Page:HalfHoursWithTheSaints.djvu/87

 which you  are  liable  to  render  an  account  to  your  Sovereign Master. Besides the  efficacy  of  a  good  example, you are  called  upon  to  give  them  education,  instruction, and good  advice.

Watch over  the  manners  of  your  children  and  servants; with regard  to  morals  and  religion,  pass  over  nothing;  do not  suffer  any  one  to  give  them  bad  example;  check, warn, and  correct  with  zeal  and  mildness.

In whatever  condition  of  life  you  may  be,  remember that you  have  to  fulfil  the  duties  of  an  apostle. Christian charity obliges  you  to  take  to  heart  the  salvation  of  your brethren, and  do  not  forget  to  do  all  you  can  to  obtain  this desirable object.

It is  not  solely  by  preaching  that  the  conversion  of  many are brought  about;  there  are  other  ways  much  more  efficacious. A kind  word  in  season,  a  warning,  a  charitable advice, a  good  example,  an  alms — all  these  may  be  used with a  zeal  truly  apostolic.

There is  no  father  or  mother  who  can  fail  to  do  an immensity  of  good  in  the  home  and  with  the  servants.

What good  cannot  a  superior  in  a  community  do,  if  he is  animated  with  a  pure  and  ardent  zeal  and  an  exemplary piety! What an  immense  benefit  could  princes  do  at  the court and  in  their  estates  if  they  had  at  heart  the  truths  of our  holy  religion! Would not  honour,  honesty,  and  justice then reign  throughout  their  lands?

Croiset.

''Annie Chretienne.

The will  of  My  Father,  says  His  divine  Son,  and  the reason He  sent  Me,  is  to  save  souls,  and  not  to  lose  one He intrusted  to  Me. In fact,  as  God  has  nothing  more dear to  Him  than  the  salvation  of  men,  so  nothing  is  more pleasing to  Him  than  to  see  them  withdrawn  from  the