mises.

3. _Perseverance._--To understand properly in how far perseverance is a
quality of prayer, we must, above all, know what may be the objects of
our prayer. Of these there are three classes. To the first class belong
those cases in which a person needs divine help at the present moment or
at least at a time definitely near, and seeks it through prayer. Such a
petition would be, for instance, to obtain the necessary and effective
aid of divine grace for overcoming an existing transient temptation, or
the conversion of a certain sinner approaching death. To the second
class belongs the avoidance of temporal evils, or of continuous
temptations, or the conversion of a certain sinner now in good health.
To the third class belong such benefits which can be granted only for a
later period, perhaps at the hour of death. The grace of final
perseverance is the foremost among these.

Having stated the preliminary conditions, the answer to the question of
perseverance in prayer is:

_a._ Inasmuch as our prayer is directed toward the attainment of
benefits of the first class, that is, of graces which we need
immediately, perseverance can obviously not be an essential condition of
our prayer. Either we can not attain our object by prayer, or a
transient prayer which has the other necessary qualities must suffice
for its attainment. The first supposition is contrary to the divine
promises; therefore the alternative must stand.

_b._ When there is question of benefits and graces of the second and
third class, we must concede that perseverance or continuance in prayer
is neither impossible, nor is it unreasonable. God is willing to grant
us His almighty help, but at the same time He desires that we, being
convinced of its necessity, implore it all the more eagerly, and thereby
become more worthy to receive it when He shall be pleased to grant our
petitions. Therefore

4. _Resignation_ to the will of God is a necessary condition for the
efficacy of our prayer. This quality of our prayer needs no lengthy
explanation; its application to prayer is self-evident.

Finally the petition for a certain benefit, in order to be reasonable
and permissible, must include the following two attributes: (_a_) The
object prayed for must not be harmful, but profitable; (_b_) it must not
be opposed to the will of God.

_Conclusions._--Careful observation will convince us that prayer is
often wanting in one or more of the above qualities. Often