The disciples were amazed when they saw the Lord go up into heaven. And as they stood looking up after Him, two angels appeared, and said to them, "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven."

They then turned back to Jerusalem, full of holy joy; and they went often into the temple to praise and bless God. The apostles, the blessed Virgin Mary, and many others, spent their time in praying to God.

Ascension or Holy Thursday has always been kept sacred by the Church of Christ, in remembrance of the Lord Jesus going into heaven, where He now dwells, and where He sees all we do, and hears all we

say. He is gone to prepare a place for all who love and obey Him. Those who follow Him on earth will live for ever with Him in heaven.

48. THE HOLY GHOST DESCENDS ON THE APOSTLES.

AT the feast called Pentecost, Jerusalem was full of strangers from all parts of the world. They went there to worship God. The apostles were all together in a house; and on a sudden they heard a loud sound, like a very high wind, which filled the house. At the same moment they saw cloven tongues like fire resting upon them. And they were filled with the Holy Ghost, so that they could speak languages which they had never learned. The apostles then began to preach, and the people from all parts of the world were astonished to hear them speak in their different languages.

St. Peter stood up and said, "Ye men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by Him, in the midst of you. Him ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, He hath shed forth This, which ye now see and hear. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, Whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ."

When the people heard these words, their consciences were pricked, and they said to the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" St. Peter said to them, "Repent, and be baptised every

one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you and your children." God the Holy Ghost so moved the hearts of these people, that three thousand of them believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, and were baptised that very day. After this they went every day into the temple to pray, and received the sacrament, and heard the apostles preach. The rich sold their houses and lands, and gave the money to the apostles, that they might give it to the poor. They all loved each other, and were very happy; and they praised God for His goodness.

We here learn how the first disciples loved one another. And so ought we to love those who have been baptised into the Church. In Baptism, God the Holy Ghost enters into

our hearts, and makes us all brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ; we ought, therefore, to love all, and try to do them good.

49. WONDERS WROUGHT BY THE HOLY APOSTLES.

THE Lord Jesus had said that God the Holy Ghost should guide the apostles into all truth. This promise was now fulfilled; for He inspired the holy apostles, so that they knew every thing that God wished them to say. God the Holy Ghost also gave them power to work miracles. One day as St. Peter and St. John were going into the temple to pray, they saw a poor man lying at the gate begging. This man had been a cripple all his life, and could not walk. When he saw the apostles, he