At midnight, when you are enjoying sweet repose, the monks arise and sing the praises of the Almighty, Happy, indeed, the people who have such a Religious community in their midst! Only the angels of God know what blessings these prayers — this life of fasting— bring upon a land. For the monks pray not only for themselves but for all the people. Many a sinner struggling with temptation is given the victory because the monks are praying for him; many a heart that is pressed down with the burden of life is made gladsome because the prayers of the monks have won graces for the soul; many an unfaithful child of the Church has been won back to repentance because the prayers of the monks have ascended like incense to heaven and have merited the grace that wins salvation. May their presence amidst the hills of Nelson County be abiding; and for ages to come may the Midnight Office go up like incense to God for the salvation of His people."
In an excellent book of Meditations on the Hidden Life, entitled: 44 The Heart of Jesus of Nazareth," we read: 44 It entered into Hie designs of our blessed Lord that His hidden life should be perpetuated, not only in His own divine Person upon the altar, but also by a portion of the members forming His mystic body — the Church.
"It is well known that the utility of those Religious Orders which are not devoted to active works of charity is a point much contested, even by good, practical Catholics. Any doubt, however, as to their utility ought to be removed from the minds of those who have at any time made the life of Our Lord at Nazareth the subject of meditation. It will be necessary but to keep in mind that the period passed at Nazareth was not simply a time of waiting and delay until the hour had arrived for commencing the actual work of Our Lord's life. The truth is that Our
