Book 1: Meditation, Prayer, and the Particular Examen, 8/06

A Talk About Prayer* (Part 4)


"Hallowed be Thy name."
In this first petition we address God as our Father and Lord; and as His children we pray, and ought greatly to desire, that our lives may :be sanctified, in order that we may live up to our holy vocation as children of such a Father.

Let us, then, while meditating on tills petition, greatly desire to become holy, to become saints, as children of God ought to be. Then we should make acts of self-contempt and :indignation against ourselves, because we are so unworthy of such a high dignity, and are so full of sin and ingratitude to so good a Father; and make acts of contrition for our sins, by which we have offended Him, and do continually offend Him. We should not be content with this, but should grieve over all the sins, crimes, sacrileges, and other evils that are continually being committed by sinners, since by them God's name is not hallowed, but dishonored and outraged.

We should offer up the most precious blood in satisfaction for all these evils, together with the merits of the most blessed Mother of God and of all the saints. Then we should beg that God, for the honor of His holy name and for the salvation of souls, would raise up great saints on the earth who are so much needed in these times of spiritual darkness, these last days of the world, as very likely they are....

(Continued tomorrow)

* From Spencer's "The Little Grain of Wheat."
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From "Prayer-Book for Religious"
by Rev. F.X. Lasance
Copyright 1904, 1914