Page:Spiritualcombat.djvu/138

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OF THE MEANS OF ACQUIRING VIRTUES
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"The expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever." Psalm ix. 18.

"He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city." Proverbs xvi. 32.

"In your patience possess ye your souls." St. Luke xxi. 19.

"Let us run with patience the race that is set before us." Hebrews xii. 1.

For the same purpose we may say the following, or some similar short prayers:—

"When, O my God, shall this heart of mine be armed with the shield of patience?"

"When, to content my Lord, shall I be able to endure every trial with an undisturbed mind?"

"Oh! sufferings most precious, which make me like my Lord Jesus, enduring the Passion for me!"

"Oh! Only Life of my soul, will it ever come to pass that I could live in contentment amidst a thousand torments for Thy Glory!"

"Happy should I be, if in the midst of the furnace of affliction, I could still burn with the desire of enduring greater things!"

We should use these short prayers, or others like them, which help towards the attainment of virtues, and are calculated to cherish the spirit of devotion.

These short prayers are called ejaculations,