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Before The Threshold
THE inward life of prayer is our truest life. It is our life with God, our life in relation to God; it is the seed sown in the soil of time that will grow into our eternal happiness.
The Threshold of Prayer was the name given to a little book about how to pray with the mind and it is in allusion to that name that this pamphlet is called Before the Threshold, for it is to be about something in our inward life that must come, in a certain sense, before we cross the threshold of it is to be about the spiritual training that fits us for prayer. True, this training does not end when we begin to pray; it goes on all our lives, just as the endless practice at which a great musician toils goes on all his life, even when he has reached the pinnacle of his glory and is holding the world enthralled by his playing. Nevertheless, there is a true sense in which our spiritual training comes before the threshold of our inward life, just as it is true that the musician's practice comes before his playing.
The Threshold of Prayer was the name given to a little book about how to pray with the mind and it is in allusion to that name that this pamphlet is called Before the Threshold, for it is to be about something in our inward life that must come, in a certain sense, before we cross the threshold of it is to be about the spiritual training that fits us for prayer. True, this training does not end when we begin to pray; it goes on all our lives, just as the endless practice at which a great musician toils goes on all his life, even when he has reached the pinnacle of his glory and is holding the world enthralled by his playing. Nevertheless, there is a true sense in which our spiritual training comes before the threshold of our inward life, just as it is true that the musician's practice comes before his playing.
20 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 5, 2012
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November 4, 2019
This is a guide towards improving our spiritual life. That life is a process of growth. We must get to know who we are and plan for that life to work. The life we have been put into is abnormal because of our Original Sin. Sin is above all a sign of selfishness. Our master thought is God first in all things and always. Whatever pulls us away from God in our lives we must forsake it. Our strategy is to overcome our faults or weakness, one by one, not all at once. A daily examination of conscience is essential. Let’s pick out one major habit to work on. God is our resource and helpmate in strengthening and resolving on our effort. We are dependent on God and only our pride keeps us from recognizing our dependence. Humility and repentance will give light to our spiritual life.
We must be on guard from being misled by a false sense that we are anywhere near knowing supernatural life. God may grant us a hint of it only with the highest level of prayer. We should receive Sacraments which God gave us to help us on our way frequently but must not grow weary that we do not obtain any indication of supernatural as a result. Growth in our inward life is slow but time is a divine factor. Self-discipline in dealing with our weaknesses to grow in our holiness is in a word mortification. It signifies death to bring us to a life of light which is our true life. The difficult part is keeping it up. Falling into a routine in our effort will anchor us in our effort. Falling out of it will mean we’ve grown lazy. Falling into anxiety and scruples is also dangerous. Holy Spirit is our supreme guide. We are his instruments. Constant prayer is the one simple secret of spiritual life.
We must be on guard from being misled by a false sense that we are anywhere near knowing supernatural life. God may grant us a hint of it only with the highest level of prayer. We should receive Sacraments which God gave us to help us on our way frequently but must not grow weary that we do not obtain any indication of supernatural as a result. Growth in our inward life is slow but time is a divine factor. Self-discipline in dealing with our weaknesses to grow in our holiness is in a word mortification. It signifies death to bring us to a life of light which is our true life. The difficult part is keeping it up. Falling into a routine in our effort will anchor us in our effort. Falling out of it will mean we’ve grown lazy. Falling into anxiety and scruples is also dangerous. Holy Spirit is our supreme guide. We are his instruments. Constant prayer is the one simple secret of spiritual life.
Displaying 1 of 1 review