will feel that keenly, because they shall be as proud as ever. Shown by an example. pie will pay no heed to rank and privilege, and that the proud, after suffering the humiliations that shall then be common to all sinners, will not feel the confusion to which they shall be subjected. No! On the contrary, the wicked, as they left this world with their bad passions and inclinations in full vigor, shall rise again from the dead with the same passions; the proud man shall have his pride and ambition as formerly; the impatient man shall still feel all the rancor of his ill-humor; the passionate man shall be still subject to his feelings of rage; and hence what despair shall possess them when they see themselves so humiliated, despised, mocked at, and rejected by those over whom they were so much exalted during life! Piso, a noble Roman, was led before the judge, clad in a shabby robe, to be tried for some offence of which he was accused; seeing the people staring at him, some in scorn, others with pity, he felt so keenly the humiliation of being thus degraded before the common herd that he drew a dagger which he had concealed under his cloak, and in a fit of passion stabbed himself to the heart.
The thought of this should help the rich and great to practise humility. The consideration of this truth, my dear brethren, should now help us to practise true Christian humility. If one is inclined to think too much of the rank that exalts him above others, he should say to himself: on that day there will be no question of rank, and who knows whether I shall not have to take my place even amongst the lowest? Remember this, you rich people, when a poor mendicant comes to your doors and calls through the keyhole for a piece of bread, and do not keep him waiting for hours, nor turn him off with harsh words; say to yourselves: one day I shall have to stand with that beggar in the valley of Josaphat, and who knows whether I shall not have to lie prostrate at his feet? Remember this, you ladies and gentlemen who are sometimes so harsh with your servants and treat them like slaves, storming at and cursing them if they happen to commit the least fault, and refusing them the necessary care and nourishment if ill-health renders them unable to attend to their duties. Say to yourselves: on that day my servant shall stand in the same rank with me, and then shall be seen which of us is to be the master, which the servant; which is to be the lady, and which the humble handmaid. Then perhaps I shall have to address in humble words those who now wait on me, and who are so badly treated by me!
And the
The same thought should bring consolation to you, pious