Part 2, lesson 11. That in uniting ourselves to Christ in me ditation, we enter into a participation of his prayers and graces

Q. I am well convinced of the necessity of having recourse to our Lord Jesus Christ, to ren der our prayers more agreeable to God, and more advantageous to ourselves; I have yet, how ever, two difficulties to propose to you; 1st, am I sure that in giving myself to our Lord, I participate in the grace of his

• Magnificate Dominum mecum, et exalteinus nomen ejus in idipsum. Ps. xxxiii, 4.

prayers ? 2dly, how can I know whether I am united with him ? A. As for your first question, the holy Scripture tells us that we have only to seek God with simplicity of heart. * Since then our Lord is waiting for us with his arms stretched out to us,, let us go to him with all simplicity, and give ourselves to him, to do all our works and prayers in union with him. For, he dwells in us to be our host of praise; he considers us as his temples, to glorify his Father incessantly by us, in us, and with us. He tells us by David: glorify the

• Sentite de Domino in bonitate, et in simplicitate cordis quaerite ilium. Sap. i, 1.

Lord with me, and let us extol his name together. We have then only to tell him with sim plicity: My Lord Jesus Christ, who art my praise, I rejoice in all the praises thou giv.est to thy Father; I unite and give myself to thee, to adore ancl praise him By thee and with thee; I wish to be one host of praise with thee, to glorify him during all eter nity. This will be sufficient, if we have in our hearts the af fections and desires expressed by our words; we shall then be sure to participate in all his prayers.

Q. But is this doctrine quite certain ?

A. Yes, it is quite so; and you may be sure that if you act in this way, you will find the great est advantages in this practice. Besides, this truth is sufficient ly expressed in the Apostle's Creed. %

Q. I do not remember having ever read it there.

A. It is nevertheless ex pressed in it, but perhaps you did not notice it. It is con tained in the third part of the Symbol, which regards the per son of the Holy Ghost and his operations in the church : I be lieve in the Holy Ghost, the holy Catholic church, the com munion of Saints: it is here implied.

Q. I beg you to explain it to me more clearly; for I do not yet understand it. I know that the Holy Ghost formed the Ca tholic church, that this divine Spirit fills the saints who are al ready in heaven, and the just still living upon earth; and that when we have charity, we have the same life as the saints.

A. The expression communion of Saints, signifies partly what you say; but it also signifies that the faithful participate in all the holy things that are in the church. In the same manner that we re ceive by communion the sacred body and blood of our Lord, so we can also receive his Spirit, andnotonlyhis spirit, butalsoall the operations of this Holy Spirit; as when we receive the most holy Sacrament of the altar, we not only participate in the body and blood of our Lord, but also in the holy operations of his di vine interior, which is for us a treasure without price. Thus it is with the interior of the blessed Virgin, St. Joseph, St. John, and the other saints of heaven. For, in contemplating, for ex ample, the interior of the most holy Virgin, and the fruit of sanctity which the Spirit of God produced in her, we are fre quently attracted to enter into a spiritual communion with the Holy Ghost and the interior grace he bestowed upon that most holy soul. You see from what I have just said, how we participate in the prayers of Christ and the operations of his Spirit, in uniting with him by a simple act of faith and charity.