power of the precious blood which has flowed from you, I may observe perfectly my vow of chastity.

TWELFTH STATION: JESUS DIES ON THE CROSS.

IN spirit I behold Thee, my Saviour, accomplishing in fearful torments that sacrifice of obedience which Thou didst begin on entering into the world, and which in unspeakable labors and privations Thou didst continue all Thy life. Thou desirest to be my model in the obedience which I have vowed. What confusion for me, if I compare what is asked from me with what was required from Thee! Would that my obedience were like to Thine!

THIRTEENTH STATION: JESUS IS TAKEN DOWN FROM THE CROSS.

O MARY, who in the midst of bitter anguish didst practise the works of charity towards the lifeless remains of thy divine Son, Model and Mother of all Brothers and Sisters of Charity, let us never forget that it is to thy divine Son Himself that we render the service done to the

least of our fellow-men. Let us perform each act of charity with a pure intention, and may thy sweet heart make up for every deficiency

in ours.

FOURTEENTH STATION: JESUS IS LAID IN THE

SEPULCHRE.

WHAT rest, what stillness, in this holy sepulchre! Give me, O Jesus, the grace to be hidden with Thee in the sepulchre of holy religion; let me, unknown to the world and known only to Thee, practise works of charity. With all my heart I relinquish everything that is of no avail for my salvation. I will truly die to the world, and give up every claim to see, hear, know, or do what might impede the hidden, supernatural, divine life within me.

Examination of Conscience.

I. ON THE SERVICE OF THE SICK IN GENERAL.

1. HAVE I considered my vocation-sicknursing as a special grace and as an honor of which, on account of my sins, I am unworthy?

2. Have I served the sick with a lively faith

and a holy reverence, as serving Our Saviour Himself?

3. Have I slighted any of the sick, treated them with indifference or coldness?

4. Have I done my best to serve them well and conscientiously, and to procure them every relief, shunning neither trouble nor difficulty?

5. Have I been the cause of suffering or privation to some one or other of the sick, because I failed in charity, or because I had a secret aversion for them?

6. Have I borne patiently with the innocent caprices of the sick? Or have I, by contradiction, caused them to be discontented, to murmur, to complain?

7. Has my whole exterior bespoken love, friendliness, and heartfelt compassion?

8. Have I been equally loving to all; or have I shown greater attention to those who better suited my natural inclination?

9. Have I tried to allay the sorrows of the sick, endeavoring to stay them up by the consoling motives of religion?

10. Have I encouraged them to be patient

and resigned, thus to render their sufferings meritorious?

11. When obliged to admonish or reprimand the sick, have I done so with every possible forbearance and charity?

12. Have I without necessity spoken of the faults of the sick or the concerns of their friends?

13. Have I without any reason, simply through talkativeness, given circulation to news which I heard accidentally?

14. Have I allowed the mental weaknesses, the rudeness and ingratitude of the sick to deter me from serving them with all devotedness?

15. Have I purposely made use of the love and confidence of the sick to win their special affection, so that they wished only to be nursed and served by me?

16. Have I invariably refused the aid of others, because I thought no one was as clever as myself?

17. Have I perhaps devoted myself to the service of the poor, not through love of God and in the spirit of penance, but through vanity and ambition, to gain human praise?

18. Have I, while serving the sick, limited my exertions to the care of their bodies, without being mindful of the salvation of their souls?

II. CONCERNING THE CARE TO BE BESTOWED ON THE SALVATION OF THE SICK.

1. HAVE I looked upon sick-nursing as a means to win souls to God?

2. Have I endeavored to excite in the hearts of the sick a desire of their salvation?

3. Have I considered prayer and the spirit of sacrifice to be the most efficacious means to win the sick man to God?

4. Have I availed myself of favorable opportunities now and then to say some edifying words and give rise to pious thoughts?

5. When the state of the patient became dangerous, have I at once done everything I could to induce him to receive the holy sacraments?

6. Have I frequently offered up to God my prayers and good works for those entrusted to my care?