Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/35

 sions. Acknowledge as  many  distinct  favors  conferred on you  by  God  as  you  have  committed  mortal  sins;  they were real  favors,  or  you  would  now  be  in  hell. Say then, with  holy  David,  "I  will  glorify  Thy  name  forever, for  Thy  mercy  is  great  towards  me:  and  Thou  hast  delivered my  soul  out  of  the  lower  hell." (Ps. lxxxv.  12.)

III. How many  obligations  you  are  under  to  a  God so patient,  who  has  so  long  waited  for  you  to  do  penance. Beware, lest  His  patience,  which  you  have  abused  so often,  be  changed  into  fury. Therefore, beg  pardon for what  is  past,  and  reform  your  conduct  for  the  future.

I. The  greater  the  dignity  of  the  person  offended,  the greater is  the  offence;  it  is  a  greater  crime  to  wound  a father  or  a  prince  than  any  indifferent  person. Reflect deeply, then,  who  it  is  that  you  have  so  often  provoked by your  sins. 1. He  is  the  God  "at  whose  beck  the  pillars of  heaven  tremble  and  dread." (Job xxvi.  11.)  2. He is omnipotent;  consequently  able  to  torment  you  a  thousand ways,  or  destroy  you  in  a  moment. 3. He  is  everywhere present;  for  "His  eyes  are  open  upon  all  the  ways  of the  children  of  Adam." (Jer. xxxii.  19.)  And  yet  you  have been so  insolent  as  to  do  those  actions  before  His  eyes which you  would  blush  to  do  in  the  sight  of  men.

II. Consider the  numerous  favors  which  you  have  received from  God;  for,  each  one  of  these  aggravates  your crime. 1. He  has  created  you  out  of  nothing,  preserved you like  a  most  affectionate  Father,  and  directed  you  as a  guide. 2. He  has  drawn  you  out  of  the  jaws  of  hell, and redeemed  you  with  His  precious  blood. 3. He  sanctifies you  by  His  holy  sacraments,  directs  you  by  His  divine  inspirations,  and  continually  draws  you  by  a  thou-