THE RIGHT ATTITUDE IN PRAYER

First, we pray to give God the honour and homage we owe Him; and this can be done without His speaking to us or we to Him, for this duty is paid by remembering that He is our God and we are His vile crewatures, and by remaining prostrate in spirit before Him, awaiting His commands.

How many courtiers go a hundred times into the presence of the king, not to hear him or speak to him, but simply to be seen by him, and to testify by this assiduity that they are his servants? And this purpose in prostrating ourselves before God--to testify to and profess our good will and gratitude in his service--is excellent, holy, and pure, and therefore of the greatest perfection. ...

Second, we pray in order to speak with God, and to hear Him speak to us by inspirations and movements in the interior of our soul. ...

Thus we shall not be overeager to speak to Him, since it is no less useful for us just to be in His presence; yes, it is more useful, although not so much to our taste. When, then, you come to Him, speak to Him if you can. If you cannot, stay there; be seen; and care for nothing else.

--St Francis de Sales, Thy Will Be Done, pp 26, 27