Ferreol Girardey Cssr

Helps to a Spiritual Life Ferreol Girardey Cssr

Let us consider these special rules for the spiritual life: 1. Rise daily at a fixed hour, resolutely, promptly, devoutly. Resolutely, without excuse or pretext; promptly, without delay; devoutly, amid pious thoughts and aspirations towards God. So begin each day, as if it were the first or the last of thy life. A day will surely come, and perhaps very soon, which will be thy last. 2. If possible, hear Mass daily, with reverence and attention. 3. Pray tranquilly, slowly and reverentially. 4. In conversation be friendly and prudent 5. Obey promptly, punctually. 6. Recreate thyself honorably, decorously, joyfully. 7. Work and occupy thyself in an orderly manner, earnestly, for the love of God. 8. Conquer thyself often, manfully. 9. Raise thy heart to God often, sincerely. 10. Receive the sacraments eagerly, becomingly. 11. Examine thy conscience daily, carefully. And let us consider this on prayer: Of all possible human occupations and actions prayer is the most sublime, the most noble and the most excellent, for it is a familiar intercourse between God and man. At prayer God speaks to man, and man to God. In prayer we raise our mind and heart to God Himself, the chief Good, in order to honor, adore and love Him, to praise and thank Him, to bewail our sins in His presence, to crave pardon for them, and to express holy resolutions of amendment and fidelity, and, finally, to petition Him for all that is necessary or useful for His glory, and for the temporal and eternal welfare of ourselves and of our fellowmen. The whole life of the angels and saints in heaven is a constant prayer. The Heart of Jesus, the heart of Mary, the heart of the saints on earth, were continually united to God in prayer.