tions prove the eternity of his kingdom, which sees all things pass, but itself shall never pass. All sanctity arising from supernatural virtues is an expression of God's sanctity, an immediate production of his grace, a gratuitous gift of his Holy Spirit. Can you refuse to labour for him, even in your smallest actions? Learn, from St. Ignatius, to rise from creatures to the pure love of the Creator; and say with St. Paul, "Neither death, nor life, nor any other creature, shall separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Rom. viii.)

Thirty-first Day.

ON THE LOVE WE OUGHT TO BEAR TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN.

1o. Consider that she is our Mother, and let us have recourse to her as such. The last thing our dear Saviour recommended on the cross to us, in the person of St. John, was, to look to Mary as our Mother. Let us ever do so, especially when it pleases God to send us sufferings. What an honour it is to have the Mother of Jesus for our Mother! We must endeavour not to render ourselves unworthy of it, and therefore must avoid sin; for that alone can make us unworthy of her adoption and love. O most dear Lady! show thyself a Mother to me, for the sake of thy dear Son, and then my salvation will be secure.

20. Consider that our Lady loves us with all tenderness and affection. She remembers

that she is our Mother, left us as such by the will and testament of her dying Son; and that to comply with the duty of a mother, favours alone are not sufficient. Love and affection must be the principle from which they proceed. If, then, her heart, now she reigns in heaven, is a furnace of divine love, far surpassing that of all the other saints, what may we not hope from the love which burns in the breast of this heavenly Mother for us? No doubt, she makes use of it for our advantage; and, though at present we know not the number of the favours we receive by her intercession, yet, after this life we shall see the many graces she has obtained for us from the Divine Mercy. Can we ever cease to love this Mother?

3o. Consider that we cannot doubt of our Lady's seeing all our necessities in the Divine Word, as in a clear and spotless mirror; for if Almighty God makes them known to our Guardian Angels, that they may help and assist us, it cannot be supposed he would keep them secret from the Mother to whom he has recommended all mankind in the person of St. John. If she then sees all our necessities, who can think that the sight of so much misery in creatures so helpless of themselves, does not move her compassion to implore her divine Son's mercy for us, that we may find speedy relief in all wants and miseries? Let us then, fly with confidence and love to the feet of this tender Mother, we are sure to find aid in her maternal love, for her dear Son never refuses the petitions of his Mother, to whom he was so obedient here on earth.

SHORT EXAMEN AT THE END OF EACH
MEDITATION.

(10.) Did I, before my Meditation, place myself in the presence of God?

(2°.) Did I make the Preparatory Prayer, and the Preludes ?

(3°.) Did I preserve a becoming posture in Prayer? Was I attentive?

(4°.) Did I make good resolutions for the coming day?

Anima Christi.

Soul of Christ, sanctify me.

Body of Christ, save me.

Blood of Christ, inebriate me.

Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me.

O good Jesus, hear me ;

Within thy wounds hide me ;

Never permit me to be separated from thee
From the wicked enemy defend me ;

At the hour of my death call me,
And bid me come to thee;

That with thy Saints I may praise thee,
For ever and ever. Amen.

(300 days Indulgence for each recital.-Plenary Indulgence once a month, on usual conditions. A.)

;

Acts of Faith, Hope, Charity, and
Contrition.

(Seven years and seven forty days Indulgence for each devout recital of the Acts of Faith, Hope, and Charity.-Plenary Indulgence once a month on the usual conditions. A.)

A PRAYER TO BE SAID BEFORE THESE ACTS.

O ALMIGHTY and eternal God, grant to us the increase of Faith, Hope, and Charity, and that we may deserve to obtain what thou promisest, make us to love what thou commandest. Through

Christ our Lord. Amen.

AN ACT OF FAITH.

I FIRMLY believe there is one God; and that in this one God there are three Persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost that the Son took to himself the nature of man, from the Virgin Mary's womb, by the power of the Holy Ghost; and that in this our human nature he was crucified and died for us; that afterwards he rose again and ascended into heaven, thence he shall come to repay the just everlasting glory, and the wicked everlasting punishment. Moreover I believe whatsoever else the Catholic Church

proposes to be believed, and this because God who is the Sovereign Truth, who can neither deceive nor be deceived, has revealed all these things to this his Church.

A. Grant, O God, that we may humbly receive, and firmly hold fast all those truths which thou hast revealed, and thy Church has proposed to our belief.

AN ACT OF HOPE.

O MY God, relying on thy almighty power and thy infinite mercy and goodness, and because thou art faithful to thy promises, I trust in thee that thou wilt grant me forgiveness of my sins, through the merits of Jesus Christ thy Son; and that thou wilt give me the assistance of thy grace, with which I may labour to continue to the end in the diligent exercise of all good works, and may deserve to obtain the glory which thou hast promised in heaven.

A. This hope thus grounded on thy mercy, thy power, and thy promises, still more, O God, confirm and strengthen in us.

AN ACT OF CHARITY.

O LORD, my God, I love thee with my whole heart, and above all things, because

E