door." More and more impressed by these circumstances, the gentleman again took up the note, and read aloud: — "My son, your father has just been delivered from Purgatory, thanks to a Mass which the bearer has had celebrated this morning. She is in great distress, and I recommend her to you." He read and re-read those lines, traced by that hand so dear to him, by a father who was now among the number of the elect. Tears of joy coursed down his cheeks as he turned towards the woman. " Poor woman," he said, " by your trifling alms you have secured the eternal felicity of him who gave me life. In my turn I will secure your temporal happiness. I take upon myself to supply all the needs of yourself and your whole family."
What joy for that gentleman! what joy for that poor woman! It is difficult to say on which side was the greatest happiness. What is most important and most easy is, to see the instruction to be derived from this incident; it teaches us that the smallest act of charity towards the members of the Church Suffering is precious in the sight of God, and draws down upon us miracles of mercy.
CHAPTER XLIX.
Advantages — Spiritual and Temporal Favours — Christopher Sandoval at Louvain — The Lawyer Renouncing the World — Brother Lacci and Dr. Verdiano.
Let us here cite another example, the more worthy of mention as a great Pope, Clement VIII., saw therein the finger of God, and recommended its publication for the edification of the Church. " Several authors," says Father Rossignoli, " have related the marvellous assistance which Christopher
