Meditation for January 26, The Different States of Prayer

"There are," St. Theresa of Avila remarks, "four ways of water­ing the garden: with water drawn by hand from a well, which is a very laborious task, or with water drawn by means of a mill which draws much more water with much less effort; or by directing the waters of a stream or a river so that the garden is well irrigated with little labor on the part of the gardener; or finally by abundant showers, a method incomparably better than all the others, because Our Lord Himself waters the garden with no labor on our part."

God does not treat all souls alike; some must exercise themselves laboriously at prayer; let them not be afflicted, they are not less loved, and their way is the most secure from illusions.

Others experience singular ease at prayer; they love to pray, at least most of the time; it seems to them that without their exerting any effort, or manifesting the least concern, the waters of the depths rise, fructifying their lands and allowing them to drink deep of the wells of Jacob.

In certain cases God does all the work; the water falls from heaven. That is not necessarily a proof that the land is better here than elsewhere. It is true, however, that God does not generally shower His choice graces on poorly prepared soil.

"You know, Lord, the status of my prayer. I must not judge it by Your part in it; but by what I contribute to it. Grant that I may refuse You nothing. Deal with me, not according to my desires, but according to Your will. Grant only that I attain the perfection You have planned and that my prayer correspond to Your desires."

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Adapted from Meditations for Religious
by Father Raoul Plus, S.J. (© 1939, Frederick Pustet Co.)