It is in prayer that we draw strength to move forward, to carry out what the Lord asks of us. And this is equally true in the life of a priest, a mother, a religious sister, a student... That is why the devil puts so much effort into making us abandon our daily prayer, or into making us pray carelessly or poorly, for "the traitor knows that the soul that perseveres in prayer is lost to him, and that all the falls it may suffer later help it, through God's goodness, to take a greater leap forward in its service to the Lord: he has a lot at stake in this."
Souls that have been close to God have always spoken to us of the paramount importance of prayer in the Christian life. "Let us not be surprised, then," taught the Holy Curé of Ars, "that the devil does everything possible to move us to abandon prayer or to practice it poorly.
Prayer is the firm foundation of perseverance, for "he who does not stop walking and moving forward," teaches the Saint, "even if late, arrives. Losing the way seems to me to be nothing other than abandoning prayer."$^{8}$ That is why we must prepare for it with such great care: knowing that we are standing before the living and glorious Christ, who sees us and hears us just as He did those who approached Him during the years He remained visibly on earth. How different is the day when, with tranquility and love, we have taken good care of that daily time dedicated to speaking with the Lord, who listens to us so attentively! What joy to be able to be near Christ right now!
"Look at the set of reasoned absurdities the enemy presents to you so that you abandon prayer: 'I lack time'—when you are losing it continuously; 'this is not for me,' 'my heart is dry'...
"Prayer is not a matter of talking or feeling, but of loving. And one loves by striving to try to say something to the Lord, even if nothing comes out.
Let us make the resolution never to abandon it, to dedicate to it the best possible time, in the best place, before the Tabernacle whenever our duties permit.
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HCD