of Jesus and the intentions of Pope Benedict XVI. Amen.
_____________
Saint Therese of Lisieux, Story of a Soul, The Autobiography of St. Therese of Lisieux (1897), translated by John Clarke, O.C.D. (Washington, DC: ICS Publications, 1996).
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