bonum, ab eo perfici instantissima oratione deposcas; ut, qui nos jam in filiorum dignatus est numero computare, non debeat aliquando de malis actibus nostris contristari. Ita enim ei omni tempore de bonis suis in nobis parendum est; ut non solum, ut iratus pater, non aliquando filios suos exhæredet; sed nec, ut metuendus Dominus, irritatus malis nostris, ut nequissimos servos, perpetuam tradat ad pœnam qui eum sequi noluerint ad gloriam.

2 Jan. 8 Maii

Exsurgamus ergo tandem aliquando, ex2 Sept. citante nos Scriptura, ac dicente: "Hora est jam nos de somno surgere." Et apertis oculis nostris ad deificum lumen, attonitis auribus audiamus, divina quotidie clamans quid nos admoneat vox, dicens: "Hodie si vocem ejus audieritis, nolite obdurare corda vestra."2 Et iterum: "Qui habet aures audiendi, audiat quid Spiritus dicat Ecclesiis." Et quid dicit? "Venite, filii, audite me: timorem Domini docebo vos."4 dum lumen vitæ

"Currite,

1 Rom. xiii. 11.
Apoc. ii. 7.

2 Ps. xciv. 8.

4 Ps. xxxiii. 12.

begin, beg of Him with most earnest prayer to perfect; that He Who hath now vouchsafed to reckon us in the number of His children, may not hereafter be saddened by our evil deeds. For we must at all times so serve Him with the goods He hath bestowed upon us, that He may not either as an angry Father disinherit us His children, or as a dread Lord, exasperated by our offences, deliver us up to perpetual punishment as wicked servants, who would not follow Him to glory.

Let us therefore at length arise, since the Scripture stirreth us up and saith, "It is now the hour for us to rise from sleep," and our eyes being opened to the deifying light, let us with wondering ears attend to the admonition which the Divine Voice daily addresseth to us, saying: "To-day if you shall hear His voice, harden not your hearts." And again: "He that hath ears, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the Churches." And what saith He? "Come, ye children, and hearken unto Me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord." "Run

habetis, ne tenebræ mortis vos comprehen

dant."1

3 Jan.

4 Maii

3

Et quærens Dominus in multitudine 3 Sept. populi, cui hæc clamat, operarium suum, iterum dicit: "Quis est homo, qui vult vitam, et cupit videre dies bonos ?" Quod si tu audiens, respondeas: Ego; dicit tibi Deus: Si vis habere veram et perpetuam vitam, "prohibe linguam tuam a malo, et labia tua ne loquantur dolum. Diverte a malo, et fac bonum; inquire pacem et sequere eam.' Et cum hæc feceritis, oculi mei super vos, et aures meæ ad preces vestras. Et antequam me invocetis, dicam: "Eccè adsum."4 Quid dulcius nobis hac voce Domini invitantis nos, fratres charissimi? Ecce pietate sua demonstrat nobis Dominus viam vitæ. Succinctis ergo fide, vel observantia bonorum actuum lumbis nostris, per ducatum Evangelii pergamus itinera ejus, ut mereamur eum, qui nos vocavit, in regno suo videre."

while ye have the light of life, that the darkness of death overtake ye not."

And our Lord seeking His labourer among the multitude to whom He here speaketh, saith again: “Who is the man that will have life, and desireth to see good days?" If thou, hearing this, dost answer: "I am he:" God saith unto thee: "If thou wilt have true and everlasting life, refrain thy tongue from evil, and thy lips, that they speak no guile. Decline from evil, and do good; seek after peace and pursue it." And when you have done this: My eyes shall be upon you, and My ears shall be open to your prayers. And before you can call upon Me, I will say: "Behold I am present."4 What, dearest brethren, can be sweeter, than this voice of the Lord, inviting us? Behold how in His loving kindness He showeth unto us the way of life! loins therefore being girt with faith and the observance of good works, and our feet shod with the guidance of the Gospel of peace, let us walk in His ways, that we may deserve to see Him Who hath called us unto His kingdom.5

Our

4 Jan.

5 Maii

In cujus regni tabernaculo si volumus 4 Sept. habitare, nisi illuc bonis actibus currendo, minime pervenitur. Sed interrogemus cum Propheta Dominum, dicentes ei: "Domine, quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo, aut quis requiescet in monte sancto tuo?"" Post hanc interrogationem, fratres, audiamus Dominum respondentem, et ostendentem nobis viam ipsius tabernaculi, ac dicentem: "Qui ingreditur sine macula, et operatur justitiam; qui loquitur veritatem in corde suo; qui non egit dolum in lingua sua; qui non fecit proximo suo malum, et opprobrium non accepit adversus proximum

Qui malignum diabolum aliqua suadentem sibi, cum ipsa suasione sua a conspectibus cordis sui respuens, deduxit ad nihilum, et parvulos cogitatus ejus tenuit, et allisit ad Christum. Qui timentes Dominum, de bona observantia sua non se reddunt elatos, sed ipsa in se bona, non a se posse, sed a Domino fieri existimantes operantem in se Dominum mag

? Ps. xiv. 4.

Ibid. 2, 3.

3 Ps. cxxxvi. 9.