r doing so lies in the fact that they are closely united
to God. But we do not address prayers to people who, while still living
in this world, are closely knit to God, nor to those who are in
Purgatory and are united to Him. There seems, then, to be no reason why
we should address prayers to the Saints in Paradise.

But they who are still in the world or in Purgatory do not as
yet enjoy the vision of the Divine Word so as to be able to know
what we think or say, hence we do not implore their help when we
pray; though when talking with living people we do ask them to
help us.

* * * * *

_S. Augustine:_ It is no great thing to live long, nor even to live for
ever; but it is indeed a great thing to live well. Oh, let us love
eternal life! And we realize how earnestly we ought to strive for that
eternal life when we note how men who love this present temporal life so
work for it--though it is to pass away--that, when the fear of death
comes, they strive all they can, not, indeed, to do away with death, but
to put death off! How men labour when death approaches! They flee from
it; they hide from it; they give all they have; they try to buy
themselves off; they work and strive; they put up with tortures and
inconveniences; they call in physicians; they do everything that lies
within their power! Yet even if they spend all their toil and their
substance, they can only secure that they may live a little longer, not
that they may live for ever! If, then, men spend such toil, such
endeavour, so much money, so much anxiety, watchfulness, and care, in
order to live only a little longer, what ought we not to do that we may
live for ever? And if we call them prudent who take every possible
precaution to stave off death, to live but a few days more, to save just
a few days, then how foolish are they who so pass their days as to lose
the Day of Eternity! (_Sermon_, cxxvii. 2).

"May God have mercy on us, and bless us: may He cause the light
of His countenance to shine upon us, and may He have mercy on
us. That we may know Thy way upon earth: Thy salvation in all
nations. Let people confess to Thee, O God: let all people give
praise to Thee. Let the nations be glad and rejoice: for Thou
judgest the people with justice, and directest the nations upon
earth. Let the people, O God, confess to Thee: let all the
people give praise to Thee: the earth hath