May 9 — Saint Antoninus, Bishop and Confessor

The Order of St. Dominic, which has already presented to our Triumphant Jesus Peter the Martyr and Catherine the seraph of Sienna, sends him to* day, one of the many Bishops trained and formed in its admirable school. It was in the 15th Century, — a period when sanctity was rare on the earth, — that Antoninus realised, in his own person, the virtues of the greatest Bishops of ancient times. His apostolic zeal, his deeds of charity, his mortified life, are the glory of the Church of Florence, which was confided to his care. Heaven blessed that Illustrious City with temporal prosperity on account of its saintly Archbishop. Cosmo de Medici was frequently heard to say, that Florence owed more to Antoninus than any other man. The holy prelate was also celebrated for his great learning. He defended the Papacy against the calumnies of certain seditious Bishops in the Council of Basle : and, at the General Council of Florence, he eloquently asserted the truth of the Catholic Faith, which was assailed by the abettors of the Greek Schism. How beautiful is our holy Mother the Church, that produces such children as Antoninus, and has them in readiness to uphold what is true, and withstand what is false !

She thus speaks the praises of to-day's Saint : —

Antoninus was born at Florence, of respectable parents, He gave great promise, even when quite a child, of his after sanctity. Having at the age of sixteen, entered the Religious Order of Friars Preachers, he at once became an object of admiration, by the practice of tbe highest virtues. He declared ceaseless war against idleness. After taking a short sleep at night, he was the first at the Office of Matins ; which over, he spent the remainder of the night in prayer, or reading, or writing. If at times, he felt himself oppressed with unwelcome sleep, owing to fatigue, he would lean his head for a while, against the wall, and then, shaking off the drowsiness, he resumed his holy vigils with renewed earnestness.

Being a most rigid observer of Religious discipline, he never ate flesh- meat, save in the case of severe illness. His bed was the ground, or a naked board. He always wore a hair shirt, and sometimes an iron girdle next to his skin. He observed the strictest chastity during his whole life. Such was his prudence in giving counsel, that he went under the name of Antoninus the Counsellor. He so excelled in humility, that, even when Prior and Provincial, he used to fulfil, with the utmost selfabjection, the lowest duties of the Monastery. He was made Archbishop of Florence by Pope Eugenius the Fourth. Great was his reluctance to

Antoninus Florenti» honestis parentibus natus, ab ipsa jam pueritia egregium f uturse sanctitatis specimen exhibuit. Annum agens sextum decimum, Religionem Prsedicatorum amplexus, ocepit exinde maximis clarere virfcutibus. Otio perpetuum bellum indixit. Post nocturnum brevem somnum primus matutinis precibus aderat ; quibus persolutis, reliquum tempus noctis orationibus, aut certe lectioni, et scriptioni librorum tribuebat ; et si quando importunior fessis membris somnus obreperet, ad parietem paululum declinato capite, ac tantisper discusso somno, sacras vigilias avidius repetebat

Discipline regularis sui ipsius severissimus exactor, carnes, nisi in gravi aegritudine, nunquam edit. Humi, aut in nudo tabulato cubabat : cilicio semper usus, et interdum zona ferrea ad vivam cutem incinctus, virginitatem integerrime semper coluit, In explicandis consiliis tant» dexteritatis fuit, ut communi elogio Antoninus consiliorum diceretur. Adeo aut em in eo humilitas enituit, ut etiam Coenobiis ao Provinciis praefectus, abjectissima Monasterii omcia demississime obiret. Ab Eugenio Quarto Florentinus Archiepiscopus renuntiatus, regerrime tandem, nec nisi

Apostolicis minis perterre- accept such a dignity ; nor factus, ut Episcopatuin ac- would he have consented, had ciperet, acquievit it not been out of fear of incurring the spiritual penalties wherewith he was threatened by the Pope.

In eo munere vix dici It would be difficult to de- potest quantum prudentia, scribe the prudence, piety, pietate, charitate, mansue- charity, meekness and apos- tudine, et sacerdotali zelo tolic zeal, wherewith he dis- excelluit. Istud miran- charged his episcopal office, dum, tan turn ingenio va- He learned almost all tbo luisse, ut omnes ferme sci- sciences to perfection, and, entias per se, nullo adhibito what is surprising, he accom- exidicerit. Tandem post traordinary multos labores, multis etiam editis insignis doctrinaa libris, sacra Eucharistia, et bours, Unctione percepta, com- lished plexus Crucifixi imaginem, mortem laetus aspexit, sexto Ex- Nonas Maii, anno millesimo treme quadringentesimo quinquagesimo nono. Miraculis vivens, et post mortem con- Nones spicuus, Sanctorum numero illusadscriptus est ab Hadriano trious Sexto, anno Domini millesimo quingentesimo vigesimo tertio. ca-

Srseceptore, absolutissime plished this by his own talent without having any master to teach him. Finally, after many laand after having pubseveral learned books, he fell sick. Having received the Holy Eucharist and Unction, embracing the Crucifix, he joyfully welcomed death, on the sixth of tha of May (May 10th), in the year 1459. He was for the miracles which he wrought during his life, as also for those which followed after his death, He was nonised by Adrian the Sixth, in the year of our Lord 1523.

We give thanks to our Risen Jesus for the sublime gifts bestowed by him on thee, O Antoninus ! When he confided a portion of his Flock to thy care, he enriched thee with the qualities of a Shepherd according to his own heart. He knew that he could trust to thy love ; he therefore gave thee charge over bis Lambs. The age in which thou livest, was one of great disorder, and one that prepared the way for the scandals of the following Century ; and yet thou wast one of the brightest lights the Church has ever

MAY 10. ST. ANTONINUS. had. Florence still cherishes thy memory, as the man of God and the father of thy country ; aid her by thy prayers. The preachers of heresy have entered within her walls ; watch over the fields whereon thine own hands sowed the good seed ; let not the cockle take root there. Thou wast the defender of the Holy See; raise up in unhappy Italy, imitators of thy zeal and learning. Thou hadst the happiness of witnessing, under the grand cupola of thy Cathedral, the re- union of the Greek Church with Rome; thou hadst a share in bringing about this solemn reconciliation, which, alas ! was to be of short duration. Pray, O holy Pontiff, for the descendants of them that were faithless to the promise sealed on the very Altar, whereon thy hands so often offered up the Sacrifice of unity and peace.

Disciple of the great Dominic, inheritor of his burning zeal, — protect the holy order which he founded, and of which thou art so bright an ornament* Show that thou still lovest it. Give it increase, and procure for its children the holiness that once worked such loveliness and fruit in the Church. Holy Pontiff, be mindful of the Faithful, who implore thine intercession at this period of the Year.

Thy eloquent lips announced the Pasch, so many years, to the people of Florence, and urged them to share in the Resurrection of our Divine Head. The same Pasch, the immortal Pasch, has shone once more, upon us. We are still celebrating it ; oh ! pray that its fruits may be lasting in us, and that our Risen Jesus, who has given us Life, may, by his grace, preserve it in our souls for all eternity.