May 16 — Saint Ub Aldus

quently urged to marry ; but nothing could shake his resolution of leading a life of celibacy. On being ordained Priest, he divided his fortune between the poor and the Churches, and entered among the Canons Regular of the Order of St. Augustine. He established that Institute in his own country, and was for some time a most fervent observer of all its regulations. The fame of his virtue spread far and wide. Pope Honorius the Second compelled him to accept the charge, of the Church of Gubbio ; and, accordingly, he was consecrated Bishop.

Having taken possession of his See, he changed little or nothing of his mode of life ; but he began to apply himself more than ever to the practice of every virtue, in order that he might the more effectually, both by word and example, procure the salvation of souls, for he was a pattern of the flock in all earnestness. His food was scanty, his dress unpretending, his bed hard and most poor. Whilst always bearing about, in his body, the mortification of the Cross, he every day refreshed his spirit with prayer, in which he seemed insatiable. The result of such a life was meekness of so admirable a nature, that he not only bore the worst inj uries and insults with patience, but he even treated his persecutors with surprising affection, and showed them all possible kindness. nunquam tamen a proposito servanda© virginitatis recessit. Sacerdos effectus, patrimonium suum pauperibus et Ecclesiis distribuit, et Canonicorum Regularium Ordinis sancti Augustini institutum suscipiens, illud in patriam transtulit, atque in eo aliquandiu sanctissime vixit. Cujus sanctitatis opinione evulgata, ab Honorio Secundo summo Pontifice Ecclesia* Eugubiuae invitus prgeficitur, et Episcopal is consecrationis munere decoratur.

Ad suam itaque rever* tens Ecclesiam, quum de consueta vivendi ratione nihil admodum immut asset, in omni tamen virtutuih gen ere eo magis eminere coepit, quo efficacius aliorum etiam salutem verbo et exemplo procuraret, factus forma gregis ex anima Nam victu parco, vestitu moderato, lectulo aspero et pauperrimo, crucis mortincationem jugiter in suo corpore circumferebat, dum inexplebili orationis studio spiritum quotidie recrearet Hinc admirabilem illam mansuetudinem est adeptus, qua gravissimas injurias et contumelias non modo aequanimiter tulit, verum etiam mirifico dilectionis affectu persecutores suos omni benignitatis testimonio complecteba* tur

PASCHAL TIME.

Biennio antequain ex bac vita migraret,quura diutinis afflictaretur infirmitatibus, inter acerbissimos corporis cruciatus, velut aurum in fornace purgatum, Deo gratias indesinenter agebat. Adveniente autem sacro Pentecostes die, quum multis annis Ecclesiam sibi commissam summa cum laude gubeniasset, Sanctis operibus ac miraculis clarus, quievit in pace : quern Ccelestinus Papa Tertius in Sanctorum numerum retulit. Ejus virtus praecipue in effugandis spiritibus lmmundis elucet. Corpus vero per tot saecula incorruptum magna fidelium veneratione in patria colitur, quam non semel a prsesenti discrimine liberavit

During the last two years of his life, he suffered much from sickness. In the midst of the most acute pains, whereby he was made pure as gold that is cleansed in the furnace, he ceased not to give thanks to God. Finally, on the holy Feast of Pentecost, after governing for many years, and in a most laudable manner, the Diocese that had been intrusted to him, he slept in peace, venerated for his holy life and miracles. He was canonised by Pope Celestine the Third. God has given him a special power for driving away unclean spirits. hia body, which has remained incorrupt for several centuries, is honoured with much devotion, by the Faithful of the city of Gubbio, which he has more than once rescued from the calamities that threatened it.

0 blessed Pontiff! be thou our protector against the spirits of hell. They are devoured by envy at seeiug how Man, that lowly and feeble creature, has become the object of God's predilection. The Incarnation of the Son of God, his Death on the Cross, his glorious Resurrection, the Sacraments which give us the life of Grace, — all these sublime means, whereby the infinite goodness of God has restored us to our lost dignity, have excited the rage of the old enemy, and he seeks revenge by insulting, in us, the Image of our Creator. At times, he attacks man with all the phrensy of angry jealousy. To mimic the operations of Sanctifying Grace, — which, so to speak, makes us the instruments of God's good pleasure, — Satan sometimes takes possession of our fellow-

MAY 16. ST. UBALDTJS. creatures, and makes them his slaves. Thy power, 0 Ubaldus, has often manifested itself, by rescuing these unhappy victims of the devil's jealousy ; ana holy Church, on this day, celebrates the special prerogative conferred on thee by our Heavenly Father Belent not in the exercise of thy charitable office. And yet, 0 holy Pontiff, thou knowest that the snares of the wicked spirits are more injurious to the souls than to the bodies of men. Have pity, then, on the unhappy slaves of sin, who, though the divine Sun of the Pasch has risen upon them, are still in the darkness of guilt. Pray for them, that they may become, once more, Children of the Light, and share in the Easter Resurrection which Jesus offers to all.