Helps to a Spiritual Life Helps to a Spiritual Life: For Religious and for All Who Desire to Serve God Fervently Fr. Joseph Schneider, S.J., 1903 Contents Notice vii I A Christian Rule of Life 1 II On Prayer 8 III Method of Meditation 18 IV Three Other Methods of Prayer 24 V Method of Examination of Conscience 27 VI Points for the Particular Examen during the Annual Retreat 32 VII On the Confession of Devotion 33 VIII Holy Communion 45 IX Spiritual Communion—Visit to the Blessed Sacrament 52 X Purity of Intention 55 XI Meditation on the Present State of Our Soul 58 XII How to Make Our Monthly Recollection, Together with the Preparation for Death 61 XIII Consideration for the Anniversary of One’s Entrance into the Religious State 63 XIV Consideration for the Anniversary of One’s Profession 65 XV Marks of Tepidity 67 XVI Marks of a Fervent Religious 69 XVII Motives for Serving God Every Day More and More Fervently 71 XVIII Means against Temptations 73 XIX Mottoes, Maxims, and Resolutions for Frequent Consideration 75 XX The Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ 84 XXI Meditations on the Sorrowful Passion of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and Pious Exterior and Interior Exercises for Every Day in the Month 87 XXII The Blessed Virgin Mary 94