That night I went to the tabernacle.
My inner being was full of turmoil.
I wanted to believe God was giving me the prayer of quiet.
At the same time, I was afraid to believe it.
What if I become proud?
A part of me could not believe also that God was really giving it to me.
In that state of inner turmoil, I asked God, "Are you giving me the prayer of quiet?"
I heard very clearly the words, "Not yet but I will."
Instantly, calm and peace took over me.
It was what Saint. John of the Cross termed as locution.
It was also the first time I heard this inner voice.
The voice was correct.
What I was experiencing was what Saint. Teresa term as prayer of simplicity.
St. John of the Cross calls it acquired contemplation.
A contemplation we are able to attain with our own efforts.
Prayer of quiet is what Saint John of the Cross termed as Infused Contemplation.
He held the same belief, that it is a supernatural state of prayer which God gives the soul.
A state of prayer we are not able to attain through our own efforts.
The voice was correct, a few months later, I did move into infused contemplation.
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