24.
The
Society's call to contemplation,
a
compelling love written in our hearts by the Spirit,
makes us
seek and cherish
prolonged
times of prayer.
Our
relationship with Christ is nourished
by the
study of Scripture, by reading,
reflection
and daily examen,
all of
which are necessary for the deepening
of our
inner life;
this
relationship is further strengthened
by
periodic renewal and an annual retreat.
We are called to contemplation; it is a "compelling love written in our hearts by the Spirit" - what a beautiful way to express this aspect of our vocation; we are to be contemplatives because the Holy Spirit has intervened with His gift of "a compelling love" that makes us "seek and cherish prolonged times of prayer".
When I think of prolonged times of prayer, I am so grateful for the hour each morning that is sacred time for and with Jesus; each day begins thus and then there is time for quiet adoration before the Blessed Sacrament in the late afternoon. But I also think of my annual eight-day retreat and the great grace of having made five thirty-day retreats as well as the grace of having directed thirty-day retreats. All of these times of prayer strengthen my relationship with God. We also have other prayer throughout the day: the Eucharist, spiritual reading, daily examen, reflection and study of Scripture - all ways of nourishing our relationship with Christ.
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