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 mortal sin. The reason is, because prayer is a means without which we are not able to obtain that assistance which is necessary for our salvation.

" Ask, and ye shall receive." He who seeks obtains, therefore, as S. Teresa says, he who does not seek, does not obtain. And before her, S. James had said, " Ye have not, because ye ask not." (S. James iv. 3.) And especially is prayer necessary to obtain the virtue of continence. " Nevertheless when I perceived that I could not otherwise obtain her except God gave her me I prayed unto the Lord and besought Him."

(Wisd. viii. 21.) Let us conclude this point. He who prays will certainly be saved, and he who does not pray will certainly be condemned. All those who are saved, were saved by prayer, and all those who are lost were lost through not having prayed; and the knowing that they might so easily have saved themselves by prayer, and that now there is no more time in which to pray, is, and always will be, the great cause of their despair in hell.

Ah, my Redeemer, and how have I been able to live so forgetful of Thee during the time that is passed? Thou wast prepared to grant me all the favours which I ought to have asked of Thee, expecting only that I should ask for them; but I have thought of gratifying my senses alone, esteeming it of no moment to live without Thy love and Thy favour. O Lord, forget my great ingratitude, and take pity on me; forgive the many times I have sinned against Thee, and give me strength to persevere in well-doing; grant me the grace ever to ask Thee for Thy help, so that I may never more offend Thee, O God of my soul. Do not allow me to be negligent in this respect, as I have been during the time that is passed. Give me light and strength ever to commend myself to Thee, and especially when my enemies again tempt me to offend Thee. Grant me this grace, O my God, through the merits of Jesus Christ, and through the love which Thou bearest for Him. O my Lord, I have offended Thee so often, I would wish to love Thee during the remainder of my life. Give me Thy holy love, and may it ever remind me