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Prayers

“O Lord, grant me the grace to know how to enclose myself within this little heaven of my soul, where you are present.  There you let me find you, there I feel you are closer to me than anywhere else, and there you prepare my soul quickly to enter into intimacy with you.  Then the soul, understanding that all the things of the world are but toys, seems all of a sudden to rise above everything created and escape it, like one who takes refuge in a fortified castle to be safe from enemies.” (St. Teresa of Avila)

“O Jesus, I am locking myself in Your most merciful heart as in a fortress, impregnable against the missiles of my enemies.” (St. Faustina Kowalska, Diary, #1535)

“It seems to me that I have found my heaven on earth, because my heaven is you, my God, and you are in my soul. You in me, and I in you - may this be my motto.  What a joyous mystery is your presence within me, in that intimate sanctuary of my soul where I can always find you, even when I do not feel your presence.  Of what importance is feeling?  Perhaps you are all the closer when I feel you less.” (St. Elizabeth of the Trinity) 

(Jesus) “.. reign in the most secret recesses of my heart, there where my most secret thoughts are conceived, where You alone have free access, in this deepest sanctuary where human thought cannot penetrate.  May You alone dwell there, and may everything I do exteriorly take its origin in You.  I ardently desire, and I am striving with all the strength of my soul, to make You, Lord, feel at home in this sanctuary.” (St. Faustina; Diary, #1721)

“O Prisoner of Love, I lock up my poor heart in this tabernacle, that it may adore You without cease night and day.  I know of no obstacle in this adoration, and even though I be physically distant, my heart is always with You.  Nothing can put a stop to my love for You.  No obstacles exist for me.  O my Jesus, I will console You for all the ingratitude, the blasphemies, the coldness, the hatred of the wicked, the sacrileges.” (St. Faustina Kowalska, Diary, #80)

“Jesus, when You come to me in Holy Communion, You Who together with the Father and the Holy Spirit have deigned to dwell in the little heaven of my heart, I try to keep You company throughout the day…. although I am in the company of other people or with our wards, my heart is always united to Him.” (St. Faustina Kowalska, Diary, #486)

"Jesus, here is my heart; let it be a little cozy resting place for yourself.”  (St. Faustina)

“Make my soul…Your cherished dwelling place, Your home of rest.  Let me never leave You there alone, but keep me there all absorbed in You, in living faith, adoring You.”  (Elizabeth of the Trinity)

"Your Face is all lovely and Your Heart all inviting, but my thoughts alas! go wandering far from You.  Come, O God of my heart, gather together my scattered mental powers and fix them upon Yourself."  (St. Gertrude) 

"May my life be a continual prayer, a long act of love. May nothing distract me from You, neither noise nor diversions. O my Master, I would so love to live with You in silence. But what I love above all is to do Your will, and since You want me still to remain in the world, I submit with all my heart for love of You. I offer you the cell of my heart; may it be Your little Bethany. Come rest there; I love you so....I would like to console You, and offer myself to You as a victim. O my Master, for You, with You." (Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity)