Writer's Wednesday -- St. Bonaventure

Blessed is the man

whose help is from you;

in his heart

he has prepared to ascend by steps

in the valley of tears,

in the place which he has set. (Ps. 83:6-7)

Since happiness is nothing other than

the enjoyment of the highest good

and since the highest good is above,

no one can be made happy unless he rise above himself,

not by an ascent of the body,

but of the heart.

But we cannot rise above ourselves

unless a higher power lift us up.

No matter how much our interior progress is ordered,

nothing will come of it

unless accompanied by divine aid.

Divine aid is available

to those who seek it from their hearts,

humbly and devoutly;

and this means to sigh for it

in this valley of tears, through fervent prayer.

Prayer, then, is the mother and source

of the ascent...

Let us pray, therefore, and say to the Lord our God:

Lead me, Lord, in your path,

and I will enter in you truth,

Let my heart rejoice

that it may fear your name. (Ps. 85:11)

-----St. Bonaventure, The Soul's Journey into God.