July 26 — Saints Nazarius, Celsus, and Victor, Mm

first resurrection spoken of by St. John had sounded, the martyrs rose from their tombs to reign a thousand years with Christ on the renovated earth.

That great Babylon is fallen, is fallen, which, made all nations to drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication; and in her was found the blood of 'prophets and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth. The great Pope Innocent I., whose memory seems to have been purposely united with that of the martyrs, bears witness to the deluge, wherein, during his Pontificate, pagan Rome at length perished utterly, and made way for the new Jerusalem come down from heaven. Like the ancient Sion, the Borne of the Caesars would not yield to the offers of that God, who alone could fulfil her desires of immortality. Even since the triumph of the Cross under Constantine, no city of the empire had remained so obstinately given to the worship of idols, or shed so much of that noble blood which might have renewed her youth. And yet after the defeat of her vain idols, God, in his patience, determined to wait a century longer, the last decade of which was a series of salutary threats and merciful interventions, the evident work of the Christ whom she still obstinately repulsed. The incursions of the Goths, allies one day, enemies the next, everywhere spreading anarchy, gave her an opportunity of returning to superstitions which the Christian Emperors had not tolerated; and in her dotage she welcomed the Tuscan soothsayers who had come to help her against Alaric, and allowed them to re-establish the worship of idols. Terrible was her awakening when, on the morning of August 24th, 410, the true God of armies took his revenge ; and while the barbarians were engaged in wholesale

1 Apoc. xiv. 8 ; xviii. 24. massacre and pillage, lightning set fire to the town and destroyed the statues in which she had so long placed her confidence and her glory.

The avengers of God, destroying Babylon, spared the tombs of the two founders of the eternal Rome. On these Apostolic foundations Innocent began to rebuild the holy City. Soon on her seven hills, purified by fire, she rose again, more brilliant than ever, the destined centre of the world of mind. It was in the year 417, the last of Innocent's Pontificate, that St. Augustine, hearing that the Pelagian heresy was condemned, cried out: "Letters have arrived "from Rome; the dispute is at an end." The Councils of Carthage and Milevum, which on this occasion had requested the confirmation of their decree by the Apostolic See, did in this but contiuue the uninterrupted tradition of the Churches with regard to the supremacy of their , Mother and Mistress. This fact is eloquently attested by the holy Pope Victor, who shares with the martyrs the honours of to-day. His great name calls to mind the Councils of the second century, held by his orders throughout the Church to treat of the celebration of Easter ; the condemnation he pronounced, or intended to pronounce, against the Churches of Asia, without any one questioning his right to do so ; lastly, the uncontroverted anathemas he hurled against Montanus and the precursors of Arius.

Let us read the notice of our four Saints given in to-day's Office :

Nazarius, a beato Lino Papa baptizatus, cum in Galliam profectus easet, ibi Celsum puerum, a se christianis preceptis prius instruction, baptizavit : qui una Trevirim euntes, Nero-

Nazarius was baptized by the blessed Pope, Linus. He went into Gaul, and there baptized a child named Celsus whom he had instructed in the Christian doctrine. Together they went to Treves, and in Nero's persecution were both thrown into the sea, but were saved by a miracle. They proceeded to Milan, where they spread the faith of Christ; and as they with great constancy confessed Christ to be God, the prefect, Anolinus, condemned them to death. Their bodies were buried outside the Roman gate, and for a long time remained unknown. But through a divine revelation they were found by St. Ambrose, sprinkled with fresh blood, as if they had but just suffered martyrdom. They were translated to the city and buried in an honourable tomb.

Victor, an African by birth, governed the Church in the time of the Emperor Severus. He confirmed the decree of Pius L» which ordered Easter to be celebrated on a Sunday. Later on, Councils were held in many places in order to bring this rule into practice, and finally the first Council of Nicea commanded that the feast of Easter should be always kept after the 14th day of the moon, lest the Christians should seem to imitate the Jews. Victor ordained that in case of necessity, baptism could be given with any water, provided it were natural. He expelled from the Church the Byzantine, Theodosius the Currier, who taught that Christ was only man. He wrote on the question of Easter, and some other nis persecutione in mare uterque dejicitur, unde mirabiliter evaserunt. Postea Mediolanum venientes, cum ibi Christi fidem disseminarent, ab Anolino profecto, constantissime Christum Deum confitentes, capite plectuntur : quorum corpora extra portam Romanam sepulta sunt. Quae cum diu latuissent, Dei monitu a beato Ambrosio conspersa recenti sanguine sunt inventa, tamquam si paulo ante martyrium passi essentJ unde in urbem translata, honorifico sepulcro contecta sunt.

Victor in Africa natus, Severo imperatore, rexit Ecclesiam. Confirmavit decretum Pii Primi, ut sacrum Pascha die Dominico celebraretur: qui ritus ut postea in mores induceretur, habita sunt multis in locis Concilia: et in Nicaena denique prima Synodo sancitum est, ut Paschse dies festus post quartamdecimam lunam ageretur, ne Christiaai Judseos imitari viderentur. Statuit, ut quavis aqua, modo naturali, si necessitas cogeret, quicumque baptizari posset. Theodotum Coriarmm Byzantinum docentem Christum tantummodo hominem fuisse, ejecit ex Ecclesia. Scripsit de qusestione Paschse, et alia quaadam opuscula. Creavit duabus Ordi- nationibus mense Decembri Presbyteros quatuor, Diaconos septem, Episcopos per diversa loca duodecim. Martyrio coronatus, sepelitur in Vaticano, quinto calendas AugustL Sedit annos novem, mensem unum, dies viginti octo.

Innocentius Albanensis, sancti Uieronymi et Augustini aetate floruit : de quo ille ad Demetriadem virginem : Sancti Innocentii, qui Apostolicae Cathedrae, et beatse memoriae Anastasii successor et Alius est, teneas fidem, nec peregrinam, quamvis tibi prudens, callidaque videans, doctrinam recipias. Eum tamquam jus turn Lot subtractum Dei providentia ad Bavennam servatum fuisse, scribit Orosius, ne Eomani populi videret excidium. Is, Pelagio et Ccelestio damnatis, contra eorum haeresim decretum fecit, ut parvuli ex Christiana etiam muliere nati, per baptismum renasci deberent; ut in eis regeneratione mundetur, quod generatione contraxerunt. rrobavit etiam, ut Sabbato ob memoriam Christi Domini sepulturae jejunium servaretur. Sedit annos quindecim, mensem unum, dies decern. Quatuor Ordinationibus mense Decembri creavit Presbyteros triginta, Diaconos quindecim, Episcopos per diversa loca quin-

: PENTECOST. small works. In two ordinations which he held in the month of December, he made four priests, seven deacons, and twelve bishopsf or different places. He was crowned with martyrdom, and buried on the Vatican on the 5th of the Calends of August, after having sat nine years, one month, and twenty-eight days.

Innocent, by nation an Albanian, lived at the time of Saints Jerome and Augustine. Jerome, writing to the virgin Demetrias, says of him : " Hold " fast to the faith of holy Innocent, who is the son of "Anastasius of blessed me- "mory and his successor on "the Apostolic throne; receive no strange doctrine, "however shrewd and pru- "dent you may think yourself." Orosius writes that like the just Lot, he was withdrawn by God's providence from Rome, and preserved in safety at Ravenna, that he might not be a witness of the ruin of the Roman people. After the condemnation of Pelagius and Celestinus, he decreed, contrary to their heretical teaching, that children, even though born of a Christian mother, must be born again by water, in order that their second birth may cleanse away the stain they have contracted by the first. He also approved the observance of fasting on the Saturday in memory of the burial of Christ our Lord. He sat fifteen years, one month, and ten days. He held four ordina- quaginta quatuor; Sepul- tions in the month of Decern- tus est in coemeterio ad Ur- ber, and made thirty priests, snm Pileatum. fifteen deacons, and fifty-four bishops for divers places. He was buried in the cemetery called ad ursum Pileatum,

Glorious Saints, who, either by shedding your blood in the arena or by promulgating decrees from the Apostolic Chair, have exalted the faith of the Lord, bless our prayers. Give us to understand the teaching conveyed by your meeting to-day on the sacred cycle. We, who are neither martyrs nor pontiffs, may, nevertheless, merit to share in your glory; for the motive which explains your union to-day must be for us, each in his degree, the cause of salvation : the Apostle tells us that in Christ Jesus nothing availeth but faith that worketh by charity. It is only by that faith for which you laboured or suffered that we wait for the hope of justice, and expect the crown.

O Nazarius, who, leaving all things, didst carry the name of Christ to countries that knew him not ; and thou Celsus, who, though a mere child, didst not fear to sacrifice, like him, for Jesus' sake, thy family, thy country, and thy very life : obtain for us the right appreciation of the treasure of faith, which every Christian is called upon to show to advantage by the confession of good works and of praise. Victor, jealous guardian of that divine praise with regard to the Solemnity of solemnities, and avenger of the Man-God in his divine nature; Innocent, infallible teacher concerning the grace of Christ, and witness, too, of his inexorable justice, teach us to unite con*

1 Gal. v. 6. 2 Ibid. 5. fidence with fear, uprightness of belief with the susceptibility a Christian ought to have with regard to his faith, the only foundation of justice and love. Martyrs and Pontiffe, may your united attraction draw us along the straight road which leads to heaven.

22a

July 29. SAINT MARTHA,

VIRGIN.

Magdalene this time was the first to meet our Lord. Scarce a week had elapsed since her glorious passage, when she repaid her sister's former kind office, and came in her turn saying : " The Beloved "is here and caJleth for thee." And Jesus preventing her, appeared himself and said : " Come, my " hostess ; come from exile, thou shalt be crowned."1 Hostess of the Lord, then, is to be Martha's title of nobility in heaven, as it was her privileged name on earth.

Into whatever city or town you shall enter, said the Man-God to his disciples, inquire who in it is worthy, and there abide. Now St Luke relates that as they went, our Lord himself entered into a certain town, and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house? How could we give greater praise to Magdalene's sister than by bringing together these two texts of the holy Gospel ?

This certain town, where she was found worthy to give Jesus a lodging, this village, says St. Bernard, is our lowly earth, hidden like an obscure borough in

1 Rabajs. De vita B.M. Magd. et 8. Marthse, xlvii.

2 St. Matt. x. 11.

3 St. Luke x. 38.

4 Bern. Sermo 2 in Assumpt. Beatae Marias Virginia. the immensity of our Lord's possessions. The Son of God had come down from heaven to seek the lost sheep ; he had come into the world he had made, and the world knew him not ; Israel, his own people, had not given him so much as a stone whereon to lay his head, and had left him in his thirst to beg water from the Samaritan. We, the Gentiles, whom he was thus seeking amid contradictions and fatigues, ought we not, like him, to show our gratitude to her who, braving present unpopularity and future persecution, paid our debt to him ?

Glory, then, be to this daughter of Sion, of royal descent, who, faithful to the traditions of hospitality handed down from the patriarchs and early fathers, was blessed more than all of them in the exercise of this noble virtue ! These ancestors of our faith, pilgrims themselves and without fixed habitation, knew more or less obscurely that the Desired of Israel and the Expectation of the nations was to appear as a wayfarer and a stranger on the earth; and they honoured the future Saviour in the person of every stranger that presented himself at their tent door; just as we, their sons, in the faith of the same promises now accomplished, honour Christ in the guest whom his goodness sends us. This relation between him that was to come and the pilgrim seeking shelter made hospitality the most honoured handmaid of divine charity. More than once did God show his approval by allowing Angels to be entertained in human form. If such heavenly visitations were an honour of which our earth was not worthy, how much greater was Martha's privilege in rendering hospitality to the Lord of Angels ! If before the Coming of Christ it was a great thing to honour him in those who prefigured him, and if now to shelter and serve him in his mystical members deserves an eternal reward, how much greater and more meritorious was ifc to receive in Person that Jesus, the very thought of whom gives to virtue its greatness and its merit. Again, as the Baptist excelled all the other Prophets by having pointed out as present the Messias whom they announced as future, so Martha, by having ministered to the Person of the Word made Flesh, ranks above all others who have ever exercised the works of mercy.

While Magdalene, then, keeps her better part at our Lord's feet, we must not think that Martha's lot is to be despised. As in one body we have many members, but all the members have not the same office} so each of us has a different work to perform in Christ, according to the grace we have received, whether it be to prophesy or to minister. And the Apostle explaining this diversity of vocations, says : I say* by the grace that is given Trie, to all that are among you, not to be more wise than it behoveth to be wise, but to be wise unto sobriety, and according as God hath divided to every one the measure of faith. How many losses in souls, how many shipwrecks even, might be prevented by discretion, the guardian of doctrine and the mother of virtues.

" Whoever," says St. Gregory with his usual discernment, " gives himself entirely to God, must take " care not to pour himself out wholly in works, but " must stretch forward also to the heights of contemplation. Nevertheless, it is here very important " to notice that there is a great variety of spiritual " temperaments. One who could give himself peace- " fully to the contemplation of God, would be crushed " by works, and fall ; another, who would be kept in "a good life by the ordinary occupations of men, would be mortally wounded by the sword of a con-

1 Rom. xii. 4. 2 Rom. xii. 3.

" temptation above his powers: either for want of "love to prevent repose from becoming torpor, or "for want of fear to guard him against the illusions " of pride or of the senses. He who would be per- " feet must, therefore, first accustom himself on the "plain to the practice of the virtues, in order to " ascend more securely to the heights, leaving behind " every impulse of the senses which can only distract "the mind from its purpose, every image whose out- "Hoe cannot adapt itself to the figureless light he " desires to behold. Action first then, contemplation " last. The Gospel praises Mary, but does not blame "Martha, because the merit of the active life is "great, though that of contemplation is greater."1

If we would penetrate more deeply into the mystery of the two sisters, let us notice that, though the preference is given to Mary, nevertheless it is not in her house, nor in that of their brother Lazarus', but in Martha's house, that the Man-God takes up his abode with those he loves. Jesus, says St. John, loved Martha, and her sister Maryland Lazarus? Lazarus, a figure of the penitents whom his all-powerful mercy daily calls from the death of sin to divine life ; Mary, giving herself up even in this life to the occupation of the next; and Martha, who is here mentioned first as being the eldest, as first in order of time mystically, according to what St. Gregory says, and also as being the one upon whom the other two depend in that home of which she has the care.

Here we recognise a perfect type of the Church, wherein, with the devotedness of fraternal love, and under the eye of our heavenly Father, the active ministry takes the precedence, and holds the place of government over all who are drawn by grace to Jesus. We can understand the Son of God showing

1 Moral, in Job v. 26, passim. 2 St. John xi. 5. a preference for this blessed bouse ; he was refreshed from the weariness of his journeys by the devoted hospitality he there received, but still more by the sight of so perfect an image of that Church for whose love he had come on earth.

Martha, then, understood by anticipation, that he who holds the first place must be the servant, as the Son of Man came not to be ministered to, but to minister; and as, later on, the Vicar of Jesus, the Prince of Prelates in the holy Church, was to call himself the Servant of the servants of God. But in serving Jesus, as she served also with him and for him her brother and her sister, who can doubt that she had the greatest share in these promises of the Man-God : " He that ministers to me shall follow me, " and where I am, there also shall my minister be, " and my Father will honour him."

And that beautiful rule of ancient hospitality which created a link like that of relationship between the host and a guest once received, could not have been passed over by our Emmanuel on this occasion, since the Evangelist says: As many as received him, he gaAje them power to be made the sons of God. And he himself declares that whoever receives him, receives also the Father who sent him.

The peace promised to every house deemed worthy of receiving the apostolic messengers, that peace which cannot be without the Spirit of adoption of sons, rested on Martha with surpassing fulness. The too human impetuosity she at first showed in her eager solicitude, had given our Lord an opportunity of showing his divine jealousy for the perfection of a soul so devoted and so pure. The sacred nearness of the King of peace stript her lively nature of the last remnants of restless anxiety ; while her service

*St. John i. 12.

PBNT. IV. Q grew even more active and was well pleasing to him ; her ardent faith in Christ, the Son of the living God, gave her the understanding of the one thing necessary, the better part which was one day to be hers. What a master of the spiritual life Jesus here showed himself to be; what a model of discreet firmness, of patient sweetness, of heavenly wisdom in leading souls to the highest summits !

As he had counselled his disciples to remain in one house, the Man-God himself, to the end of his earthly career, continually sought hospitality at Bethania : it was from thence he set out to redeem the world by his dolorous Passion ; and when leaving this world, it was from Bethania that he ascended into heaven. Then did this dwelling, this paradise on earth, which had given shelter to God himself, to his Virgin Mother, to the whole college of Apostles, seem too lonely to its inmates. Holy Church will tell us presently how the Spirit of Pentecost, in loving kindness to us Gentiles, led into Gaul this blessed family of our Lord's friends.

On the banks of the Rhone, Martha was still the same : full of motherly compassion for every misery, spending herself in deeds of kindness. Always surrounded by the poor, says the ancient historian of the two sisters, she fed them with tender care, with food which heaven abundantly supplied to her charity, while she herself, the only one she forgot, was contented with herbs ; and as in the glorious past she had served the Head of the Church in Person, she now served him in his members, and was full of loving kindness to all. Meantime she delighted in practices of penance, that would frighten us. Martyred thus a thousand times over, Martha with all the powers of her holy soul yearned for heaven. Her mind lost in God, she spent whole nights absorbed in prayer. Ever prostrate, she adored him reigning

;229 gloriously in heaven, whom she had seen without glory in her own house. Often, too, she would travel through towns and villages, announcing to the people Christ the Saviour.

Avignon and other cities of the province of Vienne were thus evangelized by her. She delivered Tarascon from the old serpent, who in the shape of a hideous monster, not content with tyrannizing over the souls of men, devoured even their bodies. It was here at Tarascon, in the midst of the community of virgins she had founded, that she heard our Lord inviting her to receive hospitality from him in heaven, in return for that which she had given him on earth. Here she still rests, protecting her people of Provence, and receiving strangers in memory of Jesus. The peace of the blessed, which seems to breathe from her noble image, fills the heart of the pilgrim as he kisses her apostolic feet; and coming up from the holy crypt to continue his journey in this land of exile, he carries away with him, like a perfume of his fatherland, the remembrance of her simple, touching epitaph : sollicita non turbatur ; ever zealous, she is no longer troubled.

Martha was born of noble Martha nobilibus et co- and wealthy parents, but she piosis parentibus nata, sed is still more illustrious for the Christi Domini hospitio hospitality she gave to Christ clarior, post ejus ascensum our Lord. After his Ascen- in ccelum, cum f ratre, sorore, sion into heaven, she was et Marcella pedissequa, ac seized by the Jews, together Maximino, uno ex septus* with her brother and sister, ginta duobus discipulis

Marcella her handmaid, and Christi Domini, qui totam

1 We are fully aware of the fact that certain writers have lately called in question the authenticity of this legend. But we are not deterred thereby from giving it here in all its simplicity. Until such time as holy Mother Church may think fit to decide on the matter, we, like the author; are unwilling to forestall her judgment. — {Tr.) illam domum baptizayerat, multisque aliis christianis, comprenensa a Judaeis, in navem sine velo ac remigio imponitur, vastissimoque mari ad certum nauf ragium commit titur: sednavis, Deo ffubernante, salvis omnibus Massiliam appulsa est

Eo miraculo, et horum praedicatione, primum Massilienses, mox Aquenses, ac finitimse gentes in Christum crediderunt : Lazarusque Massiliensium, et Maximums Aquensium episcopus oreatur. Magdalena vero assueta orationi et pedibus Domini, ut optima parte contemplandae coelestis beatitudinis, quam elegerat, frueretur, in vastam altissimi montis speluncam se contulit : ubi triginta annos vixit, ab omni hominum consuetudine disjuncta,quotidieque per id tempus ad audiendas coelestium laudes in altum ab Angelis elata.

Martha autem, mirabili vit« sanctitate et charitate, omnium Massiliensium animis in sui amorem et admifationem adductis, in locum a viris remotum cum aliquot honestissimis feminis se recepit: ubi summa cum laud e pietatis et prudentise diu vixit : ac demum, morte sua tnulto ante prsedicta, miraculis clara migravit ad Dominum, quarto calendas Augusti. Cuj us corpus apud

: PENTECOST.

Maximin, one of the seventytwo disciples of our Lord, who had baptized the whole family, and many other Christians. They were put on board a ship without sails or oars, and left helpless on the open sea, exposed to certain shipwreck. But God guided the ship, and they all arrived safely at Marseilles.

This miracle, together with their preaching, brought the people of Marseilles, of Aixr and of the neighbourhood tobelieve in Christ. Lazarus was made Bishop of Marseilles and Maximin of Aix. Magdalene, who was accustomed to devote herself to prayer and to sit at our Lord's feet, in order to enjoy the better part, which she had chosen, that is, contemplation of the joys of heaven, retired into a deserted cave on a very high mountain. There she lived for thirty years, separated from all human intercourse ; and every day she was carried to heaven by the Angels to hear their songs of praise.

But Martha, after having won the love and admiration of the people of Marseilles by the sanctity of her life ana her wonderful charity, withdrew in the company of several virtuous women to a spot remote from men, where she lived for a long time, greatly renowned for her piety and prudence. She foretold her death long before it occurred ; and at length, famous for miracles, she passed to our

Lord on the 4th of the Calends of August. Her body which lies at Tarascon is held in great veneration.

Tarascum inagriam habet venerationem.

Now that, together with Magdalene, thou hast -entered for ever into possession of the better part, thy place in heaven, O Martha, is very beautiful. For they that have ministered well, says St. Paul, shall 'purchase to themselves a good degree, and much confidence in the faith which is in Christ Jesus} The same service which the deacons, here alluded to by the Apostle, performed for the Church, thou didst render to the Church's Head and Spouse ; thou didst rule well thine own house, which was a figure of that Church so dear to the Son of God. But God is not unjust, that he should forget your work and the love which you have shown in his name, you who have ministered and do minister to the saints. 4>nd the Saint of saints himself, thy indebted guest, gave us to understand something of thy greatness, when, speaking merely of a faithful servant set over the family to distribute food in due season, he cried out : Blessed is that servant whom when his lord shall come, he shall find so doing. Amen I say to you, he shall place him over all his goods. O Martha, the Church exults on this day, whereon our Lord found thee thus continuing to serve him in the persons of those little ones in whom he bids us seek him. The moment had come for him to welcome thee eternally. Henceforth the Host most faithful of all to the laws of hospitality, makes thee sit at his table in his own house, and girding himself, ministers to thee as thou didst minister to him.

From the midst of thy peaceful rest, protect those

VI Tim. iii. 13. 2 Heb. vi. 10. 3 St. Matth. xxiv. 46, 47. who are now carrying on the interests of Christ on earthy in his mystical Body, which is the entire Church, and in his wearied and suffering members the poor and the afflicted. Bless and multiply the works of holy hospitality; may the vast field of mercy and charity yield ever-increasing harvests. May the zeal displayed by so many generous souls lose nothing of its praiseworthy activity; and for this end, O sister of Magdalene, teach us all as our Lord taught thee, to place the one thing necessary above all else, and to value at its true worth the better part. After the word spoken to thee, for our sake as well as thine own, whosoever would disturb Magdalene at the feet of Jesus, or forbid her to sit there, would deserve to have his works frustrated by offended heaven.

Let us, in union with the Church, make a commemoration of Saints Simplicius and Faustinus, martyred in the persecution of Diocletian, together with their sister Viatrice, whose name was gracefully changed into Beatrice after she had gone to heaven. The sister had bad time to bury her brothers ; and after her own combat she was laid to rest beside them, by the last of the celebrated Lucinas. The hour for the triumph of the Church had not yet arrived; nevertheless the tomb of this illustrious trio, in the very grove of the Dea Dia of the Arvales, proclaims the victory of Christ over the most ancient superstitions of Rome. The holy Pontiff Felix, who shares the honours paid to this glorious company, suffered in the time of the Arians.