Contents
1 Preface by the Author
What True Devotion is
The Nature and Excellence of Devotion
Devotion is suitable to every Vocation and Profession
The Need of a Guide for those Who Would enter upon and advance in the Devout Life
The First Step must be Purifying the Soul
The First Purification, namely, from Mortal Sin
The Second Purification, from all Sinful Affections
How to effect this Second Purification
First Meditation - Of Creation
Second Meditation - Of the End for which we were Created
Third Meditation - Of the Gifts of God
Fourth Meditation - On Sin
Fifth Meditation - On Death
Sixth Meditation - On Judgment
Seventh Meditation - Of Hell
Eighth Meditation - On Paradise
Ninth Meditation - On the Choice open to you between Heaven and Hell
Tenth Meditation - How the Soul chooses the Devout Life
How to make a General Confession
A hearty Protest made with the object of confirming the Soul's resolution to serve God, as a conclusion to its Acts of Penitence
Conclusion of this First Purification
The Necessity of Purging away all tendency to Venial Sins
It is needful to put away all Inclination for Useless and Dangerous Things
All Evil Inclinations must be purged away
The Necessity of Prayer
A short Method of Meditation. And first, the Presence of God, the First Point of Preparation
Invocation, the Second Point of Preparation
The Third Point of Preparation, representing the Mystery to be meditated to your Imagination
Considerations, the Second Part of Meditation
Some Useful Hints as to Meditation
Concerning Dryness in Meditation
Morning Prayer
Evening Prayer and Examination of Conscience
On Spiritual Retirement
Aspirations, Ejaculatory Prayer and Holy Thoughts
Of Holy Communion, and how to join in it
Of the other Public Offices of the Church
How the Saints are united to us
How to Hear and Read God's Word
How to receive Inspirations
On Confession
Of Frequent Communion
How to Communicate
How to select that which we should chiefly Practise
The same Subject continued
On Patience
On Exterior Humility
On Interior Humility
Humility makes us rejoice in our own Abjection
How to combine due care for a Good Reputation with Humility
Gentleness towards others and Remedies against Anger
On Gentleness towards Ourselves
We must attend to the Business of Life carefully, but without Eagerness or Over-anxiety
On Obedience
On Purity
How to maintain Purity
On Poverty of Spirit amid Riches
How to exercise real Poverty, although actually Rich
How to possess a rich Spirit amid real Poverty
On Friendship: Evil and Frivolous Friendship
On Frivolous Attachments
Of Real Friendship
Of the Difference between True and False Friendship
Remedies against Evil Friendships
Further Advice concerning Intimacies
On the Practice of Bodily Mortification
Of Society and Solitude
On Modesty in Dress
Of Conversation; and, first, how to Speak of God
Of Unseemly Words, and the Respect due to Others
Of Hasty Judgments
On Slander
Further Counsels as to Conversation
Of Amusements and Recreations: what are allowable
Of Forbidden Amusements
Of Balls, and other Lawful but Dangerous Amusements
When to use such Amusements rightly
We must be Faithful in Things Great and Small
Of a Well-balanced, Reasonable Mind
Of Wishes
Counsels to Married People
The Sanctity of the Marriage Bed
Counsels to Widows
One Word to Maidens
We must not trifle with the Words of worldly Wisdom
The need of a Good Courage
Of Temptations, and the difference between experiencing them and consenting to them
Two striking illustrations of the same
Encouragement for the Tempted Soul
When Temptation and Delectation are Sin
Remedies for Great Occasions
How to resist Minor Temptations
How to remedy Minor Temptations
How to strengthen the Heart against Temptation
Anxiety of Mind
Of Sadness and Sorrow
Of Spiritual and Sensible Consolations, and how to receive them
Of Dryness and Spiritual Barrenness
In Illustration
It is well yearly to renew Good Resolutions by means of the following Exercises
Meditation on the Benefit conferred on us by God in calling us to His Service
Examination of the Soul as to its Progress in the Devout Life
Examination of the Soul's Condition as regards God
Examination of your Condition as regards yourself
Examination of the Soul's Condition as regards our Neighbour
Examination as to the Affections of the Soul
The Affections to be excited after such Examination
Reflections suitable to the renewal of Good Resolutions
Second Consideration--On the Excellence of Virtue
The Example of the Saints
The Love which Jesus Christ bears to us
The Eternal Love of God for us
The Impressions which should remain after this Exercise
Three Important and Final Counsels