September 16 — Saint Cornelius Pope and Martyr and Saint Cyprian Bishop and Martyr

There is a peculiar beauty in the meeting of these two saints upon the sacred cycle. Cyprian, in a famous dispute, 1 was once opposed to the apostolic See: eternal "Wisdom now offers him to the homage of the world, in company with one of the most illustrious successors of St. Peter.

Cornelius was, by birth, of the highest nobility; witness his tomb, lately discovered in the family crypt, surrounded by the most honorable names in the patrician ranks. The elevation of a descendant of the Scipios to the sovereign pontificate linked the

Jast grandeurs of Rome to her future greatness. )ecius, who 6 would more easily have suffered a competitor in his empire than a bishop in Rome/ 2 had just issued the edict for the seventh general persecution. But the Caesar bestowed upon the world's oapital by a village of Pannonia, could not stay the destinies of the eternal city. Beside this bloodthirsty emperor, and others like him, whose fathers were known in the city only as slaves or conquered enemies, the true Roman, the descendant of the Corneliiy might be recognized by his native simplicity, by the calmness of his strength of soul, by the intrepid firmness belonging to his race, wherewith

1 On the question of the validity of Baptism conferred by heretics. 8 Cyprian. Epist. x. ad Antonianum, ix.

(221) m

TIME AFTER PENTECOST he first triumphed over the usurper, who was soon to surrender to the Goths on the borders of the Danube. 1 And yet, 0 holy Pontiff, thou art even greater by the humility whioh Cyprian, thy illustrious friend, admired in thee, and by that 4 purity of thy virginal soul/ through whioh, according to him, thou didst become the elect of God and of His Christ. 2

At thy side, how great is Cyprian himself ! What a path of light is traced across the heavens of holy Church by this oonvert of the priest Cseoilius ! In the enerosity of his soul, when once conquered to Christ, e relinquished honours and riohes, his family inheritance, and the glory acquired in the field of eloquence. All marvelled to see in him, as his historian says, the harvest gathered before the seed was sown. 8 By a justifiable exception, he became a pontiff while yet a neophyte. During the ten years of his episcopate, all men, not only in Carthage and Africa, but in the whole world, had their eyes fixed upon him; the pagans crying: Cyprian to the lions ! the Christians awaiting but his word of command in order to obey. Those ten years represent one of the most troubled periods of history. In the empire, anarchy was rife ; the frontiers were the scene of repeated invasions ; pestilence was raging everywhere: in the Church, a long peace, which had lulled men's souls to sleep, was followed by the persecutions of Decius, Gallus, and Valerian. The first of these, suddenly bursting like a thunderstorm, caused the fall of many ; which evil, in its turn, led to schisms, on account of the too great indulgence of some, and the excessive rigour of others, towards the lapsed.

Who, then, was to teach repentance to the fallen, 4 the truth to the heretics, unity to the schismatics, 5

1 Cyprian. Epist. x. ad Antonianum, viii. ix. 2 Ibid. viii.

3 Pontius Diac. De vtta et pass. Cypr. ii. 4 Cypr. Be iapsis. 6 De imitate Acclesia. and to the sons of God prayer and peaoe? 1 Who was to bring back the virgins to the rules of a holy life? 2 Who was to turn back against the Gentiles their blasphemous sophisms? 3 Under the sword of death, who would speak of future happiness, and bring consolation to souls ? 4 Who would teach them mercy, 5 patienoe, 6 and the secret of changing the venom of env^ into the sweetness of salvation? 7 Who would assist the martyrs to rise to the height of their divine vocation ? Who would uphold the oonf essors under torture, in prison, in exile ? Who would preserve the survivors of martyrdom from the dangers of their regained liberty? 8

Cyprian, ever ready, seemed in his incomparable calmness to defy the powers of earth and of hell. Never had a flock a surer hand to defend it under a sudden attack, and to put to flight the wild boar of the forest. And how proud the shepherd was of the dignity of that Christian family, which God had entrusted to his guidance and protection ! Love for the Church was, so to say, the distinguishing feature of the bishop of Carthage. In his immortal letters to his 4 most brave and most happy brethren/ confessors of Christ, and the honour of the Church, he exclaims: ' Oh ! truly blessed is our mother the Church, whom the divine condescension has so honoured, who is made illustrious in our days by the glorious blood of the triumphant martyrs ; formerly white by the good works of our brethren, she is now adorned with purple from the veins of her heroes; among her flowers, neither roses nor lilies are wanting.' 9

1 De orations Dominica . 3 De habitu virginU. 3 Lib . ad De nutria num and De idokrum vanitate. 4 De mortalitate. 5 De opere et eleemoxynis. 6 De bono patientice. 7 De zelo et livore. 8 De exhortatione martyrii and Epktolce ad confessoree. 9 Epist. viii. Ad martyr es et confessores.

TIMB AFTER PENT ROOST

Unfortunately this very love, this legitimate, though falsely applied, jealousy for the noble bride of our Saviour, led Cyprian to err on the serious question of the validity of heretioal baptism. ' The only one? he said, * alone possesses the keys, the power of the Spouse ; we are defending her honour, when we repudiate the polluted water of the heretics.' 1 He was forgetting that although, through our Lord's merciful liberality, the most indispensable of the Sacraments does not lose its virtue when administered by a stranger, or even by an enemy of the Church, nevertheless it derives its fecundity, even then, from and through the bride; being valid only through union with what she herself does. How true it is, that neither holiness nor learning confers upon man that gift of infallibility, whioh was promised by our Lord to none but the successor of St. Peter. It was, perhaps, as a demonstration of this truth, that God suffered this passing cloud to darken so lofty an intellect as Cyprian's. The danger oould not be serious, or the error lasting, in one whose ruling thought is expressed in these words: ' He that keeps not the unity of the Church, does he think to keep the faith? He that abandons the See of Peter whereon the Churoh is founded, can he flatter himself that he is still in the Churoh ? ' 2

Great in his life, Cyprian was still greater in death. Valerian had given orders for the extermination of the principal clergy ; and in Rome, Sixtus II, followed by Laurenoe, had led the way to martyrdom. Galerius Maximus, proconsul of Africa, was then holding his assizes at Utica, and commanded Thascius Cyprian to be brought before him. But the bishop would not allow 'the honour of his Churoh to be mutilated,' by dying at a distance from his episcopal

1 Epist. ad Jubaianum, i. xi. 3 De unitate Eccfaia, iv. city. 1 He therefore waited till the proconsul had returned to Carthage, and then delivered himself up by making a public entrance into the town.

In the house which served for a few hours as his prison, Cyprian, calm and unmoved, gathered his friends and family for the last time round his table. The Christians hastened from all parts to spend the night with their pastor and father. Thus, while he yet lived, they kept the first vigil of his future feast. When, in the morning, he was led before the proconsul, they offered him an arm-chair draped like a bishop's seat. It was indeed the beginning of an episcopal function, the pontiff's own peculiar offioe being to give his life for the Church, in union with the eternal High-Priest. The interrogatory was short, for there was no hope of shaking his constancy ; and the judge pronounced sentence that Thascius Cyprian must die by the sword. On the way to the plaoe of execution, the soldiers formed a guard of honour to the bishop, who advanced oalmly, surrounded by his clergy as on days of solemnity. Deep emotion stirred the immense crowd of friends and enemies who had assembled to assist at the sacrifice. The hour had come. The pontiff prayed prostrate upon the ground ; then rising, he ordered twenty-five gold pieces to be given to the executioner, and, taking off his tunic, handed it to the deacons. He himself tied the bandage over his eyes ; a priest, assisted by a subdeaoon, bound his hands ; while the people spread linen oloths around him to receive his blood. Not until the bishop himself had given the word of command, did the trembling exeoutioner lower his sword. In the evening, the faithful oame with torches and with hymns to bury Cyprian. It was September 14, in the year 258.

1 Epist. ultima, lxxxiii. Ad clerum et pkbem.

TIME AFTER PENTECOST

Let us read first the lines consecrated by the holy liturgy to the Bishop of Rome.

Cornelius Romanus, Gallo et Volusiano imperatoribus pontificatum gerens, cum Lucina, feraina sanctissima, corpora apostolorum Petri et Pauli e catacumbis in opportuniorem locum transtulit: ac Pauli corpus Lucina in suo prsedio via Ostiensi, prope eum locum, ubi f uerat gladio percussus, collocavit: Cornelius principis apostolorum corpus non longe inde, ubi crucifixus fuerat, reposuit. Quod cum ad imperatores delatum esset, et Pontifice auctore multos fieri Christianos, mittitur is in exilium ad Centum cellas: ubi eum sanctus Cyprianus episcopus Carthaginensis per litteras est consolatus.

Hoc autem Christianas caritatis officium cum frequens alter alteri persolveret, deteriorem in partem id accipientes imperatores, accersitum Romam Cornelium, tamquam de majestate reum plumbatis caedi, raptumque ad Martis simulacrum ei sacrificare jubent. Quam impietatem cum ille detestaretur, ei caput abscissum est decimo octavo calendas Octobris: cujus corpus beata Lucina clericis adjutoribus

Cornelius, a Roman by birth, was sovereign Pontiff during the reign of the emperors Gallus and Volusianus. In concert with a holy lady named Lucina, he translated the bodies of St. Peter and St. Paul from the catacombs to a more honourable resting place. St. Paul's body was entombed by Lucina on an estate of hers on the Ostian Way, close to the spot where he had been beheaded; while Cornelius laid the body of the Prince of the apostles near the place of his crucifixion. When this became known to the emperors, and they were moreover informed that, by the advice of the Pontiff, many became Christians, Cornelius was exiled to Centumcellae, where Cyprian, bishop of Carthage, wrote to him to console him.

The frequency of this Christian and charitable intercourse between the two saints gave great displeasure to the emperors; and accordingly, Cornelius was summoned to Rome, where, as if guilty of treason, he was beaten with scourges tipped with lead. He was next dragged before an image of Mars, and commanded to sacrifice to it; but indignantly refusing to commit such an act of impiety, he was beheaded on the eighteenth of the Calends humavit in arenaria prsedii Lusui prope coemeterium Calli- cina, sti. Vixit in pontificatu sandpit annos circiter duos. of October. The blessed aided by some clerics, buried his body in a on her estate, near to the cemetery of Callixtus. His pontificate lasted about two years.

The Church borrows from St. Jerome her eulogy on St. Cyprian.

Ex libro sancti Hieronymi Presbyteri de Scriptoribus ecclesiasticis. Cyprianus Afer, primum gloriose rhetoricam docuit: exinde, suadente presbytero Caecilio, a quo et cognomentum sortitus est, Chritianus factus, omnem substantiam suam pauperibus erogavit. Ac post non multum temporis electus in presbyterum, etiam episcopus Carthaginensis constitutus est. Hujus ingenii superfluum est indicem texere, cum sole clariora sint ejus opera. Passus est sub Valeriano et Gallieno principibus, persecutione octava, eodem die quo Romae Cornelius, sed non eodem anno.

From the book of St. Jerome, priest, on Ecclesiastical writers.

Cyprian was a native of Africa, and at first taught rhetoric there with great ap^ plause. The priest Caecilius, from whom he adopted his surname, having persuaded him to become a Christian, he thereupon distributed all his goods among the poor. Not long afterwards, having been made priest, he was chosen bishop of Carthage. It would be useless to enlarge upon his genius, since his works outshine the sun. He suffered under the emperors Valerian and Gallienus, in the eighth persecution, on the same day as Cornelius was martyred at Rome, but not in the same year.

Holy Pontiffs, united now in glory as you onoe were by friendship and in martyrdom, preserve within us the fruit of your example and doctrine. Tour life teaches us to despise honours and fortune for Christ's sake, and to give to the Church all our devotedness, of which the world is unworthy. May

TtliB AtfTER MNTKC08* this be understood by those oountless descendants of noble raoes, who are led astray by a misguided sooiety . May they learn from you gloriously to oonfound the impious conspiracy that seeks to exterminate them in shameful oblivion and enforced idleness. If their fathers deserved well of mankind, they themselves may now enter upon a higher career of usefulness, where deoadenoe is unknown, and the fruit onoe produced is everlasting. Remind the lowly as well as the great in the city of Gk>d, that peace and war alike have flowers to orown the soldier of Christ: the white wreath of good works is offered to those who cannot aspire to the rosy diadem of martyrdom. 1 Watch, 0 Cyprian over thy Church of Carthage, now at length renewing her youth. And do thou, 0 Cornelius, restore to Rome her glorious past. Put down the foreigner from her throne; for the mistress of the world must obey no ruler but the Vicar of the King of kings. May her speedy deliverance be the signal to her people for a complete renovation, whioh cannot now be far distant, unless the end of the world be approaching.

The fourth (Ecumenical Council was held at Chaloedon in the church of St. Euphemia; beside the tomb of this holy virgin, the impious Eutyohes was condemned, and the twofold nature of the God-Man was vindicated. The ' great martyr' seems to have shown a predilection for the study of saored doctrine: the faculty of theology in Paris ohose her for its special patroness, and the ancient Sorbonne treasured with singular veneration a notable portion of her blessed relios. Let us recommend ourselves to her

1 Cypr. Epitt, viii. Ad martyres et confeuort*.

THE STIGMATA OF SAINT FRANCIS 2$9 prayers, and to those of the holy widow Lucy and the noble Geminian, whom the Church associates with her.

Prasta, Domine, precibus Grant, O Lord, a joyful nostris cum exsultatione issue to our prayers, that we proventum: ut sanctorum may imitate the constancy in martyrum Euphemias, Lu- faith of the holy martyrs Eu- ciss et Geminiani, quorum phemia, Lucy, and Geminian, diem passionis annua devo- the day of whose sufferings tione recolimus, etiam fidei we commemorate with annual constantiam subsequamur. devotion. Through. Per Dominum.

September 17 THE STIGMATA OF SAINT FRANCIS

The great patriarch of Assisi will soon appear a second time in the holy liturgy, and we shall praise God for the marvels wrought in him by divine grace. The subject of to-day's feast, while a personal glory to St. Franois, is of greater importance for its mystical signification.

The Man-God still lives in the Church by the continual reproduction of His mysteries in this His bride, making her a faithful copy of Himself. In the thirteenth century, while the charity of the many had grown oold, 1 the divine fire burned with redoubled ardour in the hearts of a chosen few. It was the tour of the Churoh's passion ; the beginning of that

PRATER

1 Collect of the feast.

TIME AFTER PENTECOST series of social defections, with their train of denials, treasons, and derisions, which ended in the proscription we now witness. The cross had been exalted before the eyes of the world: the bride was now to be nailed thereto with her divine Spouse, after having stood with Him in the pretorium exposed to the insults and blows of the multitude.

Like an artist selecting a precious marble, the holy Spirit ohose the flesh of the Assisian seraph as the medium for the expression of His divine thought. He thereby manifested to the world the special direction He intended to give to the sanctity of souls ; He offered to heaven a first and complete model of the new work He was meditating, viz: the perfect union, upon the very cross, of the mystical body with its divine Head. Francis was the first to be ohosen for this honour: but others were to follow ; and henoeforward, here and there through the world, the stigmata of our blessed Lord will ever be visible in the Church.

Let us read in this light the admirable history of the event, composed by the seraphic doctor in honour of his holy father St. Franois.

Fidelis revera famulus et minister Christi Franciscus, biennio antequam spiritum redderet ccelo, cum in loco excelso seorsum, qui mons Alverniae dicitur, quadragenarium ad honorem Archangeli Michaelis jejunium inchoasset, supernae contemplations dulcedine abundantius solito superfusus, ac coelestium desideriorum ardentiori flamma succensus, supernarum ccepit im-

Two years before the faithful servant and minister of Christ, Francis, gave up his spirit to God, he retired alone into a high place, which is called Mount Alvernia, and began a forty days' fast in honour of the Archangel St. Michael. The sweetness of heavenly contemplation was poured out on him more abundantly than usual, till, burning with the flame of celestial desires, he began to feel an missionum cumulating dona sentire. Dum igitur seraphicis desideriorum ardoribus sursum ageretur in Deum, et affectus compassiva teneritudine in eum transformaretur, cui ex caritate nimia crucifigi complacuit: quodam mane circa festum Exaltationis sanctse crucis, in latere montis orans, vidit quasi speciem unius Seraphim sex alas tarn fulgidas quam ignitas habentem de coelorum sublimitate descendere: qui volatu celerrimo ad aeris locum viro Dei propinquum perveniens, non solum alatus, sed et crucifixus apparuit: manus quid em et pedes habens extensos, et cruci affixos, alas vero sic miro modo hinc inde dispositas, ut duas super caput erigeret, duas ad volandum extenderet, duabus vero reliquis totum corpus circumplectendo velaret. Hoc videns, vehementer obstupuit, mixtumque dolori gaudium mens ejus incurrit, dum et in gratioso ejus aspectu sibi tarn mirabiliter quam familiariter apparentis excessivam quamdam concipiebat laetitiam, et dira conspecta crucis affixio ipsius animam compassivi doloris gladio pertransivit.

Intellexit quidem illo docente interius, qui et appa- increasing overflow of these divine favours. While the seraphic ardour of his desires thus raised him up to God, and the tenderness of his love and compassion was transforming him into Christ the crucified Victim of excessive love; one morning about the feast of the Exaltation of holy cross, as he was praying on the mountain-side, he saw what appeared to be a Seraph, with six shining and fiery wings, coming down from heaven. The vision flew swiftly through the air and approached the man of God, who then perceived that it was not only winged, but also crucified; for the hands and feet were stretched out and fastened to a cross; while the wings were arranged in a wondrous manner, two being raised above the head, two outstretched in flight, and the remaining two crossed over and veiling the whole body. As he gazed, Francis was much astonished, and his soul was filled with mingled joy and sorrow. The gracious aspect of him, who appeared in so wonderful and loving a manner, rejoiced him exceedingly, while the sight of his cruel crucifixion pierced his heart with a sword of sorrowing compassion.

He, who appeared outwardly to Francis, taught him in 7

TIME AFT BR PENTEC08T rebat exterius: quod licet passionis infirmitas cum immortal itate spiritus seraphici nullatenus conveniret, ideo tamen hujuamodi visio suis fuerat praesentata conspectibus; ut amicus ipse Christi praenosceret, se non per martyrium carnis, sed per incendium mentis totum in Christi Jesu crucifixi expressam similitudinem transformandum. Disparens itaque visio post arcanum ac f ami Hare colloquium mentem ipsius seraphico interius inflammavit ardore; carnem vero Crucifixo conformi exterius insignivit effigie, tarnquam si ad ignis liquefactivam virtutem praeambulam sigillativa quaedam esset impressio subsecuta. Statim namque in manibus et pedibus ejus apparere coeperunt signa clavorum, ipsorum capitibus in inferiori parte manuum et superiori pedum apparentibus, et eorum acuminibus exsistentibus ex adverso. Dextrum quoque latus quasi lancea transtixum rubra cicatrice obductum erat: quod ssepe sanguinem sacrum effundena, tunicam et f emoralia respergebat.

Postquam igitur novus homo Franciscus novo et stupendo miraculo claruit, cum singulari privilegio retroactis sa3culis non concesso jnaignitus apparuit, sacris wardly that, although weakness and suffering are incompatible with the immortal life of a seraph, yet this vision had been shown to him to the end that he, Christ's lover, might learn how his whole being was to be transformed into a living image of Christ crucified, not by martyrdom of the flesh, but by the burning ardour of his soul. After a mysterious and familiar colloquy, the vision disappeared, leaving the saint's mind burning with seraphic ardour, and his flesh impressed with an exact image of the Crucified, as though, after the melting power of that fire, it had next been stamped with a seal. For immediately the marks of nails began to appear in his hands and feet, their heads showing in the palms of his hands and the upper part of his feet, and their points visible on the other side. There was also a red scar on his right side, as if it had been wounded by a lance, and from which blood often flowed staining his tunic and underclothing.

Francis, now a new man, honoured by this new and amazing miracle, and, by a hitherto unheard of privilege, adorned with the sacred stigmata, came down from th.e videlicet stigmatibus decoratus, descendit de monte secum ferens Crucifixi effigiem, non in tabulis lapideis vel ligneis manu figuratam artificis, sed in carneis membris descriptam digito Dei vivi: quoniam sacramentum regis seraphicus vir abscondere bonum esse optime norat, secreti regalis conscius, signacula ilia sacra pro viribus occultabat. Verum quia Dei est ad gloriam suam magna revelare, quae f acit Dominus ipse, qui signacula ilia secrete impresserat, miracula quaedam aperte per ipsa monstravit, ut illorum occulta et mira vis stigmatum, manifesta pateret claritate signorum. Porro rem admirabilem ac tantopere testatam, atque in pontificiis diplomatibus praecipuis laudibus et favoribus exaltatam, Benedictus Papa undecimus anniversaria solemnitate celebrari voluit: quam postea Paulus quintus Pontifex maximus, ut corda fidelium in Christi crucifixi accenderentur amorem, ad universam Ecclesiam propagavit. mountain bearing with him the image of the Crucified, not carved in wood or stone by the hand of an artist, but engraved upon his flesh by the finger of the living God. The seraphic man well knew that it is good to hide the secret of the king; wherefore, having been thus admitted into his king's confidence, he strove, as far as in him lay, to conceal the sacred marks. But* it belongs to Grod to reveal the great things which he himself has done; and hence, after impressing those signs upon Francis in secret, he publicly worked miracles by means of them, revealing the hidden and wondrous power of the stigmata by the signs wrought through them. Pope Benedict XI willed that this wonderful event, which is so well attested and in pontifical diplomas has been honoured with the greatest praises and favours, should be celebrated by a yearly solemnity. Afterwards, Pope Paul V, wishing the hearts of ail the faithful to be enkindled with the love of Christ crucified, extended the feast to the whole Church.

Standard-bearer of Christ and of His Church, we would fain, with the apostle and with thee, glory in nothing save the cross of our Lord Jesus. We would fain bear in our souls the sacred stigmata, wbioh adorned thy holy body. To him whose whole ambition is to return love for love, every suffering is

TIME AFTER PBNTEC08T a gain, persecution has no terrors ; for the effect of persecutions and sufferings is to assimilate him, together with his mother the Church, to Christ persecuted, scourged, and crucified.

It is with our whole hearts that we pray, with the Churoh: * 0 Lord Jesus Christ, who, when the world was growing cold, didst renew the sacred marks of Thy rassion in the flesh of the most blessed Francis, to inflame our hearts with the fire of Thy love; mercifully grant, that by his merits and prayers we may always carry the cross, and bring forth worthy fruits of penance. Who livest and reignest with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.' 1

At Bingerty in the diocese of Mayence, Saint Hildegarde, virgin. 2 Let us salute the ' great prophetess of the new Testament.' 8 What St. Bernard's influence over his contemporaries was in the first half of the twelfth century, that in the seoond half was Hildegarde's, when the humble virgin beoame the oracle of popes and emperors, of princes and prelates. Multitudes from far and near flooked to Mount St. Rupert, where the doubts of ordinary life were solved, and the questions of doctors answered. At length, by God's command, Hildegarde went forth from her monastery to administer to all alike, monks, clerics, and laymen, the word of correction and salvation.

The Spirit indeed breatheth where He will. 4 To the massy pillars that support His royal palace, God preferred the poor little feather floating in the air, and blown about, at His pleasure, hither and thither

1 CoUect of the feast. » Martyrology on this day. a tt.'j- a n 7 : „ i. ox tIi o

• Vita 8. Qerlaei coava.

1 St. John hi. 8. in the light. 1 In spite of labours, sicknesses, and trials, the holy abbess lived to the advanced age of eighty-two, 'in the shadow of the living light.' 2 Her precious relics are now at Eibingen. The writings handed down to us from the pen of this illiterate virgin, 3 are a series of sublime visions, embracing the whole range of contemporary scienoe, physical and theological, from the creation of the world to its final consummation. May Hildegarde deign to send us u an interpreter of her works and an historian of her life such as they merit !

Deus, qui beatam Hilde- 0 God, who didst adorn thy gardem virginem tuam, do- blessed virgin Hildegarde with nis coelestibus decorasti: heavenly gifts: grant, we be- tribue, quaesumus: ut ejus seech thee, that walking in vestigiis et documentis in- her footsteps and according to sistentes, a prsesentis hujus her teachings, we may deserve saeculi caligine ad lucem to pass from the darkness of tuam delectabilem transire this world into thy lovely light, mereamur. Per Dominum. Through our Lord.

1 Hildegard. Epiat. ad Eugenium Pontijicem. 2 Guibert. Vita Hildegardu, iv. 3 Scivias; Lib. Vita meritorutn ; Lib.

Divinorum operum ; etc.

PRAYER

TIME AFTER PBNTB008T

September 18 SAINT JOSEPH OP CUPERTINO

CONFESSOR

While, in France, the rising spirit of Jansenism was driving God from the hearts of the people, a humble son of St. Francis, in southern Italy, was showing how easily love may span the distanoe between earth and heaven. ' And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all things to Myself,' 1 said our Lord ; and time has proved it to be the most universal of His prophecies. On the feast of the holy cross, we witnessed its truth, even in the domain of sooial and political olaims. We shall experience it in our very bodies on the great day, when we shall be taken up in the clouds to meet Christ, into the air. 2 But Joseph of Cupertino had experience of it without waiting for the resurrection: innumerable witnesses have borne testimony to his life of continual ecstasies, wherein he was frequently seen raised high in the air. And these facts took place in what men are pleased to call the noonday of history.

Let us read the account of him given by holy Church.