such that we can find no words to utter, let us not
grow faint, but remember that this was precisely the case with our Lord
in His Agony, when He prayed over and over again, "saying the same
words."[14]

By his constant effort to interfere with our prayers, especially in
seasons of trial and temptation, Satan gives his testimony to the
efficiency which we shall acquire if we are earnest in our work of
preparation for the battle. He fears it with a fear born of long
experience. "Grievous indeed to us," says St. Bernard, "is the
temptation of the enemy, but far more grievous to him is our
prayer."[15] He has through all the ages contended against the grace
and strength of God as he found it in its manifold forms in the Saints.
He sees the history of the spiritual {89} warfare repeating itself in
us, and surely it should be a source of rejoicing to us that he should
count us as foes to be feared, as he feared in other days, or in our
own time, the great Saints and warriors of the Kingdom of God.

[1] _Imitation_, I, xiii.

[2] St. Mark xiv, 38.

[3] Eph. vi, 11-18.

[4] 2 Tim. iv, 7.

[5] St. James i, 6.

[6] See _The Speaker's Commentary_, in loc.

[7] St. Matt. xii, 36.

[8] Ps. li, 2.

[9] Zech. iv, 6.

[10] Cor. xii, 3.

[11] Eph. iii, 16.

[12] "St. Thomas and many other grave doctors say that it is by reason
of the war that the devil is accustomed to make against those that are
in prayer, that the Church, directed by the Holy Ghost, ordains that we
should begin all the canonical Hours with this verse, 'O God, make
speed to save me: O Lord, make haste to help me.' Whereby we implore
God's assistance in prayer against the snares and temptations of the
enemy."--Quoted by Rodriguez, _Christian Perfection_.

[13] St. Luke xxii, 44.

[14] St. Matt. xxvi, 44.

[15] St. Bernard, _Serm. in Dedicat. Eccles._, III.

{90}

CHAPTER VII

TRAINING THE INNER LIFE

I. _Environment and Character_

A psychological principle we should never lose sight of is that the
attitude of mind and heart towards all moral questions is just what we
choose to make it. Surround a man with debasing associations, and let
him yield to the resulting influences, and he becomes debased. On the
other hand, the influence of a pure and noble environment makes for
purity and nobility of character. Every man in his inner character,
and in that outward expression of character that we call life, is the
product of