d her sufferings, and rendered her sacrifice
complete. The least cross which we bear, the least action which we
perform in this disposition, will be a great holocaust, and a most
acceptable offering. We have frequently something to suffer--sometimes
an aching pain in the body, at other times some trouble of mind, often
some disappointment, some humbling rebuke, or reproach, or the like. If
we only bear these trials with patience when others are witnesses, or if
we often speak of them, or are fretful under them, or if we bear
patiently public affronts or great trials, yet sink under those which
are trifling, and are sensible to small or secret injuries, it is
evident that we have not attained to true purity of intention in our
patience; that we are not dead to ourselves, and love not to disappear
to the eyes of creatures, but court them, and take a secret complacency
in things which appear great. We profess ourselves ready to die for
Christ; yet cannot bear the least cross or humiliation. How agreeable to
our divine spouse is the sacrifice of a soul which suffers in silence,
desiring to have no other witness of her patience than God alone, who
sends her trials; which shuns superiority and honors, but takes all care
possible that no one knows the humility or modesty of such a refusal;
which suffers humiliations, and seeks no comfort or reward but from God.
This simplicity and purity of heart; this love of being hid in God,
through Jesus Christ, is the perfection of all our sacrifices, and the
complete victory over self-love, which it attacks and forces out of its
strongest intrenchments: this says to Christ, with St. Agatha, "Possess
alone all that I am."

Footnotes:
1. Fronteau Cal. p. 25.
2. Disi. l. 3, c. 30.
3. L. 1, ep. 52.
4. Feb. {}1, p. 647.

THE MARTYRS OF JAPAN.

See the triumph of the martyrs of Japan. by F. Trigault, from the year
1612 to 1640, the history of Japan, by F. Crasset, to the year 1658, and
that by the learned F. Charlevoix in nine volumes: also the life of F.
Spinola, &c.

THE empire of Japan, so called from one of the islands of which it is
composed, was discovered by certain Portuguese merchants, about the year
1541. It is generally divided into several little kingdoms, all which
obey one sovereign emperor. The capital cities are Meaco and Jedo. The
manners of this people are the reverse of ours in many things. Their
characteristic is pride, and an extravagant love of honor. They ador