PROLEGOMENA. XXV. 



recurrence of the reflection tliatthe great happiness 

 of Heaven is lost forever, and the society of all the 

 Prophets, Saints, and s^lorious Martyrs, those 

 whose histories formed the subjects of his earliest 

 meditations, whose merits were the theme of his 

 childish carols ; who were through life associated 

 with all the imagery of hope ; who may now be 

 in the knowledge of all those mysterious things 

 to dive into which, on earth, were vain curiosity, 

 the course ana nature of the stars, and the 

 wonders of the firmament ; Saints who are reigning 

 with God, whom he had always hoped to return 

 to ; in contemplation of the holy Trinity, no longer 

 a mystery ; in company with the Blessed Virgin, 

 the mother of mercies which he might once have 

 depended on — all participating in a communion 

 of happiness with St. Magdalen, raised to great 

 glory by timely penitence ; with St. Thomas, 

 who believed before it was too late ; with St. 

 Rosa, who was faithful through life, and knew 

 now the merit of despising worldly vanity ; with 

 St. Clare and St. Teresa, those miracles of 

 austerity ; with the Sisters of Charity, now 

 enjoying its fruits ; with St. Jerome, who left the 

 Roman Senators in time to follow the Evangelists; 

 with St. Benedict, who made rules of life, with 

 so much effect after life ; with St. Ephrem, 

 who taught wisdom to the Church, and now sees 

 its glory ; with St. Dominic, who saved nations 



