The Art of Contemplation

So uicH and excellent is our Sovereign Good, and so low is man through his guilt. and sins, that oftentimes it befalls a hermit or a holy man to be greatly impeded in lifting up his soul to contemplate God; and, since an art or method in this business is of great help therein, Blanquerna fell to considering how he might make an Art of Contemplation which should lead him to have devotion in his heart, and in his eyes weeping and tears, and make his will and understanding the higher rise to the contemplation of God in His honours and His wonders.

2. When Blanquerna the hermit had considered thus, he made by art a Book of Contemplation, the which he divided into xij parts, namely these: Divine Virtues, Essence, Unity, Trinity, Incarnation, Pater Noster, Ave Maria, Commandments, Miserere mei Deus, Sacraments, Virtues, Vices.

3. The art of this book is that the Divine virtues should first be contemplated in relation to each other, and that then they should be contemplated with the other parts of the book, the soul of the contemplative being fixed upon the Divine virtues in his memory, understanding and will; and also that he should learn to unite in his soul the Divine virtues and the other parts of the book, to the honour and glory of the Divine virtues, which are these: Goodness, Greatness, Eternity, Power, Wisdom, Love, Virtue, Truth, Glory, Perfection, Justice, Liberality, Mercy, Humility, Dominion, Patience.