Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/854

 unto  death. Each one  of  them  might  have  said  with  St.  Paul: “I have  fought  a good  fight,  I have  finished  my  course,  I have kept the  faith. As to  the  rest,  there  is  laid  up  for  me  a crown of justice,  which  the  Lord,  the  just  Judge,  will  render  to  me  in that  day”  (2  Tim.  4,  7.  8). By means  of  their  glorious  martyrdom they entered  into  the  joy  of  their  Lord,  and  were  crowned  as princes  of  heaven  with  the  crown  of  justice. Reverence them, therefore, and  imitate  their  faithful  love  of  Jesus,  and  thus  you will obey  the  words  of  our  Blessed  Lord  and  obtain  the  promise they contain:  “Be  thou  faithful  unto  death,  and  I will  give  thee the crown  of  life!”  (Apoc.  2,  10.)

ITH marvellous  rapidity  did  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ grow from  a small  grain  of  mustard-seed  to  a great  and mighty tree  overshadowing  all  nations. Nor was  her  development in any  way  checked  by  the  death  of  the  apostles. For they  had left successors  of  their  office  and  work,  the  bishops  of  the  various churches. These continued  with  unwearying  zeal  the  work  which the holy  apostles  had  commenced. And as  the  faithful  were obedient to  their  bishops,  so  the  bishops  were  obedient  to  the successor of  St.  Peter,  that  is  the  Pope,  who  is  the  chief  pastor  of the  Church. In this  manner  there  was  a bond  of  union  and  unity between the  faithful  and  their  priests,  between  the  priests  and  their bishops, and  between  all  the  bishops  and  the  Pope. And it  has  been the work  of  Popes  and  bishops  in  all  ages  to  spread  the  Gospel, sending forth  missionaries  all  over  the  world,  “to  enlighten  them that sit  in  darkness,  and  in  the  shadow  of  death”. Such a messenger of the  Gospel  was  St. Augustine for  England,  St.  Boniface  for Germany &amp;c. &amp;c. And to  this  day  the  Holy  See  is  sending forth missionaries  into  every  known  country,  to  India,  China, Africa &amp;c.

Thus was  established  the  One,  Holy,  Catholic  and  Apostolic Church, which,  built  by  Christ  upon  the  rock  of  Peter,  and  guided by the  Holy  Ghost,  has  now  existed  for  nineteen  centuries,  and will exist  to  the  end  of  time,  in  spite  of  all  that  the  powers