1. By carefully observing all our rules. This observance of the rules implies a multitude of self-sacrifices; so that St. John Berchmans declared that the common life was his greatest mortification; and the oration of this Saint’s Office exalts him for his fidelity in the service of God. 2. By hard labor in performing the duties imposed on us, especially when these are of an unpleasant kind; for then they require more sacrifice. 3. By rendering all the services we can, even when they are not imposed on us, making ourselves as useful as possible. It is a common saying that what is every man’s business is no one’s business, and thus many services are neglected. But a good religious rather says: this ought to be done, and no one in particular is appointed to do it; so I must do it. 4. By making all sacrifices cheerfully: “For God loveth a cheerful giver” (2 Cor. ix, 7). _Colloquy._ Ask earnestly for a cheerful spirit of sacrifice. MEDITATION V Become Men of Prayer _1st Prelude._ Behold Christ rapt in prayer: “He passed the whole night in the prayer of God” (St. Luke, vi, 12). _2nd Prelude._ Earnestly ask the grace of becoming a man of prayer. _POINT I. Consider the importance of praying well._ 1. Our life is, or at least ought to be, so very supernatural that it needs an uncommon amount of grace to lead it properly. Now the ordinary condition that God requires to impart His grace is prayer, not so much long prayer as good prayer. If we pray well, we shall undoubtedly receive much grace. 2. Our days are filled up with distracting occupations, so that long hours pass in worldly cares or with profane objects of thought, whose natural tendency is to engross our hearts with worldly affections, and turn them from the Creator to the creature. Prayer, fervent prayer, is the most efficient means to counteract this tendency. Without it we soon lose sight of our highest interests and commit at least venial sins. 3. The good we shall do to the souls of others depends chiefly on prayer; for as St. Ignatius teaches us, it is from the interior that force must flow to the exterior for the end proposed to us (Summary, rule 16). _POINT II. What aids have we to become men of prayer?_ 1. We have the Holy Ghost, who helps us to pray, crying in our hearts “Abba, Father” (Gal. iv, 6). He is certainly ever ready to help us to become men of prayer; for we Jesuits are called to this, since it is our vocation to teach others how to pray, and thus to form spiritual men. 2. We possess a most perfect system of prayer, given us through St. Ignatius in his Spiritual Exercises. This has been a most rich and inexhaustible source of spirituality, as is shown in the works of our writers, and the lives of our Fathers, Scholastics and Brothers through all the periods of our history.