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by Saint Alphonsus Liguori (Author)
Proclaimed a Doctor of the Church and justly revered for his efforts and achievements as a pastor and bishop, St. Alphonsus offers here one of the most powerful and accessible primers on the art of prayer ever written.
The graces necessary for salvation cannot be obtained from God except by prayer, explains the legendary eighteenth-century saint and scholar. Indeed, the damned have been lost precisely through their failure to pray, and all the blessed have been saved by their perseverance in prayer.
Unbeknownst to many, mental prayer is the only weapon sufficient to overcome every assault of the devil. Prayer is a port where we are safe in every storm, and a treasure that provides us with every good. It is only through the reflection and meditation of mental prayer that we come to know eternal truth, identify the hidden sins that keep us from salvation, and gain the inspiration of holy thoughts, desires, and resolutions.
With St. Alphonsus's wise and holy advice, you'll learn not only how to master the art of mental prayer, but also:
How to becomes docile and tender to the influence of grace
Why God permits you to be assaulted by your enemies
Why the grace of salvation is not a single grace but a chain of graces linked with that of final perseverance
The key to developing confidence in your prayers
The three reasons God delays granting you perseverance
How prayer overcomes worries about being saved
How souls in Purgatory can serve as spiritual aides for you
The critical differences between mental prayer and devotional prayer
Key prayers Alphonsus himself offered and his specific recommended daily aspirations
What the ancient Church Fathers determined was the single most useful prayer exercise
The ideal place, time, duration, and posture for prayer
Author Biography
St. Alphonsus was filled with a great zeal for souls. His eloquent sermons, wise teachings, and kindness as a confessor won many souls for Christ. "In God you possess the most exalted and supreme Lord," he wrote in his book How to Pray at All Times (1753), "but also a Friend who loves you with the greatest possible love. He is not offended--on the contrary He is pleased--when you treat Him with that confidence, freedom, and tenderness with which a child treats its mother." Through his inspiring words and instructive teaching, St. Alphonsus's enduring works continue to show souls how to develop such friendship with God.
