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in darkness and in the shadow of death,” to convert sinners; in fine, to 
encourage genuine piety, and the desire of perfection among the faithful 
themselves. 
The mission of good examples is still more extensive. 
Consider the examples of virtue given by our great Fathers in the 
Faith. Though for ages they have slept in the tomb—their dust mingled 
with its mother earth, and their voices hushed forever—their glorious ex¬ 
ample is preaching still, and exhorting all to follow in their footsteps. 
But the most extensive and consoling apostolate of all is that of 
desire. It knows no limit of time or space, because our desires are inde¬ 
pendent of exterior circumstances and wholly subject to our own control. 
It may roam the world, and include in its ardent prayers every good work, 
all the interests of Cod. 
Oh, my dear reader, we ought to thank Cod and rejoice, that He has 
so ordered things that, by so many ways and means, and in every place and 
in any condition of life, we may co-operate in the glorious work of saving 
others. Let us, then, bestir ourselves to action. 
“More things are wrought by prayer 
Than this world dreams of. Wherefore let thy voice 
Rise like a fountain for me night and day; 
For what are men letter than sheep or goats 
That nourish a blind life within the brain, 
If, knowing God, they lift not hands of prayer 
Both for themselves and those who call them friend? 
For so the whole round world is every way 
Bound by gold chains about the feet of God.” 
— Tennyson. 
