Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/374

 justice; and,  finally,  by  their  wicked  lies,  caused  her  to  be  condemned to death. The source  of  all  these  sins  was  want  of  chastity. They allowed impure  desires  to  rise  in  their  hearts,  and  these  unresisted desires drove  them  to  further  sins. Their sin  was  all  the  more  grievous, because both  these  men  were  judges,  and  therefore  bound  to  give  a good  example,  to  protect  virtue,  and  to  punish  vice  and  crime. See, then, what  evil  consequences  follow  on  impure  desires! They lead  to many  sins,  to  deadness  of  conscience,  injustice,  and  even  to  murder.

The beauty  of  virtue. In  the  same  way  that  we  detest  the  hateful crime of  the  elders,  we  love  Susanna  for  the  beautiful  and  honourable virtues which  she  exhibited. Her body  was  beautiful,  but  her  soul  was a thousand times  more  so. She was  chaste  and  faithful,  because  she feared God. She dreaded  sin  as  the  greatest  of  all  evils,  and  preferred dishonour in  the  eyes  of  the  world,  and  loss  of  life,  to  the  committing of a grievous  sin. She has  therefore  been  praised  and  honoured  for centuries as  a model  of  holy  fear,  fortitude,  fidelity  and  chastity. We can apply  to  her  the  words  of  the  Holy  Ghost:  “O  how  beautiful  is the  chaste  generation  with  glory:  for  the  memory  thereof  is  immortal, because it  is  known  both  with  God  and  with  men”  (Wisd.  4,  1).

The prayer  full  of  confidence  offered  up  by  Susanna  was  heard, and God  made  known  her  innocence.

To set  prisoners  free  is  a work  of  mercy.  Daniel  did  this,  for,  by the  inspiration  of  God,  he  obtained  the  liberty  of  Susanna,  who  had been unjustly  put  in  prison  and  condemned  to  death.

The shame  of  sinners  at  the  Last  Judgment.  What  shame  and  terror must those  two  old  sinners  have  felt  when  their  lies  and  wickedness were revealed  before  all  the  people,  who  had  hitherto  esteemed  them to be  just  men! Such will  be  the  experience  of  many  Christians  who have succeeded  in  hiding  their  secret  sins  and  evil  doings  from  men, when, at  the  Last  Day,  they  find  their  hypocrisy  unmasked  before  the eyes of  the  whole  world,  and  they  themselves  covered  with  confusion and ignominy,  and  sentenced  to  everlasting  death!

Is your  holy  fear  of  God  strong  enough  to enable  you  to  stand  firm  as  Susanna  did,  in  the  midst  of  severe temptations? Do not  suffer  either  flattery  or  threats  to  lead  you into sin. Pray for  the  gift  of  holy  fear.

Resist the  beginnings  of  evil. Do not  let  any  impure  thought or dishonourable  desire  take  hold  of  you. Recollect immediately the Presence  of  God,  and  commend  yourself  to  the  protection  of the  most  pure  Virgin-Mother  of  God.