d living only for him. What were their transports in beholding him,
their devotion it, listening to him, and their joy in possessing him!
heavenly life! anticipation of the heavenly bliss! 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
everywhere, and esteeming all the time lost which we do not spend with
God, or for his honor.

Footnotes:
1. L. adv. Helvid. c. 9.
2. Hom. 2. super missus est, n. 16, p. 742.
3. Serm. de Nativ.
4. This appears from Mat. xiii. 55. St. Justin, (Dial. n. 89, ed. Ben.
p. 186,) St. Ambrose, (in Luc. p. 3,) and Theodoret (b. 3, Hist. c.
18) say he worked in wood, as a carpenter. St. Hilary (in Mat. c.
14, p. 17) and St. Peter Chrysologus (Serm. 48) say he wrought in
iron as a smith; probably he wrought both in iron and in wood; which
opinion St. Justin favors, by saying: "He and Jesus made ploughs and
yokes for oxen."
5. Hom. 8, in Mat. t. 7, p. 123, ed. Ben.
6. This is affirmed by St. Athanasius, (l. de Incarn.) Eusebius,
(Demonstrat. Evang. l. 6, c. 20.) St. Cyril (Cat. 10,) St. Ambrose,
(in Ps. 118, Octon. 5,) St. Jerom, (in Isai. 19,) St. Chrysostom, St.
Cyril of Alexandria, (in Isai.) Sozomen, (l. 5. c. 20,) &c.
7. See the Lives of the Fathers of the desert.
8. Bibl. Patr. t. 13.

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 motive