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PIOUS REFLECTIONS

For Every Day in the Month.

Translated from the French of the Rev. F Bohours.

The following reflections, on account of their conciseness and simplicity, require neither much time nor application to be read and understood. They do not merely regard the social duties of mankind, like those of Epictetus or Seneca; they are Christian thoughts on the most important truths of religion, and the most elevated maxims of the Gospel. They are not only adapted to such as, by retirement, 3re familiarized to the practice of mental prayer; but likewise to those who, from their secular occupations, are as yet but little versed in the use of meditation. Even worldlings are still capable of sometimes elevating their thoughts to Heaven; for, in whatever occupations persons may be engaged, they may always find sufficient leisure for a short lecture. the multiplicity or urgency of the concerns of this life will not afford you suncient time for regular meditation, you may, at least, suffer a good thought to take possession of your mind, before the business of the day be commenced. Such is the design of these short reflections; and the method of using them is as follows: Every day in each month, after having a

If

quitted yourself of the indispensable duty of morning prayer, place yourself again in the presence of God, and read the thoughts of the day; but in order that you may the better comprehend their meaning, read them with deliberation and the most profound attention. After reading the first article, allow yourself a short interval for reflection before you pass on to the second. Do not rest satisfied with barely conceiving the truth of the maxim you read, but, after reflecting seriously upon it. apply it to yourself; and observe the same rule with the second and third articles. But, should the urgency of business allow you only sufficient leisure merely to read them, be satisfied under the assurance that pious thoughts have the same effect on the soul as a seal has upon melted wax; for, should they enter but ever so slightly into the mind, they will always leave some impression behind. If you cannot find leisure to read these thoughts in the morning, read them at least in the course of the day, of at night, before you go to bed. The Practi cal Resolutions, immediately following the thoughts, must not be omitted. An act of virtue, or a short reflection, is soon made.

The passages from the Holy Scriptures, and Fathers, at the close of the Reflections, are, as it were, an abridgment or abstract of the thoughts of the day: they collect as in a focus, heir whole strength and sense in a few words.

Being short and concise, they are easily remembered; being pithy and affecting, they are happily calculated to rouse, support, and nourish the soul throughout the course of the day. They are as grains of essence, which contain a strong and fragrant odour within a small compass; or as an ingenious piece of mechanism, which can execute a great deal of work in very little time. Be not content with reading these reflections once over, but read them over again and again, month after month, till by making a lasting impression on the mind, you may reap all the spiritual advantages they are capable of producing; for there is always something new to be found in the truths of religion; they are nines which cannot be too deeply dug into; they are fountains whose sources are inexhaustible; but they are also seeds which produce little or no fruit, unless they take root by being deeply planted in the heart.

N.B.-The concluding reflection may be read with great profit every Sunday.

FIRST DAY.-ON FAITH.

1. ALL that faith teaches is grounded on

the authority of the Word of God. It is from Christ himself that the Church has learned whatever she proposes to the faithful as the object of their belief. When truth itself is the side, one cannot go astray; aud

there is nothing more reasonable than to submit reason to faith.

2. Of what use is faith to a Christian, if it be not the rule of his conduct? If it be the most consummate folly to doubt of a doctrine which God has revealed, which so many martyrs have sealed with their blood, and which the devils themselves have so often confessed, is it not downright madness to believe this doctrine, and yet live as though it were false? Not to live conformably to our belief, is to believe as the damned do.

3. Faith, then, shall henceforth be the sole principle of my actions, and the only rule of my life. Whatever it condemns, I also absolutely condemn. In spite of every natural repugnance, I will oppose the maxims of the Gospel to those of the world as often as the occasion presents itself. What does the world say? Follow the natural bent of your inclinations: suffer nothing, &c. But what doth Jesus Christ say? Quite the contrary. Whc is right, Jesus Christ or the world?

[Thank God for being incorporated with his Church, and recite the creed slowly, as a solemn profession of your faith.]

"Lord, increase my faith". -Luke, xvii.

"What does it avail to believe like a Catho lic, and yet to live like a heathen?"-Peter Dam

SECOND DAY.-ON THE END OF MAN.

1. GOD alone is our last end; he did ot

create us but for himself.

Our hearts

tell that we were made for him; we cannot disown him without belying ourselves.

2. Every one should have what justly belongs to him: let us, then, give ourselves to God, since it is he who has a right to us. If we be not his children of our own accord, we must be his slaves in despite of us. We must, of necessity, live under the dominion of his justice or his bounty. Which choice shall we make?

3. Everything should tend to its proper object, and act according to its nature. If the sun, which is made to shine, refused its light to the world, it would be a monster in the universe; nor is that heart less monstrous, which, being made for God, still refuses to belong to him. Do I behave myself as a creature which belongs to God? Are my thoughts and all my actions directed to him? Ah, how little do l do that may be called truly done for God! What does all the business in this world avail me, if I brget the only affair for which I am come into it?

[Make here a firm resolution of seeking God one, and of depriving him of nothing which he has a right to.]

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Thou art my Lord and my God"-John xx. "He requires you entirely, who hath made vou entirely." "-St. Austin.