28. What must we do, when some one has offended us ?

We must willingly offer to make peace with him, forgive him from our heart, and suffer injustice rather than return evil for evil.

"To no man render evil for evil. If it be possible, as much as is in you, have peace with all men. Revenge not yourselves, my dearly beloved; for it is written: Revenge is Mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." (Rom. 12, 17-19. Comp. Matt. 5, 39–41.) Ex.: Jacob and Esau; David and Saul.

29. What sort of people does Holy Scripture particularly recommend to our love ?

The poor, widows, and orphans, and in general, all those who are in corporal and spiritual need.

30. How are we to assist them?

By the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy. "Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy." (Matt. 5, 7.)

31. Which are the Corporal Works of Mercy?

The Corporal Works of Mercy are these seven: 1. To feed the hungry; 2. To give drink to the thirsty; 3. To clothe the naked; 4. To harbour the harbourless; 5. To visit the imprisoned; 6. To visit the sick; 7. To bury the dead.

32. Is it also a duty to perform corporal works of mercy?

Yes, it is such an indispensable duty that Christ condemns the unmerciful to everlasting fire.

'Depart from Me, you cursed, into everlasting fire. For I was hungry, and you gave Me not to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me not to drink; I was a stranger, and you took Me not in; naked, and you covered Me not; sick and in prison, and you did not visit Me.

Amen I say to you, as long as you did it not to one of these least, neither did you do it to Me. And these shall go into everlasting punishment." (Matt. 25, 41—46.)— With regard to the dead, the Holy Scripture says: My

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son, shed tears over the dead, and neglect not his burial." (Ecclus. 38, 16.)

33. What good things are promised to those who give alms ?

Temporal blessings, † and especially spiritual graces, in order to obtain forgiveness of their sins, and life everlasting.

"He that giveth to the poor, shall not want; he that despiseth his entreaty, shall suffer indigence." (Prov. 28, 27.)-Ex. Tobias.- "Alms delivereth from death, and the same is that which purgeth away sins, and maketh to find mercy and life everlasting." (Tọb. 12, 9.) -Examples: Zacheus, the Publican; Cornelius, the Centurion.

34. Which are the Spiritual Works of Mercy?

The Spiritual Works of Mercy are these seven :— 1. To admonish sinners; 2. To instruct the ignorant ; 3. To counsel the doubtful; 4. To comfort the sorrowful; 5. To bear wrongs patiently; 6. To forgive injuries; 7. To pray for the living and the dead.

35. Are we also bound to perform spiritual works of mercy ?

Yes; provided we have sufficient knowledge, and an opportunity, to perform them; for the spiritual good of our neighbour should affect us far more than his corporal welfare.

"My brethren, if any one of you err from the truth, and one convert him: he must know that he who causeth a sinner to be converted from the error of his way, shall save his soul from death, and shall cover a multitude of sins." (James 5, 19. 20.)

36.* When are we in general bound to admonish or rebuke our neighbour in a brotherly manner?

When it is necessary, in order to prevent him from committing sin, and there is hope that it will not be in vain.

"If thy brother shall offend against thee, go and rebuke him between thee and him alone." etc. (Matt. 18, 15.)

37.* How is fraternal rebuke to be given ? With all possible prudence, love, and meekness. "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in any fault, instruct such a one in the spirit of meekness." (Gal. 6, 1.)

Application.-Be peaceable and kind to every one, especially to your brothers and sisters, and to your relations. Bear with the faults and frailties of your neighbour; never render evil for evil; but pray for him who may have offended you.

§3. On Christian Self-Love.

38. May a Christian love himself also?

Yes, he may, and ought to love himself; for Christ says: "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." 39. In what does Christian self-love consist ?

Christian self-love consists in being, above all things, solicitous for the salvation of our soul.

40. Why must we, above all things, be solicitous for the salvation of our soul?

1. Because the soul has been created to the likeness of God, has been ransomed with the precious blood of Jesus Christ, and sanctified by the grace of the Holy Ghost; and 2. Because on the salvation of the soul depends our eternal welfare. (Matt. 16, 26.) 41. What are we to do in order to secure the salvation of our soul?

1. We must carefully avoid sin, and every occasion of sin; 2. When nevertheless we have sinned, we must not delay to do sincere penance; and 3. We must earnestly endeavour to practise virtue, and to do good works.

1. " They that commit sin and iniquity, are enemies to their own soul." (Tob. 12, 10.)-2. "Delay not to be converted to the Lord, and defer it not from day to day; for His wrath shall come on a sudden, and in the time of vengeance He will destroy thee." (Ecclus. 5, 8. 9.)-3. " Wherefore, brethren, labour the more, that by good

works you may make sure your calling and election." (2. Pet. 1, 10.)

42. May we also love our body, and temporal goods in a Christian manner?

Yes, we may, and are also bound to love, in a Christian and supernatural manner, our body, and temporal goods; as, health, property, and good repu tation.

43. When do we love our body in a Christian manner?

When we love it, 1. Because it is the dwellingplace of our soul, and her instrument for the service of God; and 2. Because it also was sanctified in Baptism, and is destined for eternal glory.

He who loves his body in this manner, will constantly subdue its unlawful desires, and thus, according to the admonition of St. Paul," Present it a living sacrifice, holy, pleasing unto God." (Rom. 12, 1.)

44. When do we love the goods of this world in a Christian manner?

When we love them, 1. As far as all created things have their origin in God, and are His gifts; and 2. As far as they serve us, to promote the honour of God, to assist the needy, and to fulfil the duties of our state of life.

He who loves the goods of this world in this manner, will not turn away his heart from God, in order to seek his happiness in them, but will make such a use of them, that on their account he will not forfeit those of Heaven.

45. What is opposite to Christian self-love? Inordinate self-love.

46. When is self-love inordinate ?

1. When man prefers his own honour and will to the honour and will of God; 2. When he is more solicitous for his body and for temporal things, than for his soul and eternal salvation; and 3. When he seeks his own welfare to the prejudice of his neighbour.

This vicious self-love is the source of all sins. "Men shall be lovers of themselves, covetous, haughty, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, wicked, without affection, without peace, slanderers, incontinent, unmerciful, without kindness, traitors, stubborn, puffed up, and lovers of pleasures more than of God." (2. Tim. 3, 2—4.)

47. Is every self-love that is not supernatural, vicious and inordinate?

No; there is also a merely natural self-love, by which we may indeed love ourselves, and all that belongs to us, in a lawful manner, though not meritorious for eternity.

Thus also those who are evil, know how to give (through natural love) good gifts to their children. (Luke 11, 13.)

Application.-Oppose in good time that pernicious self-love, by which a person, in all that he thinks, speaks, and does, has not in view the honour of God, or the welfare of his neighbour, but only his own self, and his pretended advantages over others.

On the Ten Commandments of God.

(See Short Hist. of Relig., §. 11.)

1. Where is our duty of loving God and our neighbour more fully contained?

In the Ten Commandments, which God gave to Moses, written on two tables of stone.

Thou shalt not have

2. What are the Ten Commandments? 1. I am the Lord thy God. strange gods before Me; thou shalt not make to thyself any graven thing to adore it.

2. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.

3. Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbathday.

4. Honour thy father and thy mother, that it may