Chapter the Third. Practice for the Time after Pentecost

The object which holy Church has in view by her Liturgical Tear, is the leading the Christian soul to union with Christ, and this by the Holy Ghost. This object is the one which God himself has in giving us his own Son, to be our Mediator, our Teacher, and Redeemer, and in sending us the Holy Ghost to abide among us. It is to this end that is directed all that aggregate of Rites and Prayers, which we have hitherto explained : they are not a mere commemoration of the mysteries achieved for our salvation by the divine goodness, but they bring with them the graces corresponding to each of those mysteries ; that thus we may come, as the Apostle expresses it, to the age of the fulness of Christ}

As we have elsewhere explained, our sharing in the mysteries of Christ, which are celebrated in the Liturgical Tear, produces in the Christian what is called, in Mystical Theology, the Illuminative Life, in which the soul gains continually more and more of the light of the Incarnate Word, who, by his examples and teachings, renovates each one of her faculties, and imparts to her the habit of seeing all things from God's point of view. This is a preparation which disposes her for union with God, not merely in an imperfect manner, and one that is more or less inconstant, but in an intimate and permanent way, which is called the Uhitive Life. The production of this life is the special work of the Holy Ghost, who has been sent into this world that he may maintain the

1 £ph. i^. 13.

TIMB AFTER PENTECOST. soul of each of us in the possession of Christ, and may bring to perfection the love whereby the creature is united with its God.

In this state, in this Unitive Life, the soul is made to relish, and assimilate into herself, all that substantial and nourishing food which -is presented to her so abundantly during The Time after Pentecost. The mysteries of the Trinity and of the Blessed Sacrament, the mercy and power of the Heart of Jesus, the glories of Mary and her influence upon the Church and souls, — all these are manifested to the soul with more clearness than ever, and produce within her effects not previously experienced. In the Feasts of the Saint, which are so varied and so grand during this portion of the year, she feels more and more intimately the bond which unites her to them in Christ, through the Holy Spirit. The eternal happiness of Heaven, which is to follow the trials of this mortal life, is revealed to her by the Feast of all Saints ; she gains clearer notions of that mysterious bliss, which consists in light and love. Having become more closely united to Holy Church, which is the Bride of her dear Lord, she follows her in all the stages of her earthly existence, she takes a phare in her sufferings, she exults in her triumphs ; she sees, and yet is not daunted at seeing, this world tending to its decline, for she knows that the Lord is nigh at hand. As to what regards herself, she is not dismayed at feeling that her exterior life is slowly giving w&y, and that the wall which stands between her and the changeless sight and ppssession of the sovereign Goo is gradually falling to decay ; for it is not in this world that she lives, and her heart has long been where her treasure is. 1

Thus enlightened, thus attracted, thus established by the incorporation into herself of the mysteries,

^t.Matth. vi. 21. wherewith the sacred Liturgy has nourished her, as also by the gifts poured into her by the Holy Grhoat, the soul yields herself up, and without any effort, to the impulse of the divine Mover. Virtue has beoome all the more easy to her, as she aspires, it would almost seem naturally, to what is most perfect ; and sacrifices, whioh used formerly to terrify, now delight her ; she makes use of this world, as though she used it not, 1 for all true realities, as far as she is concerned, exist beyond this world ; in a word, she longs all the more ardently after the eternal possession of the object she loves, as she has been realising even in this life, what the A.postle describes, where he speaks of a creature's being one spirit with the Lord, 2 by being united to him in heart.

Such is the result ordinarily produced in the soul, by the sweet and healthy influence of the sacred Liturgy. But if it seem to us, that, although we have followed it in its several seasons, we have not, as yet, reached the state of detachment and expectation just described, and that the life of Christ has not, so far, absorbed our own individual life into itself, — let us be on our guard against discouragement on that account. The Cycle of the Liturgy, with its ray 8 of light and grace for the soul, is not a phenomenon that occurs only .once in the heaven of holy Church ; it returns each Tear. Such is the meroiful design of that God, who hath so loved the world, as to give it his Only Begotten Son; 3 of that God, who came not to judge the world, but that the world may be saved by him} Such, we say, is the design of God ; and holy Church is but carrying out that design, by putting within our reach the most powerful of all means for leading man to his God, and uniting him to his sovereign Good ; she thus testifies the earnestness of her maternal solicitude. The Christian who

1 1 Cor. vii. 31. 2 Ibid. vi. 17. 3 St. John, iii. 16.

• Ibid. iii. 17.

TIMB AFTER PENTECOST. has not been led to the term we have been describing by the first half of the Cycle, will still meet, in this second, with important aids for the expansion of his faith and the growth of his love. The Holy Ghost, who reigns, in a speoial manner, over this portion of the Tear, will not fail to influenoe his mind and heart ; and, when a fresh Cycle commences, the work, thus begun by grace, has a new ohanoe of receiving that completeness, which has been retarded by the weakness of human nature.

CHAPTER THE FOURTH.

MORNING AND NIGHT PRATERS FOR THE TIME AFTER PBNTBC08T.

During this second part of the Tear, the Christian, on waking in the morning, will unite himself with holy Church, who, every day, in her Offioe of Lauds, hails the return of light, making use of these words of the Royal Prophet :

O God, my God, unto thee Deus, Deus meus, ad te do I watch at break of day. de luce vigilo.

He will profoundly adore the divine Majesty ; and, thanking his sovereign Lord, who has protected him whilst involved in the darkness of night, he will proffer him his service for the whole day which is now commencing : he will wish to spend it in love and obedience, as behoves one whom Christ has united to himself by his mysteries, and whom the Holy Ghost is willing to guide and govern. The time for Morning Prayer being oome, he may give expression to the sentiments which should then animate his soul, by using these formulas of the Church : — morning prayers.

First, praise and adoration of the Most Holy Trinity: f. Let us bless the Father, f. Benodicamus Patrem and the Son, and the Holy et Filium, cum Sancto Spi- Ghost. ritu.

TIME AFTER FEHTBOOST.

Laudemus et superexaltemus eum in ssecula. f. Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto.

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

Let us praise him and extol him above all, for ever. f. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. ft. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Then, praise to our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ : y. Adoramus te, Christe, et benedicimu tibi ; ft. Quia per sanctam crucem tuam redemisti mundum. y. We adore thee, 0 Christ, and bless thee ; ft. Because, by thy holy Cross, thou hast redeemed the world.

Thirdly, in vocation of the Holy Ghost :

Veni, Sancte Spiritus, reple tuorum corda fidelmm, et tui amoris in eis ignem accende.

Come, O Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of thy faithful, and enkindle within them the fire of thy love.

After these fundamental acts of religion, reoite the Lord's Prayer, uniting your intentions with those which your Saviour had when he gave it to you. First, then, raise up your thoughts and desires to the interests of his glory, whilst you say the first three petitions; and in the last four, humbly put before him the favours you yourself stand in need of :

THE LORD'S PRAYER.

Pater noster, qui es in coelis, sanctificetur nomen tuum ; adveniat regnum tuum ; fiat voluntas tua, sicut in coelo et in terra.

Panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie ; et dimitte nobis debita nostra, sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris ; et ne nos inducas in tentationem ; sed libera nos a malo. Amen.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name ; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us ; and lead us not into temptation ; but deliver us from evil. Amen.

MOtttflKG PRAYERS.

Tfcen, address our Blessed Lady, using, for this purpose, the wordsr of the Angelical Salutation, whilst saying it, think of the share she took in the mysteries, whereby we have been saved, and united to God. Think, too, of the immense power given to her by her divine Son, and of the maternal love she bears for us mortals.

THE ANGELICAL SALUTATION.

Hail Mary, full of grace : Ave Maria, gratia plena ; the Lord is with thee ; blessed Dominus tecum ; benedicta art thou among women, and tu in mulieribus, et bene- blessed id the fruit of thy dictus fruotus ventris tui, womb, Jesus. Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, pray for us sinners, now, and ora pro nobis peccatoribus, at the hour of our death, nunc et in hora mortis nos-

Amen. trae. Amen.

After this, you should recite the Creed, that is, the Symbol of Faith. It contains the dogmas we are to believe, and which we have seen, in such living reality, by means of the Liturgy which has celebrated them, each in its turn. Faith is the first bond whioh unites us to God. It is Faith that gives us to know him, and reveals to us the object of our hope and our love. Our Faith should be dearer to us than our life, and we should be ever praying for its increase.

THE APOSTLES' CREED.

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.

And, in Jesus Christ, his only Son our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary ; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried ; he descended into hell, the third day he arose again from

Credo in Deum, Patrem omnipotentem, creatorem coeli et terrae.

Et in Jesum Christum Filium ejus unicum, Dominum nostrum : qui conceptus est de Spiritu Sancto, natus ex Maria Virgine, passus sub Pontio Pilato, crucifixus, mortuus et sepultus : descendit ad inferos,

TIME AFTBR PENTECOST. tertia die resurrexit a mortnis : ascendit ad coelos, sedet ad dexteram Dei Patris omnipotentis : inde venturus est judicare vivos et mortuos.

Credo in Spiritum Sanctum, sanctam Ecclesiam Oatholicam, Sanctorum communionem, remissionem peccatorum, carnis resurrectionem, vitam aeternam. Amen. * the dead; he ascended into heaven, sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty ; from thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost ; the Holy Catholic Church; the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

After having thus made the Profession of your Faith, unite with Holy Church, who hails, each morning, the rising of the day-star, who is her Jesus, who is the Light of the World, 1 and the Sun of Justice. To this end, you may recite the following beautiful Hymn, oomposed by St. Ambrose :

Splendor Paternse gloriae, De luce lucem proferens, Lux lucis, et fons luminis, Diem dies illuminans.

Verusque sol illabere, Micans nitore perpeti : Jubarque Sancti Spiritus Infunde nostris sensibus.

Votis vocemus et Patrem, Patrem perennis gloriae, Patrem potentis gratis, Culpam releget lubricam.

Confirmet actus strenuos, Dentes retundat invidi :

1 St. J(

O Brightness of the Father's glory ! bringing Light from the Light! Thou Light of Light, and Fount of Light, and Day that illuminest the day!

O thou true Sun ! pour forth thy rays on us, shining upon us with unfading splendour ! O Radiance of the Holy Ghost, be thou infused into our senses and powers.

Give us, also, to invoke the Father, — the Father of eternal glory, the Father of mighty grace, — that he would drive from us sin and its allurements.

May he give energy to our deeds and strengthen them; n, viii. 12.

MORNING PRAYERS. may he break the teeth of the envious serpent ; may he support us when we rudely fall, and give us the grace to act.

May he govern and rule our mind, in a chaste and faithful body; may our faith be fervent in warmth, void of the poisons of error.

May Christ be our food, and Faith our drink ; may we, in gladness, quaff the sober inebriation of the Spirit.

May this day be one of joy ; modesty its dawn, Faith its noon ; and no night to dim the mind.

The aurora is swift advancing; 0 may the full Aurora come, the whole Son in the Father, and the whole Father in his Word !

To God the Father, and to his Only Son, and to the Paraclete Spirit, be glory for ever and ever.

Amen.

Casus secundet asperos, Donet gerendi gratiam,

Mentem gubernet et regat,

Casto, fideli corpore ; Fides calore ferveat, Fraudis venena nesciat. Christusque nobis sit cibus,

Potusque noster sit fides : Lseti libamus sobriam Ebrietatem Spiritus.

Lsetus dies hie transeat, Pudor sit ut diluculum, Fides velut meridies, Crepusculum mens nesciat.

Aurora cursus provehit, Aurora totus prodeat, In Patre totus Filius, Et totus in Verbo Pater.

Deo Patri sit gloria, Ej usque soli Filio, Cum Spiritu Paraclito, Et nunc, et in perpetuum.

Amen.

After having thus paid your homage to your divine Mediator, next make an bumble confession of your sins, reciting, for this purpose, the general formula made use of by the Church.

THE CONFESSION OF SINS.

I confess to Almighty God, to blessed Mary ever Virgin, to blessed Michael the Archangel, to blessed John Baptist, to the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and to all the Saints, that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word, and deed; vol x.

Confiteor Deo omnipotenti, beat® Mariae semper Virgini, beato Michaeli Archangelo, beato Joanni Baptistae, Sanctis Apostolis Petro et Paulo, et omnibus Sanctis, quia peccavi nimis, cogitatione, verbo et opere : C

TIMS AFTER PENTECOST. mea culpa, mea culpa, mea through my fault, through my maxima culpa. fault, through my most grievous fault.

Ideo precor beatam Ma- Therefore I beseech the riam semper Virginem, bea- blessed Mary ever Virgin, turn Michaelem Ar change- blessed Michael the Archangel, lum, beatum Joannem Bap- blessed John Baptist, the holy tistam, sanctos Apostolos Apostles Peter and Paul, and

PetrumetPaulum, etomnes all the Saints, to pray to our

Sanctos, orare pro me ad Lord God for me. Dominum Deum nostrum.

Misereatur nostri omni- May Almighty God have potens Deus, et dimissis mercy on us, and, our sins peccati nostris, perducat being forgiven, bring us to nos ad vitam aeternam. life everlasting. Amen. Amen.

Indulgentiam, absolutio- May the Almighty and mer- nem et remissionem pecca- ciful Lord grant us pardon, torum no8trorum tribuat absolution, and remission of nobis omnipotens et miseri- our sins. Amen, cors Dominus. Amen.

This is the proper time for making your Meditation, as, no doubt, you practise this holy exercise. It may be the case, with some souls, that their assiduous application to the Mysteries of the Holy Liturgy has produced upon them this among other effects, — that it has opened to them the way of Prayer properly so called. Let, then, each one commune with God, under the influence of the Holy Spirit. During this long period, which never lasts less than six months, the Christian is free to choose the subject of his communings with God, for he has been enlightened, as to all things, by the words and works of his Lord, who came down from heaven to earth that he might teaoh us all truth. So that, whether he stay to ponder over the mysteries which have been revealed to him, according to the attraction which he feels for them ; or fix his attention upon the perfections of that divine Model, in whom there are, so resplendently, all the marks of the Second Adam come down from heaven ; 1 1 1 Cor. xv* 47.

MORNING PRAYERS. or our Lord point out to him those miseries and imperfections which are in him, and keep him still so far from his Model ; all will tend to enlighten him, to inflame him, and to unite him with his God. When a soul is continually being influenced by her contact with the Church through the Liturgy, it is impossible for the spirit of Prayer not to grow within her, and, either imperceptibly, or suddenly, produce in her a transformation into Him who, being God, has united himself to our nature, in order that, through him, we might be united with God.

Tour Meditation or Prayer ended, or deferred, on account of your not having leisure to make it at this hour of the morning, you will next address this prayer to God, begging him to grant you the grace to avoid, during this day, every kind of sin, and to perform all manner of good works. Say, then, this prayer of the Church, for her prayers are the best : y . 0 Lord, hear my prayer,

And let my cry come unto thee. y. Domine, exaudi orationem meam,

Et clamor meus ad te veniat.

LET US PRAY.

Almighty Lord and God, who hast brought us to the beginning of this day, let thy powerful grace so conduct us through it, that we may not fall into any sin ; but that all our thoughts, words, and actions may be regulated according to the rules of thy heavenly justice, and tend to the observance of thy law. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

OREMTJS.

Domine, Deus omnipotens, qui ad principium hujus diei nos pervenire fecisti, tua nos hodie salva virtute, ut in hac die ad nullum declinemus peccatum : sed semper ad tuam justitiam faciendam nostra procedant eloquia, dirigantur cogitationes et opera. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus sancti Deus, per omnia ssecula saeculorum. Amen.

TIME AFTER PENTECOST.

During the day, you would do well to use the instructions and prayers, which you will, find in these volumes, both for the Proper of the Time, and the Proper of the Saints. In the Evening, you may use the following prayers.

NIGHT PRAYERS.

After having made the sign of the Cross, adore that Sovereign Lord, who now offers you repose after the labours of the day. Beg his protection on these hours of sleep and night ; and, to this end you may recite this beautiful hymn of St. Ambrose, which was so great a favourite with St. Augustine, his disciple. 1

HYMN.

Bens, Creator omnium Polique rector, vestiens Diem deooro lumine, Noctem soporis gratia,

Artus solutes ut quies Beddat labores usui, l£entesque fessas allevet, liuctusque solvat anxios ;

Grates, peracto jam die, Et noctis exortu, preces, Voti reos ut adjuves, Hymnum canentes, solvimus.

Te cordis ima concinant, Te vox sonora concrepet, ie diligat castus amor, Te mens adoret sobria.

O God, Creator of all things, and Euler of the heavens, 'tis thou that clothedst day with beautiful light, and night with the boon of sleep.

'Tip sleep that restores our wearied limbs to the toil of work. Sleep gives repose to the mind when tired, and takes away the anxious-making grief.

The day is spent, and night is come; we offer thee our thanks and prayers, singing our hymn, that thou mayst help us, thy servants.

May our inmost heart sing thy praise, and tuneful voices sound forth thy name; may our chaste affection love, and our sober mind adore, thee.

1 Confessions^ 13k. ix, ch. 12.

NIGHT PRAYERS.

Ut, cum profunda clau- serit

Diem oaligo noctium, Fides tenebras nesoiat Et nox fide reluoeat.

Dormire meutem ne sinas, Dormire culpa noverit ; Castos fides refrigerans Somui vaporem temperet.

Exuta sensu lubrieo Te cordis alta somnient ; Nec hostis invidi dolo Payor quietos suscitet.

And when the night's deep gloom shall shut out the day, may our faith know nought of darkness, and the very night be day by faith.

Let not our soul, but onlysin feel sleep ; let faith keep us chaste, and, by its refreshing power, check the vapours of sleep.

May our heart's deepest self, unshackled by the allurements of sense, dream of thee : nor let the fear of the enemy, whose envy is ever laying snares, disturb us when at rest.

Let our prayer ascend to Christ, and to the Father, and to the Spirit of that Christ and Father : 0 Trinity, one in essence, and all-powerful, be merciful to us, who pray to thee.

Amen.

After this Hymn, say the Our Father, Hail Mary, and the Apostles' Creed, as in the Morning.

Then make the Examination of Conscience, going over in your mind all the faults oommitted during the day. Think, and humble yourself at the thought, how sin makes us degenerate from the divine adoption. Then make a resolution to avoid sin for the time to come, to do penance for it, and to shun the occasions which might again lead you into it.

Having oonoluded the Examination of Consoienoe, reoite the Confiteor (or / confess) with heartfelt contrition ; and then give expression to your sorrow by the following Act, which we have taken from the Venerable Cardinal Bellarmine's Catechism.

ACT OF CONTRITION. 0 my God, I am exceedingly grieved for having offended thee ; and, with my whole heart, I repent for the suns £ have

Christum rogemus et Pa- trem,

Christi Patrisque Spiritum : Unum, potens per omnia, Fove precantes, Trinitas.

Amen.

TIME AFTER PENTECOST. committed : I hate, and abhor them, above every other evil, not only because, by so sinning, I have lost Heaven and deserve Hell, bnt still more because I have offended thee, O infinite Goodness, who art worthy to be loved above all things. I most firmly resolve, by the assistance of thy grace, never more to offend thee for the time to come, and to avoid those occasions which might lead me into sin.

You may then add the Acts of Faith, Hope, and Charity, to the recitation of which Pope Benedict the Fourteenth has granted an Indulgence of seven years and seven quarantines for each time.

ACT OP FAITH. .

O my God, I firmly believe whatsoever the Holy Catholic Apostolic Eoman Church requires me to believe : I believe it, because thou hast revealed it to her, thou who art the very Truth.

ACT OF HOPE.

0 my God, knowing thine almighty power, and thine infinite goodness and mercy, I hope in thee that, by the merits of the Passion and Death of our Saviour Jesus Christ, thou wilt grant me eternal life, which thou hast promised to all such as shall do the works of a good Christian ; and these I resolve to do, with the help of thy grace.

ACT OF CHARITY.

0 my God, I love thee with my whole heart, and above all things, because thou art the Sovereign Good : I would rather lose all things than offend thee. For thy love also, I love, and desire to love, my neighbour as myself .

Then say to our Blessed Lady the following solemn Anthem, which the Churoh says, in her honour, till Advejit,

NIGHT PRAYERS.

ANTHEM TO THE

Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy ; our Life, our Sweetness, and our Hope, all hail !

To thee we cry, poor banished children of Eve ;

To thee we send up our sighs, weeping and mourning in this vale of tears.

Turn, then, most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us ;

And, after this our exile, show unto us the blessed Fruit of thy womb, Jesus ;

0 merciful, 0 kind, 0 sweet Virgin Mary !

f. Pray for us, 0 holy Mother of God,

That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.