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 ment they  brought  back  word  that  Jesus  was coming forthwith. What! the great  Prophet  defile Himself  by  entering  a  Gentile  house! Put Himself out  to  come  so  far! Obey his  call  like  one of his  own  soldiers! In haste  a  messenger  was  sept to beg  the  Saviour  not  to  trouble  Himself,  and  as He  still  persisted  in  coming,  the  abashed  centurion met Him  at  his  gate  crying:  "  Lord,  forgive  me  my apparent  presumption.  I  am  a  man  accustomed  to exercise  authority,  saying  to  one:  '  Come/  and  he cometh,  and  to  another:  '  Do  this/  and  he  doth  it, but  far  be  it  from  me  to  even  seem  to  command  Thy services.  Lord,  I  am  not  even  worthy  that  Thou shouldst  enter  under  my  roof,  but  only  say  the  word and  my  servant  shall  be  healed/'  It  was  a  complete surrender  of  his  will  to  Christ's  will.  Knowing  how to  command,  he  had  not  forgotten  how  to  obey; exacting  proper  humility  in  others,  he  could  be humble  in  the  presence  of  his  own  superiors.  What noble  characters  are  often  evolved  by  a  course  of military  discipline!  When  once  converted,  what  fervent, what  humble,  what  blindly  obedient  Catholics unbelievers  become!  One  knows  not  what  should be the  greatest:  our  regret  that  so  many  pure  and honest souls  are  outside  the  pale  of  Israel,  our gratitude that  God  takes  heed  of  them  and  will  bring them from  the  East  and  the  West  into  His  heavenly kingdom, or  our  dread  lest  we,  His  unworthy  children, be  cast  out  into  exterior  darkness.

Brethren, in  the  fifth  chapter  of  the  fourth  book of Kings  is  a  charming  story  in  which  to-day's  scriptural readings  and  the  lessons  they  convey  are  caught