Extracts from the Dux Spiritualis by the Venerable Louis de Ponte SJ
Chapter 4.4a - Virtue - Twofold preparation for prayer
Moreover, thou must endeavour to adorn thy soul with every virtue, that thou mayest be worthy and unashamed to appear before God.
This was noted by Ecclesiasticus [ii, 20] saying:
They that fear the Lord will prepare their hearts,
and in His sight will sanctify their souls,
showing that this remote preparation consists in flying from vice and adorning our souls with virtue.
This was beautifully put by St Dionysius [Epist. 5 ad Demoph], saying that Moses attained such familiarity with God on account of his meekness and sanctity. For he knew, he says, that a man who desires to commune with God ought to do all in his power to make himself like to Him, and to omit nothing which will, he thinks, be pleasing to him.
In such dispositions he will deserve that God should speak familiarly with him, because every man, says the Sage, loveth him that is nearest and most like to himself [Ecclesiasticus xiii, 19].
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