to the cause of charity, it is easy enough for infidels and heretics to produce their imitations, and in their self-laudation to deny her her well earned glory. But to the unprejudiced reader of history, it is clear enough that the whole system of public beneficence as now existing, originated in the Catholic faith; that it is this faith which has sustained and directed its development from age to age; that in this faith lies its true strength; and that, in fact, by far the largest portion of charitable works throughout the world, is still in the hands of the Catholic Church.

From St. Paul, collecting alms through the opulent cities of Greece for the poor Christians at Jerusalem, to St. Vincent of Paul, building very palaces for the destitute, and establishing organizations for their relief, which are still flourishing, and have diffused their felicitous influence through all quarters of the globe-the Catholic Church, wherever she has set her foot, has multiplied without cessation the miracles of her charity. Again and again has she sold her possessions, down to the very chalices of the sanc tuary, in behalf of her poor. Nor has it happened unfrequently that her bishops and priests, after giving up their all for the ransom of the captive, have delivered their own persons in exchange when nothing else remained for them to bestow. 20

CHAPTER VII.

OUR DUTIES TO HOLY CHURCH, AND HOW TO DO HER SERVICE.

FIRST MEDITATION.

To love the Church.

The first and foremost of all our duties to God

is to love Him.

"Thou shalt love the Lord thy heart, and with thy whole whole mind."* So, too, as We must begin with loving

God with thy who soul, and with thy regards the Church. her.

In thus acting, we shall simply be following our Lord's own example. "Christ," says the Apostle, "loved the Church and delivered Himself up for it;" and to what did He deliver Himself up? To toil, to suffering, to death. St. Augustine, in a single sentence, that contains more than whole volumes, speaks to a similar effect. "Believe me, my brethren, the measure of our love for the Church is the measure also of the Holy Ghost's presence in our souls."‡

The lives of the saints testify that in proportion + Eph. v. 25.

Matt. xxii. 37.

Tract 32 in Joan.

to their advancement in grace and closer union with Christ, so much the more ardent was their love for the Church. Let their example be my encouragement. I wish, Lord, to feel in my dying hour, that confiding trust in Thy mercy, which filled their hearts, and which was in great measure a fruit of their devotion to Holy Church. Oh what happiness did they find in the consideration that they had been faithful to her, and were dying in her bosom! Their eyes, accustomed to turn towards her in life, sought her with their last glance before closing for ever. The thought that they had much loved the Church, and had done their utmost to serve her, gave them courage against the terrors of the divine judgments. So great is the Christian's confidence when he reposes upon this rock of salvation, and falls asleep on its breast.

I desire, then, O my God, to love the Church because Thy Saints have loved her; but I desire it also for another reason; namely, because Thine enemies hate and persecute her. Yes, here is a second ground for devotion to her cause. If Thy Church" were of the world, the world would love its own, but because she is not of the world, but Thou hast chosen her out of the world, therefore the world hateth her."* Yes, the world hates her; but this very hatred makes her to me more dear than ever; and I know not how to express my exquisite grief when I see her receiving from her children's love so little reparation for this diabolical hate. Alas! how feeble is the affection of

John xv. 19.

many Catholics for the Church! Scarce, seemingly, do they ever think of her. Scarce have they any suspicion of the marvellous treasuresthe fruits of Christ's precious blood-contained within her, or of the reverence due to her every word. Scarce are they touched, ever so slightly, by the attacks and outrages of which they see her made the object. How many years of my life have I myself allowed to slip away without loving her as I should! And yet, O my God, I have a heart that turns eagerly to all that is good and beautiful in Thy works. Ah, I must strive to know her better, in order to love her more truly. Were it a question of achieving some great and difficult work for her, I might with reason find an excuse in my weakness. To speak her praise with the eloquence of a Chrysostom-to defend her with the pen of an Augustine-to_conquer souls for her with the zeal of a Francis Xavierthis indeed is beyond me. The services, which these elect souls have rendered her, are at an elevation far above my attainment. But, when it is simply a question of loving thee, O Church of my God, then we are all on an equality. The poorest, the obscurest soul, has no limit to its powers of loving. Henceforth, then, I vow to thee my dearest affections; and to love thee with all my heart, next after God and His holy Heaven, shall be my chief delight, as it is my truest wisdom.

Mere feeling, however, I know too well, is not all that is needed. The proof of our love is to be found in our works. I desire, then, to labour for the Church, and for this purpose to consider care

.

fully the principal ways of serving her. But, before all and above all, let me fix firmly in my mind the necessity of cherishing a genuine interest for all that concerns her. The thought of her must be precious to me. Her name must make my bosom thrill. I must gather up with eagerness the most trivial things that pertain to her. As others are constantly looking out for news on the affairs of the world, so must I have nothing more at heart than the welfare of the Church. Thus, events that appear to worldlings of the utmost consequence, shall have little interest for me otherwise than as they affect her destinies. This shall ever be my point of view for contemporary history, and my criterion of its importance. Surely this feeling of interest is inseparable from all true love. The loving mother, the tender wife, are conscious of having their minds occupied by the objects of their affection. Would they consider they loved them sufficiently if they only thought of them once or twice in the year, and that by chance-if they spoke of them unconcernedly and seldom? And how can I imagine then that I love the Church, if I simply take her for granted, so to say, without caring to learn what she is doing, suffering, gaining, losing? No, this would be coldness, indifference-not love.

Holy Church, can I repeat it too often, is my mother. How often have I admired the ready devotion, the tender respect, the delicate minutia of affectionate observance, with which a well educated son treats his mother! His conduct should