Prayer, loving conversation with God, is the supreme good. It is both a relationship with God and union with him. As the eyes of the body are made sharper by the sight of light, so the soul yearning for God is illumined by his ineffable light. Prayer is not the result of an external attitude; it comes from the heart. it is not limited to set hours or minutes, but, night and day, it is a continuous activity. It is not enough to direct one’s thoughts to God when concentrating exclusively on prayer; even when absorbed in other occupations–such as, caring for the poor, or some other concern in the way of a good or useful work–it is important to combine the work with desire for and remembrance of God. For thus you will be able to offer the Lord a very pleasing food from the universe, seasoned with the salt of love for God.

Prayer is the light of the soul, true knowledge of God, a mediating activity between God and humanity. Through it, the soul rises heavenward and embraces the Savior with ineffable love. As a suckling to its mother, it cries to God, weeping, thirsting for the divine milk. It expresses its deepest desires and receives gifts greater than anything on earth. Prayer, by which we respectfully present ourselves to God, is the joy of the heart and the soul’s rest.

Prayer brings the soul to the heavenly fountain, satisfies the soul with this draught, and raises up in it “a fountain leaping up to provide eternal life.” Prayer gives a real assurance of the good things to come, in faith, and makes present blessings more recognizable. Do not imagine that prayer consists only in words. It is a leap to God, an inexpressible love that is not of our making, as the Apostle says: “We do not know how to pray as we ought; but the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in speech.”

Such prayer, when the Lord grants it to anyone, is a treasure that cannot be taken away, a heavenly food that satisfies the soul. One who tastes it is filled with an eternal desire for God, such a devouring flame that it kindles the heart. Let this fire flare up in you in all its fullness, to adorn the dwelling place of the heart with kindness and humility, to make it shine with the light of righteousness, and to polish its floor with good deeds. Hence, adorn your house and instead of mosaics decorate it with faith and magnanimity. And as a finishing touch put prayer at the top of your building. Then you will have prepared a house worthy to receive the Lord, as a royal place, and you yourself, through grace, will already be possessing him, in a certain manner, in the temple of your soul.

—Homily 6 on Prayer