September 19 — Saint Matthew Apostle and Evangelist

i The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the son of Abraham.' 1 The Eagle and the Lion have already risen in the heavens of the holy liturgy ; to-day we salute the Man ; and next month the Ox will appear, to complete the number of the four living oreatures, who draw the ohariot of God through tne world,* and surround His throne in heaven. These mysterious beings, with their six seraph-wings, are ever gazing with their innumerable eyes upon the Lamb who stands upon the throne as it were slain ; and they rest not day and night, saying: ' Holy, holy, holy, Lord God almighty, who was, and who is, and who is to come/ St. John beheld them giving to the elect the signal to praise their Creator and Redeemer ; and when all created beings in heaven, on earth, and under the earth, have adoringly proclaimed that the Lamb, who was slain, is worthy of power and divinity and glory and empire for ever, it is they that add to the world's homage the seal of their testimony, saying: Amen, so it is! 8

Great and singular, then, is the glory of the evangelists. The name of Matthew signifies one toho is given. He gave himself when, at the word of Jesus 4 follow Me , he rose up and followed Him; but far

1 St. Matt. i. 1. 1 Ezech. i. » Apoc. iv, v.

?reater was the gift he received from God in return, he Most High, who looks down from heaven upon the low things of earth, loves to choose the humble for the prinoes of His people. Levi, occupied in a profession that was hated by the Jews and despised by the Gentiles, belonged to the lowest rank of sooiety ; but still more humble was he in heart, when, laying aside the delicate reserve shown in his regard by the other evangelists, he openly placed his former ignominious title beside the glorious one of apostle. By so doing, he published the magnificent mercy of Him, who had come to heal the sick not the healthy, and to call not the just but sinners. For thus exalting the abundance of God's grace, he merited its superabundance: Matthew was called to be the first evangelist. Under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost he wrote, with that inimitable simplicity which speaks straight to the heart, the Gospel of the Messias expected by Israel, and announced by the prophets ; of the Messias the teacher and Saviour of His people, the descendant of its kings, and Himself the King of the daughter of Sion ; of the Messias who had oome not to destroy the Law, but to bring it to its full completion in an everlasting, universal covenant.

In his simple-hearted gratitude, Levi made a feast for his divine Benefactor. It was at this banquet that Jesus, defending His disciple as well as Himself, replied to those who pretended to be soandalized: * Can the children of the Bridegroom mourn, as long as the Bridegroom is with them ? But the days will come, when the Bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then they shall fast.' 1 Clement of Alexandria bears witness to the apostle's subsequent austerity ; assuring us that he lived on nothing but vegetables and wild fruits. 2 The legend will tell us 1 St. Matt. ix. 15. * Clem. Alex. Padag. ii. 1.

TIME AFTER PENTECOST moreover of his zeal for the Master who had so sweetly touohed his heart, and of his fidelity in preserving for Him souls inebriated with the * wine springing forth virgins.' 1 This fidelity, indeed, oost him his life: his martyrdom was in defence and confirmation of the duties and rights of holy virginity. To the end of time the Churoh, in consecrating her virgins, will make use of the beautiful blessing pronounced by him over the Ethiopian princess, which the blood of the apostle and evangelist has imbued with a peouliar virtue. 2

The Church gives us this short account of a life better known to God than to men.

MatthaBus, qui et Levi, apostolus et evangelista, Capharnai cum ad telonium sederet, a Christo vocatus, statim secutus est ipsum: quern etiam cum reliquis discipulis convivio excepit. Post Christi resurrectionem, antequam in provinciam proficisceretur, qu» ei ad pr»dicandum obtigerat, primus in Judaea, propter eos qui ex circumcisione crediderant, Evangelium Jesu Christi Hebraice scripsit. Mox in Ethiopiam profectus, Evangelium prsedicavit, ac praedicationem multis miraculis confirmavit.

Illo igitur in primis miraculo, quo regis filiam a mortuis excitavit, regem patrem, et uxorem ejus, cum universa provincia ad Chri-

Matthew, also named Levi, was an apostle and evangelist. He was sitting in the customhouse at Capharnaum when called by Christ, whom he immediately followed; and then made a feast for him and his disciples. After the resurrection of Christ, and before setting out for the province which it was his lot to evangelize, Matthew was the first to write the Grospel of Jesus Christ. He wrote it in Hebrew, for the sake of those of the circumcision, who had been converted. Soon after, he went into Ethiopia, where he preached the Gospel, and confirmed his teaching by many miracles.

One of the greatest of these was his raising to life the king' s daughter, whereby he converted the king and his wife, and the whole country. After the

1 Zach. ix. 17. 2 Pontificate rom. De benedict, et consecrate virginum : Bern plmmator corporum, afflator animarum. sti fidem convertit. Rege mortuo, Hirtacus, ejus successor, cum Iphigeniam, regiam filiam, vellet sibi dari in matrimonium, Matthaeum, cujus opera ilia virginitatem Deo voverat, et in sancto proposito perseverabat, ad altare mysterium celebrantem jussit occidi. Qui undecimo calendas Octobris munus apostolicum martyrii gloria cumulavit. Cujus corpus Salernum translatum, ac postmodum in ecclesia ejus nomine dedicata, Gregorio septimo summo Pontifice conditum, ibidem magao hominum concursu ac pietate colitur. king's death, bis daughter Iphigenia was demanded in marriage by his successor Hirtacus, who, finding that through Matthew's exhortation she had vowed her virginity to God and now persevered in her holy resolution, ordered the apostle to be put to death, as he was celebrating the holy mysteries at the altar. Thus on the eleventh of the Kalends of October, he crowned his apostolate with the glory of martyrdom. His body was translated to Salerno; and in the time of Pope Gregory VII it was laid in a church dedicated in his name, where it is piously honoured by a great concourse of people.

How pleasing must thy humility have been to our Lord ; that humility which has raised thee so high in the kingdom of heaven, and which made thee, on earth, the confidant of Incarnate Wisdom. The Son of God, who hides His secrets from the wise and prudent and reveals them to little ones, renovated thy soul by intimacy with Himself, and filled it with the new wine of His heavenly doctrine. So fully didst thou understand His love, that He ohose thee to be the first historian of his life on earth. The Man-God revealed Himself through thee to the Church. She has inherited thy glorious teaching as she calls it in her Secret ; for the Synagogue refused to understand both the divine Master and the prophets His heralds.

There is one teaching, indeed, whioh not all, even of the elect, oan understand and receive ; just as in heaven not all follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth, nor can all sing the new canticle reserved to

Ttit* after pbntboos?

those whose love here on earth has been undivided. 0 evangelist of holy virginity, and martyr for its sake ! watoh over the ohoioest portion of our Lord's flook. Remember also, 0 Levi, all those for whom, as thou tellest us, the Emmanuel reoeived His beautiful name of Saviour. The whole redeemed world honours thee and implores thy assistance. Thou hast reoorded for us the admirable sermon on the mountain: by the path of virtue there traoed out, lead us to that kingdom of heaven, whioh is the ever-reourring theme of thy inspired writing.

In 1517 a cruel blow fell upon the great Augustinian family ; Luther, one of its members, raised the cry of revolt which was to be echoed for centuries by every passion. But the illustrious Order, which had unwittingly nurtured this ohild of evil, was none the less acceptable to God ; and He deigned, before long, to demonstrate this, for the consolation of institutes whose very excellence exposes unworthy subjects to more dangerous falls. It was at the First Vespers of All Saints that Luther broached, at Wittenburg, his famous theses against indulgences and the authority of the Roman Pontiff; within a month, on November 26 of the same year, Thomas of Villanova pronounoed his vows at Salamanca, and filled up the place left vaoant by the heresiaroh. Amid the storms of sooial disorder, and the noise of the world's

Septkmbbr 22 SAINT THOMAS OF VILLANOVA

BISHOP AND CONFESSOR disturbances, the glory rendered by one saint to the ever-tran<juil Trinity, outweighs all the insults and blasphemies of hell.

Let us bear all this in mind as we read the following lessons.

Thomas in oppido Fontisplani Toletan© diceceseos in Hispania natus anno Domini millesimo quadringentesimo octogesimo octavo, ab optimis parentibus ineunte vita pietatem et singularem in pauperes misericordiam aecepit: cujus adhnc puer complnra dedit exempla ; sed illnd f in primis nobile, qnod ut nudos operiret, propriis vestibus non semel seipsum exuit. Exacta pueritia, Compluto, quo missus fuerat, ut alumnus in collegio majori sancti Ildephonsi litteris operam daret, patris obitu revocatus, universam hroreditatem egenis virginibus alendis dicavit; eodemque statim reversus est, et sacra theologiae cursu confecto, adeo doctrina excelluit, ut in eadem Universitate cathedram ascendere jussus, philosophicas, theologicasque quaestiones mirabiliter explanaverit ; interim assiduis precibus scientiam sanctorum, et rectam vit«e morumque normam a Domino vehementissime postulans. Quare divino ins^inctn eremitarum sancti

Thomas was born at Fuenllana, a town in the diocese of Toledo in Spain, in the year of our Lord one thousand four hundred and eighty eight. From his earliest youth, his excellent parents instilled into him piety and extraordinary charity to the poor. Of this virtue he gave, while still a child, many proofs, among the most remarkable of which was his more than once taking off his own garments to clothe, the naked. As a youth, he was sent to Alcala to study humanities in the great college of St. Ildephonsus. He was recalled home by the death of his father; whereupon he devoted his whole fortune to the support of destitute virgins, and then returned to Alcala. Having completed his course of theology, he was promoted for his eminent learning to a chair in the University, and taught philosophy and theology with wonderful success. Meanwhile he besought God, with assiduous prayers, to teach him the science of the saints, and a virtuous rule of life and conduct. He was therefore divinely inspired to

TIME AFTER PENTECOST

Augustini amplexus est institutum.

Religionem prof essus, omnibus religiosi hominis virtutibus et oraamentis excelluit, humilitate, patientia, continentia, Bed ardentissima caritate summe conspicuus: inter varios et assiduos labores orationi rerumque divinarum meditationi invicto spiritu semper intentus. Praedicandi onus, utpote sanctimouia et doctrina pree- Btans, subire jussus, coelesti aspirante gratia, innumerabiles e vitiorum coeno in viam salutis eduxit. Regendis deinde fratribus admotus, prudentiam, aequitatem et mansuetudinem pari sedulitate ac severitate conjunxit: adeo ut priscam sui Ordinis disciplinam multis in locis vel firmaverit, vel restituerit.

Grranatensis archiepiscopus designatus, mira humilitate et constantia insigne munus rejecit. Yerum non multo post Yalentinam ecclesiam superiorum auctoritate coactua, gubernandam suscepit: quam annis ferme undecim ita rexit, ut sanctissimi et vigilantissimi pastoris partes expleverit. Ceterum consueta vivendi ratione nihil admodum immutata, inexplebili caritati multo magis indulsit, cuin embrace the institute of the hermits of St. Augustine.

After his profession, he excelled in all virtues which should adorn a religious man: humility, patience, continency; but he was especially remarkable for ardent charity. In the midst of his many and varied labours, his unconquered spirit was ever intent on prayer and meditation of divine things. On account of his reputation for learning and holiness, he was commanded to undertake the duty of preaching, and, by the assistance of heavenly grace, he led countless souls from the mire of vice to the way of salvation. In the government of the brethren, to which he was next appointed, he so united prudence, equity, and sweetness, to zeal and severity, that in many places he restored or confirmed the ancient discipline of his Order.

When elected to the archbishopric of Granada, he rejected that high dignity with wonderful firmness and humility. But not long after, he was obliged by his superiors to undertake the government of the Church of Yalentia, which he ruled for about eleven years as a most holy and vigilant pastor. He changed nothing of his former manner of life; but gave free scope to his insatiable charity, and distributed the rich revenues of his church. amplos ecclesiae redditus in egenos dispersit, ne lectulo quidem sibi relicto: nam eum, in quo decumbebat, cum in ccelum evocaretur, ab eodem commodatum habuit, cui paulo ante eleemosyn» loco donaverat. Obdormivit in Domino sexto idus Septembris, annos natus octo et sexaginta. Servi sui sanctitatem adhuc viventis, et exinde post mortem, miraculis Deus testatam voluit; praesertim, cum horreum, frumento pauperibus distribute, penitus vacuum, repente plenum inventum est, et cum ad ejus sepulchrum puer mortuus revixit. Quibus aliisque non paucis fulgentem signis Alexander Septimus Pontif ex maximus sanctorum numero adscripsit, atque ejus memoriam quarto decimo calendas Octobris celebrari mandavit.

Thy name, as well as thy justice, shall remain for ever, 0 Thomas, because thou hast distributed and given to the poor ; 1 all the church of the saints shall declare thy alms. 2 Teach us to show mercy to our brethren, so that, by thy prayers, we may obtain for ourselves the mercy of God. Thou hast great power with tbe Queen of heaven, whose praises thou didst love to celebrate, and wbose birthday on earth was thy birtbday in heaven. Give us an ever increasing knowledge of her, and an ever growing love. "

1 J?s. cxi. 9 ; Magnificat ant. 2 Jjjcclus. xxxj. 11, BenecUctus anj. among the needy, keeping not so much as a bed for himself. For the bed on which he was lying when called to heaven, was lent to him by the person to whom he had shortly before given it in alms. He fell asleep in our Lord on the sixth of the Ides of September, at the age of sixty-eight. God was pleased to bear witness to his servant's holiness by miracles both during lif eiand after death. A barn which was almost empty, the corn having been distributed to the poor, was by his intercession suddenly filled ; and a dead child was restored to life at his tomb. These and many other miracles having rendered his name illustrious, Pope Alexander VII enrolled him among the saints, and commanded his feast to be celebrated on the fourteenth of the Kalends of October.

TIKIS AFTER PENTECOST

Thou art the glory of Spain; watoh over thy oountry, over thy ohuroh of Valenoia, and over the Order adorned with such saints as Nioholas of Tolentino, John of San Faoundo, and thyself. Bless the religious women who have inherited thy charity, and who, for well-nigh three centuries, have caused thy name, and that of thy father St. Augustine, to be held in veneration. May the preaohers of the divine word throughout the world profit by the writings thou hast fortunately left us, monuments of that eloquenoe which made thee the oracle of prinoes, the light of the poor, and the mouth-pieoe of the Holy Ghost. 1

At Sion in Valais, at a place called Agaunum, the birthday of the holy martyrs Maurice, Exuperius, Candidus, Victor, Innocent, and Vitalis, with their companions of the Theban legion, who were massacred under Maximian for the name of Christ, and filled the whole world with the renown of their martyrdom} Let us unite with Rome in paying honour to these valiant soldiers, the glorious patrons of Christian armies as well as of numerous churches. 4 Emperor/ said they, * we are thy soldiers, but we are also the servants of God. To Him we took our first oaths ; if we break them, how canst thou trust us to keep our oaths to thee P' 8 No command, no discipline can overrule our baptismal engagements. Every soldier is bound, in honour and in conscience, to obey the Lord of hosts rather than all human commanders, who are but His subalterns.

PRAYER

Annuo, quaesumus, omni- Grant, we beseech thee,

1 Alexand. vii. Bulla cantmizat. * Martyrology for this day. 3 £ucher. ad Sylvium.

SAINT LINTT8 potens Dens: ut sanctorum martyrum tuorum Mauritii et sociorum ejus nos lretificet f estiva solemnitas; ut quorum suffragiis nitimur, eorum natalitiis gloriemur. Per Dominum. almighty God, that the festive solemnity of thy holy martyrs, Maurice and his companions, may give us joy, that we may glory in their festival on whose help we rely. Through our Lord.

September 23 SAINT UNUS

POPE AND MARTYR

The lives of the first Vicars of Christ are buried in a mysterious obscurity; just as the foundations of a monument built to defy the ravages of time are concealed from view. To be the supports of the everlasting Church is a sufficient glory: sufficient to justify our confidence in them, and to awaken our gratitude. Let us leave the learned to discuss certain points in the following short legend ; as for ourselves, we will rejoioe with the Churoh on this feast, and pay our loving veneration to the humble and gentle Pontiff, who was the first laid to rest beside St. Peter in the Vatioan crypts.

Linus Pontifex, Volaterris in Etruria natus, primus post Petrum gubernavit Ecclesiam. Cujus tanta fides et sanctitas fuit, ut non solum deemones ejiceret, sed etiam mortuos revocaret ad vitam. Scripsit res gestas beati Petri, et ea maxime <juw ab illo acta stmt contra

Pope Linus was born at Volterra in Tuscany, and was the first to succeed St. Peter in the government of the Church. His faith and holiness were so great, that he not only cast out devils, but even raised the dead to life. He wrote the acts of blessed Peter, and in particular what he had done against Si-

TIME AFTER PENTECOST mon Magus. He decreed thai no woman should enter a church with her head uncovered. On account of his constancy in confessing the Christian faith, this Pontiff was beheaded by command of Saturninus, a wicked and ungrateful ex -consul, whose daughter he had delivered from the tyranny of the devils. He was buried on the Vatican, near the sepulchre of the prince of the apostles, on the ninth of the Kalends of October. He governed the Church eleven years, two months, and twenty-three days. In two ordinations in the month of December he consecrated fifteen bishops and eighteen priests.

Simon Barjona was invested with the sovereign pontificate by our Lord in person, and openly before all ; thou, 0 blessed Pontiff, didst receive in secret, yet none the less directly from Jesus, the keys of the kingdom of heaven. In thy person began the reign of pure faith ; henceforth the bride, though she hears not the Man-God repeat His injunction to Peter: i feed my lambs,' nevertheless acknowledges the continuance of His authority in the lawfully appointed representative of her divine Spouse. Obtain by thy prayers, that the shadows of earth may never cause us to waver in our obedience ; and that hereafter we may merit, with thee, to contemplate our divine Head in the light of eternal day.

While honouring the first successor of St. Peter, Rome commemorates the protoniartyr of the female

Simonem Magum. Sancivit ne qua mulier, nisi velato capite, in ecclesiam introiret. Huic Pontifici caput amputatum est ob constantiam Christiana) fidei, jussu Saturnini impii et ingratissimi consularis, cujus filiam a dajmonum vexatione libera - verat. Sepultus est in Vaticano prope sepulchrum principis apostolorum, nono calendas Octobris. Sedit annos undecim, menses duos, dies viginti tres, creatis bis mense Decembri episcopis quindecim, presbyteris decern et octo.