PROFESSION OF THE CATHOLIC FAITH. 133 



"the time is come that jiulgmont must l)f'<,nji at the 

 house of God,"* let us, Rouian Catliolics, karn liow to 

 give the example : let us ])oklly arise and reach out a 

 lo3\al hand to our si-parated but well-beloved brethren. 



But what am I saying? have not you, yourself, 

 Madam, in coming to us, first surmounted obstacles 

 which I could not recount? You have overcome them 

 by the sweat of your brow and the blood of 3'our soul ; 

 for, as Saint Augustine so truly says, "tliere is a blood 

 of the soul," and this you have poured out. You have 

 pushed aside witli your heroic hands, like the daughter 

 of Zion, the hewn rocks with which you were enclosed,f 

 you have made straight your paths, and have come 

 hither. 



Let me welcome you with your own words, in which 

 you expressed but a few days since the inspiration which 

 was your strength : " My love, my beautiful one, calls me : 

 I know his voice, and weak and trembling as I am, I 

 come to Uim.'"' 



III. Let us end our song of the mercies of the Lord to 

 your soul. Betrothed by baptism even in the midst of 

 your involuntary errors, espoused by the Eucharist in 

 the integrity of Catholic faith and charity, how can you 

 complete the cycle of supernatural love and consummate 

 your life therein, except by becoming a mother in tlie 

 apostleship? 



The Lord was speaking to the multitude one day, 

 when he Avas told his mother and brethren were without, 

 desiring to speak with him. Glancing about him with 

 that inspired look of his, he exclaimed : '' Who is my 

 mother, and who are my brethren ?'' Then stretching 

 his hand over the trembling multitude, he said, "Behold 

 my mother and my brethren ! For whosoever shall do 



* 1 Peter, iv. 17. t Lamentations, iii. 9. 



