Page:Withgodbookofpra00las.djvu/127

 "In mental  prayer  meditation  (the  exercise  of  the intellect)  is  only  a  means  to  the  end,  which  is  the elevation  of  the  soul  to  God  —  conversation  with God.  When  thinking  and  reflecting  the  soul  speaks to  itself,  reasons  with  itself;  in  prayer  that  follows it  speaks  to  God." It is  plain  that  mental  prayer  or meditation  is  something  more  than  mere  spiritual reading.

But we  can  easily  turn  our  spiritual  reading  into  a meditation,  as,  for  instance,  when  we  read  only  a few  lines  at  a  time  from  "The  Following  of  Christ"; then meditate,  reflect,  consider  our  own  conduct in connection  with  the  subject  treated,  make  devout acts and  pious  resolutions,  and  finally  pray  to  God for His  grace  that  we  may  conquer  our  wicked  inclinations, practise  some  particular  virtue,  and  lead  a  holy life. After this  we  can  read  a  few  more  lines;  then meditate again.

Bishop Challoner  in  his  translation  of  The  Following of  Christ"  or  "The  Imitation  of  Christ,"  as  this golden  book  is  sometimes  called,  has  added  some  excellent practical reflections  at  the  end  of  each  chapter.

"Meditation," as  Madame  Cecilia  says  in  her admirable work,  At  the  Feet  of  Jesus,"  "consists  in occupying  ourselves  mentally  and  prayerfully  with some mystery  of  the  Faith. We call  to  mind  the  chief facts, ponder  over  them,  and  then  stir  up  our  will to regulate  our  conduct  in  consequence. Hence meditation is  an  exercise  of  the  faculties  of  our  soul  — memory, understanding,  and  will."

"Meditation, as  a  part  of  oriental  prayer,"  says  St. Francis  of  Sales,  "is  an  attentive  thought  voluntarily repeated  or  entertained  in  the  mind  to  excite  the  will to  holy  and  salutary  affections  and  resolutions." It differs from  mere  study  in  its  object. We study  to  im-