Читать книгу The Practice of Mental Prayer - Father Rene de Maumigny - Страница 27

EXCELLENCE OF MENTAL PRAYER

having conquered its passions by the aid of prayer or, at least, feeling that it has the passions under control, is as happy as the king who rides over the battle-field which he has won.

Further, it is rest in true liberty of spirit. By the light of prayer the soul clearly sees the nothingness of things transitory, the infinite value of things eternal; it under- stands that all outside of God is nothing, that God, the Sovereign Good, is everything. The outcome of this is a wonderful detach- ment from creatures, freeing the soul from the deceptive bonds of this world and estab- lishing it in true liberty, where it enjoys delicious rest. Closing the eyes to all phan- toms and earthly deceptions, the soul opens them to look on God, the only true, eternal and supreme good and cries out: One thing I have asked of the Lord, this will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life;"¹ and again: "For what have I in heaven? and besides thee what do I desire upon earth? Thou art the God of my heart and the God that is my portion for ever!"²

¹ Ps. 36; 4. ² Ps. 73: 35, 36.