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PRINCIPAL ACTS OF PRAYER

CHAPTER VIII

WHY ACTS OF THE WILL ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN THOSE OF THE UNDERSTANDING

BEGINNING with the highest, the acts of the will are: hope and charity. After these acts of the theological virtues come adoration, thanksgiving, prayer properly so called or petition, contrition and oblation.

All these acts are more important than those made by the intellect. The understand- ing discovers the truth, but the will profits of the discovery in order to acquire Christian virtues. What is the good of knowing the truth if it does not make us better? The pagan philosophers possessed the truth, but they did not follow it and thus it only served to make them more guilty and hateful in the sight of God. Because that when they knew God, they have not glorified Him as God, or given thanks; but became vain in their thoughts, and their foolish heart was darkened. For professing themselves to be wise they became fools." ¹

¹ Rom. 1: 21, 22.