Eighth Letter

(Concerning wandering thoughts in Prayer.)

(About wandering thoughts during prayer.)

You tell me nothing new; you are not the only one that is troubled with wandering thoughts. Our mind is extremely roving; but, as the will is mistress of all our faculties, she must recall them, and carry them to GOD as their last end.

You tell me nothing new. You are not the only one troubled by wandering thoughts. Our minds wander constantly. But the will governs all our faculties, so it must call them back and direct them to God, their ultimate goal.

When the mind, for want of being sufficiently reduced by recollection at our first engaging in devotion, has contracted certain bad habits of wandering and dissipation, they are difficult to overcome, and commonly draw us, even against our wills, to the things of the earth.

When we first begin devotion, we may not focus our minds enough through recollection. As a result, our minds can develop bad habits of wandering and distraction. These habits are difficult to overcome and commonly draw us toward earthly things, even against our will.

I believe one remedy for this is to confess our faults, and to humble ourselves before GOD. I do not advise you to use multiplicity of words in prayer: many words and long discourses being often the occasions of wandering. Hold yourself in prayer before GOD, like a dumb or paralytic beggar at a rich man's gate. Let it be your business to keep your mind in the presence of the LORD. If it sometimes wander and withdraw itself from Him, do not much disquiet yourself for that: trouble and disquiet serve rather to distract the mind than to re-collect it: the will must bring it back in tranquility. If you persevere in this manner, GOD will have pity on you.

I believe one remedy for this is to confess our faults and humble ourselves before God. I do not advise you to use many words in prayer. Many words and long speeches often cause the mind to wander. Pray before God like a beggar who cannot speak or move, waiting at a rich man's gate. Make it your business to keep your mind in the Lord's presence. If your mind sometimes wanders away from him, do not be too upset. Worry and distress tend to distract the mind rather than bring it back. You must calmly will it to return. If you persevere in this way, God will have pity on you.

One way to re-collect the mind easily in the time of prayer, and preserve it more in tranquility, is not to let it wander too far at other times: you should keep it strictly in the presence of GOD; and being accustomed to think of Him often, you will find it easy to keep your mind calm in the time of prayer, or at least to recall it from its wanderings.

One way to gather your thoughts easily and remain calm during prayer is not to let your mind wander too far at other times. Keep your mind focused on the presence of God. As you grow used to thinking of him often, you will find it easy to stay calm during prayer. Or at least you will find it easy to bring your mind back when it wanders.

I have told you already at large, in my former letters, of the advantages we may draw from this practice of the presence of GOD: let us set about it seriously, and pray for one another.

I have already written at length in my earlier letters about the benefits we may gain from practicing God's presence. Let us take this practice seriously and pray for one another.

Yours, &c.

Yours, etc.