Page:HalfHoursWithTheSaints.djvu/76

 to persecute  the  Church,  and  on  his  road  he  is  struck  to the  ground  and  becomes  an  apostle. The centurion  rides up to  Mount  Calvary  to  complete  the  barbarous  outrages of the  executioners  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  a  ray  of  light descends upon  him,  and  he  confesses  that  He  was  truly the Son  of  God.

A soul  experiences  trouble  and  remorse  in  the  very places wherein  it  vainly  sought  for  pleasure  and  satisfaction.

Grace awaits,  so  to  speak,  at  the  gates  of  sin  and  crime; and disgust,  perfidy,  bitterness  of  soul,  disgrace,  and  other frightful consequences,  are  the  punishments  of  the  mercy of God,  and  the  sinner  often  finds  treasures  of  justice  in the  very  place  where  he  sought  for  his  eternal  loss.

Grace triumphs,  when  it  wishes,  over  the  greatest  obstacles, because  that  heavenly  unction  changes  at  will  our  troubles into  consolations,  so  that  by  means  of  this  grace  that which was  our  delight,  and  which  was  to  us  a  deadly  poison, becomes a  hidden  manna,  which  feeds  and  strengthens  us.

The Holy  Spirit  of  God  can,  if  He  will,  change  the weakest of  men  into  one  so  strong  and  powerful  that nought can  make  him  swerve  from  his  fidelity,  no  danger can shake  his  firmness,  no  seductive  pleasure  can  corrupt him; in  one  word  it  is  this,  that  grace,  far  stronger  than nature, surmounts  every  obstacle,  and  attracts  all  hearts gently and  sweetly  which  He  wishes  to  convert.

Massillon.

Grace is,  par  excellence,  the  gift  of  God. It is  this  that infinitely surpasses  every  gift  of  nature;  it  is  the  only source of  our  happiness,  without  which  we  can  do  nothing, and with  which,  we  can  do  everything.

It is  this  gift  which  comes  from  on  high,  and  flows  direct from the  Father  of  Light;  which  converts  us,  and  makes