338 ADVENT. 



DEC. 3. St. Francis Xavier, apostle of the 

 Indies, confessor. 



St. Birinus, bishop and confessor. 



St. Sola, hermit. 



St. Lucius, king and confessor. 



Obs. Among those who in the sixteenth century laboured most successfully 

 in the great work of the conversion of nations, the most illustrious was St. 

 Francis Xavier. By the irresistible force of his zeal and miracles he not only 

 converted many pagan >; and Mahometans, but also reformed the debauched 

 manners of many Christians. St. Francis received the recompense of his la- 

 bours in 1552, being only forty six years old. The number of miracles wrought 

 at the prayers of this saint induce us to say something of modern miracles in 

 general, with a view to clear up a point in which many people err much in 

 opinion. It is not pretended that the workers of miracles, as they are called, 

 do so by their own power, but that Almighty God does so at the instigation of 

 their pious prayers, and always with the view of supporting the Catholic 

 Church thetebv. Some of the most remarkable that have happened in our 

 time are those at St. Winifred's Well on the person of Winifred White, and that 

 at New Hall on the person of Miss Barbara O'Conner, published in the Catholic 

 Miscellany. To those who doubt of modern miracles, vve recommend a peru- 

 sal of the evidence (irevious to formint; a hasty opinion. The miracles which 

 continue to be wrouL'ht from time to time, in attestation of the sanctity of the 

 Catholic Church alojie, are established on evidence equally strong with that 

 on which Protestants, in common with Catholics, believe the miracles re- 

 corded in the Holy Scriptures : these modern miracles have in some instances 

 been proved by a series of corresponding testimony, from witnesses of the 

 facts, of such a consistent and positive nature as could not be reje ted on any 

 ordinary subject in a couit of law; and there have been a succession of such 

 miracles wrought in favour of t^atliolicism from the time of Jesus Christ to the 

 present day, many of which have possessed all the requisite characters of truth 

 laid down by the most scrupulous critics ; lastly, because the doubting of 

 Catholic miracles would tend to invalidate those of holy writ, whose greater 

 relative distance of time and place lessens, caeteris paribus, their comparative 

 probability. 



Indian Tree Euphorbia Tirucalli fl. 



If we desire blossoms now we must look to the hothouse, and, if fortunate 

 enough to possess one, we may at all times of the year have flowers. 



The encreasing coldness of the weather and the shortness of the winter's 

 day remind one of Moore's lines 



On the Superior Plmiets. 



As for those chilly orbs, on the verge of creation, 



Where sunshine and smiles must be equally rare; 

 Did they want a supply of cold hearts for that station. 



Heaven knows we liave plenty on earth we could spare. 

 Oh think what a world we should have of it here, 



If tlie haters of peace, of alfectioii, and glee. 

 Were to fly up to Saturn's comfortless sphere. 



And leave earth to such spirits as you, love, and me. 



