# St. Alphonsus' prayer-book/Part 1: Daily Exercises

FIRST PART.
DAILY EXERCISES.
1. On Rising.
In the morning on awakening, raise your heart to God by an act of love, offer Him all your daily actions, and pray Him to help you in all things.
Do not lose your time whilst dressing, but employ it in reciting some prayer or in making such ejaculations as the following:
MY God, I offer Thee whatever I may do or suffer this day. — My Jesus, mercy! — My Lord, help me in all things; give me the grace of always doing Thy holy will.
As soon as you are dressed, kneel before your crucifix and make the following acts of thanksgiving, love, and offering of all your actions and sufferings of the coming day: above all, fervently ask of Jesus and Mary the aid necessary to enable you faithfully to serve God during that day.
2. Morning Prayers
MY God, I firmly believe that Thou art here present. I adore Thy supreme majesty. I love Thy infinite goodness above all things. I thank Thee for all Thy benefits, and especially for having preserved me this night.
I offer Thee all my thoughts, words, actions, affections, and sufferings of this day, in union with those of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, and hereby protest that I desire to perform all my actions solely with a view to pleasing Thee, and in honor of . . .
​I form the intention of gaining all the indulgences I can in favor of the souls in purgatory. I resolve to conform myself to Thy holy will, particularly in those things which are contrary to my inclinations, saying always: May the most just, most high, most adorable will of God be in all things done, and praised, and forever magnified!
My God! for the love of Jesus Christ, preserve me this day from all sin, especially (here mention the fault into which you fall the oftenest), and grant me the grace of practising the virtue of (here mention the virtue of which you stand most in need).
My Jesus, by Thy merits grant me the grace of living united to Thee! Most holy Mary, my Mother! bless me and take me beneath thy mantle! My guardian angel, my holy patrons, intercede, for me! Saints of paradise, pray for me!
The Lord's Prayer. The Hail Mary. The Creed.
O sweetest Heart of Jesus, I implore that I may ever love Thee more and more. *
Three Hail Marys in honor of the purity of the B. V. M.
* For the members of the Confraternity of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, it is sufficient to add to these three Hail Marys one Glory be to the Father, in honor of St. Alphonsus, with the two following ejaculations:
Mary, Mother of Perpetual Help! pray for me. — My protector, St. Alphonsus, grant that in all my necessities I may have recourse to Mary.
LITANY OF THE MOST HOLY NAME OF JESUS.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Jesus, hear us.
Jesus, graciously hear us.
| God the Father of heaven, | Have mercy on us. |
| God the Son, Redeemer of the world, | Have mercy on us. |
| God the Holy Ghost, | Have mercy on us. |
| Holy Trinity, one God, | Have mercy on us. |
| Jesus, Son of the living God, | Have mercy on us. |
| Jesus, splendour of the Father, | Have mercy on us. |
| Jesus, brightness of eternal light, | Have mercy on us. |
| Jesus, King of Glory, | Have mercy on us. |
| Jesus, Sun of Justice, | Have mercy on us. |
| Jesus, Son of the Virgin Mary, | Have mercy on us. |
| Jesus, most amiable, | Have mercy on us. |
| Jesus, most admirable, | Have mercy on us. |
| Jesus, mighty God, | Have mercy on us. |
| Jesus, Father of the world to come, | Have mercy on us. |
| Jesus, Angel of great counsel, | Have mercy on us. |
| Jesus, most powerful, | Have mercy on us. |
| Jesus, most patient, | Have mercy on us. |
| Jesus, most obedient, | Have mercy on us. |
| Jesus, meek and humble of heart, | Have mercy on us. |
| Jesus, lover of chastity, | Have mercy on us. |
| Jesus, lover, of us, | Have mercy on us. |
| Jesus, God of peace, | Have mercy on us. |
| Jesus, Author of life, | Have mercy on us. |
| Jesus, example of virtues, | Have mercy on us. |
| Jesus, zealous lover of souls, | Have mercy on us. |
| Jesus, our God, | Have mercy on us. |
| Jesus, our refuge, | Have mercy on us. |
| Jesus, Father of the poor, | Have mercy on us. |
| Jesus, treasure of the faithful, | Have mercy on us. |
| Jesus, Good Shepherd, | Have mercy on us. |
| Jesus, true light, | Have mercy on us. |
| Jesus, eternal wisdom, | Have mercy on us. |
| Jesus, infinite goodness, | Have mercy on us. |
| Jesus, our way and our life, | Have mercy on us. |
| Jesus, joy of Angels, | Have mercy on us. |
| Jesus, King of Patriarchs, | Have mercy on us. |
| Jesus, Master of Apostles, | Have mercy on us. |
| Jesus, Teacher of Evangelists, | Have mercy on us. |
| Jesus, strength of Martyrs, | Have mercy on us. |
| Jesus, light of Confessors, | Have mercy on us. |
| Jesus, purity of Virgins, | Have mercy on us. |
| Jesus, Crown of all Saints, | Have mercy on us. |
| Be merciful. Spare us, O Jesus! | Have mercy on us. |
| Be merciful unto us, Graciously hear us, O Jesus! | Have mercy on us. |
| From all evil, | Have mercy on us. | Deliver us, O Jesus. |
| From all sin. | Have mercy on us. | Deliver us, O Jesus. |
| From Thy wrath, | Have mercy on us. | Deliver us, O Jesus. |
| From the snares of the devil, | | Deliver us, O Jesus. |
| From the spirit of uncleanness, | | Deliver us, O Jesus. |
| From everlasting death, | | Deliver us, O Jesus. |
| From the neglect of thy Inspirations, | | Deliver us, O Jesus. |
| Through the mystery of thy holy Incarnation, | | Deliver us, O Jesus. |
| Through thy Nativity, | | Deliver us, O Jesus. |
| Through thine Infancy, | | Deliver us, O Jesus. |
| Through thy most divine life, | | Deliver us, O Jesus. |
| Through thy labours, | | Deliver us, O Jesus. |
| Through thine agony and passion, | | Deliver us, O Jesus. |
| Through thy Cross and dereliction, | | Deliver us, O Jesus. |
| Through thy faintness and weariness, | | Deliver us, O Jesus. |
| Through thy death and burial, | | Deliver us, O Jesus. |
| Through thy resurrection, | | Deliver us, O Jesus. |
| Through thine ascension, | | Deliver us, O Jesus. |
| Through thy joys. | | Deliver us, O Jesus. |
| Through thy glory, | | Deliver us, O Jesus. |
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world. Spare us, O Jesus.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world. Graciously hear us, O Jesus.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world. Have mercy on us, O Jesus.
Jesus hear us. Jesus graciously hear us.
Let us Pray.
O Lord Jesus Christ, Who hast said: Ask, and ye shall receive; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: mercifully attend to our supplications, and grant us the gift of Thy divine charity, that we may ever love Thee with our whole hearts, and never desist from Thy praise.
Give us, O Lord, a perpetual fear and love of Thy holy name, for Thou never ceasest to direct and govern by Thy grace those whom Thou instructest in the solidity or Thy love: Who livest and reignest world without end. Amen.
The Angelus.
The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary, And she conceived of the Holy Ghost.
Hail Mary, etc.
Behold the handmaid of the Lord, Be it done unto me according to Thy word.
Hail Mary, etc.
And the Word was made flesh, And dwelt among us.
Hail Mary, etc.
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God,
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Prayer.
POUR forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts, that we unto whom the incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may, by His passion and cross, be brought to the glory of the resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.
3. Mental Prayer.
Take care to make half an hour's meditation as soon as possible in the day. For though meditation is not absolutely necessary, it is morally necessary, in order to obtain the grace of perseverance. Those who neglect it will tind great difficulty in persevering in the grace of God. The reasons for this are twofold: the first is, because the eternal truths cannot be seen by the eyes of the flesh, but only by the eye of the understanding, which is reflection. Hence he does not perceive them who does not meditate; and for want of perceiving them he will hardly arrive at a due appreciation of the importance of salvation, of the means which secure it, and of the obstacles which hinder it; so that his salvation will be placed in imminent risk. The second reason is, because the soul that does not practise meditation will also be backward in practising prayer. Now, prayer is necessary, not merely as a precept, but as a means to observe the commandments, since, as a general rule, and speaking of adults, God only gives His grace to those who ask for it. But without meditation a person has a very faint notion of his own spiritual wants, and he is, moreover, but slightly impressed with the necessity of praying, in order to overcome temptations and to save his soul: thus he is led to pray but little or not at all, and for want of prayer is eventually lost. The eminent Bishop Palafox said, " How will the Lord give us perseverance unless we ask Him for it? And how shall we ask Him for it without prayer?" On the other hand, St. Teresa declares that it is hardly possible for a man that prays to remain long in sin; he will either forsake prayer or forsake sin; prayer and sin are incompatible.
With regard to practice, meditation has three parts: Preparation, Consideration, or Meditation, and Conclusion.
In the preparation must be made three acts:
1. Act of Faith in the Presence of God.
My God, I believe Thou art here present, and I adore Thee.
2. Act of Humility.
I deserve at this moment to be burning in hell, O my God, I am sorry for having offended Thee.
3. Act of Petition for Light.
Eternal Father, for the love of Jesus and Mary, grant me light in this meditation, that I may profit by it.
Then say a Hail Mary to the divine Mother, and a Glory be to the Father in honor of our angel guardian and of our holy patron.
Then read the point of Meditation, and be sure to meditate, at least occasionally, on the Passion of Jesus Christ. Whilst reading, stop at the passages which strike you the most. It must also be understood that the fruit of prayer does not so much consist in mediating, but rather in producing: I. Affections, for instance of humility. confidence, love, sorrow, offering, resignation, etc.; II. Prayers, and especially imploring God to grant us perseverance and His holy love; III. Resolutions to avoid some particular sin and to practise some particular virtue. The Conclusion is made thus:
I. I thank Thee, O God, for the lights Thou hast given me.
II. I purpose to keep the resolutions I have made.
III. I beg Thy grace to fulfil them.
Nor must we ever forget to recommend to God the holy souls in purgatory, and all poor sinners. We must never omit our accustomed meditation, whatever coldness or weariness we may feel over it; for St. Teresa says, " To do so would be to cast ourselves into hell with our own hands. So long as a soul perseveres in prayer." she adds, "I hold it for certain that the Lord will bring it to salvation."
4. Prayer to Avoid Sin.
MY God! The enemies of my soul will not cease to fight against me till death. Unless Thou dost assist me. I shall lose Thee again. Ah! through the merits of Jesus Christ. I ask for holy perseverance, do not permit me to be separated from Thee. And I ask the same grace for all those who are at present in the state of grace. I hope, with certainty in Thy promise, that Thou wilt give me perseverance if I will continue to ask it from Thee. But I fear that in my temptations I shall neglect to have recourse to Thee, and that thus I ​shall relapse into sin. I therefore ask of Thee the grace never more to neglect prayer. Grant that whenever I shall be in danger of relapsing, I may recommend myself to Thee, and may invoke the aid of the most holy names of Jesus and Mary. My God! this I purpose and hope to do with the assistance of Thy grace. Hear me for the sake of Jesus Christ. O Mary, my Mother! obtain for me the grace that in all dangers of losing God I may have recourse to thee and to thy Son.
The Means of Persevering in the Grace of God.
In order to obtain eternal salvation, it is not sufficient to wish to be saved; but we must further use the means which have been left us by Jesus Christ. Otherwise, if we commit sins, it will not avail us in the day of judgment to excuse ourselves by saying that the temptations were great, and we were weak; because God has given us the means, through His grace, of conquering all the assaults of our enemies: if, then, we do not take advantage of them, and are overcome, the fault will be our own. All men desire to be saved; but because they omit to employ the means of salvation, they sin, and are lost. The first means is, To avoid all occasions of sin. It is impossible for any one who does not endeavor to flee from the occasions of sin, especially in the matter of sensual pleasures, to avoid falling into sin; for the occasion is like a veil put before our eyes, so that we can see nothing else — neither God, nor hell, nor the resolution we had made. As regards occasions, we must in this matter do violence to ourselves, resolutely overcoming all human respect. Those who do not use violence to themselves will not be saved.
The second means is mental prayer, without which the soul will find it almost impossible to remain a long time in the grace of God. He who often meditates on the Four Last Things, will not fall into sin. If these truths are not meditated on, they vanish from the mind; and then when the pleasures of the senses present themselves to the imagination, they carry us away altogether. This is the reason why so many abandon themselves to vice, and are damned.
Resolve, then, to make every day half an hour's meditation, or at least read some spiritual book, taking care from time to time to excite some good affection or to make some aspiration. If you do not discontinue this prayer you will certainly be saved.
The third means is the frequenting of the sacraments of confession and Communion.
By frequent confession the soul keeps itself purified; and by it it not only obtains remission of sins, but also greater strength to resist temptations.
Holy Communion is called heavenly bread, because just as common bread preserves the life of the body, so Communion preserves the life of the soul. Except you eat the flesh of the Son of Man you
shall not have life in you.1 On the other hand, to those who often eat this bread eternal life is promised: If any man eat of this breao . he shall live forever.2 Therefore the Council of Trent calls holy Communion "the medicine which delivers us from venial sins and preserves us from mortal ones." You should then resolve to go to Communion at least once a week, being determined not to give it up for anything in the world; as there is no affair of greater importance than that of your eternal salvation. Indeed, the more you remain in the world, the greater need you have of assistance, because your temptations are so great. The fourth means is to hear Mass every day.
The fifth means is to make a visit every day to the Most Holy Sacrament in some church, and to the divine Mother before some devout image.
The sixth means, the most necessary of all to put in practice, is holy prayer. It is certain that without the divine assistance we can do nothing good for our souls. God also has declared that graces ate granted to those only who ask for them. He who prays shall certainly be saved; he who prays not shall certainly be damned.
5. The Holy Mass.
Do not omit to hear Mass daily. Those who hear Mass should make a special application to their own souls of the merits of the Passion of Jesus Christ. Mass should be heard for the same ends for which it was instituted; namely, i. To honor Almighty God; 2. To thank Him for His benefits; 3. To make atonement for the punishment due to our sins; 4. To obtain divine grace.
6. Acts to be Made During the Day.
When you being any work or study, say:
Lord! I offer Thee this work.
Before eating:
My God, bless this food and me, that I may commit no fault in taking it; and may all be for Thy glory.
After having eaten:
I thank Thee, Lord! for having done good to one who has so often offended Thee.
When the clock strikes:
My Jesus! I love Thee: never permit me to offend Thee again, and let me never be separated from Thee.
In adverse circumstances:
Lord, since Thou hast so willed it, I will it also.
In time of temptation often repeat:
Jesus and Mary!
After having committed a fault or a sin:
My God! I repent of having offended Thee; O Infinite Goodness! I will do so no more.
If it was a grievous sin, confess it at once.
7. The Exercise of the Way of the Cross.
Before commencing to visit the Stations, let each one, kneeling before the high altar, make an act of contrition, and form the intention of gaining the indulgences, whether for himself or for the souls in purgatory. Then say:
Act of Contrition.
MY Lord Jesus Christ, Thou hast made this journey to die for me with love unutterable, and I have so many times unworthily abandoned Thee; but now I love Thee with my whole heart, and because I love Thee I repent sincerely for ever having offended Thee. Pardon me, my God, and permit me to accompany Thee on this journey. Thou dost go to die for love of me; I wish also, my beloved Redeemer, to die for love of Thee. My Jesus, I will live and die always united to Thee.
First Station.
Jesus is Condemned to Death.
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and praise Thee.
R. Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
CONSIDER, my soul, how Jesus, after having been scourged and crowned with thorns, was unjustly condemned by Pilate to die on the cross.
My adorable Jesus, it was not Pilate, no, it was my sins that condemned Thee to die. I beseech Thee, by the merits of this sorrowful journey, to assist my soul in its journey towards eternity. I love Thee, my beloved Jesus; I love Thee more than myself; I repent with my whole heart of having offended Thee. Never permit me to separate myself from Thee again. Grant that I may love Thee always; and then do with me what Thou wilt.
Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory be, etc.
Second Station.
Jesus is Made to Bear His Cross.
V. We adore Thee, etc.
R. Because by Thy holy cross, etc.
Consider how Jesus, in making this journey with the cross on His shoulders, thought of us, and offered for us, to His Father, the death that He was about to undergo.
My most beloved Jesus, I embrace all the tribulations that Thou hast destined for me until death. I beseech Thee, by the merits of the pain Thou didst suffer in carrying Thy cross, to give me the necessary help to carry mine with perfect patience and resignation. I love Thee, Jesus, my love; I repent of ​having offended Thee. Never permit me to separate myself from Thee again. Grant that I may love Thee always, and then do with me what Thou wilt.
Our Father, etc.
Third Station.
Jesus Falls the First Time under His Cross.
V. We adore Thee, etc.
R. Because by Thy holy cross, etc.
Consider, my soul, this first fall of Jesus under His cross. His flesh was torn by the scourges, His head crowned with thorns, and He had lost a great quantity of blood. He was so weakened that he could scarcely walk, and yet He had to carry this great load upon His shoulders. The soldiers struck Him rudely, and thus He fell several times in His journey.
My beloved Jesus, it is not the weight of the cross, but of my sins, which has made Thee suffer so much pain. Ah, by the merits of this first fall, deliver me from the misfortune of falling into mortal sin. I love Thee, O my Jesus, with my whole heart; I repent of having offended Thee. Never permit me to offend Thee again. Grant that I may love Thee always; and then do with me what Thou wilt.
Our Father, etc.
Fourth Station.
Jesus Meets His Afflicted Mother.
V. We adore Thee, etc.
R. Because by Thy holy cross, etc.
Consider the meeting of the Son and the Mother, which took place on this journey. Jesus and Mary looked at each other, and their looks became as so many arrows to wound those hearts which loved each other so tenderly.
​My most loving Jesus, by the sorrow Thou didst experience in this meeting, grant me the grace of a truly devoted love for Thy most holy Mother. And thou, my Queen, who wast overwhelmed with sorrow, obtain for me by thy intercession a continual and tender remembrance of the Passion of thy Son. I love Thee, Jesus, my love; I repent of ever having offended Thee. Never permit me to offend Thee again. Grant that I may love Thee, and then do with me what Thou wilt.
Our Father, etc.
Fifth Station.
The Cyrenian Helps Jesus to Carry His Cross.
V. We adore Thee, etc.
R. Because by Thy holy cross, etc.
Consider that the Jews seeing that at each step Jesus, from weakness, was on the point of expiring, and fearing that He would die on the way when they wished Him to die the ignominious death of the cross, constrained Simon the Cyrenian to carry the cross behind Our Lord.
My most sweet Jesus, I will not refuse the cross as the Cyrenian did; I accept it, I embrace it. I accept in particular the death that Thou hast destined for me with all the pains which may accompany it; I unite it to Thy death, I offer it to Thee. Thou hast died for love of me, I will die for love of Thee, and to please Thee. Help me by Thy grace. I love Thee, Jesus, my love; I repent of having offended Thee. Never permit me to offend Thee again. Grant that I may love Thee, and then do with me what Thou wilt.
Our Father, etc.
Sixth Station.
Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus.
V. We adore Thee, etc.
R. Because by Thy holy cross, etc.
Consider that the holy woman named Veronica, seeing Jesus so afflicted, and His face bathed in sweat and blood, presented Him with a towel with which He wiped His adorable face, leaving on it the impression of His holy countenance.
My most beloved Jesus, Thy face was beautiful before, but in this journey it has lost all its beauty, and wounds and blood have disfigured it. Alas! my soul also was once beautiful, when it received Thy grace in baptism; but I have disfigured it since by my sins. Thou alone, my Redeemer, canst restore it to its former beauty. Do this by Thy Passion, and then do with me what Thou wilt.
Our Father, etc.
Seventh Station.
Jesus Falls the Second Time.
V. We adore Thee, etc.
R. Because by Thy holy cross, etc.
Consider the second fall of Jesus under the cross — a fall which renews the pain of all the wounds of the head and members of our afflicted Lord.
My most gentle Jesus, how many times Thou hast pardoned me and how many times have I fallen again, and begun again to offend Thee! Oh, by the merits of this new fall, give me the necessary helps to persevere in Thy grace until death. Grant that in all temptations which assail me I may always commend myself to Thee. I love Thee, Jesus, my love, with my whole heart; I repent of having offended Thee. Never permit me to offend Thee ​again. Grant that I may love Thee always; and then do with me what Thou wilt.
Our Father; etc.
Eighth Station.
Jesus Speaks to the Daughters of Jerusalem.
V. We adore Thee, etc.
R. Because by Thy holy cross, etc.
Consider that those women wept with compassion at seeing Jesus in so pitiable a state, I streaming with blood, as He walked along. But Jesus said to them, " Weep not for me, but for your children."
My Jesus, laden with sorrows, I weep for the offences that I have committed against Thee, because of the pains which they have deserved, and still more because of the displeasure which they have caused Thee, Who hast loved me so much. It is Thy love, more than the fear of hell, which causes me to weep for my sins. My Jesus, I love Thee more than myself; I repent of having offended Thee. Never permit me to offend Thee again. Grant that I may love Thee always; and then do with me what Thou wilt.
Our Father, etc.
Ninth Station.
Jesus Falls the Third Time.
V. We adore Thee, etc.
R. Because by Thy holy cross, etc.
Consider the third fall of Jesus Christ. His weakness was extreme, and the cruelty of his executioners excessive, who tried to hasten His steps when He had scarcely strength to move.
Ah, my outraged Jesus, by the merits of the weakness Thou didst suffer in going to Calvary, give me strength sufficient to conquer all human respect and ​all my wicked passions, which have led me to despise Thy friendship. I love Thee, Jesus, my love, with my whole heart; I repent of having offended Thee. Never permit me to offend Thee again. Grant that I may love Thee always; and then do with me what Thou wilt.
Our Father, etc.
Tenth Station.
Jesus is Stripped of His Garments.
V. We adore Thee, etc.
R. Because by Thy holy cross, etc.
Consider the violence with which the executioners stripped Jesus. His inner garments adhered to his torn flesh, and they dragged them off so roughly that the skin came with them. Compassionate your Saviour thus cruelly treated, and say to Him:
My innocent Jesus, by the merits of the torment that Thou hast felt, help me to strip myself of all affection to things of earth, in order that I may place all my love in Thee, Who art so worthy of my love. I love Thee, O Jesus, with my whole heart; I repent of having offended Thee. Never permit me to offend Thee again. Grant that I may love Thee always; and then do with me what Thou wilt.
Our Father, etc.
Eleventh Station.
Jesus is Nailed to the Cross.
V. We adore Thee, etc.
R. Because by Thy holy cross, etc.
Consider that Jesus, after being thrown on the cross, extended His hands, and offered to His eternal Father the sacrifice of His life for our salvation. These barbarians fasten Him with nails; and then, raising the cross, leave Him to die with anguish on this infamous gibbet.
​My Jesus, loaded with contempt, nail my heart to Thy feet, that it may ever remain there to love Thee, and never quit Thee again. I love Thee more than myself; I repent of having offended Thee. Never permit me to offend Thee again. Grant that I may love Thee always; and then do with me what Thou wilt.
Our Father, etc.
Twelfth Station.
Jesus Dies on the Cross.
V. We adore Thee, etc.
R. Because by Thy holy cross, etc.
Consider that thy Jesus, after three hours' agony on the cross, consumed at length with anguish, abandons Himself to the weight of His body, bows His head, and dies.
O my dying Jesus, I kiss devoutly the cross on which Thou didst die for love of me. I have merited by my sins to die a miserable death; but Thy death is my hope. Ah, by the merits of Thy death, give me grace to die, embracing Thy feet and burning with love to Thee. I commit my soul into Thy hands. I love Thee with my whole heart; I repent of ever having offended Thee. Permit not that I ever offend Thee again. Grant that I may love Thee always; and then do with me what Thou wilt.
Our Father, etc.
Thirteenth Station.
Jesus is Taken Down from the Cross.
V. We adore Thee, etc.
R. Because by Thy holy cross, etc.
Consider that, Our Lord having expired, two of His disciples, Joseph and Nicodemus, took Him down from the cross, and placed Him the arms of His afflicted Mother, who received ​Him with unutterable tenderness, and pressed Him to her bosom.
O Mother of Sorrow, for the love of this Son, accept me for thy servant and pray to Him for me. And Thou, my Redeemer, since Thou hast died for me, permit me to love Thee; for I wish but Thee, and nothing more. I love Thee, my Jesus, and I repent of ever having offended Thee. Never permit me to offend Thee again. Grant that I may love Thee always; and then do with me what Thou wilt.
Our Father, etc.
Fourteenth Station.
Jesus is Placed in the Sepulchre.
V. We adore Thee, etc.
R. Because by Thy holy cross, etc.
Consider that the disciples carried the body of Jesus to bury it, accompanied by His holy Mother, who arranged it in the sepulchre with her own hands. They then closed the tomb and all withdrew.
Ah, my buried Jesus, I kiss the stone that encloses Thee. But Thou didst rise again the third day. I beseech Thee, by Thy resurrection, make me rise glorious with Thee at the last day, to be always united with Thee in heaven, to praise Thee and love Thee forever. I love Thee, and I repent of ever having offended Thee. Permit not that I ever offend Thee again. Grant that I may love Thee; and then do with me what Thou wilt.
Our Father, etc.
After this, return to the high altar, and say, Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory be to the Father, etc., five times in honor of the Passion of Jesus Christ, to gain the other indulgences granted to those who recite them.
8. Spiritual Reading.
In order to reap all the advantage possible from our spiritual reading,we must, before commencing it, recommend ourselves to God, so that we may be enlightened by Him concerning that which we are about to read. During the spiritual reading it is Our Lord who is vouchsafing to speak to us; in taking up our book, therefore, we should make use of the following prayer:
SPEAK, Lord, for Thy servant heareth. Yea, speak to my soul, and make Thy holy will known to me; in all things I will obey Thee.
On terminating our reading, we should choose some thought which has struck us the most, in order to carry it away with us. just as we carry away a flower from a garden where we have been walking. Then return thanks to Our Lord, saying:
Lord, I thank Thee for the assistance and lights Thou hast vouchsafed me, in order to sanctify me and attach me more firmly to Thy service.
9. Visit to the Blessed Sacrament and to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
How agreeable to the Heart of Jesus are those souls who frequently visit Him and love to remain in His company in the churches in which He dwells under the sacramental species'! Do not, O devout soul! refuse to practise this devotion, but from this time forward dwell each day. for at least a quarter of an hour, in some church in the presence of Jesus Christ under the sacramental species. Oh. how sweet a joy it is to remain with faith and tender devotion before an altar and converse familiarly with Jesus Christ!
Be also careful daily to visit the most holy Virgin Mary; you may hope to receive great things from this most gracious Lady.
For the way of making these Visits see Part III.
10. The Rosary, or Beads.
Whoever has great devotion to Mary may be called blessed, even in this life, and may be looked on as sure of paradise, according- to the words placed by Holy Church in the mouth of the Queen of Heaven: He that shall find me, shall find life, and shall have salvation from the Lord (Prov. viii. 35). But who is he that findeth Mary? It is he who loveth her and who honoreth her by special devotions. Now, among these devotions I know of none more agreeable to the Mother of God than the Rosary. What sweet hope of salvation may we not cherish if we daily recite our Beads with piety and perseverance. Many books are filled with striking examples of souls having been saved by the practice of this devotion. Listen to what the demons themselves have said in praise of the Rosary when they were forced to speak by St. Dominic: " We are forced to make known that whoever perseveres in devotion to Mary and to the Rosary will not be damned, for Mary will obtain his salvation." Do not fail then, in future, to recite at least a third part of it daily with great affection and confidence.
Mysteries to Meditation on in Order to Gain the Indulgences.
Joyful Mysteries, i. The Annunciation and Incarnation of Christ. 2. The Visitation. 3. The Nativity of Jesus Christ. 4. The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple. 5. The Finding in the Temple.
Sorrowful Mysteries, i. The Agony in the Garden. 2. The Scourging. 3. The Crowning with Thorns. 4. The Carrying of the Cross. 5. The Crucifixion.
Glorious Mysteries, i. The Resurrection of Our Lord. 2. The Ascension. 3. The Descent of the Holy Ghost. 4. The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin. 5. Her Coronation in Heaven.
For easier meditation the mystery of each decade may be inserted in each Hail Mary after the name of Jesus. Thus:
I. In the Joyful Mysteries (for Mondays, Thursdays, and on Sundays from Advent to the Octave of Epiphany).
1. Whom thou didst conceive when a Virgin.
2. Whom thou didst carry when visiting St. Elizabeth.
3. Whom thou broughtest forth when a Virgin.
4. Whom thou didst present in the Temple.
5. Whom thou didst find in the Temple.
II. In the Sorrowful Mysteries (for Tuesdays and Fridays and the Sundays in Lent).
1. Who didst endure for us the Bloody Sweat.
2. Who wast scourged for us.
3. Who wast crowned with thorns for us.
4. Who didst carry the cross for us.
5. Who was crucified for us.
III. In the Glorious Mysteries (for Wednesdays, Saturdays, Sundays, and the Paschal season).
​1. Who rose again from the dead.
2. Who ascended into heaven.
3. Who sent the Holy Ghost.
4. Who took thee up into heaven.
5. Who crowned thee in heaven.
11. Night Prayers.
Let us place ourselves in the presence of God and adore Him.
Eternal God! I adore Thee and I thank Thee for all the benefits Thou hast bestowed upon me; for having created me, for having redeemed me through Jesus Christ, for haying made me a Christian, for having waited for me when I was in sin, and for having so often pardoned me.
Let us ask of God to enlighten us that we may see our faults.
O father of lights, Who enlighteneth every man that comes into the world! send into my heart a ray of light, of love, and of sorrow, that I may know, detest, and confess the sins which I have committed against Thee.
Let us examine our conscience.
It is very useful to make two daily examinations of conscience The Particular Examen and the General Examen. In practice, the Particular Examen is short, since we examine ourselves as to our predominant fault, and briefly make an act of contrition.
The General Examen requires more time. In order to make it properly, commence by asking God for the necessary lights; then recall to mind all you have done during the day, and see what faults you have committed. For example: Idleness in rising, impatience, vanity, or wish to show off; foolish, idle, and uncharitable talk; lies to excuse yourself, intemperance in eating, voluntary distractions during prayers or at Mass, curiosity, lost time, omission of good works, backbiting, disobedience, want of respect for superiors, negligence in resisting bad thoughts, and similar temptations.
However, when you are conscious of having committed any fault, d^ not wait till the evening to repair your fault: so soon as your conscience reproaches you make an act of contrition and then remain in peace. These stings of conscience ought to be a consolation to you, for they show you that you have a horror of sin.
After examining your conscience make the following acts.
Act of Faith.
O my God! Who art the infallible Truth, I believe everything which the Holy Church — commands me to believe, because Thou hast revealed it to her. I believe that Thou art the Creator of heaven and earth, that Thou dost reward the just in paradise, and punish the wicked eternally in hell. I believe that Thou art one divine essence in three persons, namely, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. I believe the Incarnation and the death of Jesus Christ. In a word, I believe all that the Holy Church believes. I thank Thee for having made me a Christian and a Catholic, and I protest that I will live and die in this holy faith.
Act of Hope.
O MY God! I confide in Thy promises, because Thou art faithful, powerful, and merciful, and hope, through the merits of Jesus Christ, for the pardon of my sins, final perseverance, and the everlasting glory of paradise.
Act of LOve and Contrition.
O MY God! I love Thee with all my heart, and above all things, because Thou art infinitely good, and worthy of infinite love, and for love of Thee I love my neighbor as myself. I am heartily sorry for all my sins, because by them I have lost heaven and deserved hell; but more than all because I have offended Thee. O my God, who art infinitely good, and worthy of all my love; but now I am firmly resolved, by the help of Thy grace, never to sin against Thee any more, and to avoid all ​occasions of sin. I purpose, also, to receive the holy sacraments during my life and at my death.
Our Father, Hail Mary, The Creed.
The members of the Propagation of the Faith may here add: " St Francis Xavier, pray for us." (100 days' indulgence for the members March 15th, 1823.)
Litany of the Blessed Virgin.
(300 days' Indulgence, Sept. 30th, 1817.)
LORD, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of heaven, Have mercy on us.
God, the Son, Redeemer of the world, Have mercy on us.
God, the Holy Ghost, Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, Have mercy on us.
| Holy Mary, | Pray for us. |
| Holy Mother of God, | Pray for us. |
| Holy Virgin of virgins, | Pray for us. |
| Mother of Christ, | Pray for us. |
| Mother of divine grace, | Pray for us. |
| Mother most pure, | Pray for us. |
| Mother most chaste, | Pray for us. |
| Mother inviolate, | Pray for us. |
| Mother undefiled, | Pray for us. |
| Mother most amiable, | Pray for us. |
| Mother most admirable, | Pray for us. |
| Mother of good counsel, | Pray for us. |
| Mother of our Creator, | Pray for us. |
| Mother of our Saviour, | Pray for us. |
| Virgin most prudent, | Pray for us. |
| Virgin most venerable, | Pray for us. |
| Virgin most renowned, | Pray for us. |
| Virgin most powerful, | Pray for us. |
| Virgin most merciful, | Pray for us. |
| Virgin most faithful, | Pray for us. |
| Mirror of justice, | Pray for us. |
| Seat of wisdom, | Pray for us. |
| Cause of our joy, | Pray for us. |
| Spiritual vessel, | Pray for us. |
| Vessel of honor, | Pray for us. |
| Singular vessel of devotion, | Pray for us. |
| Mystical rose, | Pray for us. |
| Tower of David, | Pray for us. |
| Tower of ivory, | Pray for us. |
| House of gold, | Pray for us. |
| Ark of the covenant, | Pray for us. |
| Gate of heaven, | Pray for us. |
| Morning star, | Pray for us. |
| Health of the sick, | Pray for us. |
| Refuge of sinners, | Pray for us. |
| Comforter of the afflicted, | Pray for us. |
| Help of Christians, | Pray for us. |
| Queen of Angels, | Pray for us. |
| Queen of Patriarchs, | Pray for us. |
| Queen of Prophets, | Pray for us. |
| Queen of Apostles, | Pray for us. |
| Queen of Martyrs, | Pray for us. |
| Queen of Confessors, | Pray for us. |
| Queen of Virgins, | Pray for us. |
| Queen of all Saints, | Pray for us. |
| Queen conceived without original sin, | Pray for us. |
| Queen of the most sacred Rosary, | Pray for us. |
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord!
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Lord!
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us.
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God!
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us Pray.
Grant to us, Thy servants, we beseech Thee, O Lord God, to enjoy perpetual health of mind and body; and by the glorious intercession of Blessed Mary, ever Virgin, to be delivered from present sorrow, and to rejoice with eternal joy. Through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.
Prayers to Our Lady of Perpetual Help.
I. For Ourselves.
O blessed Virgin Mary, thou hast chosen for thyself the sweet title of " Mother of Perpetual Help," in order to increase our confidence in thee. I implore thee to be my help at all times and in all places, in all my difficulties and troubles, but especially at the hour of death! O loving Mother, make me not only mindful to call on thee in my necessities, but obtain for me the grace of habitually invoking thy intercession, and on all occasions. I am certain that if I be faithful in asking thy assistance, thou wilt be faithful in affording me succor. Obtain for me, also, that most precious of graces, to pray to thee with an unwavering and child-like confidence, that through such prayers I may secure thy perpetual help and final perseverance. Bless me, O sweet, O helpful Mother, now and at the hour of my death. Amen.
II. Prayer for the Necessities of the Church.
O blessed Virgin Mary, thou whom we love to greet as our Mother of Perpetual Help! do thou show thyself worthy of this glorious appellation by covering the Church and her august Head with the buckler of thy continual protection. Through the infinite merits of the Heart of Jesus, which we offer to the Eternal Father, by thy hands, do thou obtain for sinners the grace of ​sincere repentance; for the dying, a happy death; for the souls of our deceased relatives, deliverance from the flames of purgatory; and for us all, pardon and abundant mercy. Amen.
Prayer for a Good Death.
My Lord Jesus Christ, by that bitterness which Thou didst endure on the cross when Thy blessed soul was separated from Thy most sacred body, have pity on my sinful soul when it leaves my miserable body to enter into eternity.
O Mary! by that grief which thou didst experience Calvary in seeing Jesus expire on the cross before thine eyes, obtain for me a good death, that, loving Jesus and thee, my Mother, in this life, I may attain heaven, where I shall love thee for all eternity.
Prayer Before Going to Bed.
I thank Thee, O my God! for having preserved my life during this day; I beg of Thee to preserve it during this night, and to keep me from all sin. I take this repose in order to fulfil Thy will, and I hereby form the intention of loving, praising, and thanking Thee, as the angels and saints do in heaven, with every breath I take.
Mary, my Mother! bless me and cover me with the mantle of thy protection. My guardian angel, my holy patrons, intercede for me; all ye saints of paradise, pray for me.
Three Hail Marys, as at p. 56.
Then lie down to rest. In undressing observe the rules of modesty. Sprinkle your bed with holy water. Before composing yourself to sleep, say: Lord, into Thy hands I commend my spirit. Say this prayer with the intention of offering every breath as an act of love to God.
12. The Way to Converse Always and Familiarly with God.
(Taken from a small French work, and enlarged by other sacred thoughts, affections, and exercises of the author.)
I.
God wishes us to Speak to Him with Confidence and Familiarity.
HOLY Job was struck with wonder to consider our God so devoted in benefiting man, and showing the chief care of His Heart to be to love man and to make Himself beloved by him. Speaking to the Lord, he exclaims: " What is man, that Thou shouldst magnify him, or why dost Thou set Thy Heart upon him?" (Job vii. 17.) Hence it is clearly a mistake to think that great confidence and familiarity in treating with God is a want of reverence to His Infinite Majesty. Thou oughtest indeed. O devout soul, to revere Him in all humility, and abase thyself before Him; specially when thou dost call to mind the unthankfulness and the outrages whereof, in past times, thou hast been guilty. Yet this should not hinder thy treating with Him with the most tender love and confidence in thy power. He is Infinite Majesty; but at the same time He is Infinite Goodness, Infinite Love. In God thou dost possess the Lord most exalted and supreme; but thou hast also Him who loves thee with the greatest possible love. He disdains not, but delights that thou shouldst use towards Him that confidence, that freedom and tenderness, which children use towards their mothers. Hear how He invites us to come to His feet, and the caresses He promises to bestow on us: "You shall be carried at ​the breasts, and upon the knees they shall caress you: as one whom the mother caresseth, so will I comfort you" (Is. lxvi. 12, 13). As a mother delights to place her little child upon her knees, and so to feed or to caress him; with like tenderness does our gracious God delight to treat the souls whom He loves, who have given themselves wholly to Him, and placed all their hopes in His goodness.
Consider, thou hast neither friend nor brother, father nor mother, spouse nor lover, who loves thee more than thy God. The divine grace is that great treasure whereby we vilest of creatures, we servants, become the dear friends of our Creator Himself: " For she is an infinite treasure to men, which they that use become the friends of God" (Wis. vii. 14). For this purpose He increases our confidence; He "emptied Himself," and brought Himself to naught, so to speak; abasing Himself even to becoming man and conversing familiarly with us: "He conversed with men" (Bar. iii. 38). He went so far as to become an infant, to become poor, even so far as openly to die the death of a malefactor upon the cross. He went yet farther, even to reside under the appearance of bread, in order to become our constant companion and unite Himself intimately with us: " He that eateth My Flesh and drinketh My Blood abideth in Me, and I in him" (St. John vi. 57). In a wrord, He loves thee as much as though He had no love but towards thyself alone. For which reason thou oughtest to have no love for any but for Himself. Of Him, therefore, thou mayest say, and thou oughtest to say it: " My Beloved to me, and I to Him" (Cant. ii. 16). My God has given Himself all to me, and I give myself all to Him; He has chosen me for His beloved, and I choose Him, of all others, for my only Love: " My Beloved is white and ruddy, chosen out of thousands" (Cant. v. 10).
Say, then, to Him often; O my Lord! wherefore ​dost Thou love me thus? what good thing dost Thou see in me? Hast Thou forgotten the injuries I have done Thee? But since Thou hast treated me so lovingly, and instead of casting me into hell, hast granted me so many favors, whom can I desire to love from this day forward but Thee, my God. my All? Ah, most gracious God, if in time past I have offended Thee, it is not so much the punishment I have deserved that now grieves me, as the displeasure I have given Thee, Who art worthy of infinite love. But Thou knowest not how to despise a heart that repents and humbles itself: "A contrite and humble heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise" (Ps. l. 19). Ah, now, indeed, neither in this life nor in the other do I desire any but Thee alone: " What have I in heaven? and besides Thee, what do I desire upon earth? Thou art the God of my heart, and the God that is my portion forever" (Ps. lxxii. 25, 26). Thou alone art and shall be forever the only Lord of my heart, of my will; Thou my only Good, my Heaven, my Hope, my Love, my All: "The God of my heart, and the God that is my portion forever."
The more to strengthen thy confidence in God. often call to mind His loving treatment of thee, and the gracious means He has used to drive thee from the disorders of thy life and thy attachments to earth, in order to draw thee to His holy love; and therefore fear to have too little confidence in treating with thy God, now that thou hast a resolute will to love and to please Him with all thy power. The mercies He has granted thee are most sure pledges of the love He bears thee. God is displeased with a want of trust on the part of souls that heartily love Him. and whom He loves. If, then, thou desirest to please His loving Heart, converse with Him from this day forward with the greatest confidence and tenderness thou canst possibly have. "I have ​graven thee in My hands: thy walls are always before my eyes" (Is. xlix. 16). Beloved soul, says the Lord, what dost thou fear or mistrust? I have thee written in My hands, so as never to forget to do thee good. Art thou afraid of thine enemies? Know that the care of thy defence is always before Me, so that I cannot lose sight of it. Therefore did David rejoice, saying to God: " Thou hast crowned us as with a shield of Thy good will" (Ps. v. 13). Who, O Lord! can ever harm us, if Thou with Thy goodness and love dost defend and encompass us round about? Above all, animate thy confidence at the thought of the gift that God has given us of Jesus Christ: "God so loved the world as to give His only-begotten Son" (St. John iii. 16). How can we ever fear, exclaims the Apostle, that God would refuse us any good, after He has vouchsafed to give us His own Son? "He delivered Him up for us all; how hath He not also, with Him, given us all things?" (Rom. viii. 32.)
" My delights are to be with the children of men" (Prov. viii. 31). The paradise of God, so to speak, is the heart of man. Does God love Thee? Love Him. His delights are to be with thee; let thine be to be with Himself, to pass all thy lifetime with Him, in the delight of whose company thou hopest to spend a blissful eternity. Accustom thyself to speak with Him alone, familiarly, with confidence and love, as to the dearest friend thou hast, and who loves thee best.
II.
It is Easy and Agreeable to Entertain One's Self with God.
If it be a great mistake, as has been already said, to converse mistrustfully with God, — to be always coming before Him as a slave full of fear and confusion comes before his prince, ​trembling with dread, — it would be a greater to think that conversing with God is but weariness and bitterness. No, it is not so: " Her conversation hath no bitterness, nor her company any tediousness" (Wisd. viii. 16). Ask those souls who love Him with a true love, and they will tell thee that in the sorrows of their life they find no greater, no truer relief, than in a loving converse with God.
Now this does not require thee continually to apply thy mind to it, so as to forget all thy employments and recreations. It only requires of thee, without putting these aside, to act towards God as thou dost act on occasion towards those who love thee, and whom thou lovest.
Thy God is ever near thee, nay, within thee: " In Him we live, and move, and be" (Acts xvii. 28). There is no barrier at the door against any who desire to speak with Him, nay, God delights that thou shouldst treat with Him confidently. Treat with Him of thy business, thy plans, thy griefs, thy fears, — of all that concerns thee. Above all, do so (as I have said) with confidence, with open heart. For God is not wont to speak to the soul that speaks not to Him; forasmuch as, if she be not used to converse with Him, she would little understand His voice when He spoke to her. And this is what the Lord complains of: " Our sister is little: what shall we do to our sister in the day when she is to be spoken to?" (Cant. viii. 8.)
Our sister is but a child in My love; what shall we do to speak to her if she understand Me not? God will have Himself esteemed the Lord of surpassing power and terribleness, when we despise His grace; but, on the contrary, He will have Himself treated with as the most affectionate Friend, when we love Him; and to this end He would have us often speak with Him familiarly and without restraint.
It is true that God ought always to be revered in ​the highest degree; but when He favors thee by making thee feel his Presence, and know His desire that thou shouldst speak to Him as to that One Who loves thee above all, then express to Him thy feelings with freedom and confidence. " She preventeth them that Covet her, so that she first showeth herself unto them" (Wisd. vi. 14). When thou desirest His love, He takes the first step, without waiting till thou comest to Him; and presents Himself to thee, bringing with Him the graces and the remedies thou dost stand in need of. He only waits for thee to speak to Him, to show thee that He is near to thee, ready to hear and to comfort thee: " And His ears are unto their prayers" (Ps. xxxiii. 16).
By reason of His immensity, our God is in every place; but there *are two places above all where He has His own peculiar dwelling. One is the highest heaven, where He is present by that glory which He communicates to the blessed; the other is upon earth, — it is within the humble soul that loves Him: " who dwelleth with a contrite and humble spirit " (Is. lvii. 15). He, then, our God, dwelleth in the height of heaven; and yet He disdains not to occupy and engage Himself day and night with His faithful servants in their cabins or their cells. And there He bestows on them His divine consolations, each one of which surpasses all the delights the world can give, and which he only desires not who has no experience of them: " Oh, taste and see that the Lord is sweet " (Ps. xxxiii. 9).
Friends in the world have some hours in which they converse together, and others during which they are apart; but between God and thee (if thou wiliest) there shall never be one hour of separation: "Thou shalt rest, and thy sleep shall be sweet: the Lord will be at thy side" (Prov. iii. 24, 26). Thou shalt sleep, and God will place Himself at thy side, and watch with thee continually; " I will repose myself with ​Him, and He shall be a comfort in my cares and grief " (see Wisd. viii. 9-16). When thou takest thy rest, He departs not from beside thy pillow; He remains thinking always of thee, that when thou wakest in the night He may speak to thee by His inspirations, and receive from thee some act of love, of oblation, of thanksgiving; so as to keep up even in those hours His gracious and sweet converse with thee. Sometimes also He will speak to thee in thy sleep, and cause thee to hear His voice, that on waking thou mayest put in practice what He has spoken: " I will speak to him in a dream" (Num. xii. 6).
He is there also in the morning, to hear from thee some word of affection, of confidence; to be the depository of thy first thoughts, and of all the actions which thou shalt promise to perform that day to please Him; of all the griefs, too, which thou offerest to endure willingly for His glory and love. But as He fails not to present Himself to thee at the moment of thy waking, fail not thou, on thy part, to give Him immediately a look of love, and to rejoice when thy God announces to thee the glad tidings that He is not far from thee, as once He was by reason of thy sins; but that He loves thee, and would be beloved of thee: and at that same moment He gives thee the gracious precept, " Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart " (Deut. vi. 5).
III.
Of what, when, and how we should converse with God.
1. In General.
Never, then, forget His sweet Presence, as do the greater part of men. Speak to Him as often as thou canst; for He does not grow weary of this nor disdain it, as do the lords of the earth. If thou lovest Him, thou wilt not beat a loss what to say to Him. Tell Him all that occurs to ​thee about thyself and thy affairs, as thou wouldst tell it to a dear friend. Look not upon Him as a haughty sovereign, who will only converse with the great, and on great matters. He, our God, delights to abase Himself to converse with us, loves to have us communicate to Him our smallest, our most daily concerns. He loves thee as much, and has as much care for thee, as if He had none others to think of but thyself. He is as entirely devoted to thy interests as though the only end of His providence were to succor thee, of His almighty power to aid thee, of His mercy and goodness to take pity on thee, to do thee good, and gain by the delicate touches of His kindness thy confidence and love. Manifest, then, to Him freely all thy state of mind, and pray Him to guide thee to accomplish perfectly His holy will. And let all thy desires and plans be simply bent to discover His good pleasure, and do what is agreeable to His Divine Heart: " Commit thy way to the Lord, and desire of Him to direct thy ways, and that all thy counsels may abide in Him" (Tob. iv. 20).
Say not: But where is the need of disclosing to God all my wants, if He already sees and knows them better than I? True, He knows them; but God makes as if He knew not the necessities about which thou dost not speak to Him, and for which thou seekest not His aid. Our Saviour knew well that Lazarus was dead, and yet He made as if He knew it not, until the Magdalene had told him of it, and then He comforted her by raising her brother to life again.
2. In Trials.
WHEN, therefore, thou art afflicted with any sickness, temptation, persecution, or other trouble, go at once and beseech Him, that His hand may help thee. It is enough for thee to pre​sent the affliction before Him; to come in and say " Behold, O Lord, for I am in distress" (Lam. i. 20). He will not fail to comfort thee, or at least to give thee strength to suffer that grief with patience; and it shall turn out a greater good to thee than if He had altogether freed thee from it. Tell Him all the thoughts of fear or of sadness that torment thee; and say to Him: My God, in Thee are all my hopes; I offer to Thee this affliction, and resign myself to Thy will; but do Thou take pity on me, — either deliver me out of it, or give me strength to bear it. And He will truly keep with thee that promise made in the Gospel to all those who are in trouble, to console and comfort them as often as they have recourse to Him: " Come to Me, all you that labor and are burdened, and I will refresh you" (Matt. xi. 28).
He will not be displeased, that in thy desolations thou shouldst go to thy friends to find some relief; but He wills thee chiefly to have recourse to Himself. At all events, therefore, after thou hast applied to creatures, and they have been unable to comfort thy heart, have recourse to thy Creator, and say to Him: Lord, men have only words for me; "my friends are full of words:" they cannot comfort me, nor do I any more desire to be comforted by them; Thou art all my hope, all my love. From Thee only will I receive comfort; and let my comfort be, on this occasion, to do what pleaseth Thee. Behold me ready to endure this grief through my whole life, through all eternity, if such be Thy good pleasure. Only do Thou help me.
Fear not that He will be offended if thou dost sometimes gently complain, and say to Him, " Why, O Lord, hast Thou retired afar off?" (Ps. ix. 1.) Thou knowest, Lord, that I love Thee, and desire nothing but Thy love; in pity help me, and forsake me not. And when the desolation lasts long, and troubles thee exceedingly, unite thy voice, to that of ​Jesus in agony and dying on the Cross, and beseech His mercy, saying: "My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?" (St. Matt, xxvii. 46.) But let the effect of this be, to humble thee yet more at the thought, that he deserves no consolations who has offended God; and yet more to enliven thy confidence, knowing that God does all things, and permits all, for thy good: " All things work together unto good " (Rom. viii. 28). Say with great courage, even when thou dost feel most troubled and disconsolate: "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?" (Ps. xxvi. 1). Lord, it is Thine to enlighten me, it is Thine to save me; in Thee do I trust: " In Thee, O Lord, have I hoped; let me never be confounded " (Ps. xxx. 1). And thus keep thyself in peace; knowing there never was any one who placed his hopes in God and was lost: " No one hath hoped in the Lord, and hath been confounded" (Eccl. ii. 11). Consider, thy God loveth thee more than thou canst love thyself: what dost thou fear? David comforted himself, saying: " The Lord is careful for me" (Ps. xxxix. 18). Say to Him, therefore, Lord, into Thy arms I cast myself; I desire to have no thought but of loving and pleasing Thee; behold me ready to do what Thou requirest of me. Thou dost not only will my good, Thou art careful for it; unto Thee, then, do I leave the care of my salvation. In Thee do I rest, and will rest for evermore, since Thou wiliest that in Thee I should place all my hopes: " In peace, in the selfsame, I will sleep and I will rest; for Thou, O Lord, singularly hast settled me in hope" (Ps. iv. 9, 10).
" Think of the Lord in goodness" (Wisd. i. 1). In these words the Wise Man exhorts us to have more confidence in the Divine mercy than dread of the Divine justice; since God is immeasurably more inclined to bestow favors than to punish, as St. James says: " Mercy exalteth itself above judgment " ​(ii. 13). Whence the apostle St. Peter (1 Ep. v. 7) tells us, that in all fears whether about our interests for time or for eternity, we should commit ourselves altogether to the goodness of our God, who keeps the greatest care of our safety: " Casting all your care upon Him, 'for He hath care of you." Oh, what a beautiful meaning does this lend to the title which David gives to the Lord, when he says that our God is the God who makes it His care to save: "Our God is the God of salvation" (Ps. lxvii. 21); which signifies, as Bellarmine explains it, that the office peculiar to the Lord is, not to condemn, but to save all. For while He threatens with His displeasure those who disregard Him, He promises, on the other hand, His assured mercies to those who fear Him; as the Divine Mother said in her Canticle: "And His mercy is to them that fear Him." I set before thee, devout soul, all these passages of Scripture, that when the thought disquiets thee: Am I to be saved or no? am I predestined or no? thou mayest take courage, and understand from the promises He makes thee, what desire God has to save thee, if only thou art resolved to serve Him and to love Him as He demands at thy hands.
3. In Joys.
Further, when thou receivest pleasant news, do not act like those unfaithful, thankless souls who have recourse to God in time of trouble, but in time of prosperity forget and forsake Him. Be as faithful to Him as thou wouldst be to a friend who loves thee and rejoices in thy good; go at once and tell Him of thy gladness, and praise Him and give Him thanks, acknowledging it all as a gift from His hands; and rejoice in that happiness because it comes to thee of His good pleasure. Rejoice, therefore, and comfort thyself in Him alone: " I will rejoice in the Lord; and I will joy in God my Jesus" ​(Habac. in. 18). Say to Him: My Jesus, I bless, and will ever bless Thee, for granting me so many favors, when I deserved at Thy hands not favors, but chastisements for the affronts I have given Thee. Say to Him, with the sacred Spouse: " All fruits, the new and the old, my Beloved, I have kept for Thee" (Cant. vii. 13). Lord, I give Thee thanks; I keep in memory all Thy bounties, past and present, to render Thee praise and glory for them forever and ever.
But if thou lovest thy God, thou oughtest to rejoice more in His blessedness than in thine own. He who loves a friend very much sometimes takes more delight in that friend's good than if it had been his own. Comfort thyself, then, in the knowledge that thy God is infinitely blessed. Be often saying to Him: My beloved Lord, I rejoice more in Thy blessedness than in any good of mine; yes, for I love Thee more than I love myself.
4. After a Fault.
Another mark of confidence highly pleasing to thy most loving God is this: that when thou hast committed any fault,thou be not ashamed to go at once to His feet and seek His pardon. Consider that God is so greatly inclined to pardon sinners, that He laments their perdition, when they depart far from Him and live as dead to His grace. Therefore does He lovingly call them, saying: " Why will you die, O house of Israel? Return ye, and live" (Ezech. xviii. 31, 32). He promises to receive the soul that has forsaken Him, so soon as she returns to His arms: " Turn ye to me . . . and I will turn to you" (Zach. i. 3). Oh, if sinners did but know with what tender mercy the Lord stands waiting to forgive them! " The Lord waiteth, that He may have mercy on you " (Is. xxx. 18). Oh, did they but know the desire He has, not to chastise, but to see them converted, that He may embrace them, that He may ​press them to His Heart! He declares: " As I live, saith the Lord God, I desire not the death of the wicked, but that- the wicked turn from his way and Live" (Ezech. xxxiii. 11). He even says: "And then come and accuse Me, saith the Lord: if your sins be as scarlet, they shall be made as white as snow " (Is. i. 18). As though He had said: Sinners, repent of having offended Me, and then come unto Me: if I do not pardon you, " accuse Me;" upbraid Me, and treat Me as one unfaithful. But no, I will not be wanting to My promise. If you will come, know this, that though your consciences are dyed deep as crimson by your sins, I will make them by My grace as white as snow.
In a word, He has declared that when a soul repents of having offended Him, He forgets all her sins: " I will not remember all his iniquities" (Ezech. xviii. 22). As soon, then, as thou tallest into any fault, raise thine eyes to God, make an act of love, and with humble confession of thy fault, hope assuredly for His pardon, and say to Him, " Lord, behold he whom Thou lovest is sick;" that heart which Thou dost love is sick, is full of sores: "heal my soul; for I have sinned against Thee." Thou seekest after penitent sinners; behold, here is one at Thy feet, who is come in search of Thee. The evil is done already; what have I now to do? Thou wilt not have me lose courage; after this my sin Thou dost still love me, and I too love Thee. Yes, my God, I love Thee with all my heart; I repent of the displeasure I have given Thee; I purpose never to do so more. Thou, Who art that God, " merciful and gracious, patient and of much compassion," forgive me; make me to hear what Thou didst say to the Magdalene: " Thy sins are forgiven thee;" and give me strength to be faithful unto Thee for the time to come.
That thou mayest not lose courage at such a mo​ment, cast a glance at Jesus on the Cross; offer His merits to the Eternal Father; and thus hope certainly for pardon, since He " spared- not even His own Son." Say to Him with confidence: " Look on the face of Thy Christ " (Ps. lxxxiii. 10). My God, behold Thy Son, dead for my sake; and for the love of that Son forgive me. Attend, greatly devout soul, to the instruction commonly given by masters of the spiritual life, after thy unfaithful conduct, at once to have recourse to God, though thou hast repeated it a hundred times in a day; and after thy falls, and the recourse thou hast had to the Lord (as has been just said), at once to be in peace. Otherwise, while thou remainest cast down and disturbed at the fault thou hast committed, thy converse with God will be small; thy trust in Him will fail; thy desire to love Him grow cold; and thou wilt be little able to go forward in the way of the Lord. On the other hand, by having immediate recourse to God to ask His forgiveness, and to promise Him amendment, thy very faults will serve to advance thee farther in the Divine love. Between friends who sincerely love each other, it often happens that when one has displeased the other, and then humbles himself and asks pardon, their friendship thereby becomes stronger than ever. Do thou likewise: see to it that thy very faults serve to bind thee yet closer in love to thy God.
5. In Doubts.
IN any kind of doubtfulness also, either on thy own account or that of others, never leave acting towards thy God with a confidence like to that of faithful friends, who consult together on every matter. So do thou take counsel with Himself, and beseech Him to enlighten thee, that thou mayest decide on what shall be most pleasing to Him: " Put those words in my mouth, and strengthen the resolu​tion in my heart" (Jud. ix. 18). Lord, tell me what Thou wouldst have me to do, or to answer; and thus will I. " Speak, Lord; for Thy servant heareth."
6. For your Neighbor.
USE towards Him also the freedom of recommending not only thy own needs, but also those of others. How agreeable will it be to thy God, that sometimes thou forget even thy own interests, to speak to Him of the advancement of His glory, of others' miseries, especially those who groan in affliction, of those souls, His spouses, who in purgatory sigh after the Vision of Himself, and of poor sinners who are living destitute of His grace! For these especially say to Him: Lord, Thou Who art so amiable, and worthy of an infinite love, how dost Thou, then, endure to see such a number of souls in the world, on whom Thou hast bestowed so many favors, and who yet will not know Thee, will not love Thee, nay, even offend and despise Thee? Ah, my God, object of all love, make Thyself to be known, make Thyself to be beloved. " Hallowed be Thy Name, Thy kingdom come;" may Thy Name be adored and be-; loved by all; may Thy love reign in all hearts. Ah, let me not depart without granting me some grace for those unfaithful souls for whom I pray.
7. The Desire for Heaven.
It is said that in purgatory those souls who in this life have had but little longing for heaven are punished with a particular suffering, called the pain of languor; and with reason, because to long but little for heaven is to set small value on that great good of the eternal kingdom which our Redeemer has purchased for us by His death. Forget not, therefore, devout soul, frequently to sigh after heaven: say to thy God, that it seems to thee an endless time for thee to come and see Him, and to love ​Him face to face. Long ardently to depart out of this banishment, this scene of sinning, and danger of losing His grace, that thou mayest arrive in that land of love where thou shalt love Him with all thy powers. Say to Him again and again, Lord, so long as I live on this earth, I am always in danger of forsaking Thee, and losing Thy love. When shall it be that I quit this life, wherein I am ever offending Thee, and come to love Thee with all my soul, and unite myself to Thee, with no danger of losing Thee any more? St. Teresa was ever sighing after this sort, and used to rejoice when she heard the clock strike, because another hour of life, and of the danger of losing God, was past and gone. For she so greatly desired death in order to see God, that she was dying with the desire to die; and hence she composed that loving canticle of hers, " I die, because I do not die."
IV.
God Answers the Soul that Speaks to Him.
IN a word, if thou desirest to delight the loving Heart of thy God, be careful to speak to Him as often as thou art able, and with the fullest confidence that He will not disdain to answer and to speak with thee in return. He does not, indeed, make Himself heard in any voice which reaches thy ears, but in a voice which thy heart can well perceive, when thou dost withdraw from converse with creatures, to occupy thyself in conversing with thy God alone: " I will lead her into the wilderness, and I will speak to her heart " (Osee ii. 14). He will then speak to thee by such inspirations, such interior lights, such manifestations of His goodness, such sweet touches in thy heart, such tokens of forgiveness, such experience of peace, such hopes ​of heaven, such rejoicings within thee, such sweetness of His grace, such loving and close embraces, in a word, such voices of love, — as are well understood by those souls whom He loves, and who seek for nothing but Himself alone.
V.
Practical Summary.
Lastly, to make a brief summary of what has already been said at large, I will not omit to suggest a devout practice whereby thou mayest fulfil all thy daily actions in a manner pleasing to God. When thou wakest in the morning, let it be thy first thought to raise thy mind to Him, offering to His glory all thou shalt do or suffer that day, praying Him to assist thee by His grace. Then make thy other morning acts of devotion, acts of thanksgiving and of love, prayers and resolutions to live that day as though it were to be the last of thy life. Father St. Jure recommends the making in the morning a compact with the Lord; that every time thou makest a certain sign, as placing thy hand upon thy heart, or raising thy eyes to heaven or to the crucifix, and the like, thou shouldst thereby intend to make an act of love, of desire to see Him loved by all, of oblation of thyself, and other acts of the same kind. When thou hast made these acts, and placed thy soul in the side of Jesus and under the mantle of Mary, and have prayed the Eternal Father that for the love of Jesus and Mary He would protect thee during the day, be careful, before thou engage in anything else, to make thy mental prayer, or meditation, at least for half an hour; and let thy specially chosen meditation be the sorrow and the shame which Jesus Christ suffered in His Passion. This is the dearest subject to loving souls, and the one which most kindles Divine love within them. ​If thou wouldst make spiritual progress, let three devotions be especially dear to thee: devotion to the Passion of Jesus Christ, to the Most Holy Sacrament, and to the ever-blessed Virgin. In mental prayer, make again and again acts of contrition, of love to God, and oblation of yourself. The Venerable Father Charles Caraffa, founder of the Pious Oratories, said that one fervent act of the love of God made thus in the morning was sufficient to maintain the soul in fervor throughout the whole day.
Then, besides the more specific acts of devotion, such as confession, communion, recitation of the divine office, etc., whenever thou art engaged in external occupations, as in study, in labor, or in any other employment that may be proper to thy condition, never forget, when setting about it, to make an offering of it to God, praying for His assistance to enable thee to perform it in a perfect manner; and do not omit to retire frequently into the cell of thy heart, in order to unite thyself with God, according to the practice of St. Catherine of Siena. In short, whatever thou doest, do it with and for God. In going out of thy room or house, and on returning again, always commend thyself to the Divine Mother, by saying a Hail Mary. When sitting down to meals, make an offering to God of the disgusts or gratifications thou mayest find in what thou eatest and drinkest; and, on rising from table, return thanks to Him, and say: Lord, how great is Thy goodness to one who has offended Thee so much! In the course of the day be careful to make thy spiritual reading, to visit the Most Holy Sacrament and the most holy Mary; and in the evening to say the Rosary, and to make an examination of conscience, together with the Christian acts of faith, hope, charity, contrition, resolutions of amendment, and of receiving the holy sacraments during life and at the ​hour of death, forming also the intention of gaining all the indulgences which thou canst. And again, on getting into bed, reflect that if thou hadst thy deserts, thou wouldst be lying down in the flames of hell; then, with the crucifix in thy arms, compose thyself to sleep, saying: " In peace, in the self-same, I will sleep and take my rest."
And here, in passing, I would briefly point out to thee the many indulgences which are attached to various prayers 'or acts of devotion. Whence it is desirable for thee, in the morning, to make the intention of gaining all the indulgences in thy power during the day. To one who makes acts of the three theological virtues mentioned above, of faith, etc., there are granted seven years for each day; and, by continuing them for a month, a plenary indulgence may be gained, applicable also to the souls in purgatory, and to himself in articulo mortis. In like manner, for the intention of gaining also all the indulgences granted for saying the Rosary on beads properly blessed, the Angelas Domini three times a day, the Litanies of our Blessed Lady, the Salve Regina, the Ave Maria, and the Gloria Patri: for saying, " Blessed be the holy and immaculate and most pure conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary:" as also for saying, " Praised now and forever be the Most Holy Sacrament:" for reciting the prayer Anima Christi, etc., for bowing the head at the Gloria Patri, and at the most holy names of Jesus and Mary; as also for hearing Mass; for making half an hour's mental prayer; to which, besides a partial, there is also a plenary indulgence attached, provided it be continued for a month, on condition of confession and communion in the course of the same; for genuflecting before the Most Holy Sacrament, and for kissing the crucifix. Always have the intention formed of gaining every such indulgence.
Then, that thou mayest be able to keep thyself ​ever in a state of recollection and union with God, as long as thou livest, and as far as may be possible, turn everything that thou mayest see or hear into an occasion for raising thy mind to God, or for taking a glance at eternity. For example, when thou seest running water, reflect that thy life is also in like manner running on, and carrying thee nearer and nearer to death. When thou seest a lamp going out for want of oil, reflect that thus also one day thou wilt have to bring thy life to its end. When thou seest the graves or remains of the dead, consider that thou also hast to become like them. When thou seest the great ones of this world rejoicing in their wealth or distinction, pity their folly, and say, For me God is sufficient: " Some trust in chariots, some in horses, but we in the name of the Lord " (Ps. xix. 8). Let these glory in such vanity; I will make nothing my glory but the grace of God, and the love of Him. When thou beholdest the pompous funerals or the fine sepulchral monuments of great folks who are dead, say: If these are damned, what is the good of this pomp of theirs to them? When thou beholdest the sea in a calm or a storm, consider the difference which there is between a soul when in the grace and when out of the grace of God. When thou seest a tree that is withered, consider that a soul without God is serviceable for nothing but to be cast into fire. If thou ever happen to see one who has been guilty of some great crime, trembling with shame and fright in the presence of his judge, or of his father, or of his bishop, consider what the panic of a sinner will be in the presence of Christ his judge. When it thunders, and thou becomest alarmed, reflect how those miserable ones who are damned tremble, as they hear continually in hell the thunders of the Divine wrath. If thou ever seest one who has been condemned to suffer a painful death, and saying: Is there, then, no longer any means for my ​escaping death? consider what will be the despair of a soul when it shall be condemned to hell, as it says: Is there, then, no longer any means for my escaping from eternal ruin?
When thine eye rests on scenes in the country or along the shore, on flowers or fruits, and thou art delighted by the sight and scent of all, say: Behold, how many are the beautiful creatures which God has created for me in this world, in order that I may love Him; and what further enjoyments does He not keep prepared for me in paradise! St. Teresa used to say, that when she saw any beautiful hills or slopes, they seemed to reproach her for her own ingratitude to God. And the Abbot de Ranee, founder of La Trappe, said that the beautiful creatures around him reminded him of his own obligation to love God. St. Augustine also said the same, crying out aloud: " Heaven and earth and all things tell me to love Thee." It is related of a certain holy man, that in passing through the fields he would strike with a little stick the flowers and plants which he found, saying: " Be silent; do not reproach me any longer for my ingratitude to God; I have understood you: be silent; say no more." When St. Mary Magdalene of Pazzi held in her hand any beautiful fruit or flower, she used to feel herself smitten by it with Divine love, saying to herself: " Behold, my God has thought from all eternity of creating this fruit, this flower, in order to give it me as a token of the love which He bears towards me."
When thou seest rivers or brooks, reflect that as the water which thou beholdest keeps running on, without ever stopping, to the ocean, so ought thou to be ever hasting on to God, Who is thy only good. When thou happenest to be in a vehicle that is drawn by beasts of burden, say: See what labor these innocent animals go through for my service; and how much pains do I take myself in order to serve ​and please my God? When thou seest a little dog, which, for a miserable morsel of bread, is so faithful to its master, reflect how much greater reason thou hast to be faithful to God, Who has created, and preserved, and provided for thee, and heaps upon thee so many blessings. When thou hearest the birds sing, say: Hearken, O my soul, to the praise which these little creatures are giving to their Creator; and what art thou doing? Then do thou also praise Him with acts of love. On the other hand, when thou hearest the cock crow, recall to thy memory that there once was a time when thou also, like Peter, denied thy God; and renew thy contrition and thy tears. So, likewise, when thou seest the house or place where thou bast sinned, turn thyself to God, and say: "The sins of my youth and my ignorance remember not, O Lord " (Ps. xxiv. 7).
When thou beholdest any valleys, consider that as their fertility is owing to the waters which run down from the mountains, so from heaven do graces descend upon the souls of the humble, passing the proud aside. When thou seest a beautifully-ornamented church, consider the beauty of a soul which, being in a state of grace, is a real temple of God. When thou beholdest the sea, consider the immensity and the greatness of God. When thou seest fire, or candles lighted on an altar, say: How many years is it since I ought to have been cast into hell to burn? But since Thou, O Lord, hast not sent me there, make this heart of mine now to burn with love for Thee, as that wood or those candles burn. When thou lookest up at the sky, all studded with stars, say with St. Andrew of Avellino: " O my feet, you will one day have those stars beneath you."
Then, in order frequently to recall to mind the mysteries of Our Saviour's love, when thou seest hay, a manger, or caves, let the Infant Jesus in the ​stable of Bethlehem be present to thy recollection. When thou seest saws, hammers, planes, or axes, remember how Jesus worked, like a mere lad, in the shop at Nazareth. Then, if thou seest ropes, thorns, nails, or pieces of wood, reflect on the Passion and Death of our Redeemer. St. Francis of Assisi, on seeing a lamb, would begin to weep, saying: ' My Lord like a lamb was led to death for me.' Again: when thou seest altars, chalices, or patens, recall to mind the greatness of the love which Jesus Christ has borne us. in giving us the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist.
Frequently during the day make an offering of thyself to God, as St. Teresa used to do, saying: "Lord, here am I: do with me that which pleaseth Thee: declare to me Thy will, that I may do it for Thee: I wish to do it thoroughly." Then repeat, as often as you can, acts of love towards God. St. Teresa used also to say, that acts of love are the fuel by which holy love is to be kept on fire within the heart. When the Venerable Sister Seraphine of Carpi was one day considering that the mule belonging to the convent had not the power of loving God, she expressed her compassion for it thus: " Poor brute; thou neither knowest nor canst love thy God;" and the mule set her weeping so that the tears fell in streams from her eyes: — so likewise do thou, when beholding any animal which has not the capacity for knowing or loving God, animate thyself, who canst love Him, to make the more abundant acts of love. Whenever thou fallest into any fault, humble thyself for it immediately; and, with an act of more fervent love, endeavor to rise again. When anything adverse happens, immediately make an offering to God of what thou hast to sutler, bringing thy will into uniformity with His own; and ever accustom thyself under all adverse circumstances to repeat these words: " Thus God wills; thus I will too." Acts of ​resignation are the acts of love which are most precious and acceptable to the Heart of God.
When thou hast to decide upon anything, or to give any counsel of importance, first, commend thyself to God, and then set about thy undertaking, or give thy opinion. As often as thou canst during the day, after the example of St. Rose of Lima, repeat the prayer: Deus in adjutorium meum intende: " Lord, come to my assistance; do not leave me in my own hands." And for this end frequently turn to the image of the Crucified, or to that, of the most holy Mary, which is in thy room; and do not omit to make frequent invocations of the names of Jesus and of Mary, especially in time of temptation. Since God is infinite goodness, His desire of communicating His graces to us is perfect. The Venerable Father Alvarez one day saw Our Saviour with His hands full of graces, and going about in search of those to whom He might dispense them. But it is His will that we should ask them of Him: " Ask, and ye shall receive," otherwise He will draw back His hand; whereas, on the contrary, He will willingly open it to those who call upon Him. And who is there, says the Preacher, that hath called upon Him, and God despised him by not granting his prayer? " Who hath called upon Him, and He hath despised Him?" (Ecclus. ii. 12.) And David tells us, that the Lord shows not merely mercy, but great mercy to those who call upon Him: " For thou, O Lord, art sweet and mild, and plenteous in mercy to all that call upon Thee" (Ps. lxxxv. 5).
Oh, how good and bountiful is the Lord to him who seeks Him lovingly: " The Lord is good to the soul that seeks Him" (Lam. iii. 25). If he lets Himself be found even by him who seeks Him not: " I was found by them that did not seek me" (Rom. x. 20), how much more willingly will He let Himself be found by one who seeks Him, and seeks ​Him, too, in order to serve Him and to love Him!
To conclude: St. Teresa says, that holy souls in this world have to conform themselves by love to what the souls of the blessed do in heaven. As the saints in heaven occupy themselves only with God, and have no other thought or joy than in His glory and in His love, so also must this be the case with thee. While thou art in this world, let God be thy only happiness, the only object of thy affections, the only end of all thy actions and desires, until thou comest to that eternal kingdom, where thy love shall be in all things perfected and completed, and thy desires shall be perfectly fulfilled and satisfied.
* ↑ Sunday: The Most Holy Trinity and my holy patrons. Monday: The Holy Ghost. Tuesday: The holy angels and St. Anne. Wednesday: St. Joseph. Thursday: The Blessed Sacrament. Friday: The Passion and Sacred Heart of Jesus. Saturday: Our Lady of Perpetual Help.
* ↑ Three hundred days, three times a day, morning, noon, and evening, for all those who are inscribed in the confraternity of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Plenary Indulgence, monthly on one day at choice, for every member who has recited at least once a day these two invocations which are applicable to the dead. (Rescript of Sept. 26th, 1877.)
* ↑ St. Alphonsus renders the practice of mental prayer exceedingly simple, clear, easy, and fruitful; thanks to the method he has given us, this exercise which is so indispensable for all who wish to save their souls, has b^cn placed within reach of every one. Books of meditation are now very numerous, and from among the Works of St. Alphonsus we may mention The Preparation for Death, The Way of Salvation, The Great Means of Salvation, Meditation? on the Passion, on Christmas, etc., The Glories of Mary, etc.
* ↑ At the end, one Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory be to the Father may be said in the intention of the Sovereign Pontiff.
* ↑ "into solitude." Vulg.