is blood shed for the first time. (2) Her flight into Egypt to save the
life of the little Infant Jesus when Herod was seeking to kill Him. (3)
The three days she lost Him in Jerusalem. (4) When she saw Christ
carrying His Cross. (5) His death. (6) When He was taken down from the
Cross. (7) When He was laid in the sepulchre. There are beads called
seven dolor beads constructed with seven medals bearing representations
of these sorrows, and seven beads between each medal and the next. At
the medals we meditate on the dolor, and then in its honor say "Hail
Marys" on the beads.

Lesson 28
ON PRAYER

303 Q. Is there any other means of obtaining God's grace than the
Sacraments?
A. There is another means of obtaining God's grace, and it is prayer.

304 Q. What is prayer?
A. Prayer is the lifting up of our minds and hearts to God to adore Him,
to thank Him for His benefits, to ask His forgiveness, and to beg of Him
all the graces we need whether for soul or body.

"Hearts," because the mere lifting up of the mind would not be prayer.
One who blasphemes Him might also lift up his mind. We lift up the mind
to know God and the heart to love Him, and in so doing we serve Him--the
three things for which we were created. If we do not think of God we do
not pray. A parrot might be taught to say the "Our Father," but it could
never pray, because it has no mind to lift up. A phonograph can be made
to say the prayers, but not to pray, for it has neither mind nor heart.
So praying does not depend upon the words we say, but upon the way in
which we say them. Indeed the best prayer, called meditation, is made
when we do not speak at all, but simply think of God; of His goodness to
us; of our sins against Him; of Hell, Purgatory, Heaven, death,
judgment, of the end for which we were created, etc. This is the kind of
prayer that priests and religious use most frequently. As you might like
to meditate--for all who know how may meditate--let me explain to you
the method. First you try to remember that you are in the presence of
God. Then you take some subject, say the Crucifixion, to think about.
You try to make a picture of the scene in your own mind. You see Our
Lord on the Cross; two thieves, one on each side of Him, the one praying
to Our Lord and the other cursing Him. You see the multitude of His
enemies mocking Him. Over at some distance you behold our Blessed Mother
standing sorrowful with St. John and Mary Magdalen. Then yo