“How often, as you were singing or reading, did He not enlighten you with His light, the senses of your soul!
How often, when you prayed, did He not ravish you with ineffable longings for Himself!
How often, your mind being withdrawn from earthly things, did He not transport you into the midst of heavenly delights and the joys of paradise!
Think of all these things, and turn them over in your mind, that all your heart’s love may be turned over to Him.
O, let the world be worthless to you; let all carnal love be as dross; forget that you are in this world; for you have turned your heart’s intent and purpose to those in heaven and live in God; and where your treasure is, there my sister [and my brother] let your heart be also (St. Matt. vi. 21).
Do not shut up your heart with the silver coins in your worthless purse; for you can never fly to heaven with a load of money about you.
Think day by day that you are going to die, and you will not fidget about tomorrow. Let not the future terrify you with its barren waste, nor a fear of coming hunger deject your spirits; but let all your trust rest in Him who feeds the birds and clothes the lilies.
Let Him be your barn, make Him your treasury, make Him your purse, Him your riches, Him your joy; let Him alone be all in all to you. And meanwhile let this suffice for the things of the present.”
St. Anselm in St. Anselm’s Book of Meditations and Prayers (London: Burns & Oates, 1872) 226-227.