of the just, and by that means secure a short and easy passage to heaven. Offer yourself frequently to God, and be willing to endure every pain, and even the loss of life, and all its goods, in His holy service. Imitate the example of so many glorious martyrs, who have died for their faith, by continually practicing virtue, by being constant in your faith and in the exercise of your religious duties.
THURSDAY.
The Five Thousand, fed in the Desert —I.
I. Consider how great was the multitude that followed Christ into the desert, led thither by the fame of His miracles and doctrine. " He had compassion on them, and He began to teach them many things." (Mark vi. 34.) He first gives them spiritual food, and then corporal nourishment. You must retire into the wilderness, that is, you must leave the noise and folly of the world, and form a solitude in your own heart, if you wish to receive the spiritual food of our Lord. " I will lead her into the wilderness, and I will speak to her heart," says God of a faithful soul. Observe, also, the charitable care of the Apostles for the people: "Send away the multitudes," they say, "that going into the town, they may buy themselves victuals." (Matt. xiv. 15.) Although the request proceeded from a principle of charity in the Apostles, their Master had already determined to surpass it, and to give a still brighter example of it.
II. Christ having asked His disciples, what food they had to set before the people; they answered, "we have here but five loaves and two fishes." These were all the provisions that the Apostles possessed; a few loaves and
