How to Beseech God’s Inspirations during Meditation
October 1, 2021 • 1 min
From Introduction to the Devout Life, page 52
By St. Francis de Sales
CHAPTER III.
Invocation, the second point of the Preparation.
Being sensible that you are in the presence of God, prostrate yourself with the most profound reverence, acknowledging yourself unworthy to appear before so sovereign a Majesty; yet, knowing that his goodness so wills it, humbly beg the grace to serve and worship Him in this meditation.
To this end you may use these short and inflamed words of David: “Cast me not, O God, away from thy face, and take not thy holy spirit from me. Make thy face to shine upon thy servant, and I will consider the wondrous things of thy law. Give me understanding, and I will search out thy law, and I will keep it with all my heart. I am thy servant; give me understanding.” (Ps. cxvii.)
It would also be advisable to invoke your guardian angel, as well as the saints who had some part in the mysteries on which you meditate; as, for example, in meditating on the death of our Lord, you may invoke our Blessed Lady, St. John, St. Mary Magdalen, and other saints, begging that the inward affections and emotions which they at that time conceived, may be communicated to you.
Also, in meditating on your own death, you may invoke your good angel, who will then be present with you, beseeching him to inspire you with proper considerations; and so of other mysteries.
Latest book snippets
Search | Random | 1009 total | 54h 55m
May 28, 2023
The three later Fathers who speak more lowly of Mary are not speaking dogmatically
5 min — St. John Henry Newman’s Letter to Dr. Pusey in reply to his EireniconHow to determine whether a statement is an Apostolic Tradition
5 min — St. John Henry Newman’s Letter to Dr. Pusey in reply to his EireniconHow the three later Fathers can be shown to not be speaking dogmatically about Mary not being sinless
5 min — St. John Henry Newman’s Letter to Dr. Pusey in reply to his EireniconFurther proof that the Anglican understanding of the Fathers’ authority is less consistent than the Catholic
2 min — St. John Henry Newman’s Letter to Dr. Pusey in reply to his EireniconAnswers to objections about why some Fathers and Gospel passages spoke unsatisfactorily about Mary
8 min — St. John Henry Newman’s Letter to Dr. Pusey in reply to his Eirenicon
May 21, 2023
Two quotes of St. Chrysostom that enemies of Mary’s sinlessness incorrectly use against her
3 min — St. John Henry Newman’s Letter to Dr. Pusey in reply to his EireniconAn answer to the accusation that the Fathers claimed Mary was not sinless
7 min — St. John Henry Newman’s Letter to Dr. Pusey in reply to his EireniconA quote from St. Cyril which proponents of Mary’s sinfulness incorrectly use against her
3 min — St. John Henry Newman’s Letter to Dr. Pusey in reply to his EireniconA quote from St. Basil that advocates of the sinfulness of the Blessed Virgin Mary incorrectly use against her
2 min — St. John Henry Newman’s Letter to Dr. Pusey in reply to his Eirenicon