to persecute the Church, and on his road he is struck to the ground and becomes an apostle. The centurion rides up to Mount Calvary to complete the barbarous outrages of the executioners of Jesus Christ, and a ray of light descends upon him, and he confesses that He was truly the Son of God.
A soul experiences trouble and remorse in the very places wherein it vainly sought for pleasure and satisfaction.
Grace awaits, so to speak, at the gates of sin and crime; and disgust, perfidy, bitterness of soul, disgrace, and other frightful consequences, are the punishments of the mercy of God, and the sinner often finds treasures of justice in the very place where he sought for his eternal loss.
Grace triumphs, when it wishes, over the greatest obstacles, because that heavenly unction changes at will our troubles into consolations, so that by means of this grace that which was our delight, and which was to us a deadly poison, becomes a hidden manna, which feeds and strengthens us.
The Holy Spirit of God can, if He will, change the weakest of men into one so strong and powerful that nought can make him swerve from his fidelity, no danger can shake his firmness, no seductive pleasure can corrupt him; in one word it is this, that grace, far stronger than nature, surmounts every obstacle, and attracts all hearts gently and sweetly which He wishes to convert.
Grace is, par excellence, the gift of God. It is this that infinitely surpasses every gift of nature; it is the only source of our happiness, without which we can do nothing, and with which, we can do everything.
It is this gift which comes from on high, and flows direct from the Father of Light; which converts us, and makes
