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 when, where,  and  why  He  uttered  it. See what  lesson you can  learn  from  it,  and  how  far  your  conduct  is  at variance  with  the  precept. Take a  practical  resolution to amend. Determine some  definite  act  of  virtue  in question. A vague  purpose  of  amendment  is  useless.

In this  part  of  the  meditation,  avoid  spending  all  the time in  reflections,  since  they  are  a  means,  not  an  end. Their great  object  is  to  stir  up  your  will  to  do  some  good action, and  to  serve  as  solid  foundation  for  your  resolutions. The most  important  part  of  meditation  is  the exercise of  the  affections,  and  all  the  preceding  steps should lead  up  to  this  essential  point.

As Father  Chaignon,  S.J.,  says  in  his  "  Sacerdotal Meditations;"  "  Prayer  is  a  gift  of  the  Spirit  of  God;  it  is a  science  of  which  this  Holy  Spirit  is  the  first,  or  rather the  only,  veritable  Master.  Let  us  earnestly  pray  to  Him to  grant  us  this  gift,  which  shall  be  for  us  the  channel  of the  most  precious  graces.  Let  us  learn  of  Him  this science,  which  is  so  important  a  part  of  the  science  of  the saints."

Domine, doce  nos  orare. (Luke i.  11.)  He  teaches  it, says St. Bernard, in  acting  upon  our  memory,  our  intellect, and  our  will. Monet, et  docet,  et  movet;  monet memoriam, docet  rationem,  movet  voluntatem:  snggerendo,  instrnendo,  afficiendo. (St. Bernard,  Serm.  de Pent.). One could  not  have  more  clearly  designated the exercises  of  the  three  faculties,  in  which  the  method  of St. Ignatius precisely  consists.

A. The  Memory:  Propose  to  yourself  the  whole  subject of  the  meditation;  place  before  yourself  the  whole of the  truth  or  mystery  under  consideration,  as  if  you were relating  or  describing  it  to  another  person  very clearly and  briefly. An act  of  faith  will  help  you.

B. The  Intellect  or  Understanding:  It  first  considers the truth  and  then  makes  the  application.

1. Consider  what  you  have  to  believe,  or  do,  with  respect to  the  truth  which  you  have  proposed  to  yourself;