command we are to understand that God especially
desires our service during the early years of our life. They are our
first-fruits. St. Augustine calls the years of youth the blossoms, the
most beautiful flowers of life, and St. Thomas Aquinas writes: "What the
young give to God in their early years, they give of the bloom, of the
full vigor and beauty of life."

Youth is the age beset with countless temptations. Safety is found only
in the service of God, by obedience, humility, and docility. This is not
so difficult as it appears, and Our Lord Himself invites you to His
service, saying: "My son, give Me thy heart" (_Prov._ xxiii. 26), and,
"Taste and see that the Lord is sweet" (_Ps._ xxxiii. 9).

_Prayer of the Church_

WE BESEECH Thee, O Lord, grant us Thy favor through the intercession of
Thy blessed virgin and martyr Margaret, who pleased Thee by the merit of
her purity and by the confession of Thy might. Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

XIII

St Catherine, Virgin and Martyr

LEGEND

ST. CATHERINE was a native of Alexandria, Egypt, a city then famous for
its schools of philosophy. She was a daughter of Costis, half-brother of
Constantine, and of Sabinella, queen of Egypt. Her wisdom and
acquirements were remarkable, the philosophy of Plato being her favorite
study. While Catherine was yet young her father died, leaving her
heiress to the kingdom. Her love of study and retirement displeased her
subjects, who desired her to marry, asserting that her gifts of noble
birth, wealth, beauty, and knowledge should be transmitted to her
children.

The princess replied that the husband whom she would wed must be even
more richly endowed than herself. His blood must be the noblest, his
rank must surpass her own, his beauty without comparison, his benignity
great enough to forgive all offences. The people of Alexandria were
disheartened, for they knew of no such prince; but Catherine remained
persistent in her determination to wed none other.

Now, it happened that a certain hermit who lived near Alexandria had a
vision in which he saw the Blessed Virgin, who sent him to tell
Catherine that her divine Son was the Spouse whom she desired. He alone
possessed all, and more, than the requirements she demanded. The holy
man gave Catherine a picture of Jesus and Mary; and when the princess
had gazed upon the face of Christ she loved Him so that she could think
of naught else, and the studies in which she had been won