Page:TheYoungMansGuide.djvu/215

 cise. If we  can  not  spend  in  it  half  an  houi every day,  let  us  at  least  devote  to  it  a  quarter of an  hour. The longer  and  the  more  fervent our mental  prayer,  the  more  we  shall  like  it,  and we shall  learn  by  our  own  experience  the  truth of the saying  of  the  Royal  Prophet:  'Taste  and see that  the  Lord  is  sweet'  (Ps.  xxxiii.  9).

" Pope  Benedict  XIV  grants  to  all  the  faithful making  mental  prayer  devoutly  for  a  whole month  for  half  an  hour,  or  at  least  a  quarter  of an  hour  every  day,  a  plenary  indulgence,  if truly  penitent,  after  confession  and  holy  communion, they  devoutly  pray  for  the  intentions of  the  Church.  This  indulgence  is  applicable  to the  souls  in  purgatory."

As to  our  petitions  and  resolutions,  Father Girardey says:

"In mental  prayer  it  is  very  profitable,  and perhaps  more  useful  than  any  other  act,  to address  repeated  petitions  to  God,  asking  with great  humility  and  unbounded  confidence  for His  graces  —  such  as  His  light,  resignation  in adversity,  patience,  perseverance,  etc.,  but,  above all,  for  the  inestimable  gift  of  His  holy  love. 'By  obtaining  divine  love,'  says  St.  Francis  of Sales,  'we  obtain  all  graces';  'For,'  says  St. Alphonsus,  'he  who  truly  loves  God  with  all  his heart  will,  of  himself,  abstain  from  causing  Him the  least  displeasure,  and  will  strive  to  please Him  to  the  best  of  his  ability.'  If  we  feel  dry or  despondent  and  unable  to  meditate  or  pray well,  let  us  repeat  many  times  as  earnestly  as possible:  'My  Jesus,  mercy!'  'Lord,  for  Thy mercy's  sake,  assist  me!'  'My  God,  I  love Thee!'

" Let  us  offer  all  our  petitions  for  grace  in  the name  and  through  the  merits  of  Jesus  Christ,