Increase of prayer is indicated by an increase of simplicity and steadiness in our views — a great multitude of considerations being no longer necessary.
Our relationship with God resembles that with a friend; at first, there are a thousand things to be told, and as many to be asked; but after a time, these diminish, while the pleasure of being together does not.
Fénelon perfectly describes the sweet friendship of God:
"Everything has been said, but the satisfaction of seeing each other, of feeling that one is near the other, of reposing in the enjoyment of a pure and sweet friendship, can be felt without conversation; the silence is eloquent and mutually understood. Each feels that the other is in perfect sympathy with him, and that their two hearts are incessantly poured one into the other, and constitute but one." 🙏
Fénelon completes the progression that last night began. Watch the descent into simplicity: whole sermons → a single word → the eloquent silence. Last night: reasonings diminish, and a word gives the heart employment for a long time. Tonight: even the words diminish — and the being together remains.
At first — a thousand things to tell, a thousand to ask. The new believer's prayers, full of requests and questions. But after a time, these diminish — while the pleasure of being together does not. Everything has been said. What remains is the satisfaction of nearness. Two hearts incessantly poured one into the other — constituting but one.
After decades of mornings, the thousand things have been told. What remains is the friendship. John 15:15 — I have called you friends. Exodus 33:11 — the Lord speaking to Moses as a man speaks to his friend. The sweet friendship of God is not a metaphor. It is the destination of every praying life.
"The silence is eloquent and mutually understood."
François Fénelon · The sweet friendship of God — two hearts, oneIn prayer, our communion with God becomes a simple and familiar union, far beyond the need of words.
But God Himself must alone institute this prayer within us; nothing would be more rash nor more dangerous, than to dare to attempt it of ourselves. We must suffer ourselves to be led step by step.
Fénelon's caution keeps the sweetness humble: the wordless union is not a technique to attempt. It is a gift God institutes. The soul that tries to manufacture the eloquent silence produces only an empty one. Like everything in the divine life — the friendship too is given, not achieved. Absolutely nothing came from me — Le's words from four nights ago — hold here as well. The silence is His gift. The soul's part is to receive it, step by step.
We must attend to duty before we seek enjoyment in spiritual exercises. The man who has public duties and spends the time appropriate to them in meditating in retirement, would miss God while he was seeking to be united to Him.
True union with God is to do His will without ceasing, in spite of all our natural disinclination and in every duty of life, however disagreeable or mortifying.
French practicality at its finest. The mystic who abandons his duties to meditate misses God while seeking to be united to Him — because God is in the duty, not away from it. True union is not escape from the packing boxes, the move preparations, the disagreeable details of a life in transition. Union is His will done inside them. The friendship of God does not wait in the quiet room. It walks through every duty of the day — however mortifying — with the soul that does His will without ceasing.
We must avoid close and intimate intercourse with those who are not pious. They will open our wounds afresh: they have a secret correspondence deep in our souls; there is there a soft and insinuating counsellor who is always ready to blind and deceive us.
Would you judge of a man? says the Holy Spirit — observe who are his companions (Proverbs 13:20).
Can a heart full of God ever rest with those who have no feelings in common with it, but are ever seeking to rob it of its treasure?
The impious companion is dangerous not because of what he carries, but because of what we carry — a secret correspondence deep in our own souls. The soft, insinuating counsellor within — the old inclinations — always ready to answer the knock. That is why the fire must be guarded: the treasure is real, and there are those who would rob it. The heart full of God rests with those who love what it loves — and guards itself, gently but firmly, from those who call that love a weakness.
"True union with God is to do His will without ceasing, in every duty of life, however disagreeable or mortifying."
François Fénelon · Le · July 12, 2026 · The friendship walks through every dutyThe Sweet Friendship
At first, a thousand things to tell and ask. After a time, these diminish — while the pleasure of being together does not. The nearness remains.
The Eloquent Silence
Sermons → a word → silence. Felt without conversation, mutually understood. Two hearts poured one into the other. God alone institutes it.
Duty Before Enjoyment
The one who abandons duty to meditate misses God while seeking Him. True union: His will done without ceasing — inside every disagreeable detail of life.
Observe the Companions
The impious companion awakens the counsellor within. The treasure is real — guard the fire. Rest with those who love what you love.