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 (Luke xi.  5-10). The greater  and  more  intense our  desire  to  obtain  a  thing,  the  more persistent we  shall  be  in  our  efforts  to  secure  it.

We have  a  beautiful  illustration  of  this  in the  Gospel. "Jesus departed/'  says  the Evangelist,  "into  the  confines  of  Tyre  and Sidon. And behold,  a  woman  of  Chanaan w^ho came  out  of  those  parts  said  to  Him: Have mercy  on  me,  O  Lord,  Thou  Son  of David;  my  daughter  is  grievously  troubled by a  devil. But He  answered  her  not  a word."  But  she  was  not  discouraged,  for she  followed  Our  Lord,  persevering  in  her prayer,  so  much  so  as  to  cause  the  apostles displeasure  by  her  importunity.  "And  His disciples came  and  besought  Him,  saying: Send her  away,  for  she  crieth  after  us. And He answering,  said:  I  was  not  sent  but  to the  sheep  that  are  lost  of  the  house  of  Israel." But  the  woman  persisted,  for  "she  came  and worshiped Him,  saying:  Lord,  help  me. But He  answered  and  said:  It  is  not  good to take  the  bread  of  the  children,  and  to cast  it  to  the  dogs."  This  severe  rebuke  of Our  Lord  did  not  discourage  her,  for  "she said: Yea,  Lord,  for  the  whelps  also  eat  of the  crumbs  that  fall  fromi  the  table  of  their masters." Her  confidence  and  her  earnest perseverance  in  spite  of  so  many  rebuffs  were