us the spiritual; for, as St. Gregory says, [1] if the exterior sense be shut, forthwith the interior sense is open. And contrariwise, as St. Augustine says, the interior sense sleeps, if the exterior be given over to its pleasures.
6. Besides this, we may use another means more easy to apply the interior senses of our soul upon the mysteries of our holy faith; the practice of which will be seen in the second part, in the 26th meditation; with which let us so dispose ourselves that our Lord, if it be His good pleasure, may communicate to us that part which shall be convenient for us of what has been said.
Chap. XII. On the ordinary and extraordinary time that is to be employed in mental prayer, and of ejaculatory prayers,
1. The time that is to be spent in mental prayer is of two sorts: the one ordinary for every day so long as life and health shall endure; the other extraordinary, re-collecting ourselves at certain times for the space of a week or two, or more, spending them all in these meditations and exercises, which may be done for divers ends and upon divers occasions.
i. First, when one is heavy laden with sins and desires to make a true confession and perfect conversion, it is an admirable means to withdraw one's self for some eight days or more to some retired place, spending all that time in thinking upon his sins and in meditations that may move to sorrow for them and to make a very perfect renovation and change of life.
ii. Secondly, when any one desires to learn this mystical science of the spirit to know how to pray mentally, how to converse with Almighty God, and to gain herein some use and experience, it is good to dedicate a month or two to this exercise, until he prove well versed. For although the
- ↑ S. Bonaven. sup. distinct. 4>. Lib. iv. de spiritu et anima, c. 9.
