Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/857

 8, 19),  and  it  also  will  have  its  share  in  the  Redemption  of  Jesus  Christ, “for  the  fashion  (the  present  form)  of  this  world  passeth  away”  (1  Cor. 7, 31),  and  nature  will  be,  not  destroyed,  but  transformed  and  glorified. The  earth  on  which  once  the  Son  of  God  dwelt  visibly,  and  on  which He  now  dwells  invisibly  in  the  Blessed  Sacrament,  will  be  transformed into  an  everlasting  Paradise.  It  has  been  for  a long  time  the  abode  of sin,  misery  and  death,  a vale  of  tears;  but  after  the  Last  Judgment  it will  become  the  abode  of  immortality,  joy  and  rapture.  So  all-embracing is  the  work  of  Redemption  that  it  will  obliterate  all  the  consequences of  sin,  will  entirely  remove  the  curse  which  rests  upon  nature,  and  will impart  to  all  creation  a higher  and  eternal  life!

We have  now  arrived  at  the  conclusion  of  the Bible History,  and  how  beautiful  and  magnificent  this  conclusion is! You have  been  taken  back  to  the  beginning  of  Sacred  History, and reminded  how  in  the  beginning  God  created  heaven  and  earth, and made  for  man  an  earthly  Paradise. This Paradise  was  lost to man  by  his  sin,  and  from  henceforth  the  earth  was  stained with sin  and  every  kind  of  abomination. Some day,  however,  all that has  been  marred  by  sin  will  be  restored  by  the  Divine Redeemer; the whole  of  creation  will  be  transformed  and  renewed, and the  earth  converted  into  a Paradise. God grant  that,  some day, you  too  may  be  glorified  and  received  into  the  heavenly Paradise!

In order  to  attain  to  this,  your  last  end,  you  must  hold fast to  the  Holy,  Catholic,  and  Apostolic  Church. This last Chapter of  the  Bible  History  which  we  have  just  read  places  before you  the  wonderful  constitution,  preservation  and  development of the  Church,  and  reminds  you  that  the  Church  is  God’s  work, instituted by  Him  for  the  salvation  of  souls. She was  foreshadowed, and the  way  was  prepared  for  her,  in  the  Old  Testament;  and when the  fulness  of  time  came  she  was  founded  by  Jesus  Christ as a means  of  salvation  for  the  whole  world. She is  the  Bride of Jesus  Christ,  won  by  Him  through  His  Most  Precious  Blood. Our Lord  delivered  to  her  His  doctrine  and  the  treasury  of  the graces of  Redemption,  and  only  through  her  can  you  partake  of the  fruits  of  Redemption,  and  be  pardoned  and  saved. Thank God, therefore,  that  you  are  members  of  His  saving  Church. Honour, reverence  and  love  her,  obey  her  precepts,  and  diligently receive those  means  of  grace  which  were  committed  to  her;  and then you  will  be  saved!

Let us,  as  we  finally  close  this  Bible  History,  fervently  renew our baptismal  vows.