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oly Scripture  says,  "Before  prayer  prepare thy  soul;  and  be  not  as  a  man  that  tempteth God" (Eccles.  xviii.  23). Therefore place  yourself in  the  presence  of  God,  invoke  the  assistance of the  Holy  Ghost,  and  make  a  most  sincere  act of contrition  for  your  sins. Offer up  to  God  your will, your  intellect,  and  your  memory,  so  that  your prayer may  be  pleasing  to  God  and  serve  to  promote your  spiritual  welfare.

Then read  the  meditation  slowly,  reflecting  on each  point  of  the  thought  or  mystery  treated,  and consider what  you  can  learn  from  it,  and  for  what grace you  ought  to  implore  God. This is  the  principal object  to  be  attained  by  mental  prayer.

Never rise  from  your  prayer  without  having formed some  special  resolution  for  practical  observance. The practices  at  the  end  of  each  consideration in  the  following  novenas  will  aid  you to do  so. Finally, ask  for  grace  to  carry  out effectively your  good  purposes,  and  thank  God for enlightening  your  mind  during  the  meditation.