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 who have  their  consolation  here. Lazarus may  be  in Abraham's  bosom  and  Dives  buried  in  hell,  but  the rich man  here  is  our  ideal  and  the  beggar  is  the  beggar still. Why, so  imbued  are  we  with  worldliness  that if, perchance,  some  poor  blind  sinner  turns  to  God and cries:  "  Jesus,  Son  of  David,  have  mercy  on  me," a dozen  straightway  rebuke  him  and  bid  him  hold  his peace. Those disloyal  Israelites  sought  eagerly  to spread  disloyalty,  and  everywhere  are  found  bad Christians, careless  Catholics,  who  would  in  wisdom fain precede  the  Lord  and  still  the  voice  of  penitence. O Saviour! during this  Lent  and  Mission,  do  so afflict  those  sinful  men,  so  blind  them  to  the  world, that with  softened  hearts  and  straining  ears  they  may listen for  Thy  passing  footsteps  and  cry  out:  "  Jesus, Son  of  David,  have  mercy  on  me;  Son  of  David,  have mercy  on  me! "

Brethren, there  is  one  sin,  especially,  at  which  the Lenten mission  aims — the  worship  of  the  false  god, Bacchus. Some say  it  is  a  modern  vice,  but  no,  it dates  back  to  the  Deluge. Bacchus was  worshipped in the  Egypt  of  the  Ptolemies,  and  in  ancient  Greece and Rome — nations,  mind  you,  now  extinct  or  fallen under Turkish  sway. The Roman  Senate  once  forbade this  worship — an  eloquent  contrast  to  Christian governments that  foster  it  and  license  it. It is  safe to say,  in  fact,  that  Bacchus  gets  more  votaries  from Christians than  from  Pagans. They point  to  us  with scorn. Every Christian  drunkard  delivers  to  the Gentiles once  again  the  Son  of  man  to  be  mocked  and scourged and  spit  upon. Ah! when we  think  how