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PRACTICE OF MENTAL PRAYER

of cases, be made on the life and death of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

The subject once chosen, the next step is to prepare it. Many do this by reading a passage from Holy Writ, especially from the Gospels. Such persons are to be praised, for the preparation thus becomes more per- sonal and therefore more practical and fruit- ful. If the person who is making the con- templation," says St. Ignatius, takes the true groundwork of the narrative and, discuss- ing and considering for himself, finds some- thing which makes the events a little clearer or brings them a little more home to him, whether this comes through his own reason- ing, or because his intellect is enlightened by the Divine power, he will get more spiritual relish and fruit, than if he who is giving the exercises had much explained and amplified the meaning of the events. In this case, too, we may have recourse to the general and well-known developments. For instance, if the subject be some mystery of the Passion one may consider: 1. The intensity of the sufferings of Our Lord, Jesus Christ, so as to arouse compassion for them; 2. The enormity of sin, which has caused