fashion do sinners act. They reflect not upon the mighty hunter, Death, and refuse to think of him; but this does not prevent him from coming, and his cruel arrow fails not to reach its mark. How terrible a thing it is thus to trifle with death!
Wherefore, raise your heart to God, raise it frequently to Him, every morning and evening at least! Raise your heart to God in the morning, by making a firm resolution to avoid this or that besetting sin and to overcome your predominant passion. Raise it to God in the evening, by repenting of your sins, by meditating on death, judgment, heaven and hell, and by resolving to lead a more holy, a more virtuous life. Pray every night for the grace of perseverance.
Keep yourself all through the day in the presence of God. St. Basil says: "If you wish to find a short and compendious method, which contains in itself all other means, and is most efficacious for overcoming every temptation and difficulty, and for acquiring perfection, it is the exercise of the presence of God."
St. Bonaventure declares: "In the midst of our employments we ought to have God present to our minds, in imitation of the holy angels who, when they are sent to attend on us, so acquit themselves of the functions of
