Introduction to the Devout Life
Saint Francis de Sales, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
Part II
Chapter 2 - A short Method of Meditation. And first, the Presence of
God, the First Point of Preparation.
It may be, my daughter, that you
do not know how to practise mental prayer, for unfortunately it is a thing much
neglected now-adays. I will therefore give you a short and easy method for
using it, until such time as you may read sundry books written on the subject,
and above all till practice teaches you how to use it more perfectly. And first
of all, the Preparation, which consists of two points: first, placing yourself
in the Presence of God; and second, asking His Aid. And in order to place your
69 self in the Presence of God, I will suggest four chief considerations which
you can use at first.
First, a lively earnest
realisation that His Presence is universal; that is to say, that He is
everywhere, and in all, and that there is no place, nothing in the world,
devoid of His Most Holy Presence, so that, even as birds on the wing meet the
air continually, we, let us go where we will, meet with that Presence always
and everywhere. It is a truth which all are ready to grant, but all are not
equally alive to its importance. A blind man when in the presence of his prince
will preserve a reverential demeanour if told that the king is there, although
unable to see him; but practically, what men do not see they easily forget, and
so readily lapse into carelessness and irreverence. Just so, my child, we do
not see our God, and although faith warns us that He is present, not beholding
Him with our mortal eyes, we are too apt to forget Him, and act as though He
were afar: for, while knowing perfectly that He is everywhere, if we do not
think about it, it is much as though we knew it not. And therefore, before
beginning to pray, it is needful always to rouse the soul to a stedfast
remembrance and thought of the Presence of God. This is what David meant when
he exclaimed, “If I climb up to Heaven, Thou art there, and if I go 70 down to
hell, Thou art there also!” 25 And in like manner Jacob, who, beholding the
ladder which went up to Heaven, cried out, “Surely the Lord is in this place
and I knew it not” 26 meaning thereby that he had not thought of it; for
assuredly he could not fail to know that God was everywhere and in all things.
Therefore, when you make ready to pray, you must say with your whole heart,
“God is indeed here.”
The second way of placing
yourself in this Sacred Presence is to call to mind that God is not only
present in the place where you are, but that He is very specially present in
your heart and mind, which He kindles and inspires with His Holy Presence,
abiding there as Heart of your heart, Spirit of your spirit. Just as the soul
animates the whole body, and every member thereof, but abides especially in the
heart, so God, while present everywhere, yet makes His special abode with our
spirit. Therefore David calls Him “the Strength of my heart;” 27 and S. Paul
said that in Him “we live and move and have our being.” 28 Dwell upon this
thought until you have kindled a great reverence within your heart for God Who
is so closely present to you.
The third way is to dwell upon
the thought of our Lord, Who in His Ascended Humanity looks 71 down upon all
men, but most particularly on all Christians, because they are His children;
above all, on those who pray, over whose doings He keeps watch. Nor is this any
mere imagination, it is very truth, and although we see Him not, He is looking
down upon us. It was given to S. Stephen in the hour of martyrdom thus to
behold Him, and we may well say with the Bride of the Canticles, “He looketh
forth at the windows, shewing Himself through the lattice.” 29
The fourth way is simply to
exercise your ordinary imagination, picturing the Saviour to yourself in His
Sacred Humanity as if He were beside you just as we are wont to think of our
friends, and fancy that we see or hear them at our side. But when the Blessed
Sacrament of the Altar is there, then this Presence is no longer imaginary, but
most real; and the sacred species are but as a veil from behind which the
Present Saviour beholds and considers us, although we cannot see Him as He is.
Make use of one or other of these
methods for placing yourself in the Presence of God before you begin to
pray;—do not try to use them all at once, but take one at a time, and that
briefly and simply.
Chapter 3 - Invocation, the Second Point of Preparation.
Inovcation is made as follows:
your soul, having realised God’s Presence, will prostrate itself with the
utmost reverence, acknowledging its unworthiness to abide before His Sovereign
Majesty; and yet knowing that He of His Goodness would have you come to Him,
you must ask of Him grace to serve and worship Him in this your meditation. You
may use some such brief and earnest words as those of David: “Cast me not away
from Thy Presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.” 30 “Shew me Thy Ways,
O Lord, and teach me Thy paths.” 31 “Give me understanding, and I shall keep
Thy Law: yea, I shall keep it with my whole heart.” 32 “I am Thy servant, O
grant me understanding.” 33 Dwell too upon the thought of your guardian Angel,
and of the Saints connected with the special mystery you are considering, as
the Blessed Virgin, S. John, the Magdalene, the good thief, etc., if you are
meditating in the Passion, so that you may share in their devout feelings and
intention,—and in the same way with other subjects.
Chapter 4 - The Third Point of
Preparation, representing the Mystery to be meditated to Your Imagination.
Following upon these two ordinary
points, there ere is a third, which is not necessary to all meditation, called
by some the local representation, and by others the interior picture. It is
simply kindling a vivid picture of the mystery to be meditated within your
imagination, even as though you were actually beholding it. For instance, if
you wish to meditate upon our Lord on His Cross, you will place yourself in
imagination on Mount Calvary, as though you saw and heard all that occurred
there during the Passion; or you can imagine to yourself all that the
Evangelists describe as taking place where you are. In the same way, when you
meditate upon death, bring the circumstances that will attend your own vividly
to mind, and so of hell, or any subjects which involve visible, tangible
circumstances. When it is a question of such mysteries as God’s Greatness, His
Attributes, the end of our creation, or other invisible things, you cannot make
this use of your imagination. At most you may employ certain comparisons and
similitudes, but these are not always opportune, and I would have you follow a
very simple 74 method, and not weary your mind with striving after new
inventions. Still, often this use of the imagination tends to concentrate the
mind on the mystery we wish to meditate, and to prevent our thoughts from
wandering hither and thither, just as when you shut a bird within a cage, or
fasten a hawk by its lures. Some people will tell you that it is better to
confine yourself to mere abstract thought, and a simple mental and spiritual
consideration of these mysteries, but this is too difficult for beginners; and
until God calls you up higher, I would advise you, my daughter, to abide contentedly
in the lowly valley I have pointed out.
Chapter 5 - Considerations, the Second Part of Meditation.
After this exercise of the
imagination, we come to that of the understanding: for meditations, properly so
called, are certain considerations by which we raise the affections to God and
heavenly things. Now meditation differs therein from study and ordinary methods
of thought which have not the Love of God or growth in holiness for their
object, but some other end, such as the acquisition of learning or 75 power of
argument. So, when you have, as I said, limited the efforts of your mind within
due bounds,—whether by the imagination, if the subject be material, or by
propositions, if it be a spiritual subject,—you will begin to form reflections
or considerations after the pattern of the meditations I have already sketched
for you. And if your mind finds sufficient matter, light and fruit wherein to
rest in any one consideration, dwell upon it, even as the bee, which hovers
over one flower so long as it affords honey. But if you do not find wherewith
to feed your mind, after a certain reasonable effort, then go on to another
consideration,—only be quiet and simple, and do not be eager or hurried.
Chapter 6 - The Third Part of Meditation, Affections and Resolutions.
Meditation excites good desires
in the will, or sensitive part of the soul,—such as love of God and of our
neighbour, a craving for the glory of Paradise, zeal for the salvation of
others, imitation of our Lord’s Example, compassion, thanksgiving, fear of
God’s wrath and of judgment, hatred of sin, trust in God’s Goodness 76 and
Mercy, shame for our past life; and in all such affections you should pour out
your soul as much as possible. If you want help in this, turn to some simple
book of devotions, the Imitation of Christ, the Spiritual Combat, or whatever
you find most helpful to your individual wants.
But, my daughter, you must not
stop short in general affections, without turning them into special resolutions
for your own correction and amendment. For instance, meditating on Our Dear
Lord’s First Word from the Cross, you will no doubt be roused to the desire of
imitating Him in forgiving and loving your enemies. But that is not enough,
unless you bring it to some practical resolution, such as, “I will not be
angered any more by the annoying things said of me by such or such a neighbour,
nor by the slights offered me by such an one; but rather I will do such and
such things in order to soften and conciliate them.” In this way, my daughter,
you will soon correct your faults, whereas mere general resolutions would take
but a slow and uncertain effect.
Chapter 7 - The Conclusion and Spiritual Bouquet.
The meditation should be
concluded by three acts, made with the utmost humility. First, an act of
thanksgiving;—thanking God for the affections and resolutions with which He has
inspired you, and for the Mercy and Goodness He has made known to you in the
mystery you have been meditating. Secondly, an act of oblation, by which you
offer your affections and resolutions to God, in union with His Own Goodness
and Mercy, and the Death and Merits of His Son. The third act is one of
petition, in which you ask God to give you a share in the Merits of His Dear
Son, and a blessing on your affections and resolutions, to the end that you may
be able to put them in practice. You will further pray for the Church, and all
her Ministers, your relations, friends, and all others, using the Our Father as
the most comprehensive and necessary of prayers.
Besides all this, I bade you
gather a little bouquet of devotion, and what I mean is this. When walking in a
beautiful garden most people are wont to gather a few flowers as they go, which
they keep, and enjoy their scent during 78 the day. So, when the mind explores
some mystery in meditation, it is well to pick out one or more points that have
specially arrested the attention, and are most likely to be helpful to you
through the day, and this should be done at once before quitting the subject of
your meditation.
Chapter 8 - Some Useful Hints as to Meditation.
Above all things, my daughter,
strive when your meditation is ended to retain the thoughts and resolutions you
have made as your earnest practice throughout the day. This is the real fruit
of meditation, without which it is apt to be unprofitable, if not actually
harmful—inasmuch as to dwell upon virtues without practising them lends to puff
us up with unrealities, until we begin to fancy ourselves all that we have
meditated upon and resolved to be; which is all very well if our resolutions
are earnest and substantial, but on the contrary hollow and dangerous if they
are not put in practice. You must then diligently endeavour to carry out your
resolutions, and seek for all opportunities, great or small. For instance, if
79 your resolution was to win over those who oppose you by gentleness, seek
through the day any occasion of meeting such persons kindly, and if none
offers, strive to speak well of them, and pray for them.
When you leave off this interior
prayer, you must be careful to keep your heart in an even balance, lest the
balm it has received in meditation be scattered. I mean, try to maintain
silence for some brief space, and let your thoughts be transferred gradually
from devotion to business, keeping alive the feelings and affections aroused in
meditation as long as possible. Supposing some one to have received a precious
porcelain vessel, filled with a most costly liquid, which he is going to carry
home; how carefully he would go, not looking about, but watching stedfastly
lest he trip or stumble, or lest he spill any of the contents of his vessel.
Just so, after meditation, do not allow yourself forthwith to be distracted,
but look straight before you. Of course, if you meet any one to whom you are
bound to attend, you must act according to the circumstances in which you find
yourself, but even thus give heed to your heart, so as to lose as little as
possible of the precious fruits of your meditation. You should strive, too, to
accustom yourself to go easily from prayer to all such occupations as your
calling or position 80 lawfully require of you, even although such occupations
may seem uncongenial to the affections and thoughts just before forming part of
your prayer. Thus the lawyer should be able to go from meditation to his
pleading, the tradesman to his business, the mistress of a family to the cares
of her household and her wifely duties, so calmly and gently as not to be in
any way disturbed by so doing. In both you are fulfilling God’s Will, and you
should be able to turn from one to the other in a devout and humble spirit.
It may be that sometimes,
immediately after your preparation, your affections will be wholly drawn to
God, and then, my child, you must let go the reins, and not attempt to follow
any given method; since, although as a general rule your considerations should
precede your affections and resolutions, when the Holy Spirit gives you those
affections at once, it is unnecessary to use the machinery which was intended
to bring about the same result. In short, whenever such affections are kindled
in your heart, accept them, and give them place in preference to all other
considerations. The only object in placing the affections after the points of
consideration in meditation, is to make the different parts of meditation
clearer, for it is a general rule that when affections arise they are never to
be checked, but always encouraged to flow freely. 81 And this applies also to
the acts of thanksgiving, of oblation and petition, which must not be
restrained either, although it is well to repeat or renew them at the close of
your meditation. But your resolutions must be made after the affections, and
quite at the end of your meditation, and that all the more because in these you
must enter upon ordinary familiar subjects and things which would be liable to
cause distractions if they were intruded among your spiritual affections.
Amid your affections and
resolutions it is well occasionally to make use of colloquies, and to speak
sometimes to your Lord, sometimes to your guardian Angel, or to those persons
who are concerned in the mystery you are meditating, to the Saints, to
yourself, your own heart, to sinners, and even to the inanimate creation
around, as David so often does in the Psalms, as well as other Saints in their
meditations and prayers.
Chapter 9 - Concerning Dryness in Meditation.
Should it happen sometimes, my
daughter, that you have no taste for or consolation in your meditation, I
entreat you not to be 82 troubled, but seek relief in vocal prayer, bemoan
yourself to our Lord, confess your unworthiness, implore His Aid, kiss His
Image, if it be beside you, and say in the words of Jacob, “I will not let Thee
go, except Thou bless me;” or with the Canaanitish woman, “Yes, Lord, I am as a
dog before Thee, but the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their master’s
table.”
Or you can take a book, and read
attentively till such time as your mind is calmed and quickened; or sometimes
you may find help from external actions, such as prostrating yourself folding
your hands upon your breast, kissing your Crucifix,—that is, supposing you are
alone. But if, after all this, you are still unrelieved, do not be disturbed at
your dryness, however great it be, but continue striving after a devout
attitude in God’s Sight. What numbers of courtiers appear a hundred times at court
without any hope of a word from their king, but merely to pay their homage and
be seen of him. Just so, my daughter, we ought to enter upon mental prayer
purely to fulfil our duty and testify our loyalty. If it pleases God’s Divine
Majesty to speak to us, and discourse in our hearts by His Holy Inspirations
and inward consolations, it is doubtless a great honour, and very sweet to our
soul; but if He does not vouchsafe such favours, but makes as though 83 He saw
us not,—as though we were not in His Presence,—nevertheless we must not quit
it, but on the contrary we must remain calmly and devoutly before Him, and He
is certain to accept our patient waiting, and give heed to our assiduity and
perseverance; so that another time He will impart to us His consolations, and
let us taste all the sweetness of holy meditation. But even were it not so, let
us, my child, be satisfied with the privilege of being in His Presence and seen
of Him.
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