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 themselves  Christians  were  more  imbued  with  the  spirit  of  Christianity. Moreover, unbelievers  and  heretics  would  have  perforce  to  respect  and honour the  Catholic  religion,  if  all  Catholics  would  live  up  to  their  faith.

Are you  of  one  heart  and  one  soul  with  your brothers, sisters  and  comrades? Or do  you  live  at  enmity  with them and  quarrel  with  them? If so,  you  have  not  the  spirit  of Christianity. You ought  to  observe  the  commandment  to  love  your neighbour, especially  your  brothers,  sisters  and  companions.

You can  see  by  the  punishment  of  Ananias  and  his  wife  how very much  God  hates  lies  and  hypocrisy;  and  yet  you  make  so little  account  of  telling  lies! It is  especially  sinful  to  tell  lies  to your  parents,  or  others  set  in  authority  over  you,  for  by  so  doing you show  contempt  for  them. Have you  ever  acted  thus? “Put away lying”,  says  St.  Paul,  “speak  ye  the  truth  every  man  with his neighbour”  (Eph.  4,  25).

It is  a terrible  sin  to  tell  a lie  or  to  conceal  a sin  in  confession. St. Peter’s  words:  “You  have  not  lied  to  men,  but  to God”,  apply  to  such  a one;  for  a priest,  in  the  holy  Sacrament of Penance,  is  the  representative  of  God. To conceal  a mortal sin in  confession  is  a hateful  act  of  hypocrisy,  and  a sign  of great  hardness  of  heart,  and  he  who  does  so  makes  a useless, and, still  worse,  a sacrilegious  confession,  receives  no  absolution of his  sins,  and  commits  a fresh  and  most  grievous  sin. If any of you  have  been  so  blind  as  to  make  a bad  confession,  make a good confession  as  soon  as  possible,  or  else  you  cannot  be  a child  of  God  nor  have  any  peace  of  conscience.

HE apostles  wrought  many  signs  and  wonders  among  the people. The sick  were  brought  out  into  the  streets  on beds  and  couches,  so  that  at  least  the  shadow of  Peter  might fall upon  them,  and  they  might  be  cured. By the  daily  repetition of these  prodigies,  the  number  of  believers  was  wonderfully increased. “Then the  High  Priest  rising  up  and  all  they  that