FIFTH LESSON
What may be considered as
Good Prayers.
"I will pray with the spirit, I will pray also with the understanding."--ST PAUL, I Corinthians 4:15.
My dear children, we must, first of all, pray to God with great awe; for we are but poor, weak, and often very guilty creatures, and when praying, we speak to the all-powerful Master of the universe, to that God who is holiness itself.
You must also pray attentively. Think of what you are saying, and not turn your head on one side and on another, to see what goes on around you; neither must you say your prayers in haste, so that you may have finished quickly, or pray only by habit, and as it were without thinking of what you arc doing; but every time you pray, you should be as if absorbed in meditation, so as to give your whole attention to the words your lips pronounce. Is it not the least we can do, to seem to wish for the grace we ask of God? How can we expect him to hear us, says a saint, if we do not listen ourselves to what we say? It is really difficult my children, and particularly at your age, to think for some time together, for some few moments only, of the same thing. God knows it, and his indulgent goodness will forgive your being inattentive during your prayers, if this inattention is involuntary, and if you try to drive it away from your mind.
We must also pray with confidence and in the name of Jesus Christ; for he said: "Everything you will ask my Father in My name, He will give it to you." O my children, what an encouraging promise for us, who have so much to ask for! Invoke then with confidence the sacred name of Jesus Christ; it is through him you will obtain every grace.
And lastly, we must pray with perseverance and without ever tiring, even should we not promptly obtain what we have asked God for. Fear not, my children, to fatigue Him with your prayers; He is much more patient than men are; and then, does He not cherish children of your age, and when on earth, was he not pleased to be surrounded by them? When you address Him, remember that the only prayers agreeable to Him are those which come from the heart. Think of God, love Him truly; therein lies the secret of good prayers as of every virtue.
What are you going to ask of God, my dear children? First of all, ask him for the knowledge and love of what is right. first and greatest of all blessings, this knowledge will stand in stead of all other. You can then ask for yourself and for those you love, for health, and the full enjoyment of that happiness which purity of life ensures. God will no doubt grant these favors, but in asking him for them, you must be quite resigned not to obtain them, if such be his will, for he knows better than we do ourselves what is good for us.
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