Day Seven- January 21

JUSTICE AND JURISPRUDENCE.

THERE is a great difference between moral justice and legal justice. The just man is equitable, and renders to every one his due. The man of justice is an official person—a magistrate, who professes equity according to the rules of jurisprudence. They were originally intended to maintain individual right, according to the rules of integrity; but by the evil dispositions of men, it sometimes happens that they are the means of depriving men of possessions they ought to guarantee to them, and the wealth falls into the hands of those who fight for it. From whence the proverb,— “While two contend, the third enjoys.” The multitude of laws and lawyers, stifle justice, which is like a silkworm entombed in its own net.

Day Eight- January 22

The PROVIDENCE OF GOD ORDERS ALL THINGS

ST. Francis looked over secondary causes, and in all events considered the hand of God as ordering and governing all things. “Nothing can happen to us,” he said, “except sin, that is not ordered by God, whether prosperous or adverse, for God is the fountain of good. Every good and every perfect gift comes down from him, who is the Father of lights; and there is no evil, not ordered by God, except Sin, which he only permits. Besides, properly speaking, sins cannot befall us:—an event proceeds from a cause; sin proceeds from our hearts. Oh what a happiness would it be for us, if we could receive all things as gifts from Him who opens his hands and fills all things living with plenteousness. How would this conviction soften affliction, —it would extract milk from the rock, and honey from the stony rock,–what moderation would grace prosperity, since God sends us prosperity and adversity; to draw from them. His glory and our salvation. Think well of this, and accustom yourselves to see God in every dispensation of his all wise providence, and in every event see only God; that in all things, God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, may be honored; who consoles us in all our grief, and makes all events work together for good, to those who love him.”

Day Nine-January 23 ST. FRANCIS LOSES A RING.

In the year 1619, Christina of France, the King’s sister, was married at Paris, to the Prince of Piedmont, heir of the house of Savoy. St. Francis accompanied the Cardinal of Savoy to the ceremony, and the young Princess of Piedmont esteemed him so highly, that she requested he might be named her Grand Almoner: he was constrained to accept the office, but, on condition that it should not interfere with his Episcopal duties. He was in consequence under the necessity of attending the Princess of Piedmont to Piedmont, where he remained some days, and then desired leave to return to his Diocese. This permission was granted with great unwillingness. This illustrious Princess made him noble presents, and among them was a diamond ring, of great value. On the road, as he was passing the Alps, on horse-back, when drawing off his glove the ring slipped from his finger unnoticed. When his loss was discovered, he calmly blessed God for it, for two reasons, he said, “the first, that I shall not be tempted to set too great value on a jewel; the second, because under providence it will be the means of making the fortune of some person who may find it, and who may be rendered thereby comfortable for the remainder of his life, in which case, the loss is a gain.” However, it turned out differently from what he had expected, for, being found by a Peasant, ignorant of its value, and brought by him to the Village where St. Francis had stopped, it was sent him again, when he was very liberal to the Peasant who found it. One may see how little this good Bishop’s heart was attached to what usually infatuate men. He knew that in Heaven treasures were prepared for him, superior to all that the world contained.