Our condition in this short and fleeting life, is an object of little consequence, provided that in the end we are admitted to the eternal enjoyment of God and his glory. Do we not, at every step we tread, approach nearer and nearer to eternity? Nay, have we not our feet, for aught we know to the contrary, on the very brink of it this moment? What, therefore, doth it signify whether our pilgrimage through life be chequered with afflictions or not, provided it terminate in a happy eternity? Can we possibly repine under short-lived sufferings, whilst we await their recompence in never-ending consolations? Ah! whatever has not eternity for its object, is, in reality, nothing but fleeting vanity.
Awake, therefore, O my soul! "Let us cast off the works of darkness, and put on the armour of light." Let us humbly beseech the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who consoleth us in all our afflictions, to inspire us with the same sentiments as the Apostle had when he exclaimed, "Far be it from me, that I should glory in any thing but in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ." Ah! were the cross of our crucified Saviour but deeply implanted in our hearts, the most bitter crosses of this world would then appear as sweet as roses. The heart that is impressed with a lively sense of the crown of thorns which pierced the tender head of our suffering Redeemer, will feel but little or no pain from the trifling scratches of worldly afflictions.
It was an ancient and pious practice among the faithful to dedicate every day in the week to some particular devotion. Conformably with this custom, a prayer is here given for each of those days, to be said immediately after morning prayers, or at any other time of the day, as each person's leisure from the necessary occupations of his state of life, may permit. But it is to be observed, that the worship of the mystery, or the devotion to the saint we purpose to honour, consists less in the prayer itself, than in the practical instructions which it contains.
Which by way of pre-eminence over the rest of the days of the week, is called the day of the Lord? is happily chosen to render homage, in a more special manner, to the most Holy Trinity, and to thank those three adorable Persons for the inestimable blessings we have received. It would be irreligious therefore, if not impious, to spend this day in idle amusements, or in the management of temporal concerns, whilst we are strictly obliged, both by the precepts of God and his church, to sanctify it, as well as every holy-day of obligation, by assisting at the divine offices, hearing sermons or catechetical discourses, reading pious books, employing ourselves in the exercise of corporal or spiritual works of mercy, and especially in making solid reflections on the most important of all affairs--the affair of our eternal salvation.