“The soul does not find silence and peace through many reflections, but simply by meditating on the truth.” (St. Peter of Alcántara)
St. Peter of Alcántara, who was endowed with great mystical gifts by God and led an exceptionally ascetic life, points us to this invaluable source of prayer. Time and again, such gifted souls remind us that we should seek simply to dwell in the presence of God.
This is expressed in various ways. Some speak of immersing oneself in the love of Christ. One could also say that we should seek within ourselves the heart of our heavenly Father. There are many other ways to express this idea.
God grants us silence and peace not mostly through intellectual efforts, but through contemplating the truth. It is meant to draw our souls to itself. All that is required of us is simply to gaze upon it. One could also say to immerse oneself in it, savor it, or, as the Desert Fathers recommend, ruminate on it.
An excellent way to enter into this dwelling and contemplate the truth is to spend quiet time before the Most Holy Sacrament. In the tabernacle, and sometimes in exposition, is the One who says of Himself that He is the Truth. Gazing upon Him and allowing Jesus in the Sacrament to gaze upon us leads to inner peace because our soul is where it longs to be. Even when we are plagued by distracting thoughts, simply being in the Lord’s presence is infinitely precious. Our dwelling in and meditating on our Lord can simply consist in saying with our hearts: “You are here, and I am here. That is enough!”