Chapter 144

On the Same Subject (144)

About the disruption of your prayer. I wrote to you about brief little prayers, and you replied that you had gathered them as I suggested. Well then, be so kind as to pray only with these prayers morning and evening. In the morning read with full attention: “Rising from sleep…” and the other thanksgivings to the Holy Trinity. Then make those prayers, repeating each one at least three times (and if more – that is fine) – slowly, all with thought and feeling. Close with invocations to all the saints whom you commemorate, and with the commemoration of your living and deceased – and that is enough. Do the same in the evening, and during the day sometimes read all of them through once, especially when you go somewhere. Nothing helps gather attention before the face of God as these brief little prayers do. Insert the Jesus Prayer among them, as you find convenient – after every three or five prayers.

(Letter 194. Vol. 1, p. 239)