11.   All the virtues co-operate with the intellect to produce this intense longing for God, pure prayer above all. For by soaring towards God through this prayer the intellect rises above the realm of created beings.

St. Maximus the Confessor Four Hundred Centuries on Love: #11

Our spiritual journey is often depicted as a path paved with virtues. These virtues – patience, kindness, humility, and the like – aren't mere adornments to our character but essential tools guiding our intellect towards an intimate union with the Divine. Virtues and intellect, according to St. Maximus, work hand in hand. Virtues mold the intellect, refining it, allowing it to cultivate an intense longing for God. Yet, among all virtues, pure prayer stands paramount. But what constitutes pure prayer?

Pure prayer isn't a mere repetition of words or ritualistic acts. It is a heart's sincere and undivided yearning for God, an expression of our deepest desires and vulnerabilities. It transcends the limitations of language, space, and time. By genuinely engaging in pure prayer, we elevate our intellect. We rise above the transient and the tangible, leaving behind the shackles of worldly concerns and desires. We find ourselves in the vast expanse of God's domain, free from the confines of our earthly existence.

You might ask: how do I begin to work toward pure prayer? The answer is simple…practice! There is a reason that Maximus takes simple things and reminds us that they are tools to something deeper and greater in our midst. God is not just one dimensional, but totally enveloping and to experience that union we actively, in our lives, pray. Prayer becomes not just a moment, but a way of living that is fulfilling.