• The Heart :: 
• Meditation :: 

    Meditation is a familiar conversation with God or the Saints, in which we confer with them, in a simple, quiet manner, on the affairs of our salvation and spiritual progress. We should not expect to enjoy sweet, delightful feelings or sensations; we should rather try to remove sin and the dangers of sin; seek light in order to apprehend what is good, and strength in order to unite ourselves with God, through love and the fulfillment of His will.

THE PREPARATION

    This consists in three short acts: of faith, of humility, and of petition. They may be made in this manner:
        Faith: My God, I believe that You are truly present here. You see me and hear me . .. I adore You from the abyss of my nothingness. During meditation often place yourself vividly in the presence of God. That is the best means of averting distractions.
        Humility and Contrition: O my Lord, on account of my sins I have long ago deserved to be condemned to hell! I repent of them with all my heart! . . Pardon them. . . Have mercy on me!
        Petition: My God, grant me the grace to make a good meditation! . . . Come Holy Spirit! . .. O Jesus assist me! . .. Mary, my Mother bless me! . . . St. Joseph, my Guardian Angel, my holy Patrons, pray for me!
    It is advisable to determine the subject of meditation on the previous evening. In the morning when awakening, recall this subject to mind; in this way, one enters upon the meditation with a better preparation.

THE MEDITATION PROPER

    Repeatedly meditate with diligence on the eternal truths, the life of Jesus Christ, (His childhood, His Passion, His examples of virtue, love of His Sacred Heart, the most Blessed Sacrament), as well as on the power and goodness of Mary.

A. The Consideration

    Read something from an appropriate book or listen attentively to the reading. After the reading ask yourself:
        1) What have I read? What truth, what good thought should I bear in mind? What truth of faith that I must embrace? Briefly repeat in mind the contents of the reading. . . Review the truth or mystery carefully and reflect upon it. Represent it to yourself in a vivid manner and then quietly allow it to influence your soul. Slowly but frequently elicit acts of faith, e. g.: O my God I believe this. . . . that. . . why? because You have revealed it . . . because the Catholic Church teaches it . . I think too little of it . ., O Lord, Increase my faith.
        2) What follows from this for my life, for this day?
        3) What have I done until now? Review your past with humility and contrition.         4) What shall I do for the future? . . . Why? . .. How? What resolution could I form? How can I regulate my life according to this?
        5) Pray that you may retain these good thoughts, that they may bear fruit: O my God, how zealous, how happy would I be if I often thought on these things! Unfortunately I am forgetful. .. Do You remind me of them! Enliven my faith. . . grant that this thought be impressed deeply on my mind and that it effect my conversion and improvement. Dear Mother of God, pray for me!
    After having made such reflections, probably about five minutes, pass on to the affections. This reflection should be, as it were, the needle that draws the golden thread of the affections, petitions, and resolutions after it. Experienced souls should therefore rather shorten the reflection.
    If, before the reflection, you find yourself moved by some pious thought or deeply affected by the presence of God, omit the consideration or reflection, and immediately pour out your affections as your heart will dictate, and therefore wait lovingly within the sight of God.

B. Affections

    If after short reflection some good sentiments come to you spontaneously, make them known to God with love. If this does not occur, then elicit one or other of the following acts, after asking God's assistance. Make these acts quietly without looking for sensible devotion. Do not hesitate to repeat these acts several times, especially the acts of sorrow and love. .. Use about one third of the meditation time in these affections.
        1) Humility especially in regard to your sins and your ingratitude: O my God, what am I? . .. A miserable creature. . . a sinner . . . without You I can do nothing. I deserve not grace, but punishment, contempt, and final loss. . . have mercy on me! Give me humility!
        2) Confidence O my God, You are all powerful, good, and merciful to sinners. . . I trust in You. I trust in Your promises, in the merits of Jesus Christ, in the intercession of Your Mother and the Saints. . . I do not deserve forgiveness, but nevertheless I hope to obtain it . . . I trust in Your love. I hope to make progress in this. . . or that virtue and to be saved. . . With Your grace I can do all!
        3) Contrition Pray for a humble and contrite heart. Acknowledge your sins before God. Think of heaven, purgatory, hell. . . of Jesus on the Cross, in the tabernacle. . . make an act of contrition and a purpose of amendment. . . promise to do penance. . . beg for forgiveness. Let your contrition refer to some particular, recently committed fault, or to some greater sins of your past life.
        4) Gratitude O my God, You have created me, preserved me, redeemed me . . . called me to the true faith, to sanctity, to eternal life. You have preserved me from hell, You have overwhelmed me with so many benefits; a thousand thanks for all this! . . . Help me that I may never prove ungrateful!
        5) Love Tell Almighty God that you love Him, and wish to love Him even more fervently. He deserves all your love, He is the most perfect Being, the highest and most lovable good; and how intensely has He not loved you. . . Turn especially to the Divine Saviour, to tell Him, that you wish to love Him most ardently: My God, I love You because You. are infinitely perfect, good, wise, just and holy . . . I love You for Your own sake, not for any selfish motive. . . I love You above all creatures, even more than myself. . . I rejoice that You are infinitely happy and perfect . .. O that all people would love You, serve You and glorify You! I 'will do all in my power to make others love You. .. O Jesus, You did become a child for me . . .. You did die on the cross. .. You live hidden in the tabernacle; Oh, I love You, grant that I may love You more and more!
        6) Conformity with the Divine Will My God, because I love You, I will fulfill Your holy will in all things. I will keep Your commandments; I will be resigned to all Your dispensations. .. In all things and at all times I will say: "Lord, Your will be done!". . . Ask yourself here, whether you have perhaps refused God anything; promise improvement. . . . Have you some affliction, speak to God about it, pray for resignation. . . repeat acts of conformity. .. Resignation is the greatest test of love.
        7) Sacrifice of self During your meditation anticipate humiliations, afflictions, and disappointments that may befall you during the day. Accept them in advance for the love of Jesus; you will, when they actually come upon you, suffer them with greater love and merit: My God, because of my love for You, I am determined to please You in all things. . . . I offer to You all that I am and all that I have; my soul with all its faculties, especially my will and my heart; my body with all its senses and members. I place all in Your service and the service of souls, especially of those who are near and dear to me. Dispose of me and all that belongs to me according to Your will. Jesus, I live for You; Jesus, I die for You; My Jesus, I am Yours in life and in death!
    It is not necessary to make all these acts in every meditation. However, love and contrition should never be wanting. Should you still remain dry and unmoved, unable to elicit any acts, then repeat little ejaculatory prayers, e.g.: My Jesus, mercy! . . . Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in You! . . . A meditation of this kind, even without consolation, is most useful.

C. Prayer of Petition

    The prayer of petition is the most necessary exercise in the meditation. It must penetrate every part of the meditation, besides this it should occupy also a special place. We should beg for the love of God, for perseverance, for help in difficulties. Renew again your faith in the presence of God, Jesus or the Saints.
        1) Beg to possess the love of God. If you are in sin, pray for your conversion. If you are in the state of grace, pray for an increase of love, for greater hatred of this or that particular sin, for the acquisition of this or that virtue: "Sweet Heart of Jesus, grant that I may love You more and more. . . help me to avoid this or that sin for the love of You. Grant me humility. . . fervor in prayer. . . purity. . self-denial.. confidence in God."
        2) Pray for perseverance, i. e. for the grace not to commit any mortal sin. . . always to confess sincerely and sorrowfully. . . that you may rise immediately after committing a fault . . . to avoid the occasions of sin. . . always to pray well, especially in temptation. . . not to fail to make your meditations, and to have a devotion to the Blessed Mother. . . always to be concerned about your salvation and the striving after perfection. . . to die a happy death.
        3) Pray for God's help in all your needs, for His blessing on all your undertakings, for success, in as far as it is conformable to His divine Will, and conducive to your salvation.
        4) Pray for all people: for Holy Church, the Holy Father, the Bishops, the priests, religious, missionaries, pastors; for your family, relatives, friends and benefactors; for poor sinners, the dying, for the souls in purgatory.

D. Resolutions

    Do not make many of them; a few but practical ones and offer them to God.
        1) Promise, in general, to labor at your salvation and the sanctifying of your soul; to do and suffer all for the love of God; to walk in the presence of God, to pray fervently. . . .
        2) Promise, in particular, to avoid a certain sin, a certain occasion of sin, a certain habitual fault, to practice the monthly virtue after the example of Jesus Christ, especially in this or that instance. . .
    Change this particular resolution only from time to time-when you have improved in regard to a certain fault--because another point needs more attention. In this way you also break the monotony. .. Make a kind of examination of conscience on this point and give an exact account to your confessor.

Close of Meditation

    Cast a brief glance upon your meditation to see how you have made it. Thank God for the enlightenment and graces you have received. . . Beg pardon for any culpable negligence. . . . Promise to keep the resolutions you have made.
    Ask Jesus and Mary to help you to do this. Take a spiritual nosegay with you from the meditation, i. e. impress upon your mind a leading thought or some principle of faith, which the meditation suggested. Think of it often during the day, and so renew the impressions made by the meditation. Also choose some ejaculatory prayer, which you may repeat. Often during the day. St. Alphonsus says: "Happy the person who remains faithful to meditation in spite of the want of consolation! God will surely overwhelm them with His graces!"