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 by degrees  over  the  whole  face  of  the  earth,  and  all  nations  were  to be  gathered  into  its  fold. The Church  foretold  by  our  Lord  was  to  be a Catholic  or  universal  Church. Now this  one,  united,  and  Catholic Church which,  according  to  His  good  pleasure,  our  Lord  founded,  can only be  the  Roman  Catholic  Church,  in  which  the  faithful  of  the  five parts of  the  world  are  joined  together  in  real  unity  of  faith  and  government under  one  Chief  Shepherd,  the  Pope.

The Love  of  Jesus  for  sinners. The  touching  parable  of  the  lost sheep shows  our  Lord’s  compassionate  love  for  individual  sinners. The lost  sheep  signifies  a sinner  who,  obeying  his  own  evil  inclinations and the  allurements  of  sin,  has  separated  himself  from  Jesus,  and  is shut  out  from  the  number  of  the  faithful. But the  Saviour  does  not withdraw His  love  from  this  wanderer. Even as,  during  His  sojourn on earth,  He  laboured  for  the  conversion  of  sinners,  so  does  He  now go after  the  sinner. He calls  him  by  His  grace,  by  His  priests,  and invites him  to  return  once  more  to  the  fold,  by  means  of  the  Sacrament of  Penance. And when  He  has  found  him,  He  supports  him  on the  difficult  road  of  penance,  and  receives  him  back  with  joy. Jesus does this  not  for  His  own  sake,  since  He  does  not  require  this  straying sinner: He  seeks  him  out  of  pure  love  and  compassion  for  the  poor sinner himself,  wandering  about  and  in  momentary  danger  of  falling into the  abyss  of  hell. And it  was  because  the  Good  Shepherd  and His ‘Triends”  were  so  anxious  about  the  salvation  of  that  sheep  which was in  danger,  that  their  joy  at  his  return  and  salvation  is  greater,  and shows itself  more  outwardly,  than  their  calm  joy  about  the  faithful  who are walking  without  wavering  on  the  path  of  salvation.

Grace. We  learn  from  this  parable  the  important  doctrine  that  it is  God  who  gives  the  first  impulse  to  the  conversion  or  justification  of a sinner,  moving  him  to  be  converted  by  His  preventing  grace  (conveyed either  by  inward  inspirations,  or  by  the  warning  words  of  parents or  pastors,  or  else  by  misfortune,  sickness  &amp;c.),  and  who  then  supports him by  His  grace  on  the  road  of  penance,  until  he  is  once  more  restored to a state  of  justification  in  the  holy  Sacrament  of  Penance.

The Communion  of  Saints. If  the  blessed  inhabitants  of  heaven rejoice over  the  conversion  of  sinners,  they  must  have  a knowledge  of  it. It follows,  therefore,  that  the  angels  and  Saints  in  heaven  know  about us, care  for  us,  and  pray  for  us.

Does not  the  loving  compassion  of  Jesus,  the Good Shepherd  of  our  souls,  bind  us  to  love  Him  with  all  our hearts, and  above  all  things? How have  you  loved  Him  hitherto? He has  given  His  life  for  you;  He  has  called  you  into  the fold of  His  one  true  Church  without  any  merit  on  your  part; He has  fed  you  on  the  milk  of  His  doctrine,  and  has  showered