Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/296

 (Job xix.  25.)  Celestial  harmony,  such  as  mortal  ear  has never listened  to,  will  regale  the  sense  of  hearing. The odors of  heaven  will  gratify  the  smell. " Your  Saints,  O Lord,"  exclaims  a  pious  and  learned  theologian,  "  will flourish  as  the  lily,  and  shall  be  with  you  as  the  odor  of balm." The taste  will  be  delighted  with  something  far more exquisite  than  material  food:  "  The  Lord  will make  them  drink  of  the  torrent  of  pleasure." (Ps. xxxv. 9.)  The  feeling,  also,  will  be  completely  gratified. "The eye hath  not  seen,"  says  St.  Paul,  "  nor  ear  heard,  neither hath  it  entered  into  the  heart  of  man,  what  things  God hath  prepared  for  them  that  love  Him." (1 Cor.  ii.  9.)

III. How earnestly  you  ought  to  labor  to  attain  this great reward! "The kingdom  of  heaven,"  says  Jesus Christ, "suffereth  violence." (Matt. xi.  12.)  Offer,  then, to your  will  and  passions  that  necessary  violence,  for none but  the  violent  can  bear  away  this  prize.

I. After  the  Apostles  had  witnessed  the  ascension  of their  Lord  and  Master  into  heaven,  they  returned  to  the city, and  assembling  in  one  room,  prepared  themselves by continual  prayer  and  fervent  acts  of  devotion,  for  the reception of  the  Holy  Ghost. "All these,"  says  St. Luke,  "  were  persevering  with  one  mind  in  prayer  with the  women,  and  Mary  the  mother  of  Jesus,  and  His brethren." (Acts. i.  14.)  Learn  from  their  conduct, that the  dispositions  requisite  for  the  receiving,  of  the Holy Ghost,  are,  1. Retirement from  noise  and  profane company. 2. Perseverance  in  prayer. 3. Concord,  and union of  mind. 4. The  company  of  the  Blessed  Virgin.