Page:MyPrayerBookHappinessInGoodness.djvu/74

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who pray. Prayer is knocking at the gate of heaven; and we have Our Lord's assurance, Knocks and U shall be opened to you (Luke xi. 9).

"Ask, seek, knock" (Matt. vii. 7): that denotes earnestness of petition. Ask, and fear not to ask, for temporal favors, as health and victory, yet so that they make for the salvation of your soul. "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His justice, and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matt. vi. 33).

No one, I persuade myself, enters heaven, who has not either prayed much or been prayed much for. But my salvation is 100 precious to me for me to leave it to the charity of others. I will help myself and pray for myself. — Ye are Christ's.

13.— Forgive Us Our Trespasses as We Forgive Those Who Trespass Against Us

" If a man finds it very hard to forgive injuries, let A him look at a crucifix, and think that Christ shed all His blood for him,, and not only forgave His enemies, but even prayed His heavenly Father to forgive them also. Let him remember that when he says the "Our Father" every day, instead of asking pardon for his sins, he is calling down vengeance on himself." — St. Philip Neri.

"If you will forgive men their offences," says Our Lord, "your heavenly Father will forgive you also your offences" (Matt. vi. 14).

"Dismiss all anger," says St. Thomas of Villanova, and look a little into yourself. Remember that he of whom you are speaking is your brother, and as he is in the way of salvation, God can make him a saint, not