Page:SermonsFromTheLatins.djvu/112

 vengeance have  had  their  voices  stilled  by  a  single invocation of  that  name! The tender  youth  and gentle virgin  and  aged  martyr  went  bravely  to  the lions and  the  stake,  encouraging  one  another  with that name;  or,  like  the  Apostles,  went  forth  from  the council rejoicing  that  they  were  accounted  worthy to suffer  for  the  name  of  Jesus. And then  alas! for how many  has  it  proved  a  rock  of  scandal  set  for their ruin,  and  a  sign  that  should  be  contradicted  and blasphemed! But for  many,  oh,  let  us  hope  for  many, many more  it  has  been  a  saving  factor  in  their  lives, from the  moment  when  first  'twas  lisped  by  their childish prattle  until  it  trembled  on  their  dying  lips. Ah! no wonder  saints  have  burned  it  on  their breasts; no  wonder  JHS,  its  monogram,  confronts us on  the  altar  and  falls  in  vivid  colors  from the stained  windows  to  the  floor;  for  Jesus  is  a  name above every  name,  at  the  mention  of  which  every knee should  bend  on  earth,  in  heaven,  and  in  hell.

Brethren, Jesus  means  Saviour,  Emmanuel  or  God with us. " The  Lord  is  with  thee,"  the  angel  said to Mary,  and  hence  he  called  her  blessed. It is  our rare privilege  to  be  accounted  blessed,  if  we  will,  in a  higher  and  a  nobler  sense. " Yea,  rather/'  says Our  Lord,  "  more  blessed  still  are  they  who  hear the word  of  God  and  keep  it."  Next  to  our  worship of  the  Divinity,  a  proper  reverence  for  His  sacred name  is  the  gravest  precept  of  religion.  "  Thou shalt not  take  the  name  of  the  Lord  in  vain,"  is  the second  of  the  ten  commandments.  Reverence,  then, that  name,  remembering  St.  Paul's  promise  to  the