also because God's miracles through the saints, and salutary examples
are laid before the eyes of the faithful, that they may return
thanks for them to God, and may compose their life and manners to an
imitation of the saints, and may be excited to adore and love God and
cherish piety". The council then gives directions for the extirpation
of any abuses which may creep in. These words, by which our faith
and practice are regulated, are too clear to need comment, and
sufficiently justify catholics from the foolish and calumnious charge
of idolatry. The true Catholic practice is well expressed in a work
attributed to Alcuin "We prostrate our bodies before the cross, and
our souls before the Lord: we venerate the cross by which we have been
redeemed, and we supplicate Him who redeemed us".]

[Footnote 90: This rite is described in the Ordo Romanus XIV with the
same ceremonies. It is first mentioned in the Ordo XI of the Canon
Benedict.]

[Footnote 91: We kiss and press to our hearts the pictures of those
whom we love, and shall we think it sinful to kiss the image of Him,
who for love of us humbled himself even to the death of the cross?
Oh! let each one of us rather exclaim with S. Paul "God forbid that I
should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the
world is crucified to me and I to the world" (Gal. VI): or in the
words attributed to S. Andrew when he was going to be crucified "Hail
precious cross, that hast been consecrated by the body of my Lord, and
adorned with his limbs as with rich jewels. Oh good cross, that hast
received beauty from our Lord's limbs, I have ardently loved thee,
long have I desired and sought thee; now thou art found by me and made
ready for my longing soul". Act. S. Andreæ.]