of it, and not by the maledictions attached to the despisers of Thy sacraments.  In fine, let it fall upon me by influencing my conduct and inducing the practise of good works, and let it not fall upon me for my wanderings, my infidelities, my obstinacy, and my impenitence.  This, my brethren, is what we ought to ask to-day from Jesus Christ crucified.  It is with these views that we ought to go to the foot of the cross and catch the blood as it flows.  He was the Savior of the Jews as well as ours, but this Savior, St. Augustine says, the Jews have converted into their judge.  Avert from us such an evil.  May He Who died to save us be our Savior.  May He be our Savior during all the days of our lives.  And may His merits, shed upon us abundantly, lose none of their efficacy in our hands, but be preserved entire by the fruits we produce from them.  May He be our Savior in death.  And at the last moment may the cross be our support, and thus may He consummate the work of our salvation which He has begun.  May He be our Savior in a blest eternity, where we shall be as much the sharer in His glory as we have been in His sufferings.

FENELON

THE SAINTS CONVERSE WITH GOD

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Francois de Salignac de La Mothe-Fenelon, Archbishop of Cambray, and private tutor to the heir-apparent of France, was born of a noble family in Perigord, 1651.  In 1675 he received holy orders, and soon afterward made the acquaintance of Bossuet, whom he henceforth looked up to as his master.  It was the publication of his “De l’Education des Filles” that brought him his first fame, and had some influence in securing his appointment in 1689 to be preceptor of the Duke of Burgundy.  In performing this office he thought it necessary to compose his own text-books, such as would teach the vanity of worldly greatness and the loftiness of virtue.  He was promoted to the archbishopric of Cambray in 1695, and subsequently became entangled in the religious aberrations of Madame Guyon.  Fenelon came into controversy with Bossuet, whose severity against his friend was rebuked by the Pope, who, nevertheless, condemned some of the Archbishop of Cambray’s views.  Fenelon submitted, and withdrew to his diocesan see, where he died in 1715.  His deep spirituality and eloquence are exemplified in the following sermon.

FENELON

1651-1715

THE SAINTS CONVERSE WITH GOD

Pray without ceasing.—­I Thess. v., 17

Of all the duties enjoined by Christianity none is more essential, and yet more neglected, than prayer.  Most people consider this exercise a wearisome ceremony, which they are justified in abridging as much as possible.  Even those whose profession or fears lead them to pray, do it with such languor and wanderings of mind that their prayers, far from drawing down blessings, only increase their condemnation.  I wish to demonstrate, in this discourse, first, the general necessity of prayer; secondly, its peculiar duty; thirdly, the manner in which we ought to pray.