6. Three Ways of Honouring God

THE fervent desire of which we have just spoken invites the Holy Spirit to teach us three Methods that make us capable of giving to God all the Honour in our power. The first unites us to God without any intermediary; the second unites us to His Will by means of Grace and Good Works ; the third keeps us so united to Him as to make us grow and progress in Grace, Virtue, and every form of Holiness. In the first Method there are three ways of union with God, consisting of Adoration, Honour, and Love. The second Method also contains three,

Love's Gradatory

Desire, Prayer, and Petition. Lastly, the third includes three others, Thanksgiving, Praise, and Blessing.

To adore God is to exalt Him, with great Reverence in the mind, by means of Faith, above Reason, as Eternal Power, Creator, and Lord of Heaven and Earth and all that therein is. To honour God is to abandon and forget self and all other creatures in order to follow Him faithfully without ever looking back, with ever lasting Veneration. Finally, the third way consists in the possession of God alone, to seek Him and love Him, not by personal interest for our own glory or salvation, nor for any thing that He can give us ; but 85 F

Love's Gradatory loving Him only for Himself and His greater Glory. Such is perfect Charity that unites us to God and by which we live in Him and He in us.