Charles, that as he was eminent for the discharge of his pastoral duties, so his prayers may make us zeal ous in the love of thy holy name: through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A NOVENA to ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST.

PRECURSOR of our divine Lord, destined by the Eternal One to prepare his ways, thy seat must be high in Heaven, for on earth thou wert truly exalted.-Thou hast been pro. nounced the greatest of those born of woman, by the great Searcher of hearts. Thy miraculous birth and ex traordinary life, thy austere penance and burning zeal, proclaim thee great; and were all these wanting, thy purity and profound humility would point thee out as one truly exalted. When thou camest into the world, thou didst come as the friend of thy Creator; and whilst on earth, thou didst never offend him. Though thou didst administer baptism to Jesus Christ, thou still didst own, with due humility, that you were not worthy to loose the latchet of his shoe. As the reward of thy humility, Christ himself hath praised thee, and the whole world to the end of time will glory in thy birth. In thee we behold a miracle of God's grace and power; and we conjure thee to raise in our behalf that glorious voice, which, from the wilderness, pierced the heavens, and was heard at the throne of the Most High. We beg of thee to implore for us the intentions of this Novena.-N. N.

O, Holy Anchoret, as thou wert by excellence the friend of the Saviour, thou canst obtain from him whatsoever thou wishest, for he ardently loved thee. Take me, then, under thy special protection; obain for me the graces I stand in need of, and, more especially, perfect obedience to the voice of those who preach to us the necessity of true penance. O thou who wert a burning fire, obtain for us, through thy powerful intercession, a portion of that which is enkindled by the preaching of those whom God has commissioned to point out to us the way to eternal happiness. Teach us to know ourselves, teach us to know our God, and his son Jesus Christ our Lord. Obtain for us hat we may be frequent and worthy partakers of the Holy Communion. Grant that we may approach with that angelic purity which enabled thee to discover the Lamb

of God, though he was then unknown to the world. Holy Martyr of Jesus, though I am not worthy to shed my blood for him as thou hast, I conjure thee to inter cede for me, that I may live and die in the practice of Christian penance, and in the faithful observance of everv duty which the law of God imposes on me.

A Prayer to ST. AUGUSTINE.

O GLORIOUS St. Augustine! the light and oracle of the faithful! I most fervently join with the whole Church of Christ in thanking the Almighty for having chosen thee to become a peculiar object of his love, and an everlasting monument of his tender mercies. Illustrious penitent! thy admirable conversion proves to the whole world, that no crimes are too great for the God of all mercies to pardon-no heart too corrupt for his love to purify-and no obstacle too strong for his grace to overcome. Penetrated with veneration for thy virtues, I choose thee for my Father, my Protector, and my Advocate. I most humbly beseech thee to have compassion on my youth, and to protect me in those dangers which thou well knowest are attendant on my inexperienced age. O blessed victim of charity! obtain that I may seriously consecrate my heart to my Creator, and faithfully observe that great commandment of charity, so deeply engraven on thy heart. Thou wert the son of thy mother's precious tears, the conquest of her prayers, and afterwards the faithful imitator of her virtues; obtain for me the most profound respect and tender affection for my parents, gratitude for their care, and the grace to profit of the advantages which their solicitude for my eternal welfare has provided for me. I recommend to thee, in a particular manner, O great Saint! all those unhappy souls, who are in the dreadful state of mortal sin, and conjure thee, by the unceasing tears thou didst shed over thy own wanderings, to procure them the grace of conversion, and to obtain for me such horror of sin, that I may avoid it as the only real evil, and thereby morit to behold for all eternity that increated Beauty

who was too long hidden from thy view, and eternally love that infinite Goodness, whom thou didst bitterly regret having loved too late. Amen.

A prayer to ST. ANGELA, Foundress of the Ursuline Order.

Most blessed St. Angela! who art now in possession of that eternal crown which is promised to those who instruct others unto justice, permit me to have recourse to thee, as to my glorious Patroness, and to choose thee for my special Advocate before the throne of God. In union with all those happy souls, who, under God, are indebted to thee for the glory they now enjoy in heaven, I thank God for having raised thee up, to provide for millions the great blessings of religious instruction. How grateful should I be for the happiness of being ranked among the umber who now enjoy the fruits of thy charity and seal. O glorious Patroness and Mother of the weakest portion of Christ's flock! do not abandon thy charge, now that thou seest more clearly than ever the dangers to which youth are exposed. I entreat of thee, by that lively zeal for God's glory, which caused thee to devote thy life to the instruction of the ignorant, to take me as thy child, and to obtain for me the grace to profit of the blessings which the Almighty has bestowed on me through thee. Procure for me by thy prayers a docile heart-a lively horror of sin— sincere love of God and my neighbour-and so great a share in that tender compassion for the poor which distinguished thee, that I may never neglect an opportunity of affording them any spiritual or corporal assistance in my power. Teach me, by thy example, to practice works of mercy, that like thee I may find mercy, and join thee for all eternity in praising and blessing that good God, who has exempted me from the miseries suffered by many of my more deserving fellow-creatures. Amen.

A Prayer to ST. URSULA.

O GLORIOUS St. Ursula! olessed Martyr of Jesus Christ who didst despise the riches and dignities of this world for the love of God, and wert so happy as to lay down even thy life for his sake, take me under thy powerful protection-shield me by thy prayers from the dangers of the world, and teach me by thy example how to triumph over its temptations. I am not worthy to lay down my life for him who died for me; yet, as I know that I may have many temptations, to suffer from the world and my own corrupt inclinations, I have recourse to thee with confidence, to implore, through thy intercession, the strength to resist and overcome them all; and to remember, on all occasions, that the life of a Christian, if not laid down for Christ by martyrdom, should at least be sacrificed to his glory by penance and self-denial. Thou art, O great Saint! my special Patroness, therefore I humbly recommend to thee all my undertakings, and beg of thee, as thou wert so particularly gifted by God with the power of persuading others to the practice of virtue, to obtain for me the grace to love and fulfil the duties of a Christian, and to endeavour by good example to engage others in the service of God. O glorious Martyr! whose death was an act of the most perfect charity, be thou my protectress in my last moments, and intercede for me now, that I may prepare for them by the fervent practice of those solid virtues, which alone will furnish ground for confidence in the mercy of God on the bed of death.

A Prayer to Sт. ALOYSIUS, for young Students. ANGELICAL Youth Aloysius! who art, by the ap pointment of Christ's Vicar on earth, the Patron of those who apply to study, thou hast illustrated the Church by a holy contempt of worldly greatness, but

still more by the innocence and sanctity of thy life allow me to choose thee as the particular patron of my studies, and to resolve most sincerely to follow the example thou hast left me of diligence and piety. Receive me as thy client, and through the love which animated thy heart for Jesus and Mary, vouchsafe to assist me in the pursuit of virtue and learning. Obtain for me purity of body and mind, and a filial confidence in the ever-blessed Virgin. Defend me against the dangers of the world; direct me in the choice of a state of life; and obtain for me those powerful graces which will preserve me from the guilt of mortal sin; that assisted by thy patronage, and animated by thy example, I may lead so holy a life in this world, as to be associated with thee in the company of angels for all eternity. Amen.

On the Choice of a State of Life.

THE most exalted sanctity is attainable in every state and condition of life, provided that it is embraced in compliance with the will of God, and its particular obligations faithfully discharged, for his love. This is evident from the example of many who sanctified themselves in situations which appear least calculated for that end; such as on the throne or in the army. God, as a good Father of the great family of mankind, allots to each the station he would have him occupy. It is in corresponding with the designs of God in this important point, that most security and facility of salvation are commonly found, because there are graces annexed to each condition of life, which tend to lessen its difficulties, and to assist in the discharge for its obligations; and those graces, it may be supposed, are only bestowed on such as God calis to serve him in that particular condition. Whence you may perceive that it is, at least, a great imprudence to take so important a step rashly