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BEAUTIFUL SIMILIES.

A HALF Christian believer endeavours to put religion under an eclipse, or is like a light-house whose reflectors are rusted, and whose lamps are nearly extinguished.

Adversity resembles the black mountain of Bember, on the confines of the burning kingdom of Labor: while you are ascending, you perceive nothing before you but barren rocks; but when you have gained the summit, you see the heavens over your head, and at your feet the delicious plains of Cashmere.-St. Pierre.

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ANCIENT WISDOM.

It is pleasant to grow old with a good friend and sound reason. -Socrates.

Wicked men cannot be friends, either among themselves, or with the good.-Ibid.

We ought to be as mindful of our absent as of our present friends.-Thales.

We ought not implicitly to believe our enemies in things that are credible, nor distrust our friends in such as are otherwise.—Ib.

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LAITY'S DIRECTORY FOR THE ENSUING WEEK. August 3-SUNDAY, 11th after Pentecost, 2d oration à cunctis, 3d ad h bitum.-Green.

August 4.-MONDAY. St. Dominic, C.-White.

August 5.-TUESDAY. Dedication of St. Mary ad Nives. Creed. Tref of the B.V.M.-White.

August 6.-WEDNESDAY. Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ; commem. of SS. Xystus and companions, MM. Creed. Pref. of the Nativity. -White.

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In the town of Galway, Dedication of the Church of St. Nicholas; commem. of the holy MM. Creed.-White.

August 7.-THURSDAY. St. Cajetan, C. commem. of St. Donatus, B. and M.-White.

August 8.-FRIDAY. St. Cyriacus and companions, MM. 2d and 3d orations as on Sunday.-Red.

August 9.-SATURDAY. (Vigil of St. Laurence.) Invention of St. Ste phen, first martyr (from 3d inst.) commem. of the Vigil and of St. Romanus, M. Gospel of the Vigil at the end.-Red.

In D. of Kilmore, St. Fedlimine, B. and C. with an Octave. Creed, through the Octave.-White.

In D. of Achonry, St. Nathy, B. and C. with an Octave, &c. as aboveWhite.

In the town of Galway, Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ: commem. of Vigil and St Romanus. Creed. Pref. of the Nativity.—White.

DUBLIN:-Stereotyped, Printed and Published, by T. & J. COLDWELL, 50, Capel-stree Sold also by the Catholic Book Society, 5, Essex-bridge; R. Coyne, 4, Capel-street. R. Grace & Son, 45, Capel-street; J. Coyne, 24, Cook-street; D.O'Brien, 2, AbderWHOLESALE AGENTS in London, Keating and Brown; Liverpool, Willmer and Smit, Glasgow, D. Kennedy.

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THE

PUBLISHED WEEKLY,

UNDER THE INSPECTION OF CATHOLIC DIVINES.

No. 26.

DUBLIN, SATURDAY, AUGUST 9, 1834.

VOL. I.

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GREAT CHAPEL, GLASGOW.

IN Glasgow there are two chapels, in each of which divine service is celebrated twice every Sunday, viz. at nine o'clock, and at half-past eleven. At half-past eleven Mass is again celebrated, with music, and followed by a discourse. In the large chapel (an engraving of which is given above) there is also a catechetica! lecture at three o'clock in the afternoon. On holidays of obligation, Mass is said in the large chapel at nine, ten, and eleven o'clock, and in the small one at nine.

This chapel, erected in 1815, is elegant in structure, atuple in accommodation, and highly ornamental to the city. Placed in an open and favourable situation for displaying its magnificence, it cannot fail to arrest the attention and attract the curiosity of all strangers. It is built in the pointed Gothic style, and consists of a nave and side aisles. The outside walls are supported by large massive buttresses with embrasures, and two large double ones at each angle, rising higher into a crocketed pinnacle. The nave wall and the buttresses are panneled, pinnacled, and ornamented with crockets. The side windows are simple and elegant, of which there are six on each side, with mullions and deep labels over the tops, sixteen feet in height, and eight fect in breadth. The south or principal front consists of two large octagonal towers, projecting some feet from the side aisles, with buttressed and pointed arched pannels, in four divisions; the top of each tower being embrasured, and eight ornamental pinnacles rising about the height of ten feet. In the centre, between the towers, is the grand entrance, by a richly ornamented door, nineteen feet high, with deep Gothic mouldings, and five semi-pillars receding, ornamented at the capitals with foliage, and finished on the top with a label and double leafed crockets. Above the door is a large pointed window, of very rich mullions and tracery, designed with great taste; the whole ending above with a Gothic balustrade and niche with buttresses and pinnacles, containing a colossal statue of St. Andrew. On each side of the towers are the elegantly pointed windows of the side aisles. The whole front exhibits a beautiful harmony of design. The north end is an octagonal projection, with a large pointed window in the centre. The recess formed in the inside contains the altar-piece. The centre window is to be enriched with painted glass: the subject-the Ascension of our Saviour; and on the two sides, upon the smaller windows, the figures of the apostles, St. Peter and St. Paul.

The arrangement of the interior corresponds with the exterior beauty of the church. A row of elegant pillars runs on each: side the whole length of the church, and supports, with pointed arches, the nave and the roof. The capitals of the pillars richly foliaged: the roof Gothic pannel-work, ornamented with lies of leaves and other figures.

It is situated in West Clyde-street, and is calculated to contain 2300 persons in the pews. An elegant organ is placed at the south end, which cost 600 guineas. The tones of this instrument, deep and full, harmonize with the impressive appearance of the interior of this splendid place of worship. The dimensions of the church are-109 feet in length, by 84 in breadth; 61 feet in height, including the roof; and the height of the towers to the top of the pinnacles 83 feet. Foundation stone laid 23d June, 1814, and divine service first performed 22d Dec. 1816. The whole cost of building and ground was upwards of £13,000, mostly weekly contributions.

MEDITATIONS.

[TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH. BY A CATHOLIC PRIEST.]

AUGUST 10. On the Amusements of the World.

1. THERE are amusements which are allowed.

Such as those which may be considered as-1st, lawful relaxations after past labours. 2d, Dispositions and preparations for future labours. Amusements, then, are allowed only inasmuch as they are necessary. Behold the measure of them. Every thing that goes beyond that, every amusement that becomes in itself a constant and habitual occupation, which has not been preceded, and which will not and cannot be followed by any kind of labour, is contrary to the designs of God, and, of course, forbidden.

II. Even lawful amusements frequently become criminal by their

excess.

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Every excess is a vice; and even virtue itself, which is the regulation of all good, becomes culpable when it is in extremes.→ We should be wise," says the apostle; "but we should be wise unto sobriety; and he who desires to be too wise is not wise at all, because wisdom is essentially a state of reason, and consequently of moderation." But if, in order to be wise, we must be so without excess, with how much more reason must we avoid it in order to amuse ourselves with wisdom? Now, who is there that avoids

excess even in lawful amusements.

AUGUST 11.-On the Rules we should follow with Regard to lawful Amusements.

I. The true Christian employs in them only that rest and leisure which God has not refused to nature, and which our weakness has rendered necessary.

But he has not recourse to this distraction until after he has given all the time that is necessary-1st, to the service of God and the practices of religion, such as prayer, the sacrifice of the altar, works of mercy and charity, pious reading, every thing, in fine, that serves to increase his piety. 2d, To the care of his family and his personal affairs. 3d, To the particular duties of his state, and the obligations of his office.

II. Advantages of this conduct.

He who allows himself limited and proper amusement only, after having satisfied all his obligations, has not to reproach himself with the loss of his time, or the worthlessness of his life; his amusements will be to him only necessary distractions, and not suspicions, dangerous and criminal occupations, or at least occupations that are fruitless so far as salvation is concerned, and which make the greater part of worldlings often forget what they owe to God, to their neighbour, and to themselves.

AUGUST 12.-On Amusements to which one is exposed by State.

I. There are persons in the world to whom one is obliged by his state to render indispensible attentions and complaisance.

These are frequently frivolous and trifling spirits, who know not how to occupy themselves, and who spend the greater part of their time in useless amusements. But if these amusements have nothing in them contrary to the law of God, and if one enters into them according to the rules of his state, he may and ought to take a part in them with moderation, and with a reference to God.You would like more useful occupations better, but God for your sake does not love them better, since he has connected you against your will with objects less solid. It is not any taste or passion that conducts you; it is duty to you they are rather subjections than pleasures.

II. He who acts for God, even in the most indifferent things, does not cease to perform the work of God.

Many, in devoting themselves to God, think rather of filling up their life with certain difficult and extraordinary actions, than of purifying their intention and mortifying their self-will in the more ordinary actions of their state. But it would be often better, instead of changing the actions, to change the interior dispositions of the soul. God is not content with the motion of the lips, nor the humble posture of the body, nor with exterior ceremonies: what he chiefly requires is a will pliant in his hands, which wills, without reserve, every thing that he wills, and which never desires under any pretext, not to have all his will accomplished.

AUGUST 13.-On a Passion for Play.

I. This play which appears in itself so indifferent often becomes a passion, and sometimes even a madness and a fury.

With the greater part of worldlings it is no longer a simple amusement; it is a constant and perpetual occupation; it is a state, a profession, a traffic; it fills up all the hours of the night and day, except those that are devoted to eating and sleep. This play forms, if we may say so, the foundation and entertainment of their life. But if religion condemn every species of excess without distinction, who can doubt that the habitual state of a player by profession is an habitual state of sin.

II. Consequence of this passion.

They are, 1st, a total abandonment of duty one quits and renounces all to run after play. 2d, A squandering of means: our superfluities are first spent, and if the game tempt us we hesitate not to sacrifice the very necessaries of life. 3d, A derangement of affairs in order to support play we contract debts which accumulate to a great amount, and we miserably render ourselves unable to pay them. 4th, Vexations which rend the heart, although o affects, through politeness, to endure the greatest losses with a

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