“One of the most ancient approaches to spiritual formation comes from the desert fathers who used to offer brief commentaries on various prayers.” – Fr. James Brent, OP
“From her place now in the Light, Mary sees you. She knows the designs of God for your life. She prays for you.” – Fr. James Brent, OP
“No one could ever sit down and try to practice infused contemplation. It comes upon us. It comes upon us when it pleases God to give it. For the Spirit blows where he wills (see Jn. 3:8).” – Fr. James Brent, O.P.
“In Rosarium Virginis Mariae, Pope Saint John Paul II was intent on driving home an important point. The Rosary is a way to contemplative prayer.” – Fr. James Brent, O.P.
“When you and I go into silence, when we seek to pray, when we seek to guard our hearts in order to remain on the lookout for the Lord Jesus, the single greatest help at our disposal is simply his love for us.” – Fr. James Brent, O.P.
“When dark thoughts, disordered passions, and distractions come knocking on the door of our hearts, the simplest response is to say: ‘I do not consent.’ A simple ‘no’ keeps the heart pure even if such things keep bombarding us involuntarily.” – Fr. James Brent
“The latest science corroborates to some extent what spiritual teachers have long said. The interior life of a fallen human being is largely a conversation with oneself that needs to be transformed into a conversation with God.” – Fr. James Brent, O.P.
“Is God done raising up men and women of great prayer in his Church? Is a life devoted to meditation on the Word of God a thing of the past?” – Fr. James Brent
“What the monks learned by experience was that such practices prepare the mind to receive special illuminations from Holy Spirit for purposes of understanding Scripture.” – Fr. James Brent
“To remain in the state of prayerfulness, to abide in the loving awareness of the presence of God, is the dream of every contemplative soul.” – Fr. James Brent