Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/572

 arrival  of  the  Messias,  and  the  speedy  accomplishment  of  the  work  of Redemption. When our  Lord  ascended  into  heaven,  he  was  taken  up with  Him  into  everlasting  happiness. The Church  honours  him  as  a great  Saint,  and  on  the  24th  of  June  celebrates  his  nativity,  because he was  born  without  original  sin.

Dancing is  often  the  occasion  of  sin, and  unseemly  dancing  is  forbidden by  the  Sixth  Commandment.

Intemperance (or  gluttony)  is  a capital  sin. Herod  would  not  have been carried  away  by  the  sight  of  the  girl’s  dancing  to  make  a rash and frivolous  oath,  unless  he  had  been  excited  by  too  much  wine.

Comparisons to  be  drawn  between  St.  John  and  Elias,  Herod  and Achab, Herodias  and  Jezabel.

The end  of  Herod.  Later  on,  Herod  was  deposed  by  the  Roman emperor and  banished  to  Lyons. Both he  and  his  wife  died  in  misery. The daughter  of  Herodias  perished  during  a pleasure-party  on  the  ice. The ice  broke,  she  fell  into  the  water,  and  her  head  was  severed  from her body  by  a piece  of  broken  ice.

Do you  ever  swear  without  necessity,  or  use the name  of  God  irreverently  in  your  conversation?

HE Feast  of  the  Passover  being  at  hand,  the  apostles  returned to  their  Divine  Master,  and  gave  Him  an  account of all  they  had  done. But He  said  to  them:  “Come  ye  apart  into a desert place,  and  rest  a little.”  For  there  were  so  many  coming and going  that  they  had  no  time  to  eat. So they  sailed  across the lake  and  went  into  a retired  spot. But even  there  the  people followed them  in  large  numbers.

Jesus, seeing  this  great  multitude,  had  compassion  on  them, and, without  giving  Himself  any  rest,  went  up  into  a mountain. There He  sat  with  His  apostles  and  disciples,  and  began  to  teach