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"He was born of noble and virtuous parents; but renounced the world whilst he was yet very young. He served God first in the monastery of Derhurste in Gloucestershire; but after some years, he built himself a cell in a desert place of the abbey of Bath, where he shut himself up, unknown to men, but well known to God, for whose love he made himself a voluntary martyr of penance. His eminent virtues invited many to be his followers. But some of them falling from their first fervour, contented themselves with deceiving their superior with pretended exactness, while out of his sight they took very scandalous liberties, particularly in sitting up in the night to feast and drink, and fasting in the day with the rigour of the strictest hermits. But though they imposed upon this good man; yet God's justice soon discovered their hypocrisy in the punishment of it. St. Elphege in a short time reclaimed them; and God, by the sudden death of one, opened the eyes of all the rest. See that you imitate not these unhappy men, but observe discipline exactly. It is the practice of too many to transgress it, and their glory is to deceive those under whose care they are, by unduly going abroad, and unseasonable meetings at home. Break off all such customs: for there is so much folly, injustice, and deceit in them, that they cannot fail of proving your scourge in bringing mischief upon you.

The see of Winchester falling vacant, St. Dunstan was admonished in a vision to oblige St. Elphege to receive episcopal consecration. After he had governed the see of Winchester twenty-two years, he was chosen archbishop of Canterbury. The Danes landing in England took the city of Canterbury, seized the holy prelate, laid him in irons, and confined him for several months in a filthy dungeon. He was then released, but soon after cruelly martyred in the year 1012.

Pray for all the bishops of Christ's Church; and in particular for him, under whose charge you are. Pray for this nation, that God would in His mercy preserve it from atheism and infidelity; and not let these be the punishment of its vice, but make it zealous for virtue, justice and truth." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother

"The Emperor Marcus Aurelius had persecuted the Christians from principle, being a bigoted Pagan: but his son Commodus, who succeeded him in the empire, after some time, shewed himself favorable to them. During this calm, the number of the faithful exceedingly increased, and many persons of the first rank enlisted under the banner of the cross. Of this number was Apollonius, a Roman senator. He was very well versed both in philosophy and the Holy Scriptures. In the midst of the peace, which the Church enjoyed, he was publicly accused of Christianity by one of his own slaves, named Severus. St. Apollonius was ordered to renounce his religion, as he valued his life and fortune; for though Commodus had forbidden any one to accuse the Christians, he had not repealed the former laws against them. The saint courageously rejected such terms, and obtained leave to give an account of his faith in full senate. This he did in an excellent discourse, which has not come down to our times. But it not being in the power of his brethren to overrule the law, he was beheaded; and thus sealed the truth with his blood.

"He was born in Syria, and succeeded St. Pius in the see of Rome, in the latter part of the reign of Antoninus Pius. He sat about eight years, from 165 to 173. He is styled a martyr in the Roman and other martyrologies. If he did not shed his blood for the faith, he at least purchased the title of martyr by great sufferings and dangers. His vigilance protected his flock from the wiles of the heretics, Valentine and Marcion, instruments whom the devil sent to Rome, seeking to corrupt the faith in the capital of the world.

Pray for the present Pope, for all prelates and pastors, and for the whole Church; that as God has promised to lead it into all truth, so by their care who watch over it, it may be delivered from all abuses and scandals. Pray for all those who are divided from it, whether by heresy or schism.

Praise and bless God for His goodness to this holy martyr. For what could nature do amidst so many difficulties, and the terrors of a cruel death, if God had not raised it above itself, and by His grace taught it to overcome? For this mercy to His servant, bow down, adore and bless His name; and as you rejoice in His triumphs, let it be the subject of your joy, that God is glorified in poor creatures like ourselves. Yet while you celebrate the triumph of this martyr, pray that this solemnity may be to you an increase of God's mercy, that you may find some portion at least of that holy spirit in yourself, which you honour in His servant.

For as often as the memory of the martyrs occurs, so often you are reproached with the evidence of your own weakness; and you cannot see their courage and patience, without condemning your own great indisposition of soul, who can discover so little of that in yourself, which you admire and honour in them. Beseech God therefore to hear you, and by His grace to overcome your weakness, change your unhappy temper, and bring you nearer to the happy disposition of the martyrs." The Catholic Year by Rev. Fr. John Gother

"She was a holy virgin, born in Portugal; but coming with her father to Saragosa in Spain, and seeing there the great cruelty of Dacian in persecuting the Christians, she was so strongly moved with holy zeal in their behalf, that she publicly reproached him with his barbarous proceedings. Upon which he was so enraged, that he put her to all the torments that a malicious cruelty could suggest, tearing her flesh with hooks of iron, cutting off her breast, and laying open her liver and bones. He then ordered her to be thrown into prison, to die a lingering death under the corruption of her wounds. Thus she finished a glorious combat at the commencement of the fourth century.

Can you Christian, now complain of what you suffer? Your troubles are no other way great, than as your want of patience makes them so. Stand by this martyr of Christ, and compare. And yet she rejoices, while you are complaining. She casts the devil into despair, while you are pleasing him by your fretful impatience. Repent, ask pardon for what is past, and by your prayers and tears prevail on Heaven to grant you a better spirit. Grieve not at your troubles, but at your weakness: for this is your only affliction. All others may help you on your way: this only puts you back. While you see how much the patient suffering of the martyrs was to their advantage, you plainly see likewise how much you are a loser by your impatience. You see how great is your indiscretion, who being industrious in managing temporal affairs to your own interest, are so very careless in the greater concern, as to neglect the improvement of opportunities daily offered for your salvation. You see how much you are your own enemy, in complaining of the injuries which others offer you, and at the same time doing your own soul more hurt by your impatience, than the whole world could do against you. Amend in earnest, and beg God's grace for your entire reformation." The Catholic Year by Rev. Fr. John Gother

"HOLY MARY, MOTHER OF GOD, PRAY FOR US."-The im pious Nestorius, patriarch of Constantinople, was spreading his false doctrine through the world. According to his teaching, Jesus Christ possessed a twofold personality. It was needful to distinguish, in God made man, the person divine and the person human; and Mary, although Mother of Christ, was not Mother of God, because she had only given birth to the person human. St. Cyril, patriarch of Alexandria, who was already renowned for the greatness of his intellect and his zeal for, the faith, was charged by Pope Celestine I. to refute these baneful errors. He accomplished this to the great contentment of the universal Church; and the two councils, of Rome in 430, and of Ephesus in 431, confirmed his doctrine, which was withal that which the Church had ever taught. The town of Ephesus, on this occasion, gave free course to its abounding joy and holy enthusiasm. The fathers of the council were borne aloft in triumph, amid the exclamations of the inhabitants: "Blessed be ye who have restored to us our Mother." Cyril died in peace at Alexandria, in 444.

MORAL REFLECTION.-In all our troubles, temptations, and dangers, let us have often on our lips, and pronounce with confidence, faith, and love, the pious invocation of the Church: "Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us!" Half Hour with the Saints by Abbe Le Canu

" These were many holy priests, deacons, and laymen, who when the city of Alexandria, for its sins, lay under the scourge of a most severe plague, in the third century, exposed their lives for the service and comfort of those who were infected. There was not a single house in that great city which entirely escaped the pestilence, or had not to mourn for some dead. All places were filled with groans, and the living appeared almost dead with fear. This sickness was the greatest of calamities to the Pagans, but an exercise and trial to the Christians, who shewed on that occasion, how contrary the spirit of charity is to the interested spirit of self-love. In the time of this public calamity, most of them, regardless of their own lives, visited, relieved, and attended the sick, and comforted the dying. They closed their eyes, and buried them; and the charity of many of them being rewarded by death, the Church has thought proper to honour their memory, making but little difference between so glorious a death, and that of the martyrs. Thus," adds St. Dionysius, "the best of our brethren have departed this life; some of the most valuable both of priests, deacons, and laics; and it is thought that this kind of death is nothing different from martyrdom."