Meditation 7
The Importance of Recollection in the Prayer

God speaks always to us in an “unveiled language” (Jn 16. 29) and when we begin to listen to the Holy Spirit speaking in our hearts and obey His precept and follow them as traffic lights on this Sacred Way He gives us always a fuller share in His grace by our obedience. So this circumambulation brings great reward for us, or by the words of one of the ancient desert fathers, Abba Serenus,
And so the nous,i.e., the mind, is defined as ever shifting and very shifting: as it is thus described in the so called wisdom of Solomon in other words: “And the earthly Tabernacle weigteth down the mind that museth on many things” (Wisdom 9. 15). This then in accordance with its nature can never remain idle, but unless provision is made where it may exercise its motions and have what will continually occupy it, it must by its own fickleness wander about and stray over all kinds of things until, accustomed by long practice and daily use – in which you say that you have toiled without result – it tries and learns what food for the memory it ought to prepare, toward which it may bring back its unwearied flight and acquire strength for remaining, and thus may succeed in driving away the hostile suggestion of the enemy by which it is distracted, and in persisting in that state and condition which it yearns for. [1]

Certainly the desert fathers were shining pillars in the Church and by engraving the sacred image of the Sanctuary in our hearts, we can always seek refuge there against the evil thoughts of the enemy of our salvation, the fallen guardian cherub – Satan. The shining white curtains surrounding the courtyard emphasized the fact that the space within was consecrated to a Living God and the “evil spirits in the air” (Ep 6. 12) avoid such a place. By the Sanctuary of the Tabernacle God provides us with spiritual provision by its sacred images in order to quench the arrows of the evil incitements of the enemy of our salvation, but this is the role of sacred images in the live of grace in accordance with the teachings of the holy fathers. Let us pay heed to the words of the spiritual directors of the Church. I quote first John of the Cross,
It should be noted that among the many viles of the devil for deceiving spiritual persons, the most common is deceiving them under the appearance of good rather than of evil, for the devil already knows that they will scarcely choose a recognized evil. [2]

The way to destruction can thus consist of “good intentions” of human presumptuousness. Next I quote the venerable contemplative and preacher John Tauler,
“My house [Tabernacle] shall be a house of prayer.” Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Eternal Son of God has faithfully taught us here, what we must do that our hearts may be clean and pure houses of prayer, for man is really and truly a Holy Temple of God. But all traders must first be driven out of this Temple of God; that is all the fancies and imagination which are not really of God . . . Therefore this Temple of God is a pure clean heart and it is truly a Temple of God where the Eternal God ever dwelleth in truth, when all unlike Him has been driven and cast forth. Therefore I say unto you  that God will not take up His abode in a temple which has thus not been cleared. [3]

That is the reason why the invocation of the holy fathers is so vital for all souls in the live of grace,
Heart of Jesus, sacred temple of God . . . Heart of Jesus, Tabernacle of the Most High . . . Heart of Jesus, house of God and gate of heaven, have mercy on us!

We discover this methodology already among the desert fathers in the practice of the continuous prayer in order to fulfill the apostle's injunction (1 Th 5. 17) as Abba Isaac said,
And so for keeping up continual recollection of God this pious formula is to be ever set before you.  O God, make speed to save me: O Lord, make haste to help me, for this verse has not unreasonably been picked out from the whole of Scripture for this purpose. For it embraces all the feelings which can be implanted in human nature, and can be fitly and satisfactorily adapted to every condition, and all assaults. Since it contains an invocation of God against every danger, it contains humble and pious confession, it contains the watchfulness of anxiety and continual fear, it contains the thought of one's own weakness, confidence in the answer, and the assurance of a present and ever ready help.  For one who is constantly calling on his protector, is certain that He is always at hand . . . This verse is an impregnable wall for all who are laboring under the attacks of demons, as well as impenetrable coat of mail and a strong shield. [4]


[1]. Collatio, 7, 4.
[2]. Precautions 11.
[3]. Sermon XXXVI, At the Dedication of a Church.
[4]. Collatio, 10, 3.