Page:Prayerbookforrel00lasa 0.djvu/75

 that person. Now, what  was  all  this  but  a  meditation in which  you  employed  all  the  powers  of  your  soul? Moreover, it  was  probably'  made  without  a  single  distraction, which  is  of  very  rare  occurrence  when  we  meditate on  a  mystery  of  our  holy  faith.

"Unfortunately, the  subject  was  not  well  chosen,  but at  least  it  may  help  you  to  understand  that  you  are  capable of  making  a  meditation.  Suppose  that,  instead  of reflecting  on  a  personal  affront,  you  had  chosen  for  subject the  insults  received  by  Our  Lord  at  the  court  of Herod.  You  pictured  out  the  scene,  recalled  the  facts, pondered  them  over,  weighed  the  motives,  and  then stirred  up  yourself  to  imitate  your  divine  model.  This would  have  been  an  excellent  meditation.  Now  it  is true  that  the  Holy  Ghost  is  the  great  Master  Who teaches  us  how  to  pray,  but  this  does  not  dispense  us from  means  which  He  has  placed  at  our  disposal,  for 'God  helps  those  who  help  themselves/  in  this  as  in temporal  enterprises.  The  masters  of  the  spiritual  life have  traced  out  methods  of  mental  prayer  for  their  disciples. The one  laid  down  by  St. Ignatius, in  his? Spiritual Exercises,' is  perhaps  the  best  known."

It consists  of  three  parts:  (1)  preparation,  (2)  meditation proper,  (3)  exercise  of  the  affections. Each of these  parts  is  subdivided,  and  a  few  words  on  them may be  useful  to  the  reader.

EAD over  the  subject  of  the  meditation  carefully. This can  be  done  the  previous  evening. Place yourself in  the  presence  of  God;  stand  (if  convenient) and reflect  on  the  truth  that  God  sees  into  your  inmost