XXVI.

XXVI.Of all the means placed by Providence within our reach, whereby we may lead souls to Him, there is one more blessed than all others,—intercessory prayer.How often, in the presence of one deeply loved, but, alas! estranged fromGod, the heart of mother or wife[pg 048]has felt a sudden impulse to say an earnest word, propose an act of devotion, to paint in glowing colors the blessings of faith and the happiness of virtue ... and she has stopped, deterred by an irresistible fear of how the words may be received; and she says to herself, poor woman, "To-morrow I shall be braver."Poor mother! poor wife! go and tell to your HeavenlyFatherall you would, butdarenot, say to the loved one who gives you so much pain.Lay that sin-sick soul before theLord, as long ago they laid the paralytic man who could not, or perhapswouldnot, be led to Him.Plead for him with the long-sufferingSaviour, as you would plead with an earthly master, upon whom depended all his future welfare, and say[pg 049]to Him simply,"Lord, have patience with him yet a little longer."TellGodof all your anxiety, your discouragements, the means employed for success.Ask Him to teach you what to say and how to act. One sentence learned ofGodin prayer will do more for the conversion of a soul than all our poor human endeavors.Thatsentence will escape our lips involuntarily. We may not remember that we have said it, but it will sink deep into the heart, making a lasting impression, and silently fulfilling its mission.You are, perhaps, surprised, after many years, to see such poor results. Ah! how little can you judge!...Do you know what you have gained? In the first place, time—often a physical impossibility to sin, which[pg 050]you may attribute to chance, but which was, in reality, the work of Providence; and is it nothing, one sin the less, in the life of an immortal soul?... Then a vague uneasiness which will soon allow of no rest, a confidence which may enable you to sympathize, more liberty left you for the exercise of religious acts; you no longer see the contemptuous smile at your acts of devotion. Is all thisnothing?Ah! if, while on your knees praying for the one you would have reconciled toGod, you could but see what is passing in his soul,—the wrestlings, the remorse he strives vainly to stifle; if you could see the work of the Holy Spirit in the heart, gently but firmly triumphing over the will, how earnestly, how incessantly, would you continue to pray!Only have patience to wait—perseverance not to grow weary.It is the want of patience that often[pg 051]makes us exacting towards those we desire to help.More haste, less speed, is an old saying; the more we are exacting, the less likely are we to succeed.Men like to act freely, and to have the credit of their actions.It is because we have not learned to persevere that the work seems never to progress.Courage, then! the ground may seem too dry for cultivation, but each prayer will be as a drop of water; the marble may be very hard, but each prayer is like the hammer's stroke that wears away its roughness.XXVII.The sweet peace ofGodbears the outward token of resignation.When the Holy Spirit dwells within us everything seems bright.Everything may not be exactly as[pg 052]we would wish it, but we accept all with a good grace.... For instance, some change in our household or mode of living upsets us. IfGodis with us, He will whisper,"Yield cheerfully thy will; in a little while all will be forgotten."Some command or employment wounds our pride; ifGodis with us, He will say to us,"Be submissive, andIwill come to thine aid."We may dislike a certain neighborhood; the society there may be repulsive to us, and we are about to become morbid:Godwill tell us to continue gracious and smiling, for He will recompense the little annoyances we may experience. If you would discern in whomGod'sSpirit dwells, watch that person, and notice whether you ever hear him murmur.[pg 053]XXVIII.I Want to Be HolyHeavenly Father, aid Thy child, who longs to become holy!But then, I must be patient under humiliation, let myself be forgotten, and be even pleased at feeling myself set aside.Never mind! I am resolved; I wish to be holy!But I must never excuse myself, never be impatient, never out of temper.Never mind! I am resolved; I wish to be holy!Then I must continually be doing violence to my feelings,—submitting my will always to that of my superiors, never contentious, never sulky, finishing every work begun, in spite of dislike or ennui.Never mind! I am resolved; I wish to be holy![pg 054]But then, I must be always charitable towards all around me; loving them, helping them to the utmost of my power, although it may cause me trouble.Never mind! I am resolved; I wish to be holy!But I must constantly strive against the cowardice, sloth, and pride of my nature, renouncing the world, the vanity that pleases, the sensuality that rejoices me, the antipathy that makes me avoid those I do not like.Never mind! I am resolved; I still wish to be holy!Then, I shall have to experience long hours of weariness, sadness, and discontent. I shall often feel lonely and discouraged.Never mind! I am resolved; I wish to be holy!for then I shall have Thee always with me, ever near me.Lord, help me, for I want to be holy![pg 055]How to Become HolyOh! it is quite easy, if I fulfil every duty to the best of my ability; and many who had no more to do than I have become saints.One day is the same as another. Prayer, worldly business, calls to be devout, charitable, and faithful,—these are the duties that each hour brings in its turn; and if I am faithful in their fulfilment,Godwill be always ready to help me, and then what signifies a little ennui, pain, or misfortune?The Sanctification of Daily DutiesI will perform them as inGod'ssight, conscious that He is present, and smiling on my efforts.I will perform each as if I had but[pg 056]one to accomplish, striving to render it as perfect as possible.I will fulfil each duty as if upon that one alone depended my salvation.Motives for Sanctifying My ActionsGodexpects me to honor Him by that action.Godhas attached a special blessing to that action, and awaits its fulfilment to bestow it.Godnotes each action; and of them all hereafter I must give an account.Godwill see that I love Him, if I strive to fulfil every duty, in spite of weariness and trouble.I honorGodby this action; and I, poor, weak, sinful child, am allowed to glorify Him, in place of those who blaspheme and rebel against the Divine will.[pg 057]XXIX.They say there is nothing which communicates itself so quickly amongst the members of a family as an expression of coldness or discontent on the face of one of its members. It is like the frost that chills us. This is not altogether true; there is something which is communicated with equal rapidity and greater force—I mean the smiling face, the beaming countenance, the happy heart.XXX.Little WorriesThere is not a day in our lives that we are not distressed by some one of those numberless little worries that meet us at every step, and which are inevitable.The wound made may not be deep; but the constant pricks, each day[pg 058]renewed, imbitter the character, destroy peace, create anxiety, and make the family life, that otherwise would be so sweet and peaceful, almost unendurable.Life is full of these little miseries. Each hour brings with it its own trouble.Here are some of the little worries: An impatient word escapes our lips in the presence of some one in whose estimation we would stand well.A servant does his work badly, fidgets us by his slowness, irritates us by his thoughtlessness, and his awkward blunders make us blush.A giddy child in its clumsiness breaks something of value, or that we treasure on account of its associations; we are charged with a message of importance, and our forgetfulness makes us appear uncourteous, perhaps ungrateful; some one we live with is constantly finding fault, nothing pleases[pg 059]them. If, when night comes, we find we have not experienced these little worries, then we ought to be grateful toGod. Each of these, and many more, are liable to befall us every day of our life.How to Bear Little WorriesIn the first place, expect them. Make them the subject of our morning prayers, and say to ourselves, Here is my daily cross, do I accept willingly? Surely! for it isGodWho sends it. After all ... these little troubles, looked at calmly, what are they? Ah, if there were never any worse!Secondly, we must be prepared for them. You know, if you wish to break the force of a blow falling on you, you naturally bend the body; so let us act with regard to our souls.Accustom yourself, wrote a pious[pg 060]author, to stoop with sweet condescension, not only to exigencies (that is your duty), but to the simple wishes of those who surround you—the accidents which may intervene; you will find yourself seldom, if ever, crushed.Tobendis better than tobear; to bear is often a little hard; to bend implies a certain external sweetness that yields all constraint, sacrificing the wishes, even in holy things, when they tend to cause disagreements in the family circle.Submission often implies an entire resignation to all thatGodpermits. The soul that endures feels the weight of its trouble. The soul that yields scarcely perceives it.Blessed are those docile ones; they are those whomGodselects to work for Him.[pg 061]XXXI.To Obtain PeaceApproach the Blessed Sacrament, O restless soul, in search of peace, and, humbly kneeling there, pour forth bravely, slowly, and with earnest desire, the following prayer:—O Jesus, gentle and humble of heart, hear me!From the desire of being esteemed,From the desire of being loved,From the desire to be sought,Deliver me,Jesus.From the desire to be mourned,From the desire of praise,From the desire of preference,From the desire of influence,From the desire of approval,From the desire of authority,From the fear of humiliation,From the fear of being despised,From the fear of repulse,[pg 062]From the fear of calumny,From the fear of oblivion,From the fear of ridicule,From the fear of injury,From the fear of suspicion,Deliver me,Jesus.That others may be loved more than myself.Jesusgrant this desire.That others may be more highly esteemed.That others may grow and increase in honor, and I decrease.Jesus, grant me to desire it.That others may be employed, and I set aside.Jesus, grant me to desire this.That others may attract the praise, and myself be forgotten.That others may be preferred in all.Grant me the utmost holiness of which I am capable, then let others be holier than myself.Jesus, grant me to desire it![pg 063]Oh, ifGodhearkens,—and hearken He surely will, if your prayer has been sincere,—what joy in your heart, what peace on your countenance, what sweetness will pervade your whole life!More than half one's troubles arise from an exaggerated idea of one's own importance, and the efforts we make to increase our position in the world. Lacordaire says, that the sweetest thing on earth is to be forgotten by all, with the exception of those who love us. All else brings more trouble than joy; and as soon as we have completed our task here, and fulfilled our mission, the best thing for us to do is to disappear altogether.Let us each cultivate carefully and joyously the portion of soil Providence has committed to our care. Let us never be hindered or distracted by[pg 064]ambitious thoughts, that we could do better, or a false zeal tempting us to forsake our daily task with the vain desire to surpass our neighbors.... Let this one thought occupy our minds. To dowellwhat is given us to do, for this is all thatGodrequires at our hands. It may be summed up in four words,—simply, zealously, cheerfully, completely.Then if weareslighted, misunderstood, maligned, or persecuted, what does it matter? These injuries will pass away; but the peace and love ofGodwill remain with us forever, the reward of our faith and patience. The love ofGod! Who can describe all the joy, strength, and consolation it reveals?Never has human love, in its brightest dreams, been able to form any idea of all the sweetness the love ofGod[pg 065]imparts to the soul, and which is brought still nearer to us in the Blessed Sacrament.I can well understand the words of a loving soul:"With heaven so near, and daily communion with ourGod, how can we ever repine!"XXXII.After Holy CommunionOUR FATHER WHICH ART IN HEAVENOJesus! it is Thou Who biddest me say,Father!My Father!Oh how that Name rejoices my heart!My Father!I can no longer feel alone; and whatever may happen to me this day, I feel I am protected, comforted, beloved.Jesus!let me dwell on the sweetness of those words:My Father!I need not lift my eyes to heaven, Thou[pg 066]art within me, and where Thou dwellest heaven must be.Yes! heaven is within me! heaven with all its peace and love; and if I keep free from guile this day, my day will be one of heavenly joy, and in addition, the privilege of suffering for Thee.HALLOWED BE THY NAMETo hallow Thy Name, OLord, is to pronounce it with reverence and awe.To-day I will pray more fervently, try to realize Thy Presence, Thy Goodness, Thy Love; and my heart shall be a sanctuary into which nothing shall penetrate that could be displeasing unto Thee.Tohallow Thy Nameis to call upon it fervently, to have it constantly upon my lips; above all, before taking an important step, when there are difficulties to be overcome, I will softly whisper the Invocation, which is the secret[pg 067]of all holy living!"Jesus, meek and humble of heart, have pity upon me."THY KINGDOM COMEOJesus, Thy kingdom is within my heart, reign there in all Thy sovereignty and power, reign there absolutely!My King! what dost Thou require of me to-day? Thy commandments, my rule of life, my daily duties,—these are Thy commands that I will promise to obey; more than that, I will regard all in authority over me as Thine Ambassadors, speaking to me in Thy Name. What matters the tone or the harshness of the order?What does it signify if some unexpected command upsets all my previous plans? It is Thy Voice I hear, ThouLord, Whom I will obey always, and in all things.Thy kingdom is also in the hearts of[pg 068]others; and there would I see Thee reigning. Then to whom can I speak of Thee this day? What counsels can I give? What moments may I seize, in which, without wounding the feelings, or parading my zeal, I may be allowed to speak a few words of piety?Lord, let me have the opportunity to help another to love Thee!THY WILL BE DONE IN EARTH, AS IT IS IN HEAVENYes, yes! Thy Will be done! Thy sweet all-perfect Will!What wilt Thou send me to-day?Humiliation? Provocation? Sufferings? A fresh rending of the heart? A disappointment? Shall I see myself misjudged, falsely suspected, despised? I accept beforehand all that Thou sendest me; and if through weakness I weep, suffer it to be so; if I murmur, check me; if I am vexed, correct me; if hopeless, encourage me.[pg 069]Yes, yes! Let Thy sweet and holy Will be done!Even, OLord, if to glorify Thee, I must be humiliated, suffering, useless, and forsaken, still,Lord, stay not Thine Hand, I am wholly Thine.GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREADHow blessed, OLord, to depend only upon Thee ... behold me, Thy child, waiting with outstretched hand to receive Thy benefits.Grant me my temporal blessings,—clothing, nourishment, shelter ... but not too much of anything; and let me have the happiness of sharing my blessings with those poorer than myself to-day. Grant me the blessing of intelligence, that I may read, or hear one of those golden counsels that elevate the soul, and lend wings to the thoughts.Grant me the loving heart, O my[pg 070]Father! that I may feel for a moment how I love Thee, and Thy love towards me; let me sacrifice myself for the welfare of another. Give me the Bread of Life, the Holy Eucharist! I have just received it,Lord! Grant me again ere long that great blessing.And then, give all these blessings to those I love, and who love me!FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES, AS WE FORGIVE THEM THAT TRESPASS AGAINST USWhen I pronounce the word of pardon, what a weight seems lifted from my heart.I will not only banish every feeling of hatred, I will efface every painful remembrance. OGod, if Thou forgivest me, as I forgive others, what mercy for me!Thou seest I bear no malice, that I forget all injuries....[pg 071]I have been offended bywords; I forget them; by actions, I forget them; by omissions, thoughts, desires; they are all forgotten.Ah! in all these ways I have offended Thee, and Thou wilt forget, even as I have forgotten.I will be very merciful, so that Thou mayst have mercy upon me.LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION, BUT DELIVER US FROM EVILNow, as I leave Thine altar, I go to encounter temptation.OSaviour! help me, keep me, and warn me of my danger!Let me shun all occasions of evil, and if by weakness or allurements I am led into paths of sin, if I fall, oh! rescue me speedily, that I may fall upon my knees, confessing my sin, and imploring pardon.Sin! this is the evil from which I beseech Thee to deliver me; other[pg 072]troubles that may happen, I accept; they are sent to try me and to purify, and come from Thee; but sin, I have no pleasure in it! Oh! when in the hour of temptation I fall away,Lord, hearken to the cry that I now raise to Thee in all sincerity; Iwillit not! it is not wilful! I go from Thy Presence, but,Jesus, Thou art with me! In work, in prayer, in suffering, let all be done in Thee!XXXIII."Mother,"asked a child,"since nothing is ever lost, where do all our thoughts go?""ToGod,"answered the mother gravely,"who remembers them forever.""Forever!"said the child. He bent his head, and, drawing closer to his mother, murmured,"I am frightened!"Which of us have not felt the same?[pg 073]XXXIV.One more solemn thought: How old are you? Nineteen. Have you reckoned the number of minutes that have elapsed since your birth? The number is startling: nine millions, three hundred and thirty-three thousand, two hundred.... Each of those minutes has flown toGod;Godhas examined them and weighed them, and for them you must give account.Each minute bears its own impress (as a coin bears the impress of the Sovereign), and only those marked with the image ofGodwill avail you for eternity.Is not this thought one to make you tremble?"I never could understand,"writes Guérin,"the feeling of security some have that their works must find favor withGod—as if our duties were confined to the narrow limits of this little[pg 074]world. To be a good son, statesman, or brother, is not all that is required of us;Goddemands far more than this from those for whom He has destined a crown of glory hereafter."XXXV.One great characteristic of holiness is never to be exacting, never to complain.Each complaint drags us down a degree in our upward course.By complaining, I do not mean the simple imparting of our troubles to others.Complaint savors always of a little bad temper, and a slightly vindictive spirit.The saints were never exacting.Contented with their lot, they never desired anything that was withheld from them.[pg 075]"I have asked,"said a holy soul,"for something I thought needful; they have forgotten to answer me, or perhaps would not bestow it. Why need I be disquieted? If it were really necessary,Godwould quickly provide means to obtain it."How few could enter into this feeling; and yet it is but the echo ofChrist'sown words,"YourFatherin Heaven knoweth that ye have need of all these things."XXXVI.Joy in life is like oil in a lamp. When the oil gets low the wick is consumed, emitting a black vapor, and sending forth only a lurid glow, which does not give light.A life without joy passes away unprofitably, shedding around it only gloom and sorrow.If every morning in a simple prayer,—in those fifteen minutes' meditation (which only seem hard when we do[pg 076]not practise it),—we opened our hearts toGod, as we open our windows to the sun and air,Godwould fill it with that calm, sweet joy which elevates the soul, prevents it feeling the weight of troubles, and makes it overflow with benevolence.But joy does not mean levity, witty sayings, or repartee ... it is habitual serenity.Through a clear atmosphere we can always see the sky; it seems so light and full of elasticity.A serene sky is always pure ... clouds may pass across it, but they do not stain it.So it is with the heart that early in the morning opens to receiveGod'sPeace.

Of all the means placed by Providence within our reach, whereby we may lead souls to Him, there is one more blessed than all others,—intercessory prayer.

How often, in the presence of one deeply loved, but, alas! estranged fromGod, the heart of mother or wife[pg 048]has felt a sudden impulse to say an earnest word, propose an act of devotion, to paint in glowing colors the blessings of faith and the happiness of virtue ... and she has stopped, deterred by an irresistible fear of how the words may be received; and she says to herself, poor woman, "To-morrow I shall be braver."

Poor mother! poor wife! go and tell to your HeavenlyFatherall you would, butdarenot, say to the loved one who gives you so much pain.

Lay that sin-sick soul before theLord, as long ago they laid the paralytic man who could not, or perhapswouldnot, be led to Him.

Plead for him with the long-sufferingSaviour, as you would plead with an earthly master, upon whom depended all his future welfare, and say[pg 049]to Him simply,"Lord, have patience with him yet a little longer."

TellGodof all your anxiety, your discouragements, the means employed for success.

Ask Him to teach you what to say and how to act. One sentence learned ofGodin prayer will do more for the conversion of a soul than all our poor human endeavors.Thatsentence will escape our lips involuntarily. We may not remember that we have said it, but it will sink deep into the heart, making a lasting impression, and silently fulfilling its mission.

You are, perhaps, surprised, after many years, to see such poor results. Ah! how little can you judge!...

Do you know what you have gained? In the first place, time—often a physical impossibility to sin, which[pg 050]you may attribute to chance, but which was, in reality, the work of Providence; and is it nothing, one sin the less, in the life of an immortal soul?... Then a vague uneasiness which will soon allow of no rest, a confidence which may enable you to sympathize, more liberty left you for the exercise of religious acts; you no longer see the contemptuous smile at your acts of devotion. Is all thisnothing?

Ah! if, while on your knees praying for the one you would have reconciled toGod, you could but see what is passing in his soul,—the wrestlings, the remorse he strives vainly to stifle; if you could see the work of the Holy Spirit in the heart, gently but firmly triumphing over the will, how earnestly, how incessantly, would you continue to pray!

Only have patience to wait—perseverance not to grow weary.

It is the want of patience that often[pg 051]makes us exacting towards those we desire to help.

More haste, less speed, is an old saying; the more we are exacting, the less likely are we to succeed.

Men like to act freely, and to have the credit of their actions.

It is because we have not learned to persevere that the work seems never to progress.

Courage, then! the ground may seem too dry for cultivation, but each prayer will be as a drop of water; the marble may be very hard, but each prayer is like the hammer's stroke that wears away its roughness.

XXVII.The sweet peace ofGodbears the outward token of resignation.When the Holy Spirit dwells within us everything seems bright.Everything may not be exactly as[pg 052]we would wish it, but we accept all with a good grace.... For instance, some change in our household or mode of living upsets us. IfGodis with us, He will whisper,"Yield cheerfully thy will; in a little while all will be forgotten."Some command or employment wounds our pride; ifGodis with us, He will say to us,"Be submissive, andIwill come to thine aid."We may dislike a certain neighborhood; the society there may be repulsive to us, and we are about to become morbid:Godwill tell us to continue gracious and smiling, for He will recompense the little annoyances we may experience. If you would discern in whomGod'sSpirit dwells, watch that person, and notice whether you ever hear him murmur.

The sweet peace ofGodbears the outward token of resignation.

When the Holy Spirit dwells within us everything seems bright.

Everything may not be exactly as[pg 052]we would wish it, but we accept all with a good grace.... For instance, some change in our household or mode of living upsets us. IfGodis with us, He will whisper,"Yield cheerfully thy will; in a little while all will be forgotten."

Some command or employment wounds our pride; ifGodis with us, He will say to us,"Be submissive, andIwill come to thine aid."

We may dislike a certain neighborhood; the society there may be repulsive to us, and we are about to become morbid:Godwill tell us to continue gracious and smiling, for He will recompense the little annoyances we may experience. If you would discern in whomGod'sSpirit dwells, watch that person, and notice whether you ever hear him murmur.

XXVIII.I Want to Be HolyHeavenly Father, aid Thy child, who longs to become holy!But then, I must be patient under humiliation, let myself be forgotten, and be even pleased at feeling myself set aside.Never mind! I am resolved; I wish to be holy!But I must never excuse myself, never be impatient, never out of temper.Never mind! I am resolved; I wish to be holy!Then I must continually be doing violence to my feelings,—submitting my will always to that of my superiors, never contentious, never sulky, finishing every work begun, in spite of dislike or ennui.Never mind! I am resolved; I wish to be holy![pg 054]But then, I must be always charitable towards all around me; loving them, helping them to the utmost of my power, although it may cause me trouble.Never mind! I am resolved; I wish to be holy!But I must constantly strive against the cowardice, sloth, and pride of my nature, renouncing the world, the vanity that pleases, the sensuality that rejoices me, the antipathy that makes me avoid those I do not like.Never mind! I am resolved; I still wish to be holy!Then, I shall have to experience long hours of weariness, sadness, and discontent. I shall often feel lonely and discouraged.Never mind! I am resolved; I wish to be holy!for then I shall have Thee always with me, ever near me.Lord, help me, for I want to be holy![pg 055]How to Become HolyOh! it is quite easy, if I fulfil every duty to the best of my ability; and many who had no more to do than I have become saints.One day is the same as another. Prayer, worldly business, calls to be devout, charitable, and faithful,—these are the duties that each hour brings in its turn; and if I am faithful in their fulfilment,Godwill be always ready to help me, and then what signifies a little ennui, pain, or misfortune?The Sanctification of Daily DutiesI will perform them as inGod'ssight, conscious that He is present, and smiling on my efforts.I will perform each as if I had but[pg 056]one to accomplish, striving to render it as perfect as possible.I will fulfil each duty as if upon that one alone depended my salvation.Motives for Sanctifying My ActionsGodexpects me to honor Him by that action.Godhas attached a special blessing to that action, and awaits its fulfilment to bestow it.Godnotes each action; and of them all hereafter I must give an account.Godwill see that I love Him, if I strive to fulfil every duty, in spite of weariness and trouble.I honorGodby this action; and I, poor, weak, sinful child, am allowed to glorify Him, in place of those who blaspheme and rebel against the Divine will.

I Want to Be HolyHeavenly Father, aid Thy child, who longs to become holy!But then, I must be patient under humiliation, let myself be forgotten, and be even pleased at feeling myself set aside.Never mind! I am resolved; I wish to be holy!But I must never excuse myself, never be impatient, never out of temper.Never mind! I am resolved; I wish to be holy!Then I must continually be doing violence to my feelings,—submitting my will always to that of my superiors, never contentious, never sulky, finishing every work begun, in spite of dislike or ennui.Never mind! I am resolved; I wish to be holy![pg 054]But then, I must be always charitable towards all around me; loving them, helping them to the utmost of my power, although it may cause me trouble.Never mind! I am resolved; I wish to be holy!But I must constantly strive against the cowardice, sloth, and pride of my nature, renouncing the world, the vanity that pleases, the sensuality that rejoices me, the antipathy that makes me avoid those I do not like.Never mind! I am resolved; I still wish to be holy!Then, I shall have to experience long hours of weariness, sadness, and discontent. I shall often feel lonely and discouraged.Never mind! I am resolved; I wish to be holy!for then I shall have Thee always with me, ever near me.Lord, help me, for I want to be holy!

Heavenly Father, aid Thy child, who longs to become holy!

But then, I must be patient under humiliation, let myself be forgotten, and be even pleased at feeling myself set aside.

Never mind! I am resolved; I wish to be holy!

But I must never excuse myself, never be impatient, never out of temper.

Never mind! I am resolved; I wish to be holy!

Then I must continually be doing violence to my feelings,—submitting my will always to that of my superiors, never contentious, never sulky, finishing every work begun, in spite of dislike or ennui.

Never mind! I am resolved; I wish to be holy!

But then, I must be always charitable towards all around me; loving them, helping them to the utmost of my power, although it may cause me trouble.

Never mind! I am resolved; I wish to be holy!

But I must constantly strive against the cowardice, sloth, and pride of my nature, renouncing the world, the vanity that pleases, the sensuality that rejoices me, the antipathy that makes me avoid those I do not like.

Never mind! I am resolved; I still wish to be holy!

Then, I shall have to experience long hours of weariness, sadness, and discontent. I shall often feel lonely and discouraged.

Never mind! I am resolved; I wish to be holy!for then I shall have Thee always with me, ever near me.Lord, help me, for I want to be holy!

How to Become HolyOh! it is quite easy, if I fulfil every duty to the best of my ability; and many who had no more to do than I have become saints.One day is the same as another. Prayer, worldly business, calls to be devout, charitable, and faithful,—these are the duties that each hour brings in its turn; and if I am faithful in their fulfilment,Godwill be always ready to help me, and then what signifies a little ennui, pain, or misfortune?

Oh! it is quite easy, if I fulfil every duty to the best of my ability; and many who had no more to do than I have become saints.

One day is the same as another. Prayer, worldly business, calls to be devout, charitable, and faithful,—these are the duties that each hour brings in its turn; and if I am faithful in their fulfilment,Godwill be always ready to help me, and then what signifies a little ennui, pain, or misfortune?

The Sanctification of Daily DutiesI will perform them as inGod'ssight, conscious that He is present, and smiling on my efforts.I will perform each as if I had but[pg 056]one to accomplish, striving to render it as perfect as possible.I will fulfil each duty as if upon that one alone depended my salvation.

I will perform them as inGod'ssight, conscious that He is present, and smiling on my efforts.

I will perform each as if I had but[pg 056]one to accomplish, striving to render it as perfect as possible.

I will fulfil each duty as if upon that one alone depended my salvation.

Motives for Sanctifying My ActionsGodexpects me to honor Him by that action.Godhas attached a special blessing to that action, and awaits its fulfilment to bestow it.Godnotes each action; and of them all hereafter I must give an account.Godwill see that I love Him, if I strive to fulfil every duty, in spite of weariness and trouble.I honorGodby this action; and I, poor, weak, sinful child, am allowed to glorify Him, in place of those who blaspheme and rebel against the Divine will.

Godexpects me to honor Him by that action.

Godhas attached a special blessing to that action, and awaits its fulfilment to bestow it.

Godnotes each action; and of them all hereafter I must give an account.

Godwill see that I love Him, if I strive to fulfil every duty, in spite of weariness and trouble.

I honorGodby this action; and I, poor, weak, sinful child, am allowed to glorify Him, in place of those who blaspheme and rebel against the Divine will.

XXIX.They say there is nothing which communicates itself so quickly amongst the members of a family as an expression of coldness or discontent on the face of one of its members. It is like the frost that chills us. This is not altogether true; there is something which is communicated with equal rapidity and greater force—I mean the smiling face, the beaming countenance, the happy heart.

They say there is nothing which communicates itself so quickly amongst the members of a family as an expression of coldness or discontent on the face of one of its members. It is like the frost that chills us. This is not altogether true; there is something which is communicated with equal rapidity and greater force—I mean the smiling face, the beaming countenance, the happy heart.

XXX.Little WorriesThere is not a day in our lives that we are not distressed by some one of those numberless little worries that meet us at every step, and which are inevitable.The wound made may not be deep; but the constant pricks, each day[pg 058]renewed, imbitter the character, destroy peace, create anxiety, and make the family life, that otherwise would be so sweet and peaceful, almost unendurable.Life is full of these little miseries. Each hour brings with it its own trouble.Here are some of the little worries: An impatient word escapes our lips in the presence of some one in whose estimation we would stand well.A servant does his work badly, fidgets us by his slowness, irritates us by his thoughtlessness, and his awkward blunders make us blush.A giddy child in its clumsiness breaks something of value, or that we treasure on account of its associations; we are charged with a message of importance, and our forgetfulness makes us appear uncourteous, perhaps ungrateful; some one we live with is constantly finding fault, nothing pleases[pg 059]them. If, when night comes, we find we have not experienced these little worries, then we ought to be grateful toGod. Each of these, and many more, are liable to befall us every day of our life.How to Bear Little WorriesIn the first place, expect them. Make them the subject of our morning prayers, and say to ourselves, Here is my daily cross, do I accept willingly? Surely! for it isGodWho sends it. After all ... these little troubles, looked at calmly, what are they? Ah, if there were never any worse!Secondly, we must be prepared for them. You know, if you wish to break the force of a blow falling on you, you naturally bend the body; so let us act with regard to our souls.Accustom yourself, wrote a pious[pg 060]author, to stoop with sweet condescension, not only to exigencies (that is your duty), but to the simple wishes of those who surround you—the accidents which may intervene; you will find yourself seldom, if ever, crushed.Tobendis better than tobear; to bear is often a little hard; to bend implies a certain external sweetness that yields all constraint, sacrificing the wishes, even in holy things, when they tend to cause disagreements in the family circle.Submission often implies an entire resignation to all thatGodpermits. The soul that endures feels the weight of its trouble. The soul that yields scarcely perceives it.Blessed are those docile ones; they are those whomGodselects to work for Him.

Little WorriesThere is not a day in our lives that we are not distressed by some one of those numberless little worries that meet us at every step, and which are inevitable.The wound made may not be deep; but the constant pricks, each day[pg 058]renewed, imbitter the character, destroy peace, create anxiety, and make the family life, that otherwise would be so sweet and peaceful, almost unendurable.Life is full of these little miseries. Each hour brings with it its own trouble.Here are some of the little worries: An impatient word escapes our lips in the presence of some one in whose estimation we would stand well.A servant does his work badly, fidgets us by his slowness, irritates us by his thoughtlessness, and his awkward blunders make us blush.A giddy child in its clumsiness breaks something of value, or that we treasure on account of its associations; we are charged with a message of importance, and our forgetfulness makes us appear uncourteous, perhaps ungrateful; some one we live with is constantly finding fault, nothing pleases[pg 059]them. If, when night comes, we find we have not experienced these little worries, then we ought to be grateful toGod. Each of these, and many more, are liable to befall us every day of our life.

There is not a day in our lives that we are not distressed by some one of those numberless little worries that meet us at every step, and which are inevitable.

The wound made may not be deep; but the constant pricks, each day[pg 058]renewed, imbitter the character, destroy peace, create anxiety, and make the family life, that otherwise would be so sweet and peaceful, almost unendurable.

Life is full of these little miseries. Each hour brings with it its own trouble.

Here are some of the little worries: An impatient word escapes our lips in the presence of some one in whose estimation we would stand well.

A servant does his work badly, fidgets us by his slowness, irritates us by his thoughtlessness, and his awkward blunders make us blush.

A giddy child in its clumsiness breaks something of value, or that we treasure on account of its associations; we are charged with a message of importance, and our forgetfulness makes us appear uncourteous, perhaps ungrateful; some one we live with is constantly finding fault, nothing pleases[pg 059]them. If, when night comes, we find we have not experienced these little worries, then we ought to be grateful toGod. Each of these, and many more, are liable to befall us every day of our life.

How to Bear Little WorriesIn the first place, expect them. Make them the subject of our morning prayers, and say to ourselves, Here is my daily cross, do I accept willingly? Surely! for it isGodWho sends it. After all ... these little troubles, looked at calmly, what are they? Ah, if there were never any worse!Secondly, we must be prepared for them. You know, if you wish to break the force of a blow falling on you, you naturally bend the body; so let us act with regard to our souls.Accustom yourself, wrote a pious[pg 060]author, to stoop with sweet condescension, not only to exigencies (that is your duty), but to the simple wishes of those who surround you—the accidents which may intervene; you will find yourself seldom, if ever, crushed.Tobendis better than tobear; to bear is often a little hard; to bend implies a certain external sweetness that yields all constraint, sacrificing the wishes, even in holy things, when they tend to cause disagreements in the family circle.Submission often implies an entire resignation to all thatGodpermits. The soul that endures feels the weight of its trouble. The soul that yields scarcely perceives it.Blessed are those docile ones; they are those whomGodselects to work for Him.

In the first place, expect them. Make them the subject of our morning prayers, and say to ourselves, Here is my daily cross, do I accept willingly? Surely! for it isGodWho sends it. After all ... these little troubles, looked at calmly, what are they? Ah, if there were never any worse!

Secondly, we must be prepared for them. You know, if you wish to break the force of a blow falling on you, you naturally bend the body; so let us act with regard to our souls.

Accustom yourself, wrote a pious[pg 060]author, to stoop with sweet condescension, not only to exigencies (that is your duty), but to the simple wishes of those who surround you—the accidents which may intervene; you will find yourself seldom, if ever, crushed.

Tobendis better than tobear; to bear is often a little hard; to bend implies a certain external sweetness that yields all constraint, sacrificing the wishes, even in holy things, when they tend to cause disagreements in the family circle.

Submission often implies an entire resignation to all thatGodpermits. The soul that endures feels the weight of its trouble. The soul that yields scarcely perceives it.

Blessed are those docile ones; they are those whomGodselects to work for Him.

XXXI.To Obtain PeaceApproach the Blessed Sacrament, O restless soul, in search of peace, and, humbly kneeling there, pour forth bravely, slowly, and with earnest desire, the following prayer:—O Jesus, gentle and humble of heart, hear me!From the desire of being esteemed,From the desire of being loved,From the desire to be sought,Deliver me,Jesus.From the desire to be mourned,From the desire of praise,From the desire of preference,From the desire of influence,From the desire of approval,From the desire of authority,From the fear of humiliation,From the fear of being despised,From the fear of repulse,[pg 062]From the fear of calumny,From the fear of oblivion,From the fear of ridicule,From the fear of injury,From the fear of suspicion,Deliver me,Jesus.That others may be loved more than myself.Jesusgrant this desire.That others may be more highly esteemed.That others may grow and increase in honor, and I decrease.Jesus, grant me to desire it.That others may be employed, and I set aside.Jesus, grant me to desire this.That others may attract the praise, and myself be forgotten.That others may be preferred in all.Grant me the utmost holiness of which I am capable, then let others be holier than myself.Jesus, grant me to desire it![pg 063]Oh, ifGodhearkens,—and hearken He surely will, if your prayer has been sincere,—what joy in your heart, what peace on your countenance, what sweetness will pervade your whole life!More than half one's troubles arise from an exaggerated idea of one's own importance, and the efforts we make to increase our position in the world. Lacordaire says, that the sweetest thing on earth is to be forgotten by all, with the exception of those who love us. All else brings more trouble than joy; and as soon as we have completed our task here, and fulfilled our mission, the best thing for us to do is to disappear altogether.Let us each cultivate carefully and joyously the portion of soil Providence has committed to our care. Let us never be hindered or distracted by[pg 064]ambitious thoughts, that we could do better, or a false zeal tempting us to forsake our daily task with the vain desire to surpass our neighbors.... Let this one thought occupy our minds. To dowellwhat is given us to do, for this is all thatGodrequires at our hands. It may be summed up in four words,—simply, zealously, cheerfully, completely.Then if weareslighted, misunderstood, maligned, or persecuted, what does it matter? These injuries will pass away; but the peace and love ofGodwill remain with us forever, the reward of our faith and patience. The love ofGod! Who can describe all the joy, strength, and consolation it reveals?Never has human love, in its brightest dreams, been able to form any idea of all the sweetness the love ofGod[pg 065]imparts to the soul, and which is brought still nearer to us in the Blessed Sacrament.I can well understand the words of a loving soul:"With heaven so near, and daily communion with ourGod, how can we ever repine!"

Approach the Blessed Sacrament, O restless soul, in search of peace, and, humbly kneeling there, pour forth bravely, slowly, and with earnest desire, the following prayer:—

O Jesus, gentle and humble of heart, hear me!From the desire of being esteemed,From the desire of being loved,From the desire to be sought,Deliver me,Jesus.From the desire to be mourned,From the desire of praise,From the desire of preference,From the desire of influence,From the desire of approval,From the desire of authority,From the fear of humiliation,From the fear of being despised,From the fear of repulse,[pg 062]From the fear of calumny,From the fear of oblivion,From the fear of ridicule,From the fear of injury,From the fear of suspicion,Deliver me,Jesus.

O Jesus, gentle and humble of heart, hear me!

From the desire of being esteemed,

From the desire of being loved,

From the desire to be sought,

Deliver me,Jesus.

From the desire to be mourned,

From the desire of praise,

From the desire of preference,

From the desire of influence,

From the desire of approval,

From the desire of authority,

From the fear of humiliation,

From the fear of being despised,

From the fear of repulse,

From the fear of calumny,

From the fear of oblivion,

From the fear of ridicule,

From the fear of injury,

From the fear of suspicion,

Deliver me,Jesus.

That others may be loved more than myself.Jesusgrant this desire.

That others may be more highly esteemed.

That others may grow and increase in honor, and I decrease.Jesus, grant me to desire it.

That others may be employed, and I set aside.Jesus, grant me to desire this.

That others may attract the praise, and myself be forgotten.

That others may be preferred in all.

Grant me the utmost holiness of which I am capable, then let others be holier than myself.Jesus, grant me to desire it!

Oh, ifGodhearkens,—and hearken He surely will, if your prayer has been sincere,—what joy in your heart, what peace on your countenance, what sweetness will pervade your whole life!

More than half one's troubles arise from an exaggerated idea of one's own importance, and the efforts we make to increase our position in the world. Lacordaire says, that the sweetest thing on earth is to be forgotten by all, with the exception of those who love us. All else brings more trouble than joy; and as soon as we have completed our task here, and fulfilled our mission, the best thing for us to do is to disappear altogether.

Let us each cultivate carefully and joyously the portion of soil Providence has committed to our care. Let us never be hindered or distracted by[pg 064]ambitious thoughts, that we could do better, or a false zeal tempting us to forsake our daily task with the vain desire to surpass our neighbors.... Let this one thought occupy our minds. To dowellwhat is given us to do, for this is all thatGodrequires at our hands. It may be summed up in four words,—simply, zealously, cheerfully, completely.

Then if weareslighted, misunderstood, maligned, or persecuted, what does it matter? These injuries will pass away; but the peace and love ofGodwill remain with us forever, the reward of our faith and patience. The love ofGod! Who can describe all the joy, strength, and consolation it reveals?

Never has human love, in its brightest dreams, been able to form any idea of all the sweetness the love ofGod[pg 065]imparts to the soul, and which is brought still nearer to us in the Blessed Sacrament.

I can well understand the words of a loving soul:"With heaven so near, and daily communion with ourGod, how can we ever repine!"

XXXII.After Holy CommunionOUR FATHER WHICH ART IN HEAVENOJesus! it is Thou Who biddest me say,Father!My Father!Oh how that Name rejoices my heart!My Father!I can no longer feel alone; and whatever may happen to me this day, I feel I am protected, comforted, beloved.Jesus!let me dwell on the sweetness of those words:My Father!I need not lift my eyes to heaven, Thou[pg 066]art within me, and where Thou dwellest heaven must be.Yes! heaven is within me! heaven with all its peace and love; and if I keep free from guile this day, my day will be one of heavenly joy, and in addition, the privilege of suffering for Thee.HALLOWED BE THY NAMETo hallow Thy Name, OLord, is to pronounce it with reverence and awe.To-day I will pray more fervently, try to realize Thy Presence, Thy Goodness, Thy Love; and my heart shall be a sanctuary into which nothing shall penetrate that could be displeasing unto Thee.Tohallow Thy Nameis to call upon it fervently, to have it constantly upon my lips; above all, before taking an important step, when there are difficulties to be overcome, I will softly whisper the Invocation, which is the secret[pg 067]of all holy living!"Jesus, meek and humble of heart, have pity upon me."THY KINGDOM COMEOJesus, Thy kingdom is within my heart, reign there in all Thy sovereignty and power, reign there absolutely!My King! what dost Thou require of me to-day? Thy commandments, my rule of life, my daily duties,—these are Thy commands that I will promise to obey; more than that, I will regard all in authority over me as Thine Ambassadors, speaking to me in Thy Name. What matters the tone or the harshness of the order?What does it signify if some unexpected command upsets all my previous plans? It is Thy Voice I hear, ThouLord, Whom I will obey always, and in all things.Thy kingdom is also in the hearts of[pg 068]others; and there would I see Thee reigning. Then to whom can I speak of Thee this day? What counsels can I give? What moments may I seize, in which, without wounding the feelings, or parading my zeal, I may be allowed to speak a few words of piety?Lord, let me have the opportunity to help another to love Thee!THY WILL BE DONE IN EARTH, AS IT IS IN HEAVENYes, yes! Thy Will be done! Thy sweet all-perfect Will!What wilt Thou send me to-day?Humiliation? Provocation? Sufferings? A fresh rending of the heart? A disappointment? Shall I see myself misjudged, falsely suspected, despised? I accept beforehand all that Thou sendest me; and if through weakness I weep, suffer it to be so; if I murmur, check me; if I am vexed, correct me; if hopeless, encourage me.[pg 069]Yes, yes! Let Thy sweet and holy Will be done!Even, OLord, if to glorify Thee, I must be humiliated, suffering, useless, and forsaken, still,Lord, stay not Thine Hand, I am wholly Thine.GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREADHow blessed, OLord, to depend only upon Thee ... behold me, Thy child, waiting with outstretched hand to receive Thy benefits.Grant me my temporal blessings,—clothing, nourishment, shelter ... but not too much of anything; and let me have the happiness of sharing my blessings with those poorer than myself to-day. Grant me the blessing of intelligence, that I may read, or hear one of those golden counsels that elevate the soul, and lend wings to the thoughts.Grant me the loving heart, O my[pg 070]Father! that I may feel for a moment how I love Thee, and Thy love towards me; let me sacrifice myself for the welfare of another. Give me the Bread of Life, the Holy Eucharist! I have just received it,Lord! Grant me again ere long that great blessing.And then, give all these blessings to those I love, and who love me!FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES, AS WE FORGIVE THEM THAT TRESPASS AGAINST USWhen I pronounce the word of pardon, what a weight seems lifted from my heart.I will not only banish every feeling of hatred, I will efface every painful remembrance. OGod, if Thou forgivest me, as I forgive others, what mercy for me!Thou seest I bear no malice, that I forget all injuries....[pg 071]I have been offended bywords; I forget them; by actions, I forget them; by omissions, thoughts, desires; they are all forgotten.Ah! in all these ways I have offended Thee, and Thou wilt forget, even as I have forgotten.I will be very merciful, so that Thou mayst have mercy upon me.LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION, BUT DELIVER US FROM EVILNow, as I leave Thine altar, I go to encounter temptation.OSaviour! help me, keep me, and warn me of my danger!Let me shun all occasions of evil, and if by weakness or allurements I am led into paths of sin, if I fall, oh! rescue me speedily, that I may fall upon my knees, confessing my sin, and imploring pardon.Sin! this is the evil from which I beseech Thee to deliver me; other[pg 072]troubles that may happen, I accept; they are sent to try me and to purify, and come from Thee; but sin, I have no pleasure in it! Oh! when in the hour of temptation I fall away,Lord, hearken to the cry that I now raise to Thee in all sincerity; Iwillit not! it is not wilful! I go from Thy Presence, but,Jesus, Thou art with me! In work, in prayer, in suffering, let all be done in Thee!

OUR FATHER WHICH ART IN HEAVENOJesus! it is Thou Who biddest me say,Father!My Father!Oh how that Name rejoices my heart!My Father!I can no longer feel alone; and whatever may happen to me this day, I feel I am protected, comforted, beloved.Jesus!let me dwell on the sweetness of those words:My Father!I need not lift my eyes to heaven, Thou[pg 066]art within me, and where Thou dwellest heaven must be.Yes! heaven is within me! heaven with all its peace and love; and if I keep free from guile this day, my day will be one of heavenly joy, and in addition, the privilege of suffering for Thee.

OJesus! it is Thou Who biddest me say,Father!My Father!Oh how that Name rejoices my heart!My Father!I can no longer feel alone; and whatever may happen to me this day, I feel I am protected, comforted, beloved.

Jesus!let me dwell on the sweetness of those words:My Father!I need not lift my eyes to heaven, Thou[pg 066]art within me, and where Thou dwellest heaven must be.

Yes! heaven is within me! heaven with all its peace and love; and if I keep free from guile this day, my day will be one of heavenly joy, and in addition, the privilege of suffering for Thee.

HALLOWED BE THY NAMETo hallow Thy Name, OLord, is to pronounce it with reverence and awe.To-day I will pray more fervently, try to realize Thy Presence, Thy Goodness, Thy Love; and my heart shall be a sanctuary into which nothing shall penetrate that could be displeasing unto Thee.Tohallow Thy Nameis to call upon it fervently, to have it constantly upon my lips; above all, before taking an important step, when there are difficulties to be overcome, I will softly whisper the Invocation, which is the secret[pg 067]of all holy living!"Jesus, meek and humble of heart, have pity upon me."

To hallow Thy Name, OLord, is to pronounce it with reverence and awe.

To-day I will pray more fervently, try to realize Thy Presence, Thy Goodness, Thy Love; and my heart shall be a sanctuary into which nothing shall penetrate that could be displeasing unto Thee.

Tohallow Thy Nameis to call upon it fervently, to have it constantly upon my lips; above all, before taking an important step, when there are difficulties to be overcome, I will softly whisper the Invocation, which is the secret[pg 067]of all holy living!"Jesus, meek and humble of heart, have pity upon me."

THY KINGDOM COMEOJesus, Thy kingdom is within my heart, reign there in all Thy sovereignty and power, reign there absolutely!My King! what dost Thou require of me to-day? Thy commandments, my rule of life, my daily duties,—these are Thy commands that I will promise to obey; more than that, I will regard all in authority over me as Thine Ambassadors, speaking to me in Thy Name. What matters the tone or the harshness of the order?What does it signify if some unexpected command upsets all my previous plans? It is Thy Voice I hear, ThouLord, Whom I will obey always, and in all things.Thy kingdom is also in the hearts of[pg 068]others; and there would I see Thee reigning. Then to whom can I speak of Thee this day? What counsels can I give? What moments may I seize, in which, without wounding the feelings, or parading my zeal, I may be allowed to speak a few words of piety?Lord, let me have the opportunity to help another to love Thee!

OJesus, Thy kingdom is within my heart, reign there in all Thy sovereignty and power, reign there absolutely!

My King! what dost Thou require of me to-day? Thy commandments, my rule of life, my daily duties,—these are Thy commands that I will promise to obey; more than that, I will regard all in authority over me as Thine Ambassadors, speaking to me in Thy Name. What matters the tone or the harshness of the order?

What does it signify if some unexpected command upsets all my previous plans? It is Thy Voice I hear, ThouLord, Whom I will obey always, and in all things.

Thy kingdom is also in the hearts of[pg 068]others; and there would I see Thee reigning. Then to whom can I speak of Thee this day? What counsels can I give? What moments may I seize, in which, without wounding the feelings, or parading my zeal, I may be allowed to speak a few words of piety?Lord, let me have the opportunity to help another to love Thee!

THY WILL BE DONE IN EARTH, AS IT IS IN HEAVENYes, yes! Thy Will be done! Thy sweet all-perfect Will!What wilt Thou send me to-day?Humiliation? Provocation? Sufferings? A fresh rending of the heart? A disappointment? Shall I see myself misjudged, falsely suspected, despised? I accept beforehand all that Thou sendest me; and if through weakness I weep, suffer it to be so; if I murmur, check me; if I am vexed, correct me; if hopeless, encourage me.[pg 069]Yes, yes! Let Thy sweet and holy Will be done!Even, OLord, if to glorify Thee, I must be humiliated, suffering, useless, and forsaken, still,Lord, stay not Thine Hand, I am wholly Thine.

Yes, yes! Thy Will be done! Thy sweet all-perfect Will!

What wilt Thou send me to-day?

Humiliation? Provocation? Sufferings? A fresh rending of the heart? A disappointment? Shall I see myself misjudged, falsely suspected, despised? I accept beforehand all that Thou sendest me; and if through weakness I weep, suffer it to be so; if I murmur, check me; if I am vexed, correct me; if hopeless, encourage me.

Yes, yes! Let Thy sweet and holy Will be done!

Even, OLord, if to glorify Thee, I must be humiliated, suffering, useless, and forsaken, still,Lord, stay not Thine Hand, I am wholly Thine.

GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREADHow blessed, OLord, to depend only upon Thee ... behold me, Thy child, waiting with outstretched hand to receive Thy benefits.Grant me my temporal blessings,—clothing, nourishment, shelter ... but not too much of anything; and let me have the happiness of sharing my blessings with those poorer than myself to-day. Grant me the blessing of intelligence, that I may read, or hear one of those golden counsels that elevate the soul, and lend wings to the thoughts.Grant me the loving heart, O my[pg 070]Father! that I may feel for a moment how I love Thee, and Thy love towards me; let me sacrifice myself for the welfare of another. Give me the Bread of Life, the Holy Eucharist! I have just received it,Lord! Grant me again ere long that great blessing.And then, give all these blessings to those I love, and who love me!

How blessed, OLord, to depend only upon Thee ... behold me, Thy child, waiting with outstretched hand to receive Thy benefits.

Grant me my temporal blessings,—clothing, nourishment, shelter ... but not too much of anything; and let me have the happiness of sharing my blessings with those poorer than myself to-day. Grant me the blessing of intelligence, that I may read, or hear one of those golden counsels that elevate the soul, and lend wings to the thoughts.

Grant me the loving heart, O my[pg 070]Father! that I may feel for a moment how I love Thee, and Thy love towards me; let me sacrifice myself for the welfare of another. Give me the Bread of Life, the Holy Eucharist! I have just received it,Lord! Grant me again ere long that great blessing.

And then, give all these blessings to those I love, and who love me!

FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES, AS WE FORGIVE THEM THAT TRESPASS AGAINST USWhen I pronounce the word of pardon, what a weight seems lifted from my heart.I will not only banish every feeling of hatred, I will efface every painful remembrance. OGod, if Thou forgivest me, as I forgive others, what mercy for me!Thou seest I bear no malice, that I forget all injuries....[pg 071]I have been offended bywords; I forget them; by actions, I forget them; by omissions, thoughts, desires; they are all forgotten.Ah! in all these ways I have offended Thee, and Thou wilt forget, even as I have forgotten.I will be very merciful, so that Thou mayst have mercy upon me.

When I pronounce the word of pardon, what a weight seems lifted from my heart.

I will not only banish every feeling of hatred, I will efface every painful remembrance. OGod, if Thou forgivest me, as I forgive others, what mercy for me!

Thou seest I bear no malice, that I forget all injuries....

I have been offended bywords; I forget them; by actions, I forget them; by omissions, thoughts, desires; they are all forgotten.

Ah! in all these ways I have offended Thee, and Thou wilt forget, even as I have forgotten.

I will be very merciful, so that Thou mayst have mercy upon me.

LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION, BUT DELIVER US FROM EVILNow, as I leave Thine altar, I go to encounter temptation.OSaviour! help me, keep me, and warn me of my danger!Let me shun all occasions of evil, and if by weakness or allurements I am led into paths of sin, if I fall, oh! rescue me speedily, that I may fall upon my knees, confessing my sin, and imploring pardon.Sin! this is the evil from which I beseech Thee to deliver me; other[pg 072]troubles that may happen, I accept; they are sent to try me and to purify, and come from Thee; but sin, I have no pleasure in it! Oh! when in the hour of temptation I fall away,Lord, hearken to the cry that I now raise to Thee in all sincerity; Iwillit not! it is not wilful! I go from Thy Presence, but,Jesus, Thou art with me! In work, in prayer, in suffering, let all be done in Thee!

Now, as I leave Thine altar, I go to encounter temptation.

OSaviour! help me, keep me, and warn me of my danger!

Let me shun all occasions of evil, and if by weakness or allurements I am led into paths of sin, if I fall, oh! rescue me speedily, that I may fall upon my knees, confessing my sin, and imploring pardon.

Sin! this is the evil from which I beseech Thee to deliver me; other[pg 072]troubles that may happen, I accept; they are sent to try me and to purify, and come from Thee; but sin, I have no pleasure in it! Oh! when in the hour of temptation I fall away,Lord, hearken to the cry that I now raise to Thee in all sincerity; Iwillit not! it is not wilful! I go from Thy Presence, but,Jesus, Thou art with me! In work, in prayer, in suffering, let all be done in Thee!

XXXIII."Mother,"asked a child,"since nothing is ever lost, where do all our thoughts go?""ToGod,"answered the mother gravely,"who remembers them forever.""Forever!"said the child. He bent his head, and, drawing closer to his mother, murmured,"I am frightened!"Which of us have not felt the same?

"Mother,"asked a child,"since nothing is ever lost, where do all our thoughts go?"

"ToGod,"answered the mother gravely,"who remembers them forever."

"Forever!"said the child. He bent his head, and, drawing closer to his mother, murmured,"I am frightened!"

Which of us have not felt the same?

XXXIV.One more solemn thought: How old are you? Nineteen. Have you reckoned the number of minutes that have elapsed since your birth? The number is startling: nine millions, three hundred and thirty-three thousand, two hundred.... Each of those minutes has flown toGod;Godhas examined them and weighed them, and for them you must give account.Each minute bears its own impress (as a coin bears the impress of the Sovereign), and only those marked with the image ofGodwill avail you for eternity.Is not this thought one to make you tremble?"I never could understand,"writes Guérin,"the feeling of security some have that their works must find favor withGod—as if our duties were confined to the narrow limits of this little[pg 074]world. To be a good son, statesman, or brother, is not all that is required of us;Goddemands far more than this from those for whom He has destined a crown of glory hereafter."

One more solemn thought: How old are you? Nineteen. Have you reckoned the number of minutes that have elapsed since your birth? The number is startling: nine millions, three hundred and thirty-three thousand, two hundred.... Each of those minutes has flown toGod;Godhas examined them and weighed them, and for them you must give account.

Each minute bears its own impress (as a coin bears the impress of the Sovereign), and only those marked with the image ofGodwill avail you for eternity.

Is not this thought one to make you tremble?

"I never could understand,"writes Guérin,"the feeling of security some have that their works must find favor withGod—as if our duties were confined to the narrow limits of this little[pg 074]world. To be a good son, statesman, or brother, is not all that is required of us;Goddemands far more than this from those for whom He has destined a crown of glory hereafter."

XXXV.One great characteristic of holiness is never to be exacting, never to complain.Each complaint drags us down a degree in our upward course.By complaining, I do not mean the simple imparting of our troubles to others.Complaint savors always of a little bad temper, and a slightly vindictive spirit.The saints were never exacting.Contented with their lot, they never desired anything that was withheld from them.[pg 075]"I have asked,"said a holy soul,"for something I thought needful; they have forgotten to answer me, or perhaps would not bestow it. Why need I be disquieted? If it were really necessary,Godwould quickly provide means to obtain it."How few could enter into this feeling; and yet it is but the echo ofChrist'sown words,"YourFatherin Heaven knoweth that ye have need of all these things."

One great characteristic of holiness is never to be exacting, never to complain.

Each complaint drags us down a degree in our upward course.

By complaining, I do not mean the simple imparting of our troubles to others.

Complaint savors always of a little bad temper, and a slightly vindictive spirit.

The saints were never exacting.

Contented with their lot, they never desired anything that was withheld from them.

"I have asked,"said a holy soul,"for something I thought needful; they have forgotten to answer me, or perhaps would not bestow it. Why need I be disquieted? If it were really necessary,Godwould quickly provide means to obtain it."How few could enter into this feeling; and yet it is but the echo ofChrist'sown words,"YourFatherin Heaven knoweth that ye have need of all these things."

XXXVI.Joy in life is like oil in a lamp. When the oil gets low the wick is consumed, emitting a black vapor, and sending forth only a lurid glow, which does not give light.A life without joy passes away unprofitably, shedding around it only gloom and sorrow.If every morning in a simple prayer,—in those fifteen minutes' meditation (which only seem hard when we do[pg 076]not practise it),—we opened our hearts toGod, as we open our windows to the sun and air,Godwould fill it with that calm, sweet joy which elevates the soul, prevents it feeling the weight of troubles, and makes it overflow with benevolence.But joy does not mean levity, witty sayings, or repartee ... it is habitual serenity.Through a clear atmosphere we can always see the sky; it seems so light and full of elasticity.A serene sky is always pure ... clouds may pass across it, but they do not stain it.So it is with the heart that early in the morning opens to receiveGod'sPeace.

Joy in life is like oil in a lamp. When the oil gets low the wick is consumed, emitting a black vapor, and sending forth only a lurid glow, which does not give light.

A life without joy passes away unprofitably, shedding around it only gloom and sorrow.

If every morning in a simple prayer,—in those fifteen minutes' meditation (which only seem hard when we do[pg 076]not practise it),—we opened our hearts toGod, as we open our windows to the sun and air,Godwould fill it with that calm, sweet joy which elevates the soul, prevents it feeling the weight of troubles, and makes it overflow with benevolence.

But joy does not mean levity, witty sayings, or repartee ... it is habitual serenity.

Through a clear atmosphere we can always see the sky; it seems so light and full of elasticity.

A serene sky is always pure ... clouds may pass across it, but they do not stain it.

So it is with the heart that early in the morning opens to receiveGod'sPeace.

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