Choose a topic from Part 2B:
1. We are all bound to make offerings, in one way oranother, for the support of religion, as it exists in external andestablished practice according to the institution of Christ. Suchofferings are oblations.
2. Offerings are made to priests (I Cor. 9:13) who are"to live by the altar." And the priest has further usefor offerings or oblations than his mere livelihood; he has toobtain what belongs to the functions of external worship, and hehas to dispense goods to the poor.
3. An offering or oblation is not to be made of thingsunjustly acquired or wrongfully possessed.
4. The Old Law required men to make an offering oroblation of "the first fruits," that is, the best oftheir crops and harvestings. This was to make open and practicalacknowledgment that "the earth is the Lord's and thefullness thereof," and that the tiller of the soil does notcreate its fertility, but that all good things come from God. Evenafter the coming of the New Law, the offering of "firstfruits" continued to be a pious custom in some countries.
"A man should keep himself down, and not busy himself in mirabilibus super se."
St Philip Neri
* * *
"God commands not impossibilities, but by commanding he suggests to you to do what you can, to ask for what is beyond your strength; and he helps you, that you may be able."
St Augustine
* * *
"Lord, here burn, here cut, and dry up in me all that hinders me from going to You, that You may spare me in eternity."
St Louis Bertrand
* * *