Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/503

 that is,  in  His  doctrine  and  example,  devout  souls  dwell by holy  contemplation. " I  sat  down,"  says  the  spouse in the  Canticle,  "  under  His  shadow  whom  I  desired and  His  fruit  was  sweet  to  my  palate." (Cant. ii.  3.)

I. "  The  kingdom  of  heaven  is  like  to  leaven,  which  a woman  took  and  hid  in  three  measures  of  meal." (Matt, xiii. 33.)  This  leaven  in  the  first  place  is  Christ,  who, concealing Himself  in  our  nature,  rendered  the  whole mass, which  had  been  cursed  in  consequence  of  the  sin of our  first  parents,  acceptable  to  God. He is  again  in a  special  manner  this  leaven  in  the  holy  Eucharist,  for by it  He  penetrates  into  the  human  heart:  and  thus  in  a certain  manner  transforms  the  whole  man,  giving  chastity to the  body,  and  the  fervor  of  every  virtue  to  the  soul.

II. All good  men  are  leaven,  whether  they  live  in  communities or  in  the  world,  for  an  exemplary  life  has  a wonderful  influence  on  men's  actions,  and  secretly  urges to imitation,  making  those  who  imitate,  like  their models. Hence, St.  Paul  says  to  his  disciple:  "  Be  thou an  example  of  the  faithful  in  conversation  and  charity." (Tim. iv.  13.)'  Because,  as  St.  Leo  writes,  "  Examples are  more  powerful  than  words,  and  it  is  a  more  perfect manner  to  teach  by  actions,  than  by  words."

III. The influence  of  evil  example  or  bad  leaven  is very  great. " Know  you  not,"  writes  St.  Paul,  "  that  a little  leaven  corrupts  the  whole  mass?" (1 Cor.  v.  6.) Thus our  bad  example  infects  those,  with  whom  we  live and converse;  hence  we  ought  to  be  very  cautious,  lest we make  the  sins  of  others  our  own;  for  this  is  the  case