attending at his death, praying by him, assisting and comforting him in his last moments. Whence he is particularly invoked for the great grace of a happy death, and the spiritual presence of Jesus in that tremendous hour. The church reads the history of the patriarch Joseph on his festival, who was styled the Saviour of Egypt, which he delivered from perishing by famine; and was appointed the faithful master of the household of Putiphar, and of that of Pharaoh and his kingdom. But our great saint was chosen by God the saviour of the life of him who was the true Saviour of the souls of men, rescuing him from the tyranny of Herod. He is now glorified in heaven, as the guardian and keeper of his Lord on earth. As Pharaoh said to the Egyptians in their distress; "Go to Joseph;" so may we confidently address ourselves to the mediation of him, to whom God, made man, was subject and obe, dient on earth, The devout Gerson expressed the warmest devotion to St Joseph, which he endeavoured by letters and sermons to promote, He composed an office in his honour, and wrote his life in twelve poems, called Josephina. He enlarges on all the circumstances of his life by pious affections and meditations. St Teresa chose him the chief patron of her Order. In the sixth chapter of her life she writes thus: "I chose the glorious St Joseph for my patron, and I commend myself in all things singularly to his intercession. I do not remember ever to have asked of God any thing by him which I did not obtain. I never knew any one, who by invoking him did not advance exceedingly in virtue: for he assists in a wonderful manner all who address themselves to him." St Francis of Sales, throughout his whole nineteenth entertainment, extremely recommends devotion to him, and extols his merits, principally his virginity, humility, constancy and courage. The Syrians and other eastern churches celebrate his festival on the 20th of July; the western church on the 19th of March. Pope Gregory XV. in 1621, and Urban VIII. in 1642, commanded it to be kept a ho yday of obligation. The holy family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, presents to us the most perfect model of heavenly conversation on earth. How did those two seraphims, Mary and Joseph, live in their poor cottage? They always enjoyed the presence of Jesus, always burning with the most ardent love for him, inviolably attached to his sacred person, always employed and living only for him. What were their transports in beholding him, their devotion. in listening to him, and their joy in possessing him? O heavenly life! O anticipation of the heavenly bliss! O divine conversation! We may imitate them, and share some degree of this advantage, by conversing often with Jesus, and by the contemplation of his most amiable goodness kindling the fire of his holy love in our breasts. The effects of this love, if it be sincere, will necessarily appear in our putting on his spirit, and imitating his example and virtues; and in our studying to walk continually in the divine presence, finding God every where, and esteeming all the time lost which we do not spend with God, or for his honour. ON THE SAME DAY. St ALCMUND, M. He was son of Eldred and brother of Osred, kings of the Northumbrians. During his temporal prosperity, the greater he was in power so much the more meek and humble was he in his heart, and so much the more affable to others. He was poor amidst riches, because he knew no greater pleasure than to strip himself for the relief of the distressed. Being driven from his kingdom, together with his father, by rebellious subjects in league with Danish plunderers, he lived among the Picts above twenty years in banishment; learning more heartily to despise earthly vanities, and making it his whole study to serve the King of kings. His subjects, groaning under the yoke of an insupportable tyranny, took up arms against their oppressors, and induced the royal prince, upon motives of compassion for their distress, and a holy zeal for religion, to put himself at their head. Several battles were prosperously fought; but at length the pious prince was murdered by the contrivance of king Eardulf, the usur per, as Matthew of Westminster, Simeon of Durham, and Florence of Worcester, say. Dr Brown Willis, in his Notitia of parliamentary boroughs, writes, with some ancients, that he was slain by the Danes about the year 819. His body was interred at Lilleshult, in Shropshire; but afterwards translated to Derby, where he was honoured with great devotion as patron of the town, on the 19th of March. An old manuscript-sermon, preached in his church at Derby about the year 1140, extant in a manuscript collection of sermons of that age in my hands, folio 138, gives a particular history of this translation of his relicks to Derby, where his church became famous for miracles, and for the resort of pilgrims, See on this saint the history of John of Glastenbury, Matthew of Westminster, the MS. sermon above mentioned, and Henschenius, T. 3. Mart. p. 47. MARCH XX. ST CUTHBERT, BISHOP OF LINDISFARNE, CONFESSOR. From his life written by Bede, and from that author's church-history, b. 4. ch. 27, to ch. 32. Simeon Dunelm, or rather Turgot, hist. Dunelm, published by Bedford: the old Latin hymn on St Cuthbert, MS. in Bibl. Cotton. n. 41, apud Wanley, p. 184. and four Latin prayers, in honour of St Cuthbert, MS. n. 190. in the library of Durham church. Wanley, Catal. T. 2. p. 297. Harps field, Sæc. 7. c. 34. Hearne on Langtoft, T. 2. p. 687. N. B. The history of Durham, which is here quoted, was compiled by Turgot, prior of Durham, down to the year 11c4, and continued to the year 1161 by Simeon. A. D. 687. WHEN the Northumbrians, under the pious king Oswald, had, with great fervour, embraced the christian faith, the holy bishop St Aidan founded two monasteries, that of Melrose, * on the bank of the Tweed, and another in the isle of Lindisfarne, afterwards called Holy Island, four miles distant from Berwick. In both he established the rule of St Columba; and usually re * Anciently Mailros. sided himself in the latter. St Cuthbert (a) was born not very far from Melrose, and in his youth was much edified by the devout deportment of the holy inhabitants of that house, whose fervour in the service of God and the discharge of the duties of a monastic life, he piously endeavoured to imitate on the mountains where he kept his father's sheep. It happened one night, that, whilst he was watching in prayer, near his flock, according to his custom, he saw the soul of St Aidan carried up to heaven by angels, at the very instant that holy man departed this life in the isle of Lindisfarne. Serious reflections on the happiness of such a death determined the pious young man to repair, without delay, to Melrose, where he put on the monastic habit, whilst Eata was abbot, and St Boisil prior. He studied the holy scriptures under the latter, and in fervour surpassed all his brethren in every monastic exercise. Eata being called to govern the new monastery of Rippon, founded by king Alcfrid, he took with him St Cuthbert, and committed to him the care of entertaining strangers; which charge is usually the most dangerous in a religiCuthbert washed the feet of others, and served them with wonderful humility and meekness, always remembering that Christ himself is served in his members. And he was most careful that the functions of Martha should never impair his spirit of recollection. When St Wilfrid was made abbot of Rippon, St Cuthbert returned with Eata to Melrose; and St Boisil dying of the great pestilence in 664, he was chosen provost or prior in his place. ous state. In this station, not content by word and example to form his monks to perfect piety, he laboured assiduously among the people to bring them off from several heathenish customs and supersitious practices which still obtained among them. For this purpose, says our venerable historian, he often went out, sometimes on horseback, but oftener on foot, to preach the way of life to such as were gone astray. Parochial churches (a) Cuthbert signifies Illustrious for skill; or Guthbertus, Worthy of God. being at this time very scarce in the country, it was the custom for the country people to flock about a priest or ecclesiastical person, when he came into any village, for the sake of his instructions; hearkening willingly to his words, and more willingly practising the good lessons he taught them. St Cuthbert excelled all others by a most persuasive and moving eloquence; and such a brightness appeared in his angelical face, in delivering the word of God to the people, that none of them durst conceal from him any part of their misbehaviour, but all laid their conscience open before him, and endeavoured, by his injunctions and counsels, to expiate the sins they had confessed, by worthy fruits of penance. He chiefly visited those villages and hamlets at a distance, which being situate among high and craggy mountains, and inhabited by the most rustic, ignorant and savage people, were the less frequented by other teachers. After St Cuthbert had lived many years at Melrose, St Eata, abbot also of Lindisfarne, removed him thither and appointed him prior of that larger monastery. By the perfect habit of mortification and prayer, the saint had attained to so eminent a spirit of contemplation, that he seemed rather an angel than a man. He often spent whole nights in prayer, and sometimes, to resist sleep, worked or walked about the island whilst he prayed. If he heard others complain that they had been disturbed in their sleep, he used to say, that he should think himself obliged to any one that awaked him out of his sleep, that he might sing the praises of his Creator, and labour for his honour. His very countenance excited those who saw him to a love of virtue. He was so much addicted to compunction, and inflamed with heavenly desires, that he could never say mass without tears. He often moved penitents, who confessed to him their sins, to abundant tears, by the torrents of his own, which he shed for them. His zeal in correcting sinners was always sweetened with tender charity and meekness. The saint had governed the monastery of Lindisfarne, under his abbot, several years, when earnestly aspiring to a closer union with God, he retired, with his abbot's |