to him. If it should ever be the happy lot of any of you to be caught up and withdrawn for awhile into that hidden and mysterious sanctuary of God, and not to be called away from it either by the needs of the body, by the sting of some care, or, it may be, by the haunting pang of some sin, or at least by the inrushing flood of ideas and images belonging to this world, which are very difficult indeed to banish, such an one will be able in truth, when he returns to us again, to lift up his head and say: "The King hath brought me into his chamber." And yet I would not rashly affirm that this would have been that very chamber into which the Bride rejoices to have entered. It is indeed a chamber, and the chamber of the King; but of the three, that we have pointed out as included in the threefold vision, there is that one alone in repose and peace. For, as we have already shown, in the first chamber there is but a brief and fleeting repose, and in the second none whatever; because in the first God is beheld as wonderful and admirable, and the curiosity is violently excited to search out the numerous instances of his glory; while in the second he is beheld as terrible, and human weakness is thrown into terror at the sight of him. But in the third he is beheld not as terrible, and he even deigns to appear

not so much admirable as lovable, serene, and peaceful, sweet and gentle, and full of mercy toward them who look unto him.

Now that you may retain in memory a brief summary of what I have said to you about the cellar, the garden and the chamber of the Bridegroom, remember that there are three times, three merits, and three kinds of reward. In the garden take note of the times; in the cellar of the merits; and in the bedchamber of the rewards, in that threefold contemplation of the soul that is seeking and searching for the chamber of the King.

A Prayer of James Russell Miller

O God, our heavenly Father, we thy children come now to thy feet with our supplications. We can not live without thy blessing. Life is too hard for us, and duty is too large. We get discouraged, and our feeble hands hang down. We come to thee with our weakness asking thee for strength. Help us always to be of good cheer. Let us not be disheartened by difficulties. Let us never doubt thy love or any of thy promises. Give us grace to be encouragers of others, never discouragers. Let us not go about with sadness

or fear among men, but may we be a benediction to every one we meet, always making life easier, never harder, for those who come within our influence. Help us to be as Christ to others, that they may see something of his love in our lives and learn to love him in us. We beseech thee to hear us, to receive our prayer, and to forgive our sins, for Jesus Christ's sake. AMEN.

The Canticle of the Sun

BY

SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI

FRANCIS OF ASSISI

(GIOVANNI BERNARDONE)

Founder of the Franciscan order; born in Assisi, Central Italy, in 1182, and died there October 3, 1226. His father, a merchant, gave the boy a good education. In 1201 he joined a military expedition against Perugia, was taken prisoner, and spent a year as a captive. It is said "that when he began to avoid the sports of his former companions, and they asked him laughingly if he were thinking of marrying," he answered, “Yes, a fairer bride than any you have ever seen"-meaning his "Lady Poverty," as he afterward used to say. He spent much time in lonely places, asking God for enlightenment. "By degrees he took to nursing the most repulsive victims in the lazar-houses near Assisi. After a pilgrimage to Rome, he had a vision in which he heard a voice calling upon him to restore the Church of God which had fallen into decay.” In the year 1209, as the result of a sermon on Matthew 10:9, he decided to devote himself wholly to a life of poverty. Later on he was joined by eleven other companions, who devoted themselves to service in the "abodes of sickness and poverty. The canticle known as Laudes creaturarum, with its childlike invocations to "Brother Sun, Sister Moon with the stars, Brother Wind, Sister Water, Brother Fire, and finally Sister Death, to raise their voices to the glory of God," dates from about 1221. His works consist of sermons, treatises, letters, proverbs, and hymns.