and to day and the same for ever" (Heb. xiii. 8).

Besides these, and countless other spiritual favours and privileges in the Catholic Church, my soul, thou hast in heaven Mary for thy mother and advocate, and hosts of legions of Saints and Angels as thy friends and intercessors.

RESOLUTIONS.

My God, during my life, little have I appreciated the priceless privileges of being a Catholic, and few have been my acts of thanks to Divine Providence. God of mercy and compassion, pardon my past ingratitude. For the future I resolve, first, to thank God frequently, nay, daily, for the grace of being a member of the Holy Catholic Church; secondly, on all occasions I resolve to glory in, and defend, even at the cost of my life, the doctrine of the Church of God; lastly, I resolve to manifest before men the greatest respect and reverence for the Pope, the Vicar of Jesus Christ; for bishops, priests, religious, churches, altars, ceremonies, and approved devotions. God Almighty help me, a poor sinner, to keep my resolutions.

PRAYERS.

Prayer of St. Ignatius.

Receive, O Lord, my entire liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my will. Take me and all I possess and am. Thou hast given them all; behold I restore all to Thee, to be disposed of according to Thy good pleasure. Give me only Thy love and Thy grace. These are sufficient for me; with them I shall be happy, and shall have no more to ask.

ASPIRATION OF ST. IGNATIUS.

"May the most just, the most high, and the most holy will of God be accomplished in all things. May it be adored, praised, and glorified by all creatures now and for ever. Amen."

THE PRAYER OF ST. BERNARD TO THE
BLESSED VIRGIN MARY.

"Remember, O most glorious Virgin Mary, that it was never known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy aid, and sought thy intercession, was left unaided.

Inspired with this confidence, I fly to thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother, to thee I come before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy clemency hear and answer me. Amen."

PRAYER TO ST. JOSEPH.

"Remember, most pure spouse of Mary, ever virgin, my loving Protector, Joseph, that never hath it been heard that anyone invoked thy protection, or asked aid of thee, who has not been consoled. In this confidence I come before thee. I fervently recommend myself to thee. Despise not my prayer, reputed Father of the Saviour of men, but do thou in thy pity receive it. Amen."

THE INVOCATION OF ALL THE BLESSED SPIRITS, Angels and SAINTS IN Heaven.

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Angels, Archangels, Thrones and Dominations, Principalities and Virtues, Cherubim and Seraphim, Patriarchs and Prophets, Holy Doctors of the law, Apostles, all the Martyrs of Christ, Holy Confessors, Virgins of the Lord, Anchorites; all saints inter. cede for us."-(Brev.)

CHAPTER III.

THE LIFE OF ST. JOSEPH.

The Genealogy, Birth-place, and Avocation or Trade of St. Joseph.

LITTLE is said in the Gospels about Our Blessed Lady; yet, that little is so pregnant with meaning, so significant, that bulky volumes have been written on her Life and virtues by learned and holy men. The one titleMOTHER OF GOD-is the foundation, width, height, and summit of this mighty edifice of dignity and sanctity. So it is, but in a far lesser degree, with St. Joseph. On his Life little is said in the Gospel, and not much by the early Fathers. The great duty of the early Fathers was to prove the Divinity of the Redeemer; for in these ages, not only the virtues, but the very countenances of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph were, by tradition, familiar to the people; yet, the pregnant fact, that he was the "husband of Mary," and the foster-father of Jesus, is the heavenly ray that lights up every page of the many large and edifying books written in his honour. That we may hasten on to explain practical Devotion in honour of our great

Patriarch, St. Joseph, we shall confine ourselves to reflections on the Gospel narrative.

SECTION I.

The Genealogy, or Family, of St. Joseph.

St. Joseph, though poor, was noble; the purest and best blood of Israel flowed in his veins. He was descended from the royal house and family of David. The Gospel says: "And in the sixth month, the Angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David" (Luke, i. 26).

The Genealogy of St. Joseph is given by two of the Evangelists, SS. Matthew and Luke. St. Matthew gives the natural Genealogy, and traces the descent of St. Joseph down from Abraham. "The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the son of Abraham: Abraham begot Isaac .... And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ" (Matt. i. 1-16).

St. Luke gives the legal Genearogy, and traces the line of St. Joseph up to Adam. "And Jesus himself was beginning about the age of thirty years, being (as it was sup