# Meditations On The Mysteries Of Our Holy Faith/Volume 1/Advertisement to the Reader

ADVERTISEMENT TO THE READER.
Of the "Venerable" Author of the following work the reader will find a full and edifying account in the excellent " Life of F. Ludovico de Ponte," lately published by the Fathers of the Oratory ; of the work itself the subjoined extract, from the same life, is at once a glowing and a truthful testimony.
"It is in truth an immortal work, in which the reader scarcely knows which to admire most, either the extensive learning, or the order of arrangement, or the multiplicity and correctness of the reflections, or the unction with which the mysteries are unfolded: it cannot be read without feeling the will excited to devotion, or without a desire to profit by it. It passed through three editions, and was translated into several other languages within one year after its first appearance. In it he explains admirably the practice of prayer, at the same time furnishing ample materials for it. In it directors and confessors may find wherewith to instruct those committed to their charge. In it religious of every order may find ​celestial manna for the daily food of their devotion. In it, in fine, every person of every state may learn how to appreciate the eternal truths and the mysteries of our holy faith; and also how to live well, if they will frequently read and meditate upon them."
To this eulogium little else need now ho added further, than that the "Meditations" of De Ponte constitute a most complete practical development of the science of mental prayer, framed on the model of the " Spiritual Exercises" of St. Ignatius.
The three "ways" or "states" through which the soul advances, as sketched out in that admirable hook, viz., the " Purgative," the "Illuminative," and the " Unitive," will be found to succeed each other in their due order, each one separately complete, and forming together a perfect and consecutive whole; so that the exercitant, whether he seek to go through the entire course in regular succession, or only to apply himself to a particular part, will be able equally to attain his object.
How the Venerable Author has treated each meditation, and made it bear on the scope of the division to which it belongs, can be tested only by diligent practice. Certain it is, that he has brought to the work all the knowledge of a profound theologian, the experience of a consummate master of spirits, and the light and unction of a soul in close and habitual intercourse with God. Hence, whilst the points of ​the meditations are stored with sound reasoning and argument, the colloquies are so many out-pourings of the heart in prayer, always natural and impressive — not unfrequently sublime. It may be added, that every expression of the soul, and every tone of the heart, so they be in earnest and rightly disposed, will not fail to find an echo in those deep and devout breathings.
Nor are the quotations from Scripture and the Fathers the least excellence of the work. They are scattered through the meditations, pointing and sanctioning the truths set forth, with a force, frequency, and appositeness which bespeak a rare amount of scriptural and patristic learning.
Those who, through God's grace, feel happily drawn to aspire to this " science of the saints," will find in the Introduction a course of instruction admirably adapted to initiate and lead them on. Nor will it be consulted without profit even by the more advanced.
As a proof of the estimation in which this work has ever been held, it may be observed that it passed through three editions within one year after its first appearance, and has gone through at least fourteen more subsequently.
The edition of which the present professes to be a reprint, is by John Heigham, who is mentioned by Dodd, in his history, as a gentleman chiefly residing abroad and occupying himself in translating works of ​piety from the Spanish language into English; and when we take into account that his translation was made upwards of two centuries ago, and under adverse circumstances, it is not surprising that it should require extensive revision. In revising it, however, it has been the object of the editors to retain the general features of the original, which, though antiquated in style, will not, it is presumed, be found ill-suited to matter of so serious and weighty moment. The corrections are chiefly those of spelling and punctuation, with occasional omission and alteration of words either obsolete or redundant, or not fully expressive of the authors meaning.
The references to the Fathers have been carefully noted in the text, and the scriptural quotations verified and corrected. Moreover, pains have been taken to make the divisions of the meditations clear, by the use of a notation, according to which, the principal and subordinate members are distinguishable at first glance; while, to assist the memory, the significative words have been marked by the use of italics.
Although the editors have used their humble endeavours in preparing the present reprint, they are far from considering it free from imperfections. These, however, it is hoped, will be no bar to the attainment of the one object they had in view; — that of supplying those souls which " hunger and thirst after justice," ​— now through God's mercy happily on the increase — with that mystical food which will " strengthen them in their journey to the mount of God," and with those heavenly waters, of which whosoever drinketh," they shall become in him a fountain of water, springing up into life everlasting."
* ↑ Matt. v. 6.
* ↑ 3 Kings xix. 8.
* ↑ John iv. 14.