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 lost  spirits  in  hell. But if  you  are  faithful  in  the  service  of  God, and guard  against  sin  as  much  as  you  can,  you  will  some  day join the  angels  in  their  everlasting  happiness. Which of  the  two have you  imitated  hitherto,  the  good  or  the  bad  angels?

Above all  things  guard  against  pride; it  is,  as  Holy  Scripture say’s, hateful  before  God  and  men  (Ecclus.  10,  7). Do not  be conceited  or  vain  about  your  clothes,  or  your  appearance,  or  your knowledge, or  your  parents’  position,  but  give  glory  to  God  in all  things;  for  you  have  received  everything  from  Him. The more God has  given  you,  the  more  you  should  thank  Him. Drive away all vain  thoughts,  and  say  very  often: “Every  good  gift  comes from Thee,  O God;  I thank  Thee  for  all  that  I am  and  for  all that I have!”

HEN God  created  man,  He  said:  “Let  Us  make  man  to Our  image  and  likeness,  and  give  him  dominion  over  all animals and  over  the  whole  earth.”  He  then  formed  a human body of  the  slime  of  the  earth,  breathed  into  his  face  the  breath of life,  and  man  became  a living  soul. At the  same  moment God added  to  the  nature  of  man  many  favours,  and,  especially, sanctifying grace,  whereby  He  raised  man  to  a higher  likeness  of Himself. Thus was  made  the  first  man,  who  was  named  Adam, that is  to  say,  man  taken  from  the  earth. By his  nature,  man was the  image  of  God:  by  grace,  he  was  the  likeness  of  God.