Oh adorable Face, covered with sweat and with blood, falling in the dust under the heavy weight of the cross, have mercy on us.

I follow thee, oh Jesus, laden with thy heavy cross and ascending to Calvary. It is the triumphal march of the commander in chief of the army hastening to gain the victory. Yet a few moments, and hell will shudder with fear at recognizing its defeat, and the dwellers in darkness be forced to bend their knees before the trophy of the conqueror of death and of the Redeemer of the world.

1st POINT. — THE SAVIOUR FALLS ON THE ROAD TO CALVARY.

But what! this powerful conqueror, who has resisted with impassibility the multiplied blows of his numerous enemies, appears now to be about to fall on the road which leads him to certain victory! The weight of his scepter crushes him, he is seized with an attack of giddiness and weakness; and in the midst of a people who are boiling over with rage and savage joy, behold him, stretched prostrate on the ground, and his forehead in the dust. His sweet and gracious face, still covered with blood, is soiled with dust, his beauty and his splendor have disappeared, he can no longer be recognized. Jesus wills to impress upon His adorable Face this fresh ignominy, doubtless because he desires thereby to give a lesson to our piety. What is this mystery, oh divine Savior? Permit my soul to ask thee for the explanation of it, after I have paused a few moments that I may contemplate your sufferings and your humiliations.

2nd POINT.— LESSONS TO BE DRAWN FROM THIS FALL.

This fall, oh my child, teaches you to pity those who fall, not to allow yourself to be discouraged by your own falls, but to rise again promptly through penitence. It was not only once, but three times, that I willed to submit to this humiliation, that I might teach you how great is your weakness, how great ought to be your want of trust in yourself and the seriousness of the sin of relapse. This sin weakens you; it diminishes in you the horror of evil, lessens your courage, impairs your strength and accustoms you each time to feel the filth into which you fall less repugnant. Understand also thereby, of what black ingratitude you render yourself guilty. I had pardoned you and raised you up again. How much you ought to have appreciated my generosity, and my grace which had effaced your faults in my blood and had reinstated you in your rights to Paradise. And behold, instead of thanking me, you renew your offences, and you permit yourself to he dragged along and to soil your soul in the dust of the road. My face was much less recognizable to human eyes than is your soul in the sight of God. Recognize your state, mourn over your falls, and make a resolution henceforth to lead a better life, and above all to avoid the most dangerous sin of all, namely that of relapse and of the abuse of grace.

SPIRITUAL BOUQUET

Non avertas Faciem tuam a me.

Lord, turn not away thy Face from me. (Ps. CXLII, 7.)

CURE AND CONVERSION OF PROTESTANTS.

We quote from the depositions of Mr. Monsabré, Curé at Vendôme, in the diocese of Blois; of Mr. Dejours, also Cure in the diocese of Blois, and of the person on whom the miracle was worked, the following fact, extracted from the process of the canonization of M. Dupont.

In consequence of a cure which had taken place in favor of a person belonging to Aunay, Julie Gautier by name (February 1852, M. Dupont informed M. l’abbé Dejours that it was necessary to pray fervently, and that some protestants who used to be in his parish would be converted and would make their Easter Communion that very year. The good Cure looked upon these tidings as a prophecy, for there was no appearance, so far as he could see, that M. Dupont’s words would be realized… Some time afterwards, Louis Cosson, a protestant belonging to Aunay, an upright man and one who feared God, and who moreover frequented catholic churches, came to M. Dupont, and begged that he would cure his wife, Catherine Marette, who had been suffering for two years and a half from a serious affection of the chest, which had been considered incurable by several doctors. He dared not confess to the servant of God what was the religion he professed, but M. Dupont immediately guessed it, and contented himself with making the man promise if his wife were cured, he would make his Easter Communion. Prayers were offered before the Holy Face, and, at his return, Louis Cosson learnt that at the very hour, when these prayers had been offered, his wife had been conscious of some improvement having taken place in her state. The complete cure was quickly followed by the conversion of the whole family.

On the Sunday of Quasimodo, the Curé of the parish received the abjuration of Louis Cosson and of his children, who made their first communion together the following Sunday. The woman who had been miraculously cured imitated their example on the 25th of April. She has been in excellent health ever since, and has remained a good catholic. Several of her nephews and a brother-in-law have also, since then, made their submission to the Church. She moreover affirms that, having come several times as an act of thanksgiving to offer her prayers before the Holy Face, she had always been struck with the holiness which manifested itself in M. Dupont, and recognized in him a saint, and a great saint.” These are her own words.

INVOCATION.

Oh adorable Face, who dost call out of the darkness of heresy into the bosom of the true Church, the sheep who have wandered far from the fold, grant that we may be always attached to the faith which makes saints, and to the divine shepherd who alone can lead us into the pastures of salvation.