What was the subject of his preaching?

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'Do penance, for the kingdom of heaven is at

hand."

Did many resort to his instructions?

Yes, great multitudes, whom he baptized in the Jordan. What opinion had the people of St. John?

That he was a great prophet; some even doubted whether he were not the Messiah.

What did St. John say when asked by the Pharisees to give an account of himself?

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I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord."

What answer did he give when they further asked, “Why then dost thou baptize, if thou be not Christ, nor Elias, nor the prophet?"

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I baptize with water; but there hath stood one in the midst of you, whom you know not.

is He that shall

The same

come after me, who is preferred before me; the latchet of whose shoe I am not worthy to loose."

What did St. John Baptist when he saw our Divine Redeemer coming to be baptized by him?

He stayed Him, saying, "I ought to be baptized by Thee, and comest Thou to me." But on our Lord replying, Suffer it to be so now; for so it becometh us to fulfil all justice," St. John baptized Him.

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What testimony did our Lord receive from heaven on his being baptized?

The heavens were opened, and the Holy Ghost descended on Him in the form of a dove; while a voice from Heaven proclaimed, "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased."

What did St. John Baptist say when he saw our Lord coming towards him on the day after his baptism?

"Behold the Lamb of God; behold Him who taketh away the sins of the world. This is He of whom I said, After me there cometh a Man who is preferred before me, because He was before me and I knew Him not; but that He may be made manifest in Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water......I saw the Spirit coming down as a dove from heaven, and He remained upon Him; and I knew Him not, but He who sent me

to baptize with water said to me, He upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, He it is that baptizeth with the Holy Ghost; and I saw and I gave testimony that this is the Son of God." (John i. 29-34.)

What did St. John reply to some of his disciples, when on a dispute arising between them and the Jews concerning purification, they came to him, saying, "Rabbi, He that was with thee beyond the Jordan, to whom thou gavest testimony, behold he baptizeth, and all men come to him," (though Jesus himself did not baptize but His disciples?)

"A man cannot receive anything unless it be given him, from heaven. You yourselves do bear me witness that I said I am not Christ, but that I am sent before Hiin. He that hath the bride, is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who standeth and heareth Him, rejoiceth with joy because of the bridegroom's voice. This my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must in

crease, but I must decrease. * * * * * The Father loveth the Son, and He hath given all things into His hand. He that believeth in the Son hath life everlasting; but he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth in him."

What happened St. John the Baptist soon after this?

He was cast into prison by Herod the Tetrarch, because he reproved him for marrying Herodias, his brother's wife, and he was detained there until Herod's birthday, when by the contrivance of the wicked Herodias, he was beheaded.

What message did St John whilst in prison send to our Lord, when he was told of the miracles He performed and the fame he had acquired?

He sent two of his disciples to ask, "Art Thou He that art to come, or look we for another."

What answer did our Divine Lord give?

seen;

"Go and relate to John what you have heard and the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead rise again, the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he

that shall not be scandalized in me." (Matt. xi. 2, Luke vii. 19)

What did our Lord say of St John Baptist when his disciples had returned?

That amongst those born of women there was not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; that he was a prophet and more than a prophet, and of him was written, "Behold I send my angel before Thy face who shall prepare Thy way before Thee."

Relate the particulars of the martyrdom of St. John the Baptist?

Herod made a supper for his birthday for the princes and tribunes and chief men of Galilee; and when the daughter of Herodias had come in, and had danced, and had pleased Herod and those that were at table with him, the king said to the damisel, Ask of me what thou wilt and I will give it thee. And he swore to her, whatsoever thou shalt ask I will give thee, though it be the half of my kingdom. Who when she was gone out said to her mother, What shall I ask? But she said, The head of John the Baptist. And when she was come in immediately with haste to the king, she asked saying, I will that forthwith thou give me in a dish the head of John the Baptist. And the king was struck sad, yet because of his oath, and because of them that were with him at table, he would not displease her; but sending an executioner, he commanded that his head should be brought in a dish. And he beheaded him in prison, and brought his head in a dish, and gave it to the damsel, and the damsel gave it to her mother." (Mark vi. 21..)

Thirty years.

What did He immediately after baptism?

He retired to the desert, where He remained forty days and forty nights, during which He ate nothing.

Repeat St. Matthew's account of the temptation endured by our Divine Lord at the close of His retreat.

The tempter coming said to Him, "If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. Who answered and said, It is written, Not in bread alone doth man live, but in every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God. Then the devil took him up into the holy city and set Him upon the pinnacle of the Temple, and said to Him, If thou be the Son of God, cast Thyself down, for it is written, That He hath given His angels charge over Thee, and in their hands shall they bear Thee up, lest perhaps Thou dash Thy foot against a stone. Jesus said to him it is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Again the devil took Him up into a very high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them, and said to Him, All these will I give Thee, if falling down Thou wilt adore me. Then Jesus saith to him, Begone Satan;

for it is written, The Lord thy God shalt thou adore and Then the devil left Him, and behold angels came and ministered to Him."

Him only shalt thou serve.

Whither did our Lord go when the temptation had ended? To Galilee, where He taught in the Synagogues, and His fame spread throughout the country.

What was the subject of the first instruction He gave in the Synagogue at Nazareth?

Where

poor;

That the prophecy of Isaias was that day fulfilled, which says, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me. fore He hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the He hath sent me to heal the contrite of heart, to preach deliverance to the captives and sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord and the day of reward."

Why did our Lord leave Nazareth?

Because the people thought to throw Him from the brow of the hill on which their city was built.

How did He escape from them?

The Evangelist only says, that, "passing through the midst of them, He went His way."

Lesson Ninth.

THE CALL OF THE APOSTLES, AND CHRIST'S FIRST MIRACLE.

Who were the first disciples of Christ?

St. Andrew and another, whose name is not mentioned;