Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/285

 we acknowledge  God  to  be  the  author  of  our  faith,  the foundation of  our  hope,  and  the  object  of  our  affections.

III. All these  favors,  and  whatever  else  we  can  desire for our  spiritual  goods,  our  Lord  is  readier  to  bestow, than we  to  ask. " It  shall  come  to  pass,"  He  says,  "  that before  their  call,  I  will  hear,  as  they  are  yet  speaking  I will  hear." (Is. lxv.  24.)  If  we  do  not  obtain  what  we ask  for,  the  reason  is,  either  because  we  offer  Him  undue petitions, or  do  not  pray  in  the  manner  in  which  we ought. Even in  refusing  this  kind  of  petitions,  God shows His  mercy  to  us;  "for  in  His  mercy,"  observes  St. Augustine,  "He  denies  those  things,  which  He  could  not grant  but  in  His  wrath." Be grateful  to  the  giver  of all  good  gifts,  for  the  privilege  of  addressing  Him  in prayer,  and  on  all  occasions  take  advantage  of  it.

I. In  order  to  receive  the  advantages  resulting  from prayer, we  must  know  how  to  pray. " Before  prayer," says the  Wise  Man,  "  prepare  thy  soul." (Ecclus. xviii.  23  ) This  preparation  consists,  1. In prostrating  ourselves with all  humility  of  heart  before  our  God,  and  in  acknowledging our  unworthiness  to  appear  in  His  pure  sight, as did  the  publican,  and  the  centurion  in  the  Gospel. " He  hath  regard  to  the  prayers  of  the  humble,  and  hath not  despised  their  petition." (Ps. ci.  18.)  And  "the prayer  of  him  that  humbleth  himself,  shall  pierce  the clouds." (Ecclus. xxxv.  21.)  To  pray  well,  we  must,  in the  second  place,  be  in  peace  and  charity  with  our neighbors, and  pardon  all  their  offences  against  us. " When  you  shall  stand  to  pray,  forgive,  if  you  have  any thing  against  any  man." (Mark xi.  25.)    3. We must