229 part i: sunday meditations for the entire year to God that even those flowing from the mouth of nonbelievers penetrate His Divine Majesty. And they are in no way ineffectual, as it is to be learned from the story told in the Acts of the Apostles about the good centurion (cf. Acts 10). Therefore, adhere closely to this holy and fruitful practice of prayer. Also, understand that when you neglect it, you make a step toward everlasting condemnation. For the one who turns away from prayer is on his way to hell; and as many times as he neglects to pray, he makes steps toward hell. On the contrary, the more fervently and more often we apply ourselves to prayer, the more frequently we converse with God. Besides, nothing multiplies vices and imperfections more than the neglect of prayer, to such an extent that if you examined yourself, you would notice that you have fallen into quite a few faults; always because, due to sluggishness, you have neglected some of your usual prayers. On the other hand, nothing cultivates, purifies, and sets in order the garden of the soul, and grafts into it the new plants of virtue better, faster and more beautifully than the renewal and restoration of the practice of prayer. As for you, having weighed and considered these things in a mature manner, humbly pray to the Lord, entreating Him for the sake of His glory and for your immense advantage, as well as for the sake of your neighbor, never to withdraw the grace of devotion, which He granted to you at the sacred table. Therefore, together with David, tell Him: “My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to [Y]our word” (Ps 119:28) and invigorate me in the exercise of prayer, which is most pleasing to You, and most useful for me. [f.54v]
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