No chastity is secure without Thy protection. No guard that we can keep upon ourselves will profit us, if Thy holy providence watch not over us.
- Bk. III, ch. xiv.
The thought of dear little St Cecilia fills me with delight; what a model she was! In the midst of a pagan world, and at a time of great danger, when she was about to become the bride of a man who had no thoughts of anything higher than earthly love, it seems to me that she should have wept and trembled. Instead of which, while the musical instruments were playing, Cecilia sang unto the Lord in her heart (Office of St Cecilia). What sublime trust! No doubt she heard other melodies than those of earth, the divine Bridegroom sang to her, and the angels repeated the refrain they sang on that blessed night: Glory be to God in the highest, and peace on earth to men of good will!
The glory of God, how well Cecilia understood it! She sought it with all the ardor of her soul, and knowing how Christ thirsted for souls, longed to bring Him this young Roman. He thought only of earthly glory, but the wise virgin, in whose footsteps so many were to tread, made of him a martyr. She fears nothing: the angels promised and sang of peace; she knew that the Prince of Peace was bound to protect her, preserve her virginity, and reward her at the end. O how beautiful is the chaste generation with glory (Wisd. iv, 1).
-H.
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For a List of Abbreviations, see this post.
Adapted from Just For Today(©1943 Burns & Oates)
Nihil Obstat: Reginaldus Phillips, S.T.L.,Censor deputatus
Imprimatur: Edwardus Myers, Vic. Cap.
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