Page:Prayerbookforrel00lasa 0.djvu/56

 The other  way  of  reciting  vocal  prayers,  particularly the Our  Father  and  the  Hail  Mary,  is,  in  fact,  a  method of turning  vocal  into  mental  prayer. It consists  in  not merely reciting  the  prayer  slowly,  but  resting  at  each sentence or  petition,  and  meditating  upon  what  is  there said, or  asked  of  God. It is  the  method  St.  Teresa taught her  nuns,  and  is  a  most  profitable  as  well  as  an easy  way  of  meditating. Some people  find  it  very  difficult to  make  use  of  mental  prayer  by  the  ordinary methods. They will  not,  perhaps,  find  this  method  so difficult. We will  give  a  rapid  sketch  of  the  manner  of meditating  on  the  Our  Father,  and  of  some  of  the  subjects of  meditation  to  be  found  in  it. Those who  are  notable to  meditate  by  reasoning  upon  points,  may  find  in this  method  great  help  and  encouragement.

Upon the  very  first  words  of  this  divine  prayer  of  Our Lord the  soul  may  rest  and  find  nourishment. It is  not necessary, having  begun  the  first  words  of  the  prayer,  to go  on  and  finish  it;  but  if,  during  the  whole  time  of prayer,  the  soul  rests  upon  these  or  any  other  words, there let  her  stay  as  long  as  she  is  inclined. Afterwards, if there  is  any  more  time,  let  her  go  on  to  the  next  sentence or  petition.

On the  words,  "Our  Father,"  the  soul  may  consider what a  great  thing  it  is  to  be  the  son  or  daughter  of  such a great  Lord  and  Sovereign,  and  what  it  is  to  have  such a Father,  Who  is  almighty,  all-loving,  all-good,  able  and desirous to  help  and  benefit  His  child  to  the  uttermost. Again, having  such  a  Father  in  God,  His  only-begotten Son is  become  our  brother,  in  Whom  we  are  all  brethren, coheirs with  Him,  and  brethren  and  fellow-citizens  with the saints  and  angels  in  heaven. And having  such  a Father  and  such  brethren,  we  should  have  very  great confidence that,  if  we  are  faithful  children,  all  things  will cooperate together  for  our  good,  and  heaven  will  be  ours hereafter; and  any  other  such  like  thoughts  that  may present themselves  to  our  minds. Then we  can  raise