Part II, Chapter VI

Of Affections and Resolutions, the Third Part of Meditation

Meditation produces pious motions in the will, or affective part of our soul, such as the love of God and our neighbor; a desire of heaven and eternal glory; zeal for the salvation of souls; imitation of the life of our Lord; compassion, admiration, joy; the fear of God’s displeasure, of judgment, and of hell; hatred of sin, confidence in the goodness and mercy of God, and confusion for the sins of our past life. In these affections our hearts should expand as much as possible. You will be greatly assisted in this part of meditation by reading the preface to the first volume of the meditations of Dom Andrew Capilia, where he shows the manner of forming these affections, as Father Arias does more at large in his second part of his treatise on prayer. Yet you must not, however, Philothea, dwell upon these general reflections without determining to reduce them to special and particular resolutions. For example; the first word that our Lord spoke on the cross will doubtless excite in your soul a desire to pardon and love your enemies. But this will avail you little if you add not to the desire a practical resolution saying: “Well, then, I will not hereafter be offended at what this or that person may say of me, nor resent any affront he may offer me; but, on the contrary, I will embrace every opportunity to gain his affection, and to appease him.” By this means, Philothea, you will correct your faults in a short time, whereas by affections only, your amendment will be but slow, and attended with great difficulty.

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