I. Cugnonius
6th Series— No. 2.
PASTORAL LETTER
UF
| NOR JOSEPH THOMAS DUHAMEL
Duties of religion—Duties of station in life.
By the Grace of God and of the Hol Apostolic Sec A rehbishop of Ottawa, Assistant at the Pontifical Throne, ete.
To the Clergy, Secular and Regular, the Religious Com
munities, and all the Faithful of the diocese of Ottawa, Health and Benedietion in Our Lord
rer + mms]
OSM eem mem -
DEARLY BELOVED BRETHREN, The Holy Gospel informs us that Mary and Joseph, at the time appointed by the law of Moses, carried the child Jesus to Jerusalem. to present hain to the Lord. and it adds: After they had performed all things accord i to the law of the Lord. they returned into Galilee. lo their city Nazareth, (Luke EE Y9395
Let us follow this Holy Family who is going to retire into a poor and obscure house, Everything in their life furnishes an instruction, everything in their actions should be for us a model. What will they do in Nazareth? They are going to occupy themselves with the duties of religion and the duties of their station in life. Jesus will be the model of Mary and Joseph : he should be ours too, He is the Word of God made man to teach us the way to heaven, His purpose is to make us understand that true virtue, true perfection will always consist in practising exactly and equally well all the duties of one’s station in life and those which religion imposes.
Let us study this great model. He speaks to us by his obedience, his work, his fidelity in fulfilling the duties of his station, before teaching us by his preaching and miracles,
Every man is subject to two kinds of duties : duties of religion and duties of station in life. He who Wishes to work his salvation must coneiliate them in such a manner that religion may never be the eause of his failing in that to whieh he is obliged by his station, and that lis station may not prevent him from aceomplishm what religion prescribes,
Wherefore, Dearly Beloved Brethren, we wish to explain to vou to-day the rules and principles whieh should be followed by Christians anxious for
their eternal salvation, in order to draw
from religion the advantages which it offers for their becoming perfect In the practice of the duties of their station in life,
LASER.
v and Joseph, s, carried the ito the Lord, / all th ! OS eturned into 11,22. 30.) iO 18 Going to jverything in uno in their will they do y themselves their station and Joseph :
f God made purpose is to 1e perfection and equally | those which
speaks to us fulfilling the his preaching
uties ; duties e who wishes m in such a se of his failstation, and accomplish-
, we wish to ciples whieh us for their
religion the ning perfect ation in life,
however comptemptible or honorable it may be in the eves of the world, and to draw from the acc mplishinent of the duties of their station, the advantages which it gives them for their becoming perfeet in religion.
VE
Each station in life has its duties, These duties take hold of us from our very infancy and follow us in the different states that we may freely embrace, Chi: dren have, with regard to their parents, duties of submission, love and respect ; parents have, with regard to their children, duties of eare for their education. zeal for their interests both eternal and temporal, and attention to their eonduet : spouses have reciproeal duties of respect, affection, consolation and support: masters have, with regard to their servants, duties of justice, charity, compassion, kindness and mildness: servants have towards their masters duties of fidelity, exactitude, tefulness and attachment.
Each profession has proper and particular duties which characterize it. The duties of lawyers are not those of merchants, nor the duties of physicians those of judges. In like manner, school trustees, municipal councillors, members of parliament, state tninisters, gQov-
ernors, presidents, kings or emperors have different duties: but all and everyone have the particular duties of their station in life to perform. Kach one is obliged to learn the particular duties of his station : otherwise he exposes his eternal salvation. He is certain that religion far from withdrawing him from the practice of the duties of his station must necessarily lead him thereto, for religion it is that inspires the most powerful motives for fulfilling them with perfect exactitude,
We cannot doubt that religion obliges us to practise the duties of our station in life. The Holy Preeursor of Jesus Christ preseribes this practice to those who have charge of t levying of taxes, and he preseribes it to them as a means of salvation not only efficacious, but also necessary and indispensable. St Paul, in his
oTraora
whats ema ' ttim
pvc epoca na ente,
eee iti
Ep stles to the Ephesians and the Thessalonians speaks of the partieular duties of eaeh station, as belonging
! essentially to the sublime morality of the Gospel. He
: M warns spouses to take as the model of their union, that i of Jesus Christ and the Church ; he recalls to children
: Ki the duty of obedience, and to parents that of instruetion Hi education and correction. To servants he says : obey M your masters as you would Jesus Christ himself; do
not serve them only when they have their eyes on you, but serve them with affection. From masters he requires the same affection towards their servants: he 7 vbids using them with threats, for we have, he says, a eoinmon Master in heaven with whom there is no respect of persons. Holy Writ praises singularly the most perfeet servants of God for faithfulness in accomplishing the duties of their station in life. It praises the
| Joshuas and the Gideons for their patience in the toils i of warfare, for their constancy in supporting the fati-
gues thereof. It praises Solomon for his encouraging the arts, prospering commerce, covering the sea with his vessels to bring to his kingdom wealth and abundance, and dispensing true justice. It praises the valiant woman beeause she continually busied herself in the house in providing for the needs of her domesties and the poor, stimulating her servants to work, and acting ever in such manner that her husband himself might appear honorable among the senators of the land. The Blessed Virgin is therein particularly praised for having visited her cousin Elizabeth and for having thus performed a duty of decorum and friendship, a duty which religion commands us as well as all other duties of our station
That one would not have a true devotion, nor a real virtue, who under pretext of attending to many praetiees of piety, would neglect to fulfil the duties of his station in life.
There is no state of life which is free from anxieties, troubles and fatigues, but religion gives the courage necessary to bear them, and it relieves them by teaching
Re
onlans speaks as belonging : Gospel. He ir union, that
Ils to children of instruction
he says : obey ; himself; do eyes on you, ters he requits: he 7 vbids >, he says, a € is no respect the most per- | aecomplish- [t praises the ice in the toils rting the fatiicouraging the sea with his id. abundance, s the valiant herself in the domesties and i, and acting himself might he land. ‘The sed for having g thus perfora duty whieh r duties of our
ion, nor a real many praetie duties of his
rom anxieties, ; the courage m by teaching
us to look upon them as so many trials which come trom God himself und which he never fails to reward, if not in this life, certainly in the next.
Time given to the duties of our station in life is not lost time for our sanctification, and consequently for our salvation. Hach one ean, nay must sanctify himself by accomplishing with a spirit of piety the duties of his station. Then in the practice of his duties, he will find an abundant source cf merits; in most of the labors attached to their performance, a continual exercise of charity ;in temptations which are sometimes inseparable from this fulfilment, a continual occasion for victories: finally in the troubles that are caused by those duties, a continual exercise of penance.
Our eternal glory will be in proportion to our merit: but, in what consists the true merit of man? Is it not in doing continually what God wills, what he commands ? And who does that, if not he who accomplishes faithfully all the duties of his station in life ? Work then, when duty prescribes it, is more holy and meritorious than prayer itself. "lo do what one is obli ged to do, such is the correct rule and the source of true merit. [sit not from the practice of this rule that Jesus Christ seems to have drawn the principal ground for his merit? The divine Master employed only the three last years of his life to perform great actions, miracles and sacrifices. During the first thirty years he lived of the work of his hands, plying the humble trade of acarpenter under the direction of his fosterfather, under the eyes of his sweet mother, obeying them as a submissive son, He was occupied solely with the entire and faithful accomplishment of the duties of his station, performing with perfect sanctity actions which were common in truth, but at the same time all equally agreable to his heavenly Father: Z do always the things that please him (John VIII, 29.)
This it is which should ever be a souree of eonsolation to workingmen of all trades, subaltern employees and all those who by reason of their condition labor in lowly situations. Let them not imagine that their labors are by no means apt to help them in aequiring christian perfection, since they may find like Jesus Christ the high st sanctity in their very work ; all depends on the motive that guides them, Religion binds us to the same duties as the world, but it demacds different motives, [t requires us to accomplish the duties of our station in life not through human motives, but indeed through supernatural motives, [Instead of fultilline the duties of our Station through motives of interest, eupidity, vanity, ambition ancl self pride, let us fulfil. them through love for God, charity for our neighbors and as a penance for
OUT Sliis Those who OCCUps the highest positions can à
just LS CHSTIN aceoim plish all the obligation thereof
through supernatural motives. Should not those who povern evel allow themselves to be guided by justice, md have they not always the occasion of exercising charity The same is true of men who practise one or the other of the numerous professions which ensure for those who praetise them a place of honor among their ellow-ereatures, There is no one who may not sunetify himself in his station There have been and there are yet stats in all trades, professions and stations of life ; but the re Sinners likew se Whenee is this From the fact hat the former work for | tod, through a motive of christian charity, and the latter alas ! work for the world, for themselves only, to find the means for amusing themselye Satis fi ing then prid and oftentimies their MOST Witcist( d passions
I Lhe pl ietiee of the duties of their station aints
sanctify theimselve You all know the story of the patrinrehi Joseph, He is. first a simple shepherd who Wiarteli er the floeks of his father thenee he becomes | TET then he IS pout In iron and from his prison he l | ed almost to the throne but he Is equally holy in those different stat à son submitted to the orders
ol his | ithe whe n | TIT pherd i «lu^ [E "T dient
ee of eonsolan employees jon labor in t their labors "ing christian us Christ the pends on the iIstothe same rent motives, ur statton m d through su- : duties of our dity, vanity, through love | penanee for positions can tion thereof iot those who | by justice, of exereising r'aetise one or eh ensurt for amone their / not sanctify ind there are tions of life: this From uel ù motive work for the 3 for unistng
entities them
tation, saints Story of the hepherd who ede bec Hes his prison he ually holy in () the orders ve obedient
to the commands of his master when sold, a prisoner patient and charitable towards the companions of his uistortune when incarcerated, a minister zealous and indefatigable for the publie welfare wheu occupying the first place in the couneil of king Pharaoh
Let us seek them to sanetify ourselves in our station in life: let us seek in the great principles of our religion For high, solid and immovable motives which may serve to render meritorious in heaven our labors, troubles and iniseries ; let us look in the subjeetion to our duties for an abundant souree of merits, vietories and pentes which will make us holy: in short, let us sanctify our station in life by religion and let us perfect ourselves in religion by our station. Let those who govern imitate those princes after the heart of G xl who have been Sreat lead rs of their peoples only because they Were oreat saints and because the christian law was ever present to their mind and heart Let those who oeeupy positions which enable them to bring on the triumph of justics, always remember that one day they will have to
render God a terrible account, Let those who have employment ot any kind never forget that upon their fidelity in fulfilling a’ ‘he obligations thereof depends their eternal salvation. Let those who hold authority know how to exercise it for the wood of their interiors
Let inferiors submit to all that is just and reasonable, In fine, let those wish seriously for their salvation dis: charge oxnetly the duties of their station in life through motives of religion, and let them seek in. the practice of ther duties as Christians and the motives Which religion sugwests to us, n the prineiples whieh it teaches: and the help which it gives us, that strength and wood will necessary for the accomplishment of the duties of their station
ine of Lent ean be usefull employed n medi tating upon the truths which we have just. recalled. to your minds, and in examining ourselves with eire on the manner im whieh we have in the past Faltilled the duties of religion and the duties of our station in life. then in
doing penance for the negligences and omissions of which
we may have found ourselves guilty, taking at the same time strong and sincere resolutions for the future, with the firm determination to repare the faults committed against justice or charity.
Sinee we all, poor sinners as we are, should aeknowledge that we are obliged to do penance, let us aet so that we may perform at least that which the Chureh imposes during the holy season of Lent.
By virtue of an indult ad dec nnawmn of His Holiness tlie Pope Leo XIII. dated the 24th November 1896, it is regulated, this year, for the diocese, as follows :
lo. All the days of Lent, Sundays excepted, are
vs of fast :
20. Wednesdays and Fridays, Saturday of Ember days and Holy Saturday are days of abstinence ;
3o. The use of flesh-meats is allowed on the other days of Lent. (For further information, read the appendix to the Ritual.)
The Pope in according this induit, orders us to exhort the faithful to aet in such a manner that they may compensate by other good works and almsgivings to the poor for this mitigation of the lenten penance.
We therefore urge them not to forget to multiply their good works and almsgivings.
Our present Pastoral Letter shall be read at the parochial mass in all ehurehes and publie chapels, and in chapter in religious communities, Quinquagesima Sunday,
Given at Ottawa under our signature, the seal of the diocese, and the countersign of our Chancellor, this twelfth day of February in the year of Our Lord one thousand nine hundred and three, the feast of the Ap parition of the Blessed Virgin Mary Immaculate.
" THOMAS, Archbp of Ottawa, By eommand, P. Canon MeCarthy, Chancellor
UN Le ua " iw at the sam
future, with ts committed
hould aeknowlet us act so h the Chureh
,. of His Holi-
oveniber 1896,
s follows:
excepted, are
lay of Ember nence ;
| on the other ead the appen-
rders us to exthat they may givings to the ce,
t to multiply
be rend at the e chapels, and )yuinquagresima
re, the sent of
'haneellor, this Our Lord one ust of the Apculate.
MF Ottawa,
Carthy,
Chancellor
Gth Series—No. 3.
PASTORAL LETTER
Archbishop of Ottawa,
To announce the death of the Sovereign Pontitf
Pope Leo ALL
hy the Gre of (10d and of the Holy Apostol See. A rehbishop of Ottawa. Assistant at the Pontifical Throne, ete.
To the Clergy, Secular and Regular, the Religious Com
munities, and all the Faithful of the dioeese of Ottawa, Health and Benedietion in Our Lord
Vrny BELOVED BRETHREN,
The Chureh mourns to-day the loss of a great Pope who. under the ever memorable name of Leo XII, has governed it. in the name of Jesus Christ, for a little more than twenty-five years, A despatch from Rome informs us that he has ceased to live this very day at 4.04 P. M.
He has been truly the pontiff of Providence, the guide of those who govern, the friend of workmen, the light of bishops, the bright beacon of the world. Our time has not produced a more illustrious man ; among all the popes, he will ever preserve à halo quite proper to himself.
His only ambition has been to serve the ehurch of the Saviour, and he has served her well. By conseerating to her his great virtues,his eminent science, his profound knowledge of the aspirations of peoples, his keen attection for the whole of humanity, he has performed marvellous works.
Upon his accession to the pontifical throne, the revolutionary spirit domineered the world; that spirit is antichristian. The work which had to be accomplished was therefore to draw to Christ and the Church contemporaneous society. This is the work which he has undertaken. Accordingly, what has he not done to spread the Gospel more and more unto the uttermost limits of the earth ? He has applied himself to elueidate, in admirable enevelicals, well nigh the whole catholie teaching, With a precise clearness, he has told what should be, according to the point of view of reason as well as that of faith, the relations between citizens and governments, rich and poor, those who possess capit! and those who labor, Of all questions treated nowadays, there is not one to which he has not brought strong light. Nay more, he has given a new flight to the teaching of philosophy, theology, Holy Seripture ; he has founded universities, academies: he has effiea ciously encouraged arts and letters
great Pope X HI, has
b, E a little from Rome very day at
ice, the gulde n, the light
Our time mong all the oper to him-
church of the consecrating his profound ; keen attecformed mar-
ie, the revohat spirit is accomplished Church convhich he has ot done to he uttermost self to eluci-
the whole s, he has told iew of renson ween citizens who possess ions treated snot brought ew flight to ly Seripture ; je has ethea
He has made himself the best among the defenders of States, by combating socialism, freemasonry and all other secret societies. And so it is that sovereigns have paid him homage : and have relied on his support for the social direction “ot their pe ples.
Leo X. II has raised to its true height the dignity of man whom the necessities of life condemn to assiduous and painful labor, a dignity which appears so well in the christian who is faithful to his duties.
Never forgetting the commandment of the Divine Master teach all nations (Matth. XXVIII, 19), he has taught them both their rights and duties, But as each pe ople is ina special condition he has not failed to vary his counsels, ‘This is the reason why the august pontiff has taken upon himself the task of addressing to the bishops of so many countries particular encyclieals or Instructions.
The bishops of Canada received from him one of these, in which he proclaims the right of eatholie parents to schools where their children may be taught, with entire liberty, not only seeular seience, but also the science of sciences, that of religion, and in whieh he encourages them to claim their full right with zeal and prudence
Non-entholie nations themselves have heard his appeal, an appeal to their heart and intelligence, an appeal showing that unity is the supreme desire of the Redeemer who eune to make unto himself only one flock and to establish only one fold; he has entreated them to return to the true faith.
The influence that Leo XIII has exereised over the world has been wide, lofty, deep and universal, He has received during his lifetime peremptory homage such us is generally besto ed on the dead onl v.
The ehureh, under the impulse of the deceased Pope, has reeonquered in the world an. extraordinary moral ascendeney.
Un ler his pontitieate, the eeclesinstieal hierarchy has developed splendidly. More than two hundred - arch-
bishopries, bishoprics, apostolie « delegations, vicariates, }
abbeys, have been created: the diplom: itic relations with
foreign governments | which had been interrupted, "
have been resumed. In a century wherein material force seemed bound to domineer everything, the moral force of papacy has gone back to the first rank. One
should have to write mueh to recall everything that, C enaad à
has been done for the purpose of augmentine ce: atholic, "T
pie ty, urging on the propagr ation of Faith, : sprei ading hore daze | Third Order of St. Francis of Assisi, rendering they, fiu life of the family more christian#and binding more inseparably ull hearts to the | Sucred Heart of Jesus.
Alas! he is no more he who performed so much rood, we will see no more his white, paternal and venerable face which rose majestie upon the world.
But wherever is found an altar, the holy sacrifice of the mass will be offered up, and everywhere fervent praye:s will be addressed to heaven, that the Father whom we mourn may enjoy without delay the glory of the blessed.
We will not fail, Very Beloved Brethren, to fulfill this same duty which is imposed upon us by deep gratefulness for the numerous favours conferred by him upon our own diocese.
Therefore, We direct as follows:
Lo. There shall be chanted, as soon as possible, in all churches and in the chapels of religious communities, a solemn service for the eternal repose of Leo XTIT (At the Basiliea, the service shall be chanted on the twentyninth of the present month, in presence of the clergy of the diocese who will be following then the exercises of the pastoral retreat. )
20. During eight days, beginning with that of the reading of the present letter, all priests shall reeite after mass n De Profundis with the prayer Deus qui inter Su Ht dits NIIT ( rdote 8,
3o. The faithful are invited to receive holy commu nion Once and to make the Wits of the cross ;
4o. As prayers de mandato, you shall sing or recite,
vicariates, i= lations with :
interrupted, | d in material à the moral \ à rank. One E
vthing itt damit i 10° e utholic, AS re: ading thoy dio
| dering’ i] le yf f ow
nding more : Jesus.
1 so much il and vene- bus Id.
"sacrifice of ere fervent the Father ; the elory
fh
o fulfill this p gratefuly him upon
sible, in all rA inunities, a M
XIII. (At à the twenty- " je clergy of à exereises of s that of the :
| reeite after E IS qui i inter " ty commu $
uw or reeite,
until the election of a new Pope, the Collect, Secret and Post Communion of the Mass Pro eligendo Sumivo B ontifice sede vacante.
The present Pastoral Letter shall be read at the parochial mass ia all ehurehes, and in chapter in Religious Communities, the first Sunday after its recep-
tion.
CHyen at Ottawa, under Our signature, the seal of the
diocese and the countersign ob. e ehaneellor, this twentieth day of July, in the year of Our Lord one thousand nine hundred and three.
J. Tuomas, Arclibp. of Ottawa.
By Command, P. Canon MeCarthy,
Chancellor,
Uriel Io eg oa
res
Sansa
ac Aene e eger e el s
Mie
6th Neries— No. 4.
PASTORAL LETTER
WGA JOSEPH THOMAS DUHAMEL
Archbishop of Ottawa, to announce the election of a new Pope.
By the Grace of God and of the Holy Apostolic Nee A rchbishop of Ottawa, Assistant at the Pontifical Throne, ete.
To the Clergy, Secular and Regular, the Religious Com.
munities, and all the Faithful of the diocese of Ottawa, Health and Benedietion in Our Lord.
Ga te ie
Very Beloved Brethren,
Jesus Christ, and the Church and the Papaey for ever: Three words, but also three dogmas, three loves very dear to us!
Thus we exclaim with joy on this day when the Sacred College has elected, with the helping inspiration of the Holy Ghost, a new Pope, the 264th Viear of Christ upon earth, to occupy the Pontitieal Throne.
We are all witnesses of how Christ is always faithfull to His promises: the gates of hell do not prevail against His Church, and the Papacy is ever living.
Only a few days ago, Leo XIII died : his body was laid down in the Vatican Basiliea, and his soul entered the blessed Eternity : to-day his successor sits on the Chair of Peter and is at the helm of the Christ-bearing Bark, which any violent wind may toss to and fro. but which no tempest can submerge.
Leo XIII caused the light of faith to shine brightly over the whole world. The new Pontitf also. as if coming from the shore of the heavenly world, will repeat the word of our divine Lord: * I am come to east fire on the earth : and what will I buc that it ne kindled " ? (Luke XII, 49).
Every intelligent mind has been. enlightened by the Light in heavens let us hope that all hearts will, through the intercession of Mary, queen of all hearts, by the burning love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. be more and more inflamed with the ardent fire of the supernatural religious charity : Ignis ardens ; et a littore veniet.
Having such an unshaken hope, We joyously announce to vou, V. B. B., the election to the Supreme Pontificate of His Eminence Cardinal Joseph Sarto, patriareh of Venice.
He was born at Riese, Diocese of Treviso, in Italy, on the 2nd of June 1835.
To the new Pontiff, whose name is Pius X. we shall ever show the most sincere respeet and most profound devotion : to the infaillible Doetor, the humble subinission of our intellect ; to the supreme Pastor, our good will
apacy for hree loves
vhen the
nspiration Vicar of irone,
LS faitht prevail dug.
body Was ul enterits on the st-bearing d fro. but
|: brightly deinem orld, will | come to hat it ne
| by the arts will, hearts, by E he more supernart pen aet, y annourie. Pontipatriarch
Italy, on
we shall profound | submiseood will
and true obedience; to our common Father hearts which we shall prove by our gen our fervent prayers.
He is the Viear of Christ, Pope and King : may he live long ! May his reign be glorious ! May all religiously hear and obey him ! May he witness the victory of the Chureh and the Saviour’s triumph !
Wherefore, We direct as follows :
, the love of our 'rous alms and
Ist. The day on which this Pastoral Letter shall be read, after the parochial mass, a solemn 7% in all Churches and ( 'hapels, where publie service is held :
2nd. On the three following Sundays, after the chial mass, there shall be sung the with the versicle.
corda fideliun :
3o. In all Ch:
be sung, on tl Veni Creator.
Dewin shal be sung
parohymn Veni Creator response and the prayer Deus qui
pels of Religious Communities there shall ie days above mentioned, the Te Deuin and ete., after the mass at which the Community will have assisted :
Mh. After this day and until further orders, the prayer Pro Pope shall be de mandato.
The present. Pastoral Letter shall be read at the
parochial mass in all churches and chapels, and in chapter in. Religious Communities, the first Sunday after its re-
ception.
Given at Ottawa. under Our hand Diocese and the countersign of our Chancellor, this
fourth day of August one thousand nine hundred and three, on the feast of Saint Dominic.
, the seal of the
+ J. THOMAS, Archbp. of Ottawa, By command, P. Canon MeCarthy,
Chancellor.
jatzuseqeuerncrc aser iib qiti met un
: i ; ES | CR f NIV
WRCO IAS Æ À *
Gième Série No. 5 PASTORAL LETTER
OF
stolic See.
He
‘ Archbishop of Ottawa
à Christian Life.
JOSEPH THOMAS DUHAMEL, 4 By the Grace of God and of the Holy Aj ; Archbishop of Ottawa, Assistant at
: Pontifical Throne, etc.
à To the Clergy, Secular and Regular, the R telig u munities, and all the Faithful of the «
Ottawa, Health and Benedietion in Our L
ius Com:
ese of
VERY BELOvED BRETHREN,
Jesus, the Savior, has compared His Church to a sheepfold of which he is the door and the Shepherd. “Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep." (John, X,7). "By me, if any man enter in, he shall be saved." (Ibid,9) “I am the good shepherd, and I know my sheep, and mine know me.” (Ibid., 14). We belong to that fold, we are the sheep of the Divine Shepherd ; he knows us and we know him. Truly intimate is that knowledge for faithful christians. — It is, on the part of Jesus, full of tenderness and devotedness, and on ours, it is composed of respect, love and obedience. It is all to our advantage, for it makes us sure of supernatural life whieh is properly ehristian life and which renders us worthy of life eternal. Thus has Jesus promised us: "I am come that my sheep may have life, and may have it more abundantly.” (Ibid. 10).
There are in man. four kinds of life, aecording to the several prineiples which move him to all his actions; that which he has in common with plants which only feed and grow ; that which he has in common with animals deprived of reason who are led by the senses only ; that which he has in common with his fellow-ereatures who guide themselves only with feeble human reason : tinally, that which he has in common with the angels and all intelligenees united to God who is their centre and as it were the plaee where they dwell, The last is that whieh Jesus wishes us to have with more abundance, it is supernatural life, christian life, the life of the faithful who govern themselves by faith, as God savs in the Old Testament (Habaeue, IT, 4) ag the apostires have taught in explaining the Gospel mes My just, man liveth by faith. " ( Hebr., X, 38).
There is the just man according to the world, and the just man according to God, The just, according to the world, is that one whois a good man through reason,
worldly maxim and personal interest ; the just, ae
cording to God, is he who looks to faith as the principle
3 Church to a he Shepherd.
of the sheep." 1, he shall be P'pherd, and I id., 14), We e Divine Sheruly intimate It is, on the tedness, and nd obedience.
ure of superfe and which as Jesus proiave life, and
aecording to ll his actions:
| Which only ion. with anisenses only > OW -Creatures man reason ;
the angels their centre The last is more abunthe life of th, as God
4) us the spel ——— My
world, and iccording to ugh reason, he just, ae he principle
of his actions and the rule of his conduct: Thus, an honest man, an honorable man, a wise philosopher, a clever politician will avoid doing wrong to his neighbor, will prefer death to the forfeiture of honor, will abstain from wicked amusements and sensual pleasures, will bens injustiee, seorn and even injury ; and all those men believe they are very perfect because they are reasonable, because reason, human prudence or natural virtue is the principle of their actions. If there be nothing else, such are not christians, disciples of Jesus, followers of faith and grace. If one is good, just, righteous, zealous for public good only through natural inelination, moral probity or light of reason, we may justly say that he is an honorable, wise and prudent man, an upright citizen, but not that he is a good ehristian.
The name christian comes from Christ: it teaches us that we profess to be disciples, followers and soldiers of Jesus Christ. Do we wish to be saved? Let us be all that then, let us take Jesus for our master, let us learn his doctrine, let us adhere to his maxims, let us hearken to his words, let us praetise his teaching, as was ordained by God the Father on the day of the transfiguration of Jesus his Beloved Son “ hear ye him" (Matth., XVIT, 5).
He who desires to livo properly of christian life reads frequently the Holy Gospel and books which explain it, for example: the Following of Jesus Christ, some good catechism, books of piety; he makes it a duty to listen to and put into practice the word of God Which he hears willingly and impresses on his mind and heart; he applies himself to imitate the virtues of Christ, to follow the examples of his life, for he has given us an example that we may do all things according to his spirit and teaching. The disciple of Christ. fol lows him resolutely : he renounces absolutely Satan, the world, the affection for temporal goods and more espeeially his own self, for the Divine Master has spoken so; " If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his eross daily." (Luke IX, 93)
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