September 30 — Saint Bemigius Bishop and Confessor Apostle of the Franks

Scarcely had two centuries elapsed since the triumph of the cross over Roman idolatry, when satan began to ory victory once more. While Eutyohianism was crowned at Byzantium in the person of Anastasius the silent, Arianism was rife in the west. Throughout the whole anoient territory of the empire, heresy was supreme, and almost everywhere was persecuting the Ohuroh, who had now none but the vanquished for her sons.

'But fear not; rather rejoice,' says Baronius at this point of his Annals; 'it is divine Wisdom still delighting to play in the world. The thoughts of men count for little before Him who holds the light in His hands, to hide it when He pleases, and, when He wills, to bring it forth again. The darkness, that now covers the earth, marks the hour when the <Jawn is *bo*t to break in the hearts 0 f the Franks,

October 1

SAINT BEMIGIUS and the Catholic faith is to shine there in all its

Little known in our days is such a manner of writing history ; yet this was the view taken hy the first historian of the Church, and the greatest. On such a feast as this we oould not do better than repeat summarily his account of the Franks. ' How,' says he, 'can we help admiring the Providence whioh is never wanting to the Church P From the midst of tribes still pagan, on the morrow of the irremediable fall of the empire, God forms to Himself a new people, raises unto Himself a prinoe: against these must break the rising tide of heretios and barbarians. Such, in truth, appeared in the course of ages the divine mission of the Frankish kings.

What energy has faith to uphold kingdoms ; and what fatal power has heresy to uproot every plant that is not set by our heavenly Father ! In proof hereof, see how the principalities of the Goths, Vandals, Heruli, Alani, Suevi, and Gepidi have utterly disappeared ; while the Franks behold their little spot of earth blessedly fertilized, and enoroaohing far upon the surrounding territorie. , 2

Henceforth appeared the might of the Franks, when preceded to battle by the cross. Hitherto obsoure and struggling for existence, they were now everywhere victorious. They had only had to acknowledge Christ, in order to reaoh the highest summit of glory, honour, and renown. In so speaking I say nothing but what is known to the whole world. If they have been more favoured than other nations, it is because they were supereminent in faith, and incomparable in piety, so that they were more eager

1 Baron. Annal. eccl. ad arm. 499, xv ; the year 496 is now universally recognized as the date of the Baptism of Clovis,

2 Ibid, ad ann. 484, cxxxv. glory.

TIHB AFTER PBNTEC08T to defend the Church than to protect their own frontiers. 1

Moreover* a privilege unique and truly admirable was theirs: never did the sins of kings bring Upon this people, as upon so many others, subjection to a foreign yoke. The promise of the Psalm 8 would seem to have been renewed in favour of this nation: If his ohildren forsake My law . . . and keep not My commandments, I will visit their iniquities with a rod . . . but My mercy I will not take away from him.' 8

All honour, then, to the saintly pontiff, who merited to be the instrument of suoh neavenly benefits ! Aocording to the expression of the holy Pope Hormisdas, * Remigius converted the nation, and baptized Clovis, in the midst of prodigies similar to those of the apostolic age.' 4 The prayers of Clotilde, the labours of Genevieve, the penances of the monks who peopled the forests of Gaul, had doubtless a . great share in a conversion which brought suoh joy to the angels. Did space allow, we might relate how it was also prepared by the great bishops of the fifth century, Germanus of Auxerre, Lupus of Troyes, Anian of Orleans, Hilary of Aries, Mamertus and Avitus of Vienne, Sidonius Apollinaris, and so many others who, in that age of darkness, held up the Ohuroh to the light of day, and commanded the respect of the barbarians. Remigius, contemporary and survivor of most of them, and their rival in eloquence, nobility, and holiness, seemed to personify them all on that Christmas night forestalled by so many desires, and prayers, and sufferings. In the baptistery of Saint Mary's at Rheims, the Frankish nation was born to God ; as heretofore on the banks of Jordan, the dove

1 Baron. Annal. ecel. ad ann. 514, xxiii. 2 Ps. lxxxyiii. 31-34. 3 Baron. Annal, ecel. ad ann. 514, xxvii. ♦ Honnisd. Eput. 1, ad Remigiwn,

SAtNt RBttHUtte was again seen over the waters, honouring this time, not the Baptism of Jesus, but that of the Church's eldest daughter ; it brought a gift from heaven, the holy vial containing the chrism which was to anoint the Frenoh kings in future ages into 'the most worthy of all the kings of the earth.' 1

Two ohurohes in the city of Rheims olaim the honour of these glorious souvenirs: the grand ohuroh of our Lady, and the venerable basilica where Remigius lay, with the vial of ohrism at his feet, and guarded by the twelve peers surrounding his splendid mausoleum. This ohuroh of St. Remigius bore the name of caput Francice* head of all France, until those days of Ootober 1793, when, from its deseorate pulpit was proclaimed the word that the days of darkness were at an end; when the holy ampulla was broken, and the relics of the apostle of France were thrown into a common grave. 5

After an episcopate of seventy-four years, the longest ever recorded in history, Remigius took his flight to heaven on January 13, the anniversary of his episcopal consecration and also of his birth. Yet in the same century, the first of October was chosen for his feast ; this being the day whereon his relics were first translated to a more honourable place, in the midst of miracles such as those which had graoed his life. The translation of St. Remigim is the name still given to this day by the ohuroh of Rheims, which, by a special privilege, oelebrates on the Octave

1 Matth. Paris, ad ann. 1257 : Archiepiscopus Remensis qui regem Francorum eoelestt consecrat ehrismate (quapropter rex Francorum regtm censetur dtgnissimus) est omnium Francia parium primus et excellentissimus .

2 Mabillon. Annal. benedict, xlyii. 30 : Diploma Gerberga regime .

3 They were, however, afterwards discovered and authentically recognized ; and are, to this day, an object of the greatest veneration to pilgrims.

TIM'S AFTER PENTECOST day of the Epiphany the prinoipal festival of its glorious patron. We borrow the following lessons from the Office of that day.

Remigius, also called Remedius, was born at Laon, of noble parents by name JEmilius and St. Celinia. They were far advanced in age, and renowned among their own people for their virtue, when the birth of this child was foretold to them by a blind hermit named Montanus ; who afterwards recovered his sight, by applying to his eyes some of the milk wherewith the infant Remigius was nourished. The future apostle of the Franks devoted his youth to prayer and study in retirement ; but the more he shrank from the company of men, the more his fame spread throughout the province. On the death of Bennadius, archbishop of Rheims, Remigius, who though but twenty-two years of age had the mature character of an old man, was unanimously elected, or rather forcibly installed as archbishop. He endeavoured to escape the burden of the episcopate, but was obliged by the command of God to submit. Having been consecrated by the bishops of the province, he governed his church with the wisdom of an experienced veteran. He was eloquent, learned in the Scriptures; and a pattern to his

Remigius, qui et Remedius, Lauduni natus est, parentibus nobilibus, JEmilio et sancta Cilinia »tate jam provectis, et gratia apud suos nominatissimis. Ortum ejus praedixerat solitarius quidam caecus, nomine Montanus, qui et visum postea recepit, admoto ad oculos lacte quo infans Remigius alebatur. Studiis et orationibus primos impendebat annos futurus Francorum apostolus, secessum colens ; quo magis hominum frequentiam fugere conabatur, eo notior toti provincisB fiebat. Annos natus duos et viginti, post transitum Bennadii archiepiscopi Remensis, ob seniles in adolescentia mores, ad sedem Remensem omnium votis raptus, potius quam electus fuit. Onus episcopate effugere cupiens, divinis monitis suscipere cogitur. Ab episcopis provincisB consecratus, se tamquam veteranum gessit in regimine Ecclesi® suae. Vir eloquens, potens in Scripturis, exemplum erat fidelium. Quod ore docebat, implebat opere. Grege suo summo labore ac vigilantia mysteriis fidei imbuto, et diaciplina in clero constitu-

SAUft mttionra ta, regnum Christ! in Belgio promovendum suscepit ; populifl ad fidem conversis, novos episcopatus instituit: TeruanaB, ubi sanctum Antimundum ; Atrebatis, ubi sanctum Vedastum ; Lauduni, ubi sanctum Genebaldum prsefecit.

Clodovei et Francorum animi cultui pagano adhuc dediti movebantur stupendis Remigii operibus, quae ubique vulgabantur. Cum autem Clodoveus, Gallorum victor, Alemannos Tolbiaci, invocato Christi nomine, debellasset, Remigium ad se evocatum, de religione Christiana disserentem libenter audiit. Et instanti Remigio ut fidem profiteretur, cum respondisset, vereri se ne per populum sibi non liceret: id ubi rescivit populus, statim acclamavit: Mortales deos abigimus, pie rex: et Deum quern Remigius prsedicat immortalem, sequi parati sumus. Turn Remigius jejunia secundum Ecclesiee morem illis indixit, et regem quern fidei documentis coram sancta Clotilde regina imbuerat, baptizavit ipso die Natalis Domini, his eum people, fulfilling in deed what he taught by word. He carefully and laboriously instructed his own flock in the mysteries of faith, and established discipline among his clergy. Then he undertook to spread the kingdom of Christ in Belgium; and having converted the people to the faith, he founded several new bishoprics and appointed them pastors: at Terouanne St. Antimund or Aumont, at Arras St. Yedast, and at Laon St. Genebald.

The wonderful works of Remigius, being divulged far and wide, filled with astonishment the minds of Clovis and his still pagan Franks. When Clovis, who had already conquered the Gauls, triumphed over the Alemanni also at the battle of Tolbiac by the invocation of the name of Christ; he sent for Remigius, and willingly listened to his explanation of the Christian doctrine. Remigius urged the king to embrace the faith, but he replied that he feared the opposition of his people. When this was reported to the Franks, they cried out with one voice: 4 We renounce mortal gods, 0 pious king, and are ready to follow the immortal God whom Remigius preaches.* Then the bishop imposed a fast upon them, according to the custom of the Church, and having in the presence of the queen St. Clotilde,

8}9 verbis allooutus: Mitis, depone colla, Sicamber: adora quod incendisti; incende quod adorasti. Baptizatum sacro inunxit chrismate, cum aignaculo crucia Christi. De exercitu autem ejus ter mille et amplius baptismo initiati sunt: simul et Albofledis Clodovei soror, qu» cum paulo post de vivis decessisset, regem per litteras consolatus est Bemigius. Lanthildis quoque altera soror regis, ab 4-riana hasresi revocata, sacro chrismate jnuncta est, et Ecclesiae reconciliata.

Eximia fuit ipsius erga pauperes liberalitas, et dementia in poenitentes singularis: neque enim, inquiebat, nos posuit Dominus ad iracundiam, sed ad hpminum curam. Arianura episcopum in synodo, divina virtu te mutum reddidit; eique per nutus veniam poscenti, vocem his verbis restituit: Jn nomine Domini nostri Jesu Christi, si sic de eo recte sentis, loquere; et de illo sicut catholica credit Ecclesia, confitere. Recepto ille vocis usu, credere se et in eadem fide moriturum pollicjtus est. Sub finem vitae oculorum usu orbatus est Bemigius, quern tamen completed the king's religions instruction, he baptized him on the day of our Lord's Nativity, addressing him in these words: 'Bow down thy head in meekness, O Sicambrian; adore what thou hast hitherto burnt, burn what thou hast adored.' After the Baptism, he anointed him with holy chrism with the sign of the cross of Christ. More than three thousand of the army were baptized, as also Albofleda Clovis's sister, who died soon after; upon which occasion Bemigius wrote to console the king. His other sister, Lanthilda, was reclaimed from the Arian heresy, anointed with sacred chrism, and reconciled to the Church.

Bemigius was exceedingly liberal to the poor and merciful towards sinners. 4 God has not placed us here, 1 he would say, * to exercise wrath, but to take care of men.' During a council, he once by divine power struck an Arian bishop with dumbness, until he begged forgiveness by signs, when he restored him his speech with these words: * In the name of our Lord J esus Christ, if thou holdest the right belief concerning him, speak, and confess the faith of the Catholic Church.' The bishop recovering his voice, protested that he believed, and would die in that faith. Towards the end of his life Bemigius lost his

SAINT ftEMIGITJS sight, but recovered it shortly before his death. Knowing the day of his departure, he celebrated Mass, and fortified his flock with the sacred Body of Christ. Then he bade his clergy and people farewell, giving to each one the kiss of our Lord's peace; and full of days and good works, he departed this life on the Ides of J anuary, in the year of our Lord five hundred and thirty-three, being ninety-six years old. He was buried in the oratory of St. Christopher; and as in life, so also after death, he was famous for miracles.

This is a fitting oocasion to bring forward the beautiful formula rightly called the Prayer of the Franks, whioh dates from the first ages of the monarchy. 1 paulo ante mortem recuperavit. Transitus diem non ignorans, finitis Missarum solemniis, plebe sacro Christi corporeconfirmata; valefaciens clero et populo, dans singulis pacem in osculo oris Domini, plenus dierum et operum ex hac vita decessit idibus Januarii, anno aetatis nonagesimo sexto, post Christum quingentesimo trigesimo tertio. Sepultus est in aedicula sancti Christophori; et mortuus sicut et vivus claruit miraculis.

PRATER

Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, qui ad instrumentum divinissimse tuse voluntatis per orbem, et ad gladium et propugnaculum Ecclesiae sanctae tuse, Francorum imperium constituisti: coelesti lumine, quaesumus, filios Francorum supplicantes semper et ubique praeveni: ut ea quae agenda sunt ad regnum tuum in hoc mundo efficiendum videant, et ad implenda quae viderint

Almighty, eternal God, who didst establish the empire of the Franks to be, throughout the world, the instrument of thy divine will, and the sword and bulwark of thy holy Church: ever and in all places prevent, we beseech thee, with thy heavenly light, the suppliant sons of the Franks; so that they may both see what they ought to do to promote thy kingdom in this world, and, in order to fulfil what

1 Pitra. Hist, de S. LSper, Introduct. p. xxii, xxiii.

TIMti AFTER PENttiOOST charitate et fortitudine per- they have seen, may continu-

St. Leo IX said to his contemporaries, and we echo his words, oonoerning the land of France: 'Be it known to your charity that you must solemnly oelebrate the feast of the blessed Remigius; for if to others he is not an apostle, he is such with regard to you at least. Pay such honour, then, to your apostle and father, that you may merit, aocording to the divine promise, to live long upon the earth, and, bv his prayers, may obtain possession of eternal beatitude.' 1 When he thus spoke, the sovereign Pontiff had just consecrated thy church, then for the third time rebuilt with the magnificence required by the growing devotion of the people. The nine oenturies since elapsed have augmented thy claims to the gratitude of a nation, into which thou didst infuse suoh vigorous life, that no other has equalled it in duration. Accept our thanks, 0 thou who wast as a new Sylvester to a new Constantine.

Glory be to our Lord, who showed forth His wonders in thee ! Remembering those gestes of Ood accomplished in all climes by her sons the Pranks, the Church recognizes the legitimacy of applying to thee 2 the beautiful words whioh announoed the Messias: ' Give ear, ye islands, and hearken, ye people from afar. The Lord hath called me from the womb. . . And He said: . . . Behold I have given thee to be the light of the Gentiles, that thou mayest be My salvation even to the farthest part of the earth.' Truly it was a day of salvation, that Christmas day, whereon our Lord was pleased to bless thy labours and grant the desires of thy long episoopate. By the holy faith thou taughtest, thou wast then the

1 Leon- is . Epist . xvii. * Lect. 1 Nbct. in prop rio Remensi et aliis. aeveranter convalescant. ally increase in charity and in valour.

SAlKT REMlGrltJS

' covenant of the people/ tlie new people composed of the oonquerors and the oonquered in that land of France, whioh, when onoe itself raised up, soon restored to God the inheritance that had been destroyed. 0 true Church, the one only bride, oaptive and destitute, behold Remigius rises to say to thy sons that are bound: * Come forth', and to them that are in darkness: 'Show yourselves'! From north and south, from beyond the sea, behold they oome in multitudes: all these are oome to thee. Therefore, give praise, 0 ye heavens, and rejoioe 0 earth, because the Lord hath comforted His people ; after a whole century of heresy and barbarity, God has once, more demonstrated that they shall not be oonfounded that wait for Him. 1

Our confidence in God will again be rewarded if thou, 0 Bemigius, deign to present to our Lord the prayer of the Franks who have remained faithful in honouring thy memory. The renegades sold over to satan may tyrannize for a time over the deluded orowd; but they are not the nation. A day will come when Christ, who is ever King, will say to the angels of His guard those words of His lieutenant Clovis: 'It displeases me that these Goths possess the good land of Franoe ; expel them, for it belongs to us.' 2

1 Isaias xlix. 2 Greg. Turon. Biator. Franc, ii. 37 ;

Hincmar. Vita S. R$migi%, li. f Iftig AFTER 2EXTEC0ST

October 2

THE HOLY GUARDIAN ANGEL8

Although the solemnity of September 29 oelebrates the praises of all the nine glorious choirs, yet the piety of the faithful, in the latter ages, desired to nave a speeial day oonseorated to the Guardian Angels. Several ohurohes having taken the initiative, and kept the feast under various rites and on different days, Paul V (1608) authorized its celebration ad libitum. Clement X (1670) established it by precept as a feast of double rite 1 on October 2, the first free day after Michaelmas, on which it thus remains in some way dependent.

It is of faith, on the testimony of the Soriptures and of unanimous tradition, that God oommits to His angels the guardianship of men, who are called to contemplate Him together with these blessed spirits in their common fatherland. Catholic theology teaches that this protection is extended to every member of the human race, without any distinction of just and sinners, infidels and baptized. To ward off dangers ; to uphold man in his struggle against the demons; to awaken in him holy thoughts; to prevent him from sinning, and even, at times, to ohastise him ; to pray for him, and present his prayers to God: such is the office of the Guardian Angel. So special is his mission, that one angel does not undertake the guardianship of several persons simultaneously; so diligent is his oare, that he follows

1 It has been a greater double since 1883.

THR HOLT GUARDIAN ANGELS his ward from the first day to the last of his mortal existenoe, receiving the soul as it quits this life, and bearing it from the feet of the sovereign Judge to the place it has merited in heaven, or to its temporary sojourn in the plaoe of expiation and purification.

It is from the lowest of the nine choirs, the nearest to ourselves, that the Guardian Angels are for the most part selected. God reserves to the Seraphim, CheruDim, and Thrones the honour of forming His own immediate court. The Dominations, from the steps of His throne, preside over the government of the universe ; the Virtues watch over the course of nature's laws, the preservation of species, and the movements of the heavens; the Powers hold the spirits of wickedness in subjection. The human raoe in its entirety, as also its great social bodies, the nations and the churches, are confided to the Principalities; while the Archangels, who preside over smaller communities, seem also to have the offioe of transmitting to the Angels the commands of God, together with the love and light which come down even to us from the first and highest hierarohy. 0 the depths of the wisdom of God ! Thus, then, the admirable distribution of offices among the choirs of heavenly spirits terminates in the function committed to the lowest rank, the guardianship of man, for whom the universe subsists. Such is the teaching of the School; 1 and the apostle, in like manner, says: 'Aj:e they not all ministering spirits, sent to minister for them, who shall reoeive the inheritance of salvation?' 2

But God, magnificent as He is towards the whole human race, honours in a special manner the prinoes of His people, those who are most favoured by His

1 Juarez. DeAngelia, lib. vi. cap. xyiii. 5. 2 Jleb. i. U,

TIME AFTER PENTECOST grace, or who role the earth in His name ; the saints testify, that a supereminent perfection, or a higher mission in Church or State, ensures to the individual the assistance of a superior spirit, without the angel that was first deputed being necessarily removed from his oharge. Moreover, with regard to the work of salvation, the Guardian Angel has no fear of being left alone at his post ; at his request, and at God^ command, the troops of his blessed companions, who fill heaven and earth, are ever ready to lend him their aid. These noble spirits, acting under the eye of God whose love they desire to second by all possible means, have secret alliances between them, whioh sometimes induce between their clients, even on earth, unions the mystery whereof will be revealed in the li^ht of eternity.

'How profound a mystery/ says Origen, 'is the apportioning of souls to the angels destined for their guardians! It is a divine seoret, part of the universal eoonomy centred in the Man-God. Nor is it without ineffable order that the ministries of earth, the many departments of nature, are allotted to the heavenly virtues; fountains and rivers, winds and forests, plants, living creatures of land and sea, whose various funptions harmonize together by the angels directing them all to a common end.' 1

Again, on these words of Jeremias: How long shall the land mourn? 2 Origen, supported by the authority of Ins translator St. Jerome, oontinues: 8 'It is through each one of us that the earth rejoices or mourns; and not only the earth, but water, fire, air, all the elements; by which name we must here understand not insensible matter, but the angels who are set over all things on earth. There is an

1 Origen. in Josus, Horn, xxiii. ' Jerem. xii. 4,

• Origen. in Jcrm. Horn, x.jmta Mierqn, yiii,

THE HOLY GUARDIAN AN GELS angel of the land, who, with his companions, mourns over our crimes. There is an angel of the waters to whom are applied the words of the psalm: The waters saw Thee, and they were afraid, and the depths were troubled ; great was the noise of the waters; the clouds sent out a sound, for Thy arrows pass.' 1

How grand is nature viewed in this light! It is thus the ancients, more truthful as well as more poetical than our generation, always considered the universe. Their error lay in adoring these mysterious powers, to the detriment of the only God, under whom they stoop that bear up the world. 2

'Air and earth and ocean, everything is full of angels,' says St. Ambrose. 8 4 Eliseus, besieged by a whole army, felt no fear; for he beheld invisible cohorts assisting him. May the prophet open thine eyes also ; may the enemy, be he legion, not terrify thee; thou thinkest thyself hemmed in, and thou art free: there are more with us than with them.' 4

But let us return to our own specially-deputed angel, and meditate on this other testimony: 'The noble guardian of eaoh one of us sleeps not, nor can he be deceived. Close thy door, and make the darkness of night; but remember, thou art never alone; he has no need of daylight in order to see thy actions.' And who is it that speaks thus? Not a father of the Church, but a pagan, the slave philosopher Epictetus. 5

In conclusion, let us listen to the Abbot of Clairvaux, who here gives free rein to his eloquence: ' In every plaoe show respect to thy angel. Let gratitude for his benefits incite thee to honour his greatness. Love this thy future coheir, the guardian appointed

1 Ps. lxxvi. 17, 18. 2 Job ix. 13. 3 Ambr. in Pgalm. cxviii, Sermon L 9, U, 12, * *v Kings vi. }6. 5 Ap. Arrjan, Diss. I. I4 t

TIME AFT EE PENTECOST for thee by the Father during thy childhood. For though we are sons of God, we are as yet but children, and long and dangerous is our journey. But God hath given His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. In their hands they shall bear thee up, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt walk upon the asp and the basilisk ; and thou shalt trample under foot the lion and the dragon. 1 Yes ; where the road is smooth enough for a child, they will content themselves with guiding thee, and sustaining thy footsteps, as one does for strength, they will bear thee up in their hands. Oh those hands of angels ! Thanks to them, what fearful straits we have passed through, as it were without thinking, and with no other impression left upon us, than that of a nightmare suddenly dispelled I s

And in his commentary on the Uantiole of canticles, St. Bernard thus describes the triumph of the angel: 'One of the companions of the Spouse, sent from heaven to the chosen soul as mediator, on witnessing the mystery accomplished, how he exults, and says: " I give thee thanks, 0 God of majesty, for having granted the desire of her heart ! " Now it was he that, as a persevering friend, had not oeased, on the way, to murmur into the soul's ear: " Delight in the Lord, and He will give thee the requests of thy heart;" and again: "Expect the Lord, and keep His way" ; and then: " If He make any delay, wait for Him, for He will surely come and will not tarry." Meanwhile he represented to our Lord the soul's desire, saying: " As the hart panteth after the fountains of water, so this soul panteth after Thee, 0 God ; have pity on her, hear her ories, and visit her in her desolation." And now the faithful para-

1 Ps. xc. 11-13. 2 Bern, in Faabn. xc. Sermon xii* children. threaten to surpass thy nymph, the oonfidant of ineffable secrets, is not jealous. He goes from the Spouse to the bride, offering desires, bringing baek gifts ; he incites the one, he appeases the other. Sometimes, even in this world, he brings them into each other's presence, either by raising up the bride in ecstasy, or by bringing down the Bridegroom ; for he is one of the household, and well known in the palace; and he fears no rebuff, for every day he beholds the faoe of the Father.' 1

Let us unite with the Churoh, and offer to our Guardian angels this hymn of to-day's Vespers.

HYMN

Custodes hominum psallimus angelos, Naturae fragili quos Pater addidit

Coelestis comites, insidiantibus

Ne succumberet hostibus. Nam quod corruerit proditor angelus, Concessis merito pulsus ho- noribu, Ardens invidia pellere nititur ijuos co3lo Deus advocat. Hue custos igitur pervi- gil advola, Avertens patria de tibi cre- dita

Tarn morbos animi, quam requiescere Quidquid non sinit incolas.

We celebrate the angels, guardians of men, whom our heavenly Father has given us as companions, lest our weak nature should be overcome by the snares of our enemies.

For because the traitorous angel fell, and was justly cast down from the honours he enjoyed, burning with envy he now endeavours to expel those whom God calls to heaven.

Fly hither, then, O everwatchful guardian; ward off from the land committed to thy care as well diseases of soul, as all that threatens to disturb the peace of the inhabitants.

1 Bernard, tit Cant, Sermon xxxi t

TIME AFTER PENTECOST

Sanct® sit Triadi laus pia May loving praise be ever jugiter, to the holy Three, by whose

Cujus perpetuo numine ma- eternal power is ruled this china triple world, heaven and earth

Triplex haec regitur, cujus and the abyss ; and whose in omnia glory is supreme throughout

Begnat gloria ssecula. all ages. Amen. Amen.

Before the establishment of a special feast in honour of the Guardian Angels, the following sequenoe was sung in oertain churches on September 29.

SEQUENCE

Paranymphos summi Regis Defensores Christi gregis

Vocemus suspiriis: Montes isti circa thronum Nuncupantur, juxta donum

Quod habent pr» aliis.

Cceli triplex hierarchia, Vigens sub una Sophia,

Trino fruens lumine: Haec perficit nos et purgat, Illuminat, ut resurgat

Nostra mens a crimine.

Contemplantur dum accedunt,

Cum mittuntur non recedunt,

Intra Deum cursitant: Host es arcent, justos regunt,

Fovent pios quos protegunt, Desolatos visitant.

Cum sint isti jam beati, Nobis tamen deputati

Nostras preces deferunt: TJt ex ipsis integral^

Let us invoke with our desires the paranymphs of the most high King, the defenders of Christ's flock: these are called mountains, encircling the throne of God by a privilege all theirs.

These form the triple hierarchy of heaven, flourishing under the one divine Wisdom, and enjoying the threefold light; they perfect us, cleanse us, enlighten us, that our soul may rise from sin.

They draw ever nearer to God in contemplation; when sent to do his will, they depart not from him, for their coming and going is all within God. They keep the enemy at bay, they guide the just, they assist and protect their loving clients, and console them when afflicted.

Though themselves already blessed, yet delegated to us, they carry our prayers to God: they abandon not the saints

Possint, hisque sociari, on earth, but desire their com-

Sanctos hie non deserunt. pany, that their own ranks may be completed.

O quam cives hi felices, 0 happy citizens these!

Qui, dum explent suas vices, who, while fulfilling their of-

Fruuntur perenniter: fices, lose not the joys of

Hos fidentes deprecemur, heaven: let us pray to them

Ut ab ipsis adjuvemur with confidence, that they may

Apud Deum jugiter. ever assist us before God.

Amen. Amen.

Blessed be ye, 0 holy angels, for that your oharity is not wearied out by the crimes of men ; among so many other benefits, we thank you for keeping the earth habitable, by deigning to dwell always therein. Solitude often weighs heavily upon the hearts of God's children, in the great towns, and in the paths of the world, where one meets only strangers or enemies ; but if the number of the just grows less, yours never diminishes. In the midst of the exoited multitude, as well as in the desert, not a human being that has not beside him an angel, the representative of universal Providence over wicked and good alike. 0 blessed spirits ! you and we have the same fatherland, the same thought, the same love ; why should the confused noises of a frivolous crowd disturb the heavenly life we may lead even now with you P Does the tumult of public places hinder you from holding your choirs there, or prevent the Most High from hearing your harmonies? "We also, beholding by faith the face of our heavenly Father, which you ever delightedly contemplate, we wish to sing in every place the praises of our Lord and to unite at all times our adorations with yours. Thus, when our manners have become altogether angelic, the present life will be full of peace, and we shall be well prepared for eternity.

TIME AFTER PENTECOST

October 4 SAINT FRANCIS

CONFESSOR

And I saw another angel asoending from the rising of the sun, having the sign of the living God; and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was {riven to hurt the earth and the sea, saying: Hurt not the earth, nor the sea, nor the trees, till we sign the servants of our God in their foreheads. 1

The sixth seal of the Book of destinies had just been opened before the eyes of the prophet of Patmos. It was a time of anguish, the hour for the wicked to cry to the mountains: * Fall upon us ! 9 The sun was darkened: an image of the Sun of justice eclipsed by the night of iniquity; the moon, the figure of the Church, appeared red as blood, through the evils that defiled the sanctuary; the stars fell from heaven, as the fig-tree casteth its green figs when it is shaken by a great wind. Who would appease the Lamb, and retard the day of wrath? At the invitation of the saints and of the apostolic See, let us recognize the angel who won for the world a delay of the judgment; the angel with the impress of God upon a mortal body; the seraph with his sacred stigmata, the sight of which once more disarmed the justioe of God. Dante thus sings of the elect of God, under whose leadership took place on earth as it were a repetition of the first and only Redemption:

1 Apoc. yii. 2, 3.

SAtNT FRANCIS

Between Tupino, and the wave that falls

From blest TTbaldo's chosen hill, there hangs

Rich slope of mountain high, whence heat and cold

Are wafted thro' Perugia's eastern gate:

And Nocera with Gualdo, in its rear,

Mourn for their heavy yoke. Upon that side,

Where it doth break its steepness most, arose

A sun upon the world, as duly this

From Ganges doth: therefore let none who speak

Of that place say Ascesi; for its name

Were lamely so delivered; but the east,

To call things rightly, be it henceforth styled.

He was not yet much distant from his rising,

When his good influence 'gan to bless the earth.

A dame to whom none openeth pleasure's gate

More than to death, was, 'gainst his father's will,

His stripling choice: and he did make her his,

Before the spiritual court, by nuptial bonds,

And in his father's sight: from day to day

Then loved her more devoutly. She bereaved

Of her first husband, slighted and obscure,

Thousand and hundred years and more, remain'd

Without a single suitor, till he came.

0 o o o o •

The lovers' titles — Poverty and Francis. Their concord and glad looks, wonder and love, And sweet regard gave birth to holy thoughts, So much that venerable Bernard 1 first Did bare his feet, and, in pursuit of peace So heavenly, ran, yet deemed his footing slow. O hidden riches! 0 prolific good I Egidius bares him next, and next Sylvester, And follow, both, the Bridegroom: so the bride Can please them. Thenceforth goes he on his way The father and the master, with his spouse, And with that family, whom now the cord Girt humbly: nor did abjectness of heart Weigh down his eyelids, for that he was son Of Pietro Bernadone, and by men In wondrous sort despised. But royally

1 Bernard of Quintayal, the saint's firat disciple.

TIME AFTER PENTE008T

His hard intention he to Innocent 1

Set forth; and from him first received the seal

Of his religion. o o o o o o

And when

He had, thro* thirst of martyrdom, stood up

In the proud Soldan's presence, and there preached

Christ and his followers, but found the race

Unripen'd for conversion ; back once more

He hasted, (not to intermit his toil,)

And reap'd Ausonian lands. On the hard rock,

'Twixt Arno and the Tiber, he from Christ

Took the last signet, which his limbs two years

Did carry. Then, the season come that he,

Who to such good had destin'd him, was pleased

To advance him to the meed, which he had earned

By his self -humbling; to his brotherhood,

As their just heritage, he gave in charge

His dearest lady: and enjoined their love

And faith to her; and, from her bosom, will'd

His goodly spirit should move forth, returning

To its appointed kingdom; nor would have

His body laid upon another bier.'

Francis took his flight, for his work was done; innumerable souls were now treading the paths of penanoe ; the cross of Christ was set before the eyes of the whole world as the treasure of the Church, now that she was beginning her ascent of Calvary. How admirably had the sanctifying Spirit conducted this work!

At the age of four-and-twenty, Francis, who was destined not to see his forty-sixth year, was the head of a party of gay youths, who filled Assisi day and night with their songs. Full of the poetry of Inranoe (from whioh country he borrowed his name), he dreamed of nothing but worldly renown and knightly prowess. One night he beheld in a prophetic dream

1 Innocent III.. 2 Dante, Paradise, canto xi ; Cary's translation.