Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/19

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T is the duty of a Christian to pray often and to pray fervently. "To enter heaven," says St. Thomas, "constant prayer is necessary." "Pray without ceasing," says St. Paul. We ought always to pray: "Watch and pray that you enter not into temptation," says Jesus Christ.

As soon as you awake, and it is time to get up, raise your thoughts immediately to God, make the holy sign of the cross, dress quickly, kneel down, and begin to pray.

1. Thank God that he has again permitted you to see another day, and guarded you against every evil during the night.

2. Ask him, with childlike confidence, to keep you during the day from sin and every other evil.

3. Offer to him all your thoughts, words, and actions of the day, uniting them to the sufferings and death of Jesus Christ.

4. Make a firm resolution to commit no sin during the day. Be on your guard, especially against your most frequent and besetting sin. Consider well all