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 faithfully and  with  their whole heart,  I am  more  open and ready  to  bestow  my  assistance and  grace  upon  those whose cause  the  saints,  who are my  intimate  friends,  have undertaken, as  patrons  and intercessors, to  plead  before me. For the  Church  triumphant is  united  to  the  militant in the  bond  of  charity; and the article  of  the  communion of  saints,  which  you profess daily  in  the  creed, reminds you  how  profitable it is  to  you  to  implore  and to honour  the  saints,  whom I have honoured  so  highly. How often  have  I withdrawn from a people  my  scourges! How often  have  I spared kingdoms, provinces,  and states for  my  servants’  and elect’s sake,  who  have  stood crying to  me  to  turn  away my anger! And if  the  prayer of the  just  prevailed  so  greatly when  they  lived  in  the flesh exposed  to  so  many miseries and  failings,  what will it  not  effect,  when,  placed far beyond  all  corruption  of nature,  they  live  happy  with me, as  my  friends  and  associates, in  my  kingdom? There, in fact,  they  are  so  much  the more inclined  to  pity,  as  they have been  brought  so  much nearer to  the  very  fountain  of pity,  and  have  a truer  knowledge of  your  sorrows. For that happy  home  has  not lessened, but  enlarged  their charity. They are,  indeed, already in  harbour,  but  they see you  tossing  and  suffering shipwreck on  the  sea. Then, when you  invoke  them,  they instantly have  recourse  to  me to  help  you,  nor  is  it  just  that I should shame  them,  or  refuse them  any  request.

Man. Thy words  are  sweet, O Lord, for  I,  a sinner,  unworthy, but  needing  help, often know  not  whither  to fly,  when,  for  the  many  sins I am stained  with,  I dare  not appear in  thy  presence. But now I will  come  more  boldly, under the  shadow  of  those whom thou  lovest,  that,  by the  merits  and  prayers  of them  that  please  thee,  I may obtain what  I cannot  by  my own. Oh, that  I were  partaker with  all  that  fear  thee, and that  keep  thy  commandments!

But know,  my son,  that  it  is  in  vain  for one to  praise  and  invoke  the saints who  takes  no  pains  to be  like  them. For the  life  of the  saints  is  the  rule  for  thee and the  rest  of  my  faithful servants to  live  by. You are running the  same  race,  why not, then,  hold  the  same course? Is it  possible  that you are  seeking  life,  yet  going the  way  whose  end  leads to death? Oh, how  many there are  among  those  who bear my  name  and  my  badge, whose practice  it  is  to  clothe themselves, with  the  rich  man,