The Inner Life -  Disposition & Prayer

In the previous reflection on the subject on the Inner Life, an extraordinary harmony with God, and with Mary, we mentioned that such a life is not only for religious but is for everyone who desires this close union. We also mentioned that if you want to have a really deep  interior life of prayer, it is necessary to renounce all sin.

How does one begin such a life? One doesn't say "Dear God, I am ready to be your friend now." No. He determines when the time is right because an Inner Life is a Grace of God, a gift. Generally, a person desiring to love God in this special way, will be disposed toward a life of prayer.  Such a person will attend daily Mass when possible, and is a humble and, perhaps, even a meek person. "The kingdom of God is within you, says the Lord. Turn with all your heart to the Lord and forsake this miserable world, and you shall find rest in your soul. Learn to despise outward things and to give thyself to things inward, and you shall see the kingdom of God come within you. For the kingdom of God is peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, and it is not given to the sinful. Christ will come to you, and show you His consolation, if you prepare a worthy mansion for Him within yourself. All His glory and beauty is from within, and there it pleases Him to dwell. He often visits the inward man and holds with him sweet discourse, giving him soothing consolation, much peace, friendship exceeding wonderful." (Thomas à Kempis)

A person disposed to an Inner Life, and that's a very private life that no one else needs to know about (if you live such a life it will be evident in your actions),  is generally a humble and very generous person. He or she will be a peaceful and a thoroughly good person. Someone with an inner life will have a healthy self-esteem, and be a person with a pure mind and goal. People who have an active Inner Life are people like you or me. That person will have a growing relationship with Jesus, by not placing Him in second place and by communicating with Him, and His Holy Mother, all the time. And, incidentally, there are people of many different faiths who have an inner life with God.

How does one talk with Jesus? Keeping in mind that prayer is talking to God, share your life with Him. We look down on people who seem to talk to themselves on the street. Often, these people are talking with God, only a little too loudly. Surely, you've heard about "Conversational Prayer," (my friend, and previous religious superior, Br. Craig Driscoll, founder of the Community of The Monks of Adoration, Venice, FL) wrote such a booklet, and it was a successful publication. I never favored this sort of prayer (I'm more into Psalms and such) but invariably, I find myself speaking with Jesus in just that way, having a conversation with Him. Does He reply? Well, yes... and no. Let me explain that. He replies if you give Him your ears. You pray a little, and then you be still within your heart, and you will hear or sense a word, a direction, a moment of peace, a confirmation, and just joy. But if you are not disposed to listening, you won't hear Him at all.

This concept of speaking to God and listening to Him, is one of the hardest to understand. Unless you are disposed to have an inner life in Christ, you will probably react in a brush-off kind of way to the above explanation. It's not for everyone. But it is for everyone who loves Jesus so much that he or she will be at His disposal, all the time.

Is a disposition toward an Inner Life similar to what is described in St. John of the Cross' "The Dark Night of the Soul?" It could be. If someone really desires a very close relationship with Jesus, the elements described in "The Dark Night," would become part of your experience. It is not something to be feared. The stages of "The Dark Night" take a long, long time to experience and we can talk about that in a later article.

For now, if you desire to follow Our Lord in this way, that is by being open to an Inner Life with Him, you should work on getting to know Him, and getting to know yourself. And also, finding a way to pray, to communicate with Him.

Fred Schaeffer, SFO