Catechetics Online

THE CATECHISM IN EXAMPLES

GRACE

GRACE is a supernatural gift of God, freely bestowed on us for our sanctification and salvation.

There are two kinds of grace : the one is called sanctifying grace, and the other actual grace.

I. ON SANCTIFYING GRACE.

Sanctifying grace is that grace bestowed on us by God on the day of our Baptism, which remains in the soul ever afterwards, unless destroyed by mortal sin. A soul which is in sanctifying grace is said to be "in the state of grace."

When you are in the state of grace, my child, your soul is very beautiful. It is so beautiful that nothing in this world can be compared to it.

VISION OF A SOUL IN GOD'S GRACE.

St. Catharine of Siena was often favoured by God with holy visions. One day He showed her the beauty of a soul in the state of grace. It was so beautiful that she could not look on it; the bright ness of that soul dazzled her.

"O my God !" she cried out, " if I did not know that there is only one God, I should think that this was one !"

The blessed Raymond, her confessor, asked her to describe to him, as far as she was able, the beauty of the soul she had seen.

St. Catharine thought of the sweet light of the morning, and of the beautiful colours of the rainbow, but that soul was far more beautiful. She remem bered the dazzling beams of the noonday sun, but the light which beamed from that soul was far brighter. She thought of the pure whiteness of the lily and of the fresh snow, but that is only an earthly whiteness. The soul which she had seen was bright with the whiteness of Heaven, such as there is not to be found on earth.

"My father," she answered, "I cannot find any thing in this world that can give you the smallest idea of what I have seen. Oh! if you could but see the beauty of a soul in the state of grace, you would sacrifice your life a hundred times for its salvation! No, nothing in this world can bear any resemblance to it. I asked the angel who was with me," she continued, " what had made that soul so beautiful, and he answered me: It is the image and likeness of God in that soul, and the Divine Grace which made it so beautiful. From Her Life .

THE LITTLE INDIAN CHILD.

St. Francis Xavier was one day sent for by a poor Indian to baptize his child, who was dying. The Saint went immediately, and baptized the child. It died soon afterwards.

When he saw that the child was dead, he raised his eyes to Heaven, and broke forth into a hymn of Joy.

The people wondered when they saw this, and asked him why he wept with joy, when those around him wept with sorrow.

You know," he said, " how many and how painful have been the journeys I have undertaken since I came to India. This day I am sufficiently rewarded for them all, because I have been able to clothe this soul with grace, and to send one child more into Heaven to glorify God." LOHNER.

Great, indeed, my child, is the beauty of your soul when it is in the state of grace. Oh, keep away from mortal sin, that its beauty may never be destroyed.

II. MORTAL SIN DESTROYS SANCTIFYING GRACE.

O my child, ever keep in mind that even one mortal sin, wilfully committed, separates the soul from God. The soul in which mortal sin dwells may appear in the eyes of others to be alive as before, but in the eyes of God it is dead, because, by the loss of sanctifying grace, it is separated from Him Who is its life. O my child, may God preserve you from so terrible a calamity !

THE CHRISTMAS-TREE.

There grew in the forest a beautiful young fir- tree. The ground in which it was planted was covered with snow, for it was Christmastide, but the pure white snow only served to make the green foliage of the fir-tree look still more beautiful.

The villagers, who were looking forward to a season of festivity, as the great festival of Christ s Nativity drew near, sent the forester into the wood to bring them a Christmas-tree to adorn the place where they were to assemble.

As he was looking around for a suitable one, his eyes fell on the fir-tree of which we have spoken.

" This is the most beautiful of all the trees I can see. I will cut it down and carry it to the village."

So he took up his axe, and with it struck the trunk of the beautiful tree, and the root and the stem were very soon separated. He then carried it to the village, and the people were all in rapture when they saw it.

In the midst of his little children, who, like those around them, were full of joy and gladness as they stood gazing on the beautiful tree, stood a man, the father of a family, silent and thoughtful. He did not join with the others in their boisterous mirth, and a tear even seemed to fall from his eye as he looked down affectionately on his little ones playing merrily at his side.

" O father," they rapturously exclaimed, " what a beautiful tree ! The branches are so green, and the stem so noble ! But why do you not rejoice with us, papa, and why are you looking so sad ?"

" My dear children," he answered, " this tree, so beautiful and so noble, puts me in mind of the beauty of your souls at this moment, and brings before me the thought of what may one day happen to each of you. While this tree was standing in the forest, it was fixed to the ground by its roots, and it drew up from the earth the sap which alone could make it the beautiful tree that you admire so much. If the forester had only left it alone, it would have grown up every day higher and still more noble, until it had reached its full growth and attained perfection.

" But, alas ! even in its early years it has been ruthlessly separated from its parent stem by his axe, and its beauty must in a short time decay, and these branches, which at this moment fill the children and the people with joy, will in a few days be fit only for the fire.

"Your souls at this moment, my children, are fresh and beautiful, because they are united to God by grace ; and if you continue to live in the grace of God, you will become daily more and more beautiful, until you attain that perfection for which God created you union with Himself in Heaven. But if by a mortal sin you separate yourselves from God, your souls become dead ; and so long as you remain in that state, you are fit only to be cut down and to be cast into everlasting fire, which was pre pared for the Devil and his angels. You may, indeed, it is true, for a little time appear outwardly to be beautiful as before, but in the eyes of God you are already dead, because you are separated from Him Who is the very life of your souls."

The children attentively listened to their father s words, and never forgot the beautiful comparison he had placed before them. Would to God that every Christian child would also always bear this example in their minds.

III. ACTUAL GRACE: ITS NECESSITY.

Actual grace is the grace God gives to us to enable us to avoid evil, and to do good.

You cannot do any good for Heaven without the grace of God. You are like a little child that can not walk. If his mother does not keep him up, he cannot take one step, but will stagger and fall ; so, unless you are strengthened by the actual grace of God, you cannot persevere in the state of grace.

ERON, THE SOLITARY.

In the day of St. Palladius the anchorite, there was a monk called Eron, who dwelt in a cell not far from the place where that great Saint lived.

He was born of a noble family, and was also blessed with great natural talents. But God in spired him even from his youth with the desire of loading a more perfect life, Eron at once obeyed the call of God, and left all things to follow Him.

There were at that time in the desert many holy men, who had gone there to serve God in silence and prayer, but there was not one of them so fervent as Eron.

He spent the day in continual prayer and in works of penance, and the only food he ate consisted of wild herbs. The brethren spoke of him as of one who was already a Saint, and strove to imitate the example he gave them.

But as time went on he allowed vain thoughts to enter his mind. He had, indeed, done much for God, but he now seemed to forget that it was by God s grace he had been able to do it. He was pleased when he heard others speak of his mortified life, and thought that he already deserved to be called a Saint because he had been so holy.

From one fault he fell into another, till in the end he left the desert altogether, and went back to the world, which he had long ago forsaken at the call of God. There he met with evil companions, and because he trusted to himself, and neglected to ask God for His help, he fell into great sins.

For a long time he lived in this wretched state, till at last God had compassion on him, and let him see how far he had fallen, because he had trusted so much to himself.

He was struck down by an illness which lasted for six months. He thought he was going to die, and his soul was filled with great fear when he remembered the bad life he had led, and the judg ment he would soon have to undergo.

"O my God, make me better again!" he prayed. "I will return to the desert, and live as I did before, and do penance for my sins."

God heard his prayer, and Eron kept his promise. He returned to the desert, and humbly asked pardon for the scandal he had given. He did not live long after his return, but in a short time died a holy and a happy death, surrounded by his brethren. Life of St. Macarius.

From this example you can learn a great lesson. If Eron fell into sin because he trusted to himself, and not to God s grace, you have much more reason to be afraid, since you are so far from being as perfect as he was.

ST. CATHERINE OF GENOA BEWAILS HER FRAILTY.

St. Catherine, as well as all the other great Saints of God, saw clearly how weak and frail human nature is in itself, and that it cannot do any good without the help of God s grace.

"O my God," she was frequently heard to say, "how very weak I am! If left to myself, I cannot do any good in such a manner as to please Thee. Left to myself, I can only do what is wrong. Alas ! what would become of me if Thou didst leave me without Thy grace?"

When she fell into any venial fault for even the just man "falls seven times a day" she would raise up her eyes to Heaven and exclaim, "This is another of the fruits that my garden produces," meaning that faults and sins are the natural pro ductions of human nature if not supported by the grace of God.

THE VOICE OF GOD.

In the year 1650 a soldier, who was leading a careless life, was walking in the street at midday near the Church of St. Peter's Fort, in the Island of Martinique. Suddenly he heard a voice which called him twice distinctly by name. He instantly turned towards the place from which the sound seemed to proceed, but, to his surprise, saw no one. Thinking that he was mistaken, he resumed his walk.

He had not gone many steps when he heard the same voice calling him as before. This time it seemed to proceed from the interior of the church, so he entered. But here again he saw no one, although he looked in every part of the church. So he turned to go out, wondering, at the same time, how he could hear his name uttered twice so distinctly without seeing the person who uttered it.

As he was on the threshold of the church, he heard again, still more distinctly, the same voice calling on him by name. This time he seemed to hear it not only with his ears, but even in his very soul. In his wonder and alarm at this mysterious voice he went to a priest whom he saw advancing towards the church, and asked him what it could mean.

The priest, when he had thought for a few moments on what the man had told him, answered: "Doubtless, my child, it is the voice of God Himself, who desires you to become a good Christian. Go at once to Confession, and begin to serve God from this time faithfully, that you may inherit the blessings He has prepared for you." The soldier obeyed, and became a fervent Christian.

Jesus is calling on you even more distinctly than He did on that soldier. His priests, who speak to you in His Name, are every day asking you to avoid sin and to return to God. And have you not often heard the sweet voice of Jesus Himself ^vithin you telling you to be good and love Him ? Now at this moment He is calling on you in an especial manner to come and be His faithful child, and to love Him in this world as well as in eternity. Oh, then, like the soldier, obey his voice, and begin now to be His child in deed and in truth.

HENRY IV. OF FRANCE AND PIUS TUTOR.

Henry IV of France, in one of his conversations with his tutor, told him that his one great desire was, not only to equal, but even to surpass, the most celebrated men of whom he had read.

His tutor, a man of great piety and wisdom, said to him in reply: "What assurance can you give me that you will be able to fulfil this excellent resolu tion?"

"What a strange question to ask me! Do you think that I am not sincere in what I have said?"

"I am fully persuaded that you have spoken from the depths of a most sincere and generous heart. But I feel that you have undertaken a project which will be most difficult to realize, and I desired to know on what grounds you built your hopes of success."

"My hope of succeeding," he replied, "is founded on the great desire I have to succeed. Do you not think that success must follow every noble exertion we make to possess that which is the object of our ambition, when undertaken with a firm resolution and determination?"

"My dear child," said his preceptor, "your reasoning is that of a pagan, not of a Christian. You must know that, of himself, man is incapable of accomplishing any good action, or even of desiring to do so, unless God inspires him with that desire, and gives him the necessary help to fulfil it. It is without doubt that it was God who inspired you with this noble thought of imitating, and even of excelling, the great men of all times, and it is He alone who can grant you the strength necessary to realize it." Vie de Henri IV.

ST. PHILIP NERI'S WORDS TO JESUS.

St. Philip Neri was not only a good Christian, but a great Saint. Every day of his life he tried to please God, and every day, too, by his good works, he was heaping up for himself great treasures for Heaven.

Yet there was one thought that was always uppermost in his mind day and night. He thought that he might still be lost, because he might not persevere to the end. Every morning he used to say to Jesus: "O my Jesus, take care of me this day, and do not leave me to myself; for if Thou dost not watch over me, I may, like another Judas, betray Thee by falling into sin."

Again, he would frequently say: "O my Jesus, the wound in Thy Sacred Side was indeed very large; yet, if Thou leavest me to myself, I may make it still larger. If Thou dost not hold me up by Thy grace, I shall most certainly fall into sin."

St. Philip persevered unto the end, because he was always watching and praying. So it is only by constant watching and prayer, my child, that you will overcome temptation and obtain perseverance.

IV. THE REWARD OF PERSEVERING IN GOD'S GRACE

My child, the path to Paradise is sometimes long and weary, but the reward that is to be given to those who persevere to the end is worth all the trouble that we can take in this life to obtain it. Be faithful, therefore, to the end in the good resolutions you have taken ; for God is always ready to assist by His grace those who earnestly desire to keep them.

ST. CAMILLUS S CONVERSION.

The father of St. Camillus did not take care of him when he was young, hence he grew up without piety. He was even given to many sins in his youth, and was walking on the broad way which leads to Hell, when he was converted by a special grace of God.

One day he was so far reduced to poverty that, to obtain a livelihood, he hired himself to some masons who were building a house, to carry the stones and mortar for them.

While occupied at this work, he one day it was the festival of Our Lady s Purification heard in his heart the voice of God s grace.

At that moment God brought before his mind his whole past life, and showed him the terrible state of his soul.

He threw himself on his knees in the middle of the road on which he stood, and, yielding to the grace which God gave him, began to weep bitterly.

"Ah, how miserable I am!" he said. "Why have I not long ago begun to know and serve my Lord and my God? Why have I so long resisted His grace when He called me to change my life? Oh, what a life I have led! It would have been better that I had never been born! Pardon me, O Lord! pardon a most miserable sinner, and give me time to do true penance!"

Saying these words, he struck his breast, and made a solemn promise to live for God alone all the rest of his life; which promise he kept most faithfully. He is now a Saint in Heaven.

V. WITH THE GRACE OF GOD WE CAN DO ALL THINGS.

If it is true that you can do nothing for Heaven without grace, it is also true that with it you can do all things. Oh, how precious, then, is the grace of God!

BLESSED LANFRANC OF CANTERBURY.

Blessed Lanfranc was one of the most learned men of the eleventh century. His father was rich, and was thus able to give him an excellent education. But in his youth the world and human learning took up all his attention, and he grew up in an entire ignorance of his religious duties.

Having a great desire to make his name known over all Europe, he passed over into France. One day towards evening, as he was passing through a forest not far from the city of Rouen, he was met by a band of robbers, who took from him all he pos sessed, and, having tied his hands and his feet, and having covered his eyes with a handkerchief, left him by the wayside.

Night came on, but no one came to his assistance. He began, then, to think of God. He had often read of how God extends His protection to those who pray to Him. But as he had never been accustomed to pray, he did not know how to begin.

"O my God, I do not know how to pray to Thee," he said." I have given so much time to human science that I have entirely neglected the care of my soul. But, O my God, take me out of this danger, and I promise for the time to come to live in a way that will please Thee."

Next morning some people who were passing heard his cries for help, and going to the place where he lay, released him.

"Can you tell me the way that leads to the poorest monastery in this part of the country?" he said.

They answered: "There is none we know of so poor as the one which is being built at a little distance from this by a veiy holy man of God called Hellouin."

When they had pointed out the way to him, they departed, and Lanfranc immediately went to the place of which they had told him. As he drew near to it, he saw the saintly Abbot Hellouin with his own hands helping the masons in their work.

"I am come to stay with you," he said, "for I want to serve God and save my soul."

The Abbot asked him who he was, and what had been the cause of this heroic resolution ; and, having heard his history, he sent for one of the monks and told him to give the stranger the book containing the rules of their Order, that he might know what would be required of him if he took up his abode amongst them.

Lanfranc took the book, and when he had read it, he returned it to the Abbot, who said to him: "You see the strict life we lead in this house, and you know the penances we perform, and our con- tinual prayer, and the silence we impose upon our selves. Do you think you can accomplish all these things?"

Lanfranc answered: "Of myself I confess I cannot do so, but with God s help I hope to be able to observe everything laid down in the rule, no matter how difficult it may now appear to me."

The Abbot was pleased with this answer, and consented to receive him. He spent many years there, and during all that time he persevered as he began, and faithfully accomplished every point of the rule. Some parts of it were at first difficult to him who had been so long accustomed to all the pleasures of life; but as he placed his entire confi- dence in God, he received from Him all the grace he stood in need of to perform them.

After some years God was pleased to exalt his humble servant and make him Archbishop of Canterbury. By his piety and learning he became one of the greatest lights that ever shone in the Church of our native country.

Grande Vie des Saints^ Mai 28.

THE HEROIC CHILD OF JAPAN. During one of the persecutions which the Em perors of Japan raised against the Christians, a husband and wife were sitting together in their humble home, speaking of the terrible death they would have to endure if they were found out to be Christians, and of the joys God would give them in Heaven as the reward.

" Ah," said the wife, " willingly would I lay down my life for the love of God, and ardently do I long for the hour when I may enter into His presence in Heaven. But what would become of our little boy ? They would take him away, and bring him up a pagan like themselves."

This thought cast a shadow of gloom over their otherwise calm souls.

In the meantime, the boy, a beautiful child of six years, was playing with his toys in a corner of the house. He had overheard the words of his mother, and without saying what he was going to do, he went towards the fire, and put into it a piece of iron which was lying near. When it had become red-hot, the child took it into his hands, and, holding it by the part that was glowing, turned towards his mother without uttering even a sigh.

When the mother saw the hot iron burning her child's hand, she screamed, and, running towards him, took it out of his hand, saying : " What made you do such a dreadful thing ?"

"My mother," answered the boy, "I wanted to show you that I also can suffer for the love of God. Oh! I will suffer whatever torment they inflict upon me as easily as I endured this one, that I may go to Heaven with you."

It was indeed the grace of God that had given that child such strength and courage.

Hist, of the Persecut. in Japan.

THE LITTLE CHINESE GIRL.

"In one of our missions," writes one of the apostles of China, " I met a little girl, only ten years old. She was well instructed in her religion, which is a rare thing among the Chinese of her age.

"Please, Father," she said to me, give me the Sacrament of Confirmation."

"I thought the child was too young, and I told her to wait till some other time.

"O Father," she said, with an earnestness that moved me, might I not be confirmed now?"

"Well, my child, if after your confirmation the mandarin should put you into prison, and ask you about your faith, what would you answer him ?"

"I would say to him, By the grace of God I am a Christian!"

"And if he should ask you to renounce your faith, what would you do ?"

"I would answer, Never!"

"But then if he should send for the executioners, and tell you that if you did not at once renounce your faith he would order them to cut off your head?"

"Then I would say to him, Cut it off!"

"I saw from these words of the child that it was the Holy Ghost Himself Who had inspired them, and I no longer hesitated, but gave her the Holy Sacrament which she so earnestly asked."

Annals of Prop, of Faith , No. 95, p. 304.

THE VISION OF THEODOSIUS.

God has promised to give us " the crown of life " in Heaven if we serve Him faithfully while we are on earth.

The Abbot Theodosius tells us the following story of what happened to himself when he was a young man.

"One day, when I was at my prayers, I thought I saw by my side a person who was surrounded with a bright light, brighter even than that of the sun. He took me by the hand, and said to me: Theodosius, come along with me, for you have to fight to gain a crown!"

"Then it seemed to me that he led me into a large hall full of people, who had come to see the fight; some of them were clad in white, like the one who had brought me, and others wore dark garments, and were dreadful to look at."

"When I was placed in the middle of the hall, I saw standing there a negro of great size and strength. The man who had brought me to this place said to me: This is the one with whom you have to fight."

"I was filled with great fear at these words, and I answered: O sir, it will be impossible for me to overcome this monster, for he is so much stronger than I am; no man on earth could conquer him."

"But he replied: You must fight with him: I brought you hither for that very purpose. Go, then, attack him courageously; I will stand beside you and help you; be not afraid."

"When I heard these words I advanced towards my enemy. He was indeed very strong, and cer tainly would easily have gained the victory over me, but my guide came to my assistance, and the negro was soon overcome."

"As soon as he fell, the people in the hall who were in black began to cry out in dismay, and fled in haste ; but those who were clad in white sang a beautiful hymn of joy in honour of him who had helped me in the fight. Then they came forward to the place where I stood, and congratulated me on my success. Come with us/ they said to me, and dwell for ever in our beautiful home, where you shall be filled with happiness which will never end."

"As soon as I entered their dwelling, which was beautiful above all I had ever seen or had been able to imagine, he who had led me to fight, and who had helped me to gain the victory, put upon my head a beautiful crown, and said to me that this was the reward he had promised, and that it was now mine for ever, because I had overcome my adversary."

"When I returned to my senses, I began to think what was the meaning of the vision. God seemed to answer me in my heart, saying: The negro is Satan, who tries to destroy the souls of men; the hall in which you had to fight represents the world; the people whom you saw in the hall were the good and evil spirits, who are witnesses of your conflict; he who assisted you to gain the victory is Myself; and the crown given to you is the glory of Heaven, which I will give to everyone who is victorious over Satan and sin."

We also are engaged in this war. If we want to gain the crown of victory in Heaven, we must fight bravely during our short life in this world. God s grace will help us to gain it.

Lives of the Fathers of the Desert.

THE NOBLE WIFE AND MOTHER.

During the great persecutions in the early ages of the Church there lived in the city of Culusitana a woman named Victoria, who, with her husband and children, were Christians. Being brought before the tribunal of the governor, and ordered to renounce their faith, the husband miserably yielded, but Vic toria remained steadfast in her resolution to die for Christ rather than deny her religion. The judge condemned her to be burned to death.

When she was tied to the stake, and when already the flames were beginning to rise up around her, her husband, who was present with his children, being filled with agony on seeing her whom he loved about to leave him for ever, and trying to preserve her life by making her consent to the judge s orders, as he himself had done, cried out to her: "O my wife, what awful sufferings you are going to endure! What a frightful death! Oh, if you will not live for my sake, look at least upon the children you have borne, and have pity on them. Oh, why are you so hard-hearted as thus to abandon your husband, who has ever loved you, and your children, who you always said were dear to you? Look, I beg of you look on me again; look at these little ones of ours, and for our sakes obey the commands of the judge; then he will make us all both happy and rich."

With these and similar words did that wretched man try to move the constancy of that admirable woman. But God s grace was stronger within her than a wife or a mother s love, and she cried out with a loud voice: "Jesus Christ has said : He that loveth son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me, and he that loveth husband or wife more than Me is not worthy of Me." I indeed love you with the love of an affectionate wife and mother, but I love God more. To Him I leave you; into the hands of His mercy I commend mv soul, that I may receive from Him the hundredfold reward He has promised to those who leave husband and children for His sake."

These were the last words she uttered, as the fire consumed all that was mortal in her; then her pure soul rose up to God, her Heavenly Father, for Whose sake and the sake of the faith He had bestowed upon her she had made the sacrifice of her life.

VI. ON CORRESPONDING WITH GOD'S GRACE.

God has His own ways of giving us His grace. Oh, happy are those who never refuse to hear His voice, and accept His grace when He offers it to them.

ST. PAUL THE SIMPLE'S VISION.

St. Paul, called the Simple, on account of his child like simplicity, was a disciple of the great St. Antony. God gave him the special gift of being able to see what was taking place in the hearts of men as clearly as if he saw it with his bodily eyes.

One day he was sitting at the door of the church looking at the people who were going in. Suddenly he began to weep and to strike his breast, as those do who are in great sorrow.

The people asked him what was the matter with him, but he would not give them any answer.

They told him to go into the church, but he did not go. He still remained in the same place, weeping and sighing, and striking his breast.

When Holy Mass was over, and the people began to come out again, St. Paul looked at each of them as they passed near him. All at once he begarf to smile, and to give way to outward marks of very great joy. His tears of sorrow gave place to those of gladness, and he began to skip about like a little child.

Those who were acquainted with him were not surprised at this, because they knew his great simplicity, and only smiled as they saw him acting in this way.

Going forward to a certain man, a stranger, who was making his way through the crowd, he took him aside and said to him: "Tell me what happened to you while you were in the church. For when you went in your soul was black and frightful to behold, and now it is beautiful and bright, and the Holy Spirit of God is in it: tell me how this change took place."

The stranger was filled with surprise when he saw that the secrets of his heart had thus been made known. He answered without hesitating: " I am a great sinner. When I went into the church I had no sorrow for my sins; I went in because I had nothing else to do, and because I saw so many others going in.

"When I entered I heard the preacher say these words of Isaias : Wash, and be made clean ; and if your sins be as scarlet, they shall be made as white as snow. When I heard these words, there was something in my heart that said to me : These words are for you. So I asked God to pardon me. I went to Confession immediately, confessed my many crimes, and obtained absolution. From the moment that the priest pronounced over me the words of God s pardon, I felt so full of joy: I feel as if I can now call Heaven my country and God my Father." Saying this, he went away.

St. Paul also went home filled with a holy joy, and admiring the wonderful ways of God in bringing home to the fold His wandering children.

THE STORY OF A CONVERSION.

This is a little story of how one who was brought up in the Protestant religion was converted to the Faith. It is he himself who tells us about it.

"My father was a civil officer in Dresden in moderate circumstances. Unfortunately, I lost both my parents at an early age. I inherited from them a small estate, which my brother, who was many years my senior, and who had married a rich wife, managed for me, as my guardian. He put me as an apprentice under a lithographer, secured for me a room in an attic, and whenever I needed money he gave me what I wanted; further than this, he did not trouble himself about me."

"In this abandonment, I often passed many sad hours. Whenever my heart was heavier than usual, I went to the Catholic church, and knelt on the altar steps; for, although I had never spoken to anyone on the subject, I felt that God was present there in quite a different manner from what He was in the Protestant churches which I regularly at tended for sermon on Sundays, but there was nothing to retain me when the sermon was over and the music had ceased."

One day my guardian declared to me, as he handed me some money, that my capital was used up, his guardianship was at an end, and that for the future I should have to provide for myself. I was thunderstruck at these words, but kept back my tears, and went away dejected and silent to my attic-room. Henceforth I lived on bread and water, but still my money rapidly dwindled away, and one morning I awoke to find that I had barely the price of a little loaf remaining. It was impos sible for me to ask anything from my brother, who had shown himself so heartless to me. In my sorrow I went to the Catholic church, where I found nobody. I knelt down near the altar, and poured out my sorrows before the merciful Lord, Who I felt was there."

"On a sudden there arose a great calm within me. I went to the workshop as usual, and resumed my work. Hardly had I begun when the master sent for me, and told me that he was so well satisfied with my work that for the future he would pay me weekly wages. Strange to say, the idea of becoming a Catholic had never yet entered my mind, although I continued to practise the devotion of which I have told you."

"By the time that I had reached the age of eighteen I had laid up enough money to enable me to attend the Academy of Munich. I was, one cold November evening, seated at a window, when I heard the ringing of a little bell, and saw the Blessed Sacrament carried to a sick person, accompanied by two servers bearing lanterns. On other occasions I had always observed a number of persons following the priest in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament; but now I saw no one: the cold rain mixed with snow seemed to have kept everyone within doors.

"Then the thought came into my mind that, since there was no Catholic person accompanying the priest, I myself must go and show honour to my Lord. I left my place at the window, and followed the priest bareheaded to the narrow street, where, as usual, before entering the house of the sick, he turned to give the benediction. Surprised, probably, at finding me alone before him, he stood for a little time holding up the Blessed Sacrament with his hands.

"I suddenly felt in the depths of my soul that I stood there in the presence of my God ; I fell on my knees, and when I rose again, and was alone, my determination had been taken to become a Catholic. Next day I sought out a priest to instruct me, and soon, thanks be to God, was received into the Church, of which I have tried to be a worthy member." Ave Maria, vol. xviii., p. 93.

GOD'S VOICE IN THE TEMPEST.

In a great castle in the territory of Rhenish Prussia a child was born, who at his baptism received the name of Norbert.

This child from his birth had all the advantages the world could give him. He was the heir of great wealth, and the descendant of a noble family. As he grew up, Nature added every grace of body and mind, which made him the centre of attraction of all the people not only of those near his home, but of those also who lived afar off.

The flattery of the world for a time deceived him. In the midst of his enjoyments and pleasures, he forgot God, and placed all his affections on the glory which the world poured upon him, One season of festivity followed another without ceasing, carrying him always still further onward on the way to ruin.

Yet he felt within his heart a great want ; he could not tell what it was, but he was not perfectly happy. His conscience also told him that the pleasures he sought after so eagerly were vain and empty. But he shut his ears to that voice of God, and continued to follow the path of evil he had chosen.

One day, in the year 1114, he was riding towards a village called Vreden. His thoughts were fixed on the pleasures and amusements he was about to enjoy. To reach Vreden he had to pass through a desert place eighteen miles in length. He had only one servant with him.

When they had ridden about half that distance, they were suddenly overtaken by a terrible thunder storm.

The servant, full of terror, cried out: "Come back! Come back! For the hand of God is against thee."

Hardly had he said these words when a loud clap of thunder was heard, and a ball of fire fell at his horse s feet, burning the grass and tearing up the earth around them. The horse, thus frightened, threw its rider, who lay on the plain for nearly an hour like one dead.

Then, coming to himself, he cried out to God like another St. Paul: "Lord, what dost Thou wish me to do?"

At these words, he heard as it were a voice in his soul distinctly saying to him: " Turn away from evil and do good; seek after peace and pursue it."

As soon as he was able to rise from the ground, he took the resolution of at once forsaking the world and all its vanities, and living for God alone and the salvation of his soul. He returned to his native city, and entered a monastery, where he spent many years in silence and prayer, weeping for his past sins and asking God for mercy.

Thus in an instant did the grace of God change the heart of St. Norbert. He became a Saint and the founder of a great religious order in the Church which, by its zeal for the conversion of sinners, has gained many souls to God. Life of St. Norbert.

TOUCHED BY GRACE.

St. Louis Bertrand was one day walking with some of his companions on a country road in the neigh bourhood of his monastery. Their conversation was on pious subjects; for, having their minds and hearts in Heaven, their words also were about the things of Heaven.

It happened that a young man was walking a little distance behind them. Under his cloak he carried a sword, and his whole appearance spoke of a man under the influence of some great passion.

The religious, without taking any heed of the young man s presence, continued to speak aloud as before. The man was sufficiently near them to hear all they said.

The Holy Ghost, Who wished to give a special grace to him, made use of their words to touch his heart. In a short time the young man went up to them, and, throwing away the weapon he had con- cealed under his clothing, cast himself on his knees before St. Louis.

"Ah, my Father," he cried out, "may God re ward you in Heaven for what you have done for me to-day!"

The good Father looked at the man kneeling before him, and asked him what had happened to him.

"I was on my way to take revenge on an enemy who had injured me. But the words I have just now heard from your lips have so changed my heart that I am now on my knees to ask the pardon of God."

"Do you forgive him who has injured you, my child?"

"Yes, Father, from my inmost soul."

"Then God will also forgive you."

St. Louis then returned thanks to God, Who had been pleased to show His mercy to a sinner who had so grievously offended Him.

"See, my brothers," he said to those who accom panied him "see how the Holy Ghost makes use of the simplest means to do His greatest works and bestow His choicest graces on His children."

The poor sinner became reconciled to God, and to the end of his days persevered in the new life of grace so wonderfully given him.

Life of St. Louis Bertrand.

"I CAN BE GOD'S CHILD AT ONCE."

In the days of the Emperor Theodosius two young gentlemen who belonged to his Court went for a short time into the country for their amusement.

As they passed by a certain monastery, curiosity led them to the gates. "I wonder," said one of them, "what kind of life these monks lead. Let us go in and see."

So they went in, and were kindly received by the Superior and the brethren.

The simplicity and silence and peace that reigned in that holy abode, and the look of happiness that shone on the faces of the monks, made a wonderful impression on them; it was so different from the kind of life to which they had been accustomed.

One of them, going into a monk s cell, found a book, which, out of curiosity, he began to read. It was the Life of St. Antony, and contained an account of what that holy hermit did for God. As he read it his own heart was filled with the desire to imitate him.

When he returned to his companion, he said: "Tell me, what do we hope to gain by all our labours in the Emperor's service? At most we can only expect to secure his friendship, and we are not certain even to obtain that. But if I wish, I can become God s friend at this very moment, and continue to be His friend for all eternity; even more, I can be His child."

To this his companion answered nothing. After a few moments silence the other one said: "O my dear friend, I have quite made up my mind to leave the Imperial Court for ever. From this moment I am going to serve God alone; and that you may know how earnest I am about it, I will begin at once to do so. If you do not like to follow my example, I beg of you not to hinder me from fulfilling this resolution."

His companion answered: "No; you shall not be alone. I also will begin like yourself begin from this moment to serve God as these holy men do who live here."

They both went to the Superior, who received them with great joy, and they consecrated them selves for ever to the service of God.

Thus did the grace of God make use of a pious book to lead souls filled with the vanity of this world to a life of holiness and virtue. ST. AUGUSTINE.

"OUR HELP IS IN THE NAME OF THE LORD."

When St. Romuald was a young man he led a very worldly life, because his father, who was a man of the world, did not watch over him when he was a child.

But his Father in Heaven, Who had chosen him for a great work in His Church, was watching over him, and spoke to his heart by His grace. At the age of twenty years he entered a monastery to do penance for his sins.

But Satan also went into the monastery with him. He could not allow a soul thus to escape him, without making every effort to capture him again. So, when the days of his first fervour had passed by, the evil spirit filled his mind with temptations to melancholy. The thought of his former life, and the pleasures he had enjoyed came back to him in his solitude, and the desire of returning to the world haunted him wherever he went.

But God was at his side. Romuald heard His voice speaking to his heart. It seemed to say to him, "Pray, pray."

"O my most sweet Jesus," cried out the holy man, " why hast Thou forsaken me? Hast Thou, then, given me over entirely into the hands of my enemy?"

Scarcely had he said these words when he felt his heart at peace. Satan had been conquered and had fled, and Romuald was no longer troubled by these dismal thoughts. Lives of the Saints, Feb. 7.

THE BROTHERS OF ST. BERNARD.

When St. Bernard first conceived the idea of re tiring from the world, that he might serve God more faithfully in the religious life, he was not alone, for all his brothers with the exception of the youngest, and many of his friends, resolved to follow his example.

One of his brothers, whose name was Andrew, and whose martial spirit was more adapted for a life of arms than for the solitude of the monastery, at first refused to join him, and requested time for delibera tion.

When he was thinking over what he would do, he thought he saw standing before him his mother, who had instilled into his mind the first seeds of religion in his infancy.

She wore on her face a sweet smile, and beckoned on him to follow his brothers in the path they had chosen.

He at once did so, and became an eminent Saint.

So we also, when we hear the voice of God inviting us to perfection or to do what is most beneficial to our spiritual interest, and when we are, as it were, deliberating whether or not we will follow the in- spirations of grace, let us think that we see near us our own heavenly Mother Mary, and that we see her smiling on us and beckoning on us to follow these inspirations, and we shall certainly choose the better part.

VII. THE DANGER OF NEGLECTING GOD'S GRACE.

There are many who have received from God great graces, and yet have lost their souls. This was because they would not correspond with these graces. You must be careful, my child, never to refuse God's grace, because terrible is the misfortune that befalls those who do not accept it when He offers it to them.

ST. FRANCIS AND THE SPANISH GENTLEMAN.

In the days of St. Francis Borgia there lived in Spain a gentleman who gave himself up to very great sins. Suddenly, in the midst of his evil ways, a terrible illness came upon him.

He had near him some friends who had remained faithful in their duties to God. When they saw that his sickness was dangerous, they spoke to him of the necessity of being reconciled to God, lest death should come and take him away unprepared.

But he laughed at them, and said: "There is plenty of time. Besides, I am not so ill as you imagine."

But his friends continued to speak to him of the necessity of going to Confession, saying to him that the doctors had declared his case hopeless.

As soon as the young man heard that word Confession, he burst forth into angry words, and said that he would never go to Confession, even although he was sure that death was at hand.

St. Francis Borgia was told about the man s obstinacy, and, seeing the danger he was in of losing his soul, knelt down before a crucifix, and besought our dear Lord, with tears in his eyes, not to allow that soul to perish.

As he was thus praying for the poor sinner, a voice seemed to come forth from the crucifix, saying : "Go, Francis, and visit him, and exhort him to repent."

St. Francis went immediately with great joy, thinking that as God Himself had sent him, he was sure of obtaining his salvation. But although he spoke to him for a long time, the sinner would not hear of making his Confession.

The Saint left the room and returned to the church. He knelt down as before, and prayed with still greater fervour for his conversion.

The same voice again spoke to him: "Go back once more to the dying man ; take your crucifix with you. He certainly must have taken a firm resolution to lose his poor soul, if his heart is not melted at the sight of the sufferings I underwent for him."

St. Francis returned to the sick man s room. "I am come again to ask you, in the name of Jesus, Who died for you, that you repent of your sins, and so escape the sternal pains of hell."

Still the young man refused to listen to him.

Francis then taking the crucifix he had brought with him, placed it before the dying man s eyes. At that moment, by a miracle of God s mercy, the figure on the cross appeared as if covered with wounds and blood, as Jesus Himself had been when dying on the cross.

"Ah, my child," said the Saint, "look how Jesus loves you, although you have so grievously sinned against Him! Oh, do not refuse this special grace! Return to Him now, and He will forgive you and take you to His home in Heaven."

But all his exhortations were in vain. The man refused to accept this great grace, and St. Francis saw him die in his sins, a victim to his obstinacy, in refusing to make use of the grace God had in such a special manner sent him for his salvation.

O my child, be careful always to make use of the graces God sends you.

JESUS WEEPS OVER JERUSALEM.

We read in the holy Gospels that on one occasion Our Lord Jesus Christ was coming down with His disciples from the Mountain of Olives to Jerusalem. It was a short time before His Passion.

When He drew near, seeing the city, He wept over it, saying: Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent to thee, how often would I have gathered together thy children, as the hen doth gather her chickens under her wings, and thou wouldst not.

" The days shall come upon thee, and thy ene mies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass chee round, and straiten thee on every side, and beat thee flat to the ground, and thy children who are in thee ; and they shall not leave in thee a stone upon a stone, because thou hast not known the day of thy visitation."

Not long afterwards Jerusalem was destroyed, and the people killed or reduced to slavery, in punish ment for their rejection of the grace of God, their neglect in refusing to listen to His beloved Son Jesus, and the crime they had committed in putting Him to death.

My child, the sin we commit in refusing to accept God s grace when He offers it to us is equally great, and, if we repent not, will most certainly endanger our salvation ; and when, by despising the grace of God, we fall into a grievous sin, we, as St. Paul tells, crucify again, as far as is in our power, the Lord of Glory. Be careful, then, never to refuse the grace of God, since your salvation depends upon your corre sponding with it.

XXXVIII. BAPTISM

I. WHAT BAPTISM IS, AND ITS NECESSITY.

BAPTISM is a Sacrament which cleanses us from original sin, makes us Christians, children of God, and members of the Church.

In the first place, Baptism cleanses us from original sin. We have seen already that original sin is that guilt and stain of sin which we inherit from Adam, who was the origin and head of all mankind, and the sin he committed was that of dis obedience when he ate the forbidden fruit.

Baptism is the Sacrament ordained by Jesus Christ for the remission of original sin. Those who are not baptized can never see God in Heaven.

JESUS AND NICODEMUS.

Jesus Christ, in his discourse with Nicodemus, clearly teaches us how necessary Baptism is to us if we desire to enter Heaven.

We read in the third chapter of St. John's Gospel: "And there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night, and said to him: Rabbi, we know that Thou art come a teacher from God; for no man can do these signs which Thou dost, unless God be with him."

Jesus, answering, said to him: Amen, amen I say to thee, unless a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

Nicodemus said to Him: "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb, and be born again?"

Jesus answered: "Amen, amen I say to thee, unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh : and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Wonder not, that I say to thee, you must be born again. The Spirit breatheth where He will; and thou hearest His voice, but thou knowest not whence He cometh and whither He goeth : so is every one that is born of the Spirit."

Nicodemus answered, and said to Him: "How can these things be done?"

Jesus answered, and said to him: "Art thou a master in Israel, and knowest not these things?" Then Jesus continued His instruction to him, showing to him the mission entrusted to Himself by His Heavenly Father, and the necessity of believing in His words."

The Fathers of the Church, explaining these words of Our Lord, "Unless a man be born again," say: "By these words our Saviour hath declared the necessity of Baptism ; and by the word water it is evident that the application of it is necessary with the words (Matt, xxviii. 19) baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost " (Commentary in the Douay Bible on St. John iii.).

THE PIOUS MOTHER'S DESOLATION.

The great St. Augustine, Doctor of the Church, relates the following example:

"A pious mother had a little boy, who at the time we write was receiving his nourishment at her breast. Suddenly he died, and his mother was filled with the most profound grief not so much at the death of her child, but because he had died without Baptism."

"Full of hope in God's goodness, and confiding in the power of the prayers of God's Saints, she carried his body to the Church of St. Stephen, the first martyr, and besought him with earnest prayers to intercede for him. "O holy martyr of Jesus Christ!" she exclaimed, "you see that now I cannot receive any consolation, for I cannot hope ever to see my beloved child again, since he has been taken from me without the grace of Baptism, which alone can procure for him the happiness of Heaven. Oh, pray that he may be restored to me, in order that he may receive that great Sacrament, and that he may inherit the promises made to the children of God! You know that this is my only desire."

No sooner had she uttered this prayer than the boy showed signs of life; his eyes were opened, and he once more gazed upon his mother. As soon as she perceived that he had returned to life, she raised him in her arms and hastened with him to the Church.

The Bishop of the city met her as she entered, and having listened to her story, himself conferred upon the child the Sacrament of Baptism, as also that of Confirmation.

When the ceremony was ended, the child died for the second time, and his mother bore him to the tomb as if she were carrying an angel into Heaven.

O my child, how great is the consolation of those who see their children die in their baptismal inno cence! HAUTRIEVE: Catech. ix. 264.

ST. LOUIS OF FRANCE'S ESTEEM FOR BAPTISM.

The zeal of this holy King for the salvation of souls made him daily pray to God for the conversion of those who did not as yet know Him.

"Oh, how great would be my joy if I could only be godfather to a Mussulman Prince!" he used often to say.

One day, while assisting at the Baptism of a Jewish convert in the Church of St. Denis, near Paris, he spoke thus to a number of unbelievers of high rank who had been invited to assist at this solemn ceremony: Tell your masters from me that I would willingly spend the remaining days of my life in one of their deepest dungeons if only I could obtain from God their conversion, and that of their people, and make them by Baptism His children and the heirs of His kingdom." HAUTRIEVE: Catech. ix. 265.

THE SOUL OF A LITTLE CHILD SAVED.

It happened in one of the hospitals of Paris that a woman gave birth to a child whom the doctors declared had only a few minutes to live. Those who were attending the mother thought only of those things that were necessary to her condition and to the bodily wants of the child, but no one thought of procuring for the little one the Sacra ment of Baptism.

A young man full of faith, who was at the time in a ward not far distant, hearing of the doctors decision, immediately hastened to the place where they were attending to the child, and cried out: "Go at once and get a priest to comedo baptize it." But his words were received with derision.

Then the young man himself, seeing that there was no time to lose, poured water upon the head of the child, baptizing it in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

A few minutes afterwards the child died, and another soul was ioined to the company of the blessed in Heaven. GUILLOIS : Ep. du Catech. Hi.

II. BAPTISM MAKES US THE CHILDREN OF GOD.

By Baptism you were made God s own child, and this not in name only, but truly and really. Hence St. John says to us: "Behold what manner of charity the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called, and should be, the sons of God."

THE BAPTISM OF CLOVIS.

Clovis, King of the Francs, while yet a pagan was married to Clotildis, a Christian lady of noble rank, in the year 493.

In the following year a son was born to them, and Clotildis desiring to consecrate the child to God by Baptism, asked the King to grant her this favour. It was with reluctance that he acceded to her request, for he was devoted to the worship of the pagan divinities, and had hitherto turned a deaf ear to the exhortation she had so frequently made him to renounce them.

By her orders the church was decorated with great magnificence. Hangings of the richest silks and garlands of the choicest flowers adorned the walls, and the ceremonies of the sacred rite were performed with the greatest pomp, for the Queen hoped by this outward display to gain that influence over the King which all her words had failed to effect.

The child received the name of Ingomer. He did not long survive, for within a week of his Baptism God took him to Himself.

The King was filled with grief and anger at the death of the boy, and said reproachfully to his wife : " If only the child had been consecrated to my gods, he now w r ould be yet alive ; but because he was bap tized in the name of your God, he infallibly died."

The only answer the Queen made was: "I give thanks to Almighty God, the Creator of all things Who has judged me not unworthy of seeing the fruit of my womb admitted into His eternal kingdom. The loss of my beloved child has not pierced my heart with grief, but has, on the contrary, filled it with great joy, because I know that the little children whom God calls to Himself in their innocence will be for ever happy in His presence."

The Queen in course of time gave birth to another son, who was likewise baptized. He received thename of Clodomir. This child also soon after his Baptism became ill, and the anger of the King was enkindled anew. " How could it be otherwise?" he ex- claimed in his despair. "He, too, must die like his brother, because he was baptized in the name of your Christ."

But Clotildis prayed to God to spare the life of the child, and the boy recovered.

Not long after this was fought the Battle of Tolbiac, which was gained by Clovis, who from that day resolved to abjure paganism and embrace Christianity.

The historian Alcuin thus relates the history of his Baptism: "As the King returned, full of joy, from his expedition against the Alamanni, he met Vedastus, a holy solitary who dwelt on the banks of the Meuse. Him he brought along with him to the city of Rheims, that he might receive from him on the way instructions in the Faith, and be prepared for Baptism.

In the meantime St. Remigius, Bishop of that city, having learned from Clotildis the intentions oi the King, went forth to meet him on his arrival, and for some time continued the instructions St. Vedastus had begun; and when he considered him sufficiently instructed, he besought him to make known openly before the whole world his conversion to the Faith. "Most holy Father," he answered, "I am ready. One consideration only yet keeps me back. My people, the Francs, may not be willing to follow me, and may not wish to abandon the worship of the gods. Let me, therefore, in the first place, assemble them together. I will speak to them the things you have spoken to me, and endeavour to persuade them to follow my example."

When they had come together, and when Clovis entered the assembly to speak to them, they all cried out with one voice: "Most pious King, we also, one and all, are resolved to renounce the mortal gods; we will worship only the immortal God Whom Remigius adores."

On hearing these words the holy Bishop was filled with unspeakable joy, and immediately began to prepare them for Baptism. The festival of Christmas of that year, 496, was the day chosen for the administration of the solemn rite, which was to be celebrated with the greatest pomp and magnifi- cence.

When the appointed day came, an immense multitude congregated around the church to await the arrival of Clovis and the many thousands of catechumens who were to be baptized along with him. Little children in rich garments strewed the pathways and streets with sweet-smelling lowers. Young girls covered with long white veils walked in procession towards the place prepared for the ceremony, singing hymns joyfully to the glory of God. On one side were to be seen charioteers clad in splendid costumes, who drove their spirited horses as if in the procession of some great conqueror. On the other side, saintly religious were engaged in explaining to the people the mysteries of the Chris tian Faith. The sacred names of God and of His Divine Son Jesus were everywhere heard above the enthusiastic greetings of the multitudes, uttered by lips which had until that time only spoken the names of the pagan divinities. The streets through which the procession was to pass were hung with the richest draperies festooned with garlands of sweet- smelling herbs. Within the church itself shone innumerable lights, which dispelled the approaching darkness, and illuminated the edifice with a noon day brilliancy, while clouds of perfumed incense ascended heavenwards and enbalmed the atmosphere.

Suddenly the King, led by the hand of Remigius in his pontifical garments, and followed by those who were to receive the august rite along with him, were seen to approach the church. When they reached the entrance, the King, overcome by his emotion, and filled with awe at the magnificence that met his eyes, turned towards the Bishop, and said: "My Father, is this the kingdom of Heaven you promised me?"

"No, my son," replied the Archbishop; "it is only the entrance to the way which leads to it."

All those who accompanied the King shared in his emotion, and imagined, as he had done, that Heaven itself could not surpass all they saw.

Clovis, having made aloud his profession of faith, approached the sacred font, near which Remigius stood. As the Prelate was preparing to pour upon him the waters of Baptism, behold, a snow-white dove was seen to enter, bearing in its beak a phial of oil. Remigius, reverently taking into his hand the phial sent from Heaven, poured from it a few drops of the liquid it contained upon the head of the King. The bird then flew away heavenwards, and was seen no more.

As the King stood upright at the font ready to receive Baptism, Remigius said to him: "Bow thy head, bold Sicambre ; burn that which thou hast worshipped, and worship that which thou hast burned."

When the sacred water had been poured over him, he was clad in the white linen garment of the neophyte, and immediately thereafter, in the pre sence of all the people, delivered from their chains all the prisoners whom he had taken on the plains of Tolbiac.

Then arose from the choir of the bards this anthem: "O Clovis, there is no earthly power that can equal thine, for the aureola of Christianity shines around thy head. In one hand thou dost bear the conqueror's sword, and the other leans upon the Cross." From the Bollandists and the History of the Church.

GOD'S CHILD.

St. Louis, King of France, was a great Saint. Although the ruler of a mighty nation, he was not proud, because he remembered that all worldly greatness must soon pass away, and he thought only of that eternal kingdom which God has promised to give to those who serve Him on earth.

He taught his children to do the same. As each of them was brought home from the church on the day of his Baptism, he would take him into his arms with great joy, and embrace him tenderly, saying: "Dear little one, until now you were only my child, but today, by Baptism, God has made you His child. May His holy Name be blessed for ever!"

ST. CHARLES BORROMEO'S PRAYER.

When St. Charles was a little boy, he found great delight in speaking to God. "O my God," he was often heard to say, "how happy I am when I call to mind that Thou art my Father, and that I am Thy own child. Jesus is my Brother, and His own dear Mother Mary is my Mother, too! O my God, I give myself entirely to Thee! Take me into Thy arms, O my dear Heavenly Father, and bless me."

THE EMPEROR'S STAG.

One of the ancient Roman Emperors had a pet stag, which used to come and feed out of his hand, and lived in the gardens around his palace.

No one dared to touch it, because everyone knew that it belonged to the Emperor. But being afraid that huntsmen who did not know this might kill it if they saw it in the forest, the Emperor made a collar of gold, and put it round the stag s neck. On the collar were these words : "I belong to the Emperor: do not touch me."

When people saw these words they let the stag alone.

My child, God has written these words on your soul: "I belong to God: let no one touch me." So when temptation comes near you, think on these words, and tell Satan to depart, because you belong not to him, but to God.

THE LITTLE GIRL MIRIAM.

In the year 1876 Sister Helen, of the Order of St. Francis, who had gone to foreign parts to help to gain souls to God, was one day visiting a lady who was one of the greatest benefactors of the convent.

This lady had in her house as servant-maid a little Mohammedan negress.

When the lady and visitor had partaken of their simple repast, the humble girl quietly, without being perceived by her mistress, approached the Sister, and, taking her by her hand, pressed it, and whispered in her ear: "I want to be a Christian."

"Take courage, my child," said Sister Helen, in the same low voice. "God will help you."

This poor child had been from her childhood the slave of cruel masters, who not only treated her unkindly, but heaped upon her untold cruelties. When she left them, she fortunately found her way into the service of Madame B., the kind benefact- ress of the convent in Cairo.

She frequently accompanied her mistress to the Church of St. Catherine, at Alexandria, and listened with earnest attention to the sermons and instruc tions she there heard. Without being able to understand everything that was said, she felt within her a powerful attraction for the Christian religion.

During the Christmas festivities she would spend whole hours prostrate in prayer before the repre sentation of the crib of Bethlehem, adoring Him Who had come into this world to redeem mankind, although as yet she did not know Him. What were the words she then uttered, or the prayers she then said? God alone knows. But it was only right to suppose that the Divine Child Jesus, in the humility and sufferings of His manger, would be the first to speak to the heart of Miriam, and give consolation to her who had never known anything in life but sorrow and tears. Along with the rest of the faithful, she would approach the crib, and kiss devoutly the feet of the image of Jesus lying on His bed of straw; often, too, would she say to herself: "Why cannot I also be as they are?"

The humble Franciscan sister was for her God s angel, and she always found peace in her soul when she spoke to her, and told her all her troubles.

One evening Miriam, while leaning on a window- sill, fell asleep. Near to where she stood was a lamp burning. By a sudden movement in her sleep she fell against the lamp, and her garments became ignited, and in an instant she was enveloped in flames. The unfortunate child uttered piercing screams, but before help arrived her body was terribly burned.

Madame B., overwhelmed with grief at this accident, sent in haste to the convent in Cairo to obtain the help of the Sisters. Two of them returned with the messenger, and carried the girl with them to the convent. The Mother Superior, Sister Catherine, was waiting to receive her, and assured her that nothing would be left undone to procure her recovery.

Miriam turned her weeping eyes towards her, and, joining her hands together, said: "My Mother, it can only be for a few days longer; but before I go, I beseech you to grant me one only favour: let me be baptized."

The Reverend Mother was filled with emotion at these words, and immediately sent for the chaplain of the convent. Thinking that she was like the other converts whom he was daily bringing to God, he began, as usual, to explain to her the truths of our holy Faith. But Miriam knew all these truths already. He then began to exhort her to be resigned in this calamity to the Holy Will of God. Her answers filled him with amazement. " One must suffer here," she said, "if he wishes to be crowned hereafter. Is it not necessary that the leaves must fall in the autumn before the tree can bring forth the green leaves of the spring ? In a few hours I hope to possess God, and to be eternally happy with Him." The good Father fervently thanked God for the extraordinary graces He had given to this privileged soul.

When the priest was administering to her the Sacrament of Baptism, and had asked by what name she desired to be called, she answered: "Alexandrina," and under this name the regener ating waters flowed over her.

On the third day after her Baptism she made her first Communion, which was also to be her last. Then she asked the sisters to place her on the cold ground, as if to receive some slight relief in the burning pain that consumed her. Soon afterwards her agony began.

Holding the crucifix close to her breast, she said : "Oh, it is all over now! I am going to meet my Jesus, whom I love so much. I am going," she added; "I am going, and Mary, my heavenly Mother, is with me."

These were her last words, and her pure soul entered that haven of peace where no sorrow can be found. "Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God."

La Charite enseignee aux Eiifans, p. 175.

III. BAPTISM MAKES us CHRISTIANS AND MEMBERS OF GOD'S CHURCH.

At the moment of your Baptism, when God made you His child, he bestowed on you one of the most precious of His gifts. He gave you the gift of the Faith that is, he made you a Christian and a mem ber of His one true Catholic Church.

Almighty as God is, my child, He could not have given you a greater gift than this one which on the day of your Baptism he gave to you. How careful, then, you should be, to make good use of this gift, for by doing so you will most certainly obtain posses sion of the Kingdom of Heaven hereafter. With what care, also, you should watch that you may not expose it to be lost, for without it you could never see Heaven nor God. Like the holy martyrs, you should be willing to endure even death itself rather than renounce it.

"I AM A CHRISTIAN."

Eusebius the historian relates that a certain martyr, when he was asked by the tyrant what country he belonged to, and what his name was, and whether he was a slave or a freeman, answered each question in these words: "I am a Christian." By this he wished to signify that the name of Christian was so great as to include every other distinction or title of honour.

THE COMPANION OF THE ANGELS.

When St. Francis of Sales was baptized, he was carried from the church and placed in his pious mother's arms. She, with great tenderness, pressed him to her heart, saying, as the tears of joy flowed from her eyes: "Now you are the companion of the angels; now you are the brother of Jesus Christ, and the temple of the Holy Ghost and a member of the Catholic Church; now you are God s child, and you must for ever blong to Him."

Would that every Christian mother would say the same words!

ST. AGATHA'S ANSWER TO THE TYRANT.

When the Pretor Quintilianus was endeavouring to make St. Agatha deny her faith and worship the gods of the pagans, he said to her: "Are you not ashamed, O Agatha, you who are born of so noble a parentage, to lead the miserable and servile life of the Christians?"

Agatha answered: "The lowliness and the prac tice of the Christian life is more precious than all the wealth and the high estate of kings."

Since the gift of the true Faith is so precious, and also so necessary for you, how careful you should be not to lose it. It is the most valuable thing you possess in this world, because without it you can never see God nor enter into His kingdom.

THE LOST JEWEL.

At the beginning of this century there lived in a college near Amiens, in France, a servant of God called Brother Firmin.

Once, when he had been sent to Paris on some business, and was about to return home, some one confided to his care a little box, saying: "Brother Firmin, take care of this box, because it contains a jewel of great value."

On the way he lost it. When he reached home and told his companions what had happened, they all cried out: "Oh, what a misfortune it is to have lost an object of such value!"

The good brother smiled when he saw them looking so disappointed. "O my friends," he said, "don t call it a misfortune ; it is only an accident. There is only one thing that deserves the name of misfortune, and that is the loss of the one true Faith, which will make us lose God and Heaven for ever."

Keep this thought always before your mind, my child; it will enable you to preserve all your lifetime that great gift of the true Faith which God has given you in your Baptism, and which will procure for you when you die entrance into the eternal joys of Heaven.

IV. BAPTISM MAKES us HEIRS OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.

My child, on the day of your Baptism, God, in making you His own child chose you from among that immense multitude who do not know Him, and made you a Christian, a member of His Church on earth, and also an heir to the glory of Heaven hereafter Oh, how great has been God s love for you! how your heart ought to glow with gratitude to Him for such a glorious privilege!

LOUIS THE LITTLE ORPHAN.

There was a little boy called Louis, who had lost his father and mother, and was left alone in the world. His parents had been very pious Christians, and had taught their son that he was in this world to please God alone, and that he was God s child more than theirs.

It was some time before he found any employ ment; but at length a farmer engaged him to take care of his cattle.

When Sunday came Louis asked permission to go to Mass; but his master refused to allow him. He begged of him again and again, but this made the man only the more angry; he struck him very cruelly with a stick, and told him to go away from his house and never return.

Louis then went to the church and assisted devoutly at Holy Mass, although he was suffering much from the blows he had received.

When Mass was ended, he left the church and wandered for some time on the highway. He had now no place to shelter him, and he was cold, hungry, and weary. He sat down to rest on a cold stone by the side of the road, and tears fell from his eyes as he thought of his sad lot. "O my God," he prayed, "take pity on me."

At that moment a man was passing by in a carriage, and, seeing the poor boy alone and weeping, stopped to speak to him, and when he heard his story and saw the wretched condition in which he was, he took him with him to his own house. " See, I have brought you a truly Christian boy," he said to his wife. "Give him something to eat, for he is very hungry." Then he told her the boy's history as he had learned it from the boy himself.

The good lady wept as she listened to the sad story. She led the boy into a magnificent room and gave him what he needed for his present wants, and also made him stay with them for a few days.

The lady and gentleman were so much pleased with his gentle manners and his piety that they agreed to adopt him as their own child. When the boy heard of his good fortune he fell on his knees, and his tears told them more eloquently than words could how grateful he was to them for their gener osity. From that moment his one thought was how he could best please them; and when old age came upon them he was their consolation and their joy.

My child, this beautiful story is your own history. When you came into this world you were the slave of Satan, who is indeed a cruel master. Now God, who is the King of Heaven, from His high throne of glory, saw you when you were in the service of the devil, and He came and asked you if you would be His child. You said to Him that you would, and that you would serve Him all the days of your life if only He would make you His child.

Then He took off the tattered garments of sin, and washed your soul in the waters of Baptism, that even the angels in Heaven were in rapture when they saw you. Then He put on you the beautiful shining garments of His holy grace, and made you dwell in His own house that is, His Church where you had everything you could desire to make you holy and good ; and He has promised you that if you serve Him to the end of your life He "will make you happy with Himself in Heaven.

THE POOR BOY OF ANDERLECH.

In a little village near Brussels, called Anderlech, St. Guido was born about the middle of the tenth century. His parents were very poor, and Guido grew up in the midst of poverty, so that he used to be called "the poor boy of Anderlech."

His father, who was a very holy man, taught him to fear God, and to accept lovingly from Him the state of poverty in which he was born.

"My dear son," he would often say to him, "we are very poor, it is true ; but we shall be rich in Heaven for ever, if we live in the fear of God and do good."

Guido kept these words in his heart, and when tempted to complain of his hard lot, he used to console himself by saying: "Yes, I am poor, but why should I complain? Am I not the heir of a great and eternal kingdom? God is my Father; He has promised to give me His own kingdom, and that is enough."

You also, my child, can say the same words, for you are the child of God, since you are a Christian.

V. THE BAPTISM BY WATER.

Baptism is given by pouring water on the head of the child, saying at the same time these words : "I baptize thee in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

"O BLACK ROBE, WASH ME ON THE HEAD!"

Father Odin, who in days long gone by had accom plished immense good to souls in the missions of America, relates to us the following beautiful story. "On my return from a short journey I had made in quest of souls, I observed a number of savages engaged in hunting. As soon as they perceived me, they ran towards me, crying with joy, and seizing me by the hand."

"Good-morning, Black Robe." they said; "we are so pleased to meet you! Be so good as to come along with us, for our chief is very ill, and he will be so pleased to see you."

"I went with them, and they brought me to the hut wherein the good old savage lay suffering much from the effects of poison given him by an enemy. His feet had become swollen to an alarming extent, caused by this wicked man, and it appeared to me that he must infallibly succumb to the malady."

"You are very ill, my brother." I said to him.

"Yes, Black Robe, I am suffering very much pain."

"I am sure," I said, "that after you leave this world you would desire to be admitted into the palace of the Great Spirit; is that not so?"

"Oh yes, my Father, I would desire this above all things."

"But you know that you could not enter therein unless I washed you on the head." (it is by these words that the missionary explains to the savages the Sacrament of Baptism).

"O Black Robe," answered the chief, "wash me on my head, for I love the Great Spirit with all my heart!"

"On receiving this beautiful answer I at once began to instruct him on the principle truths of our holy Faith, and from time to time I asked him if he firmly believed in the words I spoke to him."

"Oh yes, Black Robe," he said; "most certainly I believe every word you have spoken."

"These poor savages have such an innate horror of a lie that they cannot imagine it to be possible that anyone for whom they entertain any respect could tell a lie; and they have an intense veneration for the Black Robes, as they call the missionary Fathers."

"Next morning I returned to visit him, and re- called to his mind the instructions I gave him the previous evening, and I asked him if he still wished that I should wash his head."

"Ah, Black Robe!" he said devoutly, "I beseech you to wash my head as soon as possible, for I am always thinking of the Great Spirit, and I desire so much to be baptized."

"Yet I did not immediately yield to his request, because I knew that these poor savages always find the greatest difficulty in forgiving others from whom they have received an injury. And as this poor man had received from an enemy what would pro bably cause his death, I feared that he might not forgive him."

"With this thought in my mind I took my crucifix into my hands, and showed him the image of Jesus dying, and spoke to him of the sufferings which the Great Spirit had endured from the hands of those He loved so much. I told him that His white children had caused Him to suffer all this, and that before dying He forgave them, and after His death went to His Father in Heaven to pray to Him that He might also forgive them. Then I told him that what the Great Spirit required of His chil dren in this world, of whatever colour they were, or to whatsoever race they belonged, was that they would from their hearts forgive, as He had done, all those who had ever done them any harm, and that unless they did this, He would not receive them into His kingdom."

" Well, then, said the chief, since such is the Will of the Great Spirit, I forgive from my heart him who has done me this evil."

"And in order to prove the sincerity of his words, he assembled around him the principal men of his tribe, and forbade them, on any account whatsoever, to take any vengeance on his greatest enemy." "I could not restrain my admiration at this heroic deed, and from my inmost heart gave thanks to God for having been pleased to infuse these Christian sentiments into the heart of one who, in his savage life, had never till now known God, yet who loved Him so tenderly."

"How could I for a moment longer defer his Baptism? As soon as he saw me putting on the sacred vestments, he rose from his humble couch and sat upon it. Then, taking into his hands the holy crucifix, he continued to gaze upon it, or raise his eyes heavenwards, while I performed over him the sacred rite."

"Four days afterwards he departed this life, to receive, let us hope, the crown of the elect in Paradise." HAUTERIVE : Catech. ix., 265.

VI. THE BAPTISM OF DESIRE.

Sometimes it may happen from various reasons that it may be impossible to be baptized with water. In these circumstances, if a person has the desire in his heart of receiving that Sacrament, and is re solved to receive it if ever possible, this desire will be sufficient to secure his salvation if he were to die before he could receive it. It is called the " Baptism of Desire."

THE PHILOSOPHERS OF ALEXANDRIA.

The Emperor Maximinus Daia, in his desire to make Catherine, a noble and learned lady of Alex andria, apostatize from the Faith, and having failed, sent for the most learned men in his dominions, that in a public assembly, by their arguments they might convince the Saint of the errors of the religion she professed.

Fifteen of these learned men accordingly assembled for this purpose ; but the very opposite result was obtained from the one the Emperor expected. In stead of convincing her J:hat her Faith was wrong, she showed them that the religion of the empire and the worship of the gods they adored were false, and besought them to renounce all their errors, and embrace the true Faith, which alone could save their souls.

History tells us that several of them (some authors record that they all) forsook the religion of the pagans, and manifested their desire to profess that which St. Catherine had so clearly proved to them to be the only one revealed by God.

The Emperor became mad with rage at witnessing this failure of his plans, and condemned them all to instant death. They received the sentence with joy; but a sudden fear fell upon them : they had not yet received the grace of Baptism, which they knew to be so essential for obtaining the possession of Heaven. They asked St. Catherine to tell them what would become of them in eternity, seeing that they could not be baptized.

St. Catherine made over them the sign of the Cross, and said to them: "Let not this thought disturb you, since you so earnestly desire to receive that Sacrament; soon also by your martyrdom you will be baptized by your own blood."

Encouraged by those consoling words, they walked joyfully to martyrdom, and, washed from their sins in their own blood, they entered the eternal repose of Paradise. Laurt Surius, Nov. 2.

VII. THE BAPTISM OF MARTYRDOM.

The third kind of Baptism is that of blood by martyrdom. This takes place when, as in the first centuries of the Church in the days of persecution, many who received the gift of the Faith were put to death before they had the opportunity of being baptized by water.

THE BAPTISM OF ST. GENESIUS.

About the year 304, there dwelt in Rome a famous comedian whose name was Genesius. He was a great favourite of the Emperor Diocletian. When the Emperor returned to Rome after his victory over the Persians, he was received into the city in triumph.

On this occasion, to please the Emperor, Genesius announced that he would, in his hatred of Chris tianity, travesty upon the stage some of the cere monies used by the Christians, particularly those of Baptism.

He appeared, therefore, upon the stage, lying on a bed as if in the agonies of death, and as if desirous of becoming a Christian, asked to be bap tized, that he might die happily. On this two other actors appeared, one to represent the priest, and the other to assist him. They went forward to the bed and said to him: "My child, what dost thou ask of us?"

At that moment God s grace smote the comedian, and he answered, not through mockery now, but from his inmost heart: "I desire to be made a Christian, and to receive the Sacrament of Baptism, that my sins may be taken away."

The Emperor, misunderstanding his serious answer, and thinking that he was only acting his part with great perfection, applauded him. The two actors, continuing their parts, performed the ceremonies of Baptism, and having put on him a white garment, such as is put on those who are newly baptized, led him to the foot of the Emperor's throne, and accused him of being a Christian."

When the Emperor, still thinking that Genesius was only acting his part, asked him what he had to say, he answered: "Hear me, O Emperor, and you, senators and people of Rome. A little time ago 1 hated the very name of Christian. I tried to learn their ceremonies and their sacred rites that I might make them the sport of the people by acting them on the stage. But in the middle of this sacrilegious act the grace of God has changed my heart. As I lay on that bed I saw a hand stretched from Heaven towards me, and angels all clad in bright garments standing around me. They read from a book all the sins I had committed from my childhood, then in a moment they blotted them out, and showed me the book: its pages were white as snow."

"You see, O great Emperor, and you, O spectators who are gazing at me, that you have laughed at things most sacred and holy; but believe as I, who am the greatest sinner of all, now believe, that Jesus Christ is the supreme Lord, and alone worthy of our adoration, and beseech Him to show mercy to you as He has done to me."

When he had ended this speech the Emperor, for the first time, saw that he was no longer acting a part, but that he really believed in God as he de clared ; so he ordered him to be beaten with rods, then to be sent to the Prefect Plautius, that he might be compelled to offer sacrifice.

The Prefect made use of every kind of torture his mind could invent to shake the martyr's constancy, but he did not succeed.

"There is no master so great as the one I have seen in the vision. I adore Him and love Him with my whole heart; and if I had a thousand lives to sacrifice instead of one, nothing would ever make me renounce His service, for no tortures that could be invented would ever take Jesus Christ from my heart or from my lips. I am exceedingly sorry for all my past sins, and grieve because I have only now begun to serve him."

He spent the short time that remained to him to make reparation for the misdeeds of his past life, and to show to all the sincerity of his conversion. When the Prefect saw that his words were convert ing many of the pagans, he commanded his head to be cut off, and thus the holy martyr went to Heaven.

ST. JULIAN AND THE PREFECT MARCIAN.

Maximinus Daia succeeded Diocletian towards the beginning of the fourth century, and persecuted the Christians even more cruelly than his infamous predecessor had done. He renewed the persecu tion, which had for some time previously somewhat abated, and sent to the city of Antioch one named Marcian, who was as cruel as himself, to persecute the Christians who dwelt there.

His first act was to send forth an order forbidding all Christians to buy or to sell.

It was not long before he learned that St. Julian did not worship the gods of the empire, but, fearing to have him arrested and brought before him on account of the reverence in which he was held by all the people, he sent one of his chief councillors to try to win him over to the worship of the gods without being compelled to bring him publicly before him. Julian, seeing the intentions of the Prefect, went of his own accord to the tribunal, accom panied by many of those who adhered to the Chris tian Faith. Here, in the presence of the Prefect, and of the assembled multitude, he strengthened himself for the combat by making the sign of the Cross, and confessing aloud and without hesitation his faith in Jesus Christ.

The Prefect said to him in a tone of anger: "Adore the gods the Emperor adores!"

"Who are your gods of stone or metal, that I should offer incense to them?" replied the Saint. "If they are made of metal, I would prefer my brass utensils, which are at least of some use to man; and if they are made of stone, why should I not, with equal benefit, prostrate myself on the pavement beneath my feet and adore the stones therein, even although sometimes covered with mud?"

Marcian was so angry at these words that he ordered the soldiers to set fire to the house of Julian, and allow none of the Christians who had congregated there to escape from the building. As for Julian himself, who had dared to utter these blasphemies against his gods, he had in store a greater punishment.

The companions of the Saint who dwelt in his house, in which they were accustomed to assemble to sing the Divine Office, offered to Jesus Christ a perfect holocaust of the bodies He had given them. To show how agreeable in His sight was this offering of His servants, God was pleased to work one of His wonderful miracles. For those who passed near the dwelling heard heavenly music rise from the ruins, and the sick who heard it were freed from their infirmities.

The Prefect again summoned Julian to appear before him, and commanded him to be beaten with rods. While the executioners were torturing him, it happened that one of them was accidentally struck on the eyes, and lost his sight. God made use of this accident to glorify His servant Julian.

"Bring hither all the priests of your gods," he said to Marcian, "and if they are able, by their prayers to the gods they worship, to restore the sight of this injured man, I myself will adore them; but if not, I will call upon the God Whom the Chris tians adore, and He will hear me."

Marcian agreed to this, and the priests of the false deities were summoned before him. When they came, they cried to their gods; but their divinities of stone and metal heard them not. To them it might have been said what Elias the prophet said of old to the priests of Baal: "Cry louder, for perhaps your gods are asleep!"

Julian then said: "You see, now, what your gods can do!" But Marcian would not own himself vanquished. "Come with me to the temple; it is there that this trial must take place."

When they reached the door of the temple, Julian made the sign of the Cross, and at the same instant all the statues fell to the ground and Were reduced to dust. Going then to the wounded soldier, he invoked the holy Name of Jesus, and made over his eyes the sign of the Cross, and his sight was restored to him.

But God bestowed on him a still greater grace the gift of the Faith. No sooner did he again see the light of day than, in an accent of joy, he ex claimed: "Jesus Christ is the only True God!" Marcian became so enraged at hearing these words that he ordered his head to be instantly struck off. The newly-made convert, thus baptized in his own blood, went to join in Heaven the legion of the white-robed martyrs who, like him, had died for Christ's sake.

Not long afterwards Julian himself received the palm of martyrdom and went to Paradise to join those who, by his example, had been led to know God, and who had preceded him in their victorious triumph. Lives Of the Saints, Jan. 9.

VIII. THE PROMISES WE MAKE IN BAPTISM.

My child, recall to your mind that never-to-be- forgotten day when you were made God s child by Baptism, and repeat again and again from your heart the promises you then made: "I renounce Satan, with all his works and all his pomps, and I will belong to Jesus Christ now and for ever."

These words were registered in Heaven. God heard them; the angels also heard them, and rejoiced. Satan heard them, too, and was filled with anger; and on the Day of Judgment you will find them written in the book of God's eternal Justice.

A man who is honourable is faithful to his word. Could you, then, be less faithful to these promises you have made to God?

THE ARABS AND THE CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS.

In the year 1842 forty Christian soldiers, belonging to the French army, were sent to reconnoitre under their captain, also a fervent Catholic.

While pursuing their way through the dense thickets, at some distance from the camp, they were suddenly surrounded by about fifteen hundred Arabs, who were lying in ambush awaiting them. The chief Arab went towards them, declared them to be his prisoners, and condemned them to be put to death. "On one condition only," he said, "will I spare you: renounce Jesus Christ, and you shall all be spared."

They were filled with dismay at these words ; but one brave soldier, mindful of the promises of his Baptism which he had renewed on the day of his first Communion, looked towards his captain, and said: "I for one, captain, will never renounce my Faith."

"Neither will I!" "Neither will I!" they all said, along with their captain. They were instantly put to death, because of their attachment to their Faith and their fidelity to the solemn promises they had made to God; all except two, who had the misfortune to apostatize, preferring a short temporal life to the eternal life of Heaven. Of these two one died in despair three days afterwards. The other found means of escape, and reached in safety the French camp; it is to him we owe the account we have just given.

My child, be firm in your Faith. To all the sug- gestions of the enemy, answer with fortitude: "Sooner die than be unfaithful to the promises of my Baptism." Souvenirs de la I ere Com., p. 26.

GOD'S PROMISES, AND OUR PROMISES.

St. Francis was accustomed to console his brethren in their trials with these words: "We have, it is true, made great promises to God, but the promises God has made to us are infinitely greater. The labours and trials of this life are short, and will soon be past ; but in Heaven above, God will give us a recompense for these labours and trials borne patiently, that will never end."Life of St. Francis of Assisi.

THE ANGEL'S REBUKE.

Landelin had from his infancy been brought up in the fear of God, under the care of St. Albert, to whom his father had entrusted him from his earliest years. He had become a model to all the young men who knew him. But it is not to the one that begins well that is promised the crown of life, but to him who perseveres unto the end. Landelin, neglecting to pray to God for help in temptation, forgot the promises of his Baptism, and plunged into the mire of sin and crime. He became the chief of a band of robbers, who devastated the country and brought ruin to many happy homes.

But God was pleased by a great grace to restore His fallen child to His love and friendship.

One evening Landelin, with his accomplices, was preparing to pillage the house of a rich man of the country, when suddenly there fell dead at his feet one who was acknowledged to be the most wicked man in their company. Everyone seemed struck with terror at this sudden death; Landelin especially seemed to be overpowered with some terrible thought, and was for a time trembling in every limb. The robbery they were that day to commit was postponed; a grave was hastily dug, and in it the body of the robber was soon hidden from their sight. They then went to seek repose in their hiding-places, that they might banish from their minds the memory of this terrible event.

But Landelin could find no repose; the sting of remorse which gnawed his conscience would give him no peace. Still he fought against this grace of God, and would not listen to His call.

At length, overcome by sadness and fatigue, he fell asleep; but even then terrible visions passed before his eyes, and increased his terror. He imagined that he was buried in the depths of Hell, and suffering the most excruciating torments, and surrounded and pierced through and through with the devouring flames.

Landelin, in the midst of these terrible scenes, awoke, but terror more than ever pierced his soul. He imagined that he had been suddenly called before the tribunal of Jesus Christ to give an account of his sinful life, and that the just Judge had passed upon him the irrevocable sentence of eternal damna tion.

Then he fell into despair. Rising from his bed, he rolled upon the ground, crying out as a brute beast void of reason, looking for rest and finding none. But at that same moment he seemed to see standing before him an angel, who addressed him in these words: "O unfortunate young man, why do you fill the air with these dismal wailings? Why do you not rather speak to God in prayer, since you have so grievously offended Him Who has been so generous towards you? Where is now the white robe you received on the day of your Baptism ? What has become of that promise you made to God then, that you would for ever renounce the Devil and all his works? Why have you refused that throne prepared for you in Heaven by God, through the intercession of St. Albert? Child of God, indeed you once were, but now you have made yourself the child of Satan. The holy Bishop Albert had obtained of God that the name of Landelin should be written in the book of life, but now Satan has written that name in his book of perdition.

"Know, then, this: that if until now you have escaped death, which would have brought you before the tribunal of Jesus Christ, to receive the awful sentence of the reprobate, it is to the prayers of St. Albert that you owe this grace, as well as the hope of salvation which still remains to you. Now while this respite is granted to you, reflect seriously and consider in your own heart if you would prefer to go down into hell-fire with the demons for ever, or to dwell in the happy mansions of the Blessed. Renounce, then, for ever this life you have adopted, and once more enlist yourself under the banner of Jesus Christ. Be obedient to the holy words which fall from the lips of St. Albert, your father and your guide, and merit to receive again the white robe of innocence you have lost." Saying these words, the angel disappeared.

Landelin, now seeing in the light of God's grace the depth of misery into which he had fallen, and beholding at the same time the greatness of his crimes and his ingratitude to God, formed the generous resolution of renewing the promises of his Baptism, and of being ever afterwards faithful to them. He at once arose, and, leaving his infamous companions, returned to the peaceful home of his childhood. St. Albert received the lost sheep with the affection of the father of the prodigal son, and Landelin regained by his repentance the innocence he had lost. The rest of his days were spent in austerity and works of penance, and, dying the death of the Saints, his name was enrolled in the catalogue of the servants of God. Grande -vie des Saints, 15 Juin.

Now, as God has made you His child, you should be most careful to serve Him with loving diligence all the days of your life, and be ready to die rather than offend Him. To act otherwise would be to show yourself most ungrateful for His infinite love for you.

ST. POLYCARP BEFORE THE JUDGE.

St. Polycarp was a disciple of St. John the Evan gelist, and, like him, spent a long life in converting souls to God. When he was an old man, he was seized by order of the Emperor, and accused of being a Christian.

When he was brought before the tribunal, the judge said to him: "Have pity on thyself, for thou art an old man. Offer sacrifice to the gods, and thou shalt escape the torments and death that await those who refuse to obey. Swear by the fortune of the Emperors, and speak words of blasphemy against Christ."

Poly carp answered: "For eighty-six years have I served my Lord and Master Jesus Christ, and He has never done me any harm; on the contrary, He has all my lifetime showered down upon me every blessing. And you ask me to blaspheme Him Who is my only joy, in Whom I place all my hopes of happiness and glory hereafter. How could I ever do such a thing to Him Who has always been my most generous benefactor, Whom alone I ought to love, Who also has always protected me and defended me from all harm?"

The judge condemned him to death ; and when he was about to expire, raising his eyes to Heaven, he cried out: "May Thy Name be for ever blessed, O my God! May I this day be found worthy to see the fulfilment of Thy promises in Thy own eternal kingdom."

XXXIX. CONFIRMATION

I. CONFIRMATION IS A SACRAMENT.

INSTITUTION; MATTER AND FORM; NECESSITY AND EFFECTS.

CONFIRMATION, my child, is a Sacrament by which the Holy Ghost is given to such as are baptized, in order to strengthen them in their faith, and make them perfect Christians. What is the matter of this Sacrament? Laying on of hands, with unction of Chrism. What is its form? The invocation of the Holy Ghost, and these words: I SIGN THEE WITH THE SIGN OF THE CROSS, I CONFIRM THEE WITH THE CHRISM OF SALVATION ; IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY GHOST. Who is the ordinary minister of it? A Bishop only. Is it a sin not to receive this Sacrament when we can? Yes, a mortal sin, if it be omitted out of contempt or gross neglect.

This sacrament was instituted by our Saviour, Who promised to send the Holy Ghost to His disciples to be their Almighty Comforter under all tribulations (John xiv. 16). His word was fulfilled on Whit-Sunday, when the Holy Ghost descended upon them in Jerusalem; " which promise was not only made to the Apostles, but to you, and your children," said St. Peter to the Jews, "and to all that are afar off, whomsoever the Lord our God shall call" (Acts ii. 39, 40) that is, to all the faithful.

This Sacrament follows Baptism, to confirm the work which was there begun. In Baptism we were born children of grace ; in Confirmation we receive strength to maintain what we then professed. If, therefore, this Sacrament be not so absolutely necessary to salvation as Baptism, yet, in considera tion of human weakness, it is necessary we should receive it, in order to enable us to conquer all the difficulties we meet with in this mortal state ; and therefore, when we have the opportunity of receiving it, we cannot omit it without sin.

ST. MAURILLUS AND THE DYING CHILD.

St. Martin, the Apostle of Gaul, had consecrated Maurillus Bishop of Angers, a man revered by all for his holy life.

One day a lady went to him asking him to come at once to confirm her little boy, who was dying, because she did not want him to appear before God without the seal of Confirmation. The Bishop, who was preparing to say Mass, answered that as soon as the Holy Sacrifice was ended he would attend to her request. But when it was ended, and when he had reached the house where the child was, he found that it had just died.

The holy man was filled with grief as he gazed on the body of the boy, not only on account of his death, but principally because it had left this life without having received the precious grace of Confirmation before entering eternity, and he bitterly reproached himself for not having gone at the moment he had been sent for.

To do penance for this fault for he considered it a great one, though in itself no blame for neglect could have been attributed to him he took the resolution to leave Angers and live in some unknown place, to weep before God for this offence.

The people of the town and diocese of Angers, having discovered his flight, caused a diligent search to be made for him throughout the country, and having at length discovered him, would not leave him until he consented to return with them.

He had scarcely reached the town, his mind still troubled at the result of his negligence, when, urged by the Spirit of God, he went to the place where the remains of the boy were interred, and when he reached it, he fell prostrate on the ground and, shedding abundant tears, poured forth the most fervent prayers that God might not deprive the child of the graces specially given to th