… One makes time for the Lord, with the firm determination not to give up [prayer], no matter what trials and dryness one may encounter. -CCC 2710
As part of their Daily Meditations, the Center for Action and Contemplation recently shared an excerpt from theologian Beverly Lanzetta’s book Path of the Heart which reinforces the Catechism’s call to “not give up” on our contemplative practice:
When our hearts are diverted from the quest for meaning and love, we suffer. When we experience the true longing of the soul, seeking union with the divine—we know the meaning of life itself and are illuminated by the light of peace.  
Yet, haven’t most of us attempted to make excuses for this deep, interior longing, hoping that it would finally go away and we would be able to function in the “real” world?... We tell ourselves we are not worthy of communion; we’re not capable…
Through this pursuit of devotion to God, you will at times grieve over abandoning what society considers necessary for material and professional survival. Daily you will struggle to reconcile the tension between what is socially practical and your desire to give your heart to the quest. Then the false self will resist: “I must be practical, I must take care of my survival needs, I must not give too much.” These are the voices that obstruct the soul’s desire, even as it experiences the inner light and is consumed by a need for love.  
No doubt some will view spiritual longing as impractical. But, mystically, the passion for the Divine is extremely practical; in fact, it is the only practicality. For the soul’s longing to rest in God [is] a road map and a key to unlocking the true self.