October 21 — Saint Ursula and Companions

apprehension of God's judgments. Teach us that Christian fear does not banish love, but on the contrary, olears the way and leads to it, and then accompanies it through life as an attentive and faithful guardian. This holy fear was thy seourity at thy last hour ; may it proteot us also along the path of life, and at death introduoe us immediately into heaven !

St. Hilarion was one of the first confessors, if not the very first, to be honoured in the east with a publio cultus like the martyrs. In the west, the whiterobed army led by Ursula adds to the glory of the holy monk who has the first honours of this day.

On October 21,451, Cologne was made equal to the most illustrious cities by a spiritual glory. Critioism, and there is no lack of it, may dispute the oiroumstanoes whioh brought together the legion of virgins ; but the fact itself, that eleven thousand chosen souls were martyred by the Huns in recompense for their fidelity, is now acknowledged by true scienoe. From the earth where so many noble victims lay concealed, they have more than once been brought to light by multitudes, bearing about them evidence of the veneration of those who had buried them ; for instanoe, by a happy inspiration, the arrow that had set free the blessed soul, would be left, as a token of victory, fixed in the breast or forehead of the martyr.

St. Angela of Merici oonfided to the patronage of the glorious phalanx her spiritual daughters, and the numberless children whom they will continue till the end of time to educate in the fear of the Lord. The grave Sorbonne dedicated its ohuroh to the holy virgins as well as to the Mother of God ; and here, as in the universities of Coimbra and Vienna, an annual panegyric was pronounced in praise of them.

TIME AFTER PENTECOST

Portugal, enriohed with some of their preoious relios, carried their oultus into the Indies. And pious confraternities have been formed among the faithful for obtaining their assistance at the hour of death. Let us address to them these verses from a beautiful Offioe oomposed in their honour by the blessed Herman, their most devout client.

AD COMPLETORIUM

O praeclarae vos puellae, Nunc implete meum velle, Et dum mortis venit hora, Subvenite sine mora: In tarn gravi tempestate Me praesentes def endate A daemonum instantia.

Nulla vestrum ibi desit, Yirgo Mater prima praesit, Si quae mihi f aex inhaesit, Quae me sua labe laesit, Yestra prece procul fiat, Yos praesentes hostis sciat, Et se confusum doleat.

0 ye glorious virgins, fulfil now my desire, and when the hour of death arrives, hasten to my assistance: be present at that terrible moment, and defend me from the assault of the demons.

Let not one of you be then absent ; come with the Virgin Mother at your head. If any remnant of sin still cling to me and soil me with its stain, remove it by your prayer. Let the foe be aware of your presence, and bewail his own confusion.

Let us conclude with the Church's own prayer.

PRAYER

Da nobis, quaesumus Domine Deus noster: sanctarum virginum et martyrum tuarum Ursulae et sociarum ejus palmas incessabili devotione venerari; ut quas digna mente non possumus celebrare, humilibus saltern frequentemus obsequiis. Per Dominum.

Grant us, we beseech thee, O Lord our God, to venerate with continual devotion the triumphs of thy holy virgins and martyrs, Ursula and her companions; that what we cannot celebrate with worthy minds, we may at least attend with humble service. Through our Lord &c.