CHAPTER IX. FIRST MEDITATION.

Of Creation.

Preparation.

1. PLACE yourself in the Presence of God. 2. Ask Him to inspire your
heart.

Considerations.

1. Consider that but a few years since you were not born into the
world, and your soul was as yet non-existent. Where wert thou then, O
my soul? the world was already old, and yet of thee there was no sign.

2. God brought you out of this nothingness, in order to make you what
you are, not because He had any need of you, but solely out of His
Goodness.

3. Consider the being which God has given you; for it is the foremost
being of this visible world, adapted to live eternally, and to be
perfectly united to God’s Divine Majesty.

Affections and Resolutions.

1. Humble yourself utterly before God, saying with the Psalmist, O
Lord, I am nothing in respect of Thee–what am I, that Thou shouldst
remember me? O my soul, thou wert yet lost in that abyss of
nothingness, if God had not called thee forth, and what of thee in such
a case?

2. Give God thanks. O Great and Good Creator, what do I not owe Thee,
Who didst take me from out that nothingness, by Thy Mercy to make me
what I am? How can I ever do enough worthily to praise Thy Holy Name,
and render due thanks to Thy Goodness?

3. Confess your own shame. But alas, O my Creator, so far from uniting
myself to Thee by a loving service, I have rebelled against Thee
through my unruly affections, departing from Thee, and giving myself up
to sin, and ignoring Thy Goodness, as though Thou hadst not created me.

4. Prostrate thyself before God. O my soul, know that the Lord He is
thy God, it is He that hath made thee, and not thou thyself. O God, I
am the work of Thy Hands; henceforth I will not seek to rest in myself,
who am nought. Wherein hast thou to glory, who art but dust and ashes?
how canst thou, a very nothing, exalt thyself? In order to my own
humiliation, I will do such and such a thing,–I will endure such
contempt:–I will alter my ways and henceforth follow my Creator, and
realise that I am honoured by His calling me to the being He has given;
I will employ it solely to obey His Will, by means of the teaching He
has given me, of which I will inquire more through my spiritual Father.

Conclusion.

1. Thank God. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and praise His Holy Name with
all thy being, because His Goodness called me forth from nothingness,
and His Mercy created me.

2. Offer. O my God, I offer Thee with all my heart the being Thou hast
given me, I dedicate and consecrate it to Thee.

3. Pray. O God, strengthen me in these affections and resolutions. Dear
Lord, I commend me, and all those I love, to Thy neverfailing Mercy.
OUR FATHER, etc.

At the end of your meditation linger a while, and gather, so to say, a
little spiritual bouquet from the thoughts you have dwelt upon, the
sweet perfume whereof may refresh you through the day.
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