the sensible presence of their divine Master, and could neither see nor hear him. Oh, how often this happens!

3RD POINT. When Jesus was taken down from the cross, how eagerly his holy Mother received him in her arms. But unutterable grief

was blended with her consolation, when she beheld him covered with blood and wounds from

his head to his feet! His sacred body was washed with her tears; his wounded hands, feet, and side were kissed with tenderness, awe, and anguish. His agonies were over, but the dolours of Mary continued. Her heart was wrung with new pangs when they took him away to entomb him. Her afflictions were increased by this separation. What did she say? What were her thoughts while gazing on this sad spectacle? She did not abandón herself to grief, or fall into impatience, but was resigned to the separation from that which was most dear to her, because it was the will of God. Imitate her example, suffer the loss of all that you most prize and love, and sacrifice everything to the will of God, who orders all things for your good.

Happy is he who receives Jesus when he descends from the cross! The grain of mustard must die, and be buried in the earth, ere it can

bring forth fruit. Jesus is on the altar as truly as he was on the cross: the altar is Calvary, your heart the sepulchre where he desires to rest after the great sacrifice of his love. It is the place he has chosen for his burial, and where he ought to be kept by a constant renewal of grace and penance. Joseph of Arimathea gave our Lord his sepulchre will you refuse him yours? Nicodemus brought sweet spices and new linen for his burial: oh, it will be rendered precious and glorious for him if you prepare the sepulchre with the rich perfume of humility and devotion! Oh Christian soul, make ready for the burial of Jesus in your heart!

4TH POINT. Happy is he who is crucified and buried with Jesus, who is hidden on earth from the eyes of men, who is unknown, numbered as it were with the dead, and remembered no more; he will soon rise, with Jesus, immortal and impassible, like him. Happy is he who preserves his faith in the obscurity of the senses, who loses not his hope because all sensible support is withdrawn, and who does not cease to love when deprived of all consolation!

Oh Jesus my Saviour! thou didst truly become a hidden God, being wrapped in linen, buried in a sepulchre, and numbered with the

dead; hide me in thy bosom, let me be buried with thee, let me no longer be esteemed or known among men, let me die to all my senses, and be separated from all my desires. I am ready to follow thee withersoever thou goest; in company with thee I have nothing to fear.

Hell, with thee, would be heaven; without thee, heaven would be hell.

WORDS OF SCRIPTURE.

"And Joseph, taking the body, wrapped it up in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own new monument, which he had hewn out of a rock."-St. Matt. xxvii.

"Woman, why weepest thou? Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.”—St. John, xx.

"And Nicodemus also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes. They took, therefore, the body of JESUS, and bound it in linen cloths with the spices."-St. John, xix.

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'My soul is filled with evils; and my life hath drawn nigh to hell."-Psalm lxxxvii.

"I am counted with them that go down to the pit; I am become as a man without help, free among the dead."-Ibid.

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They have laid me in the lower pit; in the dark places, and in the shadow of death."—Ibid.

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EASTER SUNDAY.

THE GOSPEL. St. Mark, xvi. 1–7.

"At that time Mary Magdalen, and Mary the mother of James and Salome, bought sweet spices, that coming they might anoint Jesus. And very early in the morning, the first day of the week, they came to the sepulchre, the sun being now risen. And they said one to the other Who shall roll us back the stone from the door of the sepulchre? And looking, they saw the stone rolled back. For it was very great. And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed with a white robe and they were astonished. Who saith to them: Be not affrighted: you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen; he is not here; behold the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, that he goeth before you into Galilee there you shall see him, as he told you."

MEDITATION.

ON THE RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD.

1ST POINT. Jesus has risen. He has come glorious and impassible from the tomb, he is

victorious over death, he has broken the gates of hell, triumphed over Satan, and stripped him of his spoils; terrified the soldiers who guarded the sepulchre, confounded the Jews, triumphed over his enemies, and enjoys, at the present moment, a life of infinite glory. My soul, weep no more; Jesus will die no more in his body; take care that you do not make him die in your heart.

2ND POINT. Jesus has risen in our souls, entered into the kingdom of our hearts and spirits, driven the devil therefrom, triumphed over our sins, which held us slaves, remained in us by his grace, lived by his spirit, reigned by his love, and rested in peace. My soul, weep no more; Jesus has risen to a better life; he will die no more in his body; but be watchful lest you make him die in your heart.

3RD POINT. All the Church has risen with Jesus; all its body has come from his sepulchre ; all its members are re-animated by the spirit of penance; all who were spiritually dead have risen with him; he has now only to give them the Paschal Lamb to eat. Woman, why weepest thou? Jesus is no longer dead in the sepulchre; he has risen to a new life; he will die no more in his body; but take care that your sins do not make him die in your heart.