The exercise of a christian life. Written in Italian by the Reuerend Father Gaspar Loarte D. of Diuinitie, of the Societie of Iesus. And newly translated into Englishe. by I.S.

THE maner howe to pray mentally, and of the preparation we ought to make before it.

¶ Cap. 6. (Book 6)

THIS praier which we cal mental, being (as I haue alrea∣dy saide) an eleuation and lif∣ting vp of the minde to God; like as the soule may diuers wayes eleuate it selfe to the knowledge of God; euen so be ther diuers meditations or con∣siderations, which are al of them cal∣led by this name of praier. Neuerthe∣l see, I shal here intreat of those only that be moste deuout, easie, and profi∣table, and that with such breuitie, as I may conueniently.

FIRST notwithstanding am I to aduertise thee of certaine pointes which must needes be thought of be∣fore thou enter into this kinde of ex∣ercise.

Wherof take this for the first; that thou force thy selfe (being one that

hast leisure inough) to haue one hour in the morning, and an other in the euening (litle more or lesse) which thou art to allot and destinate to this so profitable an exercise, like as the holy Church hath her certain houres appointed for publike praiers, and diuine seruice; that the time & hours thus prefixed, maye admonishe and prouoke thee therto; and a good cus∣tome once got take awaye the diffi∣cultie.

Who so could not for al that haue these houres so certaine and precise; ought not to geue ouer and neglect this exercise; yea, rather were to take such houres and time for it, as his bu∣sines might best afforde him.

Now when thou commest to these determined houres, (being so thou maiest haue them in maner aforesaid) it behoueth thee to prepare thy selfe (as the wise man a 1.1 saieth) before praier; to thende thou maiest haue more at∣tention, deuotion and reuerence, with

other partes requisite for the better performing of this exercise.

Thy preparation therfore let it be in this maner; when thou commest to the time and place prefixed, inde∣uor thy self to lay aside al other cares and cogitations, which in any wise may impeche thee; weighing wel the weight and seriousnes of this office thou art in hande withal. And to thend thou maiest haue the more at∣tention and reuerence, consider, howe when thou art in praier, thou spekest not to the winde, nor to the walles, but standest moste assuredly before the face of the liuing God, and that God is there really present at thy praiers; listning thy wordes; vewing thy teares, and taking delight in thy deuotions and holy exercise. For al∣beit he vniuersally assist al his crea∣tures, yet assisteth he chiefly suche as pray to him, according as the sacred scripture witnesseth, saying: a 1.2 There is no other nation in the world so great, to whom

their Gods be so nighe, as is our Lorde God. who assisteth vs in al our praiers. Thinke nowe howe great attention and reuerence is requisite, to speake and staude before the presence of so diuine a Maiestie; before that moste soueraine and om∣nipotent King? before that infinite * 1.3 beautie and incomprehensible great∣nes; if so great respect be had in spea∣king but to a temporal lord or king. This consideration shal make theo humble thy selfe, and bowe downe to the verye dust of the earth, and stande with feare and trembling be∣fore that sacred soueraintie and dreadful Maiestie.

With this thought maiest thou kneele downe in reuerent wise, ma∣king the signe of the holye Crosse vpon thee, and then saye the general confession, or the psalme of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 or a Pater noster, if thou cannest none other, crauing of god briefly for geuenes of thy sins, those especially,

wherin thou hast offended that day, as also grace to performe this office better thē heretofore, & to spend that final time to his glory, and the pro∣fite of thine owne soule, sithens we are not able without his grace to doo any good thing; with this affect and minde maiest thou sometimes saye the himne Veni Creator spiritus, or those wordes of the patriarche Abraham: a 1.4 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ad dominum meum, cum sim puluis et cints. I wil speake to my Lord, though I be but dust and ashes: or other vo∣cal praiers or sentences, wherein thou haply hast most deuotion, which shal al of them serue for a preparatiue, to make thee haue better attention, and to shut out and exclude al forreine cogitations.

Hauing nowe in this or like maner got attention, deuotiō and reuerence; fal then in hande with thy meditatiō the best waies thou canst; the which ought, in mine opinion, to be moste commonly of the passion of Christe,

as being a thing verye acceptable to him, and of great deuotion and pro∣fite for our soules, sith this our Saui∣our his passion is no other thing thē an epilogue and recapitulation of his whole life and doctrine, and an ab∣breuiate and short worde, wherein it pleased him to teache vs the summe of al wisdome, and the perfection of the Gospel. Wherefore, for thy better and more orderly proceeding in this matter, thou maiest deuide the points of the passion, by the dayes of the weeke, in maner folowing.

Notes

• a 1.1

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 18. 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• a 1.2

  Deut. 4. a
• * 1.3

  1. Cor. 3. 6. 7
• a 1.4

  Gen. 18. d.