. Upon this
admonition, she laid them aside, distributed a great part to the poor,
and with the richest of her jewels made a most beautiful and sumptuous
cross, which she placed at the head of the tomb of St. Eligius. She was
afflicted with long and severe colics and other pains, which she
suffered with an admirable resignation and joy. In her agony she
recommended to her sisters charity, care of the poor, fervor, and
perseverance, and gave up her soul in devout prayer, on the 30th of
January, in 680, on which day she is honored in France, but is named on
the 26th in the Roman Martyrology.

* * * * *

A Christian, who seriously considers that he is to live here but a
moment, and will live eternally in the world to come, must confess that
it is a part of wisdom to refer all his actions and views to prepare
himself for that everlasting dwelling, which is his true country. Our
only and necessary affair is to live for God, to do his will, and to
sanctify and save our souls. If we are employed in a multiplicity of
exterior business, we must imitate St. Bathildes, when she bore the
whole weight of the state. In all we do God and his holy will must be
always before our eyes, and to please him must be our only aim and
desire. Shunning the anxiety of Martha, and reducing all our desires to
this one of doing what God requires of us, we must with her call in Mary
to our assistance. In the midst of action, while our hands are at work,
our mind and heart ought to be interiorly employed on God, at least
virtually, that all our employments may be animated with the spirit of
piety: and hours of repose must always be contrived to pass at the feet
of Jesus, where in the silence of all creatures we may listen to his
sweet voice, refresh in him our wearied souls, and renew our fervor.
While we converse with the world, we must tremble at the sight of its
snares, and be upon our guard that we never be seduced so far as to be
in love with it, or to learn its spirit. To love the world, is to follow
its passions; to be proud, covetous, and sensual, as the world is. The
height of its miseries and dangers, is that blindness by which none who
are infected with its spirit, see their misfortune, or are sensible of
their disease. Happy are they who can imitate this holy queen in
entirely separating themselves from it!

Footnotes:
1. The Franks, when they established themselves in Gaul, allowed the
Roman Gauls t