they were poor, chaste, and obedient unto death; and like Him also, they are exalted to the high honours of heaven.

But although it is true that Religious, as such, enjoy a high glory in heaven, it must not be inferred that they all enjoy the same degree of glory. There is, perhaps, not a class in heaven in which the degrees of glory are so various. Some of them died only a few days after taking their vows; others on the day itself; while others lived half a century and more in the practice of the most heroic virtue. Some were called by the grace of God after a life of worldliness and sin; while others had already reached a high degree of sanctity when they offered their sacrifice to God. Others, again, after their consecration to God, were extremely faithful to grace, and gave all the energies of their nature to the acquirement of greater perfection; while others were sadly wanting in generosity to God, and aimed at only an inferior degree of holiness. Again, some had few or no temptations from the day upon which they took their vows; while for others that act seemed to be a declaration of war, for they began to be assailed by every manner of temptation to violate their Vows and go back into the world. But, aided by the all-powerful grace of God, they resisted manfully, and fought the good fight unto the end.

These and a thousand other differences give rise to various degrees of glory among

the Religious, who, having finished their course, have received the crown of life. They who, like a St. Aloysius, a St. Stanislaus, a St. Teresa, and many others, practised every virtue in a heroic degree, are among the brightest and highest in glory; while they who led less perfect lives are far inferior. Nevertheless, all without exception enjoy a peculiar glory, which is due to them as a crown of justice," for the great sacrifice they made to God by the three vows of Religion.

CHAPTER XX.

THE GLORY OF PENITENTS AND PIOUS
PEOPLE.

WHO are they that compose yonder bright multitude? They are headed by a queen, who does not wear a virgin's crown; and yet she is so beautiful, and enjoys so intimate a union with Jesus. Who is she? She is Mary Magdalen, the bright Queen of Penitents, and the star of hope to all who have grievously sinned in this world.

She was once a sinner, and such a sinner! Her soul was the home of seven devils! She was a hireling of Satan, to catch the souls of men. But a flash of light came forth from the Heart of Jesus, and in that light she saw herself sinful and hateful in

the eyes of God. His grace filled her heart with a deep and crushing sorrow for her many sins. Prostrate at the feet of Jesus, she kissed them, and washed them with tears of true repentance. Jesus, who never despised or rejected repentant sinners, commanded the devils to depart from her; He then washed her soul, and made her pure as an angel. Her many sins were forgiven her, because she loved much; for her deep contrition was not dictated by servile fear, but by pure love. After the ascension of Jesus, she shut herself up in a grotto, where she wept and did bitter penance during the remainder of her days. When her last hour was come, the angels descended from heaven, and took her pure soul to the bosom of Jesus. Her intense love and her penitential tears deserved for her a crown of justice." They beautified and glorified her far above many a one who never sinned grievously; for she is crowned with the highest honours of heaven, and enjoys a union with Jesus far more intimate than many who never offended God.

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Nor is she alone in this exceeding glory wherewith an ardent love and penance clothe sinners. Thousands of others who sinned grievously, and imitated her penance, are now shining in glory far above others who never sinned. Think you that St. Peter, who denied his Lord, is below all those who preserved their innocence, and even below all the baptized infants in heaven? Think

you that St. Paul, who once persecuted the Church, is now below all on that account? Think you that the great St. Augustine, St. Mary of Egypt, St. Pelagia, and a host of other illustrious pentitents, are all below mere babes on account of their sins? They certainly are not. Their intense love for God, their sorrow, and their tears atoned for their sins, and placed them far, very far, above many who, though they never sinned grievously, never performed an act of heroic virtue in their whole lives.

Remember that charity, by which is meant love for God and for our neighbour, is the greatest of virtues, and has the power of elevating the greatest sinners to the highest glory of heaven. Mary Magdalen, therefore, though once a great sinner, is at this moment enjoying a most intimate union with Jesus, and shines like a very star in the presence of God.

Even in this world she is glorified far above many who were not sinners. When Jesus sat at the table of Simon the Leper, Mary Magdalen anointed Him with precious ointment. Some of the Apostles complained of the waste; but Jesus defended her conduct, and added: "Amen, I say to you, wheresoever this gospel shall be preached, that also which she hath done shall be told for a memorial of her." Again, we read in the Gospel of St. Mark, that Jesus, "rising early the first day of the

* St. Matt. xxvi. 13.

week, appeared first to Mary Magdalen, from whom He had cast out seven devils." Again, in the Litany of the Saints, the Church places the name of Mary Magdalen before all the Virgins. This is certainly a high honour. Her feast also is one of a higher order than that of Martha her virgin sister, and above that of many other virgins; for she is the only woman, besides the Blessed Virgin Mary, who, in her Mass, enjoys the privilege of the Credo. No other woman, whether a virgin - saint or not, enjoys that privilege, unless she is the patroness of a particular church. In that case, the Credo is said in her own church, but nowhere else; while for Mary Magdalen it is said in every church of the world. There is, moreover, a congregation of Magdalens, whereof she is the model and patroness. It is attached to the Order of the Good Shepherd, and is filled, not only with women who have sinned, but with virgins too who have fallen in love with the beautiful penitential spirit of Mary Magdalen.

All this must certainly be very consoling to those who have sinned grievously, and who have, perhaps, thought that, on account of their sins, they have lost all right to a high place in heaven. Mary Magdalen, St. Peter, St. Augustine, and a host of other illustrious penitents, teach us that a high degree of glory is ours, no matter what sins *St. Mark xvi. 9.