Extracts from the Dux Spiritualis by the Venerable Louis
de Ponte SJ
Chapter 1 – Section 4 – Of petitions and colloquies
To these affections must be joined a 5th act
which is the elevation of thy whole Soul and heart that thou mayest, according to
the expression of David, pour it out before God [cf Ps. lxi, 9: 1 Kings I,
15], laying open before Him thy necessities and desires with loving petitions
and colloquies, imploring Him with full confidence to hear thee and grant thy
requests. This is why St John Damascene calls prayer
a petition for those things which beseem the
service of God –
{Oratio est petitio decentium a Deo}
[Lib. 3 fidei cap. 14], in which various claims and motives may be brought
forward, not so much to incline Him to listen to us, as to stir up our own will
to ask with such fervour and confidence that we may deserve to be heard.
Do not think that these petitions and requests must be
deferred to the end of thy prayer; mingle them rather with the other acts of
which we have spoken.
Page 20 – Colloquies
Take notice that in this colloquy God and Man have
different ends in view.
For, says St Thomas [S. Th., I, Q. I, c.7, art 3], thou
speakest to God, not to tell Him something of which He is ignorant, nor to give
Him anything he does not already possess; but rather to acquire some knowledge,
virtue or grace of which thou art in want.
But when God speak to thee by His holy inspirations, He
does not do so to receive from thee anything which He does not possess, but to
communicate to thee His own riches.
Page 21 – Prayer
Divine Lover of my soul, since Thou sayest to me: Let
thy voice sound in my ears; for thy voice is sweet [Cant. ii,14], I beseech
Thee to let thy voice sound in my ears for it is surpassing sweetness: Speak,
Lord, for thy servant heareth [1 Kings iii, 10]; do Thou first speak that I
may learn how I ought to speak with Thee as I desire.
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