Four Things Which Bring Great Peace: Book 3, Chapter 23:
In these times of conflict, how do we find peace? Thomas teaches us that there are four things which help us to achieve
peace and progress in our salvation and draw us into a prayerful fight against evil and toward God’s Will. Our call is to use our talents magnanimously for fulfilling His will for us. This is the height of humility and the path to peace.
The two prayers which complete this chapter are related to the start- one prayer against evil thoughts, the second a prayer for enlightenment. If you follow the Four Things, then your prayer against evil thoughts (derived from disobedience and greed and pride) prepare you for Godly enlightenment (seeking God’s will).
CHAPTER XXIII, Of Four Things Which Bring Great Peace
Christ: “My Child, now I will teach you the way of peace and of true liberty.”
Disciple: O my Lord, Do as You say, for this is pleasing for me to hear.
Christ: “First, strive to do another’s will rather than your own. Second, always choose to have less rather than more. Third, always seek the lowest place, and to be subject to everyone. Fourth, desire and pray that the will of God be fulfilled in you. Behold, such a disciple as this enters into the inheritance of peace and quietness.”
Disciple: O my Lord, Your short address has in itself much perfection. It is short 
in words but full of meaning, and abundant in fruit. If it were possible that I should fully keep these, I would not so easily be troubled. For as often as I feel myself disturbed and weighed down, I find myself to have gone back from this teaching. But You, Who are Almighty, and always love progress in the soul, increase in me more grace, that I may fulfill Your expectation in these words, and work out my salvation.
A PRAYER AGAINST EVIL THOUGHTS
O Lord my God, be not far from me. My God, have regard to help me, (Ps 71:12) for many thoughts and great fears have risen up against me, afflicting my soul. How shall I pass through such thoughts unhurt? how shall I break through?
- “I,” says He, “will go before you, and make the crooked places straight.”(Is 45:2) I will open the prison doors, and reveal to you the secret places.
- Do, Lord, as You say; and let all evil thoughts fly away before Your face. This is my hope and my only comfort, to fly to You in all tribulation, to hope in You, to call upon You from my heart and patiently wait for Your loving kindness.
A PRAYER FOR ENLIGHTENMENT OF THE MIND
- Blessed Jesus, Enlighten me with the brightness of Your inner light, and cast forth all darkness from the habitation of my heart. Restrain my many wandering thoughts, and carry away the temptations which strive to do me hurt. Fight mightily for me, and drive forth the evil beasts – I mean those alluring lusts- that peace may be within Your towers and an abundance of praise within Your palaces, (Ps 122:7) even in my pure conscience. You command the winds and the storms, please say to the sea, “Be still;” please say to the stormy wind, “Hold thy peace,” so shall there be a great calm (Mk 4:39).
Lord, send forth Your light and Your truth (Ps 43:3), that they may shine upon the earth; for I am but earth without form and void until You give me light. Pour forth Your grace from heaven; water my heart with the dew of heaven; give the waters of devotion to water the face of the earth, and cause it to bring forth good and perfect fruit. Lift up my mind which is oppressed with the weight of sins, and raise my whole desire to heavenly things; that having tasted the sweetness of the happiness which is from heaven, it may take no pleasure in thinking of things of earth.
- Draw me and deliver me from every unstable comfort of creatures, for no created thing is able to satisfy my desire and to give me comfort. Join me to Yourself by the inseparable bonds of love, for You alone are sufficient to those that love You, and without You all things are vain playthings.