Page:TheYoungMansGuide.djvu/90

 become  clouded  through  sin  and  vice! Earnestly reflect that  it  is  well  to  live  a  Catholic,  it  is  well to die  a  Catholic. During the  course  of  1900 years, no  Catholic  has  ever  thought  of  forsaking his religion  upon  his  death-bed;  but  many  infidels and  heretics  return  to  the  bosom  of  the Church when  they  perceive  the  approach  of death. Well is  it  for  them  if  they  do  even  this! But do  you  remain  faithful  to  your  Catholic  faith in thought,  word,  and  deed,  even  to  your  latest breath.

"My just  man  liveth  by  faith"  says  St.  Paul (Heb. x.  38). Never yield  to  human  respect; be fearless  in  the  confession  of  your  faith;  strive to edify  others  by  living  in  accordance  with  your faith. The life  of  faith  gives  strength,  consolation, and  peace  to  the  soul  in  the  midst  of  the trials of  life;  it  is  the  best  assurance  of  a  happy death and  of  a  blissful  eternity.

HERE is  a  pious  and  pleasing  legend which runs  thus:  When  our  first parents were  expelled  from  the  fair  garden  of Paradise,  they  wandered  sadly  up  and  down. Before them  lay  the  land  of  toil,  overgrown  with thorns and  thistles. Sighing, they  exclaimed: "Alas! Would  that  the  flaming  sword  of  the angel  had  put  an  end  to  our  existence!"

Then there  breathed  forth  all  at  once  a  gentle breeze from  Paradise;  trees  and  shrubs  swayed to and  fro,  and  a  little  cloud,  tinged  with  the roseate hues  of  dawn,  floated  down  from  the