in the futility and incompetence of modern religions of all sorts.  It is seen perhaps most of all in the pride of opinion which keeps the Christian world in a fragmentary condition, and which approaches the undoing of the sin of a divided Christendom with the preliminary announcement that no separated body must be required to admit that it has been in the wrong.  Human disregard of the divine method of love and humility can hardly go farther; and the only practical result that can be expected to follow is such as followed from the negotiations of Herod and Pontius Pilate—­a new Crucifixion of the Ever-sacrificed Christ.

We have risen to the divine method when we have learned to rely for spiritual results upon God alone.  Then is revealed to us the power of sanctity.  We turn over the pages of the lives of the saints, of those who have been great in the Kingdom of God, and we are struck by the growing influence of these men and women.  They are simple men and women whose life’s energy is concentrated on some special work; they are confessors or directors; they work among the very poor; they lead lives of retirement in Religious Houses; they are preachers of the Gospel; they are missionaries.  The one thing that they appear to have in common is utter consecration to the work in hand.  And we see, it may be with some wonder, that as they become more and more absorbed in their special work, they become more and more centres of influence.  Without at all willing it they draw people about them, become centres of influences, arouse interest, become widely known.  In short, they are, without willing it, centres of energy.  Of what energy?  Obviously, of the energy of love:  the love of God manifested in them draws men to God.  The man at whose disposal is unlimited force compels men to do his will; but he draws no one to him except the hypocrite and the sycophant who expect to gain something by their servility.  The saint draws men, not to himself, but to God; for obviously it is not his power but God’s power that is being manifested through him.

Unless we are very unfortunate we all know people whose attractiveness is the attractiveness of simple goodness.  They are not learned nor influential nor witty nor clever, but we like to be with them.  When we are asked why, we can only explain it by the attractiveness of their Christlikeness.  What we gain from intercourse with them is spiritual insight and power.  Their influence might be described as sacramental:  they are means our Blessed Lord uses to impart Himself.  They are so filled with the mind of Christ that they easily show Him to the world; and withal, quite unconsciously.  For great love is possible only where there is great humility.