mission to his divine will. The third is called vocal prayer; we use it to awaken the attention of the mind and the sentiments of the heart: if this attention be wanting we may speak for hours without uttering a single prayer. The fourth is performing good works for the glory and honour of God. II. Excellence of the prayer of works. St. Augustine says, that "those who know how to pray well, know how to live;" and we may truly say that those who live well pray well; for all the exterior occupations which God commands us to do, far from being obstacles to the holy exercise of prayer, are in themselves acceptable prayers which will obtain for us the mercy of God, and incline him to be propitious to us. The kingdom of heaven is not gained by words but by works; for the angel said to Tobias, that he "presented his works of charity at the throne of God," as a pleasing perfume. DECEMBER 5. On the Success of our Prayers. I. It often happens when we ask a favour from God which appears just to us, that he does not grant it. We must examine if our sins, or the defects in our prayer, be not the cause. "We know," said the blind man healed by Jesus Christ," that God hears not sinners;" see, then, if you be not attached to some secret sin, or that your daily imperfections do not prevent the effects of your prayer. Our prayer may be defective for want of fervour, humility, perseverance, or submission to the divine will. 41. If our petition be not granted, and that we may reasonably suppose we are not guilty of those faults, we may rest assured that the Lord knows better than we do what is for our advantage, and that it is for us to ask, and for him to answer our requests; not according to our desires, which are short-sighted, but according to his superior views, and adorable wisdom. DECEMBER 6.-On Pride. Do I. "I am not like the rest of men," said the proud man. not deceive yourself; you are in all respects like the rest of men. You are formed of the same dust, and you will return to it ;your pride deceives and blinds you. You have the same passions and weakness, and if any distinction raise you above them, it is not from your own personal merit, but from the opinion of other men, or from what we may call the caprice or chance of fortune. II. The injustice of pride. Of what are men proud? if it be of birth, that is supposing no merit in descendants, and acknowledging themselves illustrious only from the greatness of their ancestors. If it be of wit or talent, that may only appear brilliant to the possessor; to others it may seem stupid, insipid, and frivolous; a vain-glorious shadow, that self-love and flattery exaggerate; at one time the admiration of many, at another despised by them. On these things the proud man rests his pretensions to pride; on this weak foundation he builds the false and imaginary greatness he idolizes. EVE AND MARY CONTRASTED. "I will put enmities between thee and the woman, and thy seed and her seed: she shall crush thy head, and thou shalt lie in wait for her heel.”— Genesis iii. 15. We WE some time ago read in a Galway Paper, one of the most infamous articles on the Blessed Virgin, ever penned by man, written, we are informed, by a Protestant minister in that town. had prepared an answer, but the language which should necessarily be noticed, from the said article, was so blasphemous, that we could not allow it to be repeated, even for the purpose of refutation. We prefer giving the following from another Protestant writer on the same subject: "The two most extraordinary women that ever appeared in the world, were unquestionably Eve," the mother of all living," and Mary, "the mother of Jesus Christ." They occupied, respectively, the highest stations and the most critical points of time, that ever fell to the lot of mortals; and they exhibit an instructive contrast. Eve lived at the beginning, and Mary at "the fulness of time." Eve saw the glories of the new-made world soon after creative wisdom had pronounced it all "very good," and before sin had tarnished its beauty, and disarranged its harmonies. Mary beheld it rising from the ruins of the fall, at the moment of its renovation, and at the dawn of its happiest day. Eve was placed in the most glorious and conspicuous situation, and fell into a state of meanness and degradation. Mary was of obscure origin, and lowly station, but was raised by a signal appointment of Providence, to the highest eminence. Eve was accessory to the ruin of man Mary instrumental in the birth of Him, who came as the Restorer and Saviour of mankind. Eve beheld the fatal curse Erst take effect, in overcasting the heavens with clouds, in withering the blossoms of Paradise, envenoming the spirit of the animal treation, disordering the human frame, and ultimately destroying it, and introducing all the nameless diversities of woe which fill up the tragedy of human life. Mary witnessed the beginning of that long series of blessings which divine love has for ages dispensed to man, "through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus," and which will eventually replenish the cup of existence with unmingled sweetness and perfeet joy. Eve witnessed, with a trembling consciousness of guilt, the awful descent of those mighty "Cherubim, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life," and which were placed "at the east end of the garden of Eden." Mary, with feelings of ecstatic rapture, beheld the angel Gabriel standing before her with the smiles of heaven upon his countenance, heard his benediction, and held “ communion sweet" with the holy messenger.-Cor's Female Scripture Biography. ANECDOTE OF MASSILLON. MASSILLON, in the first sermon he ever preached, found the whole audience, upon his getting into the pulpit, in a disposition no way favourable to his intentions; their nods, their whispers, or drowsy behaviour, showed him that there was no great profit to be expected from his sowing in a soil so barren; however he soon changed the disposition of the audience by his manner of beginning: "If," says he, "a cause the most important that could be conceived, were to be tried at the bar before qualified judges; if this cause interested ourselves in particular; if the eyes of the whole kingdom were fixed upon the event; if the most eminent counsel were employed on both sides; and if we had heard from our infancy of this undetermined trial; would you not all sit with due attention and warm expectation to the pleadings on both sides? Would not all your hopes and fears be hinged upon the final decision? And yet, let me tell you, you have this moment a cause of much greater importance before you; a cause where not one nation, but all the world, are spectators; tried, not before a fallible tribunal, but the awful throne of heaven; where not your temporal and transitory interests are the subjects of debate, but your eternal happiness or misery, where the cause still undetermined; but perhaps, the very moment I am speaking, may fix the irrevocable decree that shall last for ever; and yet notwithstanding all this, you can hardly sit with patience to hear the tidings of salvation. I plead the cause of heaven, and yet I am scarcely attended to." THE CHARACTER OF CHRIST. THR following features in the character of our Lord Jesus Christ are submitted to the consideration and imitation of all Christians. 1. Early piety. Luke ii. 46-49. 2. Obedience to parents. Luke ii. 51. 3. Humility and meekness. Matt. xi. 29. 4. Unwearied activity in doing good. Acts x. 38. 5. Fasting and mortification. Matt. iv. 1. 6. Self-denial. Phil. ii. 7, 8. Luke ix. 58. John xv. 9. Universal love. John xv. 10. Private Prayer. Luke vi. 12; Mark i. 35. 11. Praise and thanksgiving. Matt. xi. 25; John xi. 41. Acts x. 36. Matt. v. 14. Useful conversation. Luke xiv. 7; xxiv. 13. 19. Grief for the sins of others. Mark iii. 5. 20. Zeal for the worship and house of God. John ii. 17. 21. Pursuit of the divine glory. John xvii. 4. 22. Reproof of sin. Matt. vii. 3—5. 23. Universal holiness. Luke iv. 34. 24. Entire resignation to the Divine will. Matt. xxvi. 39. LAITY'S DIRECTORY FOR THE ENSUING WEEK. November 30.-SUNDAY, First of Advent, Mass as in the Missal. Pref. of the Trinity.-Purple. In the archdiocese of Dublin, 4th oration for the Most Rev. Daniel Mur ray, it being the anniversary of his consecration." In the D. Ardagh, 4th orat. for the Right Rev. William Higgins. December 1.-MONDAY. Mass of St. Andrew, apostle, (from yesterday,) com. of feria. Creed. Pref. of apost.-Red. In the D. of Cloyne, Mass of the Oct. day St. Colman, com. of feria.White. In the archdiocese of Dublin, Mass of St. Didacus, C. (from the 13th lt.) com of feria, 3d or B. V. M.-White. December 2.-TUESD Mass of St. Bibiena, V. and M. com. of feria, 3d orat. of the B. V. M.-Red. December 3.-WEDNESDAY. Mass of St. Francis Xavier, C. com. of fe ria.- White. December 4.-THURSDAY. Mass of St. Peter Chrysologus, B. and C. com. of feria, and St. Barbara, V. and M.-White. December 5.-FRIDAY. (Fast, and abstinence from eggs.) Mass of St Martin, P. and M. (from the 12th) com of feria, and of St. Sabbas, A.— Red. In the archdiocese of Dublin, Mass of St. Andrew, apostle, (from the 30th ult) com. of feria, and St. Sabbas.- Red. In the archdiocese of Armagh, and DD of Down and Connor Mass of the Dedication of St. Saviour's Church, (from the 9th ult.) com. of feria and St. Sabbas. Creed.-White. In the D. of Cloyne, Mass of St. Didacus, (from the 13th ult.) com. as above. White. December 6.-SATURDAY. (Fast.) Mass of St. Nicholas, B. and C. com. of feria.- White. In the D. of Galway, this is a feast of the 1st class with an Oct. DUBLIN:--Stereotyped, Printed and Published, by T. & J. COLDWELL, 30, Caper~~iferi. |