Wednesday in Holt Week

The chief priests and the anoients of the people have met to-day in one of the rooms adjoining the temple, for the purpose of deliberating on the best means of putting Jesus to death. Several plans are disoussed. Would it be prudent to lay hands upon Him at this season of the feast of the Pasoh, when the city is filled with strangers, who have reoeived a favourable impression of Jesus from the solemn ovation given to Him three days baok P Then, too, are there not a great number of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, who took part in that triumph, and whose enthusiastic admiration of Jesus might excite them to rise up in His defenoe? These considerations persuade them not to have recourse to any violent measure, at least for the present, as a sedition among the people might be the oonsequenoe, and its promoters, even were they to escape being ill-treated by the people, would be brought before the tribunal of the Koman governor, Pontius Pilate. They therefore come to the resolution of letting the feast pass quietly over, before apprehending Jesus.

But these blood-thirsty men are making all these calculations as though they were the masters. They are, if they will, shrewd assassins, who put off their murder to a more convenient day: but the divine decrees, which from all eternity have prepared a Sacrifice for the world's salvation, have fixed this very year's Pasoh as the day of the Sacrifice, and to-morrow evening the holy oity will re-eoho with the trumpets which proclaim the opening of the feast. The figurative lamb is now to make way for the true one ; the Pasch of this year will substitute the reality for the type; and Jesus' Blood, shed by the hands of wicked priests, is soon to flow simultaneously with that of victims, which have been hitherto acceptable to God only because they prefigured the Saorifioe of Calvary. The Jewish priesthood is about to be its own executioner, by immolating Him, whose Blood is to abrogate the ancient Alliance, and perpetuate the new one.

But how are Jesus' enemies to get possession of their divine Victim, so as to avoid a disturbance in the oity P There is only one plan that oould succeed, and they have not thought of it: it is treaohery. Just at the close of their deliberations, they are told that one of Jesus' disoiples seeks admission. They admit him, and he says to them: 'What will you give me, and I will deliver Him unto you P'1 They are delighted at this proposition: and yet, how is it that they, doctors of the law, forget that this infamous bargain between themselves and J udas has all been foretold by David, in Psalm cviii P They know the Scriptures from beginning to end: how comes it that they forget the words of the Prophet, who even mentions the sum of thirty pieces of silver P2 Judas asks them what they will give him ; and they give him thirty pieces of silver! All is arranged; tomorrow, Jesus will be in Jerusalem, eating the Pasch with His disoiples. In the evening He will go, as usual, to the garden on Mount Olivet. But how shall they, who are sent to seize Him, be able to distinguish Him from His disciples P Judas will lead the way ; he will show them whioh is Jesus, by going up to Him and kissing Him !

Such is the impious scheme devised on this day,

1 St. Matt. xxvi. 15. 9 Ibid, xxvii. 9. Zach. xi. 12. within the precinots of the temple of Jerusalem. To testify her detestation at it, and to make atone-* ment to the Son of God for the outrage thus offered Him, the holy Church, from the earliest ages, has consecrated the Wednesday of every week to penanoe, In our own times, the fast of Lent begins on a Wednesday ; and when the Churoh ordained that wo should commence each of the four seasons of the year with fasting, Wednesday was ohosen to be one of the three days thus oonseorated to bodily mortification.

On this day, in the Roman Churoh, was held the sixth scrutiny, for the admission of oatechumens to Baptism. Those about whom there had been pre* vious doubts were now added to the number of the chosen ones, if they were found worthy. There were two Lessons read in the Mass, as on the day of the great scrutiny, the Wednesday of the fourth week of Lent. As usual, the oatechumens left the churoh after the Gospel ; but, as soon as the holy Sacrifice was over, they were brought back by the door-keeper, and one of the priests addressed them in these words; ' On Saturday next, the Eve of Easter, at such an hour, you will assemble in the Lateran basilica, for the seventh scrutiny ; you will then recite the Symbol, which you must have learned ; and lastly, you will receive, by God's help, the sacred laver of regeneration. Prepare yourselves, zealously and humbly, by persevering fasts and prayers, in order that, having been buried, by this holy Baptism, together with Jesus Christ, you may rise again with Him, unto life everlasting. Amen/

At Borne, the Station for to-day is in the basilica of St. Mary Major. Let us compassionate with our holy Mother, whose heart is filled with poignant grief at the foresight of the Sacrifice which is preparing.

WBDKB8DAY IN HOLY WfiSX S77

MASS

The Church commences her chants with one to the glorjr of the holy name of Jesus, outraged as it is, on this day, by them that plot His death. This name which was given Him by heaven, and signifies that He is our Saviour, is now being blasphemed by His enemies: in a few hours, their crime will bring its full meaning before us, for His death will have worked the salvation of the world.

INTKOIT

In nomine Jesu omne genu flectatur, coelestium terrestrinm, et infernorum: quia Dominns f actus est obediens usque ad mortem, mortem autem cruris: ideo Dominus Jesus Chriatus in gloria est Dei Patris.

Ps. Domine, ezaudi orationem meam: et clamor meus ad te veniat.

In nomine.

At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth ; because the Lord became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross: therefore the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father.

Ps. O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come unto thee.

At the name, &c.

In the first Collect, the Church acknowledges to God that her children have sinned against Him: but she reminds Him of the Passion endured for their Bake, by His only-begotten Son; and this revives her hope.

LET US PRAY

Let us kneel down. I$r. Stand up again. Grant, we beseech thee, O almighty God, that we who continually are punished for our excesses, may be delivered

.OREMUS

"f. Flectamus genua, fy. Levate.

Praesta, quaesumus, omnipotens Deus: ut qui nostris excessibus incessanter affligimur, per unigeniti Filii tui Passionem liberemur. Qui tecum.

Lectio Isaisa Prophetaa

Cap. Ixii. et Ixiii. Hsec dicit Dominus Dens: Dicite filiae Sion: Ecce Salvator tuns venit, ecce merces ejus cum eo. Quia est iste qui venit de Edom, tinctis vestibus de Bosra? Iste formosus in stola sua, gradiens in multitudine fortitudinis suae? Ego, qui loquor justitiam: et propugnator sum ad salvandum. Quare ergo rubrum est indumentum tuum, et vestimenta tua sicut calcantium in torculari ? Torcular calcavi solus: et de gentibus non est vir mecum. Calcavi eos in furore meo: et conculcavi eos in ira mea. Et aspersus est sanguis eorum super vestimenta mea, et omnia indumenta mea inquinavi. Dies enim ultionis in corde meo: annus redemptionis meae venit. Circumspexi, et non erat auxiliator: quaesivi, et non fuit qui adjuvaret. Et salvavit mihi brachium meum: et indignatio mea ipsa auxiliata est mihi. Et conculcavi populos in furore meo: et inebriavi eos in indignatione mea, et detraxi in terram virtutem eorum. Mj- by the Passion of thy only-begotten Son. Who liveth, &c.

^Lesson from Isaias the Prophet. Ch. Ixii. and Ixiii.

Thus saith the Lord God: Tell the daughter of Sion: Behold thy Saviour cometh: behold his reward is with him. Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bosra, this beautiful one in his robe, walking in the greatness of his strength? I, that speak justice, and am a defender to save. Why then is thy apparel red, and thy garments like theirs that tread in the wine-press? I have trodden the wine-press alone, and of the Gentiles there is not a man with me; I have trampled on them in my indignation, and have trodden them down in my wrath, and their blood is sprinkled upon my garments, and I have stained all my apparel. For the day of vengeance is in my heart, the year of my redemption is come. I looked about, and there was none to help; I sought, and there was none to give aid; and my own arm hath saved for me, and my indignation itself hath helped me. And I have trodden down the people in my wrath, and have made them drunk in my indignation, and have brought down their strength to the earth. I will serationum Domini recorda- remember the tender mercies bor, landem Domini super of the Lord, the praise of the omnibus, quae reddidit nobis Lord, for all the things that the

Dominus Dens noster. Lord hath bestowed on us.

How terrible is this our Defender, who tramples His enemies beneath His feet, as they that tread in the wine-press ; so that their blood is sprinkled upon Sis garments ! But is not this the fittest time for us to proclaim His power, now that He is being treated with ignominy, and sold to His enemies by one of His disciples? These humiliations will soon pass away; He will rise in glory, and His might will be shown by the chastisements wherewith Efo will crush them that now persecute Him. Jerusalem will stone them that shall preach in His name ; she will be a cruel stepmother to those true Israelites, who, docile to the teaching of the prophets, have reoognized Jesus as the promised Messias. The Synagogue will seek to stifle the Churoh in her infancy ; but no sooner shall the Churoh, shaking the dust from her feet, turn from Jerusalem to the Gentiles, than the vengeance of Christ will fall on the city which bought, betrayed, and crucified Him. Her citizens will have to pay dearly for these orimes. We learn from the Jewish historian Josephus, who was an eye-witness to the siege, that the fire which was raging in one of the streets was quenched by the torrents of their blood. Thus were fulfilled the threats pronounced by our Lord against this faithless city, as He sat on Mount Olivet, the day after His triumphant entry.

And yet, the destruction of Jerusalem was but a faint image of the terrible destruction which is to befall the world at the last day. Jesus, who is now despised and insulted by sinners, will then appear on the olouds of heaven, and reparation will be made for all these outrages. Now He suffers Himself to fee betrayed, soofied at, and spit upon ; but when the

280 pAssioftfttts Aim itoL* wax day of vengeance is come, happy they that have served Him, and have compassionated with Him in His humiliations and sufferings ! Woe to them that have treated Him with contempt ! Woe to those who, not content with refusing to hear His yoke, have led others to rebel against Him ! For He is King ; He came into this world that He might reign over it ; and they that despise His mercy shall not escape His justice.

The Gradual, which immediately follows upon this feublime passage from Isaias, is a prayer addressed by Jesus to His eternal Father: the words are taken from one of the Psalms.

GRADUAL

Ne avertas faciem tuam Turn not away thy face a puero tuo, qnoniam tri- from thy servant, for I am in bulor: velociter exandi me. trouble: hear me speedily. f. Salvum me fac, Dens, f. Save me, 0 God, for the quoniam intraverunt aquae waters are come in even onto usque ad animammeam: in- my soul; I stick fast in the fixus sum in limo profundi, mire of the deep, and there is et non est substantia. no sure standing.

In the second Collect, the Church again reminds Our heavenly Father of the death which His divine Son deigned to suffer in order to set us free from the yoke of satan ; she prays that we may have a share in the glorious Resurrection of this our Redeemer.

COLLECT

Deus, qui pro nobis Fi- 0 God, who wouldst have lium tuum crucis patibulum thy Son suffer on the cross, to subire voluisti, ut inimici a deliver us from the power of nobis expelleres potestatem: the enemy; grant that we thy concede nobis f amulis tuis, ut servants may obtain the grace resurrectionis gratiam con- of his resurrection. Through sequamur. Per eumdem. the same, &c.

For the other Collect, see page 108,

Lectio Isaiae Prophetse.

Cap, Mi. In diebus illis: Dixit Isaias: Domine, quis credidit auditui nostro; et brachium Domini cni revelatum est? Et ascendet sicut virgultum coram eo: et sicut radix de terra sitienti. Non est species ei, neque decor. Et vidimus enm; et non erat aspectus, et desideravimns enm: despectnm, et novissimnm virorum, virum dolornm, et scientem infirmitatem. Et quasi absconditus vultus ejus, et despectus, unde nec reputavimus enm. Vere languores nostros ipse tulit: et dolores nostroB ipse portavit. Et nos putavimus eum quasi leprosum, et percussum a Deo, et humiliatum. Ipse autem vubieratus est propter iniquitates nostras: attritus est propter scelera nostra; disciplina pacis nostra super eum: et livore ejus sanati sumus. OmneB nos quasi oves erravimus: unusquisque in viam suam declinavit: et posuit Dominus in eo iniquitatem omnium nostrum. Oblatus est, quia ipse voluit: et non aperuit os suum. Sicut ovis ad occisionem ducetur: et quasi agnus coram tonden-

Lesson from Isaias the Prophet. Ch. Mi. In those days: Isaias said: Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? And he shall grow up as a tender plant before him, and as a root out of a thirsty ground. There is no beauty in him, nor comeliness. And we have seen him, and there was no sightliness that we should be desirous of him; despised, and the most abject of men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with infirmity. And his look was as it were hidden and despised; whereupon we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our infirmities, and carried our sorrows. And we have thought him as it were a leper, and as one struck by God and afflicted. But he was wounded for our iniquities, he was bruised for our sins; the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and by his bruises we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray, every one hath turned aside into his own way: and the Lord hath laid upon him the iniquity of us all. He was offered because it was his own will, and he opened not his mouth. He shall be led as a sheep to the slaughter, and shall be dumb as a lamb before his shearer; and he shall not te se, obmutescet: et non aperiet os suum. De angustia, et de judicio snblatus est. Generationem ejus quis enarrabit? Quia abscissus est de terra viventium. Propter scelus populi mei percussi eum. Et dabit impios pro sepultura, et divitem pro morte sua: eo quod iniquitatem non f ecerit, neque lus fuerit in ore ejus. Et u Dominus voluit contere eum 9 in infirmitate. Si posuerit o in pro peccato animam suam, : videbit semen longaevum: et e voluntas Domini in manuejus dirigetur. Pro eo quod © perous in laboravit anima ejus, vide- Q et saturabitur. In sci-.~ entia sua justificabit ipse justus servus meus multos:-' et iniquitates eorum ipse portabit. Ideo dispertiam I ei plurimos, et f ortium di- & videt spolia: pro eo quod tradidit in mortem animam suam, et cum sceleratis reputatus est. Et ipse pecca- ed; ta multorum tulit: et pro transgressoribus rogavit. open his mouth. He was taken away from distress, and from judgment. Who shall declare his generation? because he is cut off out of the land of the living. For the wickedness of my people have I struck him. And he shall give the ungodly for his burial, and the rich for his death; because he hath done do- & no iniquity, neither was there deceit in his mouth. And the Lord was pleased to bruise him infirmity. If he shall lay down his life for sin, he shall see a long-lived seed, and the -.will of the Lord shall be proshis hand. Because his soul hath laboured, he shall bit see and be filled: by his knowledge shall this my just servant justify many, and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will distribute to him very many, and he shall divide the spoils of the strong, because he hath delivered his soul unto death, and was reputed with the wickand he hath borne the sins of many, and hath prayed for the transgressors.

Again it is Isaias that instructs us, not indeed upon the triumph which our Emmanuel is to win over His enemies, but upon the sufferings of the Man of sorrows. So explicit is his description of our Lord's Passion, that the holy fathers have called him the fifth evangelist. What oould be more sublimely plaintive than the language here used by the son of Amos? And we, after hearing both the old and pew Testament upon the sufferings which Jesus went through for our sins, how shall we sufficiently love this dear Redeemer, who bore our infirmities and carried our sorrows, so as to look as a leper, and as one struck by God and afflicted ?

We are healed by His bruises ! 0 heavenly Physician, who takes upon Himself the sufferings of those He oomes to cure ! But not only was He bruised for our sins ; He was also slaughtered as a lamb : and this not merely as a Victim submitting to the inflexible will of His Father who hath laid upon Him the iniquity of us all, but (as the prophet here assures us) because it was His own will. His love for us, as well as His submission to His Father, led Him to the great Sacrifioe. Observe, too, how He refuses to defend Himself before Pilate, who could so easily deliver Him from His enemies: He shall be dumb as a lamb before his shearers, and He shall not open His mouth. Let us love and adore this divine silenoe, which works our salvation. Let us not pass over an iota of the devotedness which Jesus shows us — a devotedness whioh never could have existed save in the heart of a God. Oh! how-muoh He has loved us, His children, the purchase of His Blood, His seed, as the prophet here calls us. 0 holy Church ! thou long-lived seed of Jesus, who laid down His life, thou art dear to Him, for He bought thee at a great price. Faithful souls ! give Him love for love. Sinners ! be converted to this your Saviour ; His Blood will restore you to life, for if we have all gone astray like sheep,. remember what is added: The Lord hath laid upon Him the iniquity of us all. There is no sinner, however great may be his crimes, there is no heretic, or infidel, who has not his share in this precious Blood, whose infinite merit is such, that it could redeem a million worlds more guilty even than our own.

The Traot? whioh f qIIows this Lesson, is tafeen from

Psalm oi, in which the royal prophet expresses the sufferings of body and mind endured by Jesus in His human Nature.

TRACT

Domine, exaudi orationem meam, et clamor meus ad te veniat. f. Ne avertas faciem tuam a me; in quacumque die tribulor, inclina ad me aurem tuam. if. In quacnmque die invocavero te, velociter exaudi me. f . Qnia defecerunt sicut fumus dies mei: et ossa mea sicut in frixorio confrixa sunt. t . Percussus sum sicut fcenum, et aruit cor meum, quia oblitus sum manducare panem meum. f. Tu exsurgens, Domine, misereberis Sion, quia venit tempus miserendi ejus.

Hear, 0 Lord, my prayer, and let my cry come unto thee. f. Turn not away thy face from me, in the day when I am in trouble, incline thine ear to me. f. In what day soever I shall call upon thee, hear me speedily. t. For my days are vanished like smoke: and my bones are as if they were fried in a frying-pan. f. I am smitten as grass, and my heart is withered, because I forgot to eat my bread. f. Thou, 0 Lord, arising, wilt have mercy on Sion, for the time to have mercy on her is come.

The Church then gives us the history of the Passion according to St. Luke. This evangelist mentions several details not given by Saints Matthew and Mark, which will assist us to a fuller understanding of the divine mystery of the sufferings and Saorifioe of the Man-God.

THE PASSION AND GOSPEL

Passio Domini nostri Jesu The Passion of our Lord Jesus

Christi secundum Lucam. Christ according to Luke.

Cap. xxii. et xxiiL Ch. xxii. and xxiii.

In illo tempore: Appro- At that time: The feast of pinquabat dies festus Azy- unleavened bread, which is. morum, qui dioitur Pascha: et quserebant principes sacerdotum et scribse, quomodo Jesum interficerent: timebant vero plebem. Intra vit autem Satanas in Judam, qui cognominabatur Iscariotes, unum de duodecim; et abiit et locutus est cum principibus sacerdotum et magistratibus, quemadmodum ilium traderet eis. Et gavisi sunt: et pacti sunt pecuniam illi dare. Et spopondit. Et quserebat opportunitatem ut traderet ilium sine turbis.

Venit autem dies azymorum, in qua necesse erat occidi Pascba. Et misit Petrum et Joannem, dicens: Euntes parate nobis Pascha, ut manducemus. At illi dixerunt: Ubi vis paremus? Et dixit ad eos: Eoce introeuntibus vobis in civitatem, occurret vobis homo quidam amphoram aquaa portans; sequimini eum in domum, in quam intrat, et dicetis patrifamilias domus: Dicit tibi Magister: Ubi est diversorium, ubi Pascha cum discipulis meia manducem? Et ipse ostendet ▼obis coenaculum magnum stratum, et ibi parate.

Euntes autem invenerunt sicut dixit iilis: et paraverunt Pascha. Et cum facta easet hora, discubuit, et duo- ealled the Pasch, was at hand. And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might put Jesus to death ; but they feared the people. And Satan entered into Judas, who was surnamed Iscariot, one of the twelve; and he went, and discoursed with the chief priests and the magistrates, how he might betray him to them. And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money. And he promised; and he Bought opportunity to betray him in the absence of the multitude.

And the day of the unleavened bread came, on which it was necessary that the Pasch should be killed. Ajid he sent Peter and John, saying: Go and prepare for us the Pasch, that we may eat. But they said ; Where wilt thou that we prepare? And he said to them: Behold, as you go into the city, there shall meet you a man carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in, and you shall say to the good man of the house; The Master saith to thee: Where is the guest-chamber, where I may eat the Pasch with my disciples? and he will show you a large dining-room furnished; and there prepare.

And they going found as he had said to them, and made ready the Pasch; and when the hour was come, he sat down, decim apostoli cum eo. Et ait illis: Desiderio desideravi hoc Pascha manducare vobiscum, antequam patiar. Dico enim vobis: quia ex hoc non manducabo illud donee impleatur in regno Dei. Et accepto calice, gratias egit, et dixit : Accipite et dividite inter vos. Dico enim vobis: quod non bibam de generatione vitis, donee regnum Dei veniat. Et accepto pane, gratias egit, et f regit, et dedit eis, dicens: Hoc est corpus meum, quod pro vobis datur. Hoc f acite in meam commemorationem. Similiter et caJicem, postquam coenavit, dicens: Hie est calix novum testamentum in sanguine meo, qui pro vobis fundetur. Yerumtamen ecce manus tradentis me, mecum est in mensa. Et quidem Filius hominis, secundum quod definitum est, vadit: verumtamen vsb homini illi, per quem tradetur. Et ipsi coaperunt quserere inter se, quis esset ex eis, qui hoc facturus esset.

Facta est autem et contentio inter eos, quis eorum videretur esse major. Dixit autem eis: Reges gentium dominantur eorum: et qui potestatem habent super eos, benefici vocantur. Vos autem non sic: Bed qui and the twelve apostles with him. And he said to them: With desire I have desired to eat this Pasch with you, before I suffer. For I say to you, that from this time I will not eat it till it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. And having taken the chalice he gave thanks and said: Take and divide it among you. For I say to you, that I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, till the kingdom of God come. And taking bread, he gave thanks, and brake, and gave to them, saying: This is my Body, which is given for you: do this for a commemoration of me. In like manner the chalice also, after he had supped, saying: This is the chalice, the new testament in my Blood, which shall be shed for you. But yet behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table. And the Son of Man indeed goeth, according to that which is determined; but yet wo to that man by whom he shall be betrayed. And they began to enquire among themselves which of them it was that should do this thing.

And there was also a strife amongst them, which of them should seem to be greater. And he said to them: The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them ; and they that have power over them are called beneficent. But you not so; major est in vobis fiat sicut minor ; et qui processor est, siout ministrator. Nam quis major est, qui recumbit, an qui ministrat? Nonne qui recumbit ? Ego autem in medio vestrum sum, sicut qui ministrat: vos autem estis, qui permansistis mecum in tentationibus meis. Et ego dispono vobis, sicut disposuit mini Pater meus regnum: ut edatis et bibatis super mensam meam in regno meo, et sedeatis super thronos, judicantes duodecim tribus Israel. Ait autem Dominus : Simon, Simon, ecce Satanas expetivit vos, ut cribraret sicut triticum. Ego autem rogavi pro te, ut non deficiat fides tua: et tu aliquando conversus, confirma fratres tuos. Qui dixit ei : Domine, tecum paratus sum, et in carcerem et in mortem ire. At ille dixit: Dico tibi Petre, non cantabit hodie gallus, donee ter abneges nosse me. Et dixit eis: Quando misi vos sine sacculo et pera et calceamentis, numquid aliquid defuit vobis? At illi dixerunt: Nihil. Dixit ergo eis: Sed nunc, qui habet sacculum tollat similiter et peram. Et qui non habet, vendat tunicam suam et emat gladium. Dico enim vobis, quoniam adhac hoc, quod ecriptum est, oportet im- but he that is the greater among you, let him become as the younger ; and he that is the leader, as he that serveth. For which is greater, he that sitteth at table, or he that serveth ? Is not he that sitteth at table ? But I am in the midst of you, as he that serveth ; and you are they who have continued with me in my temptations. And I dispose to you, as my Father hath disposed tome a kingdom: that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom; and may sit upon thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Ajid the Lord said: Simon, Simon, behold Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not: and thou, being once converted, confirm thy brethren. Who said to him: Lord, lam ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. And he said: I say to thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, till thou thrice deniest that thou knowest me. And he said to them: When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, did you want any thing? But they said: Nothing. Then said he unto them: But now he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise a scrip : and he that hath not, let him sell his coat, and buy a sword. For I say to you, that this that pleri in me: Et cum iniquis deputatus est. Etenim ea quae sunt de me, finem habent. At illi dixerunt: Domine, ecce duo gladii hie. At ille dixit eis: Satis est.

Et egressus ibat secundum consuetudinem in montem Olivarum: secuti sunt autem ilium et discipuli. Et cum pervenisset ad locum, dixit illis: Orate, ne intretis in tentationem. Et ipse avulsus est ab eis, quantum jactus est lapidis, et positis genibus orabat, dicens: Pater, si vis, transfer calicem istum a me: verumtamen non mea voluntas, sed tua fiat. Apparuit autem illi angelus de ccelo, confortans eum. Et factus in agonia, prolixius orabat. Et factus est sudor ejus sicut guttee sanguinis decurrentis in terram. Et cum surrexisset ab oratione, et venisset ad discipulos suos, invenit eos dormientes pre tristitia, et ait illis: Quid dormitis? Surgite, orate, ne intretis in tentationem.

Adhuc eo loquente, ecce turba: et qui vocabatur Judas, unus de duodecim, antecedebat eos: et appropinquavit Jesu, ut oscularetur eum. Jesus autem dixit illi: Juda, osculo Filium honiinis tradis? Yidentes $ute,m ii, qui circa ipsum is written must yet be fulfilled in me: And with the wicked was he reckoned : for the things concerning me have an end. But they said: Lord, here are two swords. And he said to them: It is enough.

And going out, he went ac* cording to his custom to the mount of Olives. And his disciples also followed him. And when he was come to the place, he said to them: Pray, lest ye enter into temptation. And he was withdrawn away from them a stone's cast; and kneeling down he prayed, saying: Father, if thou wilt, r%* move this chalice from me; but yet not my will but thine be done. And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony, he prayed the longer. And his sweat became as drops of blood trickling down upon the ground. And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow. And he said to them; Why sleep you? Arise, pray, lest you enter into temptation.

As he was yet speaking, behold a multitude; and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near to Jesus for to kiss him. And Jesus said to him: Judas, dost thou betray the Son of Man with a kiss? And they that were about him, see* erant, quod futurum erat, dixerunt ei: Domine, si percutimus in gladio? Et percussit turns ex illis servum principis sacerdotum: etamputavit auriculam ejus dexteram. Bespondens autem Jesus, ait: Sinite usque hue. Et cum tetigisset auriculam ejus, sanavit eum. Dixit autem Jesus ad eos qui venerant ad se, principes sacerdotum et magistratus templi, et seniores: Quasi ad latronem existis cum gladiis et fustibus? Cumquotidie vobiscum f uerim in templo, non extendistis manus in me. Sed haec est hora vestra, et potestas tenebrarum.

Comprehendentes autem eum, duxerunt ad domum principis sacerdotum. Petals vero sequebatur a longe. Accenso autem igue in medio atrii, et circumsedentibus illis, erat Petrus in medio eorum. Quern cum vidisset ancilla quaedam sedentem ad lumen, et eum fuisset intuita, dixit: Et hie cum illo erat. At ille negavit eum dicens: Mulier, non novi ilium. Et post pusillum alius videns eum, dixit: Et tu de illis es. Petrus vero ait: 0 homo non sum. Et intervallo facto quasi horse unius, alius quidam affirmabat dicens: Yere et hie cum illo erat: nam et GalilBus est. Ei ait Petrus: ing what would follow, said to him: Lord, shall we strike with the sword? And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear. But Jesus answering, said: Suffer ye thus far. And when he had touched his ear, he healed him. And Jesus said to the chief priests and magistrates of the temple, and the ancients that were come unto him: Are you come out, as it were against a thief, with swords and clubs? When I was daily with you in the temple, you did not stretch forth your hands against me. But this is your hour and the power of darkness.

And apprehending him, they led him to the high priest's house: but Peter followed afar off. And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were sitting about it, Peter was in the midst of them. Whom when a certain servant maid had seen sitting at the light, and had earnestly beheld him, she said : This man also was with him. But he denied him saying: Woman, I know him not. And after a little while, another seeing him, said : Thou also art one of them. But Peter said: 0 man, I am not. And after the space as it were of one hour, another certain man affirmed, saying: Of a truth this man was also with him: for he is also a Galilean*

PASSIONTIDfc AND HOLt WEEK

Homo, nescio quid dicis. Et continuo, adhuc illo loquente, cantavit gallus. Et conversus Dominus respexit Petrum. Et recordatus est Petrus verbi Domini, sicut dixerat : Quia priusquam gallus cantet, ter me negates. Et egressus foras Petrus, flevit amare.

Et viri qui tenebant ilium, illudebant ei c®dentes. Et velaverunt eum: et percutiebant f aciem ejus, et interrogabant earn, dicentes: Prophetiza, quia est qui te percussit? Et alia multa blasphemantes dicebant in eum. Et ut f actus est dies, convenerunt seniores plebis, et principes sacerdotum et scribae, et duxerunt ilium in concilium suum, dicentes: Si tu es Christus, die nobis. Et ait illis: Si vobis dixero, non credetis mini: si autem et interrogavero, non respondebitis mini, neque dimittetis. Ex hoc autem erit Filius hominis sedens a dextris virtutis Dei. Dixerunt autem omnes: Tu ergo es Filius Dei? Qui ait: Vos dicitis, quia ego sum. Atillidixerunt: Quid adhuc desideramus testimonium ? Ipsi enim audivimus de ore ejus.

Et surgens omnis multitudo eorum, duxerunt ilium ad Pilatum. Coeperunt au-

And Peter said: Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately as he was yet speaking, the cock crew. And the Lord turning looked on Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, as he had said: Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And Peter going out wept bitterly.

And the men that held him, mocked him, and struck him. And they blindfolded him, and smote his face. And they asked him, saying: Prophesy, who is it that struck thee? And blaspheming, many other things they said against him. And as soon as it was day, the ancients of the people, and the chief priests and scribes came together, and they brought him into their council, saying: If thou be the Christ, tell us. And he saithto them: If I shall tell you, you will not believe me ; and if I shall also ask you, you will not answer me, nor let me go. But hereafter the Son of man shall be sitting on the right hand of the power of God. Then said they all: Art thou then the Son of God? Who said: You say that I am. And they said: What need we any further testimony? For we ourselves have heard it from his own mouth.

And the whole multitude of them rising up, led him away to Pilate. And they began to

WEDNESDAY I* HfctY WEE* 2&1 tern ilium accusare, dicentes: Hunc invenimus subvertentem gentem nostram, et prohibentem tributa dare Caasari, et dicentem se Christum regem esse. Pilatus autem interrogavit eum, dice as: Tu es Bex Judaeorum ? At ille respondens, ait: Tu dicis. Ait autem Pilatus ad principes sacerdotum et turbas: Nihil invenio causes iu hoc homine. At illi invalescebant, dicentes: Commovet populum, doceus per universam Judaeam, incipiens a Galilaea, usque hue. Pilatus autem audiens Galilaeam, interrogavit, si homo Gali- Isbus esset. Et ut cognovit, quod de Herodis potestate esset, remisit eum ad Herodem, qui et ipse Jerosolymis erat illis cfiebus. Herodes autem viso Jesu, gavisus est valde. Erat enim cupiens ex multo tempore videre eum, eo quod audierat multa de eo: et sperabat signum aliquod videre ab eo fieri. Interrogabat autem eum multis sermonibus. At ipse nihil illi respondebat. Stabant autem principes sacerdotum et scribae constanter accusantes eum: sprevit autem ilium Herodes cum exercitu suo: et illusit indutum ▼este alba, et remisit ad Pilatum. Et facti sunt ami- accuse him, saying: We have found this man perverting our nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he is Christ the King. And Pilate asked him saying: Art thou the King of the Jews? But he answering, said: Thou sayest it. But Pilate said to the chief priests and to the multitude: I find no cause in this man. But they were more earnest, saying: He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee to this place. But Pilate hearing Galilee, asked if the man were of Galilee. And when he understood that he was of Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him away to Herod, who was also himself at Jerusalem in those days. And Herod seeing Jesus was very glad, for he was desirous of a long time to see him, because he had heard many things of him: and he hoped to see some sign wrought by him. And he questioned him in many words. But he answered him nothing. And the chief priests and the scribes stood by, earnestly accusing him. And Herod with his army set him at nought and mocked him, putting on him a white garment, and sent him back to Pilate. And Herod and Pilate were made friends that same day: for before they were enemies one to another. ci Herodes et Pilatus in ipsa die: nam antea inimici erant ad invicem. Pilatus autem convocatis principibus sacerdotum, et magistratibus, et plebe, dixit ad illos: Obtulistis mihi hunc hominem quasi avertentem populum: et ecce ego coram vobis interrogans nullam causam invenio in homine isto ex his, in quibus eum accusatis. Sed neque Herodes: nam remisi vos ad ilium: et ecce, nihil dignum morte actum est ei. Emendatum ergo ilium dimittam. .

Necesse autem habebat dimittere eis, per diem festum, unum. Exclamavit autem simul universa turba, dicens: Tolle hunc, et dimitte nobis Barabbam. Qui erat, propter seditionem quamdam factam in civitate et homicidium, missus in career em. Iterum autem Pilatus locutus est ad eos, volens dimittere Jesum. At illi succlamabant, dicentes: Crucifige, crucifige eum. Ille autem tertio dixit ad illos : Quid enim mali fecit iste? Nullam causam mortis invenio ineo. Corripiam ergo ilium, et dimittam. At illi instabant, vocibus magnis postulantes ut crucifigeretur: et invalescebant voces eorum. Et Pilatus adjudicavit fieri petitionem eorum. Dimisit autem illis eum qui propter

Then Pilate calling together the chief priests, and the ma* gistrates, and the people, said to them: Tou have presented unto me this man, as one that perverteth the people : and behold I, having examined him before you, find no cause in this man, in those things wherein you accuse him. No, nor Herod neither. For I sent you to him, and behold, nothing worthy of death is done to him. I will chastise him therefore and release him.

Now of necessity he was to release unto them one upon the feast day. But the whole multitude together cried out saying: Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas. Who, for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison. And Pilate again spoke to them, desiring to release Jesus. But they cried again, saying: Crucify him, crucify him. And he said to them the third time: Why, what evil hath this man done? I find no cause of death in him. I will chastise him therefore, and let him go. But they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified; and their voices prevailed. And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required. And he released unto them him who fox feomicidium et seditionem missus fuerat in carcerem, quern petebant: Jesum vero tradidit volnntati eorum.

Et cum ducerent eum, apprehenderunt Simonem quemdam Cyrenensem venientem da villa, et imposuerunt illi crueem portare post Jesum. Sequebatur autem ilium multa turba populi, et mulierum, quad plangebant et lamentabantur eum. Con- ▼ersus autem ad illas Jesus, dixit: Filise Jerusalem, nolite flere super me: sed super vos ipsas flete, et super filios vestroa. Quoniam ecce ▼enient dies, in quibus dicent: Beatas steriles, et ventres qui non genuerunt, et ubera quae non lactaverunt. Tunc incipient dicere montibus: Cadite super nos: et collibus: Operite nos. Quia si in viridi ligno ha3c faciunt, in arido quid fiet? Ducebantur autem et alii duo nequam cum eo, ut interficerentur.

Et postquam venerunt in locum, qui vocatur Calvariffl, ibi crucifixerunt eum, et latrones unum a dextris, et alteram a sinistris. Jesus autem dicebat: Pater, dimitte illis: non enim sciunt quid faciunt. Dividentes vero vestimenta ejus, miserunt sortes. Et stabat populus spectans, et diridebant eum principes cum eis, dicentes: murder and sedition had been cast into prison, whom they had desired: but Jesus he delivered up to their will.

And as they led him away, they laid hold of one Simon of Cyrene, coming from the country: and they laid the cross on him to carry after Jesus. And there followed him a great multitude of people, and of women, who bewailed and lamented him. But Jesus turning to them, said: Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not over me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. For behold the days shall come, wherein they will say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that have not borne, and the paps that have not given suck. Then shall they begin to say to the mountains: Fall upon us; and to the hills: Cover us. For if in the green wood they do these things, what shall be done in the dry? And there were also two other malefactors led with him to be put to death.

And when they were come to the place which is called Calvary, they crucified him there; and the robbers, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. And Jesus said: Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. But they dividing his garments, cast lots. And the people stood beholding, and the rulers with them derided him, saying: He

Alios salvos fecit: se salvum faciat, si hie est Christus, Dei electus. Illudebant autem ei et milites, accedentes, et aeetum offerentes ei, et dicentes: Si tu es Rex Judseorum, salvum te fac. Erat autem et superscripts scripta super eum litteris grsecis, et latinis, et hebraicis: Hie est Rex Judseorum.

Unus autem de his, qui pendebant latronibus, blasphemabat eum, dicens: Si tu es Christus, salvum fac temetipsum et nos. Respondeus autem alter, increpabat eum dicens: Neque tu times Deum, quod in eadem damnatione es? Et nos quidem juste, nam digna factis recipimus: hie vero nihil mali gessit. Et dicebat ad Jesum: Domine, memento mei, cum veneris in regnum tuum. Et dixit ill! Jesus: Amen dico tibi: Hodie mecum eris in paradiso.

Erat autem fere hora sexta: et tenebrse factse sunt in universam terram, usque in horam nonam. Et obscuratus est sol: et velum templi scissum est medium. Et clamans voce magna Jesus ait: Pater, in manus tuas commendo spiritum meum. Et hsBC dicens, exspiravit. saved others; let him save himself , if he be Christ, the elect of God. And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him and offering him vinegar, and saying: If thou be the King of the Jews, save thyself. And there was also a superscription written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew: This is the King of the Jews.

And one of those robbers who were hanged, blasphemed him saying: If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering, rebuked him saying: Neither dost thou fear God, seeing thou art under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done no evil. And he said to Jesus: Lord, remember me when thou shalt come into thy kingdom. And Jesus said to him: Amen I say to thee, this day thou shalt be with me in paradise.

And it was almost the sixth hour; and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened; and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. And Jesus crying with a loud voice, said: Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit. And saying this, he gave up the ghost.

Here a pause is made, as on Palm Sunday, All kneel down, and, if such be the custom of the place, they prostrate and kiss the ground,

Yidena autem centurio quod factum fuerat, glorificavit Deum, dicens: Vere hie homo juatua erat. Et omnia turba eorum, qui 8imul aderant ad apectaculum istud, et videbant qu» fiebant, percutieutes pectora sua, revertebantur. Stabant autem omnea noti ejus a longe et mulierea, quae secutse eum erant a Galilaea, hsec videntes.

Now the centurion seeing what was done, glorified God, saying: Indeed this was a just man. And all the multitude of them that were come together to that sight, and saw the things that were done, returned striking their breasts. And all his acquaintance, and the women that had followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.

Here the deaoon offers the incense to the priest, that he may bless it ; and, having himself received a blessing, he concludes the history of the Passion, observing the ceremonies used for singing the Gospel at High Mass.

And behold there was a man named Joseph, who was a counsellor, a good and just man, (the same had not consented to their counsel and doings,) of Arimathea, a city of Judaea, who also himself looked for the kingdom of God. This man went to Pilate and begged the body of Jesus. And taking him down he wrapped him in fine linen, and laid him in a sepulchre that was hewed in stone, wherein never yet any man had been laid.

The words of the Offertory are those of Jesus, suppliantly beseeohing His eternal Father not to turn away His face from His own Son, who is a prey to every suffering, both of body and mind.

OFFERTORY

Pomine,exaudiorationem Bear, 0 I^ord, my prayer;

Et ecce vir nomine Joseph, qui erat decurio, vir bonus et juatu : hie non conaenaerat consilio et actibua eorum: ab Arimathsea civitate Judaera : qui exspectabat et ipse regnum Dei. Hie accessit ad Pilatum, et petiit corpus Jesu. Et depositum involvit sindone: et poauit eum in monumento exciso, in quo nondum quisquam positus fuerat. meam: et clamor mens ad te and lei my cry come to thee: perveniat: ne avertas f aciem turn not away thy face from tuam a me. me.

In the Secret the Church prays that we may have a tender devotion for the holy Saorifioe of the Mass, in which the Passion of our Saviour is daily commemorated.

SECRET

Suscipe, quBBsumus, munus oblatum, et dignanter operare: ut quod Passionis Filii tui Domini nostri mysterio gerimus, piis affectibus consequamur. Per eundem.

Do- Accept, 0 Lord, we beseech mine, thee, the offerings we have made: and mercifully grant that we may receive, with pious sentiments, what we celebrate in the mystery of the Passion of our Lord.

Through the same, &c.

For the other Secret, see page 116.

The Church takes her Communion-anthem from the same Psalm, which supplied her with the Tract and Offertory, namely Psalm oi.

COMMUNION

Potum meum cum fletu I temperabam: quia elevans allisisti me: et ego sicut faenum ami: tu autem, reternum permanes: tu exsurgens misereberis Sion, quia venit tempus miserendi ejus. mingled my drink with weeping; for having lifted me up thou hast thrown me down, Do- and I am withered like grass; mine, in but thou, O Lord, endurest for ever: thou shalt arise, and have mercy on Sion; because the time to have mercy on her is come.

The death of Jesus should be to us an unceasing motive for confidence in the divine mercy. This confidence is one of the first conditions of our salvation. The Church asks it for us in the Postcommunion.

POSTOOMMUN10N Largire Bensibus nostris Grant, 0 almighty God, omnipotens Dens: tit, per thai we may have a lively temporalem Filii tui mor- hope that thou hast given us tern, quam mysteria vene- eternal life by the temporal randa testantur, vitam te death of thy Son, represented nobis dedisse perpetuam in these adorable mysteries, confidamus. Per eumdem. Through the same, &c.

See the other Fostoommunion on page 117.

OREMUS

Humiliate capita vestra Deo.

Respice, qu&sumus, Domine, super hanc familiam tuam: pro qua Dominus noster Jesus Christus non dubitavit manibus tradi nocentium, et crucis subire tormentum. Qui tecum.

LET US PRAY

Bow down your heads to God.

Look down, O Lord, we beseech thee, on this thy family, for which our Lord Jesus Christ hesitated not to be delivered into the hands of wicked men, and undergo the punishment of the cross. Who liveth, &c.

THE OFFICE OF TENEBR3E

On this and the two following days, the Churoh anticipates the night Office ; she celebrates it on the previous evening of each day, and this in order that the faithful may be present at it. The Matins and Lauds of Maundy Thursday, are, therefore, said this afternoon. The faithful should make every effort to assist at this solemn Office, seeing it is on their account that the Church has ohanged her usual hours. As to the merit there is in joining in it, there can be no doubt that it is to be preferred to any private devotions. The surest means for obtaining favours from God, and winning Him to our requests, is to approach Him through the Church. And as regards the feelings of devotion wherewith we ought to celebrate the mysteries of these three great days, the Offices of the

Church are, ordinarily speaking, a surer and richer source than the exercises of piety composed by men. The soul that feeds on the words and ceremonies of the holy liturgy, will be all the more disposed to profit by the private devotions she praotises at home. The prayer of the Churoh will thus become the basis, whereon is built the edifice of Christian piety during these glorious anniversaries of our Redemption: and we shall be imitating our forefathers who lived in the ages of faith, and who were suoh admirable Christians because they lived the life of the Churoh, by means of the sacred liturgy.

The Office of TenebrsB for to-day is given below, on Maundy Thursday, page 301.

As an appropriate exercise for the close of this day, we offer our readers the following stanzas from a hymn of the Greek liturgy; they allude to the mysteries we have been explaining.

HYMN

(In Parasceve)

Hodie Judas Magistrum derelinquit, et diabolum assumit: obcaecatur passione amoris pecuniae : decidit a lumine, obscuratus est ille. Quomodo namque videre poterat ille qui Luminare vendidit triginta argenteis ? Sed nobis exortus est ille, qui passus est pro mundo. Ad quern clamemus: Qui passus es, et compassus es hominibus, gloria tibi.

Queenam te ratio, Juda, Salvatoris proditorem effe^

On this day, Judas leaves his Master, and takes the devil for his guide. The love of money blinds him. He fell from the light, he became darkened: for how could he be said to see, who sold the Light for thirty pieces of silver? But to us he that suffered for the world has risen : let us thus cry out unto him: Glory be to thee, who didst endure thy Passion, and hadst compassion on mankind.

What was it, O Judas 1 that led thee to betray Jesus ? Ha oit ? Numqnid ille ab apostolorum techoro segregavit ? Numquid sanitatumte gratia privavit ? Numquid cum coenaret una cum illis, a mensa te expulit? Numquid aliorum cum lavisset pedes tuos neglexit? 0 quantorum f actus es immemor beneficiorum 1 et tuum sane consilium ingratum infamia notatur: ilhus autem prsedicatur incomparabilis patientia et misericordia magna.

Dicite iniqui quidnam a Salvatore nostro audistis? Nonne Legem ac documenta Prophetarum exposuit? Quomodo ergo Verbum quod ex Deo est, et nostras animas redimit, Pilato tradere cogitastis?

Crucifigatur, clamabant ii qui tuis semper muneribus fuerant delectati; petebantque ut malefactorem acciperent pro benefactore interfectores illi justorum. Sed tacebas, Christe, eorum proterviamsuBtinens: volens pati, nosque salvare, ut hominum amans.

Loquendi libertatem non habemus propter multa peccata nostra; tu ex te genitum exora, Virgo Deipara: multum enim valet deprecatio Matris apud clementiam Pomini. Jfe de- he cut thee off from the number of his apostles? Had he deprived thee of the gift of healing the sick? When he supped with his apostles did he drive thee from table ? When he washed their feet, did he pass thee by? And yet thou wast unmindful of these great favours ! Thy ungrateful plot has branded thee with infamy: but his incomparable patience and great mercy are everywhere praised.

Say, O ye unjust ones ! what is it ye have heard from our Saviour ? Did he not expound unto you the Law and the Prophets ? Why therefore, have ye plotted how to deliver up to Pilate the Word that is from God, and that came to redeem our souls ?

They that had enjoyed thy unceasing gifts cried out: 'Let him be crucified!' These murderers of such as were innocent, sought thee, that they might treat thee, their benefactor, as an evil-doer. But thou, 0 Christ! didst bear their wickedness with silence; for thou, being the lover of mankind, didst desire to suffer for and save us.

We are prevented from speaking by the multitude of our sins: do thou, O Yirgin- Mother of God! pray for us to him that was born of thee, for the Motti er's prayer avails much with the mercy of our Lord, spicias peccatorum suppli- Despise not, 0 most pure cationes, o castissima; quia Virgin! the prayers of sinners, misericors est et potens ad for he that refused not even salvandum, is qui pro nobis to suffer for us, is merciful, etiam pati sustinuit. and is able to save us.

We subjoin the following beautiful Prefaoe from the Ambrosian missal: it expresses, in a most touching manner, the sentiments which a Christian should have within him on this vigil of our Lord's Supper.

PREFACE

Dignum et justum est, sequum et salutare, nos tibi semper hie et ubique gratias agere, Domine sancte, Pater omnipotens, eeterne Deus, per Christum Dominum nostrum, qui innocens pro impiis voluit pati, et pro sceleratis indebite condemnari. Cujus mors delicta nostra detersit, et resurrectio Paradisi fores nobis reseravit. Per quern tuam pietatem supplied ter exoramus; ut nos hodie a peccatis emacules; eras vero venerabilis Coenae dapibus saties; hodie acceptes nostrorum confessionem delictorum: eras vero tribuas spiritualium incrementa donorum : hodie jejuniorum nostrorum vota suscipias; eras vero nos ad sanctissimsB Coense convivium introducas. Per eumdem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.

It is meet and just, right and available to salvation, that we should ever, here and in all places, give thanks to thee, 0 holy Lord, almighty Father, eternal God, through Christ our Lord : who, being innocent, willed to suffer for sinners, and be unjustly condemned for the guilty. His death wiped away our crimes, and his Resurrection opened for us the gates of heaven. Through him we beseech thy clemency, that, today, thou cleanse us from our sins, and, tomorrow, feed us on the banquet of the venerable Supper; that, to-day, thou receive the confession of our faults, and, to-morrow, grant us the increase of spiritual gifts; that, to-day, thou receive the offering of our fasts, but, to-morrow, introduce us to the feast of the most holy Supper. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen,