lively hope by the resurrection of JESUS CHRIST from the dead"." It is this hope which sustains us, and makes us ever bear about in our bodies the Death of the LORD JESUS, that so the Life also of JESUS may appear in our bodies; knowing that He Who hath raised up JESUs, shall raise up us also by JESUS 3. And this must be so, because our bodies are the temples of the HOLY GHOST. If the Spirit of Him That raised up JESUS from the dead dwell in you, He That raised up CHRIST JESUS from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies because of His Spirit That dwelleth in you. It must needs be so, because our mortal bodies are united by the Holy Communion to the Immortal Body of JESUS CHRIST. "If then, by His touch alone, He raised the dead, how," says Saint Cyril 5, "should we not also live who eat His Flesh and drink His Blood?" can any deny that our flesh is capable of receiving the gift of GOD, which is eternal life, being nourished with the Body and Blood of JESUS CHRIST, and being a member of Him? Doubt not He will give immortality to those who partake of His Body. He Himself gives us this assurance in the Gospel: saying, "He that eateth Me, even he shall live by Me"."

How

It must needs be so. For as our bodies labour conjointly with the spirit for eternal life; so it is meet that they should partake thereof. "Those who labour together in the work, may not be separated in the reward." "Without the body," says St. Cyril, "we

2 1 Pet. i. 3.

3 2 Cor. iv. 14.

4 Rom. viii. 11.

5 "If by the sole touch of His Holy Flesh the decayed is restored to life, how shall not we find That Life-giving Eucharist a richer Treasure when we taste It?"-(S. Cyrill ii. 4, in Joan. vi. 54.)

6 S. Irenæus, v. 2, 3, and iv. 18, 5.

7 John vi. 57.

8 Non possunt separari in mercede, quos opera conjungit.(Tertull. de carnis Resur.)

If we blaspheme

do nothing, neither good nor evil". the Name of GOD, it is done with the mouth, and if we sing His praises, it is done with the mouth likewise. If we steal, we steal with the hand, and if we give alms, we give with the hand likewise. It is then reasonable that the body be punished with the spirit, if it be partner in its crimes; and that it be recompensed with it, if with it, it hath done well.

Learn thence, that if thou wouldest acquire a lawful right to the glorious Resurrection, thou must keep thyself closely united to JESUS CHRIST, thou must live according to His Spirit, partake often of the Divine Mysteries with due reverence, and employ all the strength of thy body in the practice of good works. 66 "I beseech you, brethren, by the mercies of GOD, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God '."

THIRD POINT.

Consider the joy and consolation arising from this steadfast hope of the Resurrection. We shall change, not our nature, but our condition and estate this is the hope and consolation of the Saints, in their labours and sufferings. Our tears shall be turned into joy, our troubles into delight, our wants into abundance, our confusion into glory, our death into life eternal. This was the hope of Job, "I know that my Redeemer liveth," that I shall rise again at the last day, that I shall be again clothed with my own flesh, and in my flesh shall see God, Whom I shall see for myself, in mine own body. Yea, mine eyes shall behold Him, and this hope which I preserve in my soul, is my only consolation in my sufferings. This was the hope of the Maccabees, whom king 9 S. Cyril. Hieros. catech. 18, 19. p. 249. O. T.

1 Rom. xii. 1.

2 Immutabimur; hæc est spes et consolatio sanctorum.

;

Antiochus caused to be cruelly tormented, in order to make them forsake the faith of their fathers. For the second among them being at the last gasp, said to the tyrant: "Thou, like a fury, takest us out of this present life, but the King of the World shall raise us up, who have died for His laws, unto everlasting life." The third, putting out his tongue, and holding forth his hands to the executioners to be cut off, said courageously, "These I had from Heaven and for His laws I despise them, since from Him I hope to receive them again 3." The fourth, when ready to die, addressed himself to the tyrant, and said thus, "It is good, being put to death by men, to look for hope from GOD to be raised up again by Him as for thee, thou shalt have no resurrection to life." This was the hope of Saint Monica, who being asked, "Whether she was not grieved to die so far from her own country," gently replied, "Nothing is far from GOD; nor is it to be feared, lest at the end of the world, He should not know whence to raise me up 5." This was the hope of the Martyrs who so courageously exposed their lives, knowing that not a hair of their heads would fall, which should not be restored to them at the Day of Judgment. Finally, it is the hope of all the righteous, who with one consent say with St. Peter, "We, according to His promise, look for new Heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness "."

ASPIRATIONS AND EXERCISES DURING THE DAY.

Acts of faith." I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand in the latter day upon the earth"."

3 2 Mac. vii. 9, 11.

5 S. Aug. Conf. 1. ix. c. 11.

7 Job xix. 25.

4 Ib. 14.

62 Pet. iii. 13.

Acts of hope.-"JESUS CHRIST is risen again from the dead, I hope that one day He will raise me up.' In this hope I live: I fear not death,

Hope, is risen 8. "

66

CHRIST, my

9

Acts of fear." The wicked shall not rise in the judgment day to enjoy glory, but to be eternally miserable. O word of woe! Thou shalt have no Resurrection to life 10."

Acts of joy.-Thou shalt make me to hear of joy and gladness, that the bones which Thou hast broken may rejoice ".

Meditation for Easter Tuesday.

UPON THE SPIRITUAL RESURRECTION OF OUR

SOULS.

"Remember that JESUS CHRIST was raised from the dead." 2 Tim. ii. 3.

FIRST POINT.

CONSIDER that the Resurrection of JESUS CHRIST is the pattern of the spiritual resurrection of our souls, and constrains us to live a new life, a life holy and godly. JESUS CHRIST " was delivered up to death for our offences, and was raised again for our justification '." His Resurrection was a passing from death unto life: ours must be such from sin unto grace, from vice unto virtue, from self-love to Divine love, from the inclinations of the old man to those of the new man. For "we have been buried with

8 Surrexit Christus, spes mea.

9 Ps. i. 6. This is the original meaning of the Hebrew word. It is so rendered in the LXX and Vulg. [ED.]

10 Tibi resurrectio ad vitam non erit.

11 Psal. li. 8.

1 Rom. iv. 15.

ing unhappily effaced this by thy frequent falls, thou didst solemnly promise before the Priest who gave thee absolution, that thou wouldest return no more to thine evil ways. Thou didst either intend to keep thy promise, or thou didst not; if thou didst not, thou hast profaned the Ordinance; thou art guilty of sacrilege; if thou didst, thou art a traitor, to violate thy faith, despite the respect thou owest thy Master. Furious beasts are bound with iron chains; but a man of honour is only bound by his word. Therefore, if thou art wanting in fidelity, thou hast neither honour nor conscience; thou hast no longer any share in JESUS CHRIST, nor any rank among the Saints; thou must place thyself among the monsters of nature. For what more monstrous than to see a dead limb attached to a living and glorious Head? To begin by virtue and to end by vice; to begin by penitence, and to end by a relapse; to undertake one's conversion, and to fall again forthwith into a dissolute life, is a monstrous thing, a frightful disorder in grace'. "It is a chimera which hath the head of a man and the body of a beast 3."

8

Let us then, with the great Apostle, conclude with these Divine words: JESUS CHRIST hath died for me, yea, He has risen again, He is at the Right Hand of His Father, GOD. He maketh intercession for me. Who then shall separate me from His Love? Shall tribulation? My SAVIOUR being the fount of blessedness, I cannot be miserable, unless I will it. Shall distress, weariness, the difficulties which hinder my intentions? My SAVIOUR is Almighty, and the Fire of His Love, which expands my heart, overthrows

7 Bonum inchoare, et malo fine concludere, quid aliud est, quàm res monstruosas facere ?-(Serm. 8. ad fratr. in eremo.) 8 Illa enim actio quasi chimæra est, quæ initium habet a ratione, et finem a sensualitate.

9 Rom. viii. 34, 35.