he and God were one.
And, as Mary is the mother of Christ, she is also the mother of
God--is she not? Let us read what the good Saint John Chrysostom
says." He rose and went into another room, returning in a few minutes
with a little volume. Taking the boy again on his knee, he continued,
"The blessed Saint tells us that the Virgin Mary was made the mother
of God in order that she might obtain salvation for many who, on
account of their wicked lives, could not be saved, because they had so
offended divine justice, but yet, by the help of her sweet mercy and
mighty intercession, might be cleansed and rendered fit for heaven. My
little son, you have always been taught that Mary is heaven's Queen.
And so she is ours, and reigns in heaven for us. Jesus loves to have
her close to him, and he can never refuse her requests. He always
grants what she asks. And that is the reason why we pray to her. She
never forgets us--never!"

A troubled look crossed the boy's face. Then he began anew. "Father
dear, God made everything, did He not? The Bible says that, anyway."

"Yes, child."

"Did He make Satan?"

The father hesitated. The child hurried on under the lash of his holy
inquisitiveness. "Father, how did evil come into the world? Is God
both good and bad? And how can a good God punish us forever for sins
committed here in only a few short years?"

"Ah, _queridito_!" cried the harassed father. "Such questions should
not have entered your little head for years to come! Why can you not
run and play as do other children? Why are you not happy as they are?
Why must you spend your days thinking of things that are far too deep
for you? Can you not wait? Some day you shall know all. Some day, when
you have entered the service of God, perhaps you may even learn these
things from the Holy Father himself. Then you will understand how the
good God lets evil tempt us in order that our faith in Him may be
exercised and grow strong--"

"And He lets Satan harm us purposely?" The boy's innocent dark eyes
looked up appealingly into his father's face.

"It is only for a short time, little son. And only those who are never
fit for heaven go down with Satan. But you are not one of those," he
hastily added, straining the boy to him. "And the Masses which the
good priests say for us will lift us out of purgatory and into heaven,
where the streets are pure gold and the gates are pearl. And there we
will all live together for--"

"Father," int