Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/851

 sweet perfume. The apostles  closed  the  sepulchre,  knowing  that  the  Lord had endowed  the  most  pure  and  holy  body  of  Mary  with  immortality, before the  day  of  the  general  resurrection,  and  had  sent  His  angels  to carry  it  up  to  heaven.”



The Persecution  of  the  Church.  When  our  Blessed  Lord  first  sent forth His  apostles  and  disciples  to  preach,  He  said  to  them:  “Behold I send you  as  sheep  in  the  midst  of  wolves. Beware of  men,  for  they will hate  you  and  persecute  you  for  My  name’s  sake. The disciple  is not  above  his  master,  nor  the  servant  above  his  lord.”  That  which our Lord  foretold  was  completely  verified  in  the  case  of  the  apostles, for they  were  all  persecuted  and  martyred;  and  even  now  it  is  still being realised  in  the  Church,  for  her  faithful  children  and  servants  are continually hated,  calumniated  and  persecuted  by  the  world  on  account of their  steadfast  confession  of  their  holy  faith. This very  fact  that the Catholic  Church  and  her  bishops  and  priests  are  reviled  and persecuted by  the  world,  is  a proof  that  she  is  the  true  Church  of the  persecuted  Saviour; for  she  does  but  share  the  fate  of  her  Divine Master. What Jesus  prophesied  of  His  own  is  fulfilled  in  her:  “If  the world hate  you,  know  that  it  hath  hated  Me  before  it  hated  you. Because