Chapter 154

You Must Kindle Zeal

Everything you have described about the progress of your prayer work, fasts, and other matters is, thank God, good. One thing I will note: beware lest the work of prayer come to nothing. What you are doing now in prayer is direct work of your will. The soul of it is earnest desire. This zeal must always be kindled before prayer; otherwise there will be no prayer at all. Yet you confess: “I pray sometimes lazily, without eagerness.” This does not suit the nature of your prayer. Endeavor not to allow this. The matter is in your hands. Otherwise this can happen: today without eagerness, tomorrow without eagerness… and then prayer ends altogether. Guard against this and compel yourself to prayer with eagerness.

(Letter 955. Vol. 6, pp. 47–48)