Something Is Changing

If you've been practising mental prayer faithfully, you may notice changes: prayer becomes simpler, words feel less necessary, you're drawn to just "be" with God. This is not failure — it's progress. God is shifting the work from you to Himself. Meditation (using your mind actively) is a bridge to contemplation (God working directly on your soul). (Ep 406)

Catechism sources (PD) teaches:

"I consider it a most useful if not necessary book, not only for Sunday school teachers and for advanced classes, but for all who may desire to have a clear, definite knowledge of Christian doctrine."

(Source: baltimore_catechism.txt)

St. Thomas Aquinas teaches:

For having said, He is preferred before me, for He was before me, he proceeds, From this I know that He is before me, because I and the Prophets who preceded me have received of His fullness, and grace for grace, (the second grace for the first.) For they too by the Spirit penetrated beyond the.

(Source: catena_aurea_john.txt)

Doctrinal Foundation

T4.G.011 (sententia_certa): God truly gives grace to those who pray for it. Prayer is infallibly efficacious when the conditions of perseverance, humility, and conformity to God's will are met.

• Scripture: Amen, amen I say to you: if you ask the Father any thing in my name, he will give it you.
• Aquinas: Prayer is meritorious inasmuch as it proceeds from charity, and is directed to the good of the one who prays and of others.

From the Sources

St. Thomas Aquinas (catena_aurea_john.txt):

For having said, He is preferred before me, for He was before me, he proceeds, From this I know that He is before me, because I and the Prophets who preceded me have received of His fullness, and grace for grace, (the second grace for the first.) For they too by the Spirit penetrated beyond the figure to the contemplation of the truth. And hence receiving, as we have done, of his fullness, we judge that the law was given by Moses, but that grace and truth were made, by Jesus Christ - made,.

St. Thomas Aquinas (catena_aurea_john.txt):

BEDE; Farther, if the word declared have reference to the past, it must be considered that He, being made man, declared the doctrine of the Trinity in unity, and how, and by what acts we should prepare ourselves for the contemplation of it. If it have reference to the future, then it means that He will declare Him, when He shall introduce His elect to the vision of His brightness.

St. Teresa of Avila (book_of_foundations.txt):

Lord in these houses are so great that, if there be in them one sister whom our Lord is leading by the way of meditation, all the rest are advancing by the way of perfect contemplation ; some have gone so far as to have had raptures ;* to others our Lord gives His grace in a different way, together with revelations and visions.

which clearly are the work of God. There is not a single

St. Teresa of Avila (book_of_foundations.txt):

It reads thus: “the graces wrought by our Lord in these houses are so great that while all the sisters are being led by the way of meditation, some are advanc- ing by that of perfect contemplation, and others have reached so far as to experience raptures ; to others again our Lord gives His grace in a different way.’.

38 BOOK OF THE FOUNDATIONS [cH. v.

house at present in which one, or two, or three, may not

Additional Sources

St. John of the Cross (ascent_of_mount_carmel.txt):

Proofs from reason and the Holy Scriptures. . . . . . a . . .

67

a

CONTENTS. Vv

PAG CHAPTER IV. sii

How the soul must be in darkness, in order to be duly guided by faith to the highest contemplation , . mit Se tals € > 2 rt CHAPTER V. The union of the soul with God. A comparison . e e ° a? 96

CHAPTER VI. The three theological virtues perfect the powers of the soul, and bring them into a state of emptiness and darkness.

St. John of the Cross (ascent_of_mount_carmel.txt):

From this time the Carmelites were numbered among the Mendicants—having previously been forbidden the acquisition of landed property—and entered upon the active life. Not that they renounced Contemplation altogether, for every form of religious life tends that way, but it no longer occupied the most pro- minent place in their lives.

St. Francis de Sales (03_catholic_controversy.txt):

It is enough here to say that these passages are taken from the grand and most religious essay " On Prayer," near the beginning of which Montaigne speaks as follows of what he calls his fantaisies informes et irresolues.

St. Francis de Sales (03_catholic_controversy.txt):

Of another passage out of the New Testament to this effect. [Part of LXXV.] 372 V. — Of some other passages by which prayer, alms-deeds, and holy actions for the departed are authorised. [LXXVL] 376 VI.

St. Ignatius of Loyola (autobiography_oconor_1900.txt):

When he arrived at Montserrat, he passed a long time in prayer, and with the consent of his confessor he made in writing a general confession of his sins. Three whole days were employed in this undertaking.

St. Ignatius of Loyola (autobiography_oconor_1900.txt):

Shortly after the temptation just spoken of, he began to experience great changes in his soul. At one time he was deprived of all consolation, so that he found no pleasure in vocal prayer, in hearing Mass, or in any spiritual exercise.

Catechism sources (PD) (baltimore_catechism.txt):

"I consider it a most useful if not necessary book, not only for Sunday school teachers and for advanced classes, but for all who may desire to have a clear, definite knowledge of Christian doctrine."

CONTENTS

PRAYERS

The Lord's Prayer The Angelical Salutation The Apostles' Creed The Confiteor An Act of Faith An Act of Hope An Act of Love An Act of Contrition The Blessing before Meals Grace after Meals The Manner in Which a Lay Person Is to Baptize in Case of Necessity

Catechism sources (PD) (baltimore_catechism.txt):

"I consider it a most useful if not necessary book, not only for Sunday school teachers and for advanced classes, but for all who may desire to have a clear, definite knowledge of Christian doctrine."

CONTENTS

PRAYERS

The Lord's Prayer The Angelical Salutation The Apostles' Creed The Confiteor An Act of Faith An Act of Hope An Act of Love An Act of Contrition The Blessing before Meals Grace after Meals The Manner in Which a Lay Person Is to Baptize in Case of Necessity