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 trials and  hardships  of  this  life,  with  the  blessed prospect of  enjoying  God  forever  hereafter  in  heaven. Nor must  we  mistake  false  hope  for  the  true — we must  not  be  content  with  the  hope  of  the  fickle  or  the unjust. Of the  former  we  read  in  the  book  of  Wisdom that it  is  as  "  the  smoke  that  is  scattered  by  the  wind, or  as  the  recollection  of  a  passing  guest." In other words, there  is  nothing  firm  or  lasting  in  the  hope of the  unjust — as  the  smoke  goes  through  the  chimney and  then  disappears,  so  the  hope  of  the  sinner goes with  him  through  life,  and  no  further,  while  the hope of  the  just  rises  to  the  very  throne  of  God. Finally, our  hope  must  be  practical  like  Mary's,  for God has  commanded  us  not  only  to  hope  in  the  Lord but also has  said:  "  Hope  in  the  Lord  and  do  good."

Over the  foundation  and  the  walls  of  our  spiritual mansion we  lay  the  roof  of  charity — charity,  whose proper function  it  ever  is  to  shield  and  to  cover — charity, which  holds  the  highest  place  among  the virtues; and  charity  was  possessed  by  Mary  in  an eminent  degree. For if  the  highest  charity  knows not fear,  look  at  Mary  among  the  soldiers  at  the  foot of the  cross  and  learn  how  much  she  loved. If to  lay down one's  life  for  one's  friend  is  the  supreme  test  of love,  judge  the  extent  of  Mary's  love  who  gave  up her  only  Son,  dearer  to  her  than  life,  and  that,  too, for His  enemies  and  her  own.

Such was  the  temple  of  faith,  hope,  and  charity that Mary  erected  to  her  Lord,  and  therefore  did He choose  her  for  a  habitation  for  Himself — and since Christ  has  promised  that  whosoever  ministers