ing embalmed and shrouded it, they had it taken to Rome. All this was made known, by an Angel, to Aglaë, who had also devoted herself to penance and good works. She, therefore, went to meet the Martyr's relics. She built a Church, which was named after the Saint, and in which he was buried on the Nones of June (June 5th). The Martyr's soul passed into heaven on the day before the Ides of May (May 14th), at Tarsus, a city of Cilicia, under the Emperors Dioclesian and Maximian. tum quum ab Angelo Aglae matrona, quæ et ipsa pœnitens se piis operibus addixerat, cognovisset; prodiens obviam sancto corpori, Ecclesiam ejus nomine ædificavit, in qua corpus sepultum est nonis Junii, quum ejus anima pridie Idus Maii apud Tarsum Cilicia urbem migrasset in cœlum, Diocletiano et Maximiano Imperatoribus. The Angels rejoiced more at thy conversion, O Boniface, than at the fidelity of the ninety-nine just; but their joy was redoubled, when they found that heaven gained, in thee, not only a Penitent, but a Martyr too. Receive, also, the congratulations of holy Church, which celebrates the memory of thy victory. Rome is still in possession of thy holy Relics, which repose in the Church on Mount Aventine, where once stood the house of her that imitated thy repentance. In both her and thee, we have a proof of the infinite mercy of our Risen Jesus, who called the two sinners from spiritual death to the life of grace. Have compassion, O holy Martyr, on those poor sinners, whom this Easter has not yet brought back to their Redeemer. The Alleluia has resounded through the whole universe, and yet it has failed to rouse them from their sleep of sin. Pray for their resurrection. Their days are numbered; and perhaps they are not to see another Easter. Yet do we hope in the divine Mercy, which has shown us its power by making thee and Aglaë to be vessels of election. We, therefore, unite our prayers with thine, O Boniface, that our Lord may grant a resurrection to our Brethren. Hope is our armour in this peaceful contest with Divine Justice, which delights in being vanquished by prayer. Present our prayer before the Throne of God; and many of those, that are now spiritually dead, will come to life again, and their conversion will cause joy to the Angels, as thine did. MAY 16. SAINT UBALDUS, BISHOP AND CONFESSOR. IN order to honour her Eternal High Priest, the Church presents to him, this day, the merits of a Pontiff, who, after his mortal career, was admitted into a happy Immortality. Ubaldus, here on earth, was the image of our Lord Jesus Christ. Like his Divine Master, he received the holy Anointing of Priesthood; he was a Mediator between God and man; he was the Shepherd of a flock; and, now, he is united with our Risen Jesus, the great Anointed, the Mediator, the Shepherd. In proof of his influence in heaven, our Ubaldus has had given to him a special power against the wicked Spirits, who lay snares for our perdition. It has frequently happened, that the simple invocation of his name has sufficed to foil their machinations. It is with the view of encouraging the Faithful to have recourse to his protection, that the Church has fixed this day as his Feast. Let us now read the account she gives of the virtues of the saintly Bishop. Ubaldus was born at Gubbio in Umbria, of a noble family. He was, from childhood, formed, in the most admirable way, to piety and learning. When grown up, he was fre Ubaldus, Eugubii in Umbria nobili genere natus, a primis annis pietate, et litteris egregie est institutus. Jamque adolescens, ut uxorem duceret sæpe tentatus, nunquam tamen a proposito servandæ virginitatis recessit. Sacerdos effectus, patrimonium suum pauperibus et Ecclesiis distribuit, et Canonicorum Regularium Ordinis sancti Augustini institutum suscipiens, illud in patriam transtulit, atque in eo aliquandiu sanctissime vixit. Cujus sanctitatis__opinione evulgata, ab Honorio Secundo summo Pontifice Ecclesiæ Eugubinæ invitus præficifitur, et Episcopalis consecrationis munere decoratur. Ad suam itaque revertens Ecclesiam, quum de consueta vivendi ratione nihil admodum immutasset, in omni tamen virtutum genere eo magis eminere cœpit, quo efficacius aliorum etiam salutem verbo et exemplo procuraret, factus forma gregis ex animo. Nam victu parco, vestitu moderato, lectulo aspero et pauperrimo, crucis mortificationem jugiter in suo corpore circumferebat, dum inexplebili orationis studio spiritum quotidie recrearet. Hinc admirabilem illam mansuetudinem est adeptus, qua gravissimas injurias et contumelias non modo æquanimiter tulit, verum etiam mirifico dilectionis affectu persecutores suos omni benignitatis testimonio complectebatur. quently urged to marry; but nothing could shake his resolution of leading a life of celibacy. On being ordained Priest, he divided his fortune between the poor and the Churches, and entered among the Canons Regular of the Order of St. Augustine. He established that Institute in his own country, and was for some time a most fervent observer of all its regulations. The fame of his virtue spread far and wide. Pope Honorius the Second compelled him to accept the charge of the Church of Gubbio; and, accordingly, he was consecrated Bishop. Having taken possession of his See, he changed little or nothing of his mode of life; but he began to apply himself more than ever to the practice of every virtue, in order that he might the more effectually, both by word and example, procure the salvation of souls, for he was a pattern of the flock in all earnestness. His food was scanty, his dress unpretending, his bed hard and most poor. Whilst always bearing about, in his body, the mortification of the Cross, he every day refreshed his spirit with prayer, in which he seemed insatiable. The result of such a life was meekness of so admirable a nature, that he not only bore the worst injuries and insults with patience, but he even treated his persecutors with surprising affection, and showed them all possible kindness. During the last two years of his life, he suffered much from sickness. In the midst of the most acute pains, whereby he was made pure as gold that is cleansed in the furnace, he ceased not to give thanks to God. Finally, on the holy Feast of Pentecost, after governing for many years, and in a most laudable manner, the Diocese that had been intrusted to him, he slept in peace, venerated for his holy life and miracles. He was canonised by Pope Celestine the Third. God has given him a special power for driving away unclean spirits. His body, which has remained incorrupt for several centuries, is honoured with much devotion, by the Faithful of the city of Gubbio, which he has more than once rescued from the calamities that threatened it. cum Biennio antequam ex hac vita migraret, quum diutinis afflictaretur infirmitatibus, inter acerbissimos corporis cruciatus, velut aurum in fornace purgatum, Deo gratias indesinenter agebat. Adveniente autem sacro Pentecostes die, quum multis annis Ecclesiam sibi commissam summa laude gubernasset, sanctis operibus ac miraculis clarus, quievit in pace : quem Coelestinus Papa Tertius in Sanctorum numerum retulit. Ejus virtus præcipue in effugandis spiritibus immundis elucet. Corpus vero per tot sæcula incorruptum magna fidelium veneratione in patria colitur, quam non semel a præsenti discrimine liberavit. O blessed Pontiff! be thou our protector against the spirits of hell. They are devoured by envy at seeing how Man, that lowly and feeble creature, has become the object of God's predilection. The Incarnation of the Son of God, his Death on the Cross, his glorious Resurrection, the Sacraments which give us the life of Grace,-all these sublime means, whereby the infinite goodness of God has restored us to our lost dignity, have excited the rage of the old enemy, and he seeks revenge by insulting, in us, the Image of our Creator. At times, he attacks man with all the phrensy of angry jealousy. To mimic the operations of Sanctifying Grace,—which, so to speak, makes us the instruments of God's good pleasure,Satan sometimes takes possession of our fellow |