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 affections and  such  resolutions  as  are  calculated  to  help you in  overcoming  your  evil  inclinations  and  in  leading a more  perfect  life.

"Mental Prayer  or  Meditation,"  says  St.  Francis  of Sales,  "is  an  earnest  thought,  voluntarily  repeated  or entertained  in  the  mind,  to  excite  the  will  to  holy  and salutary  affections  and  resolutions."

Salutary acts  of  the  will  are  acts  of  faith,  hope,  charity, humility, contrition,  praise,  adoration,  thanksgiving, reparation, oblation,  and  petition.

When you  intend  to  receive  holy  communion,  the  whole time of  Mass  may  be  employed  most  profitably  in  making such acts,  with  or  without  the  use  of  a  prayer-book.

Many acts  and  prayers  contained  elsewhere  in  this  book may be  substituted  occasionally  for  those  given  in  the following methods  of  assisting  at  Mass,  especially  such  as relate  to  the  Passion,  the  Blessed  Sacrament,  and  the  Sacred Heart of  Jesus.

You may  also  very  appropriately  recite  the  Rosary during Mass,  and  in  particular  the  Eucharistic  Rosary  in which  we  meditate  on  the  life,  passion,  and  death  of Our  Lord  in  connection  with  the  sacred  mysteries  of  the altar. Formulate your  own  prayers  occasionally.

Converse with  God  in  a  familiar  manner. Prayer is the  elevation  of  the  soul  to  God. Speak to  your  heavenly Father from  your  heart  with  filial  piety,  simplicity,  and confidence.