Light Your Lamps

Commentary 
from Saint Maximilian Kolbe (1894-1941),
Franciscan, martyr


Conference of 13/2/1941

"Light your lamps"

What are we to do if we are to overcome our weakness of soul? There are two means: prayer and detachment from self. Our Lord Jesus counsels us to watch. We must be on the watch if we want our heart to be pure, but our watching must be peaceful if our heart is to be touched. Because it can be moved by good things or bad, within or without. Thus we need to watch carefully. As a general rule God's inspiration is an unobtrusive grace; we mustn't turn it away...; if our heart's aren't awake, grace turns back. Divine inspiration is very exact; just as a writer guides his pen so the grace of God guides the soul.

So let us try hard to attain greater interior recollection. Our Lord wants us to desire to love him. The watchful soul notices when it falls and realises that, of itself, it cannot reach its destination. That is why it experiences the need for prayer. Our petition is founded on the conviction that we can do nothing of ourselves but God can do all. Prayer is needed to obtain light and strength.