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I LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, t 
 
 ^ 
 
 |IJMTED STATES OF AMERICA. J 
 
I GOOD THOUGHTS 
 
 FOB 
 
 PRIEST AND PEOPLE, 
 
 OR SHORT 
 
 Pj;ditati0nis Ux (Bxtt^ §^ k ih ^m, 
 
 ON THE 
 
 GOSPELS OF THE SUNDAYS AI^D FESTIVALS, 
 
 TOGETHER WITH 
 
 EXERCISES FOR A THREE DAYS' RETREAT. 
 
 TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN 
 
 By Eev. THEODORE NOETHEN, 
 Pastob or THE Holt Cboss, Ai^bant, N. Y. 
 
 WITH THE APPROBATION OF THE Kt. Eev. BISHOP OF ALBANY. 
 
 •co^'" 
 
 of Co... 
 
 In my meditation a fire shall flam^xnit.—FsAJM. xxxyUifi, 
 
 ^ ALBANY: 
 WEED, PAESONS AND COMPANY, PBINTEIIS. 
 1866. 
 

 Entered acccording to act of Congress, in the year eigliteen hundred and 
 
 sixty-six, 
 
 By Rev. THEODORE NOETHEN, 
 
 in the Cleric's oflSce of the District Court of the United States for the 
 iSTorthern District of New York. 
 
 IMPRIMATUR. 
 AliBANI^ FESTO IMMACTJIiAT^ CONCEPTIOXIS B. M. V., 1865. 
 t JOANNES JOSEPHUS CON ROY, 
 
 Episcopus Albanensis. 
 
PKEFAOE. 
 
 OxE of the means by wbicli we can best sanctify ourselves, 
 is to meditate daily upon the eternal truths, and also by 
 making a yearly retreat. 
 
 This book is a manual, intended for the use of every one, 
 for the wealthy as well as for those who are obliged to earn 
 their bread by the sweat of their brow. 
 
 It will take but a short time to perform these pious exer- 
 cises, and it will be a source of rich nourishment to the soul, 
 if we meditate during the day upon what we have read in 
 the morning. 
 
 And should this not be a matter of great importance to us 
 all, since our Savior says: "But one thing is necessary" 
 (Luke X, 24), that is, to save our soul, and "What doth it 
 profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and lose his own 
 soul?" (Matt, xvi, 26.) 
 
 In such a manner the true Christian passes through time 
 without for a moment forgetting eternity. 
 
 If priests desire to make use of this manual, they will find 
 contained therein excellent and sufficient matter for sermons, 
 as well as wholesome advice for the confessional. 
 
 THE TRANSLATOR. 
 
 Albany, Feast of All Saints, 1865. 
 
The following letter of the Holy Father was received by the 
 Bev. Translator: 
 
 PERILLUSTBIS ET ADM. Revdb. Dne Dne Obsme. : 
 
 Cum utilissimum sit fidelibus assequi spiritum Ecclesiae in iis quae per ritus suos 
 sacraque officia fidelibus ipsa quotannis obvertere consuevit, cumque non minoria 
 emolumenti sit iis gesta sanctorum recolere, quae quotidie imitanda proponuntur, 
 SSmus Dom.inus Pius IX acceptissima habuit oblata a te volumina, et optime te 
 meruisse censuit non modo de plebe tua, sed et de anglica gente universa per annum 
 ecclesiasticum ac vitas sanctorum, quas e germanica lingua in anglicam vertendas 
 suscepisti. Itaque etsi haec opera legere nequivcrit, tibi tamen gratulatur, illisque 
 amplam ominatur propagationem paremque fructum. Tibi vero celestis gratiae 
 auspicem paternaeque suae benevolentiae pignus Apostolicam Benedictionem pera- 
 manter impertit. 
 
 Haec tibi ex munere mihi credito ultro libenterque ego referens, peculiaris obser- 
 vantiae meae testimonium tibi exhibeo, cui adprecor a Deo fausta omnia et salutaria. 
 Tui Perillustris et adm. Rnde. Dne. Dne. Obsme, 
 
 Addictissmus et obsmus famulus, 
 
 FRAJSTCISCUS MERCUBELLI, 
 ROMAE, die 21 Aprilis, 1866. SSmi, Dni. Nsti. ab epistoUs latinis, 
 
 Perillustri et adm. Rndo. Dno. Dno. Obsmo. Dno. Tbceodoeo Noethen", 
 
 Parocho Ecclesiae Sanctae Cruris AWanensis, Albaniam. 
 
 Rev. and Dear Sir : 
 
 As it Is most useful for ttie faithful to follow in spirit whatever the Church presents 
 to them by means of her rites and sacred offices, and as it is equally beneficial for 
 them to meditate upon the glorious deeds of the Saints whose examples are every 
 day proposed to them for imitation, therefore Our Holy Father Pope Pitrs IX accepts 
 most willingly the volumes which you have presented to him, and he considers that 
 you are deserving of the highest praise on account of your translation, not only from 
 your own people, but also from the entire English public. Although he does not 
 understand the language into which you have translated the "Ecclesiastical Year" 
 and the "Lives of the Saints," he nevertheless congratulates you upon what you have 
 done, and predicts for them a wide circulation and most profitable results. He 
 imparts to you his Apostolic Benediction as a pledge of heavenly grace and of his 
 most paternal affection. 
 
 By virtue of our office we make known to you the wishes of his Holiness the Pope, 
 and at the same time we assure you of our own distinguished regards. 
 
 Praying that God may shower upon you His choicest blessings, 
 
 We remain. Reverend and Dear Sir, 
 
 Your humble and obedient servant, 
 
 FRANCISCTJS MERCURELLI, 
 Rome, April 2lst, 1866. Secretary to His Holiness the Pope. 
 
 Rev. Theodore Noethen, 
 
 Pastor of tfie Church of the Holy Cross, Albany, N. Y. 
 
FIRST WEEK IN ADVENT. 
 
 Gospel: — Luke xxi, 25-43. At that time, Jesus said to his disciples: 
 There shall be signs, etc. 
 
 Sunday. What icill happen immediately before the day 
 of judgm^ent. 
 
 1. In the air. The air will be set on fire, pierced by light- 
 ning and filled with darkness. The sun and the moon will 
 refuse to give their light, the stars will fall from heaven, and 
 everywhere will be seen the terrible signs of divine wrath. 
 
 The darkened sun represents Christ, the beautiful sun of 
 justice, retiring forever from the eyes of the wicked ; the 
 moon refusing to give her light, signifies Mary, who will be 
 no longer the refuge of sinners condemned to be eternally 
 lost; the stars fallen from heaven, signify the saints, who 
 will no longer intercede for the unfortunate. 
 
 My Lord and Savior, withdraw not from me Thy grace, 
 as long as I serve Thee, so that on the day of judgment I 
 may find mercy before Thee ! Blessed mother of God, pro- 
 tect me against the wrath of Thy Son ! Ye Saints of God, 
 pray for me ! 
 
 2. On the earth. O what disorder throughout the whole 
 world ! The earth will quake, the sea will with a frightful 
 roaring burst its boundaries, the mournful sound of the 
 trumpet will everywhere be heard : " Arise, ye dead, and 
 appear before the judgments of God !" 
 
 St. Jerome imagined that he always heard the sound of 
 the trumpet by which he was called to judgment. The 
 greatest saints have trembled when meditating upon this 
 terrible day. Will you not fear the strict account which 
 you will have to render of all your deeds, and of the graces 
 which you have received ? O Lord, give me this salutary, 
 this just fear of Thy judgment ! 
 
 3. In hell. The lost soul will rise from hell, and be 
 reunited to the body in order to be judged in the valley 
 of Josaphat. Hear what the soul will say to the body: 
 " Unhappy body, you, on account of your wicked pleasures, 
 
 1* 
 
6 Good TnoronTS. 
 
 • 
 
 of your gluttony, your impurities, are the cause of my eter- 
 nal damnation !" " Wretched, guilty soul " — the body will 
 say — "you are the cause of my damnation, and of your 
 own ! Could you not have regulated my passions, and 
 refused to me the pleasures forbidden by the law of God ? 
 Did you not possess understanding, knowledge, and the 
 necessary strength to control me ?" 
 
 All tliese reproaches will then be unavailing ; I must 
 anticipate them now ! Tender body, I have flattered you 
 too much, but henceforth I will mortify you, and bring 
 you under subjection. Sensual and restless soul, I will con- 
 trol your passions, I will check your angry, revengeful and 
 proud emotions. 
 
 " For this I will trouble the heaven, and the earth shall be moved out 
 of her place, for the indio-nation of the Lord of host, and for the day of his 
 fierce wrath." — Isaias xiii, 13. 
 
 Monday. The sinner called to an account. 
 
 1 . For the evil he has done. Behold, there he stands before 
 the terrible judgment seat of divine justice, before Jesus 
 Christ. The book of life is opened, in which are recorded 
 all the sins which he committed while upon earth ; the year, 
 month, week and hour, in which he committed mortal sin, 
 will, as if reflected in a mirror, be presented to him, he must 
 even render an account of every fickle thought and every 
 idle word; his own conscience even will accuse him and 
 remind him of all his sins. 
 
 O terrible examination ! Alas, if we must account for even 
 an idle word, what a strict reckoning will not be demanded 
 of so many curses, detractions, feelings of hatred, impure 
 conversations and sinful deeds. 
 
 2. For the good he has omitted. Come, unfaithful servant, 
 the divine Judge will say, tell me Avhat you have done 
 w^ith the talents confided to you ! What use have you made 
 of the sacraments, of many good examples, of many opi:)ortu- 
 nities for doing good, and of the many holy inspirations, 
 which I have given you ? Instead of having used the time to 
 perform good works, you have spent it in amusements and 
 rioting ; instead of practicing virtue, you have committed 
 innumerable sins. 
 
 Tyre and Sidon, the infidels and barbarians, will reproach 
 you for having abused so many and such extraordinary 
 graces, which they would have made better use of than you 
 have, if they only had received them. 
 
Good Thoughts. *l 
 
 O Lord, enter not into judgment with thy servant ! Who 
 can stand before Thy wrath, if Thou wilt judge without 
 mercy, and only according to Thy justice ! 
 
 3. For the evil which he has caused others to commit. 
 Render an account, God will say, of the many scandals you 
 have given, of the many souls you have destroyed, by your 
 bad example, of the many sins which you have caused others 
 to commit by suggestions or by avowing wicked principles. 
 Render an account of your children and servants, who 
 through your fault and carelessness have become wicked 
 and are therefore eternally lost. What ! was it necessary 
 for you to perform the part of Satan and corrupt men ? Not 
 satisfied to damn yourself, you have destroyed many other 
 souls redeemed by my blood and life. 
 
 Have I not to fear these reproaches ? Has no soul under 
 my charge been lost through my own fault ? Has not my 
 bad example induced others to commit sin ? Alas ! was it 
 not enough to condemn myself? Why did I become the 
 instrument of Satan and destroy my brethren? Terrible 
 judge, what reason have I not to fear Thy judgments ! 
 
 " The wicked shall see and shall be angry, he shall gnash with his teeth 
 and pine awaj." — Psalm iii, 10. 
 
 Tuesday. The sinner being judged. 
 
 1. In the presence of Christ. The Son of God sits upon 
 His throne, surrounded by innumerable blessed spirits, and 
 all men appear before Him for judgment. He is God and the 
 sovereign Lord of the whole world. He therefore has 
 the right to judge all men. He is the Redeemer of the 
 world, and therefore can demand an account from them 
 because of the blood that He has shed for them. He has 
 been offended and mocked at and insulted. He therefore can 
 demand satisfaction. He is the all-seeing Judge, who has 
 the knowledge, justice and power to judge the whole world. 
 
 Alas ! I tremble when I see the tender lamb changed into 
 a roaring lion ; when I see Christ, who appeared upon earth 
 before the eyes of the world, in poverty and contempt, 
 appear now clothed with so much terror. Do you not see 
 His still bleeding wounds? They bear witness to your 
 ingratitude. Do you see the cross ? It accuses you of hav- 
 ing indulged in sinful excesses. Do you see these lips? 
 They are opened to pronounce the irrevocable sentence of 
 your damnation, " Depart from me !" 
 
8 Good Thoughts. 
 
 2. In the iwesence of the saints. Come hither, sinner, 
 and ask pardon of this pious person, whom you once ridi- 
 culed with so much insolence, whom you unjustly persecuted 
 and wantonly insulted ! You called his piety hypocrisy, his 
 patience stupidity, his Christian humility you chose to con- 
 sider cowardice. Then the sinner will repent of his former 
 follies, and because he passed false judgment upon the good, 
 but his sorrow will be of no avail. 
 
 Pious souls suffer patiently insults, contempt, mockery 
 and persecution ; for the day will come, when the Lord will 
 show your innocence and virtue ! 
 
 3. In the presence of all men. Before all the nations of 
 the earth, will be exposed, the secret impurities of this 
 woman, the hidden injustice of that judge, the theft of 
 this servant, the crimes committed by so many in the dark- 
 ness of the night. All these sins, which were concealed 
 from men, will then be made known to all. 
 
 0, how great will be your confusion, when the whole 
 world will know your most secret impurities, your rioting, 
 your impositions and your injustice ! You feel ashamed if 
 reproached for a trifling fault ; you tremble, when obliged 
 to confess your sins to the priest. Alas ! how will you feel, 
 when the whole world will not only know of the sins you 
 have committed, but also see the manner in which you com- 
 mitted them. 
 
 In vain will you call upon the mountains to fall upon and 
 cover you ; before the Avhole world you will appear stained 
 with all the horrible sins, of which you did not repent, and 
 you will be covered with shame and confusion. O Lord, 
 wash me more and more from my injustice, and cleanse me 
 from all my sins ! 
 
 " The heavens shall reveal his iniquity, and the earth shall rise up against 
 him." — Job XX, 27. 
 
 Wednesday. The sinner condemned. 
 
 1. I3y a just sentence. After the sinner has by reason 
 of his sins been brought to an account and convicted, Christ 
 will pronounce the sentence, saying: "Depart from me, 
 ye cursed, into everlasting fire!" "To the just, however, 
 he will say : " Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the 
 Kingdom prepared for you." 
 
 O Lord, Thou are just, and right are all Thy judgments. 
 What is more just than that Thou shouldst reward the good 
 
Good Thoughts. 9 
 
 and punish the wicked, elevate virtue and confound sin, 
 recompensing every one according to his works ? Think of 
 the joy of the just ; hear the favorable sentence pronounced 
 by Christ over them ; see how it is executed forthwith and 
 how the angels in triumph accompany them to heaven ! 
 Consider also the despair of the damned, w^ho immediately 
 after having been sentenced are cast body and soul into 
 hell. What sentence will be passed upon you ? Will you 
 enjoy yourself with the saints or despair with the damned ? 
 What fate will befall you? Ask your conscience, it will not 
 fail to tell you. 
 
 2. By an irrevocahle sentence. There will be neither 
 appeal nor mercy; neither skill, nor strength, neither en- 
 treaties nor tears, nor intercession will then be of any avail. 
 No help can be expected from either Christ, His blessed 
 Mother, or the saints; the sentence once pronounced will 
 remain forever and ever. Those, upon whom the favorable 
 sentence has been passed, will be eternally happy; those, 
 however, upon whom the sentence of damnation has been 
 pronounced, will be eternally miserable. In its despair the 
 soul will bid its last farewell to God, to heaven, to the blessed 
 Virgin and to the angels and saints, all of whom it will 
 never see again, and will descend with the devils into hell, 
 there to be tormented for all eternity. 
 
 O eternity, how few meditate upon thee ! To lament for- 
 ever, to burn forever, to suffer forever; O eternity, if we 
 would only think of thee, we would not fall into sin so easily ! 
 
 3. JBy a sentence^ at once carried into effect. Christ, by 
 means of His angels, will separate the good from the wicked ; 
 the good He will place on His right, the wicked on His left 
 hand. The just father will be separated from the sinful son, 
 the patient wife from the brutal husband, the pure brother 
 from the impure sister. After the separation Christ will pass 
 the sentence, and forthwith the heavens will be opened to 
 receive the angels, who with the whole company of the 
 elect will ascend ; the earth will open to admit the devils 
 with the whole assemblage of the damned, and they will be 
 locked up in that terribly dark prison, and in that fiery dun- 
 geon, which shall never be again opened. 
 
 O pious souls, be consoled ! Your sufferings will soon 
 end, your reward will last forever. Ye wicked, learn how 
 to fear the justice of God ; He will not permit Himself to be 
 mocked at. 
 
 "Thou art just, Lord, and thy judgment is right." — Psalm cxviii, 131, 
 
10 Good Thoughts. 
 
 Thursday. The sinner who cannot excuse hims'elf: 
 
 1. In regard to God. What will the sinner allege against 
 God, whose justice is infinite and whose judgments are 
 adorable ! Will he complain of want of grace ? Oh, he 
 received innumerable graces ! How many priests, preach- 
 ers, confessors, parents, relatives and teachers reminded him 
 of his duties? How many sacraments, holy inspirations 
 and sanctifying means did he not possess? Could he say 
 that God would not save him ? Did not God, for the pur- 
 pose of saving him, create, redeem and call him to the 'true 
 Church, inspire him with many good thoughts and holy 
 desires, and place before his eyes many good examples ? 
 
 Alas ! how many have worked out their salvation who 
 never received as many graces as God gave to me ! How 
 many are damned who would have been saved, if they only 
 had had a portion of the means which God gave me to be 
 saved ! I detest my negligence and the abuse which I have 
 made of Thy graces, O Lord ! 
 
 2. In regard to the devil. Will the sinner, by way of 
 excuse, say that the devil was too powerful ? This excuse 
 is useless ; for he coutd have conquered all the devils, and 
 overcome all, even the greatest, temptations, when it was in 
 his power and when he was assisted by the grace of God. 
 It is a dogma of the Catholic Church, that God does not 
 permit us to be tempted above our strength. 
 
 I have fallen into sin, because I myself wished it ; sensu- 
 ality induced me to do so ; the devil overcame me, because, 
 instead of resisting him, I did whatever passion or the enemy 
 of my salvation dictated to me. In future, however, O my 
 Lord, I will resist him ; strengthen me only with Thy holy 
 grace ! 
 
 3. In regard to man. The wicked imagine that they can 
 excuse themselves by saying; Others are the cause of my 
 being eternally lost ! If I had never seen this person, if I 
 had never frequented that society, if this or that one had 
 not taught me to be wicked, I would never have committed 
 sin. If I had not had an obstinate wife, a disobedient child, 
 I would never have cursed or given way to anger, for doing 
 which I am now eternally lost. 
 
 It is true, bad company was the cause of your eternal per- 
 dition ; but you should have avoided it. It is true, that this 
 or that person may have taught you how to sin ; but that is 
 no reason Avhy you should have done so. Jt is true, that this 
 
GrooD Thoughts. 11 
 
 wife, that servant, that companion, provoked you to anger ; 
 but yoii could and should have moderated your anger. 
 Therefore you cannot excuse yourself! 
 "Destruction is thy own, Israel!" — Osee xiii, 9. 
 
 Feidat. The sinner confounded at the last judgment. 
 
 1. J^efore himself by the reproaches of his conscience. 
 The sinner, seeing himself damned by the just judgment of 
 God, wishes to excuse himself; but at once his own conscience 
 rises up against him, showing him that he could not excuse 
 himself; first, on the part of God, who bestowed upon him 
 so many graces, and oifered him so many means of salvation ; 
 secondly, on the part of the devil, whom he could have con- 
 quered ; thirdly, on account of bad company and the occasion 
 of sin, which he should have avoided. He is in the greatest 
 despair ; on the one side he sees the devils, who surround 
 him, on the other side the angels, who leave him ; above him 
 he sees an enraged Judge, beneath him a burning hell ; every 
 one around him is rising up against him ; his heart is filled 
 with fear ; he is tormented and tortured by the cruel remorse 
 of his conscience, showing him incessantly that through his 
 own fault he has plunged himself into everlasting ruin. 
 
 2. before the angels and devils. O, how much con- 
 founded will he be at hearing the reproaches of the angels, 
 especially of his guardian angel, whose admonitions he had 
 despised ! He will forsake him in order that the devils may 
 claim him as their own. 
 
 With what shame will he not be covered at seeins: the 
 devils, who accuse him of all his transgressions, and who 
 will mockingly say : " Come, wretch, and be the companion 
 of our torments, which you deserve more than we do ! We 
 committed but one sin ; you, however, have committed many. 
 Not one moment of repentance was granted us, and you had 
 so many years given you in which to do penance. We had 
 no Redeemer ; but for you, the blood of Christ was shed, 
 which you have despised." 
 
 What confusion when the sinner has to appear before the 
 just and saints whom he formerly derided ! " Come, wretch," 
 the devil will say, " ask pardon of these just, whom you have 
 so cruelly mocked at, and so unjustly persecuted." 
 
 3. Before all men. Then will be seen your hypocrisies, 
 your secret thefts, your concealed impurities, and all those 
 crimes which you imagined the world would never know. 
 
12 Good TnouGHTS. 
 
 All the nations of the earth will see the injustice of this 
 officer, the frauds of that merchant, the sinful excesses of 
 that young man and the impurities of that woman. 
 
 Alas, if you are afraid to confide your sins to a priest, who 
 is bound to keep inviolable the secrets of the confessional, 
 should you not fear to see the whole world the witness of 
 your crimes? Xo one sees me, no one knows anything of it. 
 Woe is me on account of my blindness ; I concealed myself 
 while I committed sin, but I also deceived myself. God 
 was the Avitness of my sins. He numbered them and He 
 will call me to account for them. 
 
 O Lord remember them not ; I will in future remember 
 and respect Thy all-seeing eye, and I will watch over all the 
 motions of my heart. O my soul, do not forget that God 
 sees us, and that His judgments are terrible!" 
 
 "In Thee, Lord, have I hoped, let me never be confounded." — Psalm 
 
 XXX, 1. 
 
 Saturday. Heasojis why loe should fear the judgment. 
 
 1. The small numher of the elect. Christ, the infallible 
 truth, has Himself assured us of it in the following terrible 
 words: "Many are called but few are chosen; broad is the 
 way that leadeth to destruction, and many there are who 
 enter by it ; and strait is the way which leadeth to life, and 
 few there are who find it." (Matt, vii, 13, 14.) The kingdom 
 of heaven suffereth violence." (Matt, xi, 12.) Thus speaks 
 Christ, of whom it is said in the gospel: "He is set for the 
 fall and for the resurrection of many." Who should not 
 fear to be numbered among the damned ? 
 
 How few there are who walk the narrow path to heaven, 
 and who use violence, as Christ says ! On the contrary, how 
 many there are who run after their pleasures, and forsake the 
 way of the Cross ! O Lord, give me the grace to belong to 
 the small number of the elect. After the many graces Thou 
 hast bestowed upon me, I trust that Thou wilt not suffer me 
 to be lost forever. 
 
 2. The danger of being lost, by reason of great tempta- 
 tions, by reason of the occasions of sin being frequent, by 
 reason of the cunning of the devil, by reason of the wicked 
 Avorld in which, out of fear of being ridiculed, we have 
 hardly courage to lead a virtuous life, and by reason of the 
 evil company we frequent. O, how many dangers surround 
 us by which we may be eternally lost ; how many tricks of 
 
Good Thoughts. 13 
 
 the devil to destroy man ! We must, therefore, flee from 
 these dangers, and avoid all these occasions of sin. The 
 danger, however, of losing our soul is the more clearly- 
 proven by the great number of those who will be damned. 
 Alas, how many free-thinkers, gamblers, blasphemers, rob- 
 bers, drunkards, sensualists and gluttons descend hourly into 
 hell! 
 
 Do I not belong to the number of these sinners ? If I 
 live as they do, my fate will be the same as theirs. 
 
 3. The little fear we have of being damned. O, my 
 Lord, why is it that we are our own enemies, and so indiffer- 
 ent in regard to our unhappiness ? We knoT^ that we have 
 every reason to fear, and yet we fear not ; we expose our- 
 selves to danger, we walk, without the least caution, on the 
 very verge of the abyss. We often hear of sudden death, 
 and yet we have no fear ourselves of dying suddenly; we 
 are conscious of being in a state of mortal sin, and yet 
 we take no measures to free ourselves from it ; we are merry 
 and enjoy ourselves as though no danger threatened us, and 
 as if we had no cause for fear. What blindness, what 
 infatuation ? 
 
 " Fear him that can destroy both soul and body in hell." — Matt, x, 28. 
 
SECOND WEEK IN ADVENT. 
 
 Gospel: — Matt, xi, 2-10. At that time, when John had heard in prison 
 the works of Christ, etc. 
 
 SuifDAT. The divinity of Christ proved. 
 
 1. By the testimony of heaven. The heavens were 
 opened several times in testimony of Christ, the voice of 
 the Heavenly Father was heard, saying : *' This is my 
 beloved Son." The Holy Ghost, in the form of a dove, 
 appeared above him. Even without the testimony of 
 heaven, we could know Him to be God by the holiness 
 of His life and doctrines. To forgive our enemies, to deny 
 ourselves, to love poverty and to despise pleasures, are teach- 
 ings of such perfection as can only proceed from the mouth 
 of God. 
 
 Do you believe in His divinity? Do you follow His 
 teachings ? 
 
 2. By the testimony of man. How often have men, 
 moved by His profound Avisdom, His virtues and heavenly 
 doctrines, declared that He is truly God ! How often have 
 the Apostles, with St. Peter, made the declaration : "Thou 
 art Christ, the Son of the living God ! " One of the most 
 glorious testimonies, however, of the divinity of Christ was 
 that of His precursor, St. John the Baptist, who announced 
 to the whole world that Christ was the Messiah. The sanc- 
 tity of St. John, which Christ proved in the gospel of 
 to-day, his austere life and extraordinary virtues, give great 
 significance to the precursor's testimony. 
 
 What testimony do you give of your faith? Can you 
 stand the test of being mocked at by the wicked ? and if 
 you could give testimony what would it be worth ! Could 
 it be tested by the gospel, and would it confirm the doctrines 
 of Christ? 
 
 Imitate the virtues of St. John — especially his persever- 
 ance — so that you may not be like a reed shaken by the wind. 
 
 3. JBy the testimony of signs and miracles. The blind 
 who see, the deaf who hear, the lame who walk, the lepers 
 
Good Thoughts. 15 
 
 wlio are cleansed, the dead who rise, and so many other 
 wonders performed by our Savior, to prove His divinity, are 
 they not so many voices which proclaim Him to be the 
 Son of God? 
 
 Would we not be blind if, after witnessing so many mira- 
 cles, we should yet doubt His divinity and the truth of His 
 gospel ? but is it not a mark of indifference if our lives are 
 not in accordance with our belief, and if we act in direct 
 opposition to the teachings of the gospel ? O, my Lord, 
 how many heathens would glorify Thee by holy lives, if 
 they were enlightened by the light of faith as we are ? How 
 much more would their lives correspond with their faith ? 
 In the midst of Christians I have led the life of a pagan. 
 O, Lord, how unworthy have I made myself of the grace 
 of being a Christian ? 
 
 " Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God." — Matt, xvi, 16. 
 
 Monday. The teaching of the world in opposition to the 
 teaching of Christ. 
 
 1. The world teaches pride, s ^e must, by all means, give 
 importance to ourselves, and excel others, in order to be 
 more respected by the world. Every one endeavors to 
 elevate himself in life. The rich try to add to their impor- 
 tance, by wearing splendid garments, by using costly furniture, 
 and by making a grand display. The ambitious seek only 
 the homage and praise of their fellow men. The learned 
 desire to be respected on account of their attainments. 
 "Women strive, by artificial means, to heighten their beauty, 
 and by magnificent attire endeavor to attract the admiration 
 of the world. Even mechanics and farmers possess a certain 
 pride of their own. 
 
 On what occasions do you exhibit your pride ? 
 Watch, and use every effort to become humble. 
 
 2. Christ teaches humility. In the gospel, the Son of God 
 Himself commands us to be humble, for He says : " You 
 must be humble like these children ; whosoever will be the 
 greater among you, let him be your minister ; learn of Me, 
 because I am meek ; the Son of Man is not come to be min- 
 istered unto, but to minister ; conceal thy good works before 
 men, and thy Father, who seeth in secret, will reward thee." 
 
 These are Thy teachings, O my Saviour ! but alas, how 
 unfaithfully have I followed them. Instead of christian 
 humility, I show everywhere my pride and self-esteem, in 
 
16 Good TnorGHTS. 
 
 words and deeds, in my worldly manners, by the joy I 
 exhibit when honored, and by the sadness I feel when des- 
 pised. 
 
 3. The unhappy consequences of pride and the advantages 
 of humility. Pride is hated by the Lord ; humility, however, 
 is pleasing to him. Pride cast the angels from heaven ; humil- 
 ity leads man thither. On account of pride the prayers even 
 ot the just are not heard ; humility causes the prayer of the 
 sinner to be acceptable. Pride makes our good actions unpro- 
 fitable, and deprives them of their merit ; humility, however, 
 elevates them and adds to their value. 
 
 How little, up to the present time, have I done for heaven ! 
 I have lost the fruits of so many alms, masses and commun- 
 ions, because pride was the motive and the soul of all my 
 deeds ! O my Lord, let me never forget the admonitions of 
 St. James, saying : 
 
 " G-od resistetli the proud, and giveth grace to the humble." — James iv, 6. 
 
 Tuesday. Pleasures. 
 
 1. The world teaches us to enjoy its pleasures. The great 
 object of the world is to seek eujoyment ; one seeks it in 
 feasting, another in gambling and in idle conversation ; this 
 person in idleness, and that person in gazing at everything 
 and listening to useless words ; while many seek it in read- 
 ing: books which are dano-erous to morals and relio-ion. 
 
 Where do you seek or enjoy your pleasures ? You must 
 give them up, if you desire to enter heaven. We cannot 
 pass from one pleasure to another, from the paradise of this 
 perishable life to the paradise of heaven. 
 
 2. Christ teaches us to carry our cross. This is the great 
 doctrine of Christ, which He practiced Himself during His 
 whole life : " We must suffer, in order to enter heaven." 
 Does He not say, that he who does not give up the pleasures 
 of the world, who does not carry his cross, cannot be His 
 disciple ? 
 
 How important is this doctrine, but, alas! how seldom 
 practiced ! We willingly listen to everything, but as soon 
 as we hear mention made of sufferings, penance and of the 
 satisfaction we owe to the divine justice, we not only are 
 shocked at it, but we try to change the conversation, so as 
 not to think of it. To carry our cross, is a language which 
 we do not wish to understand, but nevertheless it is the lan- 
 guage of the gospel. 
 
Good Thoughts. 17 
 
 O my soul, you never will enter the place of eternal hap- 
 piness, because you offer no violence. Alas ! I have yielded 
 to my passions, I have avoided every suffering ; in adversity 
 I was not submissive to the decrees of God ; but now I will 
 adore and kiss the hands, O my Lord, with which Thou shalt 
 chastise me ! 
 
 3. The evils of icorldly pleasures and the advantages of 
 mortification. The pleasures of the world make man worldly 
 and sensual ; mortification, on the contrary, makes him spirit- 
 ual and heavenly. The one destroys devotion, the other nour- 
 ishes it ; the one has innumerable stings of conscience in its 
 train, but the other never ending consolations ; the one cul- 
 tivates vice and leads to hell, but the other leads to perfection 
 and to heaven> 
 
 Alas ! it is true. I know it from my own experience, — 
 since I seek the pleasures of the world, I love only the world 
 and its treasures, and I have no longing for heaven. 
 
 Impure thoughts, feelings of revenge, emotions of anger, 
 wicked deeds — oh, how short is your duration! How much 
 have you flattered my passions, but how cruelly do you 
 lacerate me now, and how painful is my remembrance of you ! 
 
 "As much as she had glorified herself (Babj^lon), and lived in dehcacies, 
 so much torment and sorrow give ye to her." — Apoc. xviii, t. 
 
 Wednesday. Riches. 
 
 1. The world teaches us to love riches. Gold is an idol 
 whom all men worship. Men are dazzled and charmed by 
 its very appearance; those who possess it are called happy; 
 those who do not, are styled unfortunate. Nothing causes 
 a man to steal, to be unjust, to commit fraud, usury, simony, 
 perjury, murder, and even sacrilege, except the desire to 
 become rich. 
 
 O, cruel thirst for gold, how many hast thou ruined ? O, 
 what blindness to give up the treasures of heaven for the 
 riches of the world! 
 
 2. Christ teaches us to he poor in spirit. Has He not 
 called the poor blessed ? Has He not on several occasions 
 advised persons to sell their goods and follow him ? Has 
 He not declared that it would be difficult for a rich man to 
 enter heaven ? Did He not practice poverty Himself dur- 
 ing His whole life, by being born in a stable, by living in 
 poverty, and by dying deprived of all things ? Have you 
 made vows to renounce the goods of this world ? Then bless 
 
 2* 
 
18 Good Thoughts. 
 
 your state of life, and rejoice in having followed the coun- 
 sel of your Savior so perfectly and in having imitated him 
 so strictly. Do you live in the world and possess riches? 
 Examine carefully if you obtained your wealth honestly, and 
 whether you share it with the poor. Are you barely able to 
 support yourself, or are 3'^ou even in want ? Despair not, but 
 be content, for the fewer temporal goods you possess, the 
 more heavenly goods you will obtain. 
 
 3. Dangars of riches and advantages of 2^overty. Riches 
 chain our hearts to the world, poverty frees them from it ; 
 riches claim our whole time and attention, whereas poverty 
 relieves us from such cares, and enables us to attend to the 
 salvation of our souls. Riches lead us to many sins, poverty 
 gives us an opportunity to practice virtue. I w^ould have 
 been more pious if I had not possessed such great wealth. 
 O ! my Lord, how have I abused Thy liberality and kindness. 
 The riches which Thou didst bestow upon me in order that 
 I mio^ht bring: offerino-s to the Church, and that I mio-ht feed 
 and clothe the poor, I have used for purposes of vanity. 
 "Woe is me ! what will become of me if Thou callest me to 
 account for them ? 
 
 " Woe to you that are rich," — Luke vi, 24. 
 
 Thursday. Vengeance. 
 
 1. The world teaches us to he revengeful. What ! shall I 
 allow myself to be considered a coward ? what will they 
 say of me, shall I permit myself to be insulted ? I would 
 be without a heart, if I suffered myself to be so disgraced. 
 I will do to this man as he has done to me ; he must know 
 with whom he has to deal, and I shall have my revenge ! 
 
 So speaks the world ; but should you, O, Christian, you a 
 disciple of Jesus Christ, speak and feel as she does. The 
 world will undoubtedly call you a brave man, but Christ 
 will call you a revengeful and wicked wretch. Is it too 
 much to suffer contempt for the sake of a God who gave Ilis 
 life for you ? If God would punish you in proportion to the 
 insults you have offered him, where would you be now, who 
 desire to gratify your revenge upon a fellow creature ? 
 
 2. Christ teaches us to forgive. In the Lord's prayer He 
 instructs us to pray that He may forgive us our trespasses 
 as we forgive those that trespass against us ; He commands 
 us to love our enemies ; He sends back from his altars those 
 who live in enmity and He refuses to accept their gifts. He 
 
Good Thoughts. 19 
 
 united example with precept, and even forgave the perfidious 
 Jews who crucified Him. 
 
 What shall save me if I refuse to forgive ? O ! my Lord, 
 how openly have I violated Thy commands ; how can I dare 
 to look upon Thy cross ? A dying God forgives His mur- 
 derers ; and yet I, a wretched creature, who deserve to be 
 eternally lost for my sins, I seek revenge ! 
 
 3. Th& advantages of forgiveness and the evil conse- 
 quences of revenge. If you forgive, you will be a child of 
 your heavenly Father, who causes His sun to rise upon the 
 good and upon the bad; but if you refuse to forgive, you 
 will be a child of Satan. If you forgive, you perform an 
 heroic act, which deserves heaven as its reward, but if you 
 do not forgive, you violate the most sacred law of Chris- 
 tianity, and you will be forever lost. Only the soul of him 
 who forgives, enjoys peace and quiet, whereas the revenge- 
 ful man lives in a state of constant restlessness. In a 
 word, in the same manner as we act with our brother, 
 so will Almighty God act with us. Let us forgive, and 
 God will forgive us ; if we have no mercy with our fellow 
 men, God will have no mercy with us. 
 
 " If you will not forgive men their offenses, your heavenly Father will 
 not forgive you also your offenses." — Mat. vi, 15. 
 
 Feiday. Careless mode of life. 
 
 1. The world teaches us that devotion is not necessary. 
 She tells us that we should enjoy ourselves and pass our 
 lives in ease; that we should not burden ourselves with 
 such pious exercises as going to confession, receiving holy 
 communion and ]3raying — practices intended only for those 
 who live in convents, and not for the world. She also 
 declares fasting and mortification to be unnecessary and 
 absurd. 
 
 Have you not been addicted to this careless mode of life ? 
 have you not been inclined to imitate the example of the 
 votaries of the world ? O, my Lord, I have often had such 
 thoughts, and what is still worse, I have been very negligent 
 in the practice of my religious duties. What a difference 
 between the state in which I commenced to serve Thee, and 
 the state in which I now find myself. Dost Thou deserve 
 such treatment at my hands, dear Lord ? Art Thou not the 
 same God to-day as Thou wert yesterday ? Grant me, O, 
 my Savior, perseverance and inviolable fidelity in thy ser- 
 vice ! 
 
20 Good Thoughts. 
 
 2. Christ teaches that ice should carefully work out our 
 salvation and perform good icorks. Every tree, not bearing 
 good fruits, shall be cut down and thrown into the fire. The 
 servant who, instead of giving to the bankers the talents 
 confided to his care, sj^ends his time in idleness, shall be cast 
 into the exterior darkness. 
 
 What fruits have I brought forth during the many years 
 I have worked in the fruitful vineyard of the church ? O 
 Lord, I am covered with confusion. Thou hast tolerated me 
 for such a length of time, and hast permitted me to idly 
 occupy a place where so many others would have sanctified 
 themselves. Condemn me not, O Lord ; have patience w4th 
 me, and with the assistance of Thy grace, I will earnestly 
 work out my salvation. 
 
 3. J^vil consequences of not having devotion, and the 
 advantages of p)Ossessing it. Devotion unites man with 
 God ; without it, we are separated from Him. Devotion 
 edifies our neighbor and encourages him to become holy; 
 on the other hand, if we have no devotion, we scandalize 
 him and even assist in his ruin; devotion brings peace to 
 the mind and makes it submissive to God ; if, however, we 
 are without it, we are restless and refractory. 
 
 Want of devotion is the source of my many distractions ; 
 while praying, I cannot restrain my wandering imagination, 
 nor even collect my thoughts, and I have no desire for that 
 which is good ; in the least adversity I am miserable and 
 unhappy, all in consequence of my not having devotion. O, 
 my Lord, give rest to my soul and keep it from all emotions 
 that tend to its distraction ! 
 
 "Labor, that by good works you may make sure your calling and 
 election." — 2 Peter i, 10. 
 
 Saturday. False security. 
 
 1. The world teaches us to fear nothi7%g. What have we 
 to fear from a God who is so good and who has made heaven 
 for us ? Sin should not frio-hten us, since God formves it so 
 easily ; we possess the graces of God ; death wdll not over- 
 take us, and Almighty God will be merciful to us. Of what 
 use otherwise would be the blood of Christ ? He has given 
 satisfaction for all ! 
 
 Thus speaks the libertine and the wicked ; but the unfor- 
 tunate man's conscience tells him the contrary, for he knows 
 that although God is merciful, He is also just; that there is 
 a heaven, but that there is also a hell ; that God forgives our 
 
Good Thoughts. 21 
 
 sins, but that He punishes us if we continue to live in them ; 
 that some have had time and grace to do penance before 
 their death, but that numberless persons have died in their 
 sins. It is true that Christ died for us, but it is also true 
 that it is only through our own co-operation that we can be 
 saved. 
 
 2. Christ teaches us to fear. " Fear him," he says, " that 
 can destroy both soul and body into hell." " The gate of 
 heaven is narrow and there are few who enter it ; many are 
 called, but few are chosen." 
 
 O ! my Jesus, how little cause have I, when meditating 
 upon my past life, to hope that I shall be among the few 
 who will be saved. On the contrary, I have every reason 
 to fear that I shall be numbered among the damned. Grant, 
 O Lord, that in fear and trembling I may work out my sal- 
 vation ! 
 
 3. The danger of too great security^ and the advantages 
 of fear. If we are without fear we will soon become pre- 
 sumptuous, and God will withdraw His grace from us ; if, 
 however, we have a salutary fear, we avoid pride and will 
 receive innumerable graces from Heaven. Presumption 
 exposes us to the occasions of sin ; fear removes us from it. 
 The holy scriptures say, " He that loveth danger shall perish 
 in it." (Eccl. x, 27.) 
 
 Almighty God is not bound to perform miracles in order 
 to protect and support you, if you deliberately run into your 
 own ruin. 
 
 " And if the just man shall scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly 
 and sinner appear?" — 1 Peter iv, 18. 
 
THIRD WEEK IN 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 ?" etc., etc. 
 
 Sunday. The humility of JSt. John the baptist : 
 
 1. Se refuses the honors which were offered him. The 
 Jews sent a distinguished embassy to St. John in order to 
 show the high esteem in which they held him ; they even 
 had their doubts as to whether he was not the Messiah. St. 
 John, however, declared that he was not the Christ, and 
 when they questioned him as to whether he was not one of 
 the prophets, he, in his humility, answered " No," and by 
 this answer avoided the honors proffered him. 
 
 Show your humility also by refusing to accept distinctions, 
 and offer up to God the praises you would have received. 
 
 2. JTe humbled hhnself He not only refused honors but 
 he also humbled himself; he was truly worthy of praise, 
 because, according to the words of Christ, he was the great- 
 est man who ever lived. His birth was wonderful ; his life 
 holy ; his family noble ; but notwithstanding all this, he 
 humbled himself, saying, " I am the voice of one crying in 
 the wilderness." 
 
 What is of less importance than a voice ? It is only a 
 sound that cannot exist without the will of the oj^e who 
 utters it, and it is nothing but air. Resolve to be a voice 
 emanating only from God — to be a voice proclaiming Christ, 
 teaching the ignorant, consoling the afflicted, converting sin- 
 ners by admonishing them to do penance, as did St. John 
 the Baptist. 
 
 Are you, perhaps, a voice calling others to sin ? 
 
 3. He gives all honor to God, He told the Jews that the 
 Messiah whom they sought was standing in their midst, and 
 that he (John) was not worthy to loose the latchet of his shoe. 
 
 Exclaim, therefore, with David, " Not to us, O Lord, not 
 to us, but to Thy name give glory." With joy will I hum- 
 ble myself that Thou mayest be exalted and glorified. By 
 my words and actions I will endeavor to further Thy honor 
 as much as I possibly can. 
 
Good Thoughts. 23 
 
 Monday. Necessity of humility : 
 
 1. In order to obtain virtue. All the doctors of the 
 church declare humility to be the foundation of all virtues. 
 The foundation of a house is built and concealed in the 
 earth ; it is nevertheless so necessary that if it should be 
 defective, the whole structure would fall into ruins. We 
 have seen men fall who were distinguished for their zeal and 
 great penances, solely because they were not founded in 
 humility. 
 
 Are you founded in it ? 
 
 2. To conquer si?i. Grace is necessary to overcome sin, 
 and grace is given only to the humble. Rely not upon your 
 own strength, but humbly take refuge in God, and remem- 
 ber how absolutely you depend upon Him. If you fall into 
 sin, do not give way to sadness, which is the result of pride, 
 but humble yourself at once before God and rise again with 
 courage and confidence. O, my Lord, I acknowledge that 
 presumption has been the cause of my committing sin, and 
 that I have fallen because I trusted too much in myself. 
 Assist me with Thy grace, for I confess that without Thee 
 I can do nothing. 
 
 3. To persevere in virtue. Final perseverance is such a 
 grace that, properly speaking, we can never merit it ; but 
 the best means by which to obtain it is to ask God for it 
 humbly. Virtue wins the heart of God, and the more we 
 humble ourselves before Him, the nearer will He come to us, 
 and the more graces will He bestow upon us. 
 
 Consider that if you wish to build the house of sanctity, 
 the foundation must be first laid in humility. 
 "By the grace of God I am what I am." — 1 Cor. xv, 10. 
 
 Tuesday. Reasons why we should practice humility. 
 
 1. Our frailty. What can we do in the state of nature 
 and of grace without God? Without Him we would relapse 
 into our original nothingness — we would be overcome by 
 temptation and would become an easy prey for Satan. Alas, 
 we are so weak after having made such good resolutions ; we 
 should never forget that by one bad thought, one wicked 
 word, one impure look, we can commit mortal sin. Our 
 body is subject to innumerable miseries, and our soul is filled 
 with ignorance and vice. Notwithstanding all this, I am 
 proud and trust in myself. O, my Lord, give me the grace 
 to know myself! Open my eyes that I may see what I am ? 
 
24 Good Thoughts. 
 
 2. Our faithlessness. The many sins I have committecl, 
 the many promises I have made to God and still not kept, 
 the many graces I have despised, should they not all con- 
 found me and make me confess that I am ungrateful, faith- 
 less and wicked? If the saints considered themselves great 
 sinners because they did not respond to the grace of God 
 in even trifling matters, what should I think of myself 
 after having committed so many and such grievous sins ? 
 How much cause have I not to humble myself in the very 
 dust? 
 
 3. Our blindness. We should humble ourselves although 
 we do not know the reasons why we should do so. We are 
 sure to appreciate our good qualities, and even to magnify 
 them, but we are blind to our faults. If we are conscious 
 that we possess bad traits of character, we conceal or excuse 
 them, believing that our good qualities will outweigh them. 
 
 0. my Lord, I know and confess my wretchedness ; I am 
 filled with misery; I am poor and possess nothing except 
 through Thee and from Thee." 
 
 " I am needy and poor, God, help me." — Psalm Ixix, 6. 
 
 Wednesday. Three degrees of humility, 
 
 1. JSfot to esteem ourselves. What reason have you to 
 esteem yourself since you are so weak, imperfect and miser- 
 able ? You have nothing, as St. Paul says, which you have 
 not received. The natural gifts of intellect, virtuous inclina- 
 tions and all other goods that you possess, should make you 
 humble. You have greater obligations to fulfill towards 
 God than have many others who have not received the same 
 gifts ; you must, therefore, serve Him the more faithfully and 
 must render the strictest account of them if you do not use 
 them properly. 
 
 Do not be proud of what you do, as it would be an 
 injustice to God, for all that is good comes from Him ; from 
 you, however, nothing comes but sin. 
 
 2. We should not care to he esteemed hy others. What 
 weakness to desire the esteem of men, and to be sad if we 
 do not obtain our object ! The judgment of men is so false, 
 unjust and fickle, that it should be indifierent to you. If 
 you knew what men think of you, you would soon lose all 
 courage and your heart would be filled with bitterness. If 
 you were a saint, people would talk against you ; did they 
 not even deride Christ, our Savior ? 
 
Good Thoughts. 25 
 
 It is an honor for you to despise the judgment of free 
 thinkers and wicked persons. If you are pleasing to God, 
 why should you be anxious for the applause of blind and 
 passionate men ? 
 
 3. To prefer the contempt to the praise of men^ in order, 
 a. To imitate Christ more perfectly, who always chose that 
 which was most humiliating, h. To advance in spiritual 
 perfection, because humility will endow you with great 
 riches; it will increase grace and glory within you, while 
 pride, honors and the praise of men expose you to many 
 dangers and sins. 
 
 Do not expose yourself to anger when you are offended, 
 but suffer cheerfully the contempt of the world in order to 
 be glorified by Almighty God. 
 
 "The greater thou art, the more humble thyself in all things." — Eccl. 
 iii, 20. 
 
 Thursday. Means of preserving humility, 
 
 1. To acknowledge that we are unicorthy of all that which 
 is good. If on account of your natural gifts you desire to 
 exalt yourself above your fellow creatures, you should rather 
 humble yourself and remember that you are indebted to the 
 mercy of God for the possession of those very gifts. If you 
 are filled with pride because you have received supernatural 
 graces, you should remember that all your devotion and zeal 
 are gifts from God, and should say with humility, " O, Lord, 
 we are unprofitable servants, we have done that which we 
 ought to do" (Luke xvii, 10) ; and you would do well to 
 meditate upon your sins which have made you unworthy 
 of the mercy of God. 
 
 2. To acknowledge that we deserve every evil. In conse- 
 quence of our disobedience to God, we have not only made 
 ourselves unworthy to receive that which is good, but we 
 have merited the punishment of God instead of His graces. 
 Imagine to yourself a murderer or a robber who has been 
 pardoned ; he will be overjoyed at the mere fact of being 
 permitted to live, and he is by no means so foolish as to 
 think himself a proper candidate for the king's favor or as 
 the recipient of courtly honors. Meditate, therefore, in 
 humility upon this truth, and you will patiently suffer adver- 
 sity and contempt of every sort. 
 
 3. To acknowledge that contem.pt is of more advantage 
 than honor. Accept all humiliations as doming from God, 
 
 4 
 
26 Good Thoughts. 
 
 who sends them to you for your own good. Do not judge 
 things according to their appearance ; do not say, I have not 
 deserved this insult; this is all wrong; I am too unhappy, 
 &c. 
 
 Say, on the contrary, I have deserved to be humbled, for 
 the respect of men would have been my ruin, whereas humil- 
 iations will save me, for they will withdraw me from the 
 world and give me a good opportunity to practice j^atience 
 and self-denial, and they will also be the means of my hum- 
 bly taking refuge in God. 
 
 "It is good that thou hast humbled me." — Psalm cxviii, 71. 
 
 Feiday. Heasons why we must hionhle ourselves. 
 
 1. Our misery m the state of nature. What were you 
 originally ? Who were you a hundred years ago ? You 
 were not even in existence, and God created you in order to 
 give you this body and soul and all the goods which you 
 now possess. What are you ? Nothing but frailty and 
 misery; in your childhood you were exposed to vicissitudes 
 of every description, and even now you are subject to 
 accidents, diseases and adversity ; you may, perhaps, attain 
 old age, but that will not free you the less from misery and 
 care. How assiduously do you labor for the necessities of 
 your body, but how ignorant are you of the wants of your 
 soul ? To how many passions and infirmities is it not sub- 
 ject? how inclined to indulge in evil? how loth to do good? 
 What will become of you ? You may, perhaps, be eternally 
 lost. Your body will become food for worms, and your soul 
 will descend into hell unless you are converted. St. Augus- 
 tine says, " Man, remember from whence you came ; blush 
 when you think of what you are, and be filled with fear 
 when you think of what may become of you." 
 
 2. The impecUmeyits to grace within us and the necessity 
 of grace. Christ says, " Without me ye can do nothing. 
 What hast thou that thou hast not received ? and if thou 
 hast received, why dost thou glory as if thou hadst not 
 received." 
 
 Almighty God is not bound to bestow His graces upon 
 you, especially after you have made yourself unworthy of 
 them. Without the grace of God you cannot perform any 
 meritorious or supernatural work, and if God, in his mercy, 
 did not assist you, you would fall into innumerable sins. 
 Acknowledge, then, in deep humility — how necessary the 
 
Good Thoughts. 27 
 
 grace of God is to you, and how many impediments to its 
 reception are found within you. O, my Lord, grant me Thy 
 grace, although I have made myself unworthy of it ! I will 
 be faithful to Thee and will be always humble, remembering 
 how weak I am and how much I am in need of Thy assist- 
 ance. 
 
 3. Our obstinacy in the state of sm. What use have I 
 made of the graces of God? O, how slothful have I been 
 in His service ! how unfaithful ! how many sins have I com- 
 mitted ! And yet after my many careless, treacherous and 
 imfaithful actions towards such a good and liberal God, I 
 hardly realize the lamentable state in which I find myself, 
 and if, O Lord, Thou dost not come to my aid, I will surely 
 commit, to-morrow, the very sins which I this day abhor. 
 O, how many reasons have I to humble myself, for the 
 reason that I am so cold in loving so good a Master, and 
 because I am so fickle in the practice of virtue, being 
 addicted only to vice and infidelity. 
 
 "Be you humbled, therefore, under the mightv hand of God." — 1 Peter 
 V, 6. 
 
 Saturday. The losses caused hy pride. 
 
 1. The improfitahleness of good worJcs. If you perform 
 penances — if you pray and give alms, but are prompted to 
 do so by a spirit of pride which seeks only the praises of 
 men, then all your penances and alms will not only be 
 unprofitable but you will even be punished for them. 
 
 2. The loss of charity. Pride causes the loss of all charity 
 on account of the quarrels, calumnies and enmities to which 
 it gives rise. The Holy Ghost says, "Among the proud 
 there are always contentions." (Pro v. xiii, 10.) The reason 
 for this is evident, for as one will not yield to the other, and 
 each desires to be first, they must necessarily be opposed to 
 one another. 
 
 3. The loss of peace. If you have not obtained the 
 applause you expected, if you are not as successful as you 
 wished to be, if anything has happened which has caused 
 you confusion, you will be sad, your mind will be disturbed 
 and the peace of your soul will be gone. If, on the contrary, 
 you are humble, you will cheerfully sufier all these humilia- 
 tions and will not give way to anger, but will confess that 
 you are unworthy of praise, but deserve contempt. 
 
 " He hath put down the mighty from their seat and hath exalted the 
 humble." — Luke i, 52. 
 
FOURTH WEEK IN ADVENT. 
 
 Gospel: — Luke iii, 1-6. In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius 
 Caesar, etc. 
 
 Sunday. St. John preaches penance, 
 
 1. JBy his example. St. John wore a shirt made of camel's 
 hair; his food consisted of locusts and wild honey; he lived 
 in the desert, where he was occupied in constant prayer. 
 
 Do you imitate the penances of this great saint as well as 
 you can? Do you endeavor to edify every one by your 
 good example ? 
 
 2. By his word. He came into all the country about the 
 Jordan, preaching penance everywhere, with great zeal. 
 
 Be zealous concerning the salvation of souls ! Preach 
 and explain the christian doctrine in order to teach the 
 ignorant, to convert sinners and to direct all to piety. You 
 are not free from this obligation, although you may be a lay- 
 man ; you should be the apostle of your children and ser- 
 vants ; by edifying conversation you will do more good than 
 you imagine, and besides God demands this zeal from you. 
 
 3. To prepare the world for the coining of Christ. This 
 great precursor endeavored to prepare the Jews by his ser- 
 mons for a worthy knowledge and reception of the Messiah, 
 and he often repeated the words, " Prepare ye the way of 
 the Lord !" You should repeat the same words to yourself, 
 for behold, Christ desires on Christmas to be born in you. 
 Be prepared to receive Him ! 
 
 Prepare ye the way of the Lord by true penance ; level 
 those mountains of pride ; make straight those crooked 
 ways — that is, abandon all worldly designs, and the 
 crooked ways of ^dce ; walk sincerely in the path of virtue, 
 and zealously practice good works, in order to prepare your- 
 self for the advent of Christ. 
 
 "Prepare ye the way of the Lord." — Luke iii, 4. 
 
 Monday. Necessity of doing penance. 
 
 1. For the past ^ in order to give satisfaction for our sins. 
 You have committed many sins during your life ; it is there- 
 
Good Thotjohts. 29 
 
 fore just to give satisfaction to God by performing volun- 
 tary penances. If, however, you neglect to do so in this 
 world, you will have to do so in the next — in purgatory, 
 where you will suffer more in one day, than you would 
 during a hundred years in this world in doing the severest 
 works of penance. 
 
 Punish, therefore, your inquisitive eyes by keeping in retire- 
 ment; your tongue, so given to slander, by preserving 
 silence ; your appetite by fasting ; your whole body, with 
 which you have offended God, by scourging and mortifica- 
 tion, as the saints have done. 
 
 2. For the present^ to practice virtue cind avoid sin. " Vir- 
 tue," says St. Thomas, " consists in overcoming difficulties." 
 We must, therefore, necessarily mortify ourselves. Many 
 would like to practice obedience, charity, humility and the 
 other virtues; but because it is difficult they satisfy them- 
 selves by saying a few prayers, or by practicing certain devo- 
 tions, which do not cost them any labor. Mortification is 
 necessary, for without it we cannot suppress the motions 
 of the flesh, we cannot resist impure temptations, we give 
 way to feelings of anger, to a desire of revenge, and to 
 intemperance, etc. 
 
 Alas ! if we practice so little virtue, and fall into so many 
 sins, it is because we do not strive to overcome ourselves, 
 we do not resist our evil inclinations, we will not make the 
 least effort to mortify ourselves if it is difficult for us to do 
 so, or if it deprives us of our pleasures. 
 
 3. For the future^ to obtain merits. The greater your 
 mortification on earth, the greater will be your glory in 
 heaven ; you not only thereby give satisfaction to God for 
 your sins, and enable yourself to practice virtue, but you 
 increase also your merits, and consequently your glory in 
 heaven. 
 
 0, if you only knew what reward is given even for the 
 least work of penance, you would burn with the desire of 
 performing them, thus obtaining higher degrees of glory. 
 
 "Mortify, therefore, your members." — Coloss. iii, 5. 
 
 Tuesday. Impediments to conversion. 
 
 1. Before the sin — presumption. "God is good," says 
 Satan, " fear nothing ! He has not created you to be damned ; 
 you will have time yet to do penance ; when dying, you will 
 have only to say : * I have sinned ! ' " 
 
30 Good Thoughts. 
 
 Alas ! how many have been lost by such a delusion ; how 
 many sins do we not commit by thinking only of the kind- 
 ness of God and not of His justice. God is good, but He 
 is also just, and when the measure of His mercy is full, 
 He can make you feel the severity of His justice ! "You 
 will have time enough !" Do you not fear to be taken by 
 surprise, as was Pharao, in the waters of the Red Sea ; as 
 was Holofernes, in his bed ; as was Jezabel, in the midst 
 of her lust ? 
 
 Perhaps the first sin which you Avill commit will fill the 
 measure of your iniquities, after which God will cast you 
 into hell. O, Lord, shall I be wicked because Thou art good? 
 
 2. In the midst of sin — obduracy . AVho would not be 
 astonished at a sinner who, after having sold his soul to the 
 devil, and having lost the friendship of God and heaven, is 
 indifferent as to what becomes of his soul, and who neither 
 repents of his sins nor desires to free himself from such an 
 unfortunate position? Such an obdurate sinner is like a 
 corpse, who has no animation, or like a person overcome 
 with sleep ; he is awakened, but falls asleep again ; he is 
 called by name, but is constantly overtaken by sleep ; an 
 attempt is made to rouse him ; he opens his eyes for a 
 moment, but he soon closes them again. The sermons, con- 
 fessions, admonitions, chastisements of God, the remorse of 
 his conscience, rouse him for a time, but he soon falls back 
 into the sad sleep of sin. 
 
 O, my Lord, grant that such a misfortune may not befall 
 me ; I promise Thee to avoid evil and to abandon my sinful 
 life. Assist me, that I may not become obdurate. 
 
 3. After the sin — impenitence. The last device of the 
 devil is, that he makes the sinner believe that he cannot 
 obtain forgiveness ; that he has committed too many sins ; 
 that the measure of his iniquities is full; that God has 
 forsaken him, and that it would be useless for him to try 
 and free himself from his deplorable state. 
 
 Foolish man ! do you not know that God's mercy is 
 infinite, and that His kindness is greater than even your 
 sins ? Return, then, to your God, whom you have forsaken, 
 He is ready to receive you ; confide in His mercy ; you have 
 yet time to do penance, and do not in despair say as did 
 Cain, "My iniquity is greater than that I may deserve par- 
 don," but cast yourself into the outstretched arms of God's 
 mercy and promise to lead a better life. 
 
 " Who knoweth but he will return." — Joel ii, 14. 
 
Good Thoughts. 31 
 
 Wednesday. Reasons for conversion, 
 
 1. The kindness of God. Can you serve a better master 
 than God ? His kindness is infinite ; His beauty worthy 
 of admiration ; His treasures inexhaustible ; His perfections 
 indescribable. He has created and redeemed you ; He has 
 forgiven you so often ; He has shown His love to you even 
 when you offended Him ; He Himself invites you to be 
 converted and to return to him. 
 
 O, hardened heart ! can you resist so many and such pow- 
 erful attractions ? Behold how our amiable Savior goes from 
 city to city, from country to country, to seek the sinner! 
 Behold how, exhausted from the journey, wearied with His 
 labors, He sits near a well and converses with a Samaritan 
 woman. " If thou didst know the gifts of God, and who 
 he is that saith to thee. Give me to drink !" 
 
 Imagine Christ saying the same to you. O, sinner, if you 
 but knew how worthy God is to be loved — what happiness 
 it is to serve him — you would forever lay aside your sins ! 
 
 2. The abomination of sin. O, how horrible is this mon- 
 ster, how abominable is sin, since it even changed angels into 
 devils ! How sad are its consequences, since it is punished 
 with eternal fire ! How much trouble and distress is caused 
 by the remorse of conscience, w^hich always follows the 
 commission of sin. In order to convert the Samaritan 
 woman, the Son of God shows to her the abomination of 
 her sins, and the wickedness of her adulteries. This caused 
 her to repent ; she sees the sins of her past life ; she acknow- 
 ledges their grievousness, and exclaims to those whom she 
 meets, " Come and see a man who has told me all things 
 whatsoever I have done." 
 
 By meditating upon your past sinfulness, and by the 
 reproaches of your awakened conscience, you, too, must 
 endeavor to regain the friendship of God and the peace of 
 your soul. 
 
 3. The hope of receiving grace and glory. O, how pro- 
 fitable it is to belong to God ; how many favors does He 
 show to His servants; how many graces does He bestow 
 upon them in this world ; how many rich rewards does He 
 keep for them in the next ! By this hope, Christ perfected 
 the conversion of the Samaritan woman. He promised her 
 the waters of grace, which are so wonderful that whoever 
 drinks of them will no longer thirst and desire after the 
 pleasures of this world, and He assured her that the water 
 
32 Good Thoughts. 
 
 would become in her " a fountain of -water springing up 
 into life everlasting." If neither the kindness of God nor 
 the abomination of sin can induce you to serve Him, let the 
 rich rewards which He promises you persuade you to obey 
 and love Him. We strive zealously to obtain the praises of 
 this world, and we frequently expose our lives if we can 
 thereby advance our fortunes. Why, then, delay to serve 
 God, who promises an overflowing fullness of grace and an 
 eternal kingdom ? 
 
 "Convert us, Lord, to Thee, and we shall be converted." — Lament. 
 V, 21. 
 
 Thursday. Qualities of conversion. 
 
 1. Our conversion must he immediate. Defer not your 
 return to God, who has been calling you for so long a time, 
 and who is now, perhaps, irritated at your delay. Do not 
 say with the fools : There is no hurry ; I will have plenty of 
 time ! Death will overtake you before you know it. Do 
 not say : Wait until this business of mine is finished ; this 
 quarrel settled, or this plan executed ! Who promised you 
 that death would wait so long ? Who promised you that 
 at the end of two months or two years you would have the 
 same desire to be converted as you have now ? The time 
 of grace will pass by; the love of pleasure will revive in 
 your heart ; your conscience will become hardened ; your 
 sins will be multiplied, and your habits will have a stronger 
 hold upon you. Do you believe that after having spent 
 your life in sin, God will work a special miracle in your 
 behalf at the hour of your death ? 
 
 O, my Lord, I have loved Thee too late, but henceforth I 
 will belong to Thee alone, and from this moment I will be 
 converted, only teach me Thy holy will. 
 
 2. Our conversion must he entire. God does not wish a 
 divided heart, and as He desires to be loved and served 
 alone, we should give ourselves entirely up to Him. He 
 demands either a complete sacrifice or none at all. Your 
 heart is very small, and yet you would give Him only a 
 part of it — He who has given you everything, and who 
 desires you to ask Him for all that you require ! He, from 
 whom you expect all things in life and death, in time and in 
 eternity ! Will you do this ? For whom do you wish to 
 reserve the other half of your heart ? For the world, which 
 will deceive you ? For pleasures that will poison you ; or for 
 
Good Thoughts. 33 
 
 yourself, who will only use it to hate virtue ? God desires 
 your whole heart. 
 
 Look at yourself. What has kept you from belonging 
 entirely to God ? Is it not love for a creature ; the dislike 
 to deny yourself anything that ministers to your pleasure ; 
 the spirit of pride and self-esteem, or else a thorough indif- 
 ference as to what becomes of you ? It is time, dear Lord, 
 that I should be converted. I have loved Thee very care- 
 lessly. I now detest my former life, and promise to remove 
 all obstacles that keep me from belonging entirely to Thee. 
 
 3. Oi(,r conversion must he lasting. You must not com- 
 mence to love God with earnestness and then become indif- 
 ferent — thus rendering yourself liable to relapse into your 
 former sins. True conversion should not last one day, one 
 month or one year, but a whole lifetime. We should not 
 become disheartened, nor grow weary of walking in the 
 path of virtue ; but we must keep up our courage until we 
 arrive at the port of a happy eternity. Christ says that he 
 who perseveres unto the end shall be saved. O, my Lord, 
 give me courage and strength to serve thee unto death. O, 
 with what shame am I not filled when I meditate upon my 
 former transgressions ! 
 
 " Turn again our captivity, Lord." — Psalm cxxv, 4. 
 
 Feiday. The raercy of God towards the sinner. 
 
 1. ITe seeks hhn earnestly. Almighty God does every- 
 thing in his power to Avin the sinner. He waits for him 
 most patiently. He seeks an occasion to lead him away 
 from all vice. 
 
 Behold how the Divine Shepherd left ninety-nine sheep in 
 the desert, to seek the one that was lost ! He searches for 
 it in every direction ; He calls it and waits patiently until 
 He finds it; He then takes it upon his shoulders, rejoicing 
 to have regained possession of it. What means does Christ 
 use to convert the sinner ! He gives him good inspirations ; 
 He calls him by the voice of His ministers ; He entreats him ; 
 He threatens Him ; He chastises him with adversity of all 
 kinds, and when He sees that he remains obdurate, He weeps 
 over him, as He did over the faithless city of Jerusalem. 
 
 2. He receives him kindly. Remember what the Gospel 
 says of the prodigal son, the figure of the sinner. He 
 leaves his father's house ; indulges in all sorts of excesses ; 
 squanders his wealth, and is at length compelled to eat the 
 
34: Good Thoughts. 
 
 husks of swine. Finally, he resolves to return to his father's 
 house, and to ask his pardon. With tear-filled eyes he 
 approaches his father, and says : " Father, I have sinned ! " 
 and as soon as the good father hears the voice of his repent- 
 ant son, his heart is full of compassion ; he embraces his son ; 
 clothes him in a beautiful robe, and commands his servants 
 to prepare a bountiful repast for him. 
 
 My soul, God is ready to receive you, if you desire to 
 return to Him and ask His pardon. He forgives you all 
 your sins. O how hardened will you be, if you do not 
 respond to such loving kindness. 
 
 3. He bestows graces upon him. It was well for the 
 prodigal son to have been pardoned ; but it was still better 
 for him to have been received with such tender love. The 
 beautiful robe in which he was clothed, is the robe of 
 innocence which Almighty God gives back to the sinner, by 
 imparting to him His grace. The precious ring which he 
 put on his finger, represents the treasure of merits which 
 the sinner has lost, but finds again, when he becomes a 
 friend of God. The feast, to which he was invited, is the 
 holy communion, in which He gives Himself to the repented 
 sinner as nourishment. 
 
 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, it is time for thee to be converted 
 to thy God, and for thee to use the graces which He ofiers 
 Thee with so much tender love ! O Lord, how many graces 
 hast Thou given me, and how many more wouldst Thou 
 give me, if I only would accept them ! 
 
 " The mercies of the Lord I will sing forever !" — Psalm Ixxxviii, 2. 
 
 Satueday. Confession, 
 
 1. In confession God forgives all sins. To receive in the 
 sacrament of penance pardon and absolution for all sacri- 
 leges, impieties, impurities, murders, and the most heinous 
 crimes, which we have committed, what abundance of kind- 
 ness and mercy ! 
 
 O Lord, how admirable are Thy mercies, and how true it 
 is, as David says, that Thy mercies exceed all Thy other 
 works ! Thou forgivest me all my sins and forgivest them 
 forever, so that after the sinner has asked Thy pardon, and 
 confessed his un worthiness with sorrow and sincerity. Thou, 
 O Lord, dost promise to forgive him forever. If we have 
 been ofiended Ave think of it for years, and it is very hard 
 for us to forget an injury ; but thou, O Lord, forgettest all 
 
Good Thoughts. 35 
 
 onr offenses out of mercy. Should I not, then, love and 
 thank Thee forever? Should I not, then, weep over my 
 obduracy, by which I have sinned against Thee with so 
 much malice, while Thou forgivest me with so much kind- 
 ness? 
 
 2. In confession God restores all the merits lohich we have 
 lost. By committing mortal sin you lost all the merits and 
 fruits of your good works ; in the sacrament of penance, 
 however, God restores them to you. Your soul was stained 
 by sin ; but by penance its former beauty is restored. God, 
 the angels and saints were your enemies, and now they have 
 become your friends ; you had lost heaven, but you regained 
 it by penance. Finally, on account of your sins, you were 
 condemned to hell, but by a good confession and true 
 repentance the sentence of damnation is revoked. O, what 
 graces and gifts ! After God has restored to you these pre- 
 cious goods, do not be so foolish as to lose them again, and 
 to prefer a sensual pleasure to the loss of grace, to the loss 
 of your merits, and to the loss of paradise ! 
 
 3. In confession God imparts neio graces. What won- 
 derful love ! God is not satisfied with forgiving the sinner 
 and restoring to him all the goods he had lost, but he 
 imparts to him his greatest favors. He gives him sanctifying 
 grace, by making him a child of God from being a slave of 
 Sata,n; and if he preserves this justifying grace, he will 
 receive a large increase of it. He further receives efficacious 
 grace and special assistance in time of temptation, so as not 
 to fall back again into sin. He finally quiets, by confession, 
 all remorse of conscience, and obtains great inward peace. 
 
 Approach, therefore, this great sacrament, which is repre- 
 sented by that miraculous pond, wherein all the sick, who 
 bathed were healed ; but approach it with due preparation. 
 
 " I say I will confess against myself my injustice to the Lord, and thou 
 hast forgiven the wickedness of my sins." — Psalm xxxi, 5. 
 
CHRISTMAS. 
 
 Gospel: — Luke ii, 1-14. At that time there went forth a decree from 
 Caesar Augustus, etc. 
 
 "Why the Son of God became a child. 
 
 1. In order to he like unto us. Mary went to Bethle- 
 hem in obedience to a decree of the emperor; she found 
 no lodging except in a stable, where she gave birth to the 
 Savior, whom she laid in the manger, upon a little straw, 
 while the air was filled with the heavenly praises of the 
 angels. 
 
 Why such humiliation? Why so much kindness? To 
 save you, my soul, and that you may be the better able to 
 follow God. Christ became a child to save me ; but only 
 when I possess a child-like spirit can I be saved. I must 
 therefore be humble, like a child, without ambition ; docile, 
 like a child, concerning the truths of religion and the impres- 
 sions of grace ; obedient, like a child, to all the commands 
 and decrees of God. O, lovely child, divine child, make me 
 love and follow Thee ! 
 
 2. In order to teach us humility. He could have come 
 into this world as a man, without humbling Himself to take 
 the form of a child ; He could have appeared in a glorified 
 body, like that of the saints ; but nevertheless. He appears 
 as a child, who is bound in swaddling clothes, laid in a cra- 
 dle, carried in the arms and obliged to be assisted in all His 
 wants. A manger is His resting place, a stable His dwell- 
 ing. Is this the palace of so great a God, the court of so 
 powerful a King ? 
 
 O my Jesus, Thou hadst every reason to tell us, that we 
 should learn from Thee to be humble, since Thou hast hum- 
 bled Thyself so much ! I will honor and love Thee the 
 more now, since thou hast humbled Thyself for me ; I will 
 on all occasions, imitate thy humility ! 
 
 3. In order to teach us how to suffer. He wishes to be 
 born in the night, in midwinter, and while His mother is 
 traveling, in order to have an opportunity to sufier; He 
 had no fire to warm Himself by, no servant to ivait upon 
 
 i 
 
Good Thoughts. 37 
 
 Him ; no one but Mary and Joseph, who suffer because they 
 see Him suffer ; He weeps and sheds tears, which plainly 
 show His suffering. 
 
 Behold, says St. Bernard, this stable, these swaddling 
 clothes, and the poverty that surrounds Him. All this 
 reproves your sensuality and vanity ; you are honored while 
 Jesus is held in contempt ; you live in comfort while He 
 suffers; and you refuse to imitate Him, although you are 
 His disciple, and He has made Himself equal to you, so that 
 you may become equal to Him ! 
 
 " Look and make it according to the pattern, that was shown thee." — 
 Exodus xsv, 40. 
 
 Feast of St. Stephen: 
 
 1. Stephen overcame the enemies of Christ — hy his elo- 
 quence. Behold him standing in the synagogues of the Jews 
 and defending the divinity of Jesus Christ. Men of Cyrene 
 and Asia, and the most learned doctors of the law, disputed 
 with him ; but the brightness of his face, shining like that 
 of an angel, and his arguments, filled with Divine power, 
 confounded his enemies so that they could not answer him, 
 and they therefore gnashed with their teeth and resolved to 
 put him to death. 
 
 Defend courageously the cause of Christ, and do not let 
 human respect prevent you from doing so. If, when in the 
 company of others, you hear holy things mocked at and 
 persons slandered, do not hesitate to reprove those who so 
 speak. 
 
 2. Stephen overcame himself — by forgiving his enemies. 
 The Jews cast him forth without the city and stoned him 
 while he was praying for them ; he prayed upon his knees ; 
 he cried with a loud voice, and then he fell asleep in the 
 Lord. 
 
 Obdurate and revengeful heart, will you not follow this 
 beautiful example ? Stephen not only forgives a slight 
 insult, but even those who put him to death. He not only 
 does no evil to his enemies, but he does them good by pray- 
 ing for them. Shall I be always revengeful? shall I be 
 always angry on account of this trifling disgrace or that 
 insulting word ? 
 
 O, my Lord, I offer up to Thee all these wicked emotions 
 of my soul. St. Stephen, obtain for me some of your mag- 
 nanimity ! 
 
 4 
 
38 Good Thoughts. 
 
 Stephen overcame his torments — by his firmness. He is 
 the first confessor of Christ who raised on high the banner 
 of martyrdom. He prepared the way of millions of Chris- 
 tians who died for their faith. Wonder not at seeing the 
 heavens open to receive him, and Jesus Christ ready to 
 assist him in his glorious combat. 
 
 Why do you not lift up your eyes to heaven in your suffer- 
 ings and tribulations ? It would console you, and there you 
 will see Christ standing to look uj)on you and to encourage 
 and reward your fidelity. 
 
 "He that striveth for the mastery, is not crowned except he strive law- 
 fully." — 2 Tim. ii, 5. 
 
 Feast of St. John the Evangelist. The liberality of 
 Jesus towards John. 
 
 1. Jesus has given His heart to John. This is the disciple 
 whom Christ loved ; this is the disciple who loved Christ. 
 John accompanied the Savior everywhere ; he followed him 
 faithfully in all his troubles and sufferings. Christ wished 
 John to be a witness of His transfiguration on mount Tabor, 
 and of his prayer on the mount of Olives. John followed 
 his master to Caiphas and to mount Calvary. 
 
 Do you wish to be loved by Christ ? love Him then as 
 John did ; be as pure, love with as much fire, as he did ; 
 like him, be faithful to God in all adversity, and follow 
 Christ not only to Tabor — that is, do not serve Him only 
 when everything happens according to your wish — but 
 accompany Him also to Calvary — that is, leave Him not in 
 time of temptation and misfortune. 
 
 2. Christ revealed His mysteries to hhn. To reveal your 
 secrets to any one, is a sign of friendship. The Apostles 
 were afraid to ask Christ who of them was to betray him ; 
 John, however, asked him, and was answered. This favorite 
 disciple laid his head upon the breast of Christ and the 
 Savior then imparted to him the clearest knowledge of 
 heavenly things. He was the eagle of the Evangelists. 
 Christ revealed to him the most hidden mysteries and the 
 unknown future of His church, together with all the events 
 that shall happen unto the end of the world, as we find in 
 his Apocalypse. 
 
 Thank God for the light which He imparted to John, and 
 endeavor to profit by it. O Lord, I acknowledge how little 
 I deserve to be^ loved by Thee, or to have Thy mysteries 
 
Good Thottghts. 39 
 
 revealed to me ! Alas, I am so ignorant in the ways of my 
 salvation, and I know so little of the science of the saints. 
 Enlighten me. Sun of Justice. My Jesus, so worthy of love, 
 I will love Thee. 
 
 3. Christ hestoiced all that he had upon him. He gave 
 him His mother ; could He have given him more ? From 
 the cross He recommended John to Mary, and Mary to John, 
 and chose His beloved disciple to be His representative. He 
 imparted to him all the prerogatives of the saints ; for John 
 was ajDOStle, evangelist, virgin, doctor, martyr, confessor, 
 prophet, powerful in working miracles, and renowned for 
 the conversions he effected ; he was founder of the church in 
 Asia. 
 
 If you are the beloved of Christ, you will also be the 
 beloved of Mary. You cannot love the son fervently with- 
 out loving the mother. Cherish an ardent devotion for the 
 Blessed Virgin Mary. 
 
 "Woman, behold tliy son; after that he saith to the disciple: Behold 
 thy mother." — John xix, 26, 27. 
 
 Feast of the Holt I^j^nocexts. The sources of happi- 
 ness of the Holy Innocents. 
 
 1. The goodness of God. It is true we have to thank 
 God for our happiness; but the Holy Innocents are in a 
 special manner grateful to Him, for they were children and 
 became martyrs and citizens of heaven without their own 
 merit. How many of them would perhaps have been 
 damned if they had lived ! 
 
 Adore the providence of God which produces good out of 
 evil ; for the cruelty of Herod, who sought to destroy Christ 
 among the many children, whom he had put to death, filled 
 heaven with martyrs. 
 
 2. Their innocence. What happiness for them to die at 
 an age when they could not have lost their innocence. 
 Their purity placed them in the company of the lamb, to 
 chant those hymns which virgins only can sing. 
 
 Preserve carefully your innocence which you have obtained 
 in holy baptism ; detest sin as much as you can, especially 
 the stn of impurity. 
 
 3. Their martyrdom. They die as martyrs, and in one 
 moment they receive the crown, which is not given to those 
 who desire to receive it, nor to' those who run after it, but 
 to those only to whom God, out of pure mercy, gives it. 
 
40 Good Thoughts. 
 
 Thank God that He has given the palm of martyrdom to 
 the Holy Innocents, and endeavor by mortification, which is 
 also a species of martyrdom, to enjoy heaven with them. 
 
 "Whosoever does not carry his cross and come after me, cannot be my 
 disciple." — Luke xiv, 27. 
 
 December 29. Practice of mortification, 
 
 1. Mortification of the body hy works of penance. We 
 must first bring our body into subjection ; it rebels against 
 reason, and demands pleasures forbidden by the law of God; 
 it must therefore be punished and conquered by mortifica- 
 tions, otherwise it would give itself up to impurity, gluttony, 
 rioting, and other sinful excesses. 
 
 Why do you not imitate the saints, who mortified their 
 bodies by scourging, fasting, and other austerities? If, by 
 voluntary mortifications, you obtain a mastery over your 
 body, you will prevent it from offending God. 
 
 2. Mortification of the senses by watching over them. 
 Your eyes are anxious to see everything that happens, your 
 ears desire to hear only what pleases them, and your sense 
 of taste wishes to satisfy itself, and all your senses seek only 
 their gratification. Will you allow them what they want ? 
 Govern them, so that they may not induce you to do evil ; 
 and remember that they offer you the best opportunity to 
 combat and merit, and to obtain the glory of heaven. 
 
 3. Mortification of the spirit by conquering our passions. 
 You have within yourself a monster to conquer : you have 
 to subdue the fury of anger, the feeling of envy, the dan- 
 gerous motions of impurity, the outbreaks of joy, the giving 
 way to sadness, and all other passions ; for the combat is 
 the more dangerous as it lasts so long. 
 
 Resist your passions, for you possess liberty, reason, faith 
 and grace to combat them, and to gain a glorious victory as 
 often as you wdsh. Are you then not to blame, if you allow 
 yourself to be conquered ? 
 
 "I chastise my body and bring it into subjection." — ] Cor. ix, 27. 
 
 Decembee 30. Impediments to mortification, 
 
 1. Want of courage. As soon as you hear of mortifica- 
 tion you become discouraged. It is a temptation ; resist it 
 and have courage, for God will assist you with His grace. 
 If it should cost you labor, is that any reason why you 
 should omit it, and without offering violence, run after 
 
Good Thoughts. 41 
 
 pleasures, enjoy all kinds of amusements, and satisfy your 
 evil inclinations? The greatest difficulty. lies in summoning 
 resolution to mortify yourself. 
 
 You are ready to undergo suffering in order to serve a 
 friend ; and yet, for the sake of God and for the salvation 
 of your own soul, you are unwilling to do anything. 
 
 2. Want of practice. If you had ever practiced mortifi- 
 cation you would not find so much difficulty now; but as 
 long as you only seek comfort and will not deny your body, 
 it is not surprising that you are filled with dismay when an 
 occasion of suffering is offered you. 
 
 Make use of every opportunity to mortify your eyes, your 
 tongue, your taste, your vanity, your anger and your self- 
 esteem ; the more you mortify yourself the easier will it be 
 for you. 
 
 3. Want of perseverance. If perseverance is so import- 
 ant for the perfection of all virtues, it is necessary also for 
 the virtue of mortification. There are many who, after 
 years of mortification, return to their former vices and 
 pleasures. 
 
 Be encouraged to persevere by looking at the reward, 
 by thinking of the certainty of death, which may, perhaps, 
 to-morrow end your life and all your mortifications ; by 
 thinking of heaven which you will enter, and of hell which 
 you will escape. 
 
 "The kingdom of heaven sufifereth violence, and the valient bear it 
 away. — Matt, xi, 12. 
 
 December 31. Other i'mpedhnents to mortification, 
 
 1. Forgetfulness. We do not think of it. With so many 
 opportunities of mortifying yourself, you never try to do so, 
 for the reason that your mind is too much occupied with 
 other matters. 
 
 Unite yourself more with God, and think often of Him ; 
 His presence will encourage you to mortify yourself upon 
 many occasions. 
 
 2. Contempt. We do not care for it. If we have no 
 desire to progress in virtue, we do not mortify ourselves, 
 because we consider mortification as unnecessary. But you 
 are wrong, for it is a matter of great importance to conquer 
 your own will, to subdue your passions, and to resist your 
 evil inclinations. Alas, how foolish are you in thinking that 
 mortification is either unimportant or too difficult. 
 
 4* 
 
4:2 Good Thoughts. 
 
 3. Self-esteem. TFe will not. Our unhappy self-esteem is 
 opposed to the practice of mortification. We may, perhaps, 
 sometimes think of it, and are convinced that it would be 
 of advantage to us, but nevertheless we do not practice it, 
 because we will not. We love our body, our inclinations, 
 and our pleasures, so much, that we refuse to mortify our- 
 selves in the least thing. 
 
 0. how happy would you be if you would end this year 
 by obtaining a victory over your most dangerous enemy, 
 self-love. Remember, that all the sins committed by you 
 during the year, were caused by your inordinate love for 
 pleasures, and by your negligence in trying to overcome your 
 own will. Resolve, therefore, to make amends for the past, 
 and consider that the new year may be the last one of your 
 life. 
 
 "Redeem the time, because the days are evil." — Eph. v, 16. 
 
 January 1. The circumcision of the Lord. 
 
 THE DAT OP GIFTS. 
 
 1. What Christ gives. It is the first day in the year, 
 upon which Christ distributes His greatest treasures — the 
 dearest He possesses — His blood and His honor. He is 
 only eight days old when He subjects Himself to the rite 
 of circumcision. He sheds His blood to give us thereby a 
 proof of His love, a token of what He desired to suffer for 
 us during His whole life. He sacrifices, at the same time, 
 His honor by taking upon Himself the mark of a sinner. 
 
 You must ofier up to Him your pleasures and your pride. 
 Christ, out of humility, wishes to appear what he is not, 
 and you, out of insupportable pride, wish to appear what 
 you are not in reality. 
 
 2. What He receives. He gives what is most precious to 
 Him, but He also receives what is most glorious, the ador- 
 able name of Jesus ; a name more honorable to the Savior 
 than would be all the titles of kings or nobles ; a name ter- 
 rible to Satan ; a name which makes hell itself tremble, but 
 which is also a sure safeguard against all temptations ! It 
 is a name of good omen for man, for it signifies that He 
 who bears it is their Savior. 
 
 I will often pronounce and invoke this sweet and holy 
 name, O my Jesus ! All those in heaven, upon earth and 
 under the earth, shall bow their knees when they hear this 
 adorable name. 
 
Good TnorGHTS. 43 
 
 3. What He demands. The blood and the tears which 
 He shed to-day, demand that you should be grateful. He 
 desires you to imitate His humility and obedience, and to 
 remove from yourself, by spiritual circumcision, whatever is 
 displeasing to Him. 
 
 Let us commence the new year by offering ourselves up 
 to Jesus ; let us offer up to Him our thoughts, words and 
 deeds, that they may be directed to His honor. May the 
 Holy name of Jesus be blessed forever ! 
 
 "Holy and terrible is His name!" — Psalm ex, 9. 
 
 January 2. Presentation of Christ in the temple, 
 
 1. Jesus is a treasure of graces. What a joy for Simeon 
 to hold in his arms Him who possesses all the treasures of 
 divine wisdom and science I 
 
 Admire the goodness of the divine Savior, who became a 
 child for your sake ! Adore Him, little as He is, for He is 
 your King and the great God of heaven and earth ! Vener- 
 ate the amiable Jesus, who appears in the humble state of 
 a child in order to raise you up to heavenly glory. Ask 
 Him with confidence for His graces; His treasures are 
 inexhaustible. 
 
 2. He is the source of happiness to those who make good 
 use of His graces. This divine Redeemer who came to seek 
 you, only desires your salvation; for your sake He subjected 
 Himself to misery. He has bestowed so many graces upon 
 you, and will give you more, if you only make good use of 
 those which you have already received. 
 
 O, my sweet Jesus, I will make better use of Thy graces 
 this year than I did the last. Do not withdraw them from 
 me ; I will, with my whole strength, co-operate with them. 
 Make this resolution, " I will be sanctified this year !" 
 
 3. He is the ruin of those who do not profit by His grace. 
 This child, said Simeon, is set for the fall and the resurrection 
 of many ; He is set for the fall of the Jews, who do not 
 wish to know Him, and of the wicked Christians, who do 
 not obey Him and who despise His grace. 
 
 What blindness, or rather, what folly, to change the infal- 
 lible means of salvation into poison, and the graces of the 
 Savior into the cause of our damnation ! O, divine Savior, 
 permit me not to fall into this error, but grant that I may 
 exclaim with the Apostle : 
 
 "His grace in me hath not been void!" — 1 Cor. xv, 10. 
 
44 Good Thoughts. 
 
 January 3. Reasons for fear : 
 
 1. On account of the threats of Christ. Who should not 
 fear the repeated threats of Christ, that He w^ould withdraw 
 from them and allow them to die in their sins ? Hear what 
 He says, that the number of damned will be greater than 
 that of the elect ; that the gate of heaven is small and 
 demands violence, but the way to hell is wide and many 
 walk it. 
 
 Are you in the state of grace, fear, then, to lose it ; are 
 you in sin, fear, lest you die in it. 
 
 2. On account of the graces which He has given you. 
 Count the confessions and communions you have made, how 
 many good examples you have seen, how many pious con- 
 versations you have heard, how many holy inspirations aud 
 occasions God has given you to sanctify yourself! More 
 will be demanded from you, because more has been given 
 to you. 
 
 Have you progressed in virtue in proportion to the graces 
 you have received ? Others would have made better use of 
 them. Alas, my Lord, how many infidels and wicked men 
 will rise against me, saying : " Unfortunate, if we had had 
 the graces you received, how much better would we not 
 have used them." 
 
 3. On account of the sins you have committed. You 
 have indeed cause to fear, because you have received so 
 much and done so little ; you have been treated with such 
 great kindness, and instead of bringing forth fruits worthy 
 of penance and sanctity, you have brought forth nothing 
 but fruits of malice. 
 
 God grant that the fear of Him may keep you to your 
 duty. 
 
 "The fear of the Lord is the beginniDg of wisdom." — Psalm ex, 10. 
 
 January 4. Other reasons for fear. 
 
 1. The danger of being damned. Alas, how many snares 
 of the devil are there in the world ! The wickedness which 
 you see, the bad words which you hear, all that excites your 
 anger, the many pleasures which attract you, the many 
 temptations which assail you, the many passions which urge 
 you to gratify them — are they not all reasons for fear ? 
 
 Since the occasions are so frequent, avoid them ; since the 
 danger is so great, be on the watch ; humble yourself before 
 God, and call often for the assistance of His grace. 
 
Good Thoughts. 45 
 
 2. The great number who cast themselves into hell. Behold 
 the great number of free thinkers, blasphemers, slanderers, 
 sensualists, gluttons ; see the wickedness of the world ; we 
 can hardly practice virtue without being exposed to mockery, 
 while at the same time vice reigns triumphant ; consider how 
 many great men have fallen ! 
 
 If you fear not, you are foolish ; but if you do fear, why 
 not amend your life ? 
 
 3. The little fear that we have of heing lost. We are 
 surrounded by the greatest dangers, we hear the threats of 
 God, we see the punishment of others, we know that death 
 is approaching, that hell is open, that there is an unhappy 
 eternity, and yet we fear not. 
 
 Say with Tertullian : " What I fear most is, that I fear 
 not." 
 
 "Pierce thou my flesh with thy fearl" — Psalm cxviii, 120. 
 
 Jantjaey 5. Yigil of Epiphany. 
 
 THE JOUENEY OF THE MAGI. 
 
 1. Their calling. Almighty God reveals to the Magi of 
 the far East the birth of Christ, and by a new and bright 
 star He invites them to seek and adore Him. 
 
 O beautiful day of the calling of the Gentiles ; happy day 
 on which the heathen commenced to know the vanity of 
 their idols, and to worship Jesus Christ ! To this day we 
 owe our calling to Christianity. 
 
 O my Lord, how have I deserved to be called by Thee in 
 preference to so many others ! What a disgrace for me, 
 that I, who am a Christian, do not serve God as a Christian ! 
 
 2. Their obedience. God called them, and at once they 
 set out upon their journey. " We have seen," they said, 
 " and are come !" They left their relatives, friends, homes, 
 business, and started upon a long and wearisome journey. 
 
 When will you obey and follow the star which calls you ? 
 God demands of you the sacrifice of your will, and that you 
 separate yourself from this wicked society and flee from 
 that sinful pleasure. Why do you delay ? Follow the 
 inspirations of God, and say with the Magi : " O Lord, we 
 know Thy will, and are come to fulfill it !" 
 
 3. Their perseverance. They were much tried by their 
 sufierings on the journey, and by the disappearance of the 
 star, but they nevertheless went to Jerusalem, not fearing 
 
46 / Good Thoughts. 
 
 even the threats of Herod, and asking all whom they met, 
 where the King of the Jews Avas born. 
 
 We must have courage and despise human respect, and 
 acquire perseverance to follow the voice of God, and to 
 overcome all difficulties which may present themselves on 
 the way to perfection. Have courage ! 
 
 " Take courage and be strong!" — Josue i, 6. 
 
 epipha:^y. 
 
 Gospel: — Matt, n, 1-12. "When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, etc. 
 
 January 6. The adoration of the Magi, 
 
 1. They find Jesus. After leaving Jerusalem, the star 
 again appeared to them, and led them to the stable of Beth- 
 lehem, where they found the child Jesus and Mary His 
 mother. How great was their joy when they at length dis- 
 covered Him whom they had sought ? 
 
 Thus God rewards the obedience and perseverance of 
 those that serve Him. " Seek," says Jesus, " and you will 
 find !" 
 
 2. They adore Him. Oh, how many heroic virtues did 
 the Magi practice ! Their faith was admirable ; for although 
 they saw a poor child in a stable, lying upon a little straw, 
 they nevertheless believed Him to be the true God. Their 
 huynility caused them to prostrate themselves before the 
 ipfant. Their love prompted them, in order to show their 
 veneration to this new King, to offer Him mysterious pres- 
 ents — gold^ as to a king ; incense^ as to God ; myrrh, as to 
 a man. 
 
 Let us go with them to adore Christ, and let us offer to 
 Him the gold of love, the incense of prayer and the myrrh 
 of mortification. 
 
 3. They return home. An angel admonished them to 
 return home by another way, to avoid Herod, who would 
 put the infant Jesus to death. They finally arrived safely 
 in their own country and carried the light of the gospel 
 thither. 
 
Good Thoughts. 47 
 
 " Return not by the same way whence you came," says 
 St. Augustine. "Avoid all occasions of sin and those 
 dangers by which Christ may be put to death, who was 
 born in your heart." O Lord, let me never deviate from 
 the path of j)erfection, and grant that I may forever aban- 
 don the way of sin in which I have walked heretofore. 
 
 FIRST WEEK AFTER EPIPHANY. 
 
 Gospel: — Luke n, 42-52, And when Jesus was twelve years old, etc. 
 
 Sunday. Christ remained in the temple. 
 
 1. To pro7note the honor of His Father. When Jesus was 
 twelve years old, He went Avith His parents to the temple 
 of Jerusalem, where He remained for three days, sitting in 
 the midst of the doctors, hearing them and teaching them 
 in such an attractive manner, and with such extraordinary 
 wisdom, that all were astonished at Him. 
 
 We must leave all things if we desire to serve God. 
 Have you done so ? We must be zealous for the honor of 
 God and for the salvation of souls. Have you this holy 
 zeal ? In what way do you show it ? 
 
 2. To try the virtue of Sis joa?'e?2^5. He knew of the 
 Blessed Virgin's sorrow and of the tears shed by St. Joseph; 
 nevertheless, He allowed them to suffer in order to increase 
 their merits and to give them an opportunity to practice a 
 perfect submission to the will of God. 
 
 K Almighty God sends you adversity and visits you with 
 any affliction or loss, remember that He acts with you as He 
 did with the Blessed Virgin and St. Joseph ; He wishes to 
 practice you in resignation to His will, and to increase your 
 confidence in Him. 
 
 3. To teach us to renounce the loorld. The Son of God 
 left those whom He loved best on earth, Mary and Joseph. 
 Instead of returning with them, He remained in the temple, 
 and said to His mother, after she had found Him, " How is 
 it that you sought me ? Did you not know that I must be 
 about my Father's business ?" 
 
48 Good Thoughts. 
 
 O my Lord, rather than be separated from Thee, I am 
 willing to give up all my relatives and friends ! To belong- 
 to Thee is my desire. 
 
 "It is good for me to adhere to my Godl" — Psalm Ixxii, 28. 
 
 Monday. On finding Jesus. 
 
 1. Sow we lose Sim. We lose Him by committing sin. 
 What a misfortune for you when the Savior leaves you on 
 account of your want of fidelity ! 
 
 O great loss, for which we feel so little afflicted ! You 
 weep over a temporal loss, you grieve for a deceased relative, 
 and yet you do not mourn over the loss of God, nor feel for 
 the death of your soul. O Lord, give me the greatest hor- 
 ror of sin, and grant that I may ever detest it. 
 
 2. Sow we find Sim. If you have lost Him by sin, seek 
 Him at once by tears of penance ; there alone can you find 
 Him again. If sometimes He withdraws His grace from 
 you, or deprives you of devotion, do not try to find Him in 
 amusements, nor in society, nor at feasts and dances, nor 
 in any of the pleasures of the world, but in the church, in 
 meditation and in seclusion ; there He will speak to you. 
 Alas, how can you be so indifl:erent when you have lost 
 Jesus ! 
 
 3. Soio ioe can Jceep Sim, We can keep Him by the 
 same means with which we found Him — by penance, prayer 
 and by the practice of virtue. 
 
 Shall I be so foolish as for the sake of a creature to for- 
 sake Christ, to give up His friendship for that of any man, 
 and to neglect the practice of virtue so as to devote myself 
 to the follies of the world ? 
 
 " I found Him, whom my soul loveth ; I held Him and I shall not let 
 Him go." — Cant, iii, 4. 
 
 Tuesday. Attachment to creatures, 
 
 1. We refuse to give God our heart in order to hestoio it 
 upon a creature. What ? Is it possible that this person or 
 this trifling matter is the object of your thoughts, desires 
 and zeal ? 
 
 If you give all to creatures, what then will remain for 
 God ? Alas, you are so fond of pleasure and so zealous in 
 the service of the world, but so regardless of God ! It will 
 be useless for you to strive after perfection if your heart is 
 more attached to creatures than to God. 
 
Good Thoughts. 49 
 
 2. We neglect the service of God to serve creatures. This 
 man neoiects to attend mass and divine service in order that 
 he may devote himself more to his business ; this woman 
 neglects her religious duties so that she may cultivate her 
 vanity ; this student is so attached to his books that he can- 
 not leave them even to perform a work of charity. 
 
 Have you been guilty of these sins? Avoid them in 
 future, and remember the words of St. Bernard, in which 
 he tells us that we should only lend ourselves to our occu- 
 pation, and not give ourselves up to them. We must apply 
 ourselves to the duties of our state, but excessive zeal must 
 be avoided. Virtue preserves the golden medium. 
 
 3. We offend God to satisfy creatures. We have no 
 scruples if we swear, lie or commit injustice, so that we 
 only make a small profit ; we sacrifice the interests of God 
 in order to advance the interests of a friend; we are so 
 jealous of our reputation that we become angry if it is 
 attacked. 
 
 Where is the love you owe to God ? What ? Merely to 
 satisfy a pleasure or an idea will you offend God and despise 
 Him ? Say with St. Paul : 
 
 "For Christ sake, I have suffered the loss of all tliiugs, and count them 
 but as dung, that I may gain Christ," — Phil, iii, 8. 
 
 Wednesday. The faithlessness of men. 
 
 1. Their friendship is selfish. Some man evinces friend- 
 ship for you ; you believe that he is sincere ; he loves you 
 because it is to his advantage, for he expects something 
 from you ; without that expectation he would be very indif- 
 ferent to you. 
 
 Oh, how much better is the friendship of God, who loves 
 you without self-interest. What can you do for Him? 
 Nevertheless, He desires to give you His graces in this 
 world, and His glory in the next. 
 
 Renounce, therefore, the friendship of men, who are so 
 faithless, and love only God, from whom you expect so 
 many rewards, although He expects nothing from you. 
 
 2. It is unprofitable. What advantages do you expect 
 to gain from the person whom you prefer to God ? What 
 satisfaction do you hope to have ? Oh, how little can men 
 give you ! You will not find the pleasures you anticipated, 
 and if you should find them they will soon become disgust- 
 ing to you. 
 
50 Good Thoughts. 
 
 All is vanity ; the friendship of God alone confers true 
 happiness. What an advantage to be His friend, the heir 
 of heaven and the partaker of His greatest favors ! 
 
 3. It is changeable. Oh, how often do we hear of disa- 
 greements among friends ! He who loves you to-day will 
 hate you to-morow ; you are now on amicable terms with 
 this person ; in a short time, perhaps, your friendship will 
 have come to an end ; the friendship of men is so brittle 
 that one little word will break it, one little event will 
 change it forever. 
 
 Oh, how much more constant is the friendship of God ! 
 If you are happy or unhappy, in health or sickness, in pov- 
 erty or riches, God will always love you; He will never 
 forsake you if you do not forsake Him by committing sin. 
 Say, then, with the prophet : 
 
 "I will love thee, Lord, my strength; the Lord is my firmament, my 
 refuge and my deliverer." — Psalm xvii, 2, 3. 
 
 Thursday. Vanity of pleasures, 
 
 1. We soon lose them. Pleasures are like a bright cloud, 
 that disappears in a moment ; like a flower, that fades in a 
 few hours ; like a wax taper, that burns brightly for a while, 
 but which soon sinks in the socket. 
 
 Let pleasures, therefore, have no attraction for you ; 
 refuse to yield to the spirit of gluttony, impurity or curios- 
 ity ! The more dazzling the temptation, the more danger- 
 ous it is. Shall you for a moment's pleasure lose your 
 eternal happiness ? 
 
 2. They leave behind them pain. The pleasures which 
 you have sought with such avidity will, when you have lost 
 them, leave you nothing but sorrow, and this grief will be 
 in proportion to the measure in which you have loved them. 
 Fear, remorse of conscience, despair and anger will be all 
 that they leave you. 
 
 Delay not until it is too late ; renounce at once all the 
 idle pleasures of the world, and love only the cross of 
 Christ. 
 
 3. We lose the joys of heaven. The pleasures of the 
 world are very costly, for by seeking to enjoy them you run 
 the risk of losing^ the iovs of heaven and the consolations 
 of God. - -^ ^ 
 
 Spiritual joys are opposed to sensual joys ; for those who 
 place no restraint upon their passions are unfit to pray to 
 
Good Thoughts. 51 
 
 God ; they know nothing of devotion ; and as they find no 
 enjoyment in spiritual things, they persevere in their sensu- 
 alities. 
 
 Mortify yourself! Is it not better to suffer a moment's 
 sorrow, and thus gain eternal joy, than for a moment's joy 
 to receive eternal misery ? The spirit of God and the lust 
 of the flesh are in direct opposition to one another. 
 
 "My spirit shall not remain in man forever, because he is flesh." — 
 Gen. vi, 3. 
 
 Feidat. Yanity of the goods of the world. 
 
 1. We must labor 7nuch to obtain them. Oh, what care, 
 what patience, what energy must a man use to obtain the 
 riches and honors of the world, which are, in reality, 
 nothing ! 
 
 Alas, would that I labored as hard to obtain spiritual 
 riches as the people of the world do to gain temporal 
 wealth. Shall the children of darkness be wiser than the 
 children of light ? O, if I was as zealous to attain christian 
 perfection as I am to please the world, I would very soon 
 be a saint ! 
 
 2. Possessing them^ we discover that we have grasped a 
 shadow. After expending so much labor, we finally see the 
 vanity of earthly things ; we are discontented because we 
 find that what we have is nothing in comparison to what 
 we have not ! 
 
 Oh, if we only considered the goods and honors of this 
 world in the same light as did Christ and the saints ; but 
 we are like children w^ho chase after bubbles ! 
 
 3. We expose ourselves to onany dangers when in posses- 
 sion of these goods. We become proud in our prosperity ; 
 we despise others and esteem ourselves ; we commit injus- 
 tice, and when we have the means, we spend our time in 
 rioting and pleasure. 
 
 Alas, how many are there who would have saved their 
 souls if they had been poor and despised, but who have 
 lost them by becoming possessed of riches and honors. 
 Oh, what fear fills my heart when I remember what 
 Christ has said, that it is difficult for a rich man to enter 
 heaven ! 
 
 "Amen I say to you, that a rich man shall hardly enter into the king- 
 dom of heaven," — Matt, xix, 23. 
 
52 Good Thoughts. 
 
 Saturday. The flight into Egypt. 
 
 1. The obedience of St. Joseph. An angel appears to 
 him, commanding him to fly into Egypt, because Herod was 
 seeking the child to destroy Him. He obeyed at once, 
 arose, took Mary, carrying with them the infant Jesus, and 
 after many hardships they arrived in Egypt. 
 
 Learn from the example of this great saint, how your 
 obedience should be immediate. The angel told him to 
 remain in Egypt, without specifying the time for his return, 
 and the holy man obeyed without asking a question. You, 
 also, should not seek to know why you are commanded to 
 do this or that, but obey at once, notwithstanding it seems 
 difficult. 
 
 2. The submission of Jesus. He could very easily have 
 destroyed His enemy, Herod, who had put to death so many 
 holy innocents, or all those who endeavored to kill Him, 
 but He did not, in order to teach us not to take revenge 
 upon our enemies, even if it is in our power. He flies like 
 one who has no other alternative, thereby giving us this 
 important lesson, that the honor of a Christian consists in 
 humbly yielding, and not in forcibly resisting. He is taken 
 into a strange country, which was filled with idolatry ; He 
 suflers much on the journey and when in Egypt, but he 
 submits to the decrees of His Father. 
 
 Be prepared to sufler whatever God sends you. Admire 
 His providence, which in one moment allowed the many 
 children who had been put to death, to become glorious 
 martyrs. 
 
 3. The patience of Mary. A person of her sex and age, 
 and one who was nursing her beloved infant, must have 
 suffered very much on so rough a journey ; but neverthe- 
 less she obeyed most cheerfully, and was consoled in having 
 the child Jesus with her. 
 
 Murmur not, therefore, when the just have to suffer and 
 to yield to the power of the wicked. Learn from the 
 Blessed Virgin how to suffer, and console yourself, as she 
 did, in possessing Jesus. 
 
 "Walk with all humility and mildness, with patience supporting one 
 another in charity." — Ephes. iv, 2. 
 
Good TsouaHTS. 53 
 
 SECOND WEEK AFTER EPIPHANY. 
 
 Gospel : — At that time there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee, etc. 
 
 Sunday. The wedding at Cana, 
 
 1. The presence of Christ is an honor. The Son of God 
 is present at this wedding in order to do honor to all those 
 who were invited. 
 
 You also can have the honor of being often with Christ 
 by receiving Him in holy communion, by visiting the Blessed 
 Sacrament and by praying when you are alone. Occupy 
 yourself particularly with the presence of God. It is a 
 great honor to be with the King of kings, and to converse 
 with Him; but do not dishonor Him by unbecoming con- 
 duct or by a want of respect. 
 
 2. It is profitable. It was indeed a great happiness for 
 these persons to have invited Christ; for when they were 
 embarrassed on account of a scarcity of wine, they had 
 recourse to Christ, who, on their behalf, performed His first 
 miracle by changing water into wine. 
 
 It is not only an honor, but it is also profitable to be with 
 Christ ; He will change your indifference into zeal ; He will 
 hear you and bestow His graces upon you. Have, therefore, 
 recourse to Him in your temporal as well as in your spiritual 
 wants ; He will console you. 
 
 3. It is pleasant. Is it not a pleasure to be with Him, 
 whose conversation causes no weariness ? If He says that 
 He delights in being with the sons of men, should we not 
 also say, that it is our joy to be with Him ? 
 
 You never will finish your prayer and conversation with 
 God without being filled with pleasure ; while, on the other 
 hand, you will never leave the company of men without a 
 certain sense of sorrow, because you have met there dis- 
 agreeable persons, or have lost time, or perhaps offended God. 
 
 "I remembered God and was delighted." — Psalm Ixxvi, 4. 
 
 On this Sunday is celebrated also the feast of the Holy 
 name of Jesus. 
 
 1. This holy name gives us light. It illumines the dark- 
 ness wherever it is proclaimed. How did the gospel spread 
 5* 
 
54: Good Thoughts. 
 
 so rapidly over the earth if not by preaching the name of 
 Jesus ? St. Paul says : " You were heretofore darkness, 
 but now light in the Lord. The night is passed, and the 
 day is at hand." 
 
 2. It serves as food. Whenever we meditate upon it, it 
 strengthens and excites us to the performance of good 
 works ; it nourishes our soul more than does any other food. 
 Behold the holy servants of God who venerated and invoked 
 that holy name ; with what strength did they not resist 
 temptation and practice good works ! 
 
 3. It serves as medicine.. The holy name of Jesus cures 
 the diseases of the soul, calms the passions, makes us hum- 
 ble, heals our wounds, puts out the fire of concupiscence and 
 allays the thirst of avarice. 
 
 Listen, then, my soul ! in the holy name of Jesus you 
 have a hidden treasure ; let it be engraved upon your heart. 
 
 " All whatever you do in word or in work, all things do ye in the name 
 of the Lord Jesus Christ." — Col. iii, 17. 
 
 Monday. In choosing a state of life we must, 
 
 1. Know and follow the will of God. To know the will 
 of God, you must ask for light from heaven and be guided 
 by your spiritual director, and then let nothing detain you 
 from fulfilling God's holy will. 
 
 Never enter upon a new state of life from motives of 
 selfishness or passion, but as soon as you have entered upon 
 it, endeavor to perfect yourself in it, remembering that you 
 must correspond with the state of life to which God has 
 called you. 
 
 2. We mitst make use of all the means given us. No state 
 of life is incompatible with sanctity. Never say : " I do 
 not care about being so very holy, my state of life will not 
 permit of it." For then with all your strife to attain sanc- 
 tity, you will never reach a high degree of perfection. 
 
 O, my Lord, I know that Thou hast prepared graces for 
 every state of life ; it will be my fault if I do not use them. 
 
 3. We must avoid all dangers. Every state of life has its 
 own particular dangers, and everywhere have we to fear for 
 our salvation, for the reason that we are always with our- 
 selves. 
 
 Are you religious ? Avoid then the spirit of the world 
 and observe the rules of your order. Are you a secular 
 priest ? Avoid worldly assemblages, read your breviary and 
 
Good Thoughts. 65 
 
 fulfill your sacred duties. Are you married? Avoid dis- 
 cord, anger, and the giving of scandal. 
 
 '* I will meditate on thy commandments, and I will consider thy ways." — 
 Psalm cxviii, 15, 
 
 Tuesday. The perfection of the different states of life : 
 
 1. Of the religious. The state of the religious is sub- 
 lime, and demands therefore great perfection. You must not 
 only keep your rules and vows, but you must also practice 
 purity to such perfection, that you are free from all affection 
 towards any creature, your purity must be angelic, your 
 obedience perfect, your humility profound, your union with 
 God entire. 
 
 Do you possess all these virtues ? If not, be ashamed and 
 strive at once to attain them. 
 
 2. Of the secidar priest. You are bound to live a more 
 perfect and exemplary life, since you are not the inmate of a 
 convent, but exposed to the eyes of the whole world, and 
 you should instruct and edify the people, not only by word, 
 but also by example, for as you can advance the honor of 
 God by a holy life, so also can you dishonor Him by a wicked 
 life. 
 
 Pray, examine yourself, read spiritual books, practice 
 charity and other means to become a perfect minister of 
 Christ. 
 
 3. Of lay people. St. Louis, St. Frances, and other saints, 
 who lived in the world like yourself, show that there also can 
 you be saved. It is true, the dangers of the world are great, 
 but it will be your fault, if you lose your soul, since Almighty 
 God gives you ample means to save yourself. It is the will 
 of God that you should take care of your goods, your 
 children and your business; but it is not His will that you 
 should neglect yourself. How often are people of the world 
 so much engaged in their business, that we hear them say : 
 " We have not a moment's time to pray !" 
 
 Remember that Elias was a man like unto you, that is to 
 say, you can obtain holiness as have done so many others, 
 who had to combat with the same difficulties. 
 
 " Elias was a man passable like unto us." — James v, 1*7. 
 
 "Wednesday. The Evangelical counsels. 
 
 1. Poverty detaches us from the world. Christ Himself 
 gave us these counsels so as to make us more perfect : " If 
 
56 Good Thoughts. 
 
 thou wilt be perfect, He says, go sell what thou hast, and 
 come, follow me !" Blessed is he who renounces the riches 
 of the world, to obtain heaven. He will be no longer 
 attached to the goods of this world, which are the source of 
 so many sins ; he will not be troubled by anxiety to obtain 
 them, nor by the fear of losing them, and he is freed from 
 many occasions of offending God. 
 
 If you are called to this state of perfection try to corres- 
 pond with the grace of God and gain Heaven as your 
 reward. 
 
 2. Chastity makes us like unto angels. Many, in order to 
 please God and obtain holiness, renounce all pleasures and 
 devote themselves to God by making the vow of chastity. 
 O, how pleasing is this sacrifice to God ! How many special 
 graces does God grant to those virgins who follow the lamb ; 
 how advantageous is this virtue to men, who by the purity 
 of their lives become like angels ! 
 
 If you have offered up this precious gift of chastity to 
 God, ask for His assistance against your enemies, who attack 
 that virtue, but you must also watch over your senses. 
 
 3. Obedience makes known to us the loill of God, It is a 
 great virtue for a man to offer up, by the vow of obedience, 
 his own will, his liberty and his own judgment ; but it is 
 also of great advantage to be obedient to the representatives 
 of God, who govern us in His stead, and who make known 
 His will to us. We often perform many good works out of 
 mere selfishness, without consulting the will of God. 
 
 Are you a religious ? Listen to the voice of your superior, 
 whom God has placed over you! Are you living in the 
 world ? Follow the advice of your spiritual director if you 
 do not wish to go astray ! 
 
 " He that heareth you, lieareth me, and he that despiseth you, despiseth 
 me." — Luke x, 16. 
 
 Thursday. Different dispositions of those loho desire 
 after perfection, 
 
 1. So7ne desire to attain the end^ without using the means. 
 How numerous are they who are thus disposed. They wish 
 to be saved, but will not use the means to obtain salvation ; 
 they have a desire to become perfect, but will not walk on 
 the road to perfection, which is the practice of prayer, 
 penance and other virtues. 
 
-Good Thoughts. 57 
 
 Of what avail will be your desires if you do not put them 
 into practice ? Remember that hell is filled with good inten- 
 tions, but heaven with good works. 
 
 2. Others desire to use only the means agreeable to them- 
 selves. Some will pray with devotion and perform other 
 good works ; but as soon as you speak to them of penance, 
 humiliation, of gi^^ng up pleasures, of placing a watch over 
 then* eyes, of better conduct, of temperance, of forgiveness, 
 they refuse to listen to you. 
 
 Remember that he who neglects a trifling fault will easily 
 fall into a greater, and that the distance between venial and 
 mortal sin is not great. Be circumspect, therefore, and- 
 allow yourself nothing contrary to the will of God. 
 
 3. Others use all the means and give themselves up entirely 
 to God. What a happy state ! Who would not like to 
 embrace it ? What is more desirable than to give ourselves 
 up entirely to God, and to strive after perfection ? 
 
 Lord, speak. Thy servant heareth ; what dost Thou wish 
 me to do ? I am ready to do all that is pleasing to Thee. I 
 promise to commence to-day the work of my perfection, and 
 to renounce forever my unprofitable life. 
 
 " I am thine." — Psalm cxyiii, 94. 
 
 Felday. The dangers of adversity. 
 
 1. We lose patience. There are two dangerous conditions 
 in which to be placed: adversity and prosperity. If every 
 thing works to our satisfaction, we show patience ; but as 
 soon as we meet with anything disagreeable, we give way 
 to passion and to anger. 
 
 O Lord, Thou dost send us afflictions for our own good, 
 but we, by our impatience, turn them into evil ! 
 
 2. We lose our devotion. We allow affliction to fill us 
 with such confusion that we know not what to do. We 
 lose all courage in the practice of perfection, we abandon 
 our usual devotions, and are oppressed by sorrow. 
 
 Imitate the prudent steersman, who during the storm 
 does not abandon the helm, but who holds it with greater 
 firmness. Do not make two evils out of one, but on the 
 contrary, seek God with more zeal. 
 
 3. We offend our neighbor. We act as though we were 
 irrational beings ; we become angry ; we are indignant if 
 we are asked any questions, and in our rage we become im- 
 
58 Good Thoughts. 
 
 patient, curse and get angry, not only with ourselves, but 
 with the whole world. 
 
 Learn how to profit by adversity ; it will be for your own 
 good. 
 
 "Adversity is like the fire, which purifies gold, but turns straw into 
 ashes." — James i, 2-4. 
 
 Saturday. The dangers of prosperity. 
 
 1. We forget God. If we have all that we desire, we will 
 easily forget God. Look at the rich, who spend their lives 
 in amusements and feastings ; they hardly think of God ; 
 they seem to have found their haj)piness in this world, and 
 to have no need of God. In adversity, on the contrary, we 
 take refuge in God, and if we find ourselves miserable and 
 poor in this world, we strive the harder to gain the joys of 
 heaven. 
 
 Remain true to God, whether you are rich or poor. If, 
 like the rich man of the Gospel, you have all your happiness 
 in this world, you will also, like him, have eternal misery 
 in the other. 
 
 2. TFe forget our neigJibor, Living continually in the 
 midst of pleasures, the rich know nothing of the manifold 
 misery of the world ; they have no compassion on the sick 
 or afflicted, nor on the poor who ask them for alms. 
 
 Fear lest your want of charity will be the cause of your 
 damnation, as it was of the rich man ! Give to others from 
 what God has given you. 
 
 3. We forget ourselves. Happiness makes man insupport- 
 ably proud; he forgets his former misery, and that into 
 which he may yet fall. In his pride he ascends such a 
 height that he becomes dizzy and falls to the ground. 
 
 Never become proud in prosperity, but be humble and 
 modest, and always prepared for whatever adversity may 
 befall you. O, my Lord, grant that I may not be like so 
 many unfortunate beings, who, spending their lives in pleas- 
 ure, without thinking of heaven, will in one moment find 
 themselves in hell. 
 
 " The J spend their days in wealth, and in one moment they go down to 
 hell." — Job xxi, 13. 
 
Good Thoughts. 69 
 
 THIRD WEEK AFTER EPIPHANY. 
 
 GrOSPEL: — Matt, vni, 1-13. At that time, -when Jesus was come down 
 from the mountain, etc. 
 
 Su]!a)A.T. The cleansing of the leper. 
 
 1. JSe asks to he cleansed. This poor leper seeks Christ 
 and adores Him, saying : " Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst 
 make me clean." 
 
 Go to Jesus, ask Him to cleanse you from your leprosy, 
 that is from sin, from your pride, self-esteem and other sins. 
 Why, then, are you not cleansed, for God wishes you to be 
 so ? It is because you do not wish it yourself. 
 
 2. Se is cleansed. Christ answering him, said: "I will!" 
 He then touched him, and he was cleansed. 
 
 Almighty God has touched you by so many holy inspira- 
 tions ; you have touched and received Him so often in holy 
 communion, and still you are not cleansed. The reason is, 
 because you do not wish to avoid sin; you love your 
 misery and conceal from yourself the horrible condition 
 in which you find yourself If you only knew your state 
 you would be terrified. Do not, therefore, deceive your- 
 self 
 
 3. Se shows himself to the priest. After having cleansed 
 him, Christ commanded him to show himself to the priest 
 and offer his gifts. 
 
 Thank God for having given you the priests, who cleanse 
 you by absolving you from your sins ; who nourish you with 
 the bread of life and the word of God ; who offer up for 
 you the holy sacrifice of the mass and who pray for you. 
 Do you show yourself to them ? Do you obey them ? Alas ! 
 my Lord, so many means and so little progress ! How will- 
 ing must I be to lose my soul, since with such opportunities 
 I do not desire to be saved ! 
 
 " Lord, be thou merciful to me ; heal my soul, for I have sinned against 
 thee." — Psalm xl, 5. 
 
 MoxDAT. Advantages of obedience. 
 
 1. We practice virtue. To submit ourselves to man out 
 of love to God, is a great act of humility, which draws down 
 
60 Good Thoughts. 
 
 upon us the blessings of heaven. Imitate Christ, who con- 
 sidered it an honor to be obedient during His whole life. 
 
 Submit your judgment to that of your superiors and 
 spiritual directors. God has given them to you, to lead you ; 
 it is better to do little of your own will. 
 
 2. We are sure to do the loill of God. What a consola- 
 tion ! I am sure to do the will of God ; my actions are 
 pleasing to God ; they may appear trifling, but when per- 
 formed out of obedience, they secure a special glory for me 
 in heaven. 
 
 Rest assured, that perfection does not consist in doing 
 your own will, nor in doing great things, but in doing the 
 will of God. 
 
 3. We avoid many dangers. O, how often do we err in 
 spiritual things ? We are in danger of being deceived by 
 the illusions of Satan; it is easy to go astray without a 
 leader. 
 
 Reveal to your spiritual father all your temptations and 
 imperfections, just as a sick man asks the advice of his jjhy- 
 sician, or as a traveler asks for the road to be pointed out to 
 him. If you obey your confessor you will avoid danger and 
 attain perfection. How many have been lost because they 
 concealed their temptations and were not obedient. O, my 
 Lord, grant that Thy will may be the only rule of my life. 
 
 " Thy will be done." — Mat. vi, 10. 
 
 Tuesday. We will neither obey nor he advised. 
 
 1. Because we are indifferent. We are convinced that in 
 the science of salvation it is as necessary for us to have a 
 teacher as it is in other sciences ; but we refuse either to 
 listen to his teachings or to obey him ; we think it unneces- 
 sary and declare that we do not wish to attain sanctity if we 
 must use such means. 
 
 O how dangerous to be thus deluded ! By acting in such 
 a manner we show that we feel very little anxiety concern- 
 ing our salvation. Make the resolution that your obedience 
 shall be prompt, thorough and cheerful. 
 
 2. Because we are proud. Some say that they possess 
 sufficient knowledge and need no advice. They have such 
 an exalted opinion of themselves and are so conceited, that 
 they refuse to obey any one, and do not hesitate to call obe- 
 dience and christian humility by such names as servility and 
 cowardice. 
 
Good Thoughts. 61 
 
 You should deem it an honor to obey man, out of love foi 
 God. Kemember, that by obeying your superior you obey 
 God ; if you do this, your heart will always be filled with 
 peace and contentment. 
 
 3. JBecause we are presumptuous. Others again believe 
 that they must ask advice, in order that they may not 
 deceive themselves ; but they show very little concern when 
 they find that they are deceived, and consider spiritual 
 advice a matter of very little importance. 
 
 To know the danger and to be able to avoid it, but yet to 
 expose ourselves uselessly to it, is great presumption. If, 
 by following your own judgment, you yield to temptation 
 and are deceived, you have no one to blame but yourself. O 
 Lord, grant that I may not wander from the path of virtue. 
 
 "0 that my ways maybe directed to keep tliy justificatious." — Psalm 
 cxviii. 5. 
 
 Wednesday. WicJced advisers, 
 
 1. Self-interest. This is the great oracle, whom all con- 
 sult. If we wish . to obtain an office, choose a state of life, 
 or enter into any business, we never think of seeking the 
 advice of God, but our only thought is, ' Will it be to my 
 advantage to do this thing ; shall I gain or lose by it ? ' — in- 
 stead of considering, * Will God be offended thereby, or will 
 I endanger the salvation of my soul ? ' 
 
 How little do I care for my eternal happiness ! Alas, my 
 God, is it possible that I have so little fear of offending 
 Thee, and of losing my soul ? 
 
 2. JPassion, In all our actions we seldom follow the 
 promptings of reason, but rather those of passion. The sen- 
 sual man takes no pains to extinguish the flames of concu- 
 piscence that will surely consume him ; the revengeful man 
 consults only his anger; the ambitious man his temporal 
 welfare. In vain are they remonstrated with ; in vain are 
 they by turns conjured and threatened, they turn a deaf ear 
 to every warning and abandon themselves to their passions. 
 
 What wicked advisers ! Control your tongue when you 
 are angry ; a word that once falls from your lips cannot be 
 taken back. Do nothing when excited; if you yield readily 
 to your passions, you will soon repent of it. Have no confi- 
 dence in your own judgment when you are angry ! 
 
 3. False friends. Thousands have been ruined by follow- 
 ing the advice of friends. You ask the advice of those who 
 
 6 
 
62 Good Thoughts. 
 
 are as selfish, sensual and passionate as you are yourself; 
 how can they give you good counsel ? 
 
 Be careful whom you trust ! The advice of one bad man 
 has effected the ruin of many. 
 
 "Blessed is the man who hath not walked in the counsel of the un- 
 godly." — Psalm i, 1. 
 
 Thursday. The advantages of faith. 
 
 1. The light icith which it fills us. Faith is a light, says 
 the apostle, which shines in the darkness of this life, while 
 we are awaiting the dawn of the glorious day of eternity. 
 How bright is its light, revealing to us the most profound 
 mysteries and heavenly truths, which pagan wisdom never 
 could discover ! By faith we know the great mysteries of 
 the blessed Trinity, the Incarnation and the blessed Euchar- 
 ist ; it teaches us the resurrection of the dead, the eternity 
 of punishment in hell and the imperishable glory of heaven. 
 It teaches us the practice of christian virtues ; the admirable 
 doctrines of the gospel ; the vanity of all earthly things ; to 
 despise ourselves, and the knowledge of the true path to 
 heaven. 
 
 What lamentable use have I made of this admirable 
 light ! O my Lord, how unworthy am I of it ! I am cov- 
 ered with shame when I consider how ignorant I am of my 
 religion. I believe, O Lord, help my unbelief ! 
 
 2. The fire which it enkindles icithin us. Faith is a sun, 
 w^hich not only enlightens, but also warms our hearts. It 
 enkindles in us the fire of the love of God, by reminding us 
 of God and His infinite perfections, Jesus Christ dying for 
 us upon the cross, and of the glorious crowns prepared for 
 us in heaven. Many who received the light of faith have 
 renounced all earthly pleasures, lived in the desert or 
 sought the seclusion of a monastery; and many of those 
 who lived in the world have practiced the most sublime 
 virtues. 
 
 St. James says that we must show our faith by good works, 
 for this is the true sign of possessing faith. How are my 
 works ? how do I pray ? what veneration have I for holy 
 places ? with what zeal do I work for my salvation ? 
 
 3. The dangers from, which it frees us. Can any one see 
 in the darkness without a light ? Into how many pits would 
 the traveler fall ! We are all pilgrims in this world. 
 Almighty God, lead us through faith, just as the pillar of 
 fire did the Israelites. Into how many errors and vices 
 
Good Thoughts. 63 
 
 would we not fall, as have done so many wicked and unbe- 
 lieving persons, if the light of faith should be taken from us ! 
 
 ISTever question the truths taught to you by faith ! 
 Encourage no innovation, but rely upon the teachings of the 
 church, as delivered to you by your pastors. You will cer- 
 tainly err, if in matters of faith you are guided by your own 
 reason. 
 
 "I do believe, Lord help my unbelief." — Mark ix, 23. 
 
 Feiday. The light which enlightens us. 
 
 1. The light of God. By the many good thoughts with 
 which Almighty God inspires us, we know what we 'have 
 to do. 
 
 Thank God for such holy inspirations, and do not neglect 
 them ; but be careful not to mistake an evil spirit for a good 
 one. The good spirit urges you to practice mortification, 
 humility and inward recollection; the evil spirit, on the 
 contrary, incites you to indulge in pleasures, pride and dis- 
 tractions of every sort. This evil spirit endeavors to make 
 you lukewarm and indifferent in your devotions. Avoid it ! 
 
 2. The light of faith. In order not to err we must 
 abide by the rules of faith. If you are tempted to be 
 revengeful, remember the words of Christ, saying that we 
 must love our enemies. If you are tempted to spend your 
 time frivolously, remember how sinful pleasures are pun- 
 ished in the next world. If you are treated with contempt, 
 consider that the honor of a Christian consists in practicing 
 humility. 
 
 The thought of the last judgment, of heaven, and other such 
 great truths, will keep you within the circle of your duties. 
 
 3. The light of reason. Reason shows us the difference 
 between good and bad ; by it we know what we must do 
 and what we must avoid. 
 
 Follow the light of reason and do not be guided by that 
 of passion. Never say, " I will do this because I choose to 
 do it," but say rather, " I will do this because I have good 
 reason to do so." 
 
 " Enlighten my eyes, that I never sleep in death." — Psalm xii, 4. 
 
 Saturday. Three hinds of conscience. 
 
 1. The easy conscience. There are persons who mould their 
 consciences as they wish, and who measure things according 
 to the rules of their passions, and not in accordance with 
 
C4 Good Thoughts. 
 
 the teachings of the Gospel. The lives they lead causes 
 them to lose, gradually, all fear of sin, and becoming habit- 
 uated to sin, they are easily led into error. They despise 
 all admonitions, fearing lest they may be commanded to do 
 that -which they do not Avish to do ; their only desire is to 
 deceive themselves. 
 
 Beware of falling into this unhappy state, in which the 
 sinner becomes regardless as to whether he commits good 
 or evil. 
 
 2. The scrupulous conscience. Relying too much on our 
 own judgment, we become over-scrupulous, — a very dan- 
 gerous condition in spiritual life. One moment we believe 
 a certain thing to be Avrong, and the next instant we believe it 
 to be right; then again, we look upon it as neither good nor 
 evil, and finally, Ave know not Avhat to believe. We spend 
 much time in trying to arrive at a conclusion, but end in 
 being more uncertain as to what is right than we were at 
 the commencement. We imagine that Ave haA^e ncA^er made 
 a good confession, and while meditating upon our past sins 
 and confessions, Ave lose sight of our present imperfections ; 
 and while thus trying to remove one scruple Ave create fifty 
 others. We belicA-'e that our spiritual directors do not 
 understand us, because they do not see things in the same 
 light in which Ave do. In the meantime we do not perceiA^e 
 that our own stubbornness is the cause of all our scruples. 
 
 In order to punish us for our obstinacy, God permits us 
 to remain scrupulous, for the reason that we prefer to be 
 guided by our OAvn light. We fall from one error into 
 another, and then are unable to free ourseh^es from any; 
 and hence it is that we finally giA'e way to sadness and 
 despondency, AA^hich frequently terminates in despair and 
 madness. This is a dcA'ice of Satan ; and the OA^er-scrupu- 
 lous person, unless he is careful, will remain in this most 
 dangerous condition, although he imagines himself to be 
 leading a life of piety. 
 
 Place yourself under the direction of a wise and pious 
 adA'iser, and do what he commands you. 
 
 3. The good conscience. This is the conscience which 
 fears to offend God, which faithfully fulfills its obligations, 
 avoids the least sin, endeaA'ors to please God in all things, 
 and submits to the guidance of its spiritual director. 
 
 Seek to possess such a conscience. 
 
 '* Lord, guide me in the right path." — Psalm xxvi, 11. 
 
Good Thoughts. 65 
 
 FOURTH WEEK AFTER EPIPHANY. 
 
 Gospel: — Matt, viri, 23-21. At that time, when Jesus entered into 
 the boat, the disciples followed Him, etc. 
 
 Sunday. T/ie calming of the storm. 
 
 1. The danger of the apostles. While the apostles were 
 on the sea, a great storm arose ; the winds raged, and the 
 waves dashed with fury against the sides of the boat : but 
 Jesus was asleep. 
 
 Christ sleeps during the storm, and you think that He has 
 forsaken you ? Not at all ! He wishes to put your fidelity and 
 confidence to the test. The w*aves and the wind are typical 
 of your passions and temptations. You must resist them, 
 and imitate the mariner, who, during a tempest, furls the 
 sails, in order to break the force of the wind, and who, 
 despite the storm, keeps firm hold of the helm. Avoid 
 danger, hold fast to the helm of reason, and do not allow 
 yourself to be carried away by the fury of your passions. 
 
 2. Their petition. Filled with fear they awakened the 
 Savior, saying: "Lord, save us, we perish." The Lord 
 reproached them for their little faith. 
 
 Wait not until temptation has brought you to the verge 
 of ruin! Cry out to God for help; pray unceasingly; 
 have great confidence in Him, and none in yourself 
 
 3. The effect of their petition. The Son of God com- 
 manded the winds and the sea to be quiet; and at once 
 there came a great calm. 
 
 Prayer quiets the storms of passion : it gives us strength 
 in time of temptation, it comforts us in adversity, and 
 restores to the soul the peace which it had lost. Pray with 
 fervor and confidence, and, if it is necessary, God will even 
 perform a miracle to save you. 
 
 " Thou, Grod, has proved us ; thou hast tried us by fire, as silver is 
 tried." — Psalm Ixv, 10. 
 
 Monday. Heasons why we should distrust ourselves. 
 
 1. Our misery and frailty. As confidence in God makes 
 us hope everything from Him, so distrust of ourselves 
 causes us to be fearful of whatever we do. We cannot 
 6* 
 
66 Good Thoughts. 
 
 humble ourselves sufficiently before God when we meditate 
 upon the sins we have committed. 
 
 O Lord, if Thou hadst not stretched forth Thy hand to 
 me, I would ere this have been lost. I have reason to fear 
 and will avoid all occasions of sin. Alas, I was so easily 
 conquered ! I know my weakness and frailty. Assist me, 
 my God ! for without Thy help I will fall and be unable to 
 rise again. 
 
 2. The fall of those inho had once attained perfection. 
 Have you no reason to fear, when you think of Lucifer and 
 Adam, who, created in the state of grace, nevertheless fell 
 into sin ? Remember Saul, David, Solomon, Origenes, and 
 so many others who were great, but still fell into temptation, 
 and meditate especially upon Judas; he was an Apostle, 
 chosen by Christ himself to convert the world, and, behold, 
 he falls on account of his avarice ! He sold Christ, and 
 betrayed Him, and then hung himself. What an end for 
 one who was an apostle and disciple of Christ, of one who 
 had listened so often to His divine teachings, and who had 
 been the witness of His miracles ! 
 
 St. Paul says : " He that thinketh himself to stand, let 
 him take heed lest he faU." — 1 Cor. x, 12. 
 
 3. The advantages of distrusting ourselves. As God 
 provides always for those who have confidence in Him, so 
 will He allow those to perish who rely only upon them- 
 selves. What a lamentable thing it would be, to be left to 
 ourselves ! In such a manner did God punish the Israelites. 
 
 O Lord, punish me not so ! I am conscious of my errors ; 
 I will hope and take refuge in Thee. 
 
 "Thou art my God, depart not from me." — Psalm xxi, 11, 12. 
 
 Tuesday. Prayer conquers the heart of God. 
 
 1. It appeases ITis wrath. Abraham, Moses and Jeremias 
 made use of prayer in order to avert the wrath of God, and 
 to wrest the lightning from His hands. Why do you not 
 then pray to God, whom you have so often offended ? By 
 prayer you will obtain the mercy of God, who will remit to 
 you the guilt and punishment of your sins. 
 
 Pray often, ask God to forgive you and to deliver you 
 from evil ! 
 
 2. It ohtams His grace. " Ask," says Christ, " and you 
 shall receive ! " Prayer is so powerful that God cannot 
 resist it. At the prayer of Josue the sun stood still ; at the 
 
Good Thoughts. 67 
 
 prayer of Elias fire fell down from heaven. In answer 
 to a prayer, water has gushed forth from rocks, seas and 
 rivers have become dry, the dead have risen; so that we 
 see that God will not refuse anything to those who pray to 
 Him. 
 
 It is a common saying, that what is not worth asking for 
 is not worth having. You must consider the salvation of 
 your soul as of very little value, if you do not ask God for 
 the necessary graces to gain heaven. 
 
 3. It gains His friendship. Friendship is cemented and 
 strengthened by constant intercourse. If you desire to gain 
 the friendship of God, speak often with Him ; place yourself 
 in His presence, and you will find that the more persever- 
 ingly you occupy yourself with Him in prayer the more 
 abundantly will He impart His graces to you. 
 
 Say with his disciples : 
 
 " Lord teach us to pray ! " — Luke xi, 1. 
 
 Wednesday. Prayer conquers the heart of man. 
 
 \. If he is Nindj it will enlighten him. Without prayer 
 we remain in darkness and is^norance of that which leads to 
 salvation; for we can only know and love God when we 
 contemplate His perfections. You will value and love vir- 
 tue when you consider its beauty and its eternal reward, and 
 you will hate sin by meditating upon its abomination and its 
 everlasting punishment. 
 
 O my Lord, am I not foolish in learning so many unprof- 
 itable things, instead of learning how to pray and to medi- 
 tate upon heavenly truths ? 
 
 2. If he is hardened, he will be converted hy it. If our 
 understanding is once convinced, our will is easily con- 
 quered. By means of prayer, great conversions are made, 
 and many make the firm resolution to avoid sin and practice 
 virtue. 
 
 Meditate every day, if it is even for a quarter of an hour, 
 upon some of the eternal truths. 
 
 3. If he is weak, it will strengthen him. By prayer we 
 become zealous, our heart will be inflamed with the love 
 of God, and we will be incited to aspire after christian 
 perfection. 
 
 Is it a wonder that I am so weak? Alas, I think so 
 seldom of God ; but I now resolve to lift up my heart to 
 Him at all hours of the day, and to ask him not only for 
 
68 Good TnouonTs. 
 
 His grace, but also for the pardon of my sins, so that I may 
 give glory to His holy name. 
 
 " In my meditation a fire shall flame out." — Psalm xxxviii, 4. 
 
 Thursday. Interior recollection and the presence of God. 
 
 1. It consoles us in our sorroios. If you keep yourself 
 always in the presence of God, nothing will afflict you. If 
 any adversity should come upon you, consider that Almighty 
 God sends it. The very thought that God is with you in 
 your sorrows, is a great consolation for you, and should 
 change your sorrow into joy. 
 
 True consolation can be found in Thee alone, O Lord, and 
 not in creatures, who cause sorrow to those who love them. 
 
 2. It strengthens us in our temptations. The presence of 
 God restrains us from committing sin, just as the eye of the 
 master keeps the servant faithful to his duty. If we only 
 would remember, that in the darkness of night God sees us 
 and is witness of all our sinful actions, we would indeed fear 
 to offend Him. A soldier who knows that the king watches 
 him during battle will certainly not show himself a coward. 
 
 Be encouraged in your combat against temptation by 
 placing yourself in the presence of God, who sees you. 
 
 3. It encourages us to become perfect. The consciousness 
 that God sees us, as well as our union with Him, causes us to 
 practice virtue on all occasions, in order to please Him. We 
 will also receive enlightenment, so that in every trial we 
 shall recognize the hand of God. 
 
 O ! how necessary it is to think of God and to retire within 
 yourself, in order not to be carried away by your passions. 
 Cherish this spirit of recollection by watching over your 
 senses. 
 
 " Walk before me and be perfect." — Gen. xvii, 1. 
 
 Friday. Reasons for having confidence in God. 
 
 1. The kindness of God. Confidence in God is the virtue 
 most necessary for us to possess in time of trouble and 
 adversity, because of His infinite kindness and love to us. 
 He is the Father, who provides for us ; He is the friend, who 
 loves us best ; He is the benefactor, who bestows upon us in 
 this life innumerable benefits, and who, in the next world, 
 crowns us with imperishable glory. 
 
 Shall I give way to sadness, if adversity should come 
 upon me, or if I am in want ? Should I not hope in God, 
 
Good Thoughts. 69 
 
 since I know that He is my Sovereign, my infinitely kind 
 and loving Master, and that " to them that love God, all 
 things work together unto good ? " 
 
 2. The power of God. The wonderful multiplication of 
 the loaves, the calming of the tempest, when the apostles 
 cried out, " Lord, save us ! " the curing of the sick, the 
 raising of the dead, and the innumerable other miracles 
 performed by Christ, prove sufficiently that He is all-power- 
 ful and good. 
 
 Have confidence in Him, and cast yourself into the out- 
 stretched arms of His kind providence. By reason of His 
 wisdom He knows your wants ; by reason of His kindness 
 he will assist you : this He can do, because He is almighty. 
 Never doubt the kindness of God, although you may be in 
 the greatest affliction. 
 
 3. The merits of Christ and the intercession of the saints. 
 Through the precious blood of Christ we have admission 
 into the presence of the eternal Father ; through His infinite 
 merits we can ask from God the kingdom of heaven, since 
 Christ Himself has purchased it for us. " Whatever you shall 
 ask in my name," says Christ, " you shall receive." 
 
 Let us, like the Church, pray always through Jesus Christ 
 our Lord^ through the infinite merits of Christ. Let us also 
 with confidence invoke the Blessed Virgin and the saints, 
 for they are powerful before God. 
 
 " We have an advocate w^ith the Father, Jesus Christ the just, and he is 
 the propitiation for our sins." — 1 John ii, 1, 2. 
 
 Satukday. Obstacles to interior recollection, 
 
 1. Hastiness. Why is it that we think so seldom of God 
 during the day ? It is because we are so filled with anxiety 
 concerning our temporal afiairs, and because we have no desire 
 to spend time in meditating upon the presence of God. In- 
 stead of yielding to the impressions of grace, we allow our- 
 selves to be governed by natural instincts. We thus lose 
 all the merits of our actions, for the reason that we com- 
 mence them without proper consideration. 
 
 Avoid this error, and meditate ! 
 
 2. Carelessness. We do not think of God because we do 
 not wish to think of Him ; consequently we are opposed to 
 meditation. To place ourselves in the presence of God is 
 not so very difficult. It is not necessary to go to church to 
 meditate j it takes but a moment. 
 
70 Good Titoughts. 
 
 Practice mental prayer, for in it you will find sweet con- 
 solation. 
 
 3. Attachment to creatures. It is impossible to be recol- 
 lected by and united with God, as long as we permit 
 ourselves to be distracted by worldly affairs. You allow 
 too much liberty to your eyes, tongue and senses ; you are 
 anxious about trifles, and devote all your thoughts and cares 
 to whatever you are most inclined; you therefore cannot 
 wonder if, when at prayer, your heart is filled with thoughts 
 of what you have been doing or intend doing during the 
 day, or of creatures whom you love with so much fervor. 
 
 Ask for the spirit of recollection, and try to obtain it, 
 since it is so necessary for spiritual life. Say, with David : 
 
 "I have said to the Lord, thou art my G-od." — Psalm xv, 2. 
 
 FIFTH WEEK AFTER EPIPHANY. 
 
 Gospel: — Matt, xin, 24-30. " At that time Jesus spoke this parable 
 to the multitudes: The kiugdom of heaven is likened to a man who sowed 
 good seed in his field," etc. 
 
 Sunday. The parable of the reheat and the cockle. 
 
 1. The goodness of God. The field, mentioned in the 
 Gospel, is our soul. God sows in it the good seed of His 
 graces and inspirations. 
 
 I am filled with confusion when I think of the many 
 graces I have received, and hoAV little I have corresponded 
 to them ! Christ once saw a certain fig tree by the wayside, 
 and finding nothing on it but leaves. He cursed it, and 
 immediately the fig tree withered away. Must I not fear 
 the curse of God, since notwithstanding the care He has 
 taken of me, I have brought forth no fruits ? 
 
 2. The malice of Satan. During the night, while men 
 were asleep, the enemy came and oversowed cockle among 
 the wheat. 
 
 This enemy is Satan, who tempts you; secondly,, it is 
 yourself and your concupiscences that encourage the growth 
 of the cockle, which are your many wicked desires and evil 
 
Good Thoughts. 71 
 
 thoughts. Resist these enemies. Be on your guard, and 
 fall not asleep, for fear that these bad thoughts may effect 
 your ruin, and the good thoughts, with which God inspires 
 you, remain without fruit. 
 
 3. The punishment of men. By the cockle, the wicked 
 are represented. Almighty God suffers them to grow until 
 the harvest, that is, until their death. They grow like the 
 wheat, and it often happens that the wicked have more 
 jjrosperity and wealth than the good ; but in the end the 
 cockle will be rooted up and burned, while the wheat will 
 be gathered into the barn. The wicked ydW be cast into 
 hell, while the good will be received in heaven. 
 
 Will you be the good seed, which will be treasured up in 
 heaven, or the cockle, which will be cast into the fire ? Ask 
 yourself 
 
 "Cut it down therefore; why cumbereth it the ground?" — Luke xiii, Y. 
 
 Monday. The icicJced destroy the good, 
 
 1. By their example. The cockle mixed among the wheat 
 signifies the wicked and the good who are destroyed by 
 their bad example. We are naturally inclined to imitate 
 others ; but it is easier to imitate the evil than the good. 
 
 Unfortunate, why do you imitate the wicked ? You say : 
 " Others do it also ! " What, if others offend God, and are 
 eternally lost, is that any reason why you should do the 
 same ? You, who give scandal, and thus cause the eternal 
 ruin of so many ! woe to you ! says Christ. 
 
 2. By their words. The poison enters through the ears ; 
 obscene language and immoral songs pervert thie good. Oh, 
 ye viper-tongues, how many souls have ye killed ! 
 
 Avoid the company of the wicked ; turn a deaf ear to 
 their tempting offers. Do not laugh or exhibit pleasure 
 when you hear indecent conversation. Fear no man, but 
 show that such language is displeasing to you. 
 
 3. JBy their snares. They understand well how to attract 
 you to them ; but be even more determined to resist them, 
 than they are to win you ! 
 
 Do not say that you are melancholy when alone ; it is far 
 better to live alone than to be ruined by society. " But, he 
 is my friend ! " Alas ! that is your misfortune. Since the 
 wicked are your companions, I look upon you as already 
 lost, because we become like unto those with whom we 
 associate. St, Augustine says: "The friendship of the 
 
72 Good Thoughts. 
 
 wicked is indeed an unfortunate friendship." Grant, O 
 Lord, that I may regard those as my enemies who are 
 opposed to Thee. 
 
 "I will be an enemy to Thy enemies." — Ex. xxiii, 22. 
 
 Tuesday. OtJier devices of the loicJced. 
 
 1. Their mockery, Alas, how disastrous is such ridi- 
 cule ? How many have, on that account, been induced to 
 forsake virtue and commit sin ? The expression, " what will 
 be said of me," and the fear of being derided, has caused 
 many to give up their good resolutions and to become 
 wicked. 
 
 Where is your courage ; should the fear of ridicule tempt 
 you to commit sin ? 
 
 2. Their flatteries. They will attract you by praises and 
 flatteries ; they will pay you great respect and show you 
 affection, in order to gain your favor ; they will even pre- 
 sent you with gifts ; but alas, this is only offering you 
 poison in a golden cup. 
 
 Be on your guard ! Many have been thus ensnared, so 
 that you have every reason to fear. Would you be so con- 
 temptible as to forsake God for a trifling present, and to 
 prefer the promises and the caresses of the wicked to the 
 eternal riches which God promises you ? 
 
 3. Their threats. They will frighten you by their threats, 
 and persecute you with their violence and slander, in order 
 to obtain by force what they could not gain by flattery. 
 
 Despise all such threats, they cannot harm you, and if 
 they should, how happy ought you to be, to suffer persecu- 
 tion for justice sake and for a good cause. Remember the 
 words of Christ : 
 
 "Fear ye not them that kill the body, and are not able to kill the soul, 
 but rather fear Him that can destroy both soul and body into helL" — Matt. 
 X, 28. 
 
 Wednesday. Avoiding the occasio7is of sin. 
 
 1. Yoic know the danger. You are well aware that a 
 similar occasion has induced you several times to offend 
 God. You know, from your own experience, that as often 
 as you frequent this or that society, or this or that place, 
 you always return a greater sinner. Why, then, do you per- 
 sist in going there ? You would never again travel through 
 
Good Thoughts. 73 
 
 a forest where you had been nearly killed ; you would never 
 taste fruit, the eating of which had caused you a serious 
 illness. 
 
 Avoid those amusements which you know will tempt you 
 to commit sin ; never go to a place where you fear that you 
 may become intoxicated; shun that society which is dan- 
 gerous to you ; put aside those bad books and newspapers ! 
 Gaze no more upon those persons and pictures which have 
 been to you already an occasion of sin. 
 
 2. You can avoid the danger. Who can force you to read 
 obscene books, to look at improper objects, or to visit wicked 
 places? No one. You can easily avoid these occasions; 
 but if you deliberately seek them, you will find it difficult 
 to refrain from sin. 
 
 A holy father says, that it was easier for David not to 
 have seen Bethsabee, than to love her after he had seen her. 
 Flee, therefore, from the occasions of sin and from wicked 
 societies ! 
 
 3. Tbu must avoid the danger. The commandment of 
 God obliges you to avoid it. The Holy Ghost says : " He 
 that loveth danger shall perish in it." — Eccl. iii, 27. You 
 cannot receive absolution as long as you are in the proximate 
 danger of sin. 
 
 K you love God and your salvation, flee from them ! 
 
 "Flee ye from Babylon, and let every one save his own life ! " — Jer. 1, 6. 
 
 Thuksdat. jFhlse confidence. 
 
 1. In regard to God, for you say : " He will assist me.'*'* 
 You expose yourself to danger without there being any 
 necessity for you to do so, and against the command of 
 God, and yet you think, that in order to prevent you from 
 falling into sin, He should perform a miracle ; but He will not 
 do so. Would it not be madness for you to throw yourself 
 out of a window, hoping that God would not allow you to 
 be injured ? 
 
 God will assist you, if, like Joseph and Susanna, you do 
 not seek the occasion of sin ; but if, like David, you expose 
 yourself voluntarily to it, you will fall. 
 
 2. In regard to yourself, when you say : ^^ I will he firm 
 enough.''"' You declare that you have several times exposed 
 yourself to danger without having fallen ; but I say, the 
 next time you will fall. This, your presumption, will induce 
 God to forsake you. 
 
 1 
 
Y4 Good Thoughts. 
 
 Remember, tliat although you shall not fall, you are 
 bound to avoid the occasion, and to confess it, if you have 
 exposed yourself to it ! 
 
 3. In regard to the danger itself^ when you say : " 0, it is 
 oiot so great /" What nonsense do you utter ? Hundreds 
 have fallen who were exposed to the same danger, and you 
 also will fall. By ceasing to visit this person, to gaze upon 
 certain pictures, to read certain books, and frequent certain 
 societies, you will lose all inclination to do so ; but as soon 
 as you will see them again, the remembrance of your former 
 pleasure will be revived, and will cause you to sin again. 
 
 How many there are who would certainly have lost the 
 grace of God, if they had exposed themselves to the occa- 
 sion of sin, but who have preserved it by avoiding the 
 danger. O Lord, assist me, and remove from me all occa- 
 sions of sin. 
 
 "0 God, come to my assistance, Lord, make haste to help me!" — 
 Psalm Ixix, 1. 
 
 Feiday. Good example. 
 
 1. By good example God is honored; hy the giving of 
 scandal He is dishonored. Christ desires that men shall see 
 our good works, and glorify our Father who is in heaven. 
 God is honored by having faithful servants, who confess Him 
 openly and follow His teachings. On the contrary, nothing 
 dishonors Him more than the giving of scandal. A man 
 who curses, a person who has no devotion in church, a wicked 
 son and a vain and immoral daughter robs God of much 
 honor. 
 
 You must therefore, by your good example, honor God 
 and edify your neighbor. 
 
 2. By good example our neighbor is edified; hy had exam- 
 ple he is scandalized. Good example destroys vice, makes 
 virtue attractive, and encourages others to imitate the virtues 
 23racticed by the good. You will effect more by Showing 
 patience and humility, than by all your exhortations. Bad 
 example, on the contrary, ruins many. Vice, when openly 
 practiced, becomes so tyrannical that virtue hardly dares to 
 assert itself. 
 
 Alas, my Lord, how often have I given encouragement to 
 sin by openly committing it. I acted as though it were 
 an honor to offend Thee, O my Lord, and not satisfied with 
 
Good TnorGHTS. 75 
 
 dishonoring Thee by my sins, I was the cause why others 
 offended Thee. 
 
 3. Good example is of advantage to him icho gives it. 
 Although no one should see you, you must nevertheless be 
 modest in your looJcs, by refusing to gaze with your eyes upon 
 dangerous objects ; in your actions^ by taking care not to 
 be too familiar ; ^>^ your gestures^ by always preserving a 
 becoming decency ; in your icords^ by refraining from vul- 
 gar or scandalous conversation, and finally by avoiding 
 everything which is not edifying. 
 
 Exterior modesty assists us in acquiring devotion and the 
 spirit of recollection, but virtue is never found associated 
 with bold or immodest conduct. 
 
 "The Lord of hosts Hveth, in whose sight I stand." — 4 Kings 3, 14, 
 
 Saturday. Discord. 
 
 1. The causes of discord. We are so sensitive, that we 
 can hear nothing displeasing to us without showing our 
 anger. For this reason we encourage feelings of aversion, 
 and use expressions which cause dissension and violate 
 charity. But I am in the right ! Even so, that is no 
 reason why you should quarrel ; you should the sooner yield 
 with meekness on that account, and practice patience and 
 humility. We are too apt to listen to every kind of gossip, 
 and to interpret everything according to our desire. This is 
 the origin of so many bitter quarrels. 
 
 If you despise all that is said and done against you, you 
 will live in peace with yourself and others. 
 
 2. The evils of discord. We never find peace in a house 
 where there is dissension ; factions are formed, quarrels are 
 kept up, charity is extinguished, and innumerable sins are 
 committed. Discord prevents you from doing good, the 
 world is scandalized by it, and in the end you will find that 
 dissensions among yourselves will result in your own ruin. 
 
 Avoid discord, which always terminates in disaster. 
 
 3. The treasures of peace. He who allows nothing to 
 disturb him, who pays no heed to the insults offered him, 
 who cheerfully pardons those who offend him, enjoys extra- 
 ordinary peace, and has a foretaste of heaven. By posses- 
 sing peace Grod is honored, our neighbor edified, and we are 
 the better prepared to receive the graces of heaven. 
 
 O Lord, give us peace with Thee by means of Thy grace ; 
 with our neighbor, by causing us to practice kindness and 
 
76 Good Thoughts. 
 
 affability; and with ourselves, for the reason that we are 
 patient and cherish no feelings of resentment. 
 
 "Let us have peace with God." — Rom. v, 1. 
 
 SIXTH WEEK AFTER EPIPHANY. 
 
 Gospel : — Matt., xin, 31-35. At this time Jesus spoke this parable to the 
 multitudes : The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, etc. 
 
 SuxDAY. The Church compared to a grain of mustard 
 seed, 
 
 1. In her 'beginning. She was small like the grain of 
 mustard seed. Christ chose twelve poor fishermen, who 
 were to spread His Church over the whole world; not by 
 force of arms, but by the power of humility and meekness. 
 This Church, so insignificant in the beginning, and so cruelly 
 persecuted, extends now over the whole globe, like the grain 
 of mustard seed, which, although small when planted, grows 
 up and becomes a large tree. 
 
 O my Jesus, I thank Thee for having made me a child of 
 this Church ; grant that I may make myself worthy of her, 
 and like her be exalted only through my humility. 
 
 2. In her means. These means are the holy sacraments 
 and the teachings of the Gospel. What is of less value, as 
 far as appearances go, than a few drops of water, a little oil, 
 or the pronouncing of a few words? Nevertheless the 
 greatest mysteries, the most efficacious means of our salva- 
 tion are contained therein. What is apparently more unim- 
 portant than to suffer insults, to forgive our enemies, to carry 
 our cross, to deem it an honor when humiliated ? And still 
 these are the teachings of Christ, proposed to us by the 
 Church, and by following which alone we can obtain 
 heaven. 
 
 Use the means which the Church offers you to sanctify 
 yourself, and live according to the doctrine which she 
 teaches. 
 
 3. In her object and end. The object which the Church 
 seeks to attain for us by means of her sacraments, is an 
 
Good TnorGHTS. 77 
 
 increase of knowledge and the grace of God, so that we 
 may grow in sanctity, reach heaven and there be eternally 
 happy. 
 
 O sublime thought, to know and to serve God in this 
 world, so as to possess Him forever in the next ! What 
 progress do I make in this knowledge? How have I 
 advanced my salvation ? Alas ! my God, with what confu- 
 sion am I filled when I think of it. 
 
 "Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls." — 
 1 Peter i, 9. 
 
 Monday. Importance of practicing the minor virtues. 
 
 1. They are great in themselves. The practice of even the 
 smallest virtue is always pleasing to God, because the least 
 of these supernatural virtues excel the greatest moral virtues 
 ever practiced by the pagans or the most extraordinary acts 
 of heroism ever performed by an Alexander or a Csesar. By 
 the practice of small virtues you will obtain a great treasure 
 of grace and glory. 
 
 If a merchant should neglect the smallest of his profits, 
 he would never become rich ; but by using every occasion to 
 increase his gains, he will become wealthy. Imitate his 
 prudence, and be careful to practice even what appears to 
 you to be an insignificant virtue. 
 
 2. They are wonderful in their effects. Small virtues will 
 lead you the easier to the practice of greater ones; they 
 increase sanctifying grace within you, obtain for you effi- 
 cacious graces and prepare you for the greatest and highest 
 favors of heaven. 
 
 Alas, how foolish am I not to seek to possess these great 
 advantages ! 
 
 3. They are great in their reward. Each of them gives 
 us a higher degree of glory in heaven. The Son of God 
 assures us that if we give a drink of water to the least one 
 in His name, we will receive our reward for it. 
 
 O, blindness of man ! the glory prepared for us in heaven 
 for offering a cup of water, for bestowing a trifle in charity, 
 for saying a short prayer, for speaking an edifying word, 
 and for entertaining a good thought, is of greater value 
 than are all the kingdoms, crowns, and riches of the earth, 
 and yet we neglect them ! 
 
 " Good and faithful servant, because thou hast been faithful over a few 
 things, I will place thee over many things." — Matt, xxv, 21. 
 
78 Good Thoughts. 
 
 Tuesday. Our indifference to small sins : 
 
 1. Thei/ are great in themselves. Insignificant as they 
 appear to us, they ofFencl God, dishonor and diminish His 
 grace, and lessen His friendship for us. We should prefer to 
 lose the whole world rather than commit a venial sin ; we 
 should suffer the greatest torments rather than commit the 
 least offense against God. Why do you pay so little regard 
 to these small sins ? Would it be right for you to strike 
 your friend, because it would not kill him ? Should your 
 love for God not oblige you to avoid all that is displeasing 
 to Him ? 
 
 2. Thei/ prepare the way for even the greatest sins. 
 Although it is true that all the venial sins cannot make one 
 mortal sin, still they prepare the way, imperceptibly, for 
 the commission of mortal sin, and bring you to the very 
 verge of ruin. The liberty which you allow your eyes, 
 causes you to delight in looking at what you should not ; 
 the license you permit yourself in conversation will lead 
 you soon to indulge in impure actions; your malicious 
 jokes, and your sarcastic remarks, will soon turn your 
 friends into enemies. No one becomes wicked at once, but 
 gradually falls from venial sin into mortal sin ; whoever has 
 no fear of venial sins, will soon commit mortal sin. 
 
 Consider well these important moral teachings, and avoid 
 even the least sin ; for sin is always a great evil, because 
 God is offended thereby. 
 
 3. They are severely punished. Almighty God, on 
 account of venial sins, often withdraws His consolations and 
 graces ! He punishes us with the loss of our goods, with 
 the loss of health and honor, and in the next world, 
 with the terrible flames of purgatory, when we will find 
 that venial sins were not such trifles as we considered them. 
 
 Avoid them, therefore ! 
 
 " The fire shall try every man's work, of what sort it is." — 1 Cor. iii, 13. 
 
 Wed:n"esday. Evils caused hy venial sin. 
 
 1. They hinder us from attaining perfection. Frequent 
 transgressions weaken you, and are obstacles in the way of 
 perfection. By committing sin we go backward, just as we 
 advance by practicing virtue, and we also frustrate the 
 designs God has on us. What would you say of a daugh- 
 ter who deliberately soils a beautiful dress, which her 
 mother has made for her? God is likewise displeased to 
 
Good Thoughts. T9 
 
 see you stain the beauty of your soul, to adorn which He 
 has taken so much pains ! 
 
 I promise to avoid these sins with greater carefulness ! 
 
 2. They impair devotion. Almighty God, on account of 
 your many venial offenses, will not be as liberal to you as 
 He was before. You do not feel as much pleasure in your 
 devotions, or in the practice of virtue, as you did formerly. 
 You find more difficulty in trying to recollect yourself, and 
 in endeavoring to mortify and humble yourself. You have 
 an aversion to prayer, the least affliction depresses you, and 
 you, in fact, become indifferent. 
 
 God will act toward you as you do towards Him. He 
 Avill withdraw His graces from you, inasmuch as you have 
 made yourself unworthy of them by committing sin. 
 
 3. They dhninish the value of our actions. Venial sins 
 disfigure our actions just as an ugly spot mars the beauty 
 of the human face. If our actions were free from these 
 little imperfections they would have greater value ; but 
 carelessness in our prayers, levity in our conversation, impa- 
 tience at our work, too much hurry in our occupations, 
 lessen the merits of our actions. 
 
 Fear to commit venial sin, particularly as you know its 
 evil consequences ! Say with St. Anselm : " I will suffer all 
 imaginable torment rather than ever deliberately commit 
 venial sin ! " 
 
 " He that contemneth small things, shall fall little by little." — Eccl, xix, 1. 
 
 Thursday. The danger of small sins. 
 
 1. It is easy to commit them. If you are not careful and 
 not faithful to God, you will commit small sins very often 
 during the day, because one sin follows closely upon another, 
 and there will be many occasions for committing them. What 
 you see, hear and do yourself, and what you see others do, 
 seems to lead you on, and to these occasions of sin is added 
 your own great inclination to sin. 
 
 O my God, I humble myself before Thee, and acknowledge 
 my weakness ; I blush for shame when I think of the great 
 number of venial sins of which I have been guilty. Assist 
 me with Thy holy grace, so that I may never again commit 
 them ! 
 
 2. It is very difficult to avoid them. By committing them 
 so frequently, they will at length become a habit, and from 
 this habit a necessity will arise, so that these sins will be- 
 
80 Good Thoughts. 
 
 come an indispensable want. Your own experience shows 
 you that you are at this very moment as subject to impa- 
 tience, curiosity, vanity and impropriety, as you were ten 
 years ago. The oftener we fall the weaker we will become. 
 
 Examine yourself and see to what sins you are most sub- 
 ject,- and earnestly seek means to avoid them. Impose a 
 penance upon yourself whenever you commit one of these 
 little sins. 
 
 3. They are difficult to repent of. Because we are always 
 inclined to commit them, and because it is difficult to be 
 sorry for a sin which we love and which we commit on 
 every occasion. Great sins are horrible in themselves, but 
 as venial sin does not terrify us at first, it is no easy task for 
 us to excite ourselves to a lively sorrow for having commit- 
 ted it. ^ 
 
 It is to be feared, that in making our confession, we have 
 no real sorrow for our sins, for the reason that we commit 
 them so frequently and so easily; and still, these sins of 
 habit are the very sins on account of which the prophet 
 tremblingly exclaims : 
 
 "Why shall I fear in the evil day? the iniquity of my heel shall encom- 
 pass me." — Psalm xlviii, 6. 
 
 Feidat. The value to he placed upon little things. 
 
 1. The authority of Christ. Judge how Christ valued 
 little things, when He promised eternal life to those who 
 would give a drink of water to the least of His brethren ; 
 and He preferred the widow's mite to the ofierings of the 
 rich. Remember the account which, according to His 
 law, we will have to render of every idle word. Finally, 
 consider the praise which He bestows upon the servant, to 
 whom He says, " Well done, good and faithful servant, be- 
 cause thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will place 
 thee over many things ! " 
 
 Let us resolve, therefore, never to be careless about either 
 little virtues or small sins. 
 
 2. The example of the saints. Read their lives, see how 
 carefully they practiced even the least virtues, and hoAV 
 scrupulous they were in all their actions. They had as much 
 horror of venial sin as they had of mortal sin, and for the 
 most trifling fault would perform the severest penances. 
 
 Are you scrupulous in regard to little things ? and do you 
 do penance for the sins which you commit so often and 
 seemingly without the least fear of offending God? 
 
Good Thoughts. 81 
 
 3. Heason. Consider how great in themselves are these 
 apparently small things, on account of the esteem which God 
 has for them, on account of their good or evil consequences, 
 of their punishment or reward, and, finally, on account of the 
 example of the saints. 
 
 Alas, my Lord, how blind have I been ! I have neglected 
 what I considered trifling things, without reflecting that I 
 was all the while neglecting Thy honor and the salvation of 
 my soul ! 
 
 " That which is at present momentary and light of our tribulation, work- 
 eth for us above measure exceedingly an eternal weight of glory."— 1 Oor. 
 iv, 17. 
 
 Satueday. Purgatory, 
 
 1. Sow we get there. We get there very easily. All the 
 small sins, which you regard as nothing, as, for instance, the 
 lies which you have told, the foolish coquetry you have prac- 
 ticed, your inquisitive looks, your idle words, and many 
 other such sins for which you have done no penance, will be 
 the cause of your remaining in purgatory for a long time. 
 
 Avoid these sins, and if you have committed them do 
 penance for them ! 
 
 2. Hoio we are freed from it. We will be delivered from 
 it only when w^e have satisfied the justice of God, or by the 
 prayers, masses, communions, alms, fastings, indulgences 
 and works of penance, which are ofiered up to God for the 
 poor suffering souls. 
 
 Have compassion on the souls in purgatory ; make use of 
 every means to deliver them ! The charity which you will 
 extend to them will turn to your own advantage. 
 
 3. Sow much we have to suffer there. O, if you only 
 would know how severe are the torments which these souls 
 have to suffer ; how hot is the fire which burns them ; how 
 bitter are the tears which they shed, and how heart-rending 
 are their lamentations ! Their least pain, says St. Thomas, 
 surpasses the greatest torments of this life. Alas, if you 
 could only know their impatience to be with God ; if you 
 could hear their cries of sorrow, because they committed 
 sins which you consider small, and because they did no 
 penance for them ! 
 
 Do not say: "I would be glad to go to purgatory!" 
 There is great danger that you may fall deeper. Avoid 
 every sin ! Do not rely on the prayers and masses which 
 you will have offered up for you after your death. Atone 
 
82 Good Tiioughts. 
 
 now for your sins by doing penance ; a little penance in 
 this world will save you from many pains in the next world. 
 You must either in this life wash away your sins by tears 
 of penance, or atone for them in purgatory. 
 
 " Amen, I say to thee, thou shalt not go out from thence till thou repay 
 the last farthing." — Matt, v, 26. 
 
 SEPTUAGESIMA WEEK. 
 
 Gospel: Matt, xx, 1-16. At that time Jesus spoke to his disciples this 
 parable . The kingdom of heaven is like to a household, etc. 
 
 Sunday. The parable of the laborers. 
 
 1. Their labor. The householder went out early in the 
 morning, at noon, and again at evening, to hire laborers into 
 his vineyard. The householder is God, the laborers are the 
 men who enter the service of God, either in their youth or 
 at a later period of their lives. 
 
 Thank God for having called you to serve Him ; but be as 
 faithful and zealous as you were on the first day of your 
 conversion. Do not wait until you become old before you 
 serve God. Resolve to belong to Him from this hour. 
 
 2. Their wages. When evening is come, that is at the 
 hour of death, Almighty God, the true Householder, will 
 summon before Him all men to pay them their hire, or 
 rather to give to each one according to his merit. 
 
 Oh what a kind Master is God, and how good it is to 
 serve Him, since He is so liberal and so just in His rewards. 
 But how dano;erous also is it to leave undone the work He 
 has given us to perform. Let us therefore work zealously 
 for Him. Let the children of this world try to please men, 
 but let God be the object of all our thoughts and actions ! 
 
 3. Their complaints. The householder gave to those who 
 came in the evening as much as he did to those who had 
 come early in the morning; but they murmured, not con- 
 sidering that they were well paid for Avhat they had done. 
 
 It is not enough to have come early into the vineyard to 
 labor, we must also work with zeal. Do not be filled with 
 pride because you entered the service of God thirty years 
 
Good Thoughts. 83 
 
 ago, because you have frequently received the holy sacra- 
 ments, and have practiced many works of piety ! Perhaj)S a 
 person who has only lately entered upon a pious life will 
 accomplish more in six months than you have done in ten 
 years, for the reason that he works zealously, but you care- 
 lessly. Fear the terrible words of the gosj^el : " Take what 
 is thine and go thy way !" 
 
 " Eun that you may obtain the prize !" — 1 Cor. 9, 24. 
 
 MoxDAT. Sbio toe lose time. 
 
 1. When we do nothing. We lose time by being idle. 
 There are persons who are so lazy that they cannot make 
 the resolution to commence anything. They could devote 
 themselves to the practice of good works, could occupy 
 themselves with the reading of religious books, with the 
 study of divine and human sciences, with performing cor- 
 poral works of mercy, and could earn an honest livelihood; 
 but they prefer to do nothing, rather than to be usefully 
 occupied. 
 
 Is not a laborer, who is in duty bound to work the whole 
 day for his employer, responsible for the idle time he spends ? 
 Are you not one of these idle laborers? 
 
 2. By not doing v^hat ice should do. There are persons 
 who are always steadily occupied, but only with that which 
 they like to do. They merely seek their own happiness, and 
 never consult that of others. They, therefore, deserve no 
 reward, any more than does a servant who follows his own 
 will instead of that of his master ! 
 
 It is not enough to work ; you must also fulfill the obli- 
 gations of your state of life, and do what is required of you ; 
 but you must not be guided by your own will, your own 
 stubbornness, your own humor. O, my God, how little 
 have I done ; and whatever I have done is so full of imper- 
 fection. 
 
 I will henceforth do only Thy holy will. 
 
 3. By doing carelessly ichat we have to do. Some persons 
 do what is required of them, but they do it so negligently 
 and imperfectly, that they lose not only their time, but their 
 labor and their reward. 
 
 How do you act when at your devotions, and in the daily 
 exercise of your duties ? Take care not to lose all your 
 merits on account of your carelessness. Offer your actions 
 up to God, when you commence them, and endeavor to per- 
 
84 Good Thoughts. 
 
 form them as well as you can. Imitate Christ, of whom it 
 is said, that He hath done all things well ! 
 "He hath done all things •well." — Mark vii, 37. 
 
 Tuesday. The evils of idleness, 
 
 1. We lose time. To lose time, which is so precious that 
 with it you can purchase eternal happiness, is it not a great 
 evil ? If the damned could have but a single hour of those 
 which you make such bad use of! When it is too late, you 
 will feel what you have neglected ; you will be glad to have 
 one day, in which to redeem your lost time ; but you will 
 not have it. 
 
 Make good use of the present time, in order to obtain a 
 happy eternity! 
 
 2. We expose ourselves to temptation. As snakes and 
 frogs live only in stagnant waters, so also, if you give your- 
 self up to idleness, will you find your heart filled with 
 revenge, impurity, and other terrible monsters. A holy 
 father says: "When occupied, you will only be tempted by 
 one evil spirit, but when idle you will be assailed on all 
 sides by wicked spirits." 
 
 Therefore avoid idleness, which is the source of all vices ! 
 If, according to Christ, we must give an account of every 
 idle word, what^n account must we not give of so many idle 
 thoughts and actions ! Pray, read and work ! 
 
 3. We soon become weary. For your own good you 
 should avoid idleness. If you are idle, the hours seem to 
 you like days and the days like years. You know not what 
 to do with yourself; you are restless and undecided, and 
 you are consumed by anxiety and care. A person, however, 
 who is constantly occupied, is never weary ; he works profit- 
 ably for God, for himself and for others, and he is, at the 
 same time, removed from all occasions of sin. 
 
 Make this resolution : I will dispose well of my time, and 
 will faithfully follow the rules which I have established ! 
 O my Lord, give me the strength to be firm in my resolution. 
 
 "Fulfill Thy ministry." — 2 Tim. iv, 5. 
 
 Wednesday. Making profitable use of time. 
 
 1. For the purpose of exciting devotion. You should use 
 all your time for the salvation of your soul. For this end 
 God has given it to you, and to this purpose you should 
 devote the rest of your life. 
 
Good Thoughts. 85 
 
 Although you may not be a hermit, nor able to spend the 
 whole day in prayer, you can, notwithstanding your tem- 
 poral affairs, take care of your soul. Arrange previously 
 your morning and evening devotions and those at mass; 
 perform them punctually and with fervor and devotion ! 
 
 2. In our business relatio7is. You must fulfill the affairs 
 of the state of life in w^hich Almighty God has placed you, 
 and not lose your time in idle talk, amusement and foolish 
 company. Regulate your business hours, so that you will 
 have time for your prayers and devotions, and do not per- 
 form them hurriedly in order to be soon at your business 
 again. What a shame it is, that the short time I spend at 
 mass or at my prayers appears longer to me than the hours 
 I spend in idle conversation or at my business ! 
 
 3. For the support of our body. You need time for your 
 meals and recreations, but that is no reason why you should 
 waste your time. It is not right to spend hours at your 
 meals, and the greater part of the day in amusements. 
 
 Do not sleep more than is necessary, and never remain in 
 bed out of laziness. 
 
 Tell me, is not your soul worth more than your body ? 
 Why, then, do you love the latter so much and neglect the 
 former ? 
 
 "Is not the life more than the meat? " — Matt, vi, 25. 
 
 Thuesday. Why we receive so little benefit from saying 
 our prayers, 
 
 1. We do not prepare ourselves properly before we pray. 
 The Holy Ghost says, " Before prayer prepare thy soul ! " 
 Eccl. xviii, 23. Yet we neglect to do so. We allow our- 
 selves to be so much occupied with our temporal affairs, and 
 give ourselves up to them so entirely, that we cannot possi- 
 bly be recollected when at our devotions. 
 
 Place yourself often during the day in the presence of 
 God ; do not be anxious to see and hear things which do not 
 concern you, and your heart will then be the better pre- 
 pared to receive the graces of God. 
 
 2. While praying we allow ourselves to be distracted. We 
 thus become easily tired, and find the time very long ; we 
 wish to finish our prayers in order to be able to attend 
 to our affairs. We neglect to banish our distractions, to 
 keep ourselves in the presence of God, or to observe modesty 
 in our deportment. 
 
86 Good Thoughts. 
 
 Is it to be wondered at that we make no progress in vir- 
 tue, and that Ave finish our prayers as we commenced them, 
 without fervor and without the least devotion ? 
 
 0. my God, give me the grace to pray as I should. 
 
 3. After prayer we do not carry out our resolution. 
 Whence comes it, that after so many years of prayer we 
 seem to have gained nothing, and that we find ourselves as 
 great sinners as we were before ? The reason is, that we are 
 satisfied with making good resolutions, without trying to 
 put them into execution. 
 
 Is it not true, that after saying your prayers, you pay no 
 heed to the holy thoughts with which God inspired you, nor 
 think of the good resolutions which you then made ? 
 
 "Who is wise and keep these things ?" — Psalm cvi, 43. 
 
 Friday. Motives for zeal. 
 
 1. Hope of reward. Those who combat always see the 
 crown before them which is promised them, and which 
 encourages them as it did St. Paul. Travelers surmount 
 the difficulties which they meet on their journey, and 
 forget the bad weather in the expectation that they will 
 soon reach the place of their destination. Farmers patiently 
 suffer the cold and the heat, in the hope of reaping a good 
 harvest. 
 
 Never forget that you work for heaven, and that by suf- 
 fering a little you will gain eternal glory. Say often while 
 at work : " Heaven is worth this ! " 
 
 2. Fear of punishment. Almighty God will reject and 
 despise the indifferent, because they have been neither cold 
 nor warm. The servant who out of carelessness hid the 
 talents of his master, was cast into a dark prison. By being 
 lukewarm we gradually lose all our devotion ; God with- 
 draws His graces and we return to our former disorders. 
 
 Alas, how much reason have I to fear such a terrible 
 punishment ! O, my God, I will strive to become more 
 pious. 
 
 3. The example of Christ and the saints. How zealous 
 Avas not Christ in all that He did ! With what dcA^otion did 
 He not pray, and with what fervor did He not preach ; with 
 what kindness did He punish, and how meek was He in con- 
 versation ! The saints haAX imitated Him ; in all their 
 actions they Avere animated by their love for God, and they 
 always sought most ardently to please Him. 
 
Good Thoughts. 87 
 
 I will abandon my former indifference ; ye saints of God 
 assist me, that I may imitate your zeal ! 
 "Go and do thou in like manner." — Luke x, 37. 
 
 Saturday. Our life a pilgvimagt. 
 
 1. We must not delay. Our life is very short, and the end 
 of our pilgrimage is not far distant. Let us imitate the pil- 
 grim, who, when traveling, does not lose his time by gazing 
 at everything he meets on the road, but who perseveres 
 until he has reached his place of destination. 
 
 Alas, instead of progressing in sanctity, I spend my time 
 most foolishly. I am fondly attached to creatures whose 
 love satisfies me, and meanwhile time passes away. I would 
 be perfect if I sought to please God as much as I do man. 
 
 2. We must not burden ourselves. A pilgrim who wishes 
 to travel quickly never carries a heavy load, for the reason 
 that it would impede his progress. 
 
 This consideration has caused many saints to renounce 
 their earthly possessions, in order to obtain heaven the 
 easier. Our attachment to the pleasures and riches of this 
 world, and the care that devolves upon us in consequence, 
 very often prevent us from attaining perfection. 
 
 Free your heart from such burdens, and you will surely 
 reach heaven and see God. 
 
 3. We must not go astray. The pilgrim must decide as 
 to where he wishes to go, and if he loses the way he must 
 ask to be properly directed. 
 
 Do you think often of a place which it should be your 
 desire to reach — of Heaven ? Do you ever ask yourself 
 during the day, Will I go to Heaven ? Am I nearer to it 
 to-day than I was yesterday ? Do you ever ask the advice 
 of your spiritual director ? Do you ever ask to be guided 
 by light from Heaven, and to possess a knowledge of eter- 
 nal truths ? O Lord, be Thou my leader, and grant that I 
 may not go astray. 
 
 "Conduct me, Lord, in thy way." — Psalm Ixxxv, 11. 
 
88 Good Thoughts. 
 
 SEXAGESIMA WEEK. 
 
 Gospel: — Luke viii, 4-15. At that time, wheu a great multitude was 
 gathered together, etc. 
 
 Sunday. Why the seed of the word of God is lost. 
 
 1. JBecause it falls upon a distracted heart. In sowing 
 his seed the sower let some of it fall upon the wayside, and 
 it was partly trodden down by those who passed by, and 
 partly devoured by the fowls of the air. 
 
 Almighty God has often sowed the seed of His word and 
 His divine inspiration upon your heart, and whence comes it 
 that it does not grow ? It is because your heart is like a 
 highway, where a thousand different objects are constantly 
 passing by, all of which serve to divert your thoughts from 
 God. You have no union with God; your eyes wander 
 about ; your attention is attracted first by one tiling and 
 then by another ; your only desire is to be amused. 
 
 2. JBecause it falls upon a hardened heart. Some of the 
 .seed fell upon a rock, and because it could not take root it 
 soon withered away. 
 
 This rock is your own stubborn will, which takes great 
 pride in resisting grace. How can you be recollected and 
 make good use of God's grace, if you resist his Holy inspira- 
 tions, if you refuse to listen to pious admonitions, if you pay 
 no attention to the threats of eternal punishment, and 
 remain fixed in your bad habits? You may, perchance, 
 yield for a moment to the impressions of grace, but they will 
 not take deep root in your heart, and you will soon return 
 to your former sinful life. 
 
 If you are in this state resolve to free yourself from it. 
 
 3. Because it falls upon a divided heart. Some of the 
 seed also fell among thorns, and was thus lost. 
 
 The thorns, says Jesus Christ, are the cares of this world, 
 the riches and pleasures of this life. If we permit our 
 minds to be filled with nothing but the thoughts of this 
 world, we must not be surprised if Almighty God withdraws 
 His graces from us. O, my God, I will try to think more 
 of Thee ; help me to carry out my resolution. 
 
 •' Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth." — 1 Kings iii, 10. 
 
Good TnorGHTS. 89 
 
 Monday. Motives why loe should make profitoMe use of 
 grace : 
 
 1. The value of it. Our Savior purchased it at the price 
 of His blood. Could He give more than this ? But how 
 have you used His graces ? Could you not by this time 
 have become a saint ? 
 
 It is true, O Lord, and I tremble when I think of the 
 account which I must one day give. How many pagans 
 will reproach me for my ingratitude and unfaithfulness. 
 
 2. The advaiitages of it. The grain of seed which God 
 sows should be carefully nourished so as to bring forth 
 good fruit. There is some ground which yields thirty-fold, 
 and other fifty-fold. Are you like the fertile ground, or are 
 you like the unfruitful soil, which brings forth nothing but 
 thorns and thistles ? 
 
 Almighty God is filled with sorrow, because, after having 
 cultivated His vineyard with such care. He finds that " the 
 grapes are grapes of gall, and the clusters most bitter." 
 
 For you I expended so much, says God, and in return you 
 give me so little. 
 
 3. The necessity of it. Without the grace of God you 
 can effect nothing ; you must cooperate with it so as not to 
 provoke the anger of God. 
 
 Fear the threats of Christ, who says, that the graces 
 which you despise shall be given to others, who will make 
 better use of them. This treasure, which God has confided 
 to your care, but which you have neglected, will be taken 
 from you and bestowed upon others. O, my God, grant 
 that I may in future bring forth fruits of penance, and that 
 I may make good use of all the advantages which thou hast 
 given me to obtain perfection. 
 
 ""Was it that I looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it hath 
 brought forth wild grapes." — Isaias v, 4. 
 
 Tuesday. Sow we should use grace. 
 
 1. For the honor of God. If you would but cooperate with 
 the grace of God you would give Him great honor. If His 
 grace would find your heart as well prepared as was that of 
 St. Paul, how many conversions would you have made, and 
 how much would you have glorified God, and have caused 
 others to do the same ! 
 
 God has granted you special graces, so that you may 
 
 8* 
 
90 Good Thoughts. 
 
 teach others how to know and serve Him. Do you accom- 
 jDlish what He expects of you? 
 
 2. For the assistance of our neic/hhor. Ahnighty God 
 imparts His grace to you in order that you may communi- 
 cate it to others. He did not give you great talents and 
 riches for your own selfish use, but that you may assist your 
 neighbor. 
 
 Reflect a moment, and ask yourself how much you help 
 others in their temporal and spiritual wants. Could you 
 not do more ? 
 
 3. For our oion sanctification. God gives you graces in 
 order that you may sanctify and perfect yourself. Make 
 good use of them ! It is your own fault if you do not 
 increase daily in holiness, since you possess so many means 
 to obtain it. 
 
 Alas, what an account will you not have to render on the 
 day of judgment, if you resist the many holy inspirations 
 which you receive so constantly. 
 
 "Unto whomsoever much is given, of him much shall be required." — 
 Luke xii, 48. 
 
 Wednesday. Despising the graces of God, 
 
 1. By despising them we receive them less frequently. Is 
 it not just that God should give you fewer graces when 
 you despise them so often ? He withdraws himself from you 
 and you consequently find yourself growing gradually 
 colder in your devotion. 
 
 O, fool that I am, I know not what I lose ! O, my God, 
 grant that I may know the value of Thy graces ! 
 
 2. Its effect upon us heco^nes loeaJcened. I know well that 
 God gives you grace sufficient to work out your salvation ; 
 but will you always have such tenderness of devotion as 
 will cause you to shed tears while praying ? AYill you 
 always have that fervent desire to attain perfection which 
 makes you surmount the greatest difficulties with joy and 
 facility ? 
 
 Alas, if I had in the beginning only corresponded with 
 the graces of God, He would have bestowed greater ones 
 upon me ! 
 
 3. We at length become hardened. If anything could 
 have converted you and made you perfect, the grace of 
 God would have done so, but since you have despised it, 
 you will remain obdurate, and will become more and more 
 so the longer you live. 
 
Good Thoughts. 91 
 
 By being indifferent to grace we become also indifferent 
 to sin, and before we are aware of it, we find ourselves con- 
 firmed sinners. 
 
 " To every one that hath shall be given, and he shall abound ; but from 
 him .that hath not, that also which he seemeth to have, shall be taken 
 away." — Matt, xxv, 29. 
 
 Thuksdat. Obstacles to grace. 
 
 1. The spirit of sensuality. The pleasures of this life 
 counteract the effects of grace. You are inspired with a wish 
 to humble and mortify yourself, but your sensual spirit will 
 not sanction it, because its desires cannot then be gratified. 
 
 O how many have been retarded by the spirit of self-love 
 from attaining perfection ! We must resolve to suffer, if we 
 intend to obey the motions of grace. 
 
 2. The spirit of carelessness. The Holy Ghost is an all- 
 consuming fire, and He cannot take up His abode in a cold 
 or indifferent heart. If grace did not find so many obstacles 
 in you, it would enkindle in you the fire of divine love, and 
 would infuse such zeal into you that every moment would 
 find you making j)rogress in virtue ; but you are like wood 
 that is green and damp, and which the hottest fire will 
 hardly cause to burn. 
 
 Examine yourselves on this point ! 
 
 3. The sjnrit of mattention. If you allow your thoughts 
 to wander you will resist grace, and the more you are 
 attracted by outward objects, the less will you feel the 
 presence of God, or listen to what He asks of you. And 
 without this spirit of interior recollection you will act only 
 according to the dictates of nature, and not according to 
 those of grace. Pay no heed to the many things that are 
 constantly taking place around you ; they only oj^press your 
 spirit and expel good thoughts. 
 
 "With desolation is all the land made desolate, because there is none 
 that considereth in the heart." — Jer. xii, 11. 
 
 Feidat. Other obstacles to grace. 
 
 1. Neglecting our inspirations. God speaks to us by the 
 good thoughts He sends us, by the voice of His priests, 
 by religious books, by virtuous examples and by prosperity 
 or adversity. Do we hear His voice ? Sometimes we do 
 not hear it, because of the turmoil and confusion that 
 surround us, and on account of our many worldly occu- 
 pations. 
 
92 Good Thoughts. 
 
 Retire within yourself and say: "Speak, O Lord, what 
 wilt Thou have me to do !" 
 
 2. Hearing them and not obeying them. We know what 
 God desires of us; our reason and our teachers constantly 
 tell us ; but we do not obey, either from carelessness or from 
 obstinacy. 
 
 Indifferent and rebellious soul ! God speaks to you for 
 your own good ; why do you refuse to obey Him ? 
 
 3. Inconstancy in following them. The Savior complains 
 of all such persons, for He says : " They believe for a while, 
 and in time of temptation fall away." 
 
 It is not enough, that we obey God for one day ; we must 
 do His holy will as long as we live, and when surrounded by 
 temptation and difficulties we must give Him proofs of our 
 fidelity. 
 
 " I will hear what the Lord will speak in me," — Psalm Ixxxiv, 9. 
 
 Saturday. Difference between good and bad thoughts, 
 
 1. Good thoughts incite us to virtue and wicked thoughts 
 to evil. The spirit of God will encourage you to choose that 
 which is the most humiliating, but nevertheless the most 
 perfect. The spirit of Satan, however, will urge you to 
 indulge in pleasure, pride and indifference. 
 
 The spirit of evil will strive to convince you that God is 
 not displeased when you gratify this or that passion, that 
 there is no merit in being humble, or in being patient in time 
 of trouble, and that it is foolish for us to live differently 
 from the people of the world. Alas, how often do we yield 
 to our natural inclinations and gratify our self-love ! 
 
 2. Good thoughts bring peace and grace to the soul^ whereas 
 loicJced thoughts cause confusion and despondency. If, in 
 the performance of a work apparently good, you find your- 
 self oppressed with a feeling of sadness and uncertainty, 
 examine carefully if you are not urged on by an evil spirit ; 
 for good thoughts will give peace and grace. If you lose 
 courage in the practice of humility, and become indifferent 
 to what you had undertaken out of love for God, then also 
 have no confidence in the spirit that thus persuades you. 
 Satan has often appeared as an angel of light in order to 
 deceive us. 
 
 O, my God, enlighten me so that I may not mistake the 
 delusions of Satan for that of the true light ! 
 
 3. Good thoughts submit to guidance.^ but not so with 
 wicked thoughts. It is a sure sign that you are inspired by 
 
Good TnorGHTS. 93 
 
 good thoughts if you are obedient to your superiors ; but if 
 you obey unwillingly you give conclusive proof that you 
 are under the dominion of an evil spirit. 
 
 Alas, I am surrounded by enemies, who wish to deceive 
 me. Lord, grant that I may know the right way ! 
 
 "There is a way which seemeth just to a man, but the ends therefore 
 lead to death." — Prov. xiv, 12. 
 
 QUINQUAGESIMA WEEK. 
 
 GrOSPEL: — Luke xviii, 31-43. At that time, Jesus took to him the 
 twelve, etc. 
 
 Sunday. The hlindiiess of the sinner. 
 
 1. He doee not see the evil which he inflicts upon Christy 
 whoTu he again crucifies. The gospel speaks of the cure of 
 a blind man and then of the passion of Christ. O sinner, 
 are you willingly blind? Do you close your eyes so that you 
 may not see Christ bathed in His blood and the tears stream- 
 ing down His divine face ? Look at the thorny crown which 
 you have pressed into His head — at the side which you have 
 opened — at the hands and feet which you have pierced — 
 at His body, which you have lacerated by your sins. 
 
 Is it possible that you can remain insensible at such a sad 
 sight ! Do not imitate those wicked Christians who in time 
 of carnival again crucify the Savior ! 
 
 2. He does not see the evil which he inflicts upon himself. 
 Unfeeling and inhuman wretch ! Rocks are rent asunder, 
 the earth quakes and the sun is darkened in consequence of 
 the death of Christ, but you are insensible to the agony 
 of your Savior, and to the evil which you inflict upon your- 
 self. By committing sin you lose the grace of God and the 
 merits of all your good works ; you become the slave of 
 Satan, and after having lost heaven, you will be condemned 
 to eternal punishment. 
 
 What an enormous evil must not sin be, since its conse- 
 quences are so awful, and how terrible must not the blindness 
 
94 Good Thoughts. 
 
 of the sinner be, since lie does not see the evil which he 
 inflicts upon himself! 
 
 3. He does not see the evil icJiich he inflicts iipO)i his 
 neighbor^ by scandalizing him. What unfortunate blind- 
 ness, that you do not see the many souls whom you destroy 
 by your bad example ! Be filled with fear, for the scandal 
 you have given your brethren may be the first cause of your 
 damnation ! O, what wickedness have you not taught them, 
 what excesses have you not committed before them ! 
 
 0. my God, penetrate my heart with holy fear, and grant 
 that I may be the cause of the conversion of my brethren, 
 just as I was the cause of their ruin. 
 
 "Their own malice blinded them." — TTisdom ii, 21. 
 
 Monday. The manner i7i lohich Satan blinds us. 
 
 1. He deludes us into the belief that there is happiness in 
 the state of sin. He knows how to make pleasures apj^ear 
 much greater than they are in reality. He dazzles us by the 
 glitter of gold; he causes us to believe that revenge is justi- 
 fiable ; he charms our senses by the outward attractiveness 
 of pleasures, and he efiects the ruin of the greater part of 
 mankind by tempting them to indulge in the sins of glut- 
 tony and impurity. 
 
 Turn your eyes away from such dangerous objects ; Satan 
 is a deceiver ; he makes sin so alluring to you that you fall 
 an easy victim to his snares. Abhor such lamentable blind- 
 ness ; and beware, or you also may become his prey. 
 
 2. He tries to lessen the enormity of si)i. He causes us to 
 believe that we have committed no evil when we ofiend 
 God ; he insinuates that the loss of eternal glory is but tri- 
 fling ; he diminishes our horror for sin, and makes us count 
 as nothing the eternal punishments of hell. If, however, he 
 does not efiect his designs upon pious souls, he conveys the 
 idea that it is easier to rise from sin than to fall into it ; 
 that repentance is easy, and that crime can be atoned for as 
 soon as committed. 
 
 O, my God, how many have been thus destroyed. Let us 
 be on the watch, so that Satan may not deceive us also ; let 
 us keep our eyes open to the consequences of such unfortu- 
 nate blindness ! 
 
 3. He stifles ranorse of conscience. If our conscience is 
 wounded by sin, Satan tries to deprive it of all means by 
 which it may regain the peace which it has lost ; and the 
 
Good TnorGHTS. 95 
 
 insensibility into which the sinner falls is so great that 
 Satan prevents him from acknowledging, even to himself, 
 the wretchedness of his condition. He endeavors to console 
 the sinner by representing to him that fear is unnecessary ; 
 that he should not allow himself to be disturbed in his 
 enjoyments, and should defer all thoughts of death and 
 eternity. 
 
 If you are unhappy enough to be in such a terrible state, 
 detest it, and resolve to free yourself from it by doing sin- 
 cere penance. 
 
 "To enlighten them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death." — 
 Luke i, 79. 
 
 Tuesday. Passion blinds us. 
 
 1. It unfits us to do good. How important is this truth 
 if we earnestly meditate upon it ! Passion makes us unfit' 
 to listen to divine inspirations ; it stifles our conscience ; it 
 refuses the advice of kind friends, and it despises the com- 
 mands and threats of our superiors. It is a fire from which 
 arises such a dense smoke that we become blind to the fact 
 that we are hurrying on not only to our temporal, but also 
 to our eternal ruin. 
 
 Since passion is such a dangerous fire, keep away from it, 
 for there is nothing more horrible than to have its flames 
 enkindled within us. 
 
 2. It urges us to do evil. How many follies do we not 
 commit when excited. Anger, ambition and lust always 
 cause the greatest disorders. How many wicked desires, 
 dans^erous thouo-hts and licentious conversations and actions 
 result from indulo-ino; them. When under their influence 
 we msult others ; we care for neither friend nor enemy ; we 
 have no respect even for persons consecrated to God, and 
 we are more like a ferocious beast than a rational being. 
 
 O, my God, grant that I may control my passions, so that 
 I may not again commit the excesses into which anger, 
 ambition and concupiscence have led me. 
 
 3. It gahis streiigth the inore we yield to it. The oftener 
 you gratify your passions the stronger will they become, and 
 the more surely will they obtain the mastery over you. You 
 will gradually become so habituated to sin that you will 
 have just cause to fear that it has taken deep root in your 
 soul, and that it will be a difficult thing for you to free your- 
 self from its dominion. Alas, how many have been ruined 
 
96 Good Thoughts. 
 
 in this and the next world by yielding to their passions, and 
 yet how little care is taken to exclude such a monster from, 
 our hearts? 
 
 " My iniquities have overtaken me, and I was not able to see." — Psalm 
 xxxix, 13. 
 
 ASH WEDNESDAY. 
 
 Gospel: — Matt, vi, 16-21. At that time Jesus said to his disciples: 
 when you fast, etc. 
 
 Fasting mid good loorJcs. 
 
 1. "We must perform them cheerfully. When thou fastest, 
 anoint thy head and Avash thy face, and be not sad, says 
 Christ. With what joy should you not be jS.lled when you 
 perform good works, and especially when you fast, an observ- 
 ance by which God is honored, your neighbor edified, your 
 passions weakened, and your soul elevated, a practice by 
 which you will acquire more devotion and become more 
 susceptible to the grace of God. 
 
 Keep your fast scrupulously during Lent, and by thus 
 mortifying yourself, endeavor to imitate our Lord Jesus 
 Christ. 
 
 2. With humility. "Be not as the hypocrite, sad, for 
 they disfigure their faces, that they may appear to men to 
 fast." When fasting and performing good works, you must 
 be humble, or else pride will destroy all your merit. When 
 we give alms we must not, according to the words of Christ, 
 let our right hand know what the left hand does. Are you 
 satisfied if God alone knows the good you do ? 
 
 3. With confidence. When you fast and do penance, be 
 consoled, because God, who is kind and liberal, will give 
 you sufficient strength and abundant reward in heaven. 
 These are the treasures which you must lay up for yourselves, 
 and which neither accident nor force can take away from 
 you. The riches of the world, on the contrary, can be con- 
 sumed by rust and moth. 
 
 Work for heaven, and let your body suffer in order that 
 your soul may be saved. 
 
 " Therefore, whilst we have time, let us work good." — Gal. vi, 10. 
 
Good Thoughts. 97 
 
 THURSDAY. 
 
 Gospel: — Matt, tiii, 1-13. See third Sunday after Epiphany. 
 
 The mrtues of the centurion. 
 
 1. His confidence. The centurion had a sick servant, 
 whom he besought Jesus to cure. The Son of God told him 
 that He would come to his house, but the centurion, with 
 rare confidence, declared that one word from the lips of the 
 Savior would be sufiicient to heal his servant. Learn from 
 this example of the centurion to go with confidence to Jesus 
 in- all your spiritual and temporal wants, and to pray not 
 only for yourself, but also for others. You will the more 
 easily obtain that for which you ask if you approach Him 
 with confidence in His power. 
 
 2. His humility. Hear how humbly he addresses the 
 Savior, saying : " Lord, I am not worthy that Thou should st 
 enter under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant 
 shall be healed." 
 
 Use these words often, especially before holy communion. 
 Approach Jesus with humility, and respect, as a subject does 
 his king ; speak to Him with confidence, as a patient does to 
 his physician ; meet Him with love, as a son does his father. 
 
 3. His faith. His faith must have been great, since Christ 
 Himself says, " I have not found so great faith in Israel." 
 " I have soldiers under me," replied the centurion, " and I 
 say to this man go, and he goeth, and to another, come, and 
 he Cometh," just as if he wished to say, "Lord, Thy power 
 over life and death is greater than is my power over my 
 soldiers." 
 
 O amiable Jesus, give me this simple faith and confidence 
 in Thy power by which Thou art so much pleased, and 
 which is of such inestimable advantage to me. 
 
 "Increase our faith." — Luke xvii, 5. 
 
98 Good Tiiotjgiits. 
 
 FRIDAY. 
 
 Gospel: — Matt, v, 43-48; vi, 1-4. At that time Jesu3 said to His 
 disciples, You have heard that it hath been said, thou shalt love thy neigh- 
 bor, etc. 
 
 We must love our enemy. 
 
 1. God commands us to do so. "I say to you, love your 
 enemies, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them 
 that persecute and calumniate you." These are the words 
 that Christ speaks to all Christians, and He wishes that a 
 willingness to forgive shall distinguish them from the hea- 
 then, " For," He continues, " if you love them that love you, 
 what reward shall you have? do not even the publicans 
 this?" 
 
 If you had no other reason to forgive than that God com- 
 mands it, you should, nevertheless, forgive your enemies. 
 
 2. JETe has set us the example. Imitate God, ** who maketh 
 his sun to rise upon the good and bad, and raineth upon the 
 just and the unjust;" thus giving abundant blessings to 
 their fields. Imitate Christ, who during His life always for- 
 gave His enemies, and even when dying. He prayed for 
 them! 
 
 Should not this example move your hardened heart ? 
 What ? The Son of God forgives those who crucify Him and 
 you refuse to forgive a slight insult ? 
 
 3. JSe rewards us for doing so. When we love our ene- 
 mies God will be our friend and Father. " Forgive," He 
 says, " that you may be the children of your Father who is 
 in heaven." 
 
 O, what a precious reward! to be counted among the 
 children of God, to be loved by Him, and to possess the 
 hope of inheriting heaven ! Forgive cheerfully. 
 
 " Love your enemies, * * * that you may be the children of your 
 Father who is in heaven ! " — ilatt. v, 44, 45. 
 
Good Thoughts. 99 
 
 SATURDAY. 
 
 Gospel: — Mark vi, 4*7-56. At that time, when it was late, the ship 
 was in the midst of the sea, etc. 
 
 Trials. 
 
 1. Trials sent us hy God. The apostles, when the wind 
 was against them, rowed with all their strength towards the 
 shore. Jesus, however, approached them, walking upon 
 the sea, and He calmed the storm. This storm signifies our 
 trials through life. God sends them in order to prove your 
 patience and to increase your merits. You must labor con- 
 stantly in this world, so that you may safely reach the port 
 of a happy eternity. 
 
 It is very difficult to apply yourself to the practice of mor- 
 tification, of prayer, and other good works ; but, neverthe- 
 less, you must persevere unto the end. 
 
 2. Trials which we make for ourselves. The winds which 
 caused the storm to arise, represent your passions. Ambi- 
 tion, anger, sensuality, fear, despair, and all the other pas- 
 sions, cause us to lose our salvation. We must therefore 
 do our best to suppress them, and cry for help to Jesus. 
 
 Instead, however, of resisting your passions, you give 
 yourself up to them. Do not wonder, therefore, if you are 
 carried away by them, and if you suffer shipwreck on 
 account of them. 
 
 3. Trials which God permits. The apostles went to sea 
 by the command of Christ ; but they were overtaken by the 
 storm notwithstanding. 
 
 God knows all your suffering ; but He permits them for 
 your own good, and to give you an opportunity to pray, to 
 loe humble and to be resigned. Behold, O Lord, my trials ; 
 I offer them up to Thee ; remember not my offenses ! 
 
 "See my abjection and my labor, and forgive me all my sins." — Psalm 
 xxiv, 18. 
 
100 Good Thoughts. 
 
 FIRST WEEK IN LENT. 
 
 Gospel : — Matt, iv, 1-11. At that time Jesus was led bj the Spirit into 
 the desert, etc. 
 
 Sunday. Temptation, 
 
 1. Beginning in gluttony. When Christ had fasted forty 
 days in the desert, Satan came to tempt Him and said : " If 
 you be the Son of God, command that these stones be made 
 bread." What humiliation to be tempted by Satan, by the 
 spirit of gluttony ! 
 
 You must resist as did Jesus. You cannot overcome the 
 other vices, if you do not conquer this one. Excess in either 
 eating or drinking weakens the mind, ruins the health, and is 
 always followed by indulgence in sloth, sensuality and anger. 
 Try to be always usefully employed, so that the spirit of 
 gluttony may not possess you. Overcome your appetite by 
 meditating upon the everlasting hunger which the damned 
 in hell suffer because they placed no restraint upon them- 
 selves ! Remember that your mortification will be amply 
 rewarded ; do not be too solicitous concerning your body, 
 which will soon be food for worms ! Do not find fault at 
 the table if everything is not in exact accordance to your 
 taste. Observe the fast, and do not disobey the commands 
 of the church, either to gratify your appetite or to please a 
 friend. 
 
 2. Progressing hy attachment to creatures. The devil 
 took Jesus up to a very high mountain, showed Him all the 
 kingdoms of the world, and said to Him : "All these will I 
 give Thee, if falling down Thou wilt adore me." But 
 Christ commanded him to leave Him, saying, "Begone, 
 Satan!" 
 
 O how many have been ruined by the dazzling appearance 
 of gold, of amusements, honors and the goods of this world ! 
 How much evil has been caused by the fatal word, " I will 
 give you this, I promise you so much." O, do not be so 
 ungrateful as to renounce God for a little gold, for a little 
 honor, for a little pleasure ! 
 
 3. JEnding in pride. Satan set Him upon the pinnacle of 
 the temple, and said to Him : " If Thou be the Son of God, 
 
Good Thoughts. 101 
 
 cast Thyself down ; for the angels shall bear Thee up, lest, 
 perhaps, Thou dash Thy feet against a stone ! " 
 
 O, my Jesus, Thou didst permit Thyself to be tempted 
 in order to teach us how to overcome temptation, especially 
 that of vain glory. Be on your guard, O Christian, for 
 Satan, under the pretext of advancing the honor of God, of 
 giving you greater facilities to save your soul and to edify 
 your neighbor, will try to persuade you to commit this or 
 that excess. Shun Satan, for he is lying in wait for you. 
 
 " Deliver me from my enemies, my God, and defend me from them that 
 rise up against me." — Psalm Iviii, 2. 
 
 MONDAY. 
 
 Gospel: — Matt, xxv, 31-46. At that time Jesus said to His disciples: 
 When the Son of Man shall come in His majesty, etc. 
 
 The necessity of the last judgment, 
 
 1. In order that the justice of God may he made clear. 
 The wicked frequently assert that there is no such thing as 
 justice in the world, and that God takes no interest in the 
 welfare of His creatures ; but on the day of judgment these 
 unhappy wretches will acknowledge the justice of God, 
 and the wonderful mysteries of His divine providence. 
 
 Do not be astonished when you see the just suffer and 
 held in contempt, while the wicked are respected! God 
 permits it, for reasons unknown to you. Submit yourself to 
 His decrees. 
 
 2. In order that the guilty may have their wickedness 
 brought to light. The many sins perpetrated in the darkness 
 of night, the murders, the many acts of injustice transacted 
 in courts of law, the many frauds committed in business ; 
 in a word, all hidden sins will then be made known to the 
 whole world. The confusion of the wicked will be so great, 
 that they will say to the mountains, " fall upon us ! " 
 
 Meditate often upon the terrible sentence which Christ 
 will pass upon the wicked ; " Depart from me, you cursed, 
 into everlasting fire ! " 
 
 9* 
 
102 Good Thoughts. 
 
 3. In order that the virtues of the just may he made 
 manifest. How many pious persons are slandered and per- 
 secuted; how many good works are performed, of which 
 God alone is the witness ! On the day of judgment Christ 
 will honor His chosen ones in the presence of all men and 
 angels, by saying to them : " Come, ye blessed of my Father, 
 possess you the kingdom prepared for you ! " 
 
 Let us practice virtue, even when we are alone and no 
 one sees us; God will reward us for doing so. Let us 
 patiently suffer the insults of the wicked ! The time will 
 come when God will avenge all our wrongs. 
 
 " Howl ye. for the day of the Lord is near." — Isaias xiii, 6. 
 
 TUESDAY. 
 
 Gospel: — Matt, xxi, 10-1 T. At that time when Jesus was come into 
 Jerusalem, etc. 
 
 We must behave with reverence in church. 
 
 1. It is the house of God. If you were in the palace of a 
 king, you would be obliged to conduct yourself with pro- 
 priety, and if you were admitted to his presence and found 
 him seated upon his throne what reverence would you not 
 pay to him? You go to the church, to the palace of Christ; 
 you see before you the altar, where His angels surround Him, 
 why then are you not filled with veneration and awe ? 
 
 If you really loved Christ, you would honor Him and 
 cause others to respect Him. The zeal with which He " cast 
 out all them that sold and bought in the temple," shows you 
 how earnestly you should strive to honor Him. 
 
 2. It is a house of prayer. The church is no ball-room or 
 theatre, where you can talk or laugh, it is the temple of the 
 living God, whither you come to pray and to weep over 
 your sins, where you make your confessions and receive holy 
 communion, where the word of God is preached and the 
 holy sacraments are administered, and where the adorable 
 sacrifice of the mass is offered up. 
 
Good TnorGHTS. 103 
 
 Do you go to church to speak with God or with men ? 
 Do you go there to implore forgiveness of your sins or to 
 commit new ones ? Do you go there to obtain the blessing 
 of God or to draw down His malediction ? 
 
 3. " JSut you have made it a den of thievesP Thus did 
 Christ reproach those " that sold and bought in the temple ;" 
 He then cast them out and overthrew the tables of the 
 money-changers and the chairs of them that sold doves." 
 
 If Almighty God permits so many chastisements, He 
 does it only to punish the many acts of irreverence and 
 scandal committed in the churches. Do not be guilty of 
 them yourself, and try to prevent others from committing 
 them. 
 
 " The place whereon thou standest is holy ground." — Exod. iii, 5. 
 
 WEDNESDAY. 
 
 Gospel: — Matt, xii, 38-50. At that time some of the Scribes and 
 Pharisees answered, etc. 
 
 The sins of the Pharisees. 
 
 1. Their infidelity. The Pharisees, who had been witness 
 of so many miracles performed by Christ, of the many sick 
 He had made whole, of the dead He had brought back to 
 life, insolently said to Him, "Master, we would see a sign 
 of thee ! " 
 
 Are you not as unbelieving as were the Pharisees ? Would 
 you not, like them, desire to see signs ? Are you convinced 
 of the truth of your faith V Alas, how much am I to be 
 pitied, for my faith is no stronger now than it was when I 
 first became a Christian. What reproaches will not the 
 heathens make against me ? 
 
 2. Their obstinacy. "The men of Ninive," says Christ, 
 " shall rise in judgment with this generation, because they 
 did penance at the preaching of Jonas," and these obstinate 
 Pharisees would not be converted at the word of God 
 Himself 
 
 Infidels and heretics shall, on the day of judgment, rebuke 
 you for your want of gratitude ; for the unprofitable use 
 
104 Good Thoughts. 
 
 you made of the grace of God and of the means which He 
 gave you to save your soul. Oh, my God, I promise to be 
 more faithful. 
 
 3. Their relapse into sin. The Pharisees are the more 
 guilty, because they constantly relapsed into their former 
 sins. Satan, after having left them, returned with seven 
 other spirits more wicked than himself, and they entered in 
 and dwelt there: so that their last state was worse than 
 their first. 
 
 Let us fear any relapse into sin. 
 
 " Behold, thou art made whole ; sin no more, lest some worse thing hap- 
 pen to you." — John v, 14. 
 
 THURSDAY. 
 
 Gospel: — Matt, xv, 21-28. At that time Jesus went from thence, etc. 
 
 The prater of the woman of Canaan, 
 
 1. She prays with humility/. Behold, a heathen woman 
 teaches us how to pray. She cast herself humbly at the feet 
 of Christ, but His only answer to her petition was, " It is 
 not good to take the bread of the children and to cast it 
 to the dogs." She, however, humbled herself still more, 
 saying, " Yea, Lord, for the whelps also eat of the crumbs 
 that fall from the table of their masters." 
 
 O wonderful humility! If you would pray with such 
 humility you would receive all that you ask for. 
 
 2. With confidence. " Have mercy on me, O Lord, Thou 
 Son of David, she cried out, my daughter is grievously 
 troubled by a devil." Although the Savior answered her 
 not a word, she again besought Him with confidence, saying, 
 " Lord, help me ! Her faith was so great that Christ praised 
 her, and granted her prayer. God does not give you that 
 which you ask of Him, because you have no real confidence 
 in Him. 
 
 3. With perseverance. Our Lord at first gave her no 
 answer, but she ceased not to cry after Him with such 
 importunity, that the apostles said to the Son of God, 
 " Send her away, for she crieth after us." 
 
Good Thoughts. 105 
 
 Your prayers would have been already heard, if you had 
 prayed with perseverance ; but because God did not at once 
 grant your petition, joii ceased praying, and consequently 
 He heard you not. 
 
 "You ask and receive not, because you ask amiss." — James iv, 3. 
 
 FRIDAY. 
 
 Gospel : — John y, 1-15. At that time there was a festival day, etc. 
 
 The pond called I^robatica, a type of the holy 
 sacraments, 
 
 THE MISFOETTJNE OF CHEISTIANS. 
 
 1. They do not approach the sacraments. Our Savior 
 healed a man who had been sick for thirty-eight years, and 
 who complained that he had no one to put him into the 
 pond so that he might be cured. You cannot make this 
 complaint ; for what prevents you from going to confession, 
 from receiving holy communion, and thus being cured 
 of all your diseases ? Is it too troublesome ? ISTothing but 
 your indifference and your sinful life keeps you back ; you 
 will not approach the holy sacraments, because you do not 
 wish to give up your wickedness. 
 
 2. They receive them without due p>reparation. There are 
 some who frequent the holy sacraments, but because they 
 are not sufficiently prepared, instead of deriving health and 
 life therefrom, they receive, as did Judas the traitor, only 
 death and damnation. 
 
 Prepare yourself carefully before receiving the holy sacra- 
 ments, for the more worthy you are the more graces will you 
 obtain. 
 
 3. They receive them without deriving benefit from them. 
 This is the consequence of not being properly prepared. 
 Alas, we see Christians who, after so many confessions and 
 communions, are as given to slander, sensuality, anger, and 
 other vices, as they were ten years ago. 
 
 What good effect has medicine upon a sick man unless he 
 uses it properly ? Remember that the holy sacraments are 
 
106 Good Thoughts. 
 
 given as was Christ Himself, " for the fall and resurrection 
 of many." 
 
 " This child is set for the fall and for the resurrection of many." — Luke 
 ii, 34. 
 
 SATURDAY. 
 
 Gospel : The same'as to-morrow. 
 
 Reasons why we should follow Christ, 
 
 1. Se is the beloved Son of the Father. Peter, James 
 and John followed Christ to Mount Thabor, where He was 
 transfigured before them, and where a voice out of the cloud 
 was heard, saying : " This is my beloved Son, in whom I am 
 pleased." 
 
 We must follow Christ and imitate Him, because He is 
 the beloved Son of His Father, and is most amiable in 
 Himself. Who should not love and honor Christ, who is the 
 Lord of heaven and earth, and who is infinitely good and 
 perfect ? Love Him and He will love you ; His Father will 
 dwell in you, and will fill you with His graces. 
 
 2. Se is our teacher. The voice of the Heavenly Father 
 also adds : " Hear ye Him ! " 
 
 Yes, we will listen to Thee, most adorable Jesus; for 
 Thou art our teacher, who didst come into this world to 
 show us the path to heaven. We will obey Thy teachings, 
 and imitate Thy virtues, especially Thy humility. 
 
 3. He is our benefactor. The apostles were so filled with 
 joy that Peter said : " Lord, it is good for us to be here ! " 
 
 If Jesus rewards those who follow him in this world so 
 liberally, what will He not do for them in the next world ? 
 Follow Him not only to Thabor, but also to Calvary. 
 
 " Yet so if we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified with 
 Him." — Rom. viii, lY. 
 
Good Thoughts. 107 
 
 SECOND WEEK IN LENT. 
 
 Gospel: — Matt, xvn, 1-9. At that time Jesus took Peter, and James 
 and John, etc. 
 
 Sunday. The mystery of the transfiguration. 
 
 1. It confirms our faith. The extraordinary glory in 
 which Christ appeared, and the testimony of the eternal 
 Father, who calls Him His Son, cannot but convince us of 
 His divinity. The command of God that we should hear 
 Him, is a proof of the truth of His doctrine. Christ, the 
 lawgiver of the New Testament, appears between Moses 
 and Elias, His face shining like the sun, and His garments 
 white as snow. 
 
 I firmly believe, oh my Jesus, that thou art the Son of the 
 eternal Father, who cama into this world to establish 
 the law of the gospel. Give me grace to follow it. 
 
 2. It animates our hope. Who should not be filled with 
 hope at seeing the delight imparted by Christ to His apos- 
 tles, who were so enraptured at what they had seen, that 
 they openly expressed their desire to enjoy no greater hap- 
 piness than that they had experienced on Mount Thabor. 
 The light which overshadowed them should remind you of 
 the attributes which you will possess in heaven — that is, 
 knowledge, glory, and freedom from all sorrow. 
 
 Let us labor for Christ in the hope of His reward. Let 
 us be encouraged to sufier for Christ, that we may be glori- 
 fied with Him. 
 
 3. It enkindles our love. What think you was the sub- 
 ject of conversation between the Lord and Moses and 
 Elias ? He spoke of the agony and of the death which He 
 would sufler for us. 
 
 O, infinite goodness, who should not love Thee ! While 
 in the midst of glory, the one thought that filled Thy mind 
 was that of sufiering for us. How differently do I act ? I 
 prefer my pleasure to that of God, and I only call upon Him 
 in my afflictions. Let us often think of Jesus ; let us love 
 Him and sufier for Him, since He thought of nothing but of 
 suffering for us. 
 
 " Serve ye the Lord Christ." — Colloss. iii, 24. 
 
108 Good Thofghts. 
 
 MONDAY. 
 
 Gospel: — JoHUvni, 21-29. At that time Jesus said to the multitudes 
 of the Jews, I go, and you shall seek me, etc. 
 
 We must be converted, 
 
 1. Through love. You must renounce your sins, be- 
 cause they are displeasing to God, and offend His infinite 
 goodness. You must give up any wicked attachment, and 
 love God alone, who deserves to be loved, and who loves 
 you so tenderly. 
 
 Let us bid farewell to all deceitful pleasures. Alas, infi- 
 nite joy, I have known and loved Thee too late! 
 
 2. Through fear. The threat which Christ made to the 
 Jews was terrible. " I go," said He, " and you shall seek 
 me, and you shall die in your sins ! " 
 
 Oh sinner, the wrath of God is now hanging over your 
 head ; hell is already open to devour you ; death will sur- 
 prise you, and you will be buried in hell. Delay your con- 
 version no longer, for you will die before you have time to 
 do penance ; you will die in your sins ! 
 
 3. Through hope. Your own interest should induce you 
 to be converted. Consider the joys of heaven, which God 
 has prepared for you ; consider the peace of mind which 
 you would then possess. Finally, consider the emptiness of 
 the joys of this world in comparison with those of heaven ! 
 
 Detest your former transgressions and commence a new 
 life! 
 
 "Return, you rebellious children, and I will heal your rebellions." — Jer. 
 iii, 22. 
 
Good Thoughts. 109 
 
 TUESDAY. 
 
 Gospel: — Matt, xxni, 1-12. At that time Jesus spoke to the multi- 
 tude, and to his disciples, saying : The Scribes and Pharisees have sitten on 
 the chair of Moses, etc. 
 
 Defective intentions. 
 
 1. "We work without Tiaving any particular intention. 
 It is a common mistake with Christians, even with those 
 who lay claim to holiness, that what they do, they do too 
 hurriedly, and they forget to offer up their actions to God. 
 O, how many merits have we lost by not having com- 
 menced our work with a good intention ! What folly it is 
 for us not to use such an excellent and easy means to attain 
 sanctity ! Is it not blindness to do a thing without having 
 any reason for doing it ? 
 
 Henceforth, I resolve to offer up all my actions to God ! 
 
 2. Our intentions are not good. The causes why our 
 intentions are bad are: 1st. Pride. We are actuated by 
 motives of vain glory and human respect. When no one 
 sees you, you spend your time in perfect idleness ; but if 
 you think that any one observes you, then yon are filled with 
 zeal. Expect no reward from God if you only seek the 
 praise of men. 2d. Self-love. We seek our own honor, says 
 St. Paul, and not that of God. Our self-sufficiency, sensu- 
 ality and avarice, cause us to lose all merit. Kefer all your 
 actions to God, by performing them with a good intention ; 
 and instead of seeking your own pleasure, seek only to 
 please God. 3d. Passion. Passion is frequently the motive 
 of your actions : one does a thing because he is angry ; 
 another, because he is selfish; and a third, beouuse be is 
 envious. 
 
 I will renounce forever all bad intentions. 
 
 3. We fear not the evil results of bad intentions. What- 
 ever is begun without a good intention is lost for heaven. 
 Even a good work, performed with a bad intention, becomes 
 wicked. You work, pray and fast out of vanity, and instead 
 of being rewarded for it you will be punished. Is God 
 undeserving of your labor ? 
 
 Let us always strive to please Him. Let us work out of 
 love to Him, for His honor, and to do His holy will in all 
 
 10 
 
110 Good Thoughts. 
 
 things ! Let us imagine while we are at our work, that we 
 hear God say to us: "My son, for whom do you work? for 
 me, or for others ? to satisfy your vanity or to do my will ? '* 
 
 '* He that is not with me is against me ; and he that gathereth not with 
 me, scattereth." — Luke xi, 23. 
 
 WEDNESDAY. 
 
 Gospel: — Matt, xx, 17-28. At that time Jesus going up to Jerusalem, 
 took the twelve disciples apart, etc. 
 
 TTie children of Zehedee. 
 
 1. Their anihition. Behold here a mother as ambitious as 
 her children ! She approaches the Savior, and asks Him to 
 promise to her sons the most prominent places in His king- 
 dom. 
 
 How often have you not done the same? Your sole 
 desire is to attain greatness and wealth; you are secretly 
 ambitious to excel others. Be more humble henceforth in 
 all your wishes, conversations and actions. 
 
 2. Their ignorance. They must have been very ignorant, 
 for Christ Himself said to them : " You know not what you 
 ask ! » 
 
 O, how often could it be said to you also, " You know 
 not what you ask," since you wish only to possess riches, 
 honors, and other unprofitable things, which God refuses to 
 give you because He knows you would make bad use of 
 them. Resign yourself to the will of God, and ask Him 
 only for that which will be for your own good. 
 
 3. Their want of modesty. The Lord asked them : " Can 
 you drink the chalice that I shall drink?" and they 
 answered: "We can." Notwithstanding which, Christ told 
 them that He would not grant their request, which plainly 
 showed that their petition was made without modesty. 
 
 You must be zealous in your petitions and undertakings ; 
 but your zeal must be modest. 
 *' Lord teach us to pray." — Luke xi, 1. 
 
Good Thoughts. Ill 
 
 THURSDAY. 
 
 Gospel: — Luke xvi, 19-31. At that time Jesus said to the Pharisees; 
 There was a certain rich man, etc. 
 
 The rich man. 
 
 1. The rich man had heaven in this world^ and hell in 
 the next. He was clothed in purple and fine linen; he 
 feasted sumptuously every day, and enjoyed himself; but 
 he died, and was buried in hell, where he asked Abraham 
 for a drop of water, to cool his burning thirst. Abraham, in 
 reply, said to him : " Son, remember that thou didst receive 
 good things in thy lifetime, and likewise Lazarus evil things; 
 but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented." 
 
 Ye rich and sensual men of the world, remember this ! 
 Fear that after enjoying heaven in this world, hell may be 
 your portion in the world to come ! 
 
 2. Lazarus suffered the pains of purgatory in this world, 
 and enjoyed heaven in the next. He suffered but for a while, 
 and now enjoys the everlasting bliss of heaven. He was 
 poor, but now he possesses the kingdom of heaven. His 
 body was once covered with sores, but now it is glorified. 
 He suffered hunger, and the dogs licked his sores ; but now 
 he dwells with the angels in heaven. 
 
 0, ye poor, behold your reward, if you suffer patiently ! 
 
 3. The comfort of the one, and the torment of the other. 
 O, terrible thought ! the rich man will live eternally in hell. 
 O, inestimable happiness ! Lazarus will be in heaven forever. 
 " Between us and you," said Abraham to the rich man, 
 ** there is fixed a great chaos ; so that they who would pass 
 from hence to you, cannot, nor from hence come hither." 
 
 O, what an affliction, to have lost heaven forever through 
 our own fault. O, Lord, if I could but comprehend the 
 meaning of the word eternity ! 
 
 •' I thought upon the dajs of old, and I had in my mind the eternal 
 years." — Psalm Ixxvi, 8. 
 
112 Good Tuouguts. 
 
 FRIDAY. 
 
 Gospel — Matt, xxi, 33-46. At that time Jesus spoke this parable to 
 the multitude of the Jews and to the chief priests : There was a man, a 
 householder, who planted a vineyard, etc. 
 
 Heasoois why we should love God. 
 
 1. The gifts of nature. God made you what you are, 
 and but for Him you would not be in existence. Consider 
 His kindness in giving you a body and soul ; a body won- 
 derfully made, and a soul capable of attaining knowledge. 
 He has given you all the advantages you possess ; the sun 
 and stars, to lighten your path; the fire, to warm you; 
 water, to refresh you ; the day, in which to work ; the night 
 to rest ; fruits and animals to sustain the strength of your 
 body ; flowers, birds, fishes, rivers, fields, metals, and in fact 
 all that is in the world for your own use. 
 
 Be grateful to such a liberal God ! Do not use His goods 
 to offend Him. In all the works of His creation admire 
 His goodness, wisdom, omnipotence, justice, and all His 
 other perfections. 
 
 2. The gifts of grace. God has redeemed us at the price 
 of His blood. O, what should you not do for Him, who gave 
 His life for you ? He delivered you from the power of Satan, 
 whose slave you became by committing sin ; He has given 
 you the right to heaven ; He has made you a Christian ; He 
 has sanctified you in baptism ; He forgives your sins in the 
 sacrament of penance ; He nourishes you with His own flesh 
 and blood ; He has given you a guardian angel, who is 
 always at your side to protect you; He has given you 
 priests, to pray for you; confessors, to absolve you from 
 your sins ; preachers, to instruct you ; pai^nts and teachers, 
 to educate you as a Christian ; spiritual books, to make known 
 to you the knowledge of salvation ; good examples, to direct 
 you in virtue, besides innumerable inspirations and graces, 
 to inspire you to do good, and to prevent you from doing 
 evil. 
 
 O how many graces ! What an account must I one day 
 give of them ! 
 
 3. The gifts of glory. It is the desire of God that you 
 should enjoy eternal happiness, and He has already prepared 
 
Good Thoughts. 113 
 
 a place for you in heaven. He will pour out upon you tor- 
 rents of delight ; He will exhibit Himself to you face to face ; 
 He will enkindle within you a fire of the purest love ; He 
 will permit you to have a share in joys that are inexpressible 
 and never ending. glory of heaven, how beautiful art 
 thou! 
 
 "My soul longeth and fainteth for the courts of the Lord!" — Psalm 
 Ixxxiii, 3. 
 
 SATURDAY. 
 
 GrOSPEL: — Luke xv, 11-32, At this time Jesus spoke to the Pharisees 
 and Scribes this parable : A certain man had two sons, etc. 
 
 The prodigal son. 
 
 1. His wastefulness. He left his father's house, went 
 abroad into a far country, where he wasted his substance in 
 riotous excesses. 
 
 Are you not a prodigal son ? Do you not squander the 
 graces of your Heavenly Father and forsake Him, in order 
 to lead a wicked life ? Weep over your sins and the errors 
 of your youth, Alas, my God, I have forsaken Thee, and 
 have not loved Thee ! 
 
 2. Mis return. At the approach of a great famine, he saw 
 himself compelled to feed swine, and satisfy his hunger with 
 the husks they did not eat. Whereupon he returned to him- 
 self, saying : " How many hired servants in my father's house 
 abound with bread, and I here perish with hunger ? I will 
 arise and go to my father, and say to him : Father, I have 
 sinned against heaven and before thee ; I am not now worthy 
 to be called thy son." 
 
 The thought of his former happiness and his present mis- 
 ery determined him to return to his father. Reflect upon 
 the graces which you have received, and the wretched con- 
 dition in which you now find yourself. 
 
 3. S^is reception. At the return of this spendthrift son, 
 his father was moved with compassion, and instead of treat- 
 ing him rudely, he ran to meet him, embraced him, clothed 
 
 10* 
 
114 Good Thoughts. 
 
 him in a new robe, and commanded his servants to prepare 
 a feast in honor of his coming back. 
 
 Behold ! in such a kind manner does God also receive the 
 sinner. Be converted, faithless Jerusalem, wicked soul, err- 
 ing sheep ! Return to your God, who is prepared to receive 
 you with so much kindness ! 
 
 "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before thee; I am not now 
 worthy to be called thy son." — Luke xv, 18, 19. 
 
 THIRD WEEK IN LENT. 
 
 Gospel: — Luke xi, 14-28. At that time Jesus was casting out a devil, 
 and the same was dumb, etc. 
 
 Sunday. The dumb devil who dwells in its, 
 
 1. Wh-en we are^ filed with false shame. Our Lord cast 
 out a devil who was dumb, but He did not cast them all out. 
 There is one who makes us dumb when we should speak, 
 especially when we should confess our sins. Satan, who in- 
 spired the sinner with such boldness before he committed 
 sin, fills him' now with so much confusion and fear, that he 
 prefers to be guilty of sacrilege rather than to make a good 
 confession. 
 
 Deplore such a fatal delusion, and examine as to whether 
 your confessions are sincere. 
 
 2. When we should reprove. Unfortunate fear, dangerous 
 complacency, or human respect, keep you silent, although 
 you are in duty bound to condemn sin wherever you meet it. 
 
 Show more zeal for God and your neighbor ! If you 
 admonish your neighbor for committing sin, you will 
 encourage virtue and prevent vice. 
 
 3. Keeping silent when we should praise. You hear any 
 one praised, but you preserve a studied silence, and thus 
 excite doubts in the minds of those who spoke well of the 
 person. You should neither lie nor flatter ; but I very 
 much fear that it is either pride or envy which closes your 
 lips when you hear another commended. 
 
Good Thotjghts. 115 
 
 Speak as well of others as you would wish to be spoken 
 of yourself, and you will then have no enemies ! 
 
 "I said I will confess against myself my injustice to the Lord." — Psalm 
 xxxi, 5. 
 
 MONDAY. 
 
 Gospel: — Luke iv, 23-30, At that time Jesus said to the Pharisees: 
 Doubtless you will say to me this similitude : Physician, heal thyself, etc. 
 
 J*hysician, heal thy self » 
 
 1. We do not hnoxo ourselves. Heal yourself! But how 
 will you do this, since you consider that you are in a state 
 of perfect health? We flatter ourselves; we imagine that 
 we possess many virtues, but in truth we have so few ; we 
 think that we have no faults, and we are full of them. 
 
 Examine yourself, and see if you do not cherish a secret 
 kind of pride in your heart — if you are not guilty of self- 
 love and other imperfections. Try to acquire a true know- 
 ledge of yourself! 
 
 2. We excuse ourselves. It is true, you say, that I have 
 these faults, but it is part of my nature. I was angry, but 
 I was provoked to it ; my conduct on certain occasions was 
 not edifying, but I only followed the example of others. 
 
 Alas, if you have always an excuse ready as to why you 
 committed this or that sin, you will never make progress in 
 virtue. 
 
 3. We accuse others. You are too indulgent with your- 
 self, and too severe with others. If a person acts in a way 
 that is not precisely in accordance with your ideas, you form 
 a rash judgment ; and you not only condemn what he does, 
 but even his intentions. 
 
 Perhaps you are guilty of the very faults which you con- 
 demn in others. " And why," says Christ, " seest thou the 
 mote that is in thy brother's eye, and seest not the beam 
 that is in thine own eye?" — Matt, vii, 3. 
 
 "Judge hot, that you may not be judged." — Matt, vii, 1. 
 
116 Good Thoughts. 
 
 TUESDAY. 
 
 Gospel: — Matt, xviii, 15-22. At that time Jesus said to His disciples: 
 If thy brother shall offend against thee, go and rebuke him, etc. 
 
 Friendly remonstrance or admonition, 
 
 1. Its necessity. It is necessary sometimes to admonish 
 others ; Christ commands it, and charity demands it. If 
 through your fault and carelessness God is offended and 
 your neighbor ruined, perhaps for eternity, will you not in 
 a measure be responsible for it ? The sinner is like a 
 patient, who is not aware of his dangerous condition, or who 
 does not wish to be cured. 
 
 2. Its advantages. They are summed up in the words of 
 the gospel : " If he shall hear thee, thou shalt gain thy 
 brother." 
 
 O, what a consolation, to gain a soul for God ! Alas, 
 how many wicked children, servants and young persons 
 have been lost, because their parents, masters and superiors 
 did not admonish them ! 
 
 Do you ever reprove your children and servants when 
 they do wrong ? 
 
 3. Its qualities. 1st. It must be prudent. We should not 
 punish at all times, but should wait for a favorable opportu- 
 nity; we will otherwise make the evil worse. 2d. It must be 
 prompt. If you constantly defer your admonitions, you will 
 never effect your object. "But what will he say? He will 
 cease to be my friend." What of that ? Almighty God 
 will be pleased with you, and even he whom you rebuke will 
 in time thank you for it. 3d. It must be affectionate and 
 without anger. 
 
 Use kind words, which show that you are actuated by 
 feelings of regard and not by passion. 
 
 " Yet do not esteem him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother." — 
 2 Thess. ui, 15. 
 
Good TnorGHTS. 117 
 
 WEDNESDAY. 
 
 Gospel: — Matt, xr, 1-20. At that time the Scribes and Pharisees came 
 to Jesus from Jerusalem, saying : Why do thy disciples transgress the 
 tradition of the ancients ? etc. 
 
 The duties of children and servants. 
 
 1. Love. Children and servants must love their parents 
 and masters, for they are greatly indebted to them, and 
 because they are the representatives of God. Even if 
 your parents have faults, you must have patience with them. 
 If they punish you when they should not, make use of the 
 occasion to gain merits for yourself; never forsake them, and 
 never cherish feelings of resentment toward them. Medi- 
 tate carefully and earnestly on this duty. 
 
 2. Respect. God says: " Honor thy father and thy mother, 
 but cursed be he that honoreth not his father and mother." 
 Never be ashamed to humble yourself before your parents 
 and superiors, in word and deed, for you honor God if you 
 honor them. 
 
 Never speak disdainfully to them or of them, and always 
 address them with respect. 
 
 3. Obedience. The Son of God has given us a sublime 
 example of obedience, for He was subject to His parents 
 while upon earth. 
 
 If the Son of God willingly obeyed an humble carpen- 
 ter, who was only His foster father, should you hesitate 
 to obey your parents and masters, to whom God has given 
 power over you ? " Be obedient," says St. Paul, " to your 
 masters as to God Himself." 
 
 "Be ye subject, therefore, to every human creature, for God's sake." — 1 
 Peter ii 13. 
 
118 Good Thoughts. 
 
 THURSDAY. 
 
 Gospel: — Luke iv, 38-44 At that time Jesus rising up out of the 
 synagogue, went into Simon's house, etc. 
 
 Our passions compared to a fever, 
 
 1. They are hot. " Peter's wife's mother was taken with 
 a great fever." Christ healed her and she immediately rose 
 from her bed of sickness. Our passions consume us, just as 
 a fever does. What is more burning than the desires of an 
 angry man, or of a sensual man, or of one who is ambitious 
 or miserly ? 
 
 If you do not subdue the first heat of your passions, they 
 will most assuredly be the cause of your ruin. 
 
 2. They exhaust our strength. This is one of the effects 
 of fever. Our passions destroy all that is good within us ; 
 they weaken our devotion, distract our mind, separate us 
 from the grace of God, and cause great evils to both body 
 and soul. 
 
 You have pity on a poor weak man, who is burning with 
 fever, but you are as feeble in virtue as he is in body, 
 because your passions inflame and exhaust you. 
 
 3. They cause death. After suffering a long time from 
 fever, the sick man dies. Your passions beget, first, imper- 
 fection, then venial sin, and after that mortal sin, thus 
 ending in eternal death. Envy caused Cain to slay his 
 brother Abel. Ambition, anger and the other passions 
 cause us to commit innumerable sins. 
 
 You must seek to discover and control your passions. 
 " Resist ye, strong in faith." — 1 Peter v, 9. 
 
 FRIDAY. 
 
 Gospel : — John rv, 5-42. At that time Jesus came to a city of Samaria, 
 etc. 
 
 Christ converts the woman of Samaria, 
 
 1. JBy making her sins hnown to her. Wearied with His 
 journey, Christ sat on the well, and there waited like a good 
 shepherd for His stray sheep, that is, to convert the woman 
 of Samaria, who came there to draw water, and who found 
 
Good Thoughts. 119 
 
 grace. Our Lord told her that she had been the wife of five 
 husbands, and that he whom she now had was not her hus- 
 band. The woman is immediately seized with remorse of 
 conscience; the sad picture of her transgressions is con- 
 stantly before her eyes ; she returns to the city and said to 
 all whom she met : " Come and see a man who has told me all 
 things whatsoever I have done." 
 
 Listen to your conscience ; it will tell you all you have 
 done. What a blessing if its reproaches would have the 
 same efiect upon you as it had upon the woman of Samaria. 
 
 2. By His grace. " O, woman, " said the Savior to her, 
 " if thou didst know the gift of God and who it is that saith 
 to thee, Give me to drink, thou perhaps wouldst have asked 
 of Him, and He would have given thee living water !" 
 
 Grace is compared with water, 1st. Because it cleanses us 
 from sin. 2d. It consoles us in affliction. 3d. It makes 
 us desirous to practice good works ; and, 4th. It extin- 
 guishes the fire of our passions. 
 
 Lord, give me to drink of this water. 
 
 3. By giving her the assurance of Sis glory. " He that 
 shall drink of the water that I will give him shall not thirst 
 forever ; it will become to him a fountain of water springing 
 up into life everlasting." 
 
 Give yourself up to God who not only wishes to snatch 
 you from sin, but who will also enrich you with His grace 
 and glory in the world to come. 
 
 " Keturn to me, saith the Lord, and I -will receive thee." — Jerem. iii, 1. 
 
 SATURDAY. 
 
 Gospel: — John vni^ 1-11. At that time, Jesus went to Mount Olivet, etc. 
 
 The Jcindness of God to sin7iers, 
 
 1. Se receives them. Behold, how kindly He received the 
 publican, Mary Magdalen and all sinners who desired to be 
 converted, so that His enemies reproached Him for eating 
 with them ! In the same kind manner He receives to-day 
 a woman taken in adultery, and He is filled with delight 
 because this lost sheep returned to the fold. 
 
 I thank thee, O my Jesus, that Thou hast so often received 
 me after my transgressions ; grant that I may never forsake 
 Thee! 
 
120 Good Thoughts. 
 
 2. He is patient with them. The Pharisees brought the 
 woman taken in adultery to Jesus, asking Hira whether she 
 should not be stoned according to the law. But Jesus, bow- 
 ing Himself down, wrote with His finger on the ground, 
 and lifting Himself up, said : " He that is without sin among 
 you, let him first cast a stone at her ; " and they hearing this 
 answer, one by one went out. 
 
 How often have you deserved hell on account of your 
 sins, and yet God has had patience with you. He delays His 
 chastisements, in order that you may be converted. From 
 henceforth determine to make good use of your time, for it 
 is to be feared that God may become weary of you. 
 
 3. He rebukes them. After the Pharisees had left, the 
 woman remained alone, and Christ said to her, " Go and now 
 sin no more ! " By this timely rebuke she was converted. 
 
 God threatens you ; He sends you sickness and affliction ; 
 He admonishes you through the voice of His ministers ; will 
 you remain insensible to His warnings ? 
 
 " The Lord is sweet to all, and His tender mercies are over all His 
 works." — Psalm cxliv, 9. 
 
 FOURTH WEEK IN LENT. 
 
 Gospel: — John vi, 1-15. At that time, Jesus went over the sea of 
 Galilee, etc. 
 
 Sunday. The miracle of the multiplication of the loaves. 
 Measons for having confidence in God. 
 
 1. The providence of God. "Why are you sad? God 
 knows your necessities as well as He knew the wants of the 
 five thousand who had followed Him into the desert. He 
 asked Philip, Whence shall we buy bread that these may 
 eat ? This, however, He said to try him, for He Himself 
 knew what He had to do. 
 
 God permits you to be afflicted in order to try your 
 fidelity and confidence. Hope in Him! If God provides 
 for the birds of the air, and arrays the lilies of the field in 
 beauty, do you think that He will forget you ? 
 
Good Thoughts. 121 
 
 2. His kindness. Our Lord made the multitude sit down, 
 and satisfied their hunger with five barley loaves and two 
 fishes, so that twelve baskets were filled with the fragments 
 that were left. The kindness of God is w^onderful in all that 
 He has done and will do for us. Love Him, and because 
 He has done so much for you, do also something for Hira. 
 
 3. Sis power. Such a miracle is the best evidence of the 
 power of God, in which you must always have confidence. 
 
 If men do not always help you in your necessities, it is 
 because they do not know your wants, and it may be, per- 
 haps, that they cannot help you. God, however, in the order 
 of His providence, knows what you need ; in the order of 
 His kindness He will help you, and in the order of His 
 Omnipotence He can help you. These three attributes of 
 God should henceforth be your reasons for having confidence 
 in Him. 
 
 "I have lifted up my eyes to the mquntains from whence help shall come 
 to me." — Psalm cxx, 1. 
 
 MONDAY. 
 
 Gospel: — John ir, 13-25. At that time the pasch of the Jews was at 
 baud, etc. 
 
 Irreverence in church. 
 
 1. Irreverence is offensive to God, because it dishonors 
 Him in His own temple, in the very place where the priests 
 offer up to Him the holy sacrifice of the Mass, and where 
 Christians bow down and worship Him. 
 
 The church is the palace of Christ ; He is really and truly 
 present upon the altar, and you dishonor Him by any volun- 
 tary distractions, by being at all curious to see what is 
 taking place around y^u, and by any improper behavior 
 whatever on your part. 
 
 2. Irreverence is detrimental to ourselves. See how the 
 Savior punishes those who were wanting in respect. He 
 found in the temple them that sold oxen, and sheep, and 
 doves, and the changers of money : He then made a scourge 
 of little cords, and drove them all out ; He poured out the 
 
 11 
 
122 Good Thoughts. 
 
 money of the changers, overthrew their tables, and, with a 
 zeal worthy of a God, said: "Make not the house of my 
 Father a house of traffic ! " 
 
 Avoid all irreverence in church, for if you do not Almighty 
 God will punish you with the scourge of His justice. 
 
 3. Irreverence scandalizes our neighbor. What will others 
 think of your disedifying conduct in church ? You laugh, 
 while others weep over their sins ; you remain standing, 
 while others kneel down in adoration ; you gaze around in 
 every direction, while others are engaged in prayer; you 
 speak with men, while others converse with God. Can 
 you then consider yourself a Christian ? 
 
 O, how fatal it is to give such scandal ! Instead of enter- 
 ing the church with fear and trembling, we imitate the 
 wicked, who respect neither God nor man ! 
 
 " I will come into Thy house ; I will worship towards Thy holy temple, 
 in Thy fear." — Psalm v, 8. 
 
 TUESDAY. 
 
 Gospel: — John vii, 14-31. At that time Jesus went up in the temple 
 and taught, etc. 
 
 The teachings of Jesus Christ. 
 
 1. Christ teaches us only what is good. All worldly sci- 
 ences are as nothing in comparison to His teachings, for they 
 are heavenly ; He received them from His eteTnal Father, 
 and they make known to us the most sublime truths and 
 virtues. 
 
 O, Jesus, how kind it was in Thee to give me such holy 
 instructions ! Grant me grace to follow them. 
 
 2. He shows us the difference between good and bad doc- 
 trine. If we receive light from above we will be able to 
 discover the snares of Satan, the false principles and teach- 
 ings of the world, and all delusions in spiritual life. 
 
 Alas, I acknowledge that I have deceived myself I did 
 not look upon the teachings of the world as dangerous ; I 
 was led astray by my self-love, and by following my owa 
 
Good TnoroHTS. 123 
 
 judgment. I will henceforth follow Thy teachmgs, O my 
 Jesus. 
 
 3. He gives us strength to follow good and to avoid evil 
 teachings. It would be vain for you to receive light from 
 above unless you determine to follow it. The teachings of 
 all the philosophers in the world will not make you holy ; 
 but the teachings of Christ will convert and sanctify you. 
 
 Resolve to amend your life, and to obey the teachings of 
 Christ. Be a worthy pupil of so good a master. 
 
 "Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life." — 
 John vl, 69. 
 
 WEDNESDAY. 
 
 Gospel — John ix, 1-38. At that time Jesus, passing by, saw a man 
 who was blind from his birth, etc. 
 
 The man who was blind from his birth. 
 
 1. The cause of his blindness. Jesus met a blind man, 
 and His disciples asked Him whether the sins of the man or 
 of his parents were the cause of his blindness ? Jesus replied, 
 saying : " Neither that this man sinned nor his parents ; but 
 he was born blind that the works of God should be made 
 manifest in him." 
 
 Never say that this or that misfortune has befallen you 
 through the fault of this or that person, that you have suf- 
 fered loss and received insults owing to the malice of such 
 or such a man. Consider that Almighty God permits these 
 afflictions for His honor and for your advantage. 
 
 2. Sis cure. Our Lord spat upon the ground, made clay 
 of the spittle, and spread the clay upon the eyes of the blind 
 man. He then commanded him to wash in the pool of Siloe, 
 and healed him not only of his bodily but also of his spiritual 
 blindness, by bringing him to a knowledge of the Son of 
 God. 
 
 O how perfect are the works of God ! He at the same 
 time heals both soul and body. God has, in the holy sacra- 
 ments, which are represented by waters of the pool, restored 
 also your sight ; never again fall into voluntary blindness. 
 
124 Good Tnouoiixs. 
 
 3. His gratitude. As soon as his sight was restored to 
 him, he proclaimed the miracle everywhere. The Pharisees, 
 however, endeavored to keep him from saying that Christ 
 had performed the miracle ; but he told all whom he met 
 that the Savior had cured him. 
 
 We must also proclaim the wonders of God and give Him 
 the honor due to Him. He cast himself at the feet of Christ, 
 adored Him, and believed in Him. Let us not be ungrateful. 
 
 " Thou hast done well with Thy servant, Lord." — Psalm cxviii, 65. 
 
 THURSDAY. 
 
 Gospel: — Luke vit, 11-16. At that time Jesus went into a city called 
 Nairn, etc. (See Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost.) 
 
 The son of the widow of Nairn. 
 
 1. The mercy of Christ. He met a poor and disconsolate 
 mother, who was following the body of her only son to the 
 grave. Moved with mercy, Christ said to her: "Weep 
 not." 
 
 By our malice we consign ourselves to the grave of sin, 
 but by God's mercy we rise again from it. O Jesus, Thou 
 hast given so many graces to sinners that they might be 
 converted ! Let us pray for the conversion of sinners. 
 
 2. His power over the death of the body. Our Lord com- 
 manded those that carried the dead youth to stand still, and 
 touching the bier, He said : " Young man, I say to thee 
 arise !" and immediately the dead man sat up and began to 
 speak. 
 
 O my Jesus, how powerful art Thou, for the dead and 
 the living obey Thee. 
 
 3. His power over the death of the Spirit. Christ restored 
 to life many who had died according to nature, but He gave 
 life to a greater number who had died spiritual deaths. The 
 youth who was dead and unable to utter a word, began to 
 speak ; he could not open his eyes and now he sees ; he 
 could not feel or hear, but now he is in possession of all his 
 faculties. Behold in all this the marks of spiritual resurrec- 
 
Good Thoughts. 125 
 
 tion. You must see the heavenly truths to which you were 
 blind ; you must listen to the voice of God, to which you 
 had closed your ears ; you must have sorrow for your sins, 
 and you must labor for heaven. O Lord, raise me up ! 
 "But thou, Lord, have mercy, and raise me up again! — Psalm xl, 11. 
 
 FRIDAY. 
 
 Gospel: — John xi, 1-45. At that time there was a certain man sick, 
 named Lazarus, etc. 
 
 The resuscitation of Lazarus, 
 
 1. Christ approached the sepulchre. He went expressly 
 to Judea to resuscitate Lazarus, because Lazarus did not 
 possess the power in himself to burst the fetters of death ; 
 just as the sinner cannot rise from the grave of sin without 
 the assistance of God. 
 
 Let us give thanks to our Lord, because He has raised us 
 up so often, and let us ask Him to guard us from again 
 losing the life of grace ! 
 
 2. He wept. The gospel mentions the fact that Christ 
 often wept, but it never speaks of Him as ever having 
 laughed. He weeps, moved with compassion, because 
 Lazarus, whom He loved, had died. The obduracy of the 
 sinner causes Christ to weep, as did also the stubbornness 
 of the Jews. 
 
 Alas, what blindness ! Jesus weeps because He sees me 
 dead in sin, and because I am insensible to my own misery. 
 I laugh when I have sufficient cause to weep. 
 
 3. He groaned in the spirit. When Christ had come near 
 to the sepulchre He groaned in Himself. He prayed, wept, 
 and lifting up His eyes to heaven cried out in a loud voice : 
 " Lazarus, come forth ! " and presently the dead man came 
 forth from the grave in the presence of all. 
 
 Our Lord, in His manner of performing this miracle, 
 desired to show us how difficult it is to convert a hardened 
 sinner. Lazarus was only four days in the grave, but you. 
 perhaps, have been months, and even years, in the grave of 
 
 11* 
 
126 Good Thoughts. 
 
 sin. Alas, what labor and what a miracle it will take to 
 convert you ! Fear sin, especially the habit of sin. 
 "Enlighten my eyes, that I never sleep in death." — Paalm xii, 4. 
 
 SATURDAY. 
 
 Gospel: — John tiii, 12-20. At that time Jesus spoke to the multitudes 
 of the Jews, saying : I am the light of the world, etc. 
 
 Christ the light of the world, 
 
 1. Light illumines the darkness. Christ enlightens all 
 men ; He reveals to them the most secret mysteries ; He 
 teaches them the most important truths, and fills their heart 
 with heavenly light. 
 
 Receive this light, and profit by it ! The sun shines 
 brightly, but if you keep your heart closed to its rays, you 
 cannot expect to see. 
 
 2. It gives joy. As the darkness of the night makes all 
 things look gloomy, so does the light of day bring joy. At 
 the dawn of the day the sick revive, the traveler continues 
 his journey, and the laborer commences his work. 
 
 There is no real joy but in the presence of Christ. He 
 fills our heart with delight when we are in His divine 
 presence; He bestows upon us the sweetest consolations, 
 which are of greater value to us than are all the pleasures 
 of the world. Think of Him, and be with Him, in order to 
 enjoy Him ! 
 
 3. It spreads itself. Light diifuses itself, and communi- 
 cates itself to other objects, just as we see many candles 
 lighted by one. 
 
 O, Jesus, true light of the world, beautiful sun of justice, 
 how wonderful it is to see Thee imparting Thyself in holy 
 communion to so many different persons ! Be you also a 
 light to your neighbor by giving him a good example, and 
 impart to others the knowledge which God has given you. 
 
 " The path of the just is as a shining liglit." — Prov. iv, 18. 
 
Good Thoughts. 127 
 
 PASSION WEEK. 
 
 Gospel : — John viii, 46-59. At that time, Jesus said to the multitudes 
 of the Jews : Which of you shall convince me of sin ? etc. 
 
 Sunday. The perfections of Christ. 
 
 ^ . He is free from sin in Sis actions. " Which of you 
 shall convince me of sin ? " said Jesus. Truly, He is like 
 the light, pure and without stain. He cannot sin out of 
 ignorance, for He possesses the treasures of the wisdom and 
 knowledge of God. He cannot sin out of malice, for He is 
 sanctity itself He cannot sin out of fear and weakness, for 
 He is Almighty God Himself 
 
 Rejoice with Him at His infinite holiness ; adore and love 
 Him and by avoiding the least sin, endeavor to imitate His 
 sanctity ! 
 
 2. lie is truthful in Sis words. " If I say the truth to 
 you, why do you not believe me ? " says our Lord. " He 
 that is of God, heareth the words of God. Amen, amen, I 
 say to you, if any man keep my word, he shall not see death 
 forever." 
 
 Jesus Christ is God, and He cannot utter a falsehood. 
 Why then do you not believe Him, when He tells you to deny 
 yourself, to take up your cross, to forgive and be humble ? 
 
 3. Se is iconderful in Sis perfections. Imagine to your- 
 self whatever is most beautiful, most holy and most perfect ! 
 Christ excels all, for His beauty, kindness, wisdom, power, 
 mercy, liberality and all His perfections are infinite and 
 above our comprehension. 
 
 Shall I always be attached to creatures, who are so imper- 
 fect ? Shall I never love Him, who is worthy of being loved 
 and venerated by angels and by men ? 
 
 " Thou art beautiful above the sons of men." — Psalm xliv, .^. 
 
 Monday. Christ in the garden, 
 
 1. Sis prayer. Behold Him prostrating Himself upon 
 the ground ! See with what fervent devotion He prays, 
 how He calls upon His Father, how perseveringly He repeats 
 the same prayer, and with what resignation He says : " My 
 
l28 Good Thoughts. 
 
 Father, if it be possible, let this chalice pass from me ; never- 
 theless not as I will, but as Thou wilt." 
 
 Learn how to pray with respect, confidence, perseverance 
 and resignation ! 
 
 2. His sorrow. His agony was so great, that His sweat 
 became as drops of blood, trickling down upon the ground. 
 An angel from heaven appeared to strengthen Him. Why 
 is He so sorrowful ? Although the thought of the nails, the 
 scourges, the insults and death, which He desired to suffer 
 increased His agony, they were not the cause of His sadness, 
 it was the thought of our sins. He sees the destruction of 
 the Jews, the great number of reprobates, the many Chris- 
 tians, w^ho would trample upon His sacred body and blood 
 and despise His graces. 
 
 If Christ Himself weeps over my ingratitude and sins ; 
 should I not weep over them ? 
 
 3. His complaint. He took with Him three of His disci' 
 pies, who instead of praying, as they were commanded to 
 do, fell asleep. He therefore reproached them, and addressed 
 the following words to them, which you also should never 
 forget : " Watch ye and pray, that ye enter not into temp- 
 tation ; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." 
 
 I know too well, that it is easy to make good resolu- 
 tions, but that it is difficult to execute them. I will in 
 future be more zealous and persevering. I will find in the 
 words of Christ three remedies against temptation : to pray, 
 to watch and to place no confidence in myself! 
 
 " Watch ye and pray !" — Matt, xxvi, 41. 
 
 Tuesday. Christ is betrayed, 
 
 1. Judas betrays Him. O what an affliction for Thee, my 
 amiable Jesus, to be betrayed with a kiss, by one of Thy 
 disciples, and sold to Thy enemies for a few pieces of silver ! 
 And thou, most wretched Judas, how hardened was thy 
 heart, not to have been moved by the horror of thy crime, 
 or by the kind words of thy Master: "Friend, w^hereto art 
 thou come ?" 
 
 Have you never betrayed your Savior? Alas, perhaps 
 oftener than did Judas ! How many times have you not 
 said, like this traitor : " What will you give me, and I deliver 
 Him unto you ?" 
 
 2. The soldiers take Him prisoner. They all fall upon 
 Him, bind Him and carry Him away like a robber. Behold 
 
Good Thoughts. 129 
 
 the hour is come, when the Son of Man is delivered up into 
 the hands of sinners. He could have broken the ropes more 
 easily than Samson did, but His love was stronger than the 
 ropes. 
 
 O what wickedness, to treat the King of men and angels 
 with such cruelty ! Let us imitate the patience and meek- 
 ness of Christ ! 
 
 3. Peter defends him. Peter draws his sword and cuts off 
 the right ear of Malchus. But see the kindness of the Lord, 
 who does good to those who inflict evil upon Him ! He 
 touched the ear of Malchus and healed him. He reproached 
 Peter for what he had done, and said : " Thinkest thou that 
 I cannot ask my Father, and he will give me presently more 
 than twelve legions of angels to defend me ? " 
 
 Take no revenge, even if you can do so ! The honor of a 
 disciple and follower of Christ consists in suffering. Avoid 
 sin, and imagine that you hear Jesus addressing you as He 
 did Judas : " Friend, whereto art thou come ?" Alas, what 
 will you do ? 
 
 " Friend, whereto are thou come ?" — Matt, xxvi, 50 
 
 Wednesday. Christ is forsaken, 
 
 1. By Judas^ who despairs. Alas, what has become of 
 one of Thy disciples, O my Lord ! Instead of being con- 
 verted " he went and hanged himself." 
 
 O, what sin can equal that of despair, unless it be that of 
 presumption? Let us hope to obtain forgiveness of our 
 sins, even if they should be greater than was that of Judas ! 
 
 2. By Peter, loho denies Sim. O what a change has 
 come over you, Peter! You, who only two days ago 
 declared yourself to be more faithful than the other disci- 
 ples ! You, whom Christ had chosen to be the head of His 
 Church. You deny Him three times before a multitude of 
 people, as well as before a servant maid ! 
 
 Alas, what a misfortune, to forsake Christ, and to rely too 
 much upon our own strength ! The Lord looked on Peter, 
 who, acknowledging his sin, went out and wept bitterly. 
 Weep also over the sins of your whole life ! 
 
 3. By all Sis disciples. They were seized with such fear 
 and terror, that they all left Him and fled. O, my Jesus, 
 Thou art now forsaken by all. Thou standest alone, sur- 
 rounded as by so many ravaging wolves, and given up to 
 the fury of Thy enemies ! 
 
130 Good Thoughts. 
 
 Will you also forsake your Master ? Say, with St. 
 Thomas : 
 
 "Let us also go that we may die with Him!" — John xi, 16. 
 
 Thursday. Christ is accused, 
 
 1. The Savior is dragged about from one court to another. 
 He was first led to Annas, the father-in-law of the high 
 priest; from the house of Annas He was taken to Caiphas, 
 from Caiphas to Filate, from him to Herod, and from Herod 
 aarain to Pilate. 
 
 Is it possible that Thou art thus treated, O King of Glory, 
 that Thou dost permit Thyself to be dragged from one 
 court to another, by people who seek thus to humble Thee 
 more and more? From henceforth I will humble myself, 
 and suffer disgrace in order to imitate Thy example, O my 
 Jesus ! 
 
 2. He is falsely accused. Many false witnesses rose to 
 testify against Him. He was accused of criminal acts, 
 which He had not committed, and which He, sanctity itself, 
 could not commit. He replied to some of the accusations 
 with wonderful modesty and wisdom, or else kept silent. 
 
 You do not know what it is to suffer contempt. The 
 least reproach causes you to excuse and defend yourself. Is 
 this imitating Christ? 
 
 3. He openly proclaims the truth. You imagine, perhaps, 
 that the questions of so many judges, the threats of so many 
 persons, and the presence of so many soldiers, would intimi- 
 date Him ? By no means ; He publicly declares Himself to 
 be the Messiah, the King of the Jews and the Son of God. 
 
 We also must be firm, when it is necessary to speak the 
 truth and to advance the honor of God. 
 
 " For Thy sake I have borne reproach ; shame hath covered my face." — 
 Psalm Ixviii, 6. 
 
 Friday. Christ is derided, 
 
 1. He is struck in the face. Can you think without 
 indignation of the horrible crime of these wretches, who 
 struck the face of our divine Savior. One of them gave 
 Him a blow in the presence of the high priest, and a great 
 crowd of people. But Jesus meekly replied, saying : " Why 
 striketh thou me ?" 
 
 As often as I offend Thee, O, my Jesus, I hear the same 
 words : " Why striketh thou me ? Why dost thou dishonor 
 
Good Thoughts. 131 
 
 me, who am Thy God, Thy King, Thy Judge, Thy Creator 
 and Benefactor ?" But alas, I am as insensible to the words 
 of Christ as was the servant who struck Him. 
 
 2. Insults are heaped upon Him. The infamous Jews 
 derided and insulted Him ; they spit in His face, blindfolded 
 Jlim, struck Him and mockingly asked Him : " Prophesy 
 who is it that struck thee ?" 
 
 Alas, all these insults are constantly renewed ; we often 
 hear persons who are called Christians, curse and swear, 
 thereby drawing down the wrath of God upon themselves. 
 I will honor Thee, O my God, and praise Thy holy name, 
 while the Avicked dishonor and desecrate it. 
 
 3. A -white garment is put on him. Pilate sent Christ to 
 Herod, who was notorious on account of his licentious con- 
 duct, and who had commanded John the Baptist to be 
 beheaded. Herod hoped to see some signs wrought by the 
 Savior, but seeing that our Lord would not answer him, he 
 had a white garment put on Him, and thus sent Him back 
 to Pilate, " and Herod and Pilate were made friends that 
 same day." 
 
 0. how many who were enemies become friends as did 
 Herod and Pilate! I will be faithful to Thee, my Savior, 
 and will, like Thee, suffer insult and contempt with patience 
 and resignation ! 
 
 " All they that saw me have laughed me to scorn." — Psalm xxi, 8. 
 
 Satuedat. Christ is scourged. 
 
 1. The scourging. What a spectacle ! Christ stripped 
 of His garments and bound to a pillar. The whole band of 
 soldiers unmercifully scourge His holy body, which is 
 covered with blood ; the wounds and stripes cause Him to 
 suffer inexpressible pain. 
 
 O wounds, O scourges, you inflict punishment upon my 
 Savior, because of my pride, my rioting and my lust ! Let 
 us revenge upon ourselves the wounds, which we have made 
 on the sacred body of Jesus. 
 
 2. The crowning with thorns. The soldiers platted a 
 crown of thorns and placed it upon His head ; His forehead 
 was covered with wounds and His face with blood. 
 
 O what torment ! Do you wish to wear a crown of roses, 
 while your Savior is wearing a crown of thorns ? Alas, to 
 atone for your sensuality, Christ suffers this humiliation and 
 pain! 
 
132 Good Thoughts.' 
 
 3. I^cce Homo. Out of mockery they put a scarlet cloak 
 about Him, and placed a reed as a sceptre in His right hand. 
 Pilate then introduced Him to the people, saying : " Ecce 
 homo," that is, " behold the man ! " 
 
 O Christian, behold the man ! He is called man^ because 
 He is so disfigured on account of His wounds, that He could 
 hardly be recognized. Behold the man, the God man, in the 
 lamentable condition, in which your sins have placed Him ! 
 Behold the man of sorrows, who suffers out of love to 
 you ! Behold the man whom you should imitate in His 
 humility and in all His other virtues ! 
 
 'Tor I am ready for scourges." — Psalm xxxvii, 18. 
 
 HOLY WEEK. 
 
 Palm Sunday. The three different entries made hy the 
 Savior, 
 
 1. The first^ into the world — on the day of Sis hirth. 
 He was conceived in the womb of the Blessed Virgin, and 
 born in a stable, suffering all the wants of a child. 
 
 How humiliating for Jesus, how glorious for Mary, and 
 how advantageous for all men was this entrance ! I thank 
 Thee, O Lord, because by the mystery of Thy incarnation 
 Thou didst commence the work of the redemption of man- 
 kind, which Thou wilt soon perfect by the mystery of the 
 cross. 
 
 2. The second^ into Jerusalem. To-day He enters tri- 
 umphantly into Jerusalem, accompanied by a great multitude 
 of people. Some spread their garments in the way, others 
 precede Him, holding palm and olive branches in their 
 hands, and all singing : " Hosanna to the Son of David t 
 blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord !" 
 
 Christ is deserving of all these praises and honors, 
 because He is our King and the Master of the whole world. 
 Love Him, praise and adore Him ; but do not imitate the 
 perfidious Jews, who, after giving Him such a kind recep- 
 tion, treated Him so ignominiously five days later, and who 
 crucified Him between two thieves ! 
 
Good Thoughts. 133 
 
 3. The third, into our hearts, when we receive holy com- 
 munion. Easter is approaching, when Christ should make 
 His entrance into the hearts of all Christians in holy com- 
 munion. 
 
 Prepare yourself to receive Him with palm branches in 
 your hand, that is, as having conquered your passions ! 
 Spread your garments in the way, that is, practice interior 
 and exterior acts of humility ! Prepare yourself for His 
 advent by acts of praise, thanksgiving, faith, desire and 
 love ! 
 
 '• Behold the bridegroom cometh, go ye forth to meet him." — Matt. 
 XXV, 6. 
 
 Monday. Jesus is condemned. 
 
 1. He is considei'ed less than JBarrahas. What a disgrace ; 
 a murderer and thief is preferred to Jesus ! It was left to 
 the people to choose, whether Jesus or Barrabas should be 
 released; and they demanded Barrabas, at the same time 
 crying out loud, that Christ should be crucified. 
 
 You are very sensitive, if any one is preferred to you, 
 and yet you so often prefer a wretched creature to God. 
 Whenever you commit sin, you cry out with the Jews : " I 
 prefer my pleasures to the adorable Jesus !" 
 
 2. He is condemned to death. Pilate acknowledges the 
 innocence of Jesus, but nevertheless he unjustly condemns 
 Him to die. O, with what resignation does Christ hear the 
 sentence of death ! He is even pleased with it, since it is 
 the wish of His Father that He should die, and because the 
 salvation of mankind demands it. 
 
 You are not condemned to death, but if you are called 
 upon to suffer contempt, mortification, or the loss of your 
 goods, you do not try to be resigned, but you lament and 
 murmur. 
 
 3. He carries His cross. Let us follow our amiable 
 Savior, burdened with His cross and weakened by the loss of 
 blood ! Let us, with Simon, assist Him in carrying it. One 
 of the thieves also carries his cross ; but what a difference 
 between the crosses ! Christ with His cross ascends to 
 heaven, while the other is lost forever. We must carry our 
 cross and suffer adversity with patience, for otherwise our 
 sufferings will be fruitless. 
 
 " If any man will come after toe, let him deny himself, and take up his 
 cross and follow me." — Matt, xvi, 24. 
 
 12 
 
134 Good Thoughts. 
 
 Tuesday. Christ is crucified : 
 
 1. He is nailed to the cross. Behold the innocent sacri- 
 fice which is laid upon the altar of the cross ! They stripped 
 Him of His garments, cruelly pierced His hands and feet 
 with nails, so that the blood streamed forth from His sacred 
 wounds. 
 
 O my Jesus, fasten me to the cross, and grant that I may 
 never separate myself from it to follow my pleasures ! Adore 
 the sacred wounds of Christ. 
 
 2. The cross is raised. Behold Christ crucified upon 
 Mount Calvary, and exposed to the eyes of a vast multitude : 
 He is covered with blood, and hangs between two thieves ! 
 Those who pass by, instead of having compassion on Him. 
 blaspheme and mock at Him, saying : " If thou be the Son 
 of God, come down from the cross !" 
 
 Our Lord does not wish to descend from the cross, but to 
 die upon it, because He is the Son of God and the Redeemer 
 of all men. Pause for a moment and consider the pain 
 which He suffers ! Have compassion on Him ! 
 
 3. They gave Him vinegar and gall to drink. Thus He 
 is tormented, and instead of allaying His thirst, they even 
 increased it. 
 
 O my Jesus, this vinegar and gall is given to Thee 
 because of my gluttony, my slanders and my wicked con- 
 versations ! Another kind of thirst, however, is consuming 
 Thee, the desire after my salvation. " I thirst," Thou didst 
 cry out. Shall I be so indifferent to my salvation, since it 
 is Thy wish to save me ? 
 
 *' He was wounded for our iniquities, he was bruised for our sins." — 
 Isais liii, 5. 
 
 Wednesday. Christ hanging upon the cross, 
 
 1. JTe forgives His enemies. Our Savior has taught us 
 not only in word but also in deed, to forgive our enemies. 
 While suffering His greatest pains, when dying and hearing 
 the blasphemies uttered against Him, He not only forgives 
 His enemies, but also prays for them, and endeavors even 
 to excuse them, saying: "Father, forgive them; for they 
 know not what they do !" 
 
 Should it be difficult for you to forgive a trifling insult, 
 when you see Jesus forgiving His murderers ? I resolve, O 
 my God, to renounce all the enmity, hatred and aversion 
 which until now I have cherished within me. 
 
Good Thoughts. 135 
 
 2. He forgives one of the thieves. Who should not be 
 filled with hope in hearing Christ say to one of the thieves : 
 "Amen, I say to thee, this day thou shalt be with me in 
 paradise !" If you have committed all the sins of the 
 world, God will forgive you, if you ask Him for it in the 
 spirit of repentance. But who should not tremble also in 
 seeing the other thief die in his sins without repentance, 
 while he sees the sun darkened, the earth quake, the rocks 
 rent and God giving up His Ghost. 
 
 Walk in fear and hope ; appeal to the mercy of God, but 
 never forget His justice ! 
 
 3. He recommends His mother to John. The love of 
 Jesus for His mother does not end with His life. He recom- 
 mends her to John, and John to Mary. 
 
 O how happy will I be under the protection of Mary ! 
 Grant, O Lord, that henceforth the Blessed Virgin may be 
 my mother, and I her child ! 
 
 " all ye that pass by the way, attend and see, if there be any sorrow 
 like to my sorrow !" — Lament, i, 12. 
 
 Maundy Thursday. The washing of the feet and the 
 institution of the most Blessed Sacrament. 
 
 1. The humility of Christ. He took a towel, girded 
 Himself, and having put water into a basin. He began to 
 wash the feet of His disciples, and even those of Judas. 
 Astonished by this act of humility Peter refuses to have his 
 feet washed ; but he is told to obey. 
 
 From this we learn, with what humility and purity of 
 body and soul we must receive the holy Eucharist. Admire 
 the humility of Christ, imitate Him, for He says : " I have 
 given you an example, that as I have done to you, so do 
 you also." 
 
 2. His goodness. He was about " to pass out of this 
 world," the Jews had already determined upon His death, 
 but instead of taking revenge. He gave Himself most gen- 
 erously to men under the appearance of bread and wine. 
 This is the testament, which He made for our own good ; 
 He gives us His body and blood, an inheritance more preci- 
 ous than all the riches of the world. He changed bread and 
 wine into His most sacred body and blood, and then admin- 
 istered the holy communion to His apostles. 
 
 O wonder of love ! God gives Himself entirely to me ; 
 why should I not give myself entirely to Him ? 
 
136 Good Thoughts. 
 
 3. His wisdom. By concealing Himself under the appear- 
 ances of bread and wine, He has made it possible for all 
 men to receive Him. He created the heavens, He has caused 
 seas and rivers to become dry. He has raised the dead and 
 performed innumerable miracles for the good of mankind ; but 
 to-day He has wrought the greatest of all wonders by chang- 
 ing bread and wine into His sacred body and blood. 
 
 Let us love such admirable goodness, let us adore such 
 wonderful wisdom ! Let us belong as wholly to Him as He 
 belongs wholly to us ! 
 
 "Having loved his own who were in the world, He loved them unto the 
 end." — John xiii, 1. 
 
 Good Friday. Christ gives up the ghost, 
 
 1. He commends His spirit into the hands of His heavenly 
 Father. Sun and moon were darkened, all nature was in 
 confusion, Christ was entirely forsaken, and at the point of 
 death. After having suffered without murmur or impatience, 
 and having uttered the words: "God, my God, why hast 
 Thou forsaken me," He wishes to expire in His embraces, 
 saying : " Father, into Thy hands I commend my spirit ! " 
 
 You should commend into the hands of God, your goods, 
 your advantages, your health and your soul during your 
 life, and especially at the hour of your death. Jesus com- 
 mends His soul as the most precious good He possessed. 
 How much care should you not take of your soul which is 
 worth more than the whole world? 
 
 2. He says : " It is consummated^'' just as if He had said : 
 " I have finished the course of my life ; I have overcome my 
 torments ; I have fulfilled the prophecies ; I have accom- 
 plished the salvation of mankind ; I have done the will of 
 my Father." 
 
 O consoling words : " It is consummated ! " Do not be- 
 come weary in the practice of virtue ; do not forsake the 
 path of perfection, but persevere unto the end, and you also 
 can one day say with joy : " It is consummated ! " 
 
 3. He gives up the ghost. Our most amiable Savior is 
 dead ! Alas, His eyes and lips are closed ; His body is mo- 
 tionless ; His face is covered with the pallor of death. The 
 veil of the temple is rent in two, from the top even to the 
 bottom, the tombs are opened, rocks are split asunder, the sun 
 is darkened, the earth has quaked, and the angels of peace 
 weep bitter tears. 
 
Good Thoughts. 137 
 
 Christians, lift up your eyes and see the most wonderful 
 love of God, who dies in order to give life to ungrateful 
 and wretched sinners ! Consider also the enormity and 
 weight of sin ! How terrible must sin be since God Himself 
 had to die in order to atone for it. Think finally of the value 
 of a soul! O how precious must it be to have been pur- 
 chased with the adorable blood of Christ ! 
 
 "He humbled Himself, becoming obedient unto death, even to the death 
 of the cross." — Philipp. ii, 8. 
 
 Holt Saturday. Christ in the sepulchre, 
 
 1. He descends into hell. He enters the dark prison in 
 which Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the other just were de- 
 tained. O how bright is this sun ! The prophets see Him 
 whom they have foretold ; the patriarchs possess Him whom 
 they longed for, the just behold the Savior for whom they 
 sighed. All the souls in purgatory who had already satisfied 
 the justice of God were freed from their torments, while 
 Judas, the wicked spirits and all the damned were howling 
 in hell. 
 
 Hope that you may one day enjoy heaven with the saints. 
 Live piously so as to obtain this happiness ! 
 
 2. Christ is laid in the grave. Approach the sacred body 
 of the God-man ! Assist Joseph of Arimathea in the holy 
 work of burying Him ! Look at the wounds which He has 
 received, especially at the wound in His side, pierced by 
 a spear ! 
 
 The heart of Jesus is prepared to receive you. Enter into 
 it, and resolve never to leave it. The body of Christ was 
 embalmed and laid in a new tomb. If the Savior comes to 
 you in holy communion, He wishes to find a new and a con- 
 verted heart, free from all attachment to creatures, so that 
 He can take possession of it. 
 
 3. His Blessed Mother is overcome hy grief, because she 
 sees Him dead, whom she loved so tenderly. 
 
 Alas, you are the cause of the death of Christ, but instead 
 of having compassion with Him on account of the torments 
 and pains, which He suffered for your sins, you will, as soon 
 as Holy week is passed, cease to remember or meditate upon 
 His passion. What ! should you so quickly forget the bene- 
 fits which you have received ? 
 
 " Now there stood by the cross of Jesus, His mother." — John xir, 25. 
 12* 
 
138 Good Thoughts. 
 
 EASTER WEEK. 
 
 Gospel: — Mark xvi, 1-1. At that time, Mary Magdalen and Mary and 
 Salome bought sweet spices, etc. 
 
 Sunday. Christ, hy His resurrection, regains what He 
 had lost. 
 
 1. His life. He died on the cross, from which He was 
 taken down and buried ; hut on the third day His soul was 
 reunited with His body ; He rises by His own power, and 
 triumphs gloriously over death. He comes forth from the 
 grave adorned with greater ^eauty, just as the grain of 
 seed springs up from the earth. He comes forth like Jonas 
 from the whale's belly, like Joseph, who was taken out of 
 prison, in order to be elevated upon the throne. 
 
 To-day Christ is risen from the dead, never to die again. 
 If you also have risen by means of penance, preserve the 
 life of grace and the spirit of fervor. 
 
 2. His honor. He had been dishonored by the scourges, 
 the nails and the ignominious death which He suftered be- 
 tween two thieves. But to-day His honor is restored by the 
 glory of His resurrection, by His showing His divine omni- 
 potence in overcoming death ; the nails, the thorns and the 
 cross became even objects of veneration, for the cross is now 
 honored by all Christians, and shines upon the diadem of 
 emperors and kings. 
 
 You also, like Christ, must obtain the glory of heaven 
 through affliction and humiliation. 
 
 3. His riches. His riches did not consist in gold or silver, 
 but in His disciples, whom He had lost. One of them had 
 denied Him, the others had fled; some had become unbe- 
 lieving and had no hope of ever seeing Him again ; but by 
 His resurrection He streno^thened them all in the faith and 
 encouraged them in His service. 
 
 It is the hope of resurrection, which should keep you from 
 committing sin, console you in your afliiction, animate you 
 to do penance, and urge you to surmount all obstacles in the 
 path of virtue. The more you have suffered for God, the 
 more gloriously will your body rise. 
 
 "Let us sing to the Lord, for He is gloriously magnified." — Exod. xv, 1. 
 
Good Thoughts. 139 
 
 MONDAY. 
 
 Gospel: — Luke xxiv, 13-35. At that time two of the disciples went 
 to Emmaus, etc. 
 
 The disciples going to Emmaus, 
 
 1. Their blindness. They had witnessed the wonderful 
 works of Christ ; they had listened to His heavenly teach- 
 ings ; they even acknowledged that certain women of their 
 company had visited the sepulchre, and had not found the 
 body of Christ, but had seen angels, who told them that He 
 had risen ; and still they doubted. Neither the miracles, 
 nor the testimony of men and angels could convince them 
 of His resurrection. 
 
 My blindness is even greater than was that of the dis- 
 ciples. O, my Lord, I confess that I believe the truths of 
 my religion, and am convinced of the excellence of Thy 
 doctrines ; but nevertheless I live as if I had no faith. 
 
 2. Their willingness to he freed from it. A stranger 
 joined them, while they were speaking of Jesus. " What 
 are these discourses, said He, that you hold one with 
 another?" They answered : " Concerning Jesus." 
 
 Good and pious conversations contribute much to the con- 
 version of sinners and the perfection of the just. The dis- 
 ciples treated the stranger with respect, not knowing that it 
 was Christ Himself. They urged Him to stay with them 
 over night, and showed a great desire to be instructed 
 regarding the prophesies and the Holy Scriptures. 
 
 Imitate them, first, by speaking of God in your conversa- 
 tions ; secondly, by practicing charity ; and thirdly, by hav- 
 ing a desire to be instructed in the Christian truths. 
 
 3. The kindness of the Lord in opening their eyes. He 
 could have left them in their blindness, since after the many 
 proofs which they had concerning His resurrection, they still 
 doubted. Nevertheless, the good Shepherd desired to bring 
 back these two erring sheej) ; He walks with them, instructs 
 and reproaches them, and sat at the table with them. 
 
 O Jesus, Thy goodness is without measure! If I only 
 knew how much Thou hast labored to save me, my love for 
 Thee would be much greater ! 
 
 " foolish and slow of heart to believe." — Luke xxiv, 25. 
 
140 Good Thoughts. 
 
 TUESDAY. 
 
 Gospel : — Luke xxiv, 36-47. At that time Jesus stood in the midst of 
 His disciples, etc. 
 
 Christ appears to His disciples, 
 
 QUALITIES possessed BY A GLORIFIED BODY. 
 
 1. Suhtilty. A glorified body, in virtue of its subtilty, 
 penetrates everywhere, and nothing can prevent it from 
 going whither it wishes. In virtue of its lightness it can 
 move from one place to another without trouble and with- 
 out becoming wearied, because it is as active as a spirit. 
 The body of Christ was endowed with these qualities, for 
 He appeared through the closed doors in the midst of His 
 assembled disciples, saying to them : " Peace be to you," 
 and afterwards, " see my hands and my feet !" 
 
 Rejoice with Christ, who possesses such glorious attributes, 
 and endeavor to acquire them by working for the honor of 
 God for your own salvation, and by allowing no obstacle to 
 keep you out of heaven. 
 
 2. Clearness. A glorified body is more beautiful and 
 radiant than the sun. If beauty is pleasing to you, why do 
 you not try to live a holy life, so that your body also may 
 one day possess the never fading glory w^ith which the 
 saints in heaven are clothed? Strive to obtain this clear- 
 ness of body after death, and to possess now spiritual clear- 
 ness, in order to enlighten others by your good example. 
 
 3. Impassibility. The body of Christ and that of all the 
 saints forever possess this quality by which they are pre- 
 served from hunger, cold, heat, sickness, misery and death. 
 
 Suffer a little while in this w^orld so that you may be free 
 from it in the next. Be insensible to the insults, joys and 
 greatness of the world, and be resigned to any affliction 
 which may befall you ! 
 
 " Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and so to enter into His 
 glory? — Luke xxiv, 26. 
 
Good Thotjghts. 141 
 
 WEDNESDAY. 
 
 Gospel: — John xxi, 1-14. At that time, Jesus showed himself again 
 to the disciples, etc. 
 
 The wounds of Christ serve, 
 
 1. To confirm our faith. It was not necessary for our 
 Lord to retain the marks of His wounds, but He did so in 
 order to remove all doubts concerning His resurrection, a 
 belief in which was so important that without it, according 
 to St. Paul, our faith would be vain. 
 
 Let us firmly believe that Christ is risen, and that one day 
 we also will rise again to receive the final sentence of either 
 a happy or an unhappy eternity ! 
 
 2. To increase our hope. Christ is our Mediator ; He has 
 only to show His heavenly Father the wounds He received, 
 and His wrath is appeased. Look at these wounds ! They 
 are the cause of your hope, for it is only through the precious 
 blood and passion of Christ that you can hope to obtain the 
 grace of God in this world or His glory in the world to 
 come. 
 
 Eternal Father, I will ofier up to Thee these sacred wounds 
 and this most precious blood in order to gain pardon for 
 the sins which I have committed ! 
 
 3. To animate our love. Would I not be unfeeling if I 
 did not love Him who loved me, and who even retains the 
 wounds upon His glorious body which He received on my 
 account ? These five wounds are five perpetual signs of His 
 love for me, especially the wound in His side, by which 
 His sacred heart was opened so that I might dwell therein. 
 
 Let us love such a great benefactor, let us thank and praise 
 Him and cheerfully sufier for Him, because we see by His 
 wounds how much He suffered for us ! 
 
 "I bear the marks of the Lord Jesus in my body." — Gal. vi, 17. 
 
142 Good Thoughts, 
 
 THURSDAY. 
 
 Gospel: — John xx, 11-18. At that time, Mary stood at the sepulchre 
 without, weeping, etc. 
 
 Christ appears to Magdalen, 
 
 1. iSihe sighs for Jesus. Her love for the Savior gives her 
 no rest. She sighs incessantly after Him. She exclaims 
 constantly : " If you have found my beloved tell me where 
 He is!" She weeps because she does not find her Jesus in 
 the sepulchre, and does not know where He is. She sees 
 some one dressed as a gardener and she asks him if he had 
 not taken away her Lord. " Tell me, she continues, where 
 thou hast laid Him, and I will take Him away ! " 
 
 God is pleased with such a fervent desire to possess His 
 love and to obtain perfection. 
 
 2. She seeks Hirn. She is not satisfied with weeping for 
 Him, but she also seeks Him in the sepulchre. She went 
 there early in the morning and with haste. She remains a 
 long time near the sepulchre without fear of being insulted 
 by the soldiers. She asks every one concerning her beloved 
 Jesus. Holy desires are commendable, but we must put 
 them into practice. 
 
 3. She finds Sim. Although Magdalen loved Jesus so 
 much. He loved her still more. The gardener with whom 
 she speaks is Jesus Himself He appears to her. He calls 
 her by name, consoles her and gives her assurance of His 
 resurrection. 
 
 If we seek God in the right manner, we will find Him, 
 and He lets His presence be felt by the consolations and 
 graces which He imparts to those who love Him. Com- 
 mence to love Him with more fervor ! 
 
 " I will rise * * * and seek him whom my soul loveth." — Cant, iii, 2. 
 
Good Thoughts. 143 
 
 FRIDAY. 
 
 Gospel: — Matt, xxvm, 16-20. At that time, the eleven disciples went 
 into G-alilee, etc. 
 
 Christ appears at different times, 
 
 1. To His mother. Christ, no doubt, appeared first to His 
 mother, to console and gladden her, after having left her 
 overcome with sorrow at the foot of His cross. What joy 
 for Mary, to see her beloved Son looking so differently in His 
 now glorified body, from what He had done a few days ago 
 upon Mount Calvary. 
 
 Rejoice with Mary and remember that if you suffer with 
 Christ, you will also rejoice and reign with Him ! 
 
 2. To Peter. After this apostle had visited the sepulchre, 
 found it empty, and returned, Christ appeared to him. How 
 must he have felt in seeing Him, whom he had four days ago 
 denied ! 
 
 Never lose the hope of forgiveness, when you have sinned ! 
 
 If you weep over your sins, as Peter did, you will not 
 only obtain forgiveness for them, but also many graces from 
 God. 
 
 3. To the pious women. When Magdalen had told the 
 women, that Christ had appeared to her, they too desired to 
 see Him ; and He appeared to them in Galilee, where He 
 would, according to the message of His angel, go before 
 them. 
 
 0, infinite love of Jesus, that consoles those who are 
 afflicted ! 
 
 "Let thy voice sound in njy ears, for thy voice is sweet and thy face 
 comely." — Cant, ii, 14. 
 
 Saturday. Three kinds of resurrection, 
 
 1. The resurrection of the daughter of the rider. Christ 
 said : " The girl is not dead, but sleepeth." 
 
 We must be dead before we can rise. Are you dead to 
 your passions, to all feelings of anger, vanity and self-love ? 
 Alas, they are not dead, but only sleeping. The sermons 
 during Lent, the Easter confession and communion, the 
 many good admonitions you have heard, may have moved 
 
144 Good Thoughts. 
 
 you ; but it is to be feared, unless your conversion was sin- 
 cere, that your passions will soon be awakened. 
 
 2. The resurrection of Lazarus. He died, and after hav- 
 ing been four days in the grave, he rose again ; but he died 
 a second time. 
 
 This is the manner in which Christians generally rise from 
 sin. They have risen on Easter from the grave of sin by 
 means of penance ; we notice that they have greater devo- 
 tion, that they are more humble and retired ; but how long 
 will all this last ? They may soon die again, and return, 
 perhaps, before Whitsunday, to their former passions. 
 
 3. The resurrection of Christ. He rises from the dead, 
 never to die again. 
 
 How shameful it is that a Christian should pass his life in 
 falling into sin, rising up from it, and then relapsing into 
 it again. Die truly to your passions ; renounce all occasions 
 of sin forever; commence a new life, and show that you 
 have truly risen. We distinguish a tree which has life from 
 one that is dead, by its green leaves, its fragrant blossoms 
 and its good fruits. Try to show by the fruits of your con- 
 version, that you are truly risen. 
 
 " Christ rising again from the dead, dieth no more." — Rom. vi, 9. 
 
 FIRST WEEK AFTER EASTER. 
 
 Low-Sunday. Christ appears^ when Thomas is present. 
 
 1. Se dispels sadness from the hearts of the apostles. The 
 beauty and perfection of Jesus, when risen from the dead, 
 was so wonderful, and His conversation was so consoling, 
 that He changed the greatest sadness into joy. The apostles 
 were glad when they saw the Lord. 
 
 Let us often think of Jesus, whose conversation is so full 
 of sweetness and joy ! The reason why I am so sad. and 
 why I have so little devotion in my prayers, is because I am 
 too much attached to the world. 
 
 2. lie destroys infidelity. Thomas, who refused to believe 
 in the resurrection of Christ, unless he could see and touch 
 His wounds, was surprised, when the Lord appeared before 
 
Good Thoughts. 145 
 
 him, and commanded him to put his hands into His wounds. 
 Thomas, overcome by the kindness of Christ, exclaims : 
 " My Lord and my God !" 
 
 Perhaps your faith also is very imperfect ; you desire to 
 see signs and wonders. Your little respect for God, and 
 your insensibility concerning the eternal truths, show that 
 your faith is very defective. " Blessed are they that have 
 not seen, and have believed." 
 
 3. He banishes discord. Before the resurrection of Christ 
 the apostles quarreled among themselves, as to who should 
 be the first, but after Christ had given them His peace, they 
 " had but one heart and one soul." 
 
 O Lord, dispel from amongst us the spirit of discord and 
 dissension ! Grant that we may all live together in peace 
 and love ! 
 
 "Peace be to you!" — John xx, 19. 
 
 Monday. The defects of faith. 
 
 1. We very seldom thinlc of the truths of religion. We 
 are astonished that, notwithstanding the sublime truths of 
 our holy religion, there are so many who lead wicked lives ; 
 but we must not wonder at it, because we ourselves think 
 so seldom of these truths, that they make no lasting impres- 
 sion upon our hearts. Something very sad has perhaps 
 happened to you ; one of your friends has been brutally 
 murdered, which fact will cause you such sorrow that you 
 will even shed tears, but in two weeks, in a month, or in a 
 year you will have almost forgotten the affair. Thus, 
 neither heaven nor hell, neither death nor the passion of 
 Christ, nor any other mj^stery of our holy religion, will 
 make an impression upon bad Christians, because they think 
 so seldom of them. 
 
 Often meditate upon the mysteries of our holy faith ! 
 
 2. We content ourselves with believing the truths of relig- 
 ion^ without putting them into practice. Many there are 
 who know the teachino-s of Christ, who often read reli2:ious 
 books, and who hear many sermons, in which they are 
 instructed concerning matters of faith, but who nevertheless 
 are bad Christians. They imagine that it is enough for 
 them to believe and to go to church ; but at the same time 
 they practice every vice ; they have the faith of Christians, 
 but live like heathen. All their knowledge of religion will 
 serve but to increase their punishment. 
 
 13 
 
146 Good Thoughts. 
 
 You believe in the real presence of Christ upon the altar; 
 why then are you so disrespectful in church ? You believe 
 that mortal sin will be punished with hell ; why then do you 
 sin so often ? You believe that there is a heaven, where 
 Almighty God will eternally reward good works ; why then 
 do you consider them as nothing ? 
 
 3. We add 710 devotion or zeal to our faith. Because we 
 possess neither devotion nor a good conscience we lose the 
 light of faith. How many proofs have we not of this 
 fact? 
 
 Strive to live and act according to the precepts of your 
 holy religion. Faith is a gift of God, which He will deny 
 to the proud. Do not let sin make you unworthy of being 
 a child of the true church ! Be zealous to serve God ! 
 Show publicly the respect you have for the church, and 
 avoid those who ridicule and mock at everything holy. 
 Whoever has the church for his mother will have God for 
 his Father. Make often an act of faith ! 
 
 "I do believe, Lord help my unbelief 1" — Mark ix, 23. 
 
 Tuesday. Three kinds of peace, 
 
 1. Peace with God through grace. You must be the 
 friend of God through grace ; you cannot be His friend by 
 committing sin ; you know that sin makes you the enemy 
 of God. 
 
 Tell me, O sinner, what peace of mind can you possess 
 since you know that you are not a friend of God, and that 
 you have a bad conscience ? You are filled with fear if a 
 powerful enemy persecutes you. Alas ! what have you not 
 to fear from God, who can at any moment destroy you ? 
 
 2. Peace with our neighbor by practicing charity. Are 
 we not all brothers, children of the same Father who is in 
 heaven ? Why then do we not love one another ? Should 
 we, on account of one word, break asunder the ties of love, or 
 on account of a slight misunderstanding, permit friendship 
 to be changed into aversion ? Make a little sacrifice in order 
 to maintain peace and charity, which is so necessary among 
 men and Christians. 
 
 3. Peace with ourselves by conquering our passions. True 
 peace is found in such warfare. You must overcome your 
 rebellious passions in order to have peace, otherwise they 
 will destroy your happiness. 
 
 "Let peace be in thy strength." — Psalm cxxi, t. 
 
Good Thoughts. 147 
 
 "Wednesday. Excuses for indulging in feelings of 
 enmity : 
 
 1. The plea of heing justified^ for you say : " I am right.'*'* 
 Thus passion gives itself the appearance of right. An angry- 
 man declares that he will have his revenge for he has been 
 insulted, and, therefore, has just cause to hate the one who 
 has offended him. 
 
 Should a Christian feel thus ? Christ wishes His disciples 
 to be lambs among wolves ; you on the contrary desire 
 every one to yield to you, and you become indignant, if any- 
 one contradicts you. 
 
 2. The plea of interest. You say that your interests 
 require you to be avenged. Perhaps there has been no insult 
 intended, for your passion blinds you ; but if you have been 
 wronged, God forbids you to take vengeance into your own 
 hands ; it is His wish, that we should adjust our difficulties 
 peacably. You, however, slander your enemy on all occa- 
 sions ; you refuse to salute him, when you meet him ; you 
 wish him evil; you rejoice, if misfortune overtakes him; 
 you seek every opportunity to injure him ; but what right 
 have you to take revenge ? " He gives me no satisfaction," 
 you say. Do you then desire to lose your soul, because he 
 is willing to lose his ? Will you commit sin, because he 
 does ? Have patience and do not make two evils out of one. 
 It is no reason why you should lose your soul, because you 
 have lost some temporal advantage through the malice of an 
 enemy ! Leave all to God ; He will avenge your wrongs ! 
 
 3. The plea of necessity. You say: '''•I can never for- 
 give him^ or become his friend agahi .^" Beware, this is a 
 device used by Satan, to encourage you to sin. He per- 
 suades you, that it will be impossible for you, ever to become 
 friendly with a person, who has once offended you, or with 
 one who has tried to injure you; he tells you, that you 
 would soon become enemies again, and that he would give 
 you constant reason to hate him. 
 
 Do not listen to the voice of the tempter, but be friendly 
 to those who have wronged you, cherish no aversion for 
 them, and if they do offend you again, be satisfied with 
 knowing, that you at least have tried to do your duty. 
 
 "Forgive and you shall be forgiven." — Luke vi, Vl. 
 
 Thursday. Causes of disse^ision. 
 
 1. The spirit of contradiction. There are some persons 
 
148 Good Thoughts. 
 
 who cannot hear a word spoken without contradicting it, 
 and who find the greatest pleasure in being obstinate and 
 disagreeable. 
 
 If you meet with any one, who possesses such a disposi- 
 tion, be careful not to exchange words with him ; it is better 
 to leave him to himself 
 
 2. The spirit of mockery. O how much is this spirit 
 opposed to virtue ! Shun the society of those who are not 
 earnest either in their conversation or actions, who mock at, 
 and ridicule even the most sacred things; who entertain 
 themselves at the expense of others, and whose only desire 
 is to be considered witty. Wit is sometimes a very danger- 
 ous weapon ; for the feelings of others are often wounded 
 thereby, and their good name even injured. 
 
 Return not mockery for mockery; it is better, not to 
 listen to a conversation, which displeases you, than to enter 
 upon a dispute and indulge in sarcasm ; for by doing so, you 
 ahvays violate the law of charity. 
 
 3. The spirit of 'melancholy. Avoid yielding to melan- 
 choly as much as to the spirit of mockery. We often find 
 persons who instead of controlling their bad humor, cannot 
 speak a friendly word, but observe a deep and gloomy 
 silence, or who, if they speak, cause others to feel depressed. 
 
 Avoid these errors ! 
 
 "Seek after peace and pursue it!" — Psalm xxxiii, 15. 
 
 Friday. Impediments to peace. 
 
 1. Pride. You are always angry at some one, and making 
 complaints against them. There is no doubt but that your 
 pride is insufferable ; for, if an acquaintance, by a mere 
 oversight, has failed to salute you, it is sufficient to disturb 
 your peace. Some one, perhaps, has not been as attentive 
 to you as you desired, and, consequently, you give way to a 
 violent burst of temper; in a word, you wish to surpass 
 every one. "Learn of me," says Christ, "because I am 
 meek and humble of heart." The spirit of peace is the 
 same as that of meekness. 
 
 2. 8elflove. You love yourself too much, and for that 
 reason you are displeased with others and with yourself 
 The least indisposition excites you ; if your bed is not made 
 to suit you, or your food cooked according to your taste, 
 you make the whole household feel your anger. 
 
 Establish order and keep it, and at the same time remem- 
 
Good Thotjghts. 149 
 
 ber that you will gain more by a friendly word tban by all 
 your threats and insults ! 
 
 3. Envy. You always find fault with this or that person ; 
 whatever they do displeases you ; the reason of this is, 
 because you are envious, and do not like to see any one 
 honored or praised more than you are yourself. Almighty 
 God blesses the labor and family of a man because he serves 
 Him with fervor ; and even this displeases you. 
 
 Examine your heart ! O, Lord, give me meekness and 
 charity, which is opposed to pride, which does not seek her 
 own, and is not envious. 
 
 ** Charity is not puffed up * * * s^eketh not her own." — 1 Cor. xiii, 4-5. 
 
 Saturday. False peace, 
 
 1. With God — hy having false security. Fear the peace 
 of the wicked, which God detests ! This sinner, in his pre- 
 sumption, relies upon the mercy of God, who, he says, will 
 not allow him to be lost, and meanwhile lives in sin without 
 fear, althousrh he is well aware of his dan onerous state. 
 
 If a Paul, a Hilarion and other Saints, trembled at the 
 thought of the last judgment, how can you, who live in 
 sin, enjoy peace and security, since you know that you are 
 the object of Divine wrath? 
 
 2. With your neighbor — hy cultivating wicked friend- 
 ship. You like a person, but only for sinful purposes. You' 
 associate with those whom you know to be dissipated, and 
 you love one person and hate another, which is contrary to 
 charity. Perhaps you continue a friendship even, when you 
 know that it is dangerous to your soul ! 
 
 Avoid and fear these so-called friendships ! 
 
 3. With ourselves — hy heing obdurate. This sinner asserts 
 that he lives in peace ; nothing disturbs him, and he feels no 
 remorse of conscience ; but it is only because he is indif- 
 ferent to everything, to entreaties and threats, as well as to 
 devotion and religion. He has fallen into a deep slumber, 
 which closely resembles death. 
 
 O, my God, grant that I may not fall into such misery ! 
 ** There is no peace for my bones, because of my sins." — Psalm xxxvii, 4. 
 
 13* 
 
150 Good Tuouoiits. 
 
 SECOND WEEK AFTER EASTER. 
 
 Gospel: — Joim x, 11-16. At that time, Jesus said to the Pharisees: 
 I am the Good Shepherd, etc. 
 
 SuxDAY. Christ the good shepherd, 
 
 1. He feeds his sheep. "Where is the shepherd," says 
 St. Chrysostom, " who has ever loved his sheep so much, that 
 he fed them with his own flesh and blood ? " Jesus Christ 
 has done so ; for in holy communion He gives us His body 
 and blood. It is He, also, who gives us our daily bread, 
 and whatever is necessary for the support of our body. 
 
 Let us love this good shepherd, let us serve and thank 
 Him ! Let us make better use of the food which He gives us. 
 
 2. He leads them. The duty of the good shepherd is to 
 lead His flock into fertile pastures and to prevent the wolf 
 from attacking them. O, how wonderful are the ways by 
 which the Lord leads His elect ! One by the road of poverty, 
 another by that of riches ; this one by the way of health, 
 the other by that of sickness ; this person in the lay state, 
 another in the religious. Commit yourself to His guidance, 
 walk zealously in the way which He has pointed out to you 
 and you will obtain heaven ! 
 
 3. He protects them. The good shepherd does not forsake 
 his sheep as the hireling does ; he attacks the wolf, drives 
 him away and kills him. Christ not only protects us, but 
 He even gives His life for us, to preserve ours, by redeem- 
 ing us and freeing us from the tyranny of Satan. 
 
 With tearful eyes I remember the dangers from which 
 Thou hast delivered me, O, most amiable Jesus ! Alas, if 
 the Lord had not protected me, my enemies would have 
 already overcome me ! but He has chained the monsters that 
 threatened to devour me. God protects me, but He also 
 desires that I shall protect myself by not exposing myself 
 to the temptations of Satan and the occasion of sin. 
 
 *' The good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep." — John x, 11. 
 
 Monday. God^s merci/ to the sinner, 
 
 1. He calls him. He calls the sinner. He entreats him, 
 He urges him. He makes promises to him and threatens him ; 
 He uses every means to draw him to Himself. He calls him 
 
Good Thotjghts. 151 
 
 by the voice of His preachers, by the voice of his conscience, 
 by the admonitions of confessors, the counsel of friends, the 
 persecution of enemies, by prosperity and adversity, by send- 
 ing him good and evil, and if the sinner does not respond 
 to the call, He weeps, as He did over the faithless city of 
 Jerusalem. 
 
 " Return, return, O Sulamitess," return to the Lord ; why 
 do you delay ? I will now come, O my Lord ! 
 
 2. He waits for hhn. O, wonderful patience of God ! 
 He could destroy a sinner immediately after his having com- 
 mitted sin, and yet He has given him months and years in 
 which to do penance, while He has cast so many others into 
 hell ! He not only waits for him, but He gives him health 
 and riches and without being discouraged by his refusal, 
 He speaks incessantly to his heart. 
 
 I will not tire Thy patience O Lord, for fear that I may 
 merit Thy justice ! 
 
 3. He receives him. Behold, with what kindness God 
 forgave David, and received Mary Magdalen, Peter and 
 other sinners ! Remember the joy of this good shepherd 
 after having found the lost sheep ; He placed it immediately 
 upon His shoulders ! Think of the caresses which the father 
 lavished on his prodigal son ! He embraced him, kissed him 
 and had a splendid feast prepared for him. 
 
 Be converted to God, O sinful soul, since He wishes not 
 the death of the sinner, but that he may be converted and 
 live! 
 
 " The Lord is compassionate and merciful, long suffering and plenteous ia 
 mercy." — Psalm cii, 8. 
 
 Tuesday. The mercy of God to the just, 
 
 1. By giving them His grace in, the beginning. You 
 would never have come to God if He had not drawn you 
 to Himself " What hast thou," says St. Paul, " that thou 
 hast not received? And if thou hast received, why dost 
 thou glory as if thou hadst not received it ?" — 1 Cor. iv, 7. 
 Who assisted you in freeing yourself from sin, and who 
 assists you even now to overcome temptation, if not 
 Almighty God ? 
 
 2. By giving them grace to progress. It is not enough 
 to commence well, you must also continue in the practice of 
 virtue; many obstacles must be removed, many enemies 
 overcome. In order to do all this. Almighty God offers 
 
152 Good Thoughts. 
 
 you His grace, and is ready to assist you. Make use of His 
 assistance. 
 
 Never again say that you are strongly tempted, or that 
 you have too many difficulties to overcome. God is always 
 ready to strengthen you with His giace, but you will not 
 make use of it. 
 
 3. By giving them the grace of final perseverance. God 
 has given this grace to all the Saints of heaven, and it is so 
 necessary, that if you had lived hundreds of years in sanc- 
 tity, you could not reach heaven if you had not this grace 
 at the hour of your death. 
 
 Ask God often for this grace, because we cannot obtain it 
 through our own merits. Try to gain it by leading a vir- 
 tuous life. 
 
 " His mercy is confirmed upon us." — Psalm cxvi, 2. 
 
 Wednesday. The hireling, 
 
 1. The hireling works only for reward. By hireling we 
 understand a person who performs sonie work for the sake 
 of pay. Thus pastors, parents and superiors deserve the 
 name of " hirelings " if they attend to their flocks, their chil- 
 dren and their subjects only to enrich themselves. 
 
 Are you not one of those who work only for your tempo- 
 ral advantage, neglecting at the same time the spiritual wel- 
 fare of those placed under your charge ? 
 
 2. He cares not for his sheep. Being always occupied 
 with the thought of worldly gain, the hireling will not care 
 for those who are placed under his direction. 
 
 In what condition is your congregation ? What is the 
 state of morality among your children ? And how do you 
 attend to the religious wants of your subjects ? Do you care 
 for their spiritual advancement more than for your own tem- 
 poral gain ? Do you not keep silent, when you should speak ? 
 
 3. lie abandons the sheep. Instead of being true and 
 faithful to his flock, to his children and to his subjects, the 
 hireling will abandon them, and will try only to save his 
 own life, while those under his care are left to perish. 
 
 You flee from your sheep, that is, from your parishioners, 
 your children and your subjects, if you allow the ravaging 
 wolves, by which is meant the devil, his works and his 
 pomps, to destroy them. 
 
 " All have turned aside unto their own way, every one after his own 
 gain." — Isaias Ivi, 11. 
 
Good Thoughts. 153 
 
 Thuesday. By the wolf, scattering the sheep, is under- 
 stood. 
 
 1. The devil. St. Gregory says: "The devil also is the 
 wolf who catches the sheep by inviting one to intemperance, 
 another to avarice, one to pride, another to anger, torment- 
 ing one by envy and inducing another to commit fraud." 
 
 How many souls are thus lost ! 
 
 2. Wicked persons. All those may be considered as 
 wolves, who destroy the faithful either by seducing them or 
 by scandalizing them in word or deed. 
 
 O how many wolves in sheep's clothing are going around, 
 seeking whom they may devour ; how many souls are ruined 
 by bad example or by wicked counsel ! Are you not one of 
 these wolves ? Have you never caused the ruin of a soul ? 
 or have you not allowed wolves to attack and destroy your 
 soul ? Return to the good shepherd ! 
 
 3. Our own passions. By yielding to our own passions 
 we become like ravaging wolves for we thus destroy the life 
 of our soul. No wicked person or even Satan himself can 
 exercise greater power over us, than do our own passions, 
 especially if we have no one to admonish or direct us, how to 
 resist or avoid the danger, to which we are exposed. 
 
 Do not resemble a wolf by killing your own immortal 
 soul ! Destroy your passions, and place yourself under the 
 direction of our Lord, the good shepherd. 
 
 "The wolf catclietli and scattereth the sheep." — John x, 12. 
 
 Friday. The marks of a good shepherd. 
 
 1. Devotion. We address ourselves to pastors of souls, 
 preachers, superiors and heads of families. You must be 
 pious, in order to make others pious ; but if you have not 
 true devotion, those under your care will not acquire it. 
 Words are of little value, if not united with example. 
 
 You must not only make use of your authority and your 
 pastoral staff, but you must also be meek and pious, in order 
 to direct those wisely whom God has confided to your care. 
 
 2. Wisdom. St. Paul complains of those who are zealous 
 but who possess no knowledge. We must be enlightened, 
 in order to lead others ; for if the blind lead the blind, both 
 fall into the pit. 
 
 Make yourself competent to discharge the duties of your 
 office, so as not to be responsible for any error that might 
 result from ignorance. St. Teresa said that she preferred an 
 
154 Good Thoughts. 
 
 enlightened director, even if he were not very zealous, to 
 one who was zealous but ignorant. 
 
 3. Fervor. The many imperfections of those who are to 
 be directed, the prudence necessary to guide persons of such 
 different dispositions, the patience required in bearing per- 
 secution, sufficiently prove how absolutely necessary the 
 l)Ossession of fervor is to those who have the charge of souls. 
 
 Your zeal must increase daily, or otherwise, instead of 
 watching over and working for the souls confided to your 
 care, you will only think of your comfort. 
 
 " He hath set me in a place of pasture." — Fsalm xxii, 2. 
 
 Saturday. The marks by which the sheep are known, 
 
 1. Love. If the shepherd must love his sheep, the sheep 
 must love their pastor the more ; but there are many, who 
 never act from motives of love. There are others who have 
 no affection for their pastors and superiors, who criticise all 
 that they do, and who, if they see any defect in their char- 
 acter — for no man is free from sin — rejoice at it, and 
 imagine that they are justified in not obeying them. 
 
 If we are commanded to love all men, we must love those 
 especially who are placed over us by Almighty God. 
 
 2. Fear. If you do not do your duty through love, you 
 should do it through fear. The shepherd holds his pastoral 
 crook in his hands in order to drive the sheep back into the 
 fold, when they go astray. If there is one in the flock 
 infected with disease, the good shepherd will separate it 
 from the others, so that the contagion may not spread. Fear 
 that you may be excluded from all intercourse with others, 
 if you scandalize them by your bad example. Remember 
 that those who rebelled against Moses, were punished either 
 with leprosy or by fire from heaven. 
 
 Obey your parents and superiors, as you would God Him- 
 self. 
 
 3. Obedience. This is a virtue that is absolutely necessary 
 in order to be well directed. " I know mine and mine know 
 me," declares the good shepherd. Obey, therefore, your 
 superiors and pastors, for Christ says of them : " He that 
 heareth you, heareth me !" 
 
 When you act through ol!!>edience, you are certain to do 
 the will of God. 
 
 "Obedience is better than sacrifices." — 1 Elings xv, 22. 
 
Good Thoughts. 155 
 
 THIRD WEEK AFTER EASTER. 
 
 Gospel: — John xvi, 16-22. "At that time Jesus said unto his disciples: 
 A little while and now you shall not see me. You shall lament and w^eep." 
 
 Sunday. " Tbu shall lament and weepP Afflictions, 
 
 1. Caused hy God withdrawing Himself from us. "A 
 little while and now you shall not see me. You shall lament 
 and weep," says Christ to His apostles. Why is it that we 
 are afflicted and interiorly sad? Because God has with- 
 drawn Himself from us, and deprived us of His consolation. 
 But why did He do this ? To punish us for our carelessness 
 while at prayer ; to punish us for the many sins which we 
 commit during the day, and to practice our patience, to try 
 our fidelity and to increase our merits. 
 
 Persevere in your devotions, although you may not derive 
 from them the consolation you expected. 
 
 2. Caused hy ourselves. We are often the cause of our 
 own afflictions ; for if we would live according to the will 
 of God, nothing could sadden us ; but because we yield to 
 our passions, our spirits become depressed at the least mis- 
 fortune. Instead of resisting this feeling of despondency, 
 we allow it to crush us. 
 
 Do not permit the spirit of melancholy to control you, but 
 courageously overcome it, and preserve the equilibrium of 
 your mind in all adversity. 
 
 3. Caused hy others. The disagreeable conversations to 
 which we are sometimes obliged to listen ; the many different 
 people with whom we are compelled to associate, the aver- 
 sion we feel for some, and the faults we see in others, cause 
 us great affliction. 
 
 Strive to make good use of adversity ! 
 
 " Power is made perfect in infirmity." — II Cor,, xii, 9. 
 
 M0ND4.Y. Motives for exercising patience in adversity. 
 
 1. It is sent us hecause it removes us from sin. You 
 grieve, perhaps, on account of leaving lost your beauty, the 
 friendship of one whom you esteemed, or some temporal 
 advantage. God, however, thought proper to deprive you 
 of them, because He knew that you would have abused 
 
156 Good Thoughts. 
 
 them. He permitted you to be insulted, and to be unsuc- 
 cessful in your plans, because He foresaw that pride would 
 have ruined you if you had succeeded. He acts with you 
 just as a parent does who takes the knife from the hand of 
 a child, for fear that it might cut itself; or like a physician 
 who does not allow a patient to eat fruit, because it would 
 injure him. 
 
 Adore the Providence of God, and thank Him. 
 
 2. It gives us an opportunity to practice virtue. In afflic- 
 tion the most brilliant virtues often develope themselves, as, 
 for instance, the love of God, resignation to His holy will, 
 patience, humility and fidelity. Affliction is the furnace in 
 which those who practice patience are purified, while the 
 impatient are consumed by it. 
 
 What a misfortune if you, instead of exercising virtue, 
 should curse, be impatient and murmur. If you are unjustly 
 accused, insulted, or afflicted, suffer patiently as David did 
 when cursed by Semei ! 
 
 3. It detaches us from the world. If we are prosperous 
 we perhaps forget God, who permits adversity to come upon 
 us, so that, forsaken by all, we learn to place our confidence 
 in Him alone, and to go to Him for consolation. 
 
 When in adversity do not let your thoughts dwell too 
 much on the cause of your trouble. Turn away your mind 
 from the object of your displeasure for fear that it may but 
 increase your sadness. 
 
 "To them that love God, all things work together unto good." — Rom., 
 viii, 28. 
 
 Tuesday. Other motives /or exercisiiig patience i7i adver- 
 sity. 
 
 1. The knowledge God has of our sufferings. You lament 
 because you think that no one knows of your affliction. 
 " Alas," you say, " if my sufferings were only known !" 
 What? Do you imagine that God is ignorant of them? 
 Does He not see all things ? He knows that you are suffer- 
 ing poverty, sadness and sickness, because it was He who 
 sent them to you. 
 
 Since God knows and sees all your troubles, go to Him for 
 assistance ! Say to Him : " Thou knowest, O my God, all 
 my sufferings; blessed be Thy holy name. Thy will be 
 done." 
 
 2. His power. It is not with God, as it is with men, who, 
 
Good Thoughts. 157 
 
 although they know our affliction, cannot free us from it. 
 Seek God with confidence, and He will assist you. Do not 
 think that He is less powerful now than He has always been. 
 
 Admire the omnipotence of God, working so many mira- 
 cles, in order to help men ! Hope in Him as long as you 
 live ! 
 
 3. His mercy. " He knows my affliction ; why then does 
 He not free me from it?" Because affliction is of greater 
 advantage to you than consolation. It is His mercy that 
 sent it to you. 
 
 Have patience in all your troubles, and you will receive a 
 rich reward. If a surgeon is obliged to perform a painful 
 operation upon the body of his patient, it is only for the 
 purpose of affording relief to the sufferer. 
 
 " It is the Lord ; let Him do what is good ia His sight." — 1 Kings iii, 18. 
 
 Wednesday. Other motives for practicing patience . 
 
 1. The remembrance of Christ. " Christ had to suffer so 
 as to enter into His glory." This we read in the Gospel, and 
 we see it verified also in the life of Christ Himself. What 
 have you to say to this? The son of God ascended to heaven 
 by a thorny path, and yet you wish to reach it by a path 
 strewn with roses. 
 
 You become enraged when misfortune overtakes you, 
 instead of rejoicing at having found the way to heaven. 
 Try to imitate the Savior, whose life was one of self-denial, 
 humiliation and persecution. 
 
 2. The remembrance of your shis. Must you not satisfy 
 the justice of God for having so often offended Him ? You 
 have no desire to do penance, but God exacts it of you. It 
 is now in your power to atone for your sins by patiently 
 sufferino; affliction. The sufferinsfs of this world are as noth- 
 ing compared with those of the next. But you will say : 
 *' I do not deserve to be punished, for I have committed no 
 sin." But you have sinned in former years, and God wishes 
 you to do penance for it now. 
 
 O my Lord, here cut, here burn, send me affliction in this 
 life, only spare me in the world to come. 
 
 3. The thought of heaven. By looking up to heaven the 
 saints were encouraged to suffer affliction and even death. 
 The farmer sows his seed with much labor ; his consolation 
 however is, that in the time of harvest he will reap with 
 great joy. 
 
 14 
 
158 Good Thoughts. 
 
 Let us animate our hope by thinking of heaven, and in 
 order to obtain it let us exert ourselves more than we have 
 done heretofore ! 
 
 "Through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God." — 
 Acts xxiv, 21. 
 
 Thursday. The evil consequences of impatience. 
 
 1. Instead of gaining merit we lose it. What folly, to 
 lose by impatience the merit of sufferings, which could have 
 made us great saints ! Although you may have suffered 
 much in the performance of a certain work, in going on a 
 long journey, in a protracted illness and from poverty ; still 
 if you suffered without patience, you have lost all merit. 
 
 Do not lose courage, because you are sick, or have lost 
 property, or because you are sometimes annoyed by disagree- 
 able people ! Suffer patiently, in order to be eternally 
 rewarded. 
 
 2. Instead of receiving the graces of God^ we offend Him. 
 Almighty God rejoices at seeing souls suffer patiently ; for 
 by exercising patience you will obtain His favor. 
 
 By being impatient, you irritate God, and you make your- 
 self unworthy of His grace. Cultivate therefore the virtue 
 of patience. 
 
 3. Instead of atoning for our sins, we increase them. You 
 can please God by practicing patience in your afflictions ; 
 but you will provoke Him, if you lament and murmur. Im- 
 patience only adds to the number of your sins ; it makes you 
 unhappy in this world, and sometimes it has even a bad 
 effect upon your health. 
 
 See how wretched the want of patience makes you. Say 
 with Christ : 
 
 "The chalice which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?" — 
 John xviii, 11. 
 
 Friday. Adva7itages of exercising patience, 
 
 1. We make a virtue out of necessity. You imagine per- 
 liaps that you gain no merits when you are sick, despised, 
 poor, persecuted and surrounded by afflictions ; but you are 
 mistaken ; for you will receive a greater reward in bearing 
 them patiently when sent to you, than if you had chosen 
 them yourself; because God gives you thus an opportunity 
 to make a virtue out of necessity. 
 
 If you therefore cheerfully accept all your troubles as 
 
Good Thoughts. 159 
 
 coming from the hand of God, you can easily gain great 
 merit ! 
 
 2. We suffer less. Impatience will never diminish your 
 sufferings, but it Avill rather increase them ; for when we 
 suffer unwillingly we feel it more than when we suffer cheer- 
 fully. Interior peace and conformity to the will of God 
 makes the burden of affliction seem light. 
 
 Meditate upon these truths in your sufferings S-nd avoid all 
 thoughts which serve only to disturb you and increase your 
 afflictions. • 
 
 3. We are the more pleasing to God. It is very easy for 
 us when prosperous, to say that we love God ; but by being 
 faithful to Him in adversity and affliction, we show that we 
 really love Him. Nothing pleases Him more than to see a 
 soul suffer out of love to Him. He was filled with joy to 
 see the patience of Job when seated upon a dunghill, of 
 Tobias when struck with blindness, of St. Paul in the midst 
 of his troubles, of St. Ludwina who laid sick for thirty 
 years. 
 
 Please God by suffering patiently, and He will give you 
 whatever you ask of Him. 
 
 " Blessed is the man that endureth temptation." — James i, 12. 
 
 Saturday. How loe should suffer » 
 
 1. With patience. In order to make your sufferings mer- 
 itorious and worthy of reward, you must never complain 
 nor become angry. It is true, you cannot avoid feeling 
 sometimes a little depressed, but do not show it outwardly 
 by giving way to impatience ! 
 
 Do not try to forget your troubles in idle and unprofitable 
 amusements ; bat seek and enjoy consolation with God. 
 
 Say often to the Lord : " 0, my God, increase my affliction, 
 but increase also my patience ! " 
 
 2. With cheerfulness. It is evident that you do not 
 understand how to suffer cheerfully, and therefore, you 
 are gloomy and unhappy when affliction comes upon you. 
 Why do yon not imitate St. Paul, who rejoiced exceedingly 
 in all his tribulations ? 
 
 You must offer violence to yourself and practice patience 
 with gladness ; but do not appear with a sad face, and be 
 careful not to make your griefs public. 
 
 3. With the desire to suffer even more. If you rightly 
 understood the merits and advantao:es of sufferinoc, vou 
 
160 Good Thoughts. 
 
 would say with the Apostle of India : " Even more !" The 
 reaper, far from being displeased at having an abundant 
 harvest, wishes it to be even more plentiful. The soldier, 
 after having gained a victory, is anxious to commence 
 another battle. 
 
 If I truly loved Christ, I would desire, by means of suffer- 
 ings, to become more and more like unto Him, and I would 
 tlius be able to show Him my fidelity and love. 
 
 "I exceedingly abound with joy in all our tribulation." — 1 Cor. vii, 4. 
 
 FOURTH WEEK AFTER EASTER. 
 
 Gospel: — John xvi, 5-14, At that time, Jesus said to His disciples ; I 
 go to Him that sent me, etc. 
 
 Sunday. Meason why Christ goes to His Father. 
 
 1. To take possession of heaven. He had been long 
 enough on earth, in the place of combat. The time has now 
 arrived for Him to enter heaven, the place of victory, which 
 He purchased for us with His blood ; and now He goes to 
 take possession of it in the name of the elect, whose chief 
 He is. 
 
 Let us rejoice with Christ, because He entered heaven in 
 order to prepare a place for us. Let us lead a holy life 
 so as to obtain it. 
 
 2. To send us the Paraclete. He told His disciples that 
 He would not leave them orphans, but that He would send 
 them the Father of light, His Holy Spirit, to teach them. 
 
 Let us, like the apostles, prepare ourselves by prayer and 
 seclusion, for the advent of the Holy Ghost ! Let us fer- 
 vently beseech Him to descend upon us ! 
 
 3. To try the faith of His disciples. He could have 
 always remained with them in a visible manner, but He pre- 
 ferred to leave them, in order to try their faith and increase 
 their merits. It is not necessary to see, hear and touch 
 Christ in order to believe. Faith alone is suiBcient to 
 make us believe that He is truly present in the Holy Euchar- 
 ist, and to make us believe the other mysteries of our holy 
 religion. Let us strive to possess the gift of faith. Let us 
 
Good Thoughts. 161 
 
 learn also to be resigned to the will of God, even if He with- 
 draws His consolations from us. 
 
 " Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation, and strengthen me with a 
 perfect spirit." — Psalm 1, 14. 
 
 Monday. Sow to seek God. 
 
 1. We must seek Him alone. Whom do you seek to 
 please in all your actions? — God or yourself? Do you 
 strive to do the will of God and to advance His honor, or 
 to do your own will and pleasure ? Seek God, and Him 
 only ! You would, no doubt, like to please God and to serve 
 Him, but without giving up any of your pleasures and tem- 
 poral advantages ! 
 
 When will we seek God in truth ? O, how few there are 
 who really try to please Him in all that they do ! 
 
 2. TFe m.ust seek Sim with fervor. We seek God but it 
 is done carelessly, and for this reason we find Him with 
 difficulty. 
 
 If you were more fervent in your prayers and in all that 
 you did, if you would practice self-denial, recollection, 
 humility and the other virtues with more zeal, you would 
 sooner find God, but as you are careless in your manner of 
 life, you become daily more and more separated from Him. 
 
 3. We m.ust seek Sim with perseverance. " So run, says 
 St. Paul, that you may obtain the prize." There are some 
 who walk in the path of perfection for a time, but they soon 
 become wearied and then remain inactive. A trifling obsta- 
 cle or the length of the journey frightens them and they go 
 backward instead of advancing. 
 
 Are you not one of these ? Persevere in seeking God 
 until you have found Him, and then you can say with the 
 spouse of the canticle of canticles: "I found him whom my 
 soul loveth ; I hold him and I will not let him go !" 
 
 "And now I go to him that sent me!" — John xvi, 5. 
 
 Tuesday. All things should lead us to God, 
 
 1. The afflictions with which we are visited. St. Gregory 
 says that God sends us afflictions in this life, so that we may 
 come to Him. What ? you will exclaim, can it be possible 
 that disease, accidents, trials and miseries will disgust me 
 with the world and lead me to God ? 
 
 In your affliction remember that this world is but a valley 
 14* 
 
162 Good Thoughts. 
 
 of tears ! Desire earnestly to possess Heaven where you 
 will be eternally happy. 
 
 2. The goods which ice possess. The brightness of the 
 Sim and the brilliancy of the stars, the wonderful formation 
 of our body, and the subtilty of our spirit, the greatness and 
 magnificence of the world, the riches of the earth, gold, 
 silver and precious stones, in a word all that we see and 
 possess, should lead us to God. 
 
 In the first place remember, that all earthly treasures are 
 as nothing in comparison with those which God has in store 
 for us. Why do you not desire to love an infinite good, if 
 you are so much attached to the trifling goods of this world? 
 Say with St. Augustine : " Lord, if Thou bestowest so 
 many benefits upon us in this our place of exile, what wilt 
 Thou not give us in heaven, our fatherland ? If Thou art 
 so liberal to sinners, who are Thy enemies, how much more 
 liberal wilt Thou not be to the just, who are Thy friends ?" 
 
 3. The wonders of creation. St. Ignatius in his exercises 
 says, that the sight of a flower or the sound of a voice was 
 sufficient to make him raise his heart to God. If you look 
 up to heaven, desire to possess it: if you look upon the 
 earth, despise it ; if you see a fire, be filled with a wholesome 
 fear of the eternal flames of hell, and in your intercourse 
 with your neighbor, be meek and humble as becomes a 
 Christian. 
 
 Meditating upon the vanity of earthly pleasures, should 
 be the means of elevating your soul to God, and of drawing 
 your affections from the world. 
 
 '* I seek not my own will, but the will of Him that sent me." — John xvi, 5. 
 
 Wednesday. Advantages of belonging entirely to God. 
 
 1. We becotne indifferent to the pleasures of the world. If 
 we love God with our whole heart, neither society, grandeur, 
 nor wealth will possess any charms for us, and our only 
 desire will be not to ofifend God. 
 
 Strive after this happiness ! 
 
 2. We are insensible to affliction. " Where love is," says 
 St. Augustine, "there is no hardship." A man who loves 
 God, finds nothing difiicult. Mortification and fasting is his 
 delight, because an opportunity is thus given him to please 
 God. Contempt, sickness and tribulation will not sadden 
 him, for he looks upon them as coming from God. He hardly 
 feels his sufierings, for the reason that he is lost in the contem- 
 
Good Thoughts. 163 
 
 plation of God, and is filled with the divine spirit, just like 
 a soldier who, in the excitement of a battle, hardly feels his 
 wounds. 
 
 Endeavor to attain this perfection ! 
 
 3. We make great progress in virtue. Why is it that 
 so few persons give themselves up to God ? It is because 
 they possess a divided heart. One half they give to God, 
 and the other half to their pleasures. Although they may 
 wish to advance, there is always something that keeps them 
 back, and thus they never belong entirely to God. 
 
 0. my Creator and only good, I will now commence to 
 belong to Thee alone, in order to be Thine in the world 
 to come. I renounce now and forever all that has kept me 
 from Thee ! 
 
 "My Lord and my God! " John xx, 28. 
 
 Thursday. Attachment to creatures, 
 
 1. Theg occupy our thoughts This is the first evil caused 
 by excessive attachment to creatures. You think during the 
 whole day of that which you love. If you are fond of 
 amusements and rioting, you will think of nothing else ; if 
 you are devoted to business, you will hardly have time to 
 think of God through the day ; if your heart is filled with 
 the love of creatures, you will find it difficult to make an 
 act of love to God. Love the Creator of all things, for He 
 is more worthy of love than are all His creatures ! 
 
 2. They cause us to sin. How often have your pleasures 
 induced you to neglect your duties ? Was not love for this 
 person the cause of your indulging in many impure thoughts, 
 conversations and perhaps actions? Has not the love of 
 riches tempted you to commit frequent acts of injustice 
 and fraud? 
 
 You must, therefore, try to free yourself from inordinate 
 attachments, so that you may not almost insensibly fall into 
 sin. 
 
 3. They make us restless. You would be more contented 
 if it were not for this or that attachment. You are constantly 
 possessed by desire, disturbed by fear, or excited by jealousy. 
 You determine to gratify your passion at any cost, and the 
 least opposition only makes you angry and unhappy. Why 
 do you not love God, in whom alone consists true joy and 
 happiness ? Without Him all is confusion and trouble. O, 
 
164: Good Thoughts. 
 
 if I had only renounced all attachment to creatures, how 
 many graces and consolations would I not have received ! 
 
 "I will love Thee, Lord, my strength; the Lord is my firmament, my 
 refuge and ray deliverer." — Psalms xvii, 2 — 3. 
 
 Friday. Love of God, 
 
 1. We must suffer for the sake of God. If we wish to 
 love Christ, we must also love the cross, because He loved it. 
 Do not flatter j^ourself by thinking that you love Him, if 
 you do not cheerfully suffer every species of adversity ! 
 Sickness, loss of temporal goods, disgrace and contumely 
 are the tests which He uses to see whether you love Him 
 truly. 
 
 If it were not for this or that trial, would you voluntarily 
 crucify your flesh, or would you not love yourself more than 
 you do God ? Examine yourself on this point ! 
 
 2. We must work for the sake of God. In what way do 
 you try to serve Him ? Are you careful that he is honored 
 and not offended by those who compose your family? Do 
 they attend to their religious duties, and are you sure that 
 you do everything yourself to advance His honor ? The 
 poor, the afflicted and ignorant, whom you should help, con- 
 sole and teach, afford you many opportunities by which to 
 honor God. 
 
 Do you strive by these means to add to the glory of 
 God? 
 
 3. We must unite ourselves icith Sim. Do you pray often 
 and with fervor ? Do you raise your heart and mind to 
 God before you undertake any work? Do you converse 
 with God from time to time ? Nothing is more profitable 
 than for us to unite ourselves with Him during the day. 
 Through the day often make an act of love or of any other 
 virtue ! 
 
 "0 love the Lord, all ye his saints!" — Psalm xxx, 24 
 
 Saturday. The end of man. 
 
 1. To glorify God. God has made you oiit of nothing ; 
 He has given you a soul and a body to know, love and 
 serve Him. He has created all things, for His honor, especi- 
 ally man, whose duty it is to honor Him in this world by 
 practicing virtue, and whose destiny it is to glorify Him in 
 the world to come, with all His angels. 
 
 O infinite goodness, who hast made me what I am, in 
 
Good Thoughts. 165 
 
 order to glorify Thee forever in heaven ! I adore and praise 
 Thee, and will during my whole life, love, adore and honor 
 Thee! 
 
 2. To icork out his salvation in this world. Your salva- 
 tion, as well as your ruin, lies in your own power. God has 
 placed you in this world so that you may be saved. Be 
 careful, therefore, not to lose your soul ! If you fulfill the 
 commandments of God, if you do what reason demands of 
 you, if you do penance for your sins, if you make good use 
 of the holy sacraments, inspirations, sermons, riches, health, 
 intellect and other means, which God has given you to work 
 out your salvation, then heaven will be yours ; but if on 
 the contrary, you are disobedient to God and commit sin, 
 you will be lost forever. 
 
 Think well of this, for you have to choose between a 
 happy or an unhappy eternity ; the one or the other will be 
 decided according to your works in this world. 
 
 3. To he happy in the next. The object which God had 
 in view when He created me was to receive me into heaven. 
 In order that I may obtain this eternal happiness. He has 
 given me His priests to guide and direct me in the way of 
 salvation. The saints in heaven have already arrived at the 
 place of their destination ; they praise God, enjoy inex- 
 pressible bliss, and will remain forever in His presence. 
 
 It should be our endeavor to reach the same place ; but 
 what thoughts fill our mind? Instead of striving to gain 
 eternal happiness and to avoid an unhappy eternity, this 
 man thinks only of indulging his sensual appetite; another 
 of the best and quickest method of making money; and 
 another is only solicitous in behalf of his bodily comfort. 
 This woman spends her whole time in trying to preserve her 
 beauty; and another in vain or sinful amusements; some 
 are tilled with the desire to possess the honors of the world, 
 and others spend their lives in reading unprofitable books, 
 but very few think of the one thing necessary — 'of saving 
 their souls. 
 
 "We are upon trial — our life and our happiness are at 
 stake. Our adversaries are powerful, the judge is severe, 
 the time short, and no appeal can be made from the decision. 
 Others before us have already received their sentence ; their 
 bodies are still upon the rack, or else they are burning in 
 flames; but instead of propitiating our judge, instead of 
 giving our whole attention to so important an affair, and of 
 making good use of time, we laugh and amuse ourselves. 
 
166 Good Thoughts. 
 
 Compare what you do for your body with what you do for 
 your soul ! 
 
 "Guido me in the right path!" — Psalm xxvi, 11. 
 
 FIFTH WEEK AFTER EASTER. 
 
 Gospel: — Johx xvi, 23-30, At that time, Jesuf? said to his disciples 
 Amen, amen I say to you, if you ask the Father anything, etc. 
 
 SuxDAY. Why loe do not receive. 
 
 1. We do not know our wants. "Ask and you shall re- 
 ceive !" says Christ in the gospel of to-day. We do not ask 
 because we are full of ignorance and imperfection. You 
 can do nothing of yourself; you are weak, and the least 
 temptation will overcome you. Without the assistance of 
 grace, you cannot practice one virtue. Your enemies are 
 strong and you are like a feeble child who cannot stand 
 alone without help. 
 
 You are thus convinced that you must pray. Address 
 yourself therefore to God, just as a beggar with tears in his 
 eyes exhibits the sores of his body, and details the misery 
 of his condition, in order to excite compassion. 
 
 2. We do not ash to he freed from our misery. We are 
 often sufficiently convinced of our wretchedness, but yet we 
 do nothing to improve our condition. Instead of asking 
 God with perseverance and fervor for what we need, espe- 
 cially for strength to resist temptation, we satisfy ourselves 
 with saying a short prayer in the morning. 
 
 Pray, but pray with respect, confidence and perseverance ! 
 
 3. We content ourselves loith simply asking. St. Augus- 
 tine says : " God who created you without any assistance on 
 your part, will not save you unless you cooperate with His 
 grace." Almighty God wishes to help us, but desires us also 
 to help ourselves. For ten years — you say — I have prayed 
 to God for patience, and yet I am just as impatient now as I 
 was when I first commenced to pray. The reason is, because 
 you have done nothing to really merit the gift of patience. 
 You never try to restrain your anger, and instead of keeping 
 
Good Thoughts. 167 
 
 silent when provoked, you say things for which you are 
 afterwards sorry. 
 
 You must cooperate with God, if you desire to conquer 
 your passions, otherwise you would resemble a farmer who 
 sows his seed without cultivating the soil, and without per- 
 forming any labor, and satisfied with what he has done, he 
 asks God to bless him with a rich harvest. 
 
 •'Look upon me, and have mercy on me !" — Psalm xxiv, 16. 
 
 Monday. Qualities of prayer. 
 
 1. Attention. You must place yourself in the presence 
 of God, and not allow your thoughts to be diverted first by 
 one object and then by another. It is true that we cannot 
 sometimes help having distractions, but we must use every 
 effort to rid ourselves of them. 
 
 If you had always prayed with devotion, and had more 
 frequently thought of God, you would not now have such 
 difficulty in collecting your thoughts. 
 
 2. Fervor. You pray, but with such indifference, that you 
 deserve to be punished rather than rewarded. When you 
 pray, you should be filled with the love of God, and should 
 be animated with a fervor which would show itself even 
 outwardly. 
 
 Consider with what zeal a lawyer pleads for his client, 
 with what energy a criminal defends himself, and how per- 
 tinaciously a beggar asks for alms. The suit which you 
 must win, is the salvation of your soul ; you must pray for 
 the pardon of your sins, and to obtain grace, but you must 
 pray with zeal. 
 
 3. Respect. Remember the prayer of Our Lord in the 
 garden ! His devotion condemns your irreverence and dis- 
 tractions. Is it proper for you to conduct yourself unbe- 
 comingly while at your prayers ? Is it right for you to look 
 around and interrupt your prayers with idle talk ? Is it 
 right for you to say them hurriedly? Should you place 
 your body in such a position that it would be easier for you 
 to fall asleep than to recite them with devotion ? 
 
 Examine and see if you are wanting in respect ! 
 
 " I stretched forth mj hands to thee, my soul is as earth without water 
 unto Thee 1" — Psalm clxii, 6. 
 
 Tuesday. Obstacles to prayer: 
 
 1. ISin, If you do not derive benefit and consolation from 
 
168 Good Thoughts. 
 
 saying your prayers, it is because Almighty God wishes to 
 punish you for your daily impatience, your immodesty and 
 for your uncharitable conversations. 
 
 Avoid all this, in order to have more devotion in your 
 prayers. 
 
 3. Worldliness. You are too much attached to the affairs 
 of the world. A merchant while at his prayers thinks, 
 perhaps, only of his business, a mechanic of his work, and 
 the mother of a family of her household affairs. In a word 
 we think only of what we love, and not of God. 
 
 O my Lord, how ashamed am I of the many distractions 
 of my mind. Grant that I may henceforth think only of 
 Thee! 
 
 3. Inattention. How can a man have any devotion at his 
 prayers if he spends the whole day in attending to trifling 
 affairs, in watching everything and everybody, in listening 
 to whatever is said, in asking useless questions, in speaking 
 of this or that matter, but never of God ; how can such a 
 man, we repeat, be recollected at his prayers ? 
 
 Endeavor not to be distracted while at your devotions. 
 Place a restraint upon your curiosity, as well as upon your 
 speech, and God will be united with you. You will find 
 that the spirit of devotion will increase within you. 
 
 "My heart hath forsaken me. Be pleased, Lord, to dehver me!" 
 Psalm xxxix, 13, 14. 
 
 "Wedxesday. What we should pray for. 
 
 1. That the honor of God may he advanced. Say often: 
 " O my God, hallowed be Thy name ! Would that all in- 
 fidels and sinners could know, venerate and love Thee ! May 
 Thy will be done upon earth by men, as it it done in heaven 
 by the angels !" 
 
 Pray for the conversion of sinners, and endeavor to ad- 
 vance the honor of God and the sanctification of souls, as 
 much as it is in your power. St. Teresa wejDt when she 
 thought how Almighty God was dishonored by so many 
 idolators, infidels, heretics and wicked christians. 
 
 2. For the goods of the soid. These goods are: the grace 
 of God in this world, and His kingdom in the world to 
 come. We should ask Him to strengthen us against tempta- 
 tion, and to give us grace to do sincere penance for our sins, 
 so that we may not be eternally lost. 
 
 Ask Him for patience, for the grace to love Him and for 
 
Good Thoughts. ^ 169 
 
 all virtues ; ask Him for the grace of perseverance and for 
 a happy death, in order to be with Him for all eternity ! 
 
 3. For the goods of the body. He desires us also to ask 
 Him for our daily bread, that is, for all things necessary for 
 soul and body. Ask Him for health and success in business, 
 but always with resignation to His holy will. Pray to Him, 
 that He may preserve and free you from all dangers. 
 
 Hope in His kindness and omnipotence! You will receive 
 of Him whatever you wish, if you only ask Him in the name 
 of Jesus, through His glorious merits and the merits of all 
 the saints. 
 
 "Preserve me, Lord, for I have put my trust in Thee!" — Psahn xv, 1. 
 
 FEAST OF THE ASCENSION OF CHRIST. 
 
 Gospel : — Maek xvi, 14-20. At that time Jesus appeared to the eleven 
 as they were at table, etc. 
 
 1. The triumph of Jesus Christ. Behold how Christ parts 
 from His holy mother and His disciples ! He lifts up His 
 hands and blesses them, after which He slowly ascends into 
 heaven, not, however, in a fiery chariot, as did Elias, but by 
 His own power. He reaches the abode of all the saints, 
 where, as King of the world. He is received by His Heavenly 
 Father and by all the angels. 
 
 Participate in the triumph of Christ, rejoice at His glori- 
 ous ascension, imitate His disciples, who, after having adored 
 Him, returned to Jerusalem, and in prayer quietly awaited 
 the coming of the Holy Ghost ! Listen to the hymns of 
 praise sung by the blessed spirits and follow Christ to 
 heaven, where henceforth your hearts and thoughts should 
 be, because there also is your treasure ! 
 
 2. The triumph of the saints who accompanied Sim, The 
 glory of His triumph was increased because all the just of 
 the old law, whom He had freed, entered heaven with Him. 
 There He sits upon His royal throne, with the power of 
 judging the living and the dead. He assigns to these saints 
 the seats which Lucifer and his rebellious angels had lost. 
 
 15 
 
170 Good Thoughts. 
 
 O happy (lay on which the gates of heaven were 
 unbarred ! Heaven is now opened, and it rests with you 
 whether you shall ever enter it or not. Let us serve God 
 perfectly, in order that we may one day partake of this 
 happiness ! 
 
 3. The triumph, of the elect who will ascend with Him. 
 A bright cloud received Christ while the Apostles were look- 
 ing at Him going up to heaven, and two angels in white gar- 
 ments said to them, that lie whom they saw ascending to 
 heaven would come again in the same glory. 
 
 On the day of judgment He will come again, and He will 
 ascend with all the elect, who, with soul and body united, 
 will then enter into the happy abode of heaven ! O what 
 should I not suffer in this life in order to be forever with 
 Christ, and to ascend with Him to heaven, whither He has 
 preceded me to-day so as to prepare a dwelling for me ! 
 Thank Him and pray to Him ! 
 
 " How lovely are thy tabernacles, Lord of hosts !" — Psalm Ixxxiii, 2. 
 
 Feidat. How Christ ascended into heaven. 
 
 1. By the ladder of humility. " He that shall humble 
 himself shall be exalted," says Christ (Matt, xxiii, 12). He 
 exemplifies the truths of these words in His own person, for 
 no one was ever so humbled or so exalted as He was. " He 
 that descended is the same also that ascended above the 
 heavens," says St. Paul (Eph. iv, 10). 
 
 Let us humble ourselves according to the example of 
 Christ, so that we may be elevated with Him in His glory, 
 and the happiness which we will then enjoy will be in pro- 
 portion to the humiliation we have suffered. 
 
 2. JBy the ladder of suffering. " Ought not Christ to have 
 suffered * * * ^nd so to enter into His glory?" asks 
 the Savior (Luke xxiv, 26). Through the merits of His 
 passion He has obtained for us great treasures of glory. 
 
 The way of the cross is the way to heaven. You know 
 it, but nevertheless you avoid it. Bear patiently the suffer- 
 ings that are imposed upon you, and' endeavor by voluntary 
 sufferings, by self-denial and mortification, to ascend with 
 Christ into heaven \ 
 
 3. By the ladder of obedience. What did Christ do 
 through His whole life ? " He was obedient unto death, 
 even to the death of the cross," says St. Paul (Philipp. ii, 8). 
 It is but right that He should command now and through 
 
Good Thoughts. 171 
 
 all eternity, for the reason that He was obedient while upon 
 earth. 
 
 " An obedient man shall speak of victory," says the Holy 
 Ghost (Prov. xxi, 28). Be submissive and obedient in this 
 world, so as to reign in the world to come. 
 
 "He that descended is the same also that ascended!" — Eph., iv. 10. 
 
 Saturday. The glory of the Blessed consists, 
 
 1. In seeing God, What happiness, to see the divine 
 substance, the tri-une God, the incomparable beauty, the 
 infinite goodness and all the perfections of Almighty God ! 
 What happiness to see the adorable body of Christ ! What 
 joy to see all the angels and saints ! 
 
 O when shall I see God and all these celestial spirits ! 
 Every thing in this world fills me with disgust, when I med- 
 itate upon the joys and beauties of heaven ! 
 
 2. In loving God. Our will as well as our understand- 
 ing shall be made hajjpy by loving God and the divine fire 
 which will then animate us, will cause us more joy than do 
 all the pleasures of the world. 
 
 Let us now commence to love God, so that we may love 
 Him forever ! Faith will cease in heaven, but love will con- 
 tinue through all time, 
 
 3. In enjoying God. What increases the happiness of 
 the blessed is, that they will see and love God, and enjoy 
 the greatest delights for a whole eternity, and their felicity 
 will never diminish. 
 
 O happy eternity ! O wonderful joys, in which are con- 
 tained all that is good ! Who should not desire to possess 
 thee ? If we are made happy in this world by pleasures 
 that last but for a moment, think of what it will be to enjoy 
 the eternal bliss of heaven ? Is it not right, that we should 
 be willing to suffer everything, in order to be admitted into 
 the presence of God ? Make the resolution to serve God 
 zealously ! 
 
 " I reckon that the sufferings of this time are not worthy to be compared 
 with the glory to come, that shall be revealed in us." — Rom., viii, 18. 
 
172 Good Thoughts. 
 
 WEEK AFTER THE ASCENSION OF CHRIST. 
 
 Gospel: — John xr, xxvi; 16, 4. At that time Jesus said to his disci- 
 ples ; When the Paraclete cometh, etc. 
 
 Sunday. Christ consoles Ills apostles, 
 
 1. JB^ promising them the Holy Ghost. Be consoled 
 my apostles, although I leave you, said the Savior ; I will 
 send you the Holy Ghost, the Paraclete, the spirit of truth ; 
 He vi^ill instruct and encourage you to preach My gospel 
 throughout the whole world, and He will give you the 
 necessary strength to proclaim to the princes of this world 
 My divinity and My doctrine ! 
 
 O Holy Ghost, grant me this spirit of fervor ! Alas Thou 
 seest how careless I am ! Prepare yourself to receive the 
 grace of God, and make good use of it ! 
 
 2. By reminding them of His words. When the hour 
 shall come, said He to them, when you will combat against 
 my enemies and will suffer on my account, remember the 
 words I have spoken to you ! The memory of them will 
 encourage you to be firm in your sufferings. 
 
 Peter was converted by remembering the words which 
 Christ had addressed to him. A salutary warning contained 
 in a sermon has often been the means of converting a sinner. 
 Do you wish to be encouraged when sorely afflicted and 
 tempted ? Remember the words of your Savior ; meditate 
 upon death, heaven and hell ! These considerations will 
 strengthen you under any trial. 
 
 3. JBy predicting the persecutions which they woidd suffer. 
 If we foresee an evil we are in a measure prepared for it and 
 are enabled to bear it with more patience. " Be not scan- 
 dalized my disciples, said Christ, if all men rise against you 
 and think to do a service to God, when they persecute and 
 kill you !'' 
 
 You must be prepared to suffer much for the sake of God ; 
 persecution, calumny, sickness and affliction is the portion 
 of the servants of God. In all these contradictions of the 
 world remain firm and faithful to your duty ! 
 
 "You are they who have continued with me in my temptations." — Luko 
 xxii, 28. 
 
Good Thotjghts. ITS 
 
 Monday. Different persecutions : 
 
 1. The world persecutes you hy its false principles. This 
 enemy of Christ and of yours tries to persuade you that 
 all pleasures are lawful; that it is foolish to mortify and 
 humble yourself; that it is disgraceful to be insulted and not 
 to take revenge ; that you should live according to the cus- 
 toms of this world, and in no manner deviate from them. 
 These are its principles, and if you do not follow them, the 
 faithless world will slander you, and hold you up to mockery, 
 contempt and persecution. 
 
 Resist the world, and instead of obeying its precepts dis- 
 regard them, for Christ and the world always have been, 
 and always will be hostile to each other. 
 
 2. The devil by his cunning. Satan is envious, because 
 he sees the vacant places filled, which he and his rebellious 
 angels have lost ; he, therefore, endeavors to destroy us by 
 means of temptation. " Resist the devil," says St. James 
 (iv, 7), *' and he will fly from you !" The less you resist him, 
 the bolder will he become. Avoid all occasions of sin and 
 never listen to the voice of the tempter. 
 
 3. you persecute yourself by allowing your passions to 
 obtain the mastery. You are your own enemy; yoar body 
 rebelling so often against your soul ; the desire to revenge 
 and enjoy yourself and to do your own will — are the ene- 
 mies which you have to overcome. Do not follow your 
 inclinations ; do not allow your body all the gratification it 
 desires ! 
 
 Your self-love, in order to satisfy itself, induces you to 
 believe that a certain pleasure is really necessary ; but re- 
 member that when you yield to one demand, it will be 
 difficult to refuse another, and you will consequently fall 
 easily from moderation into excess. 
 
 "Be thou faithful unto death!" — Apoc, ii, 10. 
 
 Tuesday. Causes of inconstancy » 
 
 1. Want of determination. You have never made good 
 resolutions; you never earnestly determined to renounce 
 this or that vice, and to practice virtue. Do not, therefore, 
 wonder at your remaining always the same. If you had 
 ever said with your whole heart : " I will promise to become 
 a better Christian, and I will keep my word !" what pro- 
 gress would you not have made in virtue ? 
 15* 
 
174: Good Thoughts. 
 
 O how important it is to be firm in our resolutions ! 
 Determine never again to utter angry words, and to avoid 
 all occasions of sin. Overcome the principal passions to 
 which you are subject! 
 
 2. Want of execution. What use is there in promising 
 to do a thing and then not do it ? The firmness of your 
 resolutions will be proved, when you execute them. There 
 is a great difference between saying and doing a thing. 
 The best means to obtain virtue is, to keep the good reso- 
 lutions you have formed. 
 
 Unless you fulfil what you have promised, you will never 
 conquer, but be overcome. 
 
 3. Want of perseverance. It is not enough to make 
 promises or to keep them only for a short time ; we must 
 also persevere unto the end. There is scarcely any one who 
 has not at some period of his life formed good resolutions ; 
 but there are very few who do not in time of trouble prove 
 false to their promises. 
 
 Perseverance alone, however, will be rewarded ; " for," 
 says St. Jerome, " in order to obtain christian perfection, it is 
 not sufficient that we commence well, but we must also end 
 well." 
 
 " Who, then, shall separate us from the love of Christ ? Shall tribula- 
 tion? or distress ?"— Rom. viii, 35. 
 
 Wednesday. Perseverance is necessary, 
 
 1. To commence well. It is true, that when we are first 
 converted our fervor is very great, but at the same time our 
 temptations are also very strong. " When thou comest to 
 the service of God, prepare thy soul for temptation," says 
 the Holy Ghost. (Eccles. ii, 1.) " Satan," says St. Augus- 
 tine, " will do his best to make you think that the path of 
 virtue is rough, and that purity and devotion are difficult to 
 acquire, so that, unless you receive special grace, you will 
 undoubtedly lose courage." 
 
 Be firm and generous therefore in the beginning ! The prov- 
 erb says, that he who commences well has accomplished half. 
 
 2. To continue well. The zeal with which we commenced to 
 walk in the path of perfection soon grows weak, and after a 
 while we become astonished at our coldness and indifference. 
 
 Do not, however, lose courage ! On the contrary strive 
 to reanimate your zeal and serve God with as much fervor 
 as you did on the first day of your entering His service. 
 
Good Thoughts. 175 
 
 Pray that God, who has given you grace to commence well, 
 may also give you the grace to persevere unto the end ! 
 
 3. To end well. You must endeavor to accomplish the 
 purpose for which you are created ; for what would it profit 
 you, if after a long voyage, and when within sight of the 
 port, you should sufier shipwreck ? If you have lived for 
 years in the greatest sanctity, all will be of no avail if you 
 do not persevere until the last moment of your existence. 
 The holy gospel declares, that the man is mocked at who 
 begins to build and is not able to finish. 
 
 O my God, grant me perseverance, since it is a virtue so 
 necessary to me ! 
 
 "I have finished the work which thou gavest me to dol" — John xvii, 4. 
 
 Thursday. Causes of relapse, 
 
 1. We forget the directions given us. The reasons why 
 persons generally suffer from a relapse of illness, is because 
 they either do not take the medicine or do not strictly follow 
 the rules of life prescribed by the physician. Why is it, 
 that after making your Easter confession you relapse into 
 your former sins ? It is because you have forgotten the 
 good advice of your confessor, and the wholesome instruc- 
 tions which you heard during Lent. 
 
 Think of the impression which was made upon you at that 
 time by meditating upon heaven, hell and the last judg- 
 ment, and the remembrance of them will prevent you from 
 committing your former sins. 
 
 2. We do not observe them. Althouo;h we remember the 
 prescriptions of the physician, we nevertheless do not follow 
 them, either through carelessness or folly. You are well 
 aware that you are commanded to say your morning prayers, 
 and to examine your conscience every evening. You know 
 that you are forbidden to read immoral books, to indulge in 
 vanity, to continue a dangerous friendship, and you are not 
 ignorant of the fact that you have to perform certain pen- 
 ances, to give alms, etc. ; but you refuse to do so. Is it a 
 wonder, then, that you fall again into your former sins ? 
 
 Alas, it is evident that you do not care to save your soul, 
 or otherwise you would obey the commands of God. 
 
 3. We do the very contrary. You are forbidden to take 
 any exercise, but you deliberately exert yourself unneces- 
 sarily. You are told not to expose yourself to the cold air, 
 and still you persist in going out even at night. You are 
 
176 Good Thoughts. 
 
 advised not to cat tliis or that article of food, and neverthe- 
 less you eat it. No one will, therefore, have compassion on 
 you if you again contract your former illness. 
 
 Alas, you do the same in regard to the diseases of your 
 soul ! You are commanded not to be angry, and yet you 
 give way to anger every day. You are forbidden to attend 
 certain meetings, and yet you are present at them. You are 
 advised not to frequent this or that place of amusement, but 
 despite of all warnings you go. O take care that God will 
 not forsake you and leave you to perish ! 
 
 "Are yon so foolish tliat whereas )'-ou began in the spirit you would now 
 be made perfect by the flesh?" — Gal. iii, 3. 
 
 Friday. The evil consequences of relapse, 
 
 1. The wrath of God will he excited. You are not satis- 
 fied with having grievously offended Him, but after He has 
 forgiven you with so much kindness, you again transgress 
 His laws with even greater malice. What faithlessness ! 
 A moment ago you wept at His feet, and now you are ready 
 to insult Him. 
 
 Take heed or you will exhaust the measure of His mercy 
 by abusing it, and provoke the severity of His justice. 
 
 2. The enemy will become stronger. " He returns," says 
 Christ, " with seven other spirits more wicked than himself, 
 into the house from whence he came out," and the sinner is 
 then in a worse state than he was before. The devil will 
 become bolder after having so often made you a slave, and 
 he will fetter you with stronger chains. 
 
 Beware of so great a misfortune ! 
 
 3. The sinner will become incurable. If the sinner, after 
 being made whole so often, and with so many means of sal- 
 vation within his reach, relapses into his former transgres- 
 sions, he may be looked upon as almost past cure. His state 
 is hopeless, and he cannot be freed from it without having a 
 miracle performed in his behalf. Notwithstanding so many 
 confessions and communions, you still give way to anger, 
 to excesses, and to every species of vice. O how much it is 
 to be feared that you already belong to those who may be 
 termed reprobates ! 
 
 Fear, therefore, from henceforth any relapse into sin ! O 
 Lord confirm me in my good resolutions ! 
 
 " Behold thou art made whole ; sin no more lest some worse thing hap- 
 jen to theel" — John v, 14, 
 
Good Thoughts. 1Y7 
 
 Saturday. How we must prepare ourselves for the coming 
 of the Holy Ghost, 
 
 1. JBy seclusion. The Blessed Virgin and the Apostles 
 shut themselves up in a room, where, far from the turmoil 
 and cares of the world, they prepared themselves for the 
 coming of the Holy Ghcst. 
 
 Forsake the distractions and vanities of the world ! Avoid 
 idle entertainments and love seclusion, for thither the Holy 
 Ghost leads His spouse in order to converse with her and to 
 impart His graces to her. Be more collected in the presence 
 of God ! 
 
 2. JBy prayer. The disciples persevered in prayer, and 
 ferventfy asked for the coming of the Holy Ghost, and their 
 prayer was at length successful. 
 
 "Ask," says the Savior, "and you shall receive; knock 
 and it shall be opened unto you." The reason why the Holy 
 Ghost does not dwell in you, is because you do not persevere 
 in prayer. 
 
 3. By detachment from the icorld. You must free your 
 heart from all love for the world, so that the Holy Ghost 
 may fill it with His love. The Apostles received the Holy 
 Ghost because their hearts were devoid of the spirit of self- 
 love. 
 
 Renounce the love of all creatures ; desire only to possess 
 God, and He will come and dwell in you. 
 
 "He shall give you another Paraclete." — John xiv, 15. 
 
 WHIT-SUNDAY WEEK. 
 
 Gospel: — xiv, 23-31. At that time Jesus said to his disciples, if any one 
 love me he will keep my vrord, etc. 
 
 Sunday. The Holy Ghost descends. 
 
 1. Like a mighty wind. Ten days after the ascension of 
 Christ, the Apostles were all assembled together in a room, 
 when suddenly there . came a sound from heaven as of a 
 mighty wind, and the Holy Ghost descended upon them. 
 
178 Good TirouonTS. 
 
 happy day on which man received this great gift from 
 heaven ! 
 
 1 give Thee thanks, O most glorious and wonderful spirit, 
 and I beseech Thee to enter my heart like a mighty wind. 
 The wind is invisible, so also is the Holy Ghost. The wind 
 is strong, and by its power large ships are enabled to cross 
 the ocean. In the same manner did the Holy Ghost send 
 the Apostles into the wide world, and gave them power to 
 preach the gospel to all the nations. The wind purifies the 
 air ; in the same manner does the Holy Ghost purify our 
 hearts. Let us seek, therefore, to be refreshed by this pure 
 and invigorating wind ! 
 
 2. Like t07igues. There appeared tongues, which sat upon 
 every one of the apostles, and from that time they were 
 filled with a burning desire to proclaim the truths of the 
 gospel everywhere. On the same occasion they received the 
 gift of tongues, so that the Parthians, Medes and the inhab- 
 itants of Asia, Egypt and many other nations were astonished 
 to hear them speak in their own language. 
 
 O divine tongue, come and cleanse also our tongues, 
 defiled by so many calumnies, curses and obscene words. 
 Grant that in our conversations we may speak of God with 
 the same fervor as did the apostles ! 
 
 3. " Like tongues as it were offire^'^ Fire changes every- 
 thing into fire. Thus the Holy Ghost changes the apostles, 
 and kindles in them the fire of His divine love. 
 
 Come, Holy Ghost, fill our hearts w^ith the fire of Thy 
 divine love, and enlighten us with Thy heavenly light ! 
 "The spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive." — John xiv, IT. 
 
 WHIT-MONDAY. 
 
 Gospel: — John m. 16-21. At that time Jesus said to Nicodemus, God 
 so loved the world, etc. 
 
 Monday. The love of God, 
 
 1. God deserves to he loved because He is God. We love 
 that which we think is worthy of our love. Should we 
 
Good Thoughts. 1T9 
 
 therefore not love God and prefer Him to all creatures? 
 because He is perfection itself. His beauty infinitely excels 
 that of the angels and all created beings, who only derive 
 their beauty from Him. His wisdom is worthy of admira- 
 tion, while that of men is very imperfect. His knowledge 
 surpasses our conception, while that of men is limited. His 
 j)Ower is great, so that nothing is impossible to Him ; it cre- 
 ated this world out of nothing, whereas men are weak. His 
 riches and treasures are without end ; all that is in heaven 
 and on earth belongs to Him, but men possess nothing. 
 Why, then, do you not love so good a God ? You love that 
 which is beautiful, great, profitable and holy. Where can 
 you find all these perfections united but in God ? 
 O my Lord, too late have I known and loved Thee ! 
 
 2. Because of His love for us. You must be insensible if 
 you do not love Him, who loves you so tenderly, and who, 
 without being obliged to do so, has conferred so many bene- 
 fits upon you. He not only loves us Himself, but He also 
 commands every one to love us as they do themselves: 
 " Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself!" 
 
 words, full of sweetness and afiection ! O cruel heart, 
 why do you not love Him who loves you with such a perfect 
 love? 
 
 3. Because of the advantages we receive from Sis love. 
 The love of God is the sublimest of all virtues, for in the 
 practice of love consists perfection. The more ardent our 
 love, the more perfect will be its fruits. 
 
 The love of God makes us happy even in our greatest 
 affliction ; it makes us willing to work and sufier for the 
 honor of God ; it draws our affections from the world, and 
 unites us with God : it makes us resemble Him ; it fills us 
 with the desire to please Him in all things, and it animates 
 us with a holy zeal. * 
 
 Let us endeavor to obtain this important virtue, and let 
 us often make an act of love ! 
 
 " Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy 
 whole soul, and with thy whole mind I" — Deut. vi, 5 ; Matt, xxii, 37. 
 
180 Good Thoughts. 
 
 WHIT-TUESDAY. 
 
 Gospel: — John x, 1-10. At that time Jesus said to the Pharisees, 
 Amen, amen, I say to you, he that entereth not by the door into the sheep- 
 fold, etc. 
 
 Whit-Tuesday. The Holy Ghost appeared like fire* 
 
 1 . He gives light. It is the property of fire to give light. 
 Did the Holy Ghost not come to enlighten the world which 
 was lost in the darkness of idolatry and sin ? He came to 
 spread abroad the glorious light of the gospel, and after His 
 descent the Apostles enlightened the whole world with the 
 liffht which came down from heaven. 
 
 O divine spirit, how can we ever sufficiently thank Thee 
 for having so often enlightened us! Grant that we may 
 make better use of Thy kindness ! 
 
 2. He gives warmth. Fire warms all that comes in con- 
 tact with it. The Holy Ghost infuses the fire of His love 
 into your hearts by means of His holy inspirations. Your 
 heart should already be inflamed. Why, then, is it so cold ? 
 The reason is, because you will not receive Him within you. 
 
 Renew your zeal and fervor. The fire enkindled by the 
 Holy Ghost should not die out in a moment, but should last 
 forever. It is a peculiarity of fire never to remain quiet, but 
 to be always active ; notwithstanding which fact, the fire 
 that descended upon the apostles on Pentecost never left 
 them, but remained always with them, in order to show that 
 it was a supernatural fire. 
 
 Never let the fire of your love be extinguished ! 
 
 3. He purifies. Cast gold into the fire and the dross will 
 be separated from it. The Holy Ghost in like manner puri- 
 fies our conscience and frees us from all our imperfections. 
 
 Ask the Holy Ghost to purify your heart and your tongue, 
 your body and your soul, so that you may be pleasing to 
 Him. 
 
 "There appeared to them parted tongues, as it were, of fire, and it sat 
 upon every one of them." — Acts ii, 3. 
 
 Wed:n^esday. How the apostles were changed. 
 
 1. They were transformed from ignorant into learned 
 
Good Thoughts. 181 
 
 men. What other knowledge did the poor fishermen pos- 
 sess than how to mend their nets and to manage their boats ? 
 and yet they suddenly became very learned men and great 
 preachers ; Peter alone, by one single sermon, converted five 
 thousand persons. 
 
 In vain will be all your eloquence and reasoning if the 
 Holy Ghost does not inspire you. Pray, and be zealous, and 
 you will efiect more than those do who rely only upon the 
 learning they have acquired. , 
 
 2. From imperfect into perfect men. Look at the ambition 
 of the sons of Zebedee, at the denial of Peter, at the incre- 
 dulity of Thomas ! O how entirely changed are they now ! 
 They have become humble, obedient, believing, firm and 
 zealous ; in one instant they receive the fullness of grace 
 and the gifts of the Holy Ghost. 
 
 how much do I rejoice at this change ! When will it 
 take place in me ? 
 
 3. From timid into courageous rnen. They hid them- 
 selves out of fear of the Jews ; they all fled when Christ 
 was taken prisoner ; but to-day they all appear publicly to 
 preach Christ crucified to the Jews and heathen, to the 
 Scythian and barbarian, to the princes and kings of the earth. 
 
 The sure proof of having received the Holy Ghost is to 
 be indifierent to the praises of men, to practice virtue, to 
 avoid sin, and to be insensible to all the mockeries and con- 
 tradictions of the world. 
 
 " No man can say, the Lord Jesus, but by the Holy Ghost." — 1 Cor. xii, 3. 
 
 Thursday. Sow the Holy Ghost transforms men. 
 
 1. He converts the shiner. It depends alone upon the 
 Holy Ghost to make the proud humble, the impure pure, the 
 wicked pious, the wolf a lamb, the sinner a saint. It was 
 He who changed the heart of a Mary Magdalen, Pelagia, and 
 so many other great penitents. 
 
 The conversion of a soul is the work of the Holy Ghost. 
 Ask the Holy Ghost to convert all sinners, and to create a 
 new heart within you, so that you may commence to lead a 
 good life. 
 
 2. He perfects the just. When the Holy Ghost takes up 
 His abode in a soul He delights in perfecting and beautify- 
 ing it, in adorning it with virtues, and in imparting to it His 
 gifts and graces, because the soul is the object of His love, 
 and is, as it were, His spouse. 
 
 16 
 
182 Good Thoughts. 
 
 O my soul, if you had co-operated with the zeal and loving 
 kindness of the Holy Ghost, you would ere this have obtained 
 a greater degree of perfection ! 
 
 3. He consoles the afflicted. It is He who gives peace to 
 the restless soul ; He calms the storm ; He stills the tem- 
 pest ; He dissipates the dark clouds ; He drives away the 
 monsters that excite her fears : He dries up the tears, and 
 restores serenity and happiness. 
 
 To Thee, O comforting Spirit, I fly for refuge in my afflic- 
 tion ; and although Thou mayest not come as quickly as I 
 wish, I will not cease to expect Thee ! 
 
 "Thou shalt send forth thy spirit, and they shall be created, and thou 
 shalt renew the face of the earth." — Psalm ciii, 30. 
 
 Feidat. The gifts of the Holy Ghost. 
 
 1. By the gift of knowledge Me instructs us. He teaches 
 us the knowledge of our salvation. By the gifts of wisdom^ 
 understanding and counsel^ He enlightens us with the divine 
 light ; He shows us what is best ; He reveals to us the wis- 
 dom of heaven and the vanity of the world; He teaches us 
 how to discern good from evil, and imparts to us the faculty 
 of directing ourselves and others. 
 
 Thank God for all these gifts, and promise to make good 
 use of them ! 
 
 2. By the gift of fortitude He encourages us. He expels 
 fear from our heart ; He confirms us in the practice of virtue ; 
 He animates us to overcome the difficulties and temptations 
 of Satan. By the gift of the fear of the Lord He keeps us 
 from sin, by infusing into us a salutary fear of hell and judg- 
 ment, and by inciting us to love God with our whole heart. 
 
 Let us always show this fortitude in all our combats ! Let 
 us fear God and love Him above all things ! 
 
 3. By the gift of piety He preserves OUT devotion. He instils 
 into us a desire to serve God and to perform acts of devotion. 
 This feeling of piety and devotion is so necessary, that with- 
 out it we would be insensible to everything that is holy. 
 By this gift He causes us to have compassion on the misery 
 of our neighbor, and urges us to assist him in his wants, to 
 console him in his afflictions, and to love him as we desire to 
 be loved ourselves. 
 
 Do you possess this devotion towards God, and this charity 
 
 towards your neighbor? 
 
 " Create a clean heart in me, God, and renew a right spirit within my 
 bowels."— Psalm 1, 12. 
 
Good Thoughts. 183 
 
 Saturday. The enemies of the Holy Ghost, 
 
 1. Those who grieve Sim. " Grieve not the Holy Spirit 
 of God," says St. Paul (Ephes. iv, 30). You grieve Him by 
 opposing His grace, by your imperfections and carelessness. 
 How long does He urge this sinner to be converted, and that 
 careless soul to become more zealous ; but His demands are 
 cruelly refused. 
 
 Never grieve the Holy Spirit, but follow His divine inspi- 
 rations, since He gives them to you for your own advantage. 
 
 2. Those who extinguish Him,. "Extinguish not the 
 Spirit," says St. Paul (1 Tliess. v, 19). Alas, mortal sin 
 extinguishes this divine fire, and expels the Holy Ghost 
 entirely from the soul. 
 
 O faithless soul, is it not better to be enlightened than to 
 sit in darkness ? to be the friend of God rather than the 
 slave of Satan ? to have God abiding with thee as thy guest, 
 and not Satan as thy master ? Abhor sin ! 
 
 3. Those who either presume upon His mercj or despair of 
 it. Both are His enemies. The Holy Ghost is a God of 
 mercy, but also of justice. It is true that He offers you His 
 grace, but be careful lest He withdraw it from you on 
 account of your opposition. 
 
 Let us have confidence, but united with fear and respect ; 
 let us hope in God, and never despair of His mercy ! 
 " Take not thy holy spirit from me." — Psalm 1, 30. 
 
 TRINITY WEEK. 
 
 Gospel: — Matt, xxviii, 18-20. At that time Jesus spoke to them saying, 
 All power is given to me in heaven and in earth, etc. 
 
 Sunday. Our object. 
 
 1. God is the object of our faith. There is but one God 
 in three persons ; these three persons possess the same power, 
 the same wisdom, and the same infinite perfections. All 
 three are eternal ; the Son, however, is born of the Father, 
 and the Holy Ghost proceeds from both the Father and the 
 
18-i Good Thoughts. 
 
 Son. God is a pure spirit. He is everywhere, and sees all 
 thinirs. 
 
 O my Lord, I believe this great mystery ! I adore all 
 that I do not comprehend. 
 
 ^ 2. Of our hope. What should we not hope from an all- 
 kind and all-powerful Father who has created us ; from the 
 Son who became man to redeem us ; from the Holy Ghost 
 who descended upon us to sanctify us by the fullness of His 
 graces ? 
 
 O Lord, wdiose greatness I shall never comprehend, can it 
 be j)ossible that I will see Thee in heaven, face to face, there 
 to possess Thee forever ! This hope animates me. 
 
 3. Of our love. Who should not love God, who is the 
 most worthy object of love in the whole world ? What can 
 equal His mercy, Avisdom, greatness, power and liberality ? 
 If you love creatures, who are so full of imperfections, why, 
 then, will you not love Him who possesses all that is holy 
 and beautiful ? 
 
 Let us often make acts of faith, hope and love ! O how 
 great is God, and how worthy of our admiration and respect ! 
 
 "Blessed be the Lord for evermore. So be it, so be it." — Psalm Ixxxviii, 
 53. 
 
 Monday. Perfections of God. 
 
 1. God is eternal. God existed from before all time ; but 
 it is not so with us. A hundred years ago we were not in 
 existence, and if God, out of mere kindness, had not created 
 us, we would not now have any being. 
 
 Admire the eternity of God, love your Creator, humble 
 yourself when you consider your own nothingness, and 
 remember that if God did not provide for you every moment 
 of your life, you would long ago have perished. 
 
 2. He is ubiquitous. It is not with God as it is with us ; 
 for we can be in but one place at a time ; but God is every- 
 where, and at all times ; He is in heaven, on earth and in all 
 places, clothed always in His wisdom, power and divinity. 
 
 Be good wherever you are ; fear to commit sin, and be 
 encouraged to practice virtue by saying, " God sees me 
 wherever I am, and His eyes are always upon me !" 
 
 3. Se is immutable. God is as great, as perfect, as holy, 
 and as beautiful now as He was ten millions of years ago. 
 He has never changed, and will never change. It is not so 
 with creatures, who are subject to continual changes. In 
 
Good TnorGHTS. 185 
 
 the order of nature, night succeeds day, and one season fol- 
 lows the other ; empires fall, dynasties perish, houses crum- 
 ble into ruins, and even man never remains in the same 
 state ; he is constantly progressing either in virtue or in vice 
 from the moment he attains the age of reason until he sinks 
 into the grave. 
 
 O my God, Tliou alone art immutable, and not subject to 
 any change ; for Thou alone art perfect ! 
 
 " The Lord is great and exceedingly to be praised." — Psalm xcv, 4. 
 
 Tuesday. Other perfections of God. 
 
 1. His omnipotence. Behold the sun, the moon, the 
 stars, the heavens, and the earth with its fields, rivers, seas 
 and mountains ! behold man, the greatest of all His works ! 
 All are made by God, who created this world, and who can 
 create a thousand other worlds even more perfect than this ! 
 
 O Lord of hosts, who can, by one single word, create and 
 destroy worlds ! whose voice causes the earth and even hell 
 to tremble ! whose power has no limits, and who can do 
 whatever seemeth to Thee best ! grant that I may always 
 confide in Thee, adore Thee, and humble myself before Thee. 
 
 2. Sis wisdom. Consider the beautiful order of creation, 
 the regular course of the stars, the division of day and night, ■ 
 the changes of the seasons, the providence of God in appoint- 
 ing men to different states of life so that they can mutually 
 assist each other ! Think of the means which Almighty 
 God gives to all creatures to attain their end, especially to 
 man, who has it in his power to enter heaven ! 
 
 Praise God, admire His goodness, and thank Him ! 
 
 3. Sis om?iiscience. God knows all things, past, present 
 and future. There is no art, no science, no secret, no 
 thought, in fact nothing in the world which is not known to 
 Him. O inexhaustible treasures of the wisdom and know- 
 ledge of God ! O depth of the mysteries of God ! O great- 
 ness ! O omnipotence ! O wisdom ! 
 
 O my God, when shall I see Thy adorable perfections ? I 
 love Thee, and will be faithful to Thee ! 
 
 " the depth of the riches of the wisdom and the knowledge of God." — 
 Rom. xi, 33. 
 
 Wednesday. Other perfections of God. 
 
 1. Sis holiness. Hear how the seraphim, bowing down 
 in adoration before God, say : " Holy, holy, holy !" God is 
 16* 
 
186 Good Thoughts. 
 
 holiness Himself, and He communicates it to others. " Be 
 holy," says the Lord, "because I am holy !" 
 
 Have you ever earnestly striven to obtain sanctity ? Alas, 
 my Lord, I am nothing but malice ! I am covered with 
 shame and confusion when I think of my sins ! O most 
 holy God, O fountain of holiness, sanctify me I beseech 
 Thee ! 
 
 2. Ills kindness. There is no being who has not been the 
 recipient of His liberality. He is kind to every one. He 
 loves us so much that He is always ready to receive us with 
 outstretched arms. How merciful also is He not to the sin- 
 ner, whom He calls, expects and welcomes ! 
 
 O my God, Thy kindness is infinitely great ! How can 
 we win Thy friendship ? Grant that I never may abuse it ! 
 
 3. His justice. How terrible was His justice in the pun- 
 ishment of the fallen angels ; in the chastisement of Adam, 
 whom He expelled from Paradise ; of the world, which He 
 destroyed by the deluge ; of those wicked cities, which were 
 consumed by fire from heaven ! O how much should we not 
 fear the justice of God when we reflect upon our sins ! the 
 scourges of pestilence, war and famine, the evils of this life, 
 the flames of purgatory and the fire of hell ! 
 
 Fear the justice of God, and remember that He is a very 
 severe judge, who will reward every one according to his 
 works. 
 
 "None is good but God alone." — Luke xviii, 19. 
 
 FEAST OF CORPUS CHRISTL 
 
 Thursday. The object of Christ in institutm^ the most 
 JBlessed Sacrament. 
 
 1. To honor His Father. Jesus Christ, Himself the sac- 
 rifice and oblation, honors His Father in the Blessed Sacra- 
 ment ; and this honor is so great and sublime, that all the 
 angels and saints, the whole world, and even a thousand 
 worlds could not pay Him as much honor as He receives 
 from His eternal Son in the Holy Eucharist. Christ, in this 
 
Good Thoughts. 187 
 
 adorable sacrament, continually offers Himself up to His 
 Father, and loves Him. 
 
 Have great respect and veneration for this most Blessed 
 Sacrament, in which God is so much honored ! 
 
 2. To honor His humanity. Jesus Christ wishes to be 
 rewarded for the insults which He received when He was 
 dragged about and put to death like a murderer, when He 
 was struck, scourged, calumniated, and in every way abused ; 
 but to-day He is carried in triumphal procession. Princes, 
 kings and emperors feel honored in being permitted to 
 accompany Him with uncovered heads and holding burning 
 candles in their hands, in order to make public reparation 
 to Him. He is placed upon richly adorned altars, where He 
 is worshiped and hailed as the Sovereign Lord of men and 
 angels. 
 
 my Jesus, I rejoice at the honors which are this day 
 paid to Thee, and I will do my best to honor Thee also. 
 
 3. To honor men. What an honor is it not for us that 
 the King of heaven and earth, the most adorable Jesus, 
 desires to dwell among us, and remain in our churches and 
 upon our altars like a king in his palace and upon his throne. 
 Martha considered herself highly honored by having received 
 the Lord into her house ; but how much greater is not our 
 happiness to have Him constantly with us ! 
 
 Praise be to Thee forever, O divine Redeemer, for the 
 honor which Thou hast conferred upon us ! O how wicked 
 would we be, if by irreverence in the church we should 
 dishonor Thee, since Thou, in order to honor us, remainest 
 there. 
 
 " Thou art worthy, Lord our God, to receive glory and honor." — ^Apoc. 
 iv, 11. 
 
 Friday. The Blessed Sacrament. 
 
 1. Remains upon the altar for our consolation. Behold, 
 faithful soul, the principal source of your consolation ! It is 
 your divine bridegroom who abides forever in His tab- 
 ernacles; it is your King and Master who dwells in His 
 palace. If you are sad, seek consolation in His presence ; 
 if you are persecuted, go to Him for an asylum ; if you are 
 in doubt, ask His advice ; if jow. are in want, take refuge in 
 Him and He will help you ! 
 
 1 promise never to offend Thee again, my adorable Jesus, 
 but to visit Thee more frequently, and to appear before Thee 
 with greater veneration and devotion. 
 
188 Good Thoughts. 
 
 2. Ts given in holy communion as nourishment for the 
 soul. Christ is present in the Blessed Sacrament to give 
 Himself to us under the appearances of bread and wine. He 
 is not satisfied with being present upon our altars, and with 
 receiving our worship, but He also desires to enter our 
 hearts in order to become food for our soul, just as bread is 
 food for the body. 
 
 Thank the Savior for all the holy communions you have 
 received during the present year, and ask pardon for all the 
 defects of which you have been guilty ! 
 
 3. Serves as a viaticum at the hour of death. The journey 
 from this world into the other is long and wearisome. It is 
 terrible to die ; the enemies we meet are very dangerous ; 
 we are therefore in need of a strong nourishment and pow- 
 erful assistance. Christ has made provisions for it by giving 
 Himself to us in this our extreme necessity ; therefore be 
 comforted, for if God is with you who can be against you ? 
 
 Ask our divine Lord to assist you at the hour of death ! 
 
 " They were persevering in the doctrine of the apostles, and in the com- 
 munication of the breaking of the bread." — Acts ii, 42. 
 
 Saturday. Considerations before receiving holy com- 
 munion, 
 
 1. The goodness of Christy who gives Himself to us. 
 Behold the sacrament of love, in which Christ gives us His 
 flesh and His blood. His soul and divinity ! The heavens 
 with all its stars, the earth with all its treasures, and all 
 the riches of the world are as nothing in comparison to 
 what our Lord gives us in holy communion. He shows the 
 wealth of His love by not excluding from His table the 
 poor, the sick, the miserable and the low. He invites them 
 as urgently as He does the princes and great ones of the 
 earth, by saying, " Come, beloved friends, eat and drink 
 whatever I will give you, for no one shall be dismissed from 
 my table !" He not only gives Himself wholly and entirely 
 to all men, but He gives Himself continually, and without 
 ever becoming tired. For more than eighteen hundred 
 years has He given Himself to men, and He will do so until 
 the end of time. He is always ready to visit you, if you 
 only wish Him to do so, and He will not refuse to give you 
 His precious body and blood if you wish to receive it. 
 
 O let us no longer neglect to give ourselves up entirely to 
 this divine lover of our souls, since He has given Himself 
 up so entirely to us ! 
 
Good Thoughts. 189 
 
 2. The preparation which He demands of us. It is only 
 just, that in receiving so great a King into our hearts, we 
 should prepare ourselves for His coming. And in what 
 does this preparation consist ? It consists in being in a state 
 of grace, and we must therefore make a confession of our 
 sins. 
 
 In order that we may receive our Lord worthily, it is 
 advisable for us to read some spiritual work, and to perform 
 some act of self denial and mortification. Offer up fervent 
 aspirations to God, and before receiving holy communion 
 think of the happiness which you will soon enjoy, and say : 
 *' Come, my Jesus ! come, O adorable Lord, enter my heart 
 and place Thyself in possession of it !" " I will rise and will 
 seek Him, whom my soul loveth." (Cant. 3, 2.) Endeavor 
 not to have your thoughts distracted, but meditate upon 
 what you are about to do. Be careful not to imitate those 
 who approach the sacrament without any other preparation 
 than a few hurried prayers. They will derive no benefit 
 from their communion. Excite within yourself a spirit of 
 devotion and love for your adorable Savior. 
 
 O my Jesus, forgive me for the carelessness with which I 
 have so often approached Thy holy table ! 
 
 3. The gratitude which we owe Him. When the great 
 Lord of heaven and earth has condescended to enter our 
 hearts, we must thank Him and entertain Him, in order not 
 to follow the example of those indifierent Christians, who 
 immediately after having received Him, leave' the church 
 without even making an act of thanksgiving. Should we 
 treat God in such an unbecoming manner, when He has only 
 come to impart His graces to us ? Be more grateful for such 
 benefits ! 
 
 Converse humbly with Jesus by making frequent acts of 
 love and adoration, and by offering yourself up to Him. 
 How precious is the time, how happy are the moments, when 
 you possess Christ in your heart ! Would you not be fool- 
 ish if you did not make your wants known to Him ? Grati- 
 tude also should impel you, to spend the day of your holy 
 communion more carefully, to abstain from amusements and 
 to practice works of piety. Finally, make the resolution to 
 serve God faithfully and perseveringly. 
 
 ** Lord I am not worthy, that thou shouldst enter under my roof!" — Matt, 
 viii, 8. 
 
190 Good Thoughts. 
 
 SECOND WEEK AFTER PENTECOST. 
 
 Gospel: — Luke xiv, 16-24. At that time, Jesus spoke to the Pharisees 
 this parable : A certain man made a great supper, etc. 
 
 Sunday. The kindness of Christ in holy communion, 
 
 1. He gives Himself entirely to us. What could He give 
 us more precious, than Himself, and what more could He 
 give us, than that which He gives us in holy communion, 
 His flesh and blood, His soul and divinity ? Thus Christ is 
 all in all to us ; He is our shepherd and our food, our physi- 
 cian and our medicine, our Savior and the price of our 
 redemption. 
 
 What return shall I make Thee, O Lord, for all Thou hast 
 done for me ? 
 
 2. He gives Himself to all. " Come dear friend !" says 
 the Savior, "come, eat and drink whatever I place before 
 you ; my table is prepared for all, for the poor as well as for 
 the rich, for the crij)ple and those who are in misery as well 
 as for the princes of the world ; all are welcome, if they 
 only desire to receive me and come well prepared !" 
 
 Are you not also invited ? Why then do you not appear 
 at His table ? What excuses can you bring forward ? What, 
 if the Lord should become angry with you ? Do you not fear 
 Him? Imitate Chrst in His liberality ; be kind to all ; do not 
 place limits to your love, but extend it to all ! 
 
 3. He gives Himself always. " Behold I am with you all 
 days even to the consummation of the world," are the words 
 of Christ. He is, at all times, ready to give Himself to us 
 in holy compiunion, if we are only prepared to receive Him. 
 
 0, what liappiness for us to know that Christ in the 
 Blessed Sacrament is always willing to visit us ! Are you 
 careful to be in a state of grace when you go to receive His 
 sacred body and precious blood ? 
 
 " Come eat my bread and drink the wine which I have mingled for you." 
 Prov. ix, 3. 
 
 Monday. The Blessed Sacrament is called, 
 
 1. The hread of angels. If you receive holy communion 
 when in a state of mortal sin, this bread would be to your 
 
Good Thotights. 191 
 
 ruin rather than to your advantage. It is called the bread 
 of angels, because it makes us equal to angels in purity and 
 holiness. 
 
 Have you never partaken of this bread when in the state 
 of sin ; where then is the angelic purity of your heart ? 
 
 2. The lamb without stain. Behold the lamb of God, who 
 takes away the sins of the world ! It is the meek and patient 
 lamb that was sacrificed upon the cross, and who never 
 murmured at His sufferings. 
 
 You must approach with the meekness of a lamb, with a 
 pure soul and body, with modest looks, clean hands and 
 a tongue not stained by indecent language. 
 
 3. The divine fire It is the furnace of holy love ; it is the 
 fire which Christ came " to cast upon the earth," in order 
 that it may be kindled in the hearts of all. 
 
 0. my Lord, how can I, surrounded by this fire be so cold 
 and indifferent ? Why is it that I love thee with so little 
 affection, who loves me so much ? Grant, O Lord, that I 
 may henceforth love Thee with tenderness and above all 
 things, as my sovereign good, and as the object of my great- 
 est and only happiness. I ask Thee for this grace through 
 Christ, my Redeemer. 
 
 "Know you not, that your bodies are the members of Christ? Shall I 
 then take the members of Christ and make them the members of an harlot ? 
 God forbid."— 1 Cor. vi, 15. 
 
 Tuesday. The properties of Christ in the Holy Eucharist. 
 
 1. lie is our King j we must, therefore, receive Him with 
 humility. Although there is the outward appearance of 
 bread and wine, there is, nevertheless, concealed beneath 
 them the real body and blood of Christ, the King of Kings, 
 the great Lord of the whole world, and He is really and 
 truly present both as God and as man. If angels, out of 
 veneration, tremble in His presence, what humility and ven- 
 eration should we not have in the presence of a God who is 
 so great, that the Cherubims cover their faces when they 
 stand before Him, and the pillars of Heaven move ! Make 
 an act of faith and humility ! Cast yourself at the feet of 
 Christ, as did the Magi of the East, who came to adore Him, 
 and like Peter, say to Him : " Depart from me, for I am a 
 sinful man, O Lord ! " 
 
 2. He is our judge, we m^ust, therefore, receive Him with 
 fear. Christ who humbles Himself in so far as to conceal 
 
192 Good Thoughts. 
 
 Himself under the species of bread, is the judge of the living 
 and of the dead. He will come at the end of the world, to 
 fiit in judgment over all men. He will call you to give an 
 account of all that you have done, and regarding the advan- 
 tages which you have received from so many holy commu- 
 nions. 
 
 Approach Him, therefore, with fear, remembering His 
 words, that to whom much has been given much will be 
 required. 
 
 3. He is our benefactor^ vje 7nust, therefore, receive Him 
 with love. See the graces which He bestows upon you in 
 holy communion. He increases in you sanctifying grace, 
 diminishes the fire of your passions, incites you to the prac- 
 tice of virtue, of love and devotion, fills your heart with 
 sweet consolation, and He gives you a hope of resurrection 
 and a pledge of eternal glory. 
 
 Be thankful to such a great benefactor, and prepare your- 
 self worthily to receive His graces. It is with the Blessed 
 Sacrament as with a well from which water is drawn, for if 
 you bring a large pitcher and fill it, you will be able to carry 
 home more water than if you had brought a small one. 
 
 Approach holy communion, therefore, with a large heart, 
 and after a careful preparation, in order to draw more graces 
 from it. 
 
 "Christ is all and in all! " — Coloss. iii, 11. 
 
 Wednesday. Mass is a most holy sacrifice, 
 
 1. In itself ; for it is the sacrifice of the body and blood 
 of Jesus Christ. All the offerings of Noe, Abraham and 
 Solomon were not as pleasing to God, as is this sacrifice. 
 Unite all the merits of the Blessed Virgin, of the angels and 
 the saints, take the faith of the patriarchs, the purity of the 
 virgins, the zeal of the apostles, and unite them all together, 
 and they will not give God as much honor as one single 
 mass will, because in the mass His beloved son is offered up, 
 with whom He is more pleased, than with anything in the 
 whole world ; and because in the mass the same body and 
 blood is offered up to Him, as was offered up to Him upon 
 the cross. 
 
 Have great respect for the holy sacrifice of the mass, and 
 if possible assist at it daily, with sentiments of veneration 
 and special devotion. 
 
 2. In its object and end. This sacrifice is of greater value 
 
Good TnorGHTs. 193 
 
 than were all the sacrifices of the old law. It is offered up 
 Jirst^ as a holocaust, to honor the majesty of God, and to 
 acknowledge Him as the sovereign Lord of all things; 
 secondly, as a ^roJ[)^^/a^o^y sacrifice, to obtain the forgiveness 
 of our sins, and to mitigate the wrath of God ; thirdly, as a sac- 
 rifice of thanksgiving , to thank God for all His blessings, 
 and fourthly, as an impetratory sacrifice, to ask graces for 
 ourselves and for others. To obtain all this, there is nothing 
 more efficacious in the world than the precious blood of 
 Christ. Consider often the end and object of the mass ! 
 
 3. In its ceremonies. What is more holy and sublime 
 than the ceremonies of the mass ? All that the joriest does 
 is full of signification. His vestments, the sign of the cross, 
 the elevation of the sacred host, remind us of the life and 
 passion of Christ. 
 
 Meditate often upon the sufferings of Christ ! Unite your 
 offerings with those of the priest ; adore when he adores ; 
 pray when he prays; receive spiritually when he receives 
 really, and give thanks to God when he does ! 
 
 " Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord! " — Exod. v, 17. 
 
 Thursday. The difference between pleasing God and the 
 world, 
 
 1. It is easy to please God. Purity of intention is what 
 God values most, and if it is our sincere wish to serve Him, 
 our merit will be great, even if we are unable to carry 
 out our purpose. St. Augustin says : " If you earnestly 
 desire to perform a good work, but are prevented from doing 
 so, God will be as much pleased with you as if you had 
 accomplished it." 
 
 O, what happiness, to serve a master who is so easily 
 pleased, and who is so liberal in His rewards ! 
 
 2. It is difficidt to please the world. The world judges of 
 a man's merit by his success, and it is very indifferent as to 
 what means are used to attain it. This truth we see veri- 
 fied every day, and yet we do our best to please such an 
 unscrupulous world. 
 
 Are you not one of those who zealously endeavor to 
 please the world rather than God ? What reward will you 
 receive for your services? 
 
 3. The advantages of pleasing God, and the disadvan- 
 tages of pleasing the world. Almighty God does not stand 
 in need of our service, but He nevertheless asks us to serve 
 
 17 
 
194: Good Thoughts. 
 
 Him in order to reward us. The world, on the other hand, 
 commands our services, because it is really dependent upon 
 them ; but as soon as it can dispense with our help, it for- 
 sakes us. Is it not, therefore, more profitable to serve and 
 please God than an ungrateful world ? 
 
 If you do not strive to please God, you deserve to be 
 deprived of His grace, and to be delivered up to the base 
 servitude of the world ! Do everything in your power not 
 to merit so severe a punishment. 
 
 " Let all who seek Thee rejoice and be glad in Thee." — Psalm xxxix, It. 
 
 Friday. Heasons for loving God. 
 
 1. He loved us first. Love can neither be gained nor 
 rewarded, except by love. God loved us first; can we, 
 therefore, refuse to love Him ? " Love God," says St. John, 
 *' because He hath first loved us " (1 John iv, 9). " The 
 measure of loving, is to love without measure," says St. 
 Bernard. 
 
 If I do not love Thee, O, my Lord, as much as Thou dost 
 deserve, I will at least endeavor to love Thee as much as I 
 can. 
 
 2. God loves us loithout having any reason for doing so. 
 It is because of His kindness, and not on account of any 
 merit of our own. We love our fellow creatures, because 
 they appear to us as worthy of our love; but God found 
 nothing in us deserving of love, and yet He loves us. For 
 what are we either in the order of nature or of grace? 
 Frailty and sin is all that we possess, and notw^ithstanding 
 this, God loves us ; He redeemed us by His blood, and sancti- 
 fied us by His grace. 
 
 O, my Lord, Thou lovest me, although I am most unwor- 
 thy of Thy love, and if I do not love Thee, I really deserve 
 to fall into the hands of Thy justice. 
 
 3. God loves us from no motive of self interest. What 
 advantage does God derive from loving us ? If we do not 
 love Him, it is our loss not His ; neither His happiness nor 
 His greatness w^ould be diminished by our refusing to love 
 Him ; for He is happy in Himself and the love of such insig- 
 nificant creatures as we are, cannot either add to His honor 
 or increase His felicity. 
 
 O my Lord, Thou lovest me so disinterestedly, and shall 
 I not then love Thee, when it is for my own advantage to 
 do so ? J would be like unto a reprobate, if I did not love 
 
Good Thoughts. 195 
 
 Thee! If the Savior were to ask you, as He did Peter, 
 whether you loved Him, could you answer the question in 
 the affirmative ? 
 
 "Yea Lord, Thou knowest that I love Thee!" — John xxi, 15. 
 
 Saturday. Effects of loving God, 
 
 1. We learn to hate ourselves. If you loved God truly, 
 you would not love yourself so much ; you would not be so 
 attached to the sinful and absurd vanities of the world ; you 
 would not be so fastidious in your tastes ; you would spend 
 your time more profitably, and would mortify your body by 
 voluntary penances. 
 
 Love God and hate the devil and his pomps ! 
 
 2. We learn to love our neighbors. St. John says : " If 
 any man say, I love God and hateth his brother, he is a liar " 
 (1 John iv, 20). You are forbidden to cherish feelings of 
 hatred ; but if you persist in doing so, it will be impossible 
 for you to love God. If you really desire God to take up 
 His abode in your heart, you must be in peace and charity 
 with all men. 
 
 Alas, my God, it cannot be that I love Thee, or I would 
 not be so indifferent towards my neighbor as I am ! 
 
 3. We attend cheerfully to our religious duties. You are 
 not frightened at the practice of virtue ; you assist at mass 
 with devotion ; you listen to the sermons with respect and 
 attention; you obey the fast and abstinence commanded 
 by the church ; in a word you find pleasure and consolation 
 in the practice of your religious duties. 
 
 The reason for all this is, because you love God ; for to 
 him who loves, everything is easy ; he fasts and prays with 
 cheerfulness, and delights in speaking of God and in hear- 
 ing His praises. 
 
 ''DeHght in the Lord and he will give you the requests of thy heart!" 
 Psalm xxxvi, 4. 
 
19(3 Good Thoughts. 
 
 THIRD WEEK AFTER PENTECOST. 
 
 Gospel: — Luke xv, 1-10. At thaJt time the publicans and sinners drew 
 near unto Jesus to hear liim, etc. 
 
 Sunday. Tlie lost sheep, 
 
 1. God regards the sinner as a lost sheep, lohom He wishes 
 to bring back. The good shepherd has lost one of his sheep ; 
 he therefore leaves the ninety-nine in the desert, to go after 
 that which is lost. 
 
 See what efforts the divine shepherd makes to save the 
 sinner, who through his own fault has brought ruin upon 
 himself! He goes after him, urges him, beseeches and 
 threatens him ; He calls him and seeks for him, and when He 
 at length finds him, he is filled with joy. Am I worthy 
 of such care, that Thou shouldst seek me, O good shepherd ? 
 
 2. He likens him to a groat lohich is lost, and vnhich he 
 desires to find. The Avoman, after having lost one of her ten 
 groats, sought for it most diligently, and having recovered 
 it, called together her friends and neighbors, so that they 
 too might share in her joy at having found the lost treasure. 
 
 One soul is more valuable in the eyes of God than are all 
 the riches of the world. He rejoices exceedingly at the con- 
 version of a sinner. " There shall," He declares, " be joy 
 before the angels of God upon one sinner doing penance." 
 Never again give the Savior cause to seek you, but belong 
 entirely to Him, and never separate yourself from Him. 
 
 0. He looks upon him as a man lohom He wishes to win 
 over. The Pharisees and scribes were scandalized because 
 the Savior received sinners, and even ate with them; but 
 they did not consider that it was done out of love in order 
 to gain the affections of the sinner, and to induce him to 
 forsake his wicked life. 
 
 I thank Thee, O my Jesus, for all the kindness which Thou 
 hast shown me. Grant that I may always love and obey 
 Thee ! 
 
 "Opeu to me, my sister, my love." — Cant, v, 2. 
 
 Monday. The blindness of the sinner. 
 
 1 . Spiritual blindness the general cause of sin. Every 
 sinner is blind, and he is a sinner only because he is blind. 
 
Good Thoughts. 197 
 
 If he had a true knowledge of God, of himself, and of sin, 
 he would never offend God by committing sin. 
 
 O my Lord, how could I ever despise, hate or offend Thee, 
 since I acknowledge Thee to be a great, kind and just God ! 
 How could I ever commit mortal sin, when I know myself 
 to be poor, miserable and dependent upon Thee ! If I had 
 known the evil consequences of sin I would never have pre- 
 ferred it to Thee. Open my eyes, O Lord, that I may see ! 
 
 2. Sjnritiial blindness not only the cause hut also the effect 
 of sin. " Error and darkness are created with sinners," says 
 the Holy Ghost (Eccle. xi, 16). As soon as sin enters the 
 heart of man, it expels the light from it, and he becomes 
 blind as soon as he becomes a sinner. Sin opened the eyes 
 of our first parents, and they then became aware of their 
 nakedness ; and because they dared aspire to a knowledge 
 which was forbidden, they were condemned to live in igno- 
 rance and error. 
 
 How is it that men, who are otherwise enlightened, very 
 often live in ignorance and blindness concerning the truths 
 of their salvation ? It is because they are sinners. They 
 display great wisdom in matters of business, but in the 
 affair of their salvation they are as ignorant as children. 
 Are you not one of these ? What will it profit you, if you 
 possessed all knowledge but the one of saving your soul ? 
 
 3. Spiritual blindness the punishment of sin. What a ter- 
 rible affliction ! The sinner loves darkness more than light, 
 and Almighty God leaves him in that state. He cannot pun- 
 ish the sinner more severely than by giving "him that which 
 he desires. The sinner feels happy in his blindness, which 
 is the most horrible punishment that God can send him. 
 
 A blind man is not ignorant of his condition ; but the 
 greater the spiritual blindness the less it is felt. Is this per- 
 haps the reason why you are so quiet concerning your state ? 
 O Lord, light of the world, enlighten me ! 
 
 "Lord, that I may see !" — Luke xviii, 41. 
 
 Tuesday. The folly of the sinner » 
 
 L He loses an invaluable good. He loses the graces of 
 God, His friendship and love, the eternal glory of heaven ; 
 the merits of all his good works and their reward. By com- 
 mitting one mortal sin he loses everything ; in a word, he 
 loses God Himself. 
 
 O, how hateful is sin ! How foolish are those men who 
 17* 
 
198 Good Thoughts. 
 
 recklessly commit sin, and thus render themselves unfit to 
 enter the presence of God ! 
 
 2. He loses it for a mere trifle. In order to enjoy a 
 moment's pleasure, to satisfy a passion or please a friend, the 
 sinner is willing to betray his conscience ; he rums himself 
 and sells His God by saying, like Judas : " What will you 
 give me, and I will deliver him unto you?" This reprobate 
 sold Christ for thirty pieces of silver, and you have often sold 
 Him for even less than that. 
 
 O what folly to offend God for the sake of a trifling 
 pleasure ! 
 
 3. He is insensible to its loss. "We often weep over the 
 loss of some temporal good, the loss of a friend and even of 
 a favorite animal, but we do not weep over the loss of God, 
 of our soul and of heaven. We are very sensible in regard 
 to our temporal advantages, but insensible to the danger of 
 offending God. Place before the sinner the terrible loss he 
 has suffered, the ruin into which he has fallen, and the wrath 
 of God which he has incurred ; but he is deaf to all entrea- 
 ties, and remains as hardened as a rock. 
 
 Weep over the folly of the sinner, and be careful that you 
 do not fall into the same blindness. 
 
 "Have mercy on me, God, accord?5g to thy great mercy! " — Psalm 1, 3. 
 
 Wednesday. The shiner becomes regardless, 
 
 1. Of God. The sinner is insensible not only to God's 
 kindness and mercy, but even to His promises and threats, 
 to His rewards and punishments. God calls him, but he 
 refuses to hear ; He shows him His perfections. His beauty, 
 mercy and liberality, but no impression is made on the heart 
 of the sinner. 
 
 Is it with you as with the sinner ? Beware, or the patience 
 of God will be changed into wrath ; after so many warnings 
 He will visit you w^ith sickness, affliction and the loss of 
 riches. He will even permit you to meet with a sudden 
 death, and you will then be cast into hell, there to burn for- 
 ever. 
 
 2. Of Himself . The sinner is very little concerned in 
 regard either to his temporal or spiritual welfare. He sees 
 heaven closed to. him, but he remains indifferent; he sees 
 hell open to receive him, and he fears not ; he sees death 
 approach, but he trembles not. Alas, into how many sins 
 will this sinner not fall, since neither God nor his own advan- 
 
Good Thoughts. 199 
 
 tage, neither heaven nor hell, neither love nor fear can per- 
 suade him to desist from effecting his own ruin ! 
 
 If you yield to your passions, it is a proof that you do not 
 care as to what becomes of your soul; resist them, there- 
 fore, in the beginnins^ ! 
 
 3. Of others. The sinner is entreated, admonished, cen- 
 sured and punished ; the sins by which he has scandalized 
 so many are held up before him ; the souls of those who 
 have been ruined by his wicked example, constantly reproach 
 him ; but he laughs at all ; he mocks at the admonitions of 
 parents, friends, pastors and confessors, and if he is insensi- 
 ble to his own misfortune, he is still more so to the ruin of 
 others. 
 
 0. Lord, grant that I may never be so unhappy as to for- 
 sake Thee ! Assist me with Thy holy grace, for without 
 Thy help I will certainly be lost. 
 
 "They have set their eyes bowing down to the earth." — Psalm xvi, 11. 
 
 Thursday. TPe show that we do not love God. 
 
 1. When we despise His grace. "I called and you 
 refused, I stretched out My hand, and there was none that 
 regarded. I will also laugh in your destruction, and will 
 mock when that shall come to you which you feared" 
 (Prov. i, 24-26). " We would have cured Babylon," speaks 
 the Lord through Jeremias, the prophet, "but she is not 
 healed ; let us forsake her " ( Jerem. li, 9). Forsake God, 
 and God will forsake you. He is always ready to give 
 you His grace ; but you refuse to accept it ; He will there- 
 fore withdraw Himself entirely from you. You are sick, 
 and God is willing to heal you ; but you spurn His offer ; 
 you will consequently die in your sins. 
 
 O, my God, never permit this terrible fate to be my por- 
 tion ! I am resolved, with Thy grace, to avoid all sin ! 
 
 2. When we fall from one sin into another. To-day you 
 commit this sin, to-morrow a different one, for it is difficult 
 to shake off the habit of sin. Telling lies will soon lead you 
 to curse and to perjure yourself; giving way to impatience 
 will cause you to lose all control of your temper, and yielding 
 to impure thoughts will inevitably result in sensual actions. 
 Satan will grow stronger as you grow weaker; Almighty 
 God will punish you by withdrawing His grace from you, 
 and you will soon become utterly indifferent to the eternal 
 loss of your soul. 
 
200 Good Thoughts. 
 
 ^ Pray that God will assist you in overcoming all tempta- 
 tions to sin ! 
 
 3. When we conti7iue in sin. Instead of rising from the 
 sleep of sin, we remain sunk in a deep slumber; we make 
 no efforts to rouse ourselves from such a terrible state ; we 
 become familiar with sin, and have no desire to be con- 
 verted and return to God, and thus we become perfectly 
 reckless as regards our salvation. We stifle all remorse oi* 
 conscience, and commit one sacrilege after another ; we 
 grow old in sin, and every day that we live only makes us 
 greater enemies of God, who will perhaps allow, us to be 
 carried off suddenly by some awful accident. 
 
 If you have fallen into sin, lose no time in trying to make 
 your peace with God ; the longer you delay, the more firmly 
 do you rivet the fetters that bind you, and the more difficult 
 will it be for you to burst them. 
 
 "I will confess against myself my injustice to the Lord." — Psalm xxxi, 5. 
 
 FEIDA.Y. How the sinner abuses, 
 
 1. Grace. " The grace of God will not be deficient in 
 me," says the sinner, " for the mercy of God is greater than 
 my iniquity ! What would it profit Him to damn me ? He 
 commands me to hope in Him ; shall I not then have confi- 
 dence in Him? If He showed mercy to the thief on the 
 cross, why should He refuse it to me ? " 
 
 O, foolish sinner, grace is indeed wanting in you ! After 
 having led a wicked life, you flatter yourself with the idea 
 that you will die a happy death ! But remember, that as a 
 man lives, so shall he die. 
 
 2. Time. "I promise to do penance for my sins," the 
 sinner will say, " there is time enough yet for that ! " " Why 
 not be converted now ? " you will ask. " Because I am not 
 ready," he will answer. " In ten years hence you will be 
 less willing," you urge. " The fear of death and hell will 
 induce me to do penance for my sins," he wall reply. But 
 he is mistaken, for even now the fear of death and of hell 
 fails to convert him, and what right has he to imagine that 
 God will give him time to repent ? 
 
 Do not allow yourself to be deceived by a sense of false 
 security, but be converted at once ! 
 
 3. The intercession of the saiiits. It is true that the saints 
 are able to help us ; but neither the blessed Virgin, the angels 
 nor the saints are as powferful as God. You perhaps say 
 
Goop Thoughts. . 201 
 
 some prayers, but your only motive for doing so is the fear 
 that you may die suddenly, and in the meantime you con- 
 tinue to offend God every hour that you live, trusting that 
 He will give you time for repentance. Is this not abusing 
 all that is holy? Almighty God will not be mocked at. 
 Thousands have acted as you are doing, and the consequence 
 is that they are now burning in the flames of hell. 
 
 Have confidence in the mercy of God, but do not presume 
 on it ! Beg the saints to intercede for you, but do not think 
 that you can continue in your sins under their protection ! 
 
 " I go and you shall seek me, and you shall die in your sins." — John 
 viii, 21. . 
 
 Saturday. Reasons why the sinner is not converted, 
 
 1. He thinks it hnpossible for him to abstain from sin. 
 The sinner remains in his sins because Satan persuades him 
 that it will be impossible for him to renounce his sensuality. 
 St. Augustine was nearly ruined by this temptation. 
 
 Do not believe the father of lies ; you can, with the help 
 of God, not only free yourself from the bondage of sin, 
 but you will soon learn to delight in mortifying yourself. 
 Although it will be very difficult in the beginning, constant 
 practice will make it easy, and Almighty God will give you 
 heavenly pleasures and supernatural consolations for the 
 earthly joys which you have renounced. 
 
 2. He thinks that he cannot amend his life. If a sick per- 
 son imagines that he cannot be cured, and for that reason 
 refuses to take medicine, he will in all probability die. A 
 brave soldier does not lose his courage because his adversary 
 has the advantage of him in strength and age. It depends 
 upon you, therefore, whether the battle is lost or won. 
 
 Combat courageously despite the number of your enemies, 
 and if you have fallen, endeavor to rise again. If you can 
 conquer once, you can a second time. Have confidence in 
 God, and you will overcome all obstacles ! 
 
 3. He thinks that he can never acquire virtue. Alas, how 
 many souls have been prevented by this unhappy fear from 
 even making an efibrt to walk in the path of perfection ! It 
 is true that it will be at first very difficult for you to do well 
 that which you have never practiced ; but the oftener you 
 make an act of mortification and humility, the easier will 
 the practice of these virtues become for. you ; and if you find 
 difficulties, is that any reason why you should lose courage ? 
 
202 Good Tiioughts. 
 
 Say, with St. Augustine : " Why should I not be able to 
 do what so many youths, so many tender virgins, so many 
 aged people have done ?" 
 
 "I trust in the Lordl" — Philipp. ii, 24. 
 
 FOURTH WEEK AFTER PENTECOST. 
 
 Gospel: — Luke "v, 1-11. At that time, when the multitude pressed 
 upon Jesus, he stood by the lake of Genesareth, etc. 
 
 Sunday. The wonderful draught of fishes, 
 
 1. The fruitless work of the apostles. After the apostles 
 had fatigued themselves during the whole night vainly 
 endeavoring to catch fish in the lake of Genesareth, they said 
 to the Lord, " Master, we have labored all the night, and 
 have taken nothing." 
 
 O how much it is to be feared, that when on your death- 
 bed you will have to say, " Lord, I have labored for so many 
 years to obtain riches, to acquire learning, to pi'ovide for my 
 family; I have expended every energy of both soul and 
 body ; but I have gained nothing for eternity, because I did 
 not work out of love to Thee ! 
 
 2. Their obedience. ' " Launch out into the deep, and let 
 down your nets for a draught," said the Savior, and forth- 
 with they obeyed without the least resistance or objection, 
 and notwithstanding their fruitless labor and great fatigue. 
 " At Thy word," said Peter, " I will let down the net." 
 
 Learn to obey cheerfully without contradicting or ques- 
 tioning those who command you, and without seeking 
 excuses to be freed from the obligation of obedience. 
 
 3. The fruit of their obedience. Their nets became filled 
 with such a great multitude of fishes, that they were obliged 
 to call for assistance, and with the fishes that were caught 
 they filled two ships. When he saw what had happened, 
 Peter said : " Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O 
 Lord ! " 
 
 In such manner, does Almighty God reward obedience ! 
 
Good Thoughts. 203 
 
 You will make greater progress in virtue by being obedient, 
 than by following your own judgment 
 
 "An obedient man shall speak of victory! " — Prov. xxi, 28. 
 
 Monday. We must pray to God. 
 
 1. Before going to loorJc. Commence everything in the 
 name of God, so that you may be pleasing to Him. 
 Undertake nothing in a hurry or from mere habit, but reflect 
 seriously before you act. Offer up your work to God, and 
 pray that you may do His holy will. 
 
 If you make an offering of your labors to God, you will 
 never work in vain, but for the least action and slightest 
 affliction you will receive a rich reward. 
 
 2. While at work. In order not to become weary in the 
 prosecution of your labors you need courage, and, therefore, 
 you must renew the intention with which you offered up 
 your work to God, so that neither pride nor self-love may 
 deprive you of your reward. 
 
 It is not so difficult to raise our heart to God ; why then 
 will you not do so, since it is so profitable to you ? 
 
 3. After work. When he had seen the wonderful draught 
 of fishes, Peter fell down at the feet of Christ, to thank 
 Him. You, also, should thank God, and ask His forgiveness, 
 on account of the many faults which you have committed 
 while at work. Examine yourself, and promise, in future, 
 to avoid your former transgressions. 
 
 "To Thee have I lifted up my eyes, who dwellest in heaven." — Psalm 
 cxxii, 1. 
 
 Tuesday. Advantages of having good intentions : 
 
 1. Good intentions are necessary to perform good works. 
 O what treasures can we obtain by having good intentions ! 
 Consider all that you do through the day, through the year, 
 and during your whole life ! It depends only on you to 
 make all these works good and meritorious. 
 
 Is it so difficult to offer them up to God, before you com- 
 mence them ? 
 
 2. The purer the intention^ the better the loork. Who 
 would believe that small alms, short prayers and trifling 
 mortifications are as meritorious as rich alms, long prayers 
 and great austerity ? It is, nevertheless, true, if you only 
 perform these works with a holy intention, and say : " my 
 
204: Good Thoughts. 
 
 God, if I could give rich alms and spend much time in 
 prayer, I would do so most cheerfully ! Grant that I may 
 honor Thee by this work, as much as the angels and saints 
 in heaven do ! " Thus you will be more pleasing to Him, 
 and He will reward you more than if you had performed 
 greater works with an inferior intention. The truth of this 
 assertion is plainly demonstrated by the manner in which 
 the poor widow's mite was preferred to the rich alms of the 
 Pharisees. 
 
 O my Lord, give me a right intention in all that I do ! I 
 will in future endeavor always to please Thee. 
 
 3. Good intentions, even vnthout vmrks, are rewarded. Is 
 this not wonderful ? The reason for it is, because Almighty 
 God sees into our hearts and rewards our good desires, even 
 if we cannot put them into execution. 
 
 How important, therefore, is it for us to have good motives 
 for all that we do ? 
 
 "I do always the things that please Him !" — John viii, 29. 
 
 Wednesday. Evil consequences of had intentions, 
 
 1. We lose our reward. If in performing your daily works 
 your intentions are bad instead of good, all that you do will 
 be lost, and you will receive no reward. 
 
 Is it not the height of folly, or an evidence of the greatest 
 sloth, for you to lose the fruits of so many years of labor ? 
 
 2. Our luorJcs are without value. You go to church only 
 to be seen ; you listen to the sermon only to criticise it ; you 
 perform works of penance and show great modesty in your 
 actions, but only that you may be considered good and pious 
 by others ; you give alms out of vanity. " Amen, I say to 
 you, they have received their reward." (Matt, vi, 5.) 
 
 Weep over the loss of so many good works ! 
 
 3. Our works are evil iu the sight of God. O terrible 
 thought ! You have not only lost the reward for this 
 charity, that prayer or good work which you performed 
 without a good or with a bad intention, but you will be 
 even punished, because Almighty God desires you to work 
 for His love and honor, and not out of vanity and human 
 respect. 
 
 O my God, for whom shall I labor ? Shall I try to please 
 any one in the world more than Thee ? 
 
 " Their works are unprofitable works." — Isaias lix, 6. 
 
Good Thoughts. 205 
 
 Thuesday. Good intentions : 
 
 1. Those that refer to God. Imitate Christ, who in all His 
 works sought only to please His heavenly Father ! Your 
 principal object should be to please God, to do His holy will, 
 and to glorify Him. 
 
 What prevents you from saying frequently with St. Igna- 
 tius : " All for the greater honor and glory of God !" Does 
 not St. Paul tell you, that " whether you eat or drink, or 
 whatsoever else you do, do all to the glory of God ?" 
 
 2. Those that refer to yourself In order to obtain merits, 
 you must perform your work with the intention of gaining 
 heaven, and with the desire to increase your glory in heaven. 
 You must perform your work so as to win the grace of God 
 for yourself and others, and you must have the sincere wish to 
 gain some particular virtue. You are enabled in a measure 
 to atone for your sins, if, when you work or suffer anything, 
 you say : " O my Lord, I perform this work or I suffer this 
 trial on account of having offended Thee !" 
 
 Do you ever have these intentions ? Do you consider the 
 end for which you labor ? 
 
 3. Those that refer to our neighbor. Whatever you do, 
 you must do for the temporal as well as for the spiritual wel- 
 fare of your neighbor ! 
 
 To assist a person because you love him is very right and 
 proper, but whatever you do, you must always refer to God. 
 Say to Him : " 0, my God, since Thou hast placed me in 
 this state, and as it is Thy wish that I should perform this 
 or that work, I will perform it out of obedience and to fulfill 
 Thy holy will." 
 
 Do not excuse yourself in future by saying that you did 
 not know what kind of intentions were necessary to obtain 
 merit ! 
 
 " All, whatsoever you do in word or in work, all things do ye in the name 
 of the Lord Jesus Christ." — Coloss. iii, 11. 
 
 Friday. Our intentions are had if, 
 
 1. We act out of vanity. We lose all merit if we work only 
 through vanity. Our Savior admonishes us, saying : " Take 
 heed, that ye do not your justice before men, to be seen by 
 them" (Matt, vi, 1). If we allow this principle to guide 
 us we will receive no other reward than the one we seek, that 
 is, the esteem of the world. 
 
 Avoid this great evil ! 
 18 
 
206 Good Thoughts. 
 
 2. If we act out of selfishness. " We seek ourselves and 
 not Christ," says St. Paul. " Do you know," asks Aggeus, 
 the prophet, " what you are doing, when in your works you 
 try only to satisfy your own selfishness?" You act like 
 one who has put his wages into a bag with holes. " And 
 he that hath earned wages, put thera into a bag with holes " 
 (Agg. i, 6), that is, he loses all. So it is with you, when 
 you act out of self-love. 
 
 It is a terrible evil, to seek only our own interest and our 
 own pleasure, instead of striving to please God. 
 
 3. If u^e act out of 2^assion. Instead of cherishing pure 
 and holy intentions, w^e often commence a work from mo- 
 tives of anger, jealousy, hatred, envy, avarice or sensuality. 
 If you are actuated by passion, you will lose the reward of 
 all your good works, and you will before God have to render 
 an account of them as evil deeds. 
 
 0. my Lord, I will seek Thee alone, for everything else is 
 vanity ! 
 
 " Vanity of vanities, and all is vanity." — Eccles. i, 2. 
 
 Satuedat. How to perform good loorTcs. 
 
 1 . TFe must he in the state of grace. St. Paul says : " If 
 I should distribute all my goods to feed the poor, and if I 
 should deliver my body to be burned, and have no charity, it 
 profitethme nothing " (1 Cor. xiii, 3). " I am the vine," says 
 the Lord, " you the branches ; if any one abide not in me, 
 he shall be cast forth as a branch, and shall wither." " An 
 evil tree," says Christ, " cannot bring forth good fruit " 
 (Matt, vii, 13). 
 
 The meaning of the above passages of the gospel is, that 
 whatever you do in the state of mortal sin, renders you unfit 
 to receive any reward for it in heaven ; but still you must 
 perform good works in order to obtain your conversion. 
 
 2. TFe onust have a good intention. " If thy eye be 
 single," says our Savior, " thy whole body shall be light- 
 some " (Math, vi, 22). The holy fathers understood by the 
 word " eye " the intention, and by " body " the w^ork which 
 we perform. If, therefore, our intention is single., that is, 
 good and sincere, our actions will be as pure and bright as 
 burnished gold. 
 
 How is it with you ? Is the honor and glory of God the 
 principal motive of your actions ? Do you seek to please 
 Him in all that you do ? 
 
Good TiiorGHTS. 207 
 
 3. We must perform our good works with scrupulousness. 
 It is justly said of Christ : " He hath done all things well !" 
 (Mark vii, 37.) In the performance of a good work we must 
 not omit anything that is essential to its perfection. We 
 must imitate Christ and do all things well ; that is, we must 
 not only be careful in regard to the purity of our intentions, 
 but we must be scrupulous as to the manner in which we 
 perform our work. 
 
 Let us labor with zeal and fidelity, so that we may, one 
 day, hear the Lord say to us : " Well done, good and faith- 
 ful servant ! " (Matt, xxv, 23), and let us try never to deserve 
 the reproach made to the bishop of Sardis : " Your works 
 are not perfect." 
 
 " I find not thy works full before my God ! " — Apoc. iii, 2. 
 
 FIFTH WEEK AFTER PENTECOST. 
 
 Gospel: — Matt, v, 20-24. At that time, Jesus said to His disciples: 
 Except your justice abound more than that of the Scribes and Pharisees, etc. 
 
 Sunday. The false piety of the Pharisees. 
 
 1. They only cared for outward appearances. They were 
 scrupulously faithful in observing the least ceremonies of the 
 law, and the traditions of their fathers. They endeavored 
 to appear well before the world, while their hearts were filled 
 with disorders, and they did not hesitate to disobey the 
 commandments of God. Christ, therefore, says : " Except 
 your justice abound more than that of the Scribes and Phar- 
 isees, you shall not enter the kingdom of' heaven." 
 
 Are you not one of those, who care nothing about attain- 
 ing inward virtues, if no one finds fault with your outward 
 conduct ? 
 
 2. They only sought to please men. They prayed in pub- 
 lic places, in order to be seen by every one ; they sounded 
 the trumpet when they gave alms, and for this reason 
 Almighty God rejected them as being proud and hypocrit- 
 ical. 
 
208 Good Thoughts. 
 
 Are you not like them ? Your greatest desire is. to be con- 
 sidered learned, pious and prudent. You do all in your 
 power, to obtain the esteem of men, and if you cannot carry 
 out your purpose, you are depressed and your heart is filled 
 with sadness. If you are in the company of others, you 
 show more zeal and piety, than when no one sees you. 
 Beware, or, like the Pharisees, you will be rejected by 
 Almighty God. 
 
 3. They esteemed themselves^ while they despised others. 
 There are persons pretending to be pious and good, who 
 wish to be considered better than others, and who, on all 
 occasions, endeavor to occupy the first places. They have a 
 special veneration for themselves and for all that they do, 
 while they condemn everything they see in others. No one 
 is praised in their presence, whom they do not oppose and 
 slander. 
 
 Avoid these emotions of pride, and rejoice, when you see 
 others honored and respected ! 
 
 ■' Man seeth those things that appear, but the Lord beholdeth the heart." 
 1 Kings xvi, 7. 
 
 MoxDAY. True devotion consists, 
 
 1. In the practice of virtue. You may spend hours fn 
 prayer ; you may perform many good works, but still, if you 
 do not possess the fundamental virtues of a christian, you 
 will never obtain sanctity. You must endeavor to have 
 profound humility, fervent love, heroic mortification, invinci- 
 ble patience and constant meekness. 
 
 Try, from this day, to practice and acquire these great 
 virtues ! 
 
 2. In the practice of christian loorJcs. True piety does 
 not consist in the accomplishment of great works. Almighty 
 God only desires you to perform the usual duties of your 
 state of life with exactness, and by doing so you will at 
 length attain perfection. 
 
 Examine and see whether you bestow a proper degree of 
 care upon the ordinary duties of your life. 
 
 3. In Jt,he practice of particular devotions. You must pos- 
 sess a special love and veneration for Jesus, Mary and Joseph, 
 and for the angels and saints. Fulfill your duty as a chris- 
 tian, and pray to them with fervor and devotion. 
 
 Do not neglect your prayers ! They are like the out- 
 works of a city, w^hich if taken, results in the fall of the city 
 
Good Thoughts. 209 
 
 itself. In the same manner, if you abandon your devotions, 
 you will soon fall into sin and become a slave of Satan! 
 
 '' They that adore him. must adore him in spirit and in truth." — John 
 iv, 24. 
 
 Tuesday. True piety also consists. 
 
 1. In having holy desires. Almighty God rejoices when 
 He sees us filled with a holy desire to do His will, and Avith 
 a fervent zeal to advance His honor. " In this readiness," 
 says St. Thomas, " consists true piety." 
 
 Are you animated by these holy desires? You should 
 possess such fervor that you would think it impossible to do 
 enough for God : but alas, you are perhaps very indifferent, 
 and imagine that you do as much as is required of you by 
 your holy religion ! 
 
 2. In worki7ig zealously. True zeal proceeds from the 
 love of God, which incites us to fulfill with fervor all works 
 concerning the honor of God. There are many who say 
 their prayers and attend mass regularly, but the zeal and 
 earnestness with which some attend to these religious duties 
 is infinitely greater than others evince in the performance of 
 the very same holy practices. 
 
 If you possessed the spirit of zeal, you would make rapid 
 progress in virtue. Avoid, therefore, the spirit of careless- 
 ness, which is sure to destroy or impair our good works, 
 and which is the cause of our committing so many sins ! 
 
 3. In preserving our zeal under all difficulties. It is very 
 easy for us to have devotion when we enjoy quiet and hap- 
 piness, and when all things go well with us in a worldly 
 point of view ; but to persevere in our devotions when we 
 feel depressed in spirit, and when others persecute and slan- 
 der us, is truly a sign of sincere piety. 
 
 Our devotion should be solid, firm and lasting, and we 
 must not omit our practices of devotion and virtue, even 
 if we should be assailed by all the temptations of the 
 world. 
 
 "He that shall persevere unto the end, he shall be saved." — Matt, x, 22, 
 
 WedjStesday. Devotions to he specially cultivated. 
 
 1. Towards Jesus., as our Father. You must have a partic- 
 ular love and devotion for Jesus Christ, who is your Father, 
 Redeemer, Bridegroom, Friend and Benefactor! Venerate 
 all His mysteries, particularly His incarnation and birth, His 
 18* 
 
210 Good Thoughts. 
 
 sacred passion and glorious resurrection, and the mystery 
 of the Blessed Sacrament. 
 
 Speak often of Jesus; advance Ilis honor on all occasions; 
 converse with Ilim while in the church ; receive Him often 
 in holy communion, and cherish a proper respect and confi- 
 dence in Him ! 
 
 2. Towards the Blessed Vtrgin^ as our Mother. She is so 
 amiable in herself, and loves you so much, that you would 
 be tlie most ungrateful of creatures if you did not love her. 
 She is your mother and refuge, your benefactress and queen. 
 
 Place great confidence in her intercession ! Venerate her, 
 and meditate upon her virtues ; but above all, try to imitate 
 her love, humility and purity, so that you may be a worthy 
 child of such a mother ! 
 
 3. Towards the Angels and Saints, as our advocates. They 
 love you, and you should, therefore, love them ; they are 
 your advocates and intercessors before God. They have 
 obtained and will yet obtain for you many graces. Be 
 thankful to them, especially to your holy guardian angel, 
 who always stands at your side to assist and protect you. 
 
 Imitate the virtues which the saints of God have practiced 
 in this w^orld, so that you may partake of their glory in the 
 world to come. 
 
 " The Lord will hear me when I shall cry to him." — Psalm iv, 4. 
 
 Thursday. Obstacles to devotion. 
 
 1. A distracted spirit. A distracted and wandering mind 
 is entirely opposed to the spirit of devotion, which is only 
 to be found in the souls of those Avho are recollected and 
 united with God. If you would have the most sublime ideas 
 of devotion, but were not modest in your actions, and failed 
 to govern your tongue and your passions, you would in a 
 short time lose all the devotion which you have acquired 
 with so much labor. 
 
 Do not occupy yourself unnecessarily with temporal 
 afiairs, and henceforth resolve to belong no longer to the 
 world or to creatures, but to God and to yourself! 
 
 2. A sensual spirit. A spirit which is always seeking its 
 own comfort, which has no rest, which belongs entirely to 
 the world and its vanities, which is in all things devoted 
 to its own gratification — can such a spirit fail to be in 
 opposition to the spirit of devotion, which is only found in 
 a mortified and earnest soul ? 
 
Good TnoroHTS. 211 
 
 If you wish to acquire devotion, you must resolve to mor- 
 tify yourself; for the spirit of God and that of the flesh 
 cannot exist together. 
 
 3. A timid spirit. Satan frightens you in order to pre- 
 vent you from attending to your devotions. Alas, how 
 many have been thus alarmed, but they should remember 
 that devotion has its own joys. 
 
 Do not dread being alone ; fear rather the joys and tumults 
 of the world, which may tempt you to forsake God. In 
 the practice of virtue you will find more consolation than 
 you imagine. People will perhaps censure you for staying in 
 church so long, for receiving holy communion so frequently, 
 and for withdrawing from society ; but should you fear the 
 opinions of the wicked ? It is honorable to suffer for the glory 
 of God. 
 
 " It is I, fear not." — Luke xxiv, 36. 
 
 Friday. Advantages of devotion, 
 
 1. We honor God. The principal advantage that we 
 derive from the practice of devotion and of good works, is, 
 that although the wicked mock at us, and virtue has almost 
 to. conceal herself because she is so encompassed by danger, 
 we nevertheless honor God even while the whole w^orld is at 
 war with Him. Is God not greatly honored by having faith- 
 ful servants, who do not bow down to Baal, who declare 
 themselves on the side of virtue, and who rejoice at being 
 in the service of God ? 
 
 2. We obtain great merits. It will be for your own 
 advantage to encourage the growth of devotion, for you 
 will daily increase in holiness, and lay up for yourself a 
 treasure of merits. As a wicked man who gives himself up 
 to a sensual life, daily commits many sins, in like manner 
 does a true christian spend his life in the performance of 
 good works and glorious acts of virtue, which will obtain 
 for him an increase of grace and glory in the world to come. 
 
 O, what an advantage it is to have devotion ! 
 
 3. We induce others, by our good example, to become pious. 
 Many have been persuaded to perform good works by seeing 
 the good that is done by others. Your devotion w^hile at 
 your prayers and when in church, the patience and meekness 
 which you show when you have been offended, and your per- 
 severance in the practice of virtue is a silent admonition to 
 'others, and an incentive for them to imitate you ; but you 
 
212 Good Thoughts. 
 
 must be careful not to act out of vanity, and let your only 
 desire be to see God glorified. 
 
 O Holy Spirit, grant that I may acquire the spirit of true 
 devotion, and give me the grace to win others by my exam- 
 ple to the practice of a holy life. 
 
 "So let your light shine before men, that they see your good works, and 
 glorify your Father who is in heaven." — Matt, v, 16. 
 
 Saturday. False devotion, 
 
 1. We wish to act only according to our own will. Do 
 not imagine that all thoughts come from God, even if they 
 appear to be good. You must ask the advice of a prudent 
 confessor, and you must obey his directions, for devotion 
 must be regulated by obedience, otherwise God will reject 
 your prayers, as He did the fast of the Jews, who acted only 
 according to their own will. 
 
 Fear such a great misfortune. 
 
 2. We neglect that v^hich we are hound to do. You, per- 
 haps, do not hesitate, to violate charity by using insulting 
 language, and by speaking publicly of the faults of others ; 
 but your scruples are awakened, and you imagine that you 
 have committed a grievous sin, if you omit some prayer or 
 devout exercise. There are, also, some persons who, 
 although they observe strictly the rules of their confraterni- 
 ties, nevertheless, curse and get drunk. 
 
 This is a species of false devotion, and you must beware 
 of it ! 
 
 3. We sometimes undertaJce too m,any devotions^ or else 
 neglect them. all. It is sinful to do either, for if we practice 
 too many devotions, we are apt to become confused, and we 
 do not, consequently, perform them as well as we should ; 
 but if, on the other hand, we neglect them altogether, we 
 deprive ourselves of the means necessary for salvation, and 
 without knowing it, we will commence to lead a life of 
 licentiousness ! 
 
 Ask the advice of your spiritual director in regard to the 
 devotions which you desire to perform regularly. Attend 
 to your prayers and spiritual exercises with punctuality and 
 devotion ! Consider well these words : " With punctuality 
 and devotion." 
 
 " He hath done all things well."— Mark vii, Si 
 
Good Thoughts. 213 
 
 SIXTH WEEK AFTER PENTECOST. 
 
 Gospel: — Mark viii, 1-9. At that time, when there was a great multi- 
 tude with Jesus, and had. nothing to eat, etc. 
 
 Sunday. Measons why God is merciful. 
 
 1. Because of His compassion. The compassion of Christ 
 caused Him to feed, in a wonderful manner, four thousand 
 men with seven loaves of bread and a few little fishes. " I 
 have compassion on the multitude, said He ; for behold they 
 have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat." 
 
 Be grateful to God, and love Him ! If you but knew how 
 many graces He has given you, you would love Him more ! 
 At the same time be kind and have compassion on your 
 neighbor. 
 
 2. Because of our poverty. " If I shall send them away 
 fasting to their home, they will faint in the way." 
 
 Make known your wants to God, and He will be moved 
 to compassion ! Say to Him : " Lord have mercy on me 
 who am so ignorant, proud, sensual and so easily given to 
 wrath ! " 
 
 Humble yourself before God, acknowledge your depend- 
 ence upon Him, and He will surely assist you. 
 
 3. Because lie wishes us to serve Him. The reason why 
 Christ attended to the wants of the people was, because they 
 had followed Him in order to listen to His divine teachings. 
 
 Fear nothing when in the company of the Son of God I 
 He will reward you well for your fidelity to Him. Seek 
 first the kingdom of God and the salvation of your soul, 
 and "all things will be given unto you." 
 
 " Arise, Lord ; save me, my God 1 " — Psalm iii, 7. 
 
 Monday. Detachment from creatures and from the van- 
 ities of the world* 
 
 1. Beaso7is for this detachment. All creatures united 
 together are nothing but vanity, and they cannot make us 
 happy because they are filled with faults, infidelity and mis- 
 ery. Pleasure, honors and riches are trifling goods, which 
 are not only very difficult to obtain and to keep, but which 
 soon pass away. • 
 
214 Good TnoronTS. 
 
 Forsake the love of creatures and of the world, before 
 they forsake you, and adhere only to God, in whom alone 
 you can find perfect happiness! If He does not give Him- 
 self to you, it is because you have given yourself to the 
 world, and because your heart is divided. 
 
 2. The dangers of being too tnuch attached to creatures. 
 The first danger is, that they cause you to commit many sins, 
 and that your love for God and His love for you will dimin- 
 ish. If you desire to gratify any passion or accomplish any 
 purpose, you do not stop to consider whether you will insult 
 God or wound your conscience thereby, but you only think 
 of w^hat you love. The second danger is, that if unsuccess- 
 ful you will lose the peace of your soul, which is a true 
 sign, that you love the world too much. 
 
 You become depressed in spirit, if you lose your health, 
 your property, or the respect of those whose friendship you 
 value ; whereas, if you did not love the world, you would 
 be quite indifferent to all this ; you would not be restless 
 but always enjoy peace. 
 
 3. How to become detached from creatures. If Almighty 
 God permits you to suffer from the want of what is even 
 necessary, if those whom you have regarded as your best 
 friends become faithless to you, bear the affliction and 
 your state of helplessness with patience and joy ! Follow 
 Christ, who suffered so many insults, deprivations and perse- 
 cutions without a murmur ! If Christ suffered from want, 
 should you not also suffer a little ? He had not even " where 
 to lay His head ;" and yet you seek comfort everywhere ? 
 He lived in poverty, and died deprived of everything, and 
 yet you are not content with what you have ? 
 
 0, when w^ill you ever be perfectly detached from the 
 world ? Almighty God will then be more liberal to you. 
 The best means of freeing yourself from the world is to love 
 God with sincerity and devotion. 
 
 " For Christ I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but as 
 dung, that I may gain Christ." — Phil, iii, 8. 
 
 Tuesday. How to make use of temporal goods. 
 
 1. TP^ must love them with moderation. Inordinate love 
 of riches exposes us to many dangers, leads us easily into 
 temptation, and will cause us to commit almost every sin. 
 
 An avaricious man will not pause to examine whether the 
 means by which he acquires wealth are honest or not. If 
 you are in possession of ill-gotten goods, return them ! 
 
Good Thoughts. 215 
 
 2. We must live within our income. It is an absolute 
 injustice and a species of robbery to spend more money than 
 your income allows. Any one who deliberately contracts 
 debts without a prosj)ect of paying them, commits theft. 
 Our expenses should also be in proportion to our rank in 
 life; there seems, however, to be little or no difference 
 between the conditions of people ; for even those who occupy 
 an humble position in society, indulge in the greatest extrav- 
 agances. 
 
 How do you stand in this regard ? If you are in debt, 
 pay what you owe as soon as you possibly can ; for it is your 
 duty ! 
 
 3. We m,ust not squander lohat we possess. The father of a 
 family is bound to advance the fortunes of his children, and 
 he is a wicked man if he spends in dissipation the money 
 that would provide comforts for those whom he is obliged 
 to support. It is sinful to entail misery upon your children 
 or relatives by recklessly squandering the fortune that would 
 belong to them after your death. 
 
 If Divine Providence has placed you in the possession of 
 riches, examine whether you have observed the above rules. 
 " If riches abound, set not your heart upon them." — Psalm Ixi, 1 1 . 
 
 Wednesday. Christ encourages Sis apostles, 
 
 1. JBy showing them the glory of Sis transfiguration. 
 He had often conversed with them concerning His passion 
 and death. In order to encourage them to follow Him, He 
 took Peter, James and John up with Him to Mount Thabor, 
 and was there transfigured before them. His face shone as 
 the sun, and His garments became white as snow. Moses and 
 Elias appeared and spoke with Him about the sufferings 
 which awaited Him in Jerusalem. His apostles, however, 
 rejoiced, so that Peter said : " it is good for us to be here !" 
 At the same time a bright cloud overshadowed them, and 
 they heard a voice from heaven saying : " This is my beloved 
 son, in whom I am well pleased ; hear ye him." 
 
 O what a happiness it is to be with Jesus ! When will 
 the happy moment arrive when we shall enter heaven and 
 say, " It is good for us to be here !" In this miserable life 
 we can never in truth say this of any place. 
 
 2. By promising them great rewards. The Son of God 
 led His apostles to a mountain, and made known to them 
 the happiness which they would possess if they would prac- 
 
216 Good Thoughts. 
 
 tice virtue and imitate His example. " Blessed," said He, 
 " are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 
 Blessed are the meek, for they shall possess the land. Blessed 
 are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are 
 they that hunger and thirst after justice, for they shall have 
 their fill. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain 
 mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they shall see 
 God, Blessed are the peace-makers, for they shall be called 
 the children of God. Blessed are they that suffer persecu- 
 tion for justice sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 
 Blessed are ye when they shall revile you and persecute you, 
 and speak all that is evil against you untruly, for my sake ; 
 be glad and rejoice, for your reward is very great in heaven." 
 Meditate well upon these words, and obey them if you wish 
 to be saved. 
 
 3. JBy promising to assist them when they should he per- 
 secuted. " Do not fear persecution," said Christ to them. 
 " The world is my enemy ; it has declared war with me and 
 it will not spare you ! The hour will come when all shall 
 rise against you, and when those who persecute you will 
 think that they do a service to God, and they will even put 
 you out of the synagogues. Remember my words then ; 
 prepare to suffer insult, disgrace, contradiction and persecu- 
 tion ; but nevertheless be faithful to Me ; for I will assist 
 you in your combats, and will console you in your afflic- 
 tions !" 
 
 In all your sufferings, you can rely upon the help of God, 
 if you are only faithful to Him ! 
 
 "Pear ye not them that kill the body !" —Matt, x, 28. 
 
 Thursday. Christ chooses His twelve Apostles. 
 
 1. The dignity of the office to which He called them. 
 " Come," said He to them, " it is my desire that you should 
 no longer catch fish but men ; I command you, therefore, 
 to go throughout the world in order to convert sinners !" 
 O, noble ofiice which Christ Himself came into this world to 
 fill ! What a glorious mission is it to save men, to lead 
 them to virtue, to punish their sins and to keep them from 
 being eternally lost ! 
 
 Rejoice with the apostles on account of their important 
 vocation ! Advance the honor of God and the salvation of 
 souls, as much as you can, by your zeal and good example ! 
 Ask God to give you the spirit that animated the apostles ! 
 
Good Thoughts. 217 
 
 2. The qualificatioyis He demands of them. The first is 
 good example. " You are the light of the world," said He 
 to them; "you are like a city seated on a mountain that 
 cannot be hid." If you work for the salvation of your 
 neighbor you must not only enlighten and edify him by the 
 excellence of your teachings, but also by the sanctity of 
 your life. The second qualification is prudence. Christ said 
 to them : " Be wise as serpents, and simple as doves ! " (Matt. 
 X, 16) The third qualification is meekness and patience in 
 adversity and persecution. "Behold," said He to them, "I 
 send you as lambs among wolves." — Luke x, 3. The fourth 
 qualification, which He demands of them, is the zeal to 
 instruct all men, to enlighten them with the truths of the 
 gospel, and to ask God for apostolic men to assist them; 
 "for," said He to them, "the harvest indeed is great, but 
 the laborers are few !" — Matt, ix, 37. 
 
 Do you possess all these sublime qualifications? 
 
 3. How the apostles corresponded to the grace of their 
 vocation. See, how they at once abandoned all their former 
 pursuits and obeyed the voice of the Son of God, who called 
 them ! See how they followed Christ, how they accompanied 
 Him on His journeys, and assisted Him in converting sin- 
 ners ! Their fidelity, however, is even more apparent after 
 the descent of the Holy Ghost ; for then they were scattered 
 throughout the world ; one went to Greece, the other to 
 Persia, one to Egypt and others to India. Each of them 
 went with great zeal to the different provinces, to administer 
 the apostolate to which they were called; they crowned 
 their lives with a glorious martyrdom, and sealed the faith 
 of Jesus Christ with their own blood. 
 
 In the same manner must you endeavor to correspond to 
 the grace of God and to the state to which you have been 
 called. 
 
 " Their sound hath gone forth into all the earth," — Psalm xviii, 5. 
 
 Friday. Rewards of virtue. 
 
 1. We loill he removed from the occasion of sin, and he 
 united with God. According as you increase in virtue will 
 be your detestation of sin ; your passions will become weaker, 
 and you will draw nearer and nearer to God. He will be- 
 stow His grace upon you more abundantly ; you will con- 
 verse with Him in a more friendly spirit ; you will have 
 sincere sorrow for your sins ; you will confide more in Him 
 
 19 
 
218 Good Thoughts. 
 
 in time of affliction, and you will be more recollected while 
 performing your usual duties. 
 
 Seek to increase daily in virtue, until you have attained 
 perfection ! 
 
 2. The jyractice of virtue will heconie easy. This is not an 
 unimportant advantage. This facility arises from the fre- 
 quent practice of virtue ; for the possession of one virtue 
 w411 serve to prepare you for the reception of another. 
 
 O, how important is the consideration of these truths ! 
 
 3. We will he filled with spiritual joy. Peace and happi- 
 ness of mind are no trifling advantages to possess. How 
 delightful, is it not, to be in the grace of God, and to be 
 undisturbed in spirit ? 
 
 0. my Lord, one day spent in thy service is worth a 
 thousand days spent in the service of the world ! The joys 
 of the sinner are mixed with great bitterness ; remorse of 
 conscience and fear of Thy judgment destroy his happiness ; 
 but the joy of Thy servants, and the consolations which 
 Thou givest them, are pure and heavenly ! 
 
 "I have run the waj of thy commandments, when thou didst enlarge my 
 heart." — Psahn cxviii, 32. 
 
 Satubday. Heaven. 
 
 1. There will he no suffering in Heaven. There will be 
 neither hunger nor thirst, neither sadness nor fear, neither 
 hatred nor sickness, neither death nor misery. When you 
 have no affliction to suffer you say that you are happy. O, 
 how happy will you be in heaven, where there is no pos- 
 sibility of suffering ! 
 
 If you are in any tribulation console yourself with the 
 thought that you will only have a short time more to suffer, 
 and that you will then be free from it forever. Look at the 
 world, in which there are so many afflictions, and yearn to 
 possess heaven, where all is happiness. 
 
 2. There are joys of every description in heaven. St. Paul 
 says that the joys which God has prepared for us in heaven, 
 can neither be described nor comprehended. In heaven you 
 will be infinitely more happy, greater and richer than are all 
 the kings of the world. Your body will be more beautiful 
 and more brilliant than the sun ; you will be in the com- 
 pany of the angels and saints ; your soul will see God, and 
 enjoy the greatest bliss and most incomprehensible delights. 
 
 O, when shall I be a partaker of this happiness ? Alas, 
 to obtain a trifling good, you labor so diligently ! What, 
 
Good TnorGHTS. 219 
 
 then, should you not do to possess the infinite joys of hea- 
 ven ? Purchase heaven with affliction and good works ! 
 
 3. These joys will last forever. The idea of a happy eter- 
 nity is something so great that you can never sufficiently 
 meditate upon it. The joys, amusements, feasts and pleas- 
 ures of this world soon pass away ; the glory and wealth of 
 kings are laid low in the grave, but the joys, honors and 
 riches which you will possess in heaven shall never cease, 
 and time will never diminish your happiness. 
 
 If we love honor and wealth, why do we not seek to 
 acquire those treasures which are only to be found in 
 heaven, where we will possess them forever, without the 
 fear of ever losing them ? 
 
 " As the hart panteth after the fonntains of water, so my soul panteth 
 after thee, God." — Psalm xli, 2. 
 
 SEVENTH WEEK AFTER PENTECOST. 
 
 Gospel: — Matt, vii, 15-21. At that time Jesus said to his disciples : 
 Beware of false prophets, etc. 
 
 Sunday. The good tree, its roots. 
 
 1. Himiility. This tree represents perfection; its first 
 root is humility. The root of a tree is covered with earth, 
 and we walk over it; it does not grow upward, like the 
 branches, but, nevertheless, it supports the leaves and fruits 
 of the tree. If the root should die, the branches, leaves 
 and fruit would also wither away. 
 
 Humility is a hidden virtue, . but it is the foundation 
 of all other virtues, which could not exist without humility. 
 Endeavor, therefore, to acquire this so necessary virtue ! 
 
 2. Firmness. The root of a tree is buried deep in the 
 ground ; it keeps the tree firm against the storm, and sup- 
 ports the whole weight of the branches. 
 
 Why is it that the least wind of temptation prostrates 
 you, and the slightest difficulty crushes you ? It is because 
 you are not firm in virtue. Take root, therefore, in virtue, 
 and remain unshaken ! Be steadfast in your good resolu- 
 tions, and resist all attacks of the enemy ! 
 
220 Good Thoughts. 
 
 3. Inner life. The life of a tree gives and preserves the 
 Leauty of its branches and leaves, which would otherwise 
 witlier and die ; but this life is not visible. 
 
 What is it that enables you to persevere in virtue ? Is it 
 not the life of grace, without which you as well as your works 
 Avould be spiritually dead ? Is it not the spirit of devotion 
 and recollection that preserves you ? It is this spirit that 
 gives life to your works, animates you with pure motives 
 and makes you pleasing in the sight of God. 
 
 Strive to obtain this spirit of interior recollection ! 
 
 "Being rooted and founded in charity," — Eph. iii, 17. 
 
 Monday. The good fruits of the tree. 
 
 1. Prayer. This is the beginning of all good works ; it 
 includes those practices of devotion which refer directly 
 to God. It is the best means by which to honor God, to 
 obtain His grace, to avoid sin, to make progress in vir- 
 tue, to be consoled in tribulation, and to receive strength 
 against temptation, in a word, it is profitable in all things. 
 
 O, how glorious is this fruit, and how acceptable to God ! 
 Pray more frequently, and pray with greater reverence and 
 devotion ! 
 
 2. Alms giving. This practice includes all good works 
 which refer to our neighbor — the assistance which we give 
 him, and all the services which we render him, in either his 
 corporal or spiritual wants. It extinguishes sin and obtains 
 the grace of heaven ; it makes God Himself our debtor, be- 
 cause He says that whatever we do to the least of His 
 brethren we do to Him. 
 
 From henceforth show more charity towards your neigh- 
 bor ! 
 
 3. Fasting. This act comprises all that has reference to 
 yourself; such as abstinence, penance, humiliation and mor- 
 tification ; all of which are the fruits of penance, and are 
 most precious in the sight of God. There are some persons 
 who pray much and give large alms, but they never mortify 
 themselves, and fail to observe the fast commanded by the 
 church. They do not hesitate to gratify their sensual appe- 
 tites, and they thus become idolaters of their body. 
 
 Be not deceived in this, for Christ says : " The kingdom 
 of heaven suffereth violence." — Matt, xl, 12. 
 "Bring forth fruits worthy of penance." — Luke iii, 8. 
 
Good Thoughts. 221 
 
 TtTESDAY. The sahKition of our soul. 
 
 1. We must be saved. The only object for which we are 
 placed in this world, is to save our soul. God created us 
 in order that, by observing His holy commands, we should 
 gain heaven, there to glorify Him forever with all His angels. 
 There is nothing to be compared in importance to the affair 
 of our salvation. It will make very little difference whether 
 you are rich or poor, learned or ignorant, respected or des- 
 pised by the world, if you can only save your soul. But, 
 alas, how many live as if they had no soul ! Their only care 
 and desire is to appear great before the world, and to be 
 happy in this life, instead of Avorking out their salvation. 
 They flatter their body and neglect their soul ; they spend 
 their whole time in frivolous amusements, in idleness, or 
 else in the ardent pursuit of business, and out of the many 
 hours of the day, they seldom devote more than half an 
 hour to their prayers. " What doth it profit a man," asks 
 Christ, " if he gain the whole world, and suffer the loss of 
 his own soul?" Wretched man, if you, who have labored so 
 diligently to acquire the riches and honors of the world, 
 lose your soul, you have lost all, and nothing will remain 
 but the eternal grief which you will feel at the thought of 
 having done so much for your friends, your children, and 
 for vanity, and so little for your own immortal soul. 
 
 Think earnestly of the salvation of your soul, the loss of 
 which is irreparable ! 
 
 2. We can he saved. Almighty God would never have 
 commanded us to save our souls, if it had been impossible 
 for us to obey Him. If we co-operate with the grace of 
 God, our salvation is secure. All nature cries out to us : 
 " You can be saved, for Christ came to show you the way 
 of salvation ; He has opened heaven to you by His death 
 upon the cross ! " 
 
 If, despite all this, you lose your soul, it will be your own 
 fault, just as the Israelites were the cause of their own ruin! 
 
 3. We should fear not to he saved. The indifference of 
 so many in regard to their salvation, should be a cause 
 of fear to us, but we seem to prefer to rank ourselves among 
 the great number of those who ruin themselves, rather than 
 among the small number of those who zealously labor to 
 attain their salvation. We are so solicitous in all that con- 
 cerns our body, but so insensible to the evils that befal our 
 soul! 
 
 19* 
 
222 Good Thoughts. 
 
 O my Lord, give us holy thoughts and desires so that we 
 may never be lost ! 
 
 " What doth it profit a man, if lie gain the whole world and suffer the 
 loss of his own soul," — Matt, xvi, 26. 
 
 Wednesday. Tlie adeem tages of performing good works . 
 
 1. T/ieg gain its merit. There is a vast difference between 
 what we do for God, and what we do for man. The least 
 work, performed out of love for God, will receive a reward 
 in heaven, which will exceed all the pleasures and the goods 
 of this world. 
 
 0, sublime thought ! Place upon one side the sun, the 
 moon and the stars, the crowns of kings and all the gold 
 and silver mines of the earth, and then place upon the other 
 side but a small degree of the glory of heaven and the last 
 will surpass the former. 
 
 2. T/ieg obtain 7ieio graces for ics. Every good work that 
 you perform, independent of the merit it gains for you, 
 obtains for you a new grace from God, and by co-operating 
 with this grace you prepare yourself for the reception of even 
 greater ones. If you desire to win God's friendship, and 
 wish Him to grant your petitions, perform good works ; for 
 nothing is more pleasing to Him. 
 
 3. Theg atone for our sins. Every good work has the 
 advantage of not only gaining us merits and obtaining for us 
 other graces, but also of atoning for our sins. You owe the 
 divine justice a satisfaction which you must offer either in 
 this or the next world. Perform good works, pray, give 
 alms and fast ; for these are the means by which you will be 
 enabled to enter heaven after your death w^ithout passing 
 through purgatory. 
 
 "Trade till I come." — Luke xix, 13. 
 
 Thursday. The utility of perform,ing good works, 
 
 1. They give us strength to rise from sin. It is true that 
 good works are unprofitable if performed in a state of mortal 
 sin, and that, even if we should return to the state of grace, 
 we will receive no reward for them in heaven, nevertheless, 
 the sinner should not neglect them, because God, seeing him 
 inclined to pray, to give alms and to perform other good 
 works, will the more readily grant him the grace of conver- 
 sion. Such a sinner is like a man who, after falling into a 
 deep pit, calls out and entreats to be drawn from his dark 
 
Good Thoughts. 223 
 
 prison; he is like a nobleman who has been disgraced by the 
 king, and who endeavors by his good conduct to regain 
 the former friendship of his sovereign. 
 
 Fear sin, but if you have fallen into it, perform good 
 works, and beseech God to rescue you from the danger of 
 being eternally lost. 
 
 2. They j^erfect us in the practice of virtue. There is no 
 doubt but that good works are the best means by which to 
 advance in virtue. Every act of virtue increases grace 
 within you, and enables you to make greater progress in 
 perfection. 
 
 Apply yourself more to the performance of good works ! 
 
 3. They cause us to persevere in virtue. St. Peter com- 
 mands, " that by good works you may make sure your calling 
 and election." — 2 Peter i, 10. Remember that your good 
 works will be weighed on the terrible day of judgment. 
 
 Why is it, that some who commenced well have ended 
 badly, and died in their sins and were thus separated eter- 
 nally from God ? It is because they neglected in their 
 lifetime the practice of good works. They began by omit- 
 ting a part of their prayers, afterwards they failed to attend 
 mass; they ceased to examine their conscience regularly, 
 and at last they became an easy prey to the enemy of their 
 salvation. 
 
 ''In doing good, let us not fail." — G-alat. vi, 9. 
 
 Friday. Reasons for fear. 
 
 1. We x>erform very few good works. Good works are the 
 means with which we purchase heaven ; but what good 
 works do you perform ? You are hurried in your devo- 
 tions; you give little or nothing to the poor, and you do not 
 scruple to break the fast ordained by the church. 
 
 Cherish a salutary fear of God and commence to practice 
 virtue ! 
 
 2. We perform our good loorJcs very imperfectly. We 
 pray, but we pray with irreverence and a distracted mind, 
 offending God thereby instead of pleasing Him; we give 
 alms, but only to be seen and praised ; we fast, but only to 
 regale ourselves the more at other times ; we perform other 
 good works because we delight in making our charities 
 public, in a word we never act but through policy. 
 
 O my God, grant that I may possess true virtue ! 
 
 3. We do little and yet ice have no fear. Hardened sin- 
 
224 Good Thoughts. 
 
 ner, listen to the words of Christ : " Not every one that 
 Baith to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven; 
 but he that doeth the will of ray Father who is in heaven, he 
 shall enter into the kingdom of heaven." God is not satis- 
 fied with words and promises, but He wishes to see your 
 good works. 
 
 Take heed lest this tree, which bears no fruit, shall be cut 
 down and cast into the fire ! 
 
 "Not everyone that saith to me Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom 
 of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my father." — Matt, vii, 2L 
 
 Saturday. The evil tree shall he cast into the eternal fire, 
 
 1. lit hell the body is tormented. Place yourself in spirit 
 in this terrible prison ! Behold the devouring flames ; con- 
 sider the excruciating pains which the unhappy reprobates 
 have to suffer in that fire ! Alas, for more than eighteen 
 hundred years the rich man has asked for a drop of water 
 to cool his burning thirst, but he has not yet received it, 
 nor will he ever. The damned will suffer more iix one hour 
 than criminals have ever suffered from the severest punish- 
 ment. The damned will be clothed with fire, will dwell in 
 fire and have fire for their food. O, lamentable blindness, 
 not to strive to escape such an awful fate ! 
 
 Tremble, for your place in hell is already prepared, if you 
 do not amend your life, avoid sin and co-operate more faith- 
 fully with the grace of God ! 
 
 2. Jn hell the soid is tormented. The most bitter grief, 
 the greatest afflictions, all the torments, restlessness and 
 despair of the most unhappy are as nothing in comparison 
 with those of a lost soul. The thought, that it can never 
 behold the beauty and infinite perfections of God; that, 
 through its own fault it has forfeited all right to enter 
 heaven ; the fact, that the sins it committed when in the 
 body will be always before it ; the sufferings it sees itself 
 encompassed by on all sides will only serve to aggravate 
 its agony and despair ! 
 
 Do not offend God by sin, and thus lose the happiness of 
 seeing Him in heaven, and of enjoying the imperishable 
 glories of paradise! 
 
 3. The damned Qnust suffer for ever. The sufferings of 
 this life are diminished by time ; this is our consolation, but 
 in hell, alas, there is no end or diminution of pain. Ever 
 and forever, and after ten thousand years have elapsed it 
 
Good Thoughts. 225 
 
 will be the same as on the first day ! As long as God is 
 God, and as long as the blessed enjoy heaven, so long shall 
 the damned be in hell. O, unhappy eternity, can we think 
 of thee without trembling? Sin, how abominable art thou, 
 since God punishes thee so severely ! 
 
 If a severe headache, or a spark of fire falling upon your 
 hand, or fasting for an entire day, or some disease of the 
 body cause you to sufier inconvenience and pain, how terri- 
 ble must it not be to be consumed forever in the flames of 
 hell, to suffer an eternal hunger and thirst, and to be tor- 
 mented forever by evil spirits ! O, eternity, eternity, eternity ! 
 O, my Lord, send me poverty, sickness and affliction in this 
 life, but save me from the everlasting pains of hell ! 
 
 "Where the shadow of death and no order, but everlasting horror 
 dwelleth." — Job, x, 22. 
 
 EIGHTH WEEK AFTER PENTECOST. 
 
 GrOSPEL: — Luke xvi, 1-9. At that time Jesus spoke to his disciples this 
 parable : There was a certain rich man who had a steward, etc. 
 
 Sunday. The misfortune of the unjust stevMrd. 
 
 1. In regard to the past ; he wasted the goods of his 
 master. This wicked man, instead of taking care of his 
 master's goods, squandered them, and then endeavored to 
 conceal his fault. 
 
 How sorry should you not feel for having wasted the 
 goods of your sovereign Lord and Master ; the inspirations 
 of the Holy Ghost ; your health and means ; the occasions 
 you have had to practice virtue ; the opportunities which 
 God gave you to glorify Him, to perfect yourself and to be 
 of use to your neighbor ! Detest your past life, and act 
 better in future ! 
 
 2. In regard to the present / he is summoned to give an 
 account. Come, unjust steward, and tell me what you have 
 done with all that I confided to you ! 
 
 terrible judgment seat, before which I shall one day be 
 called to give an account of all my thoughts, words and 
 deeds, of my sins of omission as well as of commission ! 
 
226 Good Thoughts. 
 
 3. In regard to the future / he can no longer make use of 
 the goods confided to him. "Thou canst be steward no 
 longer." Then there will be no time left for repentance, 
 because the evil will be incurable. Time passes away, life 
 is drawing to a close, the shadow of death has fallen upon 
 us, and we can soon work no longer in order to atone for 
 the sins we have committed. Do not be taken by surprise ; 
 be prepared when God calls you away ; make good use of 
 the time which is left you as yet ! 
 
 " Thou wilt render to every man according to his works." — Psalm Ixi, 13. 
 
 Monday. The dangers of the world. 
 
 1. The world is opposed to the sp)irit of devotion^ by its 
 amusements. Of what do people think who live in the 
 world ? Their only thought is, as to how they can enjoy 
 themselves. They seldom spend more than half an hour at 
 their prayers, whereas they devote the entire day and the 
 greater part of the night to the pursuit of pleasure. Do you 
 think that because you live in the world, there is no neces- 
 sity for you to pray ? On the contrary, there is the more 
 reason for you to beg God's assistance. 
 
 Resist those temptations which most frequently assail 
 you ; avoid all occasions which expose you to anger, pride 
 or impurity ! And still you say that prayer is not necessary 
 for you. Is it, therefore, to be wondered at that you fall so 
 often into sin, since you take no means to strengthen your- 
 self by prayer ? 
 
 2. The world is op>posed to the spirit of charity.^ by its 
 excessive follies. Look at the rich man ! He allowed Laza- 
 rus to suffer hunger before his door, while he feasted sump- 
 tuously every day ; he suffered him to be exposed to the 
 cold, while he was clothed in purple and fine linen. A 
 fashionable lady will not hesitate to spend large sums of 
 money upon her dress, but she will be most unwilling to 
 giA'^e a dollar to a poor person. A man of the world will 
 indulge in every luxury at his table, but will refuse a piece 
 of bread to a hungry person. Many poor and afflicted people 
 die, whose sufferings could have been greatly alleviated by 
 a little timely assistance. O ye rich, be not insensible to the 
 wants of your brethren ! 
 
 A true christian will avoid all unnecessary expense, and 
 live in modesty and retirement; he will be charitable to 
 
Good Thoughts. 22 Y 
 
 others, and thus obtain pardon for his sins, and the right 
 to enter heaven. 
 
 3. The world is opposed to the spirit of penance hy reason 
 of its sensuality. Speak to a worldling upon the subject of 
 fasting, abstinence, or mortification, and he will laugh at 
 you. He will tell you that such practices are only intended 
 for those who live in convents, and he will continue to 
 indulge in every species of excess. Christ preaches penance 
 and tells us that we must carry our cross and use violence 
 to obtain heaven. 
 
 Does Almighty God speak only to the inmates of con- 
 vents ? If you continue in your sensual life, if you do not 
 mortify yourself, you will never see God. O, how great are 
 the dangers of the world, and how many there are who 
 effect their own ruin ! 
 
 '•The kingdom of heaven suflfereth violence." — Matt, xi, 12. 
 
 Tuesday. Some of the dangers caused hy possessing the 
 goods of the world, 
 
 1. Of such as have been dishonestly acquired. Wealth, 
 if attained by unjust means, becomes a real evil. How 
 many have been ruined by their dishonesty ! There are 
 some persons who are so eager to become rich that they 
 are willing to curse, to perjure themselves, commit murder, 
 work on days of obligation, and thus trample upon all 
 human and divine laws ! 
 
 Remember the awful fate that befel Judas on account of 
 his avarice, for he thereby lost the treasures of heaven. 
 
 2. Of such as are unjustly retained. You are in posses- 
 sion, perhaps, of goods belonging to others, and yet refuse 
 to restore them to their rightful owner ; you give reasons 
 which you imagine are sufiicient to free you from the obli- 
 gation ; but if you find it difficult to stifle the reproaches of 
 your conscience, you console yourself with the promise that 
 you will make restitution before your death. Yes, unhappy 
 man, you will then be compelled to give them up against 
 your will, because you cannot take them with you. Is it 
 then a matter of no consequence ? Alas, how many poor 
 persons, mechanics, merchants, servants, whom you refuse 
 to pay, are suffering on account of your culpable negligence ! 
 
 Make restitution at once, for the longer you delay the 
 more difficult it will be for you to do so ! Is it not better 
 
228 Good Thoughts. 
 
 for you to be poor in this world, and gain heaven, than to 
 be cast into hell on account of your ill-gotten riches? 
 
 3. Of such as are unprojitably used. The holy fathers 
 tell us that we are only stewards of our goods ; but never- 
 theless we waste them on the most frivolous and even 
 wicked pretexts. 
 
 Alas, what use have you made of your wealth, with which 
 you could have purchased heaven, and which you should 
 have applied to the service of God, to the support of your 
 family and to the assistance of the poor ! After having 
 spent your fortune in useless and sinful extravagance, you 
 have nothing left but the sorrowful conviction that you have 
 been the slave of an ungrateful world, and that you have 
 lost the friendship of a kind and liberal God. 
 
 " What hath pride profited us, or what advantage hath the boasting of 
 riches brought us ? All these things are passed away like a shadow." — 
 Wis. V, 8, 9. 
 
 Wednesday. Other dangers resulting from the posses- 
 sion of wealth. 
 
 1. TFe desire and seek nothing else. St. Paul says, that 
 avarice is the root of all evil. What sins do we not commit 
 in our eagerness to become rich ? The Holy Ghost says, 
 that, "he that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house." 
 — Prov. XV, 27. 
 
 Crush such desires in the very beginning, for otherwise 
 they will gather such strength that you will find it difficult 
 to resist them, and you will be thus brought to the verge 
 of ruin. Compare the goods of this world with the inex- 
 haustible treasures of heaven ! 
 
 2. The love of gold absorbs all our thoughts. We love 
 money more than we do our soul ; we think and speak of 
 nothing else, we even undergo hardships and labor day and 
 night, in order to become rich ; we become a slave to money. 
 An avaricious man will allow his own family to sufler rather 
 than spend any portion of his dearly loved wealth in pro- 
 curing comforts for them. 
 
 Alas, foolish man ! You must soon die, and what then 
 will become of your money ? You can make a will, and 
 divide your estate and personal efiects among your children, 
 but your body will be given to the earth, and your soul 
 perhaps will be condemned to eternal torments. 
 
 3. The loss of riches makes us unhappy. If you lose a 
 large sum of money, you become sad and you refuse to be 
 
Good Thoughts. 229 
 
 consoled ; but, if by committing sin, you lose your soul, no 
 thought of uneasiness or sorrow afflicts you. 
 
 The great danger of wealth is, that it gives you the means 
 to commit all kinds of sins. Christ Himself has said, that 
 "it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, 
 than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven." — 
 Matt, xix, 24. The reasons for this have been placed before 
 you. Be on your guard, therefore ! 
 
 " "Wo to you that are rich 1 " — Luke vi, 24. 
 
 Thuksdiy. Advantages of voluntary poverty, 
 
 1. It frees us from all anxiety in regard to the things of 
 this world. He who has embraced a state of voluntary 
 poverty thinks of nothing but of gaining heaven, whereas 
 merchants, mechanics, and those who hold office are filled 
 with anxiety concerning their temporal affairs for the reason 
 that bankruptcy, accident or disgrace can in a moment des- 
 troy all their hope. 
 
 O what an advantage, what a happiness to work only for 
 heaven ! 
 
 2. It frees us from the care of watching over our posses- 
 sions. How happy are you, when the cares of the world no 
 longer disturb your heart ! The man who is poor in spirit 
 works only to enrich himself with the goods of heaven. 
 
 What a misfortune to be heavily burdened by the cares 
 of this world ! 
 
 3. It frees us from the fear of losing what we have. He 
 who has chosen poverty for his portion has no fear of losing 
 that which he has not, and which he cares not to possess. 
 He is not disturbed either by the good or bad success of an 
 undertaking, by the fear of a poor harvest, or by the thought 
 of being robbed as those are who possess the goods of this 
 world, and who curse and lament, if they meet with any 
 loss. 
 
 Be as zealous in the pursuit of virtue and of heaven as 
 you are in striving to obtain the goods of this world. 
 
 " Blessed are ye poor, for yours is the kingdom of heaven." — Luke vi, 
 20. 
 
 Feiday, We are unfit to possess the goods of this world, 
 
 \. If we covet them. We are so desirous to possess wealth, 
 that in order to obtain it we spare neither time nor labor, 
 and are willing even to endanger the salvation of our soul. 
 20 
 
230 Good Thoughts. 
 
 " The desire of money," says St. Paul, " is the root of all 
 evils." — 1 Tim. vi, 10. 
 
 If you would but work for God as you do for the world, 
 you would have already reached a state of perfection. 
 
 2. If we are miserly. Our Savior does not condemn the 
 rich on account of their wealth, but only if they are wanting 
 in charity towards the poor ; He condemns them on account 
 of the many sins that accompany avarice ; for the avaricious 
 man is always unjust, violent, hard, suspicious and deceit- 
 ful ; he has no respect either for God or for man. 
 
 Place not your heart upon the goods of this world ! 
 
 3. If we make bad use of them. How do you spend 
 your money? Although you see yourself surrounded by 
 sickness and misery of every sort, you nevertheless squander 
 your means by indulging in all kinds of foolish and sinful 
 dissipation. Is this right ? 
 
 Use your riches so as to make for yourself a friend of 
 Christ, who will assist you to gain heaven. Be liberal to 
 the poor, be kind to your family, and never act against your 
 conscience, even if by doing so you should obtain possession 
 of all the treasures of the earth. 
 
 "Make unto you friends of the mammon of iniquity." — Luke xvi, 9. 
 
 Saturday. Advantages of alms-giving, 
 
 1. It converts the sinner. Although the conversion of 
 sinners is the fruit of all good works, it is most especially 
 the effect of giving alms. " Redeem thou thy sins with 
 alms, and thy iniquities with works of mercy to the poor." 
 (Daniel iv, 24.) Presents and kind deeds win the heart of 
 man ; and in the same manner will gifts to the poor win the 
 heart of Christ, and give you the grace of sincere conversion. 
 
 Be more charitable for the future. 
 
 2. It perfects the just. It will make you like to God, 
 whose property it is to do good to all men, who ".maketh 
 His sun to rise upon the good and bad," who excludes no 
 one from His kindness. O what happiness ! At the day of 
 judgment, when all will tremble, those who have practiced 
 works of mercy shall be filled with consolation, and Christ 
 will say to them, " I was hungry, and you gave me to eat ; 
 I was thirsty, and you gave me to drink; enter into my 
 heavenly kingdom !" Those, on the contrary, who had no 
 mercy, He will condemn to the everlasting fire of hell. 
 
 Be merciful to all ! 
 
Good Thoughts. 231 
 
 3. It increases the glory of the elect. Your alms will be 
 most acceptable to God, for He has promised to reward a 
 drink of water given to the poor, and remember how He 
 praised the mercy practiced by the Samaritan. " Make xmto 
 you friends of the mammon of iniquity," says the Savior, 
 *' that when you shall fail they may receive you into ever- 
 lasting dwellings !" The poor purchase heaven by practicing 
 patience, and the rich by giving alms. 
 
 " Give and it shall be given to you I" — Luke vi, 38. 
 
 NINTH WEEK AFTER PENTECOST. 
 
 Gospel; — Luke xix, 41-41. At that time, when Jesus drew near 
 Jerusalem, seeing the city, He wept over it, etc. 
 
 Sunday. The zeal of Christ* 
 
 1. He wept over the unhappiness of the sinner. When 
 the Son of God drew near Jerusalem, He wept over it, and 
 sighing He said : " Jerusalem, faithless Jerusalem, if thou 
 hadst known the things that are to thy peace ! " 
 
 Your soul is this faithless Jerusalem, which has refused so 
 often to listen to the voice of God. Christ laments over 
 your misfortune, and weeps at your obduracy. Will you 
 not do the same ? If you have already done so, then weep 
 over the unhappy condition of other sinners, and pray for 
 them ! 
 
 2. He instructed them. The gospel of to-day mentions 
 that Christ taught daily in the temple. He still instructs us 
 by His ministers, by the ' inspirations He sends us, by the 
 admonitions of our spiritual advisers, and by the glorious 
 truths of His gospel. 
 
 What use do you make of the teachings of Christ ? Are 
 you becoming a better christian ? Follow the example of 
 your Savior and commence to instruct the ignorant. 
 
 3. He punished than. Seeing those that sold and bought 
 in the temple. He made a scourge of little cords, drove them 
 all out and overthrew their tables. 
 
 O, my God, why dost Thou not punish the many acts of 
 irreverence committed in Thy churches ! I will restore the 
 
232 Good Thoughts. 
 
 honor of which Thou art deprived by the reverence which 
 I will show Thee by my silence, by the modesty of my 
 eyes and by my devotion ! I will imitate Thy zeal, O my 
 Savior, and will endeavor to prevent all acts of irreverence 
 in Thy holy temple ! 
 
 "The Lord hath been zealous for His land." — Joel ii, 18. 
 
 Monday. Motives for acquiring zeal. 
 
 1. It is pleasing to God. Nothing is more pleasing to 
 God than for us to possess zeal ; it gladdens His heart when 
 He sees that He did not shed His precious blood in vain for 
 us, that we make good use of His graces, and that the souls 
 of those whom He loves so much, and for whom He has given 
 His life, will not be lost forever. 
 
 If you can please God by being zealous, why do you not 
 do so ? You have so many occasions to practice your zeal 
 in regard to your children, your servants and poor and 
 ignorant persons. An edifying word coming from your lips, 
 or a short instruction which you could give them, might be 
 the cause of their salvation. 
 
 2. It is profitable to our neighbor. "We place our neighbor 
 under obligations to us if we assist him in his bodily wants ; 
 but this is as nothing compared with the charity which we 
 show him if we assist him in saving his soul and in gaining 
 heaven. If you would give him all the riches of the earth, 
 you would not render him as great a service as if you only 
 taught him how to pray ; for all the treasures of the world 
 soon pass away, while the glory of heaven which you pre- 
 pare for him, will endure forever. 
 
 3. It is honorable for yourself. What is more praise- 
 worthy than to work for the salvation of souls and to 
 co-operate with God, in order to prevent men from losing 
 their souls ? But if it is honorable to do so, it is also 
 profitable ; for you secure your own salvation by working 
 for that of others. According to the labor which you 
 undertake for the sake of Almighty God, will be your 
 reward in heaven. If you love God, be zealous to advance 
 His honor, and show this zeal by the spiritual assistance 
 which you render to your neighbor ! 
 
 " Feed my lambs !" — John xxi, 15. 
 
 Tuesday. The value of a soul, 
 
 1. Wliat the soul is. The soul of the most wretched man 
 
Good Thoughts. 233 
 
 is more precious than the sun and the stars, than the king- 
 doms of the earth, than all the gold and silver in the world. 
 It is a royal princess, adorned with every gift of nature and 
 grace ; it is one of the most sublime works of God, and it is 
 His image. 
 
 Since your soul is of such value, will you not strive with 
 all your zeal to prevent so precious a work from being lost 
 forever ? 
 
 2. What it costs. " You know," says St. Peter, " that you 
 were not redeemed with corruptible things, as gold and 
 silver, but with the precious blood of Christ !" — 1 Peter 
 i, 18-19. A jewel for which the sum of ten thousand 
 dollars has been paid is considered very valuable ; what esti- 
 mate, therefore, should you not place upon a soul purchased 
 with the blood and life of a God ! 
 
 O my Jesus, I thank Thee for the infinite goodness which 
 Thou hast shown me ! I will prize it more highly than I have 
 done before, and I will labor zealously to save my soul. 
 
 3. What it can do. A soul can praise God forever in 
 heaven, it can become the spouse of Jesus Christ, and the 
 object of His most tender love ; it can obtain for itself the 
 right to enter heaven. 
 
 Let us therefore endeavor to save our souls ; but let ns 
 also assist others to save theirs, and in order to encourage 
 ourselves, let us often meditate upon the grandeur and value 
 of a soul ! 
 
 '• Who art •thou ?" — John i, 19. 
 
 Wednesday. Zeal. 
 
 1. How to exercise it. With much meekness. There is 
 but one instance recorded in the holy scriptures in which the 
 Savior exhibited His anger to sinners, and scourged them. 
 We, on the contrary, are frequently provoked to anger, and 
 we show very little judgment when obliged to punish those 
 under our care. 
 
 Never use violent language, especially to those whom you 
 desire to bring back to God ! One friendly word will do 
 more good than a thousand threats. He whom you punish 
 will be the easier converted if he sees that yon admonish 
 him from motives of affection and friendship, and not out of 
 bitterness or passion. 
 
 2. Where to exercise it. In your house, in your family, 
 among your children and servants, with whose direction 
 
 20* 
 
234 Good Thoughts. 
 
 Almighty God has charged you. Use all your authority 
 with them, and if meekness is of no avail, follow the example 
 of Christ and take the scourge. If you occupy an influeiv 
 tial position in society, allow no uncharitable remarks to be 
 made in your presence ; but if you cannot put a stop to 
 them, show at least that you are displeased with the want 
 of kindness exhibited. 
 
 O my Lord, I have been so careless in this respect hereto- 
 fore, but in future I will act differently. 
 
 3. Upon whom to exercise it. First, upon yourself. Do 
 not glory in your sins and frailties, but if you have sinned 
 punish yourself w^ith an unsparing hand. Secondly, upon 
 those under your care. Watch their conduct, for you must 
 render an account of it, as you are in a great measure respon- 
 sible for what they do. Thirdly, upon mankind generally^ 
 because you should pray often for the conversion of sinners 
 and for the extinction of heresy ! Do not refuse your influ- 
 ence, your protection, or even your money to further a work 
 of piety, if the welfare of a soul depends upon it ! 
 
 " I wished myself to be an anathema from Christ for my brethren." — Rom. 
 ii, 3. 
 
 Thursday. Defects of zeal, 
 
 1. If we become easily wearied. We become discouraged 
 when surrounded by difficulties ; we are filled with dismay 
 if we meet with any opposition, and the effort necessary to 
 convert a soul, soon causes us to feel wearied in mind and 
 body. We persuade ourselves that we will never obtain 
 our object, and hence we abandon the struggle. It is true, 
 that the conversion of a soul costs both time and trouble ; 
 but if we are kind to the sick, if we are charitable to peo- 
 ple who repay us with ingratitude, if we succeed in accom- 
 plishing an arduous undertaking, which will in no wise 
 benefit our soul, why should we become weary in serving a 
 God who is in every way worthy of love and gratitude. 
 
 Remember that you labor for the conquest of souls, and 
 that it is more glorious for you to gain a victory over 
 Satan, than to conquer the greatest kingdoms of the earth. 
 Almighty God will reward you for your zeal ! 
 
 2. If we are too self-reliant. There are some who, while 
 endeavoring to save others, endanger their own salvation. 
 Without exercising the least prudence they enter into dan- 
 gerous conversation, they never think of God during the 
 
Good Thotjghts. 235 
 
 day, they often omit their prayers and examination of con- 
 science, and consequently neglect every practice of piety. 
 
 Avoid this error ! While working for the spiritual wel- 
 fare of your neighbor, you stand the more in need of virtue 
 yourself, since you are exposed to many dangers, and for 
 the reason also, that you should, by the sanctity of your 
 life, draw down the graces of God in greater fullness upon 
 yourself and upon those for whom you labor. 
 
 3. If we become careless. Do not fall into the opposite 
 error, that is, do not, under the plea of danger or too great 
 hardship, withdraw entirely from your apostolic labors. If 
 an opportunity offers itself, if obedience calls you, if duty 
 obliges you, labor then with confidence for the conversion 
 of souls, and rest assured that Almighty God will assist 
 you in your wants, strengthen you in temptation, con- 
 sole you in your troubles, and will give you graces in pro- 
 portion to the zeal you exhibit. 
 
 Weep over your carelessness, on account of which so 
 many have perhaps been forever ruined, and debarred from 
 all right to enter heaven. 
 
 "Mj zeal hath made me pine away, because my enemies forgot thy 
 words." — Psalm cxviii, 139. 
 
 Friday. Defects of prayer* 
 
 1. Sin.^ Why is it that we do not obtain what we pray 
 for ? It is because we are sinners, and do not wish to be 
 converted. How can we say " hallowed be Thy name," if, 
 at the same time, we take God's holy name in vain ? How 
 can we say *' Thy kingdom come," if we rebel against God, 
 and allow sin to govern us ? How can we say : " Thy will 
 be done!" — if we resist Him by transgressing His com- 
 mandments? How can we say: "give us this day our daily 
 bread,'] — if by ingratitude we make ourselves unworthy 
 to receive it ? How can we pray to God to " forgive us," — 
 if we never cease to offend Him ? How can we ask Him to 
 "deliver us from evil," — if we persevere in that evil, that 
 is in sin ? 
 
 Are you not one of those who pray and act in the above 
 manner ? 
 
 2. We do not ash for what we really need. " Our pray- 
 ers," says St. Augustin, " will not be heard, unless we pray 
 in the name of the Lord ; but we cannot pray in the name 
 of Christ, if we pray for any thing that will endanger our 
 
236 Good Thoughts. 
 
 salvation." You pray for the success of an unjust law-suit; 
 but is this not sinful ? You ask for health and goods, but 
 you would only abuse them if you had them ; you pray for 
 something, that you imagine would make you happy, but 
 you would be most miserable, if God granted your request. 
 
 O my Lord, refuse me everything that will be in the least 
 detrimental to my salvation ! 
 
 3. We do not pray as we should. " You ask and receive 
 not," says St. James, " because you ask amiss ! " Your pray- 
 ers are defective, they do not possess the necessary conditions, 
 because you pray without devotion and without attention ; 
 how then can you expect Almighty God to hear you, if you 
 pay no heed yourself to what you are saying? You pray 
 without reverence, and consequently your prayer becomes a 
 sin; do you therefore deserve to be heard, if even when 
 praying you offend God ? You pray with distraction and 
 carelessness, and still you imagine, that your petitions should 
 be granted ! 
 
 Examine which of these conditions is wanting in your 
 prayer; perhaps your prayers possess none of them ! 
 
 " I will worship towards thy holy temple, in thy fear ! " — Psalm v, 8. 
 
 Saturday. What toe should do for churches. 
 
 1. Tt is our duty to keep them clean. Our churches are 
 the ornaments of religion ; they are holy places dedicated 
 to God, they are glorious temples, in which Christ takes up 
 His abode ; but they are often, alas ! the shame of Christians 
 and a disgrace to religion. The dwellings of kings, prin- 
 ces, and of the rich ones of this world are ornamented in 
 the most costly manner, and everything about them is neat 
 and beautiful ; but we often see churches where the sacred 
 vessels and vestments are of the poorest description, and 
 where neither order nor even cleanliness is observed. 
 
 O, what a disgrace for those who possess ample means, 
 if they oifend God by refusing to assist in adorning His 
 temples ! 
 
 2. Jt is our duty to give liberally to churches. Many 
 persons are apt to think, that if they give a few dollars to a 
 church, they have done a great deal for the honor of God ; 
 but how much money do they not expend yearly in giving 
 balls, for purposes of amusement, on dress and other useless 
 things ! If but a small portion of the money thus squandered 
 
Good Thoughts. 237 
 
 would be applied to the ornamenting of the house of God, 
 in what admirable condition could it not be kept ! 
 
 Do as much as you can for the building and ornamenting 
 of God's holy temple ! 
 
 3. We will be punished for re/using to assist in the sup- 
 port of churches. People are often heard to lament on 
 account of their poverty and afflictions, but they may per- 
 haps find the cause of it in their want of zeal for the house 
 of God. " You make haste every man to his own house," 
 says the Lord, " while my house is desolate ; therefore the 
 heavens over you were stayed from giving dew; and 
 the earth was hindered from yielding her fruits ; and I 
 called for a drought upon the land, and upon men and 
 beasts, and upon all the labor of the hands." — Aggeus i, 
 9-11. 
 
 Be zealous for the honor of the house of God, and try to 
 infuse the same zeal into others. 
 
 " And they went in, and did the work in the house of the Lord of Hosts, 
 their God." — Aggeus i, 14. 
 
 TENTH WEEK AFTER PENTECOST. 
 
 Gospel:- — Luke xviii, 9-14. At that time, Jesus spoke this parable, 
 Two men went up into the temple to pray, etc. 
 
 Sunday. The Publican and the Pharisee. 
 
 1. The pride of the Pharisee. He went up into the tem- 
 ple to pray; but what did he do there? He stood there 
 filled with pride ; he looked with contempt upon others, and 
 called them extortioners, unjust, adulterers, and publicans, 
 like the one who had just entered. He praised himself by 
 preferring himself to others. " O, God," said he, " I give 
 thee thanks that I am not as the rest of men ; I fast twice 
 in the week, and give tithes of all that I possess !" O, how 
 contemptible is pride, in the sight of God and man, and 
 how horrible in itself 
 
 Are you not, perhaps, filled with secret pride, which 
 causes you to look with scorn upon others, and which makes 
 
238 Good Thoughts. 
 
 you try to lower them in order to elevate yourself? Pray 
 with humility. 
 
 2. The humility of the publican. He stood afar off, and 
 dared not so much as to lift his eyes up towards heaven ; 
 he struck his breast, declared himself to be a sinner, and 
 asked pardon of God. 
 
 Imitate his humility; confess your sins, acknowledge 
 your nothingness, strike your breast, be filled with sor- 
 row and grief, and you will obtain pardon of your sins on 
 account of your humility ! 
 
 3. The punishtnent of the former and the reward of the 
 latter. The proud Pharisee returned from the temple filled 
 with as much pride as when he had entered it, and instead 
 of having obtained forgiveness of his sins, he had committed 
 new ones. The humble publican, however, who had entered 
 the temple while in the state of sin, returned in the grace of 
 God, being entirely freed from his sins ; for Christ says : 
 
 "He that exalteth himself shall be humbled, and he that hurableth him- 
 self shall be exalted." — Luke xviii, 14. 
 
 Monday. Reasons for practicing hum llity . 
 
 1. The example of Christ. He is the sovereign Lord of 
 the world, but He, notwithstanding, humbled Himself in 
 such a manner as to be born in a stable, and He even 
 allowed Himself to be wrapped in swaddling clothes, like 
 an infant. He subjected himself to hunger, thirst, and 
 many other privations. He lived always in the greatest 
 poverty, suffering insults, ignominy, blows, scourges, and 
 His only desire was to be nailed to the cross, in order to die 
 between two thieves. 
 
 O, what a beautiful example of humility ! My adorable 
 Lord ! shall any thing, after this, prevent me from being 
 humble ? 
 
 2. The promises made by Christ to the humble. He knew 
 humility to be the foundation of all other virtues. For this 
 reason He encourages Christians to practice it, not only by 
 His own example, but also by giving them the promise of 
 His grace and glory. " He that humbleth himself shall be 
 exalted !" We shall be exalted in heaven according to the 
 degree in which we have humbled ourselves upon earth. 
 Humility is one of the surest means by which we can obtain 
 the grace of God, for St. James says, "God resisteth the 
 proud and giveth grace to the humble." — James iv, 6. 
 
Good Thoughts. 239 
 
 Humility has also this advantage, that it gives inward 
 peace ; for nothing can disturb the soul of a truly humble 
 man, who considers himself unworthy of any good, but 
 worthy of every evil. 
 
 One thing is certain, and that is, that many of your 
 troubles and vexations are caused by your too great sensi- 
 tiveness at the humiliations which God sends you in order 
 to try you. 
 
 3. The threats made hy Christ to the proud. " He that 
 exalteth himself shall be humbled," says the Savior. And 
 again he declares that "unless we humble ourselves and 
 become as little children, we shall not enter the kingdom of 
 heaven." Remember that the Pharisee who prayed with 
 so much pride was rejected by God, while the Publican 
 went down to his house justified. Look at the shame with 
 which he was covered, who had to leave the first place which 
 he had taken at the wedding feast ! — Luke, xiv, 9. The 
 proud man will be punished by Almighty God, by himself 
 and by others ! 
 
 Hate pride, as it is one of the most dangerous of vices ! 
 
 *'God resisteth. the proud." — James iv, 6. 
 
 Tuesday. Confession, 
 
 1. In confession God forgives all sins. O wonderful 
 advantage of the sacrament of penance ! If you have made 
 a sincere confession of your sins, Almighty God forgives 
 them all, even if they should be without number and as red 
 as blood. He forgives them forever, and He promises never 
 again to remember them. He changes eternal into temporal 
 punishment, and even this He diminishes according to your 
 sorrow. 
 
 O incomparable goodness, who should not love Thee? 
 Shall I continue my wickedness and my insults to Thee, 
 because Thou forgivest me with so much kindness ? 
 
 2. He restores to us all our merits. By mortal sin you 
 lost all the merits of your good works, but by doing penance 
 you regain them. Your soul, stained with sin, will be restored 
 to its first beauty. God, the angels and saints, who were 
 your enemies, again become your friends. After having lost 
 heaven and deserved hell, you again become entitled to the 
 inheritance of heaven. 
 
 Be thankful to God, and never expose yourself to the dan- 
 ger of losing His friendship or your eternal reward ! 
 
24:0 Good Thoughts. 
 
 3. He bestows new graces. What an abundance of love ! 
 Almighty God not only forgives us, but He desires even to 
 impart to us His friendship and grace. He gives us sancti- 
 fying grace and assists us, so that ^q may not fall back into 
 our former sins. He quiets our conscience, instils into our 
 hearts a greater love for purity, and makes us hate sin more 
 and more. 
 
 Let us often approach this holy sacrament, but with due 
 preparation. 
 
 " I forgave thee all the debt because thou besoughtest me." — Matt, 
 xviii, 32. 
 
 Wednesday. God demands of us in confession. 
 
 1. The sacrifice of the lips^ by making them confess our 
 sins. Almighty God wishes you to accuse yourself of your 
 sins, so that He may absolve you from them. Do not make 
 excuses as Adam did, and do not conceal your sins ! If you 
 find difficulty in making your confession, offer it as a sacri- 
 fice to God in atonement for your sins. There is no necessity 
 in being overcome by shame, because you are obliged to 
 confess your sins to a man ; you should remember that He 
 knows the frailty of human nature, and that He is bound 
 under pain of mortal sin to keep inviolate the seal of con- 
 fession. If you make a sincere confession, you need never 
 again confess the sins which were remitted to you. 
 
 Would it not be folly to suffer and die wretchedly rather 
 than reveal your disease to the physician ? 
 
 2. The sacrifice of the hearty by having sincere sorroio. 
 It is only right that the heart, which forsook God in order to 
 give itself to a creature, should repent of its error and leave 
 the object of its affection, and return to God. Consider, 
 that He whom you have offended is your God and your 
 most amiable Father ! He is your Creator, Redeemer and 
 Benefactor, and still you insult Him so often and so griev- 
 ously ! 
 
 Have a hearty sorrow for your sins, and repent of them 
 out of love to God ! 
 
 3. The sacrifice of the hands by satisfaction. Show your 
 sorrow by your works ! Do not be content with performing 
 the penances imposed upon you, but take revenge upon your- 
 self for the insults which you have offered to God, and by 
 voluntary mortification, fastings, prayers and alms-deeds, 
 endeavor to obtain pardon of your sins. 
 
Good Thoughts. 241 
 
 Is is not better to satisfy God now — by performing a few 
 acts of penance, than to burn forever in the flames of hell ? 
 Repair the loss which you have perhaps caused to your 
 neighbor, and promise with the assistance of the divine 
 grace to avoid all occasion of sin. 
 
 *' And he shall purify the sons of Levi." — Malachi iii, 3. 
 
 Thursday. Necessity of contrition, 
 
 1. In regard to the past, for it makes us weep over our 
 sins. Remember your ingratitude and faithlessness ! Re- 
 member that God forbad you to offend Him, and how, 
 notwithstanding His commandments, His threats and kind- 
 ness — you preferred to gratify your base passions ! The 
 sight of your Savior upon the cross should increase your 
 sorrow, for it is your sins that have driven the nails 
 through His hands, pressed the thorny crown into His head, 
 pierced His side, lacerated His body, opened His wounds 
 and finally put Him to death. 
 
 Meditate frequently on these reasons for contrition ! 
 
 2. In regard to the present, it destroys sin. In making 
 your confession, contrition is so necessary, that without it 
 you commit a grievous sin, instead of being absolved from 
 your offenses. Contrition to be valid must, in the first place, 
 be supernatural, that is, it must be produced by supernatural 
 motives, as was the sorrow of David, and not by natural 
 reasons, as was that of Saul. Your contrition is super- 
 natural, if you are sorry for your sins, because that God is 
 good, and sin displeases Him; because He is the most 
 sovereign, perfect and amiable good in Himself. Secondly. 
 It must be universal. You must not have the least incli- 
 nation for any sin, and must be determined, never to sin 
 again. Thirdly. It must he sincere, that is, it must not be 
 expressed by word only, but it must come from the very 
 depths of our heart. It is not enough to read or make an 
 act of contrition, but we must have it in our heart. 
 
 Examine yourself on this subject ! 
 
 3. In regard to the future, it makes us resolve never to 
 sin again. You must be determined never to offend God 
 again ; for how could you otherwise have contrition for your 
 sins, if you intend to commit them on the first occasion ? 
 The reason why so many bad confessions are made, is because 
 sinners are not resolved to correct their evil habits. 
 
 Instead of spending too much time in examining your 
 
 21 
 
242 Good Thoughts. 
 
 conscience, be more careful in future to make an act of con- 
 trition united with a firm purpose of amendment. Although 
 it is necessary to examine your conscience and to think 
 of your sins, it is also necessary to excite contrition within 
 your breast and to make the resolution to be converted. 
 
 " Turn away Thy face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities." — 
 Psalm Ix, 11. 
 
 Friday. The necessity of examining our conscience, 
 
 1. In order to know and avoid our sins. We are, strange 
 to say, very wise concerning the affairs of the world, and 
 very quick in detecting the faults of others; but we are 
 absolutely blind to our own defects. It is very important 
 that we should know ourselves, in order that we may avoid 
 certain sins and abjure certain evil habits. The best means 
 to accomplish this object is to examine our conscience before 
 dinner and before retiring to bed. After having been 
 employed the whole day in attending to business, we should 
 retire within ourselves and examine in what respect we have 
 been unfaithful to God. We will then on the following day 
 avoid those sins which we observed in ourselves at our 
 last examen of conscience, and when we find that we are 
 inclined to give way to sloth, distraction, anger or any other 
 grievous sin, which was the cause of our former transgres- 
 sions, we will be the better able to resist them. 
 
 Make your examen of conscience with strictness ! 
 
 2. In order to obtain virtue. This examen of conscience 
 is not only useful in giving us a precise knowledge of our 
 sins, but it also .shows us what progress we have made in 
 virtue. For this reason we should, beside making a general 
 examen, often make a particular one, concerning any sin 
 which we wish to avoid, or any virtue which we desire to 
 practice. In the morning make the firm resolution to con- 
 quer your predominant passion and to acquire some special 
 virtue. If you fall during the day into sin or imperfection, 
 strike your breast and at once ask pardon of God. When 
 you make the examination of conscience in the evening, see 
 what fruits your particular examen has brought forth ! 
 
 O, if every two weeks or every month we would only try 
 to gain one virtue, we would soon attain perfection ! But, 
 alas, we examine our conscience very carelessly, we are 
 satisfied with knowing what sins we have committed, with- 
 out enquiring as to what progress we have made in virtue, 
 
Good Thoughts. 243 
 
 and whether we have seized every occasion that has offered 
 itself during the day to perform some good work. 
 
 Try to do better ! 
 
 3. In order to he well prepared for eternity. This hour is 
 perhaps your last ; if you should die during the night, after 
 having spent the day in sin and rioting, you will most 
 assuredly be eternally lost. Is it not, therefore, a matter of 
 duty for you, before going to rest, to examine your con- 
 science, to make an act of sincere contrition and to ask 
 pardon of God, so that you may be well prepared in case of 
 sudden death ? 
 
 Remember never to omit this examen, for it will make 
 you still better, if you are in a state of grace ; it will 
 make you more zealous, and will cause you to walk more 
 prudently and to serve God with greater perfection. 
 
 " If we would judge ourselves we should not be judged." — 1 Cor. xi, 31. 
 
 Saturday. The misfortune of the sinner, 
 
 1. He falls from one sin into another. If we once com- 
 mence to give ourselves up to sin, it is as if a river had 
 overflowed its banks, and caused destruction on all sides. 
 The sinner cannot be restrained either by the fear of God or 
 man, either by the horror of sin or by the kindness of God. 
 He imagines that because he is already in a state of mortal 
 sin, it makes little difference how often he offends God. and 
 that it would be just as easy for him to confess a hundred 
 mortal sins as it would ten. The consequence is that he 
 falls deeper and deeper into sin; he chains himself wdth 
 new fetters and makes his conversion more difficult. 
 
 O how lamentable is this blindness ! Do not heap sin 
 upon sin, but escape from the danger to which you have 
 exposed yourself! 
 
 2. If he has fallen, he gives him^self up to fear aud sad- 
 ness. His conscience torments him, the thought of the jus- 
 tice of God terrifies him, and the scandal which he has given, 
 fills him with shame. He becomes melancholy and depressed, 
 but he resembles an obstinate child who is punished but not 
 converted. Although he knows that he has offended God, 
 he never dreams of asking His pardon or abandoning sin ; 
 his love for sensuality keeps him back ; he thinks that he 
 cannot free himself from the thraldom of sin. He knows 
 that God is kind and merciful, but he fears to be punished 
 according to His justice. One moment he is on the point 
 
244 Good Thoughts. 
 
 of being converted, but the next moment the desire has left 
 him, and he meanwhile continues in his sinful course. 
 
 Weep over the unhappinesa of the sinner ; do not remain 
 in the state of sin, but free yourself from it by sincere 
 repentance ! 
 
 3. After the sin he refuses the means by which to rise 
 again. How many powerful thoughts urge him to be con- 
 verted ; but he repels them all ! He knows that he is 
 unhappy, that it only depends upon him to rise from sin, 
 and that God will give him sufficient grace to do so ; but he 
 refuses to accept it. He knows that an act of contrition is 
 easily made, but he will not make it. He knows that any 
 priest would hear his confession, but he will not approach 
 the tribunal of penance. At last when he has persevered for 
 some time in his sins, these thoughts become weaker, he 
 falls into obduracy and dies impenitent. 
 
 Be converted to God, and serve Him in sanctity ! 
 
 "Deep calleth on deep." — Psalm xli, 8. 
 
 ELEVENTH WEEK AFTER PENTECOST. 
 
 GrOSPEL: — Mark, vii, 31-37. At that time, Jesus going out of the coast 
 of Tyre, came by Sidon to the sea of Galilee, etc. 
 
 Sunday. The deaf and dumb devil, 
 
 1. We hear not, because we do not wish to hear. The 
 Savior healed a man who was deaf, by putting His fingers 
 into his ears, and by touching his tongue. He cast out the 
 devil who made him dumb. There is a very dangerous 
 spiritual deafness, which consists in not wishing to hear. 
 
 If you would listen to the sermon, go to confession, read 
 good books and pray, you would hear the voice of God ; 
 you would know His will and the means by which to obtain 
 perfection. But you close your ears to all these inspirations 
 of God. How often does grace knock at the door of your 
 conscience, but you seek distractions in order not to hear it. 
 
 2. We hear not, because ive live in the midst of tumult. 
 If a great noise is made, we all know that it is impossible to 
 
Good Thoughts. 245 
 
 hear well, and we should learn from this fact, that if we sin- 
 cerely desire to listen to the voice of God, we must renounce 
 the society of those who do not love Him, we must cease 
 to visit places of amusement, and we must not be too 
 much engrossed in business. If we comply with the above 
 rules we will find ourselves more recollected when in the 
 presence of God, and we will then be better able to hear 
 His voice and to discern the motions of grace from those of 
 nature. 
 
 3. We hear not, because toe choose to remain deaf. A 
 heavy cold in the head will sometimes impair our hearing 
 for a while; but time and care will remedy the evil. If, 
 however, love for a creature, the desire of revenge or any 
 other passion takes possession of your heart, all the preacli- 
 ers of the universe, all the kind admonitions of friends are 
 of no avail, and time only aggravates the misery of your 
 condition. 
 
 0. Lord, remove from me all that prevents me from hear- 
 ing Thee ! Let all creatures be silent, that I may hear only 
 Thy voice ! 
 
 " Who is blind but My servant, or deaf but he to whom I have sent My 
 messengers ? " — Isaias xlii, 19. 
 
 Monday. The spiritually dumb are* 
 
 1. Those who do not speak for the honor of God. There 
 ^re persons who often have it in their power to check the 
 slanderer and the blasphemer, and who could also prevent 
 many insults from being offered to Almighty God ; but the 
 unfortunate dread of " what will people think of it," restrains 
 them. They stand more in awe of the opinion of a fellow- 
 creature than they do of God. Some parents, for fear that 
 their children might be angry with them, hesitate to punish 
 them when they have done wrong, and there are some 
 superiors who, for fear of becoming unpopular among their 
 subjects, neglect even to admonish those in whom they have 
 discovered absolute defects of character. 
 
 Interest yourselves as a good child should in the cause of 
 God your heavenly Father ! 
 
 2. Those who do not speak in behalf of their neighbor. 
 There are persons who are eloquent in defense of those they 
 love ; but if the good name of those whom they do not like 
 or do not know is attacked, they laugh and are delighted at 
 the scandalous and unchristian abuse heaped upon them, 
 
 21* 
 
246 Good Thoughts. 
 
 They hear the character of an innocent person assailed, but 
 instead of reproving the speaker they remain silent. 
 
 Detest such abominable conduct ! 
 
 3. Those icho do not speak for their own good. Alas, 
 shame closes the lips of many who make sacrilegious con- 
 fessions rather than reveal the sins which .they have com- 
 mitted. They are very ready at making excuses, and find 
 no difficulty in expressing themselves when endeavoring to 
 extenuate their faults. Some even are so wicked that they 
 call God to witness their being innocent of a sin of which 
 they know themselves to be guilty. 
 
 Avoid the terrible consequences of such a sacrilege ! 
 
 "In Thee, 0, my God, I put my trust; let me not be ashamed I " — Psalm 
 xxiv, 2. 
 
 Tuesday. Meditation. 
 
 1. What we have to do before meditation. It is very 
 necessary that those who aspire after perfection should 
 learn how to meditate. Reflect first of all, that in medita- 
 tion we should be careful not to approach God without due 
 preparation. This preparation is two-fold. The first is a 
 remote preparation, and consists in purity of heart, in the 
 mortification of our passions and in the spirit of recollection 
 which we should possess in all our actions. It is an old 
 saying, that what you were before meditation, you will be 
 during it. How is it possible that a person who indulges 
 in anger, vanity and passion, who is immodest and distracted 
 during the whole day, who scarcely ever thinks of God, but is 
 constantly engaged in affairs of either business or pleasure — 
 how can such a person be recollected and united with God 
 during meditation ? The object of his affection will be con- 
 stantly before him, and will so distract his thoughts, that 
 he will find it impossible to make a good meditation. O my 
 Lord, I do not wonder at the ill success of my meditations, 
 for the reason that I prepare myself so carelessly before 
 making them ! The second preparation is called proximate, 
 and consists in deciding upon the subject of your medita- 
 tion and in selecting the different affections and good 
 resolutions which you intend making. This preparation 
 should be made in the morning and evening, because you 
 have to consider in your mind the points of your meditation. 
 
 O my Lord, teach me how to meditate, so that I may be 
 united with Thee and separated from the world ! 
 
Good Thoughts. 247 
 
 2. "What we have to do during meditation. First. In 
 regard to time. Devote as much time as you can spare, to 
 your meditation. Commence the day with this important 
 work, and you will find how profitable meditation will be 
 to you ; you will be the stronger to resist temptation, more 
 recollected in the performance of your duties, more fer- 
 vent at your devotions and more cheerful in the practice 
 of mortifica^tion and in the performance of good works. 
 Secondly. In regard to place. You can make your medi- 
 tation either in your own room, in some secluded place or 
 else in the church ; for God is everywhere, and you can 
 converse with Him in any place. Thirdly. In regard to the 
 matter of meditation. You can use some religious book, in 
 which you will find ample matter for meditation. Fourthly. 
 In regard to the manner. You must above all things com- 
 prehend the subject of meditation, and then you must make 
 acts of affection and form good resolutions. You must 
 place yourself in the presence of God and avoid all dis- 
 tractions ; you must keep your body in a respectful posture 
 and not allow your eyes to wander about in every direction. 
 This outward modesty of the body will serve to increase 
 the attention and recollection of the soul. 
 
 Ask yourself before God, how you have conducted your- 
 self heretofore during your meditations. O, how many 
 imperfections do you find, how many reasons have you to 
 be ashamed ! 
 
 3. W^hat we should do after meditation. Read your 
 meditation once again, and reflect particularly upon those 
 points, which affected you most at the time, in order to 
 bring it before your mind during the day. You should 
 thank God, if you have meditated well, or ask His pardon, 
 if you have committed any sin, and promise in future to 
 avoid all carelessness. The principal thing, however, is for 
 you to practice during the day those virtues upon which you 
 meditated in the morning. How is it, that after so many 
 years of meditation you are still the same, and that so little 
 improvement has taken place in you ? It is because you do 
 not put your good resolutions into practice. 
 
 You must henceforth execute with more fidelity the 
 good resolutions which you have made during your medita- 
 tion ! 
 
 " His will is the law of the Lord, and on His law he shall meditate day 
 and night." — Psalm i, 2. 
 
248 Good Thoughts. 
 
 Wednesday. The tongue is a fire : 
 
 1. I^lre co7isumes all. St. James justly compares the 
 tongue to fire ; for like fire it destroys everything it touches, 
 nothing is too sacred or too unholy for it to attack; it 
 assails a neighbor by slandering his good name, it destroys 
 the peace of others by causing discord, and it severs the 
 most intimate friendships by means of gossiping and quar- 
 rels. It spares neither priests nor people, neither the princes 
 of the church nor the princes of the land, for like fire it 
 carries destruction wherever it goes. 
 
 Does your tongue not commit these sins ? 
 
 2. It spreads rapidly. Fire gathers strength as it spreads, 
 and the more it has to feed on, the higher will the flames 
 rise. So it is with an evil tongue. A conversation can be 
 easily misrepresented; words that were uttered in jest, can 
 be construed into an insult, and the consequences have some- 
 times been of the most serious character. A falsehood will 
 lead us to commit perjury, and one word will often cause 
 the greatest hatred between those who were once fondly 
 attached to each other. 
 
 Fear these disorders and avoid them ! 
 
 3. It is hard to check. When a fire is burning with fury, 
 it is difficult to extinguish the flames, and it is nearly as 
 impossible to restrain a tongue, which is always speaking 
 evil and causing misery to others. When the Savior 
 desired to heal a man that was dumb. He lifted up 
 His eyes and groaned. O what prayers are necessary to 
 check an evil tongue ; it almost requires a miracle to do so ! 
 How hard it is to make amends to a person whose good 
 name has been injured ! How hard it is to restore peace 
 when the torch of war is blazing! How difficult it is to set- 
 tle quarrels or to remedy the evils which have been caused 
 by a wicked tongue ! 
 
 Resolve for the future to be more cautious and charitable 
 in your remarks concerning others ! 
 
 The tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity." — James iii, 6. 
 
 Thursday. The evils caused by calumny, 
 
 1 . To him who slanders. " Calumny will be his death," 
 says St. Bernard. The same thing will happen to him as 
 happens to the bee, which loses its life by a sting. If the 
 consequences of calumny are fatal, then it is a mortal sin. 
 
 Why are you in the habit of slandering others ? 
 
Good Thoughts. 249 
 
 You will answer: "Because what I say is true." But 
 even so ; that gives you no right to make known the faults 
 of others. If you do not act against justice, you surely 
 violate charity. You will perhaps say, that you were not 
 in earnest when you spoke ; but that is a miserable excuse. 
 It may be that you regard it as a matter of little import^ 
 ance, but rest assured, that it is a serious thing to injure the 
 reputation of another. 
 
 Do not excuse yourself with saying that you spoke in 
 anger. Why then do you not govern your temper ? 
 
 2. To him who is slandered. Alas, if you but knew the 
 injury which you inflict upon those whom you slander, you 
 would be more cautious. You are the cause of their credit 
 being impaired, and they have perhaps sustained thereby an 
 irreparable loss. What has a person more precious than his 
 good name ? and yet you take it from him. The one whom 
 you have slandered may have previously enjoyed the respect 
 and confidence of the entire community, but you have caused 
 him to be suspected of every kind of wickedness. 
 
 What will become of a woman who has lost her good 
 name through your means ? What respect will people have 
 for a priest whom you falsely accuse of a wicked deed ? 
 You will perhaps declare that you only mentioned it to one 
 person, under the promise of secrecy ; but this person will 
 confide the secret to another, and so it goes on until finally 
 the scandal is widely spread. 
 
 3. To him who listens willingly to calumny. He who 
 takes pleasure in hearing others slandered and abused, is 
 very apt to indulge in the same vice himself. He ofiends 
 God, and stands in great danger of losing his soul. 
 
 Avoid calumniators and slanderers as you would a dan- 
 gerous and contagious disease ! It may be, that when you 
 commenced the conversation, you had no intention of 
 making unchristian remarks ; but you are insensibly led to 
 indulge in language that is contrary to the law of charity. 
 
 "The sons of men, whose teeth are weapons and arrows, and their 
 tongue is a sharp sword." — Psahn Ivi, 5. 
 
 Friday. The sins committed by the tongue, 
 
 1. Mockery. Never mock another person. If you do so 
 out of revenge, you act wickedly. If you do so for the sake 
 of amusement, it is equally sinful; and if you have wounded 
 the feelings of another unintentionally, lose no time in 
 
250 Good Thoughts. 
 
 making an apology. Insult no one, for it is a great mistake 
 to imagine that every one is insensible to ridicule. 
 
 Never indulge in mirth at the expense of others, and be 
 careful not to use words that have a double meaning. 
 
 2. Mashness. Never speak rashly, but reflect seriously 
 upon what you intend to say, especially if the subject under 
 consideration is of importance. Speak with prudence, for 
 sometimes a little word is the cause of great mischief. 
 Never speak of things which do not concern you, and on no 
 account ever become a tale-bearer. 
 
 3. Falsehood. Never tell a lie, for you will thereby 
 grievously offend God, and lose your own good name ; for 
 if it is discovered that you have told a falsehood, no one 
 will ever believe you, even upon oath. 
 
 It is always sinful to lie; and under no circumstances 
 must you ever offend the God of truth and justice. 
 
 "Keep thy tongue from evil and thy lips from speaking guile." — Psalm 
 xxxiii, 14. 
 
 Saturday. The evils of a wicked tongue. 
 
 1. It offends God and banishes devotion. It would be 
 very difficult to count the sins by which the tongue offends 
 God. Who can enumerate the curses, oaths, blasphemies, 
 ridicule of holy things, immodest speeches and songs, and 
 the thousand other sins of which the tongue is guilty ? It 
 also destroys the spirit of devotion ; for your own expe- 
 rience teaches you that you can pray better after having 
 preserved a religious silence for some time, than if you had 
 spent the whole day in idle conversation. 
 
 Speak less ! Silence is profitable to all men ! 
 
 2. It offends your neighbor. Remember the insults, slan- 
 ders, calumnies, false reports, curses and wicked speeches, 
 by which you have scandalized your neighbor! Consider 
 that you perhaps have taught him to use language which he 
 would otherwise not have learned, and you are consequently 
 answerable in a great measure for his soul if it is lost. 
 
 The fear of falling into these sins should make you more 
 careful in your conversation. 
 
 3. It offends on account of a trifle. How little real plea- 
 sure there is in idle conversation ! An avaricious man deriv es 
 profit from his gold, an ambitious man delights in his honors, 
 the sensualist enjoys his guilty pleasures; but what advan- 
 tage do you receive from using insulting and angry words ? 
 
Good Thoughts. 251 
 
 A moment after you have spoken, nothing is left to you but 
 the sorrowftil conviction that you have offended God and 
 insulted your neighbor on account of a mere trifle. 
 
 O, Lord, teach me how to keep silence, and so to speak 
 that I may never offend Thee or my neighbor by my tongue ! 
 
 " If any man think himself to be religious, not bridling his tongue, but 
 deceiving his own heart, this man's religion is in vain." — James i, 26. 
 
 TWELFTH WEEK AFTER PENTECOST. 
 
 Gospel: — Lukex, 23-27. At that time, Jesus said to His disciples, 
 blessed are the eyes that see the things which you see, etc. 
 
 Sunday. The charity of the Samaritan, 
 
 1. He had compassion with his fellowman. On his jour- 
 ney he met a poor man who had fallen into the hands of 
 robbers, while on his way to Jericho. They had inflicted 
 wounds upon him, and left him lying half dead on the road. 
 Many persons passed him by, among whomywere a priest 
 and a Levite ; but they were not touched with compassion 
 at seeing his wretched state. The Samaritan was the only 
 one who had pity on the unfortunate Jew. 
 
 Have compassion on the poor and afflicted ! Console 
 them with friendly words, and remember that God will deal 
 as hardly with you as you do with your brother ! 
 
 2. Se put himself to inconvenience. The Samaritan 
 was not satisfied with merely speaking kindly to the wounded 
 man, but he alighted from his horse, placed him upon it 
 and walking by his side, conveyed him to an inn. 
 
 Imitate his kindness ! Do not be one of those who never 
 show compassion to others, if they, by doing so are obliged 
 to deprive themselves of any comfort. Your merit will be 
 all the greater, if you suffer a little inconvenience in order 
 to assist your neighbor. 
 
 3. Se bestoioed upon him some of his goods. After having 
 dressed the wounds of the unfortunate Jew, the Samaritan 
 commanded the innkeeper to attend carefully to the wants 
 of the wounded man, and he promised to pay all the expenses 
 incurred. 
 
252 Good Thoughts. 
 
 How can it be known that you are charitably disposed if 
 you always refuse to assist others? Help the poor with 
 your money, for you cannot make better use of it. If God 
 has blessed you with wealth, you should conscientiously 
 endeavor to relieve the necessities of those who live in 
 poverty and want. 
 
 Follow the example of this Samaritan and be liberal in 
 your charities ! 
 
 " Let all your things be done in charity." — 1 Cor. xvi, 14. 
 
 Monday. Reasons why we should practice charity. 
 
 1. God commands us to do so. The two greatest com- 
 mandments are those in which we are told to love God 
 above all things, and our neighbor as ourself. O, how much 
 on the contrary are you attached to the comforts and plea- 
 sures of this life, how annoyed are you if anything happens 
 that will cause you a little temporary discomfort ! It is the 
 will of God, that you should love your neighbor as yourself. 
 
 If your brother does not deserve to be loved, you should 
 love him for the sake of God. 
 
 2. He m^ahes use of prom,ises and threats. He promises 
 heaven to those who practice brotherly love, for He says, 
 " I was hungry, and you gave me to eat." He condemns 
 to the eternal lire of hell, all those who refuse to assist the 
 poor and afflicted, and in order that no one can excuse 
 himself on the plea of ignorance. He adds the following 
 words : " Amen, I say to you, as long as you did it to one 
 of these my least brethren, you did it to me." — Matt, xxv, 
 40. 
 
 If you possessed a sincere and active love for your neigh- 
 bor, God would give you more graces. 
 
 3. He sets us an example. The kind and good Samaritan 
 is Christ, who came down from heaven in order to heal the 
 fatal wounds which sin had inflicted upon man. He uses 
 oil and wine, that is, kindness and severity, promises and 
 threats, in order to bring us back from the life of sin to 
 that of grace. 
 
 How many graces does not Almighty God give to the 
 sinner, so that he may be converted, how many sacraments 
 to sanctify him, how many means by which he may save 
 himself! 
 
 "Dearly beloved, let us love one another." — 1 John iv, T. 
 
Good Thoughts. 253 
 
 Tuesday. The spirit of love is opposed to : 
 
 1. Envy. This is the sin by which Satan lost heaven, and 
 as he is unhappy forever, he wishes others to be the same. 
 He therefore seeks to prevent you from entering heaven, 
 because he himself is eternally condemned to the flames 
 of hell. If you are envious you will be miserable ; for all 
 your ill-will cannot prevent those whom you envy, from 
 becoming rich and respected by the world. The only harm 
 that can result from your envy, is that you may be the 
 means of ruining others as well as yourself. 
 
 When you see any one held in higher estimation than 
 you are yourself, you often sin against charity not only in 
 word, but in deed; for instead of rejoicing at the success 
 of a fellow-creature, you become morose and unhappy. Is 
 this not a vice unworthy of a christian ? 
 
 2. Impatience. Why is it, that so many persons speak 
 in loud and discordant tones, and sometimes even curse and 
 swear ? The reason is because they cannot bear the least 
 opposition, and if any one differs from them in opinion, they 
 lose all control of their temper. If we would not be so 
 ready to take offense, we would enjoy greater peace of 
 mind, and be much more happy. 
 
 Meditate upon this truth and profit by it ! 
 
 3. Self-love. We cannot love others, because we love 
 ourselves too much. We are anxious to possess comfort 
 and honor, others wish to possess the same, and as one will 
 not give way to the other, quarrels and enmities arise, which 
 are as a matter of course opposed to the spirit of fraternal 
 love. A proud man thinks that no one is entitled to as much 
 respect as he is himself, and if he sees that there is a possi- 
 bility of another surpassing him, he becomes wretched, and 
 seeks every opportunity to injure the reputation of his 
 rival. 
 
 Check the growth of self-love and envy in your heart ; 
 be humble, quiet, patient and kind to all ! 
 
 "And this I pray, that your charity may more and more abound in 
 knowledge and in all understanding." — Phillip, i, 9. 
 
 Wednesday. We must practice love. 
 
 1. To all. The Samaritan did not stop to inquire as to 
 whether the wounded man was rich or poor, noble or igno- 
 ble ; it was enough for him to know that he was an object 
 of charity. Thus Christ acts towards all men. The sacra- 
 22 
 
264 Good Thoughts. 
 
 ments and graces are for all, and whoever is worthily pre- 
 pared can approach the table of the Lord. 
 
 If you confine your love to a certain few, it is to be feared 
 that you act only from natural inclination or selfishness, and 
 not from true Christian charity. 
 
 2. In everything. O, how many opportunities have you 
 to assist your neighbor in his corporal wants? How many 
 suffer from hunger, nakedness, affliction and poverty? Help 
 him also in his spiritual necessities ; teach the ignorant, 
 admonish the sinner, console the miserable and pray for all. 
 
 Charity is inventive ; if we love any one we can easily 
 find means by which to benefit them. 
 
 3. At all times. We are very apt to become weary in 
 doing good, especially if it puts us to any inconvenience, 
 and if we receive ingratitude where we expected gratitude. 
 " Charity," says St. Paul, " is patient." 
 
 Continue your works of charity and do not become dis- 
 couraged at every difficulty. Almighty God, for whose 
 sake you labor, will reward you. 
 
 "Be ye therefore merciful, as your father also is merciful." — Luke vi, 36. 
 
 Thursday. We must hear patiently. 
 
 1. The defects we see in others. We often cherish feelings 
 of aversion for others who have caused us any trouble. 
 Sometimes this feeling has its origin in envy or revenge, but 
 we should be careful to suppress them in the very beginning, 
 for they destroy devotion, make us angry and unhappy, and 
 induce us to commit many sins. There is another kind of 
 aversion, which we should not indulge in, and that is when 
 we see persons who are awkward, homely or deformed. 
 
 Ove^rcome all this ! When you are in the society of such 
 persons, never let them perceive by your manner that you 
 have remarked any difference between them and others. 
 Remember that there is a great reward promised to those 
 who generously conquer their feelings. 
 
 2. The contrary dispositions loe meet with. What pleases 
 us may perhaps be displeasing to another. There is every 
 variety of character to be found among men. Charity 
 demands that you shall accommodate yourself to the pecu- 
 liarities of others and fulfil their desires, if they are not sinful. 
 
 This is the perfection which St. Paul commands all Chris- 
 tians to practice, saying : " Brethren, suffer one another ! " 
 O, if you would do this, you would always live in peace ! 
 
Good Thoughts. 255 
 
 3. The ill-temper and imperfections of others. Who of 
 us is free from sin ? We all have defects and should there- 
 fore bear with the faults of others, just as they do with ours. 
 If your brother has done wrong, forgive him ; have patience 
 with him, whether he is sorry for his sins or not. Make no 
 reply if he indulges in abusive language, but imitate St. 
 Monica, who never answered her husband when she saw him 
 angry. It is right and proper to punish wickedness, but it 
 should be done with such prudence, patience and meekness 
 that it would not be contrary to charity. ^ 
 
 "Bear ye one anothers burden." — Galat. vi, 2. 
 
 Friday. Sins against fraternal love, 
 
 1. To wish that evil may hefal any 07ie. From aversion 
 we easily fall into anger and hatred. We desire evil to 
 those whom we do not like, and we rejoice if any misfortune 
 overtakes them. These wishes are more dangerous than 
 you imagine,' and if you do not uproot them at once from 
 your heart, they will lead you to offend God more grievously, 
 and will finally induce you to commit some heinous sin. 
 
 Unhappy man, what benefit have you derived from wish- 
 ing evil to your enemies ? They have not become the poorer 
 or the less happy on that account, but you have become 
 more sinful and guilty before God ! 
 
 2. To inflict evil upon others. From wishing evil you 
 proceed to do evil. You injure your neighbor, you destroy 
 his good name by means of slander and calumny; you 
 impair his credit, and by cunning and robbery defraud him 
 of his property ; you injure him in his person by violence, 
 blows and other abuses. 
 
 Beware of all these sins ! Let love dwell in your heart, 
 for it is a virtue which is pleasing to God, profitable to your 
 neighbor and necessary to yourself! 
 
 3. ISFot to avert the evil which threatens them. If you 
 would truly love your neighbor, you would endeavor to pre- 
 vent the calamity which menaces him, from happening, but 
 alas, you do the very reverse ! You hear him slandered, and 
 yet you rejoice at it ; you could prevent it, but you do not. 
 You know that some great wrong will be done to him, you 
 could avert it, but you are determined not to do so. 
 
 Do every thing in your power to mitigate the sufiTerings 
 of your neighbor ! Almighty God will richly reward you 
 
25G Good Thoughts. 
 
 for the charity and kindness which you have shown him in his 
 troubles. 
 
 " Judgment without mercy to him that hath not done mercy." — James 
 ii, 13. 
 
 Saturday. Our ohllgatioiis towards our neighbor. 
 
 1. We must not do evil to him. The first and principal 
 mark of friendship is to do no wrong to him whom we love. 
 You must therefore never wish evil to your neighbor, but 
 forgive him, if he has offended you; you should not rejoice 
 at any loss he sustains ! 
 
 O, what a great virtue is charity ; but alas, how often it 
 is abused ! In our charities we generally act either from 
 impulse or policy ; we love our neighbor in so far as it is 
 profitable to do so. Is this the christian love which Christ 
 commands us to possess ? 
 
 2. We must do good to him. What does it profit you to 
 say you love any one unless you show it by your actions ? 
 Assist your neighbor, give alms to the poor, protect the for- 
 saken, console the afflicted, visit the sick, pray for your 
 brethren, labor zealously for their salvation ; spare neither 
 time nor trouble, even if those for whom you exert yourself 
 prove to be ungrateful ; the more disinterested you are in 
 your charities, the more pleasing it will be before God, and 
 the more ingratitude men show you, the greater will be your 
 merit in heaven. 
 
 But alas, how rarely is this love found ! We love, but 
 only to gratify our own selfish purposes. 
 
 3. We must he tolerant with the faults of others Your 
 heart should always be filled with fraternal love. You may 
 come in contact with persons who are rude or passionate, too 
 slow or too quick, and with those who are melancholy, envi- 
 ous and insupportably proud ; but notwithstanding all this, 
 you must not show your aversion to them. You say they 
 have faults ; but who is perfect ? Those who know you, bear 
 patiently with your imperfections ; show, therefore, the same 
 kindness to others. If you are certain that another is in the 
 wrong, do not become angry on that account; for it is bet- 
 ter to preserve charity than to convince him of his mistake 
 with loss of temper on your part. 
 
 " Charity is patient, is kind." — 1 Cor. xiii, 4. 
 
Good Thoughts. 257 
 
 THIRTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST. 
 
 Gospel : — Luke xv^ii, 1 1-1 9. At that time, as Jesus was going to Jeru- 
 galem, he passed througli the midst of Samaria and Galilee, etc. 
 
 ScTNBAY. The healing of the ten lepers. 
 
 1. Tlieir disease. A horrible leprosy covered them so that 
 they were completely disfigured. This disease is the more 
 loathsome because it is not only contagious, but disgraceful. 
 For this reason, those who are aifected by it are obliged to 
 live apart from their fellow creatures. 
 
 This leprosy is the figure of sin, which ruins and dis- 
 figures the soul, and which easily communicates itself to 
 others by means of bad example. Are you not a leper ? 
 
 2. Their cure. When the ten lepers met Jesus they asked 
 to be cured. He commanded them to show themselves to 
 the priest, and while they went they were made clean. 
 
 Christ is the great physician of body and soul. Go to 
 Him and you will be made clean ! Consider at the same 
 time that the cure of these lepers was effected through their 
 obedience. Do as you are commanded by Christ, and go to 
 the priests, make your confession, that is, reveal to them the 
 diseases of your soul, and follow their advice and admo- 
 nitions implicitly. 
 
 3. Their ingratitude. Out of ten who had been made 
 clean, only one came back to give thanks to the Son of God, 
 and this one was a stranger. 
 
 Men are frequently guilty of such ingratitude. After 
 having received from God so many benefits of soul and 
 body, they neither thank Him nor serve Him with more 
 zeal. The best means by which to obtain new graces, is to 
 be grateful for those which we have already received. 
 
 " Lord, my God, I have cried to thee, and thou hast healed me." — 
 Psalm xxix, 3. 
 
 Monday. Sin deprives the soul, 
 
 1. Of its beauty. A soul, which is in the grace of God, 
 is the object of His love, and is the admiration of the angels. 
 It surpasses the sun in its beauty, and all that we admire in 
 this world is as nothing compared with it. But alas, by sin, 
 which is a species of spiritual leprosy, the soul loses its 
 
 22* 
 
268 Good Thoughts. 
 
 beauty and life, and becomes so liorrible that it is tbe object 
 of God's anger and wrath. Remember that one sin changed 
 those who had been angels into devils. 
 
 If you are so careful to preserve the beauty of your body, 
 why do you neglect to beautify and adorn your soul ? 
 
 2. Of its honor. What an honor to find ourselves in the 
 state of grace, to feel that we are the children of God, His 
 servants and friends ! These honors excel all the honors of 
 the world, but alas, by one mortal sin you lose them all in a 
 moment ; from a child of God you become a slave of Satan, 
 from a servant of God you become a wretched traitor, from 
 His friend you are changed into His most bitter enemy. 
 
 Hate sin above all things, since it causes so many evils! 
 
 3. Of its riches. O how abominable is sin, since it 
 deprives the soul of all its treasures ! By it the soul loses 
 its merits and good works, is deprived of heaven, and 
 instead of enjojdng a happy eternity, is condemned to hell 
 and everlasting torments. O my Lord, if when tempted to 
 offend Thee, we would only think of this, we would never 
 fall into sin, and for a moment's pleasure lose the beauty, 
 the honors and the riches of the soul ! 
 
 "And from the daughter of Zion all her beauty is departed! " — Lament. 
 1,6. 
 
 Tuesday. The weight of sin considered. 
 
 1. Jn regard to Him^ who is offended. It is Almighty 
 God whom the sinner dares to offend; it is the King of 
 angels and men whom he attacks; it is the Lord of the 
 whole w^orld whom he dishonors. The least insult offered 
 to the person of a king is punished sometimes with death, 
 and the penalty is always so severe that it causes the most 
 resolute to tremble. Will you never fear God, who plays 
 with the power of earthly princes? Will you dare to offend 
 God without dreading His wrath ? 
 
 Think of all the sins which you have committed during 
 your whole life and detest them. Direct your special atten- 
 tion to the immediate causes of your transgressions ! 
 
 2. In regard to him who offends. Who am I, that I 
 should venture to insult God ? Alas, I am nothing but a 
 miserable creature, a worm of the earth, a handful of dust, 
 a sinner, &, wretch who possesses a body subject to many 
 frailties, and a soul filled with many sins and imperfections. 
 O excessive blindness, a servant insults his Master, a sub- 
 ject rebels against his King, a son against his Father; a 
 
Good Thoughts. 259 
 
 weak creature endeavors to lessen the majesty and glory of 
 God, and even to declare war with Him ! 
 
 Make acts of humility and sorrow ! 
 
 3. In regard to the offense given. What a crime it is to 
 offend God with the goods which He has given you, to pol- 
 lute your body which He has made, to gaze with your eyes 
 at scandalous things, to profane your tongue by wicked 
 conversation, your mind by evil thoughts, and to squander 
 your means in gambling and every species of licentiousness. 
 Alas, how wicked is this abuse! By one sin, God is more 
 dishonored than He is honored by all the good works of 
 angels and men. All the prayers of the saints, all the adora- 
 tions of the angels, all the torments of the martyrs, all the 
 austerities and tears of penitents cannot atone for one single 
 mortal sin ; the blood of Christ is required for that. 
 
 0. meditate earnestly upon the enormity of sin, in order 
 to abhor it, and you will never sin again. 
 
 "To thee ouly have I sinned, and have done evil before thee." — Psalm 
 1, 6. 
 
 "Wednesday. The consequences of sin. 
 
 1. The loss which it causes. Consider what a great mis- 
 fortune it is to lose the grace and friendship of God, the 
 special protection of the blessed Virgin and the saints, all 
 participation in the prayers, good works and merits of the 
 just and in the treasures of the church — all peace of con- 
 science and quiet of mind. 
 
 O, my God, grant that I may always have before me the 
 sad consequences of sin ! 
 
 2. The punishment which it receives. See how Lucifer, 
 with so many angels, was cast into hell ! Remember the 
 punishment of Adam, of the whole human race, by the del- 
 uge; of several cities, by fire from heaven; of the Israelites, 
 who were swallowed up alive by the earth ! Think of the 
 diseases, pestilences, wars, famines, the loss of health, honor 
 and riches ! Consider the flames of hell, and purgatory ! 
 If the love of God cannot prevent you from falling into sin, 
 let the fear of His punishments restrain you. 
 
 3. The weakness which it leaves behind. Suppose that 
 you have by means of penance recovered the grace which you 
 had lost by sin, you will, nevertheless, be like a patient 
 who, when the fever has left him, finds that nearly all his 
 strength has also gone. The consequences of the sins which 
 
260 Good Thoughts. 
 
 you have committed are, that you will experience a diffi- 
 culty in acquiring true devotion ; you will always feel a 
 strong inclination for sin, and a still greater facility to com- 
 mit it, and you will find it hard to practice virtue. 
 
 Avoid sin, therefore, and dread its consequences. 
 
 " Flee from sins as from the face of a serpent." — Eccles. xxi, 2. 
 
 Thursday. Effects of habitual sin. 
 
 1. We commit it easily. The first effect of habitual sin is 
 that the least thing causes us to fall into it again. A 
 thought, a word, a gesture, a look is sufficient to make us 
 relapse into our former sins of anger, impurity, gluttony, or 
 any other vice. Before we had contracted the habit of sin, 
 we resisted it for a long time, and yielded only after an 
 obstinate struggle, overwhelmed with remorse of conscience; 
 but now we are accustomed to it, and at the first attack of 
 the enemy we surrender ourselves a willing prisoner. 
 
 Alas, how dangerous is this state ! 
 
 2. We rise from it with difficulty. Before the habit of 
 sin was formed we detested it, and sought to save ourselves 
 from its advances by examining our conscience, by contri- 
 tion and confession ; but now we neglect all these salutary 
 precautions. Previous to having become familiar with sin, 
 we were filled with a horror of it ; but now it is very differ- 
 ent. If a tree has attained its growth, it is almost impossi- 
 ble to change its form, and it is most difficult to uproot it. 
 We all know that it is harder to break a rope made of many 
 threads, than to break a single thread. 
 
 Detest this fatal habit of sin ! 
 
 3. We remain hardened. This is the last misfortune that 
 befals the habitual sinner. "We will remain for months and 
 years in sin, either because we^re chained by its pleasure, 
 or because we persuade ourselves that it will be impossible 
 for us to become better, or it may be that we think Almighty 
 God will before our death show His mercy to us, and thus 
 we become indifferent to the necessity of immediate conver- 
 sion. 
 
 O sinner, rise at once ; the time will come, when you will 
 not have it in your power to do so ! If you contract the 
 habit of sin, you will not be able to rid yourself of it, but 
 you will love it until your death. 
 
 "A young man according to his way, even when he is old, he will not 
 depart from it." — Prov. xxii, 6. 
 
 I 
 
Good Thoughts. 261 
 
 Friday. Pass ion . 
 
 1. Our passions blind us. They stand in the way of our 
 salvation, they tempt us to indulge in anger, impurity and 
 pride. Passion obscures our reason ; it is like a thick cloud 
 or a dense fog, which prevents us from seeing the danger 
 that threatens us. An angry person does not know what he 
 says or does in his anger, and if you remonstrate with him 
 and remind him of his duty, he only becomes the more furi- 
 ous. A sensual person is so engaged in pandering to his 
 passions, that he will not listen either to the voice of God, to 
 the dictates of honor, or to his own conscience. He closes 
 his eyes to the consequences, and only cares to gratify his 
 animal passions. The same is the case with the ambitious, 
 and with all who are under the dominion of their passions. 
 
 The easiest way to gain the mastery over yourself is, 
 neither to say, nor to do anything when you feel yourself 
 inflamed with passion. You are like a blind man, who does 
 not know whither he goes, or what he does ; wait until the 
 fire and smoke of passion has passed away, and then you 
 will rejoice that you acted according to reason. 
 
 2. Passion not only unfits us for the performance of good 
 worhs^ hut it disposes us to do evil. O what follies and 
 excesses of every sort does passion lead us into ! Envy 
 tempted Cain to kill his own brother; sensuality caused 
 David to commit murder and adultery, and Solomon to 
 become an idolater; ambition caused Herod to shed the 
 blood of the holy Innocents ; avarice incited Judas to betray 
 his Savior. How many quarrels, duels, afflictions in families, 
 deadly enmities and adversities are not caused by pas- 
 sion? 
 
 O my Lord, give me grace to watch over myself and to 
 resist my passions, so that I may never become their slave ! 
 When, O man, will you become your own master, so that 
 nothing can disturb your mind or destroy the peace of your 
 soul? 
 
 3. Passion becomes stronger. The more you yield to a 
 passion, the more insolent it will become in its demands. It 
 would have been very easy for you to conquer your anger, 
 your ambition or sensuality in the commencement; but now 
 how many confessions, prayers and other practices of devo- 
 tion are not necessary to subdue them ? It is best to be 
 always on your guard, for the enemy is ever on the watch, 
 the fire will frequently blaze up despite your efforts to 
 
262 Good Thoughts. 
 
 smother it, and it will take very little to awaken passions 
 that have long slumbered. 
 
 Alas, how many men have been eternally ruined by pas- 
 sions that were not totally destroyed ! Fear a similar mis- 
 fortune ! Destroy in time these lamentable causes of sin ! 
 
 "In the morniug I put to death all the wicked of the land I" — Psalm c, 8. 
 
 Saturday. Our ruling passions, 
 
 1. The necessity of conquering them. We are all more or 
 less subject to a ruling passion ; one is addicted to anger, 
 another to pride, this one to sinful pleasure, and that one to 
 gambling and rioting. Some are always gloomy, melan- 
 choly and morose, but it is the duty of every one to conquer 
 his predominant passion, for the reason that it is the cause 
 of a great many sins which he daily commits. Consider for 
 instance to how many sins in thought, word and deed the 
 passion of anger has tempted you ! It is therefore important 
 to overcome it in the very beginning. Commence at once ; 
 let nothing prevent you, for otherwise it will be the cause 
 of your eternal ruin, as it has been already the source of so 
 many transgressions on your part. 
 
 2. The advantage of conquering them. First. The con- 
 tinual combats in which you are engaged, and the victories 
 which you will gain over your passions, will be a source of 
 great merit to you. We know that God allowed certain 
 imperfections to remain in several saints, in order to increase 
 their merits by the incessant efforts which they were obliged 
 to make to free themselves from them. Secondly. If you 
 once conquer your favorite passion and ruling sin, you will 
 remove at the same time the greatest obstacles to grace ; for 
 when your whole heart and mind is influenced by passion, you 
 will think of nothing else, and Almighty God consequently 
 does not find you sufficiently prepared to impart to you His 
 graces, and to advance you in perfection. 
 
 Endeavor therefore, unceasingly to overcome your pas- 
 sions ! 
 
 3. The means to use in order to conquer them. First. 
 Frequently consider the state of your soul ! Place yourself 
 in the presence of God ! Call upon Him for assistance ! 
 Make your predominant passion the object of your prayer 
 and examen of conscience, in order to see how you could 
 resist it ! Secondly. Prayer and desire alone, will be of little 
 avail, if you do not commence at once to combat against 
 
Good Thoughts. 263 
 
 your passions. When your anger is aroused, and endeavors 
 to master you as usual, it will incite you to entertain unfav- 
 orable thoughts, to speak angry words, and to act excitedly, 
 but suppress this feeling immediately and say : " I will not 
 entertain this thought, I will not utter these words!" Do 
 the same in regard to other passions, and instead of obeying 
 them and becoming their slave, free yourself from them, and 
 do the reverse of what they wish you to do ! O how wonder- 
 ful ! Instead of entertaininor uncharitable thous^hts of this 
 person, we will think favorably of him ; instead of speaking 
 with anger, we will be meek ; instead of yielding to vanity 
 and pleasure, we will humble and mortify ourselves. 
 
 " The lust thereof shall be under thee, and thou shalt have dominion over 
 it." Genesis iv, 7. 
 
 FOURTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST. 
 
 Gospel: — Matt, vi, 24-33. At that time Jesus said to his disciples, 
 no man can serve two masters, etc. 
 
 Sunday. We cannot serve two masters. 
 
 1. On the part of the master^ for the principles of the one 
 are in direct opposition to the other. These tAvo masters 
 are Jesus Christ and the world. Our Savior preaches 
 humility, penance, obedience and forgiveness, and the world 
 invites us to indulge in pleasure, pride, self-love and revenge. 
 
 See these two different masters ! Do not delay any longer 
 in your resolution as to which of them you will serve ! 
 Choose Christ, follow His teachings, and despise a world 
 possessing such dangerous principles. 
 
 2. Oil the part of the servant^ for if he devotes all his care 
 and affection to one master, he will have none left for the 
 other. Is it not true, that if your heart is filled with pride, 
 and you think of nothing but the world and its pleasures, 
 that you will soon have no love or zeal for God ? 
 
 Almighty God laments, because He sees that you possess 
 a divided heart. He desires to be the exclusive owner. 
 Give yourself therefore to Him, and He will give Himself 
 to you. 
 
 3. On the part of the reward. The world promises much 
 
264: Good Thoughts. 
 
 and gives little; Christ asks little and gives much. The 
 world will reward you with ingratitude after all its fair 
 promises, and after all the hardships which you had taken 
 upon yourself in order to serve it. Sickness will destroy 
 your beauty which you have preserved with so much care ; 
 adversity will overtake your family for whose comfort you 
 have labored so many years, even pleasures leave nothing 
 but bitterness behind them. On the contrary, Christ asks 
 only for a few prayers, and some trifling mortification, 
 which He sweetens with many spiritual consolations. He 
 also promises you inestimable joys and rewards, and He 
 promises them for all eternity ; but the world, after having 
 flattered and deceived you in this life, will cast you into an 
 unhappy eternity and into the everlasting fire of hell ! 
 
 How good it is to serve Thee, O my Jesus ! What an 
 evil it is to serve the world ! 
 
 "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord. — Psalm xxxii, 12. 
 
 Monday. The obligation of serving Christ. 
 
 1. He is our King, and commands it. Christ is the King 
 of heaven and of earth, of angels and of men. He is an 
 infinitely loving, wise, powerful, beautiful, just and liberal 
 God. This great king commands us to follow Him and to 
 practice His teachings. Shall we be disobedient to Him, in 
 order to do the will of Satan, who is a tyrannical and perfid- 
 ious traitor, and who only desires to charm us by his fair 
 promises, in order that he may ruin us forever ? 
 
 Should you not serve Christ who is your King and legiti- 
 mate master, rather than the devil, who is a usurper and 
 the sworn enemy of men ? 
 
 2. He is our teacher and sets us the example. He precedes 
 us, in order to show us the way. He does Himself what He 
 wishes us to do. He teaches us to be humble, zealous, 
 charitable, and how to practice virtue not only by His word, 
 but also by His example. He encourages us to follow Him 
 by the assistance of His holy grace. 
 
 We are Christians, that is, disciples of Christ; let us imi- 
 tate our master and teacher. We have promised to do so in 
 baptism ; we dedicated ourselves to Him when we renounced 
 the world, let us then serve Him alone. 
 
 3. He is our benefactor, and rewards us. How many 
 graces have we not already received from Him, and how 
 many do we not hope yet to receive ! Every moment of our 
 
Good Thoughts. 265 
 
 life He bestows new ones upon us, and after our death He 
 has prepared eternal rewards for us in heaven. 
 
 Let us, therefore, commence to serve faithfully our King, 
 who commands us, our teacher who instructs us, our bene- 
 factor who has created and redeemed us, and to Avhom we 
 rightfully belong. Let us frequently say to Him, " O my 
 Lord, I offer up to Thee my liberty, my body and my soul, 
 all that I am and have. I will follow Thy teachings, and 
 will belong to Thee in time, so that I may be united with 
 Thee in eternity !" 
 
 " Look and make it according to the pattern." — Exod. xxv, 40, 
 
 Tuesday. The dangers of the world, 
 
 1. What loe see.. O Lord, how many scandals, how many 
 bad examples, how many wordlings, how many licentious 
 young men, what extravagance in dress, what strange and 
 immodest fashions, how many painted women, how many 
 hypocrisies, and how much false devotion do we see in the 
 world? People quarrel, get drunk, and are abusive, and 
 we very seldom meet with those who give a good example 
 to their neighbor. 
 
 Close your eyes against the objects which tempt you! 
 Avoid all the occasions of sin ! 
 
 2. What we hear. Curses and blasphemies, insults, sar- 
 casms, wicked songs, mockeries, calumnies and lies, form the 
 conversation of nearly all men. O world, how dangerous 
 art thou ! How difficult is it to save ourselves between the 
 hissing of serpents and the songs of sirens ! 
 
 Fear the world and every kind of bad company ! The 
 world is so bad, that if you are not on your guard it will 
 ruin you, either by its bad examples or by its scandalous talk. 
 Never listen to wicked conversation, for it will make a deeper 
 impression upon your mind than you imagine. 
 
 3. What we do. St. John says, that the principal occu- 
 pation of those who live in the world consists in seeking 
 after lust, honor and wealth. The greater part of those 
 whom you see in public places, or walking through the 
 streets, labor only for the three idols of the w^orld, pride, 
 pleasure or wealth. 
 
 Resist these three powerful passions ! Conquer lust by 
 mortification, pride by humility, and the desire of riches 
 by poverty and detachment from creatures. 
 
 " Love not the world nor the thmgs that are in the world." — 1 John, ii,l 5. 
 23 
 
266 Good Thoughts. 
 
 Wednesday. Advantages of religious orders, 
 
 1. It is easier to preserve purity. O how great is the hap- 
 piness of the religious, because they are free from the care 
 and tumult of the world, and can apply themselves entirely 
 to the service of God ! After they have renounced the 
 desires of the flesh by making the vow of chastity, honors 
 and their own liberty by taking the vow of obedience, and 
 riches by making the vow of poverty, they no longer seek 
 the pleasures, vanities and riches of the world, but their only 
 occupation is to pray either in the church, the choir or the 
 oratory, to read spiritual books, to practice works of charity, 
 or to do something in order to progress daily in sanctity. 
 
 If you are religious, endeavor to make good use of this 
 happiness ; if you live in the world, live as if you were not 
 in it ! Preserve the purity of your heart, and be careful not 
 to become contaminated by the wickedness of the world ! 
 
 2. There are fewer temptations to sin. The reason is 
 because the religious are removed from all the occasions of 
 sin. No scandals are seen among them, no wicked or idle 
 words are heard, no one is incited to do evil by bad exam- 
 ple, as those who live in the world are apt to be, almost 
 against their will. In the convent, sins are not committed so 
 frequently and so grievously as in the world, and heavy 
 penances are performed for trifling faults, while the people 
 of the world fall into great sins, for which they do very 
 slight penance. 
 
 O what a happiness to be removed from the occasion of 
 sin! 
 
 3. Death has fewer terrors. As we live so shall we die, 
 and we can only die a holy death if we have lived a holy 
 life. Nothing saddens the heart of a dying religious, for 
 why should they be sorry to leave a world which they have 
 already renounced ? Should they grieve over the loss of the 
 pleasures, honors and goods of this world, and of their 
 family ? They possessed nothing of all that. Should the 
 remembrance of their sins be to them a cause of affliction ? 
 They committed but few, and have atoned for them by 
 severe penances. O, the dying religious is consoled at the 
 remembrance of having heard so many masses, at having 
 made so many confessions and received so many holy com- 
 munions, at having fasted and prayed so often, at having 
 suffered humiliation and mortifications and at having per- 
 formed so many other good and meritorious works during 
 
Good Thoughts. 267 
 
 life. The principal cause, however, of their confidence, is to 
 be found in the words of Christ : " Amen, I say to you, that 
 
 you who have followed me and left all for my name's 
 
 sake, shall receive an hundred fold and shall possess life 
 everlasting." — Matt., xix, 28, 29. 
 
 Lead, therefore, a religious life so that you may die a holy 
 death ! 
 
 "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord." — Apoc. xiv, 13. 
 
 Thuesday. The great world. 
 
 1. "^he world seldom thinks of God^ hut always of pleas- 
 ure. The worldling never finds time to pray, meditate or 
 visit the sick, but can spend all night as well as day in 
 attending balls, theatres, in paying visits, and in every spe- 
 cies of idle amusements. 
 
 Do you imagine that because you live in the world you 
 have no religious duties to fulfill ? For that very reason 
 you are even the more obliged to perform them. 
 
 2. The world is not charitable^ hut extravagant. A woman 
 of the world will spend time, trouble and money in endeav- 
 oring to keep up with the fashionable follies of the day, but 
 she has not a moment to spare if asked to visit the sick, or 
 a dollar to give in the way of charity. The man of the 
 world will expend vast suras in procuring dainties for his 
 table, and in gambling and dissipation, but will roughly refuse 
 to give a piece of bread or a few shillings to a hungry beggar. 
 
 Avoid extravagance, by which so many are ruined ! Have 
 compassion on the poor ! 
 
 3. The world does not love penance^ hut comfort. The 
 worldling will laugh at you, if you speak to him of penance. 
 He is in the habit of remaining nine or ten hours in bed, of 
 spending three or four hours at the table, and the rest of his 
 time in seeking some new kind of amusement. It is a real 
 penance for him to be half an hour in church, and if he hears 
 a low-mass on Sundays and Festivals, he imagines that he 
 has satisfied God and obeyed the laws of the church, and he 
 will spend the rest of the day therefore in idleness or sinful 
 pleasure. 
 
 O worldling, look at your Savior carrying His cross and 
 inviting you to follow Him ! Do you believe that you will 
 gain heaven by being extravagant and efieminate in your 
 tastes ? 
 
 "And the rich man also died, and he was buried in hell." — Luke xvi, 22 
 
268 Good Thoughts. 
 
 Friday. True conversion. 
 
 1. We must renounce sin forager. You are not converted 
 as long as you love sin. It is not enough to be sorry for 
 having committed sin, but you must be resolved also never 
 again to commit it. Are you determined? Do you con- 
 sider yourself strong enough with the assistance of God's 
 grace to resist temptation ? Do you avoid the occasions of 
 sin ? If so, then your conversion is sincere. 
 
 O Lord, strengthen my desire to serve Thee, and instil 
 into my heart a constant and abiding horror of sin; for I 
 wish to belong entirely to Thee, and never to separate myself 
 from Thee ! 
 
 2. TFe must he true to grace. It is not enough to have 
 abandoned sin, we must also obey grace, and say with St. 
 Paul: " Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?" — Acts ix, 
 6, — and confess with him that His grace hath not been void 
 in us. The marks of a true conversion is to live more holily 
 than you did before. 
 
 O my Lord, if I had corresponded to Thy grace, I should 
 have made greater progress in virtue and perfection ! 
 
 3. TFe must undertake to 2:>erform great works. A truly 
 converted heart thinks only of doing great works ; it wishes 
 if possible to give as much honor to God by performing 
 heroic acts of virtue, as it had deprived Him of honor by 
 committing sin. 
 
 Are you animated by these sentiments and desires ? Alas, 
 what indifference ! Is it not a sign that you are yet uncon- 
 verted? Do you ever seriously reflect upon this subject? 
 O Lord, melt my cold heart, and inflame it with Thy holy 
 fire, with that fire which Thou didst come to cast on the 
 earth, in order to enlighten and purify it. 
 
 " I am come to cast fire on the earth, and \^'hat will I but that it be 
 kindled." — Luke xii, 49. 
 
 Saturday. The evangelical counsels. 
 
 1. Voluntary poverty. Happy is he who has renounced 
 worldly riches, in order to obtain eternal rewards ! He is 
 not attached to the goods of this world; he is not troubled 
 by a desire to obtain, preserve or increase them, or by the 
 fear of losing them ; he is free from the temptation of com- 
 mitting robbery, injustice and many other sins almost 
 inseparable from the present manner of acquiring wealth. 
 
 Do not on account of a trifling gain ruin your soul, which 
 
Good Thoughts. 269 
 
 is worth more than all the treasures of the earth ! Give up 
 the world, and place all your desires in heaven ! 
 
 2. Perpetual chastity. The effect of chastity is, that we 
 live in the flesh as if we were angels, and instead of yielding 
 to the passions of the body, we mortify them by constantly 
 practicing penance, by carefully guarding our senses and by 
 courageously overcoming ourselves. O, how pleasing it is to 
 God, if He sees men, out of love to Him, avoid concupis- 
 cence, combat themselves, refuse the demands of the flesh, 
 find delight in Him alone, and who by despising all worldly 
 pleasures acquire a purity which the angels possess by 
 nature ! 
 
 3. Entire obedience. If we have sacrificed our own will 
 by making the vow of obedience, and have renounced our 
 own judgment, we enjoy the advantage of being under the 
 direction of God, and of knowing His will through our 
 superiors. 
 
 If we follow our own judgment, we are in danger of being 
 deceived, for we may omit what God desires us to do, and 
 do what we should not. 
 
 Practice therefore perfect obedience ! 
 
 " We are happy, Israel, because the things that are pleasing to God, 
 are made known to us." — Baruch iv, 4. 
 
 FIFTEENTH WEEK AFTER PENTECOST. 
 
 Gospel : — Luke vii, 11 — 16. At that time Jesus went into a city called 
 Nairn, etc. 
 
 Sunday. The resuscitoMon of the son of the widow of 
 Nairn, 
 
 1. Christ approaches him. While the dead man was 
 being carried to the grave, Christ happened to pass by. But 
 was the meeting a chance one ? By no means ; He did so, 
 that He might restore the dead man to life. 
 
 O, kindness of God, that seeks men in order to restore 
 them to life, to heal them and bring them back from the 
 ways of sin ! Let us make good use of the time when God 
 23* 
 
2V0 Good Thoughts. 
 
 approaches us ; let us profit by the opportunities, inspira- 
 tions and means whicli lie gives us, so tiiat we may be con- 
 verted and attain j)erlection. 
 
 2. He speaks to him. After having commanded those 
 who carried tlie dead man, to stand still. He said, "Young 
 man, I say to thee, arise !" 
 
 How often has Christ addressed you in these words : "I 
 say to you arise from this unhappy state of sin, in which 
 you find yourself; I say to you abandon the indifferent and 
 careless life wliich you have led for so long a time ; I say 
 to you, rid yourself of this imperfection, to which you have 
 been subject for so many years ! Listen to the voice of 
 Christ, for it is time for you to awaken from your deep 
 slumber; it is time for you to enter upon a new life and to 
 be more zealous than you have been heretofore. 
 
 3. , He resuscitates him. Upon hearing the word of Christ 
 the dead man arose, spoke, and to the astonishment of all, 
 went his w^ay. 
 
 From this day commence to speak a heavenly language, 
 and indulge in no more idle or useless conversation. Make 
 great eflbrts to attain sanctity. Admire and love the 
 patience of Christ, and thank Him for having resuscitated 
 you so often by His grace. 
 
 *' How long wilt thou sleep, sluggard ; wlien wilt thou rise out of thy 
 Bleep ?" — Prov. vi, 9. 
 
 Monday. Properties of conversio9i» 
 
 1 . It must be immediate. Why do you defer giving your- 
 self up to God? Do you fear to serve so good a master? 
 If you allow this opportunity to pass without being con- 
 verted, you will perhaps be ruined forever. Now you are 
 disgusted with the world ; now your heart is filled with sor- 
 row at having offended God; now you are resolved to 
 change your life ; if you delay until to-morrow or the next 
 month, these good and holy thoughts will be of no avail, 
 for you will again commence to love your former sins and 
 concupiscences. Almighty God, who has given you such 
 wonderful graces, and called you with His powerful voice, 
 will never again speak to you in the same manner. 
 
 Make good use of the graces which you receive, of time 
 and of the good dispositions of your heart ! 
 
 2. It must be courageous. Heed not the difficulties cre- 
 ated by satan to prevent your conversion ! The more atten- 
 
Good Thoughts. 271 
 
 tion you pay to them the greater obstacles will he place in 
 your way. Whatever he proposes to you as impossible, 
 will, with the grace of God, be very easy for you to accom- 
 plish. If your difficulties were even greater, and the obsta- 
 cles to your conversion even stronger, you can overcome 
 them, and thus make your conversion the more glorious and 
 acceptable to God. 
 
 Be converted, therefore, and God will always be with 
 you! 
 
 3. It must he lasting. Do not imitate those wicked per- 
 sons, who after having commenced to lead a new life, become 
 tired, lose their zeal and relapse into their former sins. Why 
 should you not be able to do for the next two months that 
 which you have done so well for the last two months ? You 
 could easily persevere for six or twelve months in leading a 
 pious and virtuous life ; why then should you not be able to 
 continue the same for your whole life ? 
 
 Be firm and do not lose your courage because you seem 
 to make little progress, or because you think that whatever 
 you do will not be pleasing to God ! This is a temptation 
 of the devil. A tree that is only one year old cannot have 
 large branches, nor can it bear abundant fruits. Should it 
 on that account be uprooted? Serve God with fervor, 
 patience, courage and perseverance ! 
 
 "Be converted to me with all your heart."- — Joel ii, 12. 
 
 Tuesday. Obstacles to conversion. 
 
 1. Love of pleasure. As soon as the devil sees that a sin- 
 ner desires to be converted, he makes pleasure appear so 
 dazzling as to seem irresistible. He shows him the glory 
 of the world, its riches, honors and pleasures, and he tries to 
 persuade him that it would be impossible to renounce them 
 forever. 
 
 Do not listen to these suggestions ; close your eyes to the 
 vanities of this life, and think of the imperishable rewards 
 of heaven, of the joy of being a friend of God, an heir of 
 heaven, and of possessing happiness and peace of con- 
 science. 
 
 2. Fear of hardship. Satan will endeavor to awaken in 
 your heart a cowardly and timid feeling. " What !" he will 
 say, " do you imagine that you can spend hours in prayer, 
 live in seclusion, frequent the holy sacraments regularly, read 
 spiritual books, be always earnest, not visit certain compa- 
 
272 Good TnouanTS. 
 
 nies, and not attend those feasts and dances where you for- 
 merly found so much pleasure?" Prayer, fasting and morti- 
 fication are very difficult things to practice, and are only 
 intended for saints. Need you always be under restraint 
 and consequently have no freedom? " O, it is impossible, 
 away with the thought ! " Why, O fool, do you listen to 
 eatan ? Instead of allowing him to tempt you, you should 
 repel him. 
 
 Where is your hope in God? Where is the confidence 
 which you should place in His assistance ? It is true that 
 it is hard for human nature to practice these virtues, but it 
 will be easy with the help of God. 
 
 3. False hope. " But." you will say, " why shall I expose 
 myself to so many hardships, or practice so many mortifi- 
 cations ? There is no real necessity for me to forego my 
 former amusements. God is good ; He will be merciful to 
 me. When I am dying some kind, good priest will absolve 
 me from my sins, and then I shall go to heaven ! " 
 
 What is it that you say, mistaken creature ? This is one 
 of the most dangerous temptations of satan. How often 
 have you been told that death may come upon you suddenly, 
 that you may perhaps die in your sins, and that you will 
 have no time to repent of them, although you imagine that 
 you will ! As the fear of God is the beginning of conver- 
 sion and the way to perfection, so also is false hope and 
 wicked presumption in the mercy of God the reason why 
 we live and die in sin, and are eternally lost ! 
 
 "Remember this and be ashamed; return ye transgressors to the heart." 
 — Isaiasxlvi, 8. 
 
 Wednesday. Other obstacles to conversion, 
 
 1. A mind filled xoith the pictures of sin. The imagina- 
 tion of a sinner finds a criminal pleasure in sensual thoughts, 
 in revengeful desires, in exaggerating his sufferings, and in 
 fancying that others wish to insult or injure him. As these 
 thoughts are always in his mind, he finds no time to think 
 of his salvation. 
 
 Banish all such wicked temptations, and have good and 
 holy thoughts, for they are necessary for your conversion ! 
 
 2. An understanding darkened by passion. If a man 
 places no restraint upon his imagination, his mind soon 
 becomes confused. Passion represents things difierently 
 from what they are in reality. As he left the divine light 
 
Good Thoughts. 273 
 
 in order to follow that of his own reason, he will be easily 
 led astray. He loses all faith in truth and virtue, and 
 instead of arriving at just conclusions in matters that relate 
 to his temporal and eternal welfare, he acts as if deprived 
 of common sense. 
 
 As long as you do not form your judgment in accordance 
 with the truths of the gospel, you are no better than a 
 heathen. 
 
 3. A will captivated hy delight. Although his judgment 
 condemns him and he is convinced that it is wicked to 
 gratify his love, his hatred, his ambition and his avarice, the 
 sinner nevertheless allows himself to be carried away by his 
 passions, because his will is captivated by them, and he 
 makes no effort to resist them. The eternal truths are not 
 unknown to him; he is not ignorant concerning the rewards 
 of heaven and the punishments of hell ; he is well instructed 
 in all things, but he resolutely perseveres in sin. " I must 
 enjoy myself," he says — "I shall take revenge no matter 
 what it costs ; for unless I do so, I will never be contented." 
 
 O terrible passion, O perverted heart, O wicked will ! 
 Alas, where is your reason ? where is your faith ? where is 
 your belief in God ? what will become of your soul ? where 
 will you be in eternity ? Is it necessary for you to give 
 way to feelings of lust and revenge ? Would it not be bet- 
 ter for you to think of your offended God, of your crucified 
 Redeemer, of heaven lost, and of your soul as eternally 
 damned ? 
 
 " Turn away my eyes, that they may not behold vanity !" — Psalm cxviii, 37. 
 
 Thursday. Temptations to become discouraged. 
 
 1 . The little consolatioyi we receive from God. Why do 
 you lose courage on account of being deprived of consola- 
 tions ? If they were necessary. Almighty God would not 
 refuse them to you ; He permits you to be visited by this 
 feeling of spiritual disgust in order to try your firmness and 
 fidelity. To serve God when we are filled with heavenly 
 consolations, and when we find delight in prayer, is neither 
 as difficult nor as meritorious as to serve Him when almost 
 sinking under the cross, when deprived of all interior con- 
 solation and oppressed with the feeling of being forsaken by 
 Him, for then we prove that we serve Him out of love to 
 Him, and not out of love for His consolations. Be con- 
 vinced, also, that this sense of spiritual disgust is frequently 
 
274: Good Thoughts. 
 
 caused by yourself and by the carelessness with which you 
 serve God. 
 
 Be more faithful to your Lord and Master ! 
 
 2. The little consolation we derive from ourselves. "We 
 sometimes hardly know what to do with ourselves, and we 
 attribute it first to our want of courage, and then to our 
 presumption. We often believe that we can overcome every 
 thing, and imagine that we have made great progress in 
 virtue, but then again we lose all courage and think that 
 every thing we do is sinful, and that instead of growing 
 better, we are daily becoming more and more wicked. 
 
 Patiently bear this anguish and restlessness of mind; it is 
 nothing more than a punishment of your sins ! Do not 
 entertain such thoughts, but persevere in your devotions, 
 and Almighty God will reward you. 
 
 3. The little co7isolation we receive from others. We in 
 truth resemble children who like to be petted. We often 
 see persons who are so weak that, if every action is not 
 approved of, if no attention is paid to w^hat they do, they at 
 once become discontented, sad and depressed, and grow 
 lukewarm in the practice of virtue. Need your happiness 
 be dependent upon others ? O how often would you then 
 have reason to be miserable, for the mind of man is very 
 changeable, and he who respects you to-day may despise 
 you to-morrow. 
 
 Almighty God permits creatures to disappoint you, in 
 order that you may try to please Him ! Serve God cheer- 
 fully ! 
 
 " But I will rejoice in the Lord, and I will joy in God, my Jesus." — Ha- 
 bacuc iii, 18. 
 
 Fkiday. Marks of conversion, 
 
 1. Seclusion. A truly converted person retires from all the 
 pleasures and amusements of the so called great world. He 
 will go oftener to church to pray, to hear the word of God, 
 and to receive the holy sacraments; and he will be seen 
 conducting himself with more modesty. 
 
 Is this observable in you ? 
 
 2. Penance. The life of the saints, and experience also, 
 shows us that those who are truly converted not only for- 
 sake pleasure, but they also practice mortification, in order 
 to satisfy Almighty God for their sins. They devise a 
 thousand different means by which to chastise their body 
 
Good Thoughts. 275 
 
 and to conquer their passions. They mortify their eyes by 
 modesty, their tongue by silence, their appetite by fasting, 
 and all their senses by imposing upon themselves works of 
 penance. 
 
 Practice mortification of body and soul ! 
 
 3. Perseverance. Wicked persons will not fail to mock at 
 your conversion. If, however, you are truly converted, you 
 will despise their ridicule and insults, and you will courage- 
 ously disregard the respect of the world. Your fidelity and 
 perseverance in the practice of virtue will be a sign of your 
 sincere conversion. 
 
 Examine and see whether you possess this perseverance 
 and firmness of spirit. 
 
 "So stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved." — Philipp. iv, 1. 
 
 Satukday. Sappy death. 
 
 1. N'othing saddens the just man on his death bed. What 
 should grieve him? The loss of his life? He had no 
 attachment to it. The separation of the soul from the 
 body, which will be buried? He always considered and 
 treated his body as his greatest enemy. Separation from 
 relatives and friends ? He was never attached to them. Loss 
 of property and goods? He always despised them. The 
 remembrance of his sins ? He has atoned for them. The fear 
 of an angry judge? He has gained His favor by means of 
 the many good works he performed while living. 
 
 Live like the just, so that you may die like them. Do not 
 bo attached to this life, to relatives, honors, wealth or the 
 pleasures of the world, which you will soon have to leave. 
 Mortify your body; do penance for your sins, so that the 
 remembrance of them may not disturb you on your death- 
 bed, and perform good works in order to have Christ for 
 your friend ! 
 
 2. Every thing consoles him. He is greatly rejoiced at 
 seeing the end of all the temptations, afflictions and miseries 
 of this life. He rejoices to think that he will soon be freed 
 from the attacks of his enemies, and that he will have no 
 more to fear from the lust of the flesh, the snares of Satan 
 and the danger of being lost forever. He rejoices at all the 
 good works he has performed ; and he thinks of his devo- 
 tion to the blessed Virgin and the saints, in whose assistance 
 he now confides. He remembers the words used by Christ, 
 when He restored to life the deceased daughter of the ruler, 
 
276 Good Thoughts. 
 
 "The girl is not dead, but sleepeth." He considers death as 
 a sweet slumber, or regards it as a passage from this to a 
 better world ; and he also knows that it will end his trials, 
 and be the commencement of a happier life in the world to 
 come. 
 
 Reflect upon these truths, which give consolation to the 
 just when dying ! Venerate the blessed Virgin and the 
 saints, so that they may assist you in the hour of death ! O 
 how richly will your zeal and affliction, your prayers and 
 works of penances be rewarded, if God grants you the grace 
 of a happy death ! 
 
 3. Instead of fearing death he longs for it. All his desire 
 is directed to heaven ; he wishes only to see God. With St. 
 Paul he exclaims : " Who shall deliver me from the body of 
 this death ?" While stretched upon his dying bed he 
 likens himself to a man who, after many dangers, has finally 
 reached the port in safety; or to a pilgrim who, after a 
 long and tedious journey, arrives safely in his fatherland. 
 He sees the heavens open, he sees the angels and saints who 
 expect him ; his only desire is to quit the world, and to enter 
 heaven. Do not let us fear death as an evil, but let us esteem 
 it as a great good ! Let us give ourselves up to the will of 
 God in regard to the hour in w^hich He will call us ! Let 
 us die contented without wishing for a longer life ! Alas, 
 how many have lost their soul in their advanced age, who 
 would have saved it had they died in their youth ! 
 
 "I expect until my change come." — Job xiv, 14. 
 
 SIXTEENTH WEEK AFTER PENTECOST. 
 
 Gospel: — Luke xiv, 1-11. At that time when Jesus went into the 
 house of one of the chief of the Pharisees * * they watched him, etc. 
 
 Sunday. The proud man compared to one afflicted with 
 the dropsy, 
 
 - 1. -57s disease is almost incurable. Our Savior cured a 
 man afflicted with the dropsy. This miracle was the greater 
 as this disease is almost incurable. 
 
Good Thoughts. 277 
 
 Alas, we are all born disposed, to pride. This sin is as 
 great in us as it was in our first parents, and O ! how difficult 
 it is to be cured of it ! After so many confessions, prayers 
 and examinations of conscience we are still so sensitive ! 
 
 Ask Our Lord to heal you, and try to be more humble ! 
 
 2. His food becomes water and swells him up. This is the 
 effect of the dropsy, and it is also the effect of pride. The 
 proud man turns everything to his own praise. Whatever 
 he sees and says, all his good qualities, his thoughts, words 
 and actions, contribute to swell his pride and to increase his 
 vanity. 
 
 Avoid vain glory and the spirit of self-esteem, which puffs 
 you up so much, and instead of elevating yourself above all, 
 humble yourself! 
 
 3. The more he drinks the greater hecom,es his thirst. The 
 torment of the poor dropsical man is, that he cannot allay 
 his thirst, although he is already filled with water. Is not 
 this equally true of the proud man, who always seeks his 
 own honor, and is never content with the praises he receives ? 
 
 O ambitious man, place some restraint upon yourself, 
 otherwise your desires will never be satisfied ! The humble 
 man, however, has all he wishes, and he is contented, because 
 he desires nothing. 
 
 "The Lord will destroy the house of the proud." — Prov. xv, 25. 
 
 « 
 
 Monday. Reasons for being humble. 
 
 1. The remembrance of the past. What is our origin ? 
 We were called out of nothingness, and were conceived and 
 born in sin. The strongest reason, however, for being 
 humble is the remembrance of the sins which we have our- 
 selves committed. " I have sinned !" Is this not reason 
 enough for me to humble myself? I have despised the infi- 
 nite majesty of God, and therefore deserve contempt, and 
 yet I dare to lift up my head in pride ! 
 
 There is no doubt but that I have often deserved hell, and 
 even the contempt of the devils ; should this not be sufficient 
 cause for humility on my part ? And yet, I am filled with 
 pride ! 
 
 2. The remembrance of the present. When reflecting 
 upon our present state we find strong reasons for humbling 
 ourselves. Perfect inability united to an aversion for doing 
 good, and a strong disposition to do evil. When in the state 
 of sin we consider that which is good to be evil, and that 
 
 24 
 
278 Good Thoughts. 
 
 which is evil to be good. ' Grace sometimes forces us to be 
 virtuous, and even then how little good do we effect ? If 
 our virtues and good works humble us, how much more 
 should our faults and sins ? 
 
 3. The thought of the future. Am I among the elect 
 or the cursed ? Shall I be saved or damned ? I do not 
 know, and how humiliating is this uncertainty ! I know 
 that without the grace of perseverance I cannot be saved, 
 but will I be faithful to the end ? Who ever received more 
 graces than did Solomon ? Will the perfection of my state 
 secure my salvation ? Can any state of life be more perfect 
 than was that of Judas ? and yet he was a traitor and died 
 in despair. 
 
 If the pillars of heaven are shaken, have not we, feeble 
 reeds that we are, every reason to tremble and humble our- 
 selves ? Resolve to walk in the spirit of humility and in the 
 fear of God. 
 
 " Thy humiliation shall be in the midst of thee 1" — Micheas vi, 14. 
 
 Tuesday. Other reasons for practicing humility, 
 
 1. W^ithout humility there is no Christianity. There are 
 persons who are patient, liberal, chaste and meek ; but where 
 are the truly humble ? It is possible for men to be honest 
 without being christians, but they cannot be christians with- 
 out being humble. The philosophers of old said and wrote 
 many beautiful things of the other virtues, but they did not 
 even know the virtue of humility by name. 
 
 We must learn of our Savior to be humble, and if we are 
 His disciples, we will imitate Him in the practice of that 
 virtue. 
 
 2. Humility is as necessary for salvation as baptism. 
 Christ our teacher who said, that "unless a man be born 
 again of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter into 
 the kingdom of heaven," said also, that "unless you become 
 as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of 
 heaven." Why do you believe one truth without believing 
 the other? Both are founded upon the word of God. 
 
 Our holy faith and our reason both condemn our pride. 
 Let us then endeavor to be like unto Christ ! 
 
 3. llum,ility can he practiced in all the different states of 
 life. Persons of high standing, even kings and princes, are 
 obliged to practice this virtue, as well as the poorest and 
 lowest in society. Those occupying an inferior position in 
 
Good Thoughts. 279 
 
 life are often humbled without being humble, while those of 
 high standing desire to be humble without being humbled ; 
 but all must be little in their own estimation, in order to be 
 great before God. 
 
 Pray therefore to God, to teach you how to acquire this 
 wonderful virtue of humility, for He alone can be our 
 teacher. 
 
 "But for myself I will glory nothing." — 'II Cor. xii, 5. 
 
 Wednesday. The punishment of the proud consists, 
 
 1. In the humiliation which God sends them.. In a proud 
 man you will see fulfilled the words of Christ, saying: 
 "Every one that exalteth himself shall be humbled." An 
 accident, that may befal him; a disgrace, some great sin, 
 which he may commit; a humiliation, that will confound 
 him ; the insults which he will receive from his enemies, and 
 even from those whom he considered to be his friends, will 
 show him that God punishes the proud even in this world. 
 Remember how Almighty God humbled Nabuchodonosor, 
 and the proud builders of the tower of Babel. 
 
 Fear lest on account of your pride you may be punished 
 by Almighty God. 
 
 2. In the restlessness which they cause for themselves. If 
 they see themselves despised notwithstanding the trouble 
 which they have taken to ensure respect, they become angry, 
 uneasy, jealous and sad, and their torments are still greater 
 when they meet with contempt where they expect to find 
 praise, and when those whom they hate are placed over them. 
 
 Love humility, if you wish to be happy and pleasing to 
 God. 
 
 3. By the aversion which others have for them. No one 
 likes a proud man, because he looks with contempt upon 
 every one, and as he tries to humble others, so also do others 
 end-eavor to humble him. They detest him, and never wish 
 to see him prosper in anything. 
 
 Avoid pride and you will live in peace with God, w^ith 
 yourself and with others. 
 
 " From the beginning Lord, have the proud not been acceptable to thee, 
 but the prayer of the humble and the meek hath always pleased thee." — 
 Judith ix, 1 6. 
 
 Thursday. The advantages of humility. 
 
 1. Humility unites us with God. God is everything, I 
 
280 Good Thoughts. 
 
 am nothing ; God possesses all, and I possess nothing but 
 poverty and misery. Although I am nothing, I can, if 1 
 choose to humble myself, lift myself up to God, and be 
 united with Him. 
 
 If through humility I become united with God, He gives 
 Himself to me, and I become partaker of all His goods and 
 of His power. 
 
 O glorious nothingness, O opulent poverty, O happy ina- 
 bility, which humility brought forth in me, which supplies 
 all my deficiencies and procures me graces from God ! 
 
 2. Humility destroys the ejfects of sin. With humility, 
 sins not only cease to be dangerous, but they can even 
 become profitable. Without humility on the contrary, vir- 
 tues and good works are dangerous, and can become even 
 destructive. The Publican was a great and wretched sin- 
 ner ; but he was humble ; he did not dare to lift up his eyes 
 toward heaven, and behold, he was justified and received 
 praise from God. The Pharisee however recounts his vir- 
 tues, and makes a display of his good works; if he was 
 formerly just, he now becomes a sinner because of his pride, 
 and while he praises himself he is rejected by Almighty 
 God. 
 
 O how great is the power of humility ! It changes a sin- 
 ner into a saint. O how terrible is the poison of pride ! It 
 makes a sinner out of the just ! 
 
 3. Humility is a short and sure road to heaven. How 
 grateful should we not be to God, because He makes our 
 salvation dependent on our humility and not on our exalta- 
 tion. It is not in the power of every one to exalt himself, 
 but every one can be humble and in this manner become 
 most acceptable to God. 
 
 You cannot always pray, fast or weep, but you can always 
 be humble ! O humility, if we only possess thee, how easy 
 it is to gain heaven ! Why is it then that I refuse to become 
 humble ? 
 
 " The High and the Eminent who dwelleth in the high and holy place and 
 with a contrite and humble spirit." — Isaias Ivii, 15. 
 
 Friday. Practice of humility, 
 
 1. In our hearts. If you practice humility, only exte- 
 riorly, your humility is hypocrisy. You must not think 
 more of yourself than you do of others ; for the consideration 
 of your sins, your infidelities to God, your need of grace, 
 
Good Thoughts. 281 
 
 your misery of soul and body, and the frailties to which you 
 are subjected should keep you humble before God. 
 
 Occupy yourself often with this thought, and cease to feel 
 contempt for others. If you are humble interiorly, your 
 humility will be seen outwardly. 
 
 2. In our words. It shows great weakness and folly for 
 US to sound our own praises ; by doing so we manifest our 
 pride. At the same time there is nothing more common 
 than to hear persons praise themselves. Some will praise 
 their good conduct, and secretly and sometimes publicly 
 condemn the conduct of others. Some will boast of the 
 purity of their intentions out of fear of being censured. 
 Some will give their orders in loud and peremptory tones, 
 and make use of violent and improper language when 
 reproving others, and there are many who although they 
 do not praise themselves, are most unhappy unless praised 
 by others. 
 
 If you are so anxious to win the esteem of men, you will 
 lose the esteem of God. Be more prudent in your conversa- 
 tion, and do not speak of yourself, if not compelled to do so I 
 
 3. I7i our works. The holy fathers say that we must 
 practice humility, in order to acquire it. Your humility 
 must show itself in your words, but far more in your deeds. 
 You must do nothing merely for the sake of being praised, 
 but withdraw yourself from the eyes of the world and 
 endeavor to humble yourself at all times. Leave all honor 
 to others; obey with humility. If you are charged with 
 having committed a fault, amend your life if it is true ; but 
 if the accusation is false, then defend yourself with modesty. 
 Perform menial works and do not be ashamed to humble 
 yourself before others, even if they are your inferiors. 
 
 0, how powerful is humility, since it wins for us the 
 heart of God and men ! You will be more honored on 
 account of an humble action, than for a great work which 
 you perform out of pride. 
 
 "Let us not be made desirous of vain glory." — Galat. v, 26. 
 
 Saturday. Degrees of humility. 
 
 1. To refuse honors. When the Jews desired to make 
 Christ a king, on account of a miracle He had performed, 
 He fled. St. John declined to accept any title offered him 
 by the Jews. 
 
 If you are naturally disposed to be proud and yet refuse 
 24* 
 
282 Good Thoughts. 
 
 to accept honors out of love for God, your reward will be 
 very great in the next world. If you only knew how many 
 dangers encompass those who occupy a prominent position 
 in society, or who fill a responsible office, you would not be 
 BO anxious to be in their place. The greater the height, the 
 greater the fall. 
 
 2. To hear humiliation. Almighty God will permit you 
 to be humbled in order to give you an opportunity to practice 
 humility. Why are you grieved because an insult is offered 
 to you ? Your sadness is a true sign of your pride. Do 
 not say " I could willingly endure this from any one else, 
 but since it comes from him, I shall not bear it." You must 
 be always ready to suffer whatever may befal you. 
 
 If you are reproached for a fault which you have not 
 committed, accept the punishment without a murmur, and 
 you will then perform a great act of virtue. 
 
 3. To even wish to he humhled. We should love disgrace 
 and ignominy, because our Savior loved them so much. Im- 
 itate Him and the saints, who endeavored to humble them- 
 selves whenever they had an opportunity. 
 
 More modesty should be seen in your dress, and more 
 humility in your actions and in your intercourse with other 
 persons ! Instead of becoming sad, when you are humbled, 
 wish rather for more humiliations and seek them eagerly ! 
 
 ""We have rejoiced for the days in which thou has humbled us." — Psalm 
 IxxxLx, 15. 
 
 SEVENTEENTH W^EEK AFTER PENTECOST. 
 
 Gospel: — Matt, xxii, 35-46. At that time the Pharisees came to 
 Jesus, and one of them, a doctor of the law, asked him tempting him, Mas- 
 ter, which is the great commandment of the law, etc. 
 
 SuNDA-Y. We are hound to love God. 
 
 1. The commandment which He gives concerning it. The 
 first and greatest commandment is : " Thou shalt love God !" 
 What is more just than that a creature should love his cre- 
 ator, a son his father, a servant bis master ? Even if God 
 did not command us to do so, should we not still love Him ? 
 
Good Thoughts. 283 
 
 Let us therefore love an infinitely amiable God ; let us 
 love His glorious beauty, His incomparable goodness, His 
 wonderful wisdom and adorable perfections ! 
 
 2. The reason v^hich He gives for loving Him. " For He 
 is thy Lord and thy God." If you love that which is great, 
 should you not love Him who is the sovereign Lord of all 
 things ? If you love your benefactor, should you not love 
 this great God, who has created you out of nothing, in order 
 to give you innumerable graces in this, and heaven in the 
 next world ? Should you not love Him who became man 
 to redeem you, and who died on the cross, to give you life ? 
 
 Love this adorable Lord, and love Him above all things ! 
 
 3. The manner in lohich to love Him. " Thou shalt love 
 God with thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul, and 
 with thy whole mind," that is, we should not love the crea- 
 tures, pleasures and glories of the world, but we should give 
 all our love, our whole heart to God, without dividing it 
 with anything else ; we should prefer God to all men, and 
 love Him with the most ardent affection. "With all our 
 mind," that is we should love Him not with a weak love, but 
 with a love filled with earnestness and desire, and we should 
 give Him our thoughts, words, deeds, goods, our body, our 
 soul and all that we possess. 
 
 How do you love God ? Perhaps very indifferently ! 
 "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy mind." — Matt, xxii, 38. 
 
 Monday. Reasons for loving God, 
 
 1. God is loorthy of our love. Creatures do not deserve 
 to be loved, because they are nothing, and if we love them 
 it is not out of love for them, but out of love for ourselves. 
 God alone deserves to be loved on account of Himself and 
 His perfections. 'You love beauty, virtue, pleasures, honors 
 and riches ; but what is more beautiful than God ? Is there 
 any virtue more worthy of love than the perfections of God ? 
 Where can you find pleasures, honors and riches if not in 
 God, who possesses them and who can make you partaker 
 of them, while creatures can give you little or nothing ? 
 
 Love Him who alone is worthy of your love ! 
 
 2. He loves us. What is there in heaven or upon earth, 
 within or without us, which does not testify to the love 
 which God has for us ? He has created, redeemed and sanc- 
 tified us ; He nourishes us, He has given us angels to pro- 
 tect us, men to instruct us, and creatures to serve us. He 
 
284 Good Thoughts. 
 
 desires nothing so much as our salvation ; He therefore gives 
 us graces, and prepares an imperishable crown for us in 
 heaven. 
 
 O cruel, inhuman heart; not to love Him, who loves you 
 with such a great, beneficial, constant and disinterested love! 
 
 3. He commands others to love us. He not only loves us, 
 but He also commands all men to love us, as much as they 
 love themselves. 
 
 O let us surrender to the claims of this infinite love ! Let 
 us renounce the love of creatures, in order to love God alone, 
 and let us love one another, as He commands us ! 
 
 "If any man love not our Lord Jesus Christ, let him be anathema." — 1 
 Cor. xvi, 22. 
 
 Tuesday. Motives for love. The m,ysteries of Christ, 
 
 1 . His childhood. Is your heart not softened at the sight 
 of this great God, whom you see now in a manger wrap- 
 ped up in swaddling clothes ? Behold the holy infant Jesus 
 in the arms of His Virgin-Mother who nurses Him ! He 
 suffers, without uttering a word; He is hungry, without 
 wishing to eat; He cannot walk without assistance, and He 
 speaks only by sighs and tears. 
 
 Is this infant God ? Yes, it is, and He has humbled Him- 
 self and become a child out of love to us, to teach us that we 
 should love Him and humble ourselves out of love to Him. 
 
 2. His presentation in the Temple. Mary carries Him to 
 the temple; she submits herself to a very humiliating law, 
 to the observance of which she was not bound. She is 
 looked upon as a common woman, a sinner and her Son also 
 as a sinner. The infant already offers Himself up as an 
 innocent sacrifice ; He is redeemed according to the precept 
 of the law. 
 
 Let us out of love to God cheerfully accept every humilia- 
 tion ! But alas, Christ humbled Himself by wishing to 
 appear what He was not, and we hate humiliations because 
 we desire to appear what we are not ! 
 
 3. His flight into Egypt. O my Jesus, why dost Thou 
 flee? Couldst Thou not have destroyed the cruel Herod 
 who sought to put Thee to death ? Was it necessary for 
 Thee to expose Thyself with Thy holy mother and St. 
 Joseph to a long and dangerous journey, and amid so many 
 deprivations live in Egypt among idolaters until after the 
 death of Herod ? 
 
Good Thoughts. 285 
 
 Let us resolve never to use unjust violence; let us not 
 take revenge, even if it is in our power. It is more glorious 
 for a christian to yield in humility than to yield in justice. 
 
 "And when they shall persecute you in this city, flee into another." 
 — Matt. X, 23. 
 
 Wednesday. The life of Christ. 
 
 1 . His hidden life. He returns from Egypt to ]!!^azareth, 
 there to spend for more than twenty years a life of seclusion, 
 and obedience to His parents. He could have performed 
 innumerable miracles and converted the world ; but He 
 desires to fulfil the will of His heavenly Father, and of 
 Mary and Joseph, who commanded Him as their son. 
 
 Do not live too much in public, if you can possibly avoid 
 it. Prefer to be unknown; it is better to remain in seclu- 
 sion, out of obedience, than to do great things contrary to 
 the will of God. 
 
 2. His ordinary life. There was nothing peculiar either in 
 His manner of living, in His dress, or in His actions, except 
 the incomparable amiability with which He conversed with 
 men, in order to win and convert them the easier. He ate 
 with those who invited Him, and spoke to them with wonder- 
 ful kindness. His actions were apparently very ordinary, but 
 the manner in which He performed them was extraordinary 
 and divine. Imitate your Savior ; be amiable to all men, and 
 in your most ordinary works always be animated by a pure 
 intention. 
 
 3. Sis apostolic life. He chooses twelve apostles, and 
 takes them with Him to preach through the whole of Judea. 
 His zeal never ceases; He suffers greatly on His journeys; 
 He speaks with as much eloquence to a servant, to a Sama- 
 ritan woman, and to a poor peasant, as to the crowds of 
 Jews and to the rulers of the synagogue. 
 
 Let us labor zealously for all, and show kindness to the 
 poor, remembering that a politeness which is merely super- 
 ficial, adds nothing either to the beauty of the body or to 
 that of the soul ! 
 
 ''He was seen upon earth, and conversed with men." — Baruch iii, 38. 
 
 Thursday. The life of Christ — continued. 
 
 1. Sis baptism. He goes to John to be baptised, thereby 
 performing an act of humility. John who recognized Him, 
 refused to baptise Him ; but he was told to obey. 
 
286 Good Thoughts. 
 
 Instead of humbling ourselves we refuse to submit to 
 others, showing thereby that we are filled with pride. Do 
 you call this imitating the humility of Christ, who as God 
 submits Himself to a man ? 
 
 2. His fasting. After the air had resounded with His 
 praises, while heaven was open, when the Holy Ghost had 
 descended upon Him in the form of a dove, and He had 
 heard a voice saying : " This is my beloved son !" — He goes 
 into the desert there, to spend forty days and forty nights in 
 prayer, and in the practice of the most austere fasting. 
 
 O how pleasing to God is fasting united with prayer, and 
 how profitable to ourselves ! Never seek to convert others 
 without having first prepared yourself for the task by prayer 
 and fasting ! It would be very foolish in you to help another 
 to save his soul, and to lose your own ! 
 
 3. His temptations. The devil tempts Him in various 
 ways ; but He repels him by saying : " Begone, Satan !" 
 
 Resist courageously as Christ did, and prepare to be 
 tempted not only in solitude, but also in society ! Satan 
 waylays you everywhere. He will tempt you at any time, 
 in any place, and in every possible manner. It is pride that 
 causes you to feel astonished at being assailed by horrible 
 temptations after having served God for so long a time. 
 Have as much courage to resist the devil as he has courage 
 to attack you ! 
 
 "Resist the devil and he will fly from you." — James iv, 7. 
 
 FjRiDAY. The teachings of Jesus Christ. 
 
 1. Who it is that teaches. It is one whose knowledge is 
 infinite, and w^ho possesses all the treasures of the wisdom 
 and knowledge of God. He is the legislator of the law of 
 grace, who has the right to bind us to the observance of His 
 precepts. He is the King of the whole world, whom we 
 must obey. He is finally one who is the way, the truth and 
 the life ; the way^ in which we can reach heaven by practic- 
 ing His doctrine ; the truth^ which can neither deceive nor be 
 deceived ; the life^ for in the observance of His laws we find 
 the life of grace and a life of glory. 
 
 O my Jesus, would that I was as good a disciple as Thou 
 art a teacher ! 
 
 2. What He teaches. He teaches no scholastic or philo- 
 sophical subtleties, but eternal truths and heavenly dogmas. 
 In His gospel we learn how to obtain virtue, to conquer vice, 
 
Good Thoughts. 287 
 
 to know that whicn is evil and to walk in the spirit of 
 God. 
 
 Notwithstanding all this, we apply ourselves so little to the 
 science of our salvation. We are verv careful to learn how to 
 live according to the customs of the world, but not how 
 to live according to God. 
 
 3. Why He teaches. He teaches us, not to satisfy vain 
 curiosity, but to show us the way to heaven and how we can 
 obtain eternal glory. O sublime end of all the teachings of 
 Christ ! 
 
 This should henceforth be the end and object of my life. 
 " I must be saved ! I must gain heaven ; everything else is 
 vanity." Our divine Saviour shows us the way by His exam- 
 ple and His words. It depends upon us to follow Him. 
 
 "Thou hast taught me from my youth." — Psalm Ixx, 1*7. 
 
 Saturday. The patience of Christ teaches us to hear. 
 
 1. The hardships of the body. The body of Christ was 
 not insensible to suffering. He was subject to hunger, 
 thirst, fatigue and other hardships, which are common to 
 those who labor for the salvation of souls. But His love for 
 man caused Him to bear all this, in order to work for the 
 salvation of mankind and to honor His Father. One day 
 when asked to eat. He said: "My meat is to do the will of 
 Him that sent me." How many arduous journeys did He 
 not undertake ! What fatigue did He not undergo ! 
 
 Bear patiently the hardships which you meet in the per- 
 formance of your duties ! We should not over-burden our 
 body, because it must serve us, but we must neither flatter 
 it, nor must we be too sensitive to every inconvenience. 
 
 2. The troubles of the soul. The ignorance of His dis- 
 ciples caused Him no little trouble. How much did it not 
 cost Him to conquer the obduracy of the Jews, to combat 
 against the pride of the Pharisees, to punish the hypocrisy 
 of the doctors of the law, and to win the hearts of hardened 
 sinners ? Was He not grieved at seeing the little advantage 
 which so many received or were willing to receive from His 
 teachings, the small number of those who were converted 
 by His miracles, and the horrible sins of those who dishon- 
 ered His Father ? Nevertheless, He submitted to the will 
 of His Father. 
 
 Your zeal should never grow cold under any difficulty. 
 There are some who do not care to work if those for whom 
 
288 Good Thoughts. 
 
 « 
 they labor arc stupid, obstinate or ungrateful. You work 
 for God, and should therefore never lose courage ! 
 
 3. Persecutions. How many contradictions and persecu- 
 tions did lie not suffer! IIow often was He not sought 
 after ! How often was He not insulted and mocked at ! 
 But His patience was always firm and His zeal victorious. 
 
 You look for applause and success, if your intentions are 
 good. You are restless if you do not receive it, instead of 
 being ready to meet persecutions and contradictions, as 
 Christ did, and instead of continuing your labors without 
 becoming angry and losing courage. 
 
 " Patience is necessary for you." — Hebr. x, 36. 
 
 EIGHTEENTH WEEK AFTER PENTECOST. 
 
 Gospel: — Matt, ix, 1-8. At that time Jesus, entering into a boat, 
 passed over the water and came into his own city, etc. 
 
 Sunday. The man sick of the palsy, 
 
 1. His disease. He is sick of the palsy, that is, he has no 
 use of his limbs. He can do nothing, he cannot walk, but 
 must be carried about. 
 
 Mortal sin is like the palsy, for when we commit it our 
 will becomes paralyzed, and we can do nothing worthy of 
 heaven, because we are not in the state of grace. There is 
 still another kind of palsy which, although not so fatal, 
 is still very dangerous ; it is the state of indifference, that is, 
 to treat with carelessness whatever concerns our salvation 
 and the service of God. Endeavor to be freed from this 
 twofold disease of the palsy. 
 
 2. His spiritual cure. Compassionate persons carry this 
 sick man to the feet of Jesus, who said to him : " Be of 
 good heart, son, thy sins are forgiven thee." Before He 
 cured him of the disease of his body, He healed that of his 
 soul. 
 
 We must learn from the above to begin with healing our 
 soul, since it is to be preferred to the cure of the body ! 
 But alas, we do the very reverse ! If our body is attacked 
 
Good Thoughts. 289 
 
 by a slight illness, we send at once for the physician ; but 
 if the soul is in a state of sin, we care very little about 
 having it restored to its former purity and beauty. 
 
 3. Sis bodily cure. Christ commanded him to rise, and 
 take up his bed and walk, and at once he arose, and in the 
 presence of a great number of persons, who were astonished 
 at this wonder, he joyfully took up his bed and went to his 
 house. 
 
 O power of God, when wilt Thou work such a miracle in 
 rae ? When shall I be cured of the diseases of anger, ava- 
 rice, impurity and sloth, from which I have suffered already 
 so long ! 
 
 "Rise thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall 
 enlighten thee." — Ephes. v, 14, 
 
 Monday. Causes of indifference, 
 
 1 . We forget the considerations by which we wer§ movedy 
 and ive neglect to pray. O what a change has come over 
 you ! Where is the time when you loved seclusion, mortifi- 
 cation and prayer, that time when you walked so zealously 
 and quickly in the path of perfection ? Now there is nothing 
 within you but exhaustion, disgust, fickleness, distraction, 
 faithlessness, insensibility and disorder. The reason is, 
 because you think no more of such important considera- 
 tions, as heaven, death, hell and the vanity of the world, and 
 of other holy subjects which moved you in the beginning of 
 your conversion ! It is because you have long since ceased 
 to meditate upon them, or if you do so, you do it so carelessly, 
 that you derive no benefit from it. 
 
 Revive within yourself the consideration of those important 
 truths, which heretofore animated your zeal ! Meditate with 
 attention, pray with devotion and punctuality, and you will 
 see that your first fervor, which is suppressed or extinguished 
 will again be enkindled in your heart ! 
 
 2. We lose courage on account of hardship^ and cease to 
 mortify ourselves. Self-love nourishes indifference. We do 
 not wish to suffer anything ; we fear the least hardship, and 
 only seek our comfort ; we lose courage when we find it diffi- 
 cult to pray, to practice mortification, to observe order and to 
 attend to our usual exercises of piety. We seek pretexts 
 to free ourselves from all trouble, and thus we soon abandon 
 the practice of virtue to which mortification is necessarily 
 united. Revive your former spirit of zeal and mortification I 
 
 25 
 
290 . Good Thoughts. 
 
 We are like the weights of a clock, which require to be 
 regularly wound up, if we wish to keep it in good order. We 
 resemble a garden, in which nothing but weeds would grow 
 if we were not careful to uproot them and cultivate the 
 ground. 
 
 Practice your former mortifications, and remember that by 
 neglecting them you give evidence of being indifferent ! 
 
 3. We persevere in i7idifference, because toe do not fear its 
 consequences. The indifferent man imagines that he is not in 
 a dangerous state, because he sins publicly ; but this very fact 
 should terrify him. 
 
 O my God, I have every reason to fear Thee, since I serve 
 Thee so carelessly ! 
 
 " Because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will begin to 
 vomit thee out of my mouth." — Apoc, iii, 16. 
 
 Tuesday. Marks of indifference. 
 
 1. We dislike to do our duty. Instead of serving God 
 with joy and gladness, we serve Him with reluctance ; we 
 find everything difficult and disagreeable ; we act only from 
 compulsion ; we are made angry by the least contradiction ; 
 we no longer seek advice from our spiritual director; we 
 have no desire to attain perfection; we find the time set 
 apart for prayer, reading spiritual books and examining our 
 conscience too long and tiresome, and we spend our days in 
 idle amusements and conversation. 
 
 Alas, how much is it to be feared that you possess one of 
 these marks of indifference ! 
 
 2. We perform it carelessly. As soon as the spirit of 
 indifference has taken possession of our heart, we fulfil our 
 duty very superficially. We fall asleep in church or while 
 praying, and instead of reading spiritual books, we spend our 
 time in idleness, or in seeking after vain pleasures. We 
 seldom place ourselves in the presence of God ; we perform 
 all our devotions with carelessness, and feel very little concern 
 about our spiritual progress. 
 
 Detest this fatal sloth, and ask God to free you from it, if 
 you are infected with it ! 
 
 3. We often omit it. If we become careless in the per- 
 formance of our duty we are very apt to neglect it alto- 
 gether. The least thing will cause us to omit the examen 
 of conscience, a holy mass or a prayer. We observe no 
 particular rule of life, and seldom perform works of penance. 
 
Good Thoughts. 291 
 
 If you once omit your devotions, you will soon abandon 
 thein entirely. 
 
 "How long do you halt between two sides." — 3 Kings, xviii, 21. 
 
 Wednesday. Danger of being lukewarm. 
 
 1. W^e first omit the practice of virtue. "Why need I 
 torment myself continually, to perform acts of virtue ?" says 
 the lukewarm Christian. " I am not bound to do so, and I 
 can consequently omit them." At another time he will say, 
 " I am not disposed at present to perform this or that good 
 work." 
 
 Have you not reason to accuse yourself of this kind of 
 carelessness ? 
 
 2. We fall afterwards into venial sin. He who is luke- 
 warm is never on his guard, and he will often sin either out 
 of thoughtlessness or from a desire to enjoy himself. When 
 our love for God commences to grow cold, our horror of sin 
 becomes less. We find pleasure in idle thoughts and conver- 
 sations, the slightest delay makes us impatient, and before 
 we are conscious of it we have committed venial sin. 
 
 O how dangerous is this state ! Sigh and lament, because 
 you have so frequently offended God, and resolve never again 
 to do so. 
 
 3. We at length commit mortal sin. O my Lord, do we 
 not see, and have we not too often experienced it, that luke- 
 warmness leads finally to ruin and to extreme misery ? By 
 indulging ourselves more and more every day, we fall into 
 the habit of committing many venial sins, and at last we 
 almost insensibly fall into mortal sin. 
 
 Such carelessness and contempt for grace will make you 
 feeble, so that you will very easily commit mortal sin. 
 
 " You did run well; who hath hindered you that you should not obey the 
 truth?"— Gal. v, 1. 
 
 Thursday. Other dangers arising from luhewarmness, 
 
 1. God will finally withdraw His graces. Who can doubt, 
 but that God will withdraw His graces from us, if we serve 
 Him negligently? Would you not show more affection for 
 a person who serves you faithfully and who seeks to please 
 you on all occasions, than for one who does unwillingly what 
 you tell him to do, and does that badly ? 
 
 O my God, how great is Thy mercy for not having entirely 
 
292 Good Thoughts. 
 
 withdrawn Thy grace from me because of my having served 
 Thee so negligently and with so little love ! 
 
 2. You will find it more and 7nore difficult to practice vir- 
 tue. The fact of your being lukewarm will cause everything 
 to seem difficult to you. We often see persons undergo great 
 fatigue in the pursuit of some favorite pleasure ; but if they 
 are called upon to serve God with the same degree of zeal, 
 they suddenly discover that they have not sufficient strength 
 to do so, and they become at once weary and disheartened. 
 If you were not lukewarm, you would not find so much 
 difficulty in the practice of good works. 
 
 Be courageous, and you will see how soon fear and aver- 
 sion will leave you ! 
 
 3. Satan will become stronger as yoU become weaker. A 
 man who is a coward will never make a good soldier. Satan 
 will use more violence when he sees that you lose courage ; 
 he knows that you walk carelessly in the path of virtue, and 
 that you make very little effort to resist his temptations. 
 " Now," he will say, " is the time for me to strike the blow, 
 because he is wearied and disgusted Avith everything, if he is 
 attacked at once, I can easily conquer him !" Alas, it hap- 
 pens, only too often, that he is successful in his design. 
 
 Remember that you were never overcome by temptation 
 as long as you persevered in your devotions, but only when 
 you became lukewarm and careless in serving God ! How 
 important is it therefore, for you to continue to be zealous ! 
 
 " I counsel thee to buy of me gold fire-tried, that thou mayest be made 
 rich." — Apoc. iii, 18. 
 
 Friday. Obstacles to the acquiring of zeal. 
 
 1. A changeable mind. There are persons who wish some- 
 thing new every day, and they imagine that they do little, 
 because they repeat the same thing over again. When we 
 enter upon a new state of life, or begin a new undertaking, 
 we show the greatest amount of zeal ; but we gradually lose 
 our ardor, because we become accustomed to what was at first 
 a pleasing novelty, and we perform our duty more out of habit 
 than from a desire to please God. 
 
 Beware of the cunning of Satan, who desires to create in 
 you an aversion for your devotions, so that you may omit 
 them entirely ! 
 
 2. A fretfal and m,elancholy mind. Some persons lose 
 courage because they have frequently fallen into the same 
 
Good Thoughts. 293 
 
 sin ; they imagine that they can never free themselves from 
 their imperfections, and hence, instead of arming themselves 
 with renewed zeal, they become fretful, depressed and mis- 
 trustful. Do you not know that this want of confidence and 
 courage is more dangerous than the sin you have committed, 
 and that it is a deception on the part of Satan, in order to 
 induce you to abandon the path of virtue ? The truth is, 
 that you wish to acquire in a day the same perfection, which 
 the greatest saints have attained only after many years, and 
 with the greatest perseverance. 
 
 Overcome the sadness which depresses you, and which 
 keeps you from serving God cheerfully ; place your whole 
 reliance upon Him, and serve Him as faithfully as if you 
 enjoyed the greatest consolations ! 
 
 3. The selfish mind. The unhappy spirit of self-love is 
 always opposed to the practice of virtue ; we do not wish 
 to suffer anything, and therefore our zeal becomes cold. 
 
 Detest this dangerous state, and ask God to deliver you 
 from the destructive vice of selfishness ! 
 
 " And be renewed in the spirit of your mind." — Ephes. iv, 23. 
 
 Saturday. Advantages of zeal. 
 
 1. We make great progress in a short time. One week 
 spent in zealously serving God will make you more perfect, 
 than twenty weeks spent in serving Him in a lukewarm man- 
 ner. Is it not true, that he who runs with all his might will 
 make more progress in one hour than he will who goes 
 slowly in two hours ? " So run, says St. Paul, that you may 
 obtain !" — 1 Cor. ix, 24. 
 
 Redouble your devotion and zeal and so imitate the saints, 
 who, owing to their zeal, obtained great holiness in a short 
 time ! 
 
 2. IVe avoid m,any sins. A person, who applies himself 
 to his work, thinks of nothing else, and finds no pleasure in 
 idle words or sinful deeds. 
 
 If you were truly zealous, you would not lose so much 
 time in unprofitable conversations and visits, which are of 
 no advantage to you, but only occasions of sin. 
 
 3. We can easily practice virtue. If we are filled with the 
 spirit of zeal, we labor with joy and feel no fatigue. A sloth- 
 ful person is astonished how others can recite so many prayers 
 and perform so many works of penance ; he does not see 
 that they perform them not only with punctuality and fervor, 
 
 25* 
 
294 Good Thoughts. 
 
 but also with delight and the desire to do even more. This 
 is one of the rewards which Almighty God gives to the 
 zealous Christian. 
 
 Zeal is like a fire, which will die out if not fanned and 
 provided with fuel. The fire of your zeal will soon be 
 extinguished, if you are not careful to renew your good 
 desires, and to fill your mind constantly with good and holy 
 thoughts. 
 
 '* Being made perfect in a short space, he fulfilled a long time." — "Wis. 
 iv, 13. 
 
 NINETEENTH WEEK AFTER PENTECOST. 
 
 Gospel: — Matt, xxii, 2-14. At that time Jesus spoke to tlie chief 
 priests and the Pharisees in parables, saying, the kingdom of heaven ia 
 likened to a king who made a marriage for his son, etc. 
 
 Sunday. The marriage-feast of the King. 
 
 1. The kindness of the King who invites. A King invites 
 persons who are unknown to hira, to a magnificent feast 
 which he prepares for the wedding of his son. O, what an 
 astonishing kindness ! 
 
 The same kindness does our Savior show to all Christians, 
 for He invites them to receive His grace and to attend that 
 divine feast, in which He gives them His own most sacred 
 body and blood. Let us thank Him for this honor and try 
 to be well prepared when we approach His sacred table. 
 
 2. The refusal of those who were invited. These unfor- 
 tunate creatures have so little respect or love for the King, 
 that they refuse to come. One excuses himself on account 
 of business ; another declares that he must work upon his 
 farm ; and the rest laid hands on the servants who had come 
 to invite them, and put them to death in a cruel manner. 
 
 Almighty God invites you to become perfect, to gain 
 heaven and to receive holy communion, but you occupy your- 
 self only with your business, with amusements and vanities 
 rather than receive the graces which He prepares for you in 
 Holy communion. 
 
Good Thoughts. 295 
 
 3. The punishment of those who refused. This King, 
 irritated at their refusal, vowed that they should never enter 
 the wedding-hall. He sent his soldiers to destroy the mur- 
 derers and to burn their cities. A wretched man appeared 
 among the guests, who had not on a wedding garment. The 
 King had him at once seized and commanded them to bind 
 his hands and feet, and to cast him into exterior darkness. 
 
 Avoid two great errors ! The first is, do not refuse to 
 approach the holy sacraments or to receive the graces of 
 God. The other is, not to come to the table of the Lord 
 without being worthily prepared. 
 
 " Prepare your hearts unto the Lord." — 1 Kings, vii, 3. 
 
 Monday. Punishment of sin. 
 
 1. Of the angels. Sin must be very displeasing to God, 
 since He punishes it so severely. See the immense number 
 of angels who were endowed with admirable beauty and 
 perfection, but who, by committing one sin, and that only in 
 thought, were forthwith, and without having a moment to 
 repent, driven out of heaven and cast into the fire of hell, 
 to burn there without any hope of ever returning to heaven ! 
 
 Alas, if so many glorious angels have become horrible 
 devils by committing one single sin, what shall become of me 
 who have committed so many ? O, if they had only one 
 hour to do penance, what would they not do ? And yet I, 
 having so much time, do not repent ! 
 
 2. Of our first parents. Adam and Eve ate of the forbid- 
 den fruit, and immediately they were cast out from paradise. 
 They lost their original innocence, were- subject to misery, 
 and together with all their posterity, were condemned to 
 die and to return to the dust from which they were taken. 
 All the diseases, all the misery which we suffer in this world, 
 are the consequences of sin. Learn to resist Satan better 
 than Eve did, and to avoid sin which causes so many evils ! 
 
 3. Of other perso7is. Behold the whole world destroyed 
 by the deluge, see the fire falling from heaven upon sinners, 
 turning them and their cities into ashes ! See on the other 
 side the earth opening itself to devour Dathan and others 
 who rebelled against Moses! Think of the Egyptians who, 
 together with their King Pharao, were buried in the waters 
 of the Red sea ! Remember those who have lost their lives 
 by pestilence, famine, war and fire. Alas, and all this is as 
 nothing in comparison to the chastisements with which 
 
296 Good Thoughts. 
 
 Almighty God will punish sin in the next world, because all 
 the pains of this life are as nothing compared with the fire 
 and torments which the damned have to suffer in the world 
 to come ! 
 
 " The Lord is jealous and taketh vengeance on his adversaries." Nahura, 
 i, 2. 
 
 Tuesday. Other punishments of sin. 
 
 1 . The proud are punished with humiliation, God punishes 
 sin even in this world. See how the pride of Aman was 
 punished, for although a great man, he was hung upon a high 
 gallows. Consider how the proud King Nabuchodonosor, 
 who commanded others to worship him as though he were 
 God, was condemned to crawl upon the earth like an animal ! 
 Look at the rebellious Absalom, who, while hanging by the 
 hair of his head upon an oak tree, was pierced through 
 the heart by three lances ! Have we not seen men die upon 
 the scaffold because their ambition tempted them to forget the 
 fidelity which they owed their princes ? and do we not daily 
 see that many of those who wish to be elevated to the skies 
 are humbled in the very dust of the earth ? 
 
 Avoid and abhor the spirit of pride. 
 
 2. The avaricious are punished with the loss of their goods. 
 Almighty God will so ordain it that because riches have been 
 obtained unjustly, or because we are too much attached to 
 them, the loss of a law-suit, robbery, fire, shipwreck, bank- 
 ruptcy, an extravagant child, or some other cause will make 
 us beggars. How many families have been ruined, and how 
 many persons who once possessed immense wealth, as did 
 Belisar and others, have been forced to ask alms ! 
 
 Do not lose the treasures of Heaven for those of the world ! 
 Make good use of the goods which God has given you ! 
 
 3. The sensualist and other sinners punished with pain and 
 affliction. A man who indulges in every species of dissipa- 
 tion is often the victim of some disease ; a wordly woman 
 frequently loses the beauty which has been the lamentable 
 cause of her sins, and a glutton is often commanded by his 
 physician to observe a strict abstinence, in order to atone for 
 his previous excesses. Almighty God will punish your sins 
 also in like manner. The children, whose education you 
 have neglected, will cause you to shed many bitter tears; 
 you will daily hear complaints against them, and after having 
 squandered all your means, they will perhaps meet with an 
 
Good Thoughts. 297 
 
 unhappy death. The revengeful man will ruin himself in- 
 stead of ruining his enemies ; the slanderer, who tried to 
 destroy the reputation of others, will lose his own good 
 name, and the sinner will fall into the snare which he laid 
 for others. 
 
 Fear the justice of God and tremble when you thmk of it ! 
 
 "May God have mercy on us and bless us." — Psalm Ixvi, 1. 
 
 Wednesday. Interior punishments of the sinner. 
 
 1. TJie sorrow with which he sees his pleasures vanish. 
 What saddens the sinner in the midst of his pleasures, is the 
 consciousness that like a flower they will fade in a day, and 
 for this reason he is grieved. He knows that the joys of this 
 world are like a bird that flies away, like a ship on the sea, 
 not leaving a trace behind it. He sees that to-day nothing is 
 left of the enjoyments of yesterday, that this beauty, this 
 vigor of body and soul are daily diminishing, that a disagree- 
 able old age follows youth, and that his life and his excesses 
 will end in the grave. 
 
 Think well of it ! Look upon pleasures as vain trifles, and 
 do not condemn yourself to be forever seeking after the joys 
 of this world, that pass away so quickly ! 
 
 2. The fear of the punishment that vnll fall upon him. 
 Although enjoying himself, the sinner is constantly tormented 
 by the fear of God's judgments. He knows that He is just 
 and will punish his wickedness ; he has before him the sad 
 fate of others who were as wicked as he is himself, who died 
 in their sins, and who now burn in hell without any hope of 
 ever being freed from their sufierings. He sees death 
 approach, and he thinks of that awful moment, in which his 
 body will be lowered into the grave, in a state of corruption. 
 O what afilictions do these considerations cause him, and how 
 much do they lessen his desire for enjoyment ! 
 
 It is not enough to have such thoughts, you must also 
 profit by them. The fear of death, judgment and hell, should 
 prevent you from committing sin. 
 
 3. The reproaches of his conscience. The sinner wishes to 
 indulge his passions without being troubled or disturbed by 
 sad thoughts ; but his conscience will allow him no rest ; it 
 does not cease to reproach him with his wickedness, to place 
 before his eyes the horror of sin, and to terrify him concern- 
 ing the lamentable condition in which he finds himself. It 
 says to him, as it did to Cain : " What have you done, 
 
298 Good Thoughts. 
 
 unhappy wretch ; where is your brother ? Faithless soul, 
 what sins have you now committed ? Where is your God 
 whom you have offended ? Where is the heaven which you 
 have lost? Where is the grace of God, that has been taken 
 from you ? Can you enjoy peace amid so much confusion ?" 
 
 Listen to the reproaches of your conscience, and fear, lest 
 it may become hardened, for then you would give yourself 
 entirely up to sin ! 
 
 *' It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." — Ilebr. 
 X, 31. 
 
 Thursday. Other punishments of the sinner. 
 
 1 . Almighty God allows the sinner to live in his pleasures. 
 If God Himself had not said to Ezekiel the prophet, that as a 
 sign of His wrath he would leave the sinner alone, and would 
 not be angry with him, that is, that He would leave him in 
 this life the full enjoyment of his pleasures, goods and honors, 
 in order to punish him forever in the next world ; we repeat, 
 if God had not said it Himself, we would not believe it. O 
 prosperity, what a disadvantage art thou not to the sinner ! 
 As he has all he wishes for, the honors of this world, abund- 
 ance, amusements and society, he has like the rich man of the 
 gospel, his heaven in this world, and will have like him, hell 
 in the world to come. 
 
 O my God, give me neither pleasures nor wealth, but 
 chastise me rather in this world, so that I may possess Thee 
 in heaven ! 
 
 2. Alm,ighty God punishes the sinner hy permitting him 
 to fall from one sin into another. Almighty God wishes no 
 sin to be committed, but He permits it, and especially when 
 you make yourself unworthy of His protection. He could 
 remove from you these temptations, these occasions, these 
 dangerous circumstances; but in order to punish you for 
 your sins and your faithlessness, He will leave you to your- 
 self and to your frailty, that is. He will not extend to you 
 any assistance. He will even permit an occasion to present 
 itself, bad companions to meet you, temptations to attack 
 you, and you to fall into sin. 
 
 O Lord, send to me every other chastisement in this world 
 except this, O God of mercy ! O what a terrible thing it is 
 to see one sin punished by another ! 
 
 3. Almighty God withdraws Sis graces and consolations. 
 God withdraws from you interior grace, because you expel 
 
Good TnoroHTs. 299 
 
 it by your sins; He withdraws many of His most efficacious 
 graces, because you make yourself unworthy of them ; He 
 deprives you of His special assistance, and of all those 
 spiritual consolations and of that sweetness which helps you 
 so much to attain perfection. 
 
 See what a great loss you suffer on account of your sins ! 
 Are you not therefore very miserable, because you commit 
 them so easily ? Do not excuse yourself by declaring that 
 you have not received assistance from Almighty God, for 
 although He has withdrawn from you the above mentioned 
 graces, you can resist sin if you wish. " Because you have 
 left me on account of your sins, I have left you," says the 
 Lord. 
 
 "For as much as thou has rejected the word of the Lord, the Lord also 
 hath rejected thee." — 1 Kings xv, 23. 
 
 Friday. Sdl. 
 
 1 . Hell is a place of torment. Heaven is the place of all 
 good, but hell that of all evil, and therefore the damned in 
 losing God lose all that is good, and fall into all that is evil, 
 for which reason every part of his body and all the powers 
 of his soul will have their own separate pains. His eyes will 
 be tormented by the most horrible darkness and eternal tears ; 
 his ears by being compelled to listen to the most fearful 
 bowlings and the most abominable blasphemies ; his taste by 
 the most furious hunger and thirst ; his sense of smell by the 
 most disgusting odors ; his imagination by awful apparitions ; 
 his desires by the most cruel and violent passions ; his memory 
 by the remembrance of past pleasures which he compares 
 with the torments he has now to suffer. 
 
 Does there exist a greater pain than to wish what never 
 can be, and not to wish w^hat will be eternal ? 
 
 2. Hell i& an evil without end or relief. It never ceases, 
 because neither God, the eternal avenger of sin, nor the evil 
 spirits, the executioners of His justice, ever become tired, 
 and because the damned, their sins and the causes of their 
 torments exist forever. The pain of the damned is an evil 
 which must be endured w^ithout intermission and consolation. 
 Heaven is a good, not mixed with any evil ; hell is an evil 
 not mixed Avith any good. Is there a more insignificant 
 means of relief than a drop of water ? The rich man burn- 
 ing in the flames of hell, asked for it, and Abraham refused 
 to give it to him. *' Remember," said he, "that thou didst 
 
300 Good Thoughts. 
 
 receive good things in thy lifetime, but now thou art tor- 
 mented !" 
 
 IIow will it be with you, if you should die in the state in 
 which you are now ? Remember the answer of Abraham to 
 the rich man, and often repeat it to yourself! 
 
 3. Hell is an evil without hope. It is possible to derive 
 some consolation from even a great evil, if we only possess 
 the hope of being freed from it, although it may be an idle 
 and delusive hope. The damned, however, have no hope 
 of any kind, and the certainty of this fact is always before 
 them. 
 
 Alas, what a terrible thought ! To suffer much and yet to 
 hope, is to suffer comparatively little ; not to suffer, but 
 to have no hope is to suffer much ; but to suffer much and to 
 hope nothing is the greatest torment of the damned in hell. 
 O what misery, to wish for what we cannot have, and to 
 possess that forever, which we hate ! 
 
 " Which of you shall dwell with everlasting burniugs ?" — Isaias xxxiii, 14. 
 
 Saturday. The cause of the despair of the damned, 
 
 1. To have lost God. The greatest torment of those in 
 hell will be to have lost heaven, to be deprived forever of 
 the sight of God and of His perfections. O what despair ! 
 They will then experience how great a good they have lost, 
 and what it is to be deprived of the hope of seeing the infinite 
 essence of God, the trinity of the persons and the humanity 
 of Christ. O what a loss, to be condemned to remain forever 
 in a dark and frightful prison, to be always in the company 
 of wicked spirits and reprobates, instead of enjoying in heaven 
 the company of the blessed angels and saints ! 
 
 If you only knew how beautiful God is, and what a happi- 
 ness it is to see Him, you would certainly avoid sin, fearing 
 to be forever deprived of this good. 
 
 2. To have lost Him through their own fault. Their 
 despair is increased by the remembrance, that they could 
 have gained heaven so easily and been happy with the saints, 
 because they also possessed all the necessary means and 
 graces to obtain eternal felicity; and that they, notwith- 
 standing, in order to satisfy their passions and pleasures, 
 have lost the eternal goods and are condemned to suffer 
 eternal torments. For this reason they become furious and 
 are filled with despair. 
 
 Delay not to do penance, until it is too late ! Make good 
 
Good Thoughts. 301 
 
 use of the grace of God, and endeavor to win heaven and 
 escape hell ! 
 
 3. To have lost heaven forever. The greatest anguish and 
 despair of the damned is caused by the knowledge that the 
 loss of God and heaven is an irreparable loss, so much so 
 that they have no more hope in the mercy of God, in the 
 intercession of the blessed Virgin, in the mediation of 
 the saints, nor in good works, which they are unable to 
 perform, and the fact that heaven is closed to them forever. 
 
 Think seriously upon this awful subject, and do not wait 
 until you are in hell, as the rich man did, who, in the midst 
 of his torments, lifted up his eyes towards heaven! He 
 should have done so while alive, but now it is useless, it is 
 too late ! This reprobate has been burning eighteen hundred 
 years in the fire of hell, and he will burn there forever. 
 
 " Thou didst receive good things in thy life time, * * * * but now thou 
 art tormented." — Luke xvi, 25. 
 
 TWENTIETH WEEK AFTER PENTECOST. 
 
 Gospel: — John iv, 46-53. At that time, there was a certain ruler 
 whose son was sick at Capharnaum, etc. 
 
 Sunday. The cure of the ruler^s son. 
 
 1. Sis petition. When the ruler saw that his son was 
 sick of a fever, and lying at the point of death, he went after 
 the Savior and besought Him to heal his son. 
 
 In all diseases of body and soul we cannot do better than 
 to go to Jesus, whose kindness is infinite, and whose power 
 has no limit. Ask Him with confidence to come to you 
 through His grace, to cure you of the fever that consumes 
 you, of your anger, ambition, self-love, and other passions ! 
 
 2. Sis faith. Although Christ spoke to him reproach- 
 fully, saying : " Unless you see signs and wonders, you believe 
 not" — He nevertheless granted his petition, because the ruler 
 firmly believed that Christ was omnipotent. 
 
 O how little faith do we possess ! We wish to see signs, 
 apparitions, and even persons rising from the dead ; we 
 desire God to reverse the order of nature so that our petition 
 2G 
 
302 Good Thoughts. 
 
 may be granted. Remember the words of Christ : " Blessed 
 are they that have not seen, and have believed !" 
 
 3. The fruit of his faith. When the ruler returned home, 
 his servants met him, and brought him the good news that 
 his son lived. 
 
 This was the fruit of his prayer and confidence. 
 
 " Turn to me, Lord, and deliver my soul ; save me for Thy mercy's 
 sake!" — Psalms vi, 5. 
 
 Monday. Faith in prayer. 
 
 \. If we are hlind^ prayer will enlighten ns. Without 
 prayer we remain in darkness and in ignorance of that which 
 concerns our salvation ; by means of prayer, on the contrary, 
 we are instructed in heavenly truths, and in the sublime 
 teachings of the gospel, we learn to know God and His attri- 
 butes, we become spiritually enlightened in all that regards 
 the practice of virtue ; we discover the almost imperceptible 
 temptations of Satan in time to overcome them, and we see 
 at once why we should avoid sin, by considering its lament- 
 able consequences ; we are shown the way leading to heaven, 
 we are attracted by its beauty, and incited to the love of 
 spiritual things and to the contempt of this world. 
 
 Alas, how foolish am I to learn so many useless things, and 
 not strive to instruct myself regarding those heavenly truths, 
 which alone can assist me to obtain salvation ! 
 
 2. If ice are languid^ prayer will revive us. We must 
 approach God in prayer as we would a fire, from which we 
 expect to derive warmth and renewed zeal. 
 
 Prayer enkindles within us the love of God, and a desire 
 to become perfect. Prayer is the bread of the soul, giving 
 strength in time of weakness. If your body is cold, you find 
 it necessary to approach the fire, and when you are hungry 
 you must eat ; in the same manner it is necessary, if your 
 soul has become cold through indifierence, and is weary and 
 distracted, for it to be refreshed by the food which it receives 
 in prayer, and thus obtain new strength and zeal. If you 
 see Christians who neglect their duties, and who are attached 
 only to the world, rest assured that it is all in consequence 
 of not having prayed diligently. 
 
 Make therefore the firm resolution, to pray often and 
 well! 
 
 2>. If we are hardened., prayer loill convert us. If you 
 desire to convert an obdurate sinner, persuade him to pray 
 
Good Thoughts. 303 
 
 often, if possible to make a spiritual retreat, and you will 
 soon see him changed. His hardened heart will be softened, 
 he will be disgusted with the world, he will long for heaven, 
 detest sin and love virtue. 
 
 Pray fervently, therefore, that Almighty God may touch 
 your heart and detach you from all creatures, so that you 
 may love Him the more ! Be thankful to Him for having 
 given you such excellent means of obtaining perfection ! 
 
 " In my meditatioa a fire shall flame out." Psalm xxxviii, 4. 
 
 Tuesday. Faith is a sim.. 
 
 1. It gives light. God has called you out of darkness to 
 the marvelous light of faith : and how brilliantly does not 
 this light shine upon us ! By it we penetrate the mysteries 
 of the Blessed Trinity, the Incarnation and the Blessed 
 Sacrament ! It teaches us the resurrection of the dead, the 
 glory of heaven, the never ending torments of hell and all 
 other truths necessary to salvation. 
 
 Let us use this light and follow it ! Let us be thankful to 
 Almighty God who, through His kindness, has given us the 
 holy faith, and let us live so that our life may harmonize with 
 our belief! 
 
 2. It gives warmth. As the sun by its rays gives warmth 
 to the earth, so also does faith give warmth to our heart, and 
 enkindles within it the love of God. Who should not love 
 God, in whom is to be found every perfection ? Who should 
 not love Christ, who, out of love to us, gives us His blood 
 and life ? Whose heart should not be filled with the desire 
 of entering heaven, where faith ensures to us the enjoyment 
 of such wonderful delight and honors ? 
 
 Notwithstanding all this, we find so many hardened hearts; 
 so many who have no love for God ! We see wicked per- 
 sons who believe in heaven, hell and all the eternal truths 
 without being moved by the consideration of them, who live 
 as if there was no such place as heaven or hell, no God and 
 no life everlasting ! 
 
 3. If causes fertility. The sun assists in bringing to ma- 
 turity flowers, fruits and plants ; faith also contributes to the 
 growth of piety and virtue in us. If faith does not bring 
 forth good works, it is dead, says St. James. If our faith 
 was very great, we would not only practice many virtues, but 
 we would even perform miracles. 
 
 Show your faith by your works ! Endeavor to make the 
 
304 Good Tuoughts. 
 
 light of faith fruitful in you so that you may bring forth good 
 fruits, and that your faith may not be without effect. 
 
 ''Wliat shall it profit, my brethren, if a man say he hath faith, but hath 
 no works? iShall faith be able to save him?" James ii, 14. 
 
 Wednesday. Faith is a pillar. 
 
 1 . Because of its firmness against heresy. Nothing is firmer 
 and more unshaken than faith. It is certain and admits of 
 no doubt, although it is obscure, and leads us like the pillar 
 of the cloud which preceded the Israelites. It is not subject 
 to deceit, and cannot be moved by error ; for it is founded on 
 the word of God and that eternal power which neither can 
 nor will deceive. 
 
 O my Lord, I believe all the truths which Thou hast 
 taught me through Thy Holy Church. Increase this faith 
 in me and grant that I may never deviate from the path of 
 virtue. 
 
 2. Because of its firmness against persecution. Nero, 
 Diocletian and many other cruel tyrants endeavored to destroy 
 the faith by putting to death the early Christians, but with 
 no success, for the blood of so many millions of martyrs 
 served only to enrich the church. 
 
 Thank Almighty God for having received you into the 
 true Church ! Pray for those who are outside of the fold, 
 and remain firm yourself against all temptations and turn a 
 deaf ear to all who would induce you to doubt those truths 
 which you have been taught to believe. 
 
 3. Because of its opposition to all unbelievers. The unbe- 
 lievers and wicked Christians of the present day bear a close 
 resemblance to Nero and Diocletian, for they are constantly 
 striving to make war upon the Church, and to attack her 
 most saci'ed teachings. The sensualist who does the very 
 reverse of what the gospel teaches, the many wicked persons 
 who by their conduct deny the holiness of their religion, the 
 many restless minds that are continually attempting danger- 
 ous innovations in matters of religion, are they not so many 
 enemies of the faith? Is it not a deplorable misfortune, to 
 see a mother attacked by her own children ? 
 
 Avoid all that is opposed to the purity of faith, and have 
 no regard for human respect ! Do not be ashamed to exer- 
 cise forgiveness, to humble yourself and to practice virtue ; 
 do what Christ teaches you to do, and be His faithful disciple 
 and not that of the world ! Place no confidence in innova- 
 
Good Thoughts. 305 
 
 tions, but be of one mind and one faith with the Catholic, 
 Apostolic and Roman Church ! 
 
 " Be ye steadfast and immovable, always abounding in the work of the 
 Lord."— 1 Cor. xv, 58. 
 
 Thuesdat. Faith requires us to asJc of God. 
 
 1. The advancement of Sis honor. What we must ask of 
 God, is contained in the beautiful prayer taught us by Christ 
 Himself, " Our father who art in heaven, &c." We should 
 ask and desire, above all, that God's name may be hallowed, 
 that is, that He may be known, worshiped and loved by all 
 men, unbelievers, heretics and sinners ; that His holy will 
 may be done on earth among men, as it is fulfilled in heaven 
 among the angels. God is our Father, our friend and sover- 
 eign Lord; we must, therefore, endeavor to advance His 
 honor. 
 
 Let us pray for the conversion of sinners and for the per- 
 severance of the just ! Let us endeavor to follow the example 
 of the saints and blessed spirits of heaven, in order to further 
 as much as we can the honor of God and the salvation of 
 souls ! Let us have the same zeal, which caused St. Teresa 
 to shed tears, because Almighty God was so often dishonored 
 by idolaters, heretics and wicked Christians ! 
 
 2. Spiritual goods. We should ask for the goods of the 
 soul, that is, the grace of God in this life, and heaven in 
 the next world. Ask God to enlighten you in your doubts, 
 to strengthen you in your temptations, to encourage you in 
 the practice of virtue, to give you the spirit of prayer and 
 mortification and to guard you from all the evils of this life, 
 especially from sin ! Finally, you should fervently ask of 
 Him the grace to persevere faithfully in His service, and for 
 a happy death. 
 
 O how important and necessary are these spiritual goods ! 
 Is it not wrong in me, that I ask for them so carelessly and 
 with such indifference ? 
 
 3. Temporal goods. It is the will of Almighty God that 
 we should ask Him for all that is necessary for the support 
 of our body. He does not think it improper for us to ask 
 Him for health, for riches, success, or any other temporal 
 good for ourselves or for others. He did not reprove the 
 woman of Canaan when she asked Him with humility to heal 
 her daughter ; but, as the possession of goods are often very 
 dangerous and the cause of our ruin, Almighty God desires 
 
 26* 
 
306 Good Thoughts. 
 
 us to ask them only with resignation to Ilis holy will, so that 
 we should not become sad, if He refuses them to us. It is His 
 wish that we should say to Him with confidence and submis- 
 sion : " O Lord, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven !" 
 
 O my Jesus, I place my entire confidence in Thee ! If 
 Thou art with me, I will never dread my enemies ; if Thou 
 wilt protect me, I will have nothing to fear, because Thou art 
 able to defend me, and to give me the necessary graces. 
 
 " Ask and it shall be given you, seek and you shall find!" — Luke xi, 9. 
 
 Friday. Belief in the presence of God. 
 
 1. It incites us to perfection. Behold the great mystery 
 of spiritual life, and the virtue indispensably necessary in 
 order to obtain perfection ! You must often think of God, 
 you must place yourself in His presence, and whatever you 
 do, you must do with the consciousness that God sees 
 you. You must unite yourself with Him in heart and spirit, 
 and to do this, it is not necessary to fall upon your knees, to 
 go to church, or to leave your occupations ; you must only 
 lift up your heart to God while you work, eat, walk or con- 
 verse with others. This is soon done ; one single moment 
 only is required, and still you cannot imagine how powerfully 
 these frequent elevations of the soul to God will support 
 you in the fulfilment of your duties. It is, however, also 
 necessary for you to be modest, and not to allow your eyes to 
 see and your ears to hear all that they desire to see and hear; 
 nor must you permit yourself any improper freedom in your 
 actions or conversation. To place yourself in the presence 
 of God will animate you to make good use of all occasions 
 to practice virtue, to know the will of God and to perform 
 all your obligations with zeal and fervor. 
 
 Do not lose courage in practicing this great devotion ! 
 
 2. It strengthens us in time of temptation. The considera- 
 tion that we are in the presence of God often prevents us 
 from committing sin, just as the eye of the master reminds 
 the servant of his duty. If a thief knows that others are 
 watching him, he would not steal ; if a sinner would only 
 remember that despite the darkness of the night Almighty 
 God is the witness of his most secret deeds, he would fear 
 to offend God ; if a soldier imagines that his king is looking 
 at him, he will not be a coward. 
 
 Have courage, therefore, to combat magnanimously against 
 temptation, remembering that Almighty God sees you ! 
 
Good TnorGHTS. 307 
 
 At the slightest temptation fly for refuge to God, place 
 yourself in His presence ! Leave your occupation for a few 
 moments and lift up your heart to God, and you will by this 
 means put an end to a wicked conversation, drive out bad 
 thoughts and regain fervor in your devotions. 
 
 3. It consoles us in affliction. A person accustomed to 
 place himself in the presence of God, will never be surprised 
 by any occurrence ; neither contempt, misfortune nor grief 
 can disturb him ; he is united with his God, and throws him- 
 self into His arms. If afflictions visit him he willingly 
 receives them as coming from God ; nothing ever will con- 
 found him. If you are sad, think of God and not of anything 
 that will embitter you the more. Have recourse to God, as 
 a child has to its mother, and you will see how powerful the 
 presence of God is to console you in your sadness. Do all 
 you can to obtain the spirit of recollection which is so neces- 
 sary for spiritual life and for the acquiring of perfection ! 
 
 ""Walk before me and be perfect I" — Genesis xvii, 1. 
 
 Saturday. What faith demands of us. 
 
 1. Piety, As faith is obscure, the will must, by a pious 
 effort, force the understanding to believe what is proposed 
 to it. In consequence of the absence of all religious feeling 
 and because they refused to listen to the voice of a good 
 conscience, many have become atheists, while Christians and 
 heretics have " made shipwreck concerning the faith," — 1 
 Tim. i, 19," — and have forsaken God in order to commit all 
 manners of vice. 
 
 Alas, there are many Christians who are more like heathens 
 than the disciples of Christ, for the reason that they have so 
 little piety. 
 
 2. Obedience. What does it profit us to believe, if we do 
 not live according to our faith ? Almighty God demands of 
 you submission to His holy will, and respect for whatever 
 the church commands, so that He may not have to address 
 you in the words He applied to the obstinate man, saying : 
 " If he will not hear the church, let him be to thee as the 
 heathen and publican." Matt, xviii, 1 7. 
 
 Do not imitate the freethinkers and those who speak with 
 little veneration, but with great presumption about matters 
 of faith and of things belonging to the government of the 
 Church. Whoever has the Church for his Mother will have 
 God for his Father. 
 
308 Good Thoughts. 
 
 3. Zeal. Your zeal should show itself in the care that 
 you take to observe what Christ in His gospel has taught you, 
 and in endeavoring to make others obey Him. Impart to 
 others some of the light which Almighty God has given you, 
 and advance His honor and the salvation of souls as much as 
 it is possible for you to do in your state of life, and according 
 to your talents. 
 
 See whether you do this ! 
 
 '* Let the people give praise tx) Thee." — Psalm, Ixvi, 6. 
 
 TWENTY-FIRST WEEK AFTER PENTECOST. 
 
 Gospel: — Matt, xvm, 23-25. At that time Jesus spoke to his disci- 
 ples this parable : The kingdom of heaven is likened to a king who would 
 take an account of his servants, etc. 
 
 Sunday. The unmerciful servant, 
 
 1. The liberality of the king. The king wished to take an 
 account of his servants. One of them owed him ten thou- 
 sand talents (about ten millions of dollars), but he had not 
 wherewith to pay it. The king then commanded him to be 
 seized and sold, together with all that he possessed; but, 
 moved by the tears and entreaties of the unfortunate man, 
 he liberally forgave him the debt which he owed him. 
 
 O, King of glory. Redeemer of the world, I am this 
 unmerciful servant ! I have abused Thy graces ; I am a fit 
 subject for Thy divine justice, on account of the many sins 
 which I have committed, and for which I deserve now to be 
 in hell, but still Thou art ready to forgive me, if I ask Thy 
 forgiveness and approach the tribunal of penance ! I thank 
 Thee, O, Lord, and promise never again to ofiend Thee ! 
 
 2. The cruelty of the servant. The ungrateful servant, to 
 whom the ten thousand talents had just been forgiven, met 
 one of his fellow servants, who owed him a small sum of 
 money, and laying hold of him, he throttled him, saying: 
 " pay what thou owest ! " The poor man threw himself at his 
 feet and besought him to have patience with him ; but in 
 vain, for he had him cast into prison. 
 
Good Thoughts. 309 
 
 You are like this wicked servant if you refuse to forgive 
 your brother on account of a trifling insult, while Almighty 
 God has forgiven so many grievous sins in you ! 
 
 3. The punishment of the servant. When the king heard 
 how cruelly the ungrateful man had treated his fellow-servant, 
 he commanded him to be seized and delivered to the torturers, 
 which was at once done. 
 
 Do you think that God will leave unpunished the cruelty 
 you exercise towards your fellow-men, as well as the anger, 
 enmity and passion you indulge in ? Fear the justice of God 
 which is so terrible ! Atone now for your sins by doing pen- 
 ance and performing good works ! 
 
 "And forgive us our dehts^ as we forgive our deltorsy — Matt, vi, 12. 
 
 Monday. Love demands of ns, 
 
 1. That we shall forgive. Forget the past, forgive from 
 your whole heart those who have done you evil, so that 
 Almighty God may also forgive you ! You desire God to 
 forget your sins, and yet you refuse to forget the insults 
 which you have received. You think constantly of them, 
 and thus your aversion for the one who insulted yeti'becomes 
 hourly greater. You say, " he is wrong." That is the very 
 reason why you should forgive him ; for if he was right, it 
 would be quite unnecessary for you to do so. 7"^ 
 
 O my Lord, how sensitive am I to the least offense ! Al^, 
 where would I be, if, after having so often offended Thee, 
 Thou hadst resented it ? I will forgive, O my Lord, I will 
 forgive ! 
 
 2. That we shall inflict 7io evil. It is not enough to say 
 with your lips " I forgive," you must also show it in your 
 conduct. Injure no one either by word or by any act of 
 injustice and fraud ! 
 
 But you, alas, perhaps, do the very reverse ! 
 
 3. That we shall do good. If we would tell you this upon 
 our own authority, you would pay no attention to it, you would 
 say that it was sufficient not to inflict injury upon an enemy, 
 but that for you to do good to him was an impossibility. 
 Behold Christ Himself speaks to you, saying : " Love your 
 enemies, do good to them that hate you !" 
 
 What have you to say to this ? Do not refuse to show 
 your enemy that politeness which you used to extend to 
 him before he incurred your dislike ! Speak kindly to him, 
 although he may not appreciate your good disposition in his 
 
310 Good Thoughts. 
 
 regard, do not slum his society, but patiently suffer his faults 
 and pray for him ! 
 
 "Do good to them that hate you!" — Matt, v, 41. 
 
 Tuesday. Memedies against cherishing enmities and aver 
 sion. 
 
 1. Never to think or to speak of the insults which have 
 been offered us. " Such a demand is unreasonable !" you 
 will say — for," how can I avoid thinking of an insult which 
 made me so angry at the time?" But your own good sense 
 should tell you that, unless you forgive those who have 
 offended you, your anger and revenge will most assuredly be 
 aroused, contrary to the express commands of the Savior. 
 Never speak of the injury done to you, under the pretext 
 of asking advice or seeking consolation ; you will be much 
 more consoled if you never mention it to any one. Con- 
 versing upon the subject will' make you only the more 
 sensitive, and will serve to embitter your feelings. If you 
 resolve to forgive and to forget, your anger will gradually 
 decrease and finally pass away. 
 
 2. To think that G-od has wisely permitted them. Imitate 
 David, who patiently listened to the insults of Semei, know- 
 ing that Almighty God had so ordained it ! 
 
 Say to yourself: " God has permitted this injury, in order 
 to practice me in patience and to try my fidelity ! He has 
 permitted it on account of my pride, my carelessness and 
 my other sins ! It depends upon me now to make good use 
 of this occasion so as to obtain merits and new graces, and 
 to atone for my sins ! " 
 
 3. To learn how to suppress every had feeling. " How is 
 this possible ? " you will say : " I cannot help feeling an 
 insult." But you must endeavor to suppress your passion, 
 you must try to govern your temper, you must refuse to 
 yield to the anger which Satan strives to excite within your 
 breast. You must not listen to the voice of nature, but 
 rather to that of grace. If as man you feel an insult, you 
 must as a Christian forgive it. 
 
 Do not wait until your passions are aroused, but check 
 them in the beginning ; for if they once take hold of your 
 heart, it will be difficult for you to gain the mastery over 
 them. 
 
 "He that loveth not, abideth in death." — 1 John, hi, 14. 
 
Good TnorGHTS. 311 
 
 Wednesday. Effects of anger. 
 
 1. It causes us to hate God. Anger is a passion which 
 dares to attack even God Himself, which changes men into 
 devils. If anything disagreeable has happened, an angry- 
 man will curse God, and indulge in horrible blasphemies. 
 Foolish man, do you consider for a moment that it is God 
 whom you insult ? What has He done to you ? It is your 
 Creator, your Father and Benefactor whom you attack. In 
 the same manner do the devils and the damned in hell offend 
 God by their curses and blasphemies. 
 
 Instead of being carried away by rage, submit humbly to 
 the decrees of God, adore His providence, and act according 
 to His holy will. 
 
 2. It causes us to hate others. An angry man is generally 
 suspicious, for he imagines that every one is his enemy. He 
 is unhappy himself and strives to make others equally so, 
 and unfortunately he sometimes succeeds in his wicked 
 efforts. He utters language that is unfit for a Christian to 
 hear, and abuses those who have always treated him with 
 love and respect. 
 
 Have you never been guilty of these excesses ? 
 
 3. It causes us to hate ourselves. Anger not only makes 
 us like the devils who attack God, or like a wild beast that 
 assails men, but it also makes fools of us in regard to our- 
 selves. A man who allows his anger to gain the mastery 
 over him, will often destroy everything within his reach, and 
 even commit murder. The least opposition only increases 
 his rage, and he acts and speaks like a madman ; but when 
 the heat of passion has subsided, he will hate himself and 
 would give all that he possesses to repair the injury that he 
 inflicted in a moment of frenzy. 
 
 Practice the virtue of meekness, that virtue which made 
 Moses and David so pleasing to God ! Jesus Christ Himself 
 desires us to learn from Him to be meek. If nothing hap- 
 pens to provoke your anger, you are no doubt kind, gentle 
 and agreeable ; but if any one contradicts or offends you, 
 then all your meekness vanishes and you become angry and 
 excited. 
 
 Avoid this great error ! 
 
 "Blessed are the meek, for they shall possess the land!" — Matt, v, 4. 
 
 Thuesday. Other disastrous effects of anger. 
 
 1. It deprives us of our reason. Never argue with an 
 
312 Good Thoughts. 
 
 angry man, for he will neither listen to what you say, nor 
 profit by what you advise ! He really does not know what 
 he says or does himself. Would it not seem as though you 
 had lost your reason, if instead of helping a poor animal 
 that had fallen down, you would commence to beat it? 
 Would it not be foolish in you to become angry with a pen, 
 and trample it under your feet, because you cannot write 
 well with it? Would it not be like insanity for you to 
 destroy a vase, because it was not in its right place ? or for 
 you to break four glasses because one of them was broken 
 accidentally ? 
 
 Anger incites you to do all this. Consider whether you 
 have not often acted in this manner, and if you are conscious 
 of having done so, resolve to exercise more self-control in 
 future! 
 
 2. It deprives- ics of devotion. Do not wonder at having 
 so little devotion while at prayer, or when receiving holy 
 communion ! The cause of it lies in your having given way 
 so frequently to anger. The spirit of God, says the Holy 
 Scripture, does not appear where storm and confusion pre- 
 vails, but only where peace dwelleth. Your anger tempts 
 you to commit many sins which Almighty God punishes 
 with spiritual dryness and discomfort. 
 
 Control your hot and passionate temper, for if you do not, 
 the consequences will be more disadvantageous to you than 
 you imagine ! 
 
 3. It deprives its of bodily and spiritual rest. Those who 
 are under the dominion of a restless temper torture them- 
 selves, and become their own executioners. Their blood 
 being in an excited state causes them severe headaches; 
 melancholy consumes their spirit, and discontent fills their 
 heart. They have not a moment's rest themselves, and will 
 not allow others to be at peace. We can compare their 
 state only to that of a man who was possessed by a devil 
 and who consequently never enjoyed a moment's quiet. 
 
 We conjure you, for the sake of God and for your own 
 and your neighbor's welfare, to overcome your anger and to 
 become meek. 
 
 " Remove anger from thy heart and put away evil from thy flesh." — Eccl. 
 ii. 10. 
 
 Friday. Remedies against anger. 
 
 1. To be kind instead of severe. If something unpleasant 
 happens, if a person offends you, your first emotion is that 
 
Good Thoughts. 313 
 
 of rage, and your feelings cause you to exaggerate the 
 occurrence. If, however, you would at once say to your- 
 self: "There is no reason for me to be angry; I will be 
 patient and forgiving!" — you would find your resentment 
 grow rapidly less, and at length subside altogether. 
 
 Be indulgent, therefore, rather than severe! Consider 
 how much oftener Almighty God exercises mercy in our 
 behalf instead of justice ! 
 
 2. To endeavor to lessen the offense rather than increase it. 
 We are very apt to consider the defects rather than the 
 good points of a person's character. If any slight has been 
 offered us, we never dream of excusing it by saying: "It 
 was done, perhaps, out of hastiness, ignorance, or in sport ;" 
 but we at once imagine that it was done deliberately or out 
 of revenge. Even if it was done to provoke you, that is no 
 reason why you should give way to anger ! Pay no heed to 
 insulting remarks, and if you are rudely treated, act as 
 though you did not perceive it. 
 
 O how happy would you be, if, instead of seeing evil in 
 everything and everybody, you would only see what was 
 good. Nothing then could disturb the peace and serenity 
 of your soul ! 
 
 3. To keep silent lohen angry. If you see that a person is 
 disposed to quarrel with you, your best plan is to withdraw 
 from his company or to keep silent, and hear with patience 
 whatever is said against you. By observing these rules of 
 conduct, you will see that the storm will soon pass over. 
 
 It is never prudent to speak when you are angry. One 
 word will bring on another, you will use harsh language 
 before you are aware of it, and the consequences are some- 
 times very painful. Resist all bitterness of feeling, and show 
 that you are a servant of God. 
 
 " A blameless man * * * * withstood the wrath, and put an end 
 to calamity, showing that he was Thy servant." — Wis. xviii, 21. 
 
 Saturday. Excuses for yielding to anger. 
 
 1. '-^ The temptation was so great P'* That is no reason 
 why you should commit sin. A thief will say, that avarice 
 induced him to steal ; a slanderer, that envy was the cause 
 of his slander ; a sensualist, that lust caused him to fall. Are 
 these persons therefore to be excused ? By no means ; for 
 they should have resisted their wicked inclinations. 
 
 Who forced you to become angry and to use insulting 
 
 27 
 
314 Good Thoughts. 
 
 language? Did any one compel you to forget yourself? 
 No, you are endowed with free will and could resist tempta- 
 tion, if you were not carried away by anger ! 
 
 2. " I was in the right !" You are greatly mistaken, for 
 no one has the right to do evil or to take it for granted that 
 they are right, and that others are wrong. If others com- 
 mit sin that is no reason why you should act improperly. 
 
 Why are you so revengeful ? As a true disciple of Christ 
 you should patiently bear the insults that are offered you. 
 
 3. '•'' I loished to remedy the emlP'^ Who ever told you 
 that one evil could be remedied by another, or that one fault 
 could be corrected by another? In what way did you 
 improve your temper? Instead of exercising patience and 
 humility, you became irritated and one little word which 
 would have been better left unsaid, has led you to utter 
 others even worse than the first. You have made enemies 
 instead of friends, and for no good reason. Do not take too 
 many precautions in regard to what might have happened on 
 some future occasion, but think rather of the present. Beware 
 how you ofiend God, and if you are called upon to inflict 
 punishment, do it with meekness and not with anger and too 
 great severity. But you will say, " If I am not severe with 
 him now, he may ofiend me again." Never anticipate 
 trouble ; but when you have it in your power, always be 
 patient and merciful. 
 
 O, my Jesus, give me the spirit of meekness ! 
 
 " He sanctified him in liis faith and meekness, and chose him out of all 
 flesh." — Ecclxlv, 4. 
 
 TWENTY-SECOND WEEK AFTER PENTECOST. 
 
 Gospel: — Matt, xxii, 15-21. At that time the Pharisees went and 
 consulted among themselves how to ensnare Jesus in His speech, etc. 
 
 Sunday. Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's. 
 
 1. The malice of the Pharisees. They wished to embarrass 
 Christ by showing Him a piece of money and asking Him 
 whether it was lawful to give tribute to Csesar. 
 
Good Thoughts. 315 
 
 There are, even now, malicious persons who try to ensnare 
 and persecute the good. Be on your guard if you come in 
 contact with such people ; and if they endeavor to provoke 
 you, use neither force nor insulting words, but try to convert 
 them by your silence, meekness and modesty ! 
 
 2. The wisdom of Christ. He confounded their malice by 
 a single answer : " Render to Caesar the things that are 
 Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." 
 
 Admire the wisdom of His reply, and often meditate upon 
 these words : " Give to God the things that are God's." 
 Render to God what you owe Him, love, honor and obedi- 
 ence ; say your prayers and perform all that belongs to the 
 service of God with fervor ! Render to your neighbor what 
 you owe him, love, good example and assistance ; but always 
 prefer God to man ! 
 
 3. The confusion of the enemies of Christ. The gospel 
 relates, that the persons who questioned the Savior wondered 
 at His answer, and then went away. They must have been 
 filled with shame when they saw their malice exposed and the 
 wisdom of Jesus Christ appearing in such splendor ! 
 
 Almighty God shall confound the wisdom of the world 
 and the malice of all sinners, and will turn their wicked 
 designs to the welfare of the just. 
 
 "To them that love God all things work together unto good, to such as 
 according to His purpose are called to be saints." — Rom. vii, 28. 
 
 Monday. Our obligations towards God. 
 
 1. We must know Sim. Our greatest happiness in this 
 and the next world, consists in knowing God and in seeing 
 and admiring His perfections. For this end we are created. 
 To know something well, we must meditate upon it. 
 
 Think of God, therefore, often during the day, and in your 
 prayers consider His mysteries and infinite perfections ! If 
 you desire to love God well, you must strive to know Him 
 well. St. Augustin says: "I love little, because I know 
 little." 
 
 2. TFe must love Him. Whom shall we love, if we do 
 not love Him who excels in beauty everything in the whole 
 world, the sovereign King, the most wise, most powerful 
 and kind Lord, the most amiable Friend. 
 
 Let us love Him, who alone is worthy of our love and who 
 is so liberal towards us ! Let us love Him who, through His 
 omnipotence has created us, who, through His kindness, sup- 
 
316 Good Thoughts. 
 
 ports us, through His wisdom guides us, through His mercy has 
 redeemed us, and who, in His infinite liberality, has prepared 
 for us so many benefits in the order of nature and of grace ! 
 
 3. We must serve Hiifn. Is it not just to serve Him, since 
 He is our God, our Creator, our King, our Father and 
 sovereign Lord? It is honorable to serve such a great 
 Master, and also advantageous, since He bestows upon His 
 servants rich rewards in heaven. 
 
 How do you serve this great Lord, who is so worthy of 
 your entire love ? Do you not serve Him carelessly ? Are 
 you zealous in the discharge of your spiritual exercises, and 
 in all that concerns the service of God ? 
 
 "Know ye that the Lord He is God." — Psalm xcix, 3. 
 
 Tuesday. We owe Almighty God : 
 
 1. Homage as our sovereign Lord. If the kings and 
 princes of this world are worthy of homage on account of 
 the dignity to which they are elevated, what honor should 
 we not show to the King of Kings and the sovereign Lord 
 of the whole world ? Notwithstanding this, we often show 
 more submission and respect to a prince of the world, than 
 to the King of heaven. We behave with more propriety 
 and modesty in the presence of a king than before the Lord 
 of hosts and the God of angels and men. 
 
 Examine yourself, whether you have a real respect for God 
 in your heart, and whether you ever outwardly show Him 
 veneration and homage! Do you show respect to God 
 while at yoilr prayers, either in the church or in your room, 
 or during the day, by trying to be always in His presence ? 
 
 2. Obedience as our Father. Do we not in reciting the 
 Lord's prayer call Him " our Father ?" Does He not nourish 
 and support us ? Let us show by our love and obedience to 
 Him that we are His children ! 
 
 O what an honor it is for us to be the adopted children 
 of God and inheritors of heaven ! Let us faithfully obey 
 His commandments, and fulfil in all things His holy will ! 
 
 3. Fear^ as our Judge. Remember that this God, who 
 humbled Himself so much on your account, and who treats 
 you so kindly as yet, is, nevertheless, your Judge, and a just 
 and severe Judge, who will most rigorously examine all the 
 actions of your life. He, it is, who, at the end of the world, 
 will come to judge the living and the dead ! 
 
 Approach Him with fear and tremble at His judgment ! 
 
Good Thotjghts. 317 
 
 Think often of the moment of your death, when He will 
 judge and reward you according to your deeds ! Endeavor 
 to live a holy life, in order to hear the favorable judgment 
 which will place the just in the possession of heaven, while 
 the sinner will be cast into the abyss of hell ! 
 
 "If then I be the Father, where is my honor? And if I be a Master, 
 where is my fear?" — Malachi i, 6. 
 
 Wednesday. JfoUves for servi7ig God. 
 
 1. We belong to JBXm in the state of nature. You belong 
 more to God than a subject does to his king, a son to his 
 father, a servant to his master, or your goods to you, because 
 you are more dependent upon God than a son is upon the 
 father or a servant upon his master. Your father has given 
 j'^ou only your body, but God has given you soul and body. 
 Your master cannot command you in all things, but Almighty 
 God can command you at any time or place and in all things. 
 You are the work of God's hands, and entirely dependent 
 upon Him. 
 
 Acknowledge your dependence upon God and use your 
 riches for the honor of Him who has given them to you ! 
 
 2. We belong to Shn in the state of grace. Is it not God 
 who has redeemed you at the price of His blood, and to 
 whom you belong, since He paid for you in order to free you 
 from the servitude of the devil ? Is it not He who in bap- 
 tism adopted you and made you His friend, by giving you 
 His graces, especially by giving Himself to you in holy com- 
 munion ? In the state of grace we are so dependent upon 
 God that without His help we can do nothing. 
 
 O Lord, assist me with Thy grace, and grant that I may 
 belong to Thee alone ! I renounce pride, concupiscence and 
 the world, in order to serve Thee the more ! 
 
 3. We will belong to Sim in the state of glory. He has 
 created us for heaven. If He demands our services. He will 
 amply repay them, and will be more liberal in His rewards 
 than we have been faithful in our service to Him. We will 
 be eternally happy, and will dwell with Him in heaven, there 
 to praise, love and worship Him. 
 
 Let us now commence to do what we will do when in 
 heaven ! Let us praise, love and serve Him, since we belong 
 to Him in the state of nature and of grace, expecting to 
 belong to Him also in the state of glory. 
 
 " The Lord thy God shalt thou adore, and Him only shalt thou serve !" — ' 
 Matt, iv, 10. 
 
 27* 
 
318 Good Thoughts. 
 
 Thursday. God demands of lis: 
 
 1. Our heart. Almighty God values you higher than any- 
 thing you possess. He asks you to give Him your heart and 
 your affections. It is His will that you should love Him, 
 because He loves you, and that you should give yourself to 
 Him, for the reason that He gave Himself to you. It is His 
 will that you should often think and speak of Him, do 
 His holy will, and be zealous for His honor. 
 
 O faithless heart, you know that the friendship of man is 
 flilse, but that the friendship of God is true ; you daily see 
 the faithlessness practiced by men, and that they are filled 
 with imperfections ; but notwithstanding all this, you are 
 willing to renounce God out of love for the world. Act 
 differently henceforth ! 
 
 2. Our works. A master has a perfect right to command 
 his servant to work for him. What is more just, since he 
 pays him for it ? Almighty God desires us to use our body, 
 our mind and our health for His honor, and to do His holy 
 will ; to offer up to Him all our works, which we should per- 
 form, not in the spirit of pride or of amusement, but with 
 the sole intention of pleasing Him. 
 
 Do whatever you do, out of love to God ! 
 
 3. Our goods. Almighty God is rich enough without your 
 goods, for He possesses infinite treasures. He is the Lord of 
 all the goods of this world, and of those also which He has 
 given you. He wishes you to make use of your wealth not 
 only for your own advantage, but for that of the poor, and 
 thus you will win the eternal goods of heaven with your 
 temporal goods. 
 
 Have no attachment to the riches of this world, but give 
 liberally of them to God by adorning His temples and altars, 
 and by assisting the poor in their need. 
 
 " Honor the Lord with thy substance." — Proverbs iii, 9. 
 
 Feiday. Measons why we neglect to serve God. 
 
 1. We think only of what will he to our advantage. 
 Nothing is more opposed to the service of God than worldly 
 considerations, the first of which is our own interest. As 
 long as we only endeavor to advance our own honor and to 
 gratify our own desires, we will care very little to honor 
 God by serving Him. 
 
 Do not be ungrateful by neglecting the cause of God for 
 your own trifling advantage ! 
 
Good Thoughts. 319 
 
 2. We wish to please others. Alas, how true it is that we 
 are willing to displease God in order to show a favor to a 
 friend, and that we neglect His service so as to further the 
 worldly interests of a man. O, how lamentable is this false 
 friendship, since it is the cause of so many sins, and of our 
 preferring man to God ! Do not be guilty of such unchris- 
 tian conduct ! If you are tempted by others to offend God, 
 say unhesitatingly, " I will not displease God either on your 
 account or to possess all the treasures of the earth." 
 
 3. We have too much regard for the opinion of others. 
 We are afraid that if we serve God we will be despised by 
 the world ; we are afraid to do good but are not ashamed to 
 do evil. This fear will so affect a cowardly soul that it will 
 unhesitatingly commit a sin rather than be exposed to a little 
 inconvenience. 
 
 Is this being a generous Christian, to betray your Savior 
 instead of being always prepared to shed your blood in 
 defense of His cause, and for fear of a trifling evil that 
 threatens you, to betray your own conscience and break the 
 fidelity which you owe to God ? 
 
 " "Who is as the Lord our God ?" — Psalm cxii, 5. 
 
 Saturday. Our duties towards our neighbor. 
 
 1. We must love him. He is your brother, and the image 
 of God ; he is like you redeemed with the blood of Christ. 
 Almighty God commands you to love him as you love your- 
 self Love him, therefore, and never cause him to hate you 
 by ridiculing or ill-treating him. 
 
 2. We must assist him. Show your love by the services 
 you are willing to render him. The mark by which the first 
 Christians were known was that of love ; they divided their 
 goods among themselves and loved one another like brothers. 
 
 Be liberal to the poor, console the afflicted, visit the sick, 
 protect the oppressed, and allow no occasion to pass without 
 giving alms and assisting the needy! Almighty God will 
 reward you a hundred fold in this world, and will give you 
 heaven in the next. 
 
 3. We must patiently hear with him. If you have a 
 natural aversion for a person, endeavor to overcome it and 
 never show it by word or deed, for you would then violate 
 charity. The more we love a person the more patiently will 
 we bear with his faults. If any one displeases you purposely, 
 take no revenge. The reason why we so often sin against 
 
320 Good Thoughts. 
 
 charity, is because we feel offended at the least disagreeable 
 word. 
 
 How do you act in such cases ? Is your conduct just and 
 reasonable, or is it the reverse ? 
 
 " And be ye kind one to another, merciful, forgiving one another." — Eph. 
 iv, 32. 
 
 TWENTY-THIRD WEEK AFTER PENTECOST. 
 
 Gospel — Math, ix, 18-26. At that time, when Jesus was speaking to 
 the multitudes, behold, a certain ruler came up, etc. 
 
 Sunday. A happy death is : 
 
 1. The beginning of all that is good. The gospel relates 
 that Christ resuscitated the daughter of a ruler. Death 
 puts an end to our life. If we die well, death will be the 
 beginning of our happiness ; if we die in sin, it will be 
 the commencement of our eternal misery. The just man 
 rejoices at the approach of death, because he finds himself at 
 the gates of eternity ; he rejoices, because he sees heaven 
 open to receive him, and because he experiences in his last 
 hour, the special protection of the Blessed Virgin and of the 
 saints, whom he has so devoutly venerated. Instead of leav- 
 ing unwillingly a world for which he had no attachment, he 
 rather wishes to die, in order to see God and to be united 
 with Him forever. 
 
 Cultivate the spirit of true devotion now, and be diligent 
 in the practice of virtue, so that when dying you may be 
 filled with consolation. 
 
 2. The end of all our evils. Death puts an end to all the 
 diseases, persecutions, calumnies and miseries of this life, 
 and to all your hardships in this world ; death is the end of 
 all your troubles. It is the time when you can rest from 
 your labor and enjoy the eternal reward which you have 
 gained by the performance of good works. Behold the 
 happy moment has arrived when you will no longer be 
 tempted by Satan, by concupiscence or by avarice, but when 
 you will possess the grace of God without fear of ever losing 
 it or of being damned ! 
 
Good Thoughts. 321 
 
 0. how great is this joy ! Why do you fear death so much 
 when it will put an end to all your misery ? 
 
 3. Is the reward of a good life. Do not think that a 
 happy death is an insignificant grace! It is the greatest 
 favor that you can receive. O, how richly will death reward 
 the many prayers which you have uttered, the many fastings, 
 mortifications, penances and good works which you have 
 performed ! The grace of a happy death is so great, that 
 the saints never thought themselves worthy to obtain it. 
 Live well in order to die well ! 
 
 **Let my soul die the death of the justl" Num. xxiii, 10. 
 
 Monday. Hie sinner when dying is tormented, 
 
 1 . 3y the remembrance of past enjoyments. His heart is 
 pierced with grief when thinking of them. " Alas," he will 
 say, " where are the amusements, feasts, concerts, suppers, 
 promenades, balls and pleasant entertainments where I 
 always enjoyed myself so much ? All have passed away, 
 and nothing is left to me, but the memory of them ! O 
 death, how cruel art thou! O lamentable separation! I 
 must leave my house, my property, my furniture, my gold, my 
 silver, my friends, children and servants, and must bid fare- 
 well forever to all the joys of the world ! O deceitful world ! 
 O vanity of vanities ! O folly of man ! Alas, why did I 
 commit so many sins on account of these deceitful pleasures ; 
 why did I cause my own eternal ruin !" 
 
 Detach yourself by means of mortification from all the 
 enjoyments of the body and from all creatures, so that they 
 may not be the cause of your everlasting misery ! 
 
 2. By his present regrets. His mind is tormented by 
 remembering the graces of God which he despised, and the 
 sins which he committed, the smallest of which now appears 
 to him so terrible and enormous, that he despairs of ever 
 being absolved from them. He will be forced to say with 
 the impious Antioch : " I now remember the evils I have 
 done !" While in health he did not think of them, but when 
 at the point of death they present themselves before his 
 mind, and cause him to fear and despair. His body also is 
 tortured by every species of pain, he is restless and finds 
 comfort in nothing. He knows that he has but a short time 
 to live, and that his body, which he has flattered so much, 
 will soon be wrapped in a winding sheet and lowered into 
 the grave, where it will be devoured by worms. The dark- 
 
322 Good Tuoughts. 
 
 ness of the grave terrifies him and no consoling thought 
 suggests itself to his mind. 
 
 Begin now to prepare for that awful moment, and do not 
 delay any longer, for immediately after your death the eternal 
 punishment of God will fall upon you. 
 
 3. J3y his fear of the future. All that he suffers in soul 
 and body is terrible, but it is as nothing in comparison to the 
 despair into which he falls when thinking of the future life. 
 He sees God preparing to judge him with the utmost severity ; 
 above him he sees heaven closed ; beneath him, hell open ; at 
 his side he sees his wife in despair, his children weeping, 
 and his friends bidding him farewell forever. The past, 
 present, future, God, men and all that he sees, hears and 
 thinks of, precipitates him into a deeper abyss of sadness 
 and despair. 
 
 Meditate often upon death and the judgments of God, and 
 do now what in the hour of death you would wish to have 
 done ! Have your grave often before your eyes ! 
 
 "Only the grave remaineth for me!" — Job xvii, 1. 
 
 Tuesday. TJie circumstances of death. 
 
 1. It is certain. Whatever is said to you concerning 
 death, is not said to frighten you as though you were a 
 child. Death will surely come, and perhaps very soon. It 
 is commanded that all men shall die. The fate of those who 
 have lived before us and died, the sentence of death which 
 Almighty God pronounced upon Adam and all mankind, and 
 the daily increasing weakness of our body, show us that we 
 must die. 
 
 Since I know that I am to die, and that I must leave my 
 friends and possessions behind me, I will withdraw from 
 them, for when a person knows that he must soon leave a 
 place, he cares very little about forming new friendships. 
 
 2. It is uncertain in regard to time. Will death come in 
 ten years or in ten months ? Who can tell ? Perhaps it will 
 come sooner, perhaps later. We see people die at every age 
 and at all times. How shall I die ? Shall I die in my bed, in 
 the city or in the country ? Will I have time to prepare 
 myself, or will I die suddenly ? Will I die of fever, or will 
 I lose my life by an accident ? God alone can tell. 
 
 K you knew when you were to die, you would perhaps 
 lead a wicked life until just before your death ; but as you 
 do not know the hour, always be prepared for it ; for, says 
 
Good Thoughts. 323 
 
 the Savior, "Death will come in a day that you hopeth 
 not." 
 
 Death will pay no regard either to your desires or fears ; 
 it will not care whether you have undertaken great things or 
 have been idle. Many who thought that they had a long 
 life before them, were surprised by death in the bloom of 
 their youth. Whatever has happened to others can happen 
 to you also. Endeavor, therefore, to be always in the state 
 of grace and to have a good conscience. Alas, if you should 
 die to-night ! " But I will not die !" You are not certain 
 of that, and then what will become of you? Would you 
 risk your salvation on a ^^ perhaps V* 
 
 3. It decides our future destiny. Consider well this impor- 
 tant truth ! If you could die twice, you would say : " I will 
 run the risk the first time, but will be careful the second 
 time." Since, however, you can die but once, why do you 
 pay so little attention to the manner in which you shall die ? 
 After your death there can be no appeal made, no grace 
 bestowed, and you have no hope left. If you die in mortal 
 sin, you will be eternally damned ; if you die in the grace 
 of God, you will be happy forever. 
 
 Consider what would excite your fears at the hour of death ! 
 Arrange your afiairs now, and think often of this terrible 
 moment upon which depends an eternity ! 
 
 " I tliouglit upon the days of old, and I had in mind the eternal years 1 " 
 Psalm Ixxvi, 6. 
 
 Wednesday. The death of the senses hy means of morti- 
 fication. 
 
 1. The necessity of m,ortification. Mortification is so 
 necessary, that we cannot acquire or persevere in virtue 
 without it, because we must overcome difficulties in prac- 
 ticing virtue, which we cannot do without mortifying 
 ourselves. We cannot overcome either sin or temptation 
 unless we mortify ourselves, for the reason that our passions 
 constantly lead us to do evil, and Satan as constantly tempts 
 us to indulge in anger, impurity, pride or some other vice. 
 We must resist them, overcome our self-love and do violence 
 to ourselves, which we cannot do without practicing mortifi- 
 cation. There are some who think that sanctity consists in 
 going to church, receiving the holy sacraments and in reciting 
 a few prayers, but they refuse to observe the fast and absti- 
 nence as prescribed by the church, because they would be 
 
324 Good Thoughts. 
 
 .obliged to mortify their taste by abstemiousness, their eyes 
 by modesty and their tongue by silence. 
 
 If, however, we wish to become perfect, we must practice 
 mortification which separates us from our self-love and unites 
 us with God. 
 
 Sever the cord by which a bird is kept tied, and it will 
 swiftly fly up towards heaven. If by means of mortification 
 we would loosen the fetters which bind us to sin, we would 
 have no difficulty in finding our way to Almighty God ; but 
 unfortunately we have some particular attachment which we 
 will not give up. 
 
 2. Obstacles to mortification. The first is want of fore- 
 thought — we do not think of it. There are a hundred occa- 
 sions every day by which you could mortify your eyes, your 
 senses and your will ; but notwithstanding this, you make 
 no use of these opportunities to increase your merits and 
 advance in virtue for the reason that you are too much 
 attached to the world. The second impediment is self-love. 
 We do not wish to mortify ourselves, because we dislike 
 every kind of hardship. We declare that it is impossible to 
 deprive ourselves of our pleasures, to conquer our will or 
 to subdue our passions, and that, after all, these mortifications 
 are of little consequence. 
 
 O, what a great obstacle to spiritual life is self-love ! How 
 many souls has it kept back from the way of perfection ! 
 How necessary it is to combat against it ! Examine yourself 
 and you will find that the greater number of your sins were 
 committed because you had too much love for your body, 
 for your sinful pleasures, and because your only desire was to 
 satisfy your evil passions. 
 
 3. Heasons why we should mortify ourselves. If you wish 
 to be incited to mortify yourself, consider the express decla- 
 ration of our Savior who tells us that, in order to obtain 
 heaven, we must carry our cross and deny ourselves. You 
 cannot possess heaven in this world and also in the next. If 
 you live sumptuously in this world, you may hear the same 
 words addressed to you as Abraham addressed to the rich man : 
 " Son, remember that thou didst receive good things in thy 
 lifetime, and likewise Lazarus evil things." Consider the 
 wonderful reward prepared for those who practice the virtue 
 of mortification ! O, if you only knew how much glory and 
 joy you will re(?eive in heaven for the least mortification, 
 you would increase your works of penance, and never allow 
 an occasion to pass by without mortifying yourself! Medi- 
 
Good Thoughts. 325 
 
 tate upon the terrible pains of hell, which you cannot escape 
 unless you practice mortification ; think of the enormity of 
 your sins, for which you must atone to the divine justice. 
 
 Be encouraged by the example of the saints, who all prac- 
 ticed mortification with the greatest zeal ! Remember, that 
 you will advance in perfection only in proportion as you 
 increase your mortifications ! 
 
 "I chastise my body, and bring it into subjection, lest perhaps, when I 
 have preached to others, I myself should become a castaway." — 1 Cor. 
 ix, 27. 
 
 Thursday. Conclusions to be drawn from meditating 
 upon death. » 
 
 1 . We must maJce good use of time. The past is no longer 
 under your control, and neither is the future, because it is 
 not as yet ; consequently, nothing belongs to you but the 
 present. Use it well, for death approaches ! That night in 
 which no man can work is soon coming, sooner, perhaps, 
 than you think. Make haste to work for hearen, to progress 
 in sanctity and to perform as many good works as you can ! 
 
 O how much will you desire at the hour of death to have 
 a few more days given you in which to redeem the past and 
 to obtain more merits ! 
 
 2. We must always he prepared. In order that we may 
 not be taken by surprise, our Savior recommends us to be 
 constantly on the watch, since we know not the hour when 
 He shall come. He tells us to be like the servants, who 
 every moment expect the coming of their Lord. 
 
 It depends upon you not to be found unprepared, for it is 
 in your power to be always in the state of grace and to 
 persevere unto the end. 
 
 3. We must pray for a happy death. A happy death is 
 the greatest favor and grace that God can bestow upon you. 
 If you should die in mortal sin you would be lost forever, 
 even if you had lived for many years in a state of holiness. 
 Temptation becomes stronger as death approaches. 
 
 Ask God frequently for the grace of a happy death ! Say 
 your prayers, perform works of penance and other good 
 works so as to obtain this grace! Implore the saints to 
 intercede for you, and especially the Blessed Virgin Mary, 
 and say most fervently : " Pray for us sinners now and at 
 the hour of our death !" Amen. 
 
 " Wherefore be you also ready." — Matt. xxiv. 44. 
 28 
 
326 Good Thoughts. 
 
 Friday. How to prepare for death. 
 
 1. TFe must regulate our spiritual and temporal affairs at 
 once. Although your whole lifetime should be a preparation 
 for death you must, nevertheless, prepare yourself with 
 greater care when you are dangerously ill. 
 
 Make a good confession, since it may be your last ! Do 
 not delay to send for a confessor until the violence of your 
 disease has deprived you of your reason ! Receive holy 
 communion and extreme unction with devotion, for on the 
 great journey to eternity you stand in need of assistance. 
 Take, also, the necessary steps to dispose of your temporal 
 goods by making your last will even before you are pros- 
 trated by sickness, and thus remove all causes of dissension 
 which might happen after your death ! Do not forget to 
 leave strict injunctions that there shall be masses said for the 
 repose of your soul, and that there shall be a certain sum of 
 money distributed among the poor ! 
 
 2. We must set aside all worldly thoughts. As soon as 
 you have regulated your temporal matters, think no more of 
 them. The affair of the salvation of your soul, which is to 
 be decided in a very few hours, should alone occupy your 
 thoughts. Do not permit any one to speak to you of worldly 
 concerns ! Alas, one angry or impure thought, to which you 
 consent, or a sinful desire would be sufficient to cause your 
 eternal ruin ! 
 
 Think only of God and how to make good use of the few 
 moments which are left you ! Beg those who surround your 
 dying bed to assist you "vtith tbeir prayers. 
 
 3. We m/ast m^dke the principal acts of virtue. In the first 
 place make an act of faith. Believe firmly that which the 
 Catholic Church believes, and frequently say the Apostles' 
 creed. Secondly, an act of hope. Hope that Almighty God 
 will pardon your sins, and give you Heaven ! Do not think 
 because you are a sinner that God will refuse you His grace. 
 A proof that He wishes to save you is. His having given you 
 time to be converted. Your hope, however, must be accom- 
 panied by humility, for otherwise it would be presumption. 
 Hope in the mercy of God and in the merits of the blood of 
 Jesus Christ ! Thirdly, an act of love and contrition. Make 
 these acts repeatedly, for an act of love and sorrow will take 
 away your sins and open heaven to you. Fourthly, an act 
 of resignation. Do not be filled with sadness, but give 
 yourself up to the will of God ! Thank Him that He has 
 
Good Thoughts. 327 
 
 preserved you from a sudden and unprovided death. Per- 
 haps if you had lived longer you might have died miserably, 
 while as it is, you have the happiness of being fortified by 
 the holy sacraments of the Church, and of being well 
 prepared ! Accept death as an atonement for your sins ! 
 Fifthly, an act of desire. Say often: O my God, when 
 shall I see heaven and praise Thee with all the blessed ? 
 Sixthly, an act of supplication. Implore the assistance of 
 God and the intercession of the Saints ! If you are unable 
 yourself, let some other person read to you the litanies of the 
 Saints and of the Blessed Virgin ! Entreat your guardian 
 angel not to forsake you, until he has guided you into heaven ! 
 
 0. how carefully should you perform all these devotions ! 
 Make now, as a preparation for the time of death, the acts 
 of faith, hope, love, sorrow, resignation and supplication ! 
 
 "Let you yourselves be like to men who wait for their lord." — Luke 
 xii, 36. 
 
 Saturday. As our life is, so will be our death, 
 
 1. TP7iy God permits it to be so. As He is just and mer- 
 ciful, it is certain that He will give the grace of a happy 
 death to those who have lived well, while on the other hand 
 it is to be feared that He will not grant this great and final 
 grace to those who, in their lives, have grievously offended 
 Him. It is true that if you are sincerely sorry for having 
 sinned, and humbly ask God's pardon. He will forgive you, 
 but if you do as Antioch did, who wept when on his death- 
 bed, not for his sins, but because he had to die miserably, 
 then there is very little hope that you will be saved. Christ 
 says : " Not every one that saith to me. Lord, Lord, shall 
 enter into the kingdom of heaven," — Matt, vii, 21, — for the 
 reason that those who neglect the practice of religion in 
 their lifetime, cannot acquire a true spirit of devotion at the 
 hour of death, when the pains which they suffer deprive 
 them sometimes of their senses. 
 
 How often has the Son of God said to sinners : " You shall 
 die in your sin !" Do you think that Almighty God will tell 
 you the precise hour of your death, so that you can prepare 
 for it ? You will die perhaps before you have time to do 
 penance. As your life is, so shall be your death. 
 
 2. It is the fault of the siwner. He will die in the same 
 state in which he has lived. He was, during life, avaricious, 
 sensual and vindictive ; how then can he die like a saint and 
 
328 Good Thoughts. 
 
 in one moment be changed into a generous, holy, and meek 
 person ? 
 
 O how difficult it is, to give up in an instant, a habit which 
 we have practiced through our whole life ! How much it is to 
 be feared that, as Christ says, " the sinner will die in his sins," 
 the avaricious man in his avarice, the sensualist in his sensu- 
 ality, and the revengeful man in wreaking his vengeance, for 
 as your life is, so shall be your death! 
 
 3. Experience proves it. We see every day, that the just 
 die well, and the wicked badly. The pious die strengthened 
 with the holy sacraments and resigned to the will of God, 
 the wicked die without the sacraments and without prepara- 
 tion, or if they receive the sacraments, it is to be feared that 
 they received them as they did during their life, in a state of 
 sin, and therefore unworthily. It sometimes happens that 
 because the priest has given them holy communion, and 
 placed a blessed candle or a crucifix in their hand, the foolish 
 world will exclaim, " O, what a happy death ! He received 
 the sacraments and died with the crucifix in his hand !" But 
 how can any one die happily after living a wicked life ? Alas, 
 the number of those who do so, is so small, that it can be said 
 in truth : As they have lived, so have they died. 
 
 If you wish to make sure of a happy death, live well and 
 you will die well ! 
 
 " The death of the wicked is very evil." — Psalm, xxxiii, 22. 
 
 LAST WEEK AFTER PENTECOST. 
 
 GrOSPEL — Matt, xxiv, 15-35. At that time, Jesus said to his disciples, 
 "When you shall see the abomination of desolation, etc. 
 
 Sunday. Objects of terror at the last judgment. 
 
 1. The confusion of the whole world. The sun will be 
 darkened, the moon will refuse to give her light, the stars 
 shall fall from heaven, and the whole atmosphere will be on 
 fire. Thunder and lightning will terrify the whole world, 
 the sea shall roar with fury, the earth will tremble, mankind 
 
Good Thoughts. 329 
 
 will wither away for fear, and the whole of nature will be in 
 the greatest confusion. 
 
 All this is because of thy sins, O man ! The wrath of the 
 great judge has already fallen upon His creatures. Let us 
 endeavor so to live, as not provoke the anger of God. Let 
 us flee from sin and practice virtue ! 
 
 2. The persecutions of Antichrist. He will seduce many 
 away from the faith, and force them to become his followers; 
 he will perform miracles, and astonish many ; he will declare 
 himself to be God, and command others to worship him ; he 
 will, by his deceptive words and delusions, be the cause of 
 the ruin of many. 
 
 " Even now there are many Antichrists," says St. John. 
 1 John ii, 18. These Antichrists are those wicked, infamous 
 and sensual men, who desire to win your love and friendship 
 in order to ruin you. These Antichrists are those hypocrites 
 who are truly wolves in- sheep's clothing. These Antichrists 
 are those persons who endeavor by their wicked conversation 
 and bad example, to familiarize you with the practice of 
 immorality. Fear them, avoid them, shun their company 
 and do not adopt their principles ! 
 
 3. The sight of Jesus Christ. When sinners shall see the 
 Son of God, who with great majesty will come down from 
 heaven to judge the whole world — when they shall see the 
 glorious sign of the cross, which they hated — when they 
 shall see Jesus Christ place Himself upon His throne in 
 order to pronounce the awful judgment of damnation 
 against them, alas ! with what fear and confusion will they 
 be seized ! 
 
 Begin from this very moment to love Christ, to love the 
 cross, to suffer patiently, out of love to Him, and to serve 
 Him as you should ! By doing so you will appease Him on 
 that terrible day. , 
 
 " Pierce thou my flesh with thy fear, for I am afraid of thy judgments I" 
 — Psalm, cxviii, 120. 
 
 Monday. At the last judgment Christ alone will appear, 
 
 1. Great in glory. At the appearance of the Sun of jus- 
 tice, all human greatness will vanish. How many rulers and 
 conquerers who assumed the name of "^rea^' and who 
 commanded men to worship them, but who were despised 
 and rejected by Almighty God, shall on the last day appear 
 as the outcasts of the world, as the least of men. Filled 
 
 28* 
 
330 Good Thoughts. 
 
 with fear and trembling they will exclaim : *' Behold, He 
 whom we saw insulted as though He were a culprit and cov- 
 ered with ignominy, He whom we ourselves despised. He 
 is the King of glory, the Judge and the Lord of the world! 
 The reprobates, together with the elect, will exclaim : " Thou 
 alone art the Sovereign Lord ! They will confess themselves 
 to be nothing, but that God is all. The elect will see Him 
 and rejoice, and will become sharers of His glory; but the 
 reprobates will see Him and gnash with their teeth, and 
 become even less than nothing ; they would consider them- 
 selves happy, if they could only be annihilated ! 
 
 This is the end of all human pride and greatness ! Is it 
 them worth our while to do, suffer and risk all, even our sal- 
 vation, in order to obtain it ? 
 
 2. Great in power. " And then they shall see Him coming 
 in a cloud with great power and majesty." — Luke xxi, 27. 
 Those mighty kings who subjected the world to their domin- 
 ion, and who were only great in the practice of injustice, who 
 used the power which they received from God only to offend 
 Him and incite others to offend Him, will, before the eyes of 
 the world, be deprived of all their authority and be con- 
 demned to the eternal fires of hell. 
 
 O the unhappy abuse of the power, given by Almighty 
 God to the rulers of the earth as a sacred trust! "The 
 mighty shall be mightily tormented." — Wis. vi, 7. They 
 will confess, that God alone is powerful, as He alone is just. 
 He will show His strength in His punishments. Those who 
 used all their power to off'end God will see Almighty God 
 employ all His power to punish them. 
 
 3. Great in holiness. All the good works and virtues 
 practiced by men shall in the presence of this divine holiness 
 appear as nothing, and as darkness disappears before the 
 dawn of day, so also shall disappear before the sight of 
 Christ, all those pagan virtues which had as their principal 
 motive, pride and worldly honor, and also those good works 
 which were performed only out of caprice, passion, selfishness, 
 human fear or vanity. How many works which now appear 
 so meritorious in the eyes of the world, will, when compared 
 with the sanctity of Christ, the only and immutable rule of 
 all sanctity, seem dark and unjust! 
 
 Why do you not now order your works in accordance with 
 this divine rule, and thus perfect them ! 
 
 "The Lord alone shall be exalted in that day." — Isaias, ii, 11. 
 
Good Thoughts. 331 
 
 Tuesday. Various temptations. 
 
 1. Open temptations. Very often the devil does not even 
 seek to conceal himself when he wishes to tempt you ; he 
 will openly incite you to commit an abominable injustice, an 
 impure act or a theft. 
 
 Resist at once, for if you allow yourself to be overcome 
 you will have no excuse, since you were well aware that it 
 was Satan who tempted you. Pray to God on such occasions 
 and defend yourself bravely; it depends upon you whether 
 you conquer or not. 
 
 2. Concealed temptations. Satan frequently appears as an 
 angel of light, because when he cannot seduce you by open 
 force, he will ensnare you by his cunning. He induces you 
 to imagine that when you speak ill of a person, you have 
 inflicted no real injury, but have only told the truth, or else 
 have indulged in a little harmless amusement, and that 
 immodest looks, touches and words are but trifles. He per- 
 suades you that you can read obscene books without any 
 danger to yourself; that you can frequent the society of even 
 wicked persons, if you are only modest in your own behavior, 
 and that certain pleasures and amusements, by which you 
 commonly offend God, are not forbidden. He makes the 
 conscience of one too lax, and of another too scrupulous ; 
 he infuses into one too much confidence, and into another 
 too much diffidence. He causes some to fall into a lament- 
 able state of uncertainty and doubt; he revives in others 
 the remembrance of their past sinful pleasures, under the 
 pretext of meditating upon them, and thus he deceives 
 many by concealing wickedness under the appearance of 
 virtue. 
 
 Pray to God, that your enemy may not overcome you, and 
 in regard to your temptations ask the advice of your spiritual 
 director, in order to learn how to conquer them ! Flee from 
 even the shadow of sin, and as soon as you see anything 
 which offers you an opportunity to offend God, avoid it wdth 
 horror ! 
 
 3. Special temptation. You have perhaps an inclination 
 for some particular vice, and Satan constantly urges you to 
 indulge in it. He tempts you to be proud, to be curious con- 
 cerning the affairs of others, or to be uncharitable. In every 
 state of life, in the performance of every work, there are 
 occasions by which we may offend God ; and Satan will not 
 fail to take advantage of these occasions. 
 
332 Good Thoughts. 
 
 It is your duty to guard against these temptations and to 
 overcome them with firmness ! 
 " Begone Satan I "— Matt, iv, 10. 
 
 Wednesday. Different species of temptation. 
 
 1. By thought. Read and consider well the following 
 truth : The devil commences all his attacks by suggesting 
 sinful thoughts, and if we do not instantly repel them, he will 
 conquer us most ignominiously. A sinful thought seems at 
 first to be of very little consequence ; but, nevertheless, it is 
 so necessary to resist it, that if you repel it, you are sure of 
 victory, as on the contrary you are already overcome, if you 
 harbor it willingly. An angry, impure or ungenerous 
 thought is like a mine which is laid in order to destroy a 
 fort. A mine is concealed ; in the same manner a bad 
 thought is not visible, and it is therefore considered a trifle 
 and as something not to be feared ; but when the mine is 
 fired, the thickest walls are blown to atoms. In the same 
 way does Satan endeavor to efiect your ruin by causing you 
 to take pleasure in revengeful, impure or uncharitable 
 thoughts ; for when such is the case, it will take but very 
 little to make you put your sinful desires into execution. 
 
 Alas, what a misfortune for you ! 
 
 2. By delight. When the devil has succeeded in instilling 
 these thoughts into your mind, he will then awaken your 
 desires and excite your passions. He will insinuate into 
 you the belief, that you will find nothing but pleasure, if you 
 would satisfy your curiosity or appetites, even though they 
 should be contrary to purity ; he urges you to revenge an 
 insult upon the one who offended you, and even suggests to 
 you the means by which you can do so. 
 
 O, do not indulge in such wicked thoughts ! Repel at 
 once all these attacks of the enemy of your salvation ! Satan 
 seeks to ensnare you by making sin appear right, just as 
 fishermen catch fish by baiting their hooks with what the 
 fish like best. Satan knows well what pleases or displeases 
 you most, and he tempts you accordingly. Beware of 
 him! 
 
 3. By consent. Whenever Satan wishes to tempt you 
 anew, he first endeavors to gain your consent. If your 
 senses have been captivated by guilty pleasures, or irritated 
 by the remembrance of insults offered you, he will finally 
 cause you to think that you have resisted long enough, and 
 
Good Thoughts. 333 
 
 that there will be no real harm done, if yo\i yield to the 
 desires of lust, avarice or revenge. 
 
 0. do not be so foolish as to consent to the temptation, 
 but firmly repel such thoughts and desires and say : " I shall 
 not yield ! " and should you be urged a thousand times a day 
 still repeat : " I shall not yield ! " If you speak thus, you 
 will conquer Satan. 
 
 " Take away the evil of your devices from my eyes! " — Isaias i, 16. 
 
 Thursday. Memedies against temptation, 
 
 1. To resist immediately. There is not a more important, 
 more necessary and more efficacious remedy by which to 
 overcome temptation, than to resist it from the very first. 
 It is a spark which, if not extinguished at once, will become 
 an uncontrollable fire ; it is a little serpent which has just 
 crept out of its shell, and which you can easily destroy while 
 it is young, but if you neglect to do so, it will become strong 
 enough to devour you. You can refuse to entertain sensual 
 or angry thoughts, but if you allow them to take possession 
 of your mind, they will cause many disorders to arise from 
 which you will find it difficult to free yourself. 
 
 Resist temptation, therefore, in the very beginning, and do 
 not hesitate, when called upon, to choose between what is 
 right and what is wrong. Make a firm resolution and say 
 to yourself: " It would be wicked for me to think of doing 
 such a thing. I will not oflTend God in order to please 
 Satan !" 
 
 2. To resist firmly. Do not become weary in the combat ! 
 Almighty God permits you to be tempted, for it is thus that 
 He tests your fidelity. There have been saints who were 
 tormented for ten and twenty years with a temptation to 
 indulge in hatred, impurity and gluttony, but they courage- 
 ously resisted the assault of the evil one. How cowardly 
 then would it be in you, if after having fought for sometime, 
 you at once surrender to the attacks of your enemy ! Do 
 you not know, that life is a long combat ! Be encouraged, 
 therefore, to resist firmly ! Have confidence in God who 
 will always give you the necessary strength to overcome all 
 temptations. 
 
 Detest your cowardice, which is the reason why you have 
 been so often conquered ! 
 
 3. To pray fervently. St. Thomas says, that you are 
 bound, under the penalty of committing a grievous sin, to 
 
334 Good Thoughts. 
 
 pray fervently if you are strongly tempted. You must 
 invoke the assistance of heaven on such dangerous occasions, 
 upon which depend your salvation and the honor of God. 
 Many have been overcome by Satan, because they did not 
 pray when tempted. 
 
 St. Benedict once rolled himself in a thorn-bush when 
 tempted to commit a certain sin ; some have used the 
 discipline or other kinds of mortification ; some go to 
 church and pray when strongly tempted. What do you do 
 in time of temptation ? " I do nothing." Is it any wonder 
 then, that you are overcome ? 
 
 " Watch ye and pray that ye enter not into temptation 1 " — Matt, xxvi, 41. 
 
 Friday. Other remedies against temptation, 
 
 1. To have diffidence in ourselves^ hut confidence in God, 
 Pride has always been punished by Almighty God ; you 
 yielded to temptation, because you exposed yourself to the 
 occasion of sin by confiding too much in your own strength. 
 Have difiidence in yourself, but every confidence in God ! If 
 you call upon Him, all your enemies will be vanquished. 
 If you are under His protection, nothing can harm you, and 
 temptations will only serve to confound your enemies and to 
 increase your merits. 
 
 O my Jesus assist me in overcoming my temptation ! 
 
 2. To strengthen our mind with holy thoughts. Do not 
 allow yourself to entertain impure, avaricious or angry 
 thoughts, pay no attention to them, but turn away your 
 mind from them. This admonition is very important ; for, 
 if under the pretext of combating these wicked thoughts 
 you willfully harbor them in your mind, it will be your own 
 fault if you are tormented by them. If you have once earn- 
 estly resolved to combat against temptations, in which you 
 find no pleasure, conceive a holy thought, as for example, 
 think of the presence of God, which thought is most effica- 
 cious to drive away temptation ! Think of heaven, of hell, 
 of what an honor it is to be faithful to God ! These thoughts 
 will preserve you from sin, and will strengthen you to resist 
 Satan. Imitate those who, when attacked by sickness, at 
 once take something to relieve and strengthen them. 
 
 Promise to make use of these admirable remedies ! 
 
 3. To conquer the temptation to commit sin, by practicing its 
 opposite virtue. This remedy not only aids us to overcome 
 temptation, but it also assists us to make progress in virtue. 
 
Good Thoughts. 335 
 
 If you have a great dislike for a person, do not show it 
 in your manner, but be friendly and as kind as though you 
 entertained no feeling of aversion. If you are tempted to 
 commit the sin of impurity, mortify your body in every pos- 
 sible manner; if you are tempted to be proud, humble 
 yourself; if you are tempted to yield to the spirit of melan- 
 choly, endeavor to be cheerful, and do interiorly and exteri- 
 orly whatever is opposed to sadness ! 
 
 " These things I have told you, that when the hour shall come, you may 
 remember that I told you of them." — John xvi, 4. 
 
 Saturday. Excuses of those who have yielded to tempta- 
 tion, 
 
 1. '' The temptation was too strong P"* Miserable creature, 
 what is it that you say ? Does not St. Paul declare that God 
 will not suffer you to be tempted " above that which you are 
 able ?" It is true that it was the devil who attacked you, 
 but you should have resisted him ; for although he can incite 
 you to do evil, he cannot force you. He may say to you as 
 he did to our Lord : " Cast thyself down !" but he cannot 
 conquer you, if you resist him courageously. You have been 
 overcome, because you did not struggle with your whole 
 strength to gain the victory over sin, but at the first attack 
 of the enemy you surrendered yourself a willing prisoner. 
 
 Resist better another time, and do not seek excuses to 
 cover your wickedness ! 
 
 2. " I did not think the danger was so great.'''* This excuse 
 only adds to your guilt. You should have been vigilant and 
 not have exposed yourself to the danger or have confided so 
 much in your own strength. You knew the malice and the 
 strength of the enemies who tempted you, and therefore you 
 should have thought of it. You knew from sad experience, 
 how dangerous it was for you to indulge in certain thoughts, 
 looks, or in the reading of immoral books, and you knew 
 what would be the consequence, if you frequented certain 
 places of amusement, or sought the company of those who 
 had previously led you into sin. When you were tempted, 
 you should have thought of God, of performing a good work 
 or of doing something, in order to fi.*ee yourself from these 
 temptations. 
 
 Consider well the words of Christ : " Watch ye and pray, 
 that ye enter not into temptation !" 
 
 3. ''''It does not often happen P If you have been over- 
 
336 Good Thoughts. 
 
 come even once by Satan, you have incurred the displeasure 
 of God, and you should do penance for it during your whole 
 life. But alas! how often has Satan taken advantage of 
 you, and perhaps out of twenty temptations you have not 
 resisted two. 
 
 Our enemies are strong, but God's assistance is still 
 stronger. Let us therefore combat bravely ; for if we are 
 overcome, we will be enemies of God and in the power of 
 Satan, while on the other hand, if we conquer we will give 
 honor to God, gain great merit, and obtain the imperishable 
 glory of heaven. 
 
 "Take courage and be strong 1" — Josue i, 6. 
 
 FEASTS OF THE SAINTS. 
 
 Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the B. V. Mart, 
 
 December 8. 
 
 [Declared a dogma^ Dec. 8, 1854, hy Pope Pius ix, P. P.) 
 
 GrOSPEL: — Luke i, 26-28. At that time the Angel Gabriel was sent 
 from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth, to a virgin, etc. 
 
 1. The Blessed Virgin is fair as the moon, (Cant, vi, 9.) 
 She receives all her prerogatives from God just as the moon 
 receives her light from the sun. In the very beginning of 
 her existence, Mary received an abundance of grace which 
 constantly increased during her life. 
 
 What degree of sanctity have you acquired in so many 
 years ? There is no reason why you do not become a saint, 
 after having received so many graces! 
 
 2. The Blessed Virgin is bright as the sun, (Cant, vi, 9.) 
 There is but one sun among millions of stars. Mary alone 
 from among all creatures was conceived without sin. She 
 alone was called blessed, while others were subject to the 
 curse of original sin. We can safely assert, that from 
 the very moment of her Immaculate Conception, Mary 
 advanced in grace. She was chosen from all eternity to be 
 
Good Thoughts. 337 
 
 the mother of God, so that she never committed the least 
 sin or the slightest imperfection. 
 
 Your purity should be like that of the sun, whose rays are 
 not soiled, although they fall upon mire. Preserve your inno- 
 cence amidst all dangers, for M^ry who is purity itself, will 
 not adopt you as her child, if she sees you stained with the 
 least sin. 
 
 3. The blessed Virgin is terrible as an army set in array. 
 (Cant, vi, 9). Free from original sin, Mary commenced from 
 the first moment of her conception to combat evil, and 
 to declare herself opposed to Satan. It is she who holds 
 the spirits of darkness in check, and it is she who counteracts 
 their designs u]3on men ; it is she who has power in heaven 
 and on earth, it is she who has performed so many mir- 
 acles, and who continues to perform them for the welfare of 
 those who invoke her. 
 
 O Virgin most powerful, assist me against the temptation 
 of my enemies who attack me ! 
 
 " Thou art all fair, my love, and there is not a spot in thee ! " — Cant, 
 iv, 7. 
 
 FEAST OF THE PURIFICATION OF THE B. V. 
 
 MARY. 
 
 Februaky 2. 
 
 Gospel: — Luke n, 22-32. At that time, after the days of Mary's puri- 
 fication, etc. 
 
 The offering presented hy the B. V. Mary on the occasion 
 of her Purification. 
 
 1. The one who offers. The offering is the more precious 
 on account of the dignity of the one who offers it. Mary, 
 purer than the sun, the Virgin and Queen of Virgins, desires 
 to appear in the temple like a sinner ; she presents her Son to 
 God, by the hands of Simeon, and offers Him that which she 
 loves best. She shows her obedience by subjecting herself 
 to a law which she was not obliged to observe ; she shows 
 29 
 
338 Good Thoughts. 
 
 her poverty by offering for her son a pair of turtle doves, 
 the gift of the poor. 
 
 Imitate these great virtues and invoke the Blessed Virgin 
 with confidence ! 
 
 2. Tliat which is offered. The offering becomes the more 
 important on account of the greatness of that which is 
 offered. Mary offers up no fruits, no lambs, no oxen, but 
 Jesus Cheist, the only Son of the Father, the object of His 
 pleasure. 
 
 Learn, ye parents, to offer up your children to God, and 
 take care not to prevent them from serving Him ! Let us 
 to-day, together with the offering of Mary, offer up our pas- 
 sions, our sinful pleasures and our wicked habits ! 
 
 3. Tlie object and end of her offering. This Son whom 
 Thou dost offer, O Mary, is the sacrifice destined for the 
 salvation of mankind. The time will come when Thou wilt 
 not see Him in the embraces of Simeon, but hanging upon 
 the arms of the cross, where He will shed His blood for us, 
 and then Thy own soul shall be pierced by sorrow and grief. 
 
 O my Jesus, I love Thee, because Thou did'st offer Thyself 
 up for me ! O eternal Father, I offer up to Thee Thy only 
 Son, especially at the holy sacrifice of the mass, in order to 
 obtain Thy graces and the forgiveness of my sins ! O Mary, 
 I offer myself to Thee, in order to be one of Thy servants ! 
 
 *'He was offered, because it was His own willl" — Isaias Ixiii, t. 
 
 FEAST OF ST. JOSEPH. 
 
 Maech 19. 
 
 Gospel: — Matt, i, 18-21. "When Mary the mother of Jesus was 
 espoused to Joseph, etc. 
 
 The 'prerogatives of St. Joseph. 
 
 1. His family was the holiest. What father ever had a 
 son like Jesus ? what husband such a perfect spouse as Mary ? 
 These prerogatives Joseph enjoyed. He had the sun and the 
 moon under his feet, that is, he had the honor of commanding 
 
Good Thoughts. 339 
 
 Jesus and Mary. He knew the dignity of the divine child 
 and His holy mother, and he guarded them with an authority 
 accompanied by veneration and fear. He loved Jesus and 
 Mary tenderly, he served them faithfully, he went with them 
 on all their journeys, and supported them by the work of 
 his hands. 
 
 Thank God for the graces which he conferred upon this 
 great saint ! Imitate his love and fidelity ! 
 
 2. Sis life was the most peaceful. Kings upon their 
 thrones and men in the midst of their pleasures and riches 
 have never enjoyed such a peaceful and quiet life as Joseph 
 did in his carpenter's shop ; the fact of being always in the 
 company of Jesus and Mary was like being in heaven while 
 upon earth. What delight and contentment it was for him, 
 while at his work and on his journeys, to have Jesus and 
 Mary with him ! 
 
 Be content with the state of life in which Almighty God 
 has placed you, and do not covet high offices and honors ! 
 Joseph, a poor carpenter, considered himself happier than all 
 the kings of the earth. 
 
 3. His death was the happiest. Behold glorious St. Joseph 
 on his death-bed ! He truly dies the death of the just, which 
 is precious in the sight of the Lord. O beautiful death ! 
 
 If you wish to die happily, endeavor to have a special 
 devotion for St. Joseph and the Blessed Virgin, and be a true 
 disciple of Christ ! 
 
 " Who is the faithful and wise steward, whom his Lord setteth over his 
 familj ? " — Luke xii, 42. 
 
 THE ANNUNCIATION OF THE B. V. MARY. 
 
 March 25. 
 
 Gospel: — Luke i, 26, 28. At that time the Angel Gabriel was sent 
 from God into a city of GaHlee, etc. 
 
 Mary, full of Orace. 
 
 1. 8he is full of grace. The Angel Gabriel greeted Mary 
 and told her good tidings, for he announced to her that she 
 
34:0 Good Thoughts. 
 
 was FULL OF GRACE. It is a matter of great consolation if 
 we know ourselves to be in the grace of God ; but it is the 
 height of joy to know that we are full of grace. O Mary, 
 in Thee are united all graces, because the Lord is with Thee 
 and Thou art blessed among women. What an honor, O 
 Mary, to see a prince come down from heaven, in order to 
 bring Thee such good tidings ! 
 
 Detest sin, by which grace is expelled from your soul ! 
 Seek Mary and ask her to be your mediatrix! She will 
 obtain graces for you, if you invoke her with confidence ! 
 
 2. She is the mother of God. " Thou shalt bring forth a 
 son, and Thou shalt call His name Jesus." This is the 
 second announcement which the Angel made to Mary. 
 What an honor for her to see herself in one moment the mother 
 of the Messiah, for whom the just of so many centuries had 
 sighed ! Instead of extolling herself on account of this dig- 
 nity as mother of God, she humbly says : " Behold the 
 handmaid of the Lord ; be it done to me according to thy 
 word ! " At this moment the word became flesh, because the 
 Holy Ghost formed from the pure flesh and blood of Mary 
 the most adorable body of Christ. 
 
 O wonderful mystery ! Mary is exalted and God humbled ! 
 A virgin carries in her womb Him, who holds the whole 
 world in His hand ! Thank the Son for humbling Himself 
 so much for you, and rejoice with Mary on account of her 
 divine exaltation ! Consider the incomprehensible kindness 
 of Jesus in the mystery of the incarnation ! He became 
 man, to redeem man, while He allowed the rebellious angels 
 to perish forever. He humbles Himself in the womb of a 
 virgin, so as to elevate us to the glory of heaven. 
 
 3. She is TYiother and virgin at the same time. Mary was 
 troubled when she heard that she was to be a mother ! She 
 asked the angel how this could be, as she knew not man ? 
 "Fear not, Mary," replied the angel, "the Holy Ghost shall 
 come upon thee ! " Behold, then, Mary is mother and virgin 
 at the same time ! A prerogative which never was and 
 never will be the portion of any creature again. 
 
 But how did she merit these graces ? Because of her 
 purity, obedience and humility. Imitate the virtues of your 
 mother, so that she may know you to be her child ! 
 
 " He has regarded the humility of His hand-maid." — Luke i, 48. 
 
Good THoranTS. 341 
 
 FEAST OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST. 
 
 June 24. 
 
 Gospel: — Luke i, 57-68. Elizabeth's full time of being delivered was 
 come, etc. 
 
 The greatness of St. John the Baptist. 
 
 1. In the graces which he received. To-day the whole 
 world rejoices, because it has not seen a greater man than 
 John the Baptist. This praise Christ Himself bestows upon 
 him. Behold his greatness ! An angel announces his birth, 
 which was wonderful, because he was born of a barren 
 woman ; he was sanctified when even yet in the womb of his 
 mother ; he was honored by being chosen to baptize the 
 Savior, and to be His precursor. 
 
 Rejoice at the greatness of St. John! make good use of 
 grace, as he did ! 
 
 2. In the penance which he practiced. O to what great 
 sanctity was he raised by his austere life! He lived for 
 thirty years in the desert without eating anything but locusts 
 and wild honey. He went there while yet a tender youth ; 
 he wore a garment made of camel's hair ; he slept on the 
 ground, and as he preached penance, so did he practice it. 
 
 Imitate him in the practice of penance, which is a very 
 necessary virtue ! 
 
 8. In the zeal which he exhibited. John, the precursor of 
 Our Lord, not only showed his zeal in preaching, but also 
 in reproving Herod on account of his scandalous life. His 
 great zeal was soon crowned with martyrdom, because this 
 wicked king, in order to please a sensual woman, commanded 
 his servants to behead the saint. 
 
 To what great undertakings for the honor of God has your 
 zeal incited you ? Show firmness in punishing sin ! 
 
 " Be not afraid at their presence, for I am with thee!" — Jeremias i, 8. 
 
 29* 
 
342 Good Thoughts. 
 
 FEAST OF S. S. PETER AND PAUL. 
 June 29. 
 
 Gospel: — Matt, xvi, 13-19. At that time, Jesus came into the quarters 
 of Caesarea Philipps, etc. 
 
 fS. S. Peter and Paul were distinguished, 
 
 1. Jn their conversion. Peter after many protestations of 
 fidelity to Christ denied Him three times ; but when Jesus 
 turning, looked at him, he went out and wept bitterly, and 
 did penance by weeping during his whole life, so that the 
 marks of the tears furrowed his cheeks, according to the writ- 
 ings of St. Clement, who had seen him. He loved God most 
 fervently. Paul, from being a persecutor of Christ, became a 
 vessel of election and a great apostle. He was converted 
 after having heard the voice of Christ, who had cast him on 
 the ground, saying : " Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me ?" 
 
 If you have imitated these grea^^ saints in committing sin, 
 imitate them also in doing penance ! 
 
 2. In their office. St. Peter (and with him all his succes- 
 sors) was chosen to be the visible head of the whole Church 
 and the representative of Jesus Christ upon earth. St. Paul 
 was chosen to preach the gospel to many nations and kings. 
 Consider the homage and honor shown to these two apostles 
 by even the crowned heads of the world, and in what respect 
 and veneration their relics are held ! 
 
 Thank God for the graces which He has shown to these 
 two great saints and through them to His holy Church! 
 Perform with care the sacred duties which Almighty God 
 has imposed upon you. 
 
 3. In their martyrdom. These two Princes of the Church 
 were condemned by a Roman emperor to suffer martyrdom 
 in the presence of many persons. St. Peter, after having 
 been scourged, was condemned to die upon the cross like his 
 Master ; but out of humility he begged that he might be 
 crucified with his head downward. St. Paul was beheaded. 
 
 O glorious apostles, pray for us and for the whole Church ! 
 Obtain for us, that by imitating your zeal and other virtues, 
 we may lead a holy life and die a happy death ! 
 
 "If we be dead with Christ, we beheve that we shall live also together 
 with Christ." — Rom. vi, 8. 
 
Good Thoughts. 343 
 
 FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION. 
 
 August 15. 
 
 Gospel: — Luke x, 38-42. At that time Jesus entered into a certain 
 town, and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house, etc. 
 
 Triumplis of the Blessed Virgin. 
 
 1. Oa her death-bed. She triumphed over fear by the 
 certainty she possessed concerning her pre-election, and the 
 great glory that awaited her. Should she fear the Judge ? 
 He is her own Son. Should sin cause her any alarm ? She 
 has always been free from it. She forgot her sufferings in 
 the joy she felt at the prospect of soon meeting her beloved 
 Son, and in her love for God, which was so great that it 
 caused her death. 
 
 Mary, my sweet Mother, how much do I rejoice to see Thee 
 happy, while others are depressed in spirit because of their 
 fears ! Be Thou my mediatrix at the hour of my death ! 
 
 2. Jn the grave. It was not becoming that the pure and 
 holy body of the Mother of Jesus Christ should see corrup- 
 tion. She triumphed also over the grave, because after her 
 death her soul was united with her body, and both together 
 entered heaven victoriously. 
 
 Let us live in the hope of a glorious resm'rection ! Let 
 us mortify our body in this world, so that it may rise with 
 greater splendor ! 
 
 3. In heaven. Mary, Queen of the world, celebrates to-day 
 her triumphant entrance into heaven. Millions of blessed 
 spirits accompany her, and feel honored at being allowed to 
 full down before her, and they fill the air with heavenly music. 
 All pay homage to her as their Queen. She is exalted above 
 all the saints, above all the angels and seraphims, who 
 occupy the first rank among the blessed spirits. She is 
 crowned by the Blessed Trinity as Queen of angels and men, 
 and her intercession is great before God. 
 
 O powerful Queen of Heaven, behold me lying at Thy 
 feet, and imploring assistance ! I will imitate Thy humility, 
 purity and love, which are the steps upon which Thou didst 
 arrive at the high glory which Thou now enjoyest ! 
 
 " Wlio is this that cometli up from tlie desert, flowing with deUghts?" — 
 Cant, viii, 5. 
 
344 Good Thoughts. 
 
 FEAST OF THE NATIVITY OF THE B. V. MARY. 
 
 September 8. 
 
 Gospel: — Matt, i, 1-16. The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, 
 etc. 
 
 The joyful natimty of Mary. 
 
 1. It caused delight to God. If Almighty God, after the 
 creation of the world, saw that what He had created was good, 
 how much delight must He not have had in contemplating 
 Mary, the most beautiful work He had ever made, because 
 there is nothing either in heaven or in earth, either among 
 angels or among men, which could have been compared with 
 the exalted Princess who is now born ! Her body was per- 
 fect, her soul was adorned with the most sublime virtues, 
 and as Almighty God had destined her to such a high voca- 
 tion. He bestowed upon her also the most extraordinary 
 graces. 
 
 Rejoice with Mary! Thank and praise God for having 
 created so mighty a Queen, and endeavor to please her by 
 your true conversion, which is as it were a spiritual birth. 
 
 2. It caused delight to her parents. What joy for St. Ann, 
 to bring forth, after a sterility of twenty years, a daughter 
 who was so distinguished in dignity, and so perfect in all 
 the most sublime qualifications, a daughter who was to be the 
 Mother of God and the Queen of the whole world ! 
 
 Thus God rewards the virtue of parents who serve Him 
 faithfully, by giving them children who are a source of delight 
 and honor to them. Children, give praise to God, and such 
 consolation to your parents and teachers as they have a right 
 to expect from you ! 
 
 3. It caused joy to all inert. O men rejoice ! Behold the 
 beautiful dawli of the day which will bring forth the Son of 
 justice ! Behold your Queen, your Mother, your Mediatrix! 
 The sublime name of " Mary" which is given her, signifies 
 " Lady, Princess, Star of the Sea," and is a happy foreboding 
 of the graces which she will obtain for you ! If we rejoiced 
 at the nativity of St. John, we must rejoice even more at 
 that of Mary, because John was only the precursor, but Mary 
 is the mother of the Redeemer of the world. 
 
Good Thoughts. 345 
 
 O Mary, assist me ! obtain for me the happiness of being 
 born again in righteousness, so that I may increase daily in 
 grace, and persevere in it until the end of my life ! 
 
 "He that is mighty hath done great things to me." — Luke i, 49. 
 
 FEAST OF ALL SAINTS. 
 
 NOVEMBEE 1. 
 
 Gospel: — Matt, v, 1-12. At that time, Jesus seeing the multitudes, 
 went up into a mountain, * * * and opening his mouth, he taught them, 
 saying : " Blessed are the poor in spirit, etc." 
 
 How the Saints obtained their glory. 
 
 1. They loere called. See the fidelity of the servants, and 
 the liberality of the master. Almighty God created saints 
 for His honor, and called them all in different ways to heaven. 
 There are now in heaven, saints who belonged to every state 
 of life : Popes, bishops, priests, monks, religious, married 
 persons, virgins, mechanics, princes, poor, rich, young and 
 old persons who, by the holy life they led in the state to 
 which Almighty God had called them, became saints. 
 
 Be encouraged by the words of St. Augustine : " Should 
 you not be as able to become holy as those whom you vener- 
 ate to-day ? Should you not be able to do what so many 
 men, tender women and others have done ? " " Elias was a 
 man passible like unto us," says St. James ; he had a body 
 subject to misery just as we have. These saints suffered 
 from the same infirmities that we do ; why then should we 
 not overcome them and become saints as they have done ? 
 
 2. They served faithftdly. O what miseries, afflictions 
 and persecutions did they not suffer! Against how many 
 temptations did they not combat! How many difficulties 
 did they not overcome ! How many virtues did they not 
 practice! They served God faithfully, they fulfilled their 
 duty carefully, they never became weary in the service of 
 God, but they gloriously persevered unto the end of their 
 lives. 
 
346 Good Thoughts. 
 
 Perseverance must crown our fidelity and our labors. It 
 is of very little consequence to commence well, if we do not 
 continue faithful in our efforts to gain heaven. 
 
 3. They have been richly reioarded. For the mortifications 
 which they practiced they now enjoy inexpressible joys and 
 torrents of delight ; for the humiliations which they endured 
 they are now rewarded with inestimable glory ; for the riches 
 which they forsook, they are now in possession of the eternal 
 treasures of heaven. Behold the power which God has given 
 them, to work miracles in favor of those who invoke them ! 
 See the honor shown to their relics, which are kept in boxes 
 of gold, adorned with precious stones ! See how the nations 
 and princes of the earth feel honored at being permitted to 
 venerate them ! Look at the many churches built in their 
 honor and at the many altars dedicated to them. 
 
 O my Lord, how profitable it is to serve Thee ! 
 
 " He will render to every man according to Ms works." — Rom. ii, 6. 
 
 ALL SOULS DAY. 
 
 November 2. 
 
 Gospel : — John v, 25-29. At that time, Jesus said to the multitudes of 
 the Jews, Amen, amen I say unto you, that the hour cometh, etc. 
 
 Purgatory, 
 
 1. The souls in purgatory ; have a claim on our com- 
 passion. The souls in purgatory suffer very much ; they 
 burn in a fire kindled by the breath of divine wrath, and 
 their pains surpass all imagination, and all the sufferings in 
 this world. Nothing can be compared to the pains of purga- 
 tory but those of hell, time and despair excepted. A 
 stranger, even an enemy, would excite you to compassion, if 
 you should see him suffering ; and behold, it is your brother, 
 your friend, your father, your mother, who is detained in 
 purgatory, perhaps because they have loved you too much. 
 They suffer perhaps, because they were solicitous to accumu- 
 late wealth for you ! 
 
Good Thoughts. 347 
 
 Should not their misfortune excite your pity, caused as it 
 has been by their too great love for you? Is it right for you 
 to be so indifferent, when they suffer so much ? 
 
 2. They call upon us for assistance. Alas, these poor 
 tormented souls cry out to you for help ; they conjure 
 you through the tender love which they once had for you, 
 and through the love which they justly expect from you, to 
 pray for them. They can do nothing to escape the purifying 
 flames, in which they are retained by an invisible hand ; but 
 you can do much for them ; a fervent prayer, an alms, an act 
 of mortification, or any other good work offered up to God 
 in their behalf, will afford them relief. 
 
 If you thus give assistance to the souls in purgatory, you 
 will confer a great blessing upon yourself; for they will thank 
 you for their eternal happiness and will pray for yours also, 
 to Almighty God, when they gain heaven. 
 
 3. Their state should fill us with wholesome fear. Their 
 sufferings should remind you of the enormity of even a venial 
 sin, and how much God hates it, since He punishes so severely 
 the many blessed souls whom He loves so much, and who 
 love Him so ardently. Purgatory should show you what 
 venial sin is, although you fear it so little, and commit it so 
 often ; it should induce you to anticipate these great evils by 
 sincere repentance. 
 
 A little mortification could prevent the long and painful 
 torments of purgatory ; but you are insensible to the warn- 
 ing. One tear of true sorrow can prevent you from falling 
 into this fire, but torrents of tears will soon be of no avail, 
 and yet you weep not ! Alas, how great is your blindness ! 
 
 "It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead," — 
 2 Mach. xii, 46. 
 
348 Good Thoughts. 
 
 FIRST SERIES OF MEDITATIONS 
 
 FOR A 
 
 THREE DATS' SPIRITUAL RETREAT DURING THE TEAR. 
 (JFhr such persons as are not yet converted.) 
 
 FIRST DAY. 
 
 First Meditation. T/ie end of man. 
 
 The end of man upon earth is to serve God, by keeping 
 the commandments. To serve God is not only necessary, 
 but is also easy and just. 
 
 1. It is necessary to serve God. We were created for 
 this purpose. It is written and will remain so forever: 
 Man, *' the Lord thy God shalt thou adore, and Him only 
 shalt thou serve!" — Deut. vi, 13; Matt, iv, 10. "Him 
 ONLY," not pride and vain glory, not thirst for lucre, not the 
 desires of the flesh ; " Him only" ; this command cannot be 
 evaded. If we do not serve God here upon earth as His 
 children — for in His kindness He is more than a father to 
 us — we must, one day, serve Him a^ slaves — as the slaves of 
 an irritated master. Go where you will. Almighty God must 
 be served at all times and in all places ! You cannot flee 
 from God ; but where can we serve Him best ? 
 
 2. It is easy to serve God on earth. The Lord does not 
 ask too much of His servants. He says : "If thou wilt enter 
 into life, keep the commandments ! " — Matt, xix, 1 7. And 
 how many and what commandments ? . . . . Only ten, or 
 rather, only two ! Everything depends upon the fulfilment 
 of these two commandments ! " Thou shalt love the Lord 
 thy God^ with thy whole hearty and with thy whole soul^ and 
 
 with thy whole mind! . Thou shalt love thy neighbor 
 
 as thyself f"* — Matt, xxii, 37-41. These two commandments 
 we can certainly obey And nothing else is com- 
 manded, but that we shall love. What is easier to the 
 human heart, than to love, especially if there are urgent and 
 manifold occasions for doing so ? If Almighty God had 
 commanded us to hate., we would have found it very difficult 
 to do so ; but to love is easy ; to serve " Him alone" is easy. 
 Our Lord, therefore, does not ask too much. 
 
Good Thoughts. 349 
 
 3. It is only Just to serve God. The Lord deserves it. By- 
 saying : "To SERVE God is just," is meant : " To love God is 
 just." And who can contradict this ? God is infinitely good 
 and amiable in ITimself. He possesses all that can incite 
 us to love Him : beauty, riches, respect, power, wisdom, 
 fidelity and meekness. Who, then, should not love Him? 
 .... He is infinitely good to us. He is good in command- 
 ing / He asks little. He is good in goverinng ^ He governs 
 the pious with kindness, the sinner with patience, the world 
 with wisdom. He is good in bestowing revjards ; He 
 
 rewards even the least act of charity It is also just, 
 
 to love our neighbor^ for it is the image of God, whom you 
 love in His creatures, and is this love not just ? 
 
 Tou have lived, perhaps, already twenty, forty, or even more years 
 
 How many of them have you spent in the service of God ! On the con- 
 trary, how many years of your Kfe have you spent in the pursuit of vanity ? 
 Alas, you have given Grod, perhaps, only a few moments ! And still you 
 believe that you were created for Him? What a contradiction there is 
 between your faith and your works ! 
 
 It is time now for you to commence to serve God ! See, the Lord is 
 kind as yet! He is content, if you devote the rest of your life to Him. 
 Say often: ^^ I believe in an eternal life for which I am created! " 
 
 Second Meditation. Mortal sin. 
 
 The only thing which prevents us from obtaining heaven 
 is mortal sin. Tremble then at committing it, for as concerns 
 God it is a most horrible offense towards Sim; as con- 
 cerns the sinner it is the greatest calamity that can befall him., 
 and as concerns whole communities^ it not unfrequently 
 involves them in ruin. 
 
 1. Mortal sin offends God. Mortal sin is a wilful trans- 
 gression of a divine commandment in a serious matter. It is 
 enough for us to understand that we greviously offend God 
 thereby . ... It is a wilful transgression. You are free, 
 either to obey God or you own wicked desires ; but you love 
 the latter more than you do Him. You prefer the concu- 
 piscence of the flesh to the love of God. What a dishonor 
 to God ! It is a transgression of the divine command- 
 ments of God., the observance of which is easy, because 
 " His yoke is sweet and His burden light," but yet you refuse 
 to obey Him, when it would be so advantageous for you to 
 do so ! What a disgrace ! ! It is a transgression in a serious 
 
 30 
 
350 Good Thougiits. 
 
 matter^ for which He threatens you with the punishment of 
 hell, but for the avoiding of which He promises heaven to 
 you ! And still you do not listen to His voice, you continue 
 to persevere in sin ! O, what deplorable blindness ! ! ! 
 
 2. Mortal sin is a great calamity for the si?iner. Immedi- 
 ately after you have committed sin, Almighty God becomes 
 
 your enemy. Could a greater calamity befal you ? God 
 
 who was before your loving Father, God, whose help 
 
 you hourly stand in need of, is now .... your enemy, an 
 enemy from whom you cannot escape, and from whom you 
 may at any moment expect a terrible chastisement ! . . . . But 
 notwithstanding all this, you live without fear, you, who 
 tremble if you have but one enemy who threatens your 
 life! 
 
 3. Mortal sin causes the ruin of natio7is. " Justice " — so 
 we read in the Proverbs xiv, 34, — " exalteth a nation ; but 
 sin maketh nations miserable." The greatest empires have 
 fallen into ruin in consequence of their sins and vices. A 
 wicked nation is always punished by having to suffer from 
 devastation, fire, servitude, pestilence, war, inundations and 
 
 earthquakes We see others visited by the punishment 
 
 of Almighty God, and we know that His scourge is hanging 
 over us, and still .... we fear not ! Even at the present 
 day we find public sinners, abuses and scandals, protected 
 and defended .... How long will Almighty God suffer 
 this ? 
 
 For how many years have you lived in mortal sin, and how long has God 
 been your enemy? Where would your soul go, if you should die at 
 this moment? Is it not time for you to seek to win the friendship of God ? 
 Have you not now the best opportunity of doing so, since He extends His 
 hand to you in love ? It is He who speaks this day to your heart 1 . . . . 
 
 Exclaim with the penitent David: "Have mercy on me, God, accord- 
 ing to Thy great mercy 1 I have sinned against Thee and am sorry for 
 having done so. I have done evil before Thee, on account of which I am 
 sorely grieved I . . . . Have mercy on me, my God, .... have mercy ! ! 1 " 
 
 Thikd Meditation. Death. 
 
 The greatest misfortune that can befal man, is to die in a 
 state of sin. In order that you may not defer repentance, 
 consider the certainty of death, — the hour of which loe know 
 not, — the coming of which is terrible, — the consequences of 
 which are immutable. 
 
Good Thoughts. 351 
 
 1. The hour of death is uncertain. Thus speaks the eter- 
 nal truth : " The Lord of that servant will come in the day 
 that he hopeth not, and at the hour that he knoweth not." — 
 Luke xii, 46. " Watch ye, therefore, for you know not when 
 the Lord of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or 
 at the cock crowing, or in the morning ! . . . . And what I 
 say to you I say to all : Watch !" — Mark xiii, 35, 37. Could 
 our Lord have spoken more explicitly ? And still you sleep, 
 and count upon a long life, you, who are not sure but that 
 you may die this very day, this very moment even ! ! 
 
 2. The coming of death is terrible "The day of the 
 
 Lord shall so come, as a thief in the night," says St. Paul, 
 1 Thess. V, 2. His coming is more dreadful than that of a 
 thief; .... a thief leaves something behind ; death, however, 
 carries off everything. In one instant will cease the enjoy- 
 ment of those pleasures, for which you have ruined your 
 soul. Death deprives you even of time. You are, perhaps, 
 already determined to be converted. But behold, the last 
 hour has come ; death is here ; you have no time now at your 
 disposal ; your good resolutions are now useless ! 
 
 3. The consequences of death are immutable. The holy 
 scriptures teach us : " If the tree fall to the south or to the 
 north, in what place soever it shall fall, there shall it be ; " 
 Eccles. xi, 3. In this parable the Holy Ghost rej^resents the 
 state of a dying person. One single moment decides his 
 destiny for all eternity. It is well for you, if you die in the 
 state of grace, .... for then your eternal happiness is secured ; 
 if, however, you die in the state of sin, you will be lost for- 
 ever ; nothing then can save you ! .... O terrible truth : My 
 salvation depends upon an instant of time, and I will have 
 this time only once in my power ! When will it come ? 
 This I know not ! 
 
 What would you do if jou were about to leave your home for a foreign 
 country ? You would make every preparation for the journey, .... Behold, 
 you are ignorant as to whether you may not this day be called into eter- 
 nity ! And yet, .... you are not afraid to die in a state of mortal sin ! 
 Tou have made no preparation to meet your Lord and Master! Are you 
 willing to die in the state in which you are at this moment? 
 
 Repent at once and do penance for your sins ! .... " Unless you shall 
 do penance, you shall all likewise perish! " — Luke xiii, 3. 
 
 FouETH Meditatiox. The last judgment. 
 
 On that day disgrace and terror shall be the portion of the 
 
352 Good Thoughts. 
 
 impenitent sinner. " And then shall they see !" says the Savior. 
 And what shall they see ? They shall see the vanity of the 
 world and its utter 'ruin / — t/iey shall see their sins exposed, — 
 a?id the Son of man, Jesus Christ in all His power and glory ! 
 Impenitent sinners, at the day of judgment, will see : 
 
 1. Tlie vanity of the world in its ruin. In vain does the 
 gospel condemn the vanity of the world. It, nevertheless, 
 maintains its authority hy tJie concupiscence of the flesh and 
 of the eyes, and by the pride of life. But the day will at 
 length come, when the whole illusion will be dispelled ; but 
 alas, it will be on the last day of the world ! .... " and then 
 they shall see !" the splendor of the world in ashes, O vanity 
 of the world ! . . . . the flesh in the resurrection, O vanity of 
 concupiscence ! . . . . and the wicked, without respect to their 
 state, rank or office placed on the left, O vanity of honor ! 
 .... Wo be to you, if your eyes are not opened until that 
 day ! . . . . 
 
 2. Their sins made m^anifest to the world. How ashamed 
 would you be if any one should publish to the world the 
 hidden sins of your life ! And still there is a possibility 
 that every one would not believe all that was said of you ; 
 but will your sins always remain secret because they are not 
 published, and because you conceal them from the world ? 
 
 No one dares to speak of you now, for you enjoy the 
 
 respect of the community, and you have been very successful 
 in concealing your intrigues ; but the time will come, when 
 your whole life shall be exposed ! . . . . Wretched man, how 
 will you appear on that day ! 
 
 3. The Son of m^an, Jesus Christ, in power and glory. 
 The prophesies concerning the Son of God have been ful- 
 filled. He died upon the cross ; He rose from the dead. 
 One prophesy alone remains unfulfilled, which is, "from 
 thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead." 
 
 And when it shall be fulfilled, how will it be with you ? . 
 
 You shall see Jesus ; you will hear Him say : " Depart from 
 me ye cursed !" .... It is useless to doubt the coming of 
 the Judge, to mock at the Judge, or to forget that He is the 
 Judge. He will come notwithstanding. " And then they 
 
 SHALL SEE !".... 
 
 Jesus is not yet your Judge ; He is as yet your Redeemer, filled with 
 mercy towards the sinner. Is it not better for you to be at once reconciled 
 with Him, than for you to meet Him on that day in the state in which you 
 find yourself? It will then be too late for you to reform your life, for the 
 time of grace will have passed!" .... 
 
Good Thoughts. 353 
 
 Judge yourself forthwith by examining your conscience carefully ! Ask 
 pardon of your future Judge, for as yet He only shows mercy to the sinner. 
 Exclaim : " When Thou shalt sit in judgment, Lord, reject me not!". . . . 
 
 SECOND DAY. 
 
 First Meditation. The pains of hell. 
 
 The punishment awaiting the unconverted sinner is the 
 pain caused by the eternal fire of hell. You, perhaps, doubt 
 thxit there is a hell, that there is a fire in it, and that this fire 
 is eternal? 
 
 1. There is a hell. . . . Yes, there is a hell, that is, a place 
 into which Almighty God cast the rebellious angels, and to 
 which He condemns impenitent sinners in order to satisfy His 
 justice. Faith and even our own reason convince us of this 
 truth. If there is a Judge, there must also be a place of 
 punishment as well as of reward. Where would otherwise 
 be the use of a Judge ? There is a hell, but you fear it not ; 
 you even doubt its existence, . . . .the more surely will you 
 one day believe in it. Hell is prepared by Almighty God 
 for those who neither believe in Him nor serve Him. There 
 is a hell, and it may be that you deserve to have it for your 
 portion. 
 
 2. In hell there is fire. The Savior testifies to the truth of 
 this assertion, for He says distinctly, " Depart from me you 
 cursed into everlasting fire !".... His words are clear. In 
 vain do you endeavor to interpret them otherwise, and it is 
 easier to believe in and fear the fire of hell, than to doubt 
 and experience it ! . . . . The only question is : Do you wish on 
 account of a moment's pleasure to fall into the fire which 
 God in His wrath has enkindled, — which will burn but not 
 enlighten you, — which will penetrate all the fibres of your 
 body without consuming you ? . . . . Answer this question ! . . . , 
 Is it worth your while to risk such a terrible fate ? . 
 
 3. The fire of hell lasts forever. This is proved by the 
 words, "into everlasting fire." In this manner does the 
 offended Majesty of God punish the sinner; He punishes 
 sinful pleasures with eternal misery. We cannot make any 
 
 30* 
 
354 Good Thoughts. 
 
 appeal against His judgments, for He is the Judge who 
 bestows rewards as well as punishments, both of which are 
 eternal. O eternity, who should not tremble when thinking 
 of thee ! ! ... But no ; the sinner is reckless ! . . . . He stands 
 on the verge of eternity. For a moment's pleasure he risks 
 his salvation, and he risks it for an eternity ! . . . . Of what 
 folly is he not guilty ! . . . . 
 
 '* The punishment of forbidden lust endures forever ! terrible truth, the 
 consideration of which has filled the church with martyrs, the deserts with 
 penitents, and the convents with saints!" exclaims St. Augustine. 
 
 What eflect have these thoughts upon you ? Are you conscious of any 
 improvement in yoursdlf ? 
 
 Ask yourself this question : "If I should die suddenly while in the pur- 
 suit of sinful pleasures, what would become of me in eternity?" Pray 
 often to God, and say: "Lord deliver me from everlasting evill" 
 
 Second Meditation. Necessity of immediate conversion. 
 
 Have the truths, so far presented to your consideration, 
 excited in you more earnest thoughts concerning the future 
 state of your soul ? If so, then commence at once the work 
 of your conversion, for by deferring it you may have neither 
 the time, — the grace, — nor the will to be converted. 
 
 1. Y oil may not have the time to be converted. Time is not 
 in your power, but it is in the hand of God. Every man has 
 a certain number of years allotted to him. You, nvho defer 
 your conversion, do you know how long you may have to live ? 
 O no, you do not ! This year is for you perhaps the last, 
 .... it may be you will die before this month is out ; . . . . 
 
 perhaps before the close of this very day ! . And does not 
 
 this thought terrify you ? . . . . Are you still determined to 
 put off your conversion ? Is it not like asking God to give 
 you more time to offend Him ? . . . . Are you not afraid that 
 He will grant you no respite? "The years of the wicked 
 shall be shortened!" — Prov. x, 27. 
 
 2. You may not have the grace of conversion given you. 
 Almighty God, who has " ordered all things in measure and 
 number and weight" — Wis. xi, 21 — gives to every one a 
 
 certain number of graces, to some, more, to others 
 
 less One grace will be the last that you will receive ; 
 
 how then will it be with you if the grace which urges you 
 now to be converted should be the last ever given to you? . . . . 
 You say : " Who knows that it will ?" Of course, there is 
 no certainty on that point ; but the very fact that it is 
 
Good Thoughts. 355 
 
 uncertain, slioukl warn you to make good use of the present 
 time, and not trust to tlie future. 
 
 3. You may not have the desire to he converted. If you do 
 not wish to be converted now, you will be even less inclined 
 after awhile. The longer you delay, the greater will be the 
 obstacles to conversion — the more difficult will it be for you 
 to make a confession, the habit of sin will become stronger, 
 and grace weaker. Remember what St. Augustine says, and 
 meditate upon it : "A wicked desire is very apt to lead one 
 to commit sin ; from yielding to the pleasures of sin a habit 
 is formed, and this habit, if not resisted, will at length become 
 a necessity." 
 
 You say: " Perhaps I may have the time, the grace and the wish to bo 
 converted given me!" Perhaps! perhaps! Bnt perhaps uot\ There is a 
 vast difference between ^'■may have " and "woi having f^ but how foolish for 
 you to hazard your salvation upon an uncertain ^^ Ferhaps !" 
 
 Ask yourself the question that St. Augustine once asked himself. "If I 
 wish to be converted at some future time, why not be converted to-day 1 If 
 I do not wish to be converted to-day, shall I wish it at some other time ?" 
 Call out to Jesus, as did the bHnd man who sat on the road-side : " Son of 
 David, have mercy on me! .... Lord, that I may see!" .... Luke xviii, 
 39, 41. 
 
 Third Meditation. On the earnestness of conversion. 
 
 You wish to be converted! But are you in earnest about 
 it ? There is a difference between being willing and being in 
 earnest. It is therefore important for you to know in what 
 consists an earnest will — what an earnest loiU can do — and 
 how necessary it is to possess an earliest will. 
 
 1 . What constitutes an earnest will. A perfectly earnest 
 will to be converted is shown in a readiness to make use of 
 every possible means, cost what it may, to be freed from the 
 state of sin, and a determination never to fall into it again. 
 If therefore you affirm that it is your wish to be converted, 
 but still do nothing for the attainment of this object, you are 
 
 not in earnest If you say : " I will do what I can in 
 
 order to be converted, .... I will say a certain number of 
 
 prayers every day, .... I will go regularly to mass," . 
 
 but yet fail to avoid the occasion of sin, then you are not in 
 
 earnest You are not in earnest unless you are resolved to 
 
 abandon forever everything that can tempt you to commit sin. 
 
 2. What an earnest will can accomplish. An earnest will 
 can do much to assist the soul in acquiring perfection ; for 
 
356 Good Thoughts. 
 
 Almighty God cooperates with it. The holy martyrs, peoi- 
 tents and virgins have shown what a Christian can do, if 
 possessed of an earnest will .... Almighty God does not ask 
 as much from you as He did from them, and still you say : " I 
 cannot P"* .... The truth is, you will not ! You will not 
 avoid .... this person, .... that house, .... that society, .... 
 those amusements ! .... It is your fault then, if you fall into 
 
 sin, you could have exercised prudence and restraint, if 
 
 you had chosen ! 
 
 3. The necessity of an earnest will. It is so necessary, that 
 without it you will never be converted. If we do not apply 
 the axe to the tree with earnestness, it will never fall. If we 
 only destroy the leaves of some weed and not its roots, the 
 leaves will grow again. It is useless to say always : " I will 
 sin no more !" you must earnestly hate sin and avoid its 
 occasion. After your many confessions and good resolutions 
 you again find yourself committing the very sins that you 
 had determined to overcome. Consider then how necessary 
 it is, that you should commence your conversion in good 
 earnest ! 
 
 "When you were ill, you did everything in your power to recover, " I am 
 willing to take any kind of medicine — you then declared — if it only 
 restores me to health !" You are now ill, and very ill too, that is to say, 
 your soul is sick. Does not reason tell you, that you should do as much 
 for your soul as you did for your body ? 
 
 Take a crucifix into your hand .... and say : " my Savior, how earn- 
 estly didst Thou try to save me ! Thou hast done everything for me ; 
 when shall I commence with earnestness to be converted, so that Thy 
 precious blood may not have been shed for me in vain ?" .... 
 
 FouKTH Meditatio]!^^. The inercy of God to the sinner. 
 
 Whoever possesses an earnest will, is obliged to exercise 
 
 much self-denial That you may practice self-denial, 
 
 consider hoio much patience God has with the sinner — how 
 zealous He is for his conversion — and how kind Se is in 
 receiviiig him. 
 
 1. How patient God is with the sinner You had no 
 
 reason to offend God when you committed your first sin. 
 But still He did not punish you .... He suffered it in 
 
 patience . To sin once was not enough for you, .... but 
 
 you sinned repeatedly, and He suffered it in patience. You 
 
 fell into the habit of sin ; .... still He was patient 
 
 You were not content to sin yourself .... you deprived God 
 
Good TnorGHTS. 357 
 
 of even more souls, and yet He was patient. Your 
 
 sinful life became public, and you gave scandal .... He 
 
 patiently looked on You have become so hardened that 
 
 you very seldom think of God He, however, thinks 
 
 of you daily and even hourly, and He patiently waits for you 
 to be converted. Does His patience not move you ? 
 
 2. Sow zealous God is for the conversion of the sinner. 
 God profits as it were by every occasion and every moment 
 to enter into your heart, so that He may gain possession of 
 
 it He punishes others around you, in order to frighten 
 
 and to spare you He sends you affliction, in order to 
 
 force you to call upon Him He casts you upon a sick 
 
 bed, to show you that He has power to do with you as He 
 will He tries to win you with kindness ; . . . . He over- 
 whelms you and those belonging to you with favors, so that 
 
 you shall no longer hate Him who made you happy. . 
 
 But in vain ! You are insensible to all that He does for you, 
 
 still He does not forsake you What is it that He 
 
 is now saying to your heart ? . . . . 
 
 3. How kind God is in receiving the sinner. He per- 
 mits a third person to reconcile you with your God ; that is 
 
 to say. He abides by what your spiritual director says 
 
 Whatever your confessor loosens or binds, shall be loosened 
 or bound in heaven. Could He have made reconciliation 
 easier for you, poor sinner ? . . . . He not only forgives you 
 your sins, but He promises also to forget them. He 
 enters your heart, and heals the wounds of your soul. 
 He announces with joy to the whole court of heaven, that He 
 has at length, after so many years, found you, His child 
 again. 
 
 What do you see in Almighty Grod to excite your hatred, for you do not 
 cease to offend Him ? "Why is it that you place no confidence in Him ? . . . . 
 Does pleasure appear more worthy of your love, than the God of love 
 Himself? .... Do you prefer hell to reconciliation with Him? 
 
 Call upon Him mth confidence, for He is your father. Say : " Father I 
 have committed sins without number against heaven and before Thee 1 
 I am not worthy to be called Thy son. 0, how my sins have disfigured 
 me, but Thou hast remained unchangeable in thy beauty .... Thou art 
 stili ray Father. Have mercy on Thy child whose only hope is in Thy lov- 
 ing kindness 1 " .... 
 
358 Good Thoughts. 
 
 THIRD DAY. 
 
 (At the end of the third meditation of this day, you must 
 
 make your confession With the fourth meditation the 
 
 retreat closes.) 
 
 First Meditation. The value of the soul. 
 
 We must prize that which is valuable ; we must do our 
 utmost to save our soul ; for the soul is the most valuable of 
 all created things / — the most valuable thing possessed by 
 man / — the most valuable thing in the eyes of God. 
 
 1 . The soul is the most valuable of all created things. All 
 created things are the wonderful work of God's omnipotence ; 
 
 but the master-piece is the soul of man Almighty 
 
 God created all that which is in heaven and on earth by say- 
 ing : " Let there be ! " But when He created man, He said : 
 "Let us make man to our own image and likeness ! " — Gen. 
 i, 26. Whatever His goodness had determined on. His omni- 
 potence executed And God created man to His own 
 
 image ; to the image of God He created him." — Gen. i, 
 27. O man, know now the greatness of your origin ! Shall 
 this image of God be forever lost in you — to the joy of 
 hell and to the sorrow of heaven ? 
 
 2. TTw. soul is the 7nast valuable possession of onan. If 
 you were overwhelmed with honors, if you would live in the 
 midst of pleasures, if you were master of all the sciences, if 
 you possessed the whole world, what would it all profit you 
 if you should at last lose your soul? If the soul is lost, all 
 is lost; if lost once, it is lost forever. What though you now 
 live in contempt, poverty and sorrow, if by doing so you save 
 your soul, what loss shall it then be for you to have lived in 
 misery ? None. Remember this truth, and never forget it, 
 *' All that we have to do in this world is to save our soul ; 
 everything else is without profit." 
 
 3. The sold is most valuable in the sight of God. Our 
 Father in Heaven values the soul as the most precious of all 
 created things. To save souls, created after His image, from 
 eternal ruin. He gives His heavenly Son. " For God so loved 
 the world as to give his only begotten Son," John, iii, 16. 
 Jesus Christ values it as the most precious of all created 
 
Good Thoughts. 359 
 
 things. He assumed human nature, lived in poverty for thirty- 
 three years, preached incessantly for three years for the sake of 
 winning souls, and died for the salvation of souls, after being 
 suspended for three hours upon the cross. " God so loved 
 the world." The Holy Ghost values the soul so much that 
 He, in baptism, makes it His abode. " God so loved the 
 world." How many graces, admonitions, inspirations, does 
 He not send us daily in order to save our soul ! It is He who 
 at this moment moves your heart. 
 
 Even Satan, your sworn enemy, values your soul above everything. " All 
 these I will give thee, if, falling down, thou wilt adore me." Matt, iv, 9. 
 He promises the world for a soul. You, alone, do not value your soul, your 
 only soul, your immortal soul; but you sell it to the devil for a moment's 
 pleasure. 
 
 Consider well this question: ""What doth it profit a man if he gain the 
 whole world and suffer the loss of his own soul? "Matt, xvi, 26. God 
 grant that this consideration, which has caused so many to become saints, 
 may also save you. 
 
 Second Meditation. On the general duties of a Christian. 
 
 It will not avail you much to be a Christian only by baptism 
 and in name. Christ says : " I am the way, the truth and the 
 life." John xiv, 6. If you are, therefore, a true Christian, 
 you must follow Christy because He is the way / you must 
 believe in Sim^ because He is the truth / and you must con- 
 form your life to His, because He ^? the life. 
 
 1. A. true Christian must follow Christ as the way. The 
 way to eternal salvation is the way of mortification and self- 
 denial. This way Christ shows us. The way to eternal 
 perdition is the gratification of our sinful passions. This way 
 Satan shows us. Our Savior, in speaking of the two ways, 
 says : " Enter ye in at the narrow gate : for wide is the gate 
 and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction ; and many 
 there are who enter by it." " How narrow is the gate and 
 straight is the way which leadeth to life, and few there are 
 who find it!" (Matt, vii, 13, 14.) 
 
 Which of these two gates do you desire to enter ? If you 
 are a Christian, choose the straight and narrow way. 
 
 2. A tru£. Christian must believe in Jesus as the truth. We 
 are very willing to believe Christ if He reveals to us truths 
 concerning the mysteries of our faith ; but how weak is our 
 
360 Good Thoughts. 
 
 faith if He speaks to us concerning the moral doctrines of 
 Christianity. How little do we believe Him when He teaches 
 us, saying : " Your true happiness upon earth does not con- 
 sist in pleasure^ hut in penance and mortification ; not in 
 honor ^ hut in contempt / not in the enjoyment of riches^ hut iii 
 2)0verty^ at least in the poverty of the spirit, which causes you 
 to detach your heart from the things of this world,'''* And 
 still these three precepts, concerning the moral doctrine of 
 Christianity, are the very marrow of the gospel. How few 
 there are who possess a real faith in God ! 
 
 3. A true Christian must conform his life to that of Jesus 
 who is the life. We often hear it said : " We must live in the 
 world like othersP This is a false maxim, invented by Satan, 
 adopted by our corrupt nature, and which has, alas, despite the 
 teachings of the gospel, become the rule of life to many. To 
 say that we must live as others do, is as much as to say that 
 we must be wicked because others are wicked. To live as the 
 generality of men live is, at least, dangerous ; for according 
 to our Savior, the number of the elect is small. It is true 
 that wordlings are always crying out : " We know how to 
 live ! " The eternal truth, however, exclaims : " I am the 
 life ! " — John xiv, 6. " Pf any man will come after me, let 
 him deny himself!" — Matt, xvi, 24. Who is right — Christ 
 or the world ? 
 
 You would never have been received among the number of Christians, 
 if you had not promised in baptism to renounce Satan, his pomps and his 
 works, that is, that you would, in accordance with the teachings of the gos- 
 pel, practice mortification of the flesh, of the eyes and of the pride of hfe. 
 .... But how have you kept your promise ? In truth, what difference is 
 there between a heathen, who knows nothing of Christianity, and you, 
 who in baptism subjected yourself to the law of mortification I 
 
 Meditate upon the following points : Jesus lived in contempt, and I am 
 
 always seeking honors Jesus lived in poverty, and I cannot bear the 
 
 least want Jesus was a man of sorrow, and I am slothful, worldly, 
 
 sensual 1 .... " Am I a Christian ? I am not, if I do not follow Christ 1 " 
 said St. Bernard to himself. 
 
 Third Meditation. On eternal joys. 
 
 The eternal joys of heaven will be the reward of those 
 who lead holy lives of self-denial. The practice of self- 
 denial is connected with many difficulties, in order to remove 
 
Good Thoughts. 361 
 
 which, meditate well upon the following points : To attain 
 heaven does not require more effort than we can make ; the 
 possession of heaven is more desirable than we think it is / 
 we labor harder to lose heaven than to gain it, 
 
 1. Heaven can be our portion^ if we exert ourselves to gain 
 it. Although our Lord says : " The kingdom of heaven suf- 
 
 fereth violence!" — Matt, xi, 12 He also says: "If 
 
 thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments ! " — Matt, 
 xix, 1 7. Behold the violence necessary for us to use, if we 
 wish to obtain eternal life : " K^eep the commandments! .... 
 It is true, that we are obliged to do violence to our inclina- 
 tions in order to conquer our passions, and not transgress 
 the commandments of God ; but is this too much for us to 
 do ? How many are there who, from merely natural motives, 
 can check their rising anger, their sensual desires, their pride 
 and avarice, although they may be strongly tempted to grat- 
 ify them! If we, therefore, can restrain ourselves out of love 
 for the world, we should do so the more out of love for 
 God. 
 
 2. Heaven is a more desirable possession than we imagine 
 it to be. We work indefatigably to obtain honors and 
 wealth, and to enjoy ourselves ; "we never become weary 
 of serving the world. If we, therefore, deem the world 
 deserving of such exertions on our part, should heaven not 
 be worthy of even greater efforts on our part ? The joys 
 of heaven are perfect, and their duration eternal ; but the 
 pleasures of the world are too often unsatisfactory in their 
 beginning, momentary in their duration, and bitter in 
 their ending. 
 
 3. Heaven is gained at less cost than hell. Count up what 
 it has cost you so far to serve the devil ! .... It has cost you 
 the right to possess heaven, which right you received when 
 you became a child of God, but which you lost when you 
 became a sinner ! .... It has cost you your peace of con- 
 science ; for we are always miserable when we are in a state 
 of sin, and the more debased we become, the less we feel it. 
 .... It has cost you loss of honor and self-respect. Wicked 
 persons soon become accustomed to disgrace, and they care 
 very little about the good opinion of others. It has cost you 
 the loss of your tetnporal meajis / for the sinner pays dearly 
 
 for his pleasures Hell has cost you loss of health, which 
 
 you have destroyed or weakened Hell has cost you loss 
 
 of temper, fidelity and friends, and it has filled your life with 
 bitterness .... and how surely it will cause you to die an 
 
 31 
 
362 Good Thoughts. 
 
 unhajypy death ! Heaven, however, does^ not cost so 
 
 much ! In order to gain it you must restrain your passions 
 and keep the commandments of God! You will be hon- 
 ored and respected by God and man ; you will preserve your 
 property and your health ; you will live in peace with 
 yourself and with others, and you will die happy ! 
 
 You have until now worked so faithfully for hell and so indifferently for 
 heaven 1 Will you not commence to-day to work in good earnest for heaven ? 
 It can still be yours! A little later — and it will perhaps be out of your 
 power to gain ! 
 
 Lift up your eyes to heaven I There is your fatherland ; — the earth is 
 nothing but a valley of tears ! .... If you consider well the joys of heaven, 
 you cannot help exclaiming: "How detestable does the earth appear to me 
 
 when I look up to heaven!" Break, then, the fetters which bind you 
 
 as yet to the world; retire within yourself, examine yourself and say: " 
 my God, have mercy on me a sinner!" Make a good confession without 
 delay, and let nothing prevent you from doing sol Overcome yourself; 
 heaven is worth striving for 1 
 
 Fourth Meditatioist. Perseverance in conversion. 
 
 You are now reconciled with God — you have laid the 
 foundation of a new and better life ! Consider, therefore, 
 in order to persevere, how miserable those are who after being 
 converted^ again lose the friendship of God ; — how unhappy 
 those are who after their fall do not immediately return to 
 God j how consoled those are who after having been recon- 
 ciled with God^ remain faithful to Him unto the end. 
 
 1. The misery of those who after being converted^ again 
 lose the friendship of God. You are so happy now, to have 
 escaped hell, that you say : " I wish that I could now die !" 
 .... Many before you have had the same feeling ; many have 
 said the same ! . . . . But where is the consolation of those 
 who were once children of God? Alas, they are so no 
 longer ! They have again become the destroyer of their 
 own as well as of the souls of others. Their conscience 
 cries aloud for vengeance against them, as soon as they have 
 left the path of virtue. Alas, they have excited the ridicule 
 of hell, which rejoices over their downfall, and laughs at 
 their good resolutions ! Heaven grieves over them, because 
 it has lost those who were once its friends ! It is a lament- 
 able thing to destroy a peace made with God ! O wl 
 misery ! 
 
Good Thoughts. 363 
 
 2. The unhappiness of those who do not hnraediately return 
 to God after their fall. If you fall again out of weakness, 
 do not despair of your conversion ! That very God, whose 
 mercy you have received, is still your Father ! Arise and go 
 quickly to meet Him ! Tell Him of your misery ; tell Him 
 that you have fallen ! Show Him your wounds ! His heart 
 is full of affection for you ; He is tender in His compassion ; 
 His mercy is paternal ! Behold, the misfortune of those who 
 immediately after their fall do not reconcile themselves with 
 
 God They will fall oftener, their pleasure for sin will 
 
 increase, and they will soon form another evil habit ! 
 
 3. The consolation of those loho after their conversion 
 remain faithful unto the end. They are truly consoled within 
 themselves, when they consider the following : " Although I 
 have committed many sins, I have made my peace with God 
 as well as I was able ! The eternal truths upon which I 
 meditated have penetrated my heart. As a sinner I took 
 refuge in the mercy of God, who called me to Him and I gave 
 myself entirely up to Him. Since then I have not knowingly 
 oifended Him. I have avoided the occasions of sin. There- 
 fore I cannot but believe and hope, that Almighty God has 
 forgiven me my offenses." 
 
 Remember the account which you will have to render to God, if you ever 
 again walk in the path of iniquity ! 
 
 Keep the pledge which you have given to God! Watch! Pray! And 
 if notwithstanding you should fall out of weakness, do not lose courage 1 
 Rise again! Pray with your whole heart: "Our Father .... lead us not 
 into temptation, but deliver us from evil!" Amen. 
 
364: Good Thoughts. 
 
 SECOND SERIES OF SHORT MEDITATIONS 
 
 FOR A 
 
 THREE DAYS' SPIRITUAL RETREAT DURING THE TEAR. 
 (i^r souls that have acquired some degree of perfection.) 
 
 FIRST DAY. 
 
 FiEST Meditation. The service of God. 
 
 1. God cortxtnands us to serve Hhn. It is the wish and the 
 command of God, that I should serve Him ; His greatness 
 and His glory and my dependence upon Him allow me no 
 alternative but to serve Him ; His will must be the only rule 
 of all my actions .... Do I comply with His wishes in every- 
 thing and at all times ? 
 
 2. Our misery in this life commands us to serve God. I 
 depend entirely and in all things upon God. I am nothing 
 without Him. Every moment of my life, all my thoughts, 
 
 words and deeds must therefore be consecrated to Him ! . 
 
 Has not my vanity, self-love and self-interest deprived Him 
 of the greater part of my services ? How much grieved and 
 confounded must I feel if I examine my life thoroughly ! 
 
 3. The eternal welfare of our souls commands us to serve 
 God. Whatever I do not do for God, is lost ; the best and 
 holiest deeds displease Him, if I do not perform them out of 
 love for Him. He promises to reward those only who serve 
 Him; He threatens to punish the unprofitable and wicked 
 servant .... Can I meditate earnestly upon these truths, 
 without fearing that I may lose my soul, unless I serve God 
 with more fidelity ? 
 
 "The Lord thy God shalt thou adore, and Him only shalt thou serve !" — 
 Matthew iv, 10. 
 
 Second Meditation. How we deceive ourselves in serving 
 God. 
 
 1. We deceive ourselves if we serve Sim only in thought. 
 It is very easy to have an elevated idea of God's power to 
 
Good Thoughts. 365 
 
 believe that He is deserving of our services; and that it is 
 only necessary for us to think of Him and to consider His 
 perfections. If this is all that we do, we are not servants of 
 God. The devils also believe this much and tremble. 
 
 2. We deceioe ourselves if we serve Him only in words. 
 *' Not every one that saith to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into 
 the kingdom of heaven," says Jesus Christ. Matt, vii, 2L 
 Prayers and other devotional exercises are not acts worthy of 
 the service of God, unless they are animated by the spirit 
 of piety, and fulfill His divine will. Do not imagine that you 
 serve God if you do that which only belongs to the outward 
 service of God. Remember the reproach made by Almighty 
 God to the Jews : " This people draw near me with their 
 mouth, and with their lips glorify me, but their heart is far 
 from me." Isaias xxix, 13. 
 
 3. We deceive ourselves lohen loe serve Hbn only in desire. 
 Desires often deceive us, and if they are sincere they will 
 show themselves in deeds. Holy works are the result of 
 holy desires. Keep the commandments of God, suffer for 
 Him, and you will be His true servant. 
 
 " Why stand you here idle? Go you into my vineyard." — Matt, xx, 
 6,7. 
 
 Third Meditation. Venial sin. 
 
 1. Venial sin disfigures the soul. Although venial sin does 
 not deprive the soul of its life, as mortal sin does, it is never- 
 theless a stain which defiles and disfigures it. It is a disease 
 which weakens the soul, so that it loses all relish for the 
 things belonging to God and the practices of devotion. It is 
 an obstacle which prevents the soul from advancing in holi- 
 ness and from elevating itself to God. Consider the many 
 venial sins which you commit daily in thought, word, deed 
 and omission, and if you are not frightened at their enor- 
 mity, be struck with fear when you consider their number. 
 
 2. Venial sin weakens love. Venial sin causes our love for 
 God and His love for us to grow cold. It deprives us of 
 many efficacious graces ; it leads us to commit mortal sin ; it 
 causes many evils in this life, and will be punished in the 
 other world with purgatory, the pains of which are equal to 
 those of hell itself. See then what a great evil it is to com- 
 mit venial sin ! Fear the justice of God, whom you have 
 offended so frequently ! 
 
 3. Venial sin offends God. Venial sin is, in regard to God, 
 
 31* 
 
366 Good Thoughts. 
 
 an evil, because it offends Him, and thus all the evils of this 
 or the next world cannot be compared with it. It would 
 be a lesser evil to have all created beings annihilated. 
 Would you be guilty of venial sin if you loved God in the 
 least ? Be filled with shame because you have so often offend- 
 ed God in this regard. 
 
 " What fruit, therefore, had you then in those thine;s of which you are 
 now ashamed?" — Rom. vi, 21. 
 
 Fourth Meditation. Tliree things teach us to offer vio- 
 lence in order to be saved. 
 
 1. Faith. The holy scriptures tell us that self-denial, vio- 
 lence, afflictions, watchings and mortification are necessary in 
 order to gain heaven. They compare eternal happiness to a 
 kingdom which we must conquer, to a precious stone, to pos- 
 sess which we must sell all that we have, to a prize which 
 we can only obtain by striving for. 
 
 2. Reason. We feel within ourselves a great dislike to do 
 good and a strong inclination to do evil. The law of nature 
 is constantly in opposition to the law of God, and bad exam- 
 ples make a powerful impression upon us. Unless we use 
 constant violence, we cannot abstain from sin. 
 
 3. Our own experience. The reason why we have hereto- 
 fore neglected the affairs of our salvation, why we have been 
 so indiiferent in regard to serving God, and so changeable 
 in our good resolutions was, because we would not offer vio- 
 lence Alas, what will become of us if we continue so 
 
 careless ? . . . . Does this show that you are trying to enter 
 by the narrow gate that leads to heaven ? Let us examine 
 ourselves and amend our life ! 
 
 " Strive to enter by the narrow gate 1 " — Luke xiii, 24. 
 
 SECOND DAY. 
 
 Fiest Meditation". Necessity of good worTcs, 
 
 1. Good works are necessary if we wish to love God, 
 Love, says St. Augustine, is not an idle passion, but it 
 devotes itself to its object and works for it Have we 
 
Good Thotjghts. 367 
 
 not reason, therefore, to fear, since we do so little for 
 Almighty God, that we do not love Him in our heart, and 
 that our affection for Him is only superficial ? 
 
 2. Good works are necessary^ if we wish to love our neigh- 
 hor. We cannot fulfill the commandment of loving our 
 neighbor, unless we assist him when he stands in need of 
 help, and it is also an absolute duty for us to give a good 
 example to those we love, which we do not give, if we are 
 unfruitful in good works. 
 
 3. Good works are necessary^ if we have our real interest 
 at heart. Can we say that we have any regard for our soul, 
 if we work only for this world, where we are to dwell for 
 such a short time, and where the goods are so trifling ; if we 
 " lay up" nothing for the world to come where we shall 
 dwell forever, and where our treasures are of infinite value ? 
 Let us endeavor, therefore, to gather treasures for eternity ! 
 
 "Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit, shall be cut down!" — 
 Matt, vii, 19. 
 
 Second Meditatioj^". Marks of a good work. 
 
 1. It must he performed hy us when in the state of grace. 
 Consider well the terrible words of the Apostle : " If I speak 
 with the tongue of men and of angels, .... if I should have 
 prophesy, .... if I should have all faith, .... if I should 
 distribute all my goods to feed the poor, .... and have no 
 charity, it profiteth me nothing ! " .... 1 Cor. xiii, 1-4. 
 How is it with us ? The uncertainty as to whether we are 
 in the state of grace or not, must deprive us of any pleasure 
 that we might derive from our good works. 
 
 2. It must be without impe'^fection. A good work must 
 be perfect in every respect, and if it should be defective in 
 only one thing, that is to say, in regard to time, place, manner 
 or any other circumstance, that alone would be sufficient to 
 deprive it of its value or would diminish its merits. Almighty 
 
 God loves and requires order in all things Have we 
 
 not every reason to fear, that all our good works are often 
 defective, and that although we have performed so many of 
 them, we are still very poor ? 
 
 3. I^WjUst he performed from a supernatural motive., that 
 is, for the glory of God, out of love to Him, and to imitate 
 Jesus Christ, whom Almighty God has given as a model t^ 
 all men. The intention either gives especial value to a work 
 or deprives it of its merit Does not self-love, caprice, 
 
368 Good Thoughts. 
 
 habit, or some other purely natural motive, prompt us in all 
 that we do ? If it is so, then we only have woven the web 
 of a spider. 
 
 " They have woven the webs of spiders ; . . . . their works are unprofit- 
 able works." — Isaias lix, 5, 6. 
 
 Third Meditation. Christian prudence. 
 
 1. Christian prudence teaches us to use all the means of 
 salvation. The children of the world show consummate pru- 
 dence in attending to their worldly affairs The children 
 
 of God should evince an equal amount of wisdom, in 
 
 attending to the affairs of their salvation But how far 
 
 are we from obtaining this object ! .... " The children of 
 this world are wiser in their generation than the children 
 of light." — Luke xvi, 8. 
 
 2. Christian prudence teaches us to use the means most 
 necessary to salvation. It would be a great mistake if we 
 did not use every effort in our power to accomplish whatever 
 we had imdertaken, and we cannot understand, therefore, 
 why it is, that this rule is not observed by those who desire 
 
 to save their soul Any one would be considered crazy, 
 
 if he were to neglect choosing the safest means, by which to 
 
 secure his eternal happiness Are you not, perhaps, one 
 
 of these insane persons ? . . . . 
 
 8. Christian prudence teaches us, never to relax in our 
 efforts to attain salvation. Salvation is promised to who- 
 ever perseveres to the end. Remember the day when you 
 gave yourself to God, and consider how careless and indif- 
 ferent you have since become ! .... Be sorry for your past 
 remissness ; endeavor to be what you once were, and ask 
 God to give you His grace and pardon ! . . . . Say to God : 
 "Renew our days as from the beginning ! " — Lament, v, 21. 
 
 " "Walk by the ways of prudence." — Prov. ix, 6. 
 
 Fourth Meditation. Living according to the spirit, 
 
 1. To live according to the spirit ^neans to judge things 
 according to the principles of faith and the eternal rides of 
 God. The laws and precepts of the Catholic Church demand 
 that we shall esteem that which God esteems, and despise that 
 
 which He despises, to consider everything in relation to 
 
 God and our last end. The world lives according to its 
 rules ; let us live according to the spirit ! 
 
Good Thoughts. 369 
 
 2. To live according to the sjmHt is to love God, heaven 
 
 and virtue These only are worthy of our love Let 
 
 us turn the desires of our heart towards these objects ; . . . . 
 let us show our love by fervent prayers ! . . . . Can we occupy 
 ourselves in a more holy or meritorious manner ? . . . . 
 
 3. To live according to the spirit is to direct all our thoughts 
 
 to the contemplation of God and eternity One moment 
 
 of such a life is worth a happy eternity The longest 
 
 life, spent in any other manner, can have no value in the 
 sight of God. Alas, how much time do those lose who serve 
 the world ! . . . . Let us live according to the spirit, in order 
 not to lose that which never can be regained, if once lost. 
 
 " God is a spirit, and they that adore Him, must adore Him in spirit and 
 in truth," — John iv, 24. 
 
 THIRD DAY. 
 
 First Meditation. Interior life. 
 
 1. Its nature. "The kingdom of God is within you," saith 
 the Lord. Unless we cultivate the spirit of recollection, we 
 will find it impossible to meditate well upon the beauty and 
 perfections of God, nor can we correspond with His graces. 
 .... We can never attain any degree of sanctity, if we do not 
 invite Jesus to take up His abode in our hearts ; for He tells 
 ns, Himself, that He " delights to be with the children of 
 men." .... Do not refuse Him admittance ! . . . . 
 
 2. Obstaxiles to an interior life. Distraction of mind, 
 unfaithfulness to God, the indulgence of our passions and 
 self-love are the obstacles to an interior life. Let us overcome 
 them and live in retirement; let us gratefully receive the 
 inspirations of God, and let us detach ourselves from all 
 created things ! If we do this we will become true Christians. 
 
 3. Fruits of an interior life. Interior life elevates us to 
 the knowledge and love of God, unites us with God, and 
 causes us to live in and for God. It makes us like unto 
 
 Christ, so that we walk according to His spirit and life 
 
 Happy is the soul that realizes the importance and advan- 
 tages of an interior life! More happy still are they who 
 practice it ! 
 
 "You are ... . alive unto God in Christ Jesus, our Lord 1" — Rom. vi, 11. 
 
370 Good Thoughts. 
 
 Second Meditatiox. Hiree means of uniting ourselves 
 with God. 
 
 1. Faith. It unites us with our Savior, just as a member is 
 united with its head, as a branch is with its vine. Through 
 faith we live a divine life, the life of the just ; it guides us 
 by supernatural principles, through it we obtain the goods 
 which we do not see, the goods of heaven. Let us act 
 according to the principles of our holy faith, and let us thank 
 God that He has bestowed it upon us ! 
 
 2. Love. By love we are united with God, and by love 
 does He unite Himself with us. He assures us of this truth 
 by saying : " I shall take up my abode with him, and I will 
 give him my eyes, my heart, my spirit " . . . . Let us unite 
 ourselves with God through love ! Let us commence to do 
 here upon earth what we shall do forever in heaven ! Let us 
 love God who is worthy of our love, and who loves us with 
 so much tenderness ! 
 
 3. Conformity to the will of G.od. Perfect union with 
 God, consists in doing His will in all things, and in this state 
 
 the soul enjoys true peace and happiness Keep your 
 
 heart free from the love of creatures, and let God who is 
 alone worthy of love, be the object of your desires ! . . . . 
 
 "And I will espouse thee to me in faith!" — Osee ii, 20. 
 
 Third Meditation. Three other ways of uniting ourselves 
 with God. 
 
 1. Detachment from creatures. Attachment pre-supposes 
 
 a strong union It is therefore impossible, that a heart 
 
 which is attached to the world, can be united with God. It 
 will necessarily think of creatures, occupy itself with them and 
 love them, and Almighty God will be as far from it, as it is 
 far from God .... If it is therefore difficult for us to be united 
 with God, we acknowledge thereby, that our attachment to 
 the world and to our own ease are the principal causes 
 thereof! .... 
 
 2. Recollection. A distracted spirit causes the heart to 
 
 become fickle How can such a heart remain steadfast 
 
 to God ? Let us grieve because of our habitual distractions ; 
 .... let us humble ourselves, because the thought of Almighty 
 God does not constantly occupy our mind and our heart, and 
 let us cultivate the spirit of recollection ! 
 
 3. Frequent and fervent prayer. Prayer pre-supposes a 
 heart accustomed to be occupied with God ; .... it raises us 
 
Good Thoughts. 371 
 
 up in spirit to God and unites us with the source from which 
 flows all consolation. The saints have by means of prayer 
 obtained the most intimate union with God, and presevered 
 in it also through prayer. Let us unite ourselves with our 
 good Father in heaven and say : " Who is like unto 
 
 God ? . My God and my all ! God is my salvation ! 
 
 O ! most holy and undivided Trinity !" You will derive 
 
 great consolation from this pious practice ! 
 "My Lord and my God!" — John xx, 28. 
 
 FouKTH Meditation. Three reasons, why the 'pious should 
 fear. 
 
 1. The pious have reason to fear — from without. Satan, 
 the world and all creatures seem to have conspired against 
 us. Examples are ruinous, occasions frequent. How many 
 who, for a long time practiced virtue, fell at length into 
 sin, and were condemned to eternal perdition ! No age, 
 state of life or degree of sanctity secures us against these 
 enemies Who, then, should not fear ? 
 
 2. The pious have reason to fear — from loithin. The 
 enemy whom we have most to fear is within us. Our wicked 
 nature, our inclination to do evil, our passions, our sinful 
 habits are the greatest cause of fear to the just. How many 
 who were for some time filled with zeal, in the end became 
 fickle and were finally lost ! 
 
 3. The pious have reason to fear God. Notwithstanding 
 all our good works. He can refuse us final perseverance which 
 
 we can never merit Let us humble ourselves, therefore, 
 
 under the mighty hand of God, and let us be filled with fear 
 and confidence ; trust in His mercy and His providence, in 
 time and eternity ! 
 
 " "With fear and trembling work out your salvation I " — Philip ii, 12. 
 
 A. M. D. G. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 FIRST WEEK IN ADYENT. 
 
 Page. 
 
 Sunday. — "What will happen immediately before the day of judgment, 5 
 
 Monday. — The sinner called to an account, 6 
 
 Tuesday. — The sinner being judged, 7 
 
 Wednesday. — The sinner condemned, 8 
 
 Thursday. — The sinner who cannot excuse himself, 10 
 
 Friday. — The sinner confounded at the last judgment, 11 
 
 Saturday. — Reasons why we should fear the judgment, 12 
 
 SECOND WEEK IN ADYENT. 
 
 Sunday. — The divinity of Christ proved, 14 
 
 Monday. — The teachings of the world in opposition to the teachings 
 
 of Christ, 15 
 
 Tuesday. — Pleasures, 16 
 
 Wednesday. — Riches, 17 
 
 Thursday. — Yengeance, 18 
 
 FRroAY. — Careless mode of life, 19 
 
 Saturday. — False security, 20 
 
 THIRD WEEK IN ADYENT. 
 
 Sunday. — The humility of St. John the Baptist, 22 
 
 Monday. — Necessity of humility, 23 
 
 Tuesday. — Reasons why we should practice humility, 23 
 
 Wednesday. — Three degrees of humility, 24 
 
 Thursday. — Means of preserving humility, 25 
 
 Friday. — Reasons why we must humble ourselves, 26 
 
 Saturday. — The losses caused by pride, 27 
 
 FOURTH WEEK IN ADYENT. 
 
 Sunday. — St. John preaches penance, 28 
 
 Monday. — Necessity of doing penance, 28 
 
 Tuesday. — Impediments to conversion, 29 
 
 Wednesday. — Reasons for conversion, 31 
 
 Thursday. — Qualities of conversion, 32 
 
 Friday. — The mercy of God towards the sinner, 33 
 
 Saturday. — Confession, 34 
 
 Christmas. — Why the Son of G-od became a child, 36 
 
 Feast of St. Stephen, , 37 
 
 32 
 
374 Index. 
 
 Page. 
 
 Feast of St. John the Evangelist, 38 
 
 Feast op the Holy Innocents, 39 
 
 December 29. — Practice of mortification, 40 
 
 December 30. — Impediments to mortification, 40 
 
 December 31. — Other impediments to mortification 41 
 
 January 1. — The Circumcision of the Lord. The day of gifts, .. . 42 
 
 January 2. — Presentation of Christ in the temple, 43 
 
 January 3. — Reasons for fear, 44 
 
 January 4. — Other reasons for fear, 44 
 
 January 5. — Vigil of Epiphany. The journey of the Magi, 45 
 
 January 6. — Epiphany. The adoration of the Magi, 46 
 
 FIRST WEEK AFTER EPIPHANY. 
 
 Sunday. — Christ remained in the temple, 47 
 
 Monday. — On finding Jesus, 48 
 
 Tuesday. — Attachment to creatures, 48 
 
 "Wednesday. — The faithlessness of men, 49 
 
 Thursday. — Vanity of pleasures, 50 
 
 Friday. — Vanity of the goods of the world, 51 
 
 Saturday. — The flight into Egypt, 52 
 
 SECOND WEEK AFTER EPIPHANY. 
 
 Sunday. — The wedding at Cana, 53 
 
 Feast of the Holy name of Jesus, 53 
 
 Monday. — In choosing a state of life we must, 54 
 
 Tuesday. — The perfection of the different states of Hfe, 55 
 
 "Wednesday. — The Evangelical counsels, 55 
 
 Thursday. — Different dispositions of those who desire after perfection, 56 
 
 Friday. — The dangers of adversity, 57 
 
 Saturday. — The dangers of prosperity, 58 
 
 THIRD "WEEK AFTER EPIPHANY. 
 
 Sunday — The cleansing of the leper, 59 
 
 Monday. — Advantages of obedience, 59 
 
 Tuesday. — We will neither obey nor be advised, 60 
 
 Wednesday. — Wicked advisers, 61 
 
 Thursday. — The advantages of faith, 62 
 
 Friday, — The light which enlightens us, 63 
 
 Saturday. — Three kinds of conscience, 63 
 
 FOURTH WEEK AFTER EPIPHANY. 
 
 Sunday. — The calming of the storm, 66 
 
 Monday. — Reasons why we should distrust ourselves, 65 
 
 Tuesday. — Prayer conquers the heart of God, 66 
 
 Wednesday. — Prayer conquers the heart of man, 67 
 
 Thursday. — Interior recollection and the presence of God, 68 
 
 Friday. — Reasons for having confidence in God, 68 
 
 Saturday. — Obstacles to interior recollection, 69 
 
 FIFTH WEEK AFTER EPIPHANY. 
 
 Sunday. — The parable of the wheat and the cockle, 70 
 
 Monday. — The wicked destroy the good, 71 
 
Index. 375 
 
 Page. 
 
 Tuesday. — Other devices of the wicked 72 
 
 Wednesday. — Avoiding the occasions of sin, 72 
 
 Thuesday. — False confidence, 73 
 
 Feiday. — Good example, 74 
 
 Saturday, — Discord, 75 
 
 SIXTH WEEK AFTER EPIPHANY. 
 
 Sunday. — The church compared to a grain of mustard seed, 76 
 
 Monday. — Importance of practicing the minor virtues, 77 
 
 Tuesday. — Our indifference to small sins, 78 
 
 Wednesday. — Evils caused by venial sin, 78 
 
 Thuesday. — The danger of small sins, 79 
 
 Friday. — The value to be placed upon little things, 80 
 
 Saturday. — Purgatory, 81 
 
 SEPTUAGESIMA WEEK. 
 
 Sunday. — The parable of the laborers, 82 
 
 Monday. — How we lose time, 83 
 
 Tuesday. — The evils of idleness, 84 
 
 Wednesday. — Making profitable use of time, 84 
 
 Thursday. — Why we receive so little benefit from saying our prayers, 85 
 
 Friday, — Motives for zeaL 86 
 
 Saturday. — Our life a pilgrimage, 87 
 
 SEXAGESIMA WEEK. 
 
 Sunday. — Why the seed of the word of God is lost, 88 
 
 Monday. — Motives why we should make profitable use of grace, .... 89 
 
 Tuesday. — How we should use grace, 89 
 
 Wednesday. — Despising the graces of God, 90 
 
 Thursday. — Obstacles to grace, 91 
 
 Friday. — Other obstacles to grace, 91 
 
 Saturday, — Difference between good and bad thoughts, 92 
 
 QUINQUAGESIMA WEEK. 
 
 Sunday. — The blindness of the sinner, 93 
 
 Monday. — The manner in which Satan blinds us, 94 
 
 Tuesday. — Passion blinds us, 95 
 
 Ash Wednesday, — Fasting and good works, 96 
 
 Thursday. — The virtues of the centurion, 97 
 
 Friday. — We must love our enemy, 98 
 
 Saturday, — Trials, 99 
 
 FIRST WEEK IN LENT. 
 
 Sunday, — Temptation, 100 
 
 Monday, — The necessity of the last judgment, 101 
 
 Tuesday, — We must behave with reverence in church, 102 
 
 Wednesday, — The sins of the Pharisees, 103 
 
 Thursday. — The prayer of the woman of Canaan, 104 
 
 Friday, — The misfortune of Christians, 105 
 
 Saturday, — Reasons why we should follow Christ, 106 
 
376 'Index. 
 
 SECOND WEEK IN LENT. 
 
 Page. 
 
 Sunday. — The mystery of tlie transfiguration, 107 
 
 Monday. — We must be converted, 108 
 
 Tuesday. — Defective intentions, 100 
 
 Wednesday. — Tlie children of Zebedee, 110 
 
 Thursday. — The rich man, Ill 
 
 Friday. — Reasons why we should love God, 112 
 
 Saturday. — The prodigal son, 113 
 
 THIRD WEEK IN LENT. 
 
 Sunday. — The dumb devil who dwells in us, 114 
 
 Monday. — Physician, heal thyself, 115 
 
 Tuesday. — Friendly remonstrance or admonition, 116 
 
 Wednesday. — The duties of children and servants, 117 
 
 Thursday. — Our passions compared to a fever, 118 
 
 Friday. — Christ converts the women of Samaria, 118 
 
 Saturday. — The kindness of God to sinners, 1 19 
 
 FOURTH WEEK OP LENT. 
 
 Sunday. — The miracle of the multiplication of the loaves, 120 
 
 Monday. — Irreverence in church, 121 
 
 Tuesday. — The teachings of Jesus Christ, 122 
 
 Wednesday. — The man who was blind from his birth, 123 
 
 Thursday. — The son of the widow of Nairn, 124 
 
 Friday. — The resuscitation of Lazarus, 125 
 
 Saturday. — Christ the light of the world, 126 
 
 PASSION-WEEK. 
 
 Sunday. — The perfections of Christ, 127 
 
 Monday. — Christ in the garden, 127 
 
 Tuesday. — Christ is betrayed, 128 
 
 Wednesday. — Christ is forsaken, 129 
 
 Thursday. — Christ is accused, 130 
 
 Friday. — Christ is derided, 130 
 
 Saturday. — Christ is scourged, 131 
 
 HOLT WEEK. 
 
 Palm-Sunday. — The three different entries made by the Savior, 132 
 
 Monday. — Jesus is condemned, 133 
 
 Tuesday. — Christ is crucified, 134 
 
 Wednesday. — Christ hanging upon the cross, 134 
 
 Maundy-Thursday. — The washing of the feet and the institution of 
 
 the most Blessed Sacrament, 135 
 
 Good- Friday. — Christ gives up the ghost, 136 
 
 Holy-Saturday. — Christ in the sepulchre, 137 
 
 EASTER- WEEK. 
 
 Easter-Sunday. — Christ, by His resurrection, regains what He had 
 
 lost, 138 
 
 Monday. — The disciples going to Emmaus, 139 
 
 Tuesday. — Christ appears to His disciples, 140 
 
Index. 377 
 
 Page. 
 
 "Wednesday. — The woimds of Christ serve, 141 
 
 Thursday. — Christ appears to Magdalen, 142 
 
 Friday. — Christ appears at different times, 143 
 
 Saturday. — Three kinds of resurrection, 143 
 
 FIRST WEEK AFTER EASTER. 
 
 Low-Suxday. — Christ appears when Thomas is present, 144 
 
 Monday. — The defects of faith, 145 
 
 Tuesday. — Three kinds of peace, 146 
 
 Wednesday. — Excuses for indulging in feelings of enmity, 147 
 
 Thursday. — Causes of dissension, 147 
 
 Friday. — Impediments to peace, *. . 148 
 
 Saturday. — False peace, 149 
 
 SECOND WEEK AFTER EASTER. 
 
 Sunday. — Christ the good shepherd, 1 50 
 
 Monday. — God's mercy to the sinner, 150 
 
 Tuesday. — The mercy of G-od to the just, . , 151 
 
 Wednesday. — The hireling, 152 
 
 Thursday. — By the wolf, scattering the sheep, is understood, 153 
 
 Friday. — The marks of a good shepherd, 153 
 
 Saturday. — The marks by which the sheep are known, 154 
 
 THIRD WEEK AFTER EASTER. 
 
 Sunday. — Afflictions, 155 
 
 Monday. — Motives for exercising patience in adversity, 155 
 
 Tuesday. — Other motives for exercising patience in adversity, 156 
 
 Wednesday. — Other motives for practicing patience, 157 
 
 Thursday. — The evil consequences of impatience, 158 
 
 Friday. — Advantages of exercising patience, 158 
 
 Saturday. — How we should suffer, 159 
 
 FOURTH WEEK AFTER EASTER. 
 
 Sunday. — Reasons why Christ goes to His Father 160 
 
 Monday. — How to seek God, 161 
 
 Tuesday. — All things should lead us to God, 161 
 
 Wednesday. — Advantages of belonging entirely to God, 162 
 
 Thursday. — Attachment to creatures. 163 
 
 Friday. — Love of God, 164 
 
 Saturday. — The end of man, 164 
 
 FIFTH WEEK AFTER EASTER. 
 
 Sunday. — Why we do not receive, 166 
 
 Monday. — Qualities of prayer, 167 
 
 Tuesday. — Obstacles to prayer, 167 
 
 Wednesday. — What we should pray for, 168 
 
 Thursday. — Feast op the Ascension op Christ, 169 
 
 Friday. — How Christ ascended into Heaven, 170 
 
 Saturday. — The glory of the blessed consists, 171 
 
 32* 
 
378 Index. 
 
 WEEK AFTER THE ASCENSION OF CHRIST. 
 
 Page. 
 
 Sunday. — Christ consoles His apostles, 172 
 
 Monday. — Different persecutions, '. 173 
 
 Tuesday, — Causes of inconstancy, 173 
 
 Wednesday. — Perseverance is necessary, 174 
 
 Thursday. — Causes of relapse, 175 
 
 Friday. — The evil consequences of relapse, 176 
 
 Saturday. — How we must prepare ourselves for the coming of the 
 Holy Ghost, 177 
 
 WHIT-SUNDAY WEEK. 
 
 Whit-Sunday. — The Holy Ghost descends, 177 
 
 Whit-Monday, — The love of, God, 178 
 
 Whit-Tuesday. — The Holy Ghost appeared like fire, 180 
 
 Wednesday. — How the apostles were changed, 180 
 
 Thursday. — How the Holy Ghost transforms men, 181 
 
 Friday. — The gifts of the Holy Ghost 182 
 
 Saturday. — The enemies of the Holy Ghost, 1 83 
 
 TRINITY-WEEK. 
 
 Sunday. — Our object, 183 
 
 Monday. — Perfections of God, 184 
 
 Tuesday. — Other perfections of God, 185 
 
 Wednesday. — Other perfections of God, 185 
 
 Thursday. — Feast op Corpus Christi, 186 
 
 Friday. — The Blessed Sacrament, 187 
 
 Saturday. — Considerations before receiving holy communion, 188 
 
 SECOND WEEK AFTER PENTECOST. 
 
 Sunday. — The kindness of Christ in holy communion, 190 
 
 Monday. — The Blessed Sacrament is called, 190 
 
 Tuesday. — The properties of Christ in the Holy Eucharist, 191 
 
 Wednesday. — Mass is a most holy sacrifice, 192 
 
 Thursday. — The difference between pleasing God and the world, ... 193 
 
 Friday. — Reasons for loving God, 194 
 
 Saturday. — Effects of loving God, , 195 
 
 THIRD WEEK AFTER PENTECOST. 
 
 Sunday. — The lost sheep, 196 
 
 Monday. — The blindness of the sinner, 196 
 
 Tuesday. — The folly of the sinner, 197 
 
 Wednesday. — The sinner becomes regardless, 198 
 
 Thursday. — Ws show that we do not love God, 199 
 
 Friday. — How the sinner abuses, 200 
 
 Saturday. — Reason^ why the sinner is not converted, 201 
 
 FOURTH WEEK AFTER PENTECOST. 
 
 Sunday. — The wonderful draught of fishes, 202 
 
 Monday. — We must pray to God, 203 
 
 Tuesday. — Advantages of having good intentions, 203 
 
 Wednesday. — Evil consequences of bad intentions, 204 
 
Index. 379 
 
 Page. 
 
 Thursday. — Good intentions, 205 
 
 Friday. — Our intentions are bad, if, 205 
 
 Saturday. — How to perform good works, 206 
 
 FIFTH WEEK AFTER PENTECOST, 
 
 Sunday. — The false piety of the Pharisees, 207 
 
 Monday. — True devotion consists, 208 
 
 Tuesday. — True piety also consists, 209 
 
 Wednesday. — Devotions to be specially cultivated, 209 
 
 Thursday. — Obstacles to devotion, 210 
 
 Friday. — Advantages of devotion, 211 
 
 Saturday. — False devotion, 212 
 
 SIXTH WEEK AFTER PENTECOST. 
 
 SuJTDAY. — Reasons why God is merciful, 213 
 
 Monday. — Detachment from creatures and the world, 213 
 
 Tuesday. — How to make use of temporal goods, 214 
 
 Wednesday. — Christ encourages His apostles, 215 
 
 Thursday. — Christ chooses His twelve apostles, 216 
 
 Friday. — Rewards of virtue, 217 
 
 Saturday. — Heaven, 218 
 
 SEVENTH WEEK AFTER PENTECOST. 
 
 Sunday. — The good tree ; its roots, 219 
 
 Monday. — The good fruits of the tree, 220 
 
 Tuesday. — The salvation of our soul, 221 
 
 Wednesday. — The advantages of performing good works, 222 
 
 Thursday. — The utility of performing good works, 222 
 
 Friday. — Reasons for fear, 223 
 
 Saturday. — The evil tree shall be cast into the eternal fire, 224 
 
 EIGHTH WEEK AFTER PENTECOST. 
 
 Sunday. — The misfortune of the unjust steward, 225 
 
 Monday. — The dangers of the world, 226 
 
 Tuesday. — Some of the dangers caused by possessing the goods of the 
 
 world, 227 
 
 Wednesday, — Other dangers resulting from the possession of wealth, 228 
 
 Thursday. — Advantages of voluntary poverty, 229 
 
 Friday. — We are unfit to possess the goods of this world, 229 
 
 Saturday. — Advantages of alms-giving, 230 
 
 NINTH WEEK AFTER PENTECOST. 
 
 Sunday. — The zeal of Christ, 231 
 
 Monday. — Motives for acquiring zeal, 232 
 
 Tuesday. — The value of a soul, 232 
 
 Wednesday. — Zeal, 233 
 
 Thursday. — Defects of zeal, 234 
 
 Friday. — Defects of prayer, 235 
 
 Saturday, — What we should do for churches, ,4 236 
 
380 Index. 
 
 TENTH WEEK AFTER PENTECOST. 
 
 Page. 
 
 Sunday. — The Publican and the Pharisee, 237 
 
 Monday. — Reasons for practicing humility, 238 
 
 Tuesday. — Confession, 239 
 
 Wednesday. — God demands of us in confession, 240 
 
 Thursday. — Necessity of contrition 241 
 
 Friday. — The necessity of examining our conscience, 242 
 
 Saturday. — The misfortune of the sinner, 243 
 
 ELEVENTH WEEK AFTER PENTECOST. 
 
 Sunday. — The deaf and dumb devil, 244 
 
 Monday. — The spiritually dumb are, 245 
 
 Tuesday. — Meditation, 246 
 
 Wednesday. — The tongue is a fire, 248 
 
 Thursday. — The evils caused by calumny, 248 
 
 Friday. — The sins committed by the tongue, 249 
 
 Saturday. — The evils of a wicked tongue, 250 
 
 TWELFTH WEEK AFTER PENTECOST. 
 
 Sunday. — The charity of the Samaritan, 251 
 
 Monday. — Reasons why we should practice charity, 252 
 
 Tuesday. — The spirit of love is opposed to, 255 
 
 Wednesday. — We must practice love, 253 
 
 Thursday. — We must bear patiently, 254 
 
 Friday. — Sins against fraternal love, 255 
 
 Saturday. — Our obligations toward our neighbor, 256 
 
 THIRTEENTH WEEK AFTER PENTECOST. 
 
 Sunday. — The healing of the ten lepers, 257 
 
 Monday. — Sin deprives the soul, 257 
 
 Tuesday. — The weight of sin considered, 258 
 
 Wednesday. — The consequences of sin, 259 
 
 Thursday. — Effects of habitual sin, 260 
 
 Friday. — Passion, 261 
 
 Saturday. — Our ruling passions, 262 
 
 FOURTEENTH WEEK AFTER PENTECOST. 
 
 Sunday. — We cannot serve two masters, 263 
 
 Monday. — The obligations of serving Christ, 264 
 
 Tuesday. — The dangers of the world, 265 
 
 Wednesday. — Advantages of religious orders, 266 
 
 Thursday. — The great world, 267 
 
 Friday. — True conversion, 268 
 
 Saturday. — The Evangelical counsels, 269 
 
 FIFTEENTH WEEK AFTER PENTECOST. 
 
 Sunday. — The resuscitation of the son of the widow of Nairn, 269 
 
 Monday. — Properties of conversion, 270 
 
 Tuesday. — Obstacles to conversion, 271 
 
 Wednesday. — Other obstacles to conversion, 272 
 
 Thursday. — Temptations to become discouraged, 273 
 
Index. 381 
 
 Page. 
 Friday. — Marks of conversion, 274 
 
 Saturday. — Happy death, 275 
 
 SIXTEENTH WEEK AFTER PENTECOST. 
 
 Sunday. — The proud man compared to one afflicted with the dropsj, . 276 
 
 Monday. — Reasons for being humble, 277 
 
 Tuesday. — Other reasons for practicing humiUtv, 278 
 
 Wednesday. — The punishment of the proud consists, 279 
 
 Thursday. — The advantages of humility, 279 
 
 Friday. — Practice of humihty, 280 
 
 Saturday. — Degrees of humility, 281 
 
 SEVENTEENTH WEEK AFTER PENTECOST. 
 
 Sunday. — We are bound to love God 282 
 
 Monday. — Reasons for loving God, 283 
 
 Tuesday. — Motives for love, 284 
 
 Wednesday. — The life of Christ, 285 
 
 Thursday. — The life of Christ — continued, 285 
 
 Friday. — The teachings of Christ, 286 
 
 Saturday. — The patience of Christ teaches us to bear, 287 
 
 EIGHTEENTH WEEK AFTER PENTECOST. 
 
 Sunday. — The man sick of palsy, 288 
 
 Monday. — Causes of indifference, 289 
 
 Tuesday. — Marks of indifference, 290 
 
 Wednesday. — Danger of being lukewarm, 291 
 
 Thursday. — Other dangers arising from lukewarmness, 291 
 
 Friday. — Obstacles to the acquiring of zeal, 292 
 
 Saturday. — Advantages of zeal, 293 
 
 NINETEENTH WEEK AFTER PENTECOST. 
 
 Sunday. — The marriage-feast of the king 294 
 
 Monday. — Punishment of sin, 295 
 
 Tuesday. — Other punishments of sin, 296 
 
 Wednesday. — Interior punishments of the sinner, 297 
 
 Thursday. — Other punishments of the sinner, 298 
 
 Friday, -r- Hell, 299 
 
 Saturday. — The cause of the despair of the damned, 300 
 
 TWENTIETH WEEK AFTER PENTECOST. 
 
 Sunday. — The cure of the ruler's son, 301 
 
 Monday. — Faith in prayer, 302 
 
 Tuesday. — Faith is a sun, 303 
 
 Wednesday. — Faith is a pillar, 304 
 
 Thursday. — Faith requires us to ask of God, 305 
 
 Friday. — BeHef in the presence of God, 306 
 
 Saturday. — What faith demands of us, 307 
 
 TWENTY-FIRST WEEK AFTER PENTECOST. 
 
 Sunday. — The unmerciful servant, 308 
 
 Monday. — Love demands of us, 309 
 
382 Index. 
 
 Paga 
 
 Tuesday. — Remedies against cherishing enmities and aversion, 310 
 
 Wednesday. — Effects of anger, 311 
 
 Thursday. — Other disastrous effects of anger, 311 
 
 Friday. — Remedies against anger, 312 
 
 Saturday. — Excuses for yielding to anger, 313 
 
 TWENTY-SECOND WEEK AFTER PENTECOST. 
 
 Sunday. — Render to Cresar the things that are Caesar's, 314 
 
 Monday. — Our obhgations toward God, 315 
 
 Tuesday. — We owe Almighty God, 316 
 
 Wednesday. — Motives for serving God, 317 
 
 Thursday. — God demands of us, 318 
 
 Friday. — Reasons why we neglect to serve God, 318 
 
 Saturday. — Our duties toward our neighbor, 319 
 
 TWENTY-THIRD WEEK AFTER PENTECOST. 
 
 Sunday. — A happy death is, 320 
 
 Monday. — The sinner when dying is tormented, 321 
 
 Tuesday. — The circumstances of death, 322 
 
 Wednesday. — The death of the senses by means of mortification, . . . 323 
 Thursday. — Conclusions to be drawn from meditating upon death, . . 325 
 
 Friday. — How to prepare for death, 326 
 
 Saturday. — As our life is so wUl be our death, 327 
 
 TWENTY-FOURTH WEEK AFTER PENTECOST. 
 
 SuNT)AY. — Objects of terror at the last judgment, 328 
 
 Monday. — At the last judgment Christ alone will appear, 329 
 
 Tuesday. — Yarious temptations, 331 
 
 Wednesday. — Different species of temptation, 332 
 
 Thursday. — Remedies against temptation, 333 
 
 Friday. — Other remedies against temptation, 334 
 
 Saturday. — Excuses of those who have yielded to temptation, 335 
 
 FEAST OP THE SAINTS. 
 
 Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the B. Y. M. (Dec. 8), 336 
 
 Feast of the Purification of the B. Y. M. (Feb. 2) 337 
 
 Feast of St. Joseph (March 19) , 338 
 
 The Annunciation of the B. Y. M. (March 25), 339 
 
 Feast of St. John the Baptist (June 24), 341 
 
 Feast of S. S.Peter and Paul (June 29), 342 
 
 Feast of the Assumption of the B. Y. M. (Aug. 15), 343 
 
 Feast of the Nativity of the B. Y. M. (Sept. 8), 344 
 
 Feast of All Saints (Nov. 1), 345 
 
 All Souls day (Nov. 2), 346 
 
 FIRST SERIES OF MEDITATIONS. 
 
 FIRST DAY. 
 
 First Meditation. — The end of man, 348 
 
 Second Meditation. — Mortal sin, 349 
 
 Third Meditation. — Death, 350 
 
 Fourth Meditation. — The last judgment, 351 
 
Index. 383 
 
 SECOND DAY. 
 
 Page. 
 
 First Meditation. — The pains of hell, 3^ 
 
 Second Meditation. — Necessity of immediate conversion, 354 
 
 Third Meditation. — On the earnestness of conversion, 355 
 
 Fourth Meditation. — The mercy of God to the sinner, 356 
 
 THIRD day. 
 
 First Meditation. — The value of the soul, 358 
 
 Second Meditation. — On the general duties of a Christian, 359 
 
 Third Meditation. — On eternal joys, 360 
 
 Fourth Meditation. — Perseverance in conversion, 362 
 
 SECOND SERIES OF MEDITATIONS. 
 
 FIRST DAY. 
 
 First Meditation. — The service of God, 364 
 
 Second Meditation. — How we deceive ourselves in serving God, . . . 364 
 
 Third Meditation. — Yenial sin, .'.... 365 
 
 Fourth Meditation. — Three things teach us to offer violence in order 
 
 to be saved, 366 
 
 SECOND DAY. 
 
 First Meditation. — Necessity of good works, . . .• 366 
 
 Second Meditation. — Marks of a good work, 367 
 
 Third Meditation. — Christian prudence, 368 
 
 Fourth Meditation. — Living according to the spirit, 368 
 
 third DAY. 
 
 First Meditation. — Interior life, 369 
 
 Second Meditation. — Three means of uniting ourselves with God,.. 370 
 
 Third Meditation. — Three other means of uniting ourselves with God, 370 
 
 Fourth Meditation. — Three reasons why the pious should fear, .... 371 
 
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