examination of the heart 488 departed from this life without repenting for their sins and died, losing their salvation. Whereas you have been called out from the world to do penance and were received into the beloved tabernacles of God: where you may live more purely, fall more rarely, rise more quickly, be sprinkled with grace more often, walk more speedily, die with hope, and be saved more assuredly. Let your colloquy consist of the deepest feelings, elicited from your heart and expressed by the force of gratitude and love. 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary. MEDITATION II ON PARTICULAR BENEFITS OF GOD 1. In addition to the benefits of creation, redemption, justification, and the vocation to faith and the religious life; consider individually the other benefits that the Lord granted you, especially: the daily graces by which He preserved you from sins, inspired you to virtues and good works, helped in your progress and [in your] achieving success. At the same time, consider your lack of gratitude: how very little thanks you give Him for the many graces, indeed none; not considering, neither knowing nor understanding, that you have been directed, guarded, enriched by Him with so many goods and preserved from so many evils. Stir up in yourself a sorrow for this negligence, and ask that in atonement for it you may be moved to serve the Lord with greater zeal and ardor throughout the remaining days of your life. 2. Consider the outside misfortunes from which not only have you been shielded, but also delivered by the power and aid of the most admirable God, your best Parent and Protector. To apply your mind more and deepen this consideration, recall to memory: your journeys, places, actions, conversations, and dangers, and focus your thoughts on them. And the more you perceive the Divine Providence’s care and the strong hand of the highest and best God, the greater will be
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