when He suffered, He threatened not, but delivered Himself to him that judged Him unjustly." (i Pet. ii. 23.) And He says of Himself: "Learn of Me, because I am meek and humble of heart." (Matt. xi. 29.)
III. Christ promises the meek, that " they shall posses?' the tend." They will possess their own hearts, that is, they will be masters of their own passions. They will also possess the hearts of others, according to the author of the Ecclesiasticus: "My son, do thy works in meekness, and thou shalt be beloved above the glory of men." (Ecclus. iii. 19.) Lastly, they will possess the land of promise, as their eternal inheritance. " The meek shall inherit the land, and delight in the abundance of peace." (Ps. xxxvi. 11.) Adopt, then, this meekness in your conduct and conversation, in order that you may delight in the abundance of peace, as well in regard to God, as yourself and your neighbor.
FRIDAY.
The Third Beatitude.
I. " Blessed are they that mourn." (Matt. iv.) We have three motives for mourning: 1. We ought to indulge compunction for our sins according to the examples of David and St. Peter. 2. We should mourn for the sins of others, and feel compassion for them. 3. We have reason to grieve at our banishment in this worlds and our separation from God; "Wo is me, that my sojourning is prolonged." (Ps. cxix. 5.) This spiritual mourning does not entirely consist in affliction of the mind, but also in refusing those things, which brings pleasure along with them. Hence the Wise Man says:
