beauty of your divine Spouse, and say to Him: "Thou are beautiful above the sons of men." (Ps. xliv. 3.) Meditate on His dignity, glory, riches, wisdom, and power; and inflame your heart with an ardent love for your holy Spouse.
III. Since you are to be espoused to Christ, you must surrender to Him everything which you have in this world, and never forsake Him by sin, on any consideration. Adorn your soul, then, with every virtue, or you never will be pleasing in the eyes of your divine Spouse. Direct all your thoughts and actions according to His will, and study His pleasure in everything.
MONDAY.
Purification of the Virgin.
I. The blessed Virgin, after having buried herself in retirement for forty days after the birth of her Son, appears in the temple, in compliance with a double law, that ordained her own purification and the presentation of her child. The law, in fact, did not regard her, for she conceived by the Holy Ghost; but she subjected herself to it in order to imitate the conduct of her Son. who submitted to the law of circumcision. Besides, she was unwilling to give offence or scandal to the Jews, who were ignorant of the great mystery which had been operated in her. She was anxious, also, to conform her conduct in what was lawful to that of others of her sex, and thus to avoid singularity, as well as to perform works of greater perfection and supererogation. Study to imitate her example.
II. What admirable virtues she exercised in this action! Her obedience was perfect; for she fulfilled exactly what the law required of others, without pleading exemption,
