Twenty-sixth meditation. The joy and happiness that the devout soul experiences in the Cross

First point.

Striking my breast at the foot of the cross of my sweet Jesus, I will exclaim, " Here is truly the Son of God! " Never may I glory in myself, nor in the world, nor in anything whatever. Let Jonas rejoice under the shadow of his ivy, let Abraham prepare beneath, the tree a feast for the angels, let Ismael cry under the tree of the desert, let Elias be fed in solitude beneath the juniper-tree; as for us, we wish for no other joy than that of the cross, no other drink than the blood which flows therefrom, no other nourishment than the fruit of life suspended on it

Second point.

Consider how venerable is this cross. " Ah! " exclaimed David, " adore the footprints of God." And what shall we say of the cross that has been the bed, the seat> the throne, of that same God? Jacob adored the rod of J oseph, and Esther kissed the rod of her husband Assuerus. Oh! then, with what reverence should the devout soul kiss the cross, the true royal sceptre of her dear Jesus! She should say with David: "O all you preach, and say that the Lord reigns by the wood."

Third point.

Consider how exceedingly the dearest friends of God have loved the cross. The most blessed Virgin, sacred Sulamitess, ascended this palm at every moment in or- 3eir to cull its fruits; St. Peter had no other strength, St. Paul no other glory, St. John no other refuge, St. Andrew no other sweetness; and as to our Father, St Francis de Sales, he protested that, if he knew that a single fibre of his heart was not stamped with the cross, he would pluck it out.

Affections.

0 most holy cross, honored by the sacred members of my Saviour, you are the royal gate that conducts to the temple of holiness, outside of which we shall never find it O religious souls! contemplate profoundly the wounds that Our Lord suffered on the cross, and learn that vain and foolish is the heart that perches on any other tree. I salute you, O holy cross, standard of salvation, palm of life, sword by which the devil was annihilated, medicine of immortality, protector of the present life, pledge of life eternal, sacred sign of Chris-

Digitizechby tians, trophy of our King, J esus! 0 dear and desirable cross! receive me within your venerable arms.

0 Jesus, my Spouse! in kissing and embracing Thy own cross, Thou didst embrace all our little crosses, thus to render them more amiable. O little crosses, little trials, little repugnances, humiliations, trifling though you be, my Jesus has seen, has kissed, has sanctified you. Why, then, throughout the journey of this life, should I not have recourse to Thy transpierced Heart? At every step we meet with crosses. If my flesh trembles at the sight of them, my heart loves them. Yes, I love you, little and great crosses, interior and exterior, corporal and spiritual, though I am unworthy of the honor of your shadow.

"Whence, alas! comes the misfortune that reverence for the cross has grown so cold? The primitive Christians and lovers of

UO BAPPWESS IN THE CROSS.

Jesus always made this sign of life with, great veneration, when eating and drinking, standing and sitting. "When thou goest out, when thou dost enter the house, when thou bringest a light, cover thyself with the sacred sign of the cross, and evils dare not approach thee," says an ancient writer. O holy Lover of the cross, grant that, following Thy example, I may love the crucifixion of the body and of the heart! O holy cross! be to me a most amiable chain, and a rampart upon my breast 1