are we bounden to seek Thy greater Glory in all things!

SECOND POINT.

Consider how we must seek CHRIST, as did these holy women in the Gospel.

1st. We must first seek CHRIST Crucified, that we may hereafter see Him Glorified. "Many seek JESUS, that is, the Author of Salvation, but not JESUS Crucified," because they desire to be saved, but they desire not to suffer. They seek JESUS, but "they seek Him not on the Cross, yet there only is He found "." "Go where thou wilt, seek as thou wilt, thou wilt find no way either more excellent or more. safe, than the way of the Cross of JESUS. Why then dost thou fear to embrace the Cross, since it leadeth to heaven, and in it is JESUS found? In the Cross

is salvation, in the Cross is life, in the Cross is protection against our enemies, in the Cross is infusion of Heavenly sweetness, in the Cross is strength of mind, in the Cross is joy of spirit, in the Cross is the height of virtue, in the Cross the perfection of sanctity. There is no salvation of the soul, nor hope of everlasting life, but in the Cross"." Take up Thy cross then, and follow JESUS Crucified, that thou mayest live eternally with JESUS Risen.

2dly. In the second place, we must seek CHRIST Crucified, with great singleness of intention, that is to say, through pure love, free from all admixture of temporal interest. The kingly prophet says, "in the time of my trouble I sought the LORD, and was not disappointed "." His intention was good, because he had turned to GOD, that He might help him in his

6 Multi quærunt Jesum, id est, Salvatorem, sed non crucifixum, quia non per crucem, cum tamen ille nonnisi in ista inveniatur. (Ludolphus, in vita Christi, p. 2.)

7 L. ii. de Ìmit. Jesu Christi, c. 12, 3.

8 Ps. lxxvi. 2. Vulg. see Ps. lxxxvi. 7.

necessity; but it was not unmixed. That of the spouse was far more pure, and far more disinterested, for she sought GoD, not from interest, but from love; not only because she needed Him, but because she loved Him. It was not affliction which forced, but affection which drew her thus to seek Him'. Better far to seek GOD through love than through unloving need 2.

3

3rdly. In the third place; in order to seek with singleness of heart CHRIST JESUS Crucified, we must seek Him in the Light of GOD. For, in order to seek the Cross, we must be greatly enlightened by the light of faith; and, in order to love CHRIST Crucified, we must have the strong light of wisdom, to teach us how worthy He is of love, even on to sufferings and death. "In vain ye rise up early, and so late take rest 3." The spouse "sought Him by night and found Him not." Thou must wait then for the light of the Holy Spirit, and imitate those blessed women, who allowed the night to pass, and awaited the break of day for to go to the Sepulchre. ever much a soul may labour in order to seek CHRIST, she finds Him not, if the light of the Holy Ghost dawn not upon the darkness of Her heart *. Hence it is that so few seek GoD purely for GOD, because so few have light enough to know, by experimental knowledge, how good it is to serve God for love of Himself. Wherefore, Jeremiah speaking of those who seek GoD, because they hope to obtain

9 I sought Him whom my soul loveth.-Cant. iii. 1.

How

1 Longe differentior quærendi ratio nunc a sponsa proponitur. Illam non compellit afflictio, sed trahit affectio. (Gillibert. Abbas. serm. 2 in Cant.)

2 Multo potior in diligente, quam in indiligente quærendi ratio. (Ibid.)

3 Ps. cxxvii. 2.

4 Licet laborem quærendo impendat, non tamen invenit quem requirit, nisi illuxerit dies. (Apon. 5 in Cant.)

some good from Him, uses the plural number, say¬ ing," The LORD is good unto them that wait for Him; but of those who seek God wholly free from self-interest, he uses the singular only The LORD is good to the soul that seeketh Him."' And where fore? "Because," says Saint Bernard, "it is an act of singular purity, and of rare perfection, not only to hope for nothing except from GOD, but also to seek nothing but GOD." There are few who reach this degree of virtue; strive hard to attain to it, and rest not till thou canst say-I seek God Alone.

This is the resolution which I now make, O my SAVIOUR, in Thy Divine Presence. My heart hath often said it of Thee, and my face hath often sought Thee; but now I desire to seek Thee anew, more fervently than ever. "Thy Face, LORD, will I seek, "My GoD, hide not Thou Thy Face from me, nor cast Thy servant away in displeasure; Thou hast been my succour, leave me not, neither forsake me, O GOD of my salvation "."

THIRD POINT.

T 1979

Consider, as shown forth by the three Marys, how they who seek JESUS, find Him at the end of thei search. They sought CHRIST Crucified, they found Him Risen. They sought Him in the grave among the dead, they found Him Living and Glorious'.

This is the favour which thou mayest hope from the goodness of the Son of GOD, if thou seek Him with thy whole heart. Love virtue whilst GOD giveth thee life: thou wilt find glory in the tomb 1o. Trifling is the glory of mortal men; there thou wilt

5 S. Bern. serm. vi. in Ps. Qui habitat.

6 Ps. xxvii. 8.

7 Ibid. v. 9.

8 He is not here, He is risen. (Luke xxiv. 5, 6.)

10

9 Why seek ye the Living among the dead? He is not here, He is risen.

10 Virtutem cole dum vivis, famam reperics in sepulcro, p

find the glory of the saints; there thou wilt find an immortal crown; there thou wilt find JESUS CHRIST, Who will make thee to sit on His throne, and will fill thee with honour and joy. Contemplate that Angel who is sitting on the stone of the Sepulchre, he represents to thee the state of bliss which JESUS hath gained for thee by His Death. His countenance shining like lightning, showeth thee the brightness of glorious bodies, which "shall shine more brightly than the sun." His raiment whiter than snow, marks the joy of the Resurrection which is a day of triumph for Him and thee'; and if he is seated upon the stone of the Sepulchre, it is to tell thee that the state of the blessed is unchangeable, band that thou must not complain of momentary toil, in order to enjoy eternal rest.

"Blessed be GOD, even the Father of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, Which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again by the Resurrection of JESUS CHRIST from the dead, unto a lively hope, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in Heaven for you who are kept by the Power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations, that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried in fire, might be found unto praise and honour, and glory, at the appearing of JESUS CHRIST, Whom not having seen ye love, in Whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls"."

1 Candida stola coopertus Angelus apparuit, quia festivitatis nostræ gaudia nuntiavit. (S. Greg.)

21 Pet. i. 3-9.

THE ANGELS CAUSE THE HOLY WOMEN TO ENTER THE TOMB OF CHRIST, AND TEACH US HOW WE MUST BURY OURSELVES WITH HIM, THAT WITH HIM WE MAY RISE AGAIN. "Come see the place where the LORD lay."-Matt. xxviii. 6.

REMARK.

THE holy women who were come to the Sepulchre saw not one Angel only, but many, who all assured them that the LORD was risen again, and show them the place where He had been laid. The first Angel they beheld was he who had rolled back the stone, and made thein go into the tomb, saying, "Come see the place where the LORD lay." St. Matthew speaks only of this one.

The second who appeared to them, was he of whom St. Mark speaks in these words: " Entering into the Sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment, and they were affrighted. And he saith unto them, "Be not affrighted: Ye seek JESUS of Nazareth, Which was crucified, He is risen ; He is not here, behold the place where they laid Him "."

Not having found the Body of the LORD JESUS, Saint Luke says, "they were very much perplexed thereabout," and that then, "behold two men stood by them in shining garments. And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said to them, Why seek ye the living

3 Mark xvi. 5, 6.