Spirit will assist you also to recollect, to comprehend, and to improve, from the instructions you have re ceived in his name.

The Apostles, whom you already chose for your models in preparing for confirmation, exemplify in their conduct after the descent of the Holy Ghost, the two principal fruits you should draw from the sacrament you have just received: First, they becaine courageous soldiers of Jesus Christ. Before the descent of the Divine Spirit, they were so timid, that the most courageous amongst them was by a few words intimidated into a denial of his Divine Master and all abandoned Jesus Christ in his dangers and humiliations: but no sooner had they received the promised strengthening Spirit, than they boldly professed themselves followers of Him whom so short a time before they had shamefully abandoned; they preached the sacred name of Jesus aloud to those who had but him to death. As St. Chrysostom says: "they were assailed by all descriptions of persons, and threatened with all sorts of torments, fire, sword, and wild beasts: yet, like generous champions of Christ, they treated them all with as much contempt as if they were painted enemies." Consider these glorious models, and remember, that you have now been signed with the sign of the Cross, and thereby peculiarly enlisted under its banner, to fight the battles of Christ ; first, against the world, by opposing its false maxims and dangerous customs; secondly, against the flesh, by combating your passions, bad habits, and evil inclinations; thirdly, against the devil, by resisting his temptations and suggestions. This is the glorious warfare in which you are now engaged: it will require many sacrifices and much courage; but you have received graces in proportion, since you have been visited by the same strengthening Spirit who comforted, fortified, inspired, and sanctified the Aposdes.

The second effect produced in the Apostles by the

It was

descent of the Holy Ghost, was their wonderfu change, from wavering and imperfect disciples of Christ, into strong and perfect Christians. They had always been followers of our Redeemer, and were sincerely attached to his divine person; but they were still suoject to many failings; they were frequently influenced by the false maxims of the world; desirous of its honours, and so dull, as scarce ever to comprehend thoroughly the heavenly doctrine which Christ so often preached to them, concerning the contempt of the world, or the love of the cross. not so after they received the Holy Ghost; no sooner had that Spirit of Light descended on them, than they were literally changed into new men; their understandings were opened, so that they perfectly comprehended those divine lessons of virtue which the gospel teaches, but which before appeared to them so many mysteries. Their false notions were rectified, so that they valued and sought after the sufferings and humiliations from which they once fled, and considered it a folly to glory in any thing beside a close resemblance with their crucified Master. 66 0 !" exclaims St. Leo, "how quickly is that learned which God deigns to teach!" As this same powerful Master has now blessed you with his presence, and speaks to your heart, his divine lessons should produce in you also this second effect of Confirmation, which is, to render you a strong and perfect Christian. What is it to be a strong and perfect Christian? Remember it well, and imprint it on your mind, that the sa cred character you have just been sealed with may not tend to your eternal condemnation. It is to glory in your name of Christian; it is to follow Christ, from whom you derive that glorious name; to profess his doctrine, not only in words, but by the tenour of your life; to value nothing so much as virtue; to dread nothing so much as sin; to despise the world, to scorn being a slave to its opinions, its menaces, or its deceitful promises; and above all, to show forth in your

ronduct the twelve fruits of the Holy Ghost, which should be the lasting and solid effects of Confirmation in those who worthily receive that sacrament, and who correspond with the graces it confers: therefore, as you have reason to trust in the mercy of God, that you did not fail in any of the essential dispositions for Confirmation, you have now only to profit of the great gift you have received, and to let every one see that this sacrament has produced in_you the fruits of the Holy Ghost, viz. Charity, Joy, Peace, Patience, Longanimity, or Perseverance, Goodness, Benignity, Mildness, Fidelity, or Sincerity, Modesty, Continency, and Chastity. You know the meaning of those virtues, and the method of exercising them; but you should particularly attend to those which peculiarly appertain to your sex and present age; such as Charity, which does not merely consist in loving God, but also in loving your neighbour for his sake;-Patience, which is exercised on a thousand little occasions that too often serve to irritate those who did. not correct their tempers in their youth ;-and Mildness, which is so peculiarly necessary and attractive in your sex ;-Modesty, that amiable virtue, which renders those who are so happy as to possess it, silent and retiring, diffident of their abilities and opinions, reserved in their manners, and strictly careful in regulating their words, actions, and desires, according to the exact rules of Christian decorum, despising, with the wisdom and generosity of a Christian, all the follies, fashions, and customs of others. These virtues in particular, are the fruits you should draw from your Confirmation; they are the ornaments of your sex; without them, every gift from nature, every advantage from education, every accomplishment, would expose you rather to contempt, danger, and ridicule, than to esteem or admiration. Beg them most earnestly, from the heavenly Spirit you have received and also implore the other fruits of his holy presence, particularly Charity, which is the perfection of every

virtue, and which in itself contains them all. For this intention, and in thanksgiving for the inestimable advantages you have received, say devoutly the following prayer every day for a week or fortnight after Confirmation.

A Prayer after Confirmation.

Is i: possible, O my good and merciful Creator, that thou hast so far overlooked my misery and unwor thiness, as to make my soul the tabernacle of thy Holy Spirit! Can I believe that I am now honoured with the presence and enriched with the gifts and graces of the Holy Ghost? Yes, I firmly hope that thou hast not been deaf to my petitions; 1 hope I am now in possession of that sacred gift I so ardently desired. O my God! accept the praises of thy angels and saints in thanksgiving for thy unbounded mercies in my regard. May the blessed Mother of thy Divine Son, and the glorious choir of Apostles, thank thee for me. May the Cross of Jesus Christ, with which my forehead has been signed, defend me from all my enemies, and save me at the last day. May the inward unction of sanctifying grace, figured by the chrism with which I have been anointed, penetrate my soul, soften my heart, strengthen my will, and consecrate my whole being to thy service.

O heavenly Spirit third person of the adorable Trinity! whom I have received, and most fervently adore, deign to take eternal possession of my soul, create and maintain therein the purity and sanctity which becomes thy temple. O Spirit of Wisdom! preside over all my thoughts, words, and actions, from this hour to the moment of my death. Spirit of Understanding! enlighten and teach me. Spirit of Counsel direct my youth and inexperience. Spirit of Fortitude! strengthen my weakness. Spirit of Knowledge! instruct my ignorance. Spirit of Piety! make me fervent in good works. Spirit of Fear! restrain me from all evil. Spirit of Peace! give me

thy peace: I neither desire nor ask the peace which the world gives-the false peace found in pleasure and self-gratification-but the solid, lasting peace, which I know from my own experience is only found in the service of God. Teach me in future to place all my glory, all my happiness and peace in serving my good God, who has so tenderly loved me-in combating for Jesus my Saviour, who has chosen me for his soldier, and in listening to and obeying thy voice, O Divine Spirit! who hast deigned to make my soul thy habitation. Heavenly Spirit! dwelling within me, let thy sacred presence change my heart, and influence the whole tenour of my future life. Let all my works be fruits of Charity; infuse into my heart the joy of a good conscience, and teach me to delight in the service of God, and to despise the false joys of the world. Give me grace to preserve peace with God, my neighbour, and myself:-give me patience to bear with all the ills of this life;-make me persevere in the service of God, and enable me to act on all occasions with Goodness, Benignity, Mildness, and Fidelity. Let the heavenly virtues of Modesty, Contirency, and Chastity, adorn the temple thou hast chosen for thy abode. O Spirit of Purity! by thy all-powerful grace preserve my soul from the misfortune of sin, which for all eternity will be distinguished by the double title and sacred character of a Christian by Baptism, and a soldier of Jesus Christ by the Sacrament of Confirmation. Amen.

On the PRESENCE of God.

THERE is no practice of piety so universally neg lected by young persons, as that of reflecting on the presence of God, or in other words, the recollection of the divine presence. To that question of the Catechism which asks, Where is God? they all readily answer, that God is every where; yet nothing is so