True North

France, 1600s:  "Ships at sea have a mariner's needle which always points to the north.  Although the ship may be headed south, the needle never fails to point north.  It sometimes seems that the soul at prayer is going straight south, since it is greatly bothered by distractions.  Nevertheless the highest point of the spirit always looks toward God, WHO IS ITS NORTH.  People who are the most advanced in the spiritual life often have such great temptations, even against faith, that it seems to them that their whole soul consents to these temptations.  Yet they still resist at the deepest level of their being.  Even though all their other faculties and powers may be filled with distractions, their spirit is praying."  (from St. Francis de Sales, emphasis mine)