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 prayer and at last gives it up altogether!" Fain would I say to every young man on the face of the earth: Grow not weary of praying if you would not be lost!

5. The most precious fruit of prayer is that it unites us to God and renders us heavenly-minded. True prayer is an elevation of the heart to God in which you hold intercourse with Him. He, the loving Father, during every moment of this sweet communion, infuses more light, fresh love and strength into the heart of the child who kneels before Him. In this way the heart is more and more raised up to God and is excited to pious affections.

When Moses had communed with God for forty days, his face shone with such dazzling brightness that he was obliged to cover it when he came near to the people. We read something of a similar nature in the lives of many of the saints, who, whilst engaged in prayer and contemplation, or after they had concluded these exercises, shone with heavenly radiance.

6. We poor sinful mortals can not expect to receive from God favors such as these. One thing is certain, however: he who loves prayer, and prays frequently and devoutly, will find his soul to be illumined from on high; he will grow in the love of God, he will strive more and more to please Him, he will more and more despise all that is base, unholy, and impure. He, on the contrary, who does not pray at regular times, who does not raise his heart to God and to heaven, becomes of necessity more and more worldly-minded, loses all relish for higher things, and seeks only the gratification of his lower nature.

Like a pillar of fire, prayer will lead you unharmed through the perils of this world. Prayer