August 8 — Saints Cyriacus, Largus, and Smaragdus, Mm. $

ctorum Martyrum tuoram Cyriacus,Largus Cyriaci, Largi et Smaragdi solemnitate lsetificas: conpropitius ; ut quorum colimus, virtutem Quoque passionis imitemur. by the annual solemnity of thy holv martyrs, and Smaragdus, mercifully grant that we may imitate the cede virtue with which they suffer- natalitia ed, whose festival we celebrate.

Through, &c. pent. rr.

I

TIME AFTER PENTECOST.

August 9. VIGIL OF SAINT LAURENCE. SAINT ROMANUS,

MARTYR. ■ — ♦

" Fear not, my servant, for I am with thee, saith the " Lord. If thou pass through fire, the flame shall " not hurt thee, and the odour of fire shall not be in " thee. I will deliver thee out of the hand of the " wicked, and I will redeem thee out of the hand of "the mighty."1 It was the hour of combat; and Wisdom, more powerful than flame, was calling upon Laurence to win the laurels of victory presaged by his very name. The three days since the death of Sixtus had passed at length, and the deacon's exile was about to close: he was soon to stand beside his Pontiff at the altar in heaven, and never more to be separated from him. But before going to perform his office as deacon in the eternal sacrifice, he must on this earth, where the seeds of eternity are sown, give proof of the brave faithfulness which becomes a Levite of the Law of Love. Laurence was ready. He had said to Sixtus: "Try the fidelity "of the minister to whom thou didst intrust the " dispensation of the Blood of our Lord." He had

1 2nd Reap, of Matins fr. Isaias xliii. and Jeirem. xv.