Chapter the Sixth on Holy Communion During Lent

that his own unworthiness is more than ever evident to him, ought he to abstain from partaking, by holy

Communion, of this life-giving and purifying Host ?

Such is not our Saviour's will. He came down from heaven, not to judge, but to save us. He knows how long and rugged is the road we have to traverse, before we reach that happy day, on which we shall rest with Him, in the joy of His Resurrection. He has compassion on us ; He fears lest we faint in the way ; and He, therefore, offers us the divine food, which gives light and strength to our souls, and refreshes them in their toil. We feel that our hearts are not yet pure enough ; let us then, with a humble and contrite heart, go to Him, who has come that

He may restore to our souls their original beauty.

Let us, at all times, remember the solemn injunction which this Saviour so graciously deigned to give us :

' Except ye eat the Flesh of the Son of Man, ye shall not have life in you.'3

If, therefore, sin has no longer dominion over us ; if we have destroyed it by true sorrow and sincere confession, made efficacious by the absolution of God's priest : let us not deprive ourselves of the Bread of life, no matter how great soever our infirmities may seem ; for it is for us that our Jesus has prepared the feast. If we feel that the chains of sin are still upon

• St. John iii. 17. 2 St. Matt. xv. 32.

3 St. John vi. 54. 4 St. John vi. 35.

ON HOLY COMMUNION us ; if by self-examination made with the light of the truth that is now granted to us, we discover in our souls certain stains, which the false principles of the world and too easy a conscience have hitherto made us overlook ; let us lose no time, let us make a good confession : and when we have made our peace with the God of mercy, let us approach the holy Table, and receive the pledge of our reconciliation.

Yes, let us go to holy Communion, during this season of Lent, with a most heart-felt conviction of our unworthiness. It may be that hitherto we have sometimes gone with too much familiarity, on account of our not sufficiently understanding our nothingness, our misery, and the infinite holiness of the God who thus unites Himself with His sinful creatures. Henceforth, our heart shall be more truthful ; blending together the two sentiments of humility and confidence, we will say, with an honest conviction, those words of the centurion of the Gospel, which the Church puts upon our lips, when she is distributing to us the Bread of life : ' Lord, I am not worthy that Thou shouldst enter under my roof ; say but the word, and my soul shall be healed.'1

We will here give, as usual, acts which may serve as a preparation for holy Communion during these weeks of Lent. There are souls that feel the want of some such assistance as this ; and, for the same reason, we will add a form of thanksgiving for after Communion.

BEFORE COMMUNION

ACT OF FAITH

The signal grace which thou, 0 my God, hast granted to me, that I should know the wounds of my soul, has revealed to me the greatness of my misery. I have been taught how deep was the darkness that covered me, and how much I

1 St. Matt. yiii. 8.

LENT needed thy divine light. But whilst the torch of faith has thus shown me the abyss of my own poor nature, it has also taught me how wonderful are the works, which thy love of thy ungrateful creature has made thee undertake, in order that thou mightest raise him up and save him. It is for me thou didst assume my human nature, and wast born at Bethlehem ; it is for me that thou fastest forty days in the desert ; it is for me that thou art soon to shed thy Blood on the cross. Thou commandest me to believe these miracles of thy love. I do believe them, 0 my God, humbly and gratefully. I also believe, and with an equally lively faith, that in a few moments thou art to give thyself to me in this ineffable mystery of holy Communion. Thou sayest to me : ' This is my Body, this is my Blood *: — thy word is enough ; in spite of my un worthiness seeming to forbid the possibility of such Communion, I believe, I consent, I bow me down before thine infinite truth. Oh ! can there be Communion between the God of all holiness and a sinner such as I ? And yet thou assurest me that thou art verily coming to me ! I tremble, 0 eternal Truth, but I believe. I confess that thy love of me is infinite, and that having resolved to give thyself to thy poor and sinful creature, thou wilt suffer no obstacle to stand in thy way !

During the season just past, I have often contemplated,

0 my Jesus, thy coming from thy high throne into the bosom of Mary, thy uniting thy divine Person to our weak mortal nature, and thy being born in the crib of a poor stable: and when I thought on these humiliations of my God, they taught me not only to love thee tenderly, but to know also my own nothingness, for I saw more clearly what an infinite distance there is between the creature and his Creator ; and seeing these prodigies of thy immense love, I gladly confessed my own vileness. But now, dearest Saviour,

1 am led to consider something far more humiliating than the lowliness of my nature. That nothingness should be but nothingness, is not a sin. No ; it is my sins that appal me. Sin has so long tyrannized over me ; its consequences are still upon me ; it has given me such dangerous tendencies ; and I am so weak in resisting its bidding. When my first parent sinned, he hid himself, lest he should meet thee ; and thou biddest me come unto thee, not to sentence me to the punishment I deserve, but to give me, oh ! such a mark of love — union with thyself ! (Dan this be ? Art thou not the infinitely holy God ? I must needs yield, and come, for thou

ACT OF HUMILITY

BEFORE COMMUNION art my sovereign Master, and who is there that dares resist thy will ? I come, then, humbling myself, even to my very nothingness, before thee, and beseeching thee to pardon my coming, for I come because thou wilt have it so.

ACT OP CONTRITION

And shall I, 0 my Jesus, confess thus the grievousness and multitude of my sins, without promising thee to sin no more ? Thou wishest this sinner to be reconciled with thee, thou desirest to press him to thy sacred Heart : and could he, whilst thanking thee for this thy wonderful condescension, still love the accursed cause which made him thine enemy ? No, my infinitely merciful God, no ! I will not, like my first parent, seek to escape thy justice, but, like the prodigal son, I will arise and go to my Father ; like Magdalene, I will take courage and enter the banquet-hall ; and, though trembling at the sight of my sins, I will comply with thy loving invitation. My heart has no further attachment to sin, which I hate and detest as the enemy of thy honour and of my own happiness. I am resolved to shun it from this time forward, and to spare no pains to free myself from its tyranny. There shall be no more of that easy life which chilled my love, nor of that studied indifference which dulled my conscience, nor of those dangerous habits which led me to stray from my loyalty to thee. Despise not, 0 God, this my humble and contrite heart.

ACT OF LOVE

Such is thy love for us in this world, 0 my Jesus, that, as thou thyself sayest, thou hast come not to judge, but to save. I should not satisfy thee, in this happy Communion hour, were I to offer thee but this salutary fear which has led me to thy sacred feet, and this shame-stricken conscience which makes me tremble in thy holy presence. The visit thou art about to pay me is a visit of love. The Sacrament, which is going to unite me to thee, is the Sacrament of thy love. Thou, my good Shepherd, hast said that he loves most, who has been forgiven most. My heart then must dare to love thee ; it must love thee with all its warmth ; the very recollection of its past disloyalty must make its loving thee doubly needful and doubly fervent. Ah ! sweet Lord ! See this poor heart of mine ; strengthen it, console it, drive away its fears, make it feel that thou art its Jesus ! It has come back to thee, because it feared thee ; if it love thee, it will never again leave thee.

LENT

And thou, 0 Mary, refuge of sinners, help me to love him, who is thy Son, and our Brother. Holy angels ! ye who live eternally on that love which has never ceased to glow in your mighty spirits, remember, I reverently pray you, that this God created me, as he did you, that I might love him. All ye holy saints of God ! I beseech you, by the love wherewith ye are inebriated in heaven, graciously give me a thought, and prepare now my heart to be united with him. Amen.

Thou art here within me, great God of heaven ! Thou art, at this moment, residing in a sinner's heart ! I, yea, I, am thy temple, thy throne, thy resting-place ! How shall I worthily adore thee, who hast deigned to come down into this abyss of my lowliness and misery T The angels veil their faces in thy presence ; thy saints lay their crowns at thy feet ; and I, that am but a sinful mortal, how shall I sufficiently honour thee, 0 infinite Power, infinite Wisdom, infinite Goodness ? This soul, wherein thou art now dwelling, has presumed so many times to set thee at defiance, and boldly disobey and break thy commands. And thou canst come to me after all this, and bring all thy beauty and greatness with thee! What else can I do, but give thee the homage of a heart, that knows not how to bear the immensity of the honour thou art now lavishing on me T Yes, my own wonderful and loving God, I adore thee ; I acknowledge thee to be the sovereign Being, the Creator and preserver of all creatures, and the undisputed Master of everything that belongs to me. I delightedly confess my dependence on thee, and offer thee, with all my heart, my humble service.

Thy greatness, 0 my God, is infinite ; but thy goodness to me is incomprehensible. Thy being now present within this breast of mine is, I know, a proof of that immense power which shows itself where and when it wills; but it is also a mark of thy love for me. Thou hast come to my soul, that thou mayst be closely united with her, comfort her, give her a new life, and bring her all good things. Oh ! who will teach me how to value this grace, and thank thee for it in a becoming way ? But how shall I hope to

AFTER COMMUNION

ACT OF ADORATION

ACT OF THANKSGIVING

AFTER COMMUNION value it as I ought, when I am not able to understand either the love that brings thee thus within/me, or my own need of having thee ? And when I think of my inability to make thee a suitable return of thanks, I feel as though I can give thee nothing but my speechless gratitude. Yet thou wiliest that this my heart, poor as it is, should give thee its thanks ; thou takest delight in receiving its worthless homage. Take it, then, my loving Jesus ! I give it thee with all possible joy, and beseech thee to reveal unto me the immensity of thy gift, and to enrich me more that I may give thee more.

But nothing will satisfy thee, 0 my infinite Treasure, unless I give thee my love. Thou hast ever loved me, and thou art still loving me ; I must love thee in return ! Thou hast borne with me, thou hast forgiven me, thou art, at this moment, overpowering me with honour and riches ; and all this out of love for me ! The return thou askest of me, is my love. Gratitude will not content thee, thou wilt have my love ! But Jesus, my dear Jesus ! — my past life — the long years I have spent in offending thee — rise up before me, and tell me to hide myself from thee ! And yet, whither could I go without carrying thee within me, for thou hast taken up thine abode in my inmost soul ? No, I will not run from thee ! I will summon all the energies of my heart, to tell thee that I love thee; that thy love for me has emboldened me ; that I belong to thee ; that I love thee above all else that I love ; and that, henceforth, all my joy and happiness shall be in pleasing thee, and doing whatsoever thou askest of me.

I know, dear Jesus, that what thou askest of me is not the passing sentiment of a heart excited by the thought of thy goodness towards it. Thou hast loved me from eternity ; thou lovedst me, even when I was doing nothing for thee; thou hast given me light to know my miseries.; thou hast shielded me against thine own angry justice ; thou hast mercifully pardoned me a countless number of times ; thou art even now embracing me with tenderest love : and all these works of thy almighty hand have been but for one end — to make me give myself to thee, and live, at last, for thee. It is this thou wouldst obtain of me, by granting me this precious earnest of thy love, which I have just received. Thou hast said, speaking of this ineffable gift : ' As I live

ACT OF LOVE

ACT OF OBLATION

LENT by the Father, so he that eateth me, the same also shall live by me.'1 Henceforth, 0 Bread which came down from heaven ! thou art the source of my life. Now, more than ever, my life belongs to thee. I give it unto thee. I dedicate unto thee my soul, my body, my faculties, my whole being. Do thou direct and govern me. I resign myself entirely into thy hands. I am blind, but thy light will guide me ; I am weak, but thy power will uphold me ; I am inconstant, but thy unchangeableness will give me stability. I trust unreservedly in thy mercy, which never abandons them that hope in thee.

0 Mary ! pray for me, that I lose not the fruit of this visit. Holy angels ! watch over this dwelling-place of your Lord, which he has so mercifully chosen : let nothing defile it. 0 all ye saints of God ! pray for the sinner, unto whom he has given this pledge of his divine pardon.

CHAPTER THE SEVENTH

ON THE OFFICE OF VESPEBS FOR SUNDAYS AND FEASTS DURING LENT

The Office of Vespers, or Evensong, consists firstly of the five following psalms and antiphons. According to our custom, we preface each psalm with a short explanation, in order to draw attention to what is most in harmony with the spirit of Lent.

After the Paler and Ave have been said in secret, the Church commences this Hour with her favourite supplication :

V. Deus, in adjutorium V. Incline unto my aid, O meum intende. God.

R. Domine, ad adjuvan- R. 0 Lord, make haste to dtim me festina. help me.

Gloria Patri, et Pilio, et Glory be to the Father,

Spiritui sancto. and to the Son, and to the

Holy Ghost.

1 St. John vi. 58. -. 2 Ibid. 51.

Sicut erat in principio, et As it was in the beginning, nunc et semper, et in saecula is now, and ever shall be, saeculorum. Amen. world without end. Amen.

Laus tibi, Domine, Bex Praise be to thee, 0 Lord, seternae gloriae. King of eternal glory.

Ant. Dixit Dominus. Ant. The Lord said.

The first psalm is a prophecy of the future glory of the Messias. It shows us His triumph ; after His humiliations and His cross, the Man-God shall sit on the right hand of His Father. Moreover, He is to come again into this world, to judge it, and to crush the proud heads of sinners. While thus celebrating His glory, let us not forget His justice. psalm 109

Dixit Dominus Domino meo : * Sede a dextris meis.

Donee ponam inimicos tuos: * scabellum pedum tuorum.

Virgam virtutis tuae emittet Dominus ex Sion: * dominare in medio inimicorum tuorum.

Tecum principium in die virtutis tuae in splendoribus sanctorum: * ex utero ante luciferum genui te.

Juravit Dominus et non pcenitebit eum : * Tu es Sacerdos in aeternum secundum ordinem Melchisedech.

Dominus a dextris tuis : * confregit in die irae suae reges. . •

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/ the Lord, thy Father, will send forth the sceptre 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 of thee, the Qod- Man : Thou art a Priest for ever, according to the order of Melchisedech.

Therefore, 0 Father, the Lord, thy Son, is at thy right hand : he hath broken kings in the day of his wrath.

LENT

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

De torrente in via bibet : * propterea exaltabit caput.

Ant. Dixit Dominus Domino meo, sede a dextris meis.

Ant. Fidelia.

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

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

Ant. The Lord said to my Lord, sit thou at my right hand.

Ant. Faithful

The following psalm commemorates the mercies of God to His people, the promised Covenant, the Redemption, His fidelity to His word. But it also tells us that the name of the Lord is terrible because it is holy ; and concludes by telling us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

Confitebor tibi, Domine, in to to corde meo : * in consilio justorum et congregatione.

Magna opera Domini: * exquisita in omnes voluntatis ejus.

Confessio et magnificentia opus ejus: * et justitia ejus manet in sseculum saeculi.

Memoriam fecit mirabilium suorum, misericors et miserator Dominus : * escam dedit timentibus se.

Memor erit in saeculum testamenti sui: * virtutem operum suorum annuntiabit populo suo.

M 110

I will praise thee, 0 Lord, with my whole heart : in the council of the just, and in the congregation.

Great are the works of the Lord: sought out according to all his wills.

His work is praise and magnificence : and his justice continueth for ever and ever.

He hath made a remembrance of his wonderful works, being a merciful and gracious Lord : he hath given food to them that fear him.

He will be mindful for ever of his covenant with men : he will show forth to his people the power of his works.

Ut det illis haereditatem Gentium : * opera manuum ejus Veritas et judicium.

Fidelia omnia mandata ejus, confirmata in saeculum saeculi: * facta in veritate et sequitate.

Redemptionem misit populo suo: * mandavit in aeternum testamentum suum.

Sanctum et terribile nomen ejus: * initium sapientiae timor Domini.

Intellectus bonus omnibus facientibus eum: * laudatio ejus manet in saeculum saeculi.

Ant. Fidelia omnia mandata ejus; confirmata in saeculum saeculi.

Ant. In mandatis.

That he may give them, his Church, the inheritance of the Gentiles: the works of his hands are truth and judgment.

All his commandments are faithful, confirmed for ever and ever : made in truth and equity.

He hath sent redemption to his people : he hath thereby commanded his covenant for

Holy and terrible is his name : the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

A good understanding to all that do it: his praise continueth for ever and ever.

Ant. Faithful are all his commandments ; confirmed for ever and ever.

Ant. In his commandments.

The next psalm sings the happiness of the just man, and his hopes on the day of his Lord's coming. It tells us, likewise, of the confusion and despair which will torment the sinner, who, during life, was insensible to his own interests, and deaf to the invitations made him by the Church.

Beatus vir, qui timet Dominum: * in mandatis ejus volet nimis.

Potens in terra erit semen ejus: * generatio rectorum benedicetur.

Gloria et divitise in domo ejus: * et justitia ejus manet in saeculum saeculi.

[ 111

Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord ; he shall delight exceedingly in his commandments.

His seed shall be mighty upon earth; the generation of the righteous shall be blessed.

Glory and wealth shall be in his house : and his justice remaineth for ever and ever.

LENT

To the righteous a light is risen up in darkness : he is merciful, and compassionate, and just.

Acceptable is the man that showeth mercy and lendeth ; he shall order his words with judgment : because he shall not be moved for ever.

The just shall be in everlasting remembrance : he shall not fear the evil hearing.

His heart is ready to hope in the Lord ; his heart is strengthened; he shall not be moved until he look over his enemies.

He hath distributed, he hath given to the poor ; his justice remaineth for ever and ever: his horn shall be exalted in glory.

The wicked shall see, and shall be angry ; he shall gnash with his teeth, and pine away: the desire of the wicked shall perish.

Ant. In his commandments he delighteth exceedingly.

Ant. May the name of the Lord.

The psalm Laudate pueri is a canticle of praise to the Lord, who, from His high heaven, has taken pity on the fallen human race, and facilitated its return to its Maker.

Exortum est in tenebris lumen rectis: * misericors, et miserator, et just us.

Jucundus homo, qui miseretur et commodat, disponet sermones suos in judicio : * quia in seternum non commovebitur.

In memoria aeterna erit justus * ab auditione mala non time bit.

Paratum cor ejus sperare in Domino, confirmatum est cor ejus: * non oommovebitur donee despiciat inimicos suos.

Dispersit, dedit pauperibus, justitia ejus manet in saeculum saecuti : * cornu ejus exaltabitur in gloria.

Peccator videbit, et irascetur, dentibus suis fremet et tabescet; * desiderium peccatorum peribit.

Ant. In mandatis ejus cupit mis.

Ant. Sit nomen Domini.

PSALM 112

Laudate, pueri, Dominum : Praise the Lord, ye chil- * laudate nomen Domini. dren : praise ye the name of the Lord.

Sit nomen Domini bene- Blessed be the name of the dictum: * ex hoc nunc et Lord: from henceforth now usque in saeculum. and for ever.

A solis ortu usque ad occa- From the rising of the sun sum : * laudabile nomen Domini.

Excelsus super omnes gentes Dominus: * et super coelos gloria ejus.

Quis sicut Dominus Deus noater qui in altis habitat : * et humilia respioit in coelo et in terra ?

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

Ut oollocet eum cum principibus: * cum principibus populi sui.

Qui habitare facit sterilem in domo: * matrem filiorum laetantem.

Ant. Sit nomen Domini benedictum in saecula.

Ant. Nos qui vivimus. unto 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 our God, who dwelleth on high: and looketh down on the low things in heaven and in earth?

Raising up the needy from the earth : and lifting up the poor out of the dunghill.

That he may place him with princes : with the princes of his people.

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

Ant. May the name of the Lord be for ever blessed.

Ant. We that live.

The fifth psalm, In ezitu, recounts the prodigies witnessed under the ancient Covenant : they were figures, whose realities are to be accomplished in us, if we will but return to the Lord our God. He will deliver Israel from Egypt, emancipate the Gentiles from their idolatry, and pour out a blessing on every man who will consent to fear and love the Lord.

In exitu Israel de Mgypto : * domus Jacob de populo barbaro.

Facta est Judaea sanotificatio ejus: * Israel potestas jus.

Mare vidit, et fugit : * Jordanis conversus est retrorsum.

Montes exsultaverunt ut arietes : * et colles sicut agni ovium.

E 113

When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a barbarous people.

Judea was made his sanctuary, Israel his dominion.

The sea saw and fled ; Jordan was turned back.

The mountains skipped like rams : and the hills like the lambs of the flock.

LENT

Quid est tibi, mare, quod fugisti: * et tu, Jordanis, quia conversus es retrorsum ?

Montes exsultastis sicut arietes : * et colles sicut agni ovium ?

A facie Domini mota est terra : * a facie Dei Jacob.

Qui convertit petram in stagna aquarum : * et rupem in fontes aquarum.

Non nobis, Domine, non nobis: * sed nomini tuo da gloriam.

Super misericordia tua, et veritate tua: * nequando dicant gentes: Ubi est Deus eorum T

Deus autem noster in ccelo: * omnia qusecumque voluit fecit.

Simulacra gentium argentum et aurum : * opera manuum hominum.

Os habent, et non loquentur : * oculos habent, et non videbunt.

Aures habent et non audient : * nares habent et non odorabunt.

Manus habent et non palpabunt, pedes habent et non ambulabunt: * non clamabunt in gutture suo.

Similes illis fiant qui faciunt ea: * et omnes qui confidunt in eis.

Domus Israel speravit in Domino: * adjutor eorum, et protector eorum est.

What ailed thee, 0 thou sea, that thou didst flee : and thou, 0 Jordan, that thou wast turned back ?

Ye mountains that ye skipped like rams: and ye hills like lambs of the flock T

At the presence of the Lord the earth was moved, at the presence of the God of Jacob.

Who turned the rock into pools of water, and the stony hills into fountains of waters.

Not to us, 0 Lord, not to us: but to thy name give glory.

For thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake : lest the Gentiles should say: Where is their God?

But our God is in heaven : he hath done all things whatsoever he would.

The idols of the Gentiles are silver and gold : the works of the hands of men.

They have mouths, and speak not: they have eyes, and see not.

They have ears, and hear not: they have noses, and smell not.

They have hands, and feel not: they have feet, and walk not: neither shall they cry out through their throat.

Let them that make them become like unto them : and all such as trust in them.

The house of Israel hath hoped in the Lord: he is their helper and their protector.

Domus Aaron speravit in Domino : * adjutor eorum, et protector eorum est.

Qui timent Dominum, speraverunt in Domino: * adjutor eorum, et protector eorum est.

Dominus memor fuit nostri : * et benedixit nobis.

Benedixit domui Israel: * benedixit domui Aaron.

Benedixit omnibus qui timent Dominum : * pusillis cum majoribus.

Adjiciat Dominus super vos: * super vos, et super filios vestros.

Benedicti vos a Domino : * qui fecit ccelum et terram.

Coelum coeli Domino : * terram autem dedit filiis hominum.

Non mortui laudabunt te, Domine : neque omnes qui descendunt in infernum.

Sed nos qui vivimus, benedicimus Domino: * ex hoc nunc et usque in saeculum.

Ant. Nos qui vivimus, benedicimus Domino.

The house of Aaron hath hoped in the Lord : he is their helper and their protector.

They that feared the Lord have hoped in the Lord: he is their helper and their protector.

The Lord hath been mindful of us, and hath blessed us.

He hath blessed the house of Israel : he hath blessed the house of Aaron.

He hath blessed all that fear the Lord, both little and great.

May the Lord add blessings upon you : upon you, and upon your children.

Blessed be you of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

The heaven of heaven is the Lord's : but the earth he has given to the children of men.

The dead shall not praise thee, 0 Lord: nor any of them that go down to hell.

But we that live bless the Lord: from this time now and for ever.

Ant. We that live bless the Lord.

After these five psalms, a short lesson from the holy Scriptures is read. It is called Capitulum, because it is always very short. Those for the Sundays of Lent are given in the Proper.

After the capitulum, follows the hymn, Audi, benigne, which was written by St. Gregory the Great. by Google

LENT

HYMN1

Audi, benigne Conditor, Nostras preces cum fletibus In hoc sacro jejunio Fusas quadragenario.

Scrutator alme cordium, Infirma tu scis virium : Ad te reversis exhibe Remissionis gratiam.

Multum quidem peccavimus,

Sed parce confitentibus ; Ad nominis laudem tui Confer medelam languidis.

Concede nostrum conteri Corpus per abstinentiam ; Culpae ut relinquant pabulum Jejuna corda criminum.

Praesta, beata Trinitas, Concede, simplex Unitas, Ut f ructuosa sint tuis Jejuniorum munera.

Amen.

V. Angelis suis Deus mandavit de te.

R. Ut custodiant te in omnibus viis tuis.

Hear, 0 merciful Creator, the tearful prayers we present to thee, during these forty days of fast.

0 loving searcher of the heart, thou knowest that our strength is weak: grant us the grace of thy pardon, for we are converted unto thee.

Grievously have we sinned ; yet, spare us, for we confess our sins to thee : and, for the glory of thy name, heal our languid hearts.

Grant that we may subdue our flesh by abstinence ; that thus our hearts may leave what nourishes sin, and fast from every crime.

0 blessed Trinity, 0 undivided Unity, grant to us thy servants, that our fasts may produce abundant fruits. Amen.

V. God hath given his angels charge over thee.

R. To keep thee in all thy ways.

1 According to the monastic rite, it is as follows : — R. breve, Scapulis suis, * Ob- V. Et sub pennis ejus spera- umbrabit tibi. Scapulis. bis. * Obumbrabit. Patri, &c. Scapulis.

Gloria

Audi, benigne Conditor, Nostras preces cum fletibus, In hoc sacro jejunio, Fusas quadragenario.

Scrutator alme cordium, Infirma tu scis virium : Ad te reversis exhibe Remissionis gratiam.

Multum quidem peccavimus, Sed parce confitentibus :

Ad laudem tui nominis Confer medelam languidis.

Sic corpus extra conteri Dona per abstinentiam ; Jejunet ut mens sobria A labe prorsus criminum.

Praesta, beata Trinitas, Concede, simplex Unitas : Ut fructuosa sint tuis Jejuniorum munera.

Amen.

Then is said the Magnificat antiphon, which is to be found in the proper. After this, the Church sings the canticle of Mary, the Magnificat, in which are celebrated the divine maternity and all its consequent blessings. This exquisite canticle is an essential part of the Vespers throughout the year. Let us unite with all generations, and call her ' blessed ; 9 but let us, also, enter into those sentiments of humility, which she recommends to us both by her words and her example. Her inspired lips speak to us this promise : If the great God, whose triumph is to gladden us on the glorious day of Easter, finds us humble and* submissive, He will exalt us, yea, raise us up even to Himself ; if we confess our misery and poverty to Him, He will enrich us, even to the full, with every blessing. our lady's canticle (St. Luke i.)

Magnificat : * anima mea My soul doth magnify the

Quia respexit humilitatem ancillae suae : * ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent omnes generationes.

Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid : for, behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

Quia fecit mini magna qui Because he that is mighty potens est: * et sanctum hath done great things to me : nomen ejus. and holy is his name.

Et misericordia ejus a pro- And his mercy is from genie in progenies: * timen- generation unto generation, tibus eum. to them that fear him.

Fecit potentiam in brachio He hath showed might in suo: * dispersit superbos his arm: he hath scattered mente* cordis sui. the proud in the conceit of their heart.

Deposuit potentes de se- He hath put down the de : * et exaltavit humiles. mighty from their seat : and hath exalted the humble.

Dominum :

Et exsultavit spiritus meus : * in Deo salutari meo.

And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

LENT

Esurientes implevit bonis: He hath filled the hungry * et divites dimisit inanes. with good things : and the rich he hath sent empty away.

Suscepit Israel puerum su- He hath received Israel his urn : * recordatus misericor- servant, being mindful of his diae suae. mercy.

Sicut locutus est ad patres As he spake to our fathers, nostros : * Abraham et semini to Abraham and to his seed ejus in saecula. for ever.

The Magnificat antiphon is then repeated. The Prayer, or Collect, will be found in the proper of each Sunday.

The Vespers end with the following versicles :

V. Benedicamus Domino. V. Let us bless the Lord.

R. Deo gratias. R. Thanks be to God.

V. Fidelium animae per V. May the souls of the misericordiam Dei requiescant faithful departed, through in pace. the mercy of God, rest in peace.