Page:Prayerbookforrel00lasa 0.djvu/63

 these ascensions  of  the  heart  and  will  toward  God,  in order  to  go  on  and  begin  to  reason  upon  another  point. Indeed, if  the  soul  is  thus  roused  at  the  commencement, when the  picture  of  the  mystery  is  proposed  to  the  imagination, she  should  stop  there,  until  her  affections  begin to flag,  when  she  can  go  on  further. You need  have  no fear  of  being  unfaithful  by  following  this  rule.

Another thing. Sometimes it  so  happens  that  both the imagination  and  reason  seem  to  be  paralyzed,  so that  after  faithfully  trying  to  begin  and  go  on  with  the meditation for  a  little  while,  the  soul  finds  itself  so  stupid and dull,  as  to  be  able  to  imagine  or  reason  upon  nothing. Let her  not  be  discouraged. Let her  make  simple acts of  the  will,  however  hard  and  dry  they  may  seem  to be. Let her  spend  the  time  saying  to  God  such  things as, "O  my  God,  I  love  you.  O  my  God,  I  offer  my mind  and  body  to  you;  take  me.  O  my  God,  I  give  my will  up  to  your  will — I  submit  to  this  dryness  and  dulness — and  other  such  simple,  dry  acts.  There  may  be  no sensible  fervor  in  them,  they  may  seem  to  the  soul  perfectly stupid:  yet  such  acts  of  the  will,  done,  at  the  same time,  with  great  calmness  and  interior  stillness,  without hurry  or  anxiety,  will  be  of  the  greatest  value  to  the  soul in  the  eyes  of  God.  You  will  make  more  progress  during that  hour,  than  in  many  others  when  the  reason  was bright  and  the  affections  came  gushing  forth  like  a  fountain. But  perhaps  the  heart  may  be  so  dull  that  even these  simple  acts  can  not  be  made  without  turmoil  and disturbance  of  mind.  In  that  case,  remain  quietly  before God in  perfect  calmness,  submitting  yourself  to  His  will in this. Occupy yourself  simply  in  keeping  peace.

Another thing  is,  to  make  all  your  spiritual  exercises, daily or  otherwise,  whatever  manner  of  prayer  you  may be using,  with  the  greatest  peace,  calmness,  and  stillness of  heart. There is  nothing  worse  in  prayer  than anxiety, fear,  fretfulness,  hurry,  over-eagerness  to  do  it right,  or  any  overstraining  of  the  soul. All should  be