Page:Stalphonsuspraye00ligu.djvu/17

 IV. They are  the  work  of  an  apostolic  man  whose special mission  it  evidently  was,  by  means  of  his preaching, his  writing,  and  the  Institute  which  he founded,  to  inculcate  in  souls  the  importance, necessity, and  efficacy  of  prayer  for  obtaining  eternal salvation. So much  so  that  those  who  have  gone through his  works,  specially  the  one  entitled  The Great Means  of  Salvation,  have  unanimously  proclaimed him  the  Apostle  and  Doctor  of  Prayer.

V. To  all  these  recommendations  may  be  added that of  the  experience  that  has  been  made  of  their utility among  the  faithful,  who  for  the  last  century have eagerly  sought  after  these  pious  formulas,  and taken delight  in  the  delicious  and  life-giving  manna therein contained.

ur own share  in  the  present  work  has  been that of  compiling. We have  collected  the most beautiful  of  those  prayers  of  St.  Alphonsus  which  are  scattered  through  the  numerous volumes of  his  Ascetic  and  Dogmatic  Works,  and we have  arranged  them  in  methodical  order  so  as  to make  them  useful  to  all. Many persons  had  expressed a  hope  that  such  a  compilation  would  some day be  issued,  and  we  now  offer  it  to  them  in  a convenient  form,  and  hope  it  may  meet  their  wishes. A glance  at  the  Table  of  Contents  will  show  that we have  essayed  to  form  a  complete  manual. All the indulgences mentioned  may  be  gained  by  all  the faithful in  general,  unless  the  contrary  be  expressly stated, and  they  are  all  to  be  found  in  "  The  Raccolta,"  published  by  order  of  His  Holiness  Pope Pius  IX.