O Root of Jesse, can ever tree compare with thine--one of whose branches was found worthy to bear a Flower so fair! There are further beauties as we gaze--a heavenly Dew is resting on the Flower, it is the Holy Spirit Himself, Who at that blest moment when He overshadowed the Branch poured out all His choicest gifts upon the Flower. As God, the seven-fold gifts were His from all eternity, and directly the Humanity was united to the Eternal Word, the divine perfections belonged to it, so that as man "He was made unto us the _Wisdom_ of _God_" and could understand all mysteries. By the gift of _Understanding_ He knew and entered into all God's plans for the Redemption of the world. The gift of _Counsel_ showed Him exactly what was the Will of His Father which He had come to do. The gift of _Fortitude_ gave Him the strength to carry out His Father's Will and to say ever: Not My Will but Thine be done. His _Knowledge_ was so profound that He preferred poverty to riches, and to be despised rather than to be honoured; He knew as Man the true worth of the thing which as God He had created. The gift of _Piety_ established that tender relationship between Him and His Father which He wished us to have when He taught us to say: _Our Father_; it included also His perfect relationship with His Mother and St. Joseph. The gift of _Fear_ gave Him as Man a reverence and respect for the majesty of God. (_Vide_ Heb. V. 7). It was thus that the heavenly Dew rested on the heavenly Flower. O my JESUS, come and tarry no longer! I know that Thou hadst no need of any of these gifts; they rested on Thee because Thou art my Model and Thou wouldst show me how to use them. POINT II. THE ENSIGN OF THE PEOPLE. It is the Tree of Jesse which stands as an ensign, about which Our Lord says: "I am the Root and Stock of David" (Apoc. XXII. 16). He then is the Standard-bearer and the Standard is His Cross. "Bearing His own Cross He went forth" (St. John XIX. 17). He is the "_sign_ which shall be contradicted" by His enemies (St. Luke II. 34), but when the sign of the Son of Man shall appear in the Heavens (St. Matt. XXIV. 30) it will bring joy and hope to the hearts of all those who love His Coming (2 Tim. IV. 8). "My beloved is white and ruddy, chosen out of thousands," or according to another translation: "My beloved is white and ruddy a _Standard bearer_" (Cant. V. 10 A. V. Margin), chosen for His strength as well as for His beauty. To Him shall the nations make supplication, for He said: "I, if I be lifted up from the earth will draw all things to Myself" (St. John XII. 32).