_ the reward, _that_ the virtue which entitles us
to it. Till we are admitted to his presence, let us in our exile always
bear him in mind: every one will behold him in heaven with so much the
greater joy, and so much the more perfectly, as he shall more
assiduously and more devoutly have remembered him on earth. Nor is it
only in our repose, but also in the midst of our employments, that we
ought to have him present to our minds, in imitation of the holy angels,
who, when they are sent to attend on us, so acquit themselves of the
functions of this exterior ministry as never to be drawn from their
interior attention to God. As much as the heavens exceed the earth, so
much larger is the field of spiritual meditation than that of all
terrestrial concerns."

Footnotes:
1. S. Bonav. de Profectu Religios. l. 2, c. 20. p. 604.

ST. JOHN THE ALMONER, C.

PATRIARCH OF ALEXANDRIA.

HE received his surname from his profuse alms-deeds; was nobly
descended, very rich, and a widower, at Amathus in Cyprus, where, having
buried all his children, he employed the whole income of his estate in
the {204} relief of the poor, and was no less remarkable for his great
piety. The reputation of his sanctity raised him to the patriarchal
chair of Alexandria about the year 605, at which time he was upwards of
fifty years of age. On his arrival in that city, he ordered an exact
list to be taken of his Masters. Being asked who these were, his answer
was, "The poor;" namely, on account of their great interest in the court
of heaven in behalf of their benefactors. Their number amounted to seven
thousand five hundred, whom he took under his special protection, and
furnished with all necessaries. He prepared himself, by this action, to
receive the fulness of grace in his consecration. On the same day he
published severe ordinances, but in the most humble terms, conjuring and
commanding all to use just weights and measures, in order to prevent
injustices and oppressions of the poor. He most rigorously forbade all
his officers and servants ever to receive the least presents, which are
no better than bribes, and bias the most impartial. Every Wednesday and
Friday he sat the whole day on a bench before the church, that all might
have free access to him to lay their grievances before him, and make
known their necessities. He composed all differences, comforted the
afflicted, and relieved the distressed. One of his first actions at
Alexandria was to di