Quote of the day, 13 April: Brother Lawrence | "We do not always have to be in church to be with God. We can make of our hearts an oratory where we can withdraw from time to time..." http://carmelitequotes.blog/2021/04/12/brolawrence-ltr9-hearts-oratory/

We do not always have to be in church to be with God. We can make of our hearts an oratory where we can withdraw from time to time to converse with him there, gently, humbly, and lovingly. Everyone is capable of these familiar conversations with God, some more, some less.

He knows what we can do. Let’s try. Perhaps he is only looking for the right intention on our part. Courage, we have only a short time left to live: you are nearly sixty-four and I am almost eighty. Let us live and die with God.

Sufferings will always be sweet and pleasant when we are with him, and without him the greatest pleasures are cruel punishment. May he be blessed by all. Amen.

Gradually become accustomed to adoring him in this way, asking him for his grace, offering him your heart from time to time, during the day, while at work, at every possible moment.

Do not force yourself to follow special rules or practice private devotions; do this in faith, with love and humility.

Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection, O.C.D.

Letter 9, to a woman, ca. 1689

Featured image: A campesino woman from Chiapas, Mexico washes dishes in the community kitchen ( https://flic.kr/p/jtDYaw ). Photo credit: Digital Democracy ( https://www.flickr.com/photos/digitaldemocracy/) / Flickr (Some rights reserved ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/)).

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