ABSTRACT
The key to a Christian conception of studies is that prayer is made up of attention. It is the orientation of all the attention of which the soul is capable towards God. The quality of attention adds a lot to the quality of prayer. Warmth of heart cannot make up for it. Only the highest part of attention enters into contact with God, whenever prayer is intense and pure enough for such a contact to be established; but all of the attention is turned towards God. Although nowadays this seems not to be known, the development of the faculty of attention is the true goal and almost sole interest of studies. Most school exercises also have an intrinsic interest; but this interest is secondary. Every exercise that truly calls upon the power of attention is interesting in the same way and nearly equally so.
