Chapter 69

The Rule Should Be in Your Own Will

You can arrange the prayer rule yourselves… Memorize the prayers you read, and read them by heart with understanding and feeling. Then insert into them prayers from yourself; the less you depend on the book, the better. Memorize several psalms and when you go somewhere or are doing other things and your head is not occupied, read them… This is conversation with God. The rule should be in your free will. Do not be a slave to it. (7, 79)

The prayer rule you have chosen for yourself you can perform completely, or by half, or by a quarter. Have freedom regarding it. Be its mistress, not its servant. Call upon God with mind and heart, and stand in prayer—for as long as you are able, stand; be not at all disturbed that you do not read all of it. Heart-turning toward God will make up for everything. (7, 80)

When [the beginners] arrive at certain inner sensations and especially at heartfelt warmth, rules [are] not strictly necessary [for them]. In general, one should not become attached to rules, but be free in relation to them, having only one intention: that attention to God in reverence should not depart. (7, 176)