e mind of man
must be frequently unbent, or it will be overset. Many, by a too
constant or forced attention, have lost their senses. The body also
stands in need of exercise, and in all stations men owe several exterior
duties both to others and themselves, and to neglect any of these, upon
pretence of giving the preference to prayer, would be a false devotion
and dangerous illusion. Though a Christian be a citizen of heaven, while
he is a sojourner in this world, he is not to forget the obligations or
the necessities to which this state subjects him, or to dream of flights
which only angels and their fellow inhabitants of bliss take. As a life
altogether taken up in action and business, without frequent prayer and
pious meditation, alienates a soul from God and virtue, and weds her
totally to the world, so a life spent wholly in contemplation, without
any mixture of action, is chimerical, and the attempt dangerous. The art
of true devotion consists very much in a familiar and easy habit of
accompanying exterior actions and business with a pious attention to the
Divine Presence, frequent secret aspirations, and a constant union of
the soul with God. This St. Catharine of Ricci practised at her work, in
the exterior duties of her house and office, in her attendance on the
sick, (which was her favorite employment, and which she usually
performed on her knees,) and in the tender care of the poor over the
whole country. But this hindered not the exercises of contemplation,
which were her most assiduous employment. Hence retirement and silence
were her delight, in order to entertain herself with the Creator of all
things, and by devout meditation, kindling in her soul the fire of
heavenly love, she was never able to satiate the ardor of her desire in
adoring and praising the immense greatness and goodness of God.

Footnotes:
1. {Footnote not in text} Gallon. apud Contin. Bolland. Acta Sanctorum,
Maii, t. 6, p. 503, col. 2, n. 146.
2. Ibid. p. 504, col. 2.
3. In Bolland. Cherubini, t. 4, p. 8.

ST. LICINIUS, CONFESSOR,

CALLED BY THE FRENCH, LESIN, BISHOP OF ANGERS.

HE was born of a noble family, allied to the kings of France, about the
year 540. He was applied to learning as soon as he was capable of
instruction, and sent to the court of king Clotaire I., (whose cousin he
was,) being about twenty years of age. He signalized himself by his
prudence and valor, both in the court and in the army, and acquitted
hims