Page:TheYoungMansGuide.djvu/125

 And what  enables  pious  married  people to conquer  their  selfish  desires? It is  love, the love  which  ought  to  exist  between  husband and wife.

What induced  St.  Vincent  de  Paul  to  achieve so heroic  a  victory  over  himself,  and  allow himself to  be  shut  up  in  prison  with  the  dregs of mankind,  with  unhappy  convicts  condemned to  the  galleys? It was  love,  love  for their immortal  souls.

4. How  would  it  have  been  possible  that untold numbers  of  holy  martyrs,  amongst whom were  tender  virgins  and  young  children, should renounce  not  only  honor,  freedom, fortune, health,  the  joys  of  family  life,  but should give  up  their  lives  amid  terrible  torture? It was  only  possible  through  the  power  of love,  love  for  their  Redeemer;  they  said  with the Apostle:  "The  love  of  Christ  presseth us."

And how  was  the  greatest  and  most  glorious victory recorded  in  the  annals  of  the  human race obtained,  the  victory  over  sin,  death, and hell,  the  divine  victory  of  the  Saviour when He  expired  upon  Mount  Calvary? This was  indeed  the  supremest  victory  of  love, the victory  of  divine  and  infinite  charity  in regard  to  the  poor  sons  of  Adam.

5. Such,  my  youthful  reader,  is  the  all-conquering  might  of  love. And if  you  know that it  is  imperatively  necessary  for  you  to overcome  the  lust  of  the  eyes,  the  concupiscence of  the  flesh,  and  the  pride  of  life,  in