Course 2, Chapter 47: Conditions of union with our Lord, the new Adam. — Grace and Prayer

1. What is the end of the sacraments and of aL reli- ion?

. Tin end of the sacraments and of all religion is to unite us to Jesus Christ.

2. Can we by our own power, unite ourselves to 'Jesus Christ V

No, we cannot: we must have grace to do it.

3. Can we have grace of ourselves?

We cannot have grace of ourselves; God wishes as to ask it of him, and he even gives us the grace to ask it.

4. What is the ordinary means of obtaining grace V

The ordinary means of obtaining grace is prayer. Prayer is absolutely necessary. Our Lord has given us both the precept and example. He has said: Pray always, pray without ceasing; he himself prayed much, and at all times the saints have been devoted to prayer.

5. What is the object of prayer or the things for which we are to pray?

The things for which we are to pray, are spiritual and corporal, temporal and eternal goods, for ourselves and our neighbor; for Christ has told us to ask for whatever we want, and it shall be granted to us.

6. At what time should we pray?

We should pray especially in the morning and evening, before and after our meals and principal actions, and also, whenever we are tempted.

7. What are the qualities of prayer?

The qualities of prayer, are faith, humility, devotion, perseverance and union with our Lord.

8. What are the obstacles to the success of prayer?

The obstacles to the success of prayer, are want of proper dispositions, asking badly, asking things bad in themselves.

9. How many kinds of prayers are there?

There are two kinds of prayer, vocal prayer, and mental prayer or meditation; both are necessary. In order to render vocal prayer more easy, our Lord deigned to compose one, himself, for our use, namely, the Our Father, which is called also the Lord'sprayer.

Q How many parts has the Our Father f

A. The Our Father has three parts: the preparation, the body of the prayer, and the conclusion. The pre-

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paration is contained in these words, Our Father whoart in heaven.

10. How do you explain them?

We call God our Father in order to propitiate his favor, by declaring that we are his children: we say to him that he is in heaven, to acknowledge that he is happy, rich and all-powerful, whilst we, who are his children, are on earth, exiles, poor, suffering, £nd exposed to a thousand dangers.

11. For how many things do we ask in the Our Father?

We ask for seven things in the Our Fa/her: the three first refer to God and his glory; and the four others regard man and his wants. These seven things, which constitute the second part of the Our Father, compose the body of the Lord's Prayer.

12. What do we ask of God in the three first?

In the three first we,ask of God: 1st, that his name shall no longer be unknown and blasphemed, but, that it may be known and glorified by all men; 2d, that he reign absolutely and fully over us, instead of the devil and our passions, that the church may be extended over the whole earth, that the last judgment may come, and that heaven may be our portion; 3d, that his will may be done by men on earth as the blessed do it in heaven.

13. For what do we ask in the four last?

In the four last we ask: 1 st, for whatever is necessary to our body, as food and raiment, and whatever is necessary for the soul, as grace and the holy communion; 2d, a full pardon of all our offences; 3d, deliverance from temptation or victory over then!; 4th, deliverance from all temporal and eternal evils, which are the consequences of sin.

14. What is the conclusion of the Our Father?

The conclusion of the Our Father is the Amen, which signifies?o be it; I desire the accomplishment of all I have asked. It is a brief repetition of the entire

prayer, and should be pronounced with great faith and fervor.

15. What is mental prayer?

Mental prayer consists in meditating on some truth of salvation in order to make it the rule of our conduct. Meditation is very necessary, for salvation is impossible without it. Meditation is very easy; all that is necessary is to love, for we easily think of what we love.

16. Of how many parts does meditation consist?

Meditation consists of three parts; 1st, the preparation, that is, an act of belief in the presence of God, an act of humility and invocation of the Holy Ghost; 2d, the meditation, properly so called, or think ing on the subject chosen for the meditation.

17. How is this second part performed?

We perform the second part of meditation, by reflecting on and seriously considering some one of the truths of faith, by examining what our Lord and the saints have taught with respect to that truth, and how they practised it. We then compare our conduct with theirs, and make a resolution to correct ourselves and become more like them.

18. What is the third part of meditation or mental prayer?

The third part of meditation or mental prayer is the conclusion, which is composed of an act of thanksgiving and offering. We then close the whole, by recommending to God the wants of the souls in purgatory, and those of the Church.

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