September 8 — Feast of the Most Holy Name of Mary

And although the former is the only name whereby we may be saved; yet, as the Son oan never be separated from His Mother, heaven unites their two names in its hymns of praise, earth in its confidence, hell in its fear and hatred.

It was therefore in the order of divine Providenoe that devotion to the most holy name of Mary should spread simultaneously with the cultus of the adorable name of Jesus, of which St. Bernadin of Siena was the apostle in the fifteenth century. In 1513 the Church of Cuenca in Spain was the first to oelebrate, with the approbation of the holy See, a special feast in honour of the name of Mary, while the Francisoan Order had not yet succeeded in obtaining a like privilege for the adorable name of Jesus. The reason of this is that the memory of that sacred name included in the feast of the Circumcision, seemed to the prudence of the Pontiffs to suffice. From the same motive we find the feast of the most holy name of Mary extended to the universal Church in the year 1683, and that of the most holy name of Jesus • not until 1721.

Our Lady justifies her beautiful title by partaking in the warlike exploits of the King of kings her Son. The city of Vienna having been delivered by her, oontrary to all hope, from the power of the Crescent, the venerable Innocent XI. made this feast the memorial of universal gratitude to the liberatrix of the west. But we shall speak more explicitly of this glorious deliverance on September 12, the day on whioh it occurred.

MASS

In the Introit let us, with the Ohuroh, greet the sweet infant whose name foretells her power ; all the rioh and the great ones, kings, pontiffs, seraphim, shall entreat her smile ; but tne virgins are to form her own blessed train, singing the oantiole they alone can sing.

INTROIT

Vultum tuum deprecabuntur omnes divites plebis: adducentur Regi virgines post earn: proximae ejus adducentur tibi in laetitia et exsultatione.

Ps. Eructavit cor meum verbum bonum: dico ego opera mea Regi. Gloria Patri. Vultum tuum.

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 gladness and rejoicing.

Ps. My heart hath uttered a good word : I speak my works to the King. Glory be to the Father, &c. All the rich.

The name of Mary, which is the joy of angels and the terror of demons, proteots man against countless evils, and supports him on his way to heaven. May the Church's prayer, in the Collect, obtain for us the grace to profit fully of so great a help.

COLLECT

Concede, quaesumus, omnipotens Deus: ut fideles tui, qui sub sanctissimae Virginis Marias nomine et protectione laetantur, ejus pia intercessione, a cunctis malis liberentur in terris, et ad gaudia aeterna pervenire mereantur in coelis. Per Pominum,

Grant, we beseech thee, almighty God, that thy faithful, who rejoice under the name and protection of the most holy Virgin Mary, may, by her pious intercession, be delivered from all evils on earth, and deserve to arrive at eternal joys^in heaven. Through our Lord.

A oommemoration is then made of the occurring Sunday.

EPISTLE

Lectio libri Sapientiae

Ecclu. xxiv.

Ego quasi vitis f ructificavi suavitatem odoris: et floras mei, fructus honoris et honestatis. Ego mater pulchrae dilectionis, et timoris, et agnitionis, et sanctae spei. In me gratia omnis viaa et veritatis, in me omnis spes vitae et virtutis. Transite ad me, omnes qui concupiscitis me, et a generationibus meis implemini: spiritus enim meus super mel dulcis, et haereditas mea super mel et favum. Memoria mea in generationes saeculorum. Qui edunt me, adhuc esurient, et qui bibunt me, adhuc sitient. Qui audit me non confundetur: et qui operantur in me, non peccabunt. Qui elucidant me, vitam aeternam habebunt.

All the delight of heaven, all the hopes of earth, are centred on the cradle where Mary sleeps, while her heart is watching before God. Wisdom praises her own self ; by the blessed daughter of Anne and Joaohim, the loving preference shown by that divine Wisdom from the beginning of the world, is already justified ; for ever more it will be her delight to be with tlie childrei* of men. The chosen vine, the vine of

Lesson from the Book of Wisdom.

Ecclus. xxiv.

As the vine I have brought forth a pleasant odour, and my flowers are the fruit of honour and riches. I am the mother of fair love, and of fear, and of knowledge, and of holy hope. In me is all grace of the way, and of the truth, in me is all hope of life and of virtue. Come over to me, all ye that desire me, and be filled with my fruits; for my spirit is sweet above honey, and my inheritance above honey and the honeycomb. My memory is unto everlasting generations. They that eat me, shall yet hunger; and they that drink me, shall yet thirst. He that hearkeneth to me, shall not be confounded, and they that work by me shall not sin. They that explain me shall have life everlasting.

TIME AFTEK PENTECOST the Peaceful One is before us, announcing, by its fragrant blossom, the divine grape, whose juioe, pressed out in the wine-press of the oross, will five fruitfulness to every soul, and will inebriate eartn and heaven. The Churoh returns, in the Gradual, to Mary's

Sreat privilege, her virginal maternity, which gave od to the world.

GRADUAL

Benedicts et venerabilis es, Virgo Maria: quae sine tactn pudoris inventa es mater Salvatoris. f. Virgo Dei Genitrix, quern totns non capit orbis, in tua se clausit viscera, f actus homo.

Alleluia, alleluia.

1^ . Post partum, Virgo, inviolata permansisti: Dei Genitrix, intercede pro nobis. Alleluia.

Thou art blessed and venerable, O Virgin Mary: who without prejudice to purity wert found the Mother of our Saviour. t . O Virgin Mother of God, he whom the whole world cannot contain, confined himself in thy womb when he was made man.

Alleluia, alleluia. t. After child-birth thou didst remain a pure virgin: 0 Mother of God, intercede for us. Alleluia.

GOSFBL

Sequentia sanctiEvangelii secundum Lucam.

Cap. i.

In illo tempore: Missus est angelus Gabriel a Deo in civitatem GalilaeaB, 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.

Sequel of the holy Gospel according to Luke.

Ch.i.

At that time: the angel 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, full of grace, the Lord is with thee ; blessed art thou among women, Who

Qujb cum audisset, turbata est in germone ejus: et cogitabat qualis esset ista salutatio. Et ait angelus ei: Ne timeas, Maria: invenisti enim gratiam apud Deum. Ecce concipies in utero, et paries filium: et vocabis nomen ejus Jesum. Hie erit magnus: et Filius Altissimi vocabitur. Et dabit ill! Dominus Deus sedem David patris ejus: et regnabit in domo Jacob in aeternum; 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 verbum. Dixit autem Maria: Ecce ancilla Domini: fiat mini secundum verbum tuum. 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 word shall be impossible with God. And Mary said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done to me according to thy word.

This is the most solemn embassy ever reeorded in the history of angels or of men; it shows us how Jlary i* what her name signifies, Mistress of the world,

TIME AFTER PENTECOST

The highest interests of the human raoe, past, present, and to oome, of the heavenly hierarohy, and of God Himself, are here at stake ; and the transaction is carried on between the Most High and the Virgin of Nazareth alone, as having exclusive right, the One to propose, the other to accept, both to conclude. The angel is but a messenger ; man, too, stands in waiting ; Mary enters into a contract with the Creator, in the name of angels and of men, as in her own name ; in the name of the entire world, which she represents, and over which she reigns supreme.

Hail, then, to our Queen on her birthday ! all hail to Mary ! May she herself, in the holy Saorifioe, present our offerings to God for her people.

OFFERTORY

Ave, Maria, gratia plena: Dominus tecum: benedicta tu in mulieribus, et bene- art dictus fructus ventris tui.

Hail Mary, full of grace; the Lord is with thee; blessed thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

Let us pray that the intercession of our Lady, and the divine mercy, may remove every obstacle to the efficacy of the Sacrifice whioh is prepared on the altar.

SECRET

Tua, Domine, propitia- Through thy mercy, 0 Lord, tione, et beatae Marise sem- and by the intercession of per Virginis intercessione, blessed Mary ever Virgin, ad perpetuam atque prsesen- may this oblation procure for tern hsec oblatio nobis pro- us present and perpetual pros- ficiat prosperitatem et pa- perity and peace. Through &c. cem. Per Dominum.

Then the commemoration of the Sunday.

The Preface is the same as for the eighth of Sepjamber, except that for the words * in Natyvitate, on the Nativity', are substituted ' in Festivitate, on the festival 9 of the blessed Mary.

Inebriated with the divine mysteries, let us congratulate the august vine, whioh just now in the Epistle promised us this rich wine.

COMMUNION

Beata viscera Marise Vir- Blessed is the womb of the ginis, quae portaverunt aeter- Virgin Mary, which bore the ni Patris Filium. Son of the eternal Father.

The Postoommunion proclaims the universality of Mary's patronage ; may our Lord grant us always to experience it.

POSTCOMMUNION

Sumptis, Domine, salutis Having received, 0 Lord, nostras subsidiis: da qusesu- these helps to our salvation: mus, beataa Mariae semper grant, we beseech thee, that

Virginis patrociniis nos ubi- we may be ever protected by que protegi, in cujus vene- the patronage of blessed Mary, ratione haec tuae obtulimus ever Virgin, in whose honour majestati. Per Dominum. we have made these offerings to thy majesty. Through &c.

The Postcommunion of the occurring Sunday is then added ; and the Gospel of the said Sunday is read at the end of the Mass, instead of that of St. John.

VESPERS

The Vespers are those common to the feasts of our Lady throughout the year.

1. Ant. Dum esset Eex 1. Ant. While the king was in accubitu suo, nardus mea on his couch, my spikenard dedit odorem suavitatis. yielded a sweet odour. f>s, Dixit Pominus, page 38,

TIME AFTER PENTECOST

2. Ant. Laeva ejus sub 2. Ant. His left hand is capite meo, et dextera illius under my head, and his right amplexabitur me. shall embrace me.

Ps. Laudate pueri, page 41.

3. Ant. Nigra sum, sed 3. Ant. I formosa, fili® Jerusalem: Jeideo dilexit me Rex, et in- rusalem: troduxit me in cubiculum suum. am black but beautiful, 0 daughters of therefore the king loved me, and brought me into his chamber.

Ps. Lsetatus sum, page 152.

4. Ant. Jam hiems tran- 4. Ant. Now the winter is siit: imber abiit, et recessit: past, the rain is over and gone; surge arnica mea, et veni. arise, my love, and come.

Pa. Nisi Dominus, page 153.

5. Ant. Speciosa facta es 5. Ant. Thou art beautiful et suavis in deliciis tuis, and sweet in thy delights, O sancta Dei Genitrix. holy Mother of God.

Ps. Lauda Jerusalem, page 154.

The oapitulum and hymn as on page 155. f. Dignare me laudare f. Grant me to praise thee, te, Virgo sacrata. O holy Virgin. ty. Da mihi virtutem con- ty. Give me strength against tra hostes tuos. thy enemies.

ANTIPHON OF THE MAGNIFICAT

Beatam me dicent omnes All generations shall call generationes, quia ancillam me blessed, for God has looked humilem respexit Deus. on his humble handmaid.

The Prayer as on page 174.

Then is made a commemoration of the Sunday.

0 Mary, we say to thee with thy faithful olient, St. Anselm of Canterbury: 'By the name of thy beloved Son, grant us ever to keep the memory of thine own sweetest name; may it be the delicious food of our souls; may it be with us in danger; may it be with us in anguish ; may it be to us the beginning of all joy ! ' 1

SECOND DAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF THE NATIVITY

Let Us make man to Our image and likeness. 1 * And God made man ; He modelled him/ says Tertullian, * to the image of God, i.e. of Christ. Wonderful deed, to fashion this slime of the earth I God seems to be absorbed in it ; He makes it the work of His hand and of His heart ; counsel, wisdom, providenoe, and above all love, trace the lines. As He forms each lineament of this clay, He has in mind Christ who is to become man. This slime of the earth, stamped with the image of the Christ to come, is not only God's work, it is also His pledge.' 3

These words were spoken oonoerning our first parent, Adam ; but how much more truly do they apply to the Mother of the Man-God, during these days when He who is to be born of her watches over her growth ! As God, He now places in her provisionally what He wills to take from her hereafter. For, as Man, He will receive from her, together with

1 Anselm. Oratio xlix, al. xlviii. * Gen. i. 26. * TertulL D$ resurrect, carnis vi.

September 9

TIME AFTER PENTECOST

His saored Body, everything that ohildren naturally inherit from their parents: suoh dispositions and

?[ualitie as arise from the physical oomplexion ; eatures, ways, habits acquired by imitation or by early eduoation. Suoh is the ineffable oondesoension of Him who, knowing all things by infused soienoe, condescends to pass like us through the apprenticeship of life. Jesus is to have no earthly father ; He will therefore receive more from His Mother than could any other son. In return, no oreature could be so like to Jesus in the order of grace, as she whom He thus deigns to resemble in the order of nature ; and our heavenly Father loves every oreature in proportion to the degree of that oreature's conformity to the image of His divine Son. How exceedingly, then, 0 Mary, art thou loved ! Already in thy sweet features we discern the nobility of the King's daughter, whose glory is from within, hidden beneath the golden fringes and variety of ornaments that deck her; for the manifold gifts of the holy Spirit enhance the grace and beauty that crown thee in thy very cradle. Together with Andrew of Crete, speaking on this day, we thus salute thee: 'Hail, mediatrix of the law of graoe ; seal of the anoient and of the new Alliance; luminous fulfilment of all propheoy; summary of revealed truth; living, immaculate book of God the Word, wherein, without writing or characters, the Word God its Author may be daily read ! Hail, first-fruits of our regeneration ; term of the divine promises and predictions ; sanotuary promised by God to His own glory ; liberatrix foretold to the nations ! 9 1

The Greeks make to-day a special commemoration

1 Andr. Gret. In Nativit. Deipara, Oratio iy. of our Lady's holy parents. Already yesterday the Menaea repeated in a thousand ways the gratitude all creatures owe to them. We select the following passages from among many.

MKNS1S SEPTEMBRIS, DIE VIII

Exsultet ccelum, lastetur terra; quippe Dei ccelum, sponsa Dei, partu in terra edita est. Sterilis inf antem Mariam ex repromissione lactat, gaudetque pro partu Joachim: Mihi, inquiens, virga nata est, ex qua germinavit flos Christus ex radice David.

Exaudisti, Domine, preces meas, Anna dicat, mihi hodie f ructum earn praebens, quae ex cunctis generationibus atque f eminis praefinita est intemerata Mater tua.

Eva hodie damnatione absoluta est, Adam item absolutus ab antiqua maledictione, clamans in tua nativitate, immaculata: In te sumus a morte redempti.

Audio David tibi concinentem: Adducentur virgines post te, adducentur in templum Regis; ipseque, conserta cum eo voce, Regis filiam celebro canticis.

Steriles, animae infecundas, adeste festinanter; nam Anna multa nunc prole gaudet. Matres, choros ducite cum Matre Dei.

Let heaven exult and earth rejoice, for God's own heaven, his bride, is this day born on earth. According to promise, the barren mother suckles her infant Mary; Joachim rejoices in his daughter, saying: Mine is the branch whereon is to blossom Christ the flower, of the root of David.

Now may Anne say: Thou hast heard, 0 Lord, my prayer, giving me this day as fruit, the Virgin chosen among all women and of all generations to be thy spotless Mother.

Eve's sentence is cancelled to-day; and Adam, released from the ancient curse, cries out at thy birth, 0 immaculate one: In thee we are redeemed from death.

I hear David singing to thee: Virgins shall be brought after thee, they shall be brought into the temple of the King. And I, uniting my voice with his, celebrate thee in my songs, O daughter of the King!

Come, hasten, all ye barren and fruitless souls; for Anne is now the joyful mother of many children. And ye mothers lead the choirs with the Mother of God.

TIMS AFTER PENTB008T

Bes stupenda: fona vite de sterili nascitur. Gaude, Joachim: non enim tui similis inter patres, per quern data est nobis virgo Deum suscipiens, tabernaculum divinitatis, mons sanctus.

Exsultate, populi: lucis thalamus e ventre prodiit; porta orientalis, hodie genita, ingres8um magni praastolatur sacerdotis, ad salutem animarum nostrarum.

O prodigy! the fount of life springs from one that was sterile. Rejoice, O Joachim, for among all fathers there is none like unto thee, by whom was given to us the Virgin Mother of God, the tabernacle of the Divinity, the holy mountain.

Exult, O ye people: the nuptial chamber of the light has come forth from her mother's womb; to-day is born the eastern gate which will soon give entrance to the great High-Priest, for the salvation of our souls.

September 10 SAINT NICHOLAS OF TOLENTINO

CONFESSOR

To-day t the infant Mary smiles upon the lily offered her in her oradle by the representative of a great Order. The hermits of St. Augustine were being grouped and organized by the Vicar of Christ, when Nicholas was admitted into their family, of which he was soon to beoome the thaumaturgus. When he died, in 1305, the Roman Pontiffs were beginning their exile at Avignon ; and his canonization, deferred for nearly a century and a half through the troubles of the period, marked the close of the lamentable dissensions which followed that exile. Peaoe so long lost ; peace, of whioh even the wisest