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 were wondering  at  these  things  which  were spoken concerning  Him. And Simeon  blessed them, and  said  to  Mary  His  Mother:  Behold  this child is  set  for  the  fall  and  for  the  resurrection of many  in  Israel,  and  for  a  sign  which  shall  be contradicted;  and  thy  own  soul  a  sword  shall pierce, that  out  of  many  hearts  thoughts  may  be revealed"  (Luke  ii.  25-35).

ary was  familiar  with  the  predictions  of  the prophets and  knew  that  ignominy,  sorrow, and suffering  would  be  her  divine  Son's  portion throughout His  earthly  career. But to  have  this secret of  her  anxious  soul  thus  publicly  and  solemnly declared  by  Simeon,  was  a  sharp  thrust  of that  seven-edged  sword  which  was  to  pierce  her loving heart. In spirit  she  viewed  that  boundless, surging  sea  of  trials,  pain,  and  death  on which  her  Son  was  to  be  tossed  about,  and  was willing to  be  engulfed  in  its  bitter  waters. Her affliction would  have  scarcely  been  greater  had the death  sentence  of  her  divine  Son  been  pronounced then  and  there  and  put  into  execution. What a  sorrow,  what  an  affliction,  what  a  trial for such  a  tender  Mother! Well might  she exclaim with  the  Royal  Prophet:  "My  life  is wasted  with  grief,  and  my  years  in  sighs" (Ps. xxx.  11).

Let us  often  contemplate  this  sorrow,  and  ex-