The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-09-01
THE CATHOLIC BULLETIN, SEPT. /, 1917

Hero of all self-sacrifice, Our Lord
Jesus Christ. A fashionable piety en-
joying all the goods of this world and
partaking of hopes purchased by the
bleed of the Redeemer does not salts
| fy generous souls, The beauty of the
Crpcified has a, length and depth, a
breadth and height that allures them
more and more to cruelty themselves
and to become more conformable
to Him. They are sensitive to all
| the urgings of the Christian voca-
ton, which. never says: Thus
far thou shalt go and no far
Their" And therefore they seize. on
| the surest and the most available
means, for their. greater sanctifcation.
They seek to emulate the example of
the great Christian souls of the past,
who were enraptured with Him, Who
at the moment of His conception said
promptly: Behold, come" and who
never swerved from the will of the
Father, but planted His cross on the
summit of the Mount. Their reward is
immediate. If the prophet could say:
Il will rejoice in the Lord and my
soul shall be joyful in my God; for He
hath clothed me with the garments of
salvation and with the robe of justice
he hath covered me as bridegroom
decked with crown and as bride
decked with jewels" Us. 81, 10), sure
ly the soul called and chosen by Christ
for the life most similar to His Own
may ever rejoice in God. Such souls
experience the truth of Christ's
words: MY yoke is sweet and My
burden is light In the deeper knowl-
edge of the Saviour, in the peace and
joy of believing, in the surer hope en-
gendered by earnest striving to make
their calling and election sure, they
feel not that they have surrendered
anything, but that they have been re
cipients of Gods choicest favors. These
and similar motives in the absence of
extraordinary lights, which the Lord
of course can give, may we'll be pom
dered by earnest, thoughtful m4nds,
while in prayer they seek light and
strength to come to decision. Not
from self-interest therefore but from
duty and a knowledge of the worth
and universally of Christ's call do we
urge ON the young the claims of the
ecclesiastical or religious state. Rath-
er, it only too frequently happens that
the worldly interests of parents are a
damper on the spirits of children. 1t
not unfrequently happens that at
death a votary of the world laments:
q wanted to be a religious, but papa,
or mama, would not give me; a
chance"
You, reverend Sisters, have sounded
the deep significance of the Christian
vocation. You have not only admired
the elect elements thereof, but you
have chosen them for your profession.
Of the. Faith, which to all is hidden
treasure, a gem beyond price, you have
shown worthy appreciation. While
the world is aweary with it's vain pur-
suits, you are, ever, challenging one
another to higher flights of goodness.
Come" you say daily with the Psalm,
list, "let us praise the Lord with joy;
let us joyfulIy sing to God, our Saw
Jour" Cps. 94). You have chosen the
better part. Well may you rejoice in
the seal of approval which our Saviour
has placed upon your choice. Made a
sublime spectacle to angels and-men"
may you never cease to edify all with.
your holy body, and at its close may
you seyerally hear that blessed invita-
ton of the anthem: Come, spouse of
Christ, receive the crown which the
Lord has prepared for thee for eter-
nifty" @