Realistically, Eugene realizes that in order to enter into prayer he has to struggle to break away from the grip of work and its demands \u2013 otherwise his attempts at prayer will be like swimming against a torrent of water that is impossible to conquer.<\/p>\n
\n3. Then enter a state of absolute mental and physical relaxation without striving to produce anything. It would be tantamount to swimming against the stream with a lot of stress and little success to act in any other way on leaving behind this commotion, this pile-up of business of every kind in which I am habitually mired.<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Here he touches the essence of prayer: the necessity to work for a mental and physical relaxation so that God can take over. This relaxing is an integral part of the process of prayer \u2013 it is prayer. \u201cLet go, let God\u201d<\/p>\n
\n4. Once the torrent has subsided and I begin to be alone with myself, I will ask God for his grace to make a fruitful retreat. I will pray with all the fervour I am capable of to the Blessed Virgin, St. Joseph, my guardian Angel and other saints.<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Retreat resolutions, October 1831, EO XV n 162<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Realistically, Eugene realizes that in order to enter into prayer he has to struggle to break away from the grip of work and its demands \u2013 otherwise his attempts at prayer will be like swimming against a torrent of water … Continue reading