minates in the heart of the eternal Father, where the elect are received and glorified by our Redeemer. It is plain that all the benefits of supernatural providence . . . absolutely depend upon the redemption of our divine Saviour, who merited them for us by the title of the strictest justice, when, in the spirit of love and obedience, He delivered Himself to death, even the death of the cross. His Pas

sion and death are the root from which proceed all the graces we receive, because, as members of Jesus Christ, we are engrafted on the tree growing out of this root, and, by a necessary consequence, if we remain in Jesus Christ, we shall be enabled, by the life of grace which He communicates, to bear the fruit of that eternal glory which awaits us. But, on the contrary, if by our infidelity and resistance to grace we impede the communication which should exist between Jesus Christ and our souls, and interrupt the succession of the graces destined for us, we cannot wonder or complain if we be cut off and cast into the fire as useless branches.1

What more can be said to inflame our hearts, and to inspire them with the warmest devotion towards our Saviour? Oh, what a happiness do we possess in Jesus Christ, who is the source of every blessing, an infinite treasure, a fountain of living water which springs up to eternal life! Oh, who will be so senseless and blind as to run after the vain and fleeting joys of this world, forgetting this gracious and loving Saviour, who alone can satiate the cravings of his heart, and impart to him a perfect and everlasting happiness! Whatever may be the state of our conscience, however great may be our guilt and sinfulness before God, let us approach with confidence to the throne

1 St. Francis de Sales, Treatise on Divine Love, book iii. chap. v.

of grace, and we shall find mercy in seasonable time. "If any man sin," says St. John, "we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Just." Yes, if Satan, unhappily, lead us into sin; if, seduced by the allurements of passion, we have deserted the path of justice, let us not despair of finding mercy; but let us lift up our hearts, full of confidence and sorrow, to Jesus, who is at the right hand of God, and He will make intercession for us. Oh, what consolation ought we not to feel when we remember that Jesus pleads our cause before the throne of His heavenly Father, that He solicits mercy and forgiveness for us, that He continually presents to His eternal Father in our behalf His own bitter sufferings, His own sacred blood, once shed for us on Calvary, that "blood which speaks for us better than that of Abel;" for that of Abel cried for vengeance upon him that shed it, but that of Jesus calls for mercy for all sinners, even for those wretches who poured it forth. 'Yes,' says St. Bernard, 'Jesus continually shews to His Father those wounds which He received for us in obedience to His commands, and conjures Him, by the merit of those wounds, not to suffer man to perish, for whom He paid so costly a price. How often did almighty God shew mercy to His rebellious people of old at the prayer of His servant Moses! How often was His wrath and indignation appeased by the tears and supplications of that His holy servant! How many blessings and favours did He not shower down upon His chosen people in consideration of the services of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob! Oh, then, what may not we expect from that same God of mercy, if Jesus intercede in our behalf; if this His only Son, in whom He is always well pleased, plead our cause! What can the Father refuse to such a Son? "Since, then, we have for our high

priest, for our mediator and intercessor, Jesus the Son of God, who has penetrated the heavens, let us go with confidence to the throne of His grace, that we may obtain mercy and find favour in the time of need. Yes, let us, in all our troubles and afflictions, run with loving confidence to this our beloved Redeemer, and beseech of Him to undertake our cause, and we shall not be rejected. Let us present ourselves before our heavenly Father, as Jacob approached his aged parent, clothed in the garments of our elder Brother, covered and protected by His merits, and we shall not fail to receive mercy and grace, and obtain a rich and plentiful blessing. O great and invaluable treasure, which God has bestowed upon man in giving him His only Son! O sublime and most excellent gift, bringing to man every good, enriching him with every blessing! 'Yes,' says St. Ambrose, 'in Jesus Christ we possess every good; He is all things to us. If you would heal your wounds, He is a physician; if the heat of your fever burns you, He is a fountain of living water; if the weight of your iniquities oppresses you, He is justice; if you stand in need of help, He is power and strength; if you fear death, He is life; if you would go to heaven, He is the way; if you wish to avoid darkness, He is light; and if you desire to eat, He is heavenly food. In fine, whatsoever you stand in need of, and whatsoever you can desire, you will find in Him.'

It is related that St. Bernard, in a severe sickness, was rapt in spirit, and seemed to be led before God's tribunal, where the devil accused him, and maintained that He merited not the possession of eternal glory. I confess,' replied the Saint, that I am indeed unworthy of it, and of myself have no right whatsoever to it; but Jesus Christ my Saviour has a right to it for two reasons: first, be

cause He is the only Son of the eternal Father, and Heir of the celestial kingdom; and secondly, because He has purchased it by His blood, obeying His Father unto death. The first of these two titles was sufficient for Him, and the other He has made over to me; and it is by virtue of this gift and grant to me that I now lay claim to heaven, and hope to obtain it.' The hellish accuser remained confounded at this answer; and presently this apparatus of judgment vanished, and the Saint came to himself.

If Thy servant David, O Lord, was so filled with wonder, admiration, and gratitude, at the thought of the many favours and blessings he had received from Thy hands, as to exclaim with all the feeling of his heart, "What shall I return to the Lord for all that He has done to me?" Oh, what should be my feelings of love and gratitude when I reflect that Thou hast given me a treasure infinitely surpassing all that Thou didst ever bestow upon him, or upon all Thy chosen people of old, a treasure than which heaven itself does not possess one greater, richer, and more valuable, even Thy own most beloved Son! Hitherto, alas, instead of being grateful for such a favour, I have contemned and despised it; instead of loving this my Saviour, I have joined with His bitterest enemies in reviling, insulting, and tormenting Him; instead of walking in His steps, and copying the virtues He has traced out to me in His sacred life, I have run after vanity and loved the ways of iniquity. But now, penetrated with sorrow, I return to Thy feet, and promise henceforward to adhere closely to Thy divine Son, to follow Him in the path of sufferings and sorrows, if it please Thee to lay His cross upon me; that so, loving and imitating Him here below, I may be found worthy to be admitted to a share of His glory in Thy kingdom.

O Mary, sweet Mother of this my Jesus, and most perfect follower and imitator of His sublime virtues, intercede in my behalf, and obtain for me the grace to persevere faithfully until death in the love of my Saviour and your most beloved Son.

ARTICLE II.

DEVOTION TO THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS.

SECTION I.

Object and end of this devotion.

The devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is a supreme act of worship which is exhibited to that most sacred and adorable heart, inflamed with love for men, and outraged by their ingratitude. What, therefore, constitutes the object of this devotion is not so much the material heart which formed a part of the body of Jesus Christ, as the immense love with which this blessed heart is consumed for men. But as we are greatly assisted in the practice of devotion by representing to our mind some sensible object which is calculated to excite our fervour and to inflame our piety, it is for this reason that our Lord presents to us His Sacred Heart, as an object the most capable of recalling to our remembrance that love which induced Him to immolate Himself for us, and remain with us till the end of time in the holy Eucharist. On considering the heart of man, we find that, being the source and seat of love, the most tender sentiments of the soul are with good reason attributed to it; now Jesus Christ has a heart, and if His precious body and blood merit all our adoration, who will deny that His Sacred Heart more especially claims our homage?

The end, then, that we should propose to ourselves in the worship of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is, first, to acknowledge and repay, as much as lies in us,-by our frequent adoration, by a return of love, by a gratitude without limits, its infinite love for men, particularly in