Lenten Meditation - March 3, 2006

“…meditation has to be approached, and that requires an effort: in the first place, to set aside each day the time necessary for it, and further, to force oneself to make a meditation regularly, and to persevere when there is no feeling of pleasure and when God withholds all consolation. It behooves us to take the first steps in quest of God, but if we persevere in seeking Him thus, He will someday give us a hundredfold in return, and the reward granted to our labor is very sweet. For many years, St. Teresa awaited God’s response to her persevering prayer, which afforded her no consolation, but, when it came, the response was far greater than she could ever have anticipated. We, who are not saints, do not have to wait so long; we receive a great deal in return for a little exertion, and, I can tell you by experience, God is an excellent creditor.”

- Elisabeth Leseur (1866 – 1914) - from the Secret Diary of Elisabeth Leseur, letter to her mother