The gift of fortitude is necessary in some degree to one who is anxious to save his soul. All Christians are called on, at some time or other, to endure in the practice of their religion things for which mere human courage will not suffice. Those who desire a high place in heaven have a hard struggle before them, a struggle which would be beyond the power of many of us if we did not rely on the Holy Ghost. The gift of fortitude is the power to be strong of soul as the athlete is strong of body; for as a man hardens and develops his frame by all sorts of physical exercises, so also should the soul develop the good that is in her—which is the highest good—by spiritual exercises. Of her own power she is not able to do great things, but by the work of God the Holy Ghost she can do them. We can bear heavy sorrows with patience and resignation; we can rise out of vices and evil habits by means of fortitude, when without this virtue we would remain slaves of Satan. How pusillanimous were the apostles in the beginning of their apostolic career; there was a disgraceful weakness exhibited at the Passion of Our Lord. Peter denied Our Lord, and the rest fled and hid themselves. Prayer. Come, Holy Ghost, fill the hearts of Thy faithful, etc., etc. Twenty‐fifth Day. The gift on which we wish to meditate to‐day in honor of the giver, the Holy Ghost, is the fear of the Lord. Remember that it is said that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; we need then this holy gift, that by it we may remain in subjection and reverence to the adorable majesty of God. We acknowledge our littleness and leave ourselves entirely in the hands of God; we are afraid of committing sin, we are cautious, lest by an act or thought we may offend almighty God; we are careful to submit ourselves to His holy will; we see our faults, and we lament that we are so full of sin, when we ought, with His grace, to improve in His service. We must stand in dread of the Judgment and also of ourselves, because we fall so readily into sin that we know not whether we are worthy of love or hatred from almighty God; but when we fall it is our own fault, for we depend too much on ourselves; we are wicked because we prefer evil to good, and would rather serve the devil than God. Let us learn this salutary fear of God, and acquire a delicacy of conscience. Prayer. Come, Holy Ghost, fill the hearts of Thy faithful, etc., etc. Twenty‐sixth Day.