so extraordinary, that people could plainly see the cause that had drawn upon them this chastisement."

After the prohibition of these ecclesiastics, the celebration of the solemnity was interrupted, except in the collegiate church of St. Martin, where it was constantly celebrated. The work of God always suffers contradictions; St. Teresa assures us, that whenever she met with great opposition in any of her foundations, she always rejoiced, because she knew by it that the new foundation would give great honour and glory to God. For if the devil did not fear this, he would never trouble himself to oppose the work. So it was in this institution of the Feast of Corpus Christi; the devil was jealous of the honour and glory that would be given to God by its celebration, and he feared that it would be a means of bringing back to God many souls, whom otherwise he would have had in his power. Therefore he did all he could to oppose the work, and seduced many and powerful enemies to speak against it, and do all they could to destroy it. But although the malice of the evil one is great, the power of God is infinitely greater; and, notwithstanding the many obstacles and oppositions that the institution of the Feast of Corpus Christi met with, it has been approved by Sovereign Pontiffs, and by a General Council, and is now received and celebrated by the whole Church with great joy and gladness. It was at first assailed by many storms and tempests; but He who can say to the waves,

Hitherto shalt thou come, and no further," appeased also in His own good time this tempest. "He rebuked the winds and the waves, and there was a great calm."

CHAPTER XIV.

ST. JULIANA IN EXILE.

Ir is now time to see what became of Juliana after having departed from Cornillon. She departed, as we have said, trusting entirely in the good Providence of God, and having no other resource than a lively faith and confidence in the goodness and bounty of Him "Who giveth meat to all in due season." The first place that Juliana applied to for shelter from the storm, was the Abbey of Robertmont, which was built by Godfrey of Steenes, in 1215, and enlarged by Lambert de la Pierre, who gave it to the Cistercian Order in 1225. The abbess of this house received Juliana with much charity and kindness, doing all she could to alleviate the pain that their exile might cause these devoted daughters to experience. But this abbey being situated in the neighbourhood of Cornillon, Juliana was too near her enemies to remain long in peace and tranquillity; they used every means in their power to compel her to leave her new home, and in the end succeeded, for Juliana, rather than be a means of disturbing the peace of the community, departed.

Juliana's next place of refuge was the Abbey of Val-Notre-Dame, near Huy, which was also a Cistercian house, and where she was received with all possible kindness and charity. Everything that the abbess and her daughters could do, to assist, comfort, and succour their persecuted sisters, was done. They were extremely grieved to see Juliana and her sisters reduced to such

necessity, and consequently did everything that their charitable zeal could suggest, to make them forget the persecutions they had endured. But Juliana and her sisters were still too near their enemies to live in peace; it seems they were determined to have her far away from them, and that they dreaded nothing so much as her return to Cornillon. Juliana, who loved peace, and constantly sought after it, now believed that the only means of procuring it was to pass into a foreign land. She therefore consulted with her three companions, Isabella, Agnes, and Ozila, who all agreed to the proposition of Juliana. The city of Namur appearing to offer them a secure shelter from the storm, and a place of refuge from the violence and persecutions of their enemies; they resolved to go there, trusting that God would provide for them as He had done hitherto.

They, therefore, executed this design; but being in a strange country, and entirely unknown, they found no one willing to receive them. They were looked upon with suspicion, and regarded as wandering religious, whom it was a duty to avoid, rather than to receive. They had, therefore, to endure all the hardships, inconveniences and humiliations of the greatest poverty and indigence. Nevertheless, they suffered their misfortunes with heroic resignation and courage, and mutually exhorted each other to suffer with patience for the love of Him, who has suffered so much for the love of us. Not very long after their arrival at Namur, however, some religious gave them a shelter; but as these religious were themselves poor, they could do little beyond this, so that they still had to experience great poverty and distress.

At length God sent them a friend in the person of Himana of Hochestede, sister of Conrad, Arch

bishop of Cologne. Our Saint became acquainted with this charitable woman, who was Abbess of Salsines, a Cistercian house, situated on the Sambre, near to Namur. It was founded by Godfrey, Count of Namur, and Ermenson of Luxembourg, his wife. At the request of the Count and Countess, Pope Innocent II. consecrated the church in 1130. The Count and Countess had themselves laid the foundation of this house, and upon its completion St. Bernard came in person to visit and approve it.

Himana, the Abbess of this house, having heard that the Prioress of Cornillon and her companions were begging their bread, wrote to the Archdeacon of Liège, in order to acquaint herself with the circumstances which had reduced them to so great penury. The Archdeacon, whose name was John, was a very charitable and pious man; he knew all the particulars of Juliana's case, and faithfully communicated them to Himana, the Abbess of Salsines. The Abbess, learning from this the persecutions Juliana had suffered, and that she was now without any fixed abode, was eager to offer Juliana and her sisters a house which belonged to her, and which was situated near the Church of St. Aubin. The Prioress of Cornillon most gratefully and gladly accepted this generous offer.

Juliana and her sisters remained some years in this house, living very poorly; but tasting some of those ineffable pleasures God frequently bestows upon His chosen servants. At this time there were two precious relics in the Church of St. Aubin; one of the true wood of the Cross, and the other of the Precious Blood of our Lord and Saviour. In being able to adore these sacred relics, Juliana and her sisters believed themselves

amply recompensed for all the trials and tribulations they had undergone.

John, the Archdeacon of Liège, compassionating the misfortunes of Juliana and her sisters, in order to procure them a proper and commodious dwelling, purchased for them some land near the Church of St. Symphorian; upon which some cells might be built, which Juliana, by the help and assistance of some pious persons, caused to be constructed. This establishment was very advantageous to them, compared with the one they had hitherto occupied; but, having no revenue, they still remained in much poverty, and were often reduced to great extremities. Himana, the Abbess of Salsines, being deeply grieved to see these religious, who had given all their earthly goods to their couvent, in such distress and misery, interested herself to procure these persecuted women some alleviation in their distress, and at length obtained for them an annual pension. In order not to give an occasion for the criticisms and suspicions of those who are ever ready to find fault, and carp against religious; and also, in order that they might not be charged with a spirit of independence; Juliana and her sisters submitted themselves to their benefactress, the Abbess of Salsines, and promised obedience to her.

Juliana, through all the trials and misfortunes that she had experienced, always remained the same. No murmurs, no complaints; she was always meek, gentle, patient, resigned. Her love of prayer, her zeal for Evangelical perfection, never relaxed. She persevered in all her religious exercises, and in the practice of all good works. Her fervour never diminished, but always increased; and she practised the virtue of self-abnegation in the most heroic degree. God was her All, and