V' ?',*: SERMONS FOR CHILDREN'S MASSES. SEEM0N8 FOR CHILDREJiT'S MASSES. AOCOKDING TO THE SUNDAYS AND PRINCIPAL FESTIVALS OF THE YEAR. WITH ADVICE TO THE YOUNG ON THE LAST DAY OE THE SCHOLASTIC YEAR, AND AETER A RETREAT ADAPTED FROM THE OBIGINAL OF Rev. RAPHAEL FRASSINETTI, BY Vbey Rev. Deak A. A. LINGS. New York, Cincinnati, Chicago : BEMNr2:iGER BROTHERS, PRINTERS TO THE I PUBLISHERS OF BOLY APOSTOLIC SEE | BENZIGER'S MAGAZINE ntbil mstau BEMY LAFOKT, Censor Librorum. fmptimatut^ i" MICHAEL AUGUSTINE, Archbishop of New York New York, September 31, 1900. LOAN STACK Copyright, 1900, by Benziger Brothers. 2)(l75i, PEKFACE The education of our young people in religion, thereby leading them to God, is certainly a great work, one worthy of the sublimest calling and entitling the faithful worker to the greatest consideration and preference in heaven and on earth. Our Lord gave us the example of an amiable disposi- tion toward children. Children as well as grown people are to go to heaven, therefore the Lord gathered them about Him with a most touching familiarity. He loved them and embraced them: "Jjet the little ones come unto Me, for theirs is the kingdom of God." But children must first be educated in religion; they must be taught it and in a man- ner that would not do for grown people. Adults do not want to be talked to like children nor can children be treated in the same way as their elders. Hence while there must be sermons for grown people, for educated Christians, for philosophers and theologians, there should also be sermons suited for children. Just as hard as it is for a great, able man to come down to the level of a child, just so hard is it to find even in Bourdalou or in Bossuet what will suit chil- dren; a young priest looking for a sermon for a children's Mass would have to throw aside book after book of these great writers and preachers without finding anything suit- able, and luckily for the children, for they would not un- derstand a word said. Children's sermons are then useful in a way, because in them the necessary simplicity may be indi- cated for presenting the Gospel to the young. " The little L 412 4 Preface, ones have asked for bread, and there was none to break it unto them^' (Lam. iv. 4). Let us hope that this book may be the beginning of a Series of useful books of the same character. Religious training depends much, if not in certain circumstances altogether, on the pn^tj^ who is obliged to look for the most effectiye means of teaching religion, the gospels, and morality. In our time we are seeking for new books of improved metkods for our secular schools, and priests will find this book of ser- mons to children one step toward that end. In these sermons is presented in the most simple manner the life of Our Lord as it is met with in the gospels for the Sundays. His grand examples of virtue. His heavenly teachings, His striking miracles teach religious truth in a most impressive manner. And in this way, as these young people grow up they will not only have heard the gospels and know them, but may also be furnished with a groundwork for their faith, which will last them to the end of their days and be the source of many graces to them during life, with, perhaps, the grace of final perseverance. Thus brought up according to the principles of the life of Christ, we priests engaged in this grand work may understand that we are working for this glorious end, "that the life of Jesus Christ be made manifest" in their bodies (2 Cor. iv. 10). What a consolation will it be for the good pastor, to be convinced that, having done his very best, he will gain a crown of great glory for himself and have the consolation of seeing a great number of his spiritual children growing up an honor to the Church in the future. CONTENTS. PAOK Preface 3 First Sunday of Advent The Day of Judgment 9 Second Sunday of Advent St. John the Baptist sends his Dis- ciples to Christ 17 Third Sunday of Advent The Voice of One Crying in the Wilder- ness 22 Fourth Sunday of Advent The Baptism of Penance 28 Sunday Within the Octave of Christmas The Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple 33 First Sunday after Epiphany ^Tl\e Finding in the Temple 38 Second Sunday after Epiphany ^The Marriage-Feast of Cana 44 Third Sunday after Epiphany The Leper The Faith of the Centurion 49 Fourth Sunday after Epiphany Jesus in a Storm on the Lake. . 55 Fifth Sunday after Epiphany The Good Seed and the Bad Sown into it 60 Sixth Sunday after Epiphany The Mustard Seed The Leaven . . 66 Septuagesima Sunday The Laborers in God's Vineyard Called at Different Times of the Day 73 Sexagesima Sunday ^The Seed of the Word of God that falls by the Wayside, on the Rocks, among Thorns, or upon Good Ground 78 Quinquagesima Sunday Prediction of Our Lord's Passion ^The Cure of the Blind Man 82 First Sunday of Lent The Forty Days' Fast of Our Lord 88 Second Sunday of Lent The Transfiguration of Our Lord 94 Third Sunday of Lent ^The Cure of the Man Possessed by the Devil 99 Fourth Sunday of Lent Jesus Feeding Five Thousand People with Five Loaves and Two Fishes 105 5 6 Contents, PAoa Passion Sunday The Pharisees Accuse Our Lord Ill Palm Sunday The Entry into Jerusalem 116 Easter Sunday ^The Resurrection of Our Lord 125 First Sunday after Easter The Visit of Our Lord to His Disciples The Unbelieving Thomas 128 Second Sunday after Easter The Gk)od Shepherd 133 Third Sunday after Easter Jesus Consoles His Disciples at His Departure from this World 136 Fourth Sunday after Easter The Consolation which Christ gave the Apostles before His Departure from this World 141 Fifth Sunday after Easter The Strength of Prayer 145 Sunday within the Octave of the Ascension The Holy Ghost 151 Pentecost Sunday The Coming of the Holy Ghost 157 First Sunday after Pentecost ^The Virtue of Charity 161 Second Sunday after Pentecost The Great Feast to which All are Invited 166 Third Sunday after Pentecost The Lost Sheep 171 Fourth Sunday after Pentecost The Wonderful Draught of Fishes 174 Fifth Sunday after Pentecost Charity toward our Neighbor 179 Sixth Sunday after Pentecost The Feeding of Five Thousand with Seven Loaves and a few Fishes 182 Seventh Sunday after Pentecost A Good Tree Giveth Good Fruit 186 Eighth Sunday after Pentecost The Dishonest but Wise Steward 190 Ninth Sunday after Pentecost Jesus Weeps over Jerusalem 196 Tenth Sunday after Pentecost The Conduct of the Pharisee and the Publican in the Temple 202 Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost ^The HeaMng of the Deaf-mute. . 207 Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost The Good Samaritan 213 Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost The Cure of the Ten Lepers. 219 Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost No Man can Serve Two Masters God and Mammon 223 Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost Christ Raises the Widow's Son to Life 228 Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost The Observance of Sunday. . 231 Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost The Love of God and of Our Neighbor 236 Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost " Son, Thy Sins are Forgiven Thee " 241 Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost ^The King who made a Mar- riage-Feast for his Son 246 Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost The Healing of the Son of the Ruler and the Conversion of his Whole Family 261 Contents^ Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost ^The Unforgiving Servant of the King 256 Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost The Legality of the Tribute to Caesar 261 Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost ^The Raising to Life of the Daughter of Jairus 265 Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost The End of the World. . 271 THE FESTIVALS OF THE YEAR Christmas Day 276 The Circumcision of Our Lord 280 The Epiphany 284 Candlemas Day 288 Feast of St. Joseph 291 The Annunciation 294 Good J'rids^y The Passion of Our Lord 298 'fhe Ascension of Our Lord 307 Feast of St. Aloysius Gonzaga 311 Feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist 316 Feast of St. Peter 320 Feast of St. Lawrence the Martyr 324 Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary 328 Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin 332 east of St. Michael the Archangel 336 Feast of the Holy Rosary 340 Feast of All Saints 343 Feast of All Souls 346 Feast of the Immaculate Conception 351 Advice to the Young on the Last Day of the Scholastic Year 354 Closing Advice to Young People after a Retreat 360 SERMONS FOR CHILDREN'S MASSES, FIEST SUNDAY OF ADVENT. Gospel. Luke xxi. 25-33. At that time Jesus said to Ms disciples: There shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in.the stars, and upon the earth distress of nations, by reason of the confusion of the roaring of the sea and of the waves: men withering away for fear, and expectation of what shall come upon the whole world, for the powers of heaven shall be moved; and then they shall see the Son of man coming in a cloud with great power and majesty. But when these things begin to come to pass, look up and lift up your heads: because your redemption is at hand. And he spoke to them a simili- tude: See the fig-tree, and all the trees: when they now shoot forth their fruit, you know that summer is nigh. So you also when you shall see these things come to pass, know that the kingdom of God is at hand. Amen, I say to you, this generation shall not pass away, till all things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. THE DAY OF JUDGMENT. The day will surely come when there will be an end to all the wickedness that exists in the world, and no more insults will be offered to God. On this day almighty G-od will ap- pear in all His glory and terrible majesty as the just Judge of the living and the dead. It will be a day of terror; the sun will be obscured, covered with a thick black veil; the moon will not give light, she will shine blood red; the stars will fall from the heavens, the whole universe will be shaken to its very foundations. On that day it will rain fire from the 9 10 The Day of Judgment, skies; burning coals will descend and destroy all that is on this earth. That day has been called by the prophets a cruel day, the day of wrath, the day of darkness, of tribulation and of no mercy. On that day God will pour out His wrath, and sinners will have to drink this chalice of bitterness to the dregs. Of this terrible day the Gospel of this Sunday speaks. It ought to be enough for Christians to hear the announcement of these dreadful occurrences once to make them sin no more, but, on the contrary, they hear these threats repeated several times during the year, and still they do not repent of their sins nor amend their lives. I hope, my dear young people, that you are not of this number, but reflecting to-day on these solemn words, you will make a firm resolution not to commit a single mortal sin; and thus that dreadful day, so terrible for the sinner, will be for you a day of joy, of glory, of triumph, and the beginning of your eternal reward. When the hour of the great judgment shall arrive, St. Michael, accompanied by many other angels, will give a blast from his trumpet which shall be heard in all parts of the earth; because the sound shall be winged forth by the power of God's omnipotence. "And they shall hear the voice of the Son of God: ^ Arise, ye dead, and come to judgment.' " Great and small, kings and princes, rich and poor, learned and ignorant, all shall obey that summons. At the first sound of this blast, the bodies which for centuries have been reduced to dust will re- turn to their former shapes, and will be reanimated by the voice of the Son of God. All shall come forth from their graves, but there will be a great difference among them. The elect will rise with bodies more brilliant than the stars and like to the angels; as St. Matthew says, " Then the just shall shine like the sun." The wicked shall be there in their for- mer bodies too, but so loathsome that it will be to them as well as to their companions a day of horror. No wonder, for the just have risen to a new iife> but the wicked to eternal death. First Sunday of Advent. 11 Bear children, wHat would be your feelings if you should see yourselves in such an abominable body? And yet how many there are among the young who, through an inordinate love of their body, never go contrary to their passions, be- cause they wish to indulge in unlawful pleasures. Then the angels will separate the good from the bad. Oh, what a dreadful separation! the wicked to the left, the good to the rig"ht; the good father to the right, the wicked son to the left, the good brother to the right, the wicked one to the left; now is the time to separate the wheat from the cockle. Now is the time to bind the cockle into bundles to burn. That young man who looked so deceptively innocent in his life, who appeared so good to his parents, is now the cockle because he was wicked, he and his companions; another seemed so devout, but he, too, is the cockle because his heart was full of sin. All the most hidden sins will then be manifest; those sins which were committed in the dark and in secret places, those sins which through shame were withheld from the knowledge of the confessor, and those sins, mark it well, which were confessed, but without sorrow and without the resolution to do better. Yes, father, mother, sisters, brothers and friends shall know all our secrets. Nahum the prophet says: " I will discover thy shame to thy face, and will show thy [wickedness] to the nations, and thy shame to kingdoms.'* But now heaven opens, and the holy cross appears, carried by angels; the cross, the sign of redemption and of life; the wicked shall fall on their faces as if struck by lightning. What cries and shrieks will they utter! But the good will re- joice when they see the cross, and falling on their knees they will cry out: '' holy cross, we hail thee, our only hope! cross, our comfort in life and now our glory and triumph, we adore thee! '' But behold, in this tumult of voices, amid all this thunder and lightning, in the midst of these fiery clouds, appears the dread Judge, clothed in garments of re- venge. The terrible Majesty, with eyes burning like coals 12 The Bay of Judgment of fire. What anger, what menacing looks! His anger shall bum like a fire (Ps. Ixxxviii. 47). A red mantle on His shoul- ders; from His mouth proceeds a two-edged sword. The sin- ner shall tremble at the sight; the eyes of Christ, the Judge, shall meet the terrified looks of the sinner. The guilty shall also see, but not for his consolation, the sweet face of Mary, the Mother of sinners, and he will exclaim: " Mary, help me! Mother, have pity on me, throw a glance of mercy toward me! Cover me, Mary, with thy mantle! '' But Mary shall turn from him and say: "No longer call me Mother; you are no son of mine: there is no longer time for mercy, but for justice^ and divine vengeance; I feel no pity for you; when in your life I wished you to be my son, you refused to come to me; now it is too late." The angels, too, and all the saints of heaven will reaffirm God's dreadful damnation, and turn from you in disgust: ''He will speak to them in His anger." The great Judge will then speak in His wrath to the sinner, and call him to a rigorous account for all his sinfulness, even for the most secret deeds. '' Up to the present I have been silent and patient; now is My time to render you punishment for all your iniqui- ties; 'give back what thou owest.' If I were your father where was the honor due Me as such? Hardly did you come to the use of reason when you began to insult Me. You arose in the morning and went to bed at night like an ani- mal, without remembering your Creator; you did not know your prayers, but learned early to curse My holy name. Look at your youthful waywardness, your disobedience to your su- periors. From your earliest childhood you took a pride in being unruly; you know your thefts, your quarrels, your lies, your filthy practices, by which you rent and soiled the white garment of your Baptism. You went to church only to dis- honor Me; at Mass you laughed, talked, and did not pray, but disturbed others in their devotions. Give an account of aU this; not only of this, but give an account, too, of the First Sunday of Ad/dent, X3 sins which you made others commit. Your companion was innocent, but you corrupted him, and you are guilty of the sins which he afterwards committed. How many souls re- deemed by My precious blood you have destroyed! * Give back what thou owest/ Eise and give an excuse for all this, if you can. ^ Tell Me if thou hast anything to justify thy- self^ (Isaias xliii. 26). Will you plead ignorance? Were you not bom in a Christian family, where you received holy teachings, and saw many examples of virtue? What advice did your parents, your teachers, and also your confessor give you? You knew the malice of sin, still you persisted in com- mitting it; you knew there would be a judgment, when you would have to give an account of even an idle word; you knew that in your surroundings in the school and on the street that there was cockle sown among the wheat, but you would not be edified by good example. Will you give as an excuse, weakness: that your passions were too strong for you? You could, if you had wished, have made yourself strong, for you had at hand prayer and the sacraments; I gave you My body as food and My blood as drink, but they became a poison to you because you received them un- worthily. You had the help of the saints, of the angels and of Blessed Mary. How many youths with less strength than you, weaker than you, more tempted than you, and more ex- posed to dangers, have preserved themselves from the con- tamination of vice. There is a young man who at home saw nothing but bad example, whose parents had no love for God, still he remained good. After your first communion you were pious for a while. Why did you cease to be pious? Why did not your piety last for life, as it should? Ah, wretch! you shall feel the effects of My anger; the blood which I shed for you will condemn you." The trembling sin- ner, convicted by the all-wise Judge, will not be able to open his mouth in his defence; he will call upon the mountains to cover him, the flames to destroy him; yes, he will even call upon hell itself to hide him in its bosom. 14 The Day of Judgment. Then Christ, the Judge, with a sweet smile upon His face, will turn to the elect and say to them: "My beloved and faithful ones, now is the time come when I will reward you for the services which you have so faithfully rendered Me. Yes, I remember the good examples you have shown, the good advice given to your companions, the crust of bread and the glass of water given to the poor in My name. I remem- ber that from your tenderest years you offered Me your inno- cent hearts. I remember your many acts of love, and while others have forgotten and offended Me, you have always honored, loved, and visited Me. Now has the time come for the great feast in paradise. ^Oome, ye blessed of My Father, possess you the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.' Come now to eternal rest, come away from poverty to wealth, from tears to joy, from the cross to the crown.'' What joy tliere will be! Indeed you are the glory of God, for He will acknowledge you before the whole world as His faithful children; worthy of the de- lights and glory of heaven. Can you imagine a greater honor? ^^Thou art My servant Israel, for in thee will I glory " (Isaias xlix. 3). You are very happy, my dear young people, w^hen a compliment is paid you by some great per- sonage, and you never forget it. How great then will be your happiness to receive praise from G-od Himself ! Then again the eternal Judge will change His demeanor, and turning to the wicked will say: "Ah! you miserable beings, what have you to expect from Me? You did not love nor reverence Me in your life; I will not now acknowl- edge you. I know you not. You did not wish to have part with Me, and now you shall not. Go from my presence; you are objects of my hatred; go, ye damned, into eternal fire. ^Depart from Me, you cursed, into everlasting fire* (Matt. XXV. 41). Cursed by My divine Father, cursed by Me, cursed by the Holy Ghost, cursed by Mary, by the angels and all the saints." What dreadful cries will these wretches send forth on hearing these maledictions! The saints will First Sunday of Advent 15 repeat the curses of God: ^^Away from here, ye accursed, away from here, ye accursed! " Then the saints will praise God for His justice. These wretches would throw themselves into hell if they could, but God wants them to be witnesses of the triumph of the good; and they must stand there to see it to their own great punishment. These good people whom they ridiculed during life: '' They were those whom you held in derision formeriy." They will burst with envy, " The sinner shall witness this and gnash his teeth." Ah! indeed we were fools, we were wrong! See that youth whom we laughed at so often because he was pious, and called him scrupulous or a bigot, because he never took part in our wicked talks, plays, and pastimes. There he is now, covered with glory and in triumph, while we are bound in chains, captives of the devil, and prisqners of hell. How foolish were we who considered their life absurd and their end without honor, but now we see them counted among the children of God and among the saints is their lot. The wicked will say, " Yes, we have enjoyed the world and all its vanities, but what has it given us in return? Not hap- piness, not contentment; what a life of restlessness was ours! There is no peace for the wicked; we surfeited our souls and bodies with sin. Oh! had we done half as much to save our souls as we did to enjoy the illusive joys of our life on earth, we would be saints. ^We have grown tired in the way of iniquity and perdition, we have walked in difficult paths.' " Then the saints, all robed in white, with palm branches in their hands in sign of triumph, will go joyfully to heaven, there to begin the eternal chant of paradise. The wicked, howling, blaspheming, and despairing, are caught in a terrible whirlpool that starts beneath their feet, sucking them down into eternal perdition: '' And these shall go to eternal perdi- tion but the just into life eternal." In this way the great judgment will be accomplished; we shall all see one another in the valley of Jehosophat. I shall 1^ The Da/y of Jtcdgment, see you and you shall see me. Shall we be on the right united with the saints, or shall we be found among the wicked, on the left? Alas, what a misfortune it would be if one of us were to be found among the ranks of the wicked! Shall I, your preacher, be found on the left, arrayed in sacerdotal garments, with the mark of the character of the priesthood impressed on my forehead? St. Jerome so feared this pos- sibility that he retired into a cave and there meditated on the terrible sound of the trumpet which was to call him to judgment, and beat his breast with a rock till it became all livid with blows. " That dreadful voice rings still in my ears, I tremble with my whole body." Should not I, who am not a saint, but a humble priest, fear much more? Jesus, trem- bling in every limb in fear of that day, I throw myself at Thy feet to implore mercy for myself and for my young hearers. Now Thou art the Father of mercy; then Thou shalt be the inexorable Judge; then it will be too late to ask for mercy. What am I, miserable wretch, going to say; whom will I en- gage as my patron, when even the just will tremble? Look upon us now, humble and contrite, asking for the pardon of our sins. Never again will we commit a sin, never again will we utter bad words or blasphemies or curses, nor go with bad companions. Dear Jesus, in Thy goodness make us faithful to Thee and let us not be separated from Thee. Remember, sweet Jesus, that for our salvation Thou didst come down from heaven. By the many sufferings Thou didst endure we pray Thee to have mercy on us and save us; we have cost Thee too much to be abandoned by Thy mercy. Yes; save us, save us, good God, God of mercy, of infinite goodness, save us! Eemember, dear Jesus, that Thou didst come to save me: do not then destroy me on that day: Fountain of all good- ness, save me I Second Sunday of Advent. 17 SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT. Gospel. Matt. xi. 2-10. At that time: When John had heard in prison the works of Christ, sending two of his disciples he said to him: Art thou he that art to come, or look we for another? And Jesus making answer said to them: Go and relate to John what you have heard and seen. The blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead rise again, the poor have the Gospel preached to them: And blessed is he that shall not be scandalized in me. And when they went their way, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: What went you out into the desert to Bee? a reed shaken with the wind? But what went you out to see? a man clothed in soft garments? Behold, they that are clothed in soft garments, are in the houses of kings. But what went you out to see? a prophet? Yea, I tell you, and more than a prophet. For this is he of whom it is written: Behold, I send my Angel before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee. ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST SENDS HIS DISCIPLES TO CHRIST. John the Baptist had been in prison some time; it was not for crime, but for the zeal he showed for the glory of God. Although you have heard the story many times, let us go over it again. The impious Herod led a most scandalous life; everybody knew it, still no one dared reprove him for fear of incurring the hatred of this cruel man. But John the Baptist, to whom the glory of God was everything, did not hesitate to say to Herod, "There is a greater king than you, one whom you ought to respect, but whom you despise; it is not lawful to lead such a scandalous life: it is not right.'' John saw that this boldness drew upon him the anger of the king, and that in the end it would cost him his life; still he did not cease to say, " It is not right." Herod, to get rid of these reproofs, and instigated by the wicked Herodias, had John shut up in an obscure prison. See then, my young people, the ardent zeal of John the Baptist for the honor and glory of God; the courage he V 18 St, John the Bajptist sends his Disciples to Christ possessed to make a firm stand against vice. If you had but a little of the courage of this sainted man, how much evil could you hinder! When you are with that careless com- panion, who at play or at his work will break out into blas- phemous words, have the courage to say to him, ^^It is not proper to talk like that, it is not lawful to curse; ^ it is not right/ '^ If in ohurch a young man stands beside you who instead of hearing Mass talks and laughs, can you not say to him, " This is the house of God, the house of prayer, it is a holy place and this light conduct is unseemly here"? If you see that he does not improve in his conduct, what should you do? why, tell his parents, consult with them as to the best mean of leading him to a better life. You remember it is related that Joseph, having seen his brothers commit a most wicked act, told his father Jacob of it. If all young people would act that way, how many scandals would be avoided. How much good would be effected, even by a child who, when it hears the father's blasphemous tongue, would with a saddened countenance, but mildly and respectfully. Bay, " Father, it is not right for you to get into such a rage about so slight a matter.'^ Should the child see that the father troubles himself very little about the observance of Sunday, never approaches the sacraments not even at Easter; in short cares very little for the duties of religion, how much good might the child do by a quiet and determined remonstrance, saying, " Father, it is not right to live in this manner, oblivious of Grod and your soul." Should the child see meat on the table on days in which its use is forbidden, what a correction would it be if he said, *^ I do not eat meat on these days, because I respect the laws of the Church that forbid it. Alas, father and mother, what a dreadful thing you are doing! what scandal you are giving! can there be any blessing from almighty God on a family in which such things are done? " John was in prison, as is stated in the Gospel, and there lie heard of the works of Christ; he was struck with astonish- Second SundoAj of Advent. 19 ment at the great fame which Our Lord had acquired by His striking miracles. John sent two of his disciples to Our Lord to askj ^^ Art Thou He that art to come or look we for another? ^^ John the Baptist knew very well that Christ was the Messias, but he wished to introduce his disciples to Our Lord that they might become His followers. While they were on this embassy they saw a great number of miracles and Our Lord took occasion to answer the ques- tions of John: " Gro," He said to them, " and relate to John what you have heard and seen. The blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleaned, the deaf hear, the dead rise again, the poor have the Gospel preached to them: and blessed is he that shall not be scandalized in Me." Such, then, are the miracles which Our Lord did for the human body; but still greater are those He works on the soul. How many sin- ners are spiritually blind, and He gives light to their in- tellects that they may understand the danger they are in! How many are spiritually lame; they do not walk in the path of virtue which is to lead them to heaven, but He cures them so that they run in the road of salvation and of life! How many sinners are spiritual lepers, covered from head to foot with loathsome ulcers of sin; He cleanses them; they be- come as white as snow. How many are dead to His grace; He raises them from this death and gives them true life. Many such miracles He has wrought on you and many such He is now working. Do you remember when you fell into mortal sin? You were blind, lame, leprous: you were dead to God, but God gave you sight and hearing when He infused into you the grace of desiring to make a good confession: '* When we were in sin He revived us in Christ." 0, that you could recognize as you should the benefits which God has bestowed on you in calling you back to the life of grace! These are greater miracles than to give light to the eyes of the body or to make the deaf hear. St. Greg- ory affirms that it was a greater miracle to have converted St. Paul than to raise Lazarus to life. Thank God for those <; 20 St John the Baptist sends his Disciples to Christ, favors you have received, and be grateful for theiiL Let me suggest another reflection which is very important. Our Redeemer manifested Himself as the true Messias by His good works; and should not also the Ohristian, who ought to be an imitator of Jesus, show that he is a follower of Our Lord by his works, and the sanctity of his life? But how many Christians are there who, instead of priding themselves on the friendship of Christ, become followers of the devil, are asihamed to imitate Christ and blaspheme His holy name! They are enemies of the cross of Christ. St. Augus- tine says, " Many are called Christians but they are not found to be connected with Christian works; they are called by a name which does not belong to them." These are Christians in name only. The true Christian is one who does good works and leads a pure life. St. Bernard says that Christians are called after Christ, and since they have inherited the name, they must also possess the sanctity. You, Catholic youth, show yourselves true followers of Christ by your virtuous lives. The first Christians did this; they boldly confessed Christ before the persecuting tyrants, in face of the most cruel torments. The following example will serve to illustrate the courage of the early Christians. There was a beautiful but delicate young girl, Blandina by name, who was a slave. Her mis- tress, who was also a Christian and died a martyr's death, thought that Blandina would be frightened, and would not have the strength to profess herself a Christian; but the slave showed heroic courage and stood firm in her faith, though she tired out her executioners who tortured her cruelly day and night. All were astonished that such a deli- cate creature should live through torments that were enough to cause death in ordinary circumstances. "I am a Chris- tian,^' Blandina said, " Christians abhor doing evil." She went to her death with joy, as if going to a banquet; she was scourged, placed on a fiery chair, and then, inclosed in a net, she was set before an infuriated bull which tossed Second Sunday of Advent. 21 her in the air. But tlie virgin martyr hardly felt the tor- ments, for her mind was in heaven. At last she was be- headed, and pagans confessed that they had never witnessed suoh firmness, such indomitable patience. In this way the martyrs of the first ages of Christianity showed their love for Christ. But let us return to our Gospel. The disciples of John the Baptist had gone away, and Our Lord turning to the multi- tude said, " When you went out into the desert to meet John the Baptist, what did you expect to see? A reed shaken by the wind? '^ To how many young people can these words be applied? Many are slender reeds, which are shaken by the least breath of wind. The devil places before them some temptation, and at once they yield to his suggestion. A bad companion comes along and one is ready to join him in committing any sin. Now you see him weeping at the feet of his con- fessor for this sin, but to-morrow he is at his old habits again. To-day you see him praying devoutly to Mary or the saints, to-morrow you find him again pursuing unlawful pleasures. Sometimes you see him with a good book in his hand, but often he greedily devours bad ones. At one time he resolves to give up bad company, but soon you will find him with them again. Yes, they are slender reeds! The least difficulty in the service of God, and they forget their good resolutions. Be ye therefore not slender reeds, but sturdy oaks that bend not to every wind that blows. Imitate the firmness of St. John the Baptist. Say with Job: '^ Thine, Lord, I have resolved to be and Thine I shall remain." Take me, Lord, from this world, rather than allow me to prove unfaithful to Thee. "What went ye out to see? a prophet? Yea I tell you and more than a prophet. Behold I send My angel before thy face who shall prepare thy way." What a beau- tiful encomium did John the Baptist receive from Our Lord! He calls him a prophet, and more than a prophet, an angel, a messenger of God. And truly St. John was an angel; a 22 The Voice of One Crying in the Wilderness. messenger of God; an angel not in form but in deed, an angel, thougli a human being, on this earth; an angel, be- cause he never lost the innocence which was granted him by special favor from his mother's womb; an angel, by his con- stant virginity and spotless purity. young man or young woman who have preserved your purity, you also are an angel. I rejoice with you. I beg of you, with all my heart, to remain always pure and inno- cent before God, and then with John the Baptist and the angels you will forever enjoy the vision of your Creator in heaven. THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT. Gospel. John i. 19-28. At that time: The Jews sent from Jerusalem priests and Levites to John to ask him: Who art thou? And he confessed and did not deny: and he confessed: I am not the Christ. And they asked him: What then? Art thou Elias? And he said: I am not. Art thou the prophet? And he answered: No. They said therefore unto him: Who art thou, that we may give an answer to them that sent us? what say est thou of thyself? He said: I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Isaias. And they that were sent were of the Pharisees. And they asked him and said to him: Why then dost thou baptize, if thou be not Christ, nor Elias, nor the prophet? John answered them, saying: I baptize with water; but there hath stood one in the midst of you, whom you know not. The same is he that shall come after me, who is preferred before me: the latchet of whose shoe I am not worthy to loose. These things were done in Bethania beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing. THE VOIOB OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS. The life of John the Baptist is still continued in this Gospel. The appearance of John created quite a sensation in his time. By his retirement into the desert, hy his austere penances, by his pure life, by the force of his preaching, he had attained such a reputation among the people of those Third Sunday of Advent. 23 days, that they thought perhaps he was the Messias, the Saviour of the world. To clear away their doubts, they sent an embassy to him composed of priests and Levites, to ask him who he was. And he confessed and did not deny, and protested that he was not the Messias. You understand from this, my good young people, that the saints humbled themselves the more, the greater honor they received. Not so with us poor sinners. Though on account of our many sins we are worthy of being despised, we look for the esteem of men, and are very much disturbed when any one looks upon us in our proper character, and does not give us the honor to which we have no claim. But, my dear young people, let us not look for praise or flattery from men, who are very shortsighted in their judg- ment, and who frequently praise that with which they ought to find fault on good grounds. " Sons of men are foolish; they ore lying in their weights, and they deceive themselves in their vanity." What would it be to you if men praised you and held you in high esteem, if before God you were wicked, miserable and poor in virtue? Seek then to please God; that should be your glory. " Oh! if you could understand," says the venerable Father Segneri, " how to appreciate the glory of God! " St. Ephrem held the esteem of men in such abom- ination, that at one time when he was praised, he became most uncomfortable, changed color, the sweat poured from his face with anguish, and he lost all power of utterance. St. Ignatius said he would rejoice to be considered crazy by every one. And when he was at the point of death, he told his companions who stood around his bed, to throw his body into any vile place, like a dog's. God''s esteem is above all things. With His esteem you have at the same time the esteem of all the choirs of angels, who are more numerous than the atoms which compose the earth, the esteem of the Apostles, prophets, the martyrs, and of all the saints. Would you renounce all this glory to have the praise of poor miser- able man? But to possess this glory from God you have to 24 The Voice of One Crying in the Wilderness, be truly humble, since before God there is no vice more hate- ful than pride. To keep yourself always in this condition of mind, frequently ask yourself the> question, "Who art thou ? " You are indeed a Christian, but how much is lacking in you to be a good Christian? How far are you from those virtues which your holy profession demands? What little fervor, how impatient, how unmortified are you! "Who art thou?" Oh, that you would frequently make these reflections! You would keep yourself humble, you would know yourself thoroughly, and you would make great effort to remove all bad 'habits from your heart and acquire all the beautiful virtues of a Christian life. The Jews had now heard and been convinced that John was not the Messias. "But who are you?" they asked again. " Are you Elias? Are you a prophet? " Even in this he refused himself a title. " If you are none of these, who are you? what do you say of yourself, for we must bring word to those who sent us." John the Baptist answered, " I am nothing but a voice crying in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the Lord." What great humility is this! Yes, he was but a voice, but such a voice! A voice of thunder, a voice like a two-edged sword that was given by God and fitted by Him to open a way into the 'hearts of that hard- hearted and stubborn people. Are we not stubborn and hard- hearted, too, in our day? What a tremendous prophet would be needed to shake us out of the sleep of sin! In this sacred time of Advent we hear preachers in the churches crying out, " 0, ye people of God, prepare ye the way of the Lord! " But there are many sinners who will not be moved by these words. Are not these ministers of the Gospel angels whom God has sent to do the very work that John the Baptist was commissioned to perform? It is the duty of a priest to cry out; it is the duty of the people to lis- ten. But, alas, you young man, you hear the voice of the priest: " Christmas is close at hand; prepare the way of the Lord; in order that He may come to your soul, cleanse it Third Sunday of Advent. 25 from evil, cut off that bad friendship, keep away from that companion, shmi that occasion of sin, make peace with God and with Jesus also, who wishes to come to your soul, and be bom there again by grace." But how carelessly you listen to that invitation of Gk)d, who speaks to you by the voice of His priest, and you remain obstinate in your sins. Yes, my dear young people, if you hear God^s voice, do indeed open your hearts and follow His instructions. " Lord, what wilt Thou have me do? " you will say with a strong will. There- fore " If you hear His voice hearken." St. Peter Damien tells of a very wicked man who had two great vices; one was ambition, which brooked no opposi- tion from anybody, and hence he was the personal enemy of any that opposed him; the other vice was impurity, which sunk him into the most filthy excesses. His conscience re- proved him all the time and the fear of death often made him tremble; but to these pious relics of a good education, he would say: " Some other time I shall give this up." Sev- eral times he was on the point of going to confession, but the old habit of putting off the execution of his resolution pre- vailed. He was found dead; 'he had died impenitent. But to prepare the way of Our Lord still better, not only will you remove every sin and the stain of it, but you will also imitate the life of John the Baptist. St. Augustine, speaking of St. John, says, *^ In the Baptist all is voice, that admonishes us to listen." His silence in the desert is a voice that tells us not to talk too mueh, especially of things which offend God. His fast is a voice, that preaches loudly against the excesses of eating and drinking, of which we are fre- quently guilty, especially in Lent and on fast days, caring nothing for the law of abstinence; thus giving grave scandal to bad Catholics. The camel^s-hair covering with which John was scantily clothed in order to do penance, is a loud voice against too great delicacy toward the body. His retirement to the desert is a voice that is raised against our continual dissipation. . 26 The Voice of One Crying in the Wilderness. St. John preached so well, by the example of every virtue, that the people learned to give up sin, to do good, and to de- vote themselves to the service of God. If you young people would be less dissipated and distracted in your life, your life, too, would be a living voice to your companions, preaching to them. If you were respectful to your superiors, you would teach obedience and submission. Cer- tainly the life of a good young man is a great lesson to others; if he is obedient, devout, sensible, decent, and quiet, his companions will become the same. A good life is a sermon to our father, mother, and superiors; yes, even to the priest, for seeing the young man pious, sensible and devout, frequenting the sacraments, always going to church on Sundays and holydays of obligation he will become edified and strength- ened in 'his work for souls. Thus a youth will sanctify a family, a home, a school and his companions. Now listen to an example which shows how a good son was the means of saving his father. This father had many sons; the oldest was so pious and so accustomed from his childhood to be quiet and retired, that the father could not endure him, but ridiculed him on all occasions. The boy, however, did not change his demeanor. When the time of the fa.ther's death approached, all thought he would disinherit the son, but the father, who 'had reflected on the injustice he had committed against this young man, had him brought to his bedside, and with tears he said: "Forgive me, my son, and pray almighty God to forgive me too. You sought the glory of Jesus Christ, but I had no other thought than of the things of this world." He then sent for his other sons, and turning to his good son said: " Here is your father, and your master; do what he tells you, I leave my property in his hands to divide among you as he wishes; this is my last will." These words made an impression on all present. When the father was dead the good son divided the property among his brothers, but his own share he gave to the poor. Theai he went away and built a little cell, there to pass the Third Sunday of Advent. 27 remainder of his days. Thus it was that the beautiful life of the son was a lesson to the father, and the cause of his happy death. In the same manner let your life be such before men, that it will edify them and be a direct war on sin, as was the life of John the Baptist. The Pharisees who were on this embassy to John, were not quite satisfied, and they said: "If you are not Christ, or Elias, or a prophet, why then do you baptize?" "I," he answered, "baptize only in water as a preparation for the Baptism which will take away sins, and which will be given by another who is already among you and you do not know Him. He is the One who is to come after me, but who was already before me, the latchet of whose shoe I am unworthy to loose." How many young people could apply to themselves the same reproof ! You have Jesus, the Saviour, among you, and you know Him not. If you knew Him would you not visit Him, would you not adore Him in His holy tabernacle, would you not approach frequently His sacred table? How many young people live in forgetfulness of Our Lord! they rarely visit Him, and 'hardly know that they should genuflect before Him when He is exposed to public worship. Our Lord is with us also in another way; that is by His presence in our 'hearts. Make an effort to know Him, and remember always the presence of God. Which of you in the presence of a king would dare to perform even an act of incivility? Remembering that you are seen by God, strive to honor Him by acts of love, adoration and gratitude for the many mercies He has shown you. Since He is a king who wisihes to reign in your heart, and to do you much good, permit Him to direct your will and your actions in the ways of His providence. Ask Him to assist you, to give you strength in temptation, to give you courage in your labors, and to make you rich in your poverty. Never lose sight of your King; you will thus surely love Him with all your 28 The Baptism of Penance, heart, and He will never cease to pour upon you the abun- dance of His graces. At the hour of your death, Jesus will console you. He will be your last food in the viaticum; and when your friends will stand near you, unable to help you, Jesus will be there to assist you in your last agony. FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVEISTT. Gospel. Lvke iii. 1-6. Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and Philip his brother tetrareh of Iturea and the country of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilina, under the high-priests Annas and Caiphas: the word of the Lord was made unto John the son of Zachary, in the desert. And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of penance for the remission of sins, as it was written in the book of the sayings of Isaias the prophet: A voice of one cry- ing in the wilderness: Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. Every valley shall be filled: and every mountain and hill shall be brought low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways plain. And all flesh shall see the salvation of God. THE BAPTISM OF PHN-ANCE. The day is close upon us on which the Mes^as, the Saviour of the world, the King of the people, the Prince of peace, the Desired of nations, is to appear on the earth. Christmas is near. You, my children, must make every effort to prepare the way for the coming of Our Saviour. When a great king is about to visit a city, what a commotion and bustle there is! Every one makes the most magnificent preparations in his power. Our duty is not to a monarch of this world, but to the King of kings, the omnipotent God of iheaven and earth. You understand, then, that it is certainly necessary to make Bome preparation. St. John was sent to indicate what prep- aration is to be made, and you ought to think of his direc- tions and follow them. Fourth SundoAj of Advent, 29 St. John the Baptist, by the inspiration of God, left the desert which he had inOiabited for thirty years, and be- tcK)k himseM to the banks of the river Jordan. John, who in all that time had seldom spoken to any one, boldly began to preach penance, inviting the people who flocked to him to be baptized as a sign of the amendment of their lives. '^Do penance," he cried, "for the kingdom of G-od is at hand." Well fitted was he to preach that penance of w^hich he had become master. His appearance indicated the morti- fied man; a girdle of leather bound his body; his shoulders were covered with cameFs hair; he lived in nO' house, but under the open sky, suffering cold and heat, winds and rain. His food was locusts and wild honey, water was his drink. Such a prodigy of self-denial from his very infancy, as if he came from another world, certainly drew the attention of the religiously inclined. Even soldiers and publicans came to him attracted by his austerity, and asked what they should do. Every condition of life was represented; every sex, every age; all were there, and repeated the same question. They confessed their sins and did penance. This is what you ought to do to prepare the way of the Lord. I know indeed, my dear children, that while you have preserved your innocence it is not necessary that I should insist very particularly on penance; but what child is there that has not known what sin is, and therefore I am right in preaching penance even to you. But I would certainly not ask you to do any of the heroic penances such as Jdhn the Baptist practiced. For great and older sinners great penances are necessary, and they have practiced them, as you know from history. Mary Magdalen, St. Peter, St. Paul. The great act of penance which is re- quired even of you is to make a humble confession at the feet of the servant of God in the confessional. But even this light mark of penance does not come easy to some young people who have already fallen into sin. After having committed the sins, they hide them in their breasts; 30 The Baptism of Pencmce, shame closes their mouths to the confessor; when asked about them they deny having committed them. To such I will say: '^ It is' either conifession or damnation." The alternative is not hard to- choose, but you will find many who would rather be damned "than generously declare their sins. The priest never thinks less of the penitent who makes a clear confession. A youth once went to confess-ion to St. Francis de Sales. He had horrible sins to tell, but he con- fessed them sincerely and with sorrow. When the confession was over he said to the saint with a blush: " Father, what must you think of me when you hear of such enormous sins?'' ^^ My son,'' answered the saint, embracing him, " what do I think of you? I think you are a saint. A moment ago you were a real devil, but now God has pardoned you and you are a saint." If this was the thought of a saint about his penitent, why should you blush 'to tell all your sins in confession? But should you still feel a repugnance when you go to confession address yourself to Mary, and she will obtain for you the grace of a sincere and open confession. There was once a girl who had committed a fault and had not the courage to confess it. For eight years she carried that unhappy ulcer of sin about her on her conscience. Though she knew it was a mortal sin, still she went to con- fession and communion. Outwardly she was calm, but her heart was torn by unbearable remorse. She looked happy, but she was far from being so. At last on Annunciation day she knelt before the image of our mother Mary and cried most bitterly, begging her to gain her grace to tell this fault. She obtained the grace and lived a saintly life afterwards. There are many who confess their sins indeed, but not with sorrow; it is only by word of mouth they detest them. What did you do when you committed that wicked deed? You offended a good God who has created you, preserved and redeemed you, and for no other reason than to satisfy the demands of a vile passion and degrading habit; and by so Fourth Sunday of Advent, 81 doing you deprived yourself of God's grace, you refused Him His honor and glory, you gave yourself over to the power of Satan. Can you find a youth w'ho will take such a view of sin? Very seldom. This is the kind of penance which St. John wants when he says, " Do penance. Bring forth fruits worthy of penance." And thus it is that the young man who has not a real sorrow for his faults continues to live in sin, and though ostensibly repenting of his sins commits them over and over. What kind of repentance is this ? True repentance demands a real sorrow for sin, and the resolution not to commit it again. What must be foremost in the penitent's mind is the hatred of sin, the abomination of that which is so evil, however pleasing it may be to our senses. What hatred is there for a sin that is committed again? Let us suppose that a Jew is going to become a Christian. What great consolation such an event is to all. The day approaches when he is to be baptized. He goes to the ehurch and there is a great feast made. But soon he returns to the belief of the Synagogue. What a disappointment, what a feeling of 'disgust, yes, even of hatred, at such 'a miserable wretch! If he believed in the faith of Jesus Christ, the true one, why did he leave it? If false, why did he become a Christian? But after a while he declares he believes again in Christ and yet, for a second time, he perverts and becomes a Jew. Would you say that he was ever a real Christian? No indeed; he pretended to be one, he was always a Jew, he never had the true faith. Let us apply this to ourselves. Can you really call him penitent who to-day confesses 'his sins and says he repents of them, but who never, even for a moment, breaks off his attachment to sin, and to-morrow wilfully commits the same sins again? Does he not clearly prove that he loves his sins? This is making a mockery of God. The Lord compares such repentance to the dog that returns to its vomit. St. Paul says that such people despise the kindness of God. Will those who thus continue to sin ever have the peace of God in their 32 Ttie Baptism of Penance. souls? Oh, no! The holy peace of a pardoned sinner Grod gives only to the just, to His friends, not to those who return again and again to their sins. Can they expect the blessing of God at the birth of the divine Infant? No, but they may be sure that maledictions will descend upon them. My dear children, do all you can to prepare the way of Our Lord; with the Prophet Ezechiel I say to you, " Be con- verted and do penance for all your iniquities; cast away from you all your transgressions by which you have trans- gressed, and make to yourselves a new heart and a new spirit.^' With St. Augustine I call on you to prepare the way of the Lord by ornamenting your souls with the magnificent virtues of sobriety, chastity, and charity. You must make your- selves worthy to receive the loving caresses of the Child Jesus, not only by being sober in eating and drinking, but by being careful and sober in speaking, careful about the books you read. With sobriety practice purity, too. You know how highly Our Lord values that virtue, for He would have no other than an immaculate Mother and He Himself was called the immaculate Lamb. Your thoughts must be pure, also your looks, your words, your affections, and all your actions. By them sbow a pure and innocent heart. With all this you must not forget great love and charity, for what are all virtues without the love of God? St. Augustine shows us in many places how we should love Our Lord. With this great doctor let us say, " I love Thee, Saviour, I desire to love Thee more. Thou art an infinite God and therefore Thou deservest to be loved with 'an infinite love. Sweet Infant Jesus, come to my heart, and do not delay any longer." Thus the saints loved, and the Child Jesus was so pleased with the tenderness of their love that He sometimes visited them and spoke to them words of love. :St. Gustave at the approach of Christmas felt such a love for the coming of Our Lord, that the Blessed Virgin herself came from heaven and placed the Infant Jesus in his arms on Christmas night. Sunday within the Octave of Christmas. 33 St. Laurence Justinian, when he said Mass one Christmas, fell into an ecstasy at the consecration and stood there like one turned to stone. When the acolyte saw this, he went up to him and pushed him, so as to rouse ihim. The saint started as if wakened from a heavy slumber and said: '^ Why, yes, I will go on with the Mass, but what is to be done with this beautiful child? '' What a glorious thing would it not be to 'have such a love for Our Lord! We would then know how to prepare for the birth of the Child Jesus. We would hardly need any in- structions, because love would tell us what to do. He would come and make His throne in our hearts. He would fulfil all our wishes, and give us great graces. SUNDAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF CHEISTMAS. Gospel. Luke ii. 33-40. At that time Joseph^ and Mary, the Mother of Jesus, were wondering at those things, which were spoken con- cerning him. And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary his mother: Behold this child is set for the fall, and for the resurrection of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be contradicted. And thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that out of many hearts thoughts may be revealed. And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was far advanced in years, and had lived with her husband seven years from her virginity. And she was a widow until fourscore and four years; who departed not from the temple, by fastings and prayers serving night and day. Now she at the same hour coming in, confessed to the Lord; and spoke of him to all that looked for the redemption of Israel. And after they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they re- turned into Galilee, into their city Nazareth. And the child grew, and waxed strong, full of wisdom: and the grace of God was in him. THE PEESENTATION" OF OUK LOED IN" THE TEMPLE. Chkistmas is over; with the angels we have sung the beautiful anthem, " Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will." We have witnessed the tears of the Child Jesus, but we know that those tears were 34 The Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple, tears of lave, and for that reason, they did not distress us, but gave us consolation. To-day, with the joy of Christmas still in our hearts, we come with the Holy Family and other pious people to the Temple to witness the ceremony of the Presentation. The first time Our Lord goes out into the world. He directs His Mother to carry Him to church. The moral I wish to draw from this Gospel, dear young people, is, that you should think much of the house of Grod on earth. We must also imitate the example of Christ and while in church beg our dear Lord to inflame our souls more and more with His holy love. There are many who do not love the Church, through some depravity of heart, or the bad example of others. Will such be dear to Jesus? Will He love such as these? Jesus weeps for them. Mary and Joseph heard the great prophecy which Simeon had spoken; they wondered at it, they thanked God for the light bestowed upon Simeon, and also that they had been made instruments of His divine providence. We, too, my dear young people, must rejoice at the honors which God gives His Son, as we must weep when we see Him suffer. Yes, when you see Our Lord honored, feel joyful and be happy; when you see Him despised, be sad of heart. Is not this Jesus your good God? your beloved Eedeemer who shed His precious blood for you? Can you witness the out- rages which are heaped upon Him without resenting them, or at least trying to hinder them? What would you say of a son who saw his father badly used, and looked on carelessly and coldly? Should not a boy feel a natural impulse to defend his father by word and deed? Well, he that loves Jesus Christ should at least feel compassion when His holy religion is insulted. St. Teresa once said that a soul which loves Our Lord would sooner die than see Him despised or neglected. Elias the prophet, not to witness the wicked- ness of the Jewish people, hid himself in a cave, and there Sunday wit kin the Oct(me of Christmas, 35 prayed that God would take him out of this life rather than he should see Him offended. After Simeon had congratulated Mary and Joseph on their glorious future, he spoke of the sorrows that awaited Mary. '^ This child is set for the fall and the resurrection of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be' contradicted; and thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that out of many hearts thoughts may be revealed/' What a terrible prophecy this! Is it possible that this Child, who has come to this world for the salvation of His people, should indeed be the cause of the damnation of many? To whom will He be a ruin? to many in Israel, in the true church. He will be a ruin to infidels and heretics who will not believe in Him; a ruin to the proud who will not bow their heads in humility and faith, and to many Christians. But what Christians will be damned by the com- ing of Christ? Those who are so only in name; who do the works of the heathen and live in sin; who offend and blaspheme Our Lord, even though they were brought up Catholics. This divine Infant will also be the ruin of many young people, of those who from their earliest childhood cared little for Him, drove Him from their hearts to make room for the devil. He will be the utter ruin of those who, not content to lead bad lives themselves, lead others astray by giving bad example or by bad conversation. The divine Infant is presented to-day in the Temple. There is nothing dreadful about Him now; but one day they shall see Him, fierce as a lion; they shall see Him as a God, scattering His thunderbolts among sinners; He will demand of them the strictest account of all their works, of all the souls they have ruined, and of whose eternal damnation they have been the cause. May this prophecy not be realized in you. Then it will be too late to please Him; no more time for mercy, but for justice. There was once a young man at the point of death, who had led a bad life; the priest came and presented the crucifix 36 The Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple, to him to kiss, saying, ^' Here, my son, is your hope/' The young man fixed his eyes on the cross and said, " Yes, you say truly. He is my hope, but He is now the cause of my despair," and these were his last words. Be you, my dear young people, faithful to Jesus, try to know Him well, do not offend Him, but love Him with a great love; then He will be your salvation and eternal life. But, Mary, my mother, what is that prophecy which Simeon makes concerning you: " Thy own soul a sword shall pierce"? In her subsequent life we see the prophecy verified. A sword of sorrow pierced her very soul, when she saw her divine Son insulted, made an object of hatred, crowned with thorns, and cruelly nailed to a cross. Our minds cajinot realize the pain which Mary had to suffer. We know that our sins have been the cause of the Passion and death of Our Lord. Let us, therefore, weep all our life for the sins we have committed, and not renew the Passion of Our Lord or the sufferings of Mary. The Blessed Virgin once appeared to St. Lutgard, looking very sad; the saint asked her why it was so. Mary replied, ^' How can I be joy- ful when so many, day after day, give me new cause of sor- row by again crucifying my most holy Son?" She also ap- peared to Blessed Mcoletta Franciscana with her Child covered with terrible wounds, and said, " See how sinners treat my Son, inflicting on Him mortal wounds, and giving me also fresh cause of sorrow." St. Alphonsus says that when we sin we take the hammer, and most unmercifully pierce the hands and feet of Jesus with nails, and then we turn on Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and plunge the sword of sorrow deep into her soul. But let us follow the story of the Gospel: There was in the Temple at the same time a woman, the daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Aser; she was eighty years old, and after the death of her husband, had remained about the Temple serv- ing the priests and engaged in prayer; she knew Our Lord at once, adored Him, and proclaimed Him the Saviour; Sunday within the Octave of Christ7nas. 37 then, filled with the Holy Ghost, she told them of the mar- vels of God^s mercy, who had at last sent the Messias. You see, my dear young people, how that holy woman who served Our Lord in silence and retirement, deserved so great a grace, so great a light of inspiration, as to be enabled to know Jesus. You, also, should love retirement, love to be near Our Lord in the Temple; speak often to Jesus in prayer, and then the Saviour will bring light to your souls, and speak to your hearts words of eternal life. But there is something else to be considered in the story of this saintly old woman. We have in our cities and vil- lages many who imitate this St. Anna. Let me say some- thing in praise of these: they would willingly remain in the church, day and night, if they were permitted. We call them devotees. They are peculiar in their ways, con- sidered crazy, derided by the good and bad as useless peo- ple; but perhaps they are high in the esteem of God. God gives more light to the simple and unpretending than to the philosophers who are puffed up with the pride of their in- tellect, and use it only to despise what they do not approve. You remember that beautiful story of St. Catharine; she had a great dispute with some learned professors in one of the universities of Alexandria, Egypt, and in the presence of the Emperor Maximian, she so convinced them of their errors, that many became Christians and afterwards suffered mar- tyrdom. It is told of another martyr, who was a poor igno- rant man, a laborer in the field, but who had studied Our Lord crucified; this man, when he had been judged guilty of disrespect to the gods and was condemned to death, made such a grand appeal to the emperor, that the tyrant himself acknowledged he was acting only from hatred of the Chris- tian religion and not for the love of truth. These devotees in the sight of the world are useless, but we know that they have consecrated their lives to the service of God. There are also monks and nuns who spend much of their time in prayer. Are these people to be called pious idlers? Do they 38 The Finding in the Temple, encumber the face of the earth, and should they be scattered as they have been in some countries? 0, how poor and mis- erable human beings are! They let vice walk openly in the world, and take little trouble about it; but when poor Ee- ligious gather together to pray, it makes them desperate, and they do not stop until they have succeeded in suppressing them. The Gospel ends by telling us that Our Lord lived at Nazareth, and grew in age and grace before God and man. My dear young people, strive to grow in goodness, in virtue, and in sanctity, for it is the will of God that we all should be saints. FIRST SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY. Gospel. Luke ii. 42-52. When Jesus was twelve years old they going up into Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast, and having fulfilled the days, when they returned, the child Jesus re- mained in Jerusalem, and his parents knew it not. And thinking that he was in the company, they came a day's journey, and sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. And not finding him, they returned into Jerusalem seeking him. And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple sitting in the midst of the doctors, hearing them and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his wisdom and his answers. And seeing him, they wondered. And his mother said to him: Son, why hast thou done so to us? behold thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. And he said to them: How is it that you sought me? did you not know that I must be about my Father's business? And tliey understood not the word that he spoke unto them. And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth; and was subject to them. And his mother kept all these words in her heart. And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age, and grace with God and men. THE FINDING IN THE TEMPLE. This da/s Gospel is especially adapted for children, who can draw from it, even in their hnmble way of thinking, many -useful lessons. The law of Moses commanded every First Sunday after Ejpijpliamy, 39 man of the Hebrew nation to go to the Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Passover. When Jesus was twelve years old, having come tO' the use of reason ax3cording to human judgment^ He went to Jerusalem with His parents. During the seven days of the feast they remained in the city; then they went back to Nazareth. In those days it was customary for those who attended the Passover to travel in separate bands; the men in one, the women in another, while the children could accompany either. Mary thought that Jesus was with Joseph, and Joseph thought He was with Mary, so, not at all uneasy, they journeyed homeward. When in the evening they came together at the khan, it became evident that the Child Jesus was lost or left in Jerusalem. Eealize, if you can, the dreadful anguish of the heart of Mary at that time. To feel with her on this occasion, we should keep be- fore our minds the tender love she bore Jesus. My dear children, have you ever lost Jesus? Who knows how often? How many times have you ignominiously put Him out of your hearts by sin? You have brought the devil in with great pomp, and placed the demon on the throne which God should occupy. Mary and Joseph lost Our Lord Jesus without their fault; you lost Him because you made up your minds you would no longer keep company with Jesus. And when you had put away this beloved Jesus did you feel the loss? I know that young people who for the first time have lost Jesus by sin really feel that they have committed a -horrible crime. They are tormented in mind, and i^roubled within themselves, fearing, indeed, that the house may tumble over their heads and crush them, or that the earth may open and swallow them. They can find no rest, until they have recourse to- confession and have driven out tho devil and"" reinstated Our Lord. But there are many youths, on the contrary, who do not feel the sting of conscience, or are surprised if they do; who never consider their horrible condition, and remain in it for months and years. Jesus is always near them, even when sent away, and 40 The Finding in the Temple, looks to get back into the soul. His voice is not silent. He tells the poor sinner to open his heart, that He wants to enter there. But many have made a compact with the devil; they have sworn fealty to him and him they wish to serve and no other, because he gives them so many opportunities of gratifying their passions. These souls think they may let Jesus stand beside them, unnoticed, until the end of their lives and that then they will be converted. But they will not find Him then, because they have abused the grace of God. ,Jf any of you have lost Our Lord, lose no time in finding Him at once. And you, my good young people, who have kept Our Lord in your hearts, 0, keep Him there with ten- derness and love, as your greatest treasure; beg of Him most sincerely to keep you near Him. Cultivate in your souls the virtues of humility, obedience, purity, patience, mortifica- tion, and charity, that Jesus, charmed by these precious vir- tues, may remain with you always. Mary and Joseph were very anxious and could not rest, but immediately returned to Jerusalem, knowing that no- where but there and in the Temple would He be found. And there He was sitting, with the doctors attentive around Him: the Child was a prodigy, and excited their admiration; they listened to His explanations of the law, they asked Him questions, and clearly and authoritatively came back the an- swers. It was an admirable instruction that Our Lord gave them. Mary and Joseph found Our Lord in the Temple. My dear young people, if your parents were to look for you during the day or night, would they find you in church or in good com- pany, passing the time in pious conversation? Or would they find you with bad company, engagedi in bad conversa- tion, drinking, cursing, blaspheming, perhaps? As soon 'as Mary saw Jesus she said to Him, '' Son, why hast Thou done so to us? behold. Thy father and I have sought Thee sorrowing." Our Lord answered her: "How is it that you sought Me? Did you not know that I must be First Simday after Epiphomy. 41 about My Fatlier^s business? '' This answer has a very deep meaning. Jesus was the Son of Mary and had come into the world to work for the honor of God His Father, and to do great things for His service. The Child Jesus gives us a great example; He teaches us a great lesson: how we should act toward our parents. We must rather obey God than them, when there is question of the glory and honor of God. You must not be afraid to go to your parents, and lay before them the will of God as you understand it. Sometimes parents are very worldly, and enemies of God's glory in regard to their children; they have views of the future for them which are not at all of God, and consequently should not be followed. There are parents who would rather see their children miserably un- happy for life than to see them become Eeligious dedicated to the service of God. For example, if any of you^ my dear young people, feel that God calls you, that you are fitted for the religious life, that you have patience and fortitude to persevere, then follow the call from God. Many young men who have served the altar from early youth have felt that they had a vocation to consecrate themselves to God; but they resisted, remained in the world, fell into sin, and were lost to their faith. Some young women who have the voca- tion, instead of leaving the paternal roof and going into a convent, marry and live unhappily to the end of their days. Had these young people consecrated themselves to God they would have done much for the glory of God, they would have been glorious instruments in promoting the interests of the Church. St. Augustine wrote to his most intimate friend, Lucius, begging him to embrace a religious life. " See what magnificent talents are going to waste on this foolish world! What a pity that such a bright intellect should amount to so very little. The devil has taken hold of you, and is going to ruin you. Supposing you found a chalice in the street; what would you do with it? you would bring it to the church because it belongs there. You have received 42 The Findvng in the Temjple, golden talents from God; then say ^good-by^ to the devil, and attach yourself to God." St. Stanislaus Kostka considered it one of the greatest faults of his life, that, having felt for certain the call of God in his heart to leave the world, he waited for six months, at the risk of abusing the Lord's friendship and the inestimable grace of the divine vocation. Beg of God with heartfelt sincerity to let you know His holy will; pray to Mary, your angel guardian, and the saints of paradise, that they may intercede with the Holy Ghost for you, so that you may know your duty. Take counsel with your confessor, do not act foolishly, but when you are once certain of what you should do, cut off all ties, howsoever tender they be, and whatever else might place obstacles in the way. Turn a deaf ear to the devil, the world, and the flesh; be prompt as was the boy Samuel, who when God called him, jumped from bed several times, saying, " Here I am, Lord; you have called me." Jesus returned with Mary and Joseph to Nazareth, to the humble station that He held. The Gospel tells us in very- short words what was His principal occupation during these years of His boyhood and youth; He obeyed His parents. You may see Him in the poor carpenter shop of Nazareth, with His saw and ax, working zealously, gaining His liveli- hood by the work of His hands until He reached His thirtieth year. He was Go3, that God who governs the heavens and the earth. children, headstrong, wilful, and independent, learn from Jesus obedience to your parents. Do not cause them to weep over your bad lives, bringing their gray hairs in sorrow to the grave. Honor your parents, love them with a tender and true love, be their delight, and you will have such a reward from God as will astonish you. Jesus grew in wisdom, in age, and grace before God and before man: He was wisdom itself, and how could He grow in wisdom? He was sanctity itself, and how could He be more holy? Still, adapting Himself to our humanity, with every First Sunday after Epiphany, 43 day He manifested those qualities more and more, as suited His age. And people knew this Child and loved Him. What a grace it was for relatives and neighbors to be acquainted with the carpenter's Son! But let us make our reflections. Do our youths grow in piety, devotion, wisdom, and love of God as they advance in years? While children they are good and lovable, but as they reach the years of manhood or womanhood what be- comes of their innocence, their obedience, their loveliness? They have made themselves the slaves of the devil; the devil does not practice such virtues and neither do they. What has become of your devotion? You used to say your beads, and pray morning and night, and had devotion to the Blessed Virgin. Do you still pray to her, or do you not consider this, as well as all other devotions, foolish practices? You had a very tender conscience as a child; the least sin would give you concern, you had much to confess; now it seems that sin does not disturb you, you are as gay after a great sin as if nothing had happened; you do not feel the qualms of conscience, you never go to confession any more. Why do you not act as formerly? The fact is, you have already par- tially lost your faith, and be assured it will not be long before you will have lost it altogether. Such then is the wickedness of your life. In a few years you will be hardened in sin, you will be worse than the Turks or the pagans. How many such youths are there? AVho would believe it unless they had seen it with their own eyes? What a feeling of disappointment it is to all religious educators, when they see all their efforts wasted. you young people, who are still good, pray for them that Our Lord may convert them and bring them back to a sense of their duty. Eecommend to Our Lord those who were your companions in doing good, but now, by their bad example, would make you, too, unfaithful to God. St. Celarinus had a sister who had 3rielded to the fury of the persecution, and offered sacrifice to the idolb. When he 44 The Marriage Feast of Camja, heard of this miserable fear, he clothed himself in sackcloth and fasted severely; even on Easter days he did not cease pra3ring to God that the grace of conversion might be granted her, and he resolved to do this penance until he saw her again reconciled to the Church. St. Dominic prayed whole nights for the conversion of sinners and did penances for them. St. Francis Xavier was so zealous for the conver- sion of sinners that he went about the city of Molacca ring- ing a bell and crying out in a loud voice, that all should pray for those in mortal sin. Do you also pray for those compan- ions of your own age who once were brothers and sisters of Our Lord, but now are slaves of Satan? who at one time went with you to the banquet of the immaculate Lamb, but now live in union with the devil? As for yourselves, stand firm in your faith, be vigilant that you may not fall into the sins of the wicked, grow in grace, in purity, in virtue, in wisdom, in the love of God, and you shall be dear to Our Lord, dear to all mankind, and it will be said of you as it was said of Jesus: " He grew in wisdom, in age, and in grace before God and men." SECOND SUNDAY AFTEE EPIPHANY. Gospel. John ii. 1-11. At that time there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. And Jesus also was invited, and his disciples, to the marriage. And the wine failing, the mother of Jesus saith to him: They have no wine. And Jesus saith to her: Woman, what is to me and to thee? my hour is not yet come. His mother saith to the waiters: Whatsoever he shall say to you, do ye. Now there were set there six water-pots of stone, according to the manner of the purifying of the Jews, con- taining two or three measures apiece. Jesus saith to them: Fill the water-pots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And Jesus saith to them: Draw out now and carry to the chief steward of the feast. And they carried it. And when the chief steward had tasted the water made wine, and knew not whence it was, but the waiters knew who had drawn the water: the chief steward calleth the bridegroom, and saith to him: Every man at first setteth forth Second Sunday after Epiphany, 45 good wine, and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now. This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and he manifested his glory, and his disciples believed in him. THE MARRIAGE FEAST OF CANA. We are all astonished at the fact that Our Lord was pres- ent at the marriage feast of Cana. It is truly wonderful that Our Lord, who practiced mortification in so heroic a degree; who gave us such an example of penitential life, should at the very outset of His public career visit a marriage feast. It was that same Jesus who had just completed His fast of forty days and nights and who afterwards said, " Take up your cross and follow Me," who went as an invited guest to this banquet at which it is usual to find such joyfulness, where language is sometimes unrestrained, where modesty is often not observed, where sobriety and temperance in eating and drinking are not to be found. My dear children, change your surprise into wonder; for Our Lord wished to be there so as to approve an honest mar- riage tie, and to show that it is a great sacrament; and at the same time to show that only that marriage is holy and pleasing to Grod where at least in the hearts of the assembled guests Jesus and Mary are found, and that such a marriage is under His special protection and will receive His divine blessing. It is certain that at this feast there were those who were good and simple, and that there certainly would be no dis- order. Had it been one of those meetings which the worldly and rich of this world attend. Our Lord and the Blessed Vir- gin would not have been there. Should any of you ever be invited to such a feast, think, before you accept the invitation, if those who ask you are good people who observe the law of God; will there be peo- ple there who are good and temperate? If you cannot de- cline the invitation be on your guard; keep a watch over 46 The Marriage Feast of Carta, your eyes and over your thoughts, and above all be temperate, especially in drink. The guests were reclining at the repast; and as it was going on it was noticed that the wine was giving out. Mary soon observed it, and in order that the newly married couple should be spared the shame of making known their poverty, she turned to Our Lord and said to Him, " They have no wine." Mary is really the Mother of providence. If she was so solicitous about the wine, how much more anxious will she be in our spiritual needs? Mary, you have a tender heart! You will surely feel for us, afflicted with such evils; you will help and console us, defend us against the infernal enemy, and you will throw your mantle over us. But if we expect to find all these qualities in Mary, we must honor and love her, and be her tender and devout chil- dren. Mary once said to a youth that was praying: " I feel little concern in your prayers, for you keep impurity in your heart." Never offend the purest of virgins by committing an act of impurity. Be proper and decent; grow every day in de- votion to her. Are you growing cold in her service? Think of her more frequently, and when you go to church pray to her; she is there near the tabernacle, for where Jesus is, there also is His Mother. If you have no devotion, and are careless about her, it seems as if you said, '^Forget me, Mother! I am going to follow the world; I will not be both- ered with the thought of you in the future." And when no more graces come to you; when blindness in your faith and carelessness in practicing it has taken hold of you, you need not be surprised, for you are going away from God. Thomas a Kempls, when a child, had the habit of saying every day a prayer in honor of Mary; but by carelessness he at first forgot it and after a while never thought of it more. Mary, who on her part loved young Thomas, appeared to him one night as he dreamed that he was with some compan- Second Bundcmj after Ejd^Jiany, 47 ions. The Blessed Virgin was very kind, affable even, to the young men, but when she approached Thomas, who thought he too would receive signs of love from her, she said, " Whatl Do you expect a sign of love and regard from me? Have you not forgotten me? Go away! My kindnesses are not for such as you." The vision or dream was over, but it made such a great impression on the youth's mind that he began his devotions again and was careful not to omit them in the future. Mary, having told Jesus that the wine was out. He an- swered: *^ Woman, what is to Me and to thee? My hour is not yet come." If this answer had been given to any one of us, we surely would have despaired of having our petition granted. But Mary did not think so. She was, in fact, sure He was going to work a miracle, for she went to the servants and told them to do everything He commanded. Did Our Lord wish to seem harsh to His Mother, and not listen to her prayer? He was not harsh nor disrespectful. Immediately, though His hour had not yet come. He heard her prayer. The Lord does the same to us. Often He seems not to hear our prayers, in fact He acts as if He did not want to hear them. But He does hear them nevertheless, and gives us a great deal more than we have asked for. God does His work of kindness to man as He wants us to do our works of charity, quietly and in secret; so that the left hand may not know what the right hand does. And still it may really be a fact that He does not hear our prayer, for the simple reason that we do not pray in the right manner. We must pray with attention; our whole soul must be on the subject of our prayer; we must pray with unlimited confidence in God's power, kindness, and willing- ness; at the same time always add a littb prayer that God may keep you from sin, which is the greatest gift He can give you. Add this to your other petitions and your prayer will appear less selfish; God will grant you much for this con- sideration. 48 The Marriage Feast of Cana, Read this example of long-continued prayer. For seven- teen years St. Monica prayed for the conversion of Augus- tine, her son. The more she prayed the deeper he seemed to fall into heresy and sin. Monica followed him everywhere with motherly love, and continued her prayers. At last she was heard but how? She obtained a great deal more than she asked for. He went to the church and was baptized by St. Ambrose. Nor was this all. He was shortly after- wards made a priest, and then a bishop. Monica asked only for his conversion, but this was too little for God, who had heard her prayer. He prepared the way for greater gifts and graces. He became the scourge of heretics, a column of the Church, a doctor teaching all nations, and a great saint. The prayer of St. Monica was well made. From this you can form a very good idea how prayers should be said. At the wedding of Cana there were in the house six large stone water-pots. Our Lord then said to the servants: ^'Fill the water-pots with water,'' and they filled them to the brim. " Take some to the master of the servers and let him taste.'' The water had been made wdne at that instant. They were astonished; it was a remarkable miracle. The wine was even better than that which they had had. Our Lord worked this miracle at the prayer of the Blessed Virgin for the con- solation of a poor family. For the happiness of good people He worked His first miracle and manifested His divine power. It was the custom in those days to give the best wine first, and when men had well drunk then that which was poorer. The world gives us pleasures, honors, and riches in our youth. But at the end of life, when we see that we have lost so much time, that great treasure which is only appreciated at death, the bad wine of sorrow and regret is served. That will be the bitter wine perhaps of repentance, perhaps of despair. But for the good Our Lord reserves at the end the wine of happiness, the memory of our sweet communions, of devotions to Mary, and of what we have suffered for Jesus. Third Sunday after Ejpijpham>y. 49 In peace we will close our eyes to the light of this world to open them to the brightness of paradise. Be not fond of the wine of the world, which intoxicates and renders us foolish, but follow Our Lord and Saviour, who will give us the spiritual wine of divine consolation. When the world shall have left us, Jesus alone will remain with us, and that will be all that we can desire. THIKD SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY. Gospel. Matt. viii. 1-13. Ai that time when Jesus was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him: and behold a leper came and adored him, saying: Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus, stretching forth his hand, touched him, saying: I will, be thou made clean. And forthwith his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus saith to him: See thou tell no man: but go show thyself to the priest, and offer the gift which Moses commanded for a testimony unto them. And when he had entered into Caphar- naum, there came to him a centurion, beseeching him, and saying: Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, and is grievously tormented. And Jesus saith to him: I will come and heal him. And the centurion, making answer, said: Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldst enter under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant shall be healed. For I also am a man subject to authority, having under me soldiers; and I say to this: Go, and he goeth; and to another: Come, and he cometh; and to my servant: Do this, and he doth it. And Jesus hearing this, marvelled ; and said to them that followed him: Amen I say to you, I have not found so great faith in Israel. And I say to you that many shall come from the east and the west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven; but the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into the exterior darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. And Jesus said to the centurion: Go, and as thou hast believed, so be it done to thee. And the servant was healed at the same hour. THE LEPER THE FAITH OF THE CENTURION". Okoe when Our Lord was coming down from a mountain, followed by a great crowd of people. He entered the city of 50 The Lejper TTie Faith of the Centurion, Capharnaum. At the city gates there was a poor leper, who, bowing down profoundly, addressed Jesus and cried out: " Lord! if Thou wilt. Thou canst make me clean." Leprosy is a very filthy, disgusting disease. The whole body is covered with a false dry skin like scales, so that the person becomes a most hideous and loathsome object. In the East and in this country, too, leprosy is considered con- tagious, and the laws of sanitary boards separate people afflicted with it from those that are well, and will not allow lepers to come into the cities. This picture is but a very in- significant description of leprosy. You must see it to know how loathsome it really is. When you read the description of leprosy think of that other kind of leprosy of the soul, for sin is the leprosy of the soul, and is as filthy and more so than the leprosy of the body. Yes, it is the leprosy of sin that makes the soul a horrible sight before God and the angels. The leprous souls that live in so many human bodies in cities and villages are not subject to any laws. They can remain where they please, and still we know that nothing is more contagious than the leprosy of sin. Thus it is that sin is continually growing and spreading, until we find it in every nook and comer of the world. How rare it is to find youths not infected with some vice or other! How few are untouched by this contagion, or who have preserved their baptismal innocence! If you are already covered with the leprosy of sin, ah, then cry out: "Lord, you see how miserable my condition is! Heal me cleanse me. You see that my mouth is infected be- cause such bad words, blasphemies, and curses are continually flowing from it. You see, Lord, that my body and my senses are infected with this terrible disease, for it induces the soul to commit the sins of impurity." If you pray in this manner, humbly and confidently, you will hear in your soul the consoling words, " Yes, I will help you to overcome that vice. I will forgive you and give you the grace of remaining good.'' Third ^wndoAj after Ejpijphany, 51 But Oiur Lord adds: "Gro and show yourselves to the priest/' The priest is the minister of God. He will extend his hands over you, and you will be made whiter than snow. You will start up into a new life, in which you will acquire again the merits of your good actions, which would never have been any benefit to you unless you had thus repented. From slaves of Satan you will become adopted sons of God, co-heirs with Jesus Christ. But remember well, my beloved children, that you must have a good will. St. Augustine says that God cures all evils, but only those which we really want to be cured. The unhappy leper really wished to be healed, for he realized the sad condition he was in, and Jesus immediately extended His hand and touched him. We admire the power of Christ, for at once the whole body was healed. It was again full of vigor and health. Jesus did not give him time to burst out in sentiments of wonder, exultation or gratitude, but said: *^ See thou tell no man, but go, show thyself to the priest." The man obeyed, and as he went he could not help letting people know what Jesus had done for him. The fame of this miracle spread about the country and drew many to look for help from Our Lord. There was in Caphamaum a centurion, a soldier and a heathen, whose servant lay at the point of death. He came to Our Lord and laid his trouble before Him: "My servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, and is grievously tormented.'' " I will come and heal him," said Our Lord. But the cen- turion did not expect so great a favor; he repeated those ad- mirable words: " Lord I am not worthy that Thou shouldst enter under my roof, but only say the word and my servant shall be healed." These words are so applicable to all poor sinners who are about to receive the visit of the Lord, that the Church has borrowed them and uses them three times when communion is to be given. We should repeat them with a heart full of confusion, because even though we possessed the purity of 52 The Lejper The Faith of the Centurion, an angel and the sanctity of John the Baptist, we would not be worthy to receive in our heart Our Lord Jesus. There- fore ought we do all in our power to be free from sin, that we might be the less unworthy to receive Jesus in the great Sac- rament of His love. There are few young people who are so impressed with the sublimity of this holy Sacrament that they approach it with sentiments of respect and veneration. On the contrary they generally go without proper dispositions. They do not en- deavor to excite in themselves the sentiments of devotion and love of God which are required to make a good commun- ion. But there are many, too, who are unworthy to receive Jesus in their heart because their souls are blackened with crime. They defile their tongues with impure conversations, and they dare to receive on them the body of Christ. They defile their bodies with impurities and into these they dare to introduce the Holy of holies. They give scandal and they wish to receive Jesus. They go to confession and if the priest refuse them abso- lution because he sees no signs of amendment, they go to another, who is easier, so that they may get through. How blind such young people are! They do not comprehend that they are making a bad communion. Go, of course, frequently to communion, but do so with a pure heart, and free from sin, full of humility, reverence, and love. When the time approaches for communion, call on the angels, the archangels and all the holy spirits, and beg of them to accompany you to the banquet of Our Lord. When Our Lord heard the humble words of the centurion He was struck with astonishment and said, "Amen, I say to you, I have not found so great a faith in Israel." It was certainly a great act of faith, and that was the reason it drew on the centurion that commendation which the Lord seldom gave. The centurion trusted in the power and goodness of Our Lord. He knew, too, that it was not necessary for Our Third Sunday after EjpijpJiany, 63 Lord to come to his house. He knew He was God, or at least had the power of God at His command. For this faith and trust Our Lord broke forth into unusual praise. Even among faithful Christians it is rare to find those who really trust in God. They put trust in their friends, in their own smartness and strength, but they do not remember that they have a God at their command to whom they may go with all confidence. We trust too much to our friends in many things and even prefer them to God. Here is a young man who, meeting his companions, goes with them to lunch. It is Friday. The young man refuses to eat meat, but his com- panions persuade him. " Oh, eat it! What wrong can there be? " He yields, and the sin is committed. Another meets a companion on the street. "Where are you going? '^ " To hear a sermon," is the reply. " Oh, don't be so foolish as to sit there to listen to such an insignificant preacher. That is good enough for doting old people or pious women. Come, let us go to the theatre. You will see nice things; you will laugh and be happier there than in church." He goes out of friendship for his companion. He witnesses the derision of his religion, or immoral scenes; he sees many things that please the eye and stir his sensuality. He hears many improper things; his mind is filled with loose sayings and bad thoughts, and all this has happened simply to please a friend. You see then how obsequious you are to your friends, but of God and Christ you make no account. When Our Lord had said the words of commendation to the centurion He added: "Many shall come from the east and the west and shall sit down with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, but the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into the exterior darkness." God is merciful to all; He calls all; but they must have the faith of the centurion. Then He turned again to the centurion and said, " Go, and as thou hast believed so be it done to thee." That same moment the servant was healed, and when the centurion arrived home he found the man perfectly re- 64: The Lejper The Faith of the Centurion. stored to health. Just reflect a moment on these words of Our Lord. " The children of the kingdom shall be cast out into the exterior darkness; there shall be weeping and gnash- ing of teeth.'' Terrible words; but which will prove as true to many Christians as they were to many of the Jews. Not a day passes but many infidels and idolaters come to the faith, are converted, and enter the kingdom of God, while many Christians bom in the faith, brought up and educated in it, perish miserably in eternal damnation. A damned soul once returned to the earth and asked whether there were any good people still on earth, for he had seen such innumerable mul- titudes going to hell that he thought there could not be one left. St. Bernard understood so well the misery of those who went to hell that he used to say, '' If out of all the human race, who number thousands of millions of souls, it were known that only one was to go to hell, I would tremble with fear lest I should be that miserable one." 0, my dear young people, let us make up our minds that we will not be of the number of the wicked Christians who will lose their places in heaven which were marked out for them from all eternity had they remained faithful. Are we, the sons of the king- dom, we, the adopted sons of God, to be excluded from our future heritage in heaven and thrown out into darkness? Oh, since the Lord has been so good to us that we have re- ceived the grace of being born in a Christian family, let us beg also the grace to remain faithful to Christ and love Him so dearly that we may enter the heavenly kingdom which is ours by right. At the same time knowing that many places are left vacant in heaven by bad Christians, let us beg Our Lord to send His light to the east and west and bring many to occupy these seats of glory. Fourth Sunday after Ejpi^ham^y. 55 FOUETH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY. Gospel. Matt. viii. 23-27. At that time when Jesus entered into the boat, his disciples followed him; and behold a great tempest arose in the sea, so that the boat was covered with waves; but he wa asleep. And his disciples came to him, and awaked him, say- ing: Lord, save us, we perish. And Jesus saith to them. Why are you fearful, O ye of little faith? Then rising up he commanded the winds, and the sea; and there came a great calm. But the men wondered, saying, What manner of man is this, for the winds and the sea obey him? JESUS IN" A STOBM ON THE LAKE. It was in the evening after a day of very hard work, dur- ing which Our Lord had performed miracles, and preached the new Gospel to the multitudes which continually followed Him, that He took His disciples with Him in a small ship over to the other side of the lake. Had any one, impressed with faith in Our Lord's divinity, seen this company get- ting into that boat, they would certainly say that it would have a prosperous journey, the wind would blow most favor- ably, the waves would be quiet, the waters would feel the happiness of the nearness of their Creator. We would think ourselves happy to be \vith Jesus on that ship. But Our Lord intended a different voyage: scarcely had the boat left the shore, than the wind began to increase and a great squall arose. The boat was very small, and every moment the angry waters threatened to engulf it. We read of many saints who have been able to govern the waters, and make them help them in their designs for the glory of God. St. Francis spread his mantle over the waves, and he and his com- panions got on it, and in this way travelled from Africa to Eome, wafted by gentle breezes and carried by quiet waters and tides. But when Jesus was on the water, could He do nothing? Was it true that His disciples were to do greater things than He ever did? Perhaps it was Judas that brought 56 Jesus i/n a Storm on the Lake. this severe etorm on the frail vessel. Some Fathers of the Church say that this tempest was a figure of the battles which the Church has to undergo in this world. From its very es- tablishment, the Church had to suffer many persecutions; powerful kings and tyrants rose against it, they sought to destroy it by every means that human ingenuity or cruelty could invent. They would have succeeded had not God kept the promise which He made, that the gates of hell shall not prevail against His Church. In fact, the contrary happened; while the enemies of the Church thought they had destroyed it, they spread it all over the world. The greater the per- secution the greater became the number of the faithful. Even at this very day there are men who make war on the bark of Peter, in order to sink it and to remove from the world our holy religion. But it will be found that their efforts are useless. We can confidently repeat, " The gates of hell shall not prevail against the Church." Many others, too, there are, "w^ho though they do not persecute the Church, still lead such wicked lives that they render her no honor. But you, my dear young people, will be good and obedient chil- dren of the Church, that in all her persecutions she may be consoled by witnessing the sanctity of your lives. We are sailing over a tempestuous sea, where there are many storms to be encountered. Happy those who do not suffer shipwreck. To avoid this terrible shipwreck and to arrive safely in the port of heaven we must labor diligently, we must be vigilant and on our guard. When a ship goes out from port, laden with rich merchandise, with precious treas- ures, how careful the captain is, how obedient and prompt are the sailors in guiding the vessel, so that it may not run on a sand-bar or be dashed to pieces on a rock. Should a storm come up, how vigilant are all the officers; what labors do they not undergo, they do not spare themselves in any manner until the danger is over. With the same vigilance you must guide the little ship, your soul; watch day and nigiht, watch when you think there is a calm, and you are Fourth Sunday after Ejpi^houny, 57 in security, when the devil does not tempt you; for when you least expect it, he will raise a most furious storm of temptations in your soul. Watch when you think yourself strong; watoh with unceasing care as Our Lord said to the Apostles: " Watch ye and pray that ye enter not into tempta- tion/' St. Anthony said to his disciples, " I counsel you, my sons, to have vigilance over your hearts, for we have many enemies who can destroy them." When the devil sees Chris- tians attentive to their spiritual life, he attacks them with temptations and spreads over them his net of bad thoughts to make them fall into sin. Prayer, vigils, fasts, the sign of the cross, faith, trust in God, humility, and a great love of Jesus Christ will put 'him to flight. But to return t;o the ship. If a vessel strikes a rock, all is generally lost, while if the soul falls into sin, she can quickly rise again. By the grace of God, a plank, which is the Sacra- ment of Penance, is thrown out to her, by which she can still reach the haven of heaven. But how few there are who look for this plank; how many have indeed found it, but use it badly, by making bad confessions! It is most absurd to be careless of shipwreck because we may find the means of being saved. WouM any one say to the captain of a ship, " Do not be so careful; the wreck will produce many pieces of wood by which we can save ourselves." What would become of the valuable freight which the sihip bears? Your soul is a rich treasure when alive in the grace of God; if a single mortal sin should creep into that soul, it would die to God, and those great, magnificent Christian virtues you practised with so much attention would be lost; they would no longer give us the right to a reward in para- dise. Oh, how often this happens! Let us look at that good youth, who by means of a pious education received from his parents, by his good will and vigilance over himself, keeps his baptismal innocence; goes to his first communion, and loves Our Lord his Saviour. What treasures of grace he ac- cumulates! Afterwards, unhappily, grown tired of watchful- 58 Jesus in a Storm on the Lake. ness, he falls into a great sin. What a dreadful wreck, which should be deplored with the bitterest tears. In one instant he has robbed himself of all the treasures he had gathered; he is dead before Grod. Behold how sin robs us of our most precious treasures! Oh, that he 'had made some more deter- mined effort of resistance! Oh, had he but invoked the names of Jesus and Mary sincerely, he would not have fallen into sin. What a dreadful monster from hell is sin; it is worse than the lightning stroke that melts all the gold in the money chest, for sin so destroys and devours all our good works that they cannot be accounted to our credit for eternal life. It is true that as soon as we repent, our good works revive again by God's infinite kindness; still, many who fall into sin obstinately remain in it, and vain is their former goodness. Let me impress upon your minds, my young people, the disastrous results of overconfidence in being saved. A youth who had lived a bad life had a strong inspiration to give up his evil ways. He wrote down his sins, so as to make a general confession more easily and fully, ajid was on his way to church, when the thought came into his mind: I will com- mit that sin once more; it will not matter much, a few times more or less, and it is just as easy to confess; this will cer- tainly be the last time. He gave way to the temptation, committed the sin again, and, in coming from the house, was killed by an enemy. Be ye, my dear young people, always on your guard; you are still innocent; make every effort to remain so, that the little vessel of your soul may 'arrive safely in port. A ship well furnished, and provided with all necessaries, guided by an expert pilot, will be able to cope with the fiercest tempest and will surely enter the harbor in triumph. My dear young people, you are young and inexperienced as yet; put yourselves under the management of a skilful pilot, who knows the dangers of life and how to avoid them. The confessor is your pilot; let him give you full instruc- Fourth Sunday after JEjpijphany . 59 tions in your conduct, and then have recourse to God in prayer; imitate the example of the Apostles, who, when the danger was greatest, went with confidence to Our Lord and said, ^^ Lord, have you no care for us; why do you abandon us? " Our Lord will rouse Himself from sleep at your cries, and will say half encouragingly, half complainingly, " Why are you fearful, ye of little faith? Is this your confidence in Me? Has My grace done so very little for you?" Then He will command the sea of disturbance to be oalm, and you will be astonished at the power and the love of Our Lord; you will say with the Apostles, " Wlio ifl this, thinkest thou, that both wind and sea obey Him? '' Yes, my young friends, have a most lively faith in Jesus, and when any temptation allures you, or when in danger, cry out with the Apostles, " Master, doth it not concern Thee that we perish? " When you had the misfortune to fall into sin, was it not because you neglected to call on Our Lord for help? on the contrary, did you not oome out of tempta- tion unscathed when you flew to the Almighty for protec- tion? Then always have recourse to God; remember that He loves you more than you can ever realize, and. be sure He will not allow you to be tempted beyond your strength. If He should give the devil permission to try yon by temptation, you may be certain He 'has set a limit, beyond which he can- not go; the chained dog may make a great noise but he can do no harm. Do you really believe that anything would have 'happened to the bark tossed on the lake? Not at all. It is the same with ourselves. Do not imagine that any misfortune will happen to you if you trustingly confide in God. St. Anthony, after having put to flight a great number of devils, sending forth a profound sigh to Our Lord said, "Where, dear Jesus, were you? Wliy did you not come sooner to help me?'^ Our Lord answered, "Anthony, I was with you all the time, and saw your struggles; you were tempted that you might be strengthened in virtue; you have 60 The Good Seed and the Bad Sown into it. fought well, and hereafter, you need not fear your ene- mies." In this way will God act toward you, if in your temptations you have recourse to Him. FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY. Gospel. Matt. ^i\i. 24-30. At that time: Jesus spoke this parable to the multitude, saying: The kingdom of heaven is likened to a man that sowed good seed in his field: but while men were asleep, his enemy came and oversowed cockle among the wheat, and went his way. And when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared also the cockle. Then the servants of the good man of the house coming said to him: Sir, didst thou not sow good seed in thy field? whence then hath it cockle? And he said to them: An enemy hath done this. And the servants said to him: Wilt thou that we go and gather it up ? And he said : No : lest perhaps gather- ing up the cockle, you root up the wheat also together with it. Suffer both to grow until the harvest, and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers: Gather up first the cockle, and bind it in bundles to burn; but the wheat gather ye into my baxn. THE GOOD SEED AND THE BAD SOWN INTO IT. The kingdom of God is like to a man that sowed good seed in his field. But in the night when all slept, the enemy cQm.e and over it sowed cockle and spoiled all the work. We can easily see what will happen, when, over the good seed, bad is sown. The whole future crop will be ruined to a cer- tainty. This good husbandman, who cultivated his land so care- fully, is God, our most loving Saviour, who came to redeem U8 and give His life for us. The field in which the good seed falls is the world; but you can take it to be your heart also, and the enemy who ows cockle ie the devil. What happened to the field also happens to us. God is the good husbandman of our souls. What good seed does He not sow in us? Holy inspirations, holy thoughts, thoughts to do what is right, to make progress in fervor and devotion, and in His holy love. Fifth Sunday after EjpijpTumy, 61 He also sows good seed in our hearts when He comes to dwell there in holy communion. He produces there every virtue and takes away every vice. But rare iudeed are the youths who joyfully receive the good seed which Our Lord plants. On the contrary, many desire the bad. They even invite the devil to come, and give him perfect liberty to do as he pleases. The result is bad thoughts, most perverse desires, a disgust for all that is good, bad actions, a life of wickedness, so that if you could take a look into their hearts you would see an otherwise pleasant field filled with brambles and thorns and covered with poison- ous plants. When does this sower of bad seed come to do this mischief ? He does it at night, when people are not watchful; when they are idle and inclined to sleep; not car- ing to strengthen themselves with prayer and the use of the sacraments; when with all their might they do not fly the occasions of sin; in short when they fall asleep in the practice of virtue. It is then that the enemy secretly enters. Ah, my dear young people, watch most carefully that the devil may find no entrance to do this evil to your innocent hearts. He has a trick of making his bad work look insignificant, but soon the seed will take such deep root that it will be almost impossible to eradicate the evil. The devil needs very little to gain possession of your souls. A little concession on your part is all he wants. In fact the devil needed nothing more from David than a look from afar. Could he ask less from so saintly a man, the favorite of almighty God? St. Francis of Assifii once said to his companions, " Do not let the devil have a hold of a single hair of your head, for no sooner has he that in hand than he will drag you to anything." Great is the care we must exercise, then, in avoiding the snares laid for us. But, St. Bernard says, the devil can harm only those who wish to be harmed. After the field had received this double sowing, every day it showed more plainly that there had been bad work done. The servants saw this^ and full of affiction they hastened to '62 The Good Seed and the Bad Sown into it, the master and said, " Didst thou not sow good seed in thy field? whence then hath it cockle?" The lord answered, "It is certainly not my sowing; an enemy has done this." " What are we to do now? Would it not be well if we pulled the bad weeds out so as to clear the field of it? " " Do not do that," said the master, "far the good seed would suffer by it. Let both grow together, and let both ripen. Then I will give my orders to the reapers: Gather up first the cockle and bind it into bundles to bum, but the wheat gather ye into my bam." This cockle is a figure of the wicked Christians, eons of the devil, who live with the good. How much of this bad seed and bad crops are to be found in the field of the Church? Bad Christians have chosen the devil as their master, and they seek to do his will. They even go further, and are worse than the devil himself. They become adepts in vice: by their bad words, their wicked deeds, and bad example (which the devil has not power to show), they sow evil on all sides. How many innocent youths do they precipitate into sin! Some of you, my dear young people, even at this early period of your life, have cause to shed bitter tears for having trampled under foot your purity. The devil could not cause so much evil unless he were well seconded by so many of 'his sons; by so many scandalous companions; these are they vrho fill the whole world with their crimes. But we see 'here the great mercy of Grod. All creatures, the ministers of God's Justice, clamor for extermination of these sinners. The water cries out, "I will drown these wicked sinners! " The fire leaps up to reduce them to ashes. The earth would open a great chasm to suck in these wretches. The whole world groans under this load of sin, and would be happy to shake off this burden of iniquity. But God in His infinite patience restrains the elements so that they do no harm, for He allows the sun to shine on the good and on the bad, and the beneficent rain to fall on all. St. Augustine laments most beautifully his own condition. " I Fifth Svmday after Epvphany, 63 sinned and you appeared not to notice it. I did not refrain from crime but you refrained from punishment. I continued a long time to commit sin but you continued your love toward me/' But will God always act in tbis manner toward those who will not be converted? The day of vengeance will come. God, sitting on a throne from which proceeds thunder and lightning, will come in His great majesty and will command His angels to separate the cockle from the wheat. He will make bundles of the wicked youths who are present in the Church only to make fun of religion, of the Blessed Virgin, and the saints; bundles of so many insolent youths, dis- obedient men, who seem to live only to give trouble to their superiors; bundles of the evil-tongued ones that destroy the innocence of others; bundles of so many scandalous youths, w'ho are a disgrace to Christianity; bundles of those irreligi- ous, unbelieving miscreants, who destroy the precious deposit of faith in others. All these will be put into bundles to bum for all eternity. The only good that comes from their lives is that they show forth the terrible judgment of God and of His justice. The great evil of the world is that while its young people hear the menaces of God they care very little for the threats and still continue in their wicked ways. Father Segneri gives us an example which will illustrate all that I 'have said. The Emperor Yalens is conceded by all to have been a most wicked man. He persecuted the Catholic Church and showed great favor to the Arians, who had done so much injury to religion. God almighty was at length moved by the groans of the suffering Church and raised the Whole West against the East and Vailens took the field. A holy hermit, who had his home in a cave in the mountain, came down and went to visit the emperor. '^ Em- peror," said *he, " open the churches you have closed and you will return victorious if not you shall die on the field of battle." Valens heard him, but said he was crazy, and con- tinued his march. The hermit had a mission from God and 64 The Good Seed omd the Bad Sown mto it. was not discouraged. Again he met the emperor and re- peated the same words. The impious Valens was struck with them, but thought it weakness on the one side to yield, and still on the other it seemed to him temerity not to heed the warning. He convoked a council that day, but as they were Arians they emboldened him and even had the hermit pun- ished. But a third time the monk made 'his appearance and tak- ing hold of the reins of the emperor's horse, he said: " I have come back to warn you for the last time. Open the churches and you will 'conquer your enemies ^otherwise you will die on the field.'' Angry at this interruption the emperor had the man thrown down a precipice where they expected him to find his death. No sooner had the army passed than three angels dressed in white drew him from the precipice not only uninjured but without a scratch on his body. Then taking a short path 'he once more presented himself to the emperor. The emperor had him seized and thrown into prison until the return of the army from battle, when the hermit was to be chastised well. ^' You will never return," said the hermit. " You will go into battle and will be beaten. You will have to flee and at last you will fall into the hands of your enemies who will bum you at the stake." All that the holy monk had predicted came to pass. The emperor went to battle and suffered a severe repulse and his army was put to flight. The emperor himself sought refuge in a haystack, and when the enemy came they set fire to it and he was burned alive. This emperor was indeed a blind and hardened wretch, who had many warnings from the man of Grod. But many sinners are muc^h worse, for they hear repeated warnings, and all to no purpose. How many warn- ings the confessor gives to his youthful penitent. " If you continue such a life," he will say, " so dissipated, devotionless, without prayer, you will fall into mortal sin. If you do not cease that immodest talk that you delight in, you will fall into the most horrible forms of that sin. If you do not guard Fifth Sunday after Ejpijphany. 65 yO'Ur eyes you will fill your heart with many different distrac- tions which will draw you from God, and you will gradually sink into the death of sin." These warning's are heard but not heeded; prayer is neglected, bad talk is continued and bad companionship is looked for. Be not hardened, but heed these threats. God makes them to warn you. If up to the present you have been with the very bad crop, you can change your whole life; you can become wheat; your nature can be changed to such a degree that the cockle will produce good wheat. What and where is that heavenly bam into which the Master is about to gather all His wheat? It is paradise, where the good shall have joy for all eternity. They will be in that bam secure from all injury. It is the good wheat and the precious fruit that are well kept for future use. The fruit is now harvested and protected from the cold rains. No longer the hot, oppressive sun burns it; no more do the storms worry it; it is safely hidden away in paradise. This will also be a great joy to the elect, who no longer need stand in the midst of the wicked band so hateful to God and so oppressive to the good. There are no more tares since there is no more bad seed; all is pure wheat. All in heaven adore God, together all love Him, all bless Him; there are none that will not do' glory to God. Would it not be dreadful if one of you were excluded from that beautiful eternal home for one sin? A rich man lost in one evening at play his beautiful home and was put out of it, a beggar. He never could pass it after- ward but tears gushed from his eyes as he thought tO' him- self: " What a fool I have been! In one night, for the pleas- ure of a game, I risked and lost my beautiful home. All my life I must be a houseless vagrant, for I am too old to amass enough to purchase another home." What will the thoughts of the damned be when they see the places in paradise which would have been theirs had they only made a little effort? But, for a momentary pleasure, they sacrifioed all. 66 The Musta/rd Seed The Le