Page:Thecompleteascet01grimuoft.djvu/514

 out of  the  snare.  I  will  keep  my  eyes  on  my  God,  and he will  deliver  me  from  the  snares  of  my  enemies. You must do  the  same  when  you  have  occasion  to  perform any very  difficult  act  of  virtue;  you  must  imitate  the valorous Judith,  who,  after  having  unsheathed  the  sword, and taken  Holofernes,  who  was  asleep,  by  the  hair  of the  head,  turned  to  God  before  she  gave  the  stroke,  and said: Strengthen  me,  O  Lord,  in  this  hour.  Thus  she  courageously cut  off  his  head.

2. The  second  method  of  preserving  the  presence  of God  by  acts  of  the  will  is  to  renew  always  in  distracting employments the  intention  of  performing  them  all  with the intention  of  pleasing  God. And therefore,  in  the beginning of  every  action  or  occupation,  whether  you apply yourself  to  work,  go  to  table,  or  to  recreation,  or to  repose,  say:  Lord,  I  do  not  intend  in  this  work  my pleasure,  but  only  the  accomplishment  of  Thy  will. In the course  of  the  action  endeavor  to  renew  your  intention, saying:  My  God,  may  all  be  for  Thy  glory. By these acts  the  presence  of  God  is  preserved  without fatiguing the  mind;  for  the  very  desire  of  pleasing  God is a  loving  remembrance  of  his  presence. It is  also  useful to  fix  certain  times,  or  particular  signs,  in  order  to remember  the  divine  presence;  as  when  the  clock  strikes, when you  look  at  the  crucifix,  when  you  enter  or  leave the cell. Some are  accustomed  to  keep  in  their  room some particular  sign,  to  remind  them  of  the  presence  of God.

3. The  third  method  is,  when  you  find  yourself  very much distracted  during  the  day,  and  the  mind  oppressed with business,  to  procure  leave  from  the  Superior  to  retire, at  least  for  a  little,  to  the  choir  or  to  the  cell,  in order  to  recollect  yourself  with  God. Were you  on  any