Seventh Day "Within the Octave

the body, whioh had been sanctified by the waters of Baptism and the holy oil, and so often honoured by the visit of our Lord in his blessed Sacrament. It was then clothed in the robes of honour in whioh it had served its divine Spouse ; and, like him in the tomb, it was surrounded with fragrant spices. Often the sacred Host itself was laid upon the breast after the holy saorifice of thanksgiving and propitiation. Thus, during an admirable succession of prayers and triumphant ohants, amid clouds of incense and numberless torches, the body was oarried to the plaoe of rest, where Christian burial was to associate it to the last mystery of our Saviour's mortal oareer. There, as over the garden of Golgotha on the great Saturday, the naked Cross, despoiled of its divine Burden, looked down upon the graves, where the Man-God in his mystio members still awaited the hour of resurrection.

At Borne, and indeed in all the Latin Churches, in the middle ages, there were sung, during the procession to the tomb and the burial, seven celebrated Antiphons, whose touohing inspiration, perpetuated in the In Paradisum and the Subvenite, is in complete harmony with the sentiments.we have just alluded to. The first, Aperite mihi portas justitice, formed the refrain to Psalm 117, Confitemini Domino, and enhanced its accents of viotory. It is from this Psalm that the Church borrows the Verse she so unoeasingly repeats on the Solemnity of solemnities : Hcec dies quam fecit Dominus, exsultemus et kstemur in ea. This is the day which the Lord hath made, let us be glad and rejoice therein.

But we cannot do better than give the entire series of Antiphons, indicating the Psalms which they accompanied. The last Jrsalm and the Cantiole Benedicts are still used ; as also the Besponsory Subvenite and the Antiphon In Paratfisutn, whioh according to

?WT. Tit p the present Ritual are sung, the former on entering the Church, the latter on leaving it.

1. Ant. Aperite mihi 1. Ant. Open to me the portas ju8titi8e, ingressus in gates of justice : I will go in eas conntebor Domino. to them, and give praise to the Lord.

Ps. 117. Oonfitemini Domino quoniam bonus.

2. Ant. Ingrediar in lo- 2. Ant. T shall go into the cum tabernaculi admirabi- place of the wonderful taberlis, usque ad domum Dei. nacle, even to the house of

God.

P*. 41. Quemadmodum desiderat cervus.

3. Ant. Heec requies mea 3. Ant. This is my rest for in sseculum sseculi, hie ha- ever and ever: here will I bitabo quoniam elegi earn. dwell, for I have chosen it.

P*. 131. Memento Domine David.

4. Ant. De terra plasma- 4. Ant. sti me Domine, et duisti me : Eedemptor meus, resusoita me in novissimo me : O

Thou hast formed came in- me, O Lord, of the earth, and with flesh thou hast clothed my Redeemer, raise me die. up on the last day.

P*. 138. Domine probasti me.

5. Ant. Non intres inj u- 5. Ant. dioium cum servo tuo, quia non justificabitur in conspectu tuo omnis vivens.

Enter not into Do- judgment with thy servant, O mine, Lord : for in thy sight no man living shall be justified,

P*. 142. Domine exaudi orationem meam.

6. Ant. Omnis spiritus 6. Ant. Let [every spirit laudet Dominum. praise the Lord.

Ps. 148. Laudate Dominum de ccelis. me, etiam si mortuus fuerit, vivet : et omnis qui vivit et credit in me, non morietur in aeternum. in me, though he be dead, shall live ; and every one that lives and believes in me shall never die.¹

Cant. Benediotus Dominus Deus Israel.

In some places the following Antiphon was sung at the oonolusion.

Lseto animo Dergo ad te, suscipe me Domine ; quia de terra plasmasti me, spiritus de coalo introivit in me jussu tuo, veni ut commendes terrse corpus meum : animam quam dedisti, suscipe illam Deus.

With a joyful heart I come to thee, receive me, 0 Lord; since of the earth thou didst form me, and a spirit from heaven entered into me by thy command, come and commit my body to the earth, and the soul which thou gavest receive 0 my God.

RESPONSORY AND ANTIPHON FROM THE ROMAN RITUAL.

&. Subvenite Sancti Dei, occurrite Angeli Domini : * Suscipientes animam ejus:

• OfEerentes earn in conspectu Altissimi. f. Suscipiat te Ohristus qui vocavit te, et in sinum Abrahse Angeli deducant te.

• Suscipientes.

Requiem seternam dona ei, Domine : et lux perpetua luceat ei. * Offeren-

Ant. In paradisum deducant te Angeli: in tuo adventu suscipiant te Martyres, et perducant te in civitatem sanctam Jerusalem. Chorus Angelorum te bus-

Oome to his assistance, all ye Saints of God; meet him all ye Angels of the Lord, * Receiving ms soul, # presenting it in the sight of the Most High. f. May Christ receive thee, who has called thee, and may the Angels conduct thee into Abraham's bosom. * Receiving his soul. y . Eternal rest give to him, 0 Lord. And may perpetual light shine on him. * Offering it in the sight of the Most High.

Ant. May the Angels conduct thee into paradise : may the Martyrs receive thee at thy coming, and lead thee into the holy city of Jerusalem. May the choir of angels re T cipiat, et cum Lazaro quon- ceive thee, and mayst thou dam paupere seternam ha- have eternal rest with Lazabeas.requiem. rus, who was formerly poor.

For the consolation of mothers, as well as in homage to the Paradise of which their children are the graceful flowers, we will to-day commemorate, with St. Ephrem, the little ones snatched in their innocence from this land of miseries.

CANON

Amabilis puer quern gratia in utero matris formavit, ut vidit lucem, ut insiliit aoerba mors, et sestu infestiore quam solis esse solet, vernantis floris folia decussit, caulem arefecit, ramos siooavit.

Obitum flere tuum vereor, qui didici te a filio Eegis ad supernse lucis adyta iuisse deductum. Naturaquidem tuo, fili, fato illacrymari cogit: ego vero dum recogito te ad regionem beatse lucis translatum, cavendum mihi video ne Regis aula profano polluatur luctu, turn ipse arguar audax et impudens, qui lsetitiae regiam atratus et lacrymans intraverim. Quin ergo meliore consilio puram hostiam offer am, et ad hilaritatem

1 £k Ephrem Sybi fun

XXXVI. 1

The lovely child, whom grace formed in his mother's womb, no sooner saw the light, than cruel death rushed upon him, and with a heat more burning than the sun's, struck on the leaves of this spring flower, withered its stem, and scorched its branches.

I dare not lament thy death, for I have heard that the King's Son has led thee into the inner courts of heavenly light. Nature indeed forces me, my child, to weep over thy fate : but when I think of thee carried into the region of blessed light, I see I must beware of dishonouring the King's court by my profane grief ; moreover I should be accused of being bold and impertinent, if I entered the palace of joy weeping and clad in mourning weeds. There -

)res canones, ap. Assemani,

Tui quidem cantus, care puer, meas ante mulcebant aures, meque vehementer delectarunt ; suave melos quod olim fundebas memoria adhuc retineo, et verba recordor. Quamquam dum cor ilia repetit, mens ad Superum evolat choros, et audit admirabunda Coalites tecum canentes triumphale carmen Kosanna.

Pars tua, Domine, sunt parvuli pueri; hisce sedes in ccelo super astra dabis. Hlos pro nobis, oro, statue deprecatores ; puras quippe scimus esse puerorum preces.

Quin ergo te summis efferam laudibus, qui jubes tuis tales convivas assidere mensis. Nostras Separator salutis in oculis conspectuque populi amplexatus est pueros, eisque benedixit, quo hujus aetatis puritatem et innocentiam sibi placere demonstraret. Vereomnilaude dignus est, cui innocentes pueros apud se habere placuit.

Vidit ille, in quo tamquam in sua sede considet justitia, hominum iniquitates ultra omnem increvisse modum, et pessumdata innocentia ubique regnare contumaciam in perversa nitentium. Delectum puero- fore I will take a better way, and, offering a spotless victim, I will turn my soul to joyfulness.

Thy songs, indeed, beloved boy, were once so welcome to my ears, and delighted me exceedingly; the sweet sounds thou didst utter and thy pretty prattle I well remember. But while the heart recalls them, the mind soars to the choirs of Angels, and listens entranced to the heavenly citizens singing with thee the triumphant song Hosanna.

The little children, 0 Lord, are thine own portion ; and to them thou wilt give thrones, beyond the stars. Set them before thee, I pray, as our intercessors, for we know that children's prayers are pure.

Why, then, should I not extol thee with highest praises, who commandest such guests to be seated at thy table ? In the presence of the people, my Redeemer and Saviour embraced children and blessed them, in order to show how pleasing to him are the purity and innocence of that age. Truly is he worthy of all praise, who loves to be surrounded by innocent little ones.

He, in whom justice is seated as on her own throne, sees that the sins of men have increased beyond all measure; that all innocence is crushed out, and that everywhere reigns the insolence of them that contend for evil* He has ram agmen, misso apparitore ad se accersivit, et in deliciarum seternarum sede locavit.

Parvuli, quasi lilia de deserta et inculta regione revulsa, in amoenissimi horti areis iterate pangpntur; et quasi margaritse insreuntur diademati; inde ad coeleste regnum evecti, sine fine laudant suae felicitatis Auctorem.

Porro cuinam jucundum non sit, parvulos videre coelo donatos? aut quisnam plangat eorum obitum, quod tensos ubique vitiorum laqueos evaserint? Utinam tua, Domine, favente gratia, talem mihi eontingat habere finem, et beato eorum potiri convictu.

Laus sit et gloria Optimo, Maximo, qui pueros terris abstulit et coelo dedit, qui parvulos hujus vitse serumnis eripuit et in coelestem et beatam domum transtulit, atque in illam jucundissimam aecuritatem asseruit. therefore sent his officer to gather the band of children and lead them to himself, where he has placed them in the abode of eternal delights.

The little ones, like lilies uprooted from this desert and uncultivated land, are planted again in the flower-beds of the most lovely garden ; like pearls they are set in our Lord's diadem ; caught up from earth to the heavenly kingdom, they unceasingly praise the Author of their happiness.

Who, then, would not rejoice at seeing heaven thus given to babes? Or who would bewail their death, since they have escaped from the snares of vices everywhere spread out P May it please thee, O Lord, that by thy grace a similar end may be my lot, and I may be admitted to a share in their blessed life.

Praise and glory be to God the supremely Good and Great, who has taken the children from earth and given them to heaven ; who has snatched the little ones from the miseries of this life and taken them to a heavenly and blessed home, and has established them in that most happy security.

Perfecta tibi, Domine Deus noster, jam est laus ex ore infantium et lactentium ; pueri quippe sunt, qui modo quasi agni simplices in horto deliciarum pubes- r xliv.

O Lord our God, thy praise is now perfected out of the mouths of babes and sucklings ; these children, who now like simple lambs, grow up in the garden of delights, follow- cunt, Gabrielem Archaneelum electi hujus gregis ductorem sequentes. Incolunt terrain nefariis scelerum vestigiis usquequaque expiatam ; ejus autem quae maledicto subjecta fuit, ne meminere quidem.

Veniet tandem Sanctissimus ille dies, quando eorum cadavera vocem Filii Dei audient, et e tumulis cum tripudio exsilient ; contra inimica virtutis voluntas frontem submittet rubore suffusa, quod iilorum mentes perturbare nequiyerit. Paucos hie quidem vixere dies, paradi8us excepit in sevum sempiternum victuros : unde ipsorum parentes abesse se dolent, eoque ocyus pervenire desiderant.

Let us oonolude with rites of the Latin ohuroh ing the Archangel Gabriel the guide of this chosen flock. They dwell in a land entirely free from all traces of wicked crime ; but of that other, which was subjected to the curse, they have not so much as the remembrance.

At length that most holy day will come, when their bodies shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and exultingly spring from their tombs ; while self-indulgence, the enemy of virtue, will hang down her head, being covered with confusion because she could not disturb their souls. They lived but few days on earth, paradise received them to live for eternal ages : wherefore their parents mourn that they themselves are still far on from that land, and long to reach it with all speed. a prayer taken from the for the burial of infants.

Omnipotens et mitissime Deus, qui omnibus parvulis renatis fonte baptismatis dum migrant a sseculo, sine ullis eorum meritis, vitam illico largiris »ternam, sicut animse hujus parvuli hodie credimus te fecisse : fac nos, qusssumus Domine, per intercessionem beatse Marise semper virgin is, et omnium sanctorum tuorum, hie pu-

0 Almighty and most merciful God, who vouchsafest to all children baptized, departing this world, eternal life, without any merit of theirs, as we believe thou hast done this day to the soul of this child : grant us, we beseech thee, 0 Lord, by the intercession of the blessed Mary, ever a Virgin, and of all thy saints, to serve thee here with pure rificatis tibi mentibus fa- Dfiinds, and to be united here- mulari, et in paradiso cum after with thy blessed children beatis parvuhs perenniter in heaven. Through, sociari. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. &. Amen. &. Amen.

November 8. OCTAVE DAT OP ALL SAINTS.

How oould we more appropriately conolude the teachings of this Octave, than by quoting the words used by the Church herself in to-day's Liturgy ? " Strangers as we are and pilgrims on the earth, let " us fix our hearts and our thoughts on the day which " will give to each of us a home, and restore us to " Paradise. Who, that is on a voyage, would not " hasten to return to his country ! Who, that is on " the way home, would not eagerly desire a favour- " able wind, that he might the sooner embraoe his " dear ones ! Parents, brothers, children, friends in " multitudes impatiently await us in our heavenly fa- " therland ; blessed crowd ! already seoure of their " own eternal happiness, they are solicitous about our "salvation. What joy for them and for us, when " at length we see them and they may embraoe us !

" How great the delight of that heavenly kingdom : " no more fear of death ; but eternal and supreme " happiness ! Let all our earnest desires tend to this : " that we may be united with the Saints, that to- " gether with them we may possess Christ." 1

These enthusiastic words, borrowed from St. Cyprian's beautiful book " On Mortality, " are used by the Church in her second Nooturn ; and in the third i S. Cypbian. Pe Mortalitate, xzyi, she gives us the strong language of St. Augustine, consoling the faithful, who are obliged still to remain in exile, by reminding them of the great beatitude of this earth : the beatitude of those who are persecuted and cursed by the world. To suffer gladly for Christ, is the Christian's glory, the invisible beauty which wins for his soul the good pleasure of God, and procures him a great reward in heaven. 1

He that hurteth, let him hurt still, says our Lord ; and he that is filthy, let him be filthy still; and he that is just, let him be justified still; and he that is holy, let him be sanctified still. Behold I come quickly ; and my reward is with me, to render to every man according to his works. I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end? Patienoe, then,Christians ! Patience, all who are now despised, for time is short ; the fashion of this world passeth away / 8 It is in the light of our Baptism that we must look upon those foolish men, who think themselves strong, beoause they are violent ; who call themselves wise, because pleasure is their only law. When the Man- God, with the spirit of his mouth, shall take vengeanoe on Satan their leader, their lot will be the indignant sentenoe heard by the Prophet of Patmos : Without are dogs, murderers, every one that loveth and maketh a lie* Meanwhile the whole creation, whioh they made the unwilling slave of their corruption, will answer to their digracef ul fall by a triumphant song of deliverance. Itself will be transformed into new heavens and a new earth. It will partake of the glory of the ohildren of God, delivered like itself, and will be worthy to contain the new Jerusalem* the holy oity, where in our flesh we shall see God ; and where, seated at the right hand of the Father in

Footnotes

1. 7. Ant. Ego sum resur- 7. Ant. I am the resurrecrectio et vita : qui credit in ijon, and life : he that believes
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