Of Certain Other Exercises, and First, of the Morning Exercise.
Besides this mental prayer, and the vocal prayers which you ought to make once each day, there are five other kinds of shorter prayer, which are as it were appendages and offshoots of the other great prayer. The first of these is the morning prayer, which serves as a general preparation for all the works of the day. Now, this is how you shall make it.
1. Give thanks to God and adore Him profoundly for the grace He has granted you in preserving you through the night; and if you have anything to reproach yourself with since your evening examination, ask His pardon for it.
2. Consider that the present day is given you to gain for yourself the day to come in eternity, and thus firmly resolve to use the day well for this purpose.
3. Foresee what affairs you will have to handle that day, what occasions you may have to serve God, what temptations may befall you to offend Him, whether through anger, vanity, or in some other way; and, by a holy resolution, prepare yourself to make good use of all the means God shall give you to serve Him and advance in perfection. Likewise, prepare yourself carefully to avoid, or else to combat and overcome, whatever might oppose your salvation and the glory of God. But it is not enough merely to have made this resolution; you must also consider the means of carrying it out well. For example, if I foresee that I shall have to deal with some person who is passionate and quick to anger, I shall not only resolve not to provoke him, but shall also prepare beforehand some gentle words that may disarm and win him over, or else choose some grave person whose presence may restrain him. If I foresee that I shall have to visit a sick person, I shall consider what time to set aside for it, and what help and consolation I ought to give him, and so forth.
Besides this mental prayer, and the vocal prayers which you ought to make once each day, there are five other kinds of shorter prayer, which are as it were appendages and offshoots of the other great prayer. The first of these is the morning prayer, which serves as a general preparation for all the works of the day. Now, this is how you shall make it.
1. Give thanks to God and adore Him profoundly for the grace He has granted you in preserving you through the night; and if you have anything to reproach yourself with since your evening examination, ask His pardon for it.
2. Consider that the present day is given you to gain for yourself the day to come in eternity, and thus firmly resolve to use the day well for this purpose.
3. Foresee what affairs you will have to handle that day, what occasions you may have to serve God, what temptations may befall you to offend Him, whether through anger, vanity, or in some other way; and, by a holy resolution, prepare yourself to make good use of all the means God shall give you to serve Him and advance in perfection. Likewise, prepare yourself carefully to avoid, or else to combat and overcome, whatever might oppose your salvation and the glory of God. But it is not enough merely to have made this resolution; you must also consider the means of carrying it out well. For example, if I foresee that I shall have to deal with some person who is passionate and quick to anger, I shall not only resolve not to provoke him, but shall also prepare beforehand some gentle words that may disarm and win him over, or else choose some grave person whose presence may restrain him. If I foresee that I shall have to visit a sick person, I shall consider what time to set aside for it, and what help and consolation I ought to give him, and so forth.
4. This done, humble yourself before God, acknowledging that of yourself you could do nothing of what you have resolved, whether to flee evil or to perform good. And as though you held your heart in your hands, offer it, with all your good resolutions, to the divine Majesty, beseeching Him to take it under His protection and to strengthen it in His service. For this you may use such or similar inward words: O Lord! behold this poor and wretched heart, which, by Your goodness, has conceived many good affections; but alas! it is too feeble and too frail to accomplish the good it desires, unless You give it Your heavenly blessing. I therefore ask You for it, O Father of mercies! through the merits of the Passion of Your Son, to whose glory I consecrate this day and the rest of my life. Then invoke the holy Virgin, your good angel, and the saints, that they may support your request.
But remember, Philothea, that all this must be done briefly and fervently, and, if possible, before leaving the room, so that this exercise may influence the rest of the day and draw down upon it the blessings of God. Now, I beg you never to fail in this.
But remember, Philothea, that all this must be done briefly and fervently, and, if possible, before leaving the room, so that this exercise may influence the rest of the day and draw down upon it the blessings of God. Now, I beg you never to fail in this.