Chapter 5 - the Five ends of entering into the Divine Presence

 Extracts from the Dux Spiritualis by the Venerable Louis de Ponte SJ

Chapter 5 - the Five ends of entering into the Divine Presence 

First, that we may see and know God, His attributes and His perfections. Since the knowledge faith gives us of God is infinite in extent, every day we may enter again, either to acquire some fresh knowledge or to deepen our understanding of what we have already learnt. Hence proceeds the various methods of prayer by means of discourse or meditation on the Divine mysteries: the discussion of these we will defer to the 2nd treatise. 

The second end for which we come into the presence of God is to confess and protest the subjection and prompt obedience the creature owes to His Creator as supreme ruler of the world. From this we get two methods of prayer; one by way of adoration, the other of oblation, accompanied by acts of heartfelt devotion. 

The third end is to praise and glorify God for all His wonderful works and for all the grace and blessings He has bestowed on us; this produces two very excellent methods of prayer; one by praising and rejoicing in God, the other way of gratitude and thanksgiving. 

The fourth end is to place before God all our necessities and implore His assistance; as there are many ways of asking for what we need, this degree includes a great variety of methods. 

Lastly, we may come into the presence of God to enjoy His blessed vision, to listen to His words and to stand before Him on earth as the angels do in heaven; that in the union of love we may repose in His bosom as a stone in its centre. 

Hence arises the method of prayer properly called contemplation: this we will consider in the third treatise.