Page:Withgodbookofpra00las.djvu/135

 Spirit; they  are  a  language  of  love  readily  understood by this  God  of  love. We naturally  think  of  what  we love;  hence  we  can  not  say  we  love  God  if  we  rarely or never  think  of  Him.

"Aspire to  God,"  says  St.  Francis  of  Sales,  with short but  frequent  outpourings  of  the  heart.

" As  those  who  are  influenced  by  human  and  natural love  have  their  minds  and  hearts  constantly  fixed on  the  objects  of  their  affections;  as  they  speak  often in  their  praise,  and  when  absent  lose  no  opportunity  of expressing  by  letters  this  affection  for  them,  and  can not  even  pass  a  tree  without  inscribing  on  the  bark  the name  of  their  beloved;  so  those  who  are  possessed  of divine  love  have  their  minds  and  hearts  constantly turned  toward  the  divine  object  of  their  love;  they are  ever  thinking  of  Him,  they  long  after  Him;  they aspire  to  Him,  and  frequently  speak  of  Him;  and were  it  possible,  would  engrave  in  the  hearts  of  all mankind  the  name  of  their  beloved  Jesus."

Make use  of  short  indulgenced  prayers. Ejaculations approved by  the  Church  are  certainly  most  commendable.

Lift, O  Christian,  lift  thine  eyes To thy  home  beyond  the  skies; Eternal bliss  awaits  thee  there With which  earth's  joys  can  not  compare.

"We must  always  pray,  and  not  faint" (Luke xviii.  i).

"Pray without  ceasing  "  (i  Thess.  v.  17).