Page:StVincentsManual.djvu/257

 barren  fig-tree,  and  upon  the  slothful  servant,  that  hid  hie talent in  the  ground.

Set before  your  eyes  the  examples  of  Christ  and  of  his taints; and  often  read  and  meditate  on  their  lives.

Meditate also  on  such  other  subjects  as  may  help  to move  you  to  the  love  of  God,  and  to  fervor  in  his  service  such  as  considerations  on  the  divine  perfections;  on  the  love of God  to  us,  and  on  his  benefits;  on  the  passion  of  our Redeemer, and  on  the  glory  of  his  heavenly  kingdom,  prepared  to  reward  your  short  labors  here.

Reflect upon  the  pains  that  worldlings  take,  and  the danger they  go  through,  for  a  little  dirt  of  the  earth:  and shall not  we  do  much  more  for  a  happy  eternity?

Remember in  all  your  actions,  that  the  eye  of  your  great master is  ever  upon  you:  and  therefore  labor  to  perform them all  to  perfection,  in  order  to  please  him.

Prescribe to  yourself  a  regulation  of  your  time,  and  a diversity  in  your  good  exercises,  that  thus  you  may  make that easy  and  agreeable,  which  otherwise  might  be  tedious and distasteful.

HE most  important  and  most  holy  action  a  man  can  perform, is  to  receive  worthily,  the  body  of  Jesus  Christ in the  holy  Sacrament  of  the  Eucharist. The greatest  favor, therefore, that  can  be  granted  him,  is  to  communicate  early in his life,  and  afterwards  frequently. The first  communion, then,  should  be  a  principal  object  in  the  desires,  of every  one.

It should,  moreover,  be  remembered,  first;  that  the obligation of  receiving  the  holy  Eucharist,  at  least  at Easter,  regards  all  those  who  have  attained  the  age  of discretion;  that  is  to  say,  the  age  when  they  are  able  to distinguish  the  body  and  blood  of  Jesus  Christ,  under  the appearance of  bread  and  wine,  from  the  ordinary  nourishment of  the  body;  or  in  other  words,  the  age  in  which they are  capable  of  reflection.

Secondly; that  purity  of  heart  being  the  most  proper exposition to  receive  Christ  worthily,  the  less  advanced  the