Page:ThePathToHeaven.djvu/500

 and a plenary  Indulgence  on  Easter  Sunday,  they  having confessed  and  communicated  on  that  day,  praying  for  Holy Church. These Indulgences  are  perpetual,  and  applicable  to  the  holy  souls  in  purgatory.

According to  the  opinion  of  the  holy  fathers  and doctors of  the  Church,  there  is  no  more  efficacious  or useful  means  by  which  to  progress  in  the  way  of  salvation than  the  frequent  remembrance  of,  and  meditation on, the  Passion  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. It is  sufficient for us  to  know  how  St.  Augustin  expresses  himself  on this  subject  (lib.  ii.  Advers.  Manich.  c.  xxii.). " I  have found,"  he  says,  "no  more  effectual  consolation  in  all  my adversities  than  the  wounds  of  Jesus  Christ.  I  sleep  in them  with  assurance,  and  I  rest  in  them  without  fear. Jesus  Christ  has  died  for  us.  There  is  nothing  so  bitter that  it  may  not  be  made  sweet  by  the  death  of  Christ. All  my  hope  is  built  on  the  death  of  my  Lord.  His  death is  my  merit,  my  refuge,  my  salvation,  my  life,  and  my resurrection.  The  mercy  of  our  Lord  is  my  merit.  I shall  not  be  wanting  in  merit  as  long  as  our  Lord  ceases not  to  be  merciful  to  me;  and  since  the  mercies  of  our Lord  are  great,  my  merit  is  also  great." The greater  is  his power to  save  us,  the  safer  am  I.  If  this  or  that  unpleasant thought  pursues  and  troubles  me,  I  run  to  take refuge in  the  wounds  of  Jesus  Christ. If my  evil  inclinations weigh  me  down,  I  again  raise  myself  by  the  remembrance of  the  wounds  of  my  Saviour. If Satan  secretly torments me,  I  confide  in  the  most  intimate  mercy  of  my Lord,  and  he  does  not  forsake  me. If the  sting  of  concupiscence attacks  me,  it  is  deadened  by  the  remembrance of the  wounds  of  my  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the  Son  of  God." St.  Bernard  says  (Serm.  2  in  Epiph.):  "  As  for me, my  brothers,  from  the-  very  commencement  of  my conversion,  perceiving  that  I  was  wanting  in  virtue,  I appropriated  to  myself  this  nosegay  of  myrrh,  composed of all  the  sufferings  and  bitter  sorrows  of  my  Saviour,  and I fastened  it  on  my  breast. As long  as  I  live,  its  remembrance will  never  be  effaced  from  my  memory. I have found that  wisdom  consisted  in  meditating  on  these