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 [Le Pere  Croiset,  S.J.,  was  born  at  Marseilles,  about  the  middle of the  seventeenth  century. His "Exercises  of  Piety,"  and  his  other religious works,  are  sufficient  to  prove  that  he  was  one  of  the  great masters of  the  spiritual  life.]

Why fear? says St  Augustine;  you  have  a  God  for  a protector  and  His  Providence  for  a  guide.

What! says the  holy  doctor,  you  fear  to  perish  under the guidance  of  God,  and  under  the  protection  of  His Providence? Times ergo  ne  pereas  f  Is  it  that  you  know not that  not  a  single  hair  can  fall  off  without  His  approval? Cujus capillus  non  peribit. Ah! if He  takes  so  much  care of things  that  are  of  little  or  no  consequence,  how  safe ought we  not  to  feel  when  we  know  with  what  care  He watches  a  soul  which  is  so  precious  to  Him?

I am  under  the  protection  of  the  Lord,  says  the  prophet; there is  nothing  He  will  not  fail  to  supply  me  with. It is true  that  I  am  poor  and  am  destitute  of  everything,  but the Lord  takes  care  of  me,  and  He  has  undertaken  to provide  for  my  wants;  nothing  can  happen  to  me — sin excepted — without His  concurrence. What have  I  to fear?

What a  host  of  consoling  reflections  cannot  we  not  find in the  Divine  Providence  over  His  creatures! How sweet to think  with  what  wisdom  our  Lord  disposes  of  everything for  His  glory  and  our  salvation! The cunning  and malice of  an  enemy,  the  ill-will  of  an  envious  man,  a hundred  accidents  of  this  life,  all  end  advantageously  to those  who  love  their  God.

It is  true  that  we  are  but  exiles  and  travellers  in  this fleeting world,  that  we  therein  journey  through  difficult and dangerous  paths,  but  what  does  God  not  do — yes,  and daily too — to  prevent  His  servants  from  straying  or  from, perishing? He not  only  is  their  guide  and  protector,  but He showers  down  His  graces,  and  even  makes  use  of  His angels to  help  them. He warns  them,  by  secret  inspira-