Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/658

 Hell  is  a place  of  punishment  into  which  no  ray  of  grace  or  glory can penetrate,  and  which  our  Lord,  therefore,  calls  a place  of  exterior darkness. The lost  souls  are  imprisoned;  they  cannot  get  free,  but are shut  in  without  help  and  without  hope. In hell  there  is  nothing but weeping  and  gnashing  of  teeth,  pain,  rage  and  despair!

The excuses  of  sinners.  The  rejected  guest  was  silent,  for  he  could bring forward  nothing  in  excuse. Here, upon  earth,  careless  Christians are always  excusing  themselves,  both  to  themselves  and  to  others. But before the  judgment-seat  of  the  All-knowing  and  All-holy  God  they  will have to  keep  silence.

The despisers  of  the  Church  and  her  ministers.  Those  who  persecute and speak  evil  of  the  bishops  and  priests  of  the  Church,  are  like  those rebels who  ill-treated  the  servants  of  the  king,  and  who  thereby  drew down on  themselves  his  anger  and  vengeance. With such  as  these Almighty God  will  hold  a strict  account,  for  our  Lord  has  said:  “He that despiseth  you,  despiseth  Me!”

Holy Communion  is  a Feast  in  which  the  Divine  Saviour  entertains Himself with  the  individual  soul. The Church,  by  her  ministers,  invites us to  this  Feast,  commanding  us  to  receive  Holy  Communion  once  a year  at  Easter,  and  urging  us  to  more  frequent  Communion. He who does not  partake  of  this  Feast  on  earth,  will  find  himself  shut  out  from the marriage-feast  in  heaven. But only  he  who  has  on  a wedding-garment,  only  he  who  is  in  a state  of  grace,  may  receive  the  Bread  of Angels;  for  he  who  presumes  to  receive  Holy  Communion  in  a state of mortal  sin,  will  be  cast,  if  he  does  not  repent,  into  hell,  where  there is wailing  and  gnashing  of  teeth.

Have you  a high  idea  of  sanctifying  grace? Do you  bear  in  mind  what  a beautiful  garment  of  the  soul  it  is, and how  our  Lord  recognises  his  spouses  by  it? Take care  of  it as  your  greatest  treasure,  and  never  lose  it  by  mortal  sin. The best way  to  preserve  it  is  to  pray  and  to  practise  your  religion. Never make  vain  excuses.

HE Scribes  and  Pharisees,  understanding  that  the  parable  of the  marriage-feast  was  meant  for  them,  hated  our  Lord  more than ever. They went,  therefore,  and  consulted  together,  how