Chapter Itl Practice During Christmas

The time has now come for the faithful soul to reap the fruit of the efforts she made, (during the penitential weeks of Advent,) to prepare a dwelling-place for the Son of God, who desires to be born within her. The Nuptials of the Lamb are come, and his Spouse ham prepared herself} Now, the Spouse is the Church; the Spouse is, also, every faithful souL Our Lord gives his whole self to the whole flock, and to each sheep of the flock, with as much love as though he loved but that one. What garments shall we put on, to go and meet the Bridegroom? Where shall we find the pearls and jewels, wherewith to deck our soul for tnis happy meeting? Our holy Mother the Church will tell us all this in her Liturgy. Our best plan for spending Christmas, is, undoubtedly, to keep close to ner, and do what she does ; for she is most dear to God, and, being our Mother, we ought to obey all her injunctions.

But, before we speak of the mystic Coming of the Incarnate Wora into our souls; before we tell the secrets of that sublime familiarity between the Creator and the Creature; let us, first, learn from the Church the duties, which human nature, and each of our souls, owe to the Divine Infant, whom the Heavens have at length given to us as the refreshing Dew we asked them to rain down upon our earth. During Advent, we united with the Saints of the Old law, in praying for the coming of the

1 Apoc. xix. 7. (2) O

Messias, our Redeemer; now that he is come, let us consider what is the homage we must pay him.

The Church offers to the Infant-God, during this holy season, the tribute of her profound adoration, the enthusiasm of her exceeding joy, the return of her unbounded ^gratitude, and the fondness of her intense love. These four offerings, adoration, joy, gratitude, and love, must be also those of every Christian to his Jesus, his Emmanuel, the Babe of Bethlehem. The prayers of the Liturgy will express all four sentiments, m a way that no other Devotions could do. But, the better to appropriate to ourselves these admirable formulae of the Church, let us understand thoroughly the nature of each of these four sentiments.

The first of our duties at our Saviour's Crib, is Adoration. Adoration is Religion's first act; but, there is something in the Mystery of our Lord's Birth, which seems to make this duty doubly necessary. In heaven, the Angels veil their faces, and prostrate themselves before the throne of Jehovah; the Four-and-Twenty Elders are for ever casting their crowns before the throne of the Lamb ; what, then, shall we do— we who are sinners, and unworthy members of the Tribe of the Redeemer — now, that this same great God shows himself to us, humbled, for our sakes, and stript of all his glory ? now, that the duties of the creature to his Creator are fulfilled by the Creator himself? now, that the eternal God bows down, not only before the Sovereign Majesty of the Godhead, but even before sinful man, his creature?

Let us endeavour to make, by our profound adorations, some return to the God who thus humbles himself for us; let us thus give him back some little of that, of which he has deprived himself out of love

1 Apoc iv. 10, for us, and in obedience to the will of his Father. It is incumbent on us, to emulate, as far as possible, the seniiments of the Angels in heaven, and never to approach the Divine Infant, without bringing with us the incense of our soul's adoration, the protestation of our own extreme unworthiness, and, lastly, the homage of our whole being. All this is due to the infinite Majesty of the Babe of Bethlehem, who is the more worthy of every tribute we can pay him, because he has made himself thus little lor our sakes. Unhappy we, if the apparent weakness of the Divine Child, or the familiarity wherewith he is ready to caress us, should make us negligent in this our first duty, or forget what He is, and what we are !

The example of his Blessed Mother will teach us to be thus humble. Mary was humble in the presence of her God, even before she became his Mother; but, once his Mother, she comported herself before Him who was her God and her Child, with greater humility than ever. We, too, poor sinners, sinners so long and so often, we must adore, with all the power of our soul, Him, who has come down so low: we must study to find out how to make him amends by our . self-humiliation, for this Crib, these swathing-bands, this eclipse of his glory. And yet, all our humiliations will never bring us so low, as that we shall be on a level with His lowliness. No; only God could reach the humiliations of God.

But our Mother, the Church, does not only offer to the Infant-God the tribute of her profound aaoration. The mystery of the Emmanuel, that is, of God with us, is to her a source of singular joy. Look at her sublime Canticles for this holy Season, and you will find the two sentiments admirably blended — he* deep reverence for her God, and her glad joy at hia Birth. Joy! did not the very Angels come down and urge her to it? She therefore studies to imitate the hlithe Shepherds, who ran for joy to Bethlehem, and the glad Magi, who were well-nigh out of themselves with delight, when, on quitting Jerusalem, the star again appeared and led them to the Cave where the Child was? Joy at Christmas is a Christian instinct, which originated those many Carols, which, like so many other beautiful traditions of the ages of Faith, are unfortunately dying out amongst us ; but which Borne still encourages, gladly welcoming each year those rude musicians, the Pifferari, who come down from the Apennines, and make the streets of the Eternal City re-echo with their shrill melodies.

Come, then, faithful Children of the Church, let us take our share in her joy ! This is not the season for sighing or for weeping. For unto us a Child is bornP He, for whom we have been so long waiting is come ; and he is come to dwell among us* Great, indeed, and long was our suspense ; so much the more let us love our possessing him. The day will top soon come when this Child, now born to us, will be the Man of Sorrows, and then we will compassionate him; — but, at present, we must rejoice and be glad at his coming, and sing round his Crib, with the Angela Heaven sends us a present of its own joy : we need joy, and Forty Days are not too many for us to get it well into our hearts. The Scripture tells us, that a secure mind is like a continual feast, and a secure mind can only be where there is peace; now, it is Peace, which these blessed days bring to the earth; Peace, say the Angels, to men of good will!

Intimately and inseparably united with this ex-

Juisite mystic joy, is the sentiment of gratitude. Gratitude is indeed due to Him, who, neither de-

1 St Luke, ii. 16. » Is. iz. 6. • It. Hit 3.

• St. Matth. ii. 10. ♦ St. John, i. 14. • Vror. xv. 15. terred by our unworthiness, nor restrained by the infinite respect which becomes his sovereign Majesty, deigned to Tbe born of his own creature, and have a stable for his birth-place. Oh! how vehemently must he not have desired to advance the work of our salvation, to remove everything which could make us afraid of approaching him, and to encourage us, by his own example, to return, by the path of humility, to the heaven we had strayed from by pride I

Gratefully, therefore, let us receive the precious gift — this Divine Babe, our Deliverer. He is the Only Begotten Son of the Father, that Father who hath so loved the world, as to give his only Soil. He the Son, unreservedly ratifies his Father's will, an! comes to offer himself because it is his own will? How, as the Apostle expresses it, hath not the Father with Him, given us all things?* O gift inestimable! How shall we be able to repay it by suitable gratitude, we who are so poor, as not to know how to appreciate it? God alone, and the Divine Infant in nis Crib, know the value of the mystery of Bethlehem, which is given to us.

Shall our debt, then, never be paid? Not so: we can pay it by love, which though finite, gives itself without measure, and may grow for ever in intensity. For this reason, the Church, after she has offered her adorations, and hymns, and gratitude, to her Infant Saviour, gives him also her tenderest Love, She says to him : " How beautiful " art thou, my Beloved One, and how comely!* How " sweet to me is thy rising, O Divine Sun of Justice ! " How my heart glows in the warmth of thy beams ! " Nay, dearest Jesus, the means thou usest for gain- " ing me over to thyself, are irresistible — the feeble-

1 St John, iii 16. • Rom. viii. 32.

• Is. liii 7. • Cant. i. 15.

"ness and humility of a Child!" Thus do all her words end in love; and her adoration, praise, and thanksgiving, when she expresses them in her Canticles, get transformed into love.

Christians! let us imitate our Mother, and give our hearts to our Emmanuel. The Shepherds offer him their simple gifts, the Magi bring him their rich presents, and no one must appear before the Divine Infant, without something worthy his acceptance. Know, then, that nothing will please him, but that which he came to seek — our love. It was for this that he came down from heaven. Hard indeed is that heart which can say, Re shall not have my love!

These, then, are the duties we owe to our Divine Master in this his first Coming, which, as St. Bernard says, is in the flesh and in weakness, and is for the salvation, not for the judgment, of the world.

As regards that other Coming, which is to be in majesty and power on the Last Day, we have meditated upon it during Advent. The fear of the Wrath to come should nave roused our souls from their lethargy, and have prepared them, by humility of heart, to receive the visit of Jesus in that secret Coming, which he makes to the soul of man. It is the ineffable mystery of this intermediate Coming that we are now going to explain.

We have shown, elsewhere, how the time of Advent belongs to that period of the spiritual life, which is called, in Mystic Theology, the Purgative Life, and during which the soul cleanses herself from sin and the occasions of sin, by the fear of God's judgments, and by combating against evil concupiscence. We are taking it for granted, that every faithful soul has journeyed through these rugged paths, and which must be gone through, before she could be admitted to the Feast, to which tbe Ciiurcu invites all mankind, saying to them, on the Saturday of the Second Week of Advent, those words of the Prophet Isaias: "Lo! this is our God: we have waited for him; and he wiU save us. We have patiently waited for him, and we shall rejoice and be joyful in his Salvation! As in the house of our heaverdy Father there are many mansions? so likewise, on the grand Solemnity of Christmas, when those words of Isaias are realized, the Church sees, amongst the countless throng who receive the Bread of Life, a great variety of sentiments and dispositions. Some were dead, and the graces, given during the holy Season of Advent, have restored them to life: others, whose spiritual life had long been healthy, have so spent tneir Advent, that its holy exercises have redoubled their love of their Lord, and their entrance into Bethlehem has been to them a renewal of their soul's life.

Now, every soul that has been admitted to Bethlehem, that is to say, into the House of Bread, and has been united with Him, who is the Light of the World — that soul no longer walks in darkness. The mystery of Christmas is one of Illumination ; and the grace.it produces in the soul that corresponds with it, places her in the second stage of the Mystic Life, which is called the Illuminative Life. Henceforward, then, we need no longer weary ourselves watching for our Saviour's arrival; he has come, he has shone upon us, and we are resolved to keep up the light, nay, to cherish its growth within us, in proportion as the Liturgical x ear unfolds its successive seasons of mysteries and graces. God grant that we may reflect in our souls the Church's progressive development of this divine Light ; and be led by its brightness to that Union, whicn crowns Loth the year of the Church, and the faithful soul which has spent the year under the Church's guidance !

1 Is. xxv. • St John, xiv. 2.

But, in the mystery of Christmastide, this light is given to us, so to speak, softened down ; our weakness required that it should be so. It is, indeed, the Divine Word, the Wisdom of the Father, that we are invited to know and imitate ; but this Word, this Wisdom, are shown us under the appearance of a Child. Let nothing keep us from approaching him. We might fear were he seated on a throne in his palace; but he is lying on a crib in a stable! Were it the time of his Fatigues, his Bloody Sweat, his Cross, his Burial, or even of his Glory and his Victory, we might say we had not courage enough: — but, what courage is needed to go near him m Bethlehem, where afi is sweetness, and silence, and a simple Little Babe ! Gome to him, says the Psalmist, and be enlightened P

Where shall we find an interpreter of this twofold mystery, which is wrought at this holy season — the mystery of the Infancy of Jesus in the soul of man, and the mystery of the infancy of man's soul in his Jesus ? None of the Holy Fathers has so admirably spoken upon it as St Leo : let us listen to his grand words.

" Although that Childhood, which the majesty of " the Son of God did not disdain to assume, has de- " veloped, by growth of age, into the fulness of the " perfect man, and, the triumph of his Passion and " Resurrection having been achieved, all the humilia- " tions he submitted to, for our sakes, are passed ; " nevertheless, the Feast we are now keeping brings " back to us the sacred Birth of the Virgin Mary's " Child, Jesus our Lord. So that, whilst adoring his u Birth, we are, in truth, celebrating our own com- " mencement of life ; for the Generation of Christ, is

• the origin of the Christian people, and the Birth

• Day of him that is our Head, is the Birth Day

• Ps. xxxiii. 6.

"of us that are his Body. It is true, that each " Christian has his own rank, and the children of the " Church are born each in their respective times ; yet " the whole mass of the Faithful, once having been " regenerated in the font of Baptism, are born, on " this Day of Christmas, together with Christ ; just "as they are crucified together with him in his "Passion, and have risen together with his Resur- "rection, and in his Ascension are placed at the " right hand of the Father. For, every believer, no " matter in what j»rt of the world he may be living, "is born again m Christ; his birth according to "nature is not taken into account; he becomes a "new man by his second birth; neither is he any " longer called of the family of his father in the flesh, " but of the family of our Redeemer, who unto this " was made a Son of Man, that we might become the . " Sons of God"1

Yes, this is the Mystery achieved in us by the hohr Season of Christmas ! It is expressed in those words of the passage from St. John's Gospel, which the Church has chosen for the third Mass of the great Feast: As many as received Him, he gave them power to be made the Sons of God, to them that believe in his name ; who cure born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of Qod* So that, all they, who — having purified their souls, freed themselves from the slavery of flesh and blood, and renounced, everything which is of man, inasmuch as man means sinner — wish now to open their hearts to the Divine Word, that is, to the Light which shineth in darkness, and which darkness did not comprehend* these, I say, are born with Jesus ; they are born of Ood; they begin a new life, as did the Son of God himself, in this mystery of his Birth in Bethlehem.

• Sixth Sermon On the Nativity of our Lord. Ch. 2.

• St John, i 12. > Ibid. 5.

How beautiful are these first beginnings of the Christian Life I How great is the glory of Bethlehem, that is, of our holy Mother the Church, the true House of Bread! for, in her midst, there is produced, during these days of Christmas, and everywhere throughout the world, a countless number of sons of God. Oh 1 the unceasing vitality of our mysteries ! As the Lamb, who was slain from the beginning of tlce world} sacrifices himself, without ceasing, ever since his real sacrifice; so also, once born of the Holy Virgin his Mother, he makes it a part of his glory to be ceaselessly born in the souls of men. We are not, therefore, to think for a moment, that the dignity of Mary's divine Maternity is lessened, or that our souls enjoy the same grand honour which was granted to her: far from that, " let us," as Venerable JBede says, "raise our voice from amid the crowd, as did the

• woman in the Gospel, and say to our Saviour, with u the Catholic Church, of whicn that woman was the w type : Blessed is the Womb that bore thee, and the

• Breasts that gave thee suck!"2 Mary's prerogative is indeed incommunicable, and it makes her the Mother of God, and the Mother of men. But, we must also remember the answer made by our Saviour to the woman, who spoke those words : Yea rather, said Jesus, blessed are they who hear the word of God, and keep it* "hereby declaring," continues Venerable Bede, " that not only is She blessed, who " merited to conceive in the flesh the Word of God, " but they, also, who endeavour to conceive this same " Word spiritually, by the hearing of faith, and to

• give him birth and nourish him, by keeping and " doing what is good, either in their own or their " neighbour's heart. For the Mother of God herself " was Blessed in that she was made, for a time, the

1 Apoc xiii 8.

• Commentary on St. Luke, Bk. 4, Ch. 49.

• St. Luke, xi 28.

" minister to the wants of the Incarnate Word ; but " much more Blessed was she, in that she was and " ever will be the Jceeper and doer of the love due to " that same her Son."

Is it not this same truth which our Lord teaches us on that other occasion, where he says : Whosoever shall do the will of my Father, that is in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother? And why was the Angel sent to Mary in preference to all the rest of the daughters of Israel, but because she had already conceived the Divine Word in her heart, by the vehemence of her undivided love, the greatness of her profound humility, and the incomparable merit of her virginity ? Why, again, is this nlessed among women noly above all creatures, but because, having once conceived and brought forth the Son of God, she continues for ever nis Mother, by her fidelity in doing the will of the heavenly Father, by her love for the uncreated light of the f)ivine Word, and by her union as Spouse with the Spirit of sanctification ?

But, no member of the human race is excluded humble distance, in this her spiritual Maternity : for, by that real birth which she gave him in Bethlehem, which we are now celebrating, and which initiated the world into the mysteries of God, this ever Blessed Mother of Jesus has shown us how we may bear the resemblance of her own grand prerogative. We ought to have prepared the way of the Lord during the weeks of Advent ; and if so, our hearts have conceived him: therefore, now, our good works must bring him forth, that thus our heavenly Father, seeing not us ourselves, but his own Son, Jesus, now living within us, may say of each of us, in his mercy, what he heretofore said, in very truth, of the Incar-

» St. Mfttth. xii. 50. • St. Matth. iii. 3 5 li. xL 8. from the honour of imitating nate Word: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased}

Let us give ear to the words of the Seraphic Saint Bonaventure, who in one oi his sermons for Christmas Day, thus explains the mystery of the birth of Jesus in the soul of man. " This happy birth hap- " pens, when the soul, prepared by long thought and " reflection, passes at length to action ; when the flesh " being made subject to the spirit, good works are " produced in due time : then do interior peace and "joy return to the souL In this birth, there is " neither travail, nor pain, nor fear ; everything is " admiration, and delight, and glory. If then, O de- " vout soul ! thou art desirous tor this birth, imagine " thyself to be like Mary. Mary signifies bitterness; " bitterly bewail thy sins : it signifies illumincUrix ; " be thou illumined by thy virtues : and lastly, it sig- " nifies Mistress; learn how to be mistress and " controller of thy evil passions. Then will Christ "be born of thee, and ohl with what happiness " to thyself! For, it is then that the soul tastes " and sees how sweet is her Lord Jesus. She ex- "periences this sweetness, when, in holy medita- " tion, she nourishes this Divine Infant ; when she " covers him with her tears ; when she clothes him " with her holy longings ; when she presses him to "her heart in the embrace of holy tenderness; when, in a word, she cherishes him in the warmth * of her glowing love. O happy Crib of Bethlehem 1 " in thee I tod the King of glory : but happier " still than thou, the pious soul which holds within "itself Him, whom thou couldst hold but cor- "porallyr

Now, that we may pass on from this spiritual conception to the birth of our Lord Jesus; in other words, that we may pass from Advent to Christmas,

• St. Matth. Hi. 17. we most unceasingly keep the eyes of our soul on Him, who wishes to be born within us, and in whom the world is born to a new life. Our study and ambition should be, how best to become like Jesus, by imitating him ; for, though the imitation must needs be imperfect, yet we know from the Apostle, that our heavenly Father himself gives this as tne aim of the elect — tneir being made Eke to the image oj his Son.

Let us, therefore, hearken to the invitation of the Angels, and go over to Bethlehem. We know what sign will be given to us of our Jesus — a Child wrapped in swaddling-clothes, and laid in a crib* So that you, O Christians ! must become children ; you must not disdain to be tied in the bonds of a spiritual childhood; you must come down from your proud spirit, and meet your Saviour who has come down from heaven, and, with him, hide yourselves in the humility of the crib. Thus will you begin, with him, a new life. Thus will the bight, that goeth foiwards and increaseth even to perfect day, illumine your path the whole remaining length of your journey. Thus the sight of God which leaves room for faith, and which you receive at Bethlehem, will merit for you the face-to-face vision on Thabor, and prepare you for the blissful Union, which is not merely Light, but the plenitude and repose of Love.

So far, we have been speaking only of the living members of the Church, whether they began the life of grace during the holy Season of Advent, or were already living m the grace of the Holy Ghost when the ecclesiastical Year commenced, and spent their Advent in preparing to be born with Jesus to a new

{rear of higner perfection. But, how shall we overook those of our Brethren, who are dead in sin; and so dead, that neither the coining ot their Emmanuel,

» Rom. riii. 29. » St. Luke, ii. 12.

• St. Luke, ii. 16. • Prov. iv. 18 nor the example of the Christians throughout the universal Church earnestly preparing for that coming, could rouse them? No, we cannot forget them: we love them, and come to tell them, (for even now, they may yield to grace, and live,) — that there hath appeared {he goodness and kindness of God our Saviour. If this volume of ours should perchance fall into the hands of any of those, who have not yielded to the solicitations of grace, which press tnem to bo converted to the sweet Babe of Bethlehem, their Lord and their God ; and who, instead of spending the weeks of Advent in preparing to receive Him at Christmas, lived them out, as they began them, in indifference and in sin : — we shall, perhaps, be helping them to a knowledge of the grievousness of their state, by reminding them of the ancient discipline of the Church, which obliged all the Faithful, under pain of being considered as no longer Catholics, to receive Holy Communion on Christmas Day, as well as on Easter and Whit Sundays. We find a formal decree of this obligation given in the fifteenth Canon of the Council of Agatha, (Agde,) held in 506. We would, also, ask these poor sinners to reflect on the joy the Church feels, at seeing, throughout the whole world, the immense number of her children, who still, in spite of the general decay of piety, keep the Feast of the birth of the Divine Lamb, by the sacramental participation of his Body and Blood.

Sinners ! take courage ; this Feast of Christmas is one of grace and mercy, on which all, both just and sinners, meet in the fellowship of the same glad Mystery. The heavenly Father has resolved to honour the Birth-day of his Son, by granting pardon to all, save to those who obstinately refuse it. Oh ! how worthy is the Coming of our dear Emmanuel to be honoured by this divine amnesty!

• Tit. iii. 4.

Nor is it we that {jive this invitation; it is the Church herself Yes, it is she, that with divine authority, invites you to begin the work of your New Life, on this Day, whereon the Son of God begins the career of his human life. That we may the more worthily convey to you this her invitation, we will borrow the words of a great and saintly Bishop of the Middle-Ages — the pious Rabanus Maurus — who, in a Homily on the Nativity of our Lord, encourages sinners to come and take their place, side by side with the just, in the stable of Bethlehem, where even the ox and the ass recognise their Master in the Babe who lies there.

" I beseech you, dearly beloved Brethren, that you "receive with fervent hearts the words our Ixnrd u speaks to you, through me, on this most sweet Feast, u on which even infidels and sinners are touched with M compunction ; on which the Wicked man is moved " to mercy, the contrite heart hopes for pardon, the " exile despairs not of returning to his country, and " the sick man longs for his cure ; on which is born " the Lamb who taketh away the sins of the world, " that is, Christ, our Saviour. On such a Birth Day, " he that has a good conscience, rejoices more than " usual; and he whose conscience is guilty, fears with

• a more useful fear. * * Yes, it is a sweet Feast, " bringing true sweetness and forgiveness to all true " penitents. My little Children, I promise you with- " out hesitation — that every one, who, on this Day, u shall repent from his heart, and return not to the " vomit of his sins, shall obtain all whatsoever he shall " ask ; let him only ask with a firm faith, and not re-

• turn to sinful pleasures.

" On this Day, are taken away the sins of the entire " world — why needs the sinner despair ? * * On " this Day of our Lord's Birth, let us, dearest Brethren, u offer our promises to this Jesus, and keep them, as " it is written : Vow ye, and pay to the Lord your

" God. Let tia make our promises with confidence "and love; He will enable us to keep them * *

• And when I speak of promises, I would not have " any one think that I mean the promise of fleeting " and earthly goods. No— I mean, that each of us "should offer what our Saviour redeemed, namely, w our souL ' But how/ some one will say, ' how shall " 4 we offer our souls to Him, to whom they already u ' belong?' I answer — by leading holy lives, by chaste " thoughts, by fruitful works, by turning away from

• evil, by following that which is good, by loving God " by loving our neighbour, by showing mercy, (for we " ourselves were in need of it, before we were re- " deemed,) by forgiving them that sin against us, (for " we ourselves were once in sin,) by trampling on " pride, since it was by pride that our first Parent

• was deceived and felL n

It is thus our affectionate Mother the Church invites sinners to the Feast of the Divine Lamb ; nor is she satisfied until her House be filled. The grace of a New Birth, given her by the Sun of Justice, fills gun for her, and, like all tnat have preceded it, it is to be rich in flower and fruit. She renews her youth as that of an eagle. She is about to unfold another Cycle, or Year, of her mysteries, and to pour forth upon her faithful children the graces, of which God has made the Cycle to be the instrument In this season of Christmas, we have the first-fruits of these graces offered to us ; they are the knowledge and the love of our Infant-God : let us accept them with attentive hearts, that so we may merit to advance, with our Jesus, in wisdom, and age, and grace, before God and men} The Christinas Mystery is the gate of all the others of the rest of the year ; but it is

» Pa. \xxv. 12.

• Fourth Homily On the Nativity of our Lord Jews Chritk this Spouse of Jesus with i

A new year has be

8 St. Luke, xir. 23.

♦ Ibid. u. 52. a gate which we may all enter, for, though most heavenly, yet it touches earth ; since, as St. Augustine beautifully remarks, in one of his sermons for Christmas :l " We cannot as yet contemplate the splendour

• of Him, who was begotten of the Father, before the

• Day Star;* let us, then, visit Him, who was born of

• the Virgin, in the night-hour. We cannot understand how his Name continueth before the sun;

• let us, then, confess that he hath set his tabernacle

• in Her that is purer than the sun.* We cannot as wyet see the Only Begotten Son dwelling in the " Fathers Bosom ; let us, then, think on the Bride- " groom that cometh out of his bride chamber.* We " are not yet ready for the banauet of our heavenly " Father ; let us, then, keep to the Crib of Jesus, our "Master."6

1 Eleventh Sermon On the Nativity of our Lord*

» Ps. cix. 3. * P». xviii. 6. • Is. i. 3.

» Ibid. bad. 17. • Ibid.

0*) »

CHAPTER IV.

MORNING AND NIGHT PRATERS.

FOB CHRISTMAS.

During Christmas, the Christian, on waking in the morning, should unite himself with the Church, who, in her Office of Matins for Christmas Day, thus invites the faithful to come and adore the Messias :

Chri8tus natua est nobis ; Christ is born unto us ; venite, adoremus ! come, let us adore him !

He should profoundly adore this dear King, who has rendered himself bo accessible to his creatures ; and in this disposition of loving reverence, he should perform the first acts of religion, both interior and exterior, wherewith he begins the day. The time for Morning Prayer being come, he may use the following method, which is formed upon the very prayers of the Church : — horning prayers.

First, praise and adoration of the Most Holy Trinity : — t. Benedicamus Patrem et Filium, cum Sancto Spiritu :

S\ Laudemus et supertemus earn in saecula. f. Gloria Patri et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto ;

19. Sicut erat in principio, et nunc et semper, et in saecula sttculoruin. Amen. f. Let us bless the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost

I^. Let us praise him and extol him above all, for ever. f. Glury be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost f. As it was in the begining, is now, aud ever shall be world without end.

MORNING PRAYERS.

Then, praise to our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ :

% We adore thee, O Christ, f. Adoramus te, Christe, and we bless thee. et benedicimus tibL

IJT. Because by thy Cross Iy\ Quia per Crucem tuam thou hast redeemed the world, redemisti mundum.

Thirdly, invocation of the Holy Ghost : —

Come, O Holy Spirit, fill Veni, Sancte Spiritus, re- the hearts of thy faithful, and pie tuorum corda fidelium, enkindle within them the fire et tui amoris in eis ignem of thy love. accende.

After these fundamental acts of Religion, you will recite the Lord's Prayer, asking of God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to grant that his holy Name may be glorified on earth, now that he has blessed it by sending it his Son, over whose Crib the Angels sang : Qlory be to Ood in the highest ! This divine Messias is come to establish the Kingdom of Ood on aarth : he is come to do the will of his Father, and to teach us to do it here on earth, as it is done in heaven. Let us reverently share in these divine intentions. Let us, also, ask, with all instance, that we mav be granted to partake of that heavenly Bread, which is now born to us in Bethlehem :

THE LORD'S PRAYER.

Pater noster, qui es in coalis, sanctificetur nomen tuum : adveniat regnum tufiat voluntas tua sicut coelo, et in terra. Panem nostrum quotidianum da bis hodie : et dimitte nobis debita nostra, sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus tris : et ne nos inducas in Amen. tentationem : sed libera nos

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name : thy kingdom come : thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, urn : Give us this day our daily in bread; and forgive us our notrespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us : and lead us not into temptation : no*but deliver us from eviL a malo. Amen.

Then address our Blessed Lady, using the words of the Angelical Salutation. It is now that she is Blessed among all women : her virginal womb has yielded the divine Fruit, of which the world was in expectation : every creature should proclaim her to be the Mother of God,

THE ANGELICAL SALUTATION.

Ave Maria, gratia plena : Dominus tecum : benedicta ta in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventria tui, Jesus.

Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc et in hora mortis nostra. Amen.

Hail Mary, full of grace: the Lord is with thee : blessed art thou among women, and blessed is thefruitofthy womb. Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

After this, recite the Symbol of Faith ; and as you pronounce the words, Born of tJie Virgin Mary, dwell on them with a special attention, adoring the Saviour, who has deigned to come down from heaven, and be born in a stable.

THE APOSTLES CREED.

Credo in Deum Patrem omnipotentem creatorem coeli et terrae. Et in Jesum Christum Filium ejus unicum, Dominum nostrum : qui conceptus est de Spiritu Sancto, natus ex Maria Virgine, passus sub Pontio Pilato. crucifixus, mortuus, et sepultus : descendit ad inferos, tertia die resurrexit a mortuis : ascendit ad coelos, sedet ad dexteram Dei Patris omnipotentis: inde venturus est judicare vivos etmortuos.

Credo in Spiritum Sanctum, sanctam Ecclesiam Catliolicam, Sanctorum communion em, remissionem peccatorum, carnis resurrectionem, vitam ®ternam. Amen.

I believe in Qod the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, his only Son our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, bom of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried ; he descended into hell, the third day he arose again from the dead j he ascended into heaven, sitteth at the right hand of Qod the Father Almighty ; from thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost : the Holy Catholic Church; the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

After having thus made the Profession of jour Faith, excite within yourself sentiments of penance and compunction, by the remembrance of the sins you have committed, and of lively gratitude to the Lamb of God, who is come that he may wash away our sins by his Blood, and give us to partake of his divinity. For this end, make use of the following words of the Church, as the fittest way of celebrating these ineffable mysteries, the remembrance of which will keep up within your hearts a sorrow for having offended so merciful a God.

ANTIPHON8 FOB CHRISTMAS.

Ant. O admirable Inter- Ant. O admirabile com- change ! The Creator of man- mercium 1 Creator generis kind, assuming a livingBody, humani, animatum corpus deigned to be born of a Tirgin; sumens, de Virgine nasei and, becoming Man without dignatus est ; et procedens man's aid, bestowed on us his homo sine semine, largitua

Divinity. est nobis suam deitatem.

Akt. Ant. Quando natus es ineffabiliter ex Virgine, tuno implet® sunt Scripturae : sipluvia in vellus descenut salvum faceres genus humanum : te laudamus, Deus noster.

When thou wast born ineffably of the Virgin, the Scriptures were fulfilled. As dew upon Gedeon's fleece, cut thon earnest down to save disti, mankind. O Lord our God ! we praise thee.

Ant. Lo! Mary hath brought Ant. Ecce Maria genuit forth a Saviour unto us, whom nobis Salvatorem, quern

John seeing exclaimed : Be- Joannes videns exclamavit hold the Lamb of God 1 Be- dicens : Ecce Agnus Dei ; hold him that taketh away the ecce qui tollit peccata mun- ans of the world. Alleluia. di. Alleluia.

Here make an humble confession of your sins, reciting the general formula made use of by the Church.

THE CONFESSION OF BIN8.

I confess to Almighty God, Confiteor Deo Omnipoto blessed Mary ever Virgin, tenti, beats Mari» sempei to blessed Michael the Arch- Virgini, beato Michael!

angel, to blessed John Baptist, to the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and to all the saints, that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word, and deed ; through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault. Therefore I beseech the blessed Mary ever Virgin, blessed Michael the Archangel, blessed John Baptist, the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and all the saints, to pray to our Lord God for me.

May Almighty God hare mercy on us, and, our sins being forgiven, bring us to life everlasting. Amen.

May the Almighty and merciful Lord grant us pardon, absolution, and remission of our sins.

Archangelo, beato Joanni Baptist©, Sanctis Apostolis Petro et Paulo, et omnibus Sanctis, quia peccavi nimis cogitatione, verbo, et opere: mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa. Ideo precor beatam Mariam semper Virginem, beatum Michaelem Archangelum, beatum Joannem Baptistam, sanctos Apostolos Petrum et Pauium, et oranes sanctos, orare pro me ad Dominum Deum nostrum.

Misereatur nostri omnipotens Deus, et dimissis peccatis nostris, perdu cat nos ad vitam » tern am. Amen.

Indulgentiam, absolutionem, et remission em peccatorum nostrorum tribuat nobis omnipotens et misericors Dominus. Amen.

This is the proper time for making your Meditation, as no doubt you practise this holy exercise. During Christmas, our Meditation should turn principally upon the Birth of Jesus Christ in our souls. At this period of the Liturgical Year, we must return to the very basis of our spiritual life, and yield, with childlike docility, to the inspirations of the Holy Ghost. The object of our contemplation, as well as the source of our confidence, is Jesus, the Incarnate Word, swathed in the bands of infancy, laid in his Crib, presented in the Temple, and fleeing into Egypt His love for us has induced him to subject himself to these weaknesses of childhood, in order that even we may imitate our God 1 St. Luke tells us, that his Blessed Mother kept all these mysteries in her heart, and powdered them :l let us follow her » St Luke, i. 19 anil 51.

MORNING PBAYEBS. sweet example, and feed our souls with the heavenly Manna. Let the rays of this hidden but penetrating Light illumine us. If we would follow Jesus tc Thabor, let us begin to follow him in the way he now shows us— of a Child's simplicity and humility. The higher the architect wishes to carry up the building the deeper does he sink the foundations. Jesus humbles himself so profoundly, because the work he has undertaken is to go up even to the highest heavens. As his members, we must go with him ; we must bear him company, now in his humble Crib, and, later, on his Cross, if we would be associated with him, when the day of his triumph comes, and he is seated at the right hand oi his Father.

The next part of your Morning Prayer must be to ask of God, Dy the following prayers, grace to avoid eveiy kind of sin during the day you are just beginning. Say, then, with the Church, whose prayers must always be preferred to all others: f. O Lord, hear my prayer. f. Domine, exaudi ora- tionem meam.

Ip. And let my cry come I?. Et clamor Often* ad te onto thee. veniat

LST US PBAT.

Almighty Lord and God, who hast brought us to the beginning of this day, let thy powerful grace so conduct us through it, that we may not fall into any sin, but that all our thoughts, words, and actions may be regulated according to the rules of thy heavenly justice, and tend to the observance of thy holy law. Through Jesus Christ ear Lord. Amen.

ORBMUB.

Domine, Deus omnipotens, qui ad principium hnjus diet nos pervenire f ecisti, tua nos hodie salva virtute, ut in hao die ad nullum declinemus peccatum, sed semper ad tuam justi tiara faciendam nostra procedant eloquia, dirigantur cogitationes et opera. Per Dominum. nostrum Jesum Christum Filium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritua Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula ssculorum. Amen.

Then, beg the divine assistance for the actions of the day, that you may do them well ; and say thrice : f. Dens, in adjutorium meum intende.

19. Domine, ad adjuvandum me f eatina. f. Deus, in adjutorium meum intende.

20. Domine, ad adjuvandum me f eatina.

J. Dens, in adjutorium meum intende.

I?. Domine, ad adjurandum me festina.

Jr. Incline unto my aid, O God.

I?. O Lord, make haste to help me. jr. Incline unto my aid, O God.

I?. O Lord, make haste to help me. jr. Incline unto my aid, O God. fy. O Lord, make haste to help me.

ORKMUS.

Dirigere et sanctificare, re- fere et gubernare dignare, )omine Deus, Bex cceli et terras, hodie corda et corpora nostra, sens us, sermones et actus nostros in lege tua, et in operibus mandatorum tuorum, ut hie et in sternum, te auxiliante, salvi et liberi esse mereamur, Salvator mundi. Qui vi vis et regnas in secula saaculorum. Amen.

Lord God, and King of heaven and earth, vouchsafe this day to rule and sanctify, to direct and govern our souls and bodies, our senses, words, and actions in conformity to thy law, and strict obedience to thy commands ; that by the help of thy grace, O Saviour of the world! we may be fenced and freed from all evils. Who livest and reigneat for ever and ever. Amen.

After this, uniting yourself with the Church, — who celebrates with holy enthusiasm the rising of the Sun of Justice, by whose Light she does the works which render her agreeable to this her divine Spouse, — say together with her :

¥> Verbum caro factum f. The Word was made eat Alleluia! Flesh. Alleluia!

19. Et habitavit in nobis. I?. And dwelt among us.

Alleluia! Alleluia!

Grant, we beseech thee, O Almighty Qod, that, as we are enlightened by the new light of thy Word made Flesh, we may snow in our actions the effects of that faith that shineth in our minds. Through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

During the day, you will do well to use the instructions and prayers which you will find in this volume, for each day of the Season, both for the Proper of the Time, and the Proper of the Saints. In the Evening, you may use the following Prayers.

ORBMUS.

Da nobis, quasumus. omnipotens Deus, ut qui nova mcarnati Verbi tui luce perfundimur ; hoc in nostra respondeat opere quod per fidem fulget in mente. Per eumdem Christum Do* minum nostrum. Amen.

After having made the sign of the Cross, begin by adoring and praising the Son c f God made flesh, and dwelling amongst us his creatures, for our salvation. For this end, you may recite the following stanzas of one of the Hymns sung by the Church during Christmas.

HYMN.

O Jesu ! Redeemer of mankind ! born before the light was made, and born of the Eternal Father, equal to Him in infinite glory :

O thou the Light and bright* ness of the Father 1 0 thou the everlasting hope of all men I hear the prayers offered thee by thy servants throughout the world.

Be mindful, O Creator of all things I that heretofore thou didst assume a Body like unto ours, and wast born from the •acred womb of a Virgin.

Jesu, Redemptor omnium, Quern hicis ante originem Parem patera® gloria Pater supremus edidit ;

Tu lumen et splendor Patris, Tu apes perennis omnium ; Intende quas fundunt pre- ces,

Tui per orbem servuli.

Memento, rerum conditor, Nostri quod olim corporis Sacrata ab alvo Virginis Nascendo formam aumpseria.

Jesu, tibi sit gloria Glory be to thee, O Jesus,

8ui natus es de Virgine, who wast born of the Virgin !

um Patre et almo Spiritu and to the Father and the Holy

In sempiterna scecnla. Ghost, for e?erlasting ages.

Amen. Amen.

After this Hymn, say the Our Father, the Hail Mary, and the Apostles Creed, as in the Morning;.

Then, make the Examination of Conscience, going over in your mind all the faults you have committed during the day ; think, how unworthy sin makes us of the caresses and the company of the Divine Babe ; and conclude, by making a firm resolution to avoid sin for the future, to do penance for it, and to avoid the occasions, which would again lead you into it.

The Examination of Conscience concluded, recite the Confiteor (or J confess) with heartfelt contrition, and then give expression to your sorrow by the following Act, which we have taken from the Venerable Cardinal Bellarmine's Catechism : —

ACT OF CONTBITIOtf.

O my God, I am exceedingly grieved for having offended thee, and with my whole heart I repent for the sins I have committed : I hate and abhor them above every other evil, not only because, by so sinning, I have lost heaven and deserve Hell, but still more because I have offended thee, O infinite Goodness, who art worthy to be loved above all things. I most firmly resolve, by the assistance of thy grace, never more to offend thee for the time to come, and to avoid those occasions which might lead me into sin.

Tou may then add the Acts of Faith, Hope, and Charity, to the recitation of which Pope Benedict 14 has granted an indulgence of seven years and seven quarantines for each time.

ACT OF FAITH.

0 my God, I firmly believe whatsoever the holy Catholic Apostolic Roman Church requires me to believe : I believe it, because thou hast revealed it to her, thou who art the very Truth.

ACT OF HOPE*

O my God. knowing thy almighty power, and thy infinite goodness ana mercy, I hope in thee that, by the merits of the Passion and Death of our Saviour Jesus Christy thou wilt grant me eternal life, which thou hast promised to all such as shall do the works of a good Christian ; and these I resolve to do, with the help of thy grace.

ACT OF OHABITY.

O my God, I lore thee with my whole heart and above all things, because thou art the sovereign Good : I would rather lose all things than offend thee. For thy love also, I love and desire to love my neighbour as myself.

Then say to our blessed Lady, in honour of the ineffable dignity of her Maternity, the following Anthem: —

ANTHEM TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN.

Sweet Mother of our Redeemer, Gate whereby we enter heaven, and Star of the sea ! help us, we fall ; yet do we long to rise. Nature looked upoff thee with admiration, when thou didst give birth to thy divine Creator, thyself remaining, before ana after it, a pure Virgin. Gabriel spoke his Hail to thee ; we sinners crave thy pity.

?. After child-birth, thou didst remain most pure, O "Virgin !

I?. O Mother of God, make intercession for us.

LET US PRAT.

O God, who by the fruitful Virginity of the Blessed Mary, hast given to mankind the rewards at eternal salvation ; grant, we beseech thee, that

Alma Rederaptoris mater quad pervia coeli. Porta manes, et stella maris, succurre cadenti, Surgere qui curat populo : tu qua genuisti, Natura mirante, tuum sanctum Genitorem, Virgo prius ac posterius, Ga- brieus ab ore, Sumens illud Ave, peccato- rum miserere. f. Post partum, Virgo, inviolate permansisti. iy. Dei Genitrix, intercede pro nobis.

0REMT78.

Dens, qui salutis ®ter n®, beat® Man® virgin itate fecunda, humano generi promia prastitisti : tribue, qu® • sumus, ut ipsam pro nobis intercedere sentiamus, per quam mernimus auctorem vit» suscipere Dominum nostrum, Jesum Christum, Filium tuum. Amen. we may experience Her intercession, by whom we received the Author of Life, our Lord Jesus Christ, thy Son. Amen.

You would da well to add the Litany of our Lady. An indulgence of three hundred days, for each time it is recited, has been granted by the Church.

THE LIT AMY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN.

Kyrie, eleison.

Christe, eleison.

Kyrie, eleison.

Christe, audi nos.

Christe, exaudi nos.

Pater de coelis, Deus, miserere nobis.

Fiii, Redemptor mundi, Deus, miserere nobis.

Spiritus Sancte, Deus, miserere nobis.

Sancta Trinitas, unus Deus, miserere nobis.

Sancta Maria, ora pro nobis.

Sancta Dei Genitrix, ora, etc.

Sancta Virgo virginum, Mater Christi, Mater divinae gratiae, Mater purissima, Mater castissima, Mater inviolata, Mater intemerata, Mater amabilis, Mater admirabilis, Mater boni consilii, Mater Creatoris, Mater Salvatoria, Virgo prudentistiraa, Virgo veneranda, Virgo predicanda, Virgo potens, Virgo clement! Virgo fidelia, Speculum justitise,

Lord, have mercy on us, Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, nave mercy on us. Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear ns. Qod the Father of heaven, have mercy on us. God the Son. Redeemer of the world, nave mercy on us.

God the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us. Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us. Holy Mary, pray for us. Holy Mother of God, pray, etc.

Holy Virgin of virgins, Mother of Christ, Mother of divine grace, Mother most pure, Mother most chaste, Mother inviolate. Mother undefilea, Mother most amiable, Mother most admirable, Mother of good counsel, Mother of our Creator, Mother of our Redeemer, Virgin most prudent, Virgin most venerable, Virgin most renowned, Virgin most powerful, Virgin most merciful, Virgin most faithful, Mirror of justice,

NIGHT P

Seat of wisdom,

Cause of our joy,

Spiritual vessel,

Vessel of honour,

Vessel of singular devotion,

Mystical Rose,

Tower of David,

Tower of ivory,

House of gold.

Ark of the covenant,

Gate of heaven,

Morning Star,

Health of the weak,

Refuge of sinners,

Comforter of the afflicted,

Help of Christians,

Oueen of Angels,

Queen of Patriarchs,

Queen of Prophets,

Oueen of Apostles,

Queen of Martyrs,

Queen of Confessors,

Queen of Virgins,

Queen of all Saints,

Queen conceived without original sin,

Queen of the Most Holy Rosary.

O Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.

O Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.

O Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

Christ, hear us.

Christ, graciously hear us. p. Pray for us, O holy

Mother of God.

That we may be made worthy of the promises of

Christ

Grant, O Lord, we beseech thee, that we thy servants

UYEBS. 45

Sedes sapiential,

Causa nostras tatitias,

Vas spirituale,

Vas honorabile,

Vas insigne devotionia,

Rosa mystica,

Turris Davidica,

Turris eburnea,

Domus aurea,

Foederis area,

Janua cceli,

Stella matutina,

Salus infirmorum,

Refugium peccatorum,

Consolatrix afflictorum,

Auxilium Christianorum,

Regina Angelorum,

Regina Patriarchs rum,

Regina Prophetarum,

Regina Apostolorum,

Regina Martyrum,

Regina Confessorum,

Regina Virginum,

Regina Sanctorum omnium,

Regina sine labe concepta,

Regina Sacratissimi RosariL

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, parce nobis, Domine.

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, exaudi nos, Domine.

Agnus Dei, cjui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis.

Christe, audi nos. Cbriste, exaudi nos.

% Ora pro nobis, sancta Dei Genitrix.

19. Ut digui efficiamur promissionibus Christi.

OKEMU8.

Concede nos famulos tuos, quaasumus, Domine Deus, perpetua mentis et corporis sanitate gaudere : etgloriosa beat» Man® semper Virginia intercessione, a prassenti liberari tristitia, et saterna perfrui lsetitia. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen. may enjoy constant health of body and mind, and by the glorious intercession of Blessed Mary, ever a Virgin, be delivered from all present affliction, and come to that joy which is eternal. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Here invoke the Holy Angels, whose protection is, indeed, always so much needed by us, but never so much as during the hours of night Say with the Church : —

Sancti Angeli, cub tod es nostri, defendite nos in praelio, ut non pereamus in tremendo judicio. y. Angelis suis Deus mandavit de te.

I?. Ut custodiant te in omnibus viis tub.

Holy Angels, our loving Guardians, defend us in the hour of battle, that we may not be lost at the dreadful judgment.

% Qod hath given his Angels charge of thee.

H7. That they may guard thee in all thy ways.

0KSMU8.

Deus, qui ineffabili procidentia sanctos Angelos tuos ad nostram custodiam raittere dignaris : largire supplicibus tuis, et eorum semper protectione defendi, et ©terna societate gaudere. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.

LET US PBAY.

O Qod, who in thy wonderful providence hast been pleased to appoint thy holy Angels for our guardians; merciful hear our prayers, and grant we may rest secure under their protection, and enjoy their fellowship in heaven for ever. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Then beg the assistance of the Saints by the following antiphon and prayer of the Church : —

Ant. Sancti Dei omnes, Ant. All ye Saints of Qod, intercedere dignemini pro vouchsafe to intercede for us nostra omniumque salute. and for all men, that we may be saved. f* Laatamini in Domino )f. Rejoice in the Lord, ye et ezsultate, justl ju*t, and be glad.

B?. And glory, all ye right ty. Et gloriamini omnes of heart. recti corde.

Protect, O Lord, thy people ; and because we have confidence in the intercession of blessed Peter and Paul and thy other Apostles, ever defend and preserve us.

May all thy Saints ever help us, we beseech thee, O Lord I and grant, that, whilst we honour their merits, we may experience their intercession. Grant thy holy peace unto these our days, and drive all iniquity from thy Church. Direct and prosper unto salvation every step, and action, and desire, of us and of all thy servants. Repay our benefactors with everlasting blessings : and grant eternal rest to all the faithful departed. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

OREMU8 .

Protege, Domiue, populum tuum, et Apoatolorum tuorum Petri et Pauli et aliorum Apostolorum patrocinio confidentera, perpetua defensione conserva.

O nines Sancti tui, qusesumus, Domine, nos ubique adjuvent : ut dum eorum merita recolimus, patrocinia sentiamus : et pacem tuam nostris concede temporibus, et ab Ecclesia tua cunctam repelle nequitiam : iter, actus, et voluntatea nostras, et omnium famuiorum tuorum, in salutis tu» prosperitate dispone : benefactoribus nostris sempiterna bona retribue : et omnibus fidelibus defunctis requiem seternam concede. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.

And here you may add a special mention of the Saints to whom you bear a particular devotion, either as your patrons or otherwise ; as also of those whose feast is kept in the Church that day, or at least who have been commemorated in the Divine Office.

This done, remember the necessities of the Church Suffering, and beg of God that he will give to the souls in Purgatory a place of refreshment, light, and peace. For this intention recite the usual prayers.

PSALM 129.

From the depths I have cried to thee, O Lord ; Lord, hear my voice.

De prof undis clamavi ad te, Domine: Domine, exaudi vocem meam.

48 CHfi

Fiant aures tuse intendentes : in vocem deprecationifl mem.

Si iniqaitates observaveris, Domine : Domine, quis sustinebitl

Quia apud te propitiatio est : et propter legem tuam sustinui te, Domine,

Sustdnuit anima mea in verbo ejus : speravit anima mea in Domino.

A custodia matutina usque ad noctem : speret Israel in Domino.

Quia apud Dominum misericord ia : et copioaa apud eum redemptio.

Et ipse redimet Israel j ex omnibus iniquitatibus ejus.

Requiem »ternam dona eis, Domine.

Et lux perpetua luceat eis. p. A porta inferi. I^. Erue, Domine, animas eorum. f. Requiescant in pace. §7. Amen. y. Domine, exaudi orationem meam.

19. Et clamor mens ad te veniat. oremub.

Fidelium Dens omnium Conditor et Redemptor, animabus famulorum famularumque tuarum, remissionem cunctorum tribue peccatorum : ut indulgentiam, quam semper optaverunt, piis supplicationibus consequantur. Qui vivis et regnas in ssecula saeculorum. Amen.

Let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication.

If thou wilt observe iniquities, O Lord, Lord, who shall endure it 1

For with thee there is merciful forgiveness ; and by reason of thy law I have waited for thee, O Lord.

My soul hath relied on his word ; my soul hath hoped in the Lord.

From the morning watch even until night, let Israel hope in the Lord.

Because with the Lord there is mercy, and with him plentiful redemption.

And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

Eternal rest give to them, O Lord.

A nd let perpetual light shine upon them. f. From the gate of helL I?. Deliver their souls, O

Lord. f. May they rest in peace. F7. Amen. y. 0 Lord, hear my prayer.

I(r. And let my cry come unto thee.

LET US PEAT.

O God, the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful, give to the souls of thy servants departed the remission of their sins : that through the help of pious supplications, they may obtain the pardon they have always desired. Who livest and reignest for ever and ever. Amen.

Here make a special memento of such of the Faithful departed as have a particular claim upon your charity; after which, ask of God to give you his assistance, whereby you may pass the night free from danger. Say then, still keeping to the words of the Church :

Ant. Save us, O Lord, whilst awake, and watch us as we sleep : that we may watch with Cnrist, and rest in peace.

Vouchsafe, O Lord, this night.

*5r. To keep us without sin.

% Have mercy on us, O Lord.

Rr. Have mercy on us. y. Let thy mercy, 0 Lord, be upon us.

I?. As we have hoped in thee. f. O Lord, hear my prayer.

19. And let my cry come unto thee.

Ant. Salva nos, Domine, vigilantes, custodi nos dormientes : ut vigilemus cum Christo, et requiescamus in pace. y. Dignare, Domine, nocte ista. fy. Sine peccato nos custodire. f. Miserere nostri, Domine.

§7. Miserere nostri. y* Fiat misericordia tua, Domine, super nos.

37. Quemadmodum speravimus in te. f. Domine, exaudi orationem meam.¹

Visit, we beseech thee, 0 Lord, this house and family, and drive from it all snares of the enemy: let thy holy Angels dwell herein, who may keep us in peace, and may thy blessing be always upon us. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God world without end. Amen.

(2)

OREMU3.

Visita, quaesumus, Domine, habitat ionem .istam, et omnes insidias inimici ab ea longe repelle : Angeli tui sancti habitent in ea, qui nos in pace custodian t, et benedictio tua sit super nos semper. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum, Filium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia ssecula sseculorum. Amen.

E

And that you may end the day in the same sentiments wherewith you began it, devoutly pay your homage to the divine Mystery of the Incarnation, by reciting the following prayer : p. Notum fecit Do mi- % nus, alleluia !

I?. Salutare suum, alleluia !

The Lord hath made known, alleluia ! 19. His Salvation, alleluia I

OREMUS.

Deus, qui sacratissimam noctem veri luminis fecisti illustratione clarescere : da, qusesumus, ut cnjus lucis mysteria in terra coguovimus, ejus quoque gaudiis in ccelo perfruamur. Qui tecum vivit et regnat in. &»cula e«culorum« Amen.

O God ! who hast enlightened the most sacred of Nights by the brightness of Him, who is the true Light ; grant, we beseech thee, that we who have known the mysteries of this Light on earth, may likewise come to the enjoyment of it in heaven. Who liveth and reigneth with thee for ever. Amen.

Footnotes

1. 19. Et clamor meus ad te veniat
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