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PALM SUNDAY.

THE GOSPEL. St. Matt. xxi. 1–9.

"At that time, when Jesus drew nigh to Jerusalem, and was come to Bethphage, unto Mount Olivet, then he sent two disciples, saying to them: Go ye into the village, that is over against you and immediately ye will find an ass tied, and a colt with her ; loose them and bring them to me. And if any man shall say anything to you, say ye, that the Lord hath need of them and forthwith he will let them go. Now all this was done that the word might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: Tell ye the daughter of Sion: Behold, thy king cometh to thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of her that is used to the yoke. And the disciples going, did as Jesus commanded them. And they brought the ass and the colt, and laid their garments upon them, and made him sit thereon. And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way, and others cut down boughs from the trees, and strewed them in the way: and the multitude that went before and that followed, cried, saying: Hosanna to the Son of David:

Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the

Lord."

MEDITATION.

ON THE ENTRANCE OF OUR LORD INTO

JERUSALEM.

1ST POINT. Jesus went triumphing to death. He knew all that awaited him at Jerusalem, and had foretold to his disciples how he was to be betrayed to the chief priests and scribes, who would condemn him to death, and deliver him to the Gentiles to be mocked, scourged, and crucified. But notwithstanding all, he went thither promptly and joyfully. Whence arose this eagerness and joy? It was because he desired infinitely to suffer and die for our salvation, to show thereby his great love for us; to honour his heavenly Father, and accomplish his will. It was to crown his ignominy and humiliations with glory and triumph; it was to eat the pasch and institute the sacrament of his body and blood, that he might perpetuate on our altars the sacrifice he offered on Calvary.

Christian soul, do you imitate the example of your divine Lord? do you suffer, with Jesus, resignedly and joyfully? do you go triumphantly

to death? do you allow yourself to be led thither as a victim to the sacrifice? Is there anything more noble than to die for God; anything more just than to give your life to him who gave his for you; anything sweeter or more consolatory than to offer him proofs of your love; anything of greater merit in his eyes than to sacrifice those things which, of all the world, we love best, for the sake of Jesus? On the contrary, is there anything more cowardly, unjust, and deplorable, than to shrink away at the approach of death? to allow despair to enter the soul, or feel unwilling to pay so lawful a debt, or pay it with such regret as to lose the merit of the greatest and most important act of our lives?

2ND POINT. Jesus enters your heart in triumph whenever you communicate worthily at the divine banquet of the altar. His triumph here is infinitely sweet and glorious to [him, because the heart into which he enters is a kingdom, the conquest of which cost him his life! Daughters of Sion, rejoice; behold your King, who approaches, full of sweetness and love. It is your king, and not a tyrant; he is not a severe judge, but a prince full of peace and compassion; he comes not to destroy you, or to punish your treasons and rebellions, but to save

you, to sanctify you, to pardon your sins, to communicate to you the merits of his passion, to animate you by his spirit, pour out his graces on you, and give you part with him in the abundance of the glory and felicity of his heavenly kingdom. What preparations will you

3RD POINT. make, daughters of Sion, to receive your King? You must go before him, bearing a palm, to signify the victory you have gained over the world, the devil, and your own evil passions. It is necessary to divest yourself of the wicked habits with which your soul is clothed, and place them under the feet of Jesus Christ; you must break off branches, that is to say, cut off all that is superfluous in yourself, whether it be in words, habits, nourishment, or amusements, by continual mortifications; you must give alms to the poor, and make them your care and treasure. If any one question or praise your works, say: The Lord hath need of them: it is in his name, and for him, that I labour.

Sing, then, with the multitude, Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest! Receive him with joy ; receive him in your inmost soul; take care that you do not betray him, outrage and crucify him, as the Jews did

three days after they had received him. Oh, inconstancy of man! oh, vanity of life! oh, perfidy of the human heart! how often have ye not crucified him, after having welcomed and received him in triumph! Humiliate yourself, and ask forgiveness of your offended Lord, for having so betrayed his interests, and resolve to be more faithful to him in future.

WORDS OF SCRIPTURE.

"Then Thomas said to his fellow-disciples: Let us also go, that we may die with him."-St. John, xi.

"With desire I have desired to eat this pasch with you before I suffer."-St. Luke, xxii.

"I have a baptism, wherewith I am to be baptized and how am I straitened until it be accomplished?"-St. Luke, xii.

"He came unto his own, and his own received him not."-St. John, i.

"And they indeed went from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were accounted worthy to suffer reproach for the name of Jesus." -Acts, v.