Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/535

 miraculous draught  of  fish,  when  he  said:  “Depart  from  me,  O Lord, for I am  a sinful  man.”

Hell is  styled  exterior  darkness  by  our  Lord,  because  no  ray  of divine  light  or  grace  can  penetrate  there. There, says  our  Lord,  is weeping,  or  wailing,  on  account  of  the  horrible  torment,  and  gnashing of teeth  from  despair  at  its  everlasting  duration.

Prayers for  benefactors. The  ancients  of  the  city  pleaded  the cause of  the  centurion,  because  he  had  built  for  them  a house  of  prayer. We ought  to  pray  to  God  for  our  benefactors,  especially  for  our  parents, god-parents, pastors,  and  teachers.

The power  of  intercession. The  centurion  interceded  for  his  servant, and the  ancients  prayed  our  Lord  to  grant  the  centurion’s  petition. These prayers  were  not  made  in  vain,  for  Jesus  yielded  to  them,  and cured the  servant.

“ Domine, non sum  dignus”,  “Lord,  I am  not  worthy  I”  The  priest says these  words  at  Mass  when  he  receives  Holy  Communion. He says them  also  when  he  administers  Communion  to  the  faithful.

Leprosy, a type of  sin.  Leprosy  disfigured  the  body  and  made  it hideous:  mortal  sin  defaces  the  soul,  which  is  the  image  of  God,  deprives it  of  sanctifying  grace,  and  makes  it  foul  and  horrible  in  the eyes of  God. Leprosy enfeebled  the  body  and  made  it  unfit  for  work: sin renders  man  incapable  of  performing  meritorious  works. Leprosy caused pain,  fear  and  depression:  sin  destroys  interior  peace,  creates remorse of  conscience  and  fear  of  death  and  judgment. Leprosy was contagious, and,  on  this  account,  lepers  were  avoided  by  everybody; sin also  is  contagious,  and  we  ought  to  avoid  the  company  of  sinners and criminals. The leper  had  to  show  himself  to  the  priest,  exposing to him  his  breast,  face  and  arms,  before  he  could  be  pronounced  clean and restored  to  the  society  of  the  faithful:  the  sinner  must  go  to  the priest, as  the  representative  of  God,  and  discover  to  him  by  a sincere confession his  sinful  thoughts,  words  and  actions,  before  he  can  receive absolution, and  be  restored  to  the  company  of  the  children  of  God.

Have you  always  made  a good  confession? Have you  a great  horror  of  the  leprosy  of  sin?