The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

""HOLINESS OF THE CHURCH. 39though they had the riches of Dives, and the gloryand pleasures of Solomon, and yet fail to be saints,they have missed their vocation, and are wretched,and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." 1For, what doth it profit a man, if he gain the whole"2world and lose his own soul ? On the contrary,though they are as poor as Lazarus, and as miserable as Job in the days of his adversity, they areassured that their condition is a happy one in thesight of God, if they live up to the maxims of theGospel.The Church quickens the zeal of her children forholiness of lifeby impressing on their minds therigor of God s judgments, who "willbring to lightthe hidden things of darkness, and make manifestthe counsels of the hearts," by reminding them ofthe terrors of Hell and of the sweet joys of Heaven.Not only are Catholics instructed in church onSundays, but they are exhorted to peruse the Wordof God, and manuals of devotion, at home. Thesaints whose lives are there recorded, serve likebright stars to guide them over the stormy ocean oilife to the shores of eternity ;while the history oithose who have fallen from grace, stands like a beacon light, warning them to shun the rocks againstwhich a Solomon and a Judas made shipwreck oftheir souls.Our books of piety are adapted to every want ofthe human soul, and are a fruitful source of sanctifi-1Apoc. iii. 7.fMatt. xvi. 2fi