February 2 — The Purification: Blessing

the Candles the same colour for the vestments of the sacred Ministers, as is used in the two other Blessings of the Ashes and Palms — namely, Purpla Thus this solemn function, which is inseparable from the day on which our Lady's Purification took place, may be gone through every year on the 2nd of February, without changing the colour prescribed for the three Sundays just mentioned.

It is exceedingly difficult to say what was the origin of this ceremony. Baronius, Thomassin, and others, are of opinion, that it was instituted towards the close of the 5th century, by Pope St. Gelasius, in order to give a christian meaning to certain vestiges, still retained by the Romans, of the old Lwpercalia. St. Gelasius certainly did abolish the last vestiges of the feast of the Lupercalia, which, in earlier times, the Pagans used to celebrate in the month of February. — Pope Innocent the Third, in one of his Sermons for the Feast of the Purification, attributes the institution of this ceremony of Candlemas to the wisdom of the Roman Pontiffs, who turned into the present religious rite the remnants of an ancient pagan custom, which had not quite died out among the Christiana The old Pagans, he says, used to carry lighted torches in memory of those which the fable gives to Ceres, when she went to the top of Mount Etna in search of her daughter Proserpine. But against this, we have to object, that on the pagan Calendar of the Romans, there is no mention of any Feast in honour of Ceres, for the month of February. — We, therefore, prefer adopting the opinion of Dom Hugh Menard, Rocca, Henschenius, and Pope Benedict the Fourteenth ; that an ancient feast, which was kept in February, and was called the Amburbalia, during which the pagans used to go through the city with lighted torches in their hands, gave occasion to the Sovereign Pontiff's to substitute, in its place, a christian ceremony, which they attached to the Feast of that sacred mystery, in which Jesus, the Light of the world, was presented in the Temple by his Virgin-Mother.

The mystery of to-day's ceremony has frequently been explained by liturgists, dating from the 7th century. According to St Ivo of Chartres, the wax — which is formed from the juice of flowers by the bee, (which has always been considered as the emblem of virginity,) — signifies the virginal flesh of the Divine Infant, who diminished not, either by his conception or his birth, the spotless purity of his Blessed Mother. The same holy Bishop would have us see, in the flame of our Candle, a symbol ot Jesus, who came to enlighten our darkness. St Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury, speaking on the same mystery, bids us consider three things in the blest Candle : the Wax, the Wick, and the Flame. The Wax, he says, which is the production of the virginal bee, is the Flesh of our Lord ; the Wick, which is within, is his Soul ; the Flame, which burns on the top, is his Divinity.

Formerly, the Faithnil looked upon it as an honour to be permitted to bring their wax tapers to the Church, on this Feast of the Purification, that they might be blessed together with those, which were to be borne in the procession by the Priests and sacred Ministers ; and the same custom is still observed in some congregations. It would be well if Pastors were to encourage this practice, retaining it where it exists, or establishing it where it is not known. There has been such a systematic effort made to destroy, or, at least, to impoverish the exterior rites and practices of religion, that we find, throughout the world, thousands of christians who have been insensibly made strangers to those ad-

1 In hit Second Sermon on the Purification, i < Enarration* on St. Luke. mirable sentiments of faith, which the Church alone, in her Liturgy, can rive to the body of the Faithful. Thus, we shall be telling many what they have never heard before, when we inform them, that the Church blesses the Candles to-day, not only to be carried in the Procession, which forms part of the ceremony, but, also, for the use of the Faithful, inasmuch as they draw, upon such as use them with respect, whether on sea or on land, (as the Church says in the Prayer,) special blessings from heaven. These blest Candles ought, also, to be lit near the bed of the dying Christian, as a symbol of the immortality merited for us by Christ, and of the protection of our Blessed Lady.

As soon as all is prepared, the Priest goes up to the Altar, and thus begins the Blessing of the Candles. f. The Lord be with you. 19. And with thy spirit. f. Dominus vobiscum. I?. Et cam spiritu tuo.

LET US PRAY.

Holy Lord, Father Almighty and Eternal God, who didst create all things ont of nothing and by the labour of the bees, following thy commands, hast brought this liquor to the perfection of wax ; and who, on this day. didst accomplish the desire of the righteous Simeon; we humbly beseech thee, that by the invocation of thy most holy name, and bv the intercession of Blessed Mary, ever a Virgin, whose festival we this day devoutly celebrate, and by the prayers of all thy Saints, thou wouldst vouchsafe to bless and sanctify these candles, for the service of

ORBMU8.

Domine sancte, Pater omnipotent aeterne Dens, qui omnia ex nihilo creasti, et jussu tuo per opera apum hunc liquorem ad perfectionem cerei pervemre fecisti ; et qui nodierna die petitionem justi Simeonis implesti : te humiliter deprecamur, ut has candelas ad usus hominum, et sanitatem corporum et animarum, sive in terra, sive in aquis, per invocationem tuisancti Nominis, et per interces8ionem beatae Maria* semper Virignis, cujus hodie festa devote celebrantur, et per pieces omnium Sanctorum tuorum, bene-

536 chr dicere et sanctificare digneris ; et hujua plebis tu», quaB illas honorifice in ma* nibus desiderat portare, teque cantando laud are, exaudias voces de coelo sancto tuo, et de sede Majestatis tu» ; et propitius Bis omnibus clamantibos ad te, quos redemisti pretioso sanguine Filii tui, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti, Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorura. Rf. Amen.

0EEMU8.

Omnipotens, sempiterne Deus, qui, nodierna die, Unigenitum tuum, ulnis sancti Simeonis in Templo sancto tuo suscipiendum prsesentasti : tuam supplices deprecamur clementiam, ut has candelas, quas nos famuli tui, in tui Nominis magnificentiam suscipientes, gestare cupimus luce accensas, benedicere et sanctificare, atqne lumine supern© benedictionis accendere digneris ; quatenus eas tibi Domino nostro offerendo, digni et sancto igne dulcissimae charitatis tu» succensi, in Templo sancto gloria tuaa reprsesentari mereamur. Per eumdem Christum Dominion nostrum.

I?. Amen. men, and for the good of their bodies and souls in all

E laces, whether on sea, or on md ; and that thou wouldst please mercifully to hear from thy holy temple, and from the throne of thy majesty, the prayers of this thy people, who desire to carry them in their hands with reverence, and with sacred hymns to praise thy name; and show mercy to all that cry out unta thee, whom thou hast redeemed by the precious blood of thy beloved Son: who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. BJ. Amen.

LET US PEAT.

O Almighty and Eternal God, who on this day wast pleased that thy only Son should be presented in the temple, ana be received into the arms of holy Simeon : we humbly beseech thy mercy to bless, sanctify, and give the light of thy heavenly benediction to these candles, which we thy servants desire to carry in honour of thy name : that by offering them to thee, our Lord God, we may be inflamed by the fire of thy sweet love, and made worthy to be presented in the holy temple of thy glory. Through the same Christ our Lord. ty. Amen.

LET US PRAY.

Lord Jesus Christ, the true light, that enlighteneth every man that cometh into the * orld : pour forth thy blessing upon these candles, and sanctify them by the Hght of thy grace ; and grant in thy mercy, that as these candles, by their visible light, dispel the darkness of the night, so our hearts burning with invisible fire, and enlightened by the grace of the Holy Ghost, may be delivered from all blindness of sin : that the eye of our soul being purified, we may discern those things that are pleasing to thee, and beneficial to our souls : that after having finished the darksome passage of this life, we may come to never-fading joys, through thee, O Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world, who, in perfect Trinity, livest and reignest God, world without end.

I?. Amen.

LET US PEAY.

O Almighty and Eternal God, who, by thy servant Moses, oommandedst the

{rarest oil to be prepared for amps, continually to burn in thy presence, mercifully pour forth the grace of thy blessing on these candles : that as they supply us with visible light, so, by thy assistance, the light of thy Spirit may never be wanting inwardly in our souls. Through our Lord Jesus Christ thy Son, who

OltEMUS.

Domine Jesu Christe, lux vera, qu» illuminas omnem hominem venientem in hunc mundum : effunde benedictionem tuam super hos cereos, et sanctifica eos lumine gratiaa tuae -? et concede propitius, ut sicut haac luminaria, igne visibili accensa, nocturnas depellunt tenebras, ita corda nostra invisibili igne, id est Sancti Spiritus splendore illustrata, omnium vitiorum caecitate careant: ut purgato mentis oculo, ea cernere possimus quae tibi sunt placita, et nostrae saluti utilia j quatenus post hujus saecuh caliginosa discrimina, ad lucem indeficientem per* venire mereamur. Per te, Christe Jesu, Salvator mundi, qui in Trinitate perfecta vivis et regoas Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum. ty. Amen.

OREMUS.

Omnipoteos sempiterne Deus, qui per Moysen fatnulum tuum, purissimum olei liquorem ad luminaria ante conspectum tuum jugiter concinnanda praeparari jussis ti : benediction is tuae gratiam super hos cereos benignus infunde, quatenus sic ad minis trent lumen exterius ut, te donante, lumen Spiritus tui nostris non dealt mentibus interius. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum

Christum Filium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate ejusdem Spiritus Sancti, Deus, per omnia sascula saeculorum. 19* Amen.

ORBMUS.

Domine Jesu Christe, qui hodierna die, in nostra carnis substantia, inter homines apparens, a parentibus in Templo es praesentatus ; quern Simeon venerabilis senex, lumine Spiritus tui irradiatus, agnovit, suscepit, et benedixit: praasta propitius, ut ejusdem Spiritus Sancti gratia illuminati, atque edocti, te veraciter agnoscamus et fideliter diligamus. Qui cum Deo Patre, in unitate ejusdem Spiritus sancti, vivis et regnas, Deus, per omnia saecula sseculorum. ty. Amen.

Mveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the same Holy Spirit* God, world without end.

Amen.

LET US PRAT. .

Lord Jesus Christ, who appearing amongst men in the substance of our flesh, wast pleased this day to be presented in the temple by thy parents, and whom the venerable Simeon, enlightened by the Holy Ghost, publicly confessing, received in his arms, and blessed : mercifully grant that, being inspired and taught by the grace of the same Holy Spirit, we may sincerely acknowledge and faithfully love thee. Who with God the Father, in the unity of the same Holy Spirit, livest and reignest God, world without end.

19* Amen.

These five Prayers having been said, the Celebrant sprinkles the Candles with holy water, (saying the Asperges in secret,) and then incenses them; after which, he distributes them to both clergy and Laity. During the distribution, the Church — filled with emotion at the sight of these sacred symbols, which remind her of her Jesus — shares in the joyous transports of the aged Simeon, who, whilst holding the Child in his arms, confessed him to be the Light of the Gentiles. She chants his sweet Canticle,

1 In receiving the Candle, the Faithful should kiss first the Candle itself, a ad then the Priest's hand. separating each verse by an Antiphon, which is formed out of the last words of Simeon.

Ant. A Light to the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

Ant. Lumen ad revelationem gentium, et gloriam plebis tu» Israel

CANTICLE OF SIMEON.

(St. Luke, II)

Now thou dost dismiss thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word in peace.

Ant. A Light to the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel

Because my eyes have seen thy Salvation.

Ant. A Light to the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

Which thou Last prepared before the face of all peoples.

Ant. A Light to the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

Glory be to the Fatherland to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost

Ant. A Light to the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

Ajs it was in tne beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Ant. A Light to the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel

Nunc dimittis servum tuum, Domine : * secundum verbum tuum in pace.

Ant. Lumen ad revelationem gentium, et gloriam plebis tu» Israel.

Quia viderunt oculi mei : * Salutare tuum.

Ant. Lumen ad revelationem gentium, et gloriam plebis tu® Israel.

Quod parasti : * ante faciem omnium populorum.

Ant. Lumen ad revelationem gentium, et gloriam plebis tusB Israel.

Gloria Patri et Filio, * et Spiritui Sancto.

Ant. Lumen ad revelationem gentium, et gloriam plebis tu© Israel

Sicut erat in principio, et nunc et semper, * et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.

Ant. Lumen ad revelationem gentium, et gloriam plebis tuae Israel

After the distribution of the Candles, the following Antiphon, and verse of the 43rd Psalm, are sung.

Arise, O Lord, help us, and, for thy name's sake, deliver as.

Exsurge. Domine, adjuva nos, et liDera nos propter nomen tuum.

Ps. Deua, auribus nostria Ps. We have heard, O God, audivimua : patres nostri with oar ears : our fathers annuntiaverunt nobis. J. have declared unto us. f.

Gloria Patri. Exsurge. Glory, Arise.

If it be in the season of Septuagesima, there is also added by the Deacon, Flectamus genua, (Let us kneel dovm); to which the Subdeacon replies, Levate, (Arise).

OREMUS. LET US PRAY.

Exaudi, quaesumus, Do- Give ear, we beseech thee, mine, plebem tuam : et quad O Lord, to thy people ; that extrinsecus annua tribuis what we outwardly perform devotione venerari, interius by this yearly devotion, we assequi gratiae tuae luce con- may inwardly obtain the cede. Per Christum Domi- effects of, by the light of thy num nostrum. Amen. grace. Through, <&c.

THE PROCESSION.

Filled with holy joy, radiant with the mystic light, excited, like the venerable Simeon, by the impulse of the Holy Spirit — the Church goes forth to meet her Emmanuel It is this meeting which the Greek Church calls the Hypapante, under which name she also designates to-day's Feast. The Church would imitate that wondrous Procession, which was formed in the Temple of Jerusalem on the day of Mary's Purification. Let us listen to St. Bernard.

" On this day, the Virgin-Mother brings the Lord " of the Temple into the Temple of the Lord ; Joseph " presents to the Lord a Son, who is not his own, but " the Beloved Son of that Lord himself, and in whom " he is well pleased ; Simeon, the just man, confesses " Him for wnom he had been so long waiting ; Anna,

• Or Uypante.

• too, the widow, confesses him. The Procession of w this solemnity was first made by these four, which, w afterwards, was to be made, to the joy of the whole w earth, in every place and by every nation. Let us a not be surprised at its then being so little ; for He " they carried was Little 1 Besides, all who were in " it were just, and Saints, and perfect — there was not " a single sinner."1

And yet, let us join the holy procession. Let us go to meet Jesus, the Spouse of our souls, as did the Wise Virgins, carrying in our hands lamps burning with the flame of charity. Let us remember the command given us by our Lord : Let your loins be girt, and Lamps burning in your hands : and you yourselves like to men who wait for their Lord* Guided by faith, and enlightened by charity, we shall meet and know him, and he will give himself to us.

The holy Church opens her chants of this Procession with the following Antiphon, which is found, word for word, in the Greek Liturgy of this same Feast.

Ant. thalaraum tuum, Sion, et suscipe Re- Christum : amplectere Mariam, qu» est coelestis porta; ipsa enim portat Begem glorias novi luminis ; subsistit Virgo, addumanibus Filium ante luciferum genitum ; quern suas, praedicavit populis Dominum eum esse vit® et mortis etSalvatoremmundi.

Adorn thy bride- Ant. Adorna chamber, O Sion, and receive Christ, thy King. Salute Mary, gem the gate of heaven ; for she beareth the King of glory, who is the new Light. The Virgin stands, bringing in her hands her Son, the Begotten cens before the day-star : whom Simeon receiving intonis arms, accipiens Simeon in ulnas declared him to the people as the Lord of life and death, and the Saviour of the world,

Then is added the following Anthem, taken from the Gospel, and in which is related the mysterious meeting between Jesus and Simeon.

1 First Sermon On the Purification. • St. Luke, xii. 35, 36.

Ant. Reeponsum accepit Simeon a Spiritu Sancto, non visurum se mortem, nisi videret Christum Domini; et cum inducerent Puerum in Templum, acce-

Eit eum in ulnas suas, et enedixit Deum, et dixit: Nunc dimittis servum tuum, Domine, in pace. f. Cum inducerent puerum Jesum parentes ejus ut facerent secundum consuetudinem Legis pro eo, ipse accepit eum in ulnas suas.

Ant. Simeon had received an answer from the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Christ of the Lord ; and when his parents brought the Child into the Temple, he took him into his arms, and blessed God, and said : Now, thou dost dismiss thy servant, O Lord, in peace. f. When his parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law, he took him into his arms.

On re-entering the Church, the Choir sings the following Responsory : ty. Obtulerunt pro eo Domino par turturum, aut duos pullos columbarum: * Sicut scriptum est in Lege Domini f. Postquam impleti sunt dies purgationis Mariae, secundum legem Moysi, tulerunt Jesum in Jerusalem, ut sisterent eum Domioo. * Sicut scriptum est in Lege Domini Gloria Patri. * Sicut scriptum est

19. They offered for him, to the Lord, a pair of turtle doves, or two young pigeons :

• As it is written in the Law of the Lord. f. After the days of Mary's

Eurification, according to the iw of Moses, were accom-

Slished, they carried Jesus to erusalem, to present him to the Lord. * As it is written in the law of the Lord. Glory.

• As it is written.

After the Procession, the Celebrant and his Ministers put off their purple vestments, and vest in white for the Mass of the Purification. But if it be any of the three Sundays, Septuagesima, Sexagesima, or Quinquagesiraa, the Mass of the Feast is deferred till the morrow, as we have already explained litized by GOQgle

MASS.

In the Introit,the Church sings the glory of Jerusalem's Temple, that was this day visited by the Emmanuel. Great, indeed, to-day, is the Lord in the City of David, great is he on his mount of Sion. Simeon, the representative of the whole human race, receives into his arms Him that is the Mercy sent us by God. inteoit.

We have received thy mercy, O God, in the midst of thy temple : according to thy name, O God, so also is thy praise unto the ends of the earth : thy right hand is full of justice.

Ps. Great is the Lord, and exceedingly to be praised : in the City of our God, in his holy Mountain. p. Glory, &c. We have.

Suscepimus, Deus, misericordiam tuam in medio Templi tui : secundum Nomen tuum, Dens, ita et laus tua in fines terra : justitia plena est dextera tua.

Ps. Magnus Do minus et laudabilis nimis, in civitate Dei nostri, in monte sancto ejus. f. Gloria PatrL Suscepimus.

In the Collect, the Church prays that her children may be presented, as Jesus was, to the Eternal Father ; but, in order that they may meet with a favourable reception, she asks him to grace them with purity of heart

COLLECT.

O Almighty and Eternal God, we humbly beseech thy divine Majesty, that as thy Only Begotten Son, in the substance of our ilesh, was this day presented in the temple, so our souls being per-

Omnipotens sempiterne Deus Majestatem tuam supplies exoramus ut, sicut unigenitus Filius tuus, hodierna die, cum nostra carnis substantia in Teinplo est prasentatus, ita nos facias purificatis tibi mentibus fectly cleansed, may become a praesentari. Per euindein. pure oblation, and presented to thee. Through the same, dec.

EPISTLE.

Lectio Malachiae Prophets.

Cap. III.

Haec dicit Dominus Deus: Ecce ego mitto Angelum meum et praeparabit viam ante faciem meam. Et statim veniet ad Templum suum Dominator quern vos quaaritis, et Angelus testamenti quern vos vultis. Ecce venit, dicit Dominus exercituum ; et quis poterit cogitare diem adventus ejus ? et quis stabit ad videndum eum? Ipse enim quasi ignis conflans, et quasi nerba fullonum ; et sedebit conflans, et emundans argentum, et

Eurgabit filios Levi, et colait eos quasi aurum et quasi argentum: et erunt Domino onerentes sacrificia in justitia. Et placebit Domino sacrificium Juda et Jerusalem, sicut dies sseculi et sicut anni antiqui, dicit Dominus omnipotens.

Lesson from the Prophet Malachy.

Ch. III.

Thus saith the Lord God : Behold I send my angel, and he shall prepare the way before my face. And presently the Lord whom you seek, and the Angel of the Testament whom you desire, shall come to his Temple. Behold he cometh, saith the Lord of hosts : and who shall be able to think of the day of his coming ? and who shall stand to see him % For he is like a refining fire, and like the fuller's herb : and he shall sit refining and cleansing the silver, and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and shall refine them as gold, and as silver, and they shall offer sacrifices to the Lord in justice. And the sacrifice of Juda and Jerusalem shall please the Lord, as in the days of old, and in the ancient years, saith the Lord Almighty.

All the Mysteries of the Man-God have this for their object — the purifying of our hearts. He sends his Angel, (that is, his Precursor,) before his face, that he may prepare his way ; and we have heard this holy Prophet crying out to us, in his wilderness : Be hunwled, 0 ye hills ! and ye valleys, be ye filled up ! — At length, he that is the Angel, the Sent, by excellence, comes in person, to make a Testament, 01

FEB. 2. THE PURIFICATION: MASS.

Covenant, with us. He comes to his Temple, and this Temple is our heart. But, he is like a refining fire, that takes away the dross of metals. He wishes to renew us, by purifying us ; that thus we may be worthy to be offered to him, and with him, by a perfect sacrifice* We must, therefore, take care and not be satisfied with admiring these sublime Mysteries. We must hold this as a principle of our spiritual life — that the Mysteries brought before us, feast after feast, are intended to work in us the destruction of the old, and the creation of the new, man. We have been spending Christmas ; we ought to have been born together with Jesus; this new Birth is now at its fortieth day. To-day, we must be offered by Mary, (who is, also, our Mother,) to the Divine Majesty, as Jesus was. The moment is come for our offering, for it is the hour of the Great Sacrifice — let us redouble the fervour of our preparation.

In the Gradual, the Church again celebrates that sweet Mercy, who has appeared in the Temple of Jerusalem, and is about to show himself to us in this more perfect manifestation of the Holy Sacrifice.

GRADUAL.

Deus, misericordiam tuam in medio Templi tui : secundum tuum, Deus, ita et laus tua in fines terras,

We have received thy Mercy, Suscepimua, O God, in the midst of thy Temple : according to thy noname, O God, so also is thy men praise unto the ends of the earth.

V*. As we have heard, so % Sicut audivimus, ita et have we seen in the City of our vidimus in civitate Dei nos«

God, on his holy mountain. tri, in monte sancto ejus.

Alleluia, alleluia. Alleluia, alleluia.

% The old man carried the % Senex Puerum porta

Child : but the Child guided bat : Puer autem senem re- theoldman. Alleluia. gebat Alleluia.

If the season of Septuagesima be already begun, the Church, instead of the Alleluia- verse, sings the (2) 2 N following Tract, which is composed of the words of the venerable Simeon.

TRACT.

None dimittis servum tuum, Domine, secundum verbum tuum in pace.

JT. Quia viderunt oculi mei Salutare tuum.

% Quod paras ti ante faciem omnium populorum. f. Lumen ad revelationem gentium, et gloriam plebis tuaB Israel.

Now thou dost dismiss thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word in peace. y. Because my eyes have seen thy Salvation, f. Which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples. f. A Light to the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

GOSPEL.

Sequentia sancti Evangelii secundum Lucam. Cap. II.

In illo tempore: Post- 4uam impleti sunt dies

Surgationis Mariaa, secunum legem Moysi, tulerunt Jesum in Jerusalem, ut usterent eum Domino, sicut scriptum est in Lege Domini : Quia omne masculinum adaperiens vulvam, sanctum Domino vocabitur. Et ut darent hostiam, secundum quod dictum est in Lege Domini, par turturum, aut duos puilos columbarum. Et ecce homo erat in Jerusalem, cui nomen Simeon : et homo iste Justus et timoratus, exspectans consolationem Israel ; etSpiritus Sauctus erat in eo. Et responsum acceperat a Spiritu Sancto, non visurum se mortem nisi prius videret Christum Domini Et venit

Sequel of the holy Gospel according to Luke.

Ck II.

At that time : After the days of the purification of Mary, according to the law of Moses, were accomplished, they carried Jesus to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord. As it is written in the law of the Lord. Every male opening the womb shall be called holy to the Lord. And to offer a sacrifice according as it is written in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtle doves, or two young pigeons. And behold there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon, and this man was iust and devout waiting for the consolation of Israel : and the Holv Ghost was in him. And he had received an answer from the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. And he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when his parents brought in the Child Jeans, to do for him according to the custom of the law, he also took him into his arms, and blessed God, and said : Now thou dost dismiss thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word in peace. Because ray eyes have seen thy Salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples : a light to the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. in Spiritu in Templum. Et cum inducement puerum Jesum parentes ejus, ut facerent secundum consuetudinem Legis pro eo : et ipse accepit eum in ulnas sums, et benedixit Deum, et dixit : Nuncdimittis servuni tuum, Domine, secundum verbum tuum in pace; quia videruut ocuu mei Salutare tuum, quod parasti ante fadem omnium populorum, lumen ad revelaaonem gentium, et gloriam plebis turn Israel.

The Holy Spirit has led us to the Temple, as he did Simeon. There, we see the Virgin-Mother offering at the Altar her Son, who is the Son of God. We are filled with admiration at this fidelity, of the Child and his Mother, to the Law ; and we feel, in our hearts, a desire to be also presented to our Creator, who will accept our homage, as he accepted that offered him by his Divine Son. Let us, at once, put ourselves in those same holy dispositions, which filled the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. The salvation of the world has, this day, gained ground ; let the work of our individual sanctification also advance. From this Feast forward, the Mystery of the Infant-God will no longer be put before us, by the Church, as the special object of our devotion ; the sweet Season of Christmas will, in a few hours, have left us, and we shall have to follow our Jesus in his combats against our enemies. Let us keep close to our dear King. Let us ever keep Simeon's spirit, and follow our Redeemer, walking in His footsteps, who is our Light Let us love thus Light, and merit, by our fidelity in using it, that it unceasingly shine upon us.

During the Offertory, the Church speaks the praises of the grace put, by our Lord, on Mary's lips. She celebrates the favours poured out on Her, who was called by the Archangel, Blessed among women.

OFFERTORY.

Diffusa est gratia in labiis tuis ; propterea benedixit te Deus iu reternum, et in &»culum saeculi.

Grace is spread on thy lips : therefore hath God blessed thee for ever, and for ever,

SECRET,

Exaudi, Domine, preces nostras : et ut digna sint O munera, quae oculis tu» Ma- sistance jestatis onerimus, subsidium nobis tu® pietatis impende. Per Dominum.

Mercifully hear our prayers, Lord, and grant us the asof thy mercy, that what we offer to thy divine Majesty may be worthy to be accepted. Through, dec.

The Preface is that of Christmas, page 70.

After having distributed the Bread of Life — the Fruit of Bethlehem — which has been offered on our Altar, and has redeemed us from all our iniquities, the holy Church again reminds her children of the sentiments which filled Simeon's soul. But, in the Mystery of love, we not only, like Simeon, receive into our arms Him, who is the Consolation of Israel ; he enters into our very breast and soul, and there he takes up his abode.

COMMUNION.

Responsum accepit Simeon a Spiritu Sancto, non visurum se mortem, nisi videret Christum Domini.

Simeon received an answer from the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death till he beheld the Christ of the Lord.

Let us, in the Postcommunion, unite with the Church, in praying that the heavenly remedy of our regeneration may not only produce in our souls a passing grace, but may, by our fidelity, fructify in us to life eternal.

POSTCOMMUNION.

Quaasumus, Domine Dens noster, ut sacrosancta qu» pro reparations nostra munimine contulisti, intercedente beata Maria semper Virgine, et praeaens nobis remedium esse facias et futurum. Per Dominum.

We beseech thee, O Lord our God, that the sacred mysmysteries we have received to pre- teria, serve our new life, may, by the intercession of Blessed Mary, ever a Virgin, become a remedy to us both now and for the future. Through, dec.

SECOND VESPERS.

The Second Vespers of our solemnity are composed of the Psalms of our Lady's Office, which are sung to the Antiphons taken from the Gospel Having elsewhere explained why the Church has applied these five Psalms to our Lady, we give them without any commentary. The Hymn is the same as in First Vespers, — the Ave maris Stella — which ever brings such sweet consolation to our hearts, and is so pleasing to Mary. When we come to the Magnificat, let us sing it with those sentiments wherewith our Lady herself sang it, when the Holy Spirit inspired her with the Canticle.

Ant. Simeon, a just man, and one that feared God, waited for the redemption of Israel, and the Holy Ghost was in him.

Ant. Simeon justus et timoratus exspectabat redemptionem Israel, et Spiritus Sanctus erat in eo. psalm 109.

The Lord said to my Lord, his Son, Sit thou at my right hand, and reign with me.

Until, on the day of thy last coming, I make thy enemies thy footstool.

0 Christ I the Lord, thy Father\ will send forth the sceptre

Dixit Dominus Domino meo : * Sede a dextris meis.

Donee ponam inimicos tuos : * scabellum pedum tuorum.

Virgam virtutis tu» emittet Dominus ex Sion : * do- minare in medio inimicorum tuorum.

Tecum principinm in die virtutis tu», in splendoribus Banctorum : * ex utero ante luciferum genui te.

Juravit Dominus, et non poenitebit earn ; • tu es sacerdos in SBternum secundum ordinem Melchisedech.

Dominus a deztris tuis :

• confregit in die ir» suae reges.

Judicabit in nationibus, implebit ruinas : * conquassabit capita in terra multorum.

De torrente in via bibet :

• propterea exaltabit caput.

Ant. Simeon justus et timoratus exspectabat redemptionem Israel, et Spiritus Sanctus erat in ea

Ant. Responsum accepit Simeon a Spiritu Sancto, non viaurum se mortem, nisi videret Dominum. of thy power out of Sion : from thence, rule thou in the midst of thy enemies.

With thee is the principality in the day of thy strength, in the brightness of the Saints, for the Father hath said to thee: From the womb, before the day-star, I begot thee.

The Lord hath sworn, and he will not repent; he hath said, speaking oftheeJthe God- Man: Thou art a Priest for ever, according to the order of Melchisedech.

There/ore, 0 Father! the Lord, my Son, is at thy right hand : he hath broken kings in the day of his wrath.

He shall, also, judge among nations ; he shall fill the ruins of the world : he shall crush the heads in the land of many.

He cometh now in humility ; he shall drink, in the way, of the torrent of sufferings: therefore, shall he lift up the head.

Ant. Simeon, a just man, and one that feared God, waited for the redemption of Israel, and the Holy Ghost was in him.

Ant. Simeon received an answer from the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord. psalm 112.

Laudate pueri Dominum : * Laudate Nomen Domini.

Sit Nomen Domini bene* dictum : * ex hoc nunc et usque in sseculum.

A splis ortu usque ad oo-

Praise the Lord, ye chil dren : praise ye the name of the Lord.

Blessed be the name of the Lord : from henceforth, now, and for ever.

From the rising of the sun. to the going down of the same, the Name of the Lord is worthy of praise.

The Lord is high above all nations : and his glory above the heavens.

Who is as the Lord onr God. who dwelleth on high : ana looketh down on the low things in heaven and in earth 1 Nay, not content with this, he deigns to come down among us.

Raising tip, from his divine Crib, the needy, and lifting up the poor out of the dunghill.

That he may place him with princes : with the princes of nisjpeople.

Who maketh a barren woman to dwell in a house, the joyful mother of children.

Ant. Simeon received an answer from the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord.

Ant. Simeon taking the Child in his arms, Riving thanks, blessed the Lord. casum : Domini.

' laudabile Nomen

Excelsus super omnes Gentes Dominus : * et super coeloe gloria ejus.

Quis sicut Dominus Dent noster qui in altis habitat : * et humilia respicit in ccelo et in terra ?

Suscitans a terra inopem : * et de stercore erigens panperem.

Ut collocet eum cum principibus : * cum principibus populi sui

Qui habitare facit sterilem in domo : matrem fiiiorum lfiBtantein.

Ant. Besponsum accepit Simeon a Spiritu Sancto, non visum m se mortem nisi videret Dominum.

Ant. Accipieas Simeon Puerum in manibus, gratias agens benedixit Dominum. psalm 121.

I rejoiced at the things that were said to me : We shall go into the house of the Lord.

Our feet were standing in thy courts, O Jerusalem ! Our heart loves and con/ides in thee, 0 Mary!

Mary is like to Jerusalem, that is built as a City : which is compact together.

For thither did the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord : the testimony of Israel, to praise the name of the Lord.

Laetatus sum in his qu» dicta sunt mihi : * In domum Domini ibimus.

Stantes erant pedes nos tri : *in atriis tuis Jerusalem.

Jerusalem quae ssdificatur ut civitas : * cujus participate ejus in idipsum.

Illuc enim asoenderunt tribus, tribus Domini : * testimonium Israel ad confitendum nomini DominL

C^uia illic sederunt sedes in judicio : * sedes super domum David.

Rogate quae ad pacem sunt Jerusalem: * et abundantia diligentibus te.

Fiat pax in virtute tua : * et abundantia in turribus tuis.

Propter fratres meos et proximos meos : * loquebar pacem de te.

Propter domum Domini Dei nostri : * qu&sivi bona tibi.

ANt Accipiens Simeon Puerum in manibus, gratias agens benedixit Dorninum.

Ant. Lumen ad revelationem gentium, et gloriam plebis tu» Israel.

Because seats sat there in judgment: seats upon the house of David ; and Mary is of a kingly race.

Pray ye, through Mary% for the things that are for the peace of Jerusalem : and may abundance be on them that love thee, 0 Church of our God!

The voice of Mary: Let peace be in thy strength, 0 thou new Sum! and abundance in thy towers.

I, a Daughter of Israel, for the sake of my brethren, and of my neighbours, spoke peace of thee.

Because, of the house of the Lord, our God, I have sought good things for thee.

Ant. Simeon taking the Child in his arms, giving thanks, blessed the Lord.

Ant. A light to the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

P8AI.M 126.

Nisi Dominus aedificaverit domum : * in vanum laboraverunt qui sedificant earn.

Nisi Dominus custodierit civitatem : * frustra vigilat qui custodit earn.

Vanum est vobis ante lucem surgere : * surgite postquam sederitis, qui manducatis panem doloris.

Cum dederit dilectis suis somnum : * ecce haereditas Domini, filii, merces, fructus ventris.

Unless the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it

Unless the Lord keep the city, he watches in vain that keepeth it

It is vain for you to rise before light : rise after you have sitten, you that eat of the bread of sorrow.

When he shall give sleep to his beloved : behold the inheritance of the Lord are children ; the reward, the fruit of the womb.

FEB. 2. THE PURIFICAT

As arrows in the hands of the mighty, so the children of them that have been shaken.

Blessed is the man that hath filled his desire with them: he shall not be confounded, when he shall speak to his enemies in the gate.

Ant. A Light to the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

Ant. They offered for him, to the Lord, a pair of turtles, or two young pigeons.

Psalm

Praise the Lord, 0 Mary, tJiou true Jerusalem: 0 Mary, 0 Sion ever holy, praise thy God.

Because he hath strengthened against sin the bolts of thy gate : he hath blessed thy children within thee.

He hath placed peace in thy borders, and filletn thee with the fat of corn, with Jesus, who is the Bread of Life.

Who sendeth forth by thee his Word to the earth : his Word runneth swiftly.

Who giveth snow like wool: scattereth mists like ashes.

He sendeth his crystal like morsels ; who shall stand before the face of his cold ?

He shall send forth his Word, by Mary, and shall melt them: his spirit shall breathe, and the waters shall Tun.

Who declareth his Word to Jacob: his justices and his judgments to Israel. con : 2nd vespers. 553

Sicut sagitt» in manu potentis : * ita filii excussorum.

Beatus vir, qui implevit desiderium suum ex ipsis: * non confundetur cum loquetur inimicis suis in porta.

Ant. Lumen ad revelationem gentium, et gloriam plebis tu» Israel.

Ajjt. Obtulerunt pro eo Domino par turturum, aut duos pullos coUunibarum.

Lauda Jerusalem Do milium : * lauda Deum tuum Sion.

Quoniam confortavit seras portarum tuarum : * benedixit filiis tuis in te.

Qui posuit fines tuos pacem : * et adipe frumenti satiat te.

Qui emittit eloquium suum terrsB : * velociter currit sermo ejus.

Qui dat nivem sicut lanam : * nebulam sicut cinerem spargit.

Mittit crystallum suam sicut buccellas ; * ante faciem frigoris ejus qui sustinebit?

Emittet verbum suum, et liquefaciet ea: * flabit spiritus ejus, et fluent aqua.

Qui annuntiat verbum suum Jacob : * justitias, et judicia sua Israel.

Non fecit taliter omni nationi: * et judicia sua non manifestavit eis.

Ant. Obtulerunt pro eo Domino par turturum, aut duos pullos columbarum.

He hath not done in like manner to every nation : and his judgments he hath not made manifest to them.

Ant. They offered for him, to the Lord, a pair of turtles, or two young pigeons.

OAPITULUM.

(Malach. III.)

Ecce ego mitto Angelum meuni, et pneparabit viam ante faciem meam. Et statim veniet ad Templum sanctum suum Dominator, quern vos quaeritis, et Angelas testamenti, quern vos vultis.

Behold I send my Angel, and he shall prepare the way before my face. And presently the Lord, whom you seek, and the Angel of the testament, whom you desire, shall come to his Temple.

For the Hymn, Versicle, and Response, see page 530. antiphon OF THE Magnificat.

Ant. This day, the Blessed

Ant. Hodie beata Virgo Maria puerum Jesum praesentavit in templo ; et Simeon repletus Spiritu Sano to accepit eum in ulnas suas, et benedixit Deum in seternum.

Virgin Mary presented the Child Jesus in the Temple ; and Simeon, full of the Holy Ghost, took him in his arms, and blessed God for ever.

OKKMUS.

Omnipotens, sempiterne Deus, Majestatem tuam supplices exoramus: ut sicut unigenitus Filius tuus hodierna die cum nostras carnis substantia in Templo est prasentatus : ita nos facias purificatis tibi mentibus pnssentari. Per eumdem. lit us PBAY.

O Almighty and Eternal God, we humbly beseech thy divine Majesty, that as thy Only Begotten Son, in the substance of our flesh, was this day presented in the Temple : so our souls, being perfectly cleansed, may become a pure oblation, and presented to thee. Through the same, &c.

Let us now listen to the several Churches, celebrating, in their Liturgies, the Mystery of the Purification. We will begin with the Mozarabic Breviary, where we find the five following prayers, in which the Gothic Church of Spain offers to God the sentiments inspired into her by the example of holy Simeon.

O Almighty God, Father, and Lord ! grant peace unto thy faithful people ; that we may see, in tby Temple, thy Salvation, whom the just Simeon took into his arms : that thus He, who was the Light to the revelation of the Gentiles, may be the pardoner of the sins of them that believe. Amen.

Omnipotens Deus, Pater et Domine, largire credenti tuo populo pacem : ut in templo tuo videamus Salutare tuum; quern Simeon justus ulms suis accepit : ut, qui Lumen ad revelationem gentium exstitit, indultor criminum ipsemet credentium sentiatur. Amen.

Thou, 0 Lord, art salvation, and thine is salvation. We rejoice that thou hast given it unto us : we beseech thee that thou wilt grant it unto us, even to the end. Pour out, we beseech thee, thy blessing on thy people ; that so, the curse of our punishment may be removed, and we grow rich in the fruits of justice. Amen.

Tu eB, Domine, salus, et tua est salus : hanc gau demos in nobis largitam ; hanc etdam usque in finem a te

Setimus largiendam : effune, qusesumus, super populum tuum benedictionem tuam: ut privetur maledictio poenfB, et ditescat in nobis fructus justitiae. Amen.

PRATER.

Grant, O Lord, that, with Simeon's devotion, we may even sing his blessed words. May we? when thou so wiliest, be dismissed in peace, because we have seen, and believed in, thy Salvation. Dismiss us not from thyself, at the close of life ; but, setting us free from our debts, give us, in the end, to possess everlasting Peace. Amen.

Beatam, Domine, illam justi tui Simeonis vocem fac in nobis pari diligentia personare : ut quia vidimus et credimus Salutare tuum ; in pace, cum jusseris, dimittamur : non quo a te dim issos fines vitte accipiamus; sed, per te absolutos a debito, in fine pacem sempiternam possideamus. Amen.

Vidimus gloriam tuam, Domine, glonam quasi Unigenitum deitate, primogenitum munere: illic unicum Patris, Lie in fratribus primum: illic sequaliter subsistentem, et in sinu Patris manentem, hie socios non derelinquentem: largire ergo tuo fieri part ici pea regno, quibus es propitiates in mundo : quibusque advenisti prius redemptor, eziste in futuro remunerator. Amen.

We have seen thy glory, O Lord ! the glory as of the Only Begotten in Divinity, and the First Born in grace: in heaven, the Only Son of the Father ; on earth, the first among many brethren : in heaven, consubstantial with thy Father, and abiding in his bosom ; on earth, dwelling with them that thou madest like to thyself. Grant, therefore, that we, to whom thou didst show such mercy on earth, may share with thee in thy kingdom. Thou hast already been our Redeemer; be, in the life to come, our Remunerator. Amen.

Deus, qui in ezpiatione parientiuin, par turturum, vel duos pullos tibi offerri praecipis columbarum; in vivam nos p rae para host iam, qui pro nobis ipse factus es hostia : ut, qui legem implore venisti, non solvere, in nobis Evangelii gratiam digneris opulentius propagare. Amen.

O Qod, who didst command, that women, who had given birth to a child, should be purified by offering unto thee a pair of turtle doves, or two young pigeons : make us become a living victim to thee, who didst make thyself a victim for our aakes : that thus, thou, who earnest, not to destroy, but to fulfil, the law, mayest graciously infuse into us the nches of the grace of the Gospel.

The Ancient Liturgies contain but few Hymns on the Purification of the Blessed Virgin. One of these is the composition of St. Paulinus, the Patriarch of Aquileia, and is not without its merits.

HYMN.

Postquam Puell® dies As soon as the Maiden's quadragesimus forty days were accomplished,

Est adimpletusjuxta Legem according to the Law of the Domini, Lord, the Virgin Mary took

FEB. 2. THE PUBIFICATION. the Holy Child Jesus, the Only Begotten Son of the Eternal Father, into the Temple, carrying him in her saintly anna.

The Blessed Mother carried upon her most chaste bosom her God, who was hid under the veil of our flesh. Sweetly and fondly does she kiss the lips of Him that was true God and Man, and, at whose bidding, all things were made.

The Parents took two tender little milk-white doves, which they offered for their Jesus, and which, by the prescription of the Law, were consumed in a holocaust.

There lived in the City a Priest of God, who was humble, and meek exceedingly : he was just, and, though old, was without a fault : his name was Simeon, the happy, blessed, heavenlyminded Simeon, who, being full of the Holy Ghost, was urged by a divine impulse to enter the holy Temple.

He had, long ago. received an answer from the Holy Ghost, that he should not be loosed, by death, from the bonis of his flesh, until he had seen, in this present life, the Christ of the Lord, whom the Father was to send from his high throne*

Maria Virgo Jesum sanctum puerum Ulnis sacratis templi nunc in atriis Tulit, tremeudi Genitoris unicum. Mater beata carnis sub velamine Deum ferebat humeris cas- tissimis, Dulcia strictim basia sub labiis

Deique veri hominisque im- presserat Ori, jubente quo sunt cuncta condita. Duos parentes tulerunt candidulos Pullos columbse lacteolis plum a lis, Dedere in templo par pro eo turturum, Lcgis veluti promulgabat sanctio, Quales perustas consecra- rent hostias. Dei sacerdos humilis, mi- tissimus, Erat in urbe just us, senei optimus, Felix, beatus Simeon cceli- fluus,

Sanctoque plenus adfuit

Spiramine Sacra sub aula, nutu Dei concitus.

Hie namque dudum re- sponsum susceperat, Sancto docente Spintu, quod vinculo Mortis resolvi non possit d corpora, Donee videret Christum vi« vens Domini, Quern misit altis Genitor de soliis.

Susoepit ergo Pueram in manibus, Egit superno Qenitori gratiaa,

Ulnis retentan benedizit

Dominum, Amore plenos cordia cum dulcedine Addens et alto sermone sub- intulit: Dimitte taum, Domine, nunc obsecro, In pace servum, quia meis mend

Videre tuum Salutare visibus,

Quod pr®parasti pietate unica

Ante tuorum populorum fa* ciem.

Fulgensque lumen gentium in oculis, Gloriam plebi Israeli ger- minis ;

Positus hie est in ruinam scandali, Et in salutem Jacob stirpis aurea,

Donee secreta cordium se pollient Ipsius ecce tuam, sancta

Genitrix, Transibit ictus gladii per animam. Servabat alta mystica sub pec tore Maria, verba conferens ala- criter,

Dictis supernis credula fideliter.

Gloria Patri Jesu magni nominis, Et tibi, Nate Patris unigenite,

Dens, Doteatas, virtus super aethera ;

Receiving, therefore, the Child into nia hands, he gave thanks to the heavenly Father: and, as he held the Babe in his arms, he blessed his Lord- Then, also, with his heart teeming with love, he thus sweetly cried aloud :

" Dismiss thy servant. Lord 1 " dismiss me, I beseech thee, "in Peace, for I have now "seen, with mine eyes, the " Saviour thou hast, in won- "drous mercy, prepared be- " fore the face of every people*

44 He is the Light that is to " shine upon the Gentiles, and " bring glory to the people of 11 Israel* He is set for the fall " and the salvation of the rich " race of Jacob, as shall be seen 11 on the day when the secrets " of hearts shall be revealed.

44 Behold, O Holv Mother ! 44 thy own soul shall be pierced 44 with a sword F Mary heard these high mysterious words, pondering them joyfully in her heart, for she ever took the words of heaven with ready faith.

Glory be to the Father of our Ix>rd Jesus I And to thee, the Only Begotten Son of the Father, to thee, O God ! be power and heavenly virtue I And to the Holy Paraclete, be infinite praise, honour, and ampire, for endless ages. Amen.

Sancto per oinne saaculum

Paraclito Laus infinite, honor et im- perium. Amen.

Sequences for the Purification are as rare as Hymns, in the ancient Liturgies. The one we give here, is taken from the old Sequence-Book of the Monastery of St Gall, and was composed by Blessed Notker.

SEQUENCE.

This people, with one accord, venerates thee, O Mary 1 and honours thee with devout heart

Thou art the Daughter of the noble Abraham, and of the kingly race of David.

O Virgin of virgins ! thou wast pure above all creatures, most spotless in thy life, ana of surpassing beauty.

Be glad, Mother and Virgin most glorious! Thou didst believe what Gabriel the Archangel said unto thee — thou didst bringforth a Son, and yet wast a Virgin as before.

In the most precious Blood of this thy Son, the lost human race was cleansed, as God had promised unto Abraham.

The dry Rod of Aaron, that yielded a lovely flower, was a figure of thee, O Mary 1 who wast the Virgin-Mother of the Flower Divine.

Thou wast the ever-closed Gate, O Mary, of which Ezechiel speaks, and which was opened to none save only God.

But, on this day, wishing to give us an example worthy of the Mother of every virtue,

Concentu parili hie te, Maria, veneratur populus, teque piis colit corcQbus.

Generosi Abraha tu filia veneranda, regia de Davidis stirpe genita.

Sanctissima corpora, castissima moribus, omniumque pulcherrima, Virgo virgin urn.

Ltttare Mater et Virgo nobilis, Gabrielis Archangelico qu» oraculo credula, genuisti clausa filium.

In cujus sacratissimo sanguine emundatur university perditissima generis, ut promisit Dens Abrahaa.

Te Virga arida Aaron flore sneciosa prafigurat, Maria, sine viri semine nato floridauL

Tu porta jugiter serata, quam Ezechielis vox testatur, Maria : soli Deo pervia esse crederis.

Sedtu tamen matria virtutum dum nobis exemplum cupisti oominmwiaiw, subisti remedium pollatis statutum matribus.

Ad Templum deduxisti tecum mundandum, qui tibi integritatis decus Deus homo genitus adauxit, intacta Qenitrix.

L»tare, quam scrutator cordis et reuum probat habitatu proprio singpilariter dignam, sancta Maria.

Exsulta, cui parvulus arriflit tunc, Maria, qui laetari omnibus et consistere suo nutu tribuit

Ergo quique colimus f esta parvuii Ohristi propter nos tacti, ejusque piae Matris Marias,

Si non Dei possumus tantam exsequi tardi humilitatem, forma sit nobis ejus Qenitrix.

Laus Patri gloriae, qui suum Filium Gentibus et populo revelans, Israel nos sociat.

Laus ejus Filio, qui suo sanguine nos Patri reconcilians, supernis sociavit civibus.

Laus quoque Spiritui Sancto sit per aevum. Amen. thou didst subject thyself to the law which was made not but for the mothers of men.

O spotless Mother! thou didst bring with thee to the Temple, (as though he could be cleansed,) Him, who gave thee the splendour of thy virginity—thou didst bring with thee the God made Man.

Be glad, O Holy Mary! whom He, that searcheth the hearts and reins, found to be the only worthy dwelling of his majesty.

Rejoice, O Mary ! on whom the Little One, whose look gives joy and being to the. world, looked and smiled.

We, therefore, who celebrate the Feast of J esus, (become an Infant for our sakes,) and of his sweet Mother Mary,

Since we cannot, because we are weak, follow the wondrous humility of a God, let us take Mary as our model

Praise to the Father of glory, who hath united us all into one, by revealing his Son to both the Gentiles and his people of Israel

Praise to the Son, who hath given us fellowship with the citizens of heaven, by reconciling us, by his Blood, to the Father.

Praise, too, be for ever to the Holy Ghost. Amen.

The admirable Sequence we subjoin to this, is one of the finest written by Adam of Saint- Victor. We are indebted for it to Gautier, who was the first to publish it, in his beautiful edition of the great Lyric s poetical writings. But, besides the interest it has as being so fresh a treasure, our readers will find in it so much beauty, that we should not be surprised at their giving it the first place among all the Hymns to our Lady, written in the Middle- Ages.

SEQUENCE.

Let us adorn the temple of our souls, and, with new hearts, bring back again that old man's joy, whose longcherished wish is granted, as his arms press Jesus to his breast.

This Child is the Standard of the people, filling the Temple with light, our choirs with praise, and our hearts with jubilee. This day. is he presented in the Temple, and will, another day, when grown to manhood, be offered on the Cross, the offering for sin.

On one side Jesus, on the other Mary; here the sweet Infant, and there the sweet Mother;— oh I what a glad sight!— But let us devoutly carry within us that work of Light, which our lighted tapers symbolise.

The Father's Word is the light — his virginal flesh is the wax— our lighted taper is Christ himself, who enlightens our hearts with that wisdom, which rescues the sinner from the error of his way, and sets him on virtue's path.

He that holds Jesus by love, carries, as our Feast would have him do, the Candle blest with light. So did Simeon love the Father's Word, and fondly carry in his arms the Mother's Babe. (2)

Templum cordis adornemus,

Novo corde renovemus Novum senis gaudium, Quod dum ulnis amplexatur,

Sic long&vi recreatur Longum desiderium. Stans in signum popnlorum,

Templum luce, laude chorum,

Corda replens gloria, Templo Puer prasentatus, Post in cruce vir oblatus, Pro peccatis hostia.

Hinc Salvator, hinc Ma. ria,

Puer pius, Mater pia,

Moveant tripudium ; Sed cum votis perferatur Opus lucis, quod signatur Luce luminarium.

Verbum Patris lux est vera,

Virginalis caro cera,

Cnristi splendens cereus; Cor illustrat ad sophiam Qua virtutis rapit viam, Vitiis erroneus.

Christum tenens per amorem,

Bene juxta festi morem, Gestat lumen cereum : Sicut senex Verbum Patris Votis, strinxit pignus Maths Brachiis cor pore um. 2 o

Gaude, Mater genitoris. Simplex intus, munda f oris,

Carena ruga, macula ; A dilecto praelecta, Ab electo praedilecta Deo muliercola.

Omnia decor tenebrescit, Deformatur et horrescit

Tuum intuentibus : Omnis sapor amareacit, Beprobatur et sordescit Tuum pragustantibus.

Omnia odor redolere Non videtur, sed olere

Tuum odorantibus : Omnia amor aut deponi Prorsus solet, aut poatponi Tuum nutrientibua.

Decena maris luminare, Decus matrum aingulare, Vera parens veritatds, Via yit pietatia.

Medicina saeculi ; Vena vini fontia vitas, Sitienda cunctis rite, Sano dulcia et languenti, Salutaria fatiacenti Confortantis populi.

Fona aignate Sanctitate. Rivos funde, Noa infunde ; Fons hortorum Internorum, Riga montes Arescentes, Unda tui rivuli.

Fon redundans, Sia inundana ; Cordi prava Ouseque lava ; 1< ona aublimis, Munde nimis, Ab immundo Munda mundo Cor immundi populi

Amen*

Be glad, 0 Mother of tfy God ! 8impie,pure,unwrinklecL spotless Mother 1 O Maiden I chosen by the God of thy love, and loved by the God of thy choice.

All beauty is cloudy, deformed, and displeasing to him that has seen thine. All sweetness seems bitter, or false, or insipid, to the soul that has tasted of thine.

All fragrance,put near thine, prows faint or ioul ; all other love must quite cease, or be but after-thought, in hearts that feed on thine.

Beautiful Star of the seal Thou beautiful honour of all mothers 1 O true Mother of Truth ! 0 path of holy living ! O remedy of the world's ills 1 Source of the fount of that Wine of Life, for which all men should thirst, and whose strength-giving chalice is sweet to the healthy and the sick, and restores the drooping heart 1

O Fount sealed up in holiness! pour out on us thy streams 1—0 Fount of inner gardens! water, with thy rivulet's wave our parched and stony hearts I

Overflowing Fount ! flow out on us, and wash our hearts defilements. O Fount sublime, limpid above our thought 1 cleanse thy servants' hearts from an unclean world. Amen,

Now let us give ear to the sweet hymn of the Greek Church. She thus celebrates the Purification in her Mensea

IN HYPAPANTE DOMINI.

This day, Simeon receives into his arms the Lord of glory, whom, heretofore, Moses saw under a cloud, on Mount Sina, when he received the tables of the Law. This is he thatspeaks in the Prophets, and is the Maker of the Law. This is he whom David foretells : he is the terrible God : his mercy is great and exceeding rich.

O thou the Treasure of all ages, and the Life of all creatures ! thou, for my sake, becamest an Infant ; thou who, heretofore, didst engrave the Law on the Tables, on Sina, wast made under the Law, so to give all men freedom from the ancient servitude of the Law. Glory, O Jesus ! be to thy mercy. Glory be to thy kingdom! Glory be to thy dispensation, O thou the only lover of mankind 1

Mary, the Virgin-Mother of God, carries in her arms Him that is seated on the chariot of Cherubim, and is hymned in the songs of Seraphim : — Him that was made incarnate from her: — Him, the Lawgiver, who now is observing the ordinance of the Law. She gave him into the arms of the aged Priest, who, as he thus held the. Life, prayed to be loosed from life, saying: "Now, O Lord, dismiss me,

Hodie Simeon in brachiis Dominum gloriae recipit, quern sub nube olim Moyses contemplatus est in Sina visibili tabulas sibi dantern ; hie est qui in Prophetis loquitur et Legis factor ; hio est auem David annuntiat, hie in omnibus terribilis, hio habensmagnain ditissimamque misericordiam.

O thesaure saeculoruni, vita omnium, propter mo infans effectus es, sub lege f actus es tu qui ohm sculpsisti in tabulis legem in Sina, ut omnes solveres ab antiqua servitute legis, Gloria miserationi tu®, Salvator ; gloria regno tuo, gloria dispensationi tu», tu solus es pnilanthropus.

Ilium qui fertur in curru Cherubim et hymnificatur in canticis Seraphim, ferens ulnis Deipara Maria nuptinescia ex se incarnatum, legislatorem adimplen tern legis ordinem, deait manibus senis sacerdotis; ferens autem illeVitam, vit® deprecabatur solutionem diceus : Dumine, nuno dimitte me,ut nuntiem Adamo quia vidi immutabilem parvulum Deum, qui est

5G4 ante saecula, et Salvatorem xnundL

Procumbens senex et vestigiis intua insistens nuptinescite et Deimatris : Ignem, inquit, fers, o pura ; infante m cum t rem ore in brachiia portas Deum luminis inoccidui, pacisque Dominora.

Mundatur a Seraphim, dum accipit Isaias carbunculum, aiebat senex Deimatri ; tu autem manibus quasi manubrio accendis me, donana quern fers Luminis innoccidul pacisque Dominum.

Ad Deiparam curramus, o bonaa voluntatis, ad videndum illius Filium, quern ad Simeon ipsa deducit, quern e ccelo incorporati cernentes obstupescunt, dicentes : Mirabiiia videmus nunc, et incredibilia et incomprehensibilia. Qui Adam finxit olim portatur ut infans ; qui locum nescit collocatur in senilibua ulnis ; qui ineffabili versatur Patris sinu volens circumscribitur came et non divinitate, qui solus est philanthropus.

"that I may go tell Adam " how I have seen the immu- " table Qod, who is from all "eternity, made a Little "Child, and Saviour of the "world."

The old man prostrates, and following, in spirit, the steps of the Virgin-Mother of God, he says : " Thou art 'carrying "Fire, O pure one! Thy "trembling arms are bearing " the Infant, who is the God "of never-setting light, and " the Lord of peace."

" Isaias was cleansed when " he took from the Seranh the "burning coal," said the old man to the Mother of God : " but thou inflamest me with " the instrument of thy hands, " giving me Him thou holdest "—the Lord of Light, that " setteth not, and of peace."

O ye that are of good-will I let us all run to the Mother of God, to see her Child, whom she now gives to Simeon j which the heavenly Spirit* seeing, they say in deepest wonder: " This day, we behold " wonderful, incredible, in- " comprehensible, things. He, " that heretofore made Adamr " is carried as a Babe ! He, " whom no space may hold, ia " held in an old man's arms ! " He, that dwells in the bosom " of the Father, wills to haver " by flesh, the limits Divinity " could not have I Who but "God could bear towards " man such love as this I "

We adore and thank thee, 0 Emmanuel ! on this happy day, which saw thee enter into the Temple of thy Majesty, carried in the arms of thy incomparable Mother. Thou comest into the Temple, that thou mayest offer thyself for our sakea Thou deignest to be redeemed by the payment of a ransom, for, one day, thou hast to pay an infinite ransom for us. Thou comest, now, to offer a ceremonial sacrifice, because thou art soon to abolish every sacrifice by the one that alone is perfect. Thou enterest, to-day, into that Jerusalem, which is to be the place of thy passion and death. Our salvation urges thee on. Thou wast born for us, but thou art not satisfied ; and every gift of this thy fortieth day must needs bespeak the future proofs thou hast yet to give us, of the love thou bearest us.

O thou, the Consolation of Israel! on whom the Angels love to look ! thou enterest into the Temple, and they, who were living in expectation of theii Redeemer, redouble their hope. Oh! that we had something of that love, which burned in Simeon's heart, as he held thee in his arms ! All he lived for, nras to see thee, O Divine Infant ! and having seen thee, he longs to die. One brief moment's sight of thee makes him sleep in peace 1 What must it be to possess thee eternally, wnen a glance could satisfy the longings of a whole life !

But, O Saviour of our souls ! if Simeon was so satiated with this seeing thee presenting thyself for mankind in the Temple — how ought we to love thee, we who have seen the final consummation of thy Sacrifice ? The day will come, when, as thy devout servant Bernard expresses it, thou wilt be offered, not in the Temple and on Simeon's arms, but outside the City-gates and on the arms of the Cross. On that day, man will not offer up the blood of a victim for thee, but thyself wilt offer up thine own Blood for man. Now, it is the morning ; then, it will be the evening, sacrifice. Now, thou art in the age of Infancy ; then, thou wilt have attained the fulness of the age of Man; and having loved us from the beginning, thou wilt love us even unto the end.

What return shall we make to thee, O Divine Infant ! for thou bearest within thy heart, during this thy first offering, the same infinite love of us, wherewith thou wilt consummate thy last ? Can we do less than offer ourselves to thee, from this very day, and be wholly thine ? Thou givest thyself to us, in the Adorable Sacrament, with more perfection than thou didst give thyBelf to Simeon ; and we receive thee, not in our arms, but in our very breast. Dismiss us, dear Jesus ! break our chains. Give us thy Peace, and may we, like Simeon, enter now on a new life. In order to imitate thy virtues, and be united with thee, we have endeavoured, during this holy Season, to gain that humility and simplicity, which thou wishest to see within us. Assist us to persevere in the spiritual life, that, like thee, we may grow in age and wisdom, before both God and men.

And thou, 0 Mary ! purest of Virgins, and Mother blessed above all mothers! — 0 Daughter of the Prince ! how beautiful are thy steps, on this day of thy Purification, when thou enterest the Temple, with our Jesus in thy arms ! Who could tell the joy, and the humility, of thy maternal heart, in this offering thou makest to the Eternal Father of his and thy Son ? Looking around on the mothers, who have come for their own purification on this same day, thou rejoicest at the thought, that the babes, they are now presenting in the Temple, will one day see and know thy Jesus, their Saviour. What a privilege, that these Children should be presented to the Lord together with thine ! What honour for these mothers, that they should be purified in thy holj company! If the Temple is glad at seeing enter within its walls the God, in whose honour it has been

» St. Lake, ii. 52. • Cant. vii. 1. built — part of its joy, is to see him throned there in thy arms, who art the holiest of creatures, the one child of Eve that has never known sin, the Virgin- Mother of this God.

But, whilst humbly keeping within thyself the secrets of the Eternal Father, and mingled in the throng of these Hebrew mothers — the holy Simeon advances towards thee, O Mary ! Knowing that the Holy Ghost has revealed the mystery to him, thou affectionately placest in his hands the God of heaven and earth, who has come to be the Consolation of Israel. The holy Anna, too, approaches thee, and thou lovingly receivest her. Perhaps, in thy younger years, thou hadst received from her, in this very Temple, the affection and care of a second mother. Thy heart thrills with delight, at hearing these two venerable Saints extolling God's faithfulness to his

Sromises, and the glory of thy Child, and the splenour of the Light which is now to be shed fortn on all nations. The happiness of thus hearing the praises of the God, who is thy Child, fills thee with joy and thankfulness — but oh 1 what a sword of grief pierces thy heart, dear Mother, at the words of Simeon as he gives thee back thy Babe ! Henceforth, thou must weep as often as thou lookest on Him ' He is to be a sign of contradiction, and the wounds men are to give him are to wound thy soul ! The blood of victims like these, that are now being offered in the Temple, shall cease to flow, and be changed for the Blood of thy Jesus !

O Mother of Sorrows ! we were the cause of all this. It was our sins, that changed thy joy into mourning. And yet, thou lovest us, because thy J esus loves us I Love us now and for ever. Intercede for us with thy Son. Pray, that we may never lose tin graces granted us during these forty happy days.

1 St. Luke. ii. 34.

These graces drew us to the Crib of thy Child, and thy affection for us encouraged to stay. We are resolved to maintain our position near this Jesus, following him through all the Mysteries which are now to succeed this of his Infancy. We are resolved to be faithful disciples of this dear Master, and follow him, as thou didst, even to the foot of that Cross, which was revealed to thee on this day.