Vol. 2

:112 ST. MARK.thou our wisdom to raise us to the knowledge of themysteries of religion,our understanding to comprehendthe truths of salvation and our duties, ourcounsel in all our doubts, our strength in all ourweakness, our knowledge in whatever belongs to ourvocation, our piety in all our actions, and our filialand religious fear in all the temptations of this life." 6. And he commanded the people to sit downon the ground : and he took the seven loaves, andgave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples toset before them ; and they did set them before thepeople."The Word took these sevengifts in his incarnation,inspired them into the apostles by sending theHoly Ghost, and by their ministry has shed themabroad in the hearts of all the faithful by the meansof the word and sacraments. Without a new gift,without the benediction of hisactual grace, which isobtained by prayer, we can make but an ill use ofthese habitual gifts. In order to prepare ourselvesfor the reception of them, we must humble ourselves,and adhere to the body of the pastors and true successorsof the apostles. They are sent by JesusChrist to be the dispensers and ministers of thesegifts." T. And they had a few small fishes : and heblessed, and commanded to set them also beforethem."The bountiful hand of Christ's love never blessesand multiplies, but only in order to distributewhereas the niggardly hand of secular love gathersand heaps together with no other intent but to hoard.We do not find that Jesus Christ ever gave a bless-