Page:SermonsFromTheLatins.djvu/457

 rewarded with  a  foretaste  of  the  joys  of  heaven. Prayer is  his  Jacob's  ladder,  which  keeps  him  in  constant communication  with  God. It is  the  very  heart of his  religion,  to  which  churches,  altars,  priests,  etc., are but  accessories. In religious  work,  prayer  is  an absolutely  essential  instrument,  for  whosoever  have done great  things  for  God  or  humanity,  or  raised themselves to  eminent  sanctity — all  were  men  of prayer. In a  word,  the  man  devoid  of  prayer  is  more helpless even  than  the  Gospel  mute,  and  by  prayer alone can  his  faculties  be  restored  to  speak  and  act aright.

Brethren, to  realize  prayer's  necessity  were  futile without an  earnest  effort  to  master  the  proper method of  prayer. " You  ask,"  says  St.  James,  "  and you  receive  not,  because  you  ask  amiss." Granted, therefore, that  the  mind  and  heart  are  essential  factors in  our  devotions,  know  that  every  prayer  should consist of  five  parts:  preparation,  study,  thought, thanksgiving, and  petition. On a  proper  preparation depends  almost  the  entire  fruit  of  that  holy  exercise wherein  we  speak  to  God  and  God  speaks  to us. Were you  spokesman  of  a  committee  sent  to petition  the  President  on  some  important  subject, what care  would  you  not  give  to  the  manner  of  your address! And will  we,  entering  God's  presence  on  a matter  of  infinite  concern  to  ourselves,  be  less  solicitous? Will not  our  boorishness  pique  the  Lord's patience,  or  our  slow  stammering  put  His  mercy  to sleep? " Before  praying,"  says  the  Holy  Spirit, " prepare  thy  soul,  and  be  not  as  a  man  that  tempt-