Page:Prayerbookforrel00lasa 0.djvu/58

 Divinity is  present. Since God  then,  and  heaven,  are present in  our  souls,  at  all  times  and  in  all  places,  we surely  should  have  but  little  trouble  in  finding  Him  or  in speaking  with  Him  in  our  thoughts,  or  in  making  Him hear us;  and  this  makes  it  very  easy  for  us  in  time  of prayer  to  form  acts  of  love,  etc.,  and  to  converse  with Him. And not  only  in  time  of  prayer,  but  at  all  times, all we  have  to  do  is  to  look  within,  and  God  is  really and actually  present. This should  help  us  greatly  to  be recollected  everywhere,  and  we  should  endeavor,  little by little,  to  learn  to  keep  up  a  continual  conversation  in our  souls  with  God,  Who  is  so  much  nearer  to  us  than our dearest  friend  can  ever  be. In this  way  we  would always be  on  our  guard  against  offending  one  who  inhabits our  very  soul,  and  we  would  be  habitually  filled with a  holy  filial  fear  and  love. The heaven  that  is within  our  souls  by  this  divine  presence  will  begin  to project  itself  upon  our  surroundings,  and  we  will  be almost  living  in  heaven,  the  world  about  us  and  our lives becoming  tinged  with  its  light. Behold all  there is in  the  Our  Father  in  this  manner  of  prayer,  before  we come  to  the  first  petition. And many  other  holy  thoughts with accompanying  requests  and  acts  of  the  will  and aspirations will  present  themselves  to  your  minds,  as God  the  Holy  Ghost  within  you  may  direct.

" Hallowed  be  Thy  name." In this  first  petition  we address  God  as  our  Father  and  Lord;  and  as  His  children we pray,  and  ought  greatly  to  desire,  that  our  lives  may be sanctified,  in  order  that  we  may  live  up  to  our  holy vocation as  children  of  such  a  Father. Let us,  then, while meditating  on  this  petition,  greatly  desire  to  become holy,  to  become  saints,  as  children  of  God  ought to be. Then we  should  make  acts  of  self-contempt  and indignation against  ourselves,  because  we  are  so  unworthy of  such  a  high  dignity,  and  are  so  full  of  sin  and ingratitude to  so  good  a  Father;  and  make  acts  of  contrition for  our  sins,  by  which  we  have  offended  Him,  and