Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/381

 then  you  do  not  love  God  above  all  things. Say to-day  three Hail Maries  for  the  increase  of  your  faith,  the  confirmation  of your  hope,  and  the  kindling  of  your  love.

fter the  death  of  Nabuchodonozor,  Baltassar,  his  grandson,  ascended  the  throne. One day  Baltassar  gave  a great banquet to the  nobles  of  his  kingdom,  and  ordered  the  golden cups, which  his  grandfather  had  taken  from  the  Temple  of  Jerusalem, to  be  brought  forth  and  used  at  the  banquet.

The sacred  vessels  were  brought,  and  the  king  and  his  wives and his  officers  drank  from  them,  and  they  praised  their  gods  of gold  and  of  silver  and  of  stone. At that  moment  a hand  appeared, and fingers  were  seen  writing  three  words  upon  the  wall  over against the  king. Baltassar grew  pale  and  trembled,  for  the  joints of that  hand  were  moving  and  wrote:  Mane, Thecel,  Phares. He called  for  his  wise  men,  that  they  might  interpret  the  writing. But none  of  them  could  do  so. Then Daniel,  who  had  received from God  the  gift  of  prophecy,  together  with  that  of  explaining hidden things,  came  forth  and  spoke  to  the  king:

“Thou hast  lifted  up  thyself  against  the  Lord  of  heaven. Thou hast  praised  thy  gods  of  gold  and  silver;  but  the  Lord  of heaven,  who  hath  thy  breath  in  His  hands,  thou  hast  not  glorified. Thou knowest  that  thy  grandfather  was  punished  for  his  pride; that he  was  driven  away  from  the  sons  of  men,  and  that  he  ate grass in  the  field  with  the  ox  and  the  ass,  and  yet  thou  hast  not humbled thy  heart.