Blanquerna

The abbess was in chapter with all the siSters of the commumty, and she desired to know the manner of their i°r *S * mo^ nee<fful that prayers be duly ordered, because prayer is the nobleSt work in the religious

love 'Mn general ' ^ B'1°Ved’” !n Particular, and “the object of one’s

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OF PRATER

life, and prayer without rule and order is very displeasing to God. While the abbess spake thus, a sifter besought pardon because she had sinned many times againft prayer, repeating but few words of prayer and setting her mind, while she prayed, upon vain things opposed to prayer. The abbess answered and said “ that prayer is of four kinds. The firSt kind is of the heart that contemplates God while the mouth speaks no words. The second is when the heart and the mouth agree in prayer, and the heart understands that which is signified by the words. The third manner is of a man that leads a good life and commits no mortal sin, for all that such a man does is prayer. The fourth manner is when the mouth speaks words of prayer and the heart thinks upon other things. This fourth manner is displeasing to God, and bears no fruit, and signifies defeft of charity, wisdom and fortitude, through the which defeft the soul is forgetful of itself and knows naught of that which is sig¬ nified by the words. In such prayer man muSt have recourse to the virtues aforesaid, with the aid whereof the soul may unite with the words, and understand, remember and love the words which the mouth speaks.”

2. “ Ye have heard how Blanquerna adored God in the fourteen articles, and how Evaft adored Him in Essence and in virtues, and how Aloma prayed for her son Blan¬ querna to our Lady Saint Mary. Now the great affeftion and love which these had in their prayers accorded with their words ; and we also should love God and His works so fervently that the soul and the words may unite to pray to God and the tears rise from the heart to the eyes and flow down therefrom, and the virtues conquer and vanquish our sins, and our souls take comfort from weeping and find joy in devotion, giving glory and blessing to God.”

3. “ When we are in prayer, we mufl remember, under¬ stand and love the virtues and the works of God, and with faith, hope, charity, juftice, wisdom, Strength and temper-

BLANQUERNA

ance we mu9 order our souls and bodies that we may be able to raise the memory, understanding and will to contemplate and desire His glory, and after this we muft remember, underhand and hate> our sins and the vileness of this world. Thus, by this work, and by the aid of the fire of the Holy Spirit, our souls will be illumined to pray to God aright, and our prayers heard by the juStice and mercy of God, in Whom is all perfeaion and in Whom every perfea prayer finds virtue* that leads to the bliss of salvation.”

4. “ We muSt pray for the Holy ApoStolic Father, for the cardinals, for prelates, princes and all Christian people, that God may give them devotion and that all their lives may be spent in the knowledge and love of God, and that through them may return the holy devotion which to the greater exaltation of the faith was once in the world, that is, in the earthly lifetime of our Spouse Jesus ChriSt and the Apoftles.”

$. “ Let not our souls, in their prayers, forget the un¬ believers, for they are of our blood and of like form to our own. Their ignorance of faith and of knowledge comes from their lack of teachers, for so far as we can see they have none. They know not God, neither love Him nor believe in Him, neither do they render thanks to God for the blessings which He gives them. Many of them daily blaspheme our Lord Jesus ChriSl, believing Him to have been a man that was deluded and a sinner. Great virtue would it be that one should confess before these men the Name of God and His virtue, and the honour which is in our Spouse : well-pleasing to God would be one that taught these men to honour Him who now do Him dishonour. And on the Day of Judgment those that suffered that they might exalt the Name of God would come to the Court with garments like to those of Jesus Chrift.”

OF WATCHING

6. “ Let us render thanks to God for that He has given us this our human life and made so many creatures to do us service. Never can we thank Him enough for all the good that we have received of Him and receive of Him daily. Let us pray our Lady Saint Mary and all the angels and saints of Paradise to give thanks for us. Let us accuse ourselves of our sins and sue for pardon. Let us count ourselves unworthy of the good that we receive and the glory for the which we hope. Let us render thanks to God, Who has brought us from the bondage of the world and gathered us together in this place to live lives of penitence. Let us beg of God virtues whereby we may be defended from the vices. Let us by the holiness of our lives adore our Saviour. Let us continue in love and tears, in con¬ trition and devotion, never wearying of adoring, loving and praying to Him Who has given us hearts to love, eyes to weep and mouths to praise His virtue and His works.” In all these ways, and in many more, did the abbess inftruft the sifters in the prayer, adoration and contemplation of God.