Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/305



1. Whatever  grace  we  have  was  dearly  purchased. Our Saviour  gave  his  blood  for  it. Wherefore, to reject  a pious  thought,  to  resist  a holy  inspiration,  is, in fact,  to  undervalue  the  merits  of  Christ,  and  to frustrate,  to  a certain  extent,  the  ends  he  proposed to himself  in  dying  for  us.

2. We  are  accountable  to  God,  not  only  for  the graces we  have  received,  but  also  for  those  he  intended to confer  on  us,  provided  we  ourselves  had  not  put an obstacle  to  them. His sun  shines,  but  we  shut our eyes  against  it. Are we  the  less  indebted  to him  for  its  light? No; for  we  may,  if  we  please, make use  of  it.

3. Many  years,  perhaps,  has  God  been  inviting  us in  vain; soliciting,  reprehending,  and  threatening  us, to no  manner  of  purpose. But let  us  remember  that he is  a creditor  who  will  not  be  thus  put  off,  and  that the longer  our  debt  is  unpaid,  the  heavier  will  become our obligation. There is  possibly  a measure  of  sins, which may  force  him  at  last  to  abandon  us.

[Thank the Almighty  now  for  all  his  gifts  and  graces. Beg pardon for having  been  unfaithful  to  them,  and  resolve  to  correspond  with docility to  all  the  suggestions  of  his  graces  forth©  future.]

“ From him, to  whom  much  hath  been  given,  much  will  be required.” — St. Luke xii.

"Grace Is followed  by  judgment.”—  St.  Basil.

1. The  loss  of  time  is  one  of  the  greatest  misfortunes in  the  world. This life  so  short! all its moments so  precious ! yet we  live  as  if  it  were  never to end,  or  as  if  we  had  nothing  to  fear  hereafter.

2. Alas! if a damned  soul  had  but  one  single moment of  the  time  we  now  squander  away,  what good use  would  he  make  of  it? Every instant  of