12. On the efficacy of prayer, and the advantages of pious reading

" Sine inter mi ssione orate.^^f *^ Pray vnthout ceasing^ — And why? Because we are girt about by tribulations and temptations ; by the snares and suggestions of bad angels.

1 . Tidings of good come rarely ; war pervades all ; fear within : combat without: there is no dayfree from toil or trouble, no hour without the dreadful apprehension of death.

By the just judgment of God, are nations ravaged by fire and sword. By these scourges He punishes ihe crimes of the wicked, and leadeth His elect to seek for eternal blessings.

Unceasing prayer, then, is of the highest importance, not only against the dangers of the world, but as a breastplate, proof against the fiery darts of the enemy.

He that ceases to pray, abandons the conflict ; and he that strives not in battle, is already overcome, and has lost the crown of victory.

But, who can pray always? and fight always ?

All things are possible to him that calls on the Lord, and puts his o o trust in him ; for " the Lord is nigh unto all that call upon Him, — to all that call upon Him in truth."* If thou canst not pray always with the lips, pray with the spirit, and in the heart ; pray by the fervour of thy desires, and the purity of thy intentions.

A firm desire to do good, and to serve God, is a continual sacrifice off'ered to Him on the altar of our hearts ; for he " prays without ceasing," who never ceases to do well.

He that mourns over his past transgressions, and who sighs for farther growth in virtue, " prays without ceasing." Say then with holy David : — " Lord, all my desire is before Thee and my groaning is not hidden from Thee."* 2. The word of God and pious reading are most useful to recal and calm our spirit, when distracted by external cares, or by some passion from within, that would domineer over it.

Pious reading teaches us the right path of life ; good examples excite our imitation, and prayer obtains from heaven the needful grace to follow them.

Reading of God is good ; praying to God is better ; but prayer for God, is the best of all.

Blessed is he, who in all his words and actions, proposes to himself no other end than the glory of God ; desiring that in all and above all, He may be praised and blessed forever.

3. How can a religious man be called devout ? or how can he become so, if he prefer idle babbling before reading, study, and prayer?

He that takes pleasure in speaking or listenmcr to, frivolous things, barters his soul for a pitiful price.

In all temptation or tribulation, flv^ to prayer, as to the secure harbour of thy soul : — humbly imploring the divine assistance. The more readily thou wilt have recourse to it, the more efficacious will it be. The more thou delayest, the less advantage shall thou obtain : the more frequent it be, the more profit wilt thou draw from it : the more fervent it be, the more pleasing to God.

God, who is good and merciful, loves us to ask of Him : He furnishes us with occasions for prayer, and He hath promised that we shall be heard ; since he hath said, " Ask and it shall be given unto you."* He invites us to prayer by His discourses, — leads us thither by His example, — constrains us by His threats and encourages us by His favours : — He punishes our negligence by adversity ; — rewards our submission, by prosperity ; and in this evenincr and mornirtg of pains and consolations, is our one day of life accomplished.* Moreover, God often communicates to those who pray devoutly, — who love retreat and silence, interior consolations, which he refuses to those who love the world, and its idle conversation.

4. But ye who love good tidings, come and entertain yourselves with Jesus Christ ; listening to Him as He speaks of the kingdom of God, — of the judgment to come, — of the Heavenly Jerusalem, — of the happiness which the inhabitants of heaven, the orders and choirs of angels, enjoy, — of the glory and honour of the elect, and of the recompense of the saints, exuhing in joy and gladness for all eternity.

Hearken to the prophets announcing the hidden mysteries of Christ, and thundering with the divine vengeance against the unrepentant sinner.

Listen to the apostles and evangelists, as they publish abroad the wonderful works and miracles of Jesus Christ.

Listen to the doctors of the Church, as they speak with eloquent tongues of holy things, and explain what is obscure in the Scriptures ; adorning their lives by the splendour of their virtues, and refuting heresy and schism by the solidity of their reasoning.

May each one of us choose in ihese instructions, the truths most suited to our taste or w^ants. Let US not pass over with disdain such as seem simple, nor censure those which are above our intellect : for it is folly to reprove the wise ; but it is impiety to condemn the saints and men inspired of God.

5. Labour steadfastly then to learn first the most simple truths, and humbly resolve to practice the least, however small ; and if it be to thy advantage, God will soon impart a knowledge of higher mysteries : for it is written : " To him who knoweth to do good, and doth it not, to him it is sin."* He that is stored with knowledjje, and makes not use of it to regulate his conduct ; and he that reads, but profits not by what he reads, arc like those who go away empty and famished, from a table that is abundantly spread.

As he that works little, shall be lonof in want ; so he that seldom prays, shall be long lukewarm.

He that discourses against vice in others and corrects not his own scatters good seed among thorns : and little fruit will be gathered from many words, if one comes to prayer without first casting out his evil thoughts.

Happy is he that with earnest care, casts forth from his soul all impurity ; suffering nothing to remain in the secret of his heart, that can offend in secret the eves of God.

By an humble confession of sins, a soul humble and contrite before God, is purified from all vices.

6. The pious man finds pleasure in prayer ; the studious man in his books ; the devout soul, in the practice of virtue ; the proud, in honours ; the humble, in contempt ; the rich, in his riches ; the beggar, in his alms ; the glutton, in eating and drinking : the idle in frivolous talk ; the abstemious man, in temperance ; the wise, in wisdom ; the good monk, in submission to his rule ; — but none of these enjoyments are to be compared with those which flow from the love of God, and the peace of a good conscience.

Wouldst thou triumph over the enemies most dangerous to thy soul ? — have recourse to flight — to silence — to solitude — to prayer — to fasting — to study — to labour.

A holy man thinks on holy things, speaks the truth, and acts justly ; despises things present, and meditates on those that are eternal.

The humble man receives the advice that is given to him ; the prudent man avoids danger ; the patient suffers with resignation ; the diligent neglects not his occuo o pation ; and he that shuns not small faults, shall fall into great ones.

7. He that is lukewarm in the mornino-, will rarely be found fervent at the close of the day.

He that promptly shakes off slothful torpidity and forthwith betakes himself to labour, acquires thereby great inward satisfaction, and honour ; although he may not be recompensed by men, he certainly will by God : which is far better and infinitely more to be prized by all. For God giveth Himself to the saints, to be their reward and the eternal recompense of their good works, their toils, and their sufferings.

The idle man is never satisfied with the idle frivolities of the world, but the virtuous man denies himself even of things that are lawful.

He that makes humility, the foundation of all his actions, and counts as nothing the honours of this world, shall walk with an assured step in the way that is good. The wisest of men is he, and wisely doth he live, who studies to please God alone, who disengages himself from exterior objects and attaches himself to interior things only ; who despises every thing which is of earth, and aspires to the glories of heaven alone ; — who ever prefers the love of God to all the goods of this world.