The liturgical year, tr. by L. Shepherd. Continuation [by L. Fromage].

The Two Masters.) The triple Concupiscence;
-the third, (of the eyes) is the object of this
Gospel.-The mission of the rich man in the
New Law. His glory and merit when he uses
Mammon for God.-Evil of riches, when abused.
-Avarice, how strong;-its 30 pieces of silver!
-has committed the greatest crime that ever
was, and the sinner was an Apostle, Bishop,
Priest-Gospel condemns an exaggerated solici-
tude, it makes sad havoc with Christian Life ;—
the unitive way never had earthly solicitude to
tread it. Every Christian, be he a Religious or a
layman, is bound to cultivate detachment from
riches.

The 15th Sunday,

EPISTLE. (Gal. v. and vi. If we live in the

Spirit, &c.) Even when we have subdued the

flesh, active vigilance still requisite.-What mad-

ness to be proud of the mortifications we have

used!-St. Paul calls it, sowing in the flesh.-

Confidence in God, when vain-glory dictates it.-

A mark of our having divine Union, is indulgence

for the faults of our neighbour. The mysterious

application made by St. John of the words:

Abideth in Me, and I in him.

GOSPEL (St. Luke, vii.) Jesus went into a

city called Naim, &c.) Application of this Gospel
to the season of Lent.-Its application in these
days of Pentecost; the Church weeps for her
child, (each sinner,) who has relapsed since
Easter.-St. Laurence Justinian on the Church's
grief at seeing her child's relapse.-We should
imitate our mother, and co-operate with her.

The 16th Sunday,

EPISTLE. (Eph. iii. I pray ye not to faint

at my tribulations for you, &c.) The enthusiasm

of David's soul is in Paul's, now that he is Nero's

prisoner. Why it is that the Epistle to the

Ephesians is so dear to the Church during this

Season.-Immense grace of knowing the grand

dimensions of God's dwelling in a Christian;-

not one is excluded from so sublime a vocation;

-if only we were faithful to the mysteries an-

nually celebrated by Church!!-The Holy Spirit

of Mercy will supply the deficiencies of our past

months, if even now, in this close of the Year,

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we be earnest.-Supernatural horizons opened to
all earnest christians, i.e. to all who are not
animal men.-God's eternal designs upon us ;—
and how all are love.-The Incarnate Word the
great singer of the New Canticle ;-we are to sing
with him. This is the mystery of divine Union.
GOSPEL.-(St. Luke, xiv. The man that had

dropsy; healing on the Sabbath; Friend, go up

higher.) The Wedding; we are all invited to it;

Jesus, Bridegroom; Church, Bride. - Divine

Union, when real, absorbs all man's being; it is

so with created nuptials.-There must be no

competition permitted; no rivals; how

patiently our Jesus waits for our giving in!-

In her Liturgy of last few Sundays, Church has

warned us against the triple concupiscence, for

these would be vile competitors for our hearts;-

she now comes to the direct aim she has had ever

since feast of Pentecost.-A relapse is always

dreaded by the Church, for even her most fer-

vent children;-a spiritual dropsy may supervene.

-It is Humility that is the safest guarantee.-

The last place.-Contempt for others sure sign

of false spirituality.

The 17th Sunday,

EPISTLE (Eph. iv. I...beseech you, that ye

walk worthy of your vocation, &c.) What is the
Vocation, the call, of God.-What is the condi-
tion required for our living up to such Vocation.
-The Bond of peace is created by the Holy
Spirit.-Dissensions, &c., prevent this Bond;-St.
John Chrysostom's comparison of fire and dry and
damp wood.-The oneness of our Vocation should
unite us in charity ;-though Charity, because of
original sin, always calls for effort.-In heaven
alone, effortless perfect charity, and why.-The
music of heaven because of perfect union.-The
meaning of the Church's addition at the end of
this Epistle.

GOSPEL.-(St. Matth. xxii. "The Love of
God.") Jesus permits devil to tempt him, that
we might be taught.-Permits Pharisees also.-
Wicked always trying to find Church tripping.-
Church's utterances are always triumphs.-How
Jesus confounds the Pharasaic tempters ;
the two commandments ;-first not observed, if

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second is broken.-He asks the tempters about

the Dixit Dominus.-If we love Jesus, we fulfil

the two commandments.-Jesus our ALL ;-the

Eternal Father's love is always "Jesus;"-God

only loves men, because they are, or may be-

come, members of his Christ.-Our charity is

the same, i.e. what we love in selves or in others,

is the Word.-Why we must exclude no one

(but the reprobate) from our charity. The link

between two profound expressions of St. Paul

about the end of the law;-our moral and dogma

are the Man-God; he is our faith and our love.

-St. Augustine's hæreamus Uni, fruamur Uno,

permaneamus Unum.

The 18th Sunday,

EPISTLE.1 Cor. i.) The thought of the

Last Judgment, which is approaching, is con-
tinually before our Mother, now that our Year is
closing. The love of the Bride, the Church, is
one that includes vehement desire for her Jesus.
-Why he would not tell her how long she was
to be in exile.-This explains the pleasure the
Apostles take in speaking of the approaching
Coming.-Miracles will increase as that Coming
draws nigher-witness Lourdes!-Modern in-
credulity. What we now need;-especially in
our Pastors.

GOSPEL.-(St. Matth. ix. The Paralytic, carry-
ing his bed.) Our Priests are to us what Moses
was to Israelites;-Offertory for to-day, why it
speaks of Moses.-Our Gospel instructs us upon
the prerogative of our Priests, forgiving sins, and
healing souls. This Gospel always most dear to
Church;-Catacombs abound with frescoes of
Paralytic. Heretics always found to deny the
priestly power of forgiving sin.-Jesus's miracle
is repeated by the Church.-How grateful we
should be for the Sacrament of Penance.

The 19th Sunday,

EPISTLE. (Eph. iv. Be renewed in the Spirit

of your mind; &c.) What is holiness, in God;
what it is, in man.-How we are sanctified in
Truth, through the Incarnate Word.-To whom
does the Son of Man communicate the life and
truth of divine Union.-What the Apostle means
by the new man; and justice: and holiness of

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truth:-join this to the text of the 17th Sunday,
Be careful to keep Unity,-and we have a com-
pendium of all the rules of the ascetic and
mystic life. Be angry and sin not; even holy
anger must be soon calmed down; else, we give
place and scope to the devil to interfere with
Unity.-Egotism is sign of devil's ruling us;
devotedness for others, that the Holy Ghost is
with us.-How, according to St. Basil, it is by
this Unity alone that the benefits of the Incar-
nation are manifested to the world.

GOSPEL.-(St. Matth. xxii.) The Invited to
the marriage-feast of the King's Son.) This is
the second time we have the parable, which speaks
of divine Union.-This second shows us how the
light has been added to, during these Sundays.-
The King's Son enters the guest-hall, to see if all
have the wedding-garment on ;-they have had
time to mend their robes.-How solicitous the
Church is, during these closing Sundays, to make
us thoroughly understand the mystery of divine
Union.-St. Gregory's Homily.

The 20th Sunday

EPISTLE.-(Eph. v. See, how ye walk circum-
spectly, etc.) The final consummation of divine
union will infuriate the devil tenfold.-They who
live, when world is drawing nigh its close, must
be very circumspect regarding minimising com-
promises of liberal Catholics.-Concession and
cowardly shrinkings.-Diminution of revealed
truth is always folly.-Adaptation of Gospel
principles to our 19th or 20th centuries, is a
fashion most unwise.-The honest simplicity of
the sacred proverb, is our best policy.-Fidelity
to Jesus means fidelity to Truth.-To truly serve
our world, we must staunchly give it unminced
Truth.-Jesus redeemed, (he purchased,) Time for
us, that we might spend it all in asserting the
whole Truth;-time well-spent is only when Truth
is kept boldly true; we must be Michaels, with
"None like truth !"-Our forefathers called these
last weeks of Pentecost, HOLY ANGEL WEEKS!—
St. Michael our great leader in these liberal times.
-A single voice crying "Who is like God and
Truth?" will always have tremendous power.—

PAGK

438

Spiritual festivity, how it puts the worldly ones.

into the shade.

GOSPEL. (St. John, iv. "The Ruler of Caphar-

naum.") The world is drawing to its close, like
our ecclesiastical Year.-What Capharnaum im-
plies. Our spiritual fathers pray for us.-Jesus
was at Cana. -Pastors should imitate the Church
in her zeal and patience;-she prays for the end
to be deferred (pro mora finis).-Tertullian's other
words. Our prayer for the world's salvation must
be strong in faith.-Worldlings are inexcusable,
yet must we pray that they may enter the Nup-
tial Feast of the Lamb.-Jesus's example of
shedding his Blood for even obstinate sinners:-
we, too, must pray for the enemies of the Church.
-Let us avoid the faulty faith of the Ruler.

The 21st Sunday

EPISTLE.-(Eph. vi. Be strengthened in the Lord

etc.) Early beginnings of divine Union, delicious;-
law of Deuteronomy;-but short.-Normal state
is-battling. God's name of Hosts;-Jesus de-
scribed as a Warrior ;-therefore, Bride is martial.
-What is the Evil Day.-The armour of Jesus
is put on his Bride.--How Faith is the generic
name of all the great armour.-How it is, we puny
soldiers can make head against the mighty fallen
spirits. The Revealed Word of God is the
soldier's great shield.-Devil's horror of one that
passionately loves the word of God.-One word,
MICHAEL, how grand!

GOSPEL.-(St. Matt. xviii. Have patience with

me, and I will pay thee all.) The Dies ira how

appropriate for this close of Year.-God's readi-

ness to pardon ;-but we must equally be ready

for last reckoning. We are the insolvent debtor.

-Our debt to divine justice supposes eternal

punishment.-God's forgiveness demands mine;

-St. Augustine's words on that ;-St. Chrysos-

tom. Our unfortunate seven times a day.-Going

to rest with bitter feelings against our neigh-

bour. A son or daughter of God must be like

Him, in pardoning.