into vocal, speaking to our Lord exterior words arising from the interior fervour and devotion: [1] and vocal prayer is used to quicken the soul, to make it more attentive to mental. For when, being in it, we perceive ourselves to be distracted or dry, it is a good remedy to speak some words that may awaken and re-collect us either speaking to our Lord or to ourselves; for as the body aids the soul, so the works of the body are accustomed to aid those of the soul; [2] and the exterior word, and that which the tongue speaks, helps to touch the heart. This (as St. Bonaventure remarks) [3] may be practised in two manners.
i. The one is, everyone composing the words as his necessity or devotion shall dictate to him, not standing upon this, whether they be well or ill ordered: for our Lord regards rather the disposition of the heart, and the fervour of the affections, than of the words, and He is better pleased with the rude speeches of the stammering child and penitent sinner than with the well-composed words of a learned man that is proud.
ii. The other manner is, saying some prayer made by another, as are those of the Church, or of some saint, appropriating them to himself, and speaking them with such feeling and affection as if he himself were composing them; after that manner which we will prescribe in the ninth chapter.
3. As for our corporal senses, there can be no certain rule given; for some find themselves best holding their eyes shut; others help themselves with opening them, looking up to heaven, or beholding some image. Some are troubled with the hearing of anything; others are inflamed with hearing some song or music of the Church; some feel devotion with striking themselves often on the breast, as St. Jerome
