hem, with what reverence and love did St. Joseph minister to Mary's wants and comforts. When fatigued, how often the Virgin Mother used to lean upon his arm for support, and recline her head upon the chaste bosom of her spouse to seek repose.

At the whisper of an Angel the Holy Family fled into Egypt. St. Joseph's loving care lightened Mary's fatigues during the journey. The cedar of the forest, as well as the fruit trees of the desert, recognising the Lord of creation, bowed down in homage, and St. Joseph plucked fruits and flowers for Mary and Jesus. During the stay in Egypt on the return home to Judea, and during his life at Nazareth, St. Joseph was the guardian protector of the Blessed Virgin, and with a loving hand supplied all her wants and comforts. What privilege could be higher, holier, or more sublime !

Meditate what lights, what graces, what sanctity did St. Joseph receive from God by his constant and holy conversation with the Blessed Virgin on heavenly subjects. The moon reflects upon dull earth her cheerful, refreshing light shed upon her by the sun; so the Blessed Virgin, the mystic moon, reflected upon the soul of St. Joseph the choicest gifts and graces, shed upon her own

soul by Jesus Christ the Eternal Sun of Justice.

If cold hearts are warmed, and tepid souls. made fervent, as they have been, by the society and conversation of holy souls; how estimable the heavenly joys, the sublime graces, the choicest gifts showered upon the soul of St. Joseph, by the grace of God, from his heavenly communing with the Blessed Virgin on divine truths. St. Joseph may say of his holy spouse, " When I go into my house I shall repose myself with her, for her conversation hath no bitterness, nor her company any tediousness, but joy and gladness" (Wisd. viii. 16).

A celebrated French author, writing on this subject, says: "When we meditate upon these things it is difficult to find words to express even inadequately the wonder and astonishment that we feel at this sublime vocation of Joseph, to whom God has confided the richest treasures of heaven and earth."

PRACTICAL RESOLUTION.

Meditating on the glories of the Holy Family, we may exclaim with St. Peter at the Transfiguration: "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if Thou wilt, let us make here three

tabernacles," one for Jesus, one for Mary, and one for Joseph. Under the protection of St. Joseph, Mary, the choicest, the most tender, and the most precious jewel on earth, after Jesus, was in safe keeping, so if I be happy enough to secure the protection of St. Joseph, my salvation will be safe, beyond risk or peril. To secure the protection of St. Joseph for myself, living and dying, I resolve, at the end of my prayers, and frequently during the day, to invoke St. Joseph to obtain for me the grace of a holy life and happy death.

PRAYERS.

St. Joseph, who didst protect Mary Immaculate, watch over me. St. Joseph, who didst guard Mary from all harm, guard me from the evils of sin. St. Joseph, who didst minister to all Mary's temporal wants, watch over my spiritual necessities. St. Joseph, who didst live for so many years under the influence of the rays of divine love, reflected by Mary from her Son Jesus, pray that I may ever live in the presence of Jesus and Mary. St. Joseph, so dear to Mary, obtain that Mary may adopt me for her child.

"God, who art wonderful in Thy Saints, and more wonderful in Blessed Joseph, making him dispenser of heavenly gifts over Thy

family, grant we beseech Thee, that we, who devoutly venerate his name on earth, may, through the assistance of his prayers and merits, happily attain into the haven of salvation, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen."

PRACTICE.

Always have in your room a statue, or at least a picture, of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, of the Blessed Virgin, and of St. Joseph.

ASPIRATION.

St. Joseph recommend me to Jesus and Mary.

MARCH 11TH.

ELEVENTH MEDITATION.

St. Joseph, "a just man."

Invocation of the Holy Ghost, as at page 278, "Come, O Holy Ghost," &c.

"Whereupon Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing publicly to expose her, was minded to put her away privately" (Matt. i. 19).

Meditate on the sublime virtues of St. Joseph. The Holy Ghost Himself canonised St. Joseph, and described all his virtues by

one word, "just." "Here," says St. John Chrysostom, "just' means perfect in every virtue." A celebrated Jesuit Father writes: "In one word, the Holy Ghost gives us the noblest description of the prodigious virtues of the most worthy spouse of the Mother of God. .. No description can be more honourable, no eulogy more comprehensive, because this word "just" in the Gospel, according to commentators on Holy Writ, means that St. Joseph possessed all virtues in their highest perfection. By this word "just" are signified those flames of love which consumed the soul of St. Joseph from the moment of the Incarnation to his dying hour in the arms of Jesus and Mary" (Vallejo. Life, p. 276).

The word "just" not only comprehended St. Joseph's love for God, but his charity to Mary as his neighbour. "Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing publicly to expose her, was minded to put her away privately." "Just" comprehended his prompt and blind obedience to God's commands, when, at the bidding of an Angel, he fled into Egypt, and again returned to his native country.

An eloquent writer says:-"For my part I reverence the virtues of St. Joseph, and leave to other pens to give them all the light