THE MIND'S ROAD TO GOD

PROLOGUE

1

To begin with, the first principle from Whom all illumination descends

as from the Father of Light, by Whom are given all the best and perfect

gifts [James, 1, 17], the eternal Father do I call upon through His Son,

our Lord Jesus Christ, that by the intercession of the most holy Virgin

Mary, mother of God Himself and of our Lord, Jesus Christ, and of the

blessed Francis, our father and leader, He may enlighten the eyes of our

mind to guide our feet into the way of that peace "which surpasses all

understanding" [Eph., 1, 17; Luke, 1, 79; Phil., 4, 7], which peace our

Lord Jesus Christ has announced and given to us; which lesson our father

Francis always taught, in all of whose preaching was the annunciation of

peace both in the beginning and in the end, wishing for peace in every

greeting, yearning for ecstatic peace in every moment of contemplation, as

a citizen of that Jerusalem of which that man of peace said, with those

that hated peace he was peaceable [Ps., 119, 7], "Pray ye for the things

that are for the peace of Jerusalem" [Ps., 121, 6]. For he knew that the

throne of Solomon was nowise save in peace, since it is written, "His place

is in peace and His abode in Sion" [Ps., 75, 3].