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WORDS OF SCRIPTURE.

Friend, whereto art thou come?"-St. Matt. xxvi.

"Judas, dost thou betray the Son of Man with a kiss?"-St. Luke, xxii.

"He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me."-St. Matt. xxvi. "There is not a more wicked thing than to love money for such a one setteth even his own soul to sale."-Eccles. x.

"The eye of the covetous man is insatiable in his portion of iniquity: he will not be satisfied till he consume his own soul."-Ecclesiasticus,xiv.

"For they that will become rich, fall into temptation, and into the snares of the devil, and into many unprofitable and hurtful desires, which drown men in destruction and perdition." -1 Timothy, vi.

MEDITATION FOR SECOND TUESDAY IN LENT.

ON THE COURAGE OF JESUS AFTER HIS PRAYER

IN THE GARDEN.

1ST POINT. Jesus, desolate and full of extreme anguish, arose from prayer to seek some kind friend who would sympathize in his sor

rows, and administer consolation to his afflicted spirit, but there was none to whom he could address himself. He approached his disciples, but they were sleeping: he then returned, and again had recourse to prayer, but received no response from his eternal Father. Restless in

his agony, he came once more to his disciples and said: "What! could ye not watch one hour with me? Watch ye and pray, that ye enter not into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Is it not to you, Christian soul, that these complaints and reproaches are addressed? Do you not sleep when you should watch and pray? Are you not afraid that you will fall into temptation?

2ND POINT. Jesus prays the third time, and is not heard. Then, falling into extreme agony, God his Father sent an angel to strengthen and console him. Learn from this to despise the consolations of men, and have recourse to God in all your afflictions; to pray to him in fears and doubts, and implore his succour and protection in dangers. Prayer is the best remedy for a soul that is sick, a sweet consolation for the afflicted, strength for the weak, courage for the timid, light for the blind, refuge for sinners, the buckler of faith, the life, nourishment, treasure,

and salvation of all Christians. Why is it, then,

that you pray so little? abandon prayer, and pray and so many distractions?

why is it that you with so little fervour

3RD POINT. Jesus, strengthened by prayer, came to his disciples, and said to them: "Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man shall be betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us go: behold, he is at hand that will betray me.' Whence obtained he this courage? Through prayer. Imitate your Master; accompany your King; follow your Captain. When it is necessary to resist a temptation, or vanquish a repugnance of nature, say to your base and sleepy heart : Rise, and let us go to death or to prison, go to be reconciled with those whom we haveoffended, and assure those who have injured us of forgiveness; rise, ye who sleep, and Jesus Christ will enlighten you, strengthen you, defend you, render you victorious over your enemies, and crown you with glory after death.

WORDS OF SCRIPTURE.

"In the day of my trouble I sought God, with my hands lifted up to him in the night and I was not deceived."-Psalm lxxxvi.

"Behold, there is no help for me in myself, and my familiar friends also are departed from me."-Job, vi,

"Simon, sleepest thou? Couldst thou not watch one hour.”—Mark, xiv.

"Behold, he is at hand that will betray me."Matt. xxvi.

MEDITATION FOR SECOND WEDNESDAY IN LENT.

JESUS IS TAKEN BY HIS ENEMIES.

1ST POINT. Jesus, addressing the soldiers, said: Whom seek ye? They replied, Jesus of Nazareth! There are some who, like the Jews, only seek Jesus to take him, outrage, and crucify him. There are others who seek him only to love and serve him, but the number is small. Whom do you seek in your designs, your devotions, and prayers? Is it Jesus or yourself? Is it his honour and glory, or your own? Oh, if you seek God with a pure heart, your happiness and contentment will abound until the measure of your joy is filled to overflowing! All of your troubles, anxieties, and doubts arise from your seeking yourself instead of the will and glory of your heavenly Father.

I have sought him, but I have not found him. Why is this? It is because you do not seek him at the proper time or place. You seek him in the garden of delights, and he is only to be found in the field of conflicts and sorrows, where he sweats great drops of blood and water. You seek him in palaces, and he is only to be found in a stable, in the temple, or on the cross. You seek him after he has stood knocking for a long time at the door of your heart, but it is too late; he grew weary of waiting; his locks were heavy with the dews of night, and he has gone away. You seek him coldly and with indifference. He is strong and swift as a giant: it is necessary to run that you may overtake him.

2ND POINT. Jesus said to the soldiers, I am he, and they went backwards and fell to the ground. What a Captain! who maketh his enemies fall to the earth by a single word! What will be his power when he comes to judge them, if he is so powerful when they come to judge him? Oh, how terrible it will be to the wicked at the hour of death, to hear him say I am he whom you have betrayed, outraged, and crucified! But how full of sweetness and consolation he will be to the just, who, having lived piously, are received by him after death with these welcome

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