Course 4, Chapter 10: Christianity visible. — The Office, concluded. — Use of Latin. — The Chant

1. What is the last hour of the office of the day? A . The last hour of this office is complin, which signifies completion, because it completes the office. ^Q. What do the psalms of complin express?

The first psalm of complin expresses our confidence in God at the moment of taking our repose; the second marks the effect of God's protection on those who hope in him; in the third the church invites us to offer our hearts to God, whenever we wake in the night, and reminds us of the practice of the first Christians, who rose during the night to pray,

2. . What is the hymn of complin?

The hymn of complin is a prolonged aspiration to heaven, that happy country where darkness and dangers are unknown.

3. How does complin terminate?

Complin terminates with the canticle of the holy old man Simeon. The Christian, assured that God loves him with the tenderness of a father, asks to repose in his divine arms; and before separating the assembled faithful place themselves under the protection of their good mother, by singing one of her an thems.

4. . Why does the church use Latin in her offices?

The church uses Latin in her offices: 1st, the better to preserve the unity of the faith; the living languages, changing continually, would soon introduce •changes in the liturgy and in the form of the sacra ments; 2d, to preserve the catholicity of the faith, and that we may never be strangers to one another in whatever part of the world we may be; 3d, to render our mysteries more respectable.

5. What is the origin of the ecclesiastical chant or song?

Chant is natural to man. It is essentially rettgious; for among all people the first use made of it has been to celebrate the praises of the Deity, and the Catholic Church, which has preserved whatever was good and truthful in the ancient traditions, has preserved the chant or song.

<2. Who arranged the chant?

A. St. Ambrose, and particularly St Gregory, pope,

354 CATECHISM OF PERSEVERANCE.

arranged the chant used at present in the church. The ecclesiastical chant is truly beautiful and produces the most lively impressions of piety in the scul.