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 Meditation is  a  great  means  to  salvation. It aids us powerfully  in  the  pursuit  of  our  destiny,  to  know God, to  love  Him,  to  serve  Him  that  we  may  be happy  with  Him  forever;  it  helps  us  to  know  ourselves and  to  discover  the  means  of  avoiding  and correcting our  vices,  our  faults,  and  weaknesses;  it reveals  to  us  the  dangers  to  which  our  salvation  is exposed  and  leads  us  to  pray  with  a  contrite  and humble heart  for  the  necessary  graces  to  cope  with temptations, to  control  our  passions,  and  to  lead  a holy  life. Mental prayer  inflames  our  hearts  with  the love of  God  and  strengthens  us  to  do  His  holy  will with zeal  and  perseverance.

As regards  the  place  of  meditation,  St.  Alphonsus says:

We can  meditate  in  every  place,  at  home  or  elsewhere, even  in  walking  and  at  our  work. How many are there  who,  not  having  any  better  opportunity, raise their  hearts  to  God  and  apply  their  minds  to mental  prayer,  without  leaving  their  occupations,  their work, or  who  meditate  even  while  traveling. He who seeks God  will  find  Him,  everywhere  and  at  all  times. The most  appropriate  place  for  meditation,  however, is the  church,  in  the  presence  of  Jesus  Christ  in  the Blessed Sacrament."

"Not a  few  pious  persons,"  says  Father  Girardey  in his  "  Popular  Instructions  on  Prayer,  "  "before  setting out  for  their  daily  occupations,  go  to  Mass  in  the  early hours  of  the  morning,  make  their  meditation  during the  Holy  Sacrifice,  and  thus  draw  on  themselves  the divine  blessing  for  the  whole  day.

"As regards  the  time  of  meditation,  it  would  be  well if  we  were  to  make  a  meditation  both  in  the  morning and  in  the  evening.  If  this  is  not  feasible,  we  should, if  convenient,  prefer  the  morning  to  any  other  part  of