Second Sunday after East Kb

This Sunday goes under the name of the Good Shepherd Sunday, because, in the Mass, there is read the Gospel of St. John, wherein our Lord calls himself by this name. How very appropriate is this passage of the Gospel to this present Season, when our Divine Master began his work of establishing and consolidating the Church, by giving it the Pastor, or Shepherd, who was to govern it to the end of time !

In accordance with the eternal decree, the Man- God, on the fortieth day after his Resurrection, is to withdraw his visible presence from the world. He is not to be again seen upon the earth till the Last Day, when he will come again to judge the living and the dead. And yet, he could never abandon mankind, for which he offered himself on the Cross, and which he delivered from death* and hell by rising triumphantly from the Grave. He will continue to be its Head after his Ascension into heaven : but what shall we have, on earth, to supply his place ? We shall have the Church. It is to the Church that he will leave all his own authority to rule us ; it is into the hands of the Church that he will intrust all the truths he has taught ; it is the Church that he will make the dispenser of all those means of salvation, which he has destined for the world.

This Church is a society, anto which all mankind is invited. It is composed of two classes of Members ; the governing and the governed ; the teaching and the taught ; the sanctifying and the sanctified! This Society is the Spouse of Christ ; it is by her that he produces his elect. She is the one only Mother of the elect; out of her bosom, there is no salvation.

But how is this society to subsist ? how is it to persevere through the long ages of time, even to the Last Day ? who is to give it unity and adhesion of its parts? what is to be the visible link between its members, — the palpable sign of its being the true Spouse of Christ, in the event of other societies rising up and disputing her titles ? If Jesus himself could have remained with us, we should have had nothing to fear, for where he is, there also are truth and life ; but, as he says, he is going, and we may not as yet follow him. Give ear, then, and learn what is the primary quality of the true Spouse of Christ.

Jesus was one day, previous to his Passion, in the country of Cesarea Philippi; his Apostles were standing around him, and he began questioning them about what they thought of him. One of them, Simon the son of John or Jonas, and brother to Andrew, answered in the name of all, and said : Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God! Jesus expressed his pleasure at receiving Simon's testimony, which was not the result of any human knowledge, but the expression of a divine revelation there and then granted to him ; and he immediately told this Apostle, that from that time forward he was to be, not Simon, but Peter (which means a rock). Christ had been spoken of by the Prophets under the name of a Rock, or Stone ; by thus solemnly conferring upon his Disciple a title so characteristically that of the Messias,

1 Matt. xvi. 16. * la. xxviii. 16.

Jesus would give us to understand, that Simon was to have a something in common with himself, which the other Apostles were not to have. After saying to him : 11 Thou art Peter \ (that is, thou art the Rock,) — lie added : And upon this Rock I will build my Church}

Let us weigh the force of these words of the Son of God : J ivill build my Church. He has, then, a project in view, — he intends to build a Church. It is not now that he will build it, but at some future period ; but one thing we already know as a certainty, — it is, that this Church will be built on Peter. Peter will be its foundation ; and whosoever is not on that foundation, will not belong to the Church. Let us again give ear to the Text : And the gates of hell shall not prevail against my Church. In scriptural language, gates signify the poivers : the Church of Christ, therefore, is to be proof against all the efforts of hell. And why ? Because the foundation, which Jesus is to give to it, shall be one that no power can shake. The Son of God continues : And I will give to thee the keys of the Kingdom of heaven. In the language of the Jews, keys signify the power of governing ; and in the Gospel Parables, the Kingdom of Heaven is the Church built by Christ. By saying to Peter, (which is henceforth to be Simon's name,) I will give to thee the keys of the Kingdom of heaven, Jesus implied this: "I will make thee the King of " my Church, of which thou art to be the Foundation !" Nothing could be clearer. But let us remember that all these magnificent promises regard the future.

That future has now become the present. We are . now come to the last days of Jesus' visible presence here below. The time is come for him to make good

» St. Matth. xvi. 18. 2 Ibid. xvi. his promise, and found the Kingdom of God, — that Church which he was to build upon the earth. The Apostles, in obedience to the order sent them by the Angels, are come into Galilee. Our Lord appears to them on tbe shore of the lake of Tiberias: after providing them with a mysterious repast, and whilst they are all attentive to his words, he suddenly addresses himself to Peter: Simon, son of John, lovest thou me? Observe, he does not call him Peter; he, as it were, goes back to the day when he said to him : Simon, son of Jonas, thou art Peter; he would have his Disciples note the connection between the promise and its actual fulfilment. Peter, with his usual eagerness, answers his Masters question: Yea, Lord, thouknotuest that 1 love thee. J esus resumes, with a tone of authority: Feed my Lambs! Then repeating the question, he says : Simon, son of John, lovest thou me ? Peter is surprised at his Masters urging such an inquiry ; still, he answers with the same simplicity as before ; Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee : and as soon as he has given answer, Jesus repeats the words of investiture : Feed my Lambs /

The Disciples respectfully listen to this dialogue • they see plainly that, here again, Peter is made an object of Jesus' partiality, and is receiving a something which they themselves are not to receive. They remember what happened at Cesarea Philippi, and how, ever since that day, Peter has been treated by their Master with especial honour. And yet, there is another privilege or office to be added to this of feeding the Lambs. A third time, then, Jesus says to Peter : Simon, son of John, lovest thou me ? This is too much for the Apostle. These three questionings of his love bring to his mind the three denials he had so sinfully made to the servant girl of Caiphas. He feels the allusion to his recent infidelity; and thfa

1 St. John, xxi. 15. third time, his answer implies a prayer for forgiveness; his reply bespeaks humility rather than assurance : Lord ! says he, thou knowest all things ! Thou knowest that I love thee ! Then, making Peter's authority complete, Jesus pronounces these imposing words : Feed my Sheep P

Here, then, we have Peter made Shepherd by Him, who says of himself : J am the good Shepherd. Firstly, our Lord gives his Apostle, and twice over, the care of his Lambs; — this does not make him the complete Shepherd : but when he bids him feed his Sheep too, the whole Flock is subjected to his authority. Now, therefore, let the Church show herself, let her take her stand, let her spread herself through the length and breadth of the nations ; Simon, the son of John, is proclaimed its visible Head. Is the Church a Building ? he is the Foundation-Stone, the Petra, the Rock. Is she a Kingdom ? he holds the Keys, that is, the sceptre. Is she a Fold ? he is the Shepherd.

Yes, this Church, — which Jesus is now organising, and is to be proclaimed to the world on the day of Pentecost, — is to be a Fold. The Word, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, is come down from heaven, that he may gather together in one the children of God, that were dispersed ; and the time is at hand when there shall be but one Fold and one Shepherd. O Jesus ! our Divine Shepherd ! we bless thee, we give thee thanks. It is by thee that the Church, thou art now founding, subsists and lives through every age, congregating and saving all that put themselves under her guidance. Her authority, her strength, her unity, all come from thee, her infinitely powerful and merciful Shepherd ! We likewise bless and thank thee for that thou hast secured this authority, this strength, this unity, by giving us

1 St. John, xxi. 17. 2 Ibid. xi. 52. 3 Ibid. x. 16.

Peter as thy Vicar, Peter our Shepherd in and by thee, Peter to whom all, both Sheep and Lambs, owe obedience, Peter in whom thou, our Divine Head, wilt be for ever visible, even to the end of the world !

In the Greek Church, the second Sunday after Easter, which we call Good Shepherd Sunday, goes under the appellation of the Sunday of the holy Myrophorce, that is Perfume-Bearers. The Office celebrates the devotion of the Holy Women who brought their perfumes to the Sepulchre, that they might embalm the Body of Christ. Joseph of Arimathea is also commemorated in the Greek Liturgy of this week.

The Roman Church reads the Acts of the Apostles, in her Matins, from last Monday to the third Sunday after Easter exclusively.

MASS.

The Introit takes a tone of triumph. It celebrates in the words of the Royal Psalmist, the mercy of the Lord, which, by the foundation of the Church, has filled the whole earth. The Heavens, (by which, in the mysterious language of the Scripture, is frequently meant the Apostles,) were firmly established by the Word of the Lord, when J esus, (the Word) gave them Peter as their Shepherd and their Rock.

INTROIT.

Misericordia Domini plena est terra, alleluia: Ver- Domini coeli firmati sunt

The earth is full of the mercy ofthe Lord, alleluia: by the Word of the Lord, the Heavens bo were firmly established. Alle- Alleluia, alleluia, luia, alleluia.

Ps. Rejoice in the Lord, O Ps. Exsultatejustiin Doyejust! Praise becometh the mino: rectos decet collau- datio. Gloria Patri. upright, f. Glory, Sc. The

Misericordia. earth, dec.

In the Collect, the Church asks the grace of holy joy for her children : it is the spirit of Eastertide. Surely, it is a duty to rejoice at our having been saved from death by our Jesus' Resurrection ! Moreover, these Paschal joys are a preparation for those of eternity.

COLLECT.

Deus, qui in Filii tui hu- O humimilitate jacentem mundum liation srexisti : fidelibus tuis perpetuam concede laetitiam ; quos perpetuae mortis eripuisti casibus, gaudiis facia* perfrui sempiternis. Per eumdem Dominum.

God, who, by the of thy Son, hast raised up the fallen world : grant to thy people perpetual joy : that at they whom thou hast delivered from the danger of everlasting death, may arrive at eternal joys. Through the same, &c.

To this are added two of the following Collects :

OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN.

Concede nosfamulostuos, Grant, O Lord, we beseech quaesumus, Domine Deus, thee, that we thy servants may perpebua mentis et corporis enjoy constant health of body sanitate gaudere : et glorio- and mind ; and by the glorious sa beatae Mariee semper Vir- intercession of Blessed Mary, ginis intercessione, a prae- ever a Virgin, be delivered senti liberari tristitia et from all present sorrow, and fieterna perfrui laetitia. come to that joy which is eternal

AGAINST THE PERSECUTORS OF THE CHURCH.

Ecclesiae ture, quaesumus, Domine, preces placatus admitte : ut destructis adversitatibus et erroribus universis, secura tibi serviat libertate. Per Dominum.

Mercifully hear, we beseech thee, O Lord, the prayers of thy Church : that, all oppositions and errors being removed, she may serve thee with a secure liberty. Through, &c.

FOR THE POPE.

O God, the Pastor and Ruler of all the faithful, look down, in thy mercy, on thy servant N., whom thou hast appointed Pastor over thy Church ; and grant, we beseech thee, that both by word and example, he may edify all those that are under his charge; and, with the flock intrusted to him, arrive at length at eternal happiness. Through, <bc.

Deus omnium fidelium Pastor et Rector, famulum tuum N. quern Pastorem Ecclesiae tuae prseesse voluiati, propitius respice; da ei, quaesumus, verbo et* exemplo, quibus praeest, proficere ; ut ad vitam, una cum grege sibi credito, perveniat sempiternam. Per Dominum.

EPISTLE.

Lesson of the Epistle of Saint Peter the Apostle. 7. Ch. II.

DearJy beloved : Christ also suffered, leaving you an example, that you should walk in his steps. Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth. Who, when he was reviled, did not revile : when he suffered, he threatened not : but delivered himself to him that judged him unjustly: who his own self bore our sins in his body upon the tree: that we being dead to sins, should live to justice: by whose stripes you were healed. For you were as sheep going astray ; but you are now converted to the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

Lectio Epistolse beati Petri Apostoli. 7. Gap. II.

Charissimi, Christus pas- 8us est pro nobis, vobis relinquens exemplum, ut «equamini vestigia ej us. Q ui peccatum non fecit, nec inventus est dolus in ore ejus : qui quuin malediceretur, non maledicebat, quum pateretur, non comminabatur : tradebat autem judicanti se inj uste : qui peccata nostra ipse pertulit in corpore suo super lignum: ut peccatis mortui, justitiae vivamus : cujus livore eanati estis. Eratis enim sicut oves errantes, sed conversi estis nunc ad Pastorem et Episcopum animarum vestrarum.

It is the Prince of the Apostles, the visible Shepherd of the universal Church, who addresses these words to us. Observe, how he ends by turning our thoughts to the invisible Shepherd, whose Vicar he is ; and how carefully he avoids any allusion to himself. So, also, when assisting his Disciple Mark to write his Gospel, he would not allow him to relate the history of Christ's having made him the Shepherd of the whole Flock ; whereas, he insisted on his telling every circumstance of his thrice denying Jesus to be his Master. See, too, how feelingly the Apostle here speaks of his Saviour, — of the sufferings he endured, of his patience, of his devotedness for those poor straying sheep of whom he was to form his fold ! These words will one day be verified in Peter himself. The hour will come, when, like his Master, he will be fastened to a cross, and patiently endure every insult and cruelty. Jesus told him that it was to be so. After intrusting him with the care of the Sheep and Lambs, our Lord told him, that when he should have grown old, he would stretch forth his hands upon a cross, and suffer violence from men. This is to happen not merely to Peter, but to a considerable number of his successors, who are one with himself, and whom future generations are to see continually persecuted, exiled, imprisoned, and put to death. Let us, also, follow Jesus' steps, by cheerfully suffering for justice* sake: we owe it to Him, who, from all eternity, being equal in glory to God the Father, deigned to come down to our earth, that he might be the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls.

The first Alleluia- Versicle commemorates the repast at Emmaus : in a few moments, we also shall know Jesus in the breaking of the Bread of Life.

The second proclaims, in Jesus' own words, the dignity and qualities of a Shepherd, his love for his Sheep, and the eagerness wherewith his Sheep recognise him as their Master.

1 St. John, xxi. 18.

Alleluia, alleluia. f. The Disciples knew the Lord Jesus in the breaking of bread.

Alleluia. f. I am the good Shepherd, and T know my sheep, and my sheep know me, alleluia.

Alleluia, alleluia. f. Cognoverunt discipuli Dominum Jesum in fractione panis.

Alleluia.

% Ego sum Pastor bonus ; et cognosco oves meat*, et cognoscunt me meae, alleluia.

GOSPEL.

Sequel of the Holy Gospel according to John.

Ch. X

At that time : Jesus said to the Pharisees : I am the good Shepherd. The good Shepherd giveth his life for his sheep. But the hireling, and he that is not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and flieth, and the wolf catcheth, and scattereth the sheep : and the hireling flieth, because he is a hireling : and he hath no care for the sheep. I am the good Shepherd : and I know mine, and mine know me. As the Father knoweth me, and I know the Father : and I lay down my life for my sheep. And other sheep I have, that are not of this fold : them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice, and there shall be one fold, and one Shepherd.

Sequentia sancti Evangelii secundum Joannem.

Cap. X.

In illo tempore : Dixit Jesus Pharisaeis : Ego sum Pastor bonus. Bonus pastor animam suam dat pro ovibus suis. Mercenarius autem et qui non est pastor, cujus non sunt oves propnae, videt lupum venientem, et dimittit oves, et f ugit : et lupus rapit et dispergit oves : mercenarius autem fugit, quia mercenarius est, et non pertinet ad eum de ovibus. Ego sum Pastor bonus : et cognosco meas, et cognoscunt me meae. Sicut novit me Pater, et ego agnosco Patrem : et animam meam pono pro ovibus meus. Et alias oves habeo, quae non sunt ex hoc ovili: et illas oportet me adducere, et vocem meam audient, et fiet unura ovile, et unus Pastor.

Divine Shepherd of our souls ! how great is thy love for thy Sheep I Thou givest even thy life to save them. The fury of wolves does not make thee flee from us ; thou becomest their prey, that we may escape.

Thou diedst in our stead, because thou wast our Shepherd. We are not surprised at thy requiring from Peter a greater love than thou requiredst from his Brother Apostles : thou willedst to make him their and our Shepherd. Peter answered thee without hesitation, that he loved thee ; and thou conferredst upon him thine own name, together with the reality of thy office, in order that he might supply thy place after thy departure from this world. Be thou blessed, O Divine Shepherd ! for thy having thus provided for the necessities of thy Fold, which could not be One, were it to have many Shepherds without one supreme Shepherd. In obedience to thy command, we bow down before Peter, with love and submission ; we respectfully kiss his sacred feet ; for it is by him that we are united to thee ; it is by him that we are thy Sheep. Preserve us, O Jesus, in the Fold of Peter, which is thine. Keep far from us the hireling, who usurps the place and rights of the Shepherd. He has intruded himself, or been intruded by violence, into the Fold, and would have us take him as the master ; but he knows not the Sheep, and the Sheep do not know him. Led, not by zeal, but by avarice and ambition, he fiieth at the approach of danger. He that governs through worldly motives, is no<> a man to lay down his life for others. The schismatic Pastor loves himself; he does not love thy Sheep ; how could he give his life for them ? Protect us, 0 Jesus, from this hireling ! He would separate us from thee, by separating us from Peter, whom thou hast appointed thy Vicar; and we are determined to recognise no other. Anathema to him who would command us in thy name, and yet not be sent by Peter ! Such a Pastor could be but an impostor; he would not rest on the Foundation ; he would not have the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven; to follow him would be our ruiu. Grant, then, Good Shepherd, Jesus ! that we may ever keep close to thee, and to Peter ; that as he rests upon thee, we may rest upon him ; and thus we may defy every tempest, for thou, dear Lord, hast said : A wise man built his house upon a rock ; and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and tJtey beat upon that house, and it fell not; for it was founded on a rock.

The Offertory is an aspiration to God, taken from the Royal Prophet.

OFFERTORY.

Deus, Deus meus, ad te luce vigilo : et in nomine tuo levabo manus meas, al-

O God, my God ! to thee do do I watch at break of day : and in thy name I will lift up my hands, alleluia. leluia.

In the Secret, the Church prays that the divine energy of the Mystery, about to be consummated on the Altar, may produce within us the effect we long for, — death to sin, and resurrection to grace.

SECRET.

Benedictionem nobis, conferat salutarem sacra semper oblatio : ut quod agit mysterio, virtute perficiat. Per Dominum.

May this holy oblation, O Do- Lord, draw down upon us thy mine, saving blessing ; and always produce in us the effect of what is represented in these sacred mysteries. Through, dec.

To this the Priest adds two of the following Secrets.

OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN.

By thine own mercy, O Lord, Tua, Domine, propitia- and the intercession of Blessed tione et beat® Mariae sem-

Mary, ever a Virgin, may this per Virginis intercession,

•oblation procure us peace and ad perpetuam atque praa-

1 St. Matth vii. 24, 25. sentem haec oblatio nobis happiness, both in this life, proticiat prosperitatem et ana in that which is to come, pacem.

AGAINST THE PERSECUTORS OF THE CHURCH.

Protege nos, Domine, tuis snysteriis servientes : ut divinis rebus inhserentes, et corpore tibi famulemur et mente. Per Dominum.

Protect us, O Lord, while we assist at thy sacred mysteries : that being employed in acts of religion, we may serve thee, both in body and mind. Through, dec.

FOR THE POPE.

Oblatis, quaesumus, Do- Be appeased, 0 Lord, with mine, placaremuneribus: et the offerings we have made : famulum tuum N. quern and cease not to protect thy

Pastorem Ecclesias tu» servant N., whom thou hast pre&esse voluisti, assidua been pleased to appoint Pastor protectione guberna. Per over thy Church. Through,

Dominum. dbc

The Communion- An them speaks to us of the beautiful Mystery of to-day, — the Good Shepherd. Let us once more offer our homage to the Son of God, who deigns to assume this endearing character ; and let us ever be his devoted Sheep.

COMMUNION.

Ego sum Pastor bonus, I alleluia: et cognosco oves alleluia : meas, et cognoscunt me am the good Shepherd^ and I know my sheep, and my sheep know me. AUemeaa. Alleluia, alleluia. luia, alleluia.

Jesus, the Good Shepherd, has given himself, in this divine banquet, to his Sheep : holy Church prays, in the Postcommunion, that we may ever be penetrated with sentiments of love for this august Sacrament ; we ought to glory in it, as being the food that prepares us for immortality.

POSTCOMMUNION.

Praesta nobis, quaesumus omnipotens Deus ; ut vivificationis tuae gratiam consequentes, in tuo semper munere gloriemur. Per

Grant, we beseech thee, O Almighty God, that, receiving from thee the grace of a new life, we may ever glory in thy gift. Through, &c. Do- minum.

To this the Priest adds two of the following Postcommunions.

OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN.

Having received, O Lord, Sumptis, Domine, salutis what is to advance our salva- nostraa subsidiis : da, quaa- tion ; grant we may always be sumus, beatae Marias sem- protected by the patronage of per Virginis patrociniis nos

Blessed Mary, ever a Virgin, ubique protegi, in cujua in whose honour we have veneratione haec tuae obtu- offered this sacrifice to thy Hums inajestati. Majesty.

AGAINST THE PERSECUTORS OF THE CHURCH.

We beseech thee, O Lord Quaesumus, Domine Deus our God, not to leave exposed noster : ut quos divina tri- to the dangers of human life, buis participations gaudere, those whom thou hast per- humanis non sinas subja- mitted to partake of these cere periculis. Per Domi- divine mysteries. Through, num. &c

FOR THE POPE.

Haec nos, quaesumus divini sacramenti perprotegat : et f amulum de- tuum N. quern Pastorem Ecclesiae tuae praeesse voluisti, una cum commisso sibi grege salve t semper et muniat. Per Dominum. <kc

May the participation of this Dodivine Sacrament protect us, mine, we beseech thee, O Lord ; and ceptio always procure safety and fence to thy servant N., whom thou hast appointed Pastor over thy Church, together with the flock committed to his charge. Through, pasch : TIME. II. M

The Psalms, Hymn an £1-99.

ANTIPHON OP

Ego sum Pastor bonus, qui pasco oves meas, et pro ovibus meis pono animam meam, alleluia.

OREMUS.

Deus, qui in Filii tui humilitate jacentem mundum erexisti : fidelibus tuis perpefcuam concede laetitiam : ut quos perpetuae mortis eripuisti casibus, gaudiis faeias perfrui sempiternis. Per eumdem.

1 Versicle are given in pages the Magnificat

I am the good Shepherd, who feed my sheep, and lay down my life for my sheep, alleluia.

LET US PRAY.

O God, who, by the humiliation of thy Son hast raised up the fallen world : grant to tny people perpetual joy : that they whom thou hast delivered from the danger of everlasting death, may arrive at eternal joys. Through, &c*

We will close the day with this beautiful Preface taken from the Mozarabic Missal. It commemorates the Resurrection.

ILLATIO.

(Feria vi. Paschce.)

Dignum et justum est, sanctum et salutare est, nos te gloriosissime Pater Domini nostri Jesu Christi, inenarrabilibus triumphis attollere, completisque erga nos promissorum suorum beneficiis, in quantum se mens parvulorum, te inspirante, repleri senserit, propensius conlaudare. Ut cui plus dimissum est amplius diligat, et potiorajam icedera

It is meet and just, holy and available to salvation, that, with loudest acclamations of triumph, we should extol thee, O ever glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ ! and, now that he has fulfilled all his promises of mercy towards us, to praise thee with all the fervour which the human mind is capable of feeling, aided by thy inspiration. He, to whom more has been forgiven should

SECOND SUNDAY love more ; and He, who bestowed his gifts upon us when we did not as yet believe, increased the obligations we have to serve him. Therefore, after that the Word had been made Flesh, and had dwelt amongst us, and had practised all that he had taught, — he, the perfect Man, perfect by his divine works, gave himself to the Passion, necessary, indeed, for us, but, on his part, voluntary. He enlightened the world by the brightness of his preaching, lest, being a prey to darkness, it might be tossed to and fro. So, too, he descended into the prison of Limbo, that he might set its captives free ; for he would not defer his Kingdom to the end of the world : therefore, the victims, dragged down by the crafty enemy, were raised up to heaven by the innocent Crucified. He would set free, by the right of justice, those whom he redeemed by the humility of his Passion. Having given up the ghost, and, as it is written, commended it into his Father's hands, a virgin-tomb received the divine guest that a Virgin- Womb had conceived and brought forth. Corruption came not nigh to him whilst lying in the grave, because he was conceived without contracting of the corruption of Adam's sin. The Jews obtained of Pilate that he would place guards at the Sepulchre, whose testimony was afterwards to confirm the faith of believers, and confound the accumulet qui tanta necdum credenti donavit. Postquam igitur Verbum caro factum est et habitavit in nobis, fecitque prius cuncta quae docuit, perfectum divmis operibus virum necessaria nobis sibique voluntaries tradidit passioni. Ut quemadmodum mundo huic praedicationis suae claritate effulserat, ne errorum inretitus tenebris fluctuaret, ita etiam infernali carcere mancipatis sua resolvendis descensione sucurreret Neque regnum usque in finem saeculi dilataret. Et spolia quae quondam praedo attraxerat fraudulentus, ad ccelos secum reveheret innocens crucifixus. Et liberaret virtutejustitiae quos humilitatis suae redemerat passione. Emisso itaque spirit u, et paternis, ut script urn est, manibus commendato, hospitium divinitatis immensae quern virginea conceperant atque ediderant viscera, virgo interim sepultura suscepit. Sed mansit illic nihilominus incorruptus, quia non fuerat ex Adam nati seminis corruptione conceptus. J udaeis quoque petentibus, custodes monumento deputantur a Praeside, quorum testimonio et tides firmaretur credentium, et confunderetur impietas perfidorum. Quid enim illi obesse potuit huniana custodia, cui et dum requiesceret cceleste vigilavit excubium, et cum resurgeret

Deusinerat Verbum? Quod immaculatae animae inseparabiliter copulatum adiit, exterruit, subjecit, et domuit, et vinxit cunctas hujus aeris in lacu novissimo potestates. Illic mors hebetata contremuit, seseque peremtam acrius quam stimulaverat sensit. Quaeque se humani generis dominam laBtitabat, ancillam mox crucis affectam Christo triumphante lugebat. Fracta es confestim virtus saeva carnificum, et ad nihilum redacta est exhausta grassatio cruentorum. Inclinata est harum tenebrarum Christi humilitate superbia, et diabolica malitia divini Agni est simplicitate restincta. Amisit e manibus subito quod se crudelissimus hostis credebat perpetim possessurum, cernens humanum genus per hominem Deum paradiso, unde praBvaricatione Adas eliniinatum f uerat, restitutuin. impiety of the wicked. For what obstacle could human vigilance be to him, who* whilst he lay in the Tomb, had Angels keeping watch over him ; and who, when he rose, rose because he was God, the Word ? Yea, the Word, which had been inseparably united to the Soul, was there in the Body also : it terrified, it subjected, it tamed, it tied fast down in deepest hell, all the powers of this air. Then did JDeath tremble, for its sting was blunted; and its own death was sharper than any it had ever made others feel. It had boasted of being lord of mankind ; but, when Christ triumphed, it had to wail itself a slave of the Cross. Straightway was broken the power of the cruel executioners, and the violent rioting of the blood-thirsty was brought to an end. The pride of the spirits of darkness was brought down by the humility of Christ, and the malice of the devil was crushed by the simplicity of the Lamb. The most cruel enemy saw fall from his hands what he thought was his. eternal possession ; — he saw mankind restored, by the Man-God, to the Paradise,, whence it had been banished, by Adam's sin.