Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/414

 prayer,  and  should  encourage  us  to  turn  to  God  in  all  our  necessities. Almighty God  gave  the  victory  to  the  faithful  Jews,  because  “they  fought with their  hands,  and  prayed  in  their  hearts.”

The soldiers  of  Christ.  We  all  have  a holy  war  to  wage  for  God’s glory and  the  salvation  of  our  souls,  namely,  the  war  against  our  own passions and  inclinations,  as  also  against  temptations  from  without,  from unbelieving and  wicked  men,  and  from  the  evil  spirits. In this  war our weapons  are  the  sword  of  God’s  word,  the  shield  of  faith,  and the lance  of  prayer. Our companions  in  arms  are  our  holy  guardian angels, who  invisibly  help  us  during  the  strife  in  the  same  way  that they visibly  helped  Judas. We are  consecrated  to,  and  strengthened for this  war  by  the  Sacrament  of  Confirmation.

Of what  kind  is  your  repentance  and  your purpose of  amendment? Have you  always  carried  out  your  good resolutions? In order  to  have  a hatred  of  sin  you  ought  every evening to  try  to  excite  in  yourself  a feeling  of  contrition.

Do you  properly  venerate  your  guardian  angel  and  your  patron Saint? Have you  read  your  Saint’s  life? Do you  commend  yourself every day  to  his  care,  and  try  to  imitate  his  virtues?

Do you  pray  diligently  for  the  dead,  especially  for  your relations and  benefactors? Never neglect  to  do  this,  for  it  is  a duty  of  love,  and  obtains  merit  for  yourself. Especially remember the holy  souls  at  Mass,  after  the  Elevation. If even  the  sacrifices of the  Old  Testament,  which  were  only  shadows  and  types,  could help the  dead,  how  much  greater  must  be  the  help  which  is  afforded to them  by  the  Most  Holy  Sacrifice  of  the  New  Testament.

fter the  death  of  Judas  Machabeus,  his  brothers,  Jonathan and Simon,  successively  placed  themselves  at  the  head of the  Jewish  people,  and  performed  wonderful  exploits. Their successors, however,  fell  away  from  God,  and  brought  the  people,