On the Teaching of the Saints 9: St. Alphonsus Liguori

Distractions during prayer are very common.  Nonetheless, we struggle to overcome them and to truly address our words to Our Lord with sincerity and focus.  St. Alphonsus Liguori explains the problem.  One solution is to simply let the distractions float by our minds and gently let them go away.  Sometimes, we need to simply offer the distraction as a moment of suffering to Our Lord and leave it to Him!  In this way, we turn the enemy's attack to God's glory!

"The devil is never busier trying to distract us than when he sees us praying and asking God for grace.  And why?  Because the enemy sees that at no other time do we gain so many treasures of heavenly goods as when we pray."

(Esper, Saintly Solutions, 76)

St. Alphonsus Liguori, pray for us!

VVV

Comments

[Janine]

I have never thought of a distraction as a moment of suffering because distractions are usually interesting. I would have normally thought it was more a moment of temptation. I need to give this some thought because I can see how when one is deep in prayer a distraction could be either a moment of suffering or a moment of temptation.

[Andrea]

This quote is very true. It is especially true for me during Mass. It's not always just simple distraction, but more often worry, anxiety, and other things that are not of God. I was never aware that the evil one would try to tempt us like this until Fr. Rocco and I were discussing it once. Being aware, alone, has given me freedom to reject those thoughts and distractions and focus more properly on Mass or prayer.