Whenever I find myself being angry, negative or wanting to put in the last word to justify oneself. I pray that St Elizabeth, will remind me of her words :
"I shall keep my strength for you." My Rule tells me: "In silence will your strength be." It seems to me, therefore, that to keep one's strength for the Lord is to unify one's whole being by means of interior silence, to collect all one's powers in order to "employ" them in the "one work of love," to have this "single eye" which allows the light of God to enlighten us.
A soul that debates with itself, that is taken up with its feelings, and pursues useless thoughts and desires, scatters its forces, for it is not wholly directed towards God. Its lyre does not vibrate in unison and when the Master plays it, He cannot draw from it divine harmonies, for it is still too human and discordant.
[Excerpt taken from Elizabeth of the Trinity; The Complete Works; Volume One; "Last Retreat : Second Day" ]
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