The Saints on Perseverance in Prayer

"You must never turn back for anything at all. You must not break away from holy prayer for any reason except obedience or charity. For often during the time scheduled for prayer the devil comes with all sorts of struggles and annoyances - even more than when you are not at prayer. He does this to make you weary of holy prayer. Often he will say, 'This sort of prayer is worthless to you. You should not think about or pay attention to anything except vocal prayer.' He makes it seem this way so that you will become weary and confused, and abandon the exercise of prayer. But prayer is a weapon with which you can defend yourself against every enemy. If you hold it with love's hand and the arm of free choice, this weapon, with the light of most holy faith, will be your defense"
~ St. Catherine of Siena, The Dialogue, 65

"Every soul should know that even though God does not answer its prayer immediately, he will not on that account fail to answer it at the opportune time if it does not become discouraged and give up its prayer."
~ St. John of the Cross, The Spiritual Canticle, 2:4

"Provided that we don't give up, the Lord will guide everything for our benefit, even though we may not find someone to teach us. There is no other remedy for this evil of giving up prayer than to begin again; otherwise the soul will gradually lose more each day--and please God that it will understand this fact"
~ St. Teresa of Avila, The Interior Castle, II, 1:9

"All saints began their conversion by prayer, and through prayer they persevered. All the damned were lost because they neglected prayer."
~The Cure of Ars, St. John Vianney

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