Dear Benedict,
This isn’t a long letter. This is to commend you for your advice in Chapter 20 to keep our prayers ‘short and pure’.
I’m in favour of that. I’ve sat through far too many long and tedious prayers in my time, designed, it would appear to make the pray-er look good rather than anything else.
Of course, sometimes, in anguish or anxiety, our prayers may become stretched out. God sits with us.
We may wonder what short prayers could accomplish but remember we are not trying to ‘change God’s mind’ as much as join God’s team. Joining for a short time whenever we may gives God joy: the Holy One is happy to see us show up.
As for pure; just pray. Try not to get it mixed up with other stuff; and make it wholehearted.
From the remembered gospel: Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God!
Here I am, wholeheartedly!
From A Friend of Scholastica and a Member of the Lay Community of St Benedict.