Can a man then, by refusing to serve God, deprive the Creator of the glory that he was intended to render Him? Certainly not; but he can freely choose to glorify the goodness of God by faithful service, thus securing at the same time perfect happiness for himself, or choose to glorify God’s justice by his eternal punishment.
Colloquy with God Almighty, my Creator, and with Christ, my Redeemer; that I may do my full duty and secure eternal bliss.
THE SECOND MEDITATION
On the End of Creatures
The second part of the foundation says: “And the other things upon the face of the earth were created for man, and to help him to attain the end for which he was created. Whence it follows that man must make use of them in so far as they help him to attain his end; and in the same way he ought to withdraw himself from them in so far as they hinder him from it.”
The task of the exercitant is three-fold:
1. Intellectual: he must strive to understand the truths proposed correctly, clearly and fully;
2. Practical: he must apply the truths to his own conduct;
3. Prayerful: so as to obtain aid from Heaven to succeed in both these respects.
The Preparatory Prayer is the same as in the first meditation. It is so too in all the following meditations. It will not be necessary to remind the exercitant of this in the subsequent exercises.
1st Prelude. Imagine you behold our Dear Lord before you, who says: “My son, I will now teach you the second truth of the spiritual life.”