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PRACTICE OF MENTAL PRAYER

CHAPTER IV

THIRD PRELIMINARY ACT: PETITION TO THE HOLY GHOST FOR GRACE

PRAYER is a supernatural work, essen- tially requiring the grace of the Holy Ghost. To obtain this, prayer is necessary.

The ignorant and uneducated may watch an earthly king from a distance, but a private audience is never granted to them; their mean condition prevents such a favor. For the same but yet stronger reason, we must be worthy of being admitted to the friendly audience granted by the King of Heaven. Since nature here has no power, it is most imperative that we beg for help from the Holy Ghost.

Prayer, again, may be considered as the souls's flight towards God. As the prophet says: "Who will give me wings like a dove and I will fly and be at rest?"¹ The Holy Ghost has the power of giving us these heavenly wings, but we must make petition for them,

¹ Ps. 54:7.