Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/242

 Church, "  Thou,  daughter,  art  blessed  by  the  Lord,  for by  thee  we  have  been  made  partakers  of  the  fruit of  life.  Do  you  in  like  manner  rejoice  with  holy  Mary, and  address  her  in  the  language  of  the  Church  at this  holy  time:  "  Rejoice,  O  Queen  of  heaven! because He whom  thou  broughtest  forth  is  risen  from  the dead. Pray for  us,  therefore,  O  holy  Queen,  to  thy adorable Son;  He  will  not  refuse  to  grant  the  petition, which you  address  to  Him."

I. "  And  very  early  in  the  morning,  the  first  day  of  the week,  they  came  to  the  sepulchre,  the  sun  being  now risen." (Mark xvi.  2.)  These  devout  women  brought ointment and  perfumes,  in  order  to  perform  the  last  offices of  love  to  their  Lord,  by  anointing  His  body. For this purpose  they  rise  very  early,  "  it  being  yet  dark." (John xx.  1.)  Learn  hence  to  spare  no  expense  or  labor in the  service  of  God,  consistently  with  your  abilities. Follow the  principle,  and  adopt  the  expression  of  the Wise Man,  "  We  must  prevent  the  sun  to  bless  thee,  O God!  and  adore  thee  at  the  dawning  of  the  light." (Wis. xvi. 28.)  Examine  whether  you  be  so  early  employed  in the  service  of  your  Creator.

II. " And  they  said  one  to  another,  Who  shall  roll  us back  the  stone  from  the  door  of  the  sepulchre?" (Mark xvi.  3.)  Such  were  their  anxiety  and  conversation on  the  way. But they  no  sooner  arrived  at  the tomb, than,  "looking,  they  saw  the  stone  rolled  back." Thus we  frequently  imagine  many  difficulties  to  exist  in the  way  of  virtue  and  perfection;  but  when  we  begin  to walk  resolutely  in  that  way,  we  find  them  either  entire-