7. Of the Second Method

FROM Charity, such as has been described, springs the second manner of spiritual exercise, comprising also three opera tions, which are Desire, Prayer, and Petition, to desire with the heart, pray with the lips, and supplicate with the spirit. We should first of all desire with fervent devotion the Grace of God and His aid, for His Honour and because of the need in which we stand of it to be

Love's Gradatory able to serve Him. This desire inflames the Soul to accomplish with Love and Zeal the most dear Will of God according to our ability. This brings into being another sort of exercise, that of praying with both mind and lips. We must implore our Heavenly Father, the Source of every excellent Grace and perfect Gift, to communicate to us the Spirit of Filial Fear, which fills us with reverence towards Him and with care not to offend Him by sin. We must beg for the Spirit of Piety to make us, in His name and also by Virtue, gentle, clement, humble, pitiful to all who address us ; also for the Spirit of Knowledge, which will enable us to walk before Him and in the sight of men, in

Love's Gradatory honesty and sincerity of word and work, in commission and omission. Then shall we be able to endure suffering, to regulate our life in such a way as to give scandal to none, but, on the contrary, to incite others to a better life.

We must pray our Heavenly Father also for the gift of Fortitude to make us capable of over coming every enemy, the devil, the world, and the flesh; since that is the only way to live in peace with God.

We must beseech the Father of Light and Truth to grant to us the Spirit of Counsel to help us to walk as a follower of the Christ, even to the Heaven of Heavens, despising the world and all that appertains to it.

Love's Gradatory

We must desire, too, and pray God to obtain the Spirit of true Intelligence to enlighten the Reason so as to understand all necessary truths in Heaven and Earth.

Lastly, we must ask the Al mighty Father and Jesus Christ, His Well - beloved Son, to bestow upon us the Spirit of Heavenly Wisdom, which will inspire us with disgust and scorn for all things that pass. Then only shall we be capable of seeing, tasting, and feeling that Abyss of Delight, the sweetness of God, calling to us in all confidence the Holy Spirit, Lord of Grace and Glory, from Whom descends every good gift and all Holiness in Heaven and Earth.

Such is the second Method, or

Love's Gradatory exercise, by which our prayers, desires, and supplications rise to our Heavenly Father, that He may make us like unto Him and assist us to follow His Divine Son, and finally possess, with Him, the Glory belonging to them in the unity of the Holy Spirit through all Eternity.