canticle, "My spirit hath rejoiced in GOD my SAVIOUR." "He that thinketh himself to be something when he is nothing deceiveth himself,” says the Apostle Paul. He who was taken up to the third heaven was not puffed up by it, but whatever good he did, taught or wrote, he ascribed all this faithfully to GOD, saying, "By the grace of GOD I am what I am."3 CHAPTER XVII. Of Emitation of the most Holy Life of our Lord Jesus Christ. "WHAT ye have done unto one of My brethren, ye have done unto Me."4 Mark the works, observe the mysteries, imitate the examples. Whoso aideth a brother in need, retaineth JESUS by the hand. Whoso patiently bears the burthen laid upon him, carries JESUS and Him crucified upon his shoulders. Whoso answereth words of comfort to the sorrowing, gives a kiss of love to the mouth of JESUS. Whoso bewaileth another's fault and craves par 1 S. Luke i. 47. 2 Gal. vi. 3. 4 S. Matt. xxv. 40. don for him, washes and wipes the feet of JESUS. Whoso reclaims an angry brother to peace, strews in the soul a bed of flowers for JESUS. Whoso prepareth for his brother a better table than for himself, feeds JESUS with the feast of charity and the honey-comb. Whoso indulgeth holy meditations of GOD, introduces JESUS into the chamber of his heart. Whoso gives his brother a book of holy reading, pledges the mouth of JESUS with the best wine. Whoso forbiddeth idle words to be spoken, banisheth flies from the table of JESUS. Whoso refuses to hear calumny, and chides those that speak unseemly, strikes and drives away with a staff a black dog from the house of JESUS. Whoso during refection reads well and distinctly, rejoices the guests at the table of JESUS with heavenly wine, and inebriates the thirsty. Whoso reads badly, diminishes the flavour of the food; and he that often lisps, stains the napkin of JESUS. 2. Whoso hears of another's evil deeds and grieves much and mourns on account of them, touches and anoints the sacred wounds of JESUS. Whoso relates the virtues and good example of his neighbour, offers beautiful flowers to JESUS. Whoso devoutly reads and preaches the words of JESUS, scatters sweet aroma before the nostrils of the hearers. Whoso piously carries and excuses another's failings, will readily obtain pity from JESUS. Whoso conceals the evil report and offences of another, covers with robes the naked limbs of JESUS. Whoso diligently thinks of and sweetly muses upon the Divine miracles and lowly deeds of CHRIST, receives honey and milk from the mouth of JESUS. Thus the most blessed Agnes saw and did, who also poured forth her blood for love of JESUS. Whoso reads or sings to a weak and sick brother, pleasantly plays with angels before the cradle of JESUS. Whoso devoutly prays and abstains from delicate food and renounces his own, offers with the holy Magi three precious gifts to the hands of JESUS. Whoso washes the head and garments of the brethren, baptizes JESUS with holy John the Baptist. Whoso keepeth his closet and is quiet, enters the desert with JESUS. Whoso resisteth vices and keeps the body under, fasts with JESUS. Whoso speaketh the word of salvation to his brother, preaches the Kingdom of GOD with JESUS. Whoso faithfully prays for the sick and the tried, visits Lazarus with JESUS, and weeps with Mary and Martha. 3. Whoso goeth with the brethren to the common refectory to hear holy reading, sups and drinks with JESUS and His Disciples. Whoso treasureth up in his heart the words of GOD read at table, rests with S. John the Apostle on the bosom of JESUS at supper. Whoso humbly and readily obeys in adversity, truly follows JESUS with His Disciples to the mount of Olivet, where He was betrayed and taken. Whoso prays instantly and fervently in tribulation and temptations, fights with JESUS in contest against the Devil. Whoso entirely relinquishes his likes and dislikes, fulfils with JESUS the will of His FATHER, and carries the Cross to Calvary. Whoso prays for his enemies and gladly pardons those that sin against him, asks with JESUS for His enemies that they may not perish but be converted and live. Whoso voluntarily renounces all of earth and forgets all visible things, dies with JESUS on the Cross, and is taken up with S. Paul into Paradise. 4. Whoso keepeth his heart pure and peaceful, wrappeth JESUS in fine linen and burieth Him in his heart. Whoso persevereth unto the end in the service of JESUS, sweetly sleeps and reposes with JESUS in the sepulchre. Whoso treasures up in his mind, and digests all the words and acts of JESUS, prepares sweet kinds of spices which are most powerful for the consolation of a sorrowing soul. Whoso humbly and devoutly gives thanks for benefits conferred upon him, comes with Mary Magdalene with spices to the tomb of JESUS. Whoso after contrition and confession of sins, firmly resolves to amend, rises with JESUS from the death of sin. Whoso casteth away slothfulness of mind, and glows with fresh ardour, celebrates in spirit a new Paschal with JESUS, and joyously sings "Alleluia" in chorus with Him. Whoso despises all the joys, and escapes the dangers of this world, seeks and accepts a religious life, enters with JESUS and His Disciples the closed chamber, that he may in secret serve GOD more freely, love more purely, and receive the HOLY SPIRIT more fully. Whoso cares little for things temporal, and by holy meditation is warmed by the heavenly, mounts and ascends with JESUS to heaven. Blessed soul; to which to live is CHRIST, and to die with CHRIST is gain. Whoso longs to live with CHRIST must die to self. He to whom CHRIST is sweet, and precious, must relinquish all fleeting things. There is labour in relinquishing, pain in dying, but salvation and life eternal in happily reigning with CHRIST. Oh! when will it be that God alone will be all to me, and I entirely given and united to Him? For so long as the faithful soul is not united to GOD in glory, it cannot be fully happy. Follow CHRIST then in the steps of love during thy life, by faith glowing with charity, that thou mayest become worthy to see Him face to face, making angels blest. To the |