The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-08-18
7aSsea es.
MINIATURE LIVES OF THE SAINTS.
August l9.
BLESSED MARY OF oIGNIEs.

August ls.
BLESSED MARY OF oIGNIEs.
r Mary was born near Liege in 1lSO.
She married at fourteen, after q chNdhood
of remarkable sanctity. Her holy example
induced her husband also to devote MIN
self to good works, to live in chastity ano
distribute his riches to the poor, @nu
together they served hospital OF iepets en
Neither the mock cry of the w0rld nor tne
artifces of the devil induced them TO
abandon their holy purposes and TINS con
stancy drew down upon them aouhuan1
celestial benedictions. mary was con-
staptly rapt in ecstacy. She worked many
amiracies. read the secrets OF hearts, and
: often ss ", our Lord Himself in the Sacred
Host. Her spirit was so occupied with
the presence of God that nothing could
s distract her and she passed many days
without speaking, except to say, Il desire
to receive the Body of our Lord Jesus
Christ" and after Comm union she relapsed
again into total silence. Her tender love
and compassion for the suffeIipgs OF Jesus
were 30 great that she conceived aa ardent
desire for crosses. She never ate until
evening, and then only black bread but
the angels appeared to her at table, ana
their heavenly CONVEX sation overwhelmed
her soul with delights. Being fl led with
humility and conjunction, she had an ex :
treme horror of the smallest s'n, and,
although her life was 30 innocent, the
rigour of her penance was indescrioable.
She died at the age of thirty three, IN
hermitage near OIgnies.
B. Mary could not behold crucitx with :
out being dissolved in tears. To stop
them che contemplated the msJesty and
impassibility of God, but the remem brance
of what this God of Majesty had suffered
for her made them flow faster than before.
A priest once begged her to moderate her
tears and sighs, and pray in silence. Un-
able to do this, sue left the church but
she prayed God to show the priest the
impossbility of creature resisting the
operation of the Holy Gaost. The same
day at Mass this priest was so filled with
restrain his tears, aud be sized them SO
copiously that his vestmeuts, and even the
altar-cloths, were tathe d with them.
81 August20
ST. BERNARD.
Bernard was born at the castle Of Fon-
taines in Burgundy. The grace of his
person and IL @ vigor of his intellect filled
his parents with the highest hopes, and the
world lay bright and smiling before him,
when he repounced it for ever and joined
the monks of Citeaux. Here his holy ex-
ample attracted SO many novices that
other monasteries we're erected, and Ber-
na1d was appointed abbot of that of Clair
vaux. Unsparing with himself, he at first
expected too much of his brethren, who
were dish eartened at his severity but
soon perceiving his error, he led them for
ward by the sweetness of his correction
and the mildness of his rule to wonderful
perfection. In spite of his desire to lie hid,
the fame of his sauctity spread far and
wide, and many churches asked for him as
their bishop. Through the help of B.
Eugenius Ill his former subject, he es-
capped this dignity yet his retirement was
continually invaded the poor and the
weak sought his protection; bishops,
kinge, and Popes applied to him for advice;
and at length Eugenius himself charged
him to preach the Crusade. By his fervour,
eloq1ence, and miracles Bernard k1udted
the enthusiasm of Christendom, and two
splendid armies we're despatched against
the infidel. Their defeat was only due,
said the Saint. to their own eins. Bernard
died A. d. 1853. His most precious writ
ings have earned for him the titles of the
last of the Fathers and Doctor of Holy
Church.
All his brothers followed Bernard to Ci
teaux except inward the youngest, who
was left to be the stay of his father in his
old age. "You will now be heir of every
thing" said they to him, as they departed.
eyes," said the boy "you leave me earth,
and keep heaven for yourselves. DO you
call that fair - Aud he too left the world.
At length their aged father came to
exchange wealth and honor for the pov
erty of a mouk of Clairvaux. One only
sister remained behind: she was married,
and loved the world and it's pleasures.
Magnifcently dressed she visited Bernard;
he refused to see her, and only at last con
sented to do go, not as her brother, but as
the minister of Christ. The words he then
spoke moved her 80 much that two years
later she retired to q convent with her
husbands consent, ard died in the reputa-
tion of sanctity.
August 81.
ST. JANE FRANCES DE CHANTAL.
Az the age of sixteen Jane Frances de
Fremyot, already motberIess child, wae
placed under the care ofa worldly minded
governees. In this crisis enc offered her
&c