ivine Master was
verified in them: "For they shall deliver you up in councils, and
they will scourge you in their synagogues. And you shall be brought
before governors, and before kings for my sake. . . . And you shall
be hated by all men for my sake."* . . . "Yea, the hour cometh that
whosoever killeth you, will think that he doeth a service to God."+

* Matt. x. + John xvi.

But in spite of all this hatred and persecution, they sowed the seed
of the word of God in the hearts of men, and watered it with their
own blood. They now enjoy a peculiar glory in heaven; for, besides
the glory which belongs to them as martyrs, they also enjoy that
which belongs to them as Apostles, promised to them in these words of
our blessed Lord: "Amen, I say to you, that you, who have followed
me, in the regeneration, when the Son of Man shall sit on the seat of
His majesty, you shall also sit on twelve seats, judging the twelve
tribes of Israel."*

* Matt. xix. 28.

Here are also so many holy Popes, and bishops, and priests, the
worthy successors of the Apostles, who, like them, joyfully laid down
their lives for the love of Jesus Christ. Here is also that countless
multitude of holy missionaries, who, like the Apostles, went forth
into all nations to preach the gospel. They, too, were "brought
before governors, and before kings," and sealed their faith with
their blood. Here, too, are holy virgins, who preferred death, in all
its horrid shapes, rather than stain their souls, or have another
spouse besides Jesus, to whom they had consecrated themselves. The
grace of God changed them from timid, retiring virgins, into
dauntless heroines, and enabled them to suffer death with superhuman
courage and constancy. Here are also married men and women, fathers
and mothers, who loved God more than they loved their children. Here,
even, are little children, who astounded the heartless tyrants by the
admirable patience and heroism which they displayed amidst the most
refined cruelties. Here, too, are venerable old men and women, who,
in spite of the infirmities of age, ascended the scaffold with a firm
step, and suffered death with undaunted constancy. All these, like
St. Paul, have fought a good fight, and all, without exception, have
received a "crown of justice" at the hands of a just Judge. They all
enjoy the high rewards which Jesus promised to His heroic followers,
when he said: "Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice'
sake: