In certain religious festivals of the Grecians, held in the evening, it was customary for the young men to run races on foot, and sometimes on horseback, holding in their hands torches or lamps, lighted at the sacrificial altar of the goddess in whose honor the festival was held; and only the youth who came out of the contest with his light unextinguished was esteemed the victor, and was greeted with the loud plaudits of the multitude. So the Christian carries with him through this world the light of grace divine, kindled at the altar of Jesus’ sacrifice; and he who keeps it brightly burning to the end of life’s great conflict shall be welcomed, like a conqueror, with the thundering applause of the heavenly host.