Page:Thecompleteascet01grimuoft.djvu/448

 heart. Sin  has  made  our  heart  hard  and  indocile; for being  altogether  inclined  to  sensual  pleasures,  it  resists, as  the  Apostle  complained,  the  laws  of  the  spirit. But I  see  another  law  in  my  members  fighting  against  the  law of  my  mind.  But  the  soul  is  rendered  docile  and  tender to the  influence  of  grace  that  is  communicated  in  mental prayer. By the  contemplation  of  the  divine  goodness, the  great  love  which  God  has  borne  him,  and  the immense benefits  that  God  has  bestowed  upon  him,  man is inflamed  with  love,  his  heart  is  softened,  and  made obedient to  the  divine  inspirations. But without  mental prayer  his  heart  will  remain  hard  and  restive  and disobedient, and  thus  he  shall  be  lost. A hard  heart  shall fare  evil  at  the  last.  Hence,  St.  Bernard  exhorted  Pope Eugene never  to  omit  meditation  on  account  of  external  occupations. " I  fear  for  you,  O  Eugene,  lest the  multitude  of  affairs  (prayer  and  consideration  being intermitted),  may  bring  you  to  a  hard  heart,  which abhors  not  itself,  because  it  perceives  not."

Some may  imagine  that  the  long  time  which  devout souls give  to  prayer,  and  which  they  could  spend  in  useful works, is  unprofitable  and  lost  time. But such  persons know not  that  in  mental  prayer  souls  acquire  strength to conquer  enemies  and  to  practise  virtue. "From this leisure,"  says  St. Bernard, "strength  comes  forth." Hence the  Lord  commanded  that  his  spouse  should not be  disturbed. ''I adjure  you. . .  that  you  stir  not  up,''