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 than to  reflect  seriously  on  some  subject. Meditation, as  mental  prayer,  is  a  serious  reflection on some  religious  truth  or  event,  united  wit!? reference and  application  to  ourselves,  in  order thereby to  excite  in  us  certain  pious  sentiments, such as  contrition,  humility,  faith,  hope,  charity, etc., and  to  move  our  will  to  form  good  resolutions conformable  to  these  pious  sentiments. Such an  exercise  has  naturally  a  beneficial  influence on  our  soul  and  greatly  conduces  to enlighten  our  mind  and  to  move  our  will  to practise  virtue.

Meditation is  a  great  means  to  salvation. It aids us  powerfully  in  the  pursuit  of  our  destiny, to know  God,  to  love  Him,  to  serve  Him,  that we may  be  happy  with  Him  forever;  it  helps us to  know  ourselves  and  to  discover  the  means of avoiding  and  correcting  our  vices,  our  faults, and weaknesses;  it  reveals  to  us  the  dangers  to which  our  salvation  is  exposed  and  leads  us  to pray  with  a  contrite  and  humble  heart  for  the necessary graces  to  cope  with  temptations,  to control  our  passions,  and  to  lead  a  holy  life. Mental prayer  inflames  our  hearts  with  the  love of God  and  strengthens  us  to  do  His  holy  will with zeal  and  perseverance.

As regards  the  place  of  meditation,  St.  Alphonsus  says:

"We can  meditate  in  every  place,  at  home  or elsewhere,  even  in  walking  and  at  our  work. How  many  are  there  who,  not  having  any  better opportunity,  raise  their  hearts  to  God  and  apply their  minds  to  mental  prayer,  without  leaving their  occupations,  their  work,  or  who  meditate even  while  traveling.  He  who  seeks  God  will find  Him,  everywhere  and  at  all  times.  The most  appropriate  place  for  meditation,  however