Interior life (Catholic theology)

In his first encyclical Deus caritas est, Benedict XVI emphasized that man "cannot always give, he must also receive," and pointed to the urgency and importance of experiencing in prayer that God is Love.

Man may learn the difference between various kinds of sin, to think of them more intelligently, and thereby have greater sorrow for them and guard more carefully against committing them.

This doctrine in Catholic theology is usually based on Jesus's commendation of Mary of Bethany's contemplation over the anxious external worries of her sister Martha.

Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, and considered as the greatest of all saints in the Catholic Church, is mentioned in the Bible that she "pondered these things in her heart," an expression of intense prayer and contemplation of the events that happened to her.

Garrigou says: Another classic on this topic is the book by Jean-Baptiste Chautard, Soul of the Apostolate where he says that the evangelization of people is but a result of one's inner life of union with God.

"[2] The founder of Opus Dei, St. Josemaría Escrivá took inspiration from previous spiritual writers such as Ignatius of Loyola, Teresa of Ávila, Thomas à Kempis and Dom Chautard.

In Deus caritas est, the Pope-theologian explained the exact theological meaning of what John Paul II preached.

Thus he stressed the "importance of prayer in the face of the activism and the growing secularism of many Christians engaged in charitable work."

Benedict's point on the importance of "receiving love as a gift" is in line with his teaching in Introduction to Christianity on the primacy of receptivity or acceptance.

Christian Tradition says Mary was at prayer when the Incarnation of the Word was announced
Jesus at prayer in the Garden of Gethsemani
St. Josemaria Escriva taught that work can be converted into prayer.
John Paul II : Sanctity through a training in prayer is the most important priority of the Church.