"And I will give to thee the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed also in heaven," which words signify that the sins forgiven by the apostles, or their successors in the Church, should be also forgiven by God in the Sacrament of penance, which we must approach with due dispositions, in order to obtain the pardon of our sins, and the happiness of Heaven.

6. In six days from this time, Jesus took with Him His three favourite disciples, and led them to a high mountain; and having reached the summit He began to pray. Whilst He prayed, He was transfigured before them,-that is, His appearance was quite changed, His face shone as the sun, and His garments became white as snow, and brilliant as light.

At the same time Moses and Elias joined the group on the mountain. They too were resplendent with heavenly brightness, and spoke with our Lord of His approaching death at Jerusalem.

7. When Peter and the two other disciples saw the glory of Jesus, and Moses, and Elias, they were transported with joy and astonishment; and, in the fulness of his devotion, Peter exclaimed, "Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us make here three tabernacles, one for Thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias." He was so bewildered that he scarcely knew what he said.

8. But whilst Peter was yet speaking, a

bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice issuing from the midst of the cloud was heard to say:

66 THIS IS MY BELOVED SON, IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED. HEAR YE HIM."

And the disciples hearing these words were seized with fear, and they fell upon their faces. But Jesus approached, and touched them, and said, "Arise, and be not afraid." Then raising their eyes, they saw only Jesus, the same in appearance as He was before His transfiguration.

9. As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying: "Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of Man be risen from the dead.'

The disciples obeyed, but they could not understand the words risen from the dead, and they questioned amongst themselves what the expression could mean. From that time forth, our Lord frequently predicted His passion, and spoke of it from day to day in clearer terms.

"The Son of Man," He said, "shall be delivered up into the hands of sinners, and they shall put Him to death; but, on the third day, He shall rise again."

But as this prediction was unintelligible to them, it made no impression on their minds.

In His transfiguration on Mount Thabor, Jesus appeared in all the majesty of the Son of God. If we wish to behold His glory in heaven, we must follow His example, and obey His commandments, while we remain on earth. 10. Soon after Jesus sent seventy-two disci

ples to preach, and to work miracles, giving them the same instructions as He had previously given to the twelve apostles. He sent them, two and two, into all the neighbouring cities, and into every place which He Himself meant to visit, that they might prepare the people to receive Him. Thus was His doctrine diffused every day more widely.

QUESTIONS.

1. Did the Jews believe that Jesus was the Messiah?

2. What did Peter believe?

3. What did Jesus say of Peter's faith? 4. What did our Saviour say when He established His Church?

5. To what institution did the last words particularly refer ?

6. What took place on the mountain ?

7. What did Peter say when he beheld the glory of Jesus?

8. What words did the apostles hear from the cloud?

9. What did our Lord say to them when they came down from the mountain ?

10. What means did our Lord use to extend His doctrine ?

"From the beginning of the world they have not heard nor perceived with the ears: the eye hath not seen, O God, besides Thee, what things Thou hast prepared for them that wait for Thee."-Isaiah lxiv. 4.

LESSON XXXV.

PARABLE OF THE PRODIGAL SON.

1. Our Divine Lord, a perfect model of condescending charity, allowed all the people, without distinction, to listen to His heavenly instructions, and even addressed His discourse, on some occasions, to those who led wicked lives. But the Pharisees disapproved of this, and murmured at it; whereupon Jesus plainly expressed His merciful sentiments towards sinners in the following parable.

A certain man had two sons, and the younger of the two said to him; "Father, give me the portion of the inheritance, that falls to me." And his father gave it to him.

And a few days after this, the younger son, gathering together all that he possessed, went abroad into a far country, and there he wasted his possessions, living riotously and extravagantly. And after he had spent all, there came a great famine into that country, and he began to be in great want.

And he went, and entered the service of one of the inhabitants of the country, who sent him to his farm to feed his swine.

There he was so badly provided with food that he would have been glad to eat the husks that were given to the swine; but no one gave him anything.

Then, entering into himself, he said: How many hired servants are there in my father's house who have bread in abundance, whilst I perish here with hunger. Then, following up his reflections by a good resolution, he added: I will arise, and will go to my father, and I will say to him: "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before thee; I am no longer worthy to be called thy son: but receive me into thy house, and make me as one of thy hired servants."

2. Accordingly, he began his journey towards his father's house; and when he was yet a long way off, his father saw him, and was touched with compassion; and he ran to him, and fell upon his neck, and kissed him. And the son began to say to him: "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before thee, and I am not worthy to be called thy son."

But his father interrupted him, and calling his servants, said: "Bring the finest robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And kill the fatted calf, and let us make merry and rejoice; for this my son was dead, and is come to life again he was lost, and is found." And they began to make merry.

The touching tenderness and mercy here attributed to the father of the prodigal are but an image of the infinite goodness with which God is ever ready to receive the repentant sinner.

The elder son had been in the fields at the time of his brother's arrival. On his return to