the Eucharist, to make you partaker of His sweet ointments. "Myrrh, and stacte, and cassia perfume thy garments" (Ps. xliv. 9), that is the sacramental forms under which Christ is clothed in the Eucharist. At His visit He will anoint you with His three-fold unction: 1. With the unction of mercy He will efface all your sins. 2. With the unction of fortitude He will strengthen you against your spiritual enemies. 3. With the unction of wisdom He will instruct and enlighten your understanding. "For His unction teacheth you concerning all things." (1 John ii. 27.)
III. You ought to prepare yourself against His coming. "I have prepared a lamp for my anointed." (Ps. cxxxi. 27.) This expression the holy Fathers interpret of John the Baptist; for "he was a burning and a shining light." (John v. 35.) Prepare, also, in the same manner, the lamp of your soul; purify it from sin, and give it the lustre of good works. Let the flame of divine love burn interiorly in your soul; and prove its existence there by external virtuous actions and good example.
MONDAY.
Visitation of the Blessed Virgin.
I. As soon as the Word incarnate was conceived in the womb of the Virgin, He hastened to sanctify His precursor and commence His office as Saviour. He inspired His mother to visit her cousin Elizabeth, in order that she, who was to be the mediatrix between us and her son, might in some manner concur to the first sanctification which He wrought. She readily obeyed the divine impulse, and willingly embraced the occasion of doing a good office. Learn of her to be zealous in assisting others and to lose no occasion of exercising charity.
