The Annunciation of the Ever Blessed Virgin

It very frequently happens, that the twenty-fifth of Maroh falls between Palm Sunday and Low Sunday : on these occasions, the feast of our Lady's Annunciation, being out of k eepi ng both with the dolourous mysteries of Holy Week and with the

Slendour of the Resurrection, is deferred to the onday following Low Sunday. For the convenience of the faithful, we have here repeated the Vesper* and Mass of this great Feast. As to the instructions we gave upon the mystery of the Annunciation, our readers must refer to our volume of Lent.

FIRST VESPERS

The Office of First Vespers is always the commencement of a feast. The Antiphons of the Vespers, at which we are going to assist, are taken from the Gospel of St. Luke, where the Evangelist reveals to us the sublime interview between the Angel and the Virgin. The Psalms are those whioh tradition has consecrated to the celebration of Mary's glories. We have elsewhere 1 shown how eaoh of the five refers to the Mother of God.

Ant. Missus est Gabriel Ant. Angelus ad Mariam Virginem desponsatam

The Angel Gabriel was sent to Mary, a Virgin Joseph, espoused to Joseph, alleluia, alleluia.

1 See our volume for Advent, in the Vespers for the 8th of December.

THI ANSTTNCIATION

Dixit Dominus Domino meo: Sede a dextris meis.

Donee ponam inimicos tuos: scabellum pedum tuomm.

Virgam virtu tis tun emitted Dominus ex Sion: dominare in medio inimieorum tuorum.

Tecum prineipium in die virtutis tuaB in gplendoribus sanctorum: ex utero ante lucif erum genui te.

J uravit Dominus, et non poBnitebit eum: Tu es sacerdos in aaternum secundum ordinem Melchisedech.

Dominus a dextris tuis: confregit in die ir» suae reges.

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

De torrente in via bibet: propterea exaltabit caput.

Ant. Missus est Gabriel Angelas, ad Mariam Virginem desponsatam Joseph, alleluia.

Ml

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

Until on die 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 God- 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.

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

Ant. The Angel Gabriel was sent to Mary, a Virgin espoused to Joseph, alleluia.

Ant. Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum: benedicta tu in mulieribus, alleluia.

Ant. Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women, alleluia.

Psalm 112

Laudate pueri Dominum: laudate nomen Domini.

Sit nomen Domini benedictum: ex hoc nunc et usque in ssBculum.

A solis ortu usque ad occasum: laudabile nomen Domini.

Excelsus super omnesgentes Dominus: et super coelos gloria ejus.

Quis sicut Dominus Deus noster qui in altis habitat: et humilia respicit in coelo et in terra?

Suscitans a terra inopem: et de stercore erigens pauperem.

Ut collocet eum cum principibus: cum principibus populi sui.

Qui habitare facit sterilem in domo: matrem filiorum lsetantem.

Ant. Ave, Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum: benedicta tu in mulieribus, alleluia.

Ant. Ne timeas, Maria; invenisti gratiam apud Dominum; ecce concipies, et paries filium, alleluia.

Praise the Lord, ye children: 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, 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, nay, who cometh down amidst ust

Raising up the needy from the earth, 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. Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women, alleluia.

Ant. Fear not, Mary; thou hast found grace with God: behold thou shalt conceive, and shalt bring forth a son, alleluia.

Laetatus sum in his quae dicta sunt mihi: in domum Domini ibimus.

Stantes erant pedes nostri: in atriis tuis Jerusalem.

Jerusalem quae aedificatur ut ci vitas: cujus participatio ejus in idipsum.

Illuc enim ascenderunt tribus, tribus Domini: testimonium Israel ad confitendum nomini Domini.

Quia 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: quaesivi bona tibi.

Ant. Ne timeas, Maria: invenisti gratiam apud Dominum; ecce concipies et paries filium, alleluia.

Ant. Dabit ei Dominus

VAMX. TIMS. X. jM 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, 0 Jerusalem! Our heart loves and confides 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.

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!

Ihe voice of Mary: Let peace be in thy strength, 0 thou new Sion! 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. Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God: behold thou shalt conceive, and shalt bring forth a son, Alleluia.

Ant. And the Lord shall

2A

PASCHAL TIMS aedem David patris ejus, et regnabit in seternum, alleluia. give unto him the throne of David his father, and he shall reign for ever, alleluia.

Psalm 126

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

Nisi Dominus custodierit civitatem: frustra vigilat qui custodit earn.

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

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

Sicut sagittse in manu potentis: ita filii excussorum.

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

Ant. Dabit ei Dominus sedem David patris ejus, et regnabit in aeternum, alleluia.

Ant. Ecce ancilla Domini: fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum, alleluia.

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

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

It is vain for you to rise before light; rise ye 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.

As arrows in the hand 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. And the Lord shall give unto him the throne of David his father, and he shall reign for ever, alleluia.

Ant. Behold the handmaid of the Lord: be it done to me according to thy word, alleluia.

Psalm 147

Lauda, Jerusalem, Dominium: lauda Deum tuum, Sion.

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

DigitiZHcMby

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

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

Qui emittit eloquium suum terra: velociter currit sermo ejus.

Qui dat nivem sicut lanam: nebulam sicut cinerem spargit.

Mittit crystallum suam sicut bucellas: ante faciem frigoris ejus quis sustinebit?

Emittet verbum suum et liquefacietea: flabit spiritus ejus, et fluent aquae.

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

Non fecit taliter omni nationi: et judicia sua non manif estavit eis.

Ant. Ecce ancilla Domini : fiat mini secundum verbum tuum, alleluia.

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

Who hath placed peace in thy borders, and filleth 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 run.

Who declareth his Word to Jacob: his justices and his judgements to Israel.

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

Ant. Behold the handmaid of the Lord: be it done to me according to thy word, alleluia. cAPr (Is.

Ecce virgo concipiet et pariet filium, et vocabitur nomen ejus Emmanuel. Butyrum et mel comedet, ut sciat reprobare malum, et eligere bonum.

CULUM

VII)

Behold a Virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel. He shall eat butter and honey, that he may know to refuse the evil, and to choose the good.

HYMN*

Ave, maris stella, Dei Mater alma, Atque semper Virgo, Felix coeli porta.

Rumens illud Ave Gabrielis ore, Funda nos in pace, Mutans Evsb nomen.

Solve vincla reis, Prof er lumen c®cis, Mala nostra pelle, Bona cuncta posce.

Monstra te esse Matrem, Sumat per te preces, Qui pro nobis natus, Tulit esse tuus.

Virgo singularis, Inter omnes mitis, Nos culpis solutos Mites fac et castos.

Vitam praesta puram, Iter para tutum; Ut videntes Jesum, Semper collsetemur.

Sit laus Deo Patri, Summo Christo decus, Spiritui Sancto, Tribus honor unus. Amen.

~f. Ave Maria, gratia plena, alleluia. ty. Dominus tecum, alleluia.

Hail, Star of the sea! Blessed Mother of God, yet ever a Virgin! 0 happy gate of heaven!

Thou that didst receive the Ave from Gabriel's lips, confirm us in peace, and so let Eva be changed into an Ave of blessing for us.

Loose the sinner's chains, bring light to the blind, drive from us our evils, and ask all good things for us.

Show thyself a Mother, and offer our prayers to Him, who would be born of thee, when born for us.

O incomparable Virgin, and meekest of the meek, obtain us the forgiveness of our sins, and make us meek and chaste.

Obtain us purity of life, and a safe pilgrimage; that we may be united with thee in the blissful vision of Jesus.

Praise be to God the Father, and to the Lord Jesus, and to the Holy Ghost: to the Three one self -same praise. Amen.

V. Hail Mary, full of grace, alleluia.

I£. The Lord is with thee, alleluia. antiphon of the Magnificat

Spiritus Sanctus in te The Holy Ghost shall come

• In monastic churches it is preceded by this fiesponsory : — breve. Angelus Domini nuntiavit Maries. * Alleluia, alleluia. Angelus. f , M concepit de Spiritu Sancto. * Alleluia. Gloria Patri. Angelas. descendet, Maria, et virtus Altissimi obumbrabit tibi, alleluia.

OREMUS

Deus, qui de beatae Maria Virginia utero, Verbum tuum, Angelo nuntiante, carnem suscipere voluisti: prosta supplicibus tuis, ut qui vere earn Genitricem Dei credimus, ejus apud te mtercessionibus adjuvemur. Per eumdem. upon thee, O Mary, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee, alleluia.

LET US PRAY

0 God, who wast pleased that thy Word, when the Angel delivered his message, should take flesh in the womb of the blessed Virgin Mary, give ear to our humble petitions, and grant that we who believe her to be truly the Mother of God, may be helped by her prayers. Through the same, &c.

Then is made a commemoration of Low Sunday, as in page 346.

MASS

The Churoh has taken most of the chants of to-day's Mass from the forty-fourth Psalm, wherein the royal prophet celebrates the mystery of the Incarnation. In the Introit, she greets Mary as the Queen of the human race, to whom every creature should pay respectful homage. It was her virginity that fitted Mary to become the Mother of God. This virtue will be imitated in the Churoh, and each generation will produce thousands of holy virgins, who will walk in the footsteps of her that is their Mother and their model.

INTROIT

Yultum tuum deprecabuntur omnes divites plebis: adducentur Begi virgines post earn: proximae ejus adducentur tibi in lsetitia et exsultatione. Alleluia, alleluia,

All the rich among the people shall entreat thy countenance: after her shall virgins be brought to the King: her neighbours shall be brought to thee in joy and gladness. Afleluia, alleluia.

Pt. Eructavit cor meum Ps. My heart hath uttered verbum bonum: dico ego a good word: I speak my works opera mea Regi. t. Gloria to the King. t. Glory, Ac.

Patri. Vultum tuum. All the rich.

In the Collect, the Church glories in her faith in the divine Maternity ; she puts it forward as a claim to Mary's interceding for her with God, who is her Son. This dogma of Mary's being the Mother of God is founded on the mystery of the Incarnation, which is the basis of our faith.

Dens, qui de beat© Mariae Virginis utero, Verbum tuum, Angelo nuntiante, carnem suscipere voluisti: presta supplicibus tuis: ut qui vere earn Genitricem Dei credimus, ejus apud te intercessionibus adjuvemur. Per eumdem.

0 God, who wast pleased that thy Word, when the Angel delivered his message, should take flesh in the womb of the blessed Virgin Mary, give ear to our humble petitions, and grant that we who believe her to be truly the Mother of God, may be helped by her prayers. Through the same, &c.

Lectio Isaiffi Prophetae

Cap. VII

In diebus illis: Locutus est Dominus ad Achaz dicens: Pete tibi signum a Domino Deo tuo, in profundum inferni sive in excelsum supra. Et dixit Achaz: Non petam, et non tentabo Dominum. Et dixit: Audite ergo domus David: Numquid parum vobis est, molestos esse hominibus, quia moleati estis et Deo meo?

Lesson from Isaias the Prophet.

Ch. VII

In those days: the Lord spoke unto Achaz, saying: Ask thee a sign of the Lord thy God, either unto the depth of hell, or unto the height above. And Achaz said : I will not ask, and I will not tempt the Lord. And he (Isaias) said: Hear ye therefore, 0 house of David: Is it a small thing for you to be grievous to men, that you are grievous to my God. also?

Propter hoc dabit Dominus Therefore the Lord himself ipse vobis signum. Ecce Vir- shall give you a sign. Behold a go concipiet, et pariet fili- Virgin shall conceive and bear um: et vocabitur nomen a son, and his name shall be ejus Emmanuel. Butyrum called Emmanuel. He shall eat et mel comedet, ut sciat butter and honey, that he may reprobare malum et eligere know to refuse the evil, and bonum. to choose the good.

The prophet is speaking to a wicked king, who refused to accept a miraculous proof of God's merciful protection over Jerusalem; and he makes this an opportunity for announcing to Juda the great portent whioh we are celebrating to-day: A Virgin shall conceive and bear a Son. And when was it, that God fulfilled the prophecy P It was in an age, when mankind seemed to have reached the highest pitch of wickedness, and when idolatry and immorality reigned throughout the whole world. 'The fulness of time oame,' and the tradition, whioh had found its way into every country,' that a Virgin should bring forth a son, was exoiting much interest. To-day, we are oelebrating the sublime mystery ; let us adore the power of God, and the fidelity wherewith He fulfils His promises. The author of the laws of nature suspends them; He aots independently of them : virginity and maternity are united in one and the same creature, for the Child that is to be born, is God. A. Virgin oould not bring forth other than God Himself: the Son of Mary is, therefore, called Emmanuel, that is, God with us.

Let us adore this God, the Creator of all things visible and invisible, who thus humbles Himself. Henoeforth, He will have every tongue confess, not only His divinity, but also His Human Nature, whioh He has assumed in order that He might redeem us. Prom this day forward, He is truly the Son of Man. He will remain nine months in His Mother's womb ?

as other children. like them, He will, after His birth, be fed on milk and honey. He will sanctify all stages of human life, from infanoy to perfect manhood, for He is the New Man, who has come down from heaven that He might restore the old. Without losing aught of His divinity, He shares in our weak finite being, that He may make us ' partakers of the divine nature.' 1

The first Alleluia- Versiole repeats the Angel's salutation to Mary. Let us, with Gabriel, bow down before this holy Virgin, the master-piece of nature and grace, predestined from all eternity to be the Mother of God.

Alleluia, alleluia. Alleluia, alleluia.

Ave, Maria, gratia plena, Hail, Mary, full of grace, Dominus tecum: benedicta the Lord is with thee: blessed tu in mulieribus. art thou among women.

The seoond Yersicle celebrates in sublime and enthusiastic words, the effects of the divine mystery of the Incarnation: — peaoe between God and man re-established in the virginal womb of Mary, wherein the divine and human Nature are united in the Person of the Child, whom she conoeives the very instant she consents to the will of the Most High.

Alleluia. Alleluia.

Virga Jesse floruit: "Virgo Deum et hominem genuit; Virpacem Deus reddidit, in se reconcilians ima summis, al-

The rod of Jesse hath brought forth its flower; a gin hath conceived Him who is God and Man; God hath releluia. stored peace, by uniting in himself the lowest with the highest, alleluia.

GOSPEL

Sequentia sancti Evangelii Sequel of the holy Gospel secundum Lucam. according to Luke.

Cap. I Ch. I

In illo tempore: Missus At that time; The Angel 1 2St.Pet.i. f tort Angelus Gabriel a Deo in civitatem Galilee©, cui nomen Nazareth, ad virginem desponsatam viro cui nomen erat Joseph, de domo David: et nomen virginis, Maria. Et ingressus Angelus ad earn, dixit: Ave, gratia plena; Dominus tecum: benedicta tu in mulieribus. Quae cum audisset, turbata est in sermone ejus: et cogitabat qualis esset ista salutatio. Et ait Angelus ei: Ne timeas, Maria: invenisti enim gratiam apud Deam. Ecce concipies in utero, et paries filium: et vocabis nomen ejus Jesum. Hie erit magnus: et Filius Altissimi vocabitur. Et dabit illi Dominus Deus sedem David patris ejus: et regnabit in domo Jacob in seternum; et regni ejus non erit finis. Dixit autem Maria ad Angelum: Quomodo fiet istud? quoniam virum non cognosco. Et respondens Angelus, dixit ei: Spiritus Sanctus superveniet in te; et virtus Altissimi obumbrabit tibi. Ideoque et quod nascetur ex te sanctum, vocabitur Filius Dei. Et ecce Elisabeth cognata tua: et ipsa concepit filium in senectute sua. Et hie mensis sextus est illi, quae vocatur sterilis; quia non erit impossibile apud Deum omne yerbum. Dixit autem Ma-

Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth, to a Virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David ; and the Virgin's name was Mary. And the Angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. Who having heard, was troubled at his saying, and thought with herself what manner of salutation this should be. And the Angel said to her: Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God. Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son and thou shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of David his father: and he shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there shall be no end. And Mary said to the Angel: How shall this be done, because I know not man? And the Angel answering, said to her: The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of thee, shall be called the Son of God. And behold thy cousin Elizabeth she also hath conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her that is called barren: because no

PASCHAL TIXX ria: Eoce anoilla Domini: word shall be impossible with fiat mini secundum verbum God. And Mary said: Behold tnum. the handmaid of the Lord, be it done to me according to thy word.

By these last words of thine, 0 Mary t our happiness is seoured. Thou eonsentest to the desire of heaven, and thy oonsent brings us our Saviour. 0 Virgin-Mother ! Blessed among women ! we unite our thanks with the homage that is paid thee by the Angels. By thee is our ruin repaired ; in thee is our nature restored ; for thou hast wrought the victory of man over satan ! St. Bernard, in one of his homilies on this Gospel, thus speaks: 'Rejoice, 0 thou our father Adam! but thou, 0 mother Eve, still more rejoioe ! You were our parents, but you were also our destroyers; and what is worse, you had wrought our destruction before you gave us birth. Both of you must be consoled in suoh a daughter as this: but thou, 0 Eve, who wast the first oause of our misfortune, and whose humiliation has desoended upon all women, thou bast a special reason to rejoioe in Mary. For the time is now come, when the humiliation is taken away, neither can man any longer complain against the woman, as of old, when he foolishly sought to excuse himself, and cruelly put aU the blame on her, saying : " The woman, whom thou gavest me, gave me of the tree, and I did eat." Go, Eve, to Mary ; go, mother, to thy daughter ; let thy daughter take thy part, and 'free thee from thy disgrace, and reoonoile thee to her father: for, if man fell by a woman, he is raised up by a woman.

Wnat is this thou sayest Adam P " The woman, whom thou gavest me, gave me of the tree, and I did eatP" These are wicked words; far from effaoing thy fault, they aggravate it. But divine Wisdom conquered thy wickedness, by finding in the treasury of his own inexhaustible mercy a motive for pardon, whioh he had in vain sought to elicit by questioning thee. In place of the woman, of whom thou oomplainest, he gives thee another: Eve was foolish, Mary is wise ; Eve was proud, Mary is humble ; Eve gave thee of the tree of death, Mary will jjive thee of the Tree of life; Eve offered thee a bitter and poisoned fruit, Mary will give thee the sweet Fruit she herself is to bring forth, the Fruit of everlasting life. Change, then, thy wicked excuse into an act of thanksgiving, and say: " The woman, whom thou hast given me, 0 Lord, hath given me of the Tree of life, and I have eaten thereof; and it is sweeter than honey to my mouth, for by it thou hast given meKfe -

In the Offertory, the Church addresses Mary, in the words spoken to her by the Archangel, to whioh she also adds those used by Elizabeth, when she saluted the Mother of her God.

OFFERTORY

Ave, Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum: benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructns ventris tui, alleluia.

Hail, Mary, fall of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, alleluia.

In the Secret, the Church renews her profession of faith in the mystery of the Incarnation; she oonfesses the reality of the two Natures, divine and human, in Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Son of Mary.

SECRET

In mentibus nostris, quae- . sumus, Domine, verse fidei O sacramenta confirma: ut, qui conceptum de Yirgine

Strengthen, we beseech thee, Lord, in our soul, the mysteries of the true faith: that we who confess him that was

1 St. Bernard. Homil. ii. super Mitsui est.

PASCHAt TIME

Deum verum et hominem conceived of a Virgin, to be confitemur, per ejus saluti- true God and true Man, may, fere resurrectionis poten- by the power of his saving tiam, ad sBternam mereamur resurrection, deserve to come pervenire lsetitiam. Per to eternal joys. Through the eumdem. same, &c.

The greatness of the solemnity obliges the Church to substitute for the Paschal Prefaoe, the one she uses on our Lady's Feasts.

PREFACE

Vere dignum et justum est, aequum et salutare, nos tibi semper et ubique gratias agere: Domine sancte, Pater omnipotens, nterne Deus: Et te in Annuntiatione beatae Marias semper virginis collaudare, benedicere, et praedicare. Quae et Unigenitum tuum Sancti Spiritus obumbratione concepit, et virginitatis gloria permanente, lumen aeternum mundo effudit Jesum Christum Dominum nostrum. Per quern majestatem tuam laudant Angeli, adorant Dominationes, tremunt Potestates. Coeli coelorumque Virtutes, ac beata Seraphim, socia exsultatione concelebrant. Cum quibus et nostras voces ut admitti jubeas deprecamur, supplici confessione dicentes: Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus.

It is truly meet and just, right and available to salvation, that we should always and in all places, give thanks to thee, 0 holy Lord, Father almighty, eternal God: and that we should praise, bless, and glorify thee, on the Annunciation of the Blessed Mary, ever a Virgin, who by the overshadowing of the Holy Ghost, conceived thy only-begotten Son, and the glory of her virginity still remaining, brought forth to the world the eternal Light, Jesus Christ our Lord. By whom the Angels praise thy majesty, the Dominations adore it, the Powers tremble before it; the heavens and the heavenly Virtues, and the blessed Seraphim, with common jubilee, glorify it. Together with whom, we beseech thee that we may be admitted to join our humble voices saying: Holy! Holy! Holy!

The Co^muaion-^nthem repeats the prophetip words of the Epistle. It is a Virgin that has conceived and brought forth Him, who being God and Man, is also the living Bread that came aown from heaven, whereby God is with us, and in us.

COMMUNION

Ecce Virgo concipiet, et pariet filium: et vocabitur nomen ejus Emmanuel, alleluia.

Behold a virgin shall conceive and bring forth a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel, alleluia.

In the Postoommunion the Church gratefully recalls to mind all the Mysteries whioh God has achieved for our salvation, and whioh were the consequences of the one of to-day. After the Incarnation, which unites the Son of God to our human nature, we have had the Passion of this our divine Redeemer; and His Passion was followed by His Resurrection, whereby He triumphed over our enemy, death.

POSTOOMMUNION

Gratiam tuam, qusesumus Pour forth we beseech thee,

Domine, mentions nostris O Lord, thy grace into our infunde: ut, qui Angelo hearts; that we, to whom the nuntiante, Christi Filii tui Incarnation of Christ thy Son incarnationem cognovimus; was made known by the mes- per Passionem ejus et Cru- sage of an Angel, may, by his cem, ad Eesurrectionis glo- Passion and Cross, be brought riam perducamur. Per eum- to the glory of his Eesurrec- dem. tion. Through the same, &c.

SECOND VESPERS

The Antiphons, Psalms, Hymn, and Versiole, are the same as in the First Vespers, pages 350-357.

The Magnificat Antiphon is alone changed, and is as follows: antiphon of the Magnificat

Gabriel Angelus locutus eat Maria dicens: Ave gratia plena, Dominus tecum; benedicta tu in mulieribua, alleluia.

OREMUS

Dens qui de beat® Marias Virginia utero, Verbum tuum, Angelo nuntiante carnem auacipere voluiati: prosta aupplicibua tuis: ut qui vere earn Genitricem Dei credimus, ejus apud te interce88ionibua adjuvemur. Per eumdem.

The Angel Gabriel spoke unto Mary, saying: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee : blessed art thou among women, alleluia.

LET US PRAY

0 God, who wast pleased that thy Word, when the Angel delivered his message, should take flesh in the womb of the blessed Virgin Mary, give ear to our humble petitions, and grant, that we who believe her to be truly the Mother of God, may be helped by her prayers. Through the same, &c.