PREFACE.
NO subtilty of thought, nor loftiness of words, will be found
in the following pages; but the greatest simplicity and the
plainest forms of expression. Nothing here will perplex the
understanding, but all will powerfully appeal to the heart: for
while the following “ Meditations” are remarkable for the beautiful simplicity of style so peculiar to their Beatified Author,
they are not less characterized by profound piety, ardent love
of God, and tender devotion to the Blessed Virgin, Mother of
God. They are e»ch divided into three points; each point
generally includes acts of the love of God, of contrition for sin,
and of supplication for final perseverance; and every last point
concludes with a short prayer to the ever Blessed Mary.
In a preface to a work similar to the present by the same Blessed Liguori, he says: “ I entreat my readers not to be wearied with the frequent repetition of prayers for the graces of the love of God and of perseverance: since these two graces are the most necessary for the attainment of eternal salvation.” ‘The grace of divine love,’ says St. Francis of Sales, ‘ contains in itself all other graces, because the virtue f charity towards God brings with it all other virtues:’ All good things came to me together with her. Wisd. vii. 11. He who loves God is humble, chaste, obedient, mortified, in a word, he is possessed of all virtues. ‘ Love and do what you will,' says St. Augustin, ‘because he who loves God carefully avoids every thing that can offend him, and seeks for nothing but to please him in all things.’ ”
“ The other grace, that of perseverance, is that which enables us to gain the eternal crown. St. Bernard says: ‘ Heaven is promised indeed to those who begin a new life, but is given
