against those nations, as when He fought in the day of battle, and His feet shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives, which is over against Jerusalem, towards the east."-Zacharias xiv. 3, 4.

"The Lord said to my Lord: Sit Thou at My right hand, until I make Thy enemies Thy footstool."-Psalm cix. 1.

LESSON LVII.

DESCENT OF THE HOLY GHOST.

1. The ten days between our Lord's Ascension and the Descent of the Holy Ghost, the apostles spent, as already observed, in retirement, prayer and meditation, awaiting the gift promised to them, in company with the Blessed Virgin, and several disciples.

2. On the day of Pentecost, at about the third hour of the day, the holy company being all together in one place, a sound was suddenly heard as of a mighty rushing wind, which filled the whole house where they were sitting.

3. At the same time there appeared, as it were, parted tongues of fire, which rested on every one of the apostles, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak different languages, according as the Holy Ghost gave them to speak.

4. There were then at Jerusalem Jews of every nation, who feared and served God; and

when the fame of this miracle spread abroad, a great multitude gathered round the apostles, and each man heard them speak in his own tongue, so that they said to each other, "Are not these all Galileans? How is it that we have each heard our own tongue of the land wherein we were born ?"

5. Then Peter, advancing with the eleven, said aloud, "Ye men of Judea, and Israelites of every nation, and you, inhabitants of Jerusalem, listen with attention to my words. This miracle, which astonishes you, is but the accomplishment of the prophecies. That Jesus of Nazareth, who worked so many miracles amongst you in the name of God-that Jesus whom you caused to be put to death by the hands of wicked men, has risen again by the will of God. He came forth from the tomb on the third day, and we all are the witnesses thereof. And now that He has ascended into heaven, He has poured forth His Spirit upon us, and this Spirit it is whom you see, and who speaks to you through us. Know, then, certainly, that God hath made both Lord and Christ this same Jesus whom you have crucified."

6. These words touched the hearts of many; and they said to Peter and the Apostles, "Men and brethren, what are we to do ?" And Peter said to them, "Do penance, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of your sins. You shall then receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to

About

all those that shall be called after you." three thousand persons believed in Jesus Christ on this day, and were baptized.

7. This was the foundation of that holy Christian Church, which was so soon to extend over the whole world. All these first converts persevered in the doctrines of the apostles, in communion, and in prayer. They put all their worldly possessions in common, and took their meals together with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God, and having favour with the people.

And the Lord daily added souls to the Church, that they might be saved.

QUESTIONS.

1. Where, and how was the promise of our Lord accomplished?

2. On what day did the Holy Ghost descend upon the apostles?

3. What happened when they received the Holy Ghost?

4. What effect had this miracle on the people?

5. What did St. Peter say to them?

6. What was the result of his discourse?
7. How did the early Christians live?

"And it shall come to pass after this, saith the Lord, I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.

"And upon My servants, indeed, and upon My handmaids, will I pour out in those days of My Spirit."-Joel, ii. 28, 29.

"And I will give you a new heart, and put a new spirit within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and will give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit in the midst of you; and I will cause you to walk in the way of My commandments, and you shall be My people, and I will be your God.

66 And you shall remember your wicked ways, and your doings that were not good, and your iniquities and your wicked deeds shall displease

you.

"It is not for your sakes that I will do all this, saith the Lord God, be it known to you; be confounded and ashamed at your own ways, O house of Israel.”—Ezechiel xxxvi. 26, 28, 31, 32.

LESSON LVIII.

FIRST PERSECUTION OF THE APOSTLES.

1. Some days after these events, Peter and John repaired together to the temple, at the hour of prayer.

At the principal gate was seated a man who had been a cripple from his birth, and who was brought thither every day, that he might have an opportunity of asking alms of those who

came to pray in the temple. This man begged of the Apostles, as they passed, that they would give him something.

Then Peter, looking at him attentively, said, "Silver or gold I have none, but that which I have I will give to thee. In the name of Jesus of Nazareth, arise and walk." And taking him by the right hand, he raised him up, and immediately his limbs, and the soles of his feet were strengthened. He stood up, and accompanied them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

Now, the people, who knew him to be the lame man whom they had met asking alms in the same place for several years, were astonished at seeing him walk, and they assembled in great numbers round him, questioning Peter and John, to whom he closely clung. Peter then said, "Ye men of Israel, why do you wonder? or why do you look at us, as if it were by our own power, or by our own virtue, we had made this man to walk? It is by faith in the name of Jesus that this cure has been effected— JESUS, the Just, the Holy One, the Son of God, whom you denied, and gave up to His enemies to be put to death; but it was necessary that He should suffer-the prophets had foretold it and they have also predicted the events of these days. Children of the covenant, made by God with Abraham, receive the salvation offered first to you, before it is presented to other nations, who shall also be blessed in Christ."

The chief priests, alarmed at finding that the