Page:SermonsFromTheLatins.djvu/554

 crib in  the  stable  of  Bethlehem. Again we  hear  the " Nunc  Dintittis  "  of  holy  Simeon,  and  again  we  gaze in mingled  joy  and  wonder  on  the  fair  boy  in  the midst of  the  holy  doctors  in  the  Temple. But, as  for Christ, so  for  His  true  disciples,  there  is  no  joy  without its  latent  woe,  hence,  we  meditate  next  on  the sorrowful mysteries. We go  in  spirit  to  the  garden of Gethsemani,  and  kneel  by  the  side  of  the  agonized Christ. We listen  to  the  horrible  echo  of  the  leaded thong, as  each  brawny  savage  rains  blow  after  blow on the  quivering  shoulders  of  our  poor  Saviour,  and we stand  by  while  the  huge  thorns  are  being  pressed down and  in  till  they  grate  on  His  sacred  skull. Then we  take  up  our  cross  and  follow  Him  on  and up the  heights  of  Calvary  and  there  immolate  ourselves in  spirit  by  the  side  of  our  crucified  Lord. Finally, as  if  to  carry  out  the  idea  that  after  the  cross of tribulation — and  only  after  the  cross — comes  the crown of  glory,  we  rise  with  Him  from  the  sepulchre in which  our  sins  have  entombed  us,  and  soaring above and  beyond  the  reach  of  human  joy  and  human sorrow  we  enter  with  Him,  glorified,  into  the kingdom of  His  Father. When we  have  thus  ascended to  God  in  thought,  the  Holy  Spirit  of  God descends on  us  in  reality,  calling  up  for  our  meditations the  picture  of  His  first  descent  on  the  twelve Apostles. In the  midst  of  that  group  we  see  Mary — Mary, who,  now  that  her  earthly  mission  is  accomplished, presently  closes  her  eyes  in  the  sweet  sleep of death,  and  is  taken  up  body  and  soul  into  heaven, whither we  accompany  her,  to  assist  with  the  angels