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 in meditation  or  pious  reflection  on  some  supernatural truth,  and  from  this  fact  the  whole exercise is  often  called  meditation  instead  of mental  prayer.

In mental  prayer,  meditation  (the  exercise  of the  intellect)  is  only  a  means  to  the  end,  which is the  elevation  of  the  soul  to  God  —  conversation with  God. When thinking  and  reflecting the soul  speaks  to  itself,  reasons  with  itself;  in prayer  that  follows  it  speaks  to  God. It is  plain that mental  prayer  or  meditation  is  something more than  mere  spiritual  reading.

But we  can  easily  turn  our  spiritual  reading into a  meditation,  as,  for  instance,  when  we read  only  a  few  lines  at  a  time  from  "The  Following of  Christ";  then  meditate,  reflect,  consider our  own  conduct  in  connection  with  the subject treated,  make  devout  acts  and  pious resolutions, and  finally  pray  to  God  for  His grace that  we  may  conquer  our  wicked  inclinations, practise"  some  particular  virtue,  and  lead a  holy  life.  After  this  we  can  read  a  few  more lines;  then  meditate  again.

Bishop Challoner  in  his  translation  of  "The Following  of  Christ"  or  "The  Imitation  of Christ,"  as  this  golden  book  is  sometimes  called, has added  some  excellent  practical  reflections  at the  end  of  each  chapter.

"Meditation," as  Madame  Cecilia  says  in  her admirable work,  "At  the  Feet  of  Jesus,"  "consists in  occupying  ourselves  mentally  and  prayerfully with  some  mystery  of  the  Faith.  We  call to  mind  the  chief  facts,  ponder  over  them,  and then  stir  up  our  will  to  regulate  our  conduct  in consequence.  Hence  meditation  is  an  exercise of  the  faculties  of  our  soul  —  memory,  understanding, and  will."