With the
mental eyes of my heart, I see how I mentally breathe Christ in my heart, how
He enters into it, and suddenly tranquilizes and rejoices it. O, do not leave
me to dwell alone, without Thyself, the life-giver, my breath, my joy!
It is
hard for me to be left without Thee. Is it possible to pray rapidly without
injuring the effect of the prayer? It is possible to those who have learned to
pray inwardly with a pure heart. During prayer it is necessary that your heart
should sincerely desire that which you ask for, should feel the truth of what
you are saying, and this comes naturally to a pure heart.
That is why it is
capable of praying even rapidly, and at the same time agreeably, to God, as the
rapidity in this case does not injure the truth (sincerity) of the prayer.
But
for those who have not attained the capability of praying sincerely it is
necessary to pray slowly, waiting for a corresponding echo in the heart to each
word of the prayer. And this is not always soon given to men unaccustomed to
prayerful contemplation. Therefore, for such men, it must be laid down as an
absolute rule to pronounce the words of the prayer slowly, and with pauses.
Wait until every word gives back its corresponding echo in your heart.
From - St
John of Kronstadt - My Life in Christ
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