Verily, Roman eloquence cares very much for virtue! It is
greatly troubled about the things of earth! It takes the people by the
shoulders and forces them into the paths of devotion, which lead
straight to Heaven. And it does its duty, according to the teachings
of the Church.
Open one of the devotional books which are printed in the country.
Here is one selected at random, 'The Life of St. Jacintha.' It lies on
a young girl's work-table. A knitting-needle marks the place at which
the gentle reader left off this morning. Let us turn to the passage.
It is sure to be highly edifying.
"_Chapter V.--She casts from her heart all natural affection
for her relations._
"Knowing from the Redeemer himself that we ought not to love
our relations more than God, and feeling herself naturally
drawn towards hers, she feared lest such a love, although
natural, if it should take root and grow in her heart, might
in the course of time surpass or impede the love she owed to
God, and render her unworthy of him. So she formed the very
generous determination of casting from herself all affection
for the persons of her blood.
"Resolved on conquering herself by this courageous
determination, and on triumphing over opposing nature
itself,--powerfully urged thereto by another word of Christ,
who said that in order to go to him we must hate our
relations, when the love we bear them stands in the
way,--she went and solemnly performed a great act of
renunciation before the altar of the most holy Sacrament.
Pages:
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175