Page:SermonsFromTheLatins.djvu/503

 cial distinctions  are  worthless,  if  they  lose  their  souls. The old  people  must  remind  themselves  that  all  their riches will  desert  them  at  their  death,  and  will  avail them not,  if,  awaking  in  eternity,  they  find  they  have lost their  souls. What shall  I  say  of  the  man  who  is so  taken  up  with  worldly  affairs  that  he  has  no  time for spiritual  matters — who  never  utters  a  prayer  nor goes to  Mass,  nor  reconciles  himself  to  God  in  the sacraments of  confession  and  communion? Alasl he has  forgotten  the  value  of  his  soul — yea,  he  has actually forgotten  he  has  a  soul  at  all. What shall  I say  of  the  drunkard? He remembers  he  has  a  soul and he  knows  its  value,  but  he  puts  it  out  of  the  way — he poisons  it  with  alcohol — drowns  it  in  the  wine goblet, and  buries  it  in  the  vile  grave  of  his  own  filthy body. What shall  I  say  of  the  impure? Ah! he is the  worst  of  all,  for  he  has  forgotten  not  only  that  he has  an  immortal  soul,  but  even  that  he  has  a  human body — he has  become  a  brute  beast. His soul,  that celestial spirit  within  him,  faints  at  the  abomination it beholds — an  angel  imprisoned  in  a  hog-pen — an angel  and  a  devil  going  through  life  bound  neck  and neck. Oh, Brethren,  do  not  leave  this  church  to-day till you  have  pondered  well  these  two  words — God and my  own  soul. Bear them  in  your  minds  and hearts — keep them  ever  before  your  eyes,  and  let them be  the  watchwords  of  your  lives — God  and  my own  soul — God  and  my  own  soul — for  what  will  it profit  me  if  I  gain  the  whole  world  and  suffer  the loss of  my  God  and  my  own  soul? God and  my  own soul! God and  my  own  soul!