"When we start doing mental prayer we are not saints, and the more we do it the more we realize that fact. People who never come face to face with God in silence are never really conscious of their infidelities and faults, but when we pray, such things become much more obvious. That may give rise to a lot of suffering and the temptation to stop praying. We should not be discouraged at that stage, but should persevere, convinced that perseverance will obtain for us the grace of conversion."
- Time for God, pg. 35
One of the surprising fruits of prayer is that it strengthens our conscience. When we pray, our sins become more evident to us, and we perceive them to be more severe than before. This knowledge can be discouraging and may leave us feeling tempted to halt our prayer life. When I pray the rosary with my family or pray in mass, I experience this temptation to stop praying because I feel discouraged and ashamed of my sins. Thinking about my faults and shortcomings often makes my feel more guilty and sad. However, no matter how disheartening this may be, I know that I must persevere through this time and keep praying, because God is with me and wants to give me His grace to keep trying, and to overcome our sins.
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