have other things to mind: their yoke of oxen; their farm; their wedding. When the great vision of the Lord sitting on His throne burst upon the eyes of Isaias, and then passed away, he exclaimed after it was gone: Woe is me! because I held my peace: because I am a man of unclean lips (c. vi.). Alas! alas! what shall a Christian say when his day of privilege here on earth is past? When he recalls to mind during the long leisure of eternity that in his case it was not Jesus of Nazareth passing by, once or twice, or at distant intervals; but always, every day and every night abiding with him, close to him, within the holy tabernacle. Woe is me! because I held my peace, and did not speak to Him! And when the tolling of the bell, or the voice of a friend reminded me that Jesus of Nazareth was about to appear on the altar and to show forth His Death again in the Holy Mass, Woe is me! I held my peace, and went away to be busy with trifles which I preferred. Alas! now it is too late. The harvest is past; the summer is ended, and we are not saved (Jerem. viii.).

STATION III.

gan

to cry

Who, when he had heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, beout and to say: O Lord, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. And many rebuked him that he might hold his peace; but he cried a great deal the more: O Lord, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me (St. Mark x.; St. Matt. xx.).

A. "Where there is a will there is a way," we say. When a man really wants to be cured he knows how to ask for it. We have all sufficient ability to make this blind man's prayer: Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me! or, better still, Jesus, Son of Mary, have mercy on me! And, oh, how well spent is time given to such a cry! Who ever persevered in that cry and was disappointed?

We have only to practise ourselves till we have learned to ask in faith, nothing wavering; so St. James tells

us. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea, which is moved and carried about by the wind. Therefore, let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord (c. i., 6, 7). It is then essential that we persevere till we can ourselves hope and trust that our prayer will be heard.

B. But many rebuked him that he might hold his peace. So is it with us. Many unseen spirits, who pretend to be friendly and to advise us well, counsel us to give up our prayer and assure us that it is useless. This happens to all who begin to cry out for mercy. Why, O Lord, the Psalmist exclaims, why are they multiplied that afflict me? Many are they who rise up against me. Many say to my soul, There is no salvation for him in his God (Psalm iii.). But, taught from above, this afflicted servant of God knew better. His answer was: But Thou, O Lord, art my Protector, my glory, and the lifter-up of my head. I have cried to the Lord with my voice, and He hath heard me from His holy hill ; that is, from Calvary. For Calvary is now His holy hill.

C. How good a grace was given to Bartimeus and his comrade! How glad they were afterwards of their pious obstinacy! He cried a great deal the more. St. Ignatius of Loyola lays down for us all this golden rule, that if urged strongly by unseen wicked spirits to break off our prayer as useless, we should always, on the contrary, prolong it resolutely and cry out a great deal the more. If we adopt this rule, the lying spirits very soon give over tormenting us with such hopeless thoughts. For to them it is gall and wormwood to be conquered by such inferior creatures as we are. Resist the devil and he will fly from you (St. James iv.).

D. Contrast the hearts of even good men with the Heart of our Lord. Men are tyrannical, and insist that the blind shall hold their peace and not disturb Jesus. But He is glad indeed to be disturbed in this way. Come to Me, He says, and He means His word, Come to Me all you who labour and are heavily burdened, and I will refresh you (St. Matt. xi.). Come to Me, not once only, not seven times, nor seventy times seven times, but whenever you are burdened.

His name is Jesus, Saviour. This name He has to earn by saving. His one work is to seek and to save them that are lost (St. Matt. xviii.). The physician is, as has been said above, on the look-out for the sick, the brave seaman in the life-boat is intent on those drowning. Even so, our Blessed Saviour is ever looking for the lost sheep; one whose soul wants healing and saving.

STATION IV.

And Jesus standing still, commanded him to be called. And they called the blind man, saying to him: Be of better comfort; arise, He calleth thee; who, casting off his garment, leaped up, and came to Him (St. Mark x. 49, 50).

A. Be of better comfort.

Were they who took this message the same who just now were rebuking the blind man for the noise he was making? They may have been others more tender-hearted, or they may have been the same, who began. now to see, as we say in familiar language, "which way the wind is blowing". How often it happens when men are raising a cry, that they instantly change if the master or some leading man boldly takes the other side!

B. When we have been praying long for a grace, and the tempter has been multiplying discouraging thoughts, suddenly our good Angel begins to speak, saying: Be of better comfort; arise, He calleth thee.

Oh! how truly wise is the counsel of Ecclesiasticus: Make not haste in time of clouds. Wait on God in patience; join thyself to God and endure, that thy life may be increased in the latter end. In thy sorrow endure, and in thy humiliation keep patience. Believe God, and He will recover thee. Ye that fear the Lord, wait for His mercy. Ye that fear the Lord, believe Him, and your reward shall not be made void. Ye that fear the Lord, hope in Him, and mercy shall come to you for your delight (c. ii.).

What moments are there in life so full of contentment

and tranquil joy as those when, after a season of desolation, our Lord or His good Angel begins to speak again words of comfort? Thou shalt say in that day: I will give thanks to Thee, O Lord, for Thou wast angry with me: Thy wrath is turned away, and Thou hast comforted me (Isaias xii.).

C. Observe how meek and gentle our Lord remains, amid the mistakes and faults of His followers. When the sons of Zebedee made their selfish petition, and now when His disciples are officiously rebuking the blind, He does not show anger, nor ever swerve from His course of patient charity.

D. Who, casting off his garment, leaped up, and came to Him. The blind man did not need to be called twice. His cloak which he wanted as a protection against all manner of weather was now an incumbrance. He cast it aside and leaped up, and, guided no doubt by some who either shared our Lord's compassion, or were now sorry for having rebuked him, soon stood before the face of Jesus. What a daybreak is coming to this forlorn sufferer after the long and dreary night!

E. But, alas! how often has our Lord called me and called me in vain, and I never leaped up or even rose reluctantly, but hardened my heart and would not come.

F. How easy it would be to rise quickly in the morning, if we would listen to our good Angel reminding us that Jesus, the Hidden God, is on the altar, waiting for us and calling us. Our hearts would answer in gladness, Deus, Deus meus "O God, my God, to Thee do I wake at dawn of day".

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STATION V.

And Jesus answering, said, What wilt thou that I should de to thee? And the blind man said: Rabboni, that I may And Jesus saith to him: Receive thy sight; go thy way, thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he saw and followed Him in the way (St. Mark x. 51; St. Luke xviii. 41).

And Jesus stood and called them, and said, What will you that I do for you? They say to Him, Lord, that our eyes be opened. And Jesus having compassion on them, touched their eyes. And immediately they saw and followed Him (St. Matt. xx.).

And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God (St. Luke xviii. 43).

A. What wilt thou that I should do to thee?

"Attendite "-look well, and listen attentively, and mark how our Lord, though He knows all things, yet, according to His constant practice, insists on hearing from our own lips what we wish for. Because He loves us so truly and His delights are to be with us, in order to oblige us to stay with Him and converse with Him, He acts as if He knew nothing till we tell Him all.

B. What wilt thou that I do? When God appeared to Solomon and said, Ask what thou wilt that I should give thee, Solomon's choice was, Give me wisdom. And God, well pleased with the choice, said, Because this choice hath pleased thy heart, and thou hast not asked riches and wealth and glory, nor the lives of them that hate thee, nor many days of life, but hast asked wisdom and knowledge-wisdom and knowledge are granted to thee. And I will give thee riches and wealth and glory, so that none of the kings before thee, nor after thee, shall be like thee (2 Paral. i.). This is what our Blessed Saviour has said to us also: Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His justice, and all these things shall be added (St. Matt. vi.); that is, meat and drink, and the other things of this earth.

The earnest prayer and craving of some men is for evil things, as when Herodias asked for the head of John the Baptist. Others desire vehemently money or better health. St. Augustine writes how he in childhood prayed sometimes most fervently that he might not be chastised for some fault. The strong desires of our heart are so powerful with God that they should not be wasted on things earthly; they should be kept to do the violence