A Golden Treatise of Mental Prayer. St. Peter de Alcántara

Caiphas; of St. Peter's denial; and of his scourging. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126 A meditation for Thursday: of his crowning with thorns; his presentation before the people; his condemnation; his bringing to the place of execution; and the carrying of his cross. . . . . . . . 132 A meditation for Friday: upon the mystery of the cross; and the seven words which Christ spoke upon it. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137 A meditation for Saturday: of the piercing of our Blessed Saviour's side with a spear; his tak- ing down from the cross; the lamentation of the women; and other things about his burial. . . . . 143

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page.
A meditation for Sunday: of the descent of Christ to Limbus Patrum; his resurrection; appa- ritions; and glorious ascension . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
	147
Of six things necessary to prayer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	153
—preparation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	155
—reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	158
—meditation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	160
—thanksgiving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	162
—oblation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	165
—petition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	167
A prayer for obtaining divine love . . . . . . . . . . . . .	170
Of certain documents to be observed about medi- tation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
	175
———The first . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	175
———second . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	176
———third . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	176
———fourth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	177
———fifth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	179
———sixth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	180
———seventh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	182
———eighth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	182
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THE SECOND PART.
Of devotion and of those things which thereunto belong . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
		188
—nine helps whereby the virtue of devotion may be attained unto with the least difficulty. 1. Continual exercise. 2. Custody of the heart. 3. Custody of the senses. 4. Solitude. 5.

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Reading of spiritual books. 6. Continual memory of God. 7. Perseverance. 8. Cor- poral austerity. 9. Works of mercy. . . . . . . . . . . .
	192
Of nine impediments to devotion. 1. Venial sins. 2. Remorse of conscience. 3. Anx- iety of heart. 4. Cares of the mind. 5. A multitude of affairs. 6. Delight of the senses. 7. Inordinate delight in eating and drinking. 8. Curiosity of the senses. 9. Intermission of exercises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
	195
Of the common temptations that do assault devout persons, and of the remedies against them . . . . .
	198
A remedy against the first, which is dryness of spirit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
	198
Against unprofitable thoughts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	201
————thoughts of blasphemy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	202
————infidelity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	202
————inordinate fear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	204
————drowsiness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	204
————diffidence and presumption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	205
————inordinate desire of learning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	206
————indiscreet zeal of helping others . . . . . . . . . . .	207
Of other admonitions necessary for spiritual pur- poses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .