Meditation
“Meditation and mortal sin cannot exist together.” Saint Alphonsus reports. He continues: It was for this reason that Cardinal Bellarmine declared it to be morally impossible for a Christian who does not meditate to persevere in the grace of God. Whereas he who makes his meditation every day can scarcely fall into sin; and if unhappily he should fall on some occasion, by continuing his prayer he will return immediately to God. This consideration alone should be sufficient to make us desire to learn how to meditate.
Fr. Fahey, Mental Prayer, page 68: At this epoch of feverish activity, it is indispensable to set aside some time for Mental Prayer, and we ought to give as much time to it as the duties of our state of life allow. Fr. Fahey wrote this in 1927 and we have far more activity today than 79 years ago!
“Consider every moment lost in which you do not think of God.” (Saint Bernard) Even if you cannot always concentrate your mind on Him at least by calling to mind His presence, and when an opportunity occurs, turn recollection into meditation or prayer, as an artist carries the material for drawing about him in order to sketch a picture when he has an opportunity., Virtues of a religious Superior, Saint Bonaventure.
Dismiss all distracting thoughts and say what Saint Bernard said on entering a church: "Remain here, all you earthly and distracting thoughts. I may have time for you after meditation." Recite briefly an act of faith in the presence of God, together with profound adoration of His infinite majesty. Humbly ask pardon for your past offenses, and beg for light and grace to make your meditation well. Recommend yourself to the Blessed Virgin, Saint Joseph, your Guardian Angel and your holy patrons. These acts must be very fervent but brief, so as to proceed at once with the consideration., Saint Alphonsus.
Saint Alphonsus summarizes the spiritual life: By reading and meditating we learn our duty; but by prayer we obtain the grace to do it. All three are essential to salvation.
Saint Serapion says The mind is purified by spiritual knowledge (that is by holy prayer and meditation), the spiritual passions of the soul by charity, and the irregular appetites by abstinence and penance.
Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard: they have trodden my portion under foot, they have changed my delightful portion into a desolate wilderness. They have laid it waste, and it hath mourned for me. With desolation is the land made desolate, because there is none that considereth in the heart. The spoilers are come upon all the ways of the wilderness, for the sword of the Lord shall devour from one end of the land to the other end thereof: there is no peace for all flesh., Jeremias 12:10-12.
