3If a man have a hundred sheep.-Some interpreters say that the angels are the ninety-nine, and mankind the one sheep. Others think that the just are the ninety-nine, and a sinner the one. Similes do not run on four feet.

Rejoiceth more. He does not love more but rejoiceth. One rejoiceth more after escaping a storm than if he had a calm passage. On finding a thing that was lost or coming in for an unexpected turn of good luck.

Our guardian Angels. S. Bernard says we should:

Ist. Reverence them because they are holy.

2nd. Be devout to them because they interest themselves for us with the Father.

3rd. Confide in them in dangers.

The mercy of God is illus

trated here.

Ist. He goes after the sinner.

2nd. He puts it on his shoulder and brings it home.

3rd. Heaven rejoices thereat. "There is joy in heaven."

15. "Si autem peccaverit in te frater tuus, vade et corripe eum inter te et ipsum solum : si te audierit, lucratus eris fratrem tuum;

16. "Si autem te non audierit, adhibe tecum adhùc unum vel duos, ut in ore duorum vel trium testium stet omne verbum:

17. "Quòd si non audierit eos, dic Ecclesiæ; si autem Ecclesiam non audierit, sit tibi sicut ethnicus et publicanus.

15. But if thy brother shall 'offend against thee, go, and reprove him between thee and him alone. If he shall hear thee, 'thou shalt gain thy brother.

16. But if he will not hear thee, 'take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may stand.

17. And if he will not hear them, 'tell the church. And if he will not hear the church, let him be to thee as the heathen and the publican.

The doctrine of fraternal correction laid down here by Our Lord is generally supposed to refer to a grave sin, and one that might be productive of harm. Supposing a man is broaching a

heresy, and tells you of it, he begins to scandalise you at once. You reflect on the matter, and find his faith is going; Speak to him, remonstrate with him; if this will not gain him, then one or two mutual friends-who may suspect as much, or may have been hurt by his words-and if he will not hear those, then denounce him to the parish priest, the bishop, to whomsoever you think represents the authority of the Church. It is his business to excommunicate the man, and prevent his error from spreading. The same rule may be carried out in correcting minor faults, but not under such a serious obligation.

1Offend against thee.-If he scandalise thee in a serious manner. logians lay down the nature and grades of these offences.

Theo

Thou shalt gain.-He was lost, by his sin being mortal, to God or to your charity.

3Take with thee.-This requires prudence in the selection of the one or two; rules are laid down therefore by theologians and moralists. Common sense is guide enough.

Tell the Church.-Some say the Assembly. The general opinion of Catholic commentators is-as the fault is a private one, or nearly so-to tell the Church Authority.

"If he be pertinacious, then the Church will excommunicate him, and the laws made and provided for such cases have to be put in force.

Charity requires that we keep | our brother from misfortune if

we can.

Ist. A word in time.

2nd. Kindly said.

3rd. With a good intention.

Yourself and himself if you have a good prospect. Otherwise Ist. He may think you impertinent.

2nd. He may aggravate the fault.

3rd. You may drive him further off.

Taking one or two.

Ist. This does not expose him too much.

2nd. They give more weight. 3rd. He sees the matter is serious.

People are excommunicated in order to their correction. For the health of their souls. Hence:

Ist. Means should be used to convert them.

2nd. Their advances kindly received.

3rd. The ban should be removed for penitence.

18. " Amen dico vobis: Quæcumque alligaveritis super terram erunt ligata et in cœlo, et quæcumque solveritis super terram erunt soluta et in cœlo.

19. "Iterùm dico vobis quia, si duo ex vobis consenserint, super terram, de omni re quamcumque petierint, fiet illis à Patre meo qui in cœlis est.

20. "Ubi enim sunt duo vel tres congregati in nomine meo, ibì sum in medio eorum."

21. Tunc accedens Petrus ad eum, dixit: "Domine, quotiès peccabit in me frater meus et dimittam ei? usquè septiès?"

22. Dicit illi JESUS: "Non dico tibi usquè septiès, sed usquè septuagiès septiès.

18. Amen I say to you, whatsoever you shall bind upon 'earth, shall be bound also in heaven and whatsoever you shall loose upon earth, shall be loosed also in heaven.

19. Again I say to you, that if two of you shall agree upon earth, concerning any thing whatsoever they shall ask, it shall be done for them by my Father who is in heaven.

20. For where there are two or three gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

21. Then 'Peter came unto him, and said: Lord, how often shall my brother offend against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?

22. Jesus said to him: I say not to thee, till seven times; but till 'seventy times seven.

Jesus Christ rises beautifully from the little child and his good qualities until He comes to the Head of the Church, and the use of the most tremendous powers ever put into mortal hands. He repeats here that the power He gives to His Apostles is not a mere external thing, a matter of form, but that every deed of jurisdiction which they do is ratified in heaven. In some cases persons exercising these powers ought to consult with each other and invoke God's guidance. He has promised this even to two or three, and how much more to a council?

That He is here speaking of jurisdiction and the power of absolution is the general opinion of all Catholic writers. The others are scarcely worth considering. If any doubt remained it would be cleared up by the parable which comes to illustrate Heaven's love of mercy.

1Earth... heaven.-This power of binding and loosing, or of refusing

to pardon and pardoning rests: Authoritatively in God. In Jesus Christ by way of excellence. In the Apostles and their successors ministerially. So S. Thomas.

If two of you shall agree.-This is supposed by some to refer to fraternal charity. Maldonatus says it refers to consultations between bishops.

3Two or three . . . in my name.-Legitimately assembled for a legitimate purpose. His presence here is special, a guiding presence to keep from

error.

4Peter... till seven times.-Peter would have most of this work to do, and so he wants to have a rule. This seven, some say, was suggested by Our Lord's words in Luke xvii. 4. Others say that Peter became suddenly generous and wanted to exceed the Jews, who were accustomed to forgive only three times.

Seventy times seven.-This is not confining the exercise of mercy to 490 times, but is a general round number way of putting a thing.