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with unceasing contumely. Her doctrine is marvelous and true, because it is the teaching of the great Master of all truth, who is the great source of all wonders; and yet the world seeks for knowledge in the schools of error and gives an attentive ear to the vein eloquence of shameless sophists and obscure impostors. The Church has received from her divine Founder the power of working miracles, and performs them, being herself a perpetual miracle; and yet the world treats this as a vain and shameful superstition, and she is held up as an object of scorn to men and nations. Her own children, so tenderly loved, have raised their sacrilegious hands against this most tender mother, have abandoned the sacred home that protected their infancy, and sought in new families and in new homes disgraceful pleasures and unchaste loves. In this way the Church follows the predicted path of her dolorous passion, unknown to the world and disowned by heresiarchs.

And, what is singular and admirable in this, and in perfect imitation of our Lord Jesus Christ, is that the Church does not suffer tribulations because the world has forgotten the prodigies she works, the life she lives, the truths she teaches, and the invincible testimonies that prove the divinity of her mission; but, on the contrary, she 1s persecuted on account of these invincible testimonies, on account of the truths she teaches, the sanctity of her life, and the miracles she performs. Suppress these but for a moment, and you will put an end at one blow and at once to all these tribulations, tears, misfortunes, and privations.

The mystery of her persecutions lies in the truths which she proclaims; the mystery of her victories is found in the supernatural force which assists her; and