CHAPITRE IV.
The Prayer of Simplicity
The author introduces the second degree of prayer, defined as the Prayer of Simplicity.
1. The second degree of prayer, referred to here as the Prayer of Simplicity. When it is time to ascend to it. 2. How to practice it and remain in it. 3. The requisites for doing it well.1 1. The second degree is called by some Contemplation, Prayer of Faith, and of Rest; others give it the name Prayer of Simplicity. It is this last term that should be used here, as it is more fitting than Contemplation, which signifies a more advanced prayer than the one of which I speak.2
Entering the Interior Silence
As prayer becomes more natural and sweet, the soul is encouraged to adopt a posture of respectful silence.
When the soul has practiced this for some time, as has been said, she feels that little by little the ease of applying herself to God is given to her; she begins to recollect herself more easily. Prayer becomes easy, sweet, and pleasant; she knows this is the way to find God, and she senses the fragrance of his perfumes.✦ Then she must change her method and faithfully and courageously do what I am about to say, without being startled by any objections that might be brought against her.3 2. First, as soon as she places herself in God's presence with faith and recollects herself, let her remain a little while in that respectful silence.
Fanning the Flame of Devotion
The soul learns to maintain the presence of God by gently stirring the will without over-exertion.
If, from the very beginning, while making her act of faith, she feels a little taste of God's presence, let her remain there without troubling herself over any topic or about going further; let her keep what is given her as long as it lasts.4 If it goes away, let her stir her will with some tender affection; if, from the first affection, she finds herself restored to her sweet peace, let her remain there. You must blow gently on the fire; as soon as it is lit, stop blowing, because anyone who kept blowing would put it out.
Pure Love and Detachment
True prayer requires concluding in silence and approaching God with a heart detached from self-interest.
3. Above all, I ask that you never finish your prayer without spending some time at the end in respectful silence. It is also of great importance that the soul go to prayer with courage and bring to it a pure love, without self-interest: that she not go there so much to get something from God as to please him and do his will. For a servant who serves his Master only in proportion as he is rewarded is unworthy of being rewarded. Go to prayer not to enjoy God, but to be there as He wills; that will keep you steady in both dryness and abundance, and you will not be surprised by God's rebuffs or by times of dryness.
Read the original French
1. Second Dégré d’Oraison, appellée ici, Oraison de Simplicité. Quand il est tems d’y monter.
2. Comment la faire & s’y entretenir.
3. Requisitions pour la bien faire.
1. LE second dégré est appellé par quelques-uns Contemplation, Oraison de foi, & de repos; & d’autres lui donnent le nom d’Oraison de simplicité; & c’est de ce dernier terme dont il se faut servir ici, étant plus propre que celui de Contemplation, qui signifie une oraison plus avancée que celle dont je parle.
Lors donc que l’ame s’est exercée, comme il a été dit, durant quelque tems, elle sent que peu-à-peu la facilité de s’appliquer à Dieu lui est donnée; elle commence à se recueillir plus aisément : l’Oraison lui devient aisée, douce & agréable; elle connoît que c’est le chemin pour trouver Dieu : elle sent l’odeur de ses parfums.
Alors il faut qu’elle change de méthode, & qu’elle fasse avec fidélité & courage ce que je vais dire, sans s’étonner de tout ce qu’on lui pourroit alléguer.
2. Premierement, sitôt qu’elle se met en la présence de Dieu avec foi, & qu’elle se recueille, qu’elle demeure un peu de cette sorte dans un silence respectueux.
Que si dès le commencement, en faisant son acte de Foi, elle se sent un petit goût de la présence de Dieu, qu’elle en demeure là, sans se mettre en peine d’aucun sujet, ni de passer outre; & qu’elle garde ce qui lui est donné tant qu’il dure.
S’il s’en va, qu’elle excite sa volonté par quelque affection tendre; & si dès la premiere affection elle se trouve remise dans sa douce paix, qu’elle y demeure. Il faut souffler doucement le feu; & sitôt qu’il est allumé, cesser de le souffler; car qui voudroit encore souffler, l’éteindroit.
3. Je demande sur-tout, que l’on ne finisse jamais l’Oraison, sans que l’on demeure quelque tems sur la fin dans un silence respectueux.
Il est encore de grande conséquence que l’ame aille à l’Oraison avec courage, qu’elle y porte un amour pur, & sans intérêts : Qu’elle n’y aille point tant pour avoir quelque chose de Dieu, que pour lui plaire & faire sa volonté. Car un serviteur qui ne sert son Maître qu’à mesure qu’il le récompense, est indigne d’être récompensé.
Allez donc à l’Oraison, non pour vouloir jouir de Dieu; mais pour y être comme il veut : cela fera que vous serez égal dans les sécheresses comme dans l’abondance; & que vous ne vous étonnerez point des rebuts de Dieu ni des sécheresses.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Song.1.3 — The fragrance of your oils is good; your name is poured oil; therefore young women love you.
Notes
- 1 ↩French Requisitions means the requisites or conditions needed, not petitions.
- 2 ↩Oraison de foi, & de repos may be read as two names or as one compound name, "prayer of faith and rest." The comma before & favors a list of names some people use.
- 3 ↩alléguer here means to bring forward as an objection or argument, not merely to mention.
- 4 ↩goût is the spiritual taste or savor of God's presence, not a sensory flavor; sujet is a meditation topic, not a person.
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