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How long time is it since this hath happened unto him? And he said, From his infancy. But if thou canst do anything, help us, having compassion upon us. And Jesus saith to him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.' The father saw at once that the doubt which he entertained of the power of Jesus stood in the way of the favour which he asked, and he cried out with tears, 'I do believe: Lord, help Thou my unbelief'-Credo, Domine, adjuva increduli tatem meam— —that is to say, 'I do believe as far as I can; of thy mercy supply what is lacking to my faith; help me to believe as I ought.'

APPLICATION. Imitate this suppliant father. Begin by doing what you can, and ask God to do the rest; then await the answer and the final result. It is a blessed truth which St. Augustine so beautifully expresses in those words which the Council of Trent has literally adopted: Deus impossibilia non jubet; sed jubendo monet facere quod possis, et petere quod non possis, et adjuvat ut possis-God does not demand of us impossible things; but by His demands He means us to do our utmost, to ask for what we cannot do, and He helps us to do it.' Have we done this? Have we not contented ourselves with simply asking, and making no effort? or, presuming on our strength, have we not neglected to pray?

AFFECTIONS and RESOLUTIONS.

POINT III. Jesus gives back the Child perfectly cured to the Father.

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CONSIDERATION. The father's faith, now made perfect, is rewarded. 'Jesus,' says St. Mark, threatened the unclean spirit, saying to him, Deaf and dumb spirit, I command thee, go out of him; and enter not any more into him.' The devii obeyed, but in the manner of a devil: And crying out, and greatly tearing him, he went out of him; and he became as dead, so that many said, He is dead. But Jesus, taking him by the

hand, lifted him up; and he arose.' stored him to his father.

the mighty power of God.'

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APPLICATION. We have presented to us here a picture of the violent disturbance into which the devil throws a soul that he is compelled to leave. It is a kind of agony, but an agony through which a soul passes from death to life, from habitual tepidity to feryour, to the full vigour of the spiritual life. Perhaps you know something of it by experience. However that may be, learn from this example how to direct and encourage the souls committed to your care. COLLOQUY with our Divine Saviour.

SEPTEMBER 5.

THE JOURNEY FROM MOUNT TABOR TO CAPHARNAUM. THE PASSION REPEATEDLY FORETOLD.

1st Prel. Picture to yourself Jesus, on His way, conversing alone with His Apostles.

2d Prel. Ask for grace to understand, reverence, and love spiritual things.

POINT I. Jesus foretells His Passion a second time.

CONSIDERATION. It was the month of August, in the third year of the preaching of Jesus. Hitherto His Ministry had scarcely extended beyond the bounds of Galilee. Now Judea was to be the scene of His labours. But before going there, He wished to pay one last visit to Capharnaum, where He had lived so much. On the way from Mount Tabor to this city He permitted no one to accompany Him except His Apostles, that He might talk to them of the great mystery, of the insults and the cruel death which He was about to suffer in the capital of Judea. 'He said to them, The Son of Man shall be betrayed into the hands of men,

and they shall kill Him; and after that He is killed, He shall rise again the third day.'

APPLICATION. In the first place, mark when it was that our Lord reminded Himself and others of His Passion. It was when all smiled upon Him; when the fame of His miracles had won for Him a general popularity. When success attends us, when men praise us, let us not yield to thoughts or words of vanity, but rather let us strive to be humble. Let us remember that we are unprofitable servants, doomed to wither, to die; uncertain, too, whether we merit love or wrath. Have you done this? In the second place, mark why it was that Jesus so often foretold His approaching Passion. It was to make them understand that He would suffer of His own free will, and out of love for man, and to prevent them from being scandalised when the time came. Do good, so that what you do may prove to be good under any circumstances.

AFFECTIONS and RESOLUTIONS.

POINT II. Jesus is not understood by His Apostles.

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CONSIDERATION. 'But they understood not this word,' says St. Luke; and it was hid from them, so that they perceived it not.' In truth, they understood the expressions, 'to be delivered up,' 'to be put to death,' which were plain enough; but they could not understand their meaning, because their love for Jesus and their own ambitious views made them reject the literal sense of the words. 'And they were afraid to ask Him concerning this word;' afraid, doubtless, of learning more than they wished to know. And they were troubled exceedingly.'

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APPLICATION. Can you see in this no point of resemblance between yourself and the Apostles, who were still so imperfect? How many things, for instance, are told you again and again by your Superiors, by your director-things which you do not understand because you do not wish to understand them, because they cross

your inclination, because they urge you to painful efforts. For example, this excessive liberty in which you indulge your eyes or your tongue is a fatal occasion of sin. Until you totally renounce these undue familiarities, you will have neither peace nor purity of conscience. Have not your want of diligence and care made you responsible for the sins of others? Have not your judgments, your complaints, your irregularities given grave scandal to your brethren?

AFFECTIONS and RESOLUTIONS.

POINT III. Jesus foretells His Resurrection as well as His Death.

CONSIDERATION. "The Son of Man shall be betrayed into the hands of men, and they shall kill Him; and after that He is killed, He shall rise again the third day.' It is important to notice here that Jesus Christ never separates the prediction of His glorious Resurrection from that of His Passion.

APPLICATION. He does this for our encouragement, that the thought of our resurrection and the joys of heaven which are promised us may support us in the spiritual combat, in every imaginable sacrifice and suffering. Quicken your faith; summon up your courage. COLLOQUY.

SEPTEMBER 6.

THE DIDRACHMA.

1st Prel. Behold St. Peter drawing up the fish in which he will find the money required to pay the tax.

2d Prel. Ask for St. Peter's simplicity, humility, and faith.

POINT I. Jesus was exempt from paying the Tribute.

CONSIDERATION. The Gospel only mentions one act of our Lord in this His last visit to Capharnaum: 'And when they were come to Capharnaum, they that re

ceived the didrachmas came to Peter, and said to him, Doth not your Master pay the didrachmas? He said, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What is thy opinion, Simon ? The kings of the earth, of whom do they receive tribute or custom? of their own children or of strangers? And he said, Of strangers. Jesus said to him, Then the children are free.' 'Still more,' he would say, 'is the only-begotten Son of the King of Heaven free.' Undoubtedly this title exempted the Saviour from all tribute to earthly kings. His exemption rested on good grounds.

APPLICATION. Do the dispensations which we claim from the rule, from work, from penance, always rest upon grounds equally good? Of a truth, there is no lack of excuses. Our age, our health, our business, or else our seniority, our merit, our great services. But are not self-deception, self-love, idleness, tepidity, too often at the root of it all? The more we naturally crave for dispensations, the more rigidly should we scrutinise our motives.

AFFECTIONS and RESOLUTIONS.

POINT II. Jesus pays the Tribute.

CONSIDERATION. Though Jesus need not have paid the tribute, yet He did pay it, to avoid giving scandal to the people, who as yet were ignorant of His right of exemption as the Son of God. But He paid it, so to speak, as God, by a striking and singular miracle. He said, then, to Peter, 'Go to the sea, and cast in a hook; and that fish which shall first come up, take; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a stater; take that, and give it to them for Me and thee. By this command He severely tested the Apostle's obedience. It stood the trial, and gained the reward.

APPLICATION. Learn from this-1st, Never to put a stumbling-block in your brother's way, even though

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