Saintly Wisdom

"It is better not to burden ourselves with a multitude of prayers and pious practices but rather adopt only a few and perform them with love and perseverance in spite of opposition from the devil, the world, and the flesh."
St. Louis de Montfort

Sarah at Just Another Day of Catholic Pondering posted this quote as part of her 7 Quick Takes Friday.

This certainly was something that I really needed to hear....and from one of my favorite saints as well!!

I'm in the midst of praying over my Rule of Life. And I read. A lot. Especially from the lives of the saints and different books on prayer, etc.

I have a "problem" sometimes with wanting to pray EVERY prayer that is mentioned everywhere. And what then happens is I get overwhelmed, can't possibly fit all the prayers into every day, get frustrated and then give up. And then feel guilty for not saying EVERY one of the prayers that I WANT to pray.

And while praying over my Rule of Life I've been thinking of "adding into" my day more prayers. (I'm not talking about the spontaneous prayers that come forth while I'm working...I'm talking about the "formal" prayers and practices like St. Louis is talking about).

But thanks to the above quote I've put a halt on things.

I know without a doubt that I am being called to attend Adoration as often as I can; to pray the Liturgy of the Hours every day....at least Morning and Evening Prayer and the Office of Readings if possible (which most days it is possible....and on the days when it isn't that's because I've opted to do something else....something else that could be "put off" to pray) and the Rosary. And attend Daily Mass.

That's "it".

*Mass

*Liturgy of the Hours

*Adoration

*Rosary

Granted some days not all are accomplished but for the majority of days these 4 things are a huge part of my spiritual life. And it is these four things that carry me through my days. They help me focus on "today" more. And there are quite a few Mornings when I don't "feel like" getting up earlier (all of 15 minutes) in order to pray Morning Prayer well. But I do...get up anyways some days I'm not sure how well the prayers are prayed.

But I am persevering. If there are some days when I'd rather be doing anything else then pray....and yet I do pray....then I've accomplished something. And it's another dart into the opposition from "the devil, the world, and the flesh."