which bears on the face of it tokens of belonging to One who spake as no other man could speak. The beatitudes with which the sermon opens are instances of this incommunicable style, which befitted, as far as human words could befit, God Incarnate. Nor is this style peculiar to the Sermon on the Mount. All through the Gospels it is discernible, distinct from any other part of Scripture, showing itself in solemn declarations, canons, sentences, or sayings, such as legislators propound, and scribes and lawyers comment on. Surely every thing our Lord did and said is characterised by mingled simplicity and mystery; His emblematical actions, His typical miracles, His parables, His replies, His censures, -all are evidences of a legislature in germ afterwards to be developed, a code of divine truths which was ever to be before men's eyes. And thus the Fathers speak of his teaching: 'His sayings,' observes St. Justin, 'were short and concise, for He was no rhetorician; but His word was the power of God.' And St. Basil in like manner: 'Every deed, and every word of our Saviour Jesus Christ, is a canon of piety and virtue. When, then, thou hearest word or deed of His, do not hear it as by the way, or after a simple and carnal manner; but enter into the depths of His contemplations, and become a communicant in truths mystically imparted to thee.'” May that Immaculate Lady, who merited to conceive the Eternal Word in her virginal womb, pray for those who shall use this little Compendium, and they in turn for its Editor, that the words of Jesus may daily sink deeper and deeper into the hearts of all, and bear fruit unto life eternal, through the grace of the blessed Paraclete, to whom with the Father, and the Son, be glory for ever. Amen. ORATORY, BIRMINGHAM, Feast of the Sacred Heart, 1855. N.B. The Text and Doctrinal Notes are those of the Douay Testament. A CHRONOLOGICAL INDEX TO THE LIFE OF OUR BLESSED LORD. (From the Douay Testament.) A.D. 1 CHRIST is born at Bethlehem. Luke ii. The wise men come and adore him. Matt. ii. He is presented in the temple. Luke ii. Joseph and The massacre of the infants by Herod. Matt. ii. Joseph, 12 Jesus is found in the temple disputing with the doctors. 30 St. John Baptist begins to preach penance, and to bap- Jesus himself is baptised by John. A voice from Hea- Christ is no sooner baptised, but he retires into a wil- Christ's first miracle, at Cana in Galilee, by turning 31 St. John Baptist is cast into prison, and beheaded by A.D. 31 Christ's sermon on the mount. Matt. v. vi. and vii. He raises to life the daughter of Jairus. Matt. ix.; Also the son of the widow of Naim. Luke vii. He calms the sea by his word. Matt. viii.; Mark iv.; He heals the man thirty-eight years ill of a palsy. He sends his twelve Apostles to preach, with power of He teaches them to pray. Matt. vi.; Luke xi. He makes choice of seventy-two disciples. Luke x. He declares himself the Messias in plain terms to the He excuses his disciples for plucking the ears of corn He feeds at one time five thousand men with five loaves. He promises to give them his body to be truly meat. 33 His transfiguration. Matt. xvii. The Sunday, or first day of the week in which he died In the beginning of that week he goes daily into the On Thursday he sends his disciples in the afternoon to xxvi. He washes their feet. John xiii. A.D. 33 After supper he institutes the Blessed Sacrament and Christ's prayer in the garden three times repeated. On Friday morning they deliver him up to the Roman He dies on the Cross, and is buried. For the history The miracles at his death. Ibid. He rises from death the third day. Ibid. His different apparitions that very day; and others He gives his Apostles power to forgive sins. John xx. 23. He promises to be with his Church to the end of the After forty days he ascends into heaven. Acts i. |