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 what lesson  for  the  amendment  of  your  life  you  will  find in this  truth,  or  in  this  mystery. Search for  it,  and  as soon  as  you  have  arrested  it,  you  will  pass  on  to  the  consideration of  some  motives,  which  may  move  your  heart and engage  you  to  put  it  in  practice.

2. Examine  also  very  carefully  how  much  you  esteem a truth  so  important  for  your  salvation  as  that  which engages your  attention;  whether  you  are  in  the  habit  of regulating  your  conduct  by  what  it  inculcates,  or  whether you are  negligent  with  regard  to  it. Admit your  negligence; acknowledge  your  faults. What is  the  cause  of your  errors? What means  will  you  employ  to  avoid them?

C. The  Will:

1. Pious  affections  are  aroused. These affections differ as  the  subject  varies,  or  in  accordance  with  the dispositions of  the  soul  and  the  motions  of  the  Holy  Spirit — confusion, shame,  and  contrition;  distrust  of  ourselves; confidence in  God;  thanksgiving;  offering  of  ourselves; sacrifice of  whatever  obstructs  or  retards  perfection;  resignation; abandonment  to  the  will  of  God.

2. The  will  makes  strong  resolutions,  with  regard  to a  certain  virtue,  for  instance,  humility,  or,  with  regard to certain  occasions  and  certain  means,  tending  to  greater perfection.

3. You  will  make  some  colloquies,  especially  toward the end  of  the  meditation.

This is  a  direct  prayer;  so  make  acts  of  faith,  hope, charity, etc.,  as  they  are  suggested  by  the  subject  of  your meditation. This part  of  the  meditation  should  occupy perhaps one-fifth  of  the  whole  time  alloted  to  the  exercise.

The colloquy  may  also  be  called  a  familiar  and  respectful address  to  God,  in  which  we  praise  Him,  thank Him, beg  His  pardon,  ask  Him  for  some  grace,  some