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 her as  do  the  insects  to  the  arc  lamp. Amid the doubts and  contentions  of  philosophic  schools,  she served the  Gentiles  as  does  the  beacon  light  the benighted and  storm-tossed  mariners. The multitudes were  converted  to  Christ  and  the  strength of the  Gentiles  came  to  Him,  showing  forth praise to  the  Lord  by  gifts  not  of  gold  and frankincense, but  of  believing  and  faithful  hearts. Especially blessed  were  the  Gentile  poor,  for though they  had  not  seen  they  believed  more readily than  the  Jews,  and  having  once  come  to Christ  they  clung  to  Him  more  perseveringly  than the Magi. The common  people  are  Christ's  chosen ones; He  became  one  of  us,  from  us  He  chose  His Apostles, among  us  He  made  His  first  converts. That with  and  through  the  lowly  began  His  conquest of  the  world,  proclaims  both  God's  omnipotence and  the  superior  aptitude  for  heaven  of  the humble. They are  the  .good  soil  unchoked  by  weeds and thorns;  they  are  the  dry  wood  which  readily catches the  heaven-sent  fire  and  spreads  the  conflagration. The rich  and  mighty,  on  the  contrary, hiss and  groan  like  a  sapling  amid  the  flames. They are like  doves  trying  to  soar  with  wings  defiled  by pitch. The poor  man  puts  aside  the  world  as  readily as he  does  his  coat,  but  for  the  rich,  it  is  like  tearing off their  skin. They are  the  world's  slaves,  as  are  all men except  the  faithful  poor — poor  in  spirit. For mind you,  poverty  without  faith  is  double  slavery, since its  victim  carries  the  cross  indeed — not  the cross of  Christ  but  that  of  the  wicked  thief. Having