Saturday, May 5, 2012

...becoming himself totally prayer


A selection from The Remembrance of the Desire of a Soul by Thomas of Celano 

When Francis was praying in the woods or solitary places, he would fill the forest with groans, water the places with tears, strike his breast with his hand, and, as if finding a more secret hiding place, he often conversed out loud with his Lord.  There he replied to the Judge, there he entreated the Father;  there he conversed with the Friend, there he played with the Bridegroom.  Indeed, in order to make all the marrow of his heart a holocaust in manifold ways, he would place before his eyes the One who is manifold and supremely simple.  He would often ruminate inwardly with unmoving lips, and, drawing outward things inward, he raised his spirit to the heights.  Thus he would direct all his attention and affection toward the one thing he asked of the Lord, not so much praying, as becoming himself totally prayer.  

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