The broken cross scarce rises o'er
The all neglected dead:

No mourner heeds that saving sigh,
No kindly prayer is said.

The elder faith, some cling to yet;
That broken cross some heed,
And pause to invoke for those around
Their charitable creed.

'Tis sad, 'tis sad to see those mounds
Rise, as o'er kindred clay;
'Tis sad that only strangers weep
To wash their sins away.

'Tis sad, 'tis sad to see the cross,
Whose arms for all were spread,
Thus trampled down: but oh! 'tis sad,
Most sad upon the dead!

Faith! that, in childhood's hour I learn'd,

My joy, my trust, mine all: Mine every hope and aim in life May thy blest ties enthral!

And may the cross upon my tomb
Obtain for me the prayer

That peace be granted to the soul

Of her who slumbers there.

ANONYMOUS.

27

SCORN OF THE WORLD.

"He that followeth me walketh not in darkness," saith the Lord. Let it then be our greatest wish to think on the life of Jesus Christ.

But it happens that many, from often hearing the Gospel, are very little moved by it. This is because they have not the spirit of Christ. He who would fully and feelingly understand the words of Christ, must strive to make his whole life agree with that of Christ.

Be not ashamed to wait upon others, and to be thought poor in this world for the love of Jesus. Boast not of thyself, but put all thy hope in God:-doing what thou canst, and he will be pleased with thy good-will.

Do not trust in thine own knowledge nor in the cleverness of any living being: but rather in the grace of God, which helps the lowly and humbles the forward. He who knows himself well, lowers himself in his own eyes and seeks not for the praise of men. For a poor countryman who serves God is far better than a great philosopher who, heeding not himself, studies the course of the heavens.

What avails it to talk learnedly of the Trinity, if, wanting humility, I am displeasing to the Trinity?

PEACE AND PIETY.

Blessed are the single-hearted, for they shall have much peace.

For we all, indeed, might have much peace if we would not busy ourselves with the words and the doings of other people which do not

concern us.

How can any one be long at rest who meddles in other people's affairs? who seeks for any thing beyond himself? and who is seldom or never recollected in himself?

How was it that some of the saints were so perfect and contemplative? It was because they strove to quell within themselves all earthly desires, and thus were able to cleave to God with their inmost hearts, and freely to mind him. But we, on the contrary, are taken up with our own passions, and are too heedful about earthly things. If we were dead to ourselves and less bound up in selfish thoughts, we should be able to relish divine things, and to feel somewhat of heavenly contemplation. But our great hindrance is that we are not free from our passions and lusts, and do not endeavour to walk truly in the footsteps of the saints.

And when we meet with any small trial, we are cast down at once, and turn to seek for earthly comfort. Whereas if, like strong men,

we would strive to fight against it, we should doubtless see that the Lord would help us from heaven. For he is always ready to help those who strive and who trust in his grace; and he even sends us occasions of fighting in order that we may win.

Let us then put the axe to the root, that we may be freed from passions and have minds at peace. If we would but overcome one vice every year, we should soon be perfect. Instead of that, how often do we find that our devotion cools the older we grow; so that instead of being more and more pious every year, it is almost a wonder for a man to have the warm pious feelings of youth.

Oh, if we would but think how much peace and gladness we should secure to ourselves and to others by living well, we should, instead of falling back, be more anxious to advance in virtue.-IMITATION OF CHRIST.

ON THE LOVE OF GOD.

Evil is not to be done on any account whatever nor for the love of any one: although, for the sake of others, a good work may be left undone or may be changed for a better for thus a good work is not destroyed, but only gives way to another.

32 THE BLESSED VIRGIN'S CRADLE HYMN.

Without the love of God, no outward work avails; but every work that is done for the love of God, however slight and worthless it may seem, brings forth fruit. For God thinks more of a man's means than of the work which he does.

He who loves much does much. He does much, who does well. He does well, who thinks more of the will of others than of his own.

He who feels good and perfect charity seeks himself in nothing, but the glory of God in all things. He envies no one, because he loves no selfish pleasure; nor wishes to rejoice in himself, but to be blessed in God above all good things. He deems no one to be good of himself, but refers all things to God, from whom all things spring up, as from a well, and in whom all the saints rest at last in gladness.

Oh, how must all earthly things seem full of vanity to him who has a spark of the true love of God!-IMITATION OF CHRIST.

THE BLESSED VIRGIN'S CRADLE

HYMN.

COPIED FROM A PRINT IN GERMANY.

Dormi, Jesu! Mater ridet

Quæ tam dulcem somnum videt;

Dormi, Jesu! blandule.