Page:SermonsFromTheLatins.djvu/452



"And immediately  his  ears  were  opened,  and  the  string of  his  tongue  was  loosed,  and  he  spoke  right." — Mark v". 35

Ex. :  I.  Ceremonies  of  Baptism. II. Epistle of  to-day. III. Effects of  prayer.

I. Necessity  as  to  justification :  1. Scripture. 2. Pray always. 3. Only  thorough  remedy.

II. Necessity as  to  perseverance:  1. Prosperity and  adversity. 2. Thabor. 3. Natural  remedy.

III. Parts : 1. Preparation and  study. 2. Contemplation and thanksgiving. 3. Petition.

Per. : Prayer  and  its  parts  exemplified  in  incidents  of  the Gospel.

, in  the  administration  of  the  Sacrament of Baptism,  the  Church  employs  those  selfsame  ceremonies which  Christ  originated  in  the  cure  of  the blind and  of  the  deaf  and  dumb. Moistening his fingers "with  saliva  the  priest  touches  the  infant's senses,  saying  meanwhile:  "Be  thou  opened,"  to indicate  that  by  the  grace  of  Baptism  God  will  open these  eyes  to  His  heavenly  truths,  and  these  ears  to His  holy  admonitions,  and  that  He  will  loosen  this tongue  to  speak  His  praises.  It  was  with  this  idea in  mind  that  the  Church  assigned  St.  Paul's  profession of  faith  to  be  the  epistle  of  to-day.  But,  alas! the  sacramental  grace  of  Baptism  is  often  thwarted, and  the  spiritual  inertness  of  babyhood  brought  back by  sin,  so  that  the  soul  stands  once  more  before  God