the prosperity of their families, since economy and prudent management are necessary to the support, at least, of ordinary properties. But, unhappily, to them may be laid the ruin of many opulent fortunes; for females, generally speaking, are too much inclined to the passion in question-extravagance is too often their predominant failing. When this is the case, instead of considering the circumstances of their parents, they endeavour to keep pace with others of more opulent fortunes or exalted rank; disregarding, or perhaps not noticing the ridicule to which their foolish ideas and expenses expose them. They hurry, and even force their parents or husbands into the most extravagant and imprudent projects, and are never at rest until, at any expense, they have gratified their ambition, and attained the pinnacle of the mode with respect to houses, furniture, and dress; yet these are but a few of the mischiefs produced by ungoverned extravagance :-a little common sense would greatly assist religion in curing this mania.

Excessive Parsimoniousness, on the contrary, is the leading defect of others, and is infinitely a greater nuisance to domestic peace, than can be conceived by those who have not witnessed its effects. This fault of narrow-mindedness is frequently the characteristic of women, whose dispositions too often lead them to set such value on trifles, as to sacrifice for their preservation the greatest of all treasures, their own peace of mind, and that of their families. The duties of saving, economizing, and prudent management, devolve on them; but when a propensity to stinginess is indulged, and suffered to take root, their economy degenerates into downright avarice, and prudence into a sort of trifling, fidgeting vigilance, which is eternally on the watch to retrench, to save, to discover what may be done without, or to purchase for less than its value what is absolutely necessary. They regularly accost tradesmen, shop-keepers, &c. with a determination to bring down their prices, how ever

just and moderate they may be; and carry on all theit dealings at least with the appearance of a full and ancharitable conviction that every one intends to cheat them. All persons cannot labour too early in correcting every tendency to this degenerate propensity, which seldom produces more than trouble and anxiety --for certain it is, that the fretting and fuming of half-misers over mere trifles, is in the end very inadequately repaid by the miserable savings of the

year.

A propensity to extravagant Partialities is a fault which frequently predominates in some warm, impetuous characters. Those persons are distinguished by a precipitate selection of favourites in every society; by an overflow of marked attentions to the objects of their predilection, whose interests they espouse, whose very faults they attempt to justify, whose opinions they support, whether right or wrong, and whose cause they defended often at the expense of good sense, charity, moderation, and even common justice. Wo to the person, whether superior or inferior, who ventures to dissent from them in opinion concerning the objects of their admiration; that alone exposes them to aversion and censure. The friendship or affection of such characters does not deserve to be valued, for it results not from discernment of merit, but blind prejudice; beside, they are remarkable for annoying those whom they think proper to rank among their favourites, both by expecting to engross their whole attention or confidence, and resenting every mark of kindness they may think proper to show to others. However, as their affections are in general. as short-lived as they are ardent, no one person is likely to be tormented long with the title of their friend.

The foregoing are the chief among those passions to which the generality of mankind are subject. There are also a variety of other shapes, in which the capital sins separately predominate in different

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characters. It would not be easy to enumerate them, but you will not find will not find it difficult, aided by the grace of God, to discover your capital enemy, provided you ardently beg that grace and light, and are sincerely desirous to overcome it to the utmost of your power. The following marks, by which you may discern your ruling passion, are pointed out by St. Chrysostom, and may assist your examination on this important point.-1st, Your predominant passion is that propensity, disposition, or failing, which is the ordinary cause of your faults and sins. 2dly, It is that which chiefly disturbs the peace of your soul, and occasions you most remorse and uneasy reflections. 3dly, That of which you are obliged to accuse yourself most frequently in confession. 4thly, That which gives occasion to the greatest conflicts in your soul, and which you feel most repugnance to overcome. 5thly, That which usually influences your deliberations, intentions, or projects, and which is the chief motive of all your actions: that, in a word, which is most untractable and deeply rooted in your heart · for if, when wounded on that point, you feel sensibly hurt, it is an evident mark that there is your predominant passion, your capital enemy, the greatest obstacle to God's grace, and to your eternal saivation.

DEVOTIONS

FOR EVERY DAY IN THE WEEK.

THE practice of consecrating each day of the week to the honouring of some particular mystery, or saint, is conformable to a holy and ancient usage of the faithful. It is a devotion particularly calculated for assisting young persons to spend each day fervently, because their attention is better fixed, by being confined to one object at a time; and fervour is kept alive by the variety which occurs during the week.-You would do well to adopt this devotion.

The short Prayer affixed to each Practice you can say at your dally visit to the Blessed Sacrament, or at any convenient time in

the morning; but recollect, that it is not by that Prayer the Mystery or Saint is to be principally honoured; it is much more by carefully avoiding sin, by purity of intention in your various cuties, and by frequent use of the Aspiration annexed to each. Pracrice, of any other your devotion may suggest.

Exercise for SUNDAY.-Devotion to the adorable Trinity.

THIS day is set apart by the Almighty himself to be kept holy; that is, to be sanctified by works of piety and particular devotion. You are instructed 38 to the method of sanctifying the Lord's Day. You know how much those deceive themselves, who fancy that they comply with this precept by hearing Mass; therefore you will be doubly culpable, if you ever yield so far to the bad example you may hereafter receive in this respect, as to make the Sunday a day of particular dissipation, rather than devotion You should remember, during your life, that the precept of sanctifying the Sunday, beside obliging to assist devoutly at the holy Sacrifice of the Mass, requires that the greater part of the day be devoted to works of piety; such as hearing a sermon, and the evening Office of the Church in your parish chapel, and spending some time in teaching the Catechism, or instructing the ignorant, either at home or abroad.

Beside those public duties of our holy religion, which should be common to all instructed Christians, your private practice for this day, particularly consecrated to the adorable Trinity, may be thanksgiving for the grea blessings you have received from the three divine Persons at your baptism, when you were regenerated in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Make a short reflection on the solemn engagements you then entered upon, and which you are now of an age to fulfil. Examine whether you really do what you then promised; whether you renounce the devil, by resisting his temptations; whether you renounce the world, by generously despising its follies; and whether

you renounce the flesh, by conquering your sinful inclinations, your passions, or your bad habits; then implore pardon for your failings, resolve to amend them, and renew your baptismal vows in the follow ing form.

Prayer.

O Blessed Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. The source and fountain of all good! I most firmly believe in thee, I most humbly adore thee, and thank thee, with a grateful heart, for all the blessings and benefits I have received from thy infinite goodness! I most fervently consecrate and offer to thee an unreserved sacrifice of my whole being. O my God, who hast a right to every day, hour, and moment of my existence, accept as the first-fruits of this week the thoughts, words, and actions of this day, which I offer thee in testimony of my sincere desire tc satisfy my obligation of keeping it holy; mercifully assist me to spend it in such a manner as may draw down thy blessing on the remainder of the week. Increase in my soul the heavenly virtues of Faith, Hope, and Charity, which I received at Baptism, and teach me to make Faith the rule of my conduct, that thereby it may avail me to life everlasting. Eternal Father! take possession of my memory; efface from it all images of vanity, and engrave therein the recollection of thy adorable presence. Eternal Son! enlighten my understanding, and conduct me in the path of salvation by the light of Faith. Holy Spirit! sanctify my will by the most ardent love; render it submissive under the contradictions of this life, and never permit that by attachment to my own ideas or judgment, I should forfeit the blessings of peace offered to men of good-will and obedient minds. Holy, adorable, undivided Trinity, by whose power, mercy, and providence I was created, redeemed, regenerated, and preserved to this moment, receive the oblatior of my whole being, and take me out of the world