Part II, Chapter X

Of the Morning Exercise

Besides your daily meditation, and the vocal prayers which you ought to say once every day, there are five other shorter exercises which are, as it were, branches of the principal prayer; the first is morning prayer, intended as a general preparation to all the actions of the day, which may be made in the following manner:

1. Adore God most profoundly, and return him thanks for having preserved you from the dangers of the night, and if, during the course of it, you have committed any sin, implore his pardon.

2. Consider that the present day is given you in order that you may gain the future day of eternity; make a firm purpose, therefore, to employ it well with this intention.

3. Foresee in what business or conversation you will probably be engaged; what opportunities you will have to serve God; to what temptations of offending him you will be exposed, either by anger, by vanity, or any other irregularity, and prepare yourself by a firm resolution to make the best use of those means which shall be offered you to serve God, and advance in devotion; as also, on the other hand, dispose yourself carefully to avoid, resist, and overcome whatever may present itself that is prejudicial to your salvation and the glory of God. Now, it is not sufficient to make this resolution unless you also prepare the means of reducing it to practice. For example: if I foresee that I am to treat of any business with one that is passionate, and easily provoked to anger, I will not only resolve to refrain from giving him any offence, but will also prepare words of meekness to prevent his anger, or use the assistance of some person that may keep him in temper. If I foresee that I shall have an opportunity of visiting some sick person, I will determine the hour of the visit, the comforts and assistances I may afford him; and so of the rest.

4. This done, humble yourself in the presence of God, acknowledging that, of yourself, you are incapable of executing your resolutions, either to avoid evil, or to do good; and, as if you held your heart in your hands, offer it, together with all your good designs, to his divine Majesty, beseeching him to take it under his protection, and so to strengthen it that it may proceed prosperously in his service, using these or the like words interiorly: “Behold, O Lord! this poor, miserable heart of mine, which, through thy goodness, has conceived many good affections, but which, alas! is of itself so weak and wretched, that it is incapable of executing the good which it desires, unless thou impart to it thy heavenly blessing, which for this end I humbly beg of thee, O merciful Father! through the merits of the passion of thy Son, to whose honor I consecrate this day, and all the remaining days of my life.” Then invoke the Blessed Virgin, your good angel, and the saints, that they may all assist you by their intercession.

But all these spiritual acts must be made briefly and fervently, and before you depart from your chamber, if it be possible, that by means of this prayer, all that you are to do throughout the whole day may be sanctified by the blessing of God; and I beg of you, Philothea, never to omit this exercise.

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