LOVING RECOLLECTION OF THE SOUL IN CONTEMPLATION
I do not speak here, Theotimus, about [active] recollection[1] by which those who wish to pray place themselves in the presence of God. They enter into themselves withdrawing, so to say, their spirit into their heart to speak to God. For this recollection is made by love’s command. The commandment of love awakens us to prayer. It prompts us to take this means to do it well. So we withdraw our spirit into ourselves.
But [loving] recollection[2] about which I mean to speak is not made by the commandment of love. It is done by love itself. It means that we do not do it by ourselves, by our choice since it is not in our power to have it when we want. It does not depend on our care but God does it in us by his most holy grace when it pleases him. The Blessed Mother [St.] Teresa of Jesus has left us in writing that [the one who compared] the prayer of recollection to a hedgehog or tortoise retiring into itself said it well. However, there is a difference. These animals enter into themselves when they wish. But this recollection does not depend on our will. It is granted to us when it pleases God to give this grace.
It happens like this. Nothing is so natural for goodness than to attract and unite to itself the things which can feel it. Our souls do this. They always reach out and give themselves to their treasure, that is what they love. Sometimes it happens that Our Lord unnoticeably infuses into the depths of our hearts a certain gentle sweetness which witnesses his presence. Then the faculties, even the exterior senses of the human spirit, by a hidden consent, turns itself to this intimate depth where the most lovable and most dear Spouse is. It is similar to a new swarm of honey bees. When the bees want to take flight and change the country, they are recalled by the sound made gently on metal basins. Or they are attracted by the smell of wine mixed with honey or even by the scent of some sweet smelling herbs. Then they remain due to the attraction of these sweetnesses and enter the hive prepared for them.
Our Lord acts in the same way. He pronounces some mysterious word of his love or he infuses the scent of the wine of his love, more delicious than honey. Or he pours out the fragrance of his garments (Song 4:11) that is, some feelings of his heavenly consolation in our hearts. By these means he makes our hearts feel his loving presence. He draws to himself all the powers of our spirit. They gather around him and rest in him as their most desirable object. It is like one who puts a magnet amidst needles. Suddenly all the points of the needles will be turned to the side of their beloved magnet and go to attach themselves to it. When Our Lord makes his most delightful presence felt in the centre of our spirit, all our faculties turn their points to that side. It is to come and unite themselves to this sublime loving kindness.
O God! says the soul then in imitation of St. Augustine. Where have I been searching you, O Infinite Beauty! “Search have made for you outside of me, and you were in the centre of my heart." All the affections of Magdalene and all her thoughts were scattered around the tomb of our Saviour. She was searching for him here and there. Though she saw him and he spoke to her, she does not cease to leave them scattered because she did not recognize his presence. But suddenly, when he called her name, there she is, she recollects herself and clings to his feet (Jn 20:11-16). A single word puts her into recollection.
Imagine, Theotimus, the most holy Virgin, Our Lady, when she conceived the Son of God, her sole love. The soul of this Beloved Mother, without doubt, was fully gathered around this beloved Child, since this divine Friend was in her womb. All the faculties of her soul withdrew into herself like holy bees in the comb in which was their honey. In proportion as the divine greatness, so to say, shrank and limited itself in her virginal womb, her soul glorified and magnified the praises of this infinite goodness! Her spirit thrilled with joy (Lk 1:46-47) in her body (like St. John in that of his mother) (Lk 1:44), around her God whom she was experiencing. She did not express her thoughts or her affections outside of herself. For her treasure, her love, and her delights were in the centre of her sacred womb.
This same joy can be experienced by imitating those who have received Holy Communion. They feel the certitude of faith which neither flesh nor blood but the heavenly Father has revealed to them (Mt 17:17). Their Saviour is present body and soul, by a very real presence in their body and in their soul, by this most holy Sacrament. It is like the oyster. Once it has received the drops of fresh dew in the morning, it shuts itself. It is to preserve them pure, free from all mixing with sea water which could take place. Besides, it is also to feel and experience the pleasant freshness of this seed which the sky has sent it. Something similar happens to saints and devout faithful. Once they receive the divine Sacrament which contains the dew of all heavenly blessings, their souls close upon it. All their faculties recollect themselves. It is not only to adore this sovereign King newly present with a wonderful presence in their heart, but also for the unbelievable consolation and spiritual refreshment they receive. By their faith they feel this seed of immortality within the interior [of their heart].
Mark carefully, Theotimus, in short all this recollection is caused by love. Love feels the presence of the Beloved by the attraction he infuses into the very centre of the heart. Thus he gathers and carries the whole soul towards him by a very loving inclination, by a very sweet turning round, by a very delicious turning back of all the faculties towards the Beloved. He attracts them by the power of his sweetness. By it he binds and draws our hearts as one draws our body by ropes or any other binding materials.
This sweet recollection of our spirit in itself does not take place only because of the awareness of the divine presence [sacramental] in the centre of our heart. It may be any way whatever of placing ourselves in the presence of God. Sometimes it happens that all our interior powers draw closer and gather around in themselves. An extreme respect and gentle fear which seizes us on reflecting over the supreme majesty of God who is present and looks at us causes it. So also even if we are distracted, if a Pope or some great prince appears, we come back to ourselves and bring back our thoughts to hold ourselves with due posture and respect. We are told that the sight of the sun makes the flowers of iris close themselves. So it is called gladiolus since they close and shut themselves at the glimpse of the sun and in its absence blossom and keep themselves open the whole night. It is the same as regards the recollection about which we are speaking. Sometimes we have an awareness alone of the presence of God. This awareness makes us feel that he is looking at us from heaven or from any other place outside of us. Though we may not think of any other kind that by which he is within us, yet our faculties and powers collect and gather together in ourselves due to the respect for his divine Majesty. Love makes us fear him with a fear of honour and respect.
Indeed, I knew a person[3] to whom as soon as some mystery or phrase was revealed which recalled to her a little more vividly than usual the presence of God, may be in confession, may be in personal conference she entered deeply into herself. So she had difficulty to come out of herself to speak and answer. Exteriorly she remained as if deprived of life and all the senses benumbed till the Beloved allowed her to come out of it. Sometimes it was soon enough and at other times later.
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[1] We have added active as a further clarification to note that this recollection is not contemplation proper.
[2] We have added loving as the title of the chapter expresses it. It is passive because it is God's doing. Spiritual authors present contemplation proper as passive.
[3] Mother Anne Marie Rosset an early Visitation nun. See Pleiade, p 1738, footnote under p 632 for more details.