congratulations when he informed her of the angel vision. St. Joseph probably condemned himself of suspicion, in consequence of the anxiety which he had experienced. Learn the importance of the virtue of charity, and convince yourself that it is more safe to err from an excess of charity than to be correct with defect of charity. Learn, also, to put your trust in God alone, in every perplexing event of life; for it is He alone who, after a storm, "makes a calm; and after tears and weeping pours in joyfulness." (Tob. iii. 22.)
WEDNESDAY.
The Expectation of Delivery. — I.
I. The infant Jesus, shut up in His mother's womb, earnestly desired that hour in which He was to appear to the world and commence the work of our salvation. He might have then said, as He afterwards did, " I have a baptism wherewith I am to be baptized; and how am I straitened until it be accomplished!" (Luke xii. 50.) He remained in this state, however, for nine months, and would not exempt Himself for one day. He had embraced our common nature, and He would not refuse any of the inconveniences or sufferings which were attached to it. What man would suffer himself to be so long imprisoned when he could avoid it? Christ suffered it, and for your sake. Be ashamed, then, to complain of small inconveniences, when God suffered so much.
II. The desire of the blessed Virgin to see her Son, whom she knew to be "God of God," increased in proportion as the happy moment approached. She might well apply to herself those words of the Canticle: "Who shall give thee to me, that I may find thee and kiss thee." (Cant. viii. 1.) In the mean time, whilst her
