than that of the Emperor in the army of the King of
Heaven, where the victory is to the meek and humble in
heart, who will be crowned with more splendour than
the most illustrious of kings. What does God say to the
Israelites through His prophet Isaiah? "I will turn
away My eyes from you, and when you multiply prayer
I will not hear. You judge not for the fatherless, and
the widow s cause cometh not before you." Therefore
take heart all ye who are " widows indeed and desolate."
Greater is He that is for you than those that are against
you. Again I repeat to you, your state is one honoured
by the Church, looked upon with love by the angels,
above all, approved of by our Lord, who has promised to
be henceforth your Spouse. Give yourselves, then, wholly
to Him in almsdeeds, in charity, in humility, in penance,
in prayer. Do not think you can safely neglect any of
these things. Thoroughly deny yourself; live only for
God, and for those around you. And thus you will make my joy complete, for your progress is my only desire.
How fully St. Olympias had entered into the spirit of St. Chrysostom s direction to widows the preceding pages will have shown; and her life may be fitly summed up in the stirring words of the old English poet
So be ours the Faith that saveth,
Hope that every trial braveth,
Love that to the end endureth,
And, through Christ, the crown secureth.
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