AVHATVOIDANLI'T HHL THE LITURGICAL YEAR ABBOT PROSPER GUERANGER, O.S.B. CHRISTMAS BOOK I TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH BY DOM LAURENCE SHEPHERD, O.S.B. JUBILEE YEAR 2000 LIMITED EDITION ® LORETO LoreTo PUBLICATIONS P.O. Box 603 Fitzwilliam, NH 03447 Phone: (603) 239-6671 Fax: (603) 239-6127 LoRrETO PUBLICATIONS The Liturgical Year 15 Volume Set ISBN: 1-930278-03-9 Volume IT — Christmas Book I ISBN: 1-930278-05-5 Printed in the Czech Republic by Newton Design&Print Ltd (www.newtondp.co.uk) CONTENTS CHAPTER CHRISTMAS The History of Christmas . . . . . II. The Mystery of Christmas . III. Practice during Christmas . . . . . . Morning and Night Prayers for Christmas . . Vi On hearing Mass during the Season of Christmas VI On Holy Communion during Christmas . . VIL On the Office of Vespers for Sundays and Feasts during Christmas . . . . . . VIIL On the Office of Compline for Sundays and Feasts during Christmas . . . . . . CumistMAs DAY . . . . . . Afternoon of the Eve . . . . . First Vespers . I The Hour before the Midnight Service . Matinn . . . . . . . . Midnight Mass . . . . . . . Lauds. . % n o The Second Mass, o Mass of the Aurora . . Early Morning before Mass . = The Third Mass . . . . . Second Vespers . . . . . December 26.—SAINT STEPHEN, the First Martyr . . Mass . . . . . . Vespers . . . . . . L December 27.—Saiwt Joun, Apostle and Evangelist Vespers . . . . . 107 107 14 120 130 166 175 186 195 201 209 223 227 233 . 250 255 . 260 CONTENTS vi race 278 281 287 December 28.—Tue HoLy InNoceNTs . Mass Vespers December 29.—SAINT THOMAS, Archbishop of Canterbury and Martyr . S Mass Vespers . . . . . N . . . . December 30.—Sunday within the Octave of Christmas, or the Sixth Day within the Octave Mass Vespers . . . . . . 303 . 314 . 320 . . . . 340 . 341 . 346 December 31.—SAINT SYLVESTER, Pope and Confessor . Januar/ 1.—Tue CiRCUMCISION OF OUR LORD . 354 First Vespers . . . Mass A I Second Vespers . . . . . Sunday between the Circumcision and the Epiphany: FEAST oF THE MosT HoLy NAME oF JESUS . . Mass Lo Vespers January January January January . . . . . 2.—The 3.—The 4.—The 5.—The . 37t 375 381 386 394 398 402 411 Octave of SAINT STEPHEN Octave of SAINT JomN . . Octave of HoLy INNOCENTS . Vigil of the Epiphany, and Commemoration of St. Telesphorus, Pope and Martyr d @ vk Mass of the Vigl . . . 438 ApPENDIX.—Adeste 455 Fideles . 424 449 450 CHRISTMAS THE CHAPTER THE HISTORY OF FIRST CHRISTMAS E apply the name of Christmas to the forty days which begin with the Nativily of our Lord, December 25, and end with the Purification of the Blessed Virgin, February 2. It is a period which forms a distinct portion of the Liturgical Year, as distinct, by its own special spirit, from every other, as are Advent, Lent, Easter, or Pentecost. One same Mystery is celebrated and kept in view during the whole forty days. Neither the Feasts of the Saints, which so abound during this Season; nor the time of Septuagesima, with its mournful Purple, which often begins before Christmastide is over, seem able to distract our Holy Mother the Church from the immense joy of which she received the good tidings from the Angels* on that glorious Night for which the world had been longing four thousand years. The Faithful will remember that the Liturgy commemorates this long expectation by the four penitential weeks of Advent. The custom of celebrating the Solemnity of our Saviour’s Nativity by a feast or commemoration of forty days’ duration is founded on the holy Gospel itself; for it tells us that the Blessed Virgin Mary, after spending forty days in the contemplation of the Divine Fruit of her glorious Maternity, went to the Temple, there to fulfil, in most ect humility,. the ceremonies which the Law demanded of the daughters of Israel, when they became mothers, 1 St Luke ii 10, 3 CHRISTMAS The Feast of Mary’s Purification is, therefore, part of that of Jesus’ Birth; and the custom of keeping this holy and glorious period of forty days as one continued Festival has every appearance of being a very ancient one, at least in the Roman Church. And firstly, with regard to our Saviour’s Birth on December 25, we have St John Chrysostom telling us, in his Homily for this Feast, that the Western commencement Churches of Christianity, had, from the very kept it on this day. He is not satisfied with merely mentioning the tradition; he undertakes to show that it is well founded, inasmuch as the Church of Rome had every means of knowing the true day of our Saviour’s Birth, since the acts of the Enrolment, taken in Judea by command of Augustus, were kept in the public archives of Rome. The holy Doctor adduces a second argument, which he founds upon the Gospel of St Luke, and he reasons thus: we know from the sacred Scriptures that it must have been in the fast of the seventh month* that the Priest Zachary had the vision in the Temple; after which Elizabeth, his wife, conceived St John the Baptist: hence it follows that the Blessed Virgin Mary having, as the Evangelist St Luke relates, received the Angel Gabriel’s visit, and conceived the Saviour of the world in the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, that is to say, in March, the Birth of Jesus must have taken place in the month of December. But it was not till the fourth century that the Churches of the East began to keep the Feast of our Saviour’s Birth in the month of December. Up to that period they had kept it at one time on the sixth of January, thus uniting it, under the generic term of Epiphany, with the Manifestation of our Saviour made to the Magi, and in them to the Gentiles; at another time, as Clement of Alexandria tells us, they kept it on the 25th of the month Pachon (May 15), or on the 25th of the month Pharmuth (April 20). St John Chrysostom, in the * Lev. xxiil 24 and following verses. The seventh month (or Tisri) corresponded to the end of our September and beginning of our October.—T7. HISTORY OF CHRISTMAS 3 Homily we have just cited, which he gave in 386, tells us that the Roman custom of celebrating the Birth of our Saviour on December 25 had then only been observed ten years in the Church of Antioch. It is probable that this change had been introduced in obedience to the wishes of the Apostolic See, wishes which received additional weight by the edict of the Emperors Theodosius and Valentinian, fourth which century, Epiphany Festivals. and appeared decreed towards that the close of the the of our Lord should be made The only Church Nativity and two distinct that has maintained the custom of celebrating the two mysteries on January 6 is that of Armenia; owing, no doubt, to the circumstance of that country not being under the authority of the Emperors; as also because it was withdrawn at an early period from the influence of Rome by schism and heresy. The Feast of our Lady’s Purification, with which the forty days of Christmas close, is, in the Latin Church, of very great antiquity; so ancient, indeed, as to pre- clude the possibility of our fixing the date of its insti- tution. According to the unanimous opinion of Liturgists, it is the most ancient of all the Feasts of the Holy Mother of God; and as her Purification is related in the Gospel itself, they rightly infer that its anniversary was solemnized at the very commencement of Christianity. Of course, this is only to be understood of the Roman Church; for as regards the Oriental Church, we find that this Feast was not definitely fixed to February 2 until the reign of the Emperor Justinian, in the sixth century. It is true that the Eastern Christians had previously to that time a sort of commemoration of this Mystery, but it was far from being a universal custom, and it was kept a few days after the Feast of our Lord’s Nativity, and not on the day itself of Mary’s going up to the Temple. But what is the characteristic of Christmas in the Latin Liturgy ? It is twofold: it is joy, which the whole Church feels at the coming of the divine Word in the Flesh; and it is admiration of that glorious Virgin, who 4 CHRISTMAS was or a not and made the Mcther of God. There is scarcely a prayer, rite, in the Liturgy of this glad Season, which does xmply these two grand Mysteries: an Infant God, a Virgin-Mother. For example, on all Sundays and Feasts which are not Doubles, the Church, throughout these forty days, makes a commemoration of the fruitful virginity' of the Mother of God, by three special Prayers in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. She begs the suffrage of Mary by proclaiming her quality of lelm of God and her nviolate purity,® which remained in her even after she had given birth to her Son. And again the mag- nificent Monk Anthem, Herman Alma Redemptoris, Contractus, composed by the continues, up to the very day of the Purification, to be the termination of each Canonical Hour. It is by such manifestations of her love and veneration that the Church, honouring the Son in the Mother, testifies her holy joy during this season of the Liturgical Year, which we call Christmas. Our readers are aware that, when Easter Sunday falls at its latest—that is, in April—the Ecclesiastical Calendar counts as many as six Sundays after the Epiphany. Christmastide (that is, the forty days between Christmas Day and the Purification) includes sometimes four out of these six Sundays; times only one, as in early as to necessitate Sexagesima Sunday, frequently only two; and somethe case when Easter comes so keeping Septuagesima, and even in January. Still, nothing is ances season, changed, as we have already said, in the ritual observ- of this joyous excepting only that on those two Sundays, the fore-runners of Lent, the Vest- ments are purple, and the Gloria in excelsis is omitted. Although our holy Mother the Church honours with especial devotion the Mystery of the Divine Infancy during the whole season of Christmas; yet, she is obliged to introduce into the Liturgy of this same season passages * The Colleet, Deus qui salutis ater® beatw Mari® Virginitaie facunda humano gene, etc. ‘hY Post pastum, Virgo, inviolata permansisti. K. Dei Genitris, intercede pro Bobis, HISTORY OF CHRISTMAS 5 from the holy Gospels which seem premature, inasmuch as they relate to the active life of Jesus. This is owing to there being less than six months allotted by the Calendar for the celebration of the entire work of our Redemption: in other words, Christmas and Easter are so near each other, even when Easter is as late as it can be, that Mysteries must of necessity be crowded into the interval; and this entails anticipation. And yet the Liturgy never loses sight of the Divine Babe and his incomparable Mother, and never tires in their praises, during the whole period from the Nativity to the day when to the Temple to present her Jesus. The Greeks, too, make frequent Mary comes commemorations of the Maternity of Mary in their Offices of this Season: but they have a special veneration for the twelve days between Christmas Day and the Epiphany, which, in their Liturgy, are called the Dodecameron. ~During this time they observe no days of Abstinence from flesh-meat ; and the Emperors of the East had, out of respect for the great Mystery, decreed that no servile work should be done, and that the Courts of Law should be closed, until after January 6. From this outline of the history of the holy season, we can understand what is the characteristic of this second portion of the Liturgical Year, which we call Christmas, and which has ever been a season most dear to the Christian world. What are the Mysteries embodied in its Liturgy will be shown in the following chapter. CHRISTMAS 6 CHAPTER THE THE SECOND MYSTERY EVERYTHING is OF CHRISTMAS Mystery in this holy season. The Word of God, whose generation is before the day-star,* is born in time—a Child is God—a Virgin becomes a Mother, and remains a Virgin—things divine are commingled sublime, Beloved the with ineffable those that antithesis, are human—and expressed by the the Disciple in those words of his Gospel, THE WORD WAS MADE FLESH, is repeated in a thousand different ways in all the prayers of the Church;—and rightly, for it admirably embodies the whole of the great portent which unites in one Person the nature of Man and the nature of God. The splendour of this Mystery dazzles standing, but it inundates the heart with joy. consummation the of the designs of God in time. under- It is the It is the endless subject of admiration and wonder to the Angels and Saints; nay, is the source and cause of their beatitude. Let us see how the Church offers this Mystery to her children, veiled under the symbolism of her Liturgy. The four weeks of our preparation are over—they were the image of the four thousand years which preceded the great coming—and we have reached the twenty-fifth day of the month of December, as a longdesired place of sweetest rest. But why is it that the celebration of our Saviour’s Birth should be the perpetual privilege of this one fixed day; whilst the whole liturgical Cycle has, every year, to be changed and remodelled, in order to yield that ever-varying day which is to be the feast of his Resurrection—Easter Sunday ? 1 Ps.cix 3. MYSTERY The question OF CHRISTMAS 7 is a very natural one, and we find it proposed and answered, even so far back as the fourth century; and that, too, by St Augustine, in his celebrated Epistle o Januarius. The holy Doctor offers this explanation: We solemnize the day of our Saviour’s Birth, in order that we may honour that Birth, which was for our salvation; but the precise day of the week, on which he was born, is void of any mystical signification. Sunday, on the contrary, the day of our Lord’s Resurrection, is the day marked, in the Creator’s designs, to express a mystery which was to be commemorated for all ages. St Isidore of Seville, and the ancient Interpreter of Sacred Rites who, for a long time, was supposed to be the learned Alcuin, have also adopted this explanation of the Bishop of Hippo; and our readers may see their words interpreted by Durandus, in his Rationale. These writers, then, observe that as, according to a sacred tradition, the creation of man took place on a Friday, and our Saviour suffered death also on a Friday for the redemption of man; that as, moreover, the Resur- rection of our Lord was on the third day after his death, that is, on a Sunday, which is the day on which the Light was created, as we learn from the Book of Genesis —" the two Solemnities of Jesus’ Passion and Resurrection,” says St Augustine, ‘ do not only remind us of those divine facts; but they moreover represent and signify some other mysterious and holy thing.”* And yet we are not to suppose that because the Feast of Jesus’ Birth is not fixed to any particular day of the week, there is no mystery expressed by its being always on the twenty-fifth of December. ~For firstly we may observe, with the old Liturgists, that the Feast of Christmas is kept by turns on each of the days of the week, that thus its holiness may cleanse and rid them of the curse which Adam’s sin had put upon them. But secondly, the great mystery of the twenty-fifth of December, being the Feast of our Saviour’s Birth, has + Epist. ad Januarium. CHRISTMAS 8 reference, not to the division of time marked out by God himself, which is called the Week; but to the course of that great Luminary which gives life to the world, Jesus, our Saviour, because it gives it light and warmth. the Light of the World,* was born when the night of ldolatry and crime was at its darkest; and the day of his Birth, the twenty-fifth of December, is that on w}uch the material Sun begins to gain his ascendency over the reign of gloomy night, and show to the world his triumph of bnghtness In our ‘ Advent’ we showed, after the Holy Fathers, that the diminution of the physical light may be con- sidered as emblematic of those dismal times which preceded the Incarnation. We joined our prayers with those of the people of the Old Testament; and, with our holy Mother the Church, we cried out to the Divine Orient, the Sun of Justice, that he would deign to come and deliver us from the twofold death of body and soul. God has heard our prayers; and it is on the day of the Winter Solstice—which the Pagans of old made so much of by their fears and rejoicings—that he gives us both the increase of the natural light, and him who is the Light of our souls. St Gregory of Nyssa, St Ambrose, St Maximus of Turin, St Leo, St Bemard and the pnnclpal Liturgists, dwell with complacency on this profound mystery, which the Creator of the universe has willed should mark both the natural and the supernatural world. We shall find the Church also making continual allusion to it during this season of Christmas, as she did in that of Advent. “On this the Day which the Lord hath made,’ says St Gregory of Nyssa, ‘ darkness decreases, light increases, and Night is driven back again. No, brethren, it is not by chance, nor by any created will, that this natural change begins on the day when he shows himself in the brightness of his coming, which is the spiritual Life of the world. It is Nature revealing, under this symbol, a secret to them whose eye is quick enough to see it; to * St John iSSP SO~ N R MYSTERY OF CHRISTMAS 9 them, I mean, who are able to appreciate this circumstance of our Saviour’s coming. Nature seems to me to say: Know, O Man! that under the things which I show thee Mysteries lie concealed. Hast thou not seen the night, that had grown so long, suddenly checked? Learn hence, that the black night of Sin, which had reached its height by the accumulation of every guilty device, is this day stopped in its course. Yes, from this day forward its duration shall be shortencd, length there shall be naught but Light. until at Look, I pray thee, on the Sun; and see how his rays are stronger, and his position higher in the heavens: learn from that how the other Light, the Light of the Gospel, is now shedding itself over the whole earth.” ‘ Let us, my Brethren, rejoice,’ cries out St Augustine:? ‘ this day is sacred, not because of the visible sun, but because of the Birth of him who is the invisible Creator of the sun. . .. He chose this day whereon to be born, as he chose the Mother of whom to be born, and he made both the day and the Mother. The day he chose was that on which the light begins to increase, and it typifies the work of Christ, who renews our interior man day by day. For the eternal Creator having willed to be born in time, his Birthday would necessarily be in harmony with the rest of his creation.” The same holy Father, in another sermon for the same Feast, gives us the interpretation of a mysterious expression of St John Baptist, which admirably confirms the tradition of the Church. The great Precursor said on one occasion, when speaking of Christ: He must increase, but 1 must decrease® These prophetic words signify, in their literal sense, that the Baptist’s mission was at its close, because Jesus was entering upon Ais. But they convey, as St Augustine assures us, a second meaning: ‘ John came into this world at the season of the year when the length of the day decreases; Jesus was born in the season when the length of the day in- * Horaily On the Nativity. * Sermon On the Nativity of our Lord, ii. 2 St Johu i 30. 10 CHRISTMAS creases.”* Thus, there is mystery both in the rising of that glorious Star, the Baptist, at the summer solstice; and in the rising of our Divine Sun in the dark season of winter.? There have been men who dared to scoff at Christianity as a superstition, because they discovered that the ancient Pagans used to keep a feast of the sun on the winter solstice! In their shallow erudition they concluded that a Religion could not be divinely instituted, which had certain rites or customs originating in an analogy to certain phenomena of this world: in other words, these writers denied what Revelation asserts, namely, that God only created this world for the sake of his Christ and his Church. The very facts which these enemies of our holy Religion brought forward as objections to the true Faith are, to us Catholics, additional proof of its being worthy of our most devoted love. Thus, then, have we explained the fundamental Mystery of these Forty Days of Christmas, by having shown the grand secret hidden in the choice made by God’s eternal decree, that the twenty-fifth day of December should be the Birthday of God upon this earth. Let us now respectfully study another mystery: that which is involved in the place where this Birth happened. This place is Bethlehem. Out of Bethlehem, says the Prophet, shall he come forth that is to be the Ruler in Israel® The Jewish Priests are well aware of the prophecy, and a few days hence will tell it to Herod.* But why was this insignificant town chosen in preference to every other to be the birth-place of Jesus? Be attentive, Christians, to the mystery! The name of this City of David signifies the House of Bread : therefore 3 Sermon I Natali Domini, xi * It is almost unnec 2dd that this doctrine of the Holy Fathers which is embodicd in the Christmas Liturgy is not in any aegree alsified by the fact that there are some parts of God's earth where Christmas fallsin a season the very opposite of Winter. *Our Lord selected, for the place of his Birth, one which made it Winter when he came upon earth; and by that selection he stamped the Mystery taught in the text on the season of daricness and cold. Our brethren in Australia, for exaaaple, will have the Mystery without the Winter, when they are keeping Christmas;or, more correctly, their faith and the Holy umwim unite them with us, both in the Winter and the Mystery of the great Birth in Bethiebem.—Zranslator's Nots. ©'t Matt. ii 5. Lo * Mich. v 2. MYSTERY did he, who OF CHRISTMAS 11 is the living Bread come down from heaven,* choose it for his first visible home. Our Fathers did eat manna in the descrt and are dead ;* but lo ! here is the Saviour of the world, come to give life to his creature Man by means of his own divine Flesh, which is meat indeed? Up to this time the Creator and the creature had been separated from each other; henceforth they shall abide together in closest union. The Ark of the Covenant, containing the manna which fed but the body, is now replaced by the Ark of a New Covenant, purer and more incorruptible than the other: the incomparable Virgin Mary, who gives us Jesus, the Bread of Angels, the nourishment which will give us a divine transforma- tion; for this Jesus himself has said: He that eateth my Slesh abideth in me, and I in him.* 1t is for this divine transformation that the world was in expectation for four thousand years, and for which the Church prepared herself by the four weeks of Advent. It has come at last, and Jesus is about to enter within us, if we will but receive kim.5 He asks to be united to each one of us in particular, just as he is united by his Incarnation to the whole human race; and for this end he wishes to become our Bread, our spmtual nourishment. His coming into the souls of men at this mystic season has no other aim than this union. He comes not to judge the world, but that the world may be saved by him,® and that all may have life, and may have it more abundantly.” This divine Lover of our souls will not be satisfied, therefore, until he have substituted himself in our place, so that we may live not we ourselves, but hein us; and in order that this mystery may be effectedin a sweeter way, it is under the form of an Infant that this Beautiful Fruit of Bethlehem wishes first to enter into us, there to grow afterwards in wisdom and age before God and mens And when, having thus visited us by his grace and nourished us in his love, he shall have changed us into * St John vi 41. * Tbid. i 12. * Ivid. vi * Ibid i 3 Tbid.vi.s6. P Ibid.x1. 4 *StLu Ibid.visy. 4o, 52. ke 12 CHRISTMAS himself, there shall be accomplished in us a still further Having become one in spirit and heart with mystery. Jesus, the Son of the heavenly Father, we shall also become sons of this same God our Father. The Beloved Disciple, speaking of this our dignity, cries out: Behold ! what manner of charity the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called, and should be the Sons of God I* We will not now stay to consider this immense happiness of the Christian soul, as we shall have a more fitting occasion, further on, to speak of it, and show what means it is to be maintained and increased. by There is another subject, too, which we regret being obliged to notice only in a passing way. It is, that, from the day itself of our Saviour’s Birth even to the day of our Lady’s Purification, there is, in the Calendar, an extraordinary richness of Saints’ Feasts, doing homage to the master feast of Bethlehem, and clustering in adoring love round the Crib of the Infant-God. To say nothing of the four great Stars which shine so brightly near our Divine Sun, from whom they borrow all their own grand beauty—St Stephen, St John the Evangelist, the Holy Innocents, and our own St Thomas of Can- terbury: what other portion of the Liturgical Year is brilliant a constellation ? The there that can show within the same number of days so Apostolic College con- tributes its two grand luminaries, St Peter and St Paul: the first in his Chair of Rome; the second in the miracle of his Conversion. The Martyr-host splendid champions of Christ, Timothy, Antioch, Polycarp, Vincent, and Sebastian. line of links, Roman named Marcellus. Pontiffs Sylvester, sends lends us four of Telesphorus, us the Ignatius of The radiant its glorious Hyginus and The sublime school of holy Doctors offers us Hilary, John Chrysostom, and Ildephonsus; and in their company stands a fourth Bishop—the amiable Francis de Sales. The Confessor-kingdom is represented by Paul the Hermit, Anthony the conqueror of Satan, Maurus the Apostle of the Cloister, * 1 St John iii 1. Peter Nolasco the MYSTERY OF CHRISTMAS 13 deliverer of captives, and Raymond of Pennafort, the oracle of Canon Law and guide of the consciences of men. The army of defenders of the Church deputes the pious King Canute, who Mother, and Charlemagne, ¢ the humble champion of holy Virgins gives us the died in defence of our Holy who loved to sign himself the Church.’” The choir of sweet Agnes, the generous Emerentiana, the invincible Martina. And lastly, from the saintly ranks which stand below the Virgins—the holy Widows—we have Paula, the enthusiastic lover of Jesus’ Crib. Truly, our Christmastide is a glorious festive season! What magnificence in its Calendar! ‘What a banquet for us in its Liturgy ! A word upon the symbolism of the colours used by the Church during this season. White is her Christmas Vestment; and she employs this colour at every service from Christmas Day to the Octave of the Epiphany. To honour her two Martyrs, Stephen and Thomas of Canterbury, she vests in 7ed, and to condole with Rachel wailing her murdered Innocents, she puts on purple: but these are the only exceptions. On every other day of the twenty she expresses, by her white Robes, the gladness to which the Angels invited the world, the beauty of our Divine Sun that has risen in Bethlehem, the spotless purity of the Virgin-Mother, and the cleanheartedness which they should have who come to worship at the mystic Crib. During the remaining twenty days, the Church vests in accordance with the Feast she keeps; she varies the colour soas to harmonize either with the red Roses which wreathe a Martyr, or with the white Amaranths which grace her Bishops and her Confessors, or again, with the spotless Lilies which crown her Virgins. On the Sundays which come during this time—unless there occur a Feast requiring ref or white or, unless Septuagesima has begun its three mournful weeks of preparation for Lent—the colour of the Vestments is green. This, say the interpreters of the Liturgy, is to teach us that in the Birth of Jesus, who is the flower of the 14 CHRISTMAS fields,* we first received the hope of salvation, and that after the bleak winter of heathendom and the Synagogue, there opened the verdant spring-time of grace. With this we must close our mystical interpretation of those rites which belong to Christmas in general. Our readers will have observed that there are many other sacred and symbolical usages, to which we have not even alluded; but as the mysteries to which they belong are peculiar to certain days, and are not, so to speak, common to this portion of the Liturgical Year, we intend to treat fully of them all, as we meet with them on their proper Feasts. 1 Cant.i PRACTICE DURING CHAPTER PRACTICE CHRISTMAS THE DURING 15 THIRD CHRISTMAS HE time has now come for the faithful soul to reap the fruit of the efforts she made during the penitential weeks of Advent to prepare a dwelling-place for the Son of God, who desires to be born within her. The Nugptials of the Lamb are come, and his Spousc hath prepared herself.* Now the Spouse is the Church; the Spouse is also every faithful soul. Our Lord gives his whole self to the whole flock, and to each sheep of the flock with as much love as though he loved but that one. ‘What garments shall we put on, to go and meet the Bridegroom ? Where shall we find the pearls and jewels wherewith to deck our soul for this happy meeting ? Our holy Mother the Church will tell us all this in her Liturgy. Our best plan for spending Christmas is, undoubtedly, to keep close to her, and do what she does: for she is most dear to God, and being our Mother, we ought to obey all her injunctions. But, before we speak of the mystic Coming of the Incarnate Word into our souls; before we tell the secrets of that sublime familiarity between the Creator and the Creature; which let us, first, learn from the Church the duties human nature and each of our souls owes to the Divine Infant, whom the Heavens have at length given to us as the refreshlng Dew we asked them to raii down upon our earth. During Advent, we united with the Saints of the Old Law, in praying for the coming of the Messias, our Redeemer; now that he is come, us consider what is the homage we must pay him. The Church offers to the Infant-God, during let this holy season, the tribute of her profound adoration, the * Apoc. xix 7. 16 CHRISTMAS enthusiasm of her exceeding joy, the return of her unbounded gratitude, and the fondness of her intense These four offerings, adoration, joy, gratitude, love. and love, must be also those of every Christian to his Jesus, his Emmanuel, the Babe of Bethlehem. The prayers of the Liturgy will express all four sentiments in a way that no other Devotions could do. But, the better to appropriate to ourselves these admirable formulas of the Church, let us understand thoroughly the nature of each of these four sentiments. The first of our duties at our Saviour’s Crib is Adoration. Adoration is Religion’s first act; but there is something in the Mystery of our Lord’s Birth which seems to make this duty doubly necessary. In heaven the Angels veil their faces, and prostrate themselves before the throne of Jehovah; the Four-and-Twenty Elders are for ever cast- ing their crowns before the throne! of the Lamb; what, then, shall we do—we who are sinners, and unworthy members of the Tribe of the Redeemer—now that this same great God shows himself to us, humbled for our sakes, and stript of all his glory ? now that the duties of the creature to his Creator are fuifilled by the Creator himself ? now that the eternal God bows down not only before the Sovereign Majesty of the Godhead, but even before sinful man, his creature ? Let us endeavour tions, to make, by our profound adora- some return to the God who thus humbles him- self for us; let us thus give him back some little of that whereof he has deprived himself out of love for us, and in obedience to the will of his Father. It is incumbent on us to emulate, as far as possible, the sentiments of the Angels in heaven, and never to approach the Divine Infant without bringing with us the incense of our soul’s adoration, the protestation of our own extreme unworthiness, and lastly, the homage of our whole being. All this is due to the infinite Majesty of the Babe of fiethlehem, who is the more worthy of every tribute we can pay him, because he has made himself thus little for * Apoc. iv 10. PRACTICE our sakes. DURING Unhappy of the Divine Child, we, CHRISTMAS if the 17 apparent weakness or the familiarity wherewith he is ready to caress us, should make us negligent in this our first duty, or forget what he is, and what we are ! The example of his Blessed Mother will teach us to be thus humble. Mary was humble in the presence of her God, even before she became his Mother; but, once his Mother, she comported herself before him who was her God and her Child with greater humility than ever. We too, poor sinners, sinners so long and so often, we must adore with all the power of our soul him who has come down so low: we must out how by our self-humiliation to make for this Crib, these swathing-bands, this glory. And yet all our humiliations will study to find him amends eclipse of his never bring us so low as that we shall be on a level with his lowliness. No; only God could reach the humiliations of God. But our Mother, the Church, does not only offer to the Infant God the tribute of her profound adoration. The mystery of Emmanuel, that is, of God to her a source of singular joy. with us, is Look at her sublime Canticles for this holy Season, and you will find the two sentiments admirably blended—her deep reverence for her God, and her glad joy at his Birth. Joy! did not the very Angels come down and urge her to it 2 She therefore studies to imitate the blithe Shepherds, who ran for joy to Bethlehem,! and the glad Magi, who were well-nigh out of themselves with delight when, on quitting Jerusalem, the star again appeared and led them to the Cave where the Child was.* Joy at Christmas is a Christian instinct, which originated those many Carols, which, like so many other beautiful traditions of the ages of Faith, are unfortunately dying out amongst us; but which Rome still encourages, gladly welcoming each year those rude musicians, the Pifferari, who come down from the Apennines, and make the streets of the Eternal City re-echo with their shrill melodies. Come, then, faithful Children » St Luke ii 16. of the Church, * St Matt. i 10, let us z 18 CHRISTMAS take our share in her joy! This is not the season for sighing or for weeping. For unto us a Child is born I' He for whom we have been so long waiting is come; and he is come to dwell among us.* Great, indeed, and long was our suspense; so much the more let us love our The day will too soon come when this possessing him. Child, now born to us, will be the Man of Sorrows,® and then we will compassionate him; but at present we must rejoice and be glad at his coming and sing round his Crib with the Angels. Heaven sends us a present of its own joy: we need joy, and forty days are not too many for us to get it well into our hearts. The Scrip- ture tells us that a secure mind is like a continual feast,* and a secure mind can only be where there is peace ; now it is Peace which these blessed days bring to the earth ; Peace, say the Angels, 1o men of good will ! Intimately and inseparably united with this exquisite mystic joy is the sentiment of gratitude. Gratitude is indeed due to him who, neither deterred by our unworthiness nor restrained by the infinite respect which becomes his sovereign Majesty, deigned to be born of his own creature, and have a stable for his birth-place. Oh | how vehemently must he not have desired to advance the work of our salvation, to remove everything which could make us afraid of approaching him, and to encourage us, by his own example, to return, by the path of humility, to the heaven we had strayed from by pride ! Gratefully, therefore, let us receive the precious gift —this Divine Begotten Son Babe, of the our Deliverer. Father, that He is the Only- Father who hath so loved the world as to give his only Son.® He, the Son, unreservedly ratifies his Father’s will, and comes to offer himself because it is his own will® How, as the Apostle expresses it, hail not the Father with him given us all things 2" O gift inestimable! How shall we be able to repay it by suitable gratitude, we who are so Plsaix6. * St John i 16. *Stohmix. *lsaliii e * Tsa. lii 7. " Rom. w35 .. T T PRACTICE DURING 19 CHRISTMAS poor as not to know how to appreciate it ? God alone, and the Divine Infant in his Crib, know the value of the mystery of Bethlehem, which is given to us. Shall our debt, then, never be paid? Not so: we can pay it by love, which, though finite, gives itself with- out measure, and may grow for ever in intensity. For this reason, the Church, after she has offered her adorations and hymns and gratitude, to her Infant Saviour, gives him also her tenderest Love. She says to him: “ How beautiful art thou, my Beloved One, and how comely I* How sweet to me is thy rising, O Divine Sun of Justice ! How my heart glows in the warmth of thy beams! Nay, dearest Jesus, the means thou usest for gaining me over to thyself are irresistible—the feebleness and humility of a Child I’ Thus do all her words end in lote ; and her adoration, praise, and thanksgiving, when she expresses them in her Canticles, are transformed into love. Christians ! let us imitate our Mother, and give our hearts to our Emmanuel. The Shepherds offer him their simple gifts, the Magi bring him their rich presents, and no one must appear before the Divine Infant without something worthy his acceptance. Know, then, that nothing will please him, but that which he came to seek —our love. It was for this that he came down from heaven. Hard indeed is that heart which can say, He shall not have my love / These, then, are the duties we owe to our Divine Master in this his first Coming, which, as St Bernard says, is in the flesh and in weakness, and is for the salvation, not for the judgement, of the world. As regards that other Coming, which is to be in majesty and power on the Last Day, we have meditated upon it during Advent. The fear of the Wrath to come should have roused our souls from their lethargy, and have prepared them, by humility of heart, to receive the visit of Jesus in that secret Coming which he makes to the soul of man. It is the ineffable mystery of this intermediate Coming that we are now going to explain. * Cant. i 13 20 CHRISTMAS We have shown elsewhere how the time of Advent belongs to that period of the spiritual life which is called, in Mystic Theology, the Purgative Life, during which the soul cleanses herself from sin and the occasions of sin, by the fear of God's judgements, and by combating against evil concupiscence. We are taking it for granted that every faithful soul has journeyed through these rugged paths, which must be gone through before she could be admitted to the Feast to which the Church invites all mankind, saying to them, on the Saturday of the Prophet Second Week of Advent, these words of the Isaias: Lo/ this is our God : we hate waited for him, and he will save us. We have patiently waited for him, ana we shall rejoice and be joyful in his Salvation I* As in the house of our heavenly Father there are many mansions,? so likewise, on the grand Solemnity of Christ- mas, when those words of Isaias are realized, the Church sees, amongst the countless throng who receive the Bread of Life, a great variety of sentiments and dis- positions. Some were dead, and the graces given during the holy Season of Advent have restored them to life: others, whose spritual life had long been healthy, have so spent their Advent that its holy exercises have re- doubled their love of their Lord, and their entrance into ?fthlehem has been to them a renewal of their soul’s ife. Now every soul that has been admitted to Bethlehem, that is to say, into the Howuse of Bread, and has been united with him who is the Light of the Worli—that soul no longer walks in darkness. The mystery of Christmas is one of Illumination; and the grace it produces in the soul that corresponds with it, places her in the second stage of the Mystic Life, which is called the Illuminative Life. Henceforward, then, we need no longer weary ourselves watching for our Saviour’s arrival ; he has come, he has shone upon us, and we are resolved to keep up the light, nay, to cherish its growth within us, in proportion as the Liturgical Year unfolds its succesi Isa. xxv 9. St John xiv 2. Bl | PRACTICE 21 CHRISTMAS DURING sive seasons of mysteries and graces. God grant that we may reflect in our souls the Church’s progressive development of this divine Light; and be led by its brightness to that Union which crowns both the year of the Church, and the faithful soul which has spent the year under the Church’s guidance ! But, in the mystery of Christmastide, this Light is given to us, so to speak, softened down; our weakness required that it should be so. It is indeed the Divine Word, to know the Wisdom of the Father, that we are invited and imitate; but this Word, this Wisdom, shown us under the appearance of a Child. keep us from approaching him. We might are Let nothing fear were he seated on a throne in his palace; but he is lying on a crib in a stable! Were it the time of his Fatigues, his Bloody Sweat, his Cross, his Burial, or even of his Glory and his Victory, we might say we had not courage enough: but what courage is needed to go near him in Bethlehem, where Babe! all is sweetness and silence, and a simple Little Come to him, says the Psalmist, and be enlightenedI* Where mystery shall we which find an interpreter of the is wrought at this holy twofold season—the mystery of the Infancy of Jesus in the soul of man, and the mystery of the infancy of man’s soul in his jesus ? None of the Holy Fathers has so admirably spoken upon it as St Leo: let us listen to his grand words. “ Although that Childhood, which the majesty of the Son of God did not disdain to assume, has developed, by growth of age, into the fulness of the perfect man, and, the triumph of his Passion and Resurrection having been achieved, all the humiliations he submitted to for our sakes are passed; nevertheless, the Feast we are now keeping brings back to us the sacred Birth of the Virgin Mary’s Child, Jesus our Lord. So that whilst adoring his Birth, we are, in truth, celebrating our own com- mencement of life; for the Generation of Christ is the origin of the Christian people, and the Birth Day of him that is our Head is the Birth Day of us that are his 3 Ps, xxxiii 6. CHRISTMAS 22 Body. Itistrue, that each Christian has his own rank, and the children of the Church are born each in their respective times; yet the whole mass of the Faithful, once having been regenerated in the font of Baptism, are born, on this Day of Christmas, together with Christ; just as they are crucified together with Aim in his Passion, and have risen together with his Resurrection, and in his Ascension are placed at the right hand of the Father. For every believer, no matter in what part of the worlc he may be living, is born again in Christ his birth according to nature is not taken into account; he becomes a new man by his second birth; neither is he any longer called of the family of his father in the flesh, but of the family of our Redeemer, who unto this was made a Son of Man, that we might become the Sons of God.”* Yes, this is the Mystery achieved in us by the holy Season of Christmas! It is expressed in those words of the passage from St John’s Gospel which the Churct has chosen for the third Mass of the great Feast: A¢ many as received him, he gave them power to be made th Sons of God, to them that believe in his name ; who arc born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.? So that all they who, having purified their souls, freed themselves from the slavery of flesh and blood, and renounced everything which 1 of man, inasmuch as man means sinner, wish now to oper their hearts to the Divine Word, that is, to the LiGH1 which shineth in darkness, which darkness did not com- prehend,? these, 1 say, are born with Jesus; they are born of God ; they begin a new life, as did the Son of God himself in this mystery of his Birth in Bethlehem. How beautiful are these first beginnings of the Chris tian Life! How great is the glory of Bethlehem, tha: is, of our holy Mother the Church, the true House o, Bread ! for in her midst there is produced, during thest days of Christmas, and everywhere throughout the world, a countless number of sons of God. Oh! the } Sixth Sermon On the Nativity of our Lord, Ch. 2. *StJohn i 1a. Iba.i's. PRACTICE DURING CHRISTMAS 23 unceasing vitality of our mysteries! As the Lamb, who was slain from the beginning of the world,* sacrifices himself without ceasing, ever since his real sacrifice; so also, once born of the Holy Virgin his Mother, he makes it a part of his glory to be ceaselessly born in the souls of men. We are not, therefore, to think for a moment that the dignity of Mary’s divine Maternity is lessened, or that owr souls enjoy the same grand honour which was granted to her: far from that, ‘ let us,” as Venerable Bede says, ‘ raise our voice from amid the crowd, as did the woman in the Gospel, and say to our Saviour, with the Catholic Church, of which that woman was the type: Blessed is the Womb that bore thee, and the Breasts that gave thee suck!* Mary’s prerogative is indeed incommunicable, and it makes her the Mother of God, and the Mother of men. But we must also remember the answer made by our Saviour to the woman, who spoke those words: Yea rather, said Jesus, blessed are they who hear the word of God, and keep it ;* * hereby declaring,” continues Venerable Bede, ‘that not only is she blessed, who the Word of God, conceive this same merited to conceive in the flesh but they also who endeavour to Word spiritually, by the hearing of faith, and to give him birth and nourish him by keeping and doing what is good, either in their own or their neighbour’s heart. For the Mother of God herself was Blessed in that she was made, for a time, the minister to the wants of the Incarnate Word; but much more Blessed was she, in that she was and ever will be the kecper and doer of the love due to that same her Son.” Is it not this same truth which our Lord teaches us on that other occasion, where he says: Whosoever shall do the will of my Father that is in heaven, he is my brother and sister and ‘mother> And why was the Angel sent to Mary in preference to all the rest of the daughters of Israel, but because she had already conceived the Divine Word in her heart by the vehemence of her un- 1 Apoc. x * St Luke xi 38, + Commentary on St Luke, B. 4, Ch. 49. « SUMatt. xii so. 24 CHRISTMAS divided love, the greatness of her profound humility and the incomparable merit of her virginity? Why again, is this Blessed among women holy above all creatures, but because, having once conceived and brought forth a Son of God, she continues for ever his Mother, by her fidelity in doing the will of the heavenly Father, by her love for the uncreated light of the Divine Word, and by her union as Spouse with the Spirit of sanctification ? But no member of the human race is excluded from the honour of imitating Mary, though at a humble distance, in this her spiritual Maternity: for, by that real birth which she gave him in Bethlehem, which we are now celebrating, and which initiated the world into the mysteries of God, this ever Blessed Mother of Jesus has shown us how we may bear the resemblance of her own grand prerogative. We ought to have prepared the way of the Lord* during the weeks of Advent; and if so, our hearts have conceived him: therefore now our good works must bring him forth, that thus our heavenly Father, seeing not us ourselves, but his own Son Jesus now living within us, may say of each of us, in his mercy, what he heretofore said in very truth of the Incarnate Word: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.* Let us give ear to the words of the Seraphic St Bonaventure, who in one of his sermons for Christmas Day thus explains the mystery of the birth of Jesus in the soul of man: *This happy birth happens when the soul, prepared by long thought and reflection, passes at length to action; when the flesh being made subject to the spirit, good works are produced in due time: then do interior peace and joy return to the soul. In this birth there is neither travail nor pain nor fear; everything is admiration and delight and glory. If then, O devout soul ! thou art desirous for this birth, imagine thyself to be like Mary. Mary signifies bitter- ness ; bitterly bewail thy sins: it signifies Wluminatriz , be thou illumined by thy virtues: and lastly, it signifies * St Matt.iii 3; Isa. x1 3. * St Matt, iii 17. PRACTICE DURING CHRISTMAS 25 Mistress; learn how to be mistress and controller of thy evil passions. Then will Christ be born of thee, and oh! with what happiness to thyself ! For it is then that the soul tastes and sees how sweet is her Lord Jesus. She experiences this sweetness when, in holy meditation, she nourishes this Divine Infant; when she covers him with her tears; tion to the birth clothes she when him holy her with longings; when she presses him to her heart in the embrace of holy tenderness; when, in a word, she cherishes him in the warmth of her glowing love. O happy Crib of Bethlehem! in thee I find the King of glory: but happier still than thou, the pious soul which holds within itself him whom thou couldst hold but corporally ! Now that we may pass on from this spiritual concepof our Lord Jesus; in other words, that we may pass from Advent to Christmas, we must unceasingly keep the eyes of our soul on him who wishes to be born within us, and in whom the world is born to anew life. Our study and ambition should be, how best to become like Jesus, by imitating him; for, though the imitation must needs be imperfect, yet we know from the Apostle that our heavenly Father himself gives this as the sign of the elect—that they are made like to the image of his Son. Let us, therefore, hearken to the invitation Angels, and go over to Bethlehem* of We know what sign will be given to us of our Jesus—a Child wrapped swaddling-clothes, the and laid in a crib® So that you, in O Christians ! must become children ; you must not disdain to be tied in the bonds of a spiritual childhood ; you must come down from your proud spirit, and meet your Saviour who has come down from heaven, and with him hide yourselves in the humility of the czib. you begin, with him, a new life. Thus will Thus will the Light that gocth forwards and increaseth even lo perfect day,* illumine your path the whole remaining length of your journey. Thus the sight of God which leaves room for faith, which you receive at Bethlehem, will merit ' Rom.viiizg. *StLukeiizs. * Jbidiirz. 4 Prov.ivis. 26 CHRISTMAS for you the face-to-face vision on Thabor, and prepare you for the blissful UNION, which is not merely Light, but the plenitude and repose of Love. So far we have been speaking only of the living members of the Church, whether they began the life of grace during the holy Season of Advent, or were already living in the grace of the Holy Ghost when the ecclesiastical year commenced, and spent their Advent in preparing to be born with Jesus to a new year of higher perfection. But how shall we overlook those of our Brethren who are dead in sin; and so dead, that neither the coming of their Emmanuel, nor the example of the Christians throughout the universal Church earnestly preparing No, we cannot for that coming, could rouse them? forget them: we love them, and come to tell them (for even now they may yield to grace, and live), that there hath appeared the goodness and kindness of God our Savipur.! If this volume of ours should perchance fall intof the hands of any of those who have not yielded to the solicitations of grace, which press them to be converted to the sweet Babe of Bethlehem, their Lord and their God; who, instead of spending the weeks of Advent in preparing to receive him at Christmas, lived them out, as they began them, in indifference and in sin: we shall, perhaps, be helping them to a knowledge of the grievousness of their state, by reminding them of the ancient discipline of the Church, which obliged all the Faithful, under pain of being considered as mo longer Catholics, to receive Holy Communion on Christmas We find Day, as well as on Easter and Whit Sundays. a formal decree of this obligation given in the fifteenth Canon of the Council of Agatha (Agde) held in 506. We would also ask these poor sinners to reflect on the joy the Church feels at seeing, throughout the whole world, the immense number of her children, who still, in spite of the general decay of piety, keep the Feast of the birth of the Divine Lamb, by the sacramental participation of his Body and Blood. A Tit i 4. PRACTICE DURING CHRISTMAS 27 Sinners! take courage; this Feast of Christmas is one of grace and mercy, on which all, both just and sinners, meet in the fellowship of the same glad Mystery. The heavenly Father has resolved to honour the Birthday of his Son, by granting pardon to all save those who obstinately refuse it. Oh! how worthy is the Coming of our dear Emmanuel to be honoured by this divine amnesty ! Nor is it we that give this invitation; it is the Church herself. Yes, it is she that with divine authority invites you to begin the work of your new life on this day whereon the Son of God begins the career of his human life. That we may the more worthily convey to you this her invitation, we will borrow the words of a great and saintly Bishop of the Middle Ages, the pious Rabanus Maurus, who, in a homily on the Nativity of our Lord, encourages sinners to come and take their place, side by side with the just, in the stable of Bethlehem, where even the ox and the ass recognize their Master in the Babe who lies there. ‘1 beseech you, dearly beloved Brethren, that you receive with fervent hearts the words our Lord speaks to you through me on this most sweet Feast, on which even infidels and sinners are touched with compunction; on which the wicked man is moved to mercy, the con- trite heart hopes for pardon, the exile despairs not of returning to his country, and the sick man longs for his cure; on which is born the Lamb who taketh away the sins of the world, that is, Christ our Saviour. On such a Birthday, he that has a good conscience rejoices more than usual; and he whose conscience is guilty fears with a more useful fear. . . . Yes, itis a sweet Feast, bringing true sweetness and forgiveness to all true penitents. My little children, I promise you without hesitation that every one who, on this day, shall repent from his heart, and return not to the vomit of his sins, shall obtain all whatsoever he shall ask; let him only ask with a firm faith, and not return to sinful pleasures. ‘On this day are taken away the sins of the entire CHRISTMAS world: why needs the sinner despair? ... On this day of our Lord’s Birth let us, dearest Brethren, offer our promises to this Jesus, and keep them, as it is written: Vow ye, and pay lo the Lord your God.! Let us make our promises with confidence and love; ke will enable us to keep them. . . . And when I speak of promises, I would not have anyone think that I mean the promise of fleeting and earthly goods. No—I 28 mean, that each of us should offer what our Saviour ‘‘But how,” someone redeemed, namely, our soul. will say, ““ how shall we offer our souls to him, to whom they already belong ?” I answer: by leading holy lives, by chaste thoughts, by fruitful works, by turning away from evil, by following that which is good, by loving God, by loving our neighbour, by showing mercy (for we ourselves were in need of it, before we were redeemed), by forgiving them that sin against us (for we ourselves were once in sin), by trampling on pride, since it was by pride that our first parent was deceived and fell.”* It is thus our affectionate Mother the Church invites sinners to the Feast of the Divine Lamb; nor is she satisfied until her House be filled.* The grace of a New Birth, given her by the Sun of Justice, fills this Spouse of Jesus with joy.” A new year has begun for her, and, like all that have preceded it, it is to be rich in flower and fruit. She is about She renews her youth as that of an eagle. to unfold another Cycle, or Year, of her mysteries, and to pour forth upon her faithful children the graces of which God has made the Cycle to be the instrument. In this season of Christmas, we have the first-fruits of these graces offered to us; they are the knowledge and the love of our Infant God: let us accept them with attentive hearts. that so we may merit to advance, with our Jesus, in wisdom and age and grace before God and men.* The Christmas Mystery is the gate of all the others of the rest of the year; but it is a gate 1 Ps.baxv g, * Fourth Homliy O the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ. sstlukex 2 1o ok W PRACTICE which we may DURING all enter, for, CHRISTMAS though most 29 heavenly, yet it touches earth; since, as St Augustine beautifully remarks in one of his sermons for Christmas:' ‘ We cannot as yet contemplate the splendour of him who was begotten of the Father before the Day Star,* let us, then, visit him who was born of the Virgin in the nighthour. We cannot understand how his Name continueth before the sun ;* let us, then, confess that he hath set kis tabernacle in her that is purer than the sun.* We cannot as yet see the Only-Begotten Son dwelling in the Father’s Bosom; let us, then, think on the Bridegroom that cometh out of his bridechamber.® We are not yet ready for the banquet of our heavenly Father; the Crib of Jesus, our Master.s let us, then, keep 4 Eleventh Sermon On the Nativity of our Lord. * Ivid. Ixxi 17. 4 Tvid. xviii6. ¥ Ibid. ® Ps.cix 3. ¢ lsa.i3) to CHRISTMAS 30 CHAPTER MORNING THE FOURTH AND NIGHT PRAYERS CHRISTMAS FOR URING Christmas, the Christian, on waking in the morning, should unite himself with the Church, who in her Office of Matins for Christmas Day thus invites the faithful to come and adore the Messias: Christus natus est nobis; venite, adoremus ! Christ is born unto come, let us adore him | us; He should profoundly adore this dear King, who has rendered himself so accessible to his creatures; and in this disposition of loving reverence, he should perform the first acts of religion, both interior and exterior, wherewith he begins the day. The time for Morning which very Prayer being come, Church: is he may use the following method, formed upon MORNING First, Trinity: Y. praise Benedicamus and the of the PRAYERS adoration Patrem prayers ¥. of Let the Most us bless the Holy Father, et Filium, cum Sancto Spi- and the Son, and the Holy ritu: Ghost. Ry Let us praise him and F. Laudemus et superexaltemus eum in szcula. extol him above all for ever. ¥. Gloria Patri et Filio, Y. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the et ‘Spiritui Sancto; Holy Ghost. R. As it was in the beginRy. Sicut erat in principio, et nunc et semper, et in s®- ing, is now, and ever shall be cuia szculorum. Amen. world without end. Amen. MORNING 31 PRAYERS Then praise to our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ: ¥. Adoramus te, Christe, et benedicimus tibi. Ry. Quia per Crucem tuam redemisti mundum. ¥. We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless thee. Ry Because by thy Cross Veni, Sancte Spiritus, reple tuorum corda fidelium, et tui amoris in eis ignem accende. Come, O Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of thy faithful, and enkindle within them the fire of thy love. thou hast redeemed the world. Thirdly, invocation of the Holy Ghost: After these fundamental acts of recite the Lord’s Prayer, asking of our Lord Jesus Christ, to grant that be glorified on earth, now that he has religion, you will God, the Father of kis holy Name may blessed it by send- ing it his Son, over whose Crib the Angels sang: Glory be to God in the highest! This divine Messias is come to establish the Kingdom of God on earth: he is come to do the will of his Father, and to teach us to do it here on earth as it is done in heaven. Let us reverently sharc in these divine intentions. Let us also ask with all instance that we may be granted to partake of that heavenly Bread which is now born to us in Bethlehem. THE LORD’S PRAYER Pater noster, qui es in ceelis, tuum: sanctificetur nomen adveniat regnum tu- Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name : thy hingdom come : thy will be um: fiat voluntas tua sicut done on earth as it is in heaven. in celo, et in terra. Panem Give us this day our daily nostrum quotidianum da no- bread; and forgive us our bis hodie: et dimitte nobis trespasses, as we forgive them debita nostra, sicut et nos that trespass against us: and dimittimus debitoribus nos- lead us not into temptation: tris: et ne nos inducas in but deliver us from evil. tentationem: sed libera mos Amen. a malo. Amen. Then address our Blessed Lady, using the words of the Angelical Salutation. It is now that she is Blessed among all women : her virginal womb has yiclded the 32 CHRISTMAS divine Fruit of which the world was in expectation: every creature should proclaim her to be the Mother of God. Ave THE ANGELICAL SALUTATION Maria, gratia plena: Dominus tecum: benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Jesus. Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc et in hora mortis nostrz. Amen. Hail the Lord art thow Mary, is full with among of thee: women, grace; blessed and blessed is' the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. After this, recite the Symbol of Faith; and as you pronounce the words, Born of the Virgin Mary, dwell on them with a special attention, adoring the Saviour who has deigned to come down from heaven and be born in a stable. THE APOSTLES’ CREED I believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, his only Son our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Masy ; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into sepultus: descendit ad in- hell, the third day he arose feros, tertia die resurrexit a again from the dead; he asmortuis: ascendit ad_ceelos, cended into heaven, sitteth at sedet ad dexteram Dei Patris the right hand of God the omnipotentis: inde venturus Father Almighty; from thence est judicare vivos et mortuos. he_ shall come to judge the Credo in Spiritum Sanc- living and the dead. tum, sanctam Ecclesiam CaI believe in the Holy Ghost: tholicam, Sanctorum com- the Holy Catholic Churcl munionem, remissionem the communion of Saints, the peccatorum, carnis resurrec- forgiveness of sins, the resurtionem, vitam @ternam. rection of the body, and life Amen. everlasting. Amen. Credo in Deum Patrem omnipotentem creatorem ceeli et terre. Et in Jesum Christum _Filium ejus unicum, Dominum nostrum: qui conceptus est de Spiritu Sancto, natus ex Maria Virgine, passus sub Pontio PiIato, crucifixus, mortuus, et After having thus made the Profession of your Faith, excite within yourself sentiments of penance and com- MORNING PRAYERS 33 remembrance of the sins you have lively gratitude to the Lamb of God, he may wash away our sins by his to partake of his divinity. For this punction, by the committed, and of who is come that Blood, and give us end, make use of the following words of the Church, as the fittest way of celebrating these ineffable mysteries, the remembrance of which will keep up within your hearts a sorrow for having offended so merciful a God: ANTIPHONS FOR CHRISTMAS ANT. O admirabile com- mercium | Creator ~generis humani, animatum corpus sumens, de Virgine nasci dignatus est; et procedens homo sine semine, largitus est nobis suam deitatem. ANT. Quando natus es ineffabiliter ex Virgine, tunc impletz sunt Scruptura: sicut pluvia in vellus descendisti, ut salvum faceres genus humanum: te lauda'mus, Deus noster. ANT. Ecce Maria genuit nobis Salvatorem, quem Joannes ~ videns _exclamavit dicens: Ecce Agnus Dei; ecce qui tollit peccata mundi. Alleluia. ANT. O admirable Inter- change! The Creator of mankind, assuming a living Body, deigned to be born of a Virgin; and becoming Man without man's aid, bestowed on us his divinity. ANT. When thou wast born ineffably of the Virgin, the Scriptures were fulfilled. As dew upon Gedeon's fleece, thou camest down to save mankind. O Lord our God! we praise thee. ANT. Lo | Mary hath brought forth a Saviour unto us, whom John secing exclaimed: Behold the Lamb of God! Behold him that taketh away the sins of the world. Alleluia. Here make a humble confession of your sins, reciting the general formula made use of by the Church. THE CONFESSION Confiteor Deo Omnipotenti, beate Marie semper Virgini, beato Michaeli Archangelo, beato Joanni Baptiste, sanctis Apostolis Petro et Paulo, et omnibus sanctis, quia peccavi nimis cogitatione, verbo, et opere: mea_culpa, mea Culpa, mea maxima culpa. Ideo precor OF SINS I confess to Almighty God, to blessed Mary ever Virgin, to blessed Michiael the Arch’ angel, to blessed John_ Baptist, to the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and to all the saints, that T have sinned exceedingly in thought, word, and deed: through my fault, through my fault, through my most griev3 34 CHRISTMAS beatam Mariam semper Virginem, beatum Michaelem Archangelum, beatum Joannem Baptistam, sanctos Apostolos Petrum et Paulum, et omnes sanctos, orare pro me ad Dominum Deum nostrum. Misereatur nostri _omnipotens Deus, et dimissis peccatis nostris, perducat nosad vitam zternam. Amen. Indulgentiam, absolutionem, et remissionem peccatorum nostrorum tribuat nobis_omnipotens et misericors Dominus. Amen. ous fault. Therefore I beseech the blessed Mary ever Virgin, blessed Michael the Archangel, blessed John Baptist, the holy Apostles Peter and'Paul, and all the saints, to pray to our Lord God for me. May Almighty God have mercy on us, and our sins being forgiven, bring us to life everlasting. Amen. May the almighty and merciful Lord grant us pardon, absolution, and remission of our sins. Amen. This is the proper time for making your meditation, as no doubt you practise this holy exercise. During Christmas, our meditation should turn principally upon the Birth of Jesus Christ in our souls. At this period of the Liturgical Year, we must return to the very basis of our spiritual life, and yield, with childlike docility, to the inspirations of the Holy Ghost. our contemplation, fidence, is Jesus, as well as the source the Incarnate Word, The object of of our con- swathed in the bands of infancy, laid in his Crib, presented in the Temple, and fleeing into Egypt. His love for us has induced him to subject himself to these weaknesses of childhood, in order that even we may imitate our God! St Luke tells us that his Blessed Mother kept all these mysteries in her heart, and pondered them:* let us follow her sweet example, and feed our souls with the heavenly Manna. Let the rays of this hidden but penetrating Light illumine us. If we would follow Jesus to Thabor, let us begin to follow him in the way he now shows us— of a éhild’s simplicity and humility. The higher the architect wishes to carry up the building, the deeper does he sink the foundations. Jesus humbles himself so profoundly, because the work he has undertaken is to go up even to the highest heavens. ~As his members, * St Lukei 19, 51.° MORNING PRAYERS 35 we must go with him; we must bear him company, now in his humble Crib, and later on his Cross, if we would be associated with him when the day of his triumph comes, and he is seated at the right hand of his Father. The next part of your Moming Prayer must be to ask of God, by the following prayers, grace to avoid everv kind of sin during the day you are just beginning. y, then, with the Church, whose prayers must always be preferred to all others: ¥. Domine, exaudi orationem meam. R. Et clamor meus ad te veniat. OREMUS Domine, Deus omnipotens, qui ad principium hujus di nos pervenire fecisti, tua nos hodie salva virtute, ut in hac die ad nullum declinemus peccatum, sed semper ad tuam justitiam _faciendam nostra ~ procedant _eloquia, dirigantur cogitationes et opera. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium taum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia szcula seculorum. Amen.: ¥.0 Lord, hear my prayer. Rr. And let my cry come unto thee. LET US PRAY Almighty Lord and God, who hast brought us to the beginning of this day, let thy powerful grace so conduct us through it, that we may not fall into any sin, but that all our thoughts, words, and actions may be regulated according to the rules of thy heavenly justice, and tend to the observance of thy holy law. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Then beg the divine assistance for the actions of the day, that you may do them well; and say thrice: ¥. Deus, in meum intende. ®. Domine, dum me festina. ¥. Deus, in meum intende. K. Domine, dum ‘me festina, ¥. Deus, in meum intende. K. Domine, dum me festina, adjutorium ad adjuvanadjutorium ad adjuvanadjutorium ad adjuvan- ¥. Incline unto my aid, God, R. O Lord, make haste help me. . Incline unto my aid, God. K. O Lord, make haste help me. . Incline unto my aid, God. R. O Lord, make haste help me. O to O to O to CHRISTMAS 36 OREMUS Dirigere et sanctificare, regore et gubernare dignare, Domine Deus, Rex cceli et terrz, hodie corda et corpora nostra, sensus, sermones et actus nostros in lege tua, et in operibus mandatorum tuorum, ut hic et in ®ternum, te auxiliante, salvi et liberi esse mereamur, Salvator mundi. Qui vivis et regnas in szcula szculorum. Amen. After this, uniting LET US PRAY Lord God, and King of heaven and earth, vouchsafe this day to rule and sanctify, to direct and govern our souls and bodies, our senses, words, and actions in conformity to thy law, and strict obedience to thy commands; that by the help of thy grace, O Saviour of the world! we ma be_fenced and freed from al evils, Who livest and reignest for ever and ever. Amen. yourself with the Church, who celebrates with holy enthusiasm the rising of the Sun of Justice, by whose Light she does the works which render her agreeable to this her divine Spouse, say together with her: ¥. Verbum caro factum est. Alleluia ! K. Et habitavit in nobis. Alleluia ! oREMUS Da nobis, quasumus, omnipotens Deus, ut qui nova incarnati Verbi tui luce perfundimur; hoc in nostro resplendeat opere quod per fdem fulget in mente. er eumdem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen. . The Word was R®. And dwelt among Flesh. Alleluia | Alleluia | made us. LET US PRAY Grant, we beseech thee, O Almighty God, that as we are enlightened by the new light of thy Word made Flesh, we may show in our actions the effects of that faith that shineth in our minds. Through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. During the day, you will do well to use the instructions and prayers which you will find in this volume for each day of the Season, both for the Proper of the Time and the Proper of the Saints. In the evening you may use the following prayers: After having NIGHT PRAYERS NIGHT PRAYERS made 37 the sign of the Cross, adoring and praising the Son of God made dwelling amongst us his creatures for our For this end you may recite the following one of the Hymns sung by the Church during begin by flesh, and salvation. stanzas of Christmas: HYMN Jesu, Redemptor omnium, Quem lucis ante originem Parem patern gloria Pater supremus ed; Tu lumen et splendor Patris, O Jesu! Redeemer of mankind [ born before the light was made, and born of the Eternal Father, equal to him in fnfaite lory; O thou the Light and bright- Intende quas fundunt preces Tui per orbem servuli. the everlasting hope of all men ! hear the prayers offered thee by thy servants through- ‘Tu spes perennis omnium; ness of the Father! O thou Memento, rerum conditor, Nostri quod olim corporis qut the world. Be mindful, O Creator of all things ! that heretofore thou ui natus es de Virgine, um Patre et almo Spiritu who wast born of the Virgin ! and to the Father and the Holy Sacrata ab alvo Virginis Nascendo formam sump‘seri; Jesu, tibi sit gloria, didst assume a Body like unto ours, and wast born from the sacred womb of a Virgin. Glory be to thee, O Jesus, In sempiterna szcula. Ghost, for everlasting ages. Amen. Amen. After this Hymn, say the Our Father, the Hail Mary, and the Apostles’ Creed, as in the morning. Then make the Examination of Conscience, going over in your mind all the faults you have committed during the day; think how unworthy of the caresses and the company sin makes us of the Divine Babe; and conclude by making a firm resolution to avoid sin for the future, to do penance for it. and to avoid the occasions which would again lead you into it. The the Examination Confiteor of Conscience (or I confess) concluded, recite with heartfelt contrition, 38 CHRISTMAS and then give expression to your sorrow by the following Act, which we have taken from Blessed Robert Bellarmine’s Catechism: ACT OF CONTRITION O my God, I am exceedingly grieved for having ofiended thee, and with my whole heart I repent for the sins I have committed: I hate and abhor them above every other evil, not only because, by so sinning, I have lost heaven and deserve Hell, but still more because I have offended thee, O infinite Goodness, who art worthy to be loved above all things. I most firmly resolve, by the assistance of thy grace, never more to offend thee for the time to come, and to avoid those occasions which might lead me into sin. You may then add the Acts of Faith, Hope, and Charity, to the recitation of which Pope Benedict XIV has granted an indulgence of seven years and seven quarantines for each time. ACT OF FAITH O my God, I firmly believe whatsoever the holy Catholic Apostolic Roman Church requires me to believe: I believe it, because thou hast revealed it to her, thou who art the very Truth. ACT OF HOPE O my God, knowing thy almighty power, and thy infinite goodness and mercy, I hope in thee that, by the merits of the Passion and Death of our Saviour Jesus Christ, thou wilt grant me cternal life, which thou hast promised to all such as shall do the works of a good Christian; and these I resolve to do, with the help of thy grace. O my God, I love things, because thou lose ‘all things than and desire to love my ACT OF CHARITY thee with my whole heart and above all art the sovereign Good: I would rather offend thee. For thy love also, I love neighbour as mysels. Then say to our Blessed Lady, in honour of the ineffable dignity of her Maternity, the following Anthem: NIGHT PRAYERS 39 ANTHEM TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN Virgo prius ac posterius, GaDrielis ab ore Sumens illud Ave, peccatorum miserere. Y. Post partum, Virgo, inviolata permansisti. Ry. Dei Genitrix, intercede pro nobis. Sweet Mother of our Redeemer, Gate whereby we enter heaven, and Star of the seal help us, we fall; yet do we long fo rise. Nature looked upon thee with admiration, when thou didst give birth 'to thy divine Creator, thyself_remaining, before and after it a pure Virgin. Gabriel spoke his Hail to thee; we sinners crave thy pity. Y. After childbirth thou didst remain most pure, O Virgin | O Mother of God, make intercession for us. OREMUS LET US PRAY Alma Redemptoris mater, qu pervia ceeli Porta manes, et stella maris, succurre cadenti Surgere qui_curat populo: tu qua genuisti, Natura mirante, tuum tum Genitorem, sanc- Deus, qui salutis_zternz, beatw Mariz virginitate fecunda, humano generi pramia prastitisti: tribue, quasumus, ut ipsam pro nobis intercedere sentiamus, per quam meruimus _auctorem vite suscipere, Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium tuum. Amen. You O God, who by the fruitful Virginity of Blessed Mary hast given to mankind the rewards of eternal salvation; grant, we beseech thee, that we may experience her intercession, by whom we received the Author of Life, our Lord Jesus Christ, thy Son. Amen. would do well to add the Litany of our Lady. An indulgence of three hundred days for each time it is recited has been granted by the Church. THE LITANY OF THE BLESSED Kyrie, eleison. Christe, eleison. Kyrie, eleison. Christe, audi nos. Christe, exaudi nos. Pater de coelis, Deus, miserere nobis. Fili, Redemptor _mundi, Deus, miserere nobis VIRGIN Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us. God the Father of heaven, have mercy on us. God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us. 40 CHRISTMAS Spiritus Sancte, Deus, mise- God the Holy Ghost, bave rere nobis. mercy on us. Sancta Trinitas, unus Deus, Holy Trinity, one God, have ‘miserere nobis. mercy on us. Sancta Maria, ora pro nobis Holy Mary, pray for us. Sancta Dei Genitrix, ora, Holy Mother of God, pray. etc. efc. Sancta Virgo virginum, Holy Virgin of virgins, Mater Christi, Mother of Christ, Mater divine gratiz, Mother of divine grace, Mater purissima, Mother most pure, Mater castissima, Mother most chaste, Mater inviolata, Mother inviolate, Mater intemerata, Mother undefiled, Mater amabilis, Mater admirabill Mater boni consilii, Mater Creatoris, Mater Salvatoris, Virgo prudentissima, Virgo veneranda, Virgo praedicanda, Virgo potens, Virgo clemens, Virgo fidelis, Speculum justiti, Sedes sapienti, Causa nostra latitize, Vas spirituale, Vas honorabile, Vas insigne devotionis, Rosa mystica, Turris Davidica, Turris eburnea, Domus aurea, Feederis arca, anua ceeli, tella matutina, Salus infirmorum, Refugium peccatorum, Consolatrix afflictorum, Auxilium Christianorum, Regina Regina Regina Regina Regina Regina Regina Regina Angelorum, Patriarcharum, Prophetarum, Apostolorum, Martyrum, Conféssorum, Virginum, Sanctorum omnium, Mother most amiable, Mother most admirable, Mother of good counsel, Mother of our Creator, Mother of our Redeemer, Virgin most prudent, Virgin most venerable, Virgin most renowned, Virgin most powerful, Virgin most merciful, Virgin most faithful, Mirror of justice, Seat of wisdom, Cause of our joy, Spiritual vessel, ‘essel of honour, Singular vessel of devotion, Mystical Rose, Tower of David, Tower of ivory, House of gold, Ark of the covenant, Gate of heaven, Morning Star, Health of the weak, Refuge of sinners, Comforter of the afflicted, Help of Christians, Queen of Angels, Queen of Patriarchs, Queen of Prophets, Queen of Apostles, Queen of Martyrs, Queen of Confessors, Gueen of Virgins, Gueen of all Saints, 41 Regina sine labe originali con- Queen conceived without origcepta, . . inal sin, Regina Sacratissimi Rosarii, ueen of the Most Holy Rosary, ueen of peace. Regina pacis, _ Agnus Dei, qui tollis pec- O Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, cata mundi, parce nobis, Domine. spare us, O Lord. Agnus Dei, qui tollis pec- O Lamb of God, who takest cata mundi, exaudi nos, away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord. Domine. Agnus Dei, qui_ tollis pec- 0 Lamb of God, who takest cata mundi, miserere noaway the sins of the world, bis. have mercy on us. Christe, audi nos. Christ, hear us. Christe, exaudi nos. Christ, graciously hear us. Y. Pray for us, O holy ¥. Ora pro mnobis, sancta Dei Genitrix. Mother of God. R. Ut digni efficiamur Ry. That we may be made promissionibus Christi. worthy of the promises of Christ. OREMUS LET US PRAY Concede nos famulos tuos, Grant, O Lord, we beseech quasumus, Domine Deus, thee, that we thy servants perpetua mentis et corporis may enjoy constant health of fanitate gaudere: et gloriosa body and mind, and by the beatz Mariz semper Vir- glorious intercession_of _Blesginis intercessione, a pre- sed Mary, ever a Virgin, be senti liberari tristitia, et delivered from all _present @terna perfrui lztitia. Per affliction, and come to that joy Christum Dominum nos- which is _eternal. Through trum. Amen. Christ our Lord. Amen. NIGHT PRAYERS Here invoke the Holy Angels, indeed, always so much needed whose protection is, by us, but never so much as during the hours of night. ~ Say with the Church: Sancti Angeli, custodes nostri, defendite nos in pralio, ut non pereamus in tremendo judicio. ¥. Angelis suis Deus mandavit de te. R. Ut custodiant te in omnibus viis tuis. OREMUS Deus, qui ineffabili providentia sanctos Angelos tuos ad nostram custodiam mit- Holy Angels, our loving Guardians, defend us in the hour of battle, that we may not be lost at the dreadful judgement. V. God hath ~given his Angels charge of thee. . That they may guard thee in all thy ways. LET US PRAY O God, who in thy wonderful providence hast been pleased to appoint thy holy 42 CHRISTMAS tere dignaris: largire suppli- Angels for our guardians; cibus tuis, et corum semper mercifully hear our prayers, and grant we may rest secure protectione defendi, et ®terna societate gaudere. Per under their protection, and Christum Dominum nos- cnjoy their fellowship in_beaven for ever. Through Christ trum. Amen. our Lord. Amen. Then beg the assistance of the Saints by the following Antiphon and prayer of the Church: _ ANT. Sancti Dei omnes, ANT. All ye Saints of God, intercedere dignemini pro vouchsafe to intercede for us and for all men, that we may nostra omniumque salute. be saved. ¥. Latas Domino ¥. Rejoice in the Lord, ye et exsultate, justi. just, and be glad. R. Et gloriamini omnes K. And glory, all ye right recti corde. of heart. OREMUS Protege, Domine, populum tuum, et Apostolorum tuorum Petri et Pauli et aliorum Apostolorum patro- cinio confidentem, perpetua defensione conserva. Omnes Sancti tui, quaesu- mus, Domine, nos ubique adjuvent: ut dum eorum merita recolimus, patrocinia sentiamus: et pacem tuam nostris concede tem- poribus, et ab Ecclesia tua cunctam repelle nequitiam: iter, actus, et voluntates tuz prosperitate nostras, et omnium lorum tuorum, in benefactoribus famusalutis dispone : nostris sem- piterna bona retribue: et omnibus fidelibus defunctis requiem zternam _concede. Per Christum nostrum. Amen. Dominum LET US PRAY Protect, O Lord, thy people; and because we have confi- dence in the intercession of blessed Peter and Paul and thy other Apostles, ever defend and preserve us. May all thy Saints ever help us, we beseech thee, O Lord ! and grant that, whilst we honour their merits, we may experience their intercession. Grant thy holy peace unto these our days, and drive all iniquity from thy Church. Direct and prosper unto salvation every step and action and desire of us and of all thy servants. Repay our benefactors with everlasting blessings; and grant eternal rest to all the faithful departed. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. And here you may add a special mention of the Saints to whom you bear a particular devotion, either as your patrons or otherwise; as also of those whose feast is NIGHT PRAYERS 43 kept in the Church that day, or at least who have been commemorated in the Divine Office. This done, remember the necessities of the Church Suffering, and beg of God that he will give to the souls in Purgatory a place of refreshment, light, and peace. For this intention recite the usual prayers. PSALM 129 De profundis clamavi ad From the depths I have te, Domine: Domine, exaudi cried to thee, O Lord; Lord, vocem meam. hear my voice. Fiant aures tuz intendenLet thine ears be attentive tes: in vocem deprecationis to the voice of my supplicamez. tion. If thou wilt observe iniquiSi iniquitates observaveris, Domine: Domine, quis ties, O Lord, Lord, who shall sustinebit ? endure it ? For with thee there is merQuia apud te propitiatio est: et propter legem tuam ciful forgiveness; and by reasustinui te, Domine. son of thy law I have waited for thee, O Lord. Sustinuit anima mea in My soul hath relied on_his verbo ejus: speravit anima word; my soul hath hoped in mea in Domino. the Lord. From the morning watch A custodia matutina usque ad noctem: speret Israel in even until night, let Israel Domino. hope in the Lord. Quia_apud Dominum miuse with the Lord there sericordia: et copiosa apud is mercy, and with him plentieum redemptio. ful redemption. Et ipse redimet Israel; And he shail redeem Israel ex omnibus iniquitatibus from all his iniquities. ejus. Requiem ®ternam dona Eternal rest give to them, O eis, Domine. Lord. Et lux perpetua luceat And let perpetual light shine eis. upon them. ¥. A porta inferi. From the gate of hell. Ry. Erue, Domine, animas . Deliver their souls, O eorum. Lord. ¥. Requiescant in pace. Y. May they rest in peace. K. Amen. . Amen. ¥. Domine, exaudi oraO Lord, hear my prayer. tionem meam. K. Et clamor meus ad te K. And let my cry come veniat. unto thee. 44 CHRISTMAS LET US PRAY O God, the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful, give to the souls of thy servants departed the remission nem cunctorum tribue pecof all their sins: that through catorum: ut indulgentiam, the help of pious supplications, quam semper optaverunt, they may obtain the pardon desired. piis supplicationibus conse- they have always quantur. Qui vivis et regnas Who livest and_reignest for in szcula szculorum. Amen. ever and ever. Amen. OREMUS Fidelium Deus omnium Conditor et Redemptor, animabus famulorum famularumque tuarum _remissio- Here make a special memento of departed as have a particular claim after which, ask of God to give whereby you may pass the night such of the Faithful upon your charity; you his assistance, free from danger. Say then, still keeping to the words of the Church: ANT. Salva nos, Domine, vigilantes, custodi nos dormientes: ut vigilemus cum Christo, et requiescamus in pace. ¥. Dignare, Domine, nocte ista. K. Sine peccato nos custodire. ¥. Miserere nostri, Domine. K. Miserere nostri. ¥. Fiat misericordia tua, Domine, super nos. K. Quemadmodum speravimus in te. ¥. Domine, exaudi orationem meam. K. Et clamor veniat. meus ad te ANT. Save us, O Lord, whilst awake, and watch us as we watch sleep; that we with Christ, and ¥. Have mercy on may rest in peace. ¥. Vouchsafe, O Lord, this night, 7. To keep us without sin. Lord. us, O . Have mercy on us. V. Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us. R. As we have hoped in thee. ¥. O Lord, hear my prayer. ®. And let my cry come unto thee. OREMUS LET US PRAY Visita, quasumus, DoVisit, we beseech thee, O mine, habitationem ~ istam, Lord, this house and family, et omnes insidias inimici and drive from it all snares ab ea longe repelle: Angeli of the enemy: let thy holy tui sancti habitent Angels dwell herein, who may in ea, qui_nos in pace custodiant, keep us in peace, and may et benedictio tua sit super thy blessing be always upon nos semper. Per Dominum us. Through Jesus Christ NIGHT nostrum Jesum Christum, Filium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate tus Sancti Deus, per omnia Amen. szcula szculorum. PRAYERS 45 our Lord, thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in_the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen. And that you may end the day in the same sentiments wherewith you began it, devoutly pay your homage to the divine Mystery of the Incarnation by reciting the following prayer: ¥. Notum fecit K. Salutare suum, nus, alleluia ! luia ! Domialle- OREMUS Deus, qui sacratissimam noctem’ veri luminis fecisti illustratione clarescere; da, quasumus, ut cujus ' lucis mysteria in terra cognovi mus, ejus quoque gaudiis in ccelo perfruamur. Qui tecum vivit et regnat in sa@cula szculorum. Amen. Y. The Lord hath made known, alleluia | R. His salvation, alleluia ! LET US PRAY 0 God | who hast enlightened the most sacred of Nights by the brightness of him who is the true Light; grant, we beseech thee, that we who have known the mysteries of this Light on earth, may likewise come to the_enjoyment of it in heaven. Who liveth and reigneth with thee for ever. Amen. 46 CHRISTMAS CHAPTER ON HEARING UCH THE FIFTH MASS DURING THE SEASON OF CHRISTMAS is the number and importance of the feasts kept during this holy season, that even those of the faithful who have not the habit of hearing Mass daily at other times look upon it as a sort of duty to do so now: and rightly; for the Lamb, who is offered up in this Divine Sacrifice, is he whom asking of the ness during Eternal Advent, Father with they have so much been earnest- in those words of the Prophet Isaias: Send forth, O Lord, the Lamb, the Ruler of the Earih.* This tender Lamb is come; the child is barn unto us? and even now is on the Altar of his Sacrifice. St Paul tells us that this Jesus, on his first entrance into the world, said to his Father: Sacrifice and oblation thou willest mot ; but a Body thou hast fitled unto me. said I ; behold I come : to do thy will, O God.® Then 1t is true that the Sacrifice of the Cross, of which that of the Mass is the continuation, was the Sacrifice of Christ at the end of his three-and-thirty years; still, during these days of Christmas, when we have so much to learn from the mystery of the Sacred Infancy, we shall be in strict accordance with the assisting at Mass, we spirit of the Church if, whilst keep before our minds not only the bleeding Victim of Calvary, but likewise the sweet Lamb of Bethlehem. Moreover, does not our Jesus offer himself for us to his Father from his Crib as well as from his Cross ? Thus, we read in the Acis of the Saints, that as often as this our Redeemer wished to requite the faith and love of his servants by manifesting Vsaoavin * 1vid. ix 6. *Hebxs. 47 MASS to them his real Presence in the sacred Host, he appeared to them in the form of a lovely Babe. The liturgical iconography of the Greeks represents the mystery of the Eucharist under the symbol of a Babe reposing on a Paten. So, too, in many of our Latin Missals, up to the end of the sixteenth century, we find an illumination or engraving, as the case may be, representing a Priest vested in a Chasuble, standing at the Altar, and holding in his hands the Bedy of our Saviour under the form of a Child. Let the faithful, therefore, enter the House of God in the dispositions wherewith the Shepherds and the Magi were animated, when they went to Bethlehem, the House of Bread. They too must come with haste ;* from the midnight of this world to that Light which shineth in darkness.® They must come to the Altar as to the Crib of Jesus, and in the joy of this Mystery, they must offer their whole heart to the New-Born Babe. Then, uniting themselves with Mary and the Church, they must offer the Lamb of God to the heavenly Father, and themselves together with him—and all this with the humility and simplicity of little children. ‘We will now endeavour to embody these sentiments in our explanation of the Mysteries of the Holy Mass, and initiate the faithful into these divine secrets; not, indeed, by indiscreetly presuming to translate the sacred formulas, but by suggesting such Acts, as will enable those who hear Mass to enter into the ceremonies and sentiments of the Church and the Priest. During a considerable portion of this Season, the Mass is celebrated in commemoration of the great Mysteries which were accomplished at this period of the Liturgical Year; and the Prayers used by the Church on these great Feasts will be found on the respective days. During the remaining forty days, the Sacrifice is either of the Saints, or of the Sundays Holy which come during this time, and on which there does not occur a principal Feast. The Sundays of Septuagesima and * St Luke ii 16. * St Jobais. 48 CHRISTMAS Sexagesima sometimes fall during Christmastide; and when this happens, they cannot be put out by any Feast save those of the Patron of the Place, or of the Titular or Dedication of the Church. In all the Masses of the Sundays, as also on those Feasts which are called simples and semi-doubles, the Priest makes a commemoration of our Blessed Lady as Mother of God, and this by three Prayers which we give in their proper places. With regard to the colours of the Vestments used during this holy Season, we have explained them in a previous chapter. On the Sundays, if the Mass at which the faithful assist be the Parochial, or as it is often called the Public Mass, two solemn rites precede it, which are full of instruction and blessing: the Asperges, or sprinkling of the Holy Water, and the Procession. During the Asperges, let them unite with the inten- tions of the Church in this venerable rite, and pray for that purity of heart which will fit them for admission into that Stable of Bethlehem, wherein carnate first appeared to his creatures. ANTIPHON OF THE ASPERGES Asperges me, Domine, hyssopo, et mundabor; lavabis me, et super nivem dealbabor. Ps. Miserere mei, Deus, secundum magnam miseri- the Word In- Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, O Lord, and I shall be cleansed; thou shalt wash me, and 1 shall be made whiter than snow. Ps. Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy great cordiam tuam. mercy. ¥. Glory, etc. Y. Gloria Patri, etc. AN Sprinkle me, etc. ANT. Asperges me, etc. ¥. Show us, O Lord, thy ¥. Ostende nobis, Domine, misericordiam tuam. mercy. F. Et salutare tuum da K. And grant us the Saviour, whom we expect from thee. nobis. ¥. Domine, exaudi ora¥. O Lord, hear my prayer. tionem meam. K. And let my cry come R. Et clamor meus ad te veniat. unto thee. ¥. The Lord be with you. ¥. Dominus vobiscum. R7. And with thy spirit. R. Et cum spiritu tuo. MASS OREMUS Exaudi nos, Domine sancte, Pater omnipotens, zterne Deus: et mittere digneris sanctum Angelum tuum de ceelis, qui custodiat, foveat, protegat, visitet atque deendat omnes habitantes in hoc habitaculo. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Ry Amen. The Mass, Procession, should remind going to Bethlehem, which 49 LET US PRAY Graciously hear us, O holy Lord, Father Almighty, eternal God: and vouchsafe to send thy holy Angel from heaven, who may keep, cherish, protect, visit and defend all 'who are assembled in this place. Through Christ our rd. Ry. Amen. immediately precedes us of the Shepherds and how, and the Magi after a holy impatience to reach the sacred spot, they arrived, and found Mary and Joseph and the Infant lying in the manger. But see, Christians, the Sacrifice begins | The Priest is at the foot of the altar; God is attentive, the Angels are in adoration, the whole Church is united with the Priest, whose priesthood and great High Priest, Jesus Christ. of the Cross with him., action are those of the Let us make the sign CHRISTMAS 50 THE ORDINARY OF THE MASS In nomine Patris et Filii In the name of the Father, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen. and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. ¥. Introibo ad altare Dei. T unite myself, O my God, R. Ad Deum qui letificat with thy Church, who comes juventutem meam. to seek consolation in_Jesus Christ thy Son, who is the true Altar. Judica me, Deus, et disLike her, I beseech thee to cefne causam meam de gente defend me’ against the malice non sancta: ab homine i of the enemies of my salvaquo et doloso erue me. tion. Quia tu es, Deus, fortiIt is in thee that I have put tudo mea: quare me repu- my hope; yet do I feel sad listi ? et quare tristis incedo, and troubled at being in the dum affligit me inimicus ? midst of the snares which are set for me. Emitte lucem tuam et veSend me, then, him who is light and truth ; it is he who will ritatem tuam: ipsa me deduxerunt et adduxerunt in open to us the way to thy holy montem sanctum tuum, et mount, to thy heavenly taberin tabernacula tua. nacle. Et introibo ad altare Dei He is the Mediator, and the ad Deum qui latificat ju- living Altar; I will draw nigh ventutem meam. to him, and be filled with joy. Confitebor tibi in cithara When he shall have come, Deus, Deus meus: quare I will sing in my gladness, tristis es anima mea? et Be not sad, O my soul!| why quare conturbas me ? wouldst thou be troubled ? Spera in Deo, quoniam Hope in his coming; he who adhucconfitebor illi: salu- is_thy Saviour and thy God tare wvultus mei, et Deus will soon be with thee. meus. Gloria_Patri, et Filio, et Glory be to the Father, and Spiritui Sancto. to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. Sicut erat in principio, et As it was in the beginning, nunc et semper, et in szcula is now, and ever shall be, Amen. szculorum. world without end. Amen. Y. Introibo ad altare Dei. 1 am to go to the altar of R. Ad Deum qui latificat God, and feel the presence of juventutem meam. him who consoles me ! THE ORDINARY OF THE MASS nostrum This my hope comes ¥. Adjutorium in ‘nomine Domini. K. Qui fecit celum terram. 51 not from any merits of my own, et but from the all-powerful help of my Creator. The thought of his being about to appear before his God excites in the soul of the Priest a lively sentiment of compunction. He cannot go further in the Holy Sacrifice without confessing, and publicly, that he is a sinner, and deserves not the grace he is about to receive. Listen with respect to this confession of God’s Minister, and earnestly ask our Lord to show mercy to him; for the Priest is your Father; he is answerable for your salvation, for which he every day risks his own. When he has finished, unite with the Servers, or the Sacred Ministers, in this prayer: Misereatur tui omnipotens Deus, et dimissis pec- catis tuis, perducat te ad vitam @ternam. The ~ May Almighty God have mercy on thee, and forgiving thy sins, bring thee to everlasting life. Priest having answered 4men, make fession, saying with a contrite spirit: your con- Confiteor Deo omnipoT confess to Almighty God, tenti, beatz Mariz semper to blessed Mary ever Virgin, Virgini, beato Michaeli to blessed Michael the ArchArchangelo, beato Joanni angel, to blessed John Baptist, Baptistz, sanctis Apostolis to the holy Apostles Peter and Petro et Paulo, omnibus Paul, to all the saints, and to Sanctis, et tibi, Pater: quia thee, Father, that I have sinned peccavi nimis cogitatione, exceedingly in thought, word, verbo, et opere: mea culpa, and deed, through my fault, mea culpa, mea maxima through my fault, through my culpa. Ideo precor beatam most _grievous fault. ThereMariam semper Virginem, fore 1 beseech the blessed beatum Michaelem Arch: Mary ever Virgin, blessed angelum, beatum Joannem Michael the Archangel, blessed Baptistam, sanctos Aposto- John Baptist, the holy Aposlos Petrum et Paulum, om- tles Peter and Paul, and all the nes Sanctos, et te, Pater, saints, and thee, Father, to orare pro me ad Dominum pray to our Lord God for me. Deum nostrum, Receive with gratitude the paternal wish of the Priest, who says to you: CHRISTMAS 52 Misereatur vestri_omnipotens Deus, et dimissis peccatis vestris, perducat vos ad_vitam @ternam. Ry. Amen, Indulgentiam, absolutionem, et remissionem _peccatorum nostrorum tribuat nobis_omnipotens et miscricors Dominus. Ry. Amen. May Almighty God be merciful to you, and forgiving our sins, bring you to everasting life. K. Amen. May the almighty and merciful ‘Lord grant us_pardon, absolution, and remission of our sins. R. Amen. Invoke the divine assistance, that you may approach to Jesus Chri ¥. Deus, tu conversus vivificabis nos. Ry. Et plebs tua letabitur in te. ¥. Ostende nobis, Domine, misericordiam tuam. ®. Et Salutare tuam da nobis. ¥ Domine, exaudi orationem meam. R. Et clamor meus ad te veniat. The Priest here leaves but first he salutes you: ¥. Dominus vobiscum. ¥. O God, it needs but one 100k of thine to give us life. Ry. And thy people shall rejoice in thee. ¥. Show us, O Lord, thy mercy. K. And give us the Saviour whom thou hast prepared for us. ¥. O Lord, hear my prayer. Ry. And let my cry come unto you thee. to ascend to the altar; ¥. The Lord be with you. Answer him with reverence: R. Et cum spiritu tuo. Y. Oremus. R7. And with thy spirit. ¥. Let us pray. He ascends the steps, and comes to the Holy of Holies. Ask, both for him and yourself, deliverance from sin: Aufer a nobis, quasumus, Take from our hearts, O Domine, iniquitates nostras; Lord, all those sins which ut ad Sancta sanctorum make us unworthy of thy puris mereamur mentibus visit; we ask this of thee by introire. Per Christum Do- thy divine Son, our Lora. minum nostrum. Amen. THE ORDINARY OF THE MASS 53 When the Priest kisses the altar, out of reverence for the relics of the Martyrs which are there, say : Oramus te, Domine, per _ Generous soldiers of Jesus merita sanctorum _tuorum Christ, who have mingled quorum _reliqui hic sunt, your own blood with his, inet omnium Sanctorum: uf tercede for us that our sins may indulgere digneris omnia be forgiven: that so we may, peccata mea. Amen. like you, approach unto God. If it be a High Mass at which you are assisting, the Priest incenses the Altar in a most solemn manner; and this white cloud, which you see ascending from every part of the Altar, signifies the prayer of the Church, who addresses Mediator herself then to causes Jesus Christ; which to ascend, united this Divine with his own, to the throne of the majesty of his Father. The Priest then says the Introit. It is a solemn opening anthem, in which the Church, at the very commencement of the Holy Sacrifice, gives expression to the sentiments which fill her heart. It is followed by nine exclamations, which are even more earnest, for they ask for mercy. In addressing them to God, the Church unites herself with the nine choirs of Angels, who are standing round the altar of Heaven, one and the same as this before which you are kneeling. To the Father who has sent us his Son : Kyrie eleison. Kyrie eleison. Kyrie eleison. Lord, have mercy on us ! Lord, have mercy on us ! Lord, have mercy on us | To the Son who has come down to us : Christe eleison. Christe eleison. Christe eleison. To the Holy Ghost, Kyrie eleison. Kiyrie eleison. Kyrie eleison. Christ, have mercy on us | Christ, have mercy on us | Christ, have mercy on us | whose operation has the mystery : accomplished Lord, have mercy on us ! Lord, have mercy on us ! Lord, have mercy on us ! CHRISTMAS 54 Then, host, the mingling his voice with that of the heavenly Priest intones the sublime Canticle of Beth- lehem, which announces glory to God and peace to men. Instructed by the revelations of God, the Church continues in her own words the Hymn of the Angels. She celebrates with rapture the Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the world. She offers to this Lamb, in return for the humiliations of the Stable and the homage of her fervent praise, declaring that Crib, is Holy, he alone is Lord, he alone Most High. the he alone Enter, Christians, into these sentiments of profound adoration of confidence and of tender love towards the Divine Lamb. THE ANGELIC HYMN GLORIA IN EXCELSIS DEo, ET IN TERRA PAX HOMINIBUS BON/E VOLUNTATIS. Laudamus te: benedicimus te: adoramus te: glorificamus te: gratias agimus tibi propter magnam gloriam tuam. Domine Deus, Rex ceelestis, Deus Pater omnipotens. Domine, Fili unigenite, Jesu Christe. Domine Deus, Agnus Dei, Filius Patris. Qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis. Qui tollis peccata mundi, suscipe deprecationem nostram, Qui sedes ad dexteram Patris, miserere nobis. Quoniam tu solus sanctus, tusolus Dominus, tu solus Altissimus, ~ Jesu Christe, cum_Sancto Spiritu, in gloria Dei Patris. Amen. The Priest salutes them, turns GLORY BE To GOD ON HIGH, AND ON EARTH PEACE TO MEN OF GOOD WILL. We praise thee: we bless thee: we adore thee: we glorify thee: we give thee thanks for thy great glory. O Lord God, Heavenly King, God the Father Almighty. O Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son. O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father. Who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. Who takest away the sins of the world, receive our humble prayer. Who sittest at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us. For thou alone art holy, thou alone art Lord, thou alone, O Jesus Christ, together with the Holy Ghost, art most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen. towards the people, and again to make sure, as it were, of their pious THE ORDINARY OF THE MASS 55 attention to the sublime act, for which all this is but the preparation. The words of this greeting are especially beautiful during the season of Christmas: The Lord be with you! Isaias had foretold that it would indeed be verified, and the Angel confirms the prophecy to St Joseph, when he thus says to him: He shall be called Emmanuel, that is, God with us.* Then follows the Collect or Prayer, in which the Church formally expresses to the divine Majesty the special intentions she has in the Mass which is being celebrated. You may unite in this prayer by reciting with the Priest the Collects, which you will find in their proper places: but on no account omit to join with the server of the Mass in answering Amen. Then follows the Epistle, which is generally a portion of one or other of the Epistles of the Apostles, or a passage from some Book of the Old Testament. Whilst it is being read, thank him who, not satisfied with having at sundry times spoken to us by the Prophets, has deigned in these days to speak to us by his Son.® The Gradual is an intermediate formula between the Epistle and Gospel. It again our attention the sentiments which were in the Introit. Read it with devotion, so as to of Prayer brings to expressed penetrate more and more the spirit of the Christmas Mystery. The song of praise, the Alleluia, is next heard. Let us, whilst it is being sung, unite with the holy Angels, who, at the Birth of the Divine Lamb, made our earth echo with their heavenly chants.® One of the princes of this heavenly host said, speakin; to the shepherds: Behold I evangelize to you (that is bring you good tidings of) a great joy ; for this day is born unto you a Saviour in Bethlehem, the City of David.* Afterwards came the Apostles, and they evangelized this same joy to the whole world; and the Book which con- tains the words which gave joy to mankind is called the ISt Matt i a3, 2 Heb.it, 2. * Should Septuiagesima occur before February 2nd, obsérve here that the Alleluia Verse is replaced by the Tract. (See next voL.) * St Luke ii 10, 11. 56 CHRISTMAS Gospel, Evangelium. A passage from this divine Book is now going to be read to the assembly of the faithful; we shall hear the very words of him who became Little Child in order to be thus able to speak to us. a If it be a High Mass, the Deacon prepares to fulfil his noble office, that of announcing the Good Tidings of salvation. He prays God to cleanse his heart and lips. Then, kneeling, he asks the Priest's blessing; and having received it, he at once goes to the place where he is to sing the Gospel. As a preparation for hearing it worthily, you may thus pray, together with the Priest and Deacon: Munda cor meum ac labia mea, omnipotens Deus, qui Jabia Isaiz Propheta calculo mundasti _ignito: ita me tua grata miseratione dignare mundare, ut sanctum Evangelium tuum digne valeam nuntiare. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen. Dominus sit in corde meo et in labiis meis: ut digne et competenter Evangelium suw mine Patris, et Fi ritus Saucti. annuntiem Alas| these ears of mine are but too often defiled with the world’s vain words; cleanse them, O Lord, that so I may hear the words of eternal life, and treasure them in my heart. Through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Grant to thy ministers thy grace, that they may faithfully explain thy law; that so all, both pastors and flock, may be united to thee for ever. Amen. You will stand during the Gospel, as though you were ‘waiting the orders of your Lord; and at the commence- ment, make the sign of the Cross on your forehead, lips and breast; and then listen to every word of the Priest or Deacon. Let your heart be ready and obedient. Whilst my beloved was speaking, says the Spouse in the Canticle, my soul melted within me If you have not such love as this, have at least the humble submission of Samuel, and say: Speak, Lord ! thy servant heareth * After the Gospel, if the Priest say the Symbol of Faith, the Credo, you will say it with him. = Faith is that gift of God without which we cannot please him. It is Faith that makes us see the Light which shineth in 3 Caut.v 6. * 1 Kings il 10. THE ORDINARY OF THE MASS 57 darkness, and which the darkness of unbelief did not It is Faith that shows us him we are to comprehend. love. It is Faith, too, that makes us become litle children again ; for such we must be, if we would have access to the Crib of him whom Clement of Alexandria so beautifully calls the King of Infants. Let us, then, say with the Catholic Church, our Mother: THE NICENE CREED' Credo Patrem torem in unum omnipotentem, ceeli et terre, Deum, fac- visibi- lium omnium et invisibilium. Et in unum Dominum Jesum Christum, Filium Dei unigenitum. Et ex Patre natum ante omnia szcula, Deum de Deco, lumen de lumine, Deum verum de Deo vero. Genitum non factum, consubstantialem Patri, per quem omnia facta sunt. Sui propter nos homines, et propter nostram salutem, descen- dit de ceelis. Et incarnatus I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in ome Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten” Son of God. And’ born of the Father before all ages; God of God, light of light; true God of true God. Begotten, not made; consubstantial with the Father, by whom all things were made. Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven. And became incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary ; AND WAS MADE MAN. He was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate, suffered and was buried. And the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures. And ascended into heaven, sitteth at the right hand of the Father. And he is to est de Spiritu Sancto ex Maria Virgine; ET HOMO FACTUS EST. Crucifixus etiam pro nobis sub Pontio Pilato, passus et sepultus est. Bt resurrexit tertia die secundum Scripturas. Et ascendit in celum; sedet ad dexteram Patris. Et iterum venturus est cum gloria judicare vivos et mortuos; cujus come again with glory to regni non erit finis. judge the living and the dead; of whose kingdom there shall be no end. Et in Spiritum Sanctum, And in the Holy Ghost, Dominum et _vivificantem, the Lord and giver of life, qui ex Patre Filioque proce- who proceedeth from _the it. Qui cum Patre et Filio Father and the Son. Who * The Credo is uot said on the Octave Days of St Stephen, St John, and Holy Tnnocents. CHRISTMAS 58 together with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified; who spoke by the ProFhets. And one holy Cathoic and Apostolic Church. I confgss one Baptism for the nem peccatorum. Et exspec remission of sins. And I to resurrectionem mortuoexpect the resurrection of the rum, et vitam venturi szculi. dead, and the life of the world Amen. to come. Amen. simul adoratur et conglorificatur; qui locutus est per Prophetas. Et unam sanctam Catholicam et Apostolicam Ecclesiam. Confiteor unum Baptisma in_remissio- The Priest and the people should, by this time, have their hearts ready: it is time to prepare the offering itself. And here we come to the second part of the Holy Mass, which is called the Oblation, and which immediately follows that which was called the Mass of Catechumens, on account of its being formerly the only part at which the candidates for Baptism had. a right to be present. See then, dear Christians ! bread and wine are about to be offered to God, as being the noblest of inanimate creatures, since they are made for the nourishment of man; and even that is only a poor material image of what they Sacrifice. are destined to become in our Christian Their substance will soon give place to God himself, and of themselves nothing will remain but the appearance. Happy creatures, thus to yield up their own being that God may take its place! We too are to undergo a like transformation, when, as the Apostle expresses it, that which to us is mortal shall put on im- mortality.' Until that happy change shall be realized, let us offer ourselves to God as often as we see the bread and wine presented to him in the Holy Sacrifice; and let us glorify him who, by assuming our human nature, has made us partakers of the divine nature.? The Priest again turns to the people with the usual salutation, as though he would warn them to redouble their attention. Let us read the Offertory with him, and when he offers the Host to God, let us unite with him in saying: 11 Cor. xv 53. 2aStretiy. THE ORDINARY OF THE MASS 59 Suscipe, sancte Pater, All that we have, O Lord, omnipotens zterne Deus, comes from thee, and_belongs to thee; it is just, therefore, hanc immaculatam hostiam, quam ego indignus famu- that we return it unto thee. lus tuus offero tibi Deo meo vivo et vero, pro innumerabilibus peccatis et offensionibus et negligentiis meis, et pro omnibus circumstantibus, sed et pro omnibus fidelibus christianis vivis atque defunctis; ut mihi et illis proficiat ad salutem in vitam @ternam. Amen. But, how wonderful art thou in the inventions of thy immense lovel This Bread which we are offering to thec is to give place in a few moments to the sacred Body of Jesus. We bescech thee, receive, together with this oblation, our hearts which long to live by thee, and to cease to live their own life of self. When the Priest puts the wine into the chalice, and then mingles with it a drop of water, let your thoughts turn to the divine mystery of the Incarnation, which is manifested to the world by the Birth of our Emmanuel, and say: Deus qui humanz substantiz dignitatem _mirabiliter condidisti, et mirabilius reformasti: da nobis per hujus aqua et vini mysterium, ejus divinitatis _esse consortes, qui _humanitatis nostre fieri dignatus est paticeps, Jesus Christus O Lord Jesus, who art the true Vine, ‘and whose Blood, like a generous wine, has been poured forth under the pressure of the Cross! thou ast deigned to unite thy divine nature_to our weak humanity, which is signified by this drop of water. O ilius tuus Dominus noster: come and make us partakers qui tecum vivit et regnat of thy divinity, by showiny in unitate Spiritus Sancti thyself to us in thy sweet an Deus, per omnia szcula wondrous visit. szculorum. Amen. The Priest then offers the mixture of wine and water, beseeching God graciously to accept this oblation, which is so soon to be changed into the reality of which it is now but a figure. Meanwhile, say in union with the Priest: Offerimus tibi, Domine, Graciously accept these calicem salutaris, tuam de- gifts, O sovereign Creator of precantes clementiam: ut in all things. Let them be fitted conspectu divine Majestatis for the divine transformation, 60 CHRISTMAS tue, pro nostra et totius mundi salute, cum odore suavitatis ascendat. Amen. which will make them, from being mere offerings of created things, the instrument of the world’s salvation. After having thus held up the sacred gifts towards heaven, the Priest bows down: let us also humble ourselves, and say: In spiritu humilitatis, et Though daring, as we do, to in animo contrito suscipia- approach thy altar, O Lord, mur a te, Domine: et sic fiat. we cannot forget that we are sacrificium nostrum in con- sinners. Have mercy on us, spectu tuo hodie, ut placeat and delay not to send us thy tibi, Domine Deus. Son, who is our saving Host. Let us next invoke the Holy Ghost, whose operation is about to produce on the altar the presence of the Son of God, as it did in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in the divine mystery of the Incarnation: Veni, Sanctificator, omCome, O Divine Spirit, nipotens mterne Deus, et make fruitful the offering benedic hoc sacrificium tuo which is upon the altar, and produce in our hearts him sancto nomini praeparatum. whom they dssire. If it be a High Mass, the Priest, before proceeding any further with the Sacrifice, takes the thurible a second time. He first incenses the bread and wine which have been just offered, and then the altar itself; hereby inviting the faithful to make their prayer, which is signified by the incense, more and more fervent, the nearer the solemn moment approaches. St John tells us that the incense which burns on the Altar in heaven is made of the Prayers of the Saints. During Christmastide, therefore, we may look on the fragrant cloud which covers our Altar here on earth as an emblem of the prayers said by the Shepherds round the Crib, and of the adorations paid by the Magi to the Infant-God. Let us imitate them; for this same Jesus is soon to be on our Altar. But the thought of his own unworthiness becomes more intense than ever in the heart of the Priest. The THE ORDINARY OF THE MASS 61 public confession which he made at the foot of the altar 1s not enough; he would now, at the altar itself, express to the people, in the language of a solemn rite, how far he knows himself to be from that spotless sanctity wherewith he should approach to God. He washes his hands. Our hands signify our works ; and the Priest, though by his priesthood he bear the office of Jesus Christ, is by his works but man. Seeing your Father thus humble himself, do you also make an act of humility, and say with him these verses of Lavabo inter manus meas: et PSALM 25 innocentes I, too, would wash my hands, O Lord, and become circumdabo altare tuum, Domine. Ut audiam vocem laudis: et enarrem universa mirabilia tua. Domine, dilexi decorem domus tu, et locum habi- tationis gloriz tuz. Ne perdas cum impiis, Deus, animam meam, et cum viris sanguinum: vitam meam. In quorum manibus iniquitates sunt: dextera eorum repleta est muneribus. go autem in innocentia mea ingressus sum: redime me, et miserere mei. Pes meus stetit in directo: in ecclesiis benedicam te, Domine. Gloria_Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto. Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in secula szculorum. Amen. like unto those who are in- nocent, that so I may be worthy to come near thy altar, and hear thy sacred Canticles, and then go and proclaim to the world the wonders of thy goodness. I love the beauty of thy House, which thou art about to make the dwellingplace of thy glory. Leave me not, O God, in the midst of them that are enemies both to thee and me. Thy mercy having separated me from them, I entered on the path of innocence, and was restored to thy grace; but have pity on my weakness still; redeern me yet more, thou who hast so mercifully brought me back to the right path. In the midst of these thy faithful people, 1 give thee thanks. Glory be to the Father, and to the Som, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world with. out end. Amen. The Priest, taking encouragement from the act of humility he has just made, returns to the middle of the 62 CHRISTMAS altar, and bows down full of respectful awe, begging of God to receive graciously the Sacrifice which is about to be offered to him, and expresses the intentions for which it is offered. Let us do the same. Suscipe, sancta Trinitas, hanc_oblationem, quam. tibi offerimus ob memoriam Passionis, Resurrectionis et Ascensionis Jesu Christi Domini nostri: et in honore beat Mariz semper Virginis, et beati Joannis Baptiste, et sanctorum Apostoloram Petri et Pauli, et istorum, et omnium Sanctorum: ut illis proficiat ad honorem, nobis - autem ad salutem: et illi pro nobis intercedere dignentur _ in ceelis, quorum memoriam agimus in terris. Per eumdem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen. O Holy Trinity, graciously accept the Sacrifice we have begun. We offer it in remembrance of the Passion, Resurrection, and Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ. _Permit thy Church to join with this intention that of honouring the ever glorious Virgin Mary, the Blessed Baptist john, the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, the Martyrs whose relics lie here under our altar awaiting their resurrection, and the Saints whose memory we this day celebrate. Increase the glory they are enjoying, and receive the prayers they address to thee for us. The Priest again turns to the people; it is for the last time before the sacred Mysteries are accomplished. He feels anxious to excite the fervour of the people. Neither does the thought of his own unworthiness leave him; and before entering the cloud with the Lord, he seeks support present. in the prayers of his brethren He says to them: Orate, fratres: ut meum ac vestrum sacrificium acceptabile fiat apud Deum Patrem omnipotentem. who are _Brethren, pray that my Sacrifice, which is yours also, may be acceptable to God, our Almighty Father. With this request he turns again to the altar, and you will see his face no more until our Lord himself shall have come down from heaven upon that same altar. Assure the Priest that he has your prayers, and say to him: Suscipiat Dominus sacri- _ May our Lord accept this ficium de manibus tuis, ad Sacrifice at thy hands, to the laudem et gloriam nominis praise and glory of his name, THE ORDINARY sui, ad utilitatem quoque nostram, totiusque Ecclesiz suz sancte. OF THE for our 63 MASS benefit his holy Church the world. and that of throughout Here the Priest recites the prayers called the Secrets, in which he presents the petition of the whole Church for God’s acceptance of the Sacrifice, and then immediately begins to fulfil that great duty of religion, Thanksgiving. So far he has adored God, and has sued for mercy; he has still to give thanks for the blessings bestowed on us by the bounty of our heavenly Father, and expressly for that chiefest of all his gifts, the Messias. We are on the point of receiving a new visit of this Son of God; the Priest, in the name of the Church, is about to give expression to the gratitude of all mankind. In order to excite the faithful to that intensity of gratitude which is due to God for all his gifts, he interrupts his own and saying: Per rum | their silent omnia szcula prayer by terminating s@culo- For ever and ever In the same feeling, answer your Amen/ continues: ¥. Dominus vobiscum. Ry. Et cum spiritu tuo. ¥. Sursum corda | R. Habemus num. it aloud, Then he ¥. The Lord be with you. Ry. And with thy spirit. ¥. Lift up your hearts ! Let your response be sincere: ad Domi- _ K. We have them fixed on God. And when he adds: ¥. Gratias agamus mino Deo nostro. Do- V. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God, Answer him with all the earnestness of your soul: R. Dignum et justum est. K. It is meet and just. CHRISTMAS Then the Priest: PREFACE:! Vere dignum et justum est, ®quum et salutare, nos tibi semper et ubique gratias agere: Domine sancte, Pater ~omnipotens, zterne Deus; quia _per incarnati Verbi mysterium, nova mentis nostre oculis lux tuz claritatis infulsit: ut dum visibiliter Deum_ cognoscimus, per hunc in invisibilium amorem rapiamur: et ideo cum Angelis et Archangelis, cum Thronis et Dominationibus, cumque omni militia ceelostis _exercitus, hymnum glorie tuz canimus, sine fine dicentes: It is truly meet and just, right and available to salvation, that we should always and in all places give thanks to thee, O holy Lord, Father Almighty, eternal God; for by the mystery of the Incarnate Word, a new ray of thy glory hus’ appeared to _the eyes of our soul: so that while we behold God visibly, we may be carried_ by him to the love of things invisible: and therefore with the Angels and Archangels, with the Thrones and Dominations, and with all the heavenly host, we sing a hymn to thy glory, saying uncéasingly: Here unite with the Priest, who on his part unites himself with the blessed Spirits, in giving thanks God for the unspeakable Gift: bow down and say: Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Dominus Deus sabaoth | Pleni sunt cceli et terra gloria tua. Hosanna in excelsis | to Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of hosts | Heaven and earth are full of thy glory. Hosanna in the highest | » This Preface is said on Christmas Day, and during its Octave ; on the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus : and on the Purification of the Blessed V irgin. The Prefaces for the Epiphany, of the Blessed Trinity, and of the Apostles, wilbe given in their proper placcs. The following is the Common Preface, which i said as often as there i not a proper oné assigned: PREFACK Vere dignum et justum est, 2quum It 5 truly macet and just, right and et salutare, nos tibi semper et ubique available to_ salvation, that’ we should gratias agere: Domine sancte, Pater always and in all places give thanks to ‘omnipotens, atene Deus, per Christum thee, O holy Lord, Father Almighty, Dominum rostrum; per quem majesta- eternal God: through Christ our Lord; by tem tuam laudant Angelf, adorant Do- whom the Angels praise thy majesty, the minationes, tremunt _ Potestates, Ceei, Dominations adore it, the Powers tremble caelorumque Virtutes, ac beata Sera: before it; the heavens and the heavenl phim, socia_exultatione_concelebrant, Virtues, and the blessed Seraphim, wi Cum quibus et nostras voces, ut admitti common jubilee glorify it. Together with jubeas deprecamur, supplici confessione ‘whom, we thee that we may be admitted to join our humble voices, dicentes: saying: THE ORDINARY OF THE MASS 65 Benedictus qui venit in Blessed be the Saviour nomine Domini. whom we were expecting, and who is comin, name of the him. Hosanna be Hosanna in excelsis | highest | to us in the ord to who him sends in the After these words commences the Canon, that mysterious prayer, in the midst of which heaven bows down to earth, and God descends unto us. The voice of the Priest is no longer heard; yea, even at silence. It was thus, says the Book of quiet of silence, and while the night was her course, that the Almighty Word came the altar all is Wisdom, in the in the midst of down from his royal throne.* Let us await him in a like silence, and respectfully fix our eyes on what the Priest does in the holy place. THE CANON OF THE MASS In this mysterious colloquy with the great God of heaven and earth, the first prayer of the sacrificing Priest is for the Catholic Church, his and our Mother. Te igitur, clementissime Pater, per Jesum Christum Filium tuum Dominum nostrum supplices rogamus ac petimus, uti accepta habeas et benedicas hac dona, hac munera, hac sancta_sacrificia illibata, in primis qua tibi offerimus pro Ecclesia tua sancta Catholica: quam pacificare, custodire, adunare et regere digneris toto orbe terrarum, una cum famulo tuo Papa nostro N. et Antistite nostro N., et omnibus_orthodoxis, atque catholic et apostolic® fidei cultoribus, O God, who manifestest thyself unto us by means of the mysteries which thou hast entrusted to thy holy Church, our Mother; we beseech thee, by the merits of this sacrifice; that thou wouldst remove all those hindrances which oppose her during her pilgrimage in this world. Give her peace and unity. Do thou thyself guide our Holy Father " the ope, thy Vicar on earth. Direct thou our Bishop, who is our sacred link of unity; and watch over all the orthodox children of the Catholic Apostolic Roman Church. * Wisd. xvili 14, 15. 66 CHRISTMAS Here pray, together with the Priest, for those whose interests should be dearest to you. Memento, Domine, famulorum _ famularumque tuarum N. et N., et omnium circumstantium, quorum tibi fides cognita est, et nota devotio: pro quibus tibi offerimus, vel qui tibi offerunt hoc sacrificium laudis, pro se, suisque omnibus, pro redemptione animarum suarum, pro spe salutis et incolumitatis ~ suz; tibique reddunt vota sua aterno Deo, vivo et vero. Permit me, O God, to intercede with thee in more earnest prayer for those for whom thou knowest that I have a special obligation to pray: * * + Apply to them the fruits of this divine Sacrifice, which is offered unto thee in the name of all mankind. Visit them by thy grace, pardon them their sins, grant them the blessings of this present life and of that which is eternal. Here let us commemorate the Saints: they are that portion of the Body of Jesus Christ which is called the Church Triumphant. Communicantes, et me- moriam venerantes, in_pri mis _glorios® semper Virgi- nis Mari®, Genitricis Dei et Domini nostri Jesu Christi: sed et beatorum Apostolorum ac_Martyrum tuorum, Petri et Pauli, Andrez, Jacobi, Joannis, Thome, jacobi, Philippi, Bartholomei, Mat- But the offering of this Sacrifice, O my God, does not unite us with those only of our brethren who are still in this transient life of trial: it brings us closer to those also, who are already in possession of heaven. Therefore it is that we wish to honour by it the memory of the glorious and Simonis et Thaddai: ever Virgin Mary, of whom , Cleti, Clementis, Xysti, Jesus is born to us; of the Cornelii, Cypriani, Lauren- Apostles, Confessors, Virgins, tii, Chrysogoni, Joannis et and of all the Saints; that so Pauli, Cosmz ef Damiani, they may assist us, by their et omnium sanctorum tuo- powerful intercession, to berum, quorum meritis preci- come worthy to see Jesus in busquec oncedas, ut in om- Bethlehem, and to contemnibus protectionis_tuz mu- plate thee, as they now do, in niamur _auxilio. Per eum- the mansion of thy glory. dem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen. The Priest, who, up to this time, had been praying extended, now joins them, and holds with his hands them over the bread and wine, as the High Priest of THE the Old Law ORDINARY did OF THE MASS over the figurative victim: 67 he thus expresses his intention of bringing these gifts more closely under the notice of the Divine Majesty, and of marking them as the material offering whereby we profess our dependence, and which is, in a few instants, to yield its place to the living Host, upon whom all our iniquities are to be laid. Hanc_ igitur oblationem servitutis nostrz, sed et cunctz familiz tuz, quesumus Domine, ut placatus accipias: diesque nostros in tua pace disponas, atque ab ®terna damnatione nos eripi, et in electorum tuorum jubeas grege numerari. Per ~ Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen. Quam oblationem tu Deus in “omnibus, quasumus, be- Vouchsafe, O God, to accept this offering which this thy assembled family presents to thee as the homage of its most happy servitude. In return, give us peace, save us from thy wrath and number us among thy elect, through him who is coming to us, thy Son our Saviour. Yea, Lord, this is the moment when this bread is to nedictam, adscriptam, ra- become his sacred Body, which tam, rationabilem, accepta- is our food; and this wine is bilemque _facere _digneris; to be changed into his Blood, ut nobis Corpus et Sanguis which is our drink. Ahl defiat _dilectissimi Filii tui lay no longer, but send to us Domini nostri Jesu Christi. this divine Son our Saviour | And here the Priest ceases to act as man; he now becomes more than a mere minister of the Church. His word becomes that of Jesus Christ, with all its power and efficacy. Prostrate yourself in profound adoration; for Emmanuel, God with us, is coming down from heaven. Qui pridie quam _pateretur, accepit panem in sanctas’ ac venerabiles manus suas: et elevatis oculis in ceelum, ad te Deum Patrem suum ' omnipotentem, _tibi ratias agens, benedixit, Tegit, deditque discipulis suis, dicens: manducate Hoc st MEUM. Accipite, ex hoc enm What, O God of heaven and earth, my Jesus, the long expected Messias, what else can I do at this solemn moment but adore thee in silence as my sovereign Master, and open my whole heart to thee, as to its dearest King! Come et then, Lord Jesus, come | omnes. CoRrPUS CHRISTMAS 68 The Divine Lamb, the Son of Mary, is now lying on Glory and love be to him for ever. But our Altar! When Isaias, he is come that he may be immolated. in prophetic vision, contemplated this Child that is born unto us, he saw that even then his government was Hence, upon his shoulder, and this was the Cross. the Priest, who is the minister of the will of the Most High, immediately sacred words which pronounces over the Chalice those will produce the great mystical immolation, by the separation of the Victim’s Body and Blood. The substances of bread and wine have ceased to exist: the species alone are left, veiling, as it were, the Body and Blood, lest fear should keep us from a mystery which God gives us in order to give us confidence. Let us associate ourselves to the Angels, who tremblingly look upon this deepest wonder. Simili modo postquam coenatum est, accipiens et hunc praclarum Calicem in sanctas ac venerabiles manus suas: item tibi gratias agens, benedixit, deditque discipulis_suis, dicens: Accipite et bibite ex eo omnes. 1c EsT ENIM CALIX SANGUINIS MEI, NOVI ET ZTERNI TESTAMENTI: MYSTERIUM FIDEI: QUI PRO VOBIS ET PRO MULTIS EFFUNDETUR IN REMISSIONEM PECCATORUM. Hzc quotiescumque feceritis, in mei memoriam facietis. O Precious Blood! thou price of my salvation! I adore thee! Wash away my sins, and make me whiter than snow. Lamb ever slain, yet ever living, thou comest to take away the sins of the world| Come also and reign in me by thy power and by thy love. The Priest is now face to face raises his hands towards heaven, Father that the oblation now on an earthly offering, but the Body Person, of his divine Son. Unde et memores, Do- mine, nos servi tui, sed et plebs tua sancta, ejusdem with God. and tells our the altar is and Blood, Father of He again heavenly no longer the whole infinite holiness, the Host so long expected here before thee| 1 Isa ix 6. Behold is this THE ORDINARY Christi Filii tui Domini nostri tam beatw Passionis, nec non et ab inferis Resurrectionis, sed et in calos gloriose Ascensionis: offerimus praclare majestati_tus de tois donis ac datis Hostiam puram, Hostiam sanctam, = Hostlam immaculatam! Panem sanctum vita @terne, et Calicem salutis perpetuz. Supra que propitio ac sereno vultu respicere digneris: et accepta habere, sicuti acccpta habere dignatus es munera pueri tui justi Abel, et sacrificium Patriarcha nostri Abrahm, et quod tibi obtulit summus Sacerdos tuus Melchisedech, sanctum _sacrificium, immaculatam hostiam. OF THE 69 MASS thy eternal Som, who suffered a bitter passion, rose again with glory from the grave, and ascended triumphantly into heaven. He is thy Son; but he is also our Host—Host pure and spotless —our Meat lasting life. and Drink of ever- Heretofore thou didst accept the sacrifice of the innocent lambs offered to thee by Abel; and the sacrifice which Abraham made thee of his son Isaac, who, though immolated, yet lived; and lastly, the Sacrifice, which Melchisedech presented to thee, of bread and wine. Receive our Sacrifice, which is above all those others. It is the Lamb, of whom all others could be but figures: it is the undying Victim: it is the Body of thy Son, who is the Bread of Life, and his Blood, which, whilst a Drink of immortality for us, is a tribute adequate to thy glory. The Priest bows down to the altar, and kisses it as the throne of love on which is seated the Saviour of men. Do you look at it with love, as the Crib, where- on is laid, veiled in the eucharistic elements, that Jesus who has said: I am the Bread of life. Supplices te rogamus, omnipotens Deus: jube hac perferri per manus sancti Angeli tul in sublime Altare tuum, in conspectu divinz Majestatis tuz: ut quotquot ex hac altaris participatione, sacrosanctum _Filii tui Corpus et Sanguinem sumpserimus, omni benedictione ccelesti et gratia repleamur. But, O God of infinite power, these sacred gifts are not only on this altar here below; they are also on that sublime Alfar in heaven, which is before the throne of thy divine Majesty. These two altars are but one and the same, on which is accomplished the great mystery of thy glory and our salvation. Vouchsafe to 70 CHRISTMAS Per eumdem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen. Nor is the moment make us partakers of the Body and Blood of the august Victim, from whom flow every grace and blessing. less favourable for making sup- plication for the Church Suffering. Let us, therefore, ask the divine Liberator, who has come down amongst us, that he mercifully visit, by a ray of his consoling light, the dark abode of Purgatory, and permit his Blood to flow, as a stream of mercy’s dew, from this our altar, and refresh the panting captlves there. us pray expressly for those amongst a claim on our suffrages. them who Let have Dear Jesus! let the happifamulorum famularumque ness of this thy visit extend to N., qui nos every portion of thy Church. et N. tuarum cum signo Thy face gladdens the elect in Emcessenm: dei, et dormiunt in somno the holy City; even our moret Domine, pacis. Ipsis, tal eyes can See_ beneath the quiesChristo in omnibus veil of our delighted faith: refrigerii locum centibus, , ah! hide not thyself from lucis et pacis, ut indulgeas, those brethren of ours, who are Per cumdem imprisoned in the place of exdeprecamur. nos- piation. Be thou refreshment Christum Dominum Amen. to them in their flames, light trum. in their darkness, and peace in their agonies of torment. Memento etiam, Domine, This duty of charity fulfilled, let us pray for ourselves, sinners, alas! who profit so little by the visit which our Saviour pays us. Let us, together with the Priest, strike our breast, saying: Nobis quoque peccatori bus famulis tuis, de multitudine miserationum tuarum sperantibus, partem aliquam_ et societatem donare digneris cum tuis sanctis Apostolis et Martyribus: cum ~ Joanme, Stephano, Mathia,” Barnaba, Ignatio, Alexandro, Marcellino, Petro, Felicitate, Perpetua, Agatha, Lucia, Agnete, Alas! we are poor sinners, 0 God of all sanctity ! yet do we hope that thy infinite mercy will grant us to share in thy kingdom, not, indeed, by reason of our works, which deserve little else than punishment, but because of the merits of this Sacrifice, which we are offering to thee. Remember, too, the merits of thy holy Apostles, of thy holy Cacilia, THE ORDINARY Anastasia, et omni- bus Sanctis tuis; intra quorum nos consortium, non @stimator meriti, sed veniz, quasumus, largitor Per Christum admitte. Dominum nos- trum. Per quem hzc omnia, Domine, semper bona creas, sanctificas, vivificas, bene- dicis, et prastas nobis: per ipsum, et cum ipso et in ipso, est tibi Deo Patri omnipotenti, in unitate Spiritus Sancti, omnis honor et gloria. 71 OF THE MASS Martyrs, of thy holy Virgins, and of all thy Saints. Grant us, by their intercession, grace in this world, and glory eternal in the next: which we ask of thee, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, thy Son. It is by him thou beéstowest upon us thy blessings of life and sanctification; and by him also, with him. and in him, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, may honour and glory be to thee ! Whilst saying these last few words, the Priest has taken up the sacred Host, which was on the altar; he has held it over the Chalice, thus re-uniting the Body and Blood of the divine Victim, in order to show that he is now immortal. Then raising up both Chalice and Host, he offers to God the most noble and perfect homage which the divine Majesty could receive. This solemn and mysterious rite ends The silence of the Mysteries is broken. the The Canon. Priest concludes his long prayers by saying aloud, and so giving the faithful the opportunity of expressing their desue that his supplications be granted: Per omnia secula szculorum. For ever and ever. Answer him with faith, and in a sentiment of union with your holy Mother the Church: Amen. Amen! I believe the mystery which has just been accomplished. 1 unite myself to the offering which has been made, and to the petitions of the Church. It is time to recite the prayer which our Saviour himself has taught us. Let it ascend up to heaven together with the sacrifice of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. How could it be otherwise than heard, CHRISTMAS 72 when he himself who made it for us is in our very hands now whilst we say it ? As this prayer belongs in common to all God’s children, the Priest recites it aloud, and begins by inviting us all to join in it. OREMUS LET US PRAY Praeceptis salutaribus moHaving been taught by a niti, et divina institutione saving precept, and following formati, audemus dicere: the form given us by a divine instruction, we thus presume to speak: THE LORD’S PRAYER Pater noster, qui es in Our Father, who art in heacoelis: Sanctificetur nomen ven, hallowed be thy, name; tuum: Adveniat regnum thy kingdom come; thy will tuum: Fiat voluntas tua, be done on earth as it is in sicut in coelo, et in terra. heaven. Give us this day our Panem nostrum _ quotidia- daily Dread,; and forgive us num da nobis hodie: Et our trespasses, as we forgive dimitte nobis debita nostra, them that trespass against us; sicut_et nos dimittimus deand lead us not into temptabitoribus nostris. Et ne nos inducas in tentationem. tion. Let us answer with deep feeling of our misery: But deliver us from evil. Sed libera nos a malo. The Priest falls once more into the silence of the holy Mysteries. His first word is an affectionate Amen to your last petition—deliver us from evil—on which he forms his own next prayer: and could he pray for anything more needed ? Ewvil surrounds us everywhere, and the Lamb on our altar has been sent to expiate it and deliver us from it. Libera nos, quzsumus Domine, ab omnibus malis, raeteritis, prasentibus et uturis: et intercedente beata et gloriosa semper Virgine Dei Genitrice Maria, cum beatis Apostolis tuis Petro et Paulo, atque Andrea, et omnibus Sanctis, da How many, O Lord, are the evils which™ beset usl Evils ast, which are the wounds eft 'on the soul by our sins, and strengthen her wicked propensities. Evils present, that is, the sins now at this very time upon our soul; the weakness of this poor soul; THE ORDINARY OF THE MASS 73 and the temptations which molest her. There are also tuz adjuti, et a peccato simus Juture evils, that is, the chassemper liberi, et ab omni tisement which our sins deserve from the hand of thy Per securi. perturbatione eumdem ~ Dominum nos- justice. In presence of this trum Jesum Christum Fi Host of our Salvation, we belium taum, qui tecum vivit seech thee, O Lord, to deliver et regnat in unitate Spiritus us from all these evils, and to accept in our favour the interSancti Deus. cession of Mary the Mother of Jesus, of thy holy Apostles propitius pacem in diebus nostris: ut ope misericordiz Peter and Paul and Andrew. Liberate us, break our chains, give us peace: through Jesus Christ, thy Son, who with' thee liveth and reigneth God. The Priest is anxious to announce the Peace which he has asked and obtained; he therefore finishes his prayer aloud, saying: Per omnia secula szculorum. K. Amen. World without end. K. Amen. Then he says: Domini vobiscum. sit semper May the Peace of our Lord be ever with you. To this paternal wish reply: ®. Et cum spiritu tuo, K. And with thy spirit. The Mystery is drawing to a close: God is about to be united with man, and man with God, by means of Communion. But first, an imposing and sublime rite takes place at the altar. So far the Priest has announced the Death of Jesus; it is time to proclaim his Resurrec- tion. To this end, he reverently breaks the sacred Host, and having divided it into three parts, he puts one into the Chalice, thus reuniting the Body and Blood of the immortal Victim. Do you adore, and say: Hzc commixtio et conseGlory be to thee, O Saviour cratio Corporis et Sanguinis of the world, who didst, in thy Domini nostri Jesu Christi, Passion, permit thy precious 7 CHRISTMAS fiat accipientibus nobis in vitam @ternam. Amen. Offer whom now your prayer Blood to be separated from thy sacred Body, afterwards uniting_them again together by thy divine power. to the ever-living St John saw on the Altar of Heaven standing as though slain : say to this your Lord and King: Agnus Dei, qui tollis pecLamb of God, cata mundi, miserere nobis. away the sins of have mercy on us. Agnus Dei, qui tollis pecLamb of God, cata’ mundi, misererc nobis. away the sins of have mercy on us. Agnus Dei, qui tollis pecLamb of God, cata mundi, dona nobis pa- away the sins of cem. give us Peace. Peace Lamb, is the grand who the who the who the object of our Saviour’s takest world, takest world, takest world, coming into the world: he is the Prince of Peace. The divine Sacrament of the Eucharist ought therefore to be the Mystery of Peace, and the bond of Catholic Unity; for, as the Apostle says, all we who partake of one Bread, are all one Bread and one Body.* 1t is on this account that the Priest, now that he is on the point of receiving, in Communion, the Sacred Host, prays that fraternal Peace may be preserved in the Church, and more especially in this portion of it which is assembled round the altar. Pray with him and for the same blessing : Domine Jesu Christe, qui dixisti Apostolis tuis: Pacem relinquo vobis, pacem meam do vobis: ne respicias peccata mea, sed fidem Ecclesi® tuz: eamque secundum voluntatem tuam pacificare et coadunare digneris. Qui vivis et regnas Deus, per omnia szcula seculorum. Amen. Lord Jesus Christ, who saidst to thy Apostles, ' my peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you”: regard not my sins, but the faith of thy Church, and grant her that peace and unity which is according to thy wil. Who livest and reignest God for everandever. Amen. If it be a High Mass, the Priest here gives the kiss of peace to the Deacon, who gives it to the Sub-Deacon, 1 Conx17 THE and he to the excite within pardon your to pray with ORDINARY OF THE MASS 75 Choir. During this ceremony, you should yourself feelings of Christian charity, and enemies, if you have any. Then continue the Priest: Domine Jesu Christe, Fili Dei vivi, qui ex voluntate Patris, cooperante Spiritu Sancto, per mortem tuam mundum ~ vivificasti: libera me per hoc sacrosanctum Corpus et Sanguinem tuum, ab omnibus _iniquitatibus meis, et universis malis, et fac me tuis semper inhzrere mandatis, et a te nunquam separari permittas. Qui cum eodem Deo Patre et Spiritu Sancto vivis et regnas Deus in szcula szculorum. Amen. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, who, according to the will of thy Father, through the co-operation of the Holy Ghost, hast by th death given Iife to the world, deliver me by this thy most sacred Body and Blood from all my iniquities, and from all evils; and make me always adhere to thy commandments, and never suffer me to be separated from thee, who with the same God the Father and the Holy Ghost, livest and reignest God for ever and ever. Amen. If you are going to Communion at this Mass, say the following Prayer; otherwise, prepare yourself to make a Spiritual Communion: Perceptio Corporis tui, DomineJesu Christe, quod ego indignus sumere prasumo, non mihi proveniat in judicium et condemnationem: sed pro tua pietate prosit mihi ad tutamentum mentis et corporis, et ad medelam percipiendam. Qui vivis et regnas cum Deo Patre in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia s@cula szculorum. Amen. Let not the participation of thy Body, O Lord Jesus Christ, which I, though unworthy, presume to receive, turn fo my judgement and condemnation; but through thy mercy may it be a safeguard and remedy both to my soul and_body. Who with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, livest and reignest God for ever and ever. Amen. When the Priest takes the Host into his hands, in order to his receiving it in Communion, say: Panem caelestem accipiam, et nomen Domini invocabo. Come, my dear Jesus, come | When he strikes his breast, confessing his unworthiness, say thrice with him these words, and in the same 76 CHRISTMAS disposition used them: as the Centurion of the Gospel, who first Lord, I am not worthy thou shouldst enter under my roof; say it only with one word of thine, and my soul will be Domine, non sum dignus ut intres sub tectum meum: sed tantum dic verbo, et sa- nabitur anima mea. healed. ‘Whilst the Priest receives the sacred Host, if you also are to communicate, adore profoundly your God, who is ready to take up his abode within you, and again say to him with the spouse: Come, Lord Jesus, come! But should you not be going to receive sacramentally, make a Spiritual Communion. Adore Jesus Christ who thus visits your soul by his grace, and say to him: Corpus Domini_ nostri I give thee, O Jesus, this Jesu Christi custodiat ani- heart of mine, that thou mayMmam meam in vitam mter- est dwell in it, and do with nam. Amen. ‘me what thou wilt. Then the and says: Priest takes Quid retribuam Domino pro_omnibus, qua retribuit mihi? Calicem salutaris accipiam, et nomen Domini invocabo. Laudans invocabo Dominum, et ab inimicis meis salvus ero. But if you are to make the Chalice, in thanksgiving, What return shall I make to the Lord given to me? for all I will he hath take the Chalice of salvation, and will call opon the name of the Lord. Praising 1 will call upon the Lord, and I shall be saved from mine enemies. a Sacramental Communion, you should, at this moment of the Priest’s receiving the precious Blood, again adore the God who is coming to you, and keep to your canticle: Come, Lord Jesus, come / If, on the contrary, you are going to communicate only spiritually, again adore your divine Master, and say to him: Sanguis Domini nostri I unite myself to thee, my Jesu Christi custodiat ani- beloved Jesus! do thou unite mam meam in vitam mter- thyself to mel and never let nam. Amen. us be separated. THE ORDINARY OF THE MASS 77 It is here that you must approach to the altar, if you The dispositions suitable for are going to Communion. Holy Communion during this season of Christmas are given in the next Chapter, p. 80. The Communion being finished, whilst the Priest is purifying the Chalice the first time, say: Quod ore sumpsimus, Domine, pura mente capiamus: et de munere temporali fiat sempiternobis remedium num. Thou hast visited me, God, in these days of my grimage; give me grace treasure up the fruits of visit for my future eternity. O pilto this Whilst the Priest is purifying the Chalice the second time, say: Corpus tuum, Domine, quod sumpsi, et Sanguis quem potavi, adhzreat visceribus meis: et prasta ut in me non remaneat scelerum macula, quem pura et sancta refecerunt ~ Sacramenta. Qui vivis et regnas in szcula szculorum, Amen. Be_thou for ever blessed, O my Saviour, for having admitted me to the sacred mystery of thy Body and Blood. May my heart and senses preserve, by thy grace, the purity which thou hast imparted to them: and I be thus rendered less unworthy of thy divine visit. The Priest having read the Antiphon called the Communion, which is the first part of his Thanksgiving for the favour just received from God, whereby he has renewed his divine presence amoag us, turns to the people with the usual salutation; after which he recites the Prayers called the Postcommunion, which are the com- pletion of the Th: iving. You will join him here also, thanking God for the unspeakable gift he has just lavished on you, and asking him, with most earnest entreaty, that he will it you to continue for ever in the company of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. These Prayers having been recited, the Priest again turns to the ple, and full of joy for the immense favour he and they have been receiving, he says: Dominus vobiscum. The Lord be with you, CHRISTMAS 78 Et cum spiritu tuo. Ite, Missa est. Ry.' Deo gratias. Answer him: And with thy spirit. Go, the Mass is finished. K. Thanks be to God. The Priest makes a last Prayer, before giving you his blessing: pray with him: Placeat tibi, sancta Triniservitutis tas, obsequium mee, quod oculis tuz majestatis indignus obtuli, tibi sit acceptabile, mihique, et omnibus, pro quibus illud obtuli, sit, te miserante, propitiabile. ' Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen. Eternal thanks be to thee, O adorable Trinity, for the mercy thou hast showed to me in_permitting me to assist at this divine Sacrifice. Pardon me the negligence and coldness wherewith I have received so great a favour, and deign to confirm the blessing which thy Minister is about to give me in thy Name. The Priest raises his hand, and thus blesses you: May the Almighty God, Benedicat vos omnipotens Deus, Pater, et Filius, et Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Spiritus Sanctus. bless you ! K. Amen. Ry. Amen. He then fourteen which concludes the Mass, by reading the first verses of the Gospel according to St John, tell us of the eternity of the Word, and of the mercy which led him to take upon himself our flesh, and to dwell among us. Pray that you may be of the number of those who, now that he has come own, receive him, and are made the sons of God. ¥. Dominus vobiscum. R. Et cum spiritu tuo. Initium sancti Evangelii secundum Joannem. Cap. I In principio erat Verbum, et Verbum erat apud Deum, et Deus erat Verbum. Hoc erat in_ principio _apud Deum. Omnia per ipsum unfo his ¥. The Lord be with you. Ry. And with thy spirit. The beginning of the Holy Gospel according to John. Ch. 1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things THE ORDINARY OF THE MASS 79 facta sunt; et sine ipso fac- were made by him, and withtum est nihil quod factum out him was made nothing est. In ipso vita erat, et vita that was made. In him was erat lux hominum: et lux in life, and the life was the light tenebris lucet, et tenebra of men; and the light shineth eam non comprehenderunt. in the darkness, and the darkFuit homo missus a Deo, cui ness did not comprehend it. nomen erat Joannes. Hic There was a man sent from venit in testimonium, ut tes- God, whose name was John. timonium perhiberet de lu- This, man came for a witness, mine, ut omnes crederent to give testimony of the light, might believe per illum. Non erat ille that all men lux, sed ut testimonium per- through him. He was not the hiberet de lumine. Erat lux light, but was to give testivera, quz illuminat omnem mony of the light. That was hominem venientem in hunc the -true light which enlightmundum. In mundo erat, et eneth every man that cometh mundus per ipsum factus into this world. He was in est, et mundus eum non cog- the world, and the world was novit. In propria venit, et sui made by him, and the world eum non receperunt. Quot- knew him not. He came unto quot autem receperunt eum, his own, and his own received dedit eis potestatem filios him not. But as many as Dei fieri, his, qui credunt in veceived him, to them he gave nomine ejus: qui non ex san- power to be made the sons of guinibus, neque ex volun- God; to them that believe in tate carnis, neque ex volun- his name, who are born, not of tate viri, sed ex Deo nati blood, nor of the will of the sunt. ET VERBUM CARO flesh, nor of the will of man, FACTUM EST, et habitavit but of God. AND THE in nobis: et vidimus gloriam WORD WAS MADE FLESH, and ejus, gloriam quasi Unigeniti dwelt among us; and we saw a Patre, plenum gratiz et his glory, as it were the glory wveritatis. of the only-begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. Ry. Deo gratias. Ry. Thanks be to God. 8o CHRISTMAS CHAPTER ON HOLY URING COMMUNION Advent, THE SIXTH DURING Holy Communion CHRISTMAS prepared the soul for the visible Coming of her heavenly Spouse. He graciously granted her that sublime favour, as a foretaste of that happy Night in which he would show himself to her as the Divine loveliness would ravish Angels, Babe, whose ineffable Shepherds, and Kings. She enjoyed something of that exquisite delight which Mary felt, when she had within her chaste womb the God who was her Child, though as yet concealed from her sight. But now that Christmas is come; now that a little Child is born unto wus, cradled in the House of Bread, which is Bethlehem; now that the Angels have invited the Shepherds, and the Star the Magi, to come and see Him and adore Him; the Holy Communion must take us on further in the knowledge of our Incarnate Word, sllumine us with brighter Light, and produce within us a more ardent longing to possess this Jesus, whose love and loveliness gleam so magnificently through the humility of these swathing-bands and manger. It is no longer the invisible Jesus, prepanng, by silence and stillness, for the laborious mission of his conquest of souls: it is the Deliverer of mankind who has begun Zo run the way ;* it is the Sun of Justice darting his first rays on our earth; it is our God, asking us to give him, a weak Babe, room in our hearts; it is our Creator, who loveth souls,® striving to win our love. Then let us go to him, that we may know him; let us know him, that we may love him; let us love him, that we may grow like him. . What he demands of us by this Christmas mystery is that we become, like him, little * Ps. xviii 6. * Wisd. xi 27. BEFORE COMMUNION 81 children, for there is now no other means of our possessing him, no other way of going to the Father. Therefore come to him, ye faithful ones, and be enlightened ' We have ventured to draw up these Acts, thinking that they might assist you in your preparation for the visit you are going to make to the Babe of Bethlehem. May you derive profit from them, and pray for him who gives you them. BEFORE COMMUNION ACT OF FAITH Thou art about to descend into my breast, O eternal God | and yet there is nothing to betoken the approach of thy sovereign Majesty | As on the sacred night of thy birth, thy entrance into Bethlehem was in humility and in silence; so also now, there is nothing to tell men that thou art about to visit me. A Little Child, veiled under the appearance of an humble host, is coming to me, and in a few moments I shall hold within me him who created all things, the Judge of the living and the dead ! Oh | how T love to bow down my reason before this wonderful Mystery | How I love, too, to contemplate these incomprehensible abasements of my God, to which he has humbled himself in order that he might exalt me! No, Reason could never have taught me all this! How could Reason tell me what the infinite love of God for his creatures can do, when she cannot even make me see my own nothingness and sinfulness, into which, thou, dear Jesus, art now coming ? O Infant God' T belicve in thy love, and thy love is omnipotent. I come to thee with a simple Faith, as the Shepherds went to Bethlehem when the Angel spoke these words to them: There is born unfo you in the Cily of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord : and this shall be a sign unto you : you shall find the Infant wrapped in swaddling-clothes, and laid in a crib * they went without delay, and found thee, and believed. I would do in like manner, O my Saviour | The sacramental veils which cover thee are to me what thy infancy, thy swathing-bands, thy crib were to them: and I believe thee to be here really present. . Accept this homage of my firm Faith, and receive me as one of those humble Shepherds, whose simple-heartedness merited for them the first place at the feast of Bethlehem. ACT OF HUMILITY But, sweet Saviour! these Shepherds of Bethlehem had another offering besides the simplicity of their Faith, which ‘made them pleasing to thee: it was the humility of their hearts. * Ps. xxxiii 6. * St Luke ii 11, 12, 6 82 CHRISTMAS Thou lovest the humble, O my God ! and therefore thou didst prefer these humble men to all the rest of mankind, giving them the grand honour of being the first Worshippers at thy Crib. The humility of Mary drew thee from heaven into her chaste womb; and the humility of these fortunate herdsmen made thee call them to be the first to form, with Mary, Joseph and the Angels, thy court in this humble Stable, which thy adorable presence has converted into a very paradise, In this thou givest an important lesson to me, who am to be favoured as they were, nay, who am about to receive thee within myself. Spare me not, my beloved Jesus; bring down the haughtiness of my spirit; destroy the conceited ambitions of my heart; cast me down at the foot of thy Crib, and suffer me not to rise again until 1 have become one of those litlle Children whom thou so lovest, that thou thyself wouldst be one; so the better to come down even so low as to me. It is as a weak Babe that thou comest to me, O infinite God | What can I do, but be confounded, and sink into my deep nothingness, I who have never known the humility and simplicity of a child! In thy divine humility fhou wauldst nof be orn in any other place than a Stable and a Crib; my heart, then, will satisfy thee, dear Jesus | and Bethlehem ifself, compared with me, had not a poverty so worthy of that Majesty which loves to descend to what is lowest, and of that Light which glories in shining where the darkness is thickest. ACT OF CONTRITION And yet, O God of holiness ! the Stable and the Crib, though most unworthy of thy Majesty, had nothing in them which could give thee displeasure. No place, no object in thy whole creation, could be worthy to serve thee as throne or palace; but since thou wouldst have a birth-place on this earth, the happy spot on which thy choice would fall would become, however contemptible in itself, a sanctuary worthy of thee, because thy greatness and divinity would consecrate and enrich it. There is but one place unworthy of thee, which thou couldst never choose: the heart of a sinner. Oh ! that is the Stable, that is the Crib which would indeed dishonour thee. Ah | my dear Jesus ! there are certain consequences, there are certain wounds scarce yet closed, left in me by. past sins, which force me to remember that I was once a dwelling wherein thou couldst not enter, until thy merciful grace had removed from me the abominations of my sins. Miserable state | how I now grieve over it and detest it ! Now that I see thee become, for my sake, the humble and lovely babe of Bethlehem, how hateful those sins of mine, which needed such a remedy | and how mmense that love of thine, which could deign to give it mel There surely can be no more sin, dearest Lord | Give me thy grace to destroy it within me, and root it up to its last BEFORE COMMUNION 83 fibre. I do not forget those words of thine: Blessed are the clean of heart, for they shall see God ;1 this is the moment for me to come near thy Crib, and do far more than see thee; cleanse, then, my heart, and let neither sin nor attachment to sin ever enter there again. ACT OF LOVE Such is the Py of my contrite heart: wilt thou, my Infant forgotten my sins. A contrite heart which sues for mercy is God, reject it? The Church, my mother, has led me to Bethlehem’; there I see thee in thy Crib leaning forward towards me, and looking on me with sweetness, and bidding me rejoice, for that thou hast pardoned me, O God of infinite mercy | and not all thou askest of me, nor all that I wish to offer thee: accept, then, my love. Is not this mystery of thy divine Childho d a mystery of Love ? Thou comest to me because thou lovest me; but thou comest to me as a little Infant, because thou wishest me to love thee in return, and have confidence in thee. I do indeed desire to love thee, sweet Saviour | but where shall I find a love worthy of being a return for thine, which is so generous, so immense, and what I can least understand, so tender ? for it is the love of an Infant God, who treats me, a sinner, as a much-loved Brother. Yet I must say it, my sweetest Jesus ! for thy Crib and thy Swathing-bands, the magnificent trophies of thy unmatched love, encourage me to say it: I love thee ! 1 come to thee that I may love thee better. I no longer wish to flee from thee: thou desirest to be united to me by love, nor will I cease to sigh after thee, until I have received thee into my heart, and am made one with hee, according to thy word: He that cateth my Flesh abideth in me, and I in him2 O my Jesus | inflame my heart and make it like that of the Shepherds, when they came near to the Stable where thou wast born; like that of the Magi, when the Star stood over Bethlehem, the House of Bread, and showed them that their journeying was at an cnd; like that of the venerable Simeon, when he saw the Christ of the Lord in Mary’s arms, and all the promises fulfilled which he had received from the Holy Ghost. I offer thee the love of these and all thy Saints, of thy Holy Angels, and of thy Blessed Mother herself: let it supply the poverty of my own Jove, and deign, 1 besecch thee, to enrich me, by this thy visit, with the gold of divine charity. ACT OF DESIRE 1 love thee, O Divine Babe ! therefore do I desire thee, and Deseech thee to come to me. I must needs desire thee, for thou art, as thy Scripture tells me, The Desire of the everlasting 1St Matt. v 8. * St John visy. CHRISTMAS 84 hillsd And art thou not Light and Life? Oh! come then, Divine Sun of Justice, enlighten my darkness, and give life to my soul, which faints without thee. The nations of the earth awaited thee as their Deliverer. The Church, thy Spouse, languished with longings for thy visit. Abraham and all the Patriarchs desired to see thy day. Joseph, the Spouse of Mary, is filled with joy at the approach of that blissful hour when his eyes shall see the Son of the Eternal God. The Shepherds are impatient to behold thee: lef us go over fo Bethlchem, they say, and let us. see this Word which s come lo pass, which the Lord hath showed to ws. The Magi no _sooner see the Star, than they set out to seek thee, the Star of Jacob? The aged Simeon is filled with the Holy Ghost, and hastens to the Temple to sec the Saviowr whom the Lord hath prepared. Anna, the Prophetess, is impelled by a holy enthusiasm, though weighed down with years, to come and see him who is the Consolation of Isracl. All creation is excited: the very Angels leave heaven to come to see thee in thy Crib and thy Swaddling-clothes, and seeing thee to adore. Shall I alone be indifferent? Let it not be, my dearest Lord ! but rather let my heart long for thee, if not with a like ardour, at least with all its affection. I beseech thee therefore, come into my soul | T offer thee all the prayers and inflamed desires of all thy Saints; * and with theirs my own, poor and weak as they are. Yea, come to me; enter into my house; let my heart meet thee; nay, let it be united with thee. O Mary ! Virgin-Mother of the Messias! help me by thy prayers fo love him as thou didst, that is, with my whole strength: and lead me to Bethlehem, of which thou art Queen. Ye holy Angels! suffer me to stand, in your glorious choir near the Crib of our God; fit me by your heavenly influence to share in your adorations, and undér the shadow of your sacred wings to hide the tatters of my spiritual poverty. All ye Saints of God ! by the delights ye found in the mystery of Bethlehem, help me and be near me, now that the great God, who filled you with light and love, is about to come into the poor dark dwelling of my heart | Amen. In order to make your Preparation complete, follow, with a lively faith and attention, all the mysteries of the Mass at which you are to receive Communion; using for this purpose the method we have given in the preceding chapter. For your Thanksgiving after Communion, you may sometimes recite the following Acts : 1 Gen. xlix 26. * Num. xxiv 17. ! | » AFTER AFTER COMMUNION 85 COMMUNION ACT OF ADORATION Thou hast, then, come down even unto me, O my Sovereign Lord ! and art reposing in my heart, as in a Crib, which thou hast vouchsafed to choose for thyself, O Infant God | My heart is now become like a new Bethlehem, O Bread of Angels! I most devoutly adore thee, thee the great God: thus bumbling thyself to such an abyss of lowliness. To the hymn of the Angels, Glory be to God in the highest, I must needs add, Glory be to thée, my God, in this depth of my misery and weak: ness, whither thou hast so mercifully come! Oh! who will teach me, my sweetest Infant Guest | who will teach me how to give thee a worthy welcome of homage ? Mary, thy most pure and Blessed Mother, having given thee birth, and placed thee in the Crib, prostrated herself before thee as thy humble handmaid, and adored thee. Never had this guilty earth witnessed a homage so sublime as this: and thou didst deign to accept it, as the noblest thou hadst ever received. Permit me to imitate this thy beloved Mother, and adore thee as she did, O thou my Sovereign Lord | I humbly beseech thee to accept her homage to supply for the unworthiness of mine; for she is my Mother, and thou hast willed that all her riches and merits should belong to her children. I offer thee, likewise, the adorations of that Just Man, the chaste Spouse of Mary, the admirable Joseph, Who had been admitted into the divine secret of Nazareth, and is now made a witness of the touching mystery of Bethlehem. Oh! that I might share in the devoted respect and love of this glorious Saint, s6 grand because so simple, and so favoured above all mortals in that he was chosen to protect thy Infancy | I also adore thee in company with the Angels, the Shepherds and the Magi; with Simeon and Anna, and all the Church of heaven and earth, which contemplates in glad amazement the sublime miracle of this abasement of thy divine Majesty. ACT OF THANKSGIVING But it is not enough, O Divine Babe ! that I adore thee; I must thank thee. What an honour is this thon has conferred upon me! What happiness this thou hast brought me! I, a sinner, am become by thy sweet condescension a living Bethlehem, possessing in itself Thee, the Bread of Life. Thy sovereign Majesty has come down even to me, and has chosen my heart for thy throne, or rather for thy Crib. The holy Angels adore thee and praise thee; but thou art granting to me an intimacy which these Blessed Spirits have not—thou art reposing on my heart. The Shepherds are admitted into the 86 CHRISTMAS Stable to look at thee; they gaze upon thee with simple and loving admiration; but thou dost not permit them to caress thee. The Magi offer thee their royal gifts; but, as the prophecy said of them,! they kiss but the ground whereon thy Crib 1s placed. Happy, then, the aged Simeon, who is permitted to take thee into his arms; but oh ! how happier 1! who have received into myself, and now hold within me, thee, my Jesus, the Bread of Life ! Blessed be thou for ever, O my God ! for that thou hast treated with such incomprehensible familiarity this the poorest of all thy servants | I thank thee, and glorify thee, as did the Shepherds, who went so eagerly to Bethlehem, and returned glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen ; and with such glowing words did they praise thee, that all that heard, wondered af those things that were lold them by the Shepherds? So too will 1 open my lips, and borrowing the words of a Son of Bethlehem, David thy ancestor, 1 will say: All ye that fear God, come and hear, and I will tell you what great things he hath done to my soul ACT OF LOVE Yea, in very truth thou hast loved me, O my divine Guest | for thou hast laden me with the gifts of thy love. How shall I not return thee love for love, and love thee with all this heart of mine, wherein thou dwellest ? Be thou loved, then, my infinitely lovable Jesus of Bethlehem | It was to win our love that thou didst lay aside all thy greatness, and, as thy Apostle expresses it,¢ emply thyself of all thy majesty, assuming the form of a servant, nay, of a weak Babe. Verily, to approach thee now with fear and trembling seems out of season, and such loveliness as this should not be approached, but with confident tenderest love. O thou that art to be my dread Judge ! thou art now here, resting on my heart; thou art, thou wishest to be, in my power; and according to thine own saying, thou art mine, and 1 am thine. Jesus! most lovable Jesus ! remain with ‘me for ever. Here take up thy abode; here grow before God and men; here reign as my Lord and King and God. To supply for the deficiency of my own love, I offer thee the love wheréwith Mary, thy most holy Mother, pressed thee to her sacred Heart, during these the first days of thy life on earth; the love wherewith Joseph, the chaste Spouse of Mary, and thy foster-father, so diligently procured thee all thou didst need; the love wherewith the Shepherds of Bethlehem gazed on thee, the Saviour that was born for them, and knew thee by fhis sign, that thou wast an Infani—lying—swathed—in a manger ;5 the love wherewith the adoring Magi opened their treasures before thee, and forgot all the fatigues of a long journey, entranced 1« Ps. Phil. i1 I7.x i. * St Luke ii 16, 18, 20, * Ps. xv 16, 4 St Luke ii 11, 12. AFTER COMMUNION 87 with the sight of thee; the love wherewith the venerable Simeon took thee up in his arms, and felt that he must needs die, now that he had seen fesus ; the love, in fine, of the Holy Angels, who, as thy Apostle tells us,! adored thee when born in Bethle: hem, and found their heaven in looking on that immortal beauty, made visible, in thy Infant Face, even to the eyes of sinful men. Accept, O my divine Treasure ! my sweetest Jesus, accept my. love, as thou didst all these, and abide in me for ever. ACT OF OBLATION But it is not enough that I love thee, O Divine Infant: thou commandest me to give myself to thee. I was far off, and yet thou camest to me, that thou mightest make me thine own possession; and that 1 might never more leave thee, thou hast taken up thy dwelling within my heart, making it thy Berhichem, O Bread of Life! Thou wishest that I should become a little child, after thine example; that I should leave, here at thy Crib, all my pride and disobedience; that my worldly wisdom should yield, at the sight of thy Crib, to the spirit of Faith; that the false light which has hitherto been my guide, should be dispelled by the brightness which comes from the mystery of thy Divine Body swathed in the bands of infancy. O Jesus ! thou King of Infants, as one of the Fathers has called thee, I give myself to thee, that thou mayest teach me to become a little child. Accept the promise I make thee, of perfect docility to all thy teachings; grant that it may be constant and always prompted by love. I detest everything in my past life which has been, either in thought or affection, contrary to thy spirit. Hence: forth I will be all thine, for thou hast drawn me, by these sacred Mysteries, into holy nearness to thyself. I will imitate the Magi, who, having adored thee, went back another way into their country. May this holy infancy which I have begun after thine example be to me the beginning of a new life, with nothing of my old one in it. Simeon having received thee into his arms, wished to live no more for this earth; and shall I be satisfied with it, I who possess thee here within me? No—henceforth, my life is to be the service of thee, that so I may deserve to be united with thee for ever in heaven. Mary, Mother of my Jesus! pray for me, that this gracious visit of thy divine Son may produce in me abundant fruits of virtue. Ye Holy Angels of God | who adore him now dwelling within me, be solicitous for the holiness and purity of my soul and body. Al ye saints of God | pray for me, that I may ever be faithful to him whom ye loved on earth, and now love eternally in heaven. Amen. 1 Heb. i 6. 88 CHRISTMAS CHAPTER ON THE SEVENTH THE OFFICE OF VESPERS FOR SUNDAYS AND FEASTS DURING CHRISTMAS HE Office of Vespers, or Evensong, during the Twhole year, consists firstly of five Psalms and Antiphons, which vary more or less every day. As the main object of our book is the convenience of the Faithful, we only give the Vespers of the Sundays and the principal Feasts. With regard to the Sundays, therefore, during Christmas, which are neither Feasts, nor within the Octave of a Feast, we give them here in full, reserving only that which is peculiar to each for the Proper. 1f it be a Feast, the Office must be sought for on its own day. After the Pater and the Church commences supplication: Ave have this Hour been said in secret, with her favourite adjutorium Y. Incline unto my aid, O méum intende. God. R. Domine, ad adjuvanK. 0 Lord, make haste to dum me festina. helpme Gloria_Patri, et Filio, et Glory be to the Father, and Spiritui Sancto: to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. Sicut erat in principio et As it was in the beginning, nunc et semper, et in secula is now, and ever shall be, szculorum. Amen. Alleluia. world ‘without end. Amen. Alleluia, ANT. Dixit Dominus. ANT. The Lord said. ¥. Deus in The first Psalm is Messias. This Child, and poverty, is to be eternal Father. Now poral Birth, it a prophecy of the glory of the who is now born to us in humility seated on the right hand of the that we are celebrating his temis most just that we should often SUNDAY’S VESPERS 89 sing the Psalm which speaks of his eternal Generation as God, and of the future glory which awaits him as Man. PSALM 109 Dixit Dominus _Domino The Lord said to my Lord, meo: * Sede a dextris meis. his Son : Sit thou at my right hand, and reign with me. Donec ponam inimicos Until, on the day of thy last tuos: * scabellum pedum coming, 1 make thy enemies thy footstool. tuorum. O Christ/ the Lord thy Virgam virtutis tuz emittet Dominus ex Sion: * do- Father will send forth the minare in medio inimicorum sceptre of thy power out of tuorum. Sion: from™ thence rule thou in the midst of thy enemies. Tecum principium in_die With thee is the principality virtutis tuz in splendoribus in the day of thy strength, in sanctorum: * ex utero ante the brightness of the saints: luciferum genui te. For the Father hath said 1o thee : From the womb before the day-star I begot thee. Juravit Dominus, et non The Lord hath sworn, and penitebit eum: * Tu es Sa- he will not repent: he hath sai cerdos in @ternum secun- speaking of thee, the God-Man dum ordinem Melchisedech. Thou art a Priest for ever according to the order of Melchisedech. Dominus a dextris tuis: * ‘herefore, O Father, the Lord confregit in die ire suz re- thy Som is at thy right hand: ges. he hath broken kings in the day of his wrath. _ Judicabit in nationibus, e shall also judge among implebit ruinas: * conquas- nations: in _fthat lerrible_comsabit capita in terra multo- ing he shall fill the ruins of rum. the world : he shall crush the heads in the land of many. De torrerite in via bibet: * He cometh now i humility ; propterea exaltabit caput. he shall drink in the way of the' torrent of sufferings : therefore shall he lift up the head. AnT. Dixit Dominus DoANT. The Lord said to my mino meo, sede a dextris Lord, sit thou at my right meis. hand, Magna opera DoANT. ANT. Great are the works mini. of the Lord. The following Psalm commemorates the mercies of God to his people—the promised Covenant—the demption—his fidelity to his promises: Re- CHRISTMAS 90 Confitebor PSALM II0 I will praise thee, O Lord, Domine, tibi, in toto corde meo: * in concilio justorum et congregatione. Magna opera Domini: * exquisita in omnes voluntates ejus. Confessio_et magnificentia opus ejus: * et justitia ejus manet in szculum szculi. Memoriam fecit _mirabilium suorum, misericors et ‘miserator Dominus: * escam dedit timentibus se. with my whole heart: in the council of the just, and in the congregation. reat are the works of the Lord: sought out according to all his wills. His work is praise and magnificence: and his justice continueth for ever and ever. He hath made a remembrance of his wonderful works, being a merciful and gracious Lord: and being the bread of life, he hath given food to them that fear him. Memor _erit in szculum He will be mindful for ever of his covenant with men : he testamenti sui: * virtutem operum suorum annuntiabit is come and will show forth to populo suo. his people the power of his works. ) That he may give them, his Ut det illis hereditatem Gentium: * opera manuum Church, the inheritance of the ejus veritas et judicium. Gentiles: the works of his Fidelia omnia mandata ejus, confirmata in seculum seculi: * facta et =quitate. Redemptionem in veritate misit po- pulo suo: * mandavit in ®ternum testamentum suum. Sanctum et terribile nomen ejus: * initium sapientize timor Domini. Intellectus bonus omnibus facientibus_eum: * laudatio ejus manet in seculum s@culi. ANT. Magna opera Domini: exquisita voluntates ejus. ANT. Qui minum. in timet omnes Do- hand are truth and judgement. All his commandments are faithful, confirmed for ever and ever: made in truth and equity. . He hath sent Redemption to his people; he hath fhereby commanded his covenant for ever. Holy and terrible is his name: the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. A good understanding to all that do it: his praise continueth for ever and ever. ANT. Great are the works of the Lord: sought out according to all his wills. ANT. He that feareth the Lord. The next Psalm sings the happiness of the just man, and his hopes on the day of Jesus Birth. It is applicable SUNDAY’S 91 VESPERS also to the sinner, who shall be confounded because he profited nothing by that great Mystery of humility and love. PSALM III Beatus vir qui timet Dominum: * in mandatis ejus volet nimis. Potens in terra erit semen ejus: * generatio rectorum benedicetur. Gloria et divitiz in domo ejus: * et justitia ejus manet in szculum szculi. Exortum est in tenebris lumen rectis: * misericors, et miserator, et justus. Jucundus homo qui miseretur et commodat, disponet sermones suos in judicio: * quia in @ternum non com‘movebitur. In memoria aterna erit justus: * ab auditione mala non timebit. Paratum cor ejus sperare in Domino, confirmatum est cor ejus: * non commovebitur donec despiciat inimicos suos. Dispersit, dedit pauperibus, Justitia ejus manetin seculum szculi: * cornu ejus exaltabitur in gloria. Peccator videbit et irascetur, dentibus suis fremet et tabescet: * desiderium peccatorum peribit. ANT. Qui timet Do- minum, in mandatis ejus cupit nimis. AXT. Sit nomen Domini. Blessed feareth the is the Lord: man he that shall delight _exceedingly in his commandments. His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the righteous shall be blessed. Glory and wealth shall be in his house: and his justice remaineth for ever and ever. To the righteous a light is risen up in darkness: he is merciful, and compassionate, and just: ke is born and dwells amongst us. Acceptable is the man that showeth mercy and lendeth; he shall order his words with judgement: because he shall Tot be moved for ever. The just shall be in everlasting remembrance: he shall not fear the evil hearing. His heart is ready to hope in the Lord; his heart is strengthened: he shall not be moved until he look over his enemies. He hath distributed, he hath given to the poor; his justice remaineth for ever and ever: his horn shall be exalted in glory. The wicked shall see, and shall be angry; he shall gnash with his teeth, and pine away: the desire of the wicked shall perish. ANT. He that feareth the Lord delighteth exceedingly in his commandments. ANT. May the name of the Lord. CHRISTMAS 92 The Psalm Laudaie pueri is a Canticle of praiseto the Lord, who from his high heaven has taken pity on the fallen human race, and raised it up again by the Incarnation. PSALM 112 Laudate, pueri, Domi_Praise the Lord, ye chilnum: * laudate nomen Do- dren: praise ye the name of mini. the Lord. Sit nomen Domini beneBlessed be the name of the dictum:* ex hoc nunc et Lord: from henceforth now usque in saculum. and for ever. A solis ortu usque ad ocFrom the rising of the sun casum: * laudabile nomen unto the going down of the Domini same, the name of the Lord Excelsus super Gentes Dominus: is worthy of praise. The Lord is high omnes * et super ceelos gloria ejus. Quis sicut Dominus_Deus noster qui in altis habitat: * et humilia_respicit in celo et in terra ? above all nations: and his glory above the heavens. Who is as the Lord our God, who dwelleth on high: and looketh down on the low things in heaven and in earth, nay, who cometh down amidst us? Raising up the needy from Suscitans a terra inopem: * et de stercore erigens paupe- the earth: and lifting up the rem. poor out of the dunghill. Ut collocet eum cum prinThat he may place him with cipibus: * cum principibus rinces: with the princes of populi sui. is people. ui habitare facit sterilem 'ho maketh a barren woin domo: * matrem filiorum man to dwell in a house, the letantem. joyful mother of children. ANT. Sit nomen Domini ANT. May the name of the benedictum in secula. Lord be for ever blessed. ANT. Deus autem noster. ANT. But our God. The fifth Psalm, In exitu, recounts the prodigies witnessed under the antient Covenant: they were figures, whose realities begin their accomplishment in the Birth of Jesus; for he comes that he may deliver Israel from Egypt, emancipate the Gentiles from their idolatry, and pour out a blessing on every man who will consent to fear and love the Lord. SUNDAY’S VESPERS PSALM In exitu Israel de Egypto: * domus Jacob de populo barbaro. Facta est Judma sanctificatio ejus: * Tsrael potestas ejus. Mare vidit, et fu danis conversus est Montes _exsultaverunt ut arietes: * et colles sicut agni ovium. Quid est tibi, mare, quod * et tu, Jordanis, fugis quia_conversus es retrorsum ? Montes exsultastis sicut arietes: * et colles sicut agni ovium ? mota est A facie Domini facie Dei Jacob. terra a: Qui convertit petram in stagna aquarum: * ct rupem in fontes aquarum. Non nobis, Domine, non nobis: * sed nomini tuo da gloriam. Super misericordia tua, et veritate tua: * nequando dicant Gentes: Ubi est Deus eorum ? Deus autem noster in ceelo: * omnia quecumque voluit, fecit. Simulacra Gentium argentum et aurum: * opera manuum hominum. Os habent, et non loquentur: * oculos habent, et non videbunt. Aures habent, et non audient: * nares habent, et non odorabunt. Manus habent, et non palpabunt, pedes habent, et non ambulabunt: * non clamabunt in gutture suo. 93 113 When TIsrael went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a barbarous people. Judea was made his sanctuary, Israel his dominion. The sea saw and fled; Jordan was turned back. The mountains skipped like rams: and the hills like the lambs of the flock. What ailed thee, O thou sea, that thou didst fiee: and thou, O Jordan, that thou wast turned back ? Ye mountains that ye skipped like rams: and ye hills like lambs of the flock ? the At the presence of the Lord earth was moved, at the presence of the God of Jacob. Who turned the rock into pools of water, and the stony hills into fountains of waters. Not to us, O Lord, not to us: but to thy name give glory. For thy mercy and for thy truth’s sake: lest the Gentiles should say: Where is their God ? But our God is in heaven: he hath done all things whatsoever he would. The idols of the Gentiles are silver and gold: the works of the hands of men. They have mouths, and speak not: they have eyes, and see not. They have ears, and hear not: they have noses, and smell not. They have hands, and feel not: they have feet, and walk not: neither shall they cry out through their throat. 94 CHRISTMAS Similes illis fiant qui faciunt ea: * et omnes qui confidunt in eis. Domus Israel speravit in Domino: * adjutor eorum et protector eorum est. omus Aaron speravit in Domino: * adjutor eorum et protector eorum est. Qui timent Dominum, speraverunt in Domino: * adjutor eorum et protector eorum est. Dominus memor fuit nostriz * et benedixit nobis. Benedixit domui Israel: * benedixit domui Aaron. Benedixit_omnibus qui_timent Dominum: * pusillis cum majoribus. Adjiciat Dominus super vos: % super vos, et super filios vestros. Benedicti vos a Domino: * qui fecit celum et terram. Ceelum cceli Domino: * terram autem dedit filiis hominum. Non mortui laudabunt te, Domine: * neque omnes qui descendunt in infernum. Sed nos qui vivim: Domino : nedicimus hoc nunc et usque in s@cuTum. ANT. Deus autem noster in" ceelo: omnia quiecumque voluit, fecit. Let them that make them become like unto them: and all such as trust in_them. The house of Israel hath hoped in the Lord: he is their helper and their protector. The house of Aaron hath hoped in the Lord: he is their helper and their protector. hey that feared the Lord have hoped in the Lord: he is their helper and their protector. The Lord hath been mindful of us, and hath blessed us. He hath blessed the house of Israel: he hath blessed the house of Aaron. He hath blessed all that fear the Lord, both little and great. May the Lord add blessings upon ‘you: upon you, and upon your children. Blessed be you of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. The heaven of heaven is the Lord’s: but the earth he has given to the children of ™The e dead_ shal shall not not_prai praise thee, O Lord, nor any of them that go down to hell. But we that live bless the Lord: from this time now and for ever. ANT. But our God is in heaven: he hath done all things whatsoever he would. After these five Psalms, a short Lesson from the Holy Scriptures is then read. 1t is called Capitulum, because it is always very short. That for the several feasts is given on the res tive days. The following is said on the Sundays called Affer the Epiphany, as often as the Vespers are of the Sunday : SUNDAY'S VESPERS 95 CAPITULUM (2 Cor. i) Benedictus Deus et Pater Domini nostri Jesu Christi, Pater misericordiarum et Deus totius _consolationis, qui consolatur nos in omni tribulatione nostra. R. Deo gratias. Then follows the Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all consolation, who comforteth us in all our tribulations. K. Thanks be to God. We Hymn. give the one of the It was composed by St Gregory the Sunday’s Office. Great, and celebrates Creation. It praises the Light, which God drew out of nothing, on this the first day, and which is the beautiful image of our Divine Infant, the Light of the world, the Orient that has visited them who sat in the shadow of death. Lucis Creator optime, Lucem dierum proferens; Primordiis lucis nove, Mundi parans originem, HYMN? O infinitely good Creator of the Light! by thee was produced the Light of day, providing thus the world's beginning with the beginning of the new-made Light. Thou biddest us call the time from morn till eve, Day ; this day is over; dark Night comes on: oh | hear our tearful prayers. Let not our soul, weighed down by crime, mis-spend thy gift of life, and, forgetting what is eternal, be earth-tied by her sins. Qui mane junctum vesperi Diem vocari pracipis, Tllabitur tetrum chaos, Audi preces cum fletibus. Ne mens gravata crimine, Vita sit exul munere, Dum nil perenne cogitat, Seseque culpis illigat. * According to the Monastic Rite, it is as follows: Ry. breve. Quam magnificata sunt, * Opera fua Dormine, "Guam. - ¥. Omiia in sapientia fecisti. » Opera. Pattireee. . Lucis Creator optime, Lucem dierum proferens; Frimordis sl v, i parans o r l g i a c e s . oGO vorari e Tonchom vapect pracips, ‘Tetrum chaos ilhb‘l’:\lfl ‘Audi preces cum fletibus. Gloria Ne mens gravata crimine Vit sit exul munere, Dum nil perenne cogitat, culpis l igat. Carlorum pulset Intimurm, Vitale tollat pramium: Vitemus omne noxium, Purgemus omne pessimum, Prasta, Pater pilssime, Patrigue compar Usice, Cum Spiritu Paraclito Regoans per omne sculum. Amen. CHRISTMAS 96 Oh ! may we strive to enter our heavenly home, and bear away the prize of life: may we shun what would injure us, and cleanse our soul from her defilements. Most merciful Father! and thou, his Only-Begotten Son, co-cqual with him, reigning for ever with the Holy Para‘ clete! grant this our prayer. Amen. Cesleste pulset intimum, Vitale tollat premium: Vitemus omne noxium, Purgemus omne pessimum. Praesta, Pater piissime, Patrique compar Unice, Cum Spiritu Paraclito Regnans per omne seculum. Amen. The Tersicle which follows the Hymn which we here give is that of the Sunday: those for the Feasts are ¥. Dirigatur, Domine, ora- ¥. May my prayer, O Lord, given in their proper places. tio mea, R. Sicut incensum spectu tuo. ascend. in con- K. Like incense in thy sight. Then is said the Magnificat Antiphon, which is to be found in the Proper for the different days. After this, the Church sings the Canticle of Mary, the Magnificat, in which are celebrated the Divine Maternity and all its consequent blessings. This exquisite Canticle is an essential part of the Vespers throughout the year; but how sweetly appropriate is it to the season of Christmas, during which the Church is overflowing with joy at the Birth of Jesus! She turns to the Mother, and proclaims her Blessed. Blessed indeed; for, the power of the Most High overshadowed her ; the Holy Ghost gave unto her, for the salvation of the world, the Blessed Fruit of her Womb. OUR LADY'S (St Magnificat: * anima mea Dominum: Et exsultavit spiritus meus: * in Deo salutari meo. CANTICLE Luke i) _ My soul doth magnify the Lord; _ And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. * St Luke i 35. SUNDAY’S Quia respexit humilitatem ancillz suz: * ecce enim ex hoc Beatam me dicent omnes generationes. Quia fecit mihi magna qui potens est: * et sanctum nomen ejus. Et misericordia ejus a progenic in progenies: * timentibus eum. Fecit potentiam in brachio suo: * dispersit superbos mente cordis sui. Deposuit potentes de sede: * et exaltavit humiles. Esurientes implevit bonis: * et divites dimisit inanes. Suscepit Israel puerum suum: * recordatus misericordia suz. Sicut locutus est ad patres nostros: * Abraham et semini ejus in szcula. The Magnificat VESPERS 97 Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid: for behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. Because he that is mighty hath done great things to me: and holy is his name. And his mercy is from generation unto generation, to them that fear him. He hath showed might in his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart. He hath put down the mighty from their seat: and hath exalted the humble. He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the rich he hath sent empty away. He hath reccived Israel his servant, being mindful of his mercy. As’ he spake to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed for ever. Antiphon is then repeated. The Prayer, or Collect, will be found in the Proper of each Sunday and Feast. The Vespers end with the following Versicles: Y. Benedicamus Domino. ¥. Let us bless the Lord. . Deo gratias. /. Thanks be to God. Y. Fidelium anime per Y. May the souls of the misericordiam Dei requies- faithful departed, through the cant in pace. mercy of God, rest in peace. K. Amen. K. Amen. 98 CHRISTMAS CHAPTER THE EIGHTH ON THE OFFICE OF COMPLINE FOR SUNDAYS AND FEASTS DURING CHRISTMAS 'HIS Office, which concludes the day, commences by a warning of the dangers of the night: then immediately follows the public Confession of our sins, as a powerful means of propitiating the divine justice, and obtaining God’s help, now that we are going to spend so many hours in the unconscious and therefore dangerous state of sleep, which is also such an image of death. The Lector, addressing the Priest, says to him: V. Jube, cere. domne, benedi- V. Pray, blessing. TFather, give thy The Priest answers: Noctem quietam et finem May the Almighty Lord perfectum concedat nobis grant us a quiet night and a Dominus omnipotens. perfect end. K. Amen. Ry. Amen. The Lector then reads these words from Epistle of St Peter: Fratres: Sobrii estote, et vigilate: quia adversarius vester diabolus, tamquam leo rugiens circuit quarens uem devoret: cui resistite ortes in fide. Tu autem, Domine, miserere nobis. Ry. Deo gratias. the first Brethren, be sober and watch: for your adversary the devil goes about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour: resist him, being strong in faith. But thou, O Lord, have mercy oa us. The Choir answers: Ry. Thanks be to God. COMPLINE Then the Priest: ¥. Adjutorium nostrum in nomine Domini. The Ry. Qui fecit ceelum et terram. Then the % Lord’s Prayer ¥. Our help is in the name of the Lord. Choir: K. Who hath made heaven and earth. is recited in secret; after which the Priest says the Confiteor ; and when he has finished, the Choir says: Misereatur tui _omnipotens Deus, et dimissis peccatis tuis, perducat te ad vitam ternam. May Almighty God be merciful to thee, and forgiving thy sins, bring thee to everlasting life. The Priest having answered Amen, the Choir repeats the Confiteor, thus: Confiteor Deo Omnipotenti, beatz Mariz semper Virgini, beato Michaeli Archangelo, beato Joanni Baptist, sanctis Apostolis Petro et Paulo, omnibus sanctis, et tibi Pater: quia peccavi nimis cogitatione, verbo et opere: mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa. Ideo precor beatam Mariam semper Virginem, beatum Michaelem ~ Archangelum, beatum Joannem Baptistam, sanctos Apostolos Petrum ct Paulum, omnes sanctos, et te, Pater, orare pro me ad Dominum Deum nostrum. I confess to Almighty God, to Blessed Mary ever Virgin, to blessed Michael the Archangel, to blessed John Baptist, to the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, to all the saints, and to thee, Father, that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word, and deed, through my fault, through my fault, through my most _grievous fault. Therefore I bescech the Blessed ever Virgin, blessed Michael the Archangel, blessed John Baptist, the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and all the saints, and thee, Father, to pray to our Lord God for me. The Priest then says: Misereatur vestri _omniMay Almighty God be merpotens Deus, et dimissis ciful to you, and, forgiving peccatis vestris, perducat your sins,” bring you to evervos ad vitam ternam. Tasting life. K. Amen. R. Amen. CHRISTMAS 100 May the Almighty and mernem, ct remissionem pecca- ciful Lord grant us pardon, absolution, and remission of torum nostrorum, tribuat nobis_omnipotens et miseri- our sins. cors Dominus. Indulgentiam, ~ absolutio- K. Amen. nos, Deus, Y. Convert us, O God our Saviour. Salutaris noster. K. And turn away thy K. Elaverte iram tuam a anger from us. nobis. ¥. Deus, in adjutorium Y. Incline unto my aid, O God. meum intende. K. Domine, ad adjuvanK. O Lord, make haste to dum me festina. help me. Glory, etc. Gloria Patri, etc. ANT. Have mercy. ANT. Miserere. Xy, Amen. Y. Converte The first Psalm expresses the confidence with which the just man sleeps in peace; but the wicked know not what calm rest is. It also speaks of the eternal Word, the Light of the Father, who our darkness. is come to dispel PSALM 4 Cum invocarem exaudivit When I called upon him, me Deus justitiz mez:* the God of my justice heard in_tribulatione dilatasti me: when I was in distress, mihi. thou hast enlarged me. Miserere mei: * et exauHave mercy on me: and hear di orationem meam. my prayer. Filii hominum, usquequo O ye sons of men, how long gravi corde? * ut quid dili- will you be dull of heart? why gitis vanitatem, et queritis do you love vanity, and seek after lying ? ‘mendacium ? Et_scitote quoniam miriKnow ye also that the Lord ficavit Dominus sanctum hath made his Holy One wonsuum: * Dominus exaudiet derful: the Lord will hear me me, cum clamavero ad eum. when I shall cry unto him. Trascimini, et nolite pecBe ye angry, and sin not: care: * qu dicitis in cordi- the things you say in your bus vestris, in cubilibus ves- hearts, be sorry for them upon tris compungimi your beds. Sacrificate sacrificium_ jusOffer up the sacrifice of justitim, et sperate in Domino: tice, and trust in the Lord: * multi dicunt: Quis osten- many say, who showeth us dit nobis bona ? good things ? COMPLINE 101 Signatum est super nos The Light of thy countelumen vultus tui Domine: nance, O Lord, is signed upon * dedisti letitiam in corde us: thou hast given gladness in my heart. meo. By the fruit of their corn, A fructu frumenti, vini et their wine, and oil, they are olei sui: * multiplicati sunt. multiplied. In pace in idipsum: * In peac, in the self same, I dormiam et requiescam, will sleep, and I will rest. For thou, O Lord, singularly Quoniam tu, Domine, singulariter in spe: * constitu- hast settled me in hope. isti me. The second Psalm gives the motives of the just man’s confidence, even during the dangers of the mght Then we have God himself speaking, and promising to show us our Saviour. PSALM g0 Qui_ habitat in adjutorio He that dwelleth in the aid Alfissimi: * in protectione of the Most High, shall abide Dei ceeli commorabitur. under the protection of the God of heaven. Dicet Domino: SuscepHe shall say to the Lord: tor meus es tu, et refugium Thou art my protector and my meum, * Deus meus, spe- refuge: my God, in him will raboin eum. I trust. Quoniam ipse liberavit For he hath delivered me me de laqueo venantium: * from the snare of the hunters: et a verbo aspero. and from the sharp word. Scapulis suis obumbrabit He will overshadow thee tibi: * et sub pennis ejus with his shoulders : and under sperabis. his wings thou shalt trust. Scuto circumdabit te veHis truth shall compass thee ritas ejus: * non timebis a with a shield: thou shalt not timore nocturno, be afraid of the terror of the night. A sagitta volante in die, a Of 'the arrow that flieth in negotio perambulante in te- the day: of the business that nebris: * ab incursu, et de- walketh about in the dark: ‘monio meridiano, of invasion, or of the noonday devil. Cadent a latere tuo mille, A thousand shall fall at thy et decem millia a dextris side, and ten thousand at thy tuis: * ad te autem right hand: but it Shall not non appropinquabit. come nigh thee. 102 CHRISTMAS Verumtamen oculis tuis considerabis: * et retributionem peccatorum videbis. Quoniam tu_es, Domine, spes mea: * Altissimum posuisti refugium tuum. Non accedet ad te malum: * et flagellum non appropinquabit tabernaculo tuo. Quoniam Angelis suis mandavit de te: * ut custodiant te in omnibus viis tuis. In manibus portabunt te: * ne forte offendas ad lapidem pedem tuum. Super_aspidem et basiliscum ambulabis: * et conculcabis leonem et draconem. _Quoniam in me speravit, liberabo eum: * protegam eum, quoniam cognovit nomen' meum. Clamabit ad me, et ego exaudiam eum: * cum ipso sum in tribulatione, eripiam eum et glorificabo eum. Longitudine ~dierum replebo eum: * et ostendam 1lli Salutare meum. But thou shalt consider with thy eyes: and shalt see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast sui Thou, O Lord, art my hope Thou hast made the Most . High thy refuge. There shall no evil come to thee, nor shall the scourge 8 come near thy dwelling. For he 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 basilisk: and thou shalt trample under foot the lion and the dragon. God will say of thee: Because he hoped in me, I will deliver him: I will protect him, because he hath known my name. He will cry to me, and I will hear him: I am with him in tribulation, I will deliver him, and I will glorify him. T will fill him with length of days: and I will show him my salvation. The third Psalm invites the Servants of God to persevere with fervour in the prayers they offer during the Night. The Faithful should say this Psalm in a spirit of gratitude to God for his raising up in the Church adorers of his holy name, whose grand vocation is to Uift up their hands day and night for the safety of Israel. On such prayers depend the happiness and destinies of the world. PSALM 133 Ecce nunc benedicite Do- _ Behold now bless ye the minum: * omnes servi Do- Lord, all ye servants of the i Lord. 103 COMPLINE Qui statis in domo Domini: * in atriis domus De nostri. In noctibus extollite manus vestras in sancta: * et benedicite Dominum. Benedicat te Dominus ex Sion: * qui fecit ceelum et terram. ANT. Miserere mei, Domine, et exaudi orationem meam. in the house house of our God. In the nights lift up ‘Who stand of the Lord, in the courts of the your hands to the holy places, and bless ye the Lord. Say fo Israel: May the Lord out of Sion bless thec, he that made heaven and earth. _ ANT. Have mercy on me, O Lord, and hear my prayer. HYMN?! Te lucis ante terminum, Rerum Creator, poscimus, Ut pro tua clementia Sis prasul et custodia. Procul recedant somnia, Et noctium phantasmata; Hostemque ~ nostrum comprime, Ne polluantur corpora. Prasta, Pater piissime, Patrique compar Unice, Cum Spiritu Paraclito Regnans per omne szculum. Amen. Before the closing of the light, we beseech thee, Creator of all things! that, in thy clemency, thou be our protector and our guard. May the dreams and phantoms of night depart far from us; and do thou repress our encmy, lest our bodies be profaned. Most merciful Father ! and thou, his Only-Begotten Son, co-equal with him ! reigning for ever with the Holy Paraclete ! grant this our prayer. Amen. (This last Stanza is varied for Christmas Day, etc., and Jor the Epiphany. See p. 106.) CAPITULUM (Jeremias xiv) Tu autem in nobis es, But thou art in us, O Lord, Domine, ct nomen sanctum and thy holy name has been tuum invocatum est super invoked upon us: forsake us nos; ne derelinquas nos, not, O Lord our God. Domine Deus noster. * According to the Monastic Rite, as follows: Te lucis ante terminum, Hostemque nostrum comprime, Ne polluantur corpora. Rerum Creator, poscimus, Ut solita clementia Prasia Pater omnipotens, Pee Jesum Christum Dominm, Sis praul ad custodiam, Qui tecum in perpetuum Procul recedant somni Regaat cum Sancto Spiritu. Et noctium phantasmat 104 CHRISTMAS K. Into thy hands, O Lord: R. In manus tuas, Domine: * Commendo spiritum * I commend my spirit. Into meum. In manus tuas. thy hands. . Thou hast redeemed us, ¥. Redemisti nos, Domine’ Deus veritatis. * Com- 0 Lord God of truth. * I commend. mendo. Glory. Into thy hands. Gloria. In manus tuas, ¥. Preserve us, O Lord, as Y. Custodi nos, Domine, ut pupillam oculi. the apple of thine eye. R. Protect us under the K. Sub umbra alarum tuarum protege nos. shadow of thy wings. The Canticle of the venerable Simeon, who, whilst holding the divine Infant in his arms, proclaimed him to be the Light of the Gentiles, and then slept the sleep of the just, harmonizes admirably with this closing Office of the day at Christmastide; for during this holy Season the Church is for ever thanking God, because love she labours all day he has dispelled the shades of death by the rising of the Sun of Justice, in whose long, and takes her rest at night, saying: I sleep, and my heart watcheth* CANTICLE (S Nunc _ dimittis servum tuum, Domine: * secundum verbum tuum in pace. Quia viderunt oculi mei: * Salutare toum. Quod parasti: * ante faciem omnium populorum. Lumen ad revelationem Gentium: * et gloriam plebis tuz Isracl. Gloria Patri et Filio, etc. ANT. Salva nos, Domine, vigilantes: custodi nos dormientes, ut vigilemus cum Christo, et requiescamus in pace. ¥. Dominus vobiscum, R7. Et cum spiritu tuo. OF SIMEON Luke ii) Now dost thou dismiss thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word in peace. Because my eyes have seen thy salvation. Which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples. A light to the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. Glory. AT, Save us, O Lord, whilst awake, and watch us as we sleep; that we may watch with Christ, and rest in peace. ¥. The Lord be with you. . And with thy spirit. Icamt.vz 105 COMPLINE OREMUS Visita, quasumus Domine, habitationem istam, et onnes insidias inimici ab ea longe repelle: Angeli tui sancti habitent in_ea, qui nos in pace custodiant: et benedictio_tua sit super nos semper. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum lium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiri- tus Sancti Deus, per omnia LET US PRAY Visit, we bescech thee, O Lord, this housc and family, and drive from it all snares of the enemy: let thy holy. Angels dwell herein, who may keep us in peace, and may thy blessing be always upon us. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen. szcula szculorum’. Amen. ¥. Dominus vobiscum. Y. The Lord be with you. Ry. Et cum spiritu tuo. Ry. And with thy spirit. amus Domino. Benedic ¥. Let us bless the Lord. Y. gratias. Deo 7. Ry. Thanks be to God. Benedicat et custodiat nos May the almighty and meromnipotens et misericors ciful Lord, Father, Son, and Dominus, Pater et Filius Holy Ghost, bless and preserve et Spiritus Sanctus. us. ®. Amen. Ry. Amen. ANTHEM TO THE mater, Alma Redemptoris qua pervia cceli Porta manes, ct stella maris, succurre cadenti, Surgere qui curat populo. Tu qua genuisti, Natura mirante, tuum sanctum Genitorem, Virgo prius ac posterius, * Gabrielis ab ore Sumens illud Ave, peccatorum miserere. ¥. Post partum, Virgo, inviolata permansisti. K. Dei Genitrix, intercede pro nobis. OREMUS BLESSED VIRGIN Sweet Mother of our Redeemer, Gate whereby we enter heaven, and Star of the sea, help us, we fall; yet do we long to rise. Nature looked upon thee with admiration, when thou didst give birth to thy divine Creator, thyself remaining, before and after it, a pure Virgin. Gabriel spoke his Hail to crave thy pity. thee; we sinners Y. After _child-birth thou didst remain most, pure, O Virgin, K. O Mother of God! intercession for us. make LET US PRAY Deus qui salutis mterne O God, who by the fruitful beate Mari virginitate fe- Virginity of the Blessed Mary cunda humano generi pree- hast given to mankind the re- CHRISTMAS 106 mia prastitisti: tribue, quasumus, ut ipsam pro nobis intercedere scatiamus per quam meruimus auctorem vite suscipere Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium tuum. Ry. Amen. Y. Divinum _ auxilinm maneat super nobiscum. Ry. Amen.t wards of eternal salvation; thee,_thut we beseech grant, we may experience her intercession, by whom we received the Author of life, our Lord Jesus Christ, thy Son. Ry. Amen. Y. May the divine assistance remain always with us. . Amen. Then in secret, Pater, Ave and Credo, p. 31. THE LAST STANZA OF THE HYMN IS THUS VARIED: From Christmas Day till the Epiphany RoMAN BREVIARY Jesu, tibi sit gloria, i natus es de Virgin Cum Patre et almo Spiritu, In sempiterna scula. Amen. For the Epiphany, ROMAN BREVIARY Jesu, tibi sit gloria, Qi apparuisti Gentibu ‘um Patre et almo Spiritu, In sempiterna swcula. Amen. MonasTic BREVIARY Gloria tibi, Domine, Qui natus es de Virgine, Cum Patre et Sancto Spiritu, In sempiterna szcula. Amen. and during the Octave MoNasTiC BREVIARY Gloria tibi, Domine, Qui apparuisti hodie, Cum Patre et Sancto Spiritu, In sempiterna szcula. Amen. For the Feast of the Holy I'amily RoMAN BREVIARY Jesu, tuis obediens Qui factus es perentibus, Cum Patre summo et Spiritu, Semper tibi sit gloria. Amen. i Tn the Monastic Rite this Response is as follows: Ry. Et cum fratribus nostris absentibus. R. Aud with our absent Brethren. Amen. Asen. CHRISTMAS DAY : AFTERNOON OF THE EVE The Proper of CHRISTMAS AFTERNOON OF fhe 107 Beason DAY THE EVE HRISTMAS Eve, with its own happy spirit, is Already has the Church drawing to its close. terminated all her Advent Offices, by the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice. In her maternal considerateness, she has permitted her children to break their Fast of preparation for the great Feast, by taking their meal at mid-day. Whilst refreshing their bodies with this repast, to which Abstinence gives merit, the Faithful feel an instinct of gladness which comes as a harbinger, to tell them of that immense joy which this beautiful Night will bring them, by giving them their Emmanuel. But so great a Solemnity as that of to-morrow could not possibly be an exception to that usage of the Church whereby she anticipatcs all her Feasts on their Eves. In a few moments the Office of First Vespers, in which is offered to God the evening incense, will call us to the Church, and the splendour of the function, and the magnificence of the chants, will open our hearts to those feelings of love and gratitude which will prepare them to receive the graces of to-night. Let us spend the interval in endeavouring to gain a clear knowledge of the Mystery of our Feast; and let us absorb well the sentiments and spirit of the Church. ‘We shall be assisted to do both by considering some of the principal traditions which attach to this joyful Solemnity. Let us begin by listening to the Holy Fathers speaking of Christmas Day with an eloguence worthy of the 108 CHRISTMAS Feast. And first we have St Gregory the Theologian, Bishop of Nazianzum, who thus opens his thirty-cighth discourse, our Lord. which is on the “ Christ is born—glorify Theophania, or Nativity of Christ comes down him! from heavin—go ve forth to meet him! Christ is on the earth—be ye lifted up aboveit! O sing to the Lord, all thou earth!* and to say all in one word, Let the and of earth! Christ heavens rejoice, and let the earth be gled,* because he that is now has born is both assumed our of heaven in fear and Flesh—exult in joy; in fear, because of sin; in joy, because of hope! = Christ is born of a Virgin: women ! honour holy virginity, that you may become Mothers of Christ ! ‘ Who would not adore him that is from the beginWho would not praise and extol him that is born ning ? in time? Darkness is at an end; Light is created; Egypt remains in darkness, and Israel is enlightened by the pillar of fire. The people that sat in the darkness of ignorance, now possess the bright light of knowledge and wisdom. The old things are passed away, and lo! all things are made new. The letter has given way, the spirit has triumphed; shadows have faded, the reality is come. . . . The laws of nature are set aside; the world of Heaven is to be peopled; Christ commands it— let us obey. ‘O clap your hands, all ye nations® for a Child is born unto us, and a Son is given unto us. The emblem of his Government is wupon his shoulder, for his exaltation shall come by the Cross; and his nane shall be called the Angel of the Great Counsel, that is, of the Counsel of his Father.* ‘ Let the Baptist now cry out: the Lord ! 1, too, will proclaim of this day. He that is without Word takes a Body; the Unseen Prepare ye the virtues flesh takes is seen; the the way of and power flesh; the Intangible may be touched; the Eternal has a beginning; the Son ({I God is made the Son of Man—Jesus Christ, yesterday 1 Psxev 1. * bid. xev 11, 3 1bid xlvi 2. Isa.ix 6. CHRISTMAS DAY : AFTERNOON OF THE EVE 109 and to-day, and the same for ever.' Let the Jew take scandal, and the Greek mock, and the heretic prate. They will believe when they shall see him ascending into heaven; and if not even then, at least when they shall see him coming down from heaven, and seated on his judgement-seat.” It is hard to hear such thrilling eloquence as this, and remain cold. But let us now give ear to a Father of the Latin Church, the devout St Bernard, who, in his Sixth Sermon for Christmas Eve, pours forth his heart's joy in these fervent words: ‘ We have just heard the saying, which is full of grace, and worthy of all acceptation: Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is born in Bethlehem of Juda. At these words my soul melts with love, yea, and my spirit that is within me burns with impatience to tell you, as in other years, of this joy, this thrilling joy. Jesus means Saviour. And what so necessary to them that are lost ? what so welcome to them that are in misery ? what so precious to them that are in despair? Besides, what salvation, what chance of salvation, was there in the law of sin, in that body of death, in so evil a day, and in such a place of affliction—had not a new and unlooked-for Salvation been born? Say not that thou dost indeed desire salvation, but that, knowing thy delicacy and the grievousness of thy sickness, thou fearest lest the cure be violent. No, fear not: this Jesus is Christ, that is, he is all sweetness; he is meek and plenteous in mercy; he is anointed with the oil of gladness above his fellows, that is, above them who, though they receive not the fulness, yet receive of his fulness. Yet lest thou shouldst think that because this Jesus is the Anointed with sweetness, he is therefore weak in power, it is added, he is the Son of God. . . . Let us, then, be exceeding glad, as we think over within ourselves, or say to each other, this sweet sentence: Jesus Christ—the Som of God—is born in Bethlehem of Juda I' Glorious day, indeed, is this of the Birth of the Saviour | * Heb. xiil 8. CHRISTMAS 110 It had been looked forward to by the human race for four thousand years. The Church had prepared for it by the four weeks of her Advent, a Season which has Nature, too, longs for this ever such a charm about it. day, on which the Sun begins his yearly victory over A Holy Doctor the dreary rcign of wintry darkness. of the Syrian Church, St Ephrem, has written the most admirable words on the beauty and fruitful virtue of this mysterious day. Let of these us borrow some him and say them with his enthusiasm. “Grant, O Lord! that we may now celebrate from this the Day of thy Birth, which to-day’s Solemnity brings round to us. This Day is like thyself—it is the friend of mankind. It comes to us in its regular course, visiting us each year. It grows old with the old; fresh with little children. We remember young, how it came and passed away; and faithful as ever in its welcome visit. it is young and when we were here it is again, It knows that nature could not do without it; here again like to thee, it comes in search of our fallen race. thirsts after thy Birthday, O Jesus! The whole earth It stands, as it were, between the past and the future, commanding all ages, as thou dost. It is one, and yet it multiplies itself, as thou dost. And since we behold thy pest Birthday in this present Feast, make the two resemble each other in this also—that as thy Birthday brought Peace between heaven and earth, when the infinitely High God descended to this low earth; so may this solemnity signify and give us Peace. . . . And truly, if every day of the year be rich in thy gifts, how much more ought not this to overflow with them ? ‘ The other days of the year borrow their beauty from this, and the other Feasts owe to this all their solemnity and loveliness. . . . Thy Birthday, O Jesus! is a treasure out of which we all take wherewith to pay our debts. . . . Blessed be the Day which has brought us back the Sun, after we had been wandering in the dark night; which has brought us the Divine Sheaf that enriches us with plentifulness; which has given us the CHRISTMAS DAY: AFTERNOON OF THE EVE 111 Vine-Branch that is to yield us, in due time, the cup of our salvation. . . . In the bosom of that Winter which robs our trees of their fruit, the virgin Vine has given forth its divine growth. In the Season of frost, which strips our plants of their beauty, the Root of Jesse has given us its Bud. It is in December, which hides the seed sown in the earth, that the Wheat of our salvation appears from the Virgin’s womb, into which he had entered in that fresh Spring-time, when the lambkins were skipping in our meadows.” It is not, therefore, to be wondered at, if this day, which, we may say, is an important one even to God himself, has been made a privileged one above those of the rest of the year. We have already seen that the old pagan world paid homage to it, and thus, in their own way, were carrying out the design of God. The Holy Doctors, and the Church herself in her Liturgy, allude continually to the material Sun being the symbol of him who is called the Sun of Justice. Then again, there is the venerable tradition which tells us that the Incarnation of the Son of God having been accomplished on a Friday (March 25), the Birth of Jesus, the Light of the world, must have taken place on December 25, a Sunday. This gives a peculiar sacredness to Christmas Day when it falls on a Sunday, as it was on that day of the week that God began the Creation, and said: Let there be Light! and on the same, also, did our Lord rise from the tomb. St Sophronius of Jerusalem has beau- tifully treated this mystery in his first homily for Christmas Day. In order to impress the nations of Europe, of the favoured portion of the Church, with portance of this ever-blessed day, God, who that is, the im- is the Sovereign Ruler of all things, has willed that on it should happen certain events of intense interest. We will select three of these. To begin with the first in order of time: it was on a Christmas Day that the Kingdom of the Franks was founded; for it was on this glorious * Third Sermon On our Lord's Nalivity, 112 CHRISTMAS Solemnity that King Clovis was baptized at Rheims by St Remigius. The haughty Sicambrian, thus admitted into the Fold of Christ, became a meek and humble Christian, and the founder of the first Catholic monarchy, which is now the nation of France. A century later, that is in the year 596, our own dearest country was converted to the true faith by the labours of St Augustine, of whom St Gregory the Great, who Monastery.” Ethelbert, sent him, says: ‘he was a Monk of my This holy Missionary had baptized King and travelled through the land, preaching everywhere the name and Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Having reached York, he preached the word of Eternal Life to the people, and when he had ended, they seek baptism from his hands. Christmas Day is fixed upon for the regeneration of the Catechumens, and the river which flows through the City is chosen as the Baptismal women and Font. Ten thousand children, go down men, not counting into this stream, whose waters were to cleanse their souls. The severity of the season is unheeded by these fervent disciples of the Babe of Bethlehem, who, but a few days before, knew not so much as hisname. From the frozen waters there comes, full of joy and innocence, the long line of Neophytes; and the Birthday of Jesus counts, that year, one nation more as belonging to his Kingdom. Three hundred years after this, God gives us another glorious event in honour of the Birthday of his Son. It was on this divine Anniversary, in the year 800, and at Rome, in the Basilica of St Peter, that the Holy Roman Empire was created, to which God assigned the grand mission of propagating the Kingdom of Christ among the barbarian nations of the North, and of up- holding, under the direction of the Sovereign Pontiffs, the confederation and unity of Europe. St Leo III crowned Charlemagne Emperor. Here, then, was a new Casar, a new Augustus, on the earth; not, indeed, a successor of those ancient Lords of Pagan Rome, but 3 Lib. 8, Ep. 0. CHRISTMAS DAY: AFTERNOON OF THE EVE 113 one who was invested with the title and power by the Vicar of him who is called, in the Sacred King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Scriptures, Thus has God glorified, in the eyes of men, the Divine Babe who is this day born: thus has he prepared, at various times, worthy anniversaries of that Birth which gave glory to God and Peace to men. Time will reveal in what other ways the Most High still wishes to magnify, upon Christ. this twenty-fifth of December, himself and his Impressed with the extreme importance of this Feast, and justly looking upon it as the beginning of the Era of the world’s regeneration, the nations of the West, for a long time, began their year with Christmas Day, as we find in the ancient Calendars, in the Martyrologies of Usuard and Ado, and in numberless Bulls, Charts and Diplomas. It is evident, from a Council held at Cologne in 1310, that this manner of computing the year was still observed at that time. In several countries of of in Europe, our own among the rest, the custom has been kept up of wishing a Happy Christmas, which was the ancient salutation when this Feast was the beginning a new year. Hence too, these countries, the custom of making presents, of writing letters of good wishes, and other friendly acts. How many of our practices of everyday life have originated from Faith, and yet are looked upon as mere consequences of natural good-feeling, or even compliments which society requires us to pay to each other ! To encourage her children in their Christmas joy, the Church has dispensed with the law of abstinence, if this Feast fall on a Friday. This dispensation was granted by Pope Honorius IIT, who ascended the Papal Throne in 1216. It is true that we find it mentioned by Pope St Nicholas I, in the ninth century; but the dispensation was not universal; for the Pontiff is replying to the consultations of the Bulgarians, to whom he concedes this indulgence, in order to encourage them to celebrate these Feasts with solemnity and joy: Christmas 8 CHRISTMAS 114 Day, St Stephen, St John the Evangelist, the Epiphany, the Assumption of our Lady, St John the Baptist, and SS Peter and Paul. When the dispensation for Christmas Day was extended to the whole Church, these other Feasts were not mentioned. In the Middle Ages, the Civil Law, also, contributed to the people’s love of Christmas, by enacting that no creditor could demand any payment from his debtors during the entire week of Christmas, which was called, on that account, the week of remission—a name which it had in common with the weeks of Easter and Pentecost. But let us interrupt these interesting details regarding the grand Solemnity, whose near approach makes our hearts throb with joy. Let us repair to the House of our Heavenly Father, for the Hour of Vespers is near; and on our way, let our thoughts be at Bethlehem, where Joseph and Mary are already arrived. The sun is rapidly setting; and our Divine Sun of Justice is still hid beneath the Cloud, the Womb of the purest of Virgins. Night is coming on: Joseph and Mary are going through the narrow streets of the City of David, seeking a shelter. Let our hearts be attentive, and united in love with the two holy Pilgrims. Every heart and voice should now be giving forth to our God the tribute®of praise and ateful love. Oh! happy we, that have a tribute of ong and Psalmody ready for our use, worthy of the day and of its ineffable Mystery—it is our Mother that offers us her Liturgy. Let us prepare to join her. FIRST VESPERS After the usual invocation of the divine assistance, the Church intones, in a most solemn chant, the five following Antiphons, which precede as many Psalms: 1. ANT. Rex pacificus magnificatus est, cujus vultum desiderat universa terra. Psalm, 1. ANT. The King of Peace, whom the whole carth desireth to see, hath shown his greatness. Dixit Dominus, p. 89. 115 2. ANT. The King of Peace 2. ANT. Magnificatus est Rex pacificus super omnes is magnified above all the reges universe terra. Kings of the earth. CHRISTMAS Psalm, DAY: FIRST VESPERS Confitebor tibi, p. go. 3. Ant. Impleti sunt dies 3. ANT. The days were comMari@, ut pareret Filium pleted for Mary, that she should suum primogenitum. bring forth her first-born Son. Psalin, Bealus vir, p. oT. 4. ANT. Scitote quia pro4. ANT. Know ye, that the pe est regnum Dei: amen Kingdom of God 'is at hand: dico vobis quia non tarda- amen I say unto you, it shall not tarry. bit. Psalm, Laudate pueri, p. 92. 5. ANT. Levate capita ves5. ANT. Raise up your heads: tra; ecce appropinquat re- lo! your redempfion is at demptio vestra. hand; PSALM 116 Laudate Dominum omnes gentes: * laudate eum, omnes populi. Quoniam _confirmata _est super nos misericordia cjus: * et veritas Domini manet in @ternum. 0! praise the Lord, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people. For his mercy is confirmed upon us, and the truth of the Lord remaineth for ever. After having extolled, in these divine canticles, the elernal generation, the fidelity, the mercy, the greainess, and the truth, of her divine Spouse, who is coming, and in a few short hours will show himself to her, the Church suspends her praise for a moment, and listens, in the Capitulum, to the consoling words of the Apostle of the Gentiles concerning the coming of God our Saviour. CAPITULUM (Tit. Apparuit _benignitas et humanitas Salvatoris nostri Dei, non ex operibus justitiz' que fecimus nos, sed secundum misericordiam suam salvos nos fecit. iii 4) The goodness and kindness of God our Saviour hath appeared; not by the works of justice, which we have done, but according to his mercy hath he saved us. 116 CHRISTMAS Encouraged afresh by these beautiful words, the Church resumes her praises, not borrowing, this time, the psalmody of the Royal Prophet, but singing a Hymn to Jesus, her Spouse, on the glory and beauty of his Birthday, which makes all Nature glad, and brings the sweetest joy of heart to such as know how tolove the Divine Babe. It was St Ambrose—the Bee of Milan, as he has been called—who composed this Hymn, which is sung to-day in almost every part of the world. HYMN? Jesu, redemptor omnium, Quem, lucis ante originem, Parem paterna gloriz Pater supremus edidit; Tu lumen et splendor Patris, Tu spes perennis omnium, Intende quas fundunt preces Tui per orbem servuli. Memento, rerum conditor, Nostri quod olim corporis, ~ Sacrata ab alvo Virginis Nascendo, formam sumpseTis. O Jesu! Redeemer of mankind [ born before the light was made, and born of the Eternal Father, equal to him in infinite glory; O thou the Light and brightness of the Father! O thou the everlasting hope of all men! hear the prayers offered thee by thy servants throughout the world. ~ Be mindful, O Creator of all things| that heretofore thou didst assume a Body like unto ours, and wast born from the sacred womb of a Virgin. * In the Monastic Breviary, it is as follows: D Breve Hodi scetis * quia veniet minus. ~ Hodie. t mane_vide- bitis gloriam ejus. ¢ Qu Quia. Gloria. Hodie. In 2nd Vespers. Fy. Breve. Verbum caro factum est,* Alleluia, ~ Alleluia. _Verbum. V. Et habitavit in nobis. * ‘Alleluia. Gloria. Verbum. o el o riste, ptor omnium, Ex Patre Patris Red mUnice, Solus ante principium Natus ineffabiliter, Tu lumen, tu splendor Patris, Tu spes perénnis omnium, Intende quas fundunt preces Tui per orbem famuli, Memento salutis Auctor nostri quondam corporis AT lllibata Virgine Gz Nagcendo formam sumpsers. ic prasens testatur dies, Curreas per anni circulum, Sioodonies o ‘Flune crotum, teaze; himo mare, Hunc omae quod 1n’ele o Auctorem adventus tui Laudans exsutat cantico, 05 quogue qui sancto tuo Rodempti Sanghine sumus, Ob diem Natalis tot Hymaum novum concinimus. Gloria tibi Domine, i natus es de Virgine, ‘um Patre et Sancto Spiritu, In sempiterna s@cula. - Amen, CHRISTMAS DAY: Testatur hoc preesens dies, Currens per anni circulum, Quod solus ¢ sinu Patris Mundi salus adveneris. Hune astra, tellus, zquora, Hunc omne quod ceelo subest, Salutis auctorem nova Novo salutat cantico. Et nos, beata quos sacri Rigavit unda sanguinis, Natalis ob diem tui, Hymni tributum solvimus. Jesu, tibi sit gloria, Qui natus es de Virgine, Cum Patre et almo Spiritu, In sempiterna szcula. Amen. ¥. Crastina dic delebitur iniquitas terrz ; R. Et regnabit super nos Salvator mundi. FIRST VESPERS 117 This present day, which the tells us of this_mystery —that thou, the one Saviour of the world, didst come to us from the Father’s Bosom. The stars, and earth, and sea, and all that is under hea- year has brought round to us, ven greet this the Author of their new salvation new canticle. with a And we, who have been redeemed by the stream of thy precious Blood, we too pay thee the tribute of this Hymn, in honour of thy Birthday. Glory be to thee, O Jesus ! who wast born of the Virgin | and to the Father, and to the Spirit of love, for everlasting ages. Amen. ¥. To-morrow the iniquity of the earth shall be cancelled K. And over us shall reign the Saviour of the world. And now Mary's own words are to resound in the holy place! The sweet Canticle which she sang at her Visitation to Elizabeth, when, holding within herself the divine and secret Treasure, she celebrated the great things of God’s power in her—this Canticle, without which the Church never lets the sun go down, is now going to be sung. O Mary ! the hour is fast approaching which will manifest to both heaven and earth that divine Maternity of thine which will make all generations call thee Blessed. Suffer us to unite our souls with thine in smagnifying the Lord, and to rejice in our spirit, gs thou didst in thine, i God our Saviour, who is thy on ! ANTIPHON OF THE MAGNIFICAT Cum ortus fuerit sol de _When the sun shall have ccelo, videbitis Regem re- risen in the heavens, ve shall gum procedentem a Patre, see the King of Kings coming CHRISTMAS 118 tanquam sponsum de tha- from the Father, as a Bridegroom from his bride-chamber. lamo suo. The Canticle Magnificat, p. 96. Finally, the Church expresses all her desires in the following Prayer, which is to ascend to the Throne of God not only at every Hour of Christmas Day, but several times each day during the Octave: COLLECT Concede, quesumus, omnipotens Deus: ut nos Unigeniti tui nova per carnem nativitas liberet, quos sub peccati jugo vetusta servitus tenef. Per eumdem DoJesum nostrum minum Christum Filium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia szcula szculoTum. Amen. Grant, we beseech thee, O Almighty God, that we who groan under the old captivity of sin, may be freed therefrom by the new Birth of thine Only-Begotten Son. Through the same Jesus Christ thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen. During our Vespers, the last rays of day have disappeared, and darkness has covered the earth. The Sacred Ministers, vested in their richest copes, have left the Sanctuary. In a few moments they will reenter the Church, and repair to the Tribunal of Penance, there to administer to penitent sinners the reconciliation they ask of God through the merciful Birth of his Only- Begotten Son. All is solemn silence in the Church, which, but a few moments before, echoed with the glad chants of our praise. Let us adore the Majesty of our God, and once more present our prayer to the King of Ages, that he send down the Dew for which our earth is thirsting; and with this prayer of our hope, let us, for a last time, mingle a thought of that salutary fear of the Last Judgement which the Church has nurtured within our souls during the holy Season of Advent. CHRISTMAS Let us embody DAY: 119 FIRST VESPERS these sentiments in a Prayer taken from the Gothic or Mozarabic Liturgy: it is a beautlful one, and most appropriate. PRAYER FROM THE (For the Nativity of our Lord, Rorate cceli desuper, utique prophetando Christum, et nubes pluant justum; dum Sancti omnes ejus preeconantur adventum. ~ Aperiatur terra, ut, Angelo scilicet alloquente, Virgo concipiat, et pariat Salvatorem. Hic igitur ros, qui abs te est, omnipotens ~ Pater, rogamus, et petimus, ut fiat sanitas infirmorum; et hzc pluvia matutini temporis, rabe, nostri temporis inundat arentem, qua infusa, tanta gratia prateritum facinus abluat, et ternum credentibus justitiz lumen infundat; nec non ejusdem Filii tui Domini nostri indemnes prasentiam contuentes, atque cum coelicolis ceetui ejus in jubilo occurrentes, hoc canticum letitiz praecinamus orantes: Benedictus qui venit _in nomine Domini, Deus Dominus, et illuxit nobis; cujus_mos adventus redemit, et Nativitas illustravit: Qui veniens requisivit _perditos, illuminavit in tenebris constitutos. Tribue ergo omnipotens Pater, ut diem Nativxtans ejus_ita devotione sima celebremus, ut juSichl dlem mitisimum sontiamus: ut cujus benignitatem in redemptione cognovimus, ejus pietatem in MOZARABIC BREVIARY in the Evening Office, Capitula) Drop down Dew, ye heavens, from above—by prophesying TJesus to our earth: and let the Clouds rain the Just One—let all the saintly prophets herald his coming. Let the earth be opened, that, as the Angel is speaking unto her, the Virgin may conceive and bring forth the Saviour. We pray and we beseech thee, O Almighty Father, let this Dew, which comes ‘down from thee, give health to the sick; and this Rain of morn, let it sink into the parched soil of our times, and by the infusion of its abundant grace, cleanse away past sins, and shed over them that believe the eternal light of justice. Moreover, may we, looking with confidence at the presence of our Lord Jesus thy Son, and joyfully going to meet him in company with the heavenly citizens, sing to him this canticle of joy and prayer: Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord : The Lord is God, and he hath shone upon us: his Coming hath redeemed us, and Nativity hath enlightened he that came looking for his us: the lost ones hath given light to them Grant that unto sat us, in darkness. therefore, O Almighty Father, so most devoutly fo celebrate the day of his Birth, as that the day of 120 judicio mus. CHRISTMAS sentia- his Judgement may be to us a day of exceeding mercy: mansuetam ‘thus, that having felt how great is his goodness in Tedeeming, we may experience how gentle is his mercy i judging us. And now we will leave the House of God, and attend to the duties of our state of life at home, until the hour of Matins summons us to return and celebrate the Midnight Birth of our Saviour. In order to prepare ourselves for that most imposing Service, we shall do well to resume the reflections upon the Liturgy of our Feast, which we interrupted in order to assist at Vespers. How Night, few would and how keep from the Service of Christmas still fewer would complain that they never seem to derive that benefit from it, which they are told is so great, if they would but take the pains to ask themselves why it is that the Church attaches such importance to her children’s joining her in the celebration of this gay Winter Midnight! To assist the devotion of the Faithful we offer them these simple instructions for THE HOUR BEFORE THE MIDNIGHT SERVICE ‘We will begin by telling them that in the early ages of the Church every great Feast was prepared for by long Vigils ; during which the people deprived themselves of their usual rest, and spent the hours in the Church, fervently joining in the Psalms and Lessons which made up the Office which we now call Matins. The Night was divided into three parts called Nocturns. At dawn of day they resumed their chants in an Office which was even more solemn than Matins: it was one of praise, and from this its characteristic, was called by the name of Lauds. This Service, which occupied a very considerable portion of the night, is still kept up, though at a time less trying to nature; Matins and Lauds are CHRISTMAS DAY: HOUR MATINS BEFORE 121 publicly recited every day in Cathedral and Monastic Churches, and privately by everyone in Holy Orders. They are by far the longest portion of the Divine Office. The want of the old spirit of devoted appreciation of the Liturgy has made the Laity indifferent to being present at the celebration of Matins, and this even in countries where Protestantism has not rendered their presence almost an impossibility. Thus, there are very few places where the people assist at Matins, excepting four times in the year; namely, on the three last days of Holy Week, and on Christmas Night. It is only on the last named that the Office is said at the same hour as anciently; for with regard to Tencbre, they are recited on the afternoons respectively preceding each of the three days. The Office of Christmas Night has always been said or sung with extraordinary solemnity. Firstly, it was so just, that the moments immediately preceding the Hour when the Holy Mother gave birth to her Jesus, should be spent in the most fervent prayers and watchings! But, secondly, the Church is not satisfied to- night with saying her Matins—she does so every night, and the faithful may come and assist at them as often as they wish:—she follows them by the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, that so she may the better solemnize the Divine Birth; and she begins her Mass at Midnight, for it was at that silent hour that the Virgin- Mother gave us the Blessed Fruit of her Womb. We cannot be surprised that the faithful, in many parts of Christendom, used to spend the whole Night in the Church. In Rome, for many centuries—at least from the seventh to the eleventh—two Matins were sung, the first in the Basilica of St Mary Major. They commenced There was no Invitatory. immediately after sunset. As soon as they were ended, the Pope celebrated the first or mldmght Mass. No sooner was it finished, than the people accompanied him to the Church of St Anastasia, and there he sang the second Mass, or, as it was 122 CHRISTMAS called, of the Aurora. Again the Pontiff and people formed a procession—this time it was to St Peter's— and having entered the Basilica, the second Matins were begun. They had an Invitatory, and were followed by Lauds. The other Hours having been sung, the Pope said the third and last Mass, at the hour of Terce, which is our g o’clock. to Amalarius, and to We are indebted for these details the ancient Liturgist of the thirteenth century published under the name of Alcuin. We also find them clearly indicated by the text of the old Antiphonaries of the Roman Church, which were published by the Blessed Joseph Maria Tommasi, and by Gallicioli. How lively was the faith of those olden times! To peoplc who lived unceasingly amidst the Mysteries of Religion, Prayer was a tie which knit them closely together, and made them pass hours in the Church without weariness. They understood the value of the Prayers of the Church; and the Ceremonies of the Liturgy, which complete the tribute of man’s inward worship of his Creator, were not looked upon as, unfortunately, they now so often are, as a dumb show, or at best an unmeaning poetry introduced for effect. days, are found only in individuals, were What, in our then in the mass of the people—faith, and a keen sense of the supernatural. Thanks be to God ! this strong practical faith is not dead among us, and is each year spreading in the land. How often have not we ourselves been charmed at seeing the traditions of the old Catholic customs still kept up in some families, especially in those favoured parts of the country where heresy has not been able to corrupt the simplicity of the people. We have seen, and it is one of the most pleasing recollections of our childhood, one of these families seated together, after the frugal evening collation, round a blazing fireside, waiting for the hour to come when the whole house was to go to the midnight Mass. A plain but savoury supper, which was to be eaten on their return CHRISTMAS DAY: HOUR BEFORE MATINS 123 home, and so add to the joy of holy Christmas Night, was prepared beforehand. A huge piece of wood, called the Yule-Log, was burning cheerfully on the hearth; it would last till the Mass was over, and warm the old men and the little children, as they came in chilled by the sharp frost. Meanwhile, till it was time for Mass, their conversa- tion was upon the Mystery of this much-loved Night. They compassionated the Blessed Mother and the sweet Babe, exposed to the inclemency of wintry weather, and with no other shelter than that of a wretched stable. Then, too, there were the Christmas Carols, in the practise of which they had spent many Advent. The whole a pleasant evening of soul was evidently in these dear old melodies, and many a tear would fall as the song went on to tell how the Angel Gabriel visited Mary, and declared to her that she was to be Mother of the Most High God; how Mary and Joseph were worn with fatigue, going from street to street in Bethlehem, trying to find a lodging, and no one would take them in; how they were obliged to shelter in a stable, and how the Divine Child was born in it; how the loveliness of the Babe in his little crib was above all the beauty of the Angels; how the Shepherds went to see him, and took their humble gifts, and played their rude music, and adored him in the faith of their simple hearts. And thus they spent the happy Eve, passing from conversa- tion to song, and from one song to another, and all was on Mary or Jesus, Joseph or Bethlehem. Cares of life were forgotten, troubles were gone, melancholy was a sin; but it was time to leave; the village clock had just gone eleven; and of the happy group, there was a little one who had been too young the other years, and this was his first Midnight Mass. There was no brighter face in the procession than his. Would he ever forget that beautiful Night | In many of our readers, these reminiscences will excite a feeling of regret that the miseries of the world around us make such Catholic customs as these un- CHRISTMAS 124 realities: at all events, they will show how the holiest feelings of religion may blend with the best joys of family and home. The lesson is worth learning, though the examples that teach it are too Catholic for these rough times. again Let to objects, to-night’s us, Mystery, therefore, leave them and turn to enter still which are realities, made they will assist us holy by further into the spirit of the Church. There are three places on this earth of ours which we should visit to-night. For two of them, it can only be in spirit. The first is Bethlehem, and of the Nativity, which is Bethlehem'’s glory. the Cave Let us approach it with respectful awe, and contemplate the humble dwelling which the Son of the Eternal God chose for his first home. It is a Stable in the hollow of a rock, just outside the city walls. forty the ing feet ass, near long as spoken the by by Manger, twelve the mute It is about in width. Prophet, are witnesses The of there, ox the and stand- Divine Mystery to which man refused to lend his own dwelling. Joseph and Mary enter into the Stable-Cave. It is night, and all nature is buried in silence; but these two Hearts are sending up their praise and adoration to God, who thus deigns to atone for man’s pride. The Virgin-Mother prepares the Clothes which are to swathe the limbs of the Divine Infant, and longs, though with a most tranquil patience, for the blissful moment when she shall have the first sight of the Blessed Fruit of her womb, kiss him, caress him and feed him—the Eternal God—at her Breast. Our Jesus, on his part, now that he is about to leave the sanctuary of his Mother's womb, and make his visible entrance into this world of sin, adores his Heavenly Father, and, according to the revelation of the Psalmist, which is commented by St Paul in his Epistle to the Hebrews, thus speaks: Sacrifice and oblation thou willedst not,; but a Body thou hast fitted unto me. Holocausts Jor sin did not please thee. Then said 1, behold I come. CHRISTMAS DAY: HOUR BEFORE MATINS 125 In the head of the Book it is written of me that I should do thy will, O GodI* All this was happening in the Stable at Bethlehem, about this very hour of the Night. The Angels of God were singing their anthems of praise to this his incomprehensible mercy towards his rebel creatures. They looked down with admiration upon the Mother of their God, the Mystical Rose, whose hidden beauty was soon to bloom and fill the world with its fragrance. O happy cave of Bethlehem ! scene of these stupendous Mysteries ! who is there that can forget it to-night ? Who is there that does not love it above the richest palaces of Kings? From the very commencement of Christianity it was the object of men’s deepest veneration. When, later on, God sent the great St Helen to resuscitate in his Church the knowledge and love of the Holy Places of Palestine, one of the works of the holy Empress was to build a magnificent Basilica over the spot, where stands this trophy of God’s love for his creatures. Let us go in spirit to this venerable Basilica; we shall find there groups of infidels and schismatics, but we shall also find the Religious who have the care of it, preparing to sing the same Matins, and in the same Latin tongue, which we are to have. These Religious are the Children of St Francis, heroic followers of the poverty of their Divine Master, the Infant of Bethlehem. Because they are poor and humble therefore they have had, for upwards of four hundred years, the honour of being the sole guardians of these Holy Places, which the Crusaders grew tired of defending. Let us pray in union with them to-night; and go with them, and kiss that sacred spot of the Cave, where is written in letters of gold: HERE wAS JESUs CHRIST BORN OF THE VIRGIN MAR)Y. (Hic DE VIRGINE MARIA JESUS CHRISTUS NATUS EST. In vain, however, should we seek at Bethlehem the holy Crib in which the Infant Jesus lay. P Heb. x5, 6, 7. for The curse 126 CHRISTMAS of God has struck that unhappy country, and deprived it of this precious relic, which now, for upwards of twelve hundred years, has been venerated in the centre of Catholicity, Rome, the favoured Spouse of Christ. Rome, then, is the second place we must visit on this blessed Night. And in the Holy City itself there is one special Sanctuary which claims all our veneration and love. It is the Basilica of the Crib, the splendid Church of Saint Mary Major. Of all the Churches which the people of Rome have erected in honour of the Mother of God, this is the grandest. It stands on the Esquiline, rich in its marble and gold, but richer still in its possessing, together with the Portrait of our Lady painted by St Luke, the humble yet glorious Crib of Jesus, of which the inscrutable designs of God have deprived Bethlehem. Animmense concourse of people is to-night assembled in the Basilica, awaiting the happy moment when this monument of the love and the humiliation of a God will be brought in, carried on the shoulders of the Priests, as an Ark of the New Covenant, whose welcome sight gives the sinner confidence, and makes the just man thrill with joy. Thus has God willed that Rome, which was to be the new Jerusalem, should be also the new Bethlehem ; and that the children of the Church should find, in this the unchangeable centre of their Faith, the varied and exhaustless nourish- ment of their Love. But the Basilica of the Crib is not the only sanctuary in Rome which has an attraction for us to-night. An imposing ceremony, which embodies a profound mystery, is taking place, at this very hour, in the palace of the Vatican, near the Tomb of the Prince of the Apostles. The Divine Infant, who is to be born amongst us, is the Mighty God, the Prince of Peace, whose government is upon his shoulders,* as we shall sing to-morrow, with the Church. We have already seen how the God of Hosts has honoured this power of Emmanuel, by leading powerful Nations to acknowledge him who lay in the Crib of 3 Isa ix 6. CHRISTMAS DAY: HOUR BEFORE Bethlehem as the Lord to whom they fealty. The same recognition of Mighty God is made by the ceremony The Sovereign Pontiff, the Vicar blesses, in his name, a Sword and MATINS 127 owed their adoring that Babe as the to which we allude. of our Emmanuel, Helmet, which are to be sent to some Catholic warrior who has deserved well of the Christian world. In a letter addressed to Queen Mary of England and to Philip, her husband, Cardinal Pole gives an explanation of this solemn rite. The sword is sent to some Prince, whom Christ wishes to honour in the name King : for the Angel said to Mary: the Vicar of of Jesus, who is The Lord will give unto him the Throne of David his father 1t is from him alone that the power of the sword comes;* for God said to Cyrus: I have girded thee (with the sword®); and the Psalmist thus speaks to the Christ of God: Gird thy Sword upon thy thigh, O thow most Mighty I* And because the Sword should not be drawn save in the cause of justice, it is for that reason that a Sword is blessed on this Night, in the midst of which rises, born unto us, the divine Sun of Justice. On the Helmet, which is both the ornament and protection of the head, there is worked, in pearls, the Dove, which is the emblem of the Holy Ghost; and this to teach him who wears it that it is not from passion or ambition that he must use his sword, but solely under the guidance of the divine Spirit, and from a motive of spreading the Kingdom of Christ. How beautiful is this union of energy and meekness under the one symbol and ceremony! This power of blending and harmonizing the varied beauty of distinct classes of truth is not to be found save in that Christian Rome, which is our Mother and where God has established the centre of Light and Love. The ceremony we have been describing is still observed. What a grand list it would be, had we the names of all those glorious Christian Warriors, who were thus created Knights *Isa.xlvrs. ¢ Ps.xlivg. of the Church, at this solemn hour, when we celebrate the *StLukeizz. * Rom.xiii 4. CHRISTMAS 128 Birth of him who came to vanquish our enemy! We are going to adore this Babe in his Crib; let us think of our Mother’s teaching, and pay homage to him as our Prince and King, and beseech him to humble the enemies of his Church, and vanquish those who are leagued against both our perfection and our salvation. And now to the third of the sanctuaries, wherein is to be effected, this Night, the mystery of the Birth of Jesus. This third Sanctuary it is our own heart. is near us; it is in us; Our heart is the Bethlehem that Jesus desires to visit, and in which he would be born, there to live and grow wnio a perfect man, as St Paul expresses it.! Why, after all, was he born in the stable of the city of David, but that he might make sure of our heart, which he loved with an everlasting love, and so ardently that he came down from heaven to dwell i it? Mary’s virginal womb held him but for nine months; he wishes us to keep him for ever in our dwelling ! O heart of man, thou living Bethlehem, hold thyself in readiness, and keep a glad feast! Already, thou hast prepared thyself for this union with thy Jesus by the confession of thy misdeeds, by the contrition of thy sins, and by the satisfaction thou hast made for them. Now, therefore, be all attention: he is coming in the Midnight. Let him find everything ready, ready as were the Stable, the Crib and the Swaddling-clothes. True, thou hast nothing to offer him like what Mary and Joseph had—she, a Mother’s caresses; and he, the most solicitous and tender care; but thou hast an adora- tion and a love like those of the poor Shepherds, and these thou must offer. Like the Bethlehem yonder in the far east, thou art living in the midst of heresy, of infidelity, and of men who ignore the divine mystery of divine love: secret then, but hearty, must be thy prayers, like those which are ascending this night to heaven from the few faithful ones who are assembled in the Holy Cave with the Sons of St Francis; for in that unfortunate Palestine, which has been a slave to the * Eph. iv 13, CHRISTMAS DAY: most degrading learn, too, HOUR errors BEFORE for this last MATINS thousand 129 years, there are still a few who know and love God. On this glad Midnight, let thy soul become like that splendid Basilica of Rome, which possesses the two treasures, the Holy Crib and the venerable Portrait of the Virgin Mother. Let thy affections and thoughts be pure as the white marble of its pillars; thy charity bright as the gold which glitters on its ceiling; thy deeds shining as the countless tapers which light up its beauty, and turn this night into the glare of a summer noon. Thou must O soldier of Christ! to use a Christian’s weapons; thou must fight thy way to the Crib of thy Jesus; thou must fight for thy position there, and maintain it by the unbroken loyalty of thy love; thou must fight for the happy consummation of thy victory: union eternal with him. Treasure up these holy sentiments, and let them console and sanctify thee during these moments which precede the coming of Emmanuel into thee. O living Bethlehem ! there is a word which heaven gave thee for these moments; take it up, and let it be thy ceaseless prayer; Come, Lord Jesus ! come.* It is time for us to depart, and go into the House of God. The Bells are not being rung for us, it is true— still, their melody wakens up Bethlehem in our hearts. How strange this joyous pealing at this midnight hour ! But is not everything strange in this mysterious night of the Birth of God ? He is going to show himself to us—but it is to be in a Crib, and as a little Child. When he came on Sinai, it was surrounded with thick clouds of smoke, and amidst thunder there is nothing but humility, beyond measure. and lightning: stillness and now, loveliness The Moon, emblem of the brightness reflected from Jesus upon Mary, is shedding its soft light on our path. The stars are twinkling in the firmament, and make us think of the Star which is so soon to rise and guide the Magi to our Saviour’s Crib. And whilst thus thinking over all these strange mysteries, we have reached the porch of the Church. The xxil.20. * Apoc 9 130 CHRISTMAS Sanctuary sends its light down even to the threshold of the holy place. Beautiful sight, indeed! What wonder that King Clovis, as he entered the Church of Rheims on his first Christmas Night, stood dazzled with the blaze of light, and trembling with emotion said to St Remigius, who had just baptized him: ‘ Father ! is this the Kingdom thou didst promise me?’ ‘No, my Son,’ replied the Bishop, ‘it is but the way that will lead thee to it.” MATINS After the Pater, Ave and Credo have been said secretly, the Church commences the Office by her usual prayer: Y. Domine, labia mea aperies. Ry. Et os meum annuntiabit laudem tuam. ¥. Deus in adjutorium meum intende. R. Domine, ad adjuvandum ‘me festina. ¥. Gloria Patri, et Filio, et ‘Spiritui Sancto: Ry Sicut erat in principio, et nunc et semper, et in secula szculorum. Amen. Alleluia. ¥. O Lord! thou wilt open my lips. Ry. And my mouth shall declare thy praise. ¥. Incline unto mine aid, O God. R. O Lord, make haste to help me. . Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. K. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Alleluia. Then comes, with its glad burden—Christ is born unto us—the Invitatory, whereby the Church invites her children every morning to come and adore the Lord. To-night the invitation is made by the Angels, who call us to the Crib of our Redeemer: they speak to us in the words of the Church and the Royal Prophet INVITATORY Christus natus est nobis, * venite, adoremus. Christ is born unto come, let us adore, us, * CHRISTMAS DAY: MATINS 131 PSALM Q4 Venite, exsultemus Domino, jubilemus Deo Salutari nostro; preoccupemus faciem ejus in confessione, et in psalmis jubilemus ei. Christus natus est nobis, * venite, adoremus. Quoniam Deus magaus Dominus, et Rex magnus super omnes deos: quoniam non repellet Dominus plebem suam, quia in manu ejus sunt omnes fines terra, et altitudines montium ipse conspicit. Venite, adoremus. Quoniam _ipsius est mare, et ipse fecit illud, et aridam fundaverunt manus ej Venite, adoremus, et proc damus ante Deum: ploremus coram Domino qui fecit nos; quia ipse est Dominus Deus noster: nos autem populus ejus, et oves pascuz ejus. Christus natus est nobis, * venite, adoremus. Hodie si vocem ejus audieritis, nolite obdurare corda vestra, sicut in _exacerbatione secundum diem tentationis in deserto: ubi tentaverunt me patres vestri, probaverunt et viderunt opera mea. Venite, adoremus. Quadraginta annis proximus fui_generationi huic, et dixi: Semper hi errant corde: ipsi vero mon cognoverunt vias meas, quibus juravi in ira mea, i introibunt in requiem meam. Come, let us praise the Lord with_joy, let us joyfully sing to God our Saviour; let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise to him with psalms. Christ is born unto us, * come, let us adore. For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods; he will not reject his people; for in his hand are all _the ends of the earth, and the heights of the mountains are his, Come, let us adore. For the sea is his, and he made it, and his hands formed the dry land: come, let us adore and fall down, and weep before the Lord that made us; for he is the Lord our God: and we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Christ is born unto us, * Come, let us adore. To-day, if ye shall hear his voice, from the Crib, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation according to the day of temptation in the wilderness: where your fathers tempted me, me the Lord, the Father of Emmanuel ; they proved me, and saw my works. Come, let us adore. Forty years was I nigh unto this generation, and I said: These always err in heart: and these men have not known my ways: 50 I swore in my wrath that they shall not enter into my rest. CHRISTMAS 132 Christ is born unto us: * Christus natus est nobis, come, let us adore. * venite, adoremus. Glory be to the Father, and Gloria_Patri, et Filio, et to the Son, and to the Holy Spiritui Sancto. Ghost. Sicut erat in principio et As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world nunc et semper, et in szcula without end. Amen. seculoram. Amen. Come, let us adore. Venite, adoremus. Christ is born unto us, Christus natus est nobis, come, let us adore. * venite, adoremus. After the Invitatory, the Church intones the sweet Hymn on the Birth of Jesus, composed by St Ambrose, which was sung in our First Vespers. Let us again sing and feed our spirit on its delicious it to our Redeemer, unction. Jesu, nium, Redemptor om- HYMN O Jesus! Redeemer of mankind, etc. See above, p. 116. Thus far are the. preludes to our solemn Night Office which now commences. It is divided into three vigils, or Nocturns, each of which is composed of three Psalms, three Lessons and three Responsories. The Responsories are a sort of interlude after each Lesson: but the third Lesson of the Third Nocturn is followed by the Te Deum, which takes the place of a Responsory. The interpreters of the Liturgy thus explain the Three Nocturns of tonight’s Matins. The first signifies the time which preceded the Written Law, given by God to Moses. In the Middle Ages it was the custom to veil the Altar in black during this Nocturn, to express the sentence of con- demnation pronounced by God against our first Parents, and the long ages which would then have to pass before the Redeemer came. The second Nocturn signifies the time under the Written Law; and during this Nocturn the Altar was covered with a white veil, to denote that, under the Law, men received a greater degree of light, by the figures and prophecies of the Old Testament. CHRISTMAS DAY: MATINS 133 And lastly, the third Nocturn signifies the time under the Law of Grace. During this Nocturn the Altar was covered with a red veil, to symbolize the love of God for his Spouse the Church, whereby the Son of God and our souls are mystically united. THE FIRST NOCTURN The first Psalm celebrates the Kingly dignity of the Babe that is to be born. All nations are to be given to him as his inheritance, and the day will come when he will judge the Kings who plot his death in Bethlehem. He is the Son of the Eternal Father, begotten in the day of eternity, and now made manifest on this night to the eyes of men. ANT. Dominus dixit ad me: Filius meus es tu, ego hodie genui te. ANT. me: Thou art hath my said Son, day have I begotten thee. PSALM Quare fremuerunt gents: ¢ et populi meditati sunt inania ? Adstiterunt reges terra, et principes convenerunt in unum: * adversus Dominum, et adversus Christum ejus. Dirumpamus _ vincula eorum: * et projiciamus a nobis jugum ipsorum. Qui habitat in ceelis, irridebit cos: * et Dominus subsannabit cos. Tunc loquetur ad cos in ira sua: * et in furorc suo conturbabit cos, Ego autem comstitutus sum Rex ab eo super Sion montem sanctum ejus: * praedicans preceptum ejus. Dominus dixit ad me: * Filius meus es tu, ego hodie genui te. The Lord 2 to this Why have the Gentiles raged, and the people devised vain things ? The Kings of the earth stood up, and the Princes met together, against the Lord, and against his Christ. They said: Let us break their bonds asunder; and let us cast away their yoke from us. He that dwelleth in heaven shall laugh at them: and the Lord shall deride them. Then shall he speak to them in his anger, and trouble them in his rage. But I, the Son of Mary, am appointed King by him over Sion, his holy mountain, preaching his commandment. The Lord hath said to me: Thou art my Son, this day have 1 begotten thee. 134 CHRISTMAS Postula a me, et dabo tibi gentes hezreditatem tuam: * et possessionem tuam terminos terra. Reges eos in virga ferrea: * et tamquam vas figuli confringes eos. Et nunc, reges, intelligite: * erudimini qui judicatis terram. Servite Domino in timore: ¥ et exsultate ei cum tremore. Apprehendite disciplinam, nequando irascatur Dominus: * et pereatis de via justa. Cum exarserit in brevi ira ejus: * beati omnes qui confidunt in eo. ANT. Dominus dixit ad me: Filius meus es tu, ego hodie genui te. Ask of me, and I will give thee the Gentiles for thy inheritance, and the utmost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt rule them with a rod of iron, and shalt break them in pieces like a potter's vessel. And now, O ye Kings, understand: receive instruction, you that judge the earth. Serve ye the Lord with fear: and rejoice unto him with trembling. Embrace _discipline, lest at any time the Lord be angry, and you perish from the just way. When his wrath shall be kindled in a short time, blessed are all they that trust in him. ANT. The Lord hath said to me: Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. The second Psalm praises the loveliness of the heavens during the night, and the magnificent testimony which the countless stars render to the greatness of their Creator. It then passes on to speak of the Swn, whose brilliant rising is like the Bridegroom coming forth from the nuptial chamber. The Sun is our Emmanuel; his Tabernacle the Womb of Mary. It is to-day that he begins his course; starting from the deepest stage of humiliation, Let us adore he will mount him to the meridian in his humble of glory. commencement, and humble ourselves together with him. He is the Lawgiver and the Law ; he is our joy and our light ; he is our helper and our Redeemer: let us love and obey him. ANT. Tamquam sponsus Dominus procedens de thalamo suo. ANT. The Lord is as a Bridegroom coming out of his bride-chamber. CHRISTMAS DAY: MATINS 135 PSALM 18 Ceeli enarrant gloriam Dei: * et opera manuum ejus annuntiat firmamen- tum. Dies diei eructat verbum: * et nox tiam, nocti indicat scien- Non sunt loquelz, neque sermones: * quorum mnon audiantur voces eorum. In omnem terram exivit sonus eorum: * et in fines orbis terr® verba eorum. In sole posuit tabernaculum suum: * et ipse tamquam sponsus procedens de thalamo suo. Exsultavit ut gigas ad currendam viam: * a summo ceelo egressio ejus. Et occursus ejus usque ad summum ejus: * nec est qui se abscondat a calore ejus. Lex Domini immaculata, convertens animas: * testimonium Domini fidele, sapientiam prastans parvus. Justitie Domini _rectw, lztificantes corda: * praceptum Domini lucidum, illuminans oculos. Timor Domini sanctus, permanens in sazculum s@culi: * judicia Domini vera, justificata in semetipsa. Desiderabilia super aurum et lapidem pretiosum multum: * et dulciora super mel et favum. The heavens show forth the glory of God, and the firmament declareth the work of his hands. Day to day uttereth speech, and night to night showeth knowledge. There are no speeches nor languages, where their voices are not heard. Their sound hath gone forth into all the earth: and their words unto the ends of the world. He hath set his tabernacle in the sun, the image of his Son ; and he as a Bridegroom coming out of his bride-chamber, Hath rejoiced as a giant to run the way: his going out is from the end of heaven, And his circuit even to the end thereof: and there is no one that can hide himself from his heat. The law of the Lord, which Jesus is coming to declare to us, is unspotted, converting souls: the testimony of the Lord is faithful, giving wisdom to little ones, little as the Divine Infant in his Crib. The justices of the Lord are right, rejoicing hearts: _the commandment of the Lord is lightsome, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is holy, enduring for ever and ever: the judgements of the Lord are true, justified in themselves. More to be desired than gold and many precious stones: and sweeter than honey and the honey-comb. CHRISTMAS Etenim servus tuus cusFor thy servant keepeth todit ea: * in custodiendis them; and in keeping them illis retributio multa. there is a great reward. 136 Delicta_ quis intelligit ? ab occultis meis munda me: * et ab alienis parce servo tuo. Si mei non fuerint dominati, tunc immaculatus ero: * et emundabor a delicto maximo. Et erunt ut complaceant eloquia oris mei: * et meditatio cordis mei in con- sins ? understand can ‘Who From my secret ones cleanse O me, Lord; and from of others spare thy servant. If they shall have minion over me, then those no doshall I be without spot; and I shall be cleansed from the greatest sin. And the words of my mouth shall be such as may please: the and meditation of my heart always in thy sight. Domine adjutor meus: * O Lord, that art born for my et Redemptor meus. sake, thou art my helper and my Redeemer. Ant, Tamquam sponsus 'ANT. The Lord is as a BrideDominus procedens de tha- groom coming out of his spectu tuo semper. lamo suo. bride-chamber. The third Psalm shows us Christ advancing in the conquest of the world, as the mighty Conqueror. His beauty and meekness are, like his #uth and his justice, perfect; and the power of his love is irresistible. On his 7ight we have the Queen of this world, the august Mary; the Lord has been pleased with her beauty, and her fruitful Virginity has been the model after which have been formed all those pure souls consecrated to God, who are the companions of the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. In this most sublime Psalm, let us sing our canticle of praise to the ineffable dignityof our Divine King, and to the sweetness of our incomparable Mother and Queen. _ANT. Diffusa est gratia ANT. Grace is poured out in labiis tuis; propterea upon thy lips; therefore hath benedixit te Deus in mter- God bless thee for ever. ed num, PSALM 44 Eructavit cor meum verMy heart hath uttered a bum bonum: * dico ego good word: I speak my works, opera mea Regi. my songs, to Jesus the King. Lingua mea calamus scriMy tongue is the pen of a ba: * velociter scribentis. scrivener, that writeth swiftly. CHRISTMAS DAY: MATINS 137 Thou, O Emmanuel, art beautiful above the sons of men; grace is poured abroad in thy lips: therefore hath God blessed thee for ever. Thow comest that thow mayest conquer the world ; gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O thou most Mighty | With thy comeliness and thy beauty, set out, proceed prosperously and reign. Because of truth, and meekness, and justice: and thy right hand shall conduct thee wonderfully. Thy arrows are sharp: under thee shall people fall, into the hearts of the enemies of the King, who sends thee. Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a sceptre of uprightness. Thou hast loved justice, and therefore iniquity: hatedst God, thy God hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. Myrrh, and stacte, and cassia perfume’ thy garments, from the ivory houses; out of which the daughters of kings have delighted thee in thy glory. The Queen, thy Mother, who tuis in vestitu deaurato: * shares in_thy friumph, stood circumdata varietate. on thy right hand in_gilded clothing, surrounded with vaTiety. Audi filia, et vide, et inThy Holy Spirit spoke to clina aurem tuam: * et ob- her, and said : ' Hearken, O liviscere populum tuum, et Daughter, and see, and indomum patris tui. cline thine ear: and forget thy people, and thy father’s house. Et concupiscet Rex deco“And the King shall greatly rem tuum: * quoniam ipse desire thy beauty: for he is est Dominus Deus tuus, et the Lord thy God, and him adorabunt eum. they shall adore. Speciosus forma pra filiis hominum, diffusa est gratia in Jabiis tuis: * propterea benedixit te Deus in ternum. Accingere gladio tuo super femur tuum: * potentissime. Specie tua et pulchritudine tua: * intende, prospere procede, et regna. Propter veritatem, et mas suetudinem, et justitiam: et deducet te mirabiliter dextera tua. Sagitte tuz acute, populi sub te cadent: * in corda inimicorum regis. Sedes tua, Deus, in seculum_szculi: * virga directionis, virga regni tui. Dilexisti justitiam, et odisti_iniquitatem: * propterea unxit te Deus, Deus tuus, oleo Letitiz pra consortibus tuis. Myrrha, et gutta, et casia a vestimentis tuis, a domibus eburneis: * ex quibus delectaverunt te filiw regum in honore tuo. Adstitit Regina a dextris CHRISTMAS 138 Et filie Tyri in muneribus: * vultum tuum deprecabuntur omnes divites plebis. Omnis_gloria ejus filie regis ab intus: * in Ambriis aureis circumamicta varietatibus, Adducentur Regi virgines post eam: * proximz ejus afferentur tibi. Afferentur in letitia et exsultatione: * adducentur in templum Regis. Pro patribus tuis nati sunt tibi filii: * constitues eos principes super omnem terram. Memores erunt nominis tui: * in omni generatione et generationem. Propterea populi confitebuntur tibi in mternum, * et in seculum seculi. ANT. Diffusa est gratia in labiis tuis, propterea benedixit te Deus in zternum. ¥. Tamquam sponsus. K. Dominus procedens de thalzmo suo. * And the daughters of Tyre with gifts, yea, all the rich among the people, shall entreat thy countenance.’ All the glory of the King's Daughter is within, in_golden borders, clothed round about with varieties. After her shall virgins be brought to the King: her neighbours, fhey that have spiritually conceived Christ, shall be brought to thee, O King / They shall be brought with gladness and rejoicing: they shall be brought into the temple of the King. Instead of thy fathers of fhe Jewish_people, of whose race thow didst deign fo be born, but_who have mot known thee. O Emmanuel! sons are born to thee of a mew race: thou shalt make them princes over all the earth. They shall remember thy name ~ throughout all generations. Therefore shall people praise thee for ever, yea for ever and ever. ANt. Grace is poured out upon thy lips; therefore hath God blessed thee for ever. Y. As a Bridegroom. R, The Lord is coming from his bride-chamber. The Priest begins the two first words of the Lord’s Prayer: Pater noster. Our Father. The rest is said in silence, as far as the last two petitions, when the Priest says aloud: ¥. Et ne nos inducas in tentationem, Y. And lead us not into temptation, CHRISTMAS DAY: MATINS 139 The Choir answers: 1y7. Sed libera nos a malo. Ry. But deliver us from evil. Then the Priest: Exaudi, Domine Jesu _ Graciously hear, O Lord Christe, ~preces servorum Jesus Christ, the prayers of tuorum, et miserere nobis, thy servants, and have mercy qui cum Patre et Spiritu upon us: who, with the Father Sancto vivis et regnas in and the Holy Ghost, livest and reignest for ever and ever. szcula szculorum. The Choir answers: Amen. Then one of the Choir turns towards the Priest, and bowing down, says: Jube, Domne, benedicere. Pray, Father, give thy blessing. Then the Priest: Benedictione perpetua beMay the Eternal Father bless nedicat nos Pater @ternus. us with an everlasting blessing. Ry. Amen. R7. Amen. The Lessons of the First Nocturn are taken from the Prophet Isaias, whom the Church has followed through the whole of Advent. The Respomsories which follow each Lesson assist the Faithful in those sentiments of joy which should fill their hearts on hearing the sacred prophecies read to them, and that, too, hour when they are to be accomplished. FIRST LESSON at the very (Isaias ix) Primo tempore alleviata At the first time, the land est terra Zabulon, et terra of Zabulon, and the land of Nephtali: et novissimo ag- Nephtali, was lightly touched gravata est via maris trans by the Lord; and at the last, Jordanem Galilem Genti- the way of the sea beyond the um. Populus qui ambu- Jordan of Galilee of the Gentiles labat in tenebris vidit lucem was heavily loaded. The people magnam: habitantibus in that walked in darkness have CHRISTMAS 140 regione umbre mortis, lux seen a great light: to them orta est eis. Multiplicasti that dwelt in the region of the gentem, et non magnificasti shadow of death, light is risen. letitiam. Lwztabuntur co- Thou hast muliplied the naram te, sicut qui letantur tion, and hast not increased in messe, sicut exsultant the joy. The inhabitants of whom thou hast victores capta prada, quan- Jerusalem do_dividunt spolia. ~Jugum Succoured, shall rejoice before enim oneris ejus, et virgam thee, as they that rejoice in humeri_ ejus, et sceptrum the harvest; as conquerors reexactoris ejus_superasti, si- joice after taking a prey, when cut in die Madian. Quia they divide the spoils. For omnis violenta pradatio cum. the yoke of their burden, and the rod of their shoulder, and tumultu, et vestimentum mistum _ sanguine, erit in the sceptre of their oppressor, combustionem, et cibus ig- thou hast overcome, as in the nis. Parvulus_enim natus day of Madian. For every violent taking of spoils, with est nobis, et filius datus est nobis: et factus est princi- tumult, and garment mingled patus super humerum ejus: with blood, shall be burnt, and et vocabitur, nomen _ejus, be fuel for the fire. For a Admirabilis, ~_Consiliarius, Child is born unto us, and a Deus, Fortis, Pater futuri Son is given unto us; and swculi, Princeps pacis. the government is upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, God the Mighty, the Father of the world to come, the Prince of peace. Ry. Hodie nobis ccelorum R. Today the King of Rex de Virgine nasci digna- heaven deigned to be born to tus est, ut hominem perdi- us of a Virgin, that he might tum ad coelestia regna re- restore lost man to the heavocaret. * Gaudet exerci- venly kingdom. * The host of tus Angelorum: quia salus Angels rejoices: for that eterterna humano generi appa- nal_salvation hath appeared ruit. to the human race. ¥. Gloria in excelsis Deo, ¥. Glory be to God in the et in terra pax hominibus highest; and on earth peace bonz_voluntatis. * Gaudet to men of good will. * The exercitus. Gloria Patri. host of Angels, etc. Glory be to the Father. R. Hodie nobis calorum, Then is_repeated the Ry, Towusque ad Gloria in excelsis. day the King, as far as Glory be to God. BeNEDICTIO. BLessING. May the onlyUnigenitus Dei Filius nos benedicere begotten Son of God vouchet adjuvare dignetur. safe to bless and help us. Amen. R/, R. Amen. CHRISTMAS SECOND DAY: MATINS 141 LESSON (Isaias x1) Be comforted, be comforted, my people, saith your God. Speak ye to the heart of Jerusalem, and call to her, for her evil is come to an end, her iniquity is forgiven: she hath received of the hand of the Lord double blessings for all her sins. The voice of one crying in the desert: ‘Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make’ straight in the wilderness the paths of our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight and the rough ways plain.’ And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh togother shall see that the mouth of the Lord hath spoken. The voice of one saying: Cry. And I said: What shall T cry ? All flesh is grass, and all the glory thereof as the flower of the field. The grass is withered, and the flower is fallen, because the spirit of the Lord hath blown upon it. Indeed the people is grass: the grass is_withered, and the flower is fallen: but the Word of our Lord endureth for ever. R/ Hodie nobis de calo K. To-day true peace has pax vera descendit: * Hodie como down to us from heaven: per totum mundum melli * To-day throughout the whole ui facti sunt ceeli. world the heavens have dropped honey. ¥. Hodie illuxit nobis dies ¥. To-day there has shone redemptionis nova, repara- upon us the day of the new tionis antiqu, felicitatis redemption, of the ancient re@terna. * Hodie per totum. paration, of the eternal happiness. * To-day throughConsolamini, consolamini popule meus, dicit Deus vester. Loquimini ad cor Jerusalem, et advocate eam, quoniam completa est malitia ejus, dimissa est iniquitas illius: suscepit de manu Domini _duplicia pro omnibus peccatis suis. Vox clamantis_in deserto: Parate viam Dei, rectas facite in solitudine semitas Dei_nostri. Omnis vallis exaltabitur et omnis mons et collis humiliabitur, et erunt prava in directa, et aspera in vias planas. Et revelabitur gloria Domini: et videbit omnis caro pariter quod os Domini locutum est. ~ Vox dicentis: Clama. Et dixi: Quid clamabo ? Omnis caro feenum, et omnis gloria ejus quasi flos agri. Exsiccatum est fonum, et cecidit flos; quia_ spiritus Domini suffla’ vit in eo. Vere feenum est populus: exsiccatum est feenum, et cecidit flos: Verbum autem Domini nostri manet in eternum. out. 142 CHRISTMAS BLessiNG. May the grace of BENEDICTIO. Spiritus sancti gratia illuminet sensus et the Holy Ghost enlighten our corda nostra. K. Amen. senses and our hearts. Amen. THIRD LESSON (Isaias 1ii) Consurge, _consurge, _inArise, arise, put on thy duere fortitudine tua, Sion; strength, O Sion; put on the induere _vestimentis ~ gloria garments of thy glory, O Jerutue, Jerusalem, civitas salem, the city of the Holy Sancti: “quia non adjiciet One; for henceforth, the uncirultra ut pertranseat per te cumcised and unclean shall no incircumeisus et immundus. more pass through thee. Shake Excutere de pulvere, con- thyself from the dust, arise, surge, sede, Jerusalem: solve sit up, O Jerusalem: loose vincula colli tui, captiva the bonds from off thy neck, filia Sion. Quia h®c dicit O captive daughter of Sion. Dominus: Gratis venumFor thus saith the Lord: You dati estis, et sine argento were sold without price, and redimemini, Quia hwc dicit you shall be redeemed without Dominus Deus: in Zgyp- money. For thus saith the Lord tum descendit populus meus God: My people went down into in principio, ut colonus es- Egypt at the beginning, to set” ibi: et Assur absque sojourn there: and the Assyulla causa calumniatus est rian hath oppressed them witheum. Et nunc quid mihi out any cause at all. And est hic, dicit Dominus ? now what have I here, saith quoniam ablatus est popu- the Lord: for my people is lus meus gratis: domina- taken away without price ? tores ejus inique agunt, They that rule over them treat dicit Dominus: et tota die them unjustly, saith the Lord, nomen meum blasphema- and my name is continually tur. Propter hoc sciet po- blasphemed all the day long. pulus meus nomen meum Therefore my people shall know in die illa: quia ego ipse my name in that day: for I myqui loquebar, ecce adsum. self that spoke, behold I am here. Ry. Quem vidistis pastores ? Ry. Whom have ye scen, O dicite, annuntiate nobis, in Shepherds | say, tell us, who terris quis apparuit ? * Na- is it _has appearcd on the tum vidimus, et choros An- earth? * We have seen the gelorum collaudantes Domi- Child that is born, and choirs num. of Angels praising the Lord. ¥. Say, what have ye seen? ¥. Dicite, quidnam vidis4is? et annuntiate Christi and tell us of the birth of nativitatem. * Natum vidi- Christ. We have seen. mus. Gloria, * Natum vi- Glory. * We have seen. dimus. CHRISTMAS DAY: THE SECOND MATINS 143 NOCTURN The fourth Psalm is a hymn in praise of the Christian Church, which begins to-day, and receives, in the Stable of Bethlehem, the first believers, the Shepherds. This new Sion, which is to contain the City of our God, is founded on the sides of the North, to show that it shall be open to the Gentiles. In vain will the Princes of the earth seek, in their conceited calculations, to destroy the Church: God, who has founded ber, will make her triumph. Empires shall away, and their perse- cutions: the Church will survive them all, knowing neither wrinkle nor decay. ANT. Suscepimus, misericordiam dio templi tui. tuam in Deus, me- AnT. mercy, We have received thy O God, in the midst of thy temple. PSALM 47 Great is the Lord, and exMagnus Dominus, et laudabilis nimis: * in civitate ceedingly to be praised, in the Dei nostri, in monte sancto City of our God, in his holy cjus. ‘mountain. Fundatur exsultatione On this day, with the joy of univers terrz mons Sion: * the whole earth is Mount Sion latera aquilonis, civitas regis founded, on the sides of the North, the City of the great King. magni. In her houses shall God be Deus in domibus ejus” cognoscetur: * cum suscipiet known, when he shall protect eam. her. For behold the kings of the Quoniam ecce reges terra congregati sunt: * conve- earth assembled themselves: they gathered together. Derunt in unum. Tpsi videntes sic admirati They saw, so they wondered, comsunt, sunt, conturbati they were troubled, they were moti sunt: * tremor appre- moved: trembling took hold hendit eos. of them. Tbi_dolores ut parturienThere were pains as of a tis: * in spiritu vehementi woman in labour. With a veconteres naves Tharsis. hement wind thou shalt break in pieces the ships of Tharsis. Sicut audivimus, sic viAs we have heard, so have dimus in civitate Domini we seen, in the City of the virtutum, in civitate Dei Lord of hosts, in the City of 144 CHRISTMAS nostri: * Deus fundavit eam in @ternum. Suscepimus, Deus, misericordiam tuam: * in medio templi tui. our God: it for ever. cy, God hath founded We have received thy merO God, which appeared to us in Bethlehem ; we have received it in the midst of thy temple. tuum, According to thy name, O nomen Secundum Deus, sic et laus tua in fines God, so also is thy praise unto terr: * justitia plena est the ends of the earth: thy right hand is full of justice. dextera tua. Let Mount Sion rejoice, and Latetur mons Sion, et exsultent filie Jude: * the daughters of Juda be propter judicia tud, Domine. glad: because of thy judgements, O Lord. Circumdate Sion, et comSurround Sion, and encomplectimini_eam: * narrate in pass her: tell ye in her towers. turribus ejus. Ponite corda vestra in virSet your hearts on her tute ejus: * et distribuite strength; and distribute her domos_ejus, ut enarrctis in houses, that ye may relate it progenic altera: in another generation: Quoniam hic est Deus, For this is our God, our God unto eternity, and for ever and in seculum smculi: * ipse ever: he, our Pastor, shall reget nos in szcula. rule us for evermore. ANT. Suscepimus, Deus, ANT. We have received thy miseticordiam tuam in me- mercy, O God, in the midst of dio templi tui. thy temple. Deus noster in ternum, et The fifth Psalm prophesies the peaceful reign of the Son of David, who comes o save the poor, and humble the oppressor. His coming is in sweetness and silence, like the dew of night. It is this very night that he comes to us from Mary’s virginal womb. He is the rain announced by the Prophets, which is to fall upon the parched earth. His kingdom shall be glorious and eternal. In a few days hence, the Kings shall prostrate themselves at his feet, offering him the gold of Arabia and the incense of Saba. He, on his part, will give to his people for their nourishment the Bread of his own Body; and thus his Church will be for ever a Bethlehem, that is, @ House of Bread. ANT. Domini Orietur abundantia dominabitur, in diebus pacis, et ANT. There shall spring up an abundance of peace in the days of tbe Lord; and he shall rule. CHRISTMAS DAY: MATINS 145 PSALM 7T Give to the King thy judgejudicium twum Deus, Regi da: * et justitiam tu- ment, O God! and to the King's Son, who is born to-day, am filio Regis. thy justice. Judicare populum tuum To judge thy people with in” justitia: * et pauperes justice, and thy poor with judgement. tuos in judicio. Suscipiant montes pacem Let the mountains receive populo: * et colles *justi- peace for the people; and the tiam. hills justice, Judicabit pauperes poHe, the Messias, shall judge puli: et salvos faciet filios the poor of the people, and he pauperum: * et humiliabit shall save the children of the calumniatorem. poor; and he shall humble the oppressor. Et permanebit cum sole, And his hingdom on earth et ante lunam: * in genera- shall continue with the sun, tione et generationem. and before the moon; throughout all generations. Descendet sicut pluvia in He shall come down mystevellus: * et sicut stillicidia viously in the midnight like stillantia super terram. rain upon the fleece, and as showers falling gently upon the earth. In his days shall justice Orietur in_ dicbus ejus justitia, et abundantia pa- spring up, and abundance of cis: * donec auferatur luna. peace, till the moon be taken away. And he shall rule from sea Et dominabitur a mari usque ad mare: * et a flu- to sea; and from the river mine usque ad terminos Jordan unto the ends of the orbis terrarum. earth. Coram illo procident Before him the Ethiopians ZEthiopes: * et inimici ejus shall fall down; and his eneterram lingent. mies shall lick the ground. Reges Tharsis, et insulz The Kings of Tharsis and munera offerent: * Reges the islands _shall offer preArabum et Saba dona addu- sents; the Kings of the Arabians and of Saba shall bring cent. gifts. And all kings of the earth Et adorabunt eum omnes reges terrm: * omnes gen- shall adore him; all nations tes servient ei. shall serve him. Quia liberabit pauperem For he shall deliver the poor a potente: * et pauperem from the mighty, and the cui non erat adjutor. needy that had no helper. 10 146 CHRISTMAS po r and Parcet pauperi et inop He shall spare the et animas pauperum salvas needy; and he shall be called Jesus, because he shall save faciet. the souls of the poor, his creatures. Ex usuris et iniquitate He shall redeem their souls redimet animas eorum: * from usuries and _iniquity: et honorabile nomen eorum and their name shall be honourable in his sight. coram illo. And he shall live, and to Et vivet, et dabitur ei de auro Arabi, et adorabunt him shall be given of the gold de ipso semper: * tota die of Arabia, for him they shall always adore: they shall bless benedicent ei. him all the day. He is the bread of life ; thereEt erit firmamentum in terra in summis montium, fore under his reign there superextolletur super Liba- shall be a firmament on the num fructus ejus: * et flore- carth on the tops of the mountains; above Libanus shall the fruit ‘thereof be exalted: and they of the City, his Church, shall flourish like the grass of the earth. Sit nomen ejus benedicLet his name be blessed for tum in szcula: * ante solem evermore: his name continneth rmanet nomen ejus. before the sun. Et benedicentur in ipso And in_ him shall all the omnes tribus terr2: * omnes tribes of the earth be blessed: gentes magnificabunt eum. all nations shall magnify him. Benedictus Dominus Deus Blessed be the Lord the God Tsrael: * qui facit mirabilia of TIsrael, who alone doth solus. wonderful things. Et benedictum nomen maAnd blessed be the name of jestatis ejus in wmternum: * his majesty for ever: and the et replebitur majestate ejus whole earth shall be filled with omnis terra: fiat, fiat. his majesty. So be it. So be it. ANT, Orietur in diebus ANT. There shall spring up Domini abundantia pacis, an abundance of peace, in the et dominabitur. days of the Lord; and he shall rule. The sixth Psalm is a hymn of gratitude for the blessing brought us by the Divine Infant. The anger of the Almighty Lord is appe: ased at the sight of a Crib containing the Son of God and the Son of Mary! Let us listen with delight to the words of the New-born Babe. CHRISTMAS DAY: 147 MATINS Justice and Peace have kissed : Incamate Truth now dwells on our earth, and the Justice of the Eternal Father looks down from heaven upon our Emmanuel. ANT. Veritas de terra orta est; et justitia de coclo prospexit. Ant. Truth is sprung out of the earth; and justice hath looked down from heaven. PSALM Benedixisti, Domine, terram tuam: * avertisti captivitatem Jacob. Remisisti iniquitatem plebis tum: * operuisti omnia peccata eorum. Mitigasti omnem iram tuam: * avertisti ab ira indignationis tu. Converte nos Deus salutaris noster; * et averte iram tuam a nobis. Numquid in aternum irasceris nobis: * aut extendes iram tuam a generatione in generationem ? Deus tu conversus vivificabis nos: * et plebs tua Letabitur in te. Ostende nobis, Domine, misericordiam _tua . ot salutare tuum da nobi Audiam quid_loquatur in me Dominus Deus, * quoniam loquetur pacem in plebem suam. Et super Sanctos suos: * et in eos qui convertuntur ad cor. Verumtamen prope _timentes eum salutare_ipsius: * ut inhabitet gloria in terra nostra. 84 Lord, thou hast blessed thy land: thou hast, this night, turned away the captivity of Jacob. Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people: thou hast covered all their sins. Thou hast mitigated all thy anger: thou hast turned away from the wrath of thy indignation, Convert us, O God, our Saviour! and turn off thy anger from us. Heavenly Father! wilt thou be angry with us for ever ? or wilt thou extend thy wrath from_ generation to generation ? Thou wilt turn, O God, and bring us to_ life; and thy people shall rejoice in thee. Show us, O Lord, Him who is thy mercy: and grant us thy salvation. T will hear, near my Saviour's Crib, what the Lord God will speak in me, for he will speak peace unto his people: And unto_his Saints: and unto them that to the heart. are converted Surely his Salvation is near to them that fear him: that glory may dwell in our land. CHRISTMAS 148 This day, in Bethlehem, Misericordia et veritas obviaverunt sibi: * justitia Mercy and Truth have met each other: Justice and Peace et pax osculatz sunt. Veritas de terra orta est: * et justitia de ccelo prospexit. Etenim Dominus dabit benignitatem: * et terra nostra dabit fructum suum. Justitia ante eum ambulabit: * et ponet in via gressus suos. ANT. Veritas de terra orta est, et Justitia de ccelo prospexit. Y. Speciosus forma pre filiis hominum. R. Diffusa est gratia in labiis tuis. Pater noster. have kissed. Truth is sprung out of the earth: and Justice hath looked down from heaven. For the Lord will give goodness: and our earth shall yield her fruit. Justice shall walk before him, the Man-God : and shall set his steps in the way. Ant. Truth is sprung out of the earth, and Justice hath looked down from heaven. Y. Thou art beautiful, O Jesus, above the sons of men. R/. Grace is poured forth on thy lips. Our Father. After the Pater Noster has been recited, as in the First Nocturn, the Priest says: Ipsius pietas et misericorMay his goodness and mercy dia nos adjuvet, qui cum help us, who with the Father Patre et Spiritu Sancto vivit and the Holy Ghost liveth and et regnat in secula szculo- reigneth for ever and ever. Ry. Amen. rum.” K. Amen. The Book of the Sermons of the Holy Fathers is now opened, and a passage is read from one of those magnificent discourses of St Leo the Great, which raptured the people of Rome in the fifth century. en- Benepictio. Deus Pater BressiNG. May God the omnipotens sit nobis propi- Father Almighty be propitious tius et clemens. and merciful unto us. K. Amen. R. Amen. FOURTH LESSON Sermo Sancti Leonis Papa. Salvator noster, dilectissi- mi, hodie_ natus est: gaudeamus. Neque enim fas Sermon of St Leo, Pope. On this day, dearly beloved, is born our Saviour: let us be glad: for surely it is a sin to CHRISTMAS DAY: 149 MATINS est locum ese tristitize, ubi be sad on the Birthday of that natalis est vite: qua con- Life which, ridding us of the fear of death, gladdened us with the promise of immortality. From a share in this gladness not one of us is excipatione _secernitur. cluded. To all there is the cunctis _letitiz communis one same cause of joy: for est ratio: quia Dominus our Lord, the destroyer of sin noster peccati mortisque de- and death, came to deliver all, structor, sicut nullum a seeing that all were slaves to reatu liberum reperit, ita guilt. Let the Saint exult, liberandis omnibus _ venit. because he is now brought Exsultet sanctus, quia pro- near to his crown; let the pinquat ad palmam: gau- Sinner rejoice, because he is deat peccator, quia invitatur invited to bis pardon; let the ad veniam: animetur Gen- Gentile be of good heart, betilis, quia vocatur ad vitam. cause he is called to life. For Dei’ namque Filius secun- when there had come the fuldum plenitudinem _temporis ness of time, fixed by the inquam divini_consilii inscru- scrutable depths of the divine tabilis altitudo disposuit, re- counsel, the Son of God asconciliandam auctori suo sumed to himself the nature naturam generis assumpsit of man, in order to restore it humani, ut inventor mortis to the favour of its Maker; diabolus, per ipsam quam that thus the Devil, the author vicerat, vinceretur. of Death, might be conquered by that very naturc whercby himself had conquered. R. O magnum mysterium, R. O great Mystery, and et admirabile sacramentum | wonderful secret ! brute beasts ut animalia viderent Domi- to see their new-born Lord Dum natum jacentem in laid in a Manger | * Blessed is prasepio: * Beata Virgo, cu- the Virgin, that deserved to jus viscera meruerunt por- carry in her Womb Christ our tare Dominum Christum. Lord ! Y. Ave Maria, gratia ple¥. Hail Mary! full of grace, na, Dominus tecum. * Beata the Lord is with thee. * BlessVirgo. ed is the Virgin. At Rome, if there be in the Holy City the Knight, who has received the Helmet and Sword, blessed, as we have described, by the Sovereign Pontiff, the fifth Lesson is given to him to sing, because it speaks of the great Battle between Christ and Satan in the glorious mystery of the Incarnation. Whilst the Choir is singing the Responsory O magnum mysterium, the Knight is 150 CHRISTMAS taken by the Master of Ceremonies to the Pope. Standing before the Holy Father, he draws his sword, thrice sets its point on the ground, thrice brandishes it in the air, and then wipes the blade upon his left arm. He is then taken to the Ambo, or reading-desk, takes off his helmet, and, having vested the Cope over his armour, he sings the Lesson. These ceremonies of our holy Mother, the Church of Rome, were drawn up in days when might was not right, and brute force was made subservient to moral powerand principle. The Christian ‘Warrior, cased in his steel armour, wasresolved, as indeed he was bound, never to draw his sword save in the cause of Christ, the conqueror of Satan: was- there anything strange in his expressing this by a sacred ceremony ? Benepictio, Christus perBLEssING. May Christ grant petuz det nobis gaudia vitz. unto us the joys of eternal life. K. Amen. R. Amen. FIFTH LESSON In quo conflictu pro nobis inito, magno et mirabili @quitatis jure certatum est, dum omnipotens Dominus cum szvissimo hoste non in sua majestate, sed in nostra_ congreditur humilitate: objiciens ei eamdem formam, eamdemque naturam, mortalitatis quidem nostra participem, sed peccati fotius expertem. Alienum quippe ab hac Nativitate est, quod de omnibus legitur. Nemo mundus a sorde, nec infans cujus est unius diei vita super terram. Nihil ergo in istam singularem Nativitatem de carnis concupiscentia_transivit, nihil de peccati lege manavit. Vi go regia Davidice stirpis In the conflict thus entered into for our sakes, the combat was fought by our Omnipotent God with great and admirable equity; inasmuch as it is mot in his own Majesty, but in our lowliness, that he attacks our bitter foe; opposing him with the self-same form, and self-same nature as ours, Man like us in everything save sin: for, that which is written of all men, had no place_in this Nativity: ‘ Not one is free from defilement, no, not the child whose life on earth is but ome day. Into this admirable Birth, then, there passed nothing pertaining to the concupis- cence of the flesh, there en- tered not aught of the law of eligitur, que danda feetu, CHRISTMAS sacro divinam gravi- hu- manamque prolem prius conciperet mente, quam corpore. Et ne superni ignara consilii ad inusitatos paveret affatus, quod in ea operandam erat a Spiritu Sancto, colloquio discit angelico, nec damnum credit udoris, utura. Dei Genitrix ‘mox K. Beata Dei genitrix Maria, cujus viscera intacta rmanent: * Hodie genuit Ivatorem seculi. ¥. Beata que credidit, quoniam perfecta sunt omnia que dicta sunt ei a Domino. * Hodie genuit Salvatorem. BengpicTio, Ignem sui amoris accendat Deus in cordibus nostris. ®. Amen. SIXTH Agamus ergo, dilectissimi, gratias Deo Patri, per Filium ejus in Spiritu sancto: qui propter multam charitatem suam, qua dilexit nos, misertus est nostri: et cum essemus mortui peccatis, convivificat _nos hristo, ut essemus in ipso nova creatura, novumque figmentum. Deponamus ergo veterem hominem cum actibus suis, et adepti participationem generationis Christi, carnis renuntiemus 151 sin. A Virgin of the royal family of David is chosen, who, having _to be made Mother of the Divine Child, the God-Man, conceived him in her soul, before she conceived him in her womb. And lest the ineffable mystery should make her fear, were she left ignorant of the Divine plan, she is told by the Angel of that which was to be done in her by the Holy Ghost, and was given to see how she could be Mother of God, yet remain a pure Virgin. K. The Blessed Mother of God, Mary, remaining ever the spotless Virgin, * Hath this day given birth to the Saviour of the world. V. Blessed in that she believed, for all those things have been done in her, that were said unto her by the Lord. BLessing. May God enkindle within our hearts the fire of his love. K. Amen. DAY: LESSON MATINS Let us, therefore, dearly beloved, give thanks to God the Father, through his Son, in the Holy Ghost: because, through his exceeding charity, wherewith he hath loved us, he has had compassion upon us; and when we were dead in our sins, quickened us unto life together with Christ, that we might be a new creature in him, and a new substance. Therefore, let us put off the old man with his acts, and, baving been made partakers 152 CHRISTMAS operibus. Agnosce, O Chris- of the gemeration of Christ, tiane, dignitatem tuam: et let us remounce the works of divinz consors factus na- the flesh. Learn thy own ture, noli in veterem Vil worth, O Christian | and havtatem degeneri conversa- ing been made a partaker of tione redire. Memento cujus the divine nature, scorn to becapitis et cujus _corporis come again the vile thing of sis membrum. Remi old. Remember of what Head cere, quia erutus de potes- and of what Body thou art tate tenebrarum, translatus a member. Remember bow es in Dei lumen et regnum. thou, having been snatched from the power of darkness. hast been translated into the Light and Kingdom of God. Ry. Sancta et immaculata K. O holy and immaculate Virginitas, quibus te laudi- Virginity, I know not with bus efferam, nescio: * Quia what praises I shall extol quem cceli capere_ non po- thee: * For thou didst bear terant, tuo gremio contu- in thy womb him whom the listi. heavens cannot contain. ¥. Benedicta tu in mu¥. Blessed art thou among lieribus, et benedictus fructus women, and blessed is the fruit ventris tui. * Quia. Gloria. of thy womb. * For thou. * Quia. Glory. * For thou. THE THIRD NOCTURN The seventh Psalm of Christmas Day’s Matins is the prayer Messias. of the Jewish people for their Deliverer, Juda has fallen under the Roman the power; she has lost the sceptre ; Jerusalem is polluted by the presence of the Gentiles; and yet the Christ appears not. This Psalm reminds the God of Jacob of the promises made to David and his seed, of that everlasting Kingdom, which is so long in coming, and of those other Prophecies, whose accomplishment can alone put a stop to the haughty blasphemies of the Gentiles. But the hour has come; Juda and the Gentiles are to be kept no long;r in suspense; Jehovah is about to fulfil his word. Ant. Ipse invocabit me, ANT. He shail cry out to alleluia: Pater meus es tu, me, alleluia, ‘thou art my alleluia. Father,’ alleluia. CHRISTMAS DAY: PSALM 88 Misericordias Domini * in =ternum cantabo. In generationem et generationem: * annuntiabo veritatem tuam in ore meo. Quoniam dixisti: in wternum misericordia dificabitur in_colis: * praparabitur veritas tua in eis. Disposui _testamentum electis meis; juravi David servo meo: * usque in wternum preparabo semen tuum. Et zdificabo in generationem et generationem: * sedem tuam. Confitebuntur cceli mirabilia tua, Domine: * etenim veritatem tuam in Ecclesia Sanctorum. Quoniam quis in nubibus @quabitur Domino: *_ similis erit Deo in filiis Dei ? Deus, qui glorificatur in concilio Sanctorum: * mag- nus et_terribilis super om- nes, qui in circuitu ejus sunt. Domine Deus virtutum, quis similis tibi ? * potens es, Domine, et veritas tua in circuitu tuo. Tu dominaris potestati maris: * motum autem fluctuum ejus tu mitigas. Tu humiliasti sicut vulneratum, superbum: * in brachio virtutis tum dispersisti inimicos tuos. Tui sunt cali, et tua est terra, orbem terra et pleni tudinem ejus tu fundast aquilonem” et mare tu cre- MATINS 153 The mercies of the Lord I will sing for ever. Unto generation and generation I will show forth thy truth with my mouth. For thou hast said: Mercy shall be built up for ever in the heavens; thy truth shall be prepared in them. Thou hast said: ‘1 have made a covemant with my elect; 1 have sworn to David my servant; thy seed will I settle for ever. “And I will build up thy Throne unto generation and generation.’ The heavens shall confess thy wonders, O Lord: and thy truth in the Church of the Saints. For who in the clouds can be compared to the Lord: or who among the sons of God shall be like to God ? God, who is glorified in the assembly of the Saints: great and terrible above all them that are about him. O Lord God of hosts, who is like unto thee? thou art mighty, O Lord, and thy truth is round about thee. Thou rulest the power of the sea: and appeasest the motion of the waves thereof. Thou hast humbled the proud one, as one that is slai with the arm of thy strength thou hast scattered thy ene‘mies. Thine are the heavens, and thine is the earth; the world and the fulness thereof thou hast founded: the north and the sea thou hast created. CHRISTMAS 154 Thabor et Hermon in noThabor and Hermon shall mine tuo exsultabunt: * tu- rejoice in thy name: thy arm um brachium cum potentia. is with might. Firmetur manus tua: et Let thy hand be strengthexaltetur dextera tua: * jus- ened, and thy right hand extitia et judicium preparatio alted: justice and judgement are the preparation of thy sedis tuz. Throne. Misericordia et veritas Mercy and truth shall go bepracedent faciem tuam. * fore thy face: blessed is the beatus populus qui scit ju- people that knoweth jubilation. bilationem. Domine, in lumine vulThey shall walk, O Lord, in tus tui ambulabunt, et in the light of thy countenance, nomine tuo _exsultabunt tota and in thy name they shall die: * et justitia tua exal- rejoice all the day: and in thy justice they shall be extabuntur. alted. For thou art the glory of Quoniam gloria _ virtutis eorum tu es: * ot in bene- their strength: and in thy placito tuo exaltabitur cornu good pleasure shall our horn nostrum, be exalted. Quia Domini est assumpFor our protection is of the tio nostra: * et sancti Israel Lord: and of our King, the Regis nostri. Holy One of Israel. Tunc locutus es in Then thou spokest in a sione Sanctis tuis, et dixisti: vision to thy Saints, and * Posui adjutorium in po- saidst: ‘I have laid help upon tente, et exaltavi electum de one that is mighty, and have exalted one chosen out of my plebe mea. le. P} “have found Davia my Inveni David servum meum: * oleo sancto meo unxi servant: with my holy oil I eum. have anointed him. “For my hand shall help Manus enim mea_auxiliabitur ei: * et brachium me- him: and my arm shall strengthum confortabit eum. en him. Nihil proficiet inimicus in “The enemy shall have no eo: * et filius iniquitats advantage over him: nor the non apponet nocere ei. son of iniquity have power to hurt him. Et concidam a facie ipsius “And I will cut down his inimicos ejus: * et odientes enemies before his face: and eum in fugam convertam. them that hate him I will put to flight. Et veritas mea, et miseri“And my truth and my cordia mea cum ipso: * et mercy shall be with him: in nomine meo exaltabitur and in my name shall his cornu ejus. horn be exalted. CHRISTMAS DAY: MATINS 155 *And I will set his hand in the sea; and his right hand in the rivers. ‘He shall cry out to me: Thou art my Father, my God, and support of my salvation. “And I will make him my First-Born, high above the Kings of the earth. ‘T will keep my mercy for him for ever: and my covenant faithful to him. “And I will make his seed to endure for evermore: and his Throne as the days of heaven, *And if his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgements: “If they profane my justices, and keep not my commandments: “T will visit their iniquities with a rod: and their sins with stripes. “But my mercy I will not take away from him: nor will T suffer my truth to fail. * Neither will I profane my covenant: and the words that proceed from my mouth I will not make void. “Once I have sworn by my Holiness, T will not lie unto David: his seed shall endure for ever. * And his Throne as the sun before me: and as the moon perfect for ever, and a faithful witness in heaven.” These are thy words, O Lovd | but thou hast rejected and detum tuum, spised: thou hast put off thy Christ. Evertisti testamentum Thou hast overthrown the servi tui: * profanasti in covenant of thy servant: thou terra sanctuarium cjus. hast profaned his sanctuary on the earth. Et ponam in mari manum ejus, * et in fluminibus dexteram ejus. Ipse invocabit me: Pater meus es tu: * Deus meus, et susceptor salutis mez. Et ego primogenitum ponam illum: * excelsum pra regibus terr. In aternum servabo illi misericordiam meam: * et testamentum meum fidele ipsi. Et ponam in seculum seculi semen ejus: * et thronum ejus sicut dies ceeli. Si autem dereliquerint filii ejus legem meam: et in judiciis meis non ambulaverint. Si justitias meas profanaverint: * et mandata mea non custodierint. Visitabo in_virga iniquitates eorum: * et in verberibus peccata eorum. Misericordiam autem meam non dispergam ab eo: * neque nocebo in veritate mea. Neque profanabo testamentum meum: * et quaz procedunt de labiis meis, non faciam irrita. Semel juravi in Sancto meo, si David mentiar: * semen ejus in @ternum manebit. Et thronus ejus sicut sol in conspectu meo: * et sicut luna perfecta in @ternum, et testis in coelo fidelis. Tu vero repulisti et despexisti: * distulisti Chris- CHRISTMAS 156 Destruxisti omnes sepes ejus: * posuisti firmamentum ejus formidinem. Diripuerunt eum omnes transeuntes viam: * factus est_opprobrium vicinis suis. Exaltasti dexteram deprimentium_eum: * letificasti omnes inimicos ejus. Avertisti adjutorium gladii ejus: * et non es auxiliatus ei in bello. Destruxisti eum ab emundatione: * et sedem ejus in terram collisisti. Minorasti dies temporis ejus: * perfudisti eum confusione. Usquequo, Domine, avertis in finem: * exardescet sicut ignis ira tua ? Memorare que mea substantia: * numquid enim vane constituisti omnes filios hominum ? Quis est homo qui vivet, et non videbit mortem: * eruet animam suam de manu inferi ? Ubi sunt misericordia tuz antiquz, Domine: * sicut jurasti David in veritate tua ? Memor esto, Domine, opprobrii servorum tuorum: * (quod continui in sinu meo) multarum gentium. Quod_exprobraverunt inimici tui, Domine: * quod exprobraverunt commutationem Christi tui. Benedictus Dominus in @ternum: * fiat, fiat. ANT. alleluia: alleluia. Ipse invocabit Pater meus me, es tu, Thou hast broken down all his hedges: thou hast made his strength fear. All that pass by the way have robbed him: he is become a reproach to his neighbours. Thou hast set up the right hand of them that oppress him: thou hast made all his enemies to rejoice. Thou hast turned away the help of his sword: and hast not assisted him in battle. Thou hast made his purification to cease: thou hast cast his Throne down to the ground. Thou hast shortened the days of his time: thou hast covered him with confusion. How long, O Lord, turnest thou away unto the end ? shall thy anger burn like fire ? Remember what my substance is: for hast thou made all the children of men in vain ? Who is the man that shall live, and not see death ? that shall deliver his soul from the hand of hell ? Where, O Lord, are thy ancient mercies, according to what thon didst swear to David in thy truth ? Be mindful, O Lord, of the reproach of thy servants (which I have held in my bosom) of many nations: Wherewith thy enemies have reproached, O Lord: wherewith they have reproached the change of thy Christ. But, blessed be the Lord for evermore | this Chyist is coming to us, and this very night! 50 be it—so be it | ANT. He shall cry out to me, alleluia: ‘thou” art my Father:" alleluia. CHRISTMAS DAY: MATINS 157 The eighth Psalm is one of delighted joy at the coming of our Infant Jesus, our Saviour. It calls on all nations to adore him, and on all nature to do him homage. This Messias is come to reign over us: he is come to correct, that is, to uphold the whole of creation, which was fallen: a New Canticle, then, dear Christians ! ANT. Latentur ceeli, et exsultet terra ante faciem Domini, quoniam venit. ANT. Let the joice, and let the before the face for lo ! he cometh PSALM Q5 Cantate Domino canticum novum: * cantate Domino omnis terra. Cantate Domino, et benedicite nomini ejus: * annuntiate de die in diem SaIutare ejus. Annuntiate inter Gentes gloriam ejus: * in omnibus ‘populis mirabilia ejus. Quoniam magnus Dominus, et laudabilis nimis: * terribilis est super omnes deos. Quoniam omanes dii Gentium dzmonia: * Dominus autem coelos fecit. Confessio et pulchritudo in conspectu ejus: * sanctimonia et magnificentia in sanctificatione ejus. Afferte Domino _patriz Gentium, afferte Domino gloriam et honorem: * afferte Domino gloriam nomini ejus. Tollite hostias, et introite in atria ejus: * adorate Dominum in’atrio sancto ejus. Commoveatur a facie ejus universa terr: * dicite in Gentibus q Dominus regnavit. heavens reearth be glad, of the Lord; | Sing ye to the Lord a new canticle: sing to the Lord all the earth. Sing ye to the Lord and bless his name: show forth his Saviour from day to day. Declare his glory among the Gentiles: his wonders among all people. For the Lord is great, and exceedingly to be praised; he s to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the Gentiles are devils: but the Lord made the heavens. Praise and beauty are before him: holiness and majesty in his sanctuary. Bring ye to the Lord, all ye kindreds of the Gentiles, bring ye to the Lord glory and honour: bring to the Lord glory unto his name. Bring up sacrifices, and come into his courts: adore ye the Lord in his holy court. Let all the earth be moved at his presence: Say ye among the Gentiles: the Lord hath seigaed, e Jath seignad in bis vib. CHRISTMAS For by his much-loved Birlth Etenim correxit orbem terre qui_non _commove- he hath corrected the world, bitur; * judicabit populos which shall not be moved:he will judge the people with justice. in zquitate. Latentur cceli et exsultet Let the heavens rejoice, and terra, commoveatur mare let the earth be glad; let the 158 et plenitudo ejus: * gaudebunt campi et omnia qua in eis sunt. Tunc_exsultabunt _omnia ligna silvarum a facie Domini, quia venit: * quoniam venit judicare terram. Judicabit orbem terre in @quitate: et populos in veritate sua. ANT. Latentur ceeli, et exsultet terra, ante faciem Domini, quoniam venit. The ninth Psalm, sea be moved, and the fulness Canticle, in praise thereof; the fields and all things that are in them shall be joyful. Then shall all the trees of the woods rejoice before the face of the Lord, because he cometh: because he cometh to judge and save the earth. He shall judge the world with justice; and the people with his truth. ANT. Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad, before the face of the Lord; for lo | he cometh | too, is a New of the Saviour that is coming, and of the Father that sends him to us. Jehovah has remembered his mercies, and the whole earth will soon be permitted to see Emman- uel. Let our holy songs, this beautiful night, be full of enthusiasm, and lend a voice of praise to all Nature, for all Nature was regenerated by its Creator being born on this earth. ANT. Notum fecit nus, alleluia, Salutare alleluia. Domisuum, ANT. The Lord hath made known, alleluia! his Saviour, alleluia ! PSALM Q7 Cantate Domino cantiSing ye to the Lord a new cum novum: * quia mira- canticle: because he hath done bilia fecit. wonderful things. Salvavit sibi On this day, his right hand dextera ejus: * et brachium sanctum hath wrought for him salvaejus. tion; and his arm is holy. Notum fecit Dominus SaThe Lord hath made known lutare suum: * in conspectu his Saviour: he hath revealed CHRISTMAS Gentium revelavit justitiam suam. Recordatus est misericordiz suz, * et veritatis suz domui Isracl. Viderunt omnes termini terra: * salutare Dei nostri. Jubilate Deo omnis terra: * “cantate et exsultate et psallite. Psallite Domino in cithara, in cithara et voce psalmi: **in tubis ductilibus et voce tub cornez. Jubilate in conspectu Regis Domini: * moveatur mare, et plenitudo ejus, orbis’ terrarum, et qui habitant in eo. Flumina plaudent manu, simul montes exsultabunt a conspectu Domini: * quoniam venit judicare terram. Judicabit orbem terrarum in justitia: * et populos in =quitate. ANT. Notum fecit Dominus, alleluia, Salutare suum, alleluia. ¥. Ipse invocabit me, alleluia. Ry. Pater meus es tu, alleluia. Pater noster, DAY: MATINS 159 his justice in the sight of the Gentiles. He hath remembered his mercy, and his truth toward the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth, that weve expecting 4, have seen the salvation of our God. Sing joyfully to God, all the earth; make melody, rejoice and sing. Sing praise to the Lord on the harp, on the harp and with the voice of a psalm: with long trumpets and sound of cornet. Make a joyful noise before the Lord our King: let the sea be moved, and the fulness thereof; the world and they that dwell therein. The rivers shall clap their hands, the mountains shall rejoice together at the presence of the Lord; because he cometh to judge and save the earth. He shall judge the world with justice, and the people with equity. AN, The Lord hath made known, alleluia | his Saviour, alleluia | Y. He shall cry out to me, alleluia | Ry. ‘Thou art my Father,” alleluia ! Our Father. The Pater noster having been recited, as in the two first Nocturns, the Priest says: A vinculis peccatorum May the Almighty and mernostrorum absolvat nos om- ciful Lord deliver us from the nipotens et misericors Do- chains of our sins. Ry. Amen. minus. R7. Amen. Then are read the beginnings of the three Gospels which are said in the three Masses of Christmas Day. 160 CHRISTMAS To each portion of these Gospels is appended a passage from a Homily by one of the Holy Fathers. The first of the three is that of St Luke, and the Homily given is that of St Gregory the Great. It relates the publishing of the Emperor Augustus’s edict, commanding a census of the whole world. This seventh Lesson, according to the Ceremonial of the Roman Church, is to be sung by the Emperor, if he happen to be in Rome at the time; and this is done in order to honour the Imperial power, whose decrees were the occasion of Mary and Joseph going to Bethlehem, and Prophets. The to the lesson; puts designs of God, which he had revealed Emperor is led so fulfilling the to the ancient Pope, in the same manner as the Knight who had to sing the fifth he on the Cope; two Cardinal-Deacons gird him with the sword, and go with him to the Ambo. The Lesson being concluded, the Emperor again goes before the Pope, and kisses his foot, as being the Vicar of the Christ whom he has just announced. ~This ceremony was observed in 1468, by the Emperor Frederic III, before the then Pope, Paul II. Benepicrio. Evangelica BiessiN. May the readlectio sit_nobis salus et pro- ing of the Gospel bring us tectio| K. Amen. salvation and protection. K. Amen. SEVENTH LESSON Lectio sancti Evangelii se- Lesson from the holy Gospel cundum Lucam. according to Luke. Ch. II. Cap. II. In illo tempore, exiit At that time, there went out edictum a Camsare Augusto, a decree from Casar Augusut _ describeretur universus tus, that the whole world orbis. Et reliqua. should be enrolled. And the rest. Honmilia S. Gregorii Pap. Honmily of St Gregory, Pope. Quia, largiente Domino, Since, by the divine bounty, Missarum solemnia ter ho- we are this day thrice to celedie celebraturi sumus, loqui brate the solemn office of Mass, CHRISTMAS DAY: MATINS 161 diu de Evangelica lectione we cannot speak long on the non possumus; sed nos ali- lesson of the Gospel; and yet quid vel breviter dicere Re- this very Nativity of our Redemptoris nostri Nativitas deemer compels us to say ipsa compellit. Quid est something, however brief. cnim quod nascituro Do- Why, then, is it, that when mino, mundus describitur, our Lord was about to be nisi hoc quod aperte mon- born, the world is enrolled ; if stratur, qui ille apparebat not that hereby is shown that in carne, qui electos suos e who appeared in the flesh adscriberet in eternitate ? is he that would emrol his Quo contra de_reprobis per clect in eternity 2 Just as, Prophetam dicitur: Delcan- when speaking of the reprotur de libro viventium, et bate, the Prophet says: Let cum justis non scribantur. them' be blotted out of the book Qui bene etiam in Bethleof the living; and with_the hem nascitur: Bethlehem just let them mot be writlen. quippe domus panis inter- Then again: Jesus is born pretatur. Ipse namque est in Bethlchem ; 'tis well; for qui ait: Ego sum panis Bethlehem signifies a House of vivus qui de celo descendi. Bread, and Jesus said of himLocus ergo, in quo Domi- self: I am’ the living Bread nus pascitur, domus panis that came down from heaven. antea vocatus est: quia fu- The place, thercfore, in which turum profecto erat, ut ille he is born, had had the name ibi per materiam carnis ap- of House of Bread given to it, pareret, qui electorum men- because there would appear in the material reality of our tes interna satietate reficeret. Qui non in parentum flesh he who was to_refresh the souls of the elect with spiritual domo, sed in via nascitur, ut profecto ostenderet, quia repletion. And why is he per humanitatem suam, born, not at his Mother's home, quam assumpserat, quasi in but away from it? Is it not alieno nascebatur. to show how, by his assuming human nature, he was born, so to say, in a foreign country ? Ry Beata viscera Marie K. Blessed is the womb of Virginis, quz portaverunt the Virgin Mary, that bore the ®terni Patris Filium, et Son of the Eternal Father; beata ubera, que lactave- and blessed are the breasts runt Christum Dominum, * that fed Christ the Lord, * ui hodie pro salute mundi who deigned to be born this de Virgine nasci dignatus day of the Virgin for the st world’s salvation. Y. Dies sanctificatus il¥. A holy day hath shone lusit nobis; venite Gentes, upon us; come, ye Gentiles, et adorate Dominum. Qui and adore the Lord. * Who hodie. deigned. 162 The CHRISTMAS second of the three Gospels, which forms the subject of the eighth Lesson, is also taken from St Luke, and the Homily is by St Ambrose. 1t gives the description of the Shepherds going to the holy Stable. Benepictio. Per EvangeBressing. May our sins be lica dicta_deleantur nostra wiped away by the words of delicta. K. Amen. the Gospel. K. Amen. EIGHTH LESSON Lectio sancti Evangelii cundum Lucam. se- Cap. II. In illo tempore: Pastores loquebantur ad invicem: Transeamus usque Bethlehem, et videamus hoc verbum quod factum est, quod Domi- nus ostendit nobis. Etreliqua. Homilia sancti Ambrosii Episcopi. Videte Ecclesiz surgentis exordium: Christus nascitur, et Pastores vigilare coeperunt: qui gentium greges, pecudum more ante viventes, in caulam Domini congregarent, ne quos spiritualium bestiarum, _per offusas noctium tenebras paterentur incursus. Et bene pastores vigilant, quos bonus pastor informat. Grex igitur populus, nox saculum, pastores sunt sacerdotes. Aut fortasse etiam ille sit Pastor, cui dicitur: Esto vigilans et confirma; quia non solum Episcopos . ad tuendum gregem Dominus ordinavit, sed etiam Angelos ordinavit. Lesson of the holy Gospel according to Luke. Ch. II. At that time the Shepherds said one to another: Let us go over to Bethlehem, and let us see this word, that is come to pass, which the Lord hath showed unto us. And the rest. Homily of St Ambrose, Bishop. Here, see the beginning of the infant Church: Christ is born; and Shepherds are watching, as about to herd into the Lord’s fold that Gentile flock which had hitherto lived like brute animals, and this lest, during the thick darkness of night, they might suffer from the attacks of spiritual wild beasts. And it is well said that the Shepherds are watching, for Shepherds, trained by the Good Shepherd, do watch. So that the Flock is the people; the Night is the world; the Shepherds are the Priests. Or perhaps we might interpret him to be the Shepherd to whom it is said: Be tho watchful, and give strength ; for mot omly has our Lord set Bishops to guard the Flock, he has set the very Angels. CHRISTMAS R. Verbum caro factum est, et habitavit in nobis: * Et vidimus gloriam_ejus, gloriam quasi Unigeniti a Patre; plenum gratiz et veritatis, ¥. Omnia per ipsum facta sunt: et sine ipso factum est nihil. Et vidimus. Gloria. Et vidimus. The third Gospel, DAY: which MATINS 163 R. The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us: * And’ we saw his glory, the glory as it were of the OnlyBegotten of the Father; full of grace and truth. ¥. Al things were made by him; and without him was made nothing. * And we saw. Glory be to the Father, etc. * And we saw. forms the subject of the ninth Lesson, is the beginning of that according to St John, and is commented on by St At ugustine: it speaks of the Eternal Generation of the Word. BeNEDICTIO. Verba Sancti Evangelii_doceat nos Christus Filius Dei. K. Amen. NINTH ILectio sancti Evangelii secundum Joannem. Cap. I. In principio erat Verbum, et Verbum erat apud Deum, et Deus erat Verbum. Et reliqua. Homilia sancti Augustini Episcopi. Ne vile aliquid putares, quale consuevisti cogitare, cum verba humana soleres audire, audi quid cogites, Deus erat Verbum. Exeat nunc nescio quis infidelis Arianus, et dicat, quia Verbum Dei factum est. Quomodo_ potest fieri ut verbum Dei factum sit, quando Deus per Verbum fecit omnia? Si et Verbum Dei BrEssiNG, May Christ, the Son of God, teach us the words of the Holy Gospel. R. Amen. LESSON Lesson of the holy Gospel according to John. Ch. I. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the rest. Homily of St Augustine, Bishop. Lest thou shouldst think that this is some commonplace thing, as thou art wont to do when men talk to thee, hear what it is thou art to think: The Word was God. After this, some infidel Arian will come forward and tell me that the Word of God was made. How is it possible that the Word of could be made, when God CHRISTMAS 164 ipsum factum est, per quod aliud Verbum est? Si hoc dicis, quia hoc est Verbum Verbi, per quod factum est illud; ipsum dico ego unicum Filium Dei. Si autem non dicis Verbum Verbi, concede non factum, quod facta sunt omnia. per Non enim per seipsum fieri potuit, per quod facta sunt omnia. Crede crgo cvangelistze. made all things by the Werd ? If this very word of God was also made, by what other Word was he made ? If thou reply that the Word of the Word is the one by which he was made—then I will answer thee, that this very one is he whom we mean by the Son of God. But if thou do not say there is a Word that made the Word, then grant that he by whom all things were made was himself not made, since he by whom all things were made could not make himself. Therefore believe the Evangelist. Our three Night Vigils are over: we have sung our songs of praise; we have listened to our Mother the Church telling us of the Prophecies of the beautiful Coming: and meanwhile, the night has advanced, and now the long-expected, the ever-sacred hour of Midnight has come, and we are to see the Divine Infant Jesus, lying in his Crib and smiling upon his Mother. Jubilee is the duty of this sweetest moment: let our hearts beat with delight! Jesus, our Salvation, is coming down from heaven, and for our sakes. What a joy it is that our dear Church gives us a Canticle which is a worthy reception of this our God! Come then, Christians, let us make the holy place echo with our grand Te Deum / HYMN OF THANKSGIVING laudamus: * te We praise thee, O God ! we acknowledge thee to be our Dominum confitemur. Lord. Te Thee, the Father everlasting, mternum Patrem; * all the earth doth worship. omnis terra veneratur. Tibi omnes Angeli; * tibi To thee the Angels, to thee ceeli, et universe potestates. the heavens, and all the Powers: Tibi Cherubim et SeraTo thee the Cherubim and phim: * incessabili voce Seraphim, cry out without proclamant. ceasing: Te Deum CHRISTMAS DAY: MATINS 165 Sanctus, Holy | Sanctus, Holy | Sanctus, * Dominus Deus Holy ! Lord God of SaSabaoth | baoth | Pleni sunt ceeli et terra * Full are the heavens and the earth of the majesty of majestatis gloriz tuz. thy glory. Thee the glorious choir of Te gloriosus * Apostolorum chorus, the Apostles, Thee the laudable company Te Prophetarum * laudabilis numerus, of the Prophets, Thee the white-robed army Te Martyrum candidatus of Martyrs doth praise, * laudat exercitus, Te per orbem terrarum * Thee the Holy Church throughsancta confitetur Ecclesia: out the world doth acknowledge: " Patrem * immens® The Father of incomprehenmajestatis, sible majesty, Venerandum Thy adorable, true, and only vetuum rum, * et unicum Filium, Son, Sanctum quoque * ParaAnd the Holy Ghost the clitum Spiritum. Paraclete. Tu Rex glori, * Christe. Thou, O Christ, art the King of glory. Tu Patris, * sempiternus Thou art the everlasting Son es Filius. of the Father. Tu ad liberandum suscepThou being to take upon turus hominem, * non hor- thee to deliver man, didst not ruisti Virginis uterum. disdain the Virgin's womb. Tu devicto mortis aculeo: Thou having overcome the * aperuisti credentibus reg- sting of death, hast opened to na ceelorum. believers the kingdom of heaven. Tu ad dexteram Dei seThou sittest at ‘the right des: * in gloria Patris. hand of God, in the glory of the Father. Judex crederis * esse venThee we believe to be the turus. Judge to come. All kneel at the following verse : Te ergo quasumus, tuis famulis subveni, * quos pretioso sanguine redemisti. ZEterna fac cum sanctis tuis * in gloria numerari. Salvum fac populum tuum Domine: * et benedic hareditati tuw. We beseech thee, therefore, to help thy servants, whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious Blood. Make them to be numbered with thy saints in eternal glory. O Lord, save thy people, and bless thine inheritance. 166 CHRISTMAS Et rege eos: * et extolle illos usque in @ternum. Per singulos dies * benedicimus te. Et laudamus Nomen tuum in seculum: * et in szculum szculi. Dignare, Domine, die isto, * sine peccato mos custodire. Miserere nostri, Domine: * miserere nostri. Fiat misericordia tua Domine super nos, * quemadmodum speravimus in te. In te Domine speravi: * non confundar in zternum. Our Hymn And govern them, and exalt them for ever. Every day, we magnify thee. And we praise thy Name for ever and ever. Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this day without sin. Have mercy on us, O Lord, bhve mercy on us. Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, as we have put our trust in thee. In thee, O Lord. have I put my trust: let me not be confounded for ever. of thanksgiving sung, the Church con- cludes the Office of Matins by the following Prayer, in which she embodies all her desires on this feast of the New Birth of the Only-Begotten Son of God. OREMUS Concede, quasumus, omnipotens Deus, ut nos Unigeniti tui nova per carnem nativitas liberet, quos sub peccati jugo vetusta servitus tenet. Per eumdem. LET US PRAY Grant, we beseech Almighty God, that groan under the old of sin, may be freed by the new birth Only-Begotten Son. the same Jesus Christ, MIDNIGHT thee, O we who captivity therefrom of thine Through etc. MASS It is now time to offer the Great Sacrifice, and to call down our Emmanuel from heaven: he alone can fully pay the debt of gratitude which mankind owes to the Eternal Father. He will intercede for us on the Altar, as he did in his Crib. We will approach him with love, and he will give himself to us. But such is the greatness of to-day’s Mystery, that the Church is not satisfied with only once offering up the Holy Sacrifice. The long-expected and precious CHRISTMAS DAY: MIDNIGHT MASS 167 Gift deserves an unusual welcome. God the Father has given his Son to us; and it is by the operation of the Holy Ghost that the grand Portent is produced: let there be, then, to the triple Sacrifice ! ever Blessed Three, the homage of a Besides, this Jesus, who is born to-night, is born thrice. He is born of the Blessed Virgin, in the stable of Bethle- hem; he is born by grace, in the hearts of the Shepherds, who are the first fruits of the Christian Church; and he is born eternally from the Bosom of the Father, in the brightness of the Saints : to this triple Birth, therefore, let there be the homage of a triple Sacrifice ! The first Mass honours the Birth according to the Flesh, which, like the other two, is an effusion of the Divine Light. The hour is come: the people that walked in darkness have seen a great Light ; Light is risen to them that dwelt in the region of the shadow of death.* Out- side the holy place, where we are now assembled, there is dark Night: material Night, caused by the absence of the sun; spiritual Night, by reason of the sins of men, who either sleep in the forgetfulness of God, or wake to the commission of crime. At Bethlehem, round the Stable, and in the City, all is deep darkness; and the inhabitants, who would not find room for the Divine Babe, are sleeping heavily: will they awaken when the Angels begin to sing ? Midnight comes. The Holy Virgin has been longing for this happy moment. Her heart is suddenly overwhelmed with a delight which is new even to her. She her. and falls into an ecstasy of love. As her Child will one day, in his almighty power, rise through the unmoved barrier of his Sepulchre; so now, as a sunbeam gleaming through purest crystal, he is born, and lies on the ground before With arms outstretched to embrace her, smiling upon her: this is her first sight of her Son, who is Son also of the Eternal Father! She adores—takes him into her arms—presses him to her heart—swathes his infant limbs—and lays him down in the manger. s ix 2 168 Her CHRISTMAS faithful Joseph unites and so, too, do the Angels spot of earth, his adoration with hers; for, the Royal of heaven, Psalmist had sung this prophecy of their adoring him on his entrance into the world.! "Heaven opens over this men which call a Stable; and it from there mount to the Throne of the Eternal Father the first prayer, the first tear, the first sob of this his Son, our Jesus, who thus begins to tion. The eyes of the faithful are tuary, where the same Jesus is The procession of the sacred prepare the world’s salva- now riveted on the Sancto be their Holy Sacrifice. Ministers has entered the Holy of Holies, and the Priest comes with them to the foot of the Altar. canticle, speaking The Choir is singing its opening- the Introil ; where we to his Son, and saying: gotten thee. impatient Son of God. our God himself This Day have I be- Let the Nations rage, if they will, and be of the yoke shall subdue have them and of this Babe of Bethlehem; reign over them, he for he is the INTROIT Dominus dixit ad me: Filius meus es tu; ego hodic genui te. Ps. Quare fremuerunt gentes, et populi . meditati St " insnin? ¥ Gloria Patri. Dominus dixit. The Lord hath said unto me: Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Ps. Why have the nations raged, and the people devised vein things? ¥, Glory, ote. The Lord hath said, etc. The Angelic Hymn is preceded by the Kyrie eleison ; but these nine supplications for mercy over, it bursts forth with those sublime words: GLORIA IN EXCELSIS DEO; ET IN TERRA PAX HOMINIBUS BONZE VOLUNTATIS ! Let us unite, heart and voice, in this the chant of the Angels: Glory be to God ! Peace be to men ! These our heavenly Brethren first intoned it, and they are, at this moment, round our Altar, as they were round the Crib; they are singing our happiness. They are adoring that * Ps. xcvi 7; Heb. i 6. 169 CHRISTMAS DAY: MIDNIGHT MASS divine Justice, which gave not a Redeemer to fallen fellow-angels, yet to us gives the very Son of to be our Redeemer. They are magnifying that their God who so lovingly favours the weaker of the two. They deep humiliation of him who made both Angels and men, and know that our gratitude needs help, and so they lend us their sweet voices to give thanks to him who, by this mystery of love and magnificence, is enabling us poor mortals one day to fill up the thrones left vacant by the rebel spirits. Oh! yes; let us all, men and Angels, Church of earth Glory be to God of the Eternal order to enrich we cry out our and Tu of heaven, let us sing: ! and Peace to men! The more the Son Father has had to humble himself in and exalt us, the more fervently must warmest praise, and h; this Mystery of the Incarnation: minus | Church solus Tu solus Sanctus! altissimus, Jesu Tu solus Do- Christe! Thou only, O Jesus! art Holy ! Thou only art Lord ! Thou only art Most High ! . The Collect then follows, summing up all our prayers in one. COLLECT Deus, qui hanc sacratissimam_noctem veri luminis fecisti illustratione clarescere: da, quesumus, ut cujus lucis mysteria in terra cognovimus, ejus _quoque gaudiis in celo perfruamur. Qui tecum. O God, who hast enlightened this most sacred Night by the brightness of him who is the true Light: grant, we beseech thee, that we who have known the mysteries of this Light on carth, may likewise come to the enjoyment of it in heaven. Who liveth, etc. Lectio Epistole beati Pauli Lesson of the Epistle of St Paul Apostoli ad Titum. the Apostle to Titus. Cap. II. Ch. II. Carissime, apparuit _graDearly beloved, the grace of tia Dei Salvatoris nostri om- God our Saviour hath apnibus hominibus, erudiens peared to all men, instructing nos, ut, abmegantes impie- us_that denying ungodliness tatem et szcularia deside- and worldly desires, we should 170 CHRISTMAS ria, sobrie et juste et pie vivamus in hoc szculo: exspectantes beatam spem, et adventum gloriz magni Dei et Salvatoris nostri Jesu Christi: qui dedit semetipsum pro nobis, ut nos redimeret ab omni iniquitate, et mundaret sibi populum acceptabilem, sectatorem bonorum operum. Hzc loquere et exhortare, in Christo Jesu Domino nostro. live soberly and justly and godly in this world; looking for the blessed hope and coming of the glory of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and might cleanse to himself a people acceptable, a pursuer of good works. These things speak and exhort, in Jesus Christ our Lord. This God our Saviour hath at length appeared ! and with such grace and mercy! He alone could deliver us from dead works, and restore us to life. At this very hour, Crib, he appeareth to all men, laid in his narrow and fastly wrapped, as a Babe, in swaddling- clothes. Yes, here have we the Blessed One, whose visit we had so long hoped for! Let us purify our hearts, that he may be pleased with us; for though he is the Infant Jesus, he is also, as the Apostle has just told us, the Great God, and the Son of the Eternal Father, born from all eternity. Let us unite with the Angels and the Church in this hymn to our Great God, Jesus of Bethlehem. GRADUAL Tecum principium in_die virtutis tuz, in splendoribus sanctorum: ex utero ante luciferum genui te. ¥. Dixit Dominus Domino meo: sede a dextris meis, donec ponam inimicos tuos scabellum pedum tuorum. Alleluia, alleluia. Dominus dixit ad me: Filius meus es tu, ego hodie genui te. Alleluia. With thee is the principality in the day of thy strength, in the brightness of the Saints: from the womb, before the day-star, I begot thee. . The Lord said to my Lord: Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies my footstool. Alleluia, alleluia. ¥. The Lord hath said to me: Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. Alieluia. CHRISTMAS DAY: MIDNIGHT MASS 171 GOSPEL Sequentia sancti Evangelii secundum Lucam. Cap. II. In illo tempore: exiit edictum a Casare Augusto, ut _describeretur _universus orbis. Hec descriptio prima facta est a_ praside Syria Cyrino: et ibant omnes, ut profiterentur singuli in suam civitatem. Ascendit autem et Joseph a Galilza de civitate ~ Nazareth, in Jud=am, in civitatem David, qua vocatur Bethlehem; eo quod esset de domo et familia David, ut profiteretur cum Maria desponsata sibi uxore pragnante. Factum est autem, cum essent ibi, impleti sunt dies ut pareret. Et peperit mogenitum, filium et suum pannis pri- eum involvit, et reclinavit eum in prasepio; quia non erat eis locus in diversorio. Et pastores erant in regione eadem vigilantes, et custodientes vigilias noctis super gregem suum. Et ecce Angelus Domini stetit juxta illos, et claritas Dei circumfulsit illos, et timuerunt timore magno. Et dixit illis Angelus: ~ Nolite timere: ecce enim evangelizo vobis gaudium magnum, quod erit omni populo: quia natus est vobis hodie Salvator, qui est Christus Dominus, in civitate David. Et hoc vobis signum: Invenietis infantem pannis involutum, et positum in prasepio. Et subito facta est cum Angelo Sequel of the holy Gospel according to Luke. Ch. At that II. time, there went out a decree from Casar Augustus, that the whole world should be enrolled. This enrolling was first made by Cyrinus, the governor of Syria. And all went to be enrolled, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his espoused wife, who was with child. And it came to pass, that when they were there, her days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapt him up in swaddling-clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country Shepherds watching and keeping _the night-watches over their flock. And behold an Angel of the Lord stood by them, and the brightness of God shone round about them, and they feared with a great fear. And the Angel said to them: Fear not: for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, that shall be to all the people: for this day is born to you a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord, in the city of David. And 'this shall be a sign unto 172 CHRISTMAS multitudo militiz ceelestis, you: You shall find the Infant laudantium Deum, et dicen- wrapped in swaddling-clothes, centium: Gloria in altissi- and laid in a manger. And mis Deo, et in terra pax suddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the hominibus bone voluntatis. heavenly army, praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest; and on earth peace to men of good will. O Divine Infant ! we too must needs join our voices with those of the Angels, and sing with them: Glory be to God ! tears at followed hem; we whole and Peace to men!/ We cannot restrain our hearing this history of thy Birth. We have thee in thy journey from Nazareth to Bethlehave kept close to Mary and Joseph on the journey; we have kept sleepless this holy Night, waiting thy coming. watch during Praise be to thee, sweetest Jesus, for thy mercy ! and love from all hearts for thy tender love of us! Our eyes are riveted on that dear Crib, for our Salvation is there; and there we recognize thee as the Messias foretold in those sublime Prophecies which thy Spouse the Church has been repeating to us in her solemn prayers of this night. Thou art the Mighty God—the Prince of Peace—the Spouse of our souls—our Peace—our Saviour—our Bread of Life. And now what shall we offer thee? A good Will? Ah! dear Lord ! thou must form it within us; thou must increase it, if thou hast already given it; that thus, we may become thy Brethren by grace, as we already are by the human nature thou hast assumed. But, O Incarnate Word ! this Mystery of thy becoming Man works within us a still higher grace: it makes us, as thy Apostle tells us, pariakers of that divine nature* which is inseparable from thee in the midst of all thy humiliations. Thou hast made us less than the Angels in the scale of creation; but in thy Incarnation thou hast made us Heirs of God, and Joint-Heirs with thine own divine Self I* Never permit ' aStPetg. us, through our own weaknesses * Romuviii1 CHRISTMAS DAY: MIDNIGHT MASS 173 and sins, to degenerate from this wonderful gift, whereby thy Incarnation exalted us, and oh! dear Jesus, to what a height ! After the Gospel, the Church triumphantly chants the glorious symbol of our Faith, which tells, one by one, the Mysteries of the Man-God. At the words: Et Incarnatus “est de Spiritu Sancto ex Maria Virgine, ET Homo Factus EsT, profoundly adore the great God who assumed us, his poor our human nature, and became like unto creatures; let your adoration and love repay him, Priest rises from if it were possible, for this his incompre- hensible abasement. In each of to-day’s Masses, when the Choir comes to these words in the Credo, the the sedilia, and remains kneeling in humble adoration at the foot of the Altar whilst they are being sung. You must unite your adorations with :)hose of the Church, which is represented by the Celerant. During the Offering of the bread and wine, the Church tells us how the Birth of Jesus Christ filled heaven and earth with joy. In a few short moments there will be on our Altar, where we now see mere bread and wine, the Body and Blood of this same Jesus, our Emmanuel. OFFERTORY Latentur coeli et exsultet Let the heavens rejoice, and terra_ante faciem Domini, the earth be glad in the prequoniam venit. sence of the Lord, for he is come. SECRET Accepta tibi sit, Domine, quasumus, hodiernz festivitatis oblatio; ut, tua gratia largiente, per hac sacrosancta commercia in illius inveniamur forma, in quo tecum est nostra substantia. Qui tecum vivit, Receive, O Lord, the offerings we make to thee on this present solemnity: that by thy grace, through the intercourse of these sacred mysteries, we may be conformable to him in whom our nature is united to thine. Who liveth, etc. 174 CHRISTMAS The Preface then gives expression to the thanksgiving of the people, and finishes with the triple Sanctus to At the Elevation, when, in the the God of Sabaoth. midst of the mysterious silence, your Saviour, the Incarnate Word, descends upon the Altar, you must see, with the eye of your faith, the Crib, and Jesus stretching out his hands to his Eternal Father, and looking upon you with extreme tenderness, and Mary adoring him with a Mother's love, and Joseph looking on and weeping with joy, and the holy Angels lost in amazement You must give your heart to the at the mystery. New-Born Babe, that he may fill it with what he wishes to see there; nay, beg of him to fill it with himself, and make himself its Master and its All. After been sacred the Communion, the Church, which has just united to the Infant God by partaking of the mysteries, Generation the Bosom once more celebrates the Eternal of that Divine Word, who was born from of the Father before any creature existed, and who has appeared to the world this Night before the Day-Star has risen. COMMUNION In splendoribus SanctoIn the brightness of the rum, ex utero ante luciferum Saints, from the womb, before genui te. the day-star, I begot thee. The Church terminates this her first Sacrifice, by praying for the grace of indissoluble union with the Saviour who is born to her. POSTCOMMUNION Da nobis, quasumus, Domine Deus noster, ut qui Nativitatem Domini nostri Jesu Christi mysteriis nos irequentare gaudemus, dignis conversationibus ad ejus mereamur pervenire cOnSortium. Qui tecum. Grant, we beseech thee, O Lord our God, that we, who celebrate with joy the Birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, by partaking of these sacred mysteries, may, by a worthy conduct of life, come to be united with him. Who liveth, etc, CHRISTMAS MIDNIGHT DAY: MASS 175 The sacred Night is passing quickly on; and will soon bring us to the Second Mass, which is to sanctify the hour of day-break, or the Aurora. Every day in the year, the Church passes the hour before Sunrise in prayer, for the rising of the Sun is a beautiful figure of the mystery of Jesus' coming to this earth to give it light. This portion of the Divine Office is called Lauds, on account of its being wholly made up of praise and joy. On Christmas Day, however, she somewhat anticipates the usual hour, in order that she may begin, at the precise time of the Aurora, a more perfect and more divine Sacrifice of Praise—the Eucharistic Oblation, which satisfies all the obligations we owe to the Divine bounty. The Office of Lauds is celebrated with the same solemnity as that of Vespers; and altogether, the two Offices are much alike. Both of them tell us of the Divine Sun of Justice; Lauds celebrates his glorious rising, whilst Vespers which are said at sunset, when the shades of evening are beginning to fall upon the earth, remind us how we must long for that eternal Day which shall have no night, and whose Lamp is the Lamb.! Lauds are the morning, Vespers the evening incense. The mysteries of the liturgical day begin with the first, and end with the second. LAUDS ¥. Deus in adjutorium meum intende. K. Domine, ad adjuvandum me festina. Gloria_Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto: Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in szcula szculorum. Amen. Alleluia. Y. Incline unto my aid, O God. K. O Lord, make haste to help me. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Alleluia. The first Psalm of Lauds shows us our Lord in his infinite power and majesty. His admirable Birth has * Apoc. xxi 33. CHRISTMAS 176 renewed our earth. He is born in time; but he was before all time. The voice of the deep sea betokens marvellous power; the power of Emmanuel is far more wonderful. Let us lead lives worthy of the holiness of his House, which he has come to throw open to us. ANT. Quem vidistis pastores? Dicite: annuntiate nobis, in terris quis apparuit? Natum vidimus, et choros Angelorum collaudantes Dominum, alleluia, alleluia. ANT. Whom have ye seen, O Shepherds ? Say, tell us, who is it has appeared on the earth?—We have seen the Child that is born, and choirs of Angels praising the Lord, alleluia, alleluia. PSALM 2 Dominus regnavit, decorem indutus est: * indutus est Dominus fortitudinem et praecinxit se. Etenim firmavit orbem terre: * qui non commovebitur. Parata sedes tua ex tunc: * a szculo tu es. Elevaverunt flumina, Domine: * elevaverunt flumina vocem suam. Elevaverunt flumina fluctus suos: * a vocibus aquarum multarum. Mirabiles elationes maris: * mirabilis in altis Dominus. Testimonia tua credibilia facta sunt nimis: * domum tuam decet sanctitudo, Domine, in longitudinem dieTum. ANT. Quem vidistis pastores ? Dicite: annuntiate nobis, in terris quis apparuit? Natum vidimus, et choros _Angelorum collaudantes Dominum. Alleluia, alleluia. The Lord hath reigned, he is clothed with beauty: the Lord is clothed with strength, and hath girded himself. For this day, by his birth, he hath established the world, which shall not be moved. Thy throne, O Divine Infant 1 is prepared from of old: ‘thou art from everlasting. The floods have lifted up, O Lord ! the floods have lifted up their voice. The floods have lifted up their waves, with the noise of many waters. Wonderful are the surges of the sea: wonderful is the Lord on high. Thy_testimonies are become exceedingly credible: holiness becometh thy House, which is thy Church, O Lord, unto length of days. ANT. Whom have ye seen, O Shepherds? Say, tell us, who is it has appeared on the earth ?—We have seen the Child that is born, and choirs of Angels praising the Lord, alleluia, allelu CHRISTMAS DAY: LAUDS 177 The second Psalm is an invitation to all nations to enter into Bethlehem, that House of our Lord which is now filled with his sweet presence. He is the sovereign Pastor, and we are the sheep of his pasture. Though he be the Mighty God, yet is he most sweet and merciful; let us celebrate his coming with joy and gratitude. ANT. Genuit puerpera regem, cui nomen @ternum, et gaudia matris habens cum virginitatis honore, nec primam similem visa est, nec habere sequentem, alleluia. ANT. The Mother has given birth to the King, whose name is eternal: she has both a Mother's joy and a Virgin's privilege: not one has ever been, or shall ever be, like her, alleluia. PSALM g9 Jubilate Deo omnis terra: Sing joyfully to God, all the * servite Domino in latitia. earth | serve ye the Lord with gladness. Come in before his presence Introite in conspectu ejus: with exceeding great joy. * in exsultatione. Know ye that this Infant, Scitote quoniam Dominus ipse est Deus: * ipse fecit the Lord, is God: he made us, and not we ourselves. nos, et non ipsi nos. We are his people, and the Populus ejus, et oves pascuz ejus, * introite portas sheep of his pasture; go ye ininto ejus in confessione: atria ejus to his gates with praise: his courts with hymns, and in hymnis, confitemini illi. give glory to him. Praise ye his name, for the Laudate nomen ejus, quoniam suavis est Dominus; Lord is sweet: his mercy enin ternum misericordia ejus: dureth for ever: and his truth * et usque in generationem to generation and generation. et generationem veritas ejus. ANT. Genuit puerpera reANT. The Mother has given gem, cui nomen zternum, birth to the King, whose name et gaudia matris habens cum is eternal; she has both a virginitatis honore, nec pri- Mother’s joy and a_ Virgin's mam similem visa est, nec privilege: not ome has ever habere sequentem, alleluia. been, or shall ever be, like her, alleluia. The following Psalm is the prayer of the faithful soul to her God, at dawn of day. From her first waking, she thirsts after the Great God, her Creator and Redeemer. 178 CHRISTMAS To-day we have this same God lying before us in his Crib; he comes that he may fill our souls, and nourish us with his own substance—how shall we do otherwise than 7ejoice in him ? The orb of day will soon light up the east; but our Sun of Justice, the Lamb, is already shedding his bright soft rays upon us. May he mercifully pour out his light on all nations! May all the earth bless this divine Fruit, which the Virgin-Mother has yiclded | ANT. Angelus ad pastoANT. The Angel said unto res ait: Annuntio vobis the Shepherds: 1 bring you gaudium magnum: quia tidings of great joy; for this natus est vobis hodie Sal- day is born unto you the vator mundi, alleluia. Saviour of the world, alleluia. PSALM 62 Deus, Deus meus: * ad te de luce vigilo. Sitivit in te anima mea: * quam multipliciter tibi caro mea. In terra deserta, et invia, : * sic in sancto apparui ut viderem virtutem tuam. tuam, et gloriam Quoniam melior est misericordia tua super vitas: * labia mea laudabunt te. Sic benedicam te in vita mea: * et in nomine tuo levabo manus meas. Sicut adipe et pinguedine repleatur anima mea: * et labiis exsultationis laudabit ©0s meum. Si memor fui tui super stratum meum, in matutinis meditabor in te: * quia fuisti adjutor meus. Et in velamento alarum tumm anima exsultabo, mea post te: suscepit dextera tua. adhasit * me 0 God, my God, to thee do 1 watch at break of day. For thee my soul hath thirsted; for thee my flesh, oh | how many ways. In a desert land, and where there is no way, and no water: so in the sanctuary of Bethlehem have I come before thee, to see thy power and thy glory. For thy mercy is betfer than lives: thee my lips shall praise. Thus will I bless thee all my life long: and in thy name I will lift up my hands. Let my soul be filled as with marrow and fatness, O Bread of Life/ and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips. If 1 have remembered thee upon my bed, I will meditate on thee in the morning: because thou hast been my helper. And I will rejoice under the covert of thy wings; my soul hath stuck close to thee: thy right hand hath received me. CHRISTMAS Ipsi vero in vanum quasierunt animam meam, introibunt in inferiora terra: * tradentur in manus gladii, partes vulpium erunt. Rex vero letabitur in Deo, laudabuntur omnes qui jurant in eo: * quia obstructum est os loquentium iniqua. ANT. Angelus ad_pastores ait: Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum: quia natus est vobis hodie Salvator mundi, alleluia. The fiery DAY: LAUDS But they have 179 sought my soul in vain; they shall go into the lower parts of the earth: they shall be delivered into the hands of the sword, they be lthe portions of foxes. shal But the just man_thus delivered shall, as a King, rejoice in God; all they shall be praised that swear by him: because the mouth is stopped of them that speak wicked things. ANT. The Angel said unto the Shepherds: I bring you tidings of great joy; for this day is born unto you the Saviour of the world, alleluia. Canticle, in which the Three Children, Furnace of Babylon, bid all creatures in the of God bless his name, is sung by the Church in the Lauds of every Feast. It givesa voice to all creatures, and invites the whole universe to bless its divine Author. How just it is that on this day heaven and earth should unite in giving glory to God, who comes down among his own creatures, and repairs the injury done to them all by sin. ANT. Facta est cum Angelo multitudo_ccelestis exercitus laudantium Deum, et dicentium: Gloria in excelsis Deo, et in terra pax hominibus bonz voluntatis, alleluia. CANTICLE OF THE ANT. the Angel was a multitude of the heavenly army, praising God and_saying: Glory to God in the highest; and on earth peace to men of good will, alleluia. THREE (Dan. 3) Benedicite omnia opera Domini Domino: * laudate et superexaltate eum in s@cula. Benedicite Angeli Domini Domino: * benedicite cceli Domino. With CHILDREN All ye works of the Lord, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. O ye Angels of the Lord, bless the Lord: O ye heavens, bless the Lord. 180 CHRISTMAS O all ye waters, that are Benedicite aqua omnes, qua super calos sunt, Do- above the heavens, bless the mino: * benedicite omnes Lord: O all ye powers of the virtutes Domini Domino. Lord, bless the Lord. 0 'ye sun and moon, bless Benedicite sol et luna Dothe Lord: O ye stars of heaven, mino: * benedicite stelle ceeli Domino. bless the Lord. Benedicite omnis imber O every shower and dew, et ros Domino: * benedicite bless ye the Lord: O all ye omnes spiritus Dei Domino. spirits of God, bless the Lord. Benedicite ignis et stus O ye fire and heat, bless the Domino: * benedicite frigus Lord: O ye cold and heat, et @stus Domino. bless the Lord ¢ rores, ot pruina O ye dews and hoar frosts, : % benedicite gelu bless the Lord: O ye frost and cold, bless the Lord et frigus Domino. Bencdicite glacies et nives 0O'ye ice and snow, bless the Domino: * benedicite noc- Lord: O ye nights and days, tes et dies Domino. bless the Lord. Benedicite lux et tenebra O ye light and darkness, Domino: * benedicite fulgura bless ‘the Lord: O ye light' et nubes Domino. nings and clouds, bless the Lord. Benedicat terra DomiOh ! let the carth bless the num: * laudet et superex- Lord: let it praise and exalt altet eum in szcula. him above all for ever. Benedicite montes et colO ye mountains and hills, les Domino: * benedicite bless the Lord: O all ye things universa germinantia in that spring up in the earth, terra Domino. bless the Lord. Benedicite fontes DomiO ye fountains, bless the no: * benedicite maria et Lord: O ye scas and rivers, flumina Domino. bless the Lord. Benedicite cete, et omnia O ye whales, and all that quz moventur in aquis, move in the waters, bless the Domino: * benedicite omnes Lord: O all_ye fowls of the volucres cceli Domino. air, bless the Lord. Benedicite omnes _bestiz O all ye beasts and cattle, et pecora Domino: * bene- bless the Lord: O ye sons of dicite filii hominum Domino. men, bless the Lord. Benedicat Israel DomiOh! let Isracl bless the num: * laudet et superex- Lord: let them praise and altet eum in scula. exalt him above all for ever. Benedicite Sacerdotes DoO ye Priests of the Lord, mini Domino: * benedicite bless the Lord: O ye servants servi Domini Domino. of the Lord, bless the Lord. Benedicite spiritus et aniO ye spirits and souls of the me_justorum Domino: * be- just,” bless the Lord: O ye nedicite Sancti et humiles holy and humble of heart, bless corde Domino, the Lord. 181 CHRISTMAS DAY: LAUDS Benedicite Anania, AzaO Ananias, Azarias, Misadl, ria, Misagl Domino: * lau- bless ye the Lord: praise and date et superexaltate eum in szcula. Benedicamus Patrem et Filium cum sancto Spiritu: * laudemus et superexaltemus eum in secula. Benedictus es Domine in firmamento celi: * et laudabilis et gloriosus et su- exalt him above all for ever. Let us bless the Father, and the Son, with the Holy Ghost; let us praise and exalt him above all for ever. Blessed art thou, O Lord, in the firmament of heaven: and worthy of praise, and glorious, perexaltatus in szcula. and exalted above all for ever. ANT. Facta est cum AnANT. With the Angel was gelo multitudo ceelestis ex- a multitude of the heaxenly ercitus laudantium Deum et army, praising God and saydicentium: Gloria in excelsis ing: Glory to God in the highDeo, et in terra pax homis est; and on. earth peace to bus bon voluntatis, alleluia. men of good will, alleluia. The last Psalm of Lauds sings the praise of the Lord, and urges all creatures to bless his holy name. It has a great resemblance with the Canticle of the Three Children. ANT. A Little Child is this day born uato us, and he shall be called God, the Mighty One, alleluia, alleluia. AnT. Parvulus filius hodie natus est nobis, et vocabitur Deus, Fortis, alleluia, alleluia, PSALM Laudate Dominum de ccelis: * laudate eum in excelsis. Laudate eum omnes Angeli ejus: * landate eum omnes virtutes ejus. Laudate eum sol et luna: * laudate eum omnes stellz et lumen. Laudate eum ceeli caelorum: * et aquz omnes quz super ccelos sunt, laudent nomen Domini. Quia_ipse dixit et facta sunt: * ipse mandavit, et creata sunt. 148 Praise ye the Lord from the heavens: praise ye him in the high places. Praise ye him, all his Angels: praise ye him, all his hosts. Praise ye him, O sun and moon: praise ye him, all ye stars and light. Praise him, ye heavens of heavens: and let all the waters that are above the heavens praise the name of the Lord. For he spoke, and they were made: he commanded, and they were created. CHRISTMAS 182 He hath established them in seculum saculi: * pra- for _ever, and for ages of ages: ceptum posuit, et non pra- he hath made a decree, and it shall not pass away. teribit. Laudate Praise the Lord from the Dominum de earth, ye dragons and all ye * dracones et omnes terra: deeps. abyssi. Fire, hail, snow, ice, stormy Ignis, grando, nix, glacies, spiritus proceliarum: winds, which fulfil his word. * qua faciunt verbum ejus. Mountains and all hills; Montes et omnes colles: * ligna fructifera, et omnes fruitful trees, and all cedars. cedri. Beasts and all cattle; serBestiz et universa pecora: * serpentes et volu- pents and feathered fowls. cres pennatz. Kings of the earth, and all Reges terrz et omnes pouli: * principes et omnes people; princes and all judges of the earth. judices terre. Young men and maidens; Juvenes et virgines, senes cum junioribus, laudent let the old with the younger nomen Domini: * quia exal- praise the name of the Lord: tatum est nomen ejus solius. for his name alone is exalted. Confessio ejus super ceeHis praise is above heaven lum et terram: * et exaltavit and earth: and he hath fhis Day exalted the horn of his cornu populi sui. people. Hymnus _omnibus Sanctis A hymn to all his Saints: ejus: * filiis Israel, populo to the children of Israel, a appropinquanti sibi. people approaching to him. Ant. Parvulus filius hodie Ant. ‘A Little Child is this natus est nobis, et vocabitur day born unto us, and he Deus, Fortis, alleluia, alleshall be called God, the Mighty Tuia. One, alleluia, alleluia. Statuit ea in @ternum, et The Capitulum is taken from the Epistle of St Paul to the Hebrews; we shall have it repeated, with several additional verses, in the Epistle of the Third Mass. CAPITULUM (Heb. 1) Multifariam, multisque God, who at sundry times modis olim Deus loquens and in divers manners spoke patribus in Prophetis: no- in times past to the fathers vissime_diebus istis locutus by the Prophets; last of all est nobis in Filio, quem con- in these days hath spoken to CHRISTMAS stituit haredem universorum, per quem fecit et sacula! Ry. Deo gratias. Sedulius, a Christian DAY: LAUDS us by his Son, appointed Heir by whom also world. Ry. Thanks be Poet whom he hath of all things, he made the to God. of the fourth the author of the beautiful Hymn 183 century, which now follows: HYMN! is A solis ortus cardine From where the sun rises to the furthest west, let us all Ad usque terra limitem, Christum canamus Princi- sing to Jesus our King, the Son of the Virgin Mary. pem, Natum Maria Virgine. Beatus auctor saculi The blessed Creator of the universe assumed the Body of Servile corpus induit: a servant: that he might thus Ut carne carnem liberans, by Flesh deliver flesh, and Ne perderet quos condidit. save from perdition the creatures of his hands. Casta Parentis viscera The heavenly grace enters Ceelestis intrat gratia: into the womb of the VirginMother: the young Maiden Venter puellz bajulat Secreta, quz non noverat. carries within “her a Secret which she knows not. Domus pudici pectoris This chastest living DwellTemplum repente fit Dei; ing becomes, in that instant Intacta nesciens virum, God's own Temple: the purest Concepit alvo Filium. of Virgins conceives the Son of God. + In the Monastic Breviary, it is as follows: Verbum caro factum est, * Ry breve.Allluia. Alleluia, Vecbum. Y. Et habitavit 'in_nobis. * Alleluia, alleluia. Gloria Patri. Verbum. A soli ortus cardine Ad usque terra limitem, Christum canamus Principem, Natum Maria Virgine. Beatus Auctor seculi Servile corpus induit; Ut Carne carnem liberans, Ne perderet quos condidit. Cast Parentis viscera Caslestis intrat gratia: Venter Pueliz bajulat Secreta, qua non noverat. ‘Domus pudici pectoris Templum repente it Dei: Intacta nesciens virum, Verbo concepit Filium. Enixa est Puerpera Quem Gabriel praxiixerat, Quem matris alvo gestieas, Clausus Joannes senserat. Faeno Jacere pertulit. Prasepe non abhorruit: Parvoque lacte pastus est, Per quem nec ales esurit. Gaudet chorus calestium, Et Angeli canunt Deo: Palamque fit pastoribus Pastor, Creator omnium. Gloria tibi Doine, Qui natus es de Virgine, Cum Patre et Sancto Spirita, In sempiterna sacula. Amep. CHRISTMAS 184 She gives him birth: him whom Gabriel had _foretold, and whom the Baptis, exulting in his mother’s womb, perceived when yet unborn. He suffered himself to be laid on the straw: he disdains not the Crib: and he who feeds the hungry birds, is fed himself on a few drops of milk ! The heavenly citizens keep glad choir, singing their angelhymns to God: and the Shepherd, the Creator of the world, is looked at by shepherds. Glory be fo thee, O_Jesus, that wast born of the Virgin ! and to the Father, and to the Spirit of Love, for everlasting ages. Amen. Amen. ¥. Notum fecit Dominus, ¥. The Lord hath made alleluia. known, alleluia. K. Salutare suum, alleluia. ;. His salvation, alleluia. Enititur puerpera Quem Gabriel pradixerat, Quem ventre matris gestiens, Baptista clausum senserat. Foeno jacere pertulif Prasepe non abhorruit: Et lacte modico pastus est, Per quem nec ales esurit. Gaudet chorus ceelestium, Et Angeli canunt Deo; Palamque fit pastoribus Pastor, creator omnium. Jesu, tibi sit gloria, Qui natus es de Virgine, Cum Patre et almo Spiritu, In sempiterna szcula. The Canticle of Zachary is now sung: it is the Church’s daily welcome of the rising Sun. It celebrates the coming of Jesus to his creatures, the fulfilment of the promises made by God, and the apparition of the divine Orient in the midst of our darkness. ANT. Gloria in excelsis ANT. Glory be to God in Deo, et in terra pax homi- the highest; and on earth nibus bonz voluntatis, alle- peace to men of good will, luia, alleluia. alleluia, alleluia. CANTICLE OF ZACHARY (St Luke 1) Benedictus Dominus Deus Israel: * quia visitavit, et fecit suz. Et redemptionem erexit cornu * in domo Blessed be the Lord God of Israel: because he hath this plebis day visited and wrought the redemption of his people. salutis And hath raised up an horn David of salvation to us, in the house of David his servant. CHRISTMAS DAY: LAUDS 185 Sicut locutus est per os As he spoke by the mouth Sanctorum: * qui a szculo of his holy Prophets, who are from the beginning. sunt Prophetarum ejus. Salvation from our enemies, Salutem ex inimicis nosand from the hand of all that * et de manu omnium tris: hate us. qui oderunt nos. To perform mercy to our Ad faciendam misericordiam cum Patribus nostris: * et me- Fathers, and to remember his morari testamenti sui sancti. holy testament. Jusjurandum quod juraThe oath which he swore to vit ad Abraham patrem nos- Abraham our Father; that trum: * daturam se nobis. he would grant to us. Ut sine timore de manu That being delivered from inimicorum _nostrorum li- the hand of our enemies, we berati: * serviamus illi. may serve him without fear. In sanctitate et justitia Tn holiness and justice becoram ipso; * omnibus die- fore him, all our days. bus nostris. Et tu puer, Propheta AlAnd thou, child, the Precursor tissimi vocaberis: * praibis of our Emmanuel, shalt be called enim ante faciem Domini the Prophet of the Most High: parare vias ejus. for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways. Ad dandam scientiam To give to his people the salutis plebi ejus: * in re- knowledge of the Salvation missionem peccatorum eo- brought them by the Messias, rum. unto the remission of their sins. Per viscera misericordiz Through the bowels of the Dei nostri: * in quibus vi- mercy of our God, in which sitavit nos Oriens ex alto. the Orient from on high hath visited us. To enlighten them that sit Tiluminare his qui in_tenebris et in umbra mortis se- in darkness and in the shadow dent: * ad _dirigendos pedes of death; to direct our feet nostros in viam pacis. into the way of peace. ANT. Gloria in excelsis ANT. Glory be to God in Deo, et in terra pax homi- the highest; and on earth nibus bonz voluntatis, alle- peace to men of good will, luia, alleluia. alleluia, alleluia. COLLECT Concede, quasumus, omGrant, we beseech thee, O Alnipotens Deus, ut nos Uni- mighty God, that we who groan i tui nova per carnem under the old captivity of sin, Nativitas liberet, quos sub may be freed therefrom by the peccati jugo vetusta servitus new birth of thine Only-Begotten tenet. Per eumdem. Son. Through the same, etc. 186 CHRISTMAS THE SECOND MASS, OR MASS AURORA OF THE The Office of Lauds is finished: the Canticles of joy wherewith the Church thanks the Eternal Father for his having made to rise upon us the divine Sun of Justice are ended. It is time to offer up the second or, as it is called, the Mass of the Aurora. Sacrifice, In the first, the Church celebrated the temporal Birth of the Word according to the flesh. In this, she is going to honour the second Birth of the same Son of God; a Birth full of grace and mercy ; that which is accomplished in the heart of the faithful Christian. See, then, how, at this very hour, Shepherds are told by the Angels to go to Bethlehem, and how they hasten thither. With great eagerness they enter the Stable, which is scarcely large enough to hold them. Obedient to the warning received from heaven, they are come to see the Saviour, who, they have been told, has been born unto them. They find all things just as the Angels had said. Who oould tell the joy of their hearts, and the simplicity of their faith? They are not surprised to find, in the midst of poverty greater even than their own, him whose Birth has made the very Angels exult. They find no difficulty in acknowledging the wonderful mystery; they adore, they love, the Babe that lies there before them. Christians, and the Christian Church They are at once begins in them; the mystery of a God humbled for man finds faith in these humble souls. Herod will plot the death of this Babe; the Synagogue will rage; the Scribes and Doctors will league together against the Lord and his Christ; they will put this Saviour of Israel to death; but the fa.\th of the Shepherds will not be shaken, and will find imitators in the wise and powerful ones of this world, who will come at last, and bow down their reason to the Crib and the Cross. What is it that has come over these poor Shepherds ? DAY: CHRISTMAS SECOND 187 MASS Christ has been born in their hearts; he dwells in them by faith and love. They are our Fathers in the Church. They are our Models. Let us imitate them, and invite the Divine Infant to come into our souls, which we will so prepare for him, that he may find nothing to prevent his entering. It is for our sakes also that the Angels speak; it is to us also that they tell the glad tidings; for the Mystery that has been accomplished this Night is too grand to have the pastoral slopes of Bethlehem for its limits. In order to honour the silent coming of the Saviour into the souls of men, the Priest is pre- paring to go to the altar, and a second time to offer the spotless Lamb to the Father who hath sent him. As the Shepherds fixed their eyes on the Crib, so let ours be on the Altar, where we are soon to behold the same Jesus, hidden under appearances that are humbler even than the swathing-bands. These rustic swains enter into the Cave, not yet knowing him, whom they are going to see; but their hearts are quite ready for the revelation. as they gaze upon Suddenly they see the Infant; and him in speechless wondering, Jesus looks at them from his Crib, and smiles upon them: they are changed men, fuil of light, and the Sun of Justice has made Day in their souls. It is to be the same with us: the words of the Prince of the Apostles are to be verified in us: the Light that shineth in a dark place, has been our one desire and atfention ; now the Day will dawn, and the Day-Star arise in our hearts. This long longed-for Aurora has come! The divine Orient has risen upon are his be be us, to set now no more; for, we firmly resolved to keep from the night of sin, which grace has destroyed. His mercy has made us to children of light and children of the day.* There must no more sleep of death for us. We must watch in ceaseless vigilance, remembering how the Shepherds were keeping their walch, when the Angel came to speak to them, and Heaven opened over their heads. All the Chants of this Mass of the Aurora speak to us of the * 25t Pet.i 19, * 1 Thess. v's. 188 CHRISTMAS brightness of the Sun of Justice; they must be sweet to us, as to captives, long buried in the cold darkness of their dungeon, is the ray of that morning which is to set them free. See, Christians, how this God of Light shines upon us from his Crib ! The face of his mother is lit up with the immense brightness, on which she looks with all the fixedness of her contemplating love; and Joseph, too, has the shining vivid on his features, which makes them more beautiful and venerable than we have ever seen them. Passing by the ungrateful Bethlehem, which deserves to be left in darkness, this same divine Light breaks upon the whole world beyond the Cave, and gradually enkindles within millions of hearts a burning love for this glorious Sun of Justice, who delivers man from the labyrinth of his errors and passions, showing him and giving him the sublime end for which he was created. In the very midst of her celebration of this mystery of the Birth of Jesus, the Church offers us another object of admiration and joy: it is one of her own children. Whilst solemnizing the divine Mystery of to-day’s Feast, those she ccmmemorates glorious heroines in this second who preserved Mass the one Light of of Christ within their souls, in spite of all the attacks made to rob them of it. Her name is Anastasia. This holy Widow of Rome suffered martyrdom under the perse- cution of Diocletian, and had the privilege of being thus born to eternal life on the Birthday of that Jesus for whom she suffered death. She had been married to a Pagan of the name of Publius; against himself also a Roman; her on account who, being irritated of her great charities to the Christians, treated her with every sort of cruelty. endured all with admirable patience; and when She this heavy trial was removed from her by the death of her husband, she devoted herself to holy Confessors who had been Rome for the Faith. Being as a Christian, she was tied to visiting and solacing the cast into the prisons of at length apprehended a stake and burned to CHRISTMAS DAY: SECOND MASS 189 death. Her Church in Rome, which is built on the site where formerly stood her house, is the Station for this Second Mass. The to say it here, and Sovereign the ancient Pontiffs in later times by Pope Leo XII. custom used formerly was observed How admirable is this delicate considerateness of our holy Mother the Church! Wishing to associate one of her Saints with the glory of this present Solemnity, on which the Virginity of Mary receives its triumphant recompense, it is a holy Widow that is chosen for this signal honour; that it might hereby be shown how the Married State, though inferior in merit and holiness to the state of Virginity, is not excluded from the blessings which the Birth of the Son of Mary merited for the world. There was a Virgin, St Eugenia, that might so well have been selected; for she suffered a glorious martyrdom under Galerian on this same feast, and in the same City as did the wife of Publius: but no—the preference is given to Anastasia, the Widow. This choice of the Church, which is dictated by her heavenly wisdom, and by the love she has for all her children, forcibly reminds us of a beautiful passage in one of St Augustine’s Sermons for Christmas Day. ‘Exult, O ye Virgins of Christ! for the Mother of Christ is your companion. You could not be his Mother; but for his sake you would be Virgins: he that is not born of you, is born fo you. And yet you remember his words: Whosoever shall do the will of my Father, is my brother and sister and mother* Now have you not done the will of his Father ? ‘ Exult, O ye Widows of Christ ! for ye have vowed a holy continency to him, that made Virginity fruitful. And thou too, O nuptial chastity ! you, I mean, that are faithful in the married state, you also may exult; for what you lose in the body, you do not lose in your hearts. - - ._ Let your soul be virginal by its faith, for it is by her Faith that the Church is a Virgin. . . . Jesus is Truth and Peace and Justice; conceive him by your 2 St Matt. xii s0. 190 CHRISTMAS faith, give him birth by your good works; what the womb of Mary did in the Flesh heart may do in the law of Jesus. Believe selvesare children of virginity, for are you bers of Christ ? Mary in order that of Jesus, your me, you yournot the mem- is Mother of Jesus, who is our Head; and the Church is the mother of you who are his members. Yes, the Church is, like Mary, both Mother and Virgin: she is Mother by her tender charity; and Virgin by the purity of her faith and holiness.”* But the Holy Sacrifice is about to commence. The Introit tells us of the Birth of Jesus our Sun of Justice. The brightness of his first rising is the presage of his mid-day splendour. Strength and Beauty are his. He is armed for victory, and his name is Prince of Peace. INTROIT Lux fulgebit hodie super nos; quia natus est nobis Dominus: et vocabitur Admirabilis, Deus, Princeps pacis, Pater futuri saculi; cujus regni non erit finis. Ps. Dominus regnavit, decorem indutus est: indutus est Dominus fortitudinem, et pracinxit se. ¥. Gloria Patri. Lux fulgebit. A light shall shine upon us this day; because the Lord is born for us: and his name shall be the Wonderful One, God, the Prince of Peace, the Father of the world to come; of whose reign there shall be noend. Ps. The Lord hath reigned, he is clothed with beauty: the Lord is clothed with strength, and hath girded himself. ¥. Glory, etc. A light. The prayer of the Church, in this the Mass of the Aurora, begs God to pour upon our souls the rays of the Sun of Justice, that so we may become fruitful in works of Light, and be no more the slaves of darkness. COLLECT Da nobis, quzsumus, omnipotens Deus, ut qui nova incarnati Verbi tui luce perfundimur, hoc in nostro resplendeat opere, quod per fidem fulget in mente. Per eumdem. Grant, we beseech thee, O Almighty God, that as we are enlightened by the new light of thy Word become flesh, we may show, in our actions the effects of that faith which shineth in our minds. Through the same, etc. * Ninth Sermon On our Lord's Nativity. CHRISTMAS DAY: SECOND MASS 191 Commemoration of St Amastasia Da, quesumus, omnipotens Deus, ut qui beatz Anastasiz, Martyris tue, solemnia_colimus, ejus apud te patrocinia sentiamus. Per Dominum. Grant, we beseech thee, O Almighty God, that as we celebrate the solemnity of blessed Anastasia thy Mtyartyr we may be sensible of the effects of her prayers to thee in our behalf. Through, etc. EPISTLE Lectio Epistole beati Pauli Apostoli ad Titum. Cap. III. Carissime: _apparuit benignitas et humanitas Salvatoris nostri Dei: non ex operibus justitiz, qua fecimus nos; sed secundum suam misericordiam salvos nos fecit per lavacrum regenerationis, et renovationis Spiritus Sancti, quem effudit in nos abunde per Jesum Christum Salvatorem nostrum: ut justificati gratia ipsius, hzredes simus secundum spem vitz aternz, in Christo Jesu Domino nos- Lesson of the Epistle of St Paul the Apostle to Titus. Ch. III. Most dearly beloved: the goodness and kindness of God our Saviour appeared: mot by the works of justice which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the laver of regeneration and renovation of the Holy Ghost, whom he hath poured forth upon us abundantly, through Jesus Christ our Saviour: that being justified by his grace, we may be heirs according to hope of life everlasting, through Jesus Christ our Lord. tro. This Sun which has appe: ared on our earth is God our Saviour, full of tenderest mercy. We were far off from God, and were sitting in the shades of death; the rays of the divine Light had to reach down to us.in the deep abyss of our sins; and now, praise be to this Infinite Mercy | we are set free, and with our freedom have of that love, received regeneration, justification, and heirship to eternal life. Who shall henceforth separate us from the love of this Infant Jesus? Is it possible that we ourselves can ever frustrate the designs by rendering all that it has done for us useless, and becoming once more the slaves of darkness and death ? CHRISTMAS 192 May God forbid it! and grant us grace to maintain our hope of everlasting life, which the Mystery Redemption has purchased for us. of our GRADUAL Benedictus qui _venit _in nomine Domini: Deus Dominus, et illuxit nobis. ¥. A Domino factum est istud, et est mirabile in oculis nostris. Alleluia, alleluia. ¥. Dominus regnavit, decorem induit: induit Dominus fortitudinem, et precinxit se virtute. Alleluia. Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord: the Lord is our God, and he hath shone upon us. ¥. This is the Lord’s doing, and it is wonderful in our eyes. Alleluia, alleluia. Y. The Lord hath reigned, he is clothed with beauty: the Lord is clothed with strength, and hath girded himself with might. Alleluia. Sequentia sancti Evangelii secundum Lucam. Cap. II. In illo tempore: Pastores loquebantur ad invicem: Transeamus usque Bethlehem, et videamus hoc verbum quod factum est, quod Dominus ostendit nobis. Et venerunt festinantes; et invenerunt Mariam et Joseph, et infantem positum in presepio. Videntes autem cognoverunt de verbo quod dictum_erat illis de puero hoc. Et omnes qui audierunt, mirati sunt, et de his qua dicta erant a pastoribus ad ipsos. Maria autem conservabat omnia verba hazc, conferens in corde suo. Et reversi sunt pastores glorificantes et laudantes Deum in omnibus quz audierant et viderant, sicut dictum est ad illos. Sequel of the holy Gospel according to Luke. Ch. II. At that time: The Shepherds said one to another: Let us go over to Bethlehem, and let us see this word that has come to pass, which the Lord hath showed to us. And they came with haste; and they found Mary and Joseph and the Infant lying in a manger. And_seeing, they understood of the word, that had been spoken to them concerning this Child. And all that heard, wondered; and at those things that were told them by the Shepherds. But Mary kept all these words, pondering them in her heart. And the Shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. CHRISTMAS DAY: SECOND 193 MASS Let us imitate the earnestness of the Shepherds in hastening to Jesus. No sooner do they hear the Angel’s words, than they start for the holy Stable in Bethlehem. Once in the presence of the Divine Infant they know him by the sign that had been given them by the Angel; and Jesus is born in their souls by his grace. These happy men delight now in their poverty, for they find that he too is poor. They feel that they are united to him for ever, and their whole lives shall testify to the change that this December Night has worked in them. They do not keep the great event to themselves; they tell every one about the Babe of Bethlehem, they become his Apostles, and their burning words fill their listeners with astonishment. Like them, let us glorify the great God, who, not satisfied with calling us to the admirable Light, has set it in the very centre of our hearts by uniting us to himself. Let us often think of the Mysteries of this glorious Night, after the example of Mary, who keeps unceasingly in her most pure Heart the wonderful :lhings that God has been accomplishing by her and in er. During the Offertory of the sacred gifts, the Church extols the power of Emmanuel, who, that he might reform this fallen world, humbled himself so far as to have a few poor Shepherds for his courtiers, he whose Throne and Divinity are from eternity. OFFERTORY Deus firmavit orbem terGod hath established the r2, qui non commovebitur: world, which shall not be parata sedes tua, Deus, ex moved: thy throne, O God, is tunc; a szculo tu es. prepared from of old; thou art from everlasting. SECRET Munera nostra, quasuMay the offerings, O Lord, mus, Domine, Nativitatis which we make, be agreeable to hodiern® mysteriis apta the mystery of this day’s Birth, proveniant, ef pacem nobis and always pour forth peace semper infundant: ut, sicut upon us: that as he who, 13 194 CHRISTMAS homo_genitus idem refulsit though born Man, showed et Deus; sic nobis hac self also God, so may earthly substance give us terrena substantia conferat quod divinum est. Per eum- which is divine. Through dem. same, Commemoration Accipe, quasumus, Domine, munera dignanter oblata: et beatz Anastasie, martyris tue, suffragantibus meritis, ad nostrz salutis _ auxilium provenire concede. Per Dominum. After both Priest and etc. himthis that the of St Amastasia Graciously receive, O Lord, we beseech thee, our offerings, and grant, by the merits of blessed Anastasia, thy Martyr, that they may avail to our salvation. Through, etc. people have communicated, the holy Church, all illumined with the sweet Light of her Spouse, to whom she has just been united, applies to herself the words which the Prophet Zachary formerly ad- dressed to her, when he announced the coming of the King her Saviour. COMMUNION Exsulta, filia Sion; lauda, filia Jerusalem: ecce Rex tuus Venit Sanctus, et Sal- ‘vator mundi. Rejoice, O daughter of Sion; shout for joy, O daughter of Jerusalem: " behold | thy King will come fo thee, the Holy One, and the Saviour of the world. POSTCOMMUNION Hujus nos, Domine, saMay we, O Lord, always recramenti semper novitas ceive new Light from this natalis instauret: cujus na- Sacrament, which reneweth to tivitas singularis humanam us the memory of that wonderrepulit vetustatem. Per eum- {ul Birth which destroyed the old dem Dominum. man. Through the same, etc. Commemoranor. of St Anastasia Satiasti, Domine, familiam tuam muneribus sacris:_ejus, qumsumus, int ventione nos refove, cujus solemnia celebramus. Per Dominum. Thou hast fed, O Lord, thy family with these sacred oblations; ever, therefore, comfort us with her intercession, whose feast we celebrate, Through, etc. CHRISTMAS DAY: SECOND MASS 195 The Mass of the Aurora ended, and the Birth of Grace having been honoured by this second immolation of the divine Immortal Victim, the Faithful retire from the Church, that they may refresh themselves by sleep, and so be in readiness for the Third Mass. Mary and Joseph are in the Stable of Bethlehem, watching near the Crib. The light which reflects from the new-born Babe, and surpasses the brightness of the sun that is just rising, fills the Cave and shines on the rocks outside; but now that the Shepherds are gone, and the Angels are singing elsewhere, there is silence in the sacred grotto. As we lie down to take our rest, let us think upon the Divine Infant, and how he passes this his first night in his humble Crib. That he may conform to the has assumed, comes, because but even while necessities of our human nature, which he he closes his tender eyelids, and sleep he so wills it, and lulls his senses to rest: asleep, his heart watcheth,* offering itself unceasingly for us. At times, he smiles on his Mother, who keeps her eyes fixed on him, loving him as she alone can love; he prays to his Eternal Father, and implores pardon for guilty man; he expiates our pride by his own humiliations; he shows himself to us as the model of the infancy we must now begin to practise. Let us ask him to give us of the merit which attaches to this his sleep; that so, after having slept in peace, we may wake in his grace, and walk on strenuously in the path we have now entered. EARLY MORNING BEFORE MASS The merry-pealing bells have wakened us up, echo- ing to us the sweet inviting us to come burden of our Matin-Song, once more and and adore our Jesus, and assist at the Mass of the Day, which we call the Third Mass : Christ is born unto us ; come | let us adore | The sun is shining in the east—not, 3 Cant. v 2. indeed, as he 196 CHRISTMAS will in his summer’s pride; still, brightly enough to tell us that his triumph over winter has begun. Now, we say, the day will grow longer ! Under this emblem, let us see and adore our Sun of Justice, Jesus, our sweet Saviour, who has also begun, to-day, to run his trium- phant course !* Until the hour of Mass comes, let us keep up in our souls the spirit of this glorious Festival, by reading the following selections from the ancient Liturgies. They are full of joy and tender devotion, and tell us of the triumph of Light, of the loveliness of the new-born Babe, and of the glory of the Virgin-Mother. ‘We will begin with these stanzas of Prudentius, the prince of Christian Poets: they are taken from his Hymn, which is thus headed: The Eighth of the Kalends of January : (VIII Kal. Januarias). Quid est, quod arctum circulum Sol jam recurrens deserit ? Christusne terris nascitur Qui lucis auget tramitem ? Heu, quam fugacem gratiam Festina volvebat dies | Quam pene subductam facem Sensim recisa extinxerat | Ceelum nitescat lztius, Gratetur et gaudens humus; Scandit gradatim denuo Jubar priores lineas. Te cuncta nascentem, puer, Sensere dura, et barbara, Victusque saxorum rigor Obduxit herbam cotibus. Jam mella de scopulis fluunt, Jam stillat ilex arido HYMN Why is it that the Sun, which’ rises to-day, leaves his narrow path? Is it not that Jesus is born on our earth, Jesus, who comes to widen for us the way of Light ? Ah! how speedily did the rapid Day turn his sweet face from us! how, each time, shorter was his stay, preparing us for total night ! But now let the heavens wear brighter looks, and the glad earth be happy, for, the Sun begins once more to mount the longer path. Dear Infant Jesus! all things, however hard and senseless, feel that thou art born: the very stomes relent, and verdure comes from rocks, The flinty mountainiside drips now with honey; the oak’s stiff trunk now sweats its 2 Ps. xviii6. CHRISTMAS DAY: Sudans amomum stipite; Jam sunt myricis balsama. O sancta prasepis tui, ZEterne Rex, cunabula, Populisque per seclum sacra, Mutis et ipsis credita. EARLY MORNING 197 sappy tears; and balsam oozes now from humblest shrub. How holy is thy cradle-crib, O King eternal! How sacred ever to mankind! Nay, the very Ox and Ass stand over it as theirs | Now let us listen to the several Churches, beginning with those of the East, as being nearest to the country where the First, comes the eat Event took place. Church of yria; her Chanter is St Ephrem; begins his song thus: Nato Filio, lumen_affulsit, et ex mundo tenebrz fugate, illuminatusque est orbis; laudes ergo referat Nato, qui illum illuminavit. Ortus est ex utero Virginis, eoque viso_defecerunt umbre: et tenebra erroris ab eo expulse; orbisque totus illustratus; laudes ergo illi referat. and he The Son of God is born— Light has shone forth, darkness has fled from the earth, and the world is enlightened; let it praise the New-Born Babe, that gave it light. He has risen from the Virgin’s womb; the shades of night have seen him and fled: the darkness of error has been scattered; let the whole earth sing praise_to him, by whom it has been illumined. The Church of Armenia thus sings to Emmanuel during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass: Novua flos hodie oritur ex radice Jesse, et filia David parit Filiam Dei. Multitudo Angelorum et militie ccelestis, descendentes de ceelis cum unigenito Tege cantabant et dicebant: Hic est Filins Dei. Omnes dicamus: exsultate cceli, et lztamini fundamenta mundi, quia Deus aternus in terris apparuit, et cum hominibusconversatus est, ut salvet animas nostras. A fresh flower has this day sprung up from the Root of Jesse: and a daughter of David has given birth to the Son of God. A multitude of Angels and the Heavenly Host, coming down from heaven with the Only-Begotten King, sang and said: This is the Son of God ! Let us all exclaim: Ye heavens exult, and the world ye foundations of be glad! for the Eternal God has appeared upon the earth, and has conversed with men, that he may save our souls ! 198 The Greek language: CHRISTMAS Church thus cries out in her beautiful Venite, exsultemus Domino, hodiernum celebrantes mysterium. Murus dirutus est medius; avertitur flammeus gladius, Cherubim a ligno vita recedit. Et ego paradisum deliciarum participo, a quo per inobedientiam expulsus fueram. Incommutabilis imago Patris, typus ejus aternitatis, formam servi accipit, ex nuptinescia matre = progrediens, nullam passus commutationem: quod enim erat permansit, Deus cum esset verus; quod autem non erat praeteraccipit, homo factus per philanthropiam. Il clamemus: Qui natus es de Virgine, miserere nobis. Comell let us rejoice in the Lord, celebrating the mystery The wall of diof this day. vision is destroyed; the fiery and the is sheathed, sword Angel no longer keeps us from the able Image Tree of Life. I, Father, the yea I, that was driven, by the sin of disobedience, from the Paradise of delights, may now enter and feast. The unchangeof the type of his eternity, assumes the form of a servant, and born of a Virgin-Mother; yet he suffers for that which tinues but to that change: not any he was he con- be—the which true he was God; not in his Sacramentary, the divine Light: Church, out to him: O thou art born of the Virgin! by the mouth thus celebrates Vere dignum et justum est, ®quum et salutare: nos tibi gratias agere, @terne Deus, quia nostri Salvatoris hodie lux vera processit, quz clara nobis omnia et intellectu _manifestavit et visu. Quibus non solum praesentem vitam suo splendore dirigeret, sed ad ipsam nos majestatis immensz gloriam perduceret intuendam. he now becomes, being made Man for love of man. Let us cry mercy on us. The holy Roman is of St Leo, the mystery It is truly meet that have of and just, right and available to salvation, that we should give thanks to thee, O Eternal God: because this day has risen the true light of our Saviour, whereby all things are made clear to our intellect and sight: that thus by- his own brightness he might not only direct us in this our present life, but bring us to the very vision of thy divine Majesty. The EARLY CHRISTMAS DAY: same of Rome, Church MORNING in the Sacramentary 199 of St Gelasius, makes the following prayer to the heavenly Father, who sent his Son to redeem us: Omnipotens _sempiterne Deus, qui hunc diem per incarnationem Verbi tui, et per partum beate Virginis consecrasti; da populis tuis in hac celebritate laztitiz, ut et qui tua gratia sunt redempti, tua adoptione sint ilii, O Almighty and everlasting God, who hast consecrated this ‘day by the Incarnation of thy Word, and the Delivery of the Blessed Virgin; grant to thy people upon this joyous solemnity that they who have been redeemed by thy grace may also be made thy children by adoption. And again, the same Church thus invokes upon her children the Light of Christ: she uses the words of the Sacramentary of St Gregory the Great: Concede nobis, omnipotens Deus, ut salutare tuum, nova cecelorum luce mirabile, quod ad salutem mundi hodierna festivitate processit, nostris semper innovandis cordibus oriatur. Grant unto us, O Almighty God | that the Saviour whom thou sendest for the world's salvation on this day’s solemnity, whereon the heavens are renewed in light, may ever rise in our hearts and renew them. The Church of Milan, in its Ambrosian Liturgy, also celebrates the new Light and the joys of the VirginMother: Adveniens Dominus, abstulit omnem caliginem noc- When our Lord came, he dispelled all the darkness of tis: et, ubi non erat lumen, night; and where had been no facta est claritas, et appa- light, there was made brightruit dies. ness, and the day appeared. Rejoice and be glad, O Gaude, et letare, exsultatio Angelorum. Gaude, Do- Mary, thou joy of Angels! mini_ Virgo, prophetarum Rejoice, O thou_ Virgin of the gaudium. ~ Gaudeas, bene- Lord, and joy of the prophets | dicta, Dominus tecum est. Rejoice, thou Blessed One, the Gaude, qua per Angelum Lord is with thee. Rejoice, gaudium mundi suscepisti. thou that didst receive, at the Gaude, qua genuisti facto- Angel's announcing, him who rem et Dominum. Gaudeas, is the joy of the world, Re- 200 CHRISTMAS quia digna es esse Mater joice, thou that didst give birth Christi. to thy Creator and Lord. Rejoice, in that thou wast worthy to be made the Mother of Christ. of Gaul expresses its gladness The ancient Church by these joyous Antiphons, which were adopted for several ages by the Church of Rome: Hodie intacta Virgo Deum nobis genuit, teneris indutum membris, quem lactare meruit; omnes _Christum adoremus qui venit salvare nos. Gaudeamus omnes fideles, Salvator noster natus est in processit mundo: hodie Proles magnifici germinis, et perseverat pudor virginitatis, O mundi Domina, regio ex semine orta, ex tuo jam Christus processit alvo, tanquam sponsus de thalamo: hic jacet in prasepio qui et sidera regit. The purest of Virgins gave us our God, who was this day born of her, clothed in the flesh of a Babe, and she was found worthy to feed him at her Breast: let us all adore Christ, who came to save us. Ye faithful people, let us all rejoice, for our Saviour is born in our world: this Day there has been born the Son of the great Mother, and she yet a pure Virgin. O Queen of the world, and Daughter of a kingly race! Christ has_risen from thy womb, as a Bridegroom coming de He - chamber: from the bri that rules the stars lies in a Crib. The Gothic Church of Spain unites her voice with that of all these others, and in her Mozarabic Breviary thus hails the rising of the divine Sun: Hodie lumen mundi prodiit: hodie salus @vi_emiit: hodie Salvator Israel de climate cceli descendit, ut eruat omnes captivos, quos antiquus hostis predo per_primi hominis delictum captivaverat: ot ut cacis mentibus lumen, surdis auditum, gratia praveniente, Testitueret: ob istius tanti mysterii beneficia montes et colles tripudiant, ipsaque mundi _elementa ineffabili gaudio ista in die melos de- To-day has risen the Light of the ~world: to-day has shone forth the earth’s salvation: to-day the Saviour of Israel has come down from the heavenly country, that he may set free all the slaves whom the old enemy and robber had enslaved by the sin of our first Parent; that he might also restore, by his preventing grace, light to the blind of heart, and hearing to the deaf. For the benefits of this so great mystery, let the mountains CHRISTMAS 201 DAY : EARLY MORNING ob hoc gemebunda and hills leap with joy, and cantant: prece pii Redemptoris clementiam suppliciter exoramus; ut nos, qui in tenebris peccatorum nostrorum involvimur, per cordis acclamationem protinus_expiemur, ut illo in nobis apparente, et splendor gloriz jucundius, ac multiplicius nostris in pracordiis vigeat, et salutis gaudia sine fine dulcescant. the very elements of the world be exceeding glad on this day, and sing sweet melody. Therefore, let us, in humblest prayer, suppliantly beseech our most merciful Redeemer; that we who are beset by the darkness of our sins, may, by this our hearts’ acclamation, be speedily delivered; that he appearing among us, the brightness of his_glory may more joyously and abundantly gleam in our souls, and the happiness of salvation gladden them with never-cnding sweetness. Let us end this our stroll among the ancient Liturgies, by culling a flower from Erin. The Church of Ireland, in the seventh century, used to sing this Antiphon on Christmas Day, which we have taken from the Bangor Antiphonary, published by Muratori. Here again we find the idea so often alluded to: the triumph of the Sun’s light, which begins to-day, considered as the image of Jesus’ Birth. Ab hodierno die nox minuitur, dies crescit, concutiuntur tenebrz, lumen augetur, et in lucro lucis nocturna dispendia transferentur. And now, From this Day, night decreases, day increases, darkness is shaken, light grows longer, and the’ loss of night shall make the gain of day. Christians, let us go to the House God, and prepare for our third Sacrifice. THE THIRD of our MASS The Mystery which the Church honours in this Third Mass is the eternal generation or Birth of the Son of God in the Bosom of his Father. At midnight she celebrated the God-Man, born in the Stable the glorious Virgin Mary; at the Divine Infant, born in the souls from the Womb of Aurora, this same of the Shepherds; 202 CHRISTMAS there still remains for her adoration and praise a Birth more wonderful than these other two: a Birth, which dazzles the eye of Angels by its splendour, and bears its eternal witness to the inward fruitfulness of God. The Son of Mary is also the Son of God; and a grand duty_of to-day is that we hymn aloud the glory of this his in- effable Generation, which makes him consubstantial to his Father, God of God and Light of Light. Let us, then, raise up our thoughts even to that eternal Word, who was in the beginning with God, and was himself God ;* for he is the brightness of his Father's glory, and the figure of his substance.® The Church’s first Chant in this her Third Mass is an acclamation to the new-born King. She celebrates the kingly power and majesty which he will derive, as Man, from the Cross that is one day to be upon his shoulders; as God, he has been the Almighty King from all eternity, and this too she celebrates. He is also the Angel of the great Counsel ; that is, he is the One Sent from heaven to fulfil the sublime Counsel or design of the Most Holy Trinity—to save mankind by the Incarnation and the Redemption. The Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, the Word, made this Counsel, together with the other Two: his devotedness to his Father's glory, and his love for man, made him take upon himself the execution of the divine Plan. INTROIT A Child is born unto us, and a Son is given to us; and Filius datus est nobis; cujus imperium super humerum the government is upon his ejus: et vocabitur nomen Shoulder: and his name shall be called the Angel of the great ejus magni Consilii Angelus. Counsel. Ps. Cantate Domino canPs. Sing to the Lord a new ticum novum, quia mira- Canticle, for he hath done wonbilia fecit. ¥. Gloria Patri. derful things. ¥. Glory, etc. Puer. A Child, etc. Puer natus est nobis, 1St Joha i 1. et * Heb. i 3. CHRISTMAS DAY: THIRD MASS 203 In the Collect, the Church prays that the New Birth, whereby the eternal Son of God deigned to be born in time, may liverance. its effect in us, and work produce COLLECT Concede, quasumus, nipotens Deus: ut Unigeniti tui nova per nem nativitas liberet; omnos carquos servitus eum- sub dem. peccati tenet. jugo Per our de- vetusta Grant, we beseech thee, O Almighty God, that we who groan under the old captivity of sin, may be freed therefrom by the new birth of thine OnlyBegotten Son. Through the same, etc. EPISTLE Lectio Epistole beati Pauli Apostoli ad Hebrzos. Cap. I. Multifariam _ multisque modis olim Deus loquens patribus in Prophetis; novissime_diebus istis locutus est nobis in Filio, quem constituit heredem universorum, per quem fecit et secula. Qui cum sit splendor gloriz, et figura substantiz ejus, portansque omnia verbo virtutis suz, purgationem peccatorum faciens, sedet ad dexteram Majestatis in excelsis: tanto melior Angelis effectus, quanto differentius pra illis nomen hareditavit. Cui enim dixit aliquando Angelorum: Filius meus es tu, ego hodie genui te? Et rursum: Ego ero illi in Patrem, et ipse erit mihi in Filium, Et cum iterum _introducit Primogenitum _in orbem terrz, dicit: Et adorent eum omnes Angeli Dei, Et ad Angelos quidem dicit: Lesson of the Epistle of St Paul the Apostle to the Hebrews. Ch. I. God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spoke in times past to the Fathers by the Prophets; last of all in these days hath spoken to us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the world. Who being the brightness of his glory, and the figure of his substance, and holding all things by the word of his power, making purgation of sins, sitteth on the right hand of the Majesty on high : being made so much better than the Angels, as he hath inherited a more excellent name than they. For to which of the Angels hath he said at any time: Thou art my Som, to-day have I begotten thee? And again: I will be to him a Father, and he shall be tome a Son? ' And again, when he bringeth in the First-Begotten into the world, he saith: And let all the Angels of God CHRISTMAS Qui facit Angelos suos Spi- adore him. 204 ritus, et ministros _ suos flammam_ignis. Ad Filium autem: Thronus tuus, Deus, in smculum szculi: virga quitatis, virga regni tui. Dilexisti justitiam, et odisti iniQquitate; propterea unxit te Deus, Deus tuus, oleo exsultationis pre participibus tuis. Et: Tu in principio, Domine, terram fundasti; et opera manuum _tuarum sunt cceli. Ipsi peribunt, tu autem permanebis; et omnes ut vestimentum veterascent, et velut amictum mutabis eos, et mutabuntur: tu autem idem ipse es, et anni tui non deficient. And to the Angels, indeed, he saith: He that maketh his Angels Spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. But_to the Son: Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of justice is the sceptre Thow hast of thy hingdom. loved ~justice, and hated iniquity ;" therefore God, thy God hath_anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. And: Thou in the beginning, O Lovd, didst found the earth, and the works of thy hands are the heavens. They shall perish, but thou shalt continue ; and they shall all grow old as a garment, and as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed : but thou art the self-same, and thy years shall not fail. The great Apostle, in this magnificent opening of his Epistle to his former brethren of the Synagogue, lays great stress on the Eternal Generation of our Lord Jesus Christ. Whilst our eyes are fixed on the sweet Infant in his Crib, St Paul bids us raise our thoughts up to that infinite Light, from the midst of which the Eternal Father thus speaks to this Child of Mary: Thou art my Som; to-day have I begotten thee : this to-day is the Day of eternity, a Day which has neither morning nor evening, neither rising nor setting. If the Human Nature which he has vouchsafed to assume places him below the Angels; he is infinitely above them by his own essence, whereby he is the Son of God. He is God, he is Lord, and no change can come upon him. He may be wrapped in swathing-bands or nailed to a Cross, or put to a most ignominious death; all this is only in his human nature: in his Divinity he remains impassible and immortal, for he was born of the Father from all eternity. CHRISTMAS DAY: THIRD MASS 205 GRADUAL Viderunt omnes fines terr@ Salutare Dei nostri: jubilate Deo omnis terra. ¥. Notum fecit Dominus Salutare suum: ante conspectum gentium revelavit justitiam suam. Alleluia, allelui ¥. Dies sanctificatus illuxit nobis: Venite, gentes, et adorate Dominum; quia hodie descendit lux magna super terram. Alleluia. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God: sing joyfully to the Lord, all thou earth. V. The Lord hath made known his salvation: he hath revealed his justice in the sight of the Gentiles. Alleluia, alleluia. Y. A sanctified day hath shone upon us: Come, ye Gentiles, and adore the Lord; for this day a great Light is come down upon the earth. Alleluia. GOSPEL Initium sancti Evangelii secundum Joannem. Cap. I. In principio erat Verbum, et Verbum erat apud Deum, et Deus erat Verbum. Hoc erat in _ principio _apud Deum. Omnia_per ipsum facta sunt, et sine ipso factum est nihil, quod factum est. In ipso vita erat; et vita_erat lux hominum; et Iux in tenebris lucet, et tenebre eam non comprehenderunt. Fuit homo missus a Deo, cui nomen erat Joannes. Hic venit in testimonium, ut testimonium perhiberet de lumine, ut omnes crederent per illum. Non erat ille lux, sed ut testimonium _ perhiberet de lumine. Erat lux vera que illuminat omnem hominem venientem in hunc mundum. In mundo erat, et mundus per ipsum factus est; et mundus eum The beginning of the holy Gospel according to John. Ch. I. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him, and without him was made nothing that was made. In him was life; and the life was the Light of men; and the Light shineth in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to give testimony of the Light, that all men_might believe through him. He was not the Light, but was to give testimony of the Light. That was the true Light, which enlighteneth every man that cometh into this world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him; and the world 206 CHRISTMAS non cognovit. In propria venit, et sui eum non receperunt. Quotquot autem receperunt eum, dedit eis potestatem filios Dei fieri: his qui credunt in nomine ejus; qui non ex sanguinibus, neque ex voluntate carnis, neque ex voluntate viri, sed ex Deo nati sunt. ET VERBUM CARO FACTUM EST, et habitavit in nobis: et vidimus_gloriam ejus, gloriam quasi Unigeniti a_ Patre, plenum grati et veritatis. knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received not. God: to them received him, as many But him to them as he gave power to be made the sons of that believe in his name, who are born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. AND THE ‘WORD WAS MADE FLESH, and dwelt among us: and we saw his glory, as it were the glory of the Only-Begotten of the Father, truth. full ‘of grace and O Eternal Son of God ! in presence of the Crib, where for the love of us thou vouchsafest this day to show thyself to thy creatures, we confess thy eternity, thy omnipotence, thy divinity, and we adore thee. Thou wast in the in God; and thyself wast God. by thee, and we are the work of infinite and eternal! O Sun of for we are but darkness. Too our darkness, and thee we have most profoundly do beginning; thou wast Everything was made thy hands. O Light, Justice! enlighten us, long have we loved not forgive us our blindness and our errors. comprehended: Thou hast been long knocking at the door of our hearts, and we have refused to let thee in. To-day, thanks to the wonderful ways of thy love, we have received thee: for who could refuse to receive thee, sweet gentle Infant Jesus! but leave us not; abide with us, and perfect the New Birth which thou hast begun in us. We wish henceforth to be neither of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God, by thee and in thee. Thou hast been made Flesh, O Word Eternal! in order that we may become sons of God. We beseech thee, our weak human nature, and fit us for this our destiny. Thou art born of God thy Father; thou of Mary; thou art born in our hearts; thrice be thou for this thy triple Birth, O Jesus! so support sublime art born glorified merciful 207 CHRISTMAS DAY: THIRD MASS in thy Divinity, and so divine in thy self-sought humiliations ! At the Offertory, the Church sings praise to her Emmanuel for the work Crib; she of his hands, the universe; for it was he who made all things. The sacred gifts are offered up in the midst of a cloud of incense. The Church cannot lose sight of the Infant Jesus and the but is unceasingly majesty of the Incarnate God. praising the power and OFFERTORY Tui sunt ceeli, et tua est Thine are the heavens, and terra; orbem terrarum et thine is the earth; the world plenitudinem ejus tu fun- and the fulness thereof thou dasti: justitia et judicium hast founded: justice and praparatio sedis tuz. judgement are the preparation of thy throne. SECRET Oblata, Domine, munera nova Unigeniti tui nativitate sanctifica: nosque a peccatorum nostrorum maculis emunda. Per eumdem. Sanctify, O Lord, our offerings, by the new Birth of thine Only-Begotten ~ Son: _ and cleanse us from the stains of our sins. Through the same, etc. During the Communion, the choir sings the happiness of this earth of ours, which has to-day seen its Saviour by the mercy of the Divine Word, made visible in the flesh, yet so as that he loses nothing of his own infinite glory. Then, in the Postcommunion, she prays by the mouth of the Priest, that her children who have eaten of the spotless Lamb may partake of the immortality of this same Jesus: for, by vouchsafing to be born by a human Birth in Bethlehem, he has this Day given them the pledge of their receiving a divine life. COMMUNION Viderunt omnes fines ra Salutare Dei nostri. ter- The whole earth hath the salvation of our God. seen 208 CHRISTMAS POSTCOMMUNION Prasta, quasumus, omnipotens Deus: ut natus hodie Salvator mundi, sicut divinz nobis generationis est auctor; ita et immortalitatis sit ipse largitor. Qui tecum. Grant, we beseech thee, O Almighty God, that as the Saviour of the world, who was born this day, procured for us a divine birth, he may also bestow on us immortality. Who liveth, etc. After the Blessing, the following Last Gospel is read. Sequentia sancti Evangelii Sequel of the holy Gospel acsecundum Matthzum. cording to Matthew. Cap. II. Ch. II. When Jesus was born in Cum natus esset Jesus in Bethlehem Juda, in diebus Bethichem of Juda, in the Herodis regis, ecce Magi ab days of king Herod, behold Oriente venerunt Jerosoly- there came Wise Men from mam, dicentes: Ubi est, qui the East to Jerusalem, saying: natus est Rex Judorum ? Where is he that is born King vidimus enim stellam ejus of the Jews ? for we have seen in Oriente, et venimus ado- his star in the East, and are rare eum. Audiens autem come to adore him. And Herodes rex, turbatus est, Herod hearing this, was trouet omnis Jerosolyma cum bled, and all Jerusalem with illo. Et congregans omnes him. And assembling together principes sacerdotum, et all the chief Priests and the scribas populi, sciscitabatur Scribes of the people, he enab eis ubi Christus nascere- quired of them where Christ tur. At illi dixerunt ei: In should be born. But they said to Bethlehem Juda: sic enim him: in Bethlchem of Juda: for scriptum est per Prophetam: s it is written by the Prophet: Et tu, Bethlehem, terra Ju- And thou, Bethlehem, the land da, nequaquam minima es of Juda, art not the least in principibus Juda: ex te among the princes of Juda: enim exiet dux qui regat for out of thee shall come forth populum meum Israel. Tunc the captain that shall rule my Herodes, clam vocatis Magis, people Israel. Then, Herod, diligenter didicit ab eis tem- privately calling the Wise Men, pus stellz, qua apparuit eis: learned diligently of them the et mittens illos in Bethle- time of the star which aphem, dixit: Ite, et interro- peared to them: and sending gate diligenter de puero: et them into Bethlehem, said: cum inveneritis, renuntiate Go, and _diligently enquire mihi, ut et ego veniens after the Child, and when you adorem eum. Qui cum au- have found him, bring me CHRISTMAS DAY: dissent regem, abierunt. Et ecce stella quam viderant in Oriente antecedebat eos, usque dum veniens staret supra ubi erat puer. Vi dentes autem stellam, gavisi sunt gaudio magno valde. Et intrantes domum, invenerunt puerum cum’ Maria matre ejus, (here all hneel) et procidentes adoraverunt eum. Et apertis thesauris suis, obtulerunt ei munera; aurum, thus et myrrham. Et responso accepto in somnis ne redirent ad Herodem, per aliam viam reversi sunt in regionem suam. F. Deo gratias. SECOND SECOND VESPERS 209 word again, that I also may come and adore. Who having heard the king, went their way. And behold, the star which they had scen in the East went before them, until it came and stood over where the Child was. And seeing the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And entering into the house, they found the Child with Mary his Mother, (here all kneel) and falling down they adored him. And opening their _treasures, they offered him gifts; gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having received an answer in sleep that they should not return to Herod, they went back another way into their own country. R. Thanks be to God. VESPERS The Evensong of God’s praise is about to close this beautiful Day: let us go and unite in it. The material sun is fast sinking in the west: but our Sun of Justice shall never set for us, who have received him into our hearts. Yes, let us go join our Mother the Church, and chant, in the songs of the Royal Prophet, the happiness of our earth, that has yielded its divine Fruit; the glories of this new-born Saviour; and the mercies which he has brought us. God forbid that our hearts should have lost, since morning, aught of their earnest fervour ! has not Christ been born within us? Therefore, let our psalmody proclaim his praises, and ascend to him with all that beauty and loveliness and merit which the divine Liturgy always adds to our own individual fervour. ¥ Deus, in adjutorium meum intende. R. Domine, ad adjuvandum me festina. _¥. Incline unto my aid, O God. K. O Lord, make haste to help me. 14 CHRISTMAS 210 Gloria Patri, Spiritui Sancto’ et Filio, et Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in szcula szculorum. Amen. Alleluia. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Alleluia. The first Psalm of Second Vespers for Christmas Day is that which always begins the Evening Office on It celebrates the Eternal GeneraSundays and Feasts. tion of the Word, and prophesies his Sufferings and his Triumph. ANT. Tecum principium ANT. With thee is the prinin die virtutis tum, in cipality in the day of thy splendoribus Sanctorum : strength, in the brightness of ex utero ante luciferum ge- the Saints; for the Father has nui te. said to thee ! From the womb, before the day-star, thee. PSALM 109 I begot Dixit Dominus Domino The Lord said to my Lord, meo: * Sede a dextris meis. kis Son : Sit thou at my right hand, and reign with me. Donec ponam inimicos Until, on the day of thy last tuos: * scabellum pedum coming, I make thy encmies tuorum. thy footstool. Virgam virtutis tue emitO Christ/ the Lord, fhy tet Dominus ex Sion: * do- Father, will send forth the minare in medio inimicorum sceptre of thy power out of tuorum. Sion: from thence rule thou in the midst of thy enemies. Tecum principium in_die With thee is the principality virtutis tuz, in_splendori- in the day of thy strength, in bus Sanctorum: * ex utero the brightness of the Saints: ante luciferum genui te. for the Father hath said to Ihee : From the womb, before the day-star, I begot thee. Juravit Dominus, et non The Lord hath sworn, and peenitebit eum: * Tu es sa- he will not repent: he hath cerdos in @ternum, secun- said, speaking of thee, the Goddum ordinem Melchisedech. Man : Thou art a Priest for ever, according to the order of Melchisedech. CHRISTMAS DAY: SECOND VESPERS 211 Therefore, O Father! the Lord thy Som is at thy right Dominus a dextris tuis: * confregit in die ire suz hand: he hath broken kings reges. in the day of his wrath. He shall also judge among Judicabit in nationibus, implebit ruinas: * conquas- nations; he shall fill the ruins sabit capita in terra multo- of the world : he shall crush the heads in the land of many. rum. He cometh mow in humility ; De torrente in via bibet; * he shall drink in the way of propterea exaltabit caput. the torrent of sufferings : there- fore shall he lift up the head. ANT. With thee is the prin- ANt. Tecum principium in die virtutis tu, in splen- cipality in" doribus_Sanctorum: ex ute- strength, in ro ante luciferum genui te. the Saints; said to thee before the thee. the day of thy the brightness of for the Father has : From the womb, day-star, I begot The second Psalm praises our Lord for the Covenant he has made with his people, and for the Redemption he has this day sent us. The human race was sunk into the depth of misery: the God of mercy, faithful to his promises, gives us, in Bethlehem, him who is the Bread of life—the heaven[y food that preserves from death. ANT. Redemptionem misit Dominus populo suo, mandavit in @ternum mentum suum. testa- Avt, He hath sent Redemption to his people; he hath commanded his covenant for ever. PSALM IIO Confitebor ~tibi, Domine, in toto corde meo: * in concilio justorum et congregatione. Magna opera Domin exquisita in omnes volun“ates ejus, Confessio et magnificentia opus ejus: * et justitia ejus manet in szculum seculi. Memoriam fecit _mirabilium suorum, misericors et I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart: in the council of the just, and in the congregation. Great are the works of the Lord: sought out according to all his wills. His work is praise and magnificence: and his justice continueth for ever and cver. He hath made a remembrance of his wonderful works, 212 CHRISTMAS es- being a merciful and gracious Lord: and being the Bread of life, he hath given food to them that fear him. Memor erit in saculum He will be mindful for ever testamenti sui: * virtutem of his covenant with men : he operum suorum annuntiabit will come and will show forth to his people the power of his works. populo suo. That he may give them, Ais Ut det illis hareditatem gentium: * opera manuum Church, the inheritance of the ejus veritas et judicium. Gentiles: the works of his hand are truth and judgement. Fidelia omnia mandata All his commandments are ejus, confirmata in seculum faithful, confirmed for ever and szculi: * facta in veritate ever: made in truth and et zquitate, equity. Redemptionem misit poHe hath sent Redemption to pulo suo: * mandavit in his people: he hath thereby com@ternum testamentum suum. manded his covenant for ever. Sanctum et terribile noHoly and terrible is his men ejus: * initium sapien- name: the fear of the Lord is tiz timor Domini. the beginning of wisdom. Intellectus bonus omnibus A good understanding to all facientibus eum : * laudatio that do it: his praise conejus manet in seculum szculi. tinueth for ever and ever. ANT. Redemptionem miANT. He hath sent Resit Dominus populo suo, demption to his people; he mandavit in @ternum tes- hath commanded his Covemiserator Dominus: * cam dedit timentibus se. tamentum nant for ever. suum. The third Psalm tells the happiness and hopes of the just man, on the day of Jesus’ Birth. In the very midst of darkness, there has suddenly risen up the bright and lovely Light, that is, our Emmanuel, our merciful God. The upright of heart are enlightened by him: but woe to the sinner that will not receive him ! ANr. Exortum _est in ANT. To the upright of heart tenebris lumen rectis corde: a Light has risen up in darkmisericors et miserator, et ness; the merciful and comjustus Dominus. passionate and just Lord. PSALM III Beatus vir, qui_timet DoBlessed is the man that feareth minum: * in mandatis ejus the Lord: he shall delight exceedingly in his commandments. volet nimis. CHRISTMAS DAY: Potens in terra erit semen ejus: * gencratio rectorum benedicetur. Gloria et divitiz in domo ejus: * et justitia ejus maDet in szculum szculi. Exortum est in tenebris lumen rectis: * misericors et miserator et justus. 213 His seed shall be mighty upon earth : the generation of the righteous shall be blessed. Glory and wealth shall be in his_house: and his_justice remaineth for ever and ever. To the righteous a Light is risen_up in darkness: he is merciful and compassionate and just, and is born among men to-day. Acceptable, on this day, is SECOND VESPERS Jucundus homo qui miserefur et commodat, disponet the man that showcth mercy sermones suos in judicio: * and lendeth; he shall order quia in @ternum non com- his words with judgement: bemovebitur, cause he shall not be moved for ever. In memoria wmterna erit The just shall be in everlastjustus: * ab auditione mala ing remembrance: he shall not non timebit. fear the evil hearing. Paratum cor ejus sperare His heart is ready to hope in in Domino, confirmatum est the Lord; his heart is strengthcor ejus: * non commovebi- ened: he shall not be moved, tur donec despiciat inimi- until he look over his enemies. cos suos. Dispersit, dedit paupeHe hath distributed, he hath ribus, justitia ejus ma- given to the poor; his justice net in seculum smculi: * remaineth for ever and ever: cornu ejus exaltabitur in his horn shall be exalted in gloria. glory. Peccator videbit et irasceThe wicked shall see, and tur, dentibus suis fremet et shall be angry; he shall gnash tabescet: * desiderium pec- with his teeth, and pine away: catorum peribit. the desire of the wicked shall perish. ANT. Exortum est in teANT. To the upright of nebris lumen rectis corde: heart a Light is risen up in misericors et miserator et darkness; the merciful and justus Dominus. compassionate and just Lord. The fourth Psalm expresses the cry of distress sent forth to its Deliverer by the human depth of its misery and degradation. race, when in the But this cry was also one of hope; for God had promised to come to its deliverance. At length the Lord, whose mercy is infinite, has vouchsafed to descend upon the earth, and our Redemption begins this very day. 214 CHRISTMAS Dominum ANT. Apud ANT. With the Lord there misericordia, et copiosa is merciful forgiveness; and Redempplentiful him apud eum redemptio. with tion. PSALM 129 De profundis clamavi ad From the depths have I, te, Domine: * Domine, ex- thy people, cried to thee, O Lord: Lord hear my voice. audi vocem meam. Let thine ears be attentive Fiant aures tum intendentes: * in vocem depreca- to the voice of my supplicationis mez. tion. If thou wilt observe iniquiSi_iniquitates observaveris, Domine: * Domine, quis ties, O Lord, Lord, who shall sustinebit ? endure it ? For with thee there is merQuia apud te propitiatio est: * et propter legem tuam ciful forgiveness; and by sustinui te, Domine. reason of thy law I have waited all these long ages for thee, O Lord. Sustinuit anima mea in My soul hath relied on_his verbo ejus: * speravit anima word; my soul hath hoped in mea in Domino. the Lord. From the morning watch A custodia matutina usque ad noctem: * speret even until night, let Isracl Tsrael in Domino. hope in the Lord. Because with the Lord there Quia_apud Dominum misericordia: * et copiosa apud is mercy, and with him pleneum redemptio. tiful redemption. Et ipse redimet Israel: * This day he hath been born ex omnibus iniquitatibus among us, and he shall redeem ejus. Tsrael from all his iniquities. ANT. Apud Dominum ANT. With the Lord there misericordia, et copiosa is_merciful forgiveness; and apud eum redemptio. with him plentiful Redemption. The fifth Psalm celebrates the A7k of the Lord which rested in Ephrata. Mary was the true Ark, of which that of old was but a type: in her did our Lord take up his dwelling ; in her did he place the throne of his Majesty. Let our God, then, arise and take possession Church, which begins to-day in Bethlehem; of his let him arise, and, together with Mary, the Queen of mercy, govern us. Henceforth he is fo dwell among us—console us CHRISTMAS DAY: SECOND VESPERS 215 in all our tribulations—satisfy us poor ones with the Bread of eternal life—invest the new Priesthood with singular powers—shine in his Church as the Lamp of immutable truth—triumph over all his enemies—in a word, whilst the crowns of other kings shall fall off, the one which sits on the brow of our divine King, our sweet Babe of Bethlehem, shall flourish for everlasting ages. ANT. De fructu ventris tui ponam super sedem tuam. ANT. T will set upon thy throne, O David, one of the fruit of thy womb. PSALM 13T Memento, Domine, DaO Lord, remember David, vid: * et omnis mansuetu- and all his meekness. dinis ejus. . Sicut juravit Domin How he swore to the Lord: he votum vovit Deo Jacob. vowed a vow to the God of Jacob. “If I shall enter into the Si introiero in tabernaculum domus mez: * si tabernacle of my house: if ascendero in lectum strati T shall go up into the bed mei, wherein I lie; “If T shall give sleep to my Si dedero somnum oculis meis: * et palpebris meis eyes: or slmber to my eyedormitationem. lids, “Or rest to my temples, Et requiem temporibus meis, donec inveniam locum until I find out a place for the Domino: * tabernaculum Lord, a tabernacle for the God of Jacob.’ Deo Jacob. Ecce audivimus eam in Behold | we have heard of Ephrata: * invenimus eam it that it was in Bethlehem of in campis silva. Ephrata; we found it in the fields of the wood. We will go into his_taberIntroibimus in _tabernaculum ejus: * adorabimus nacle; we will adore in the in loco ubi steterunt pedes place’ where his feet have ejus. stood. Arise, O Lord, into thy restSurge, Domine, in requiem tuam: * tu et arca sancing place; thou and Mary, the tificationis tuz. Ark which thou hast sanctified. Let thy priests be clothed Sacerdotes tui induantur justitiam: * et Sancti tui with justice: and let thy Saints rejoice. exsultent. Propter David servum tuFor thy servant David’s um: * non avertas faciem sake, O heavenly Father | turn not away the face of thy Christ, Chiristi tui. 216 CHRISTMAS Juravit Dominus David veritatem, et non frustrabitur eam: * De fructu ventris tui ponam super sedem tuam. Si custodierint filii tui s et meum: testamentum testimonia mea hac, qua docebo eos. Et fili eorum usque in seculum: * sedebunt super sedem tuam. Quoniam clegit Dominus * elegit eam in habiSion: The Lord hath sworn truth to David, and he will not make it void: * Of the fruit of thy womb T will set upon thy throne. “1f thy children will keep my covenant, and these my testimonies, teach them; ‘ Their evermore throne." For the which children shall Lord I shall also sit upon hath for thy chosen Sion, his Church: he hath chosen it for his dwelliag. tationem sibi. Hazc requies mea in saHe hath said : * This is my culum smculi: * hic habi- rest for ever and ever: here will I dwell, for I have chosen it. tabo, quoniam elegi eam. Viduam ejus benedicens ‘ Blessing, I will bless her benedicam: * pauperes cjus widow, by the Birth of my Son ; in BethlehemI will satisfy saturabo panibus. her poor with Bread. Sacerdotes ejus induam ‘I will clothe her priests salutari: * et Sancti ejus with salvation: and her Saints exsultatione exsultabunt. shall rejoice with exceeding great joy. Illuc producam cornu *There, in my Church, will David: * paravi lucernam I bring forth the horn, the Christo meo. strength of David: I have prepared a lamp for my Christ. Tnimicos ejus induam con‘His enemies 1 will clothe fusione: * super ipsum au- with confusion: but upon him tem efflorebitsanctificatiomea. shall my sanctification flourish.” ANT. De fructu ventris tui ANT. T will_set upon thy ponam super sedem tuam. throne, O David [ one of the fruit of thy womb. CAPITULUM (Heb. 1) Multifariam, multisque God, who at sundry times modis olim Deus loquens and in divers manners spoke patribus in Prophetis: no- in times past to the Fathers vissime_diebus istis locutus by the Prophets; last of all est nobis in Filio, quem in these days hath spoken to constituit haredem univerus by his Son, whom he hath sorum, per quem fecit et appointed heir of all things, by szcula. whom also he made the world. CHRISTMAS DAY: SECOND VESPERS 217 HYMN? Jesu, redemptor omnium, O Jesu! Redeemer of mankind | born before the light Quem, lucis ante originem, Parem paterna gloriz was made, and born of the Eternal Father, equal to him Pater supremus edidit; in infinite glory; Tu lumen et splendor PaO thou the light and brighttris, ness of the Father | O thou the Tu spes perennis omnium, everlasting hope of all men | hear Intende quas fundunt preces the prayers offered thee by thy Tui per orbem servuli. servants throughout the world. Memento, rerum conditor, Be mindful, O Creator of all things | that heretofore thou Nostri quod olim corporis, Sacrata ab alvo Virginis didst assume a Body like unto Nascendo, formam sump- ours, and wast born from the sacred womb of a Virgin. seris. This present Day, which the Testatur hoc prasens dies, year has brought round to us, Currens per anni circulum, tells us of this mystery—that Quod solus e sinu Patris thou, the one Saviour of the Mundi salus adveneris. world, didst_come to us from the Father's Bosom. Hunc astra, tellus, zquora, The stars and earth and Hunc omne quod ccelo sub- sea, and all that is under heavest, en, greet this the Author of Salutis auctorem nova their_new salvation with a Novo salutat cantico. new Canticle. Et nos, beata quos sacri And we, who have been reRigavit unda sanguinis, deemed by the stream of thy Natalis ob diem tui, precious Blood, we too pay Hymni tributum solvimus. thee the tribute of this Hymn, in honour of thy Birthday. Jesu, tibi sit gloria, Glory be to thee, O Jesus! Qui natus es de Virgine, who wast born of the Virgin | and Cum Patre et almo Spirita, to the Father, and to the Spirit In sempiterna szcula. of love, for everlasting ages. Amen. Amen. ¥. Notum fecit Dominus, Y. The Lord hath made alleluia. known, alleluia. K. Salutare suum, alleluia. ®y. His Salvation, alleluia. ANTIPHON OF THE MAGNIFICAT Hodie Christus natus e This day Christ is born, hodie Salvator apparui this day the Saviour hath aphodie in terra canunt Anc peared; this day the Angels * For the version as preserved in the Monastic Rite, see p. 116, CHRISTMAS 218 sing on earth; the Archanhodie exsultant justi, di- gels rejoice; this day the just centes: Gloria in excelsis exult, saying: Glory be to Deo, alleluia. God in the highest, aileluia. geli, laztantur Archangeli; The Canticle, Magnificat, p. g6. OREMUS Concede, quasumus, omnipotens Deus, ut nos Unigeniti tui nova per carnem Nativitas liberet, quos sub peccati jugo vetusta servitus tenet. Per eumdem. LET US PRAY Grant, we beseech Almighty God, that groan under the old of sin, may be freed by the new Birth Only-Begotten Son. the same, etc. thee, O we who captivity therefrom of thine Through Commemoration of St Stephen ANT. Stephanus _autem ANT. But Stephen, full of lenus gratia et fortitudine, grace and fortitude, did great aciebat signa magna in po- signs among the people. pulo. ¥. Gloria et honore coro¥. Thou hast crowned him, nasti eum, Domine. 0 Lord, with glory and honour. R. And hast placed him R. Et constituisti eum super opera manuum tuarum. over the works of thy hands. OREMUS LET US PRAY Da nobis, quasumus, DoGrant, O Lord, we beseech mine, imitari quod colimus, thee, that we may imitate him ut discamus et inimicos di- whose memory we celebrate, ligere: quia ejus natalitia 50 as to learn to love even our celebramus, qui novit etiam enemies: because we now o ecutoribus exorare solemnise his martyrdom, who Bombrim - nostram *Jesam knew how to pray even for his Christum Filium tuum. Qui persecutors to our Lord Jesus tecum. Christ thy Son. Who liveth, etc. For Compline, see p. 98. The great Day is over, and the night is coming upon us, when sleep will refresh us after the holy fatigues of last night. Before retiring to rest, let us give the holy Martyrs a thought, whose memory is offered to our veneration by the Church in her Martyrology of CHRISTMAS this December the Empire had 25. DAY: AFTER Diocletian COMPLINE 219 and his colleagues recently published the famous in edict of persecution, which waged against the Church the fiercest war she has ever sustained. The edict was torn down from the Emperor’s palace at Nicomedia by one of the Christians, who paid for this holy daring by a glorious martyrdom. The faithful of the same city were ready for the combat, and feared not to brave the Emperor’s power by continuing to frequent their Church, which was condemned to be pulled down. Christmas Day came, and several thousands of them had assembled there, in order to celebrate, for the last time within those walls, the Nativity of our Saviour. Being informed of it, the Emperor became furious, and sent one of the officers of his court to order the Church doors to be fastened, and a fire to be enkindled on each side of the building. This being done, the clang of trumpets was heard, and then a herald’s voice proclaiming to the faithful, in the Emperor’s name, that they who wished to save their lives would be permitted to leave the Basilica, on the condition of their offering incense on an altar of Jupiter, which had been placed near the door; but that otherwise, all were to be left a prey to the flames. One of the Christians thus answered, in the name of the whole assembly: ‘We are all of us Christians; we honour Christ as the one only God and King; and we are all ready to lay down our lives for him on this Day.” Whereupon the soldiers were commanded to set fire to the Church. In a very short time, it was one immense mass of flames, whence was offered to the Son of God— who deigned to begin on this same day the human life he had assumed—the generous holocaust of these thousands of lives, laid down as witness to his having come into this world. Thus was glorified, in the year 303, Emmanuel, us. who had come from heaven to dwell among Let us, after the example of the Church herself, join our homage to the Babe of Bethlehem with that offered him by these courageous Christians, whose fame the Liturgy will perpetuate even to the end of time. 220 CHRISTMAS Once more let us visit in spirit the dear Cave, where Mary and Joseph are loving and nursing and adoring the Divine Infant. Let us, too, adore him, and ask his blessing. St Bonaventure, with an unction worthy of his seraphic soul, thus expresses the sentiments which a Christian should have on this Day, when admitted to the Crib of Jesus: ‘ Do thou also kneel down—thou hast delayed too long. Adore the Lord thy God, and then reverence his Mother, and salute, with much respect, the saintly old man Joseph. After this, kiss the feet of the Infant Jesus, laid as he is on his little bed, and ask our Lady to give him to thee, or permit thee to take him up. Take him into thine arms, press him to thy heart, and look well at his lovely face, and reverently kiss him, and show him confidently the delight thou takest in him. Thou mayest venture on all this, because it is for sinners that he came, that he might save them: it was with sinners that he so humbly conversed, and at last gave himself to sinners, that he might be their food. I say, then, that his gentle love will permit thee to treat himas affectionately as thou pleasest, and will not call it too much freedom, but will set it down to thy love.” As a conclusion to our Feast, we give two favourite pieces of the Middle Ages, whereby our Fathers expressed their joy on this glorious Solemnity. The first is a Sequence, which is to be found in all the Roman- French Missals. For a long time it was thought to have been written by St Bernard: but we have seen it in a Manuscript of the eleventh century, and consequently it must have been written earlier than the date usually assigned to it. Latabundus Exsultet fidelis chorus. Alleluia. Regem regum Intactz profudit torus: Res miranda | SEQUENCE Let the choir of all the faithful exult in their joy. Alleluia ! The Virgin's womb hath given us the King of Kings | O wonderful mystery | 3 Meditations on the Life of Christ, by St Bonaventure. CHRISTMAS DAY: Angelus Consilii Natus est de Virgine, Sol de Stella. Sol occasum nesciens, Stella semper rutilans, Semper clara. Sicut sidus radium, Profert Virgo Filium Pari forma. Neque sidus radio, Neque Virgo Filio Fit corrupta. Cedrus alta Libani Conformatur hyssopo Valle nostra. Verbum ens Altissimi Corporari passum est, Carne sumpta. Esaias cecinit, Synagoga meminit; Numquam tamen desinit Esse cca. Si non suis vatibus, Credat vel gentilibus, Sibyllinis versibus Hzc pradicta: Infelix, propera, Crede vel vetera: Cur damnaberis, gens misera ? Quem docet littera Natum considera: Ipsum genuit puerpera. Amen. The second piece AFTER COMPLINE 221 The Angel of the great Counsel is born of the Virgin, the Sun is born of a Star | The Sun knows no_setting; the Star is ever shining, ever bright. As a star gives forth its ray, 5o does the Virgin her Child. The star loses naught of its purity by the ray it yields, so neither does the Virgin by her Child. The lofty cedar of Libanus comes down into our valley, making itself little as the hyssop. He that is the Word of the Most High God deigns to take a body unto himself; he assumes our flesh. Tsaias had foretold all this; and the Jews, though they knew the prophecy by heart, see not its accomplishment in this mystery. If they will not believe their Prophets, let them believe the Sybils, who thus sang: * Unhappy people, delay not, believe, at least, the ancient oracles! Why wilt thou be cast off, O wretched nation ? * This is the Child of whom thy books tell thee: he is the Son of a Virgin-Mother.” Amen. is a Sequence in honour of the most Holy Mother of God. It belongs to the fifteenth century. It is one of the many imitations of the Easter Sequence, Victime Paschali, which are to be found in many of the Missals centuries. of the fifteenth and sixteenth 222 CHRISTMAS SEQUENCE Virgini Mariz laudes Intonent Christiani. Eva tristis abstulit; Sed Maria protulit Natum, qui redemit Peccatores. Mors et vita modulo Convenere mirando: Mariz Filius Regnat Deus. Dic nobis, Maria, Virgo clemens et pia: Quomodo facta es genitrix, Cum tu sis plasma. De te nascentis ? Angelus est testis Ad me missus ceelestis. Natus est ex me spes mea; Sed incredula Manet Judza. Credendum est magis soli Gabrieli forti, Quam Judzorum Prava cohorti. Scimus Christum processisse Ex Maria vere: Tu nobis nate, Rex | miserere. Amen. Let the Christian people hymn their praises to the Virgin Mary. Unhappy Eve was the cause of our ruin; but Mary brought forth a Son, who redeemed us sinners. Death and life were thus strangely reconciled: _ there reigns now God, the Son of Mary. Tell us, O Mary, Virgin most merciful and kind | How thou, the creature of him that was born of thee, didst become his Mother ? The Angel is witness, that was sent to me from heaven. He that is my hope was born of me his Mother: but the Jews will not believe. Faith must be had in Gabriel, the Power of God, rather than in the perverse Jewish tribe. We know that Christ was in very truth born of Mary: do thou, her Son! our King ! have mercy on us. Amen. 223 ST STEPHEN DECEMBER 26 SAINT STEPHEN THE FIRST MARTYR T PETER DAMIAN thus begins his Sermon for this Feast: ‘ We are holding in our arms the Son of the Virgin, and are honouring with our caresses this our Infant God. The holy Virgin has led us to the dear Crib. The most beautiful of the Daughters of men has brought us to the most beautiful among the Sons of men,! and the Blessed among women to him that is Blessed above all. She tells us . . . that now the veils of prophecy are drawn aside, and the counsel of God is accomplished. .. . Is there anything capable of distracting us from this sweet Birth 2 On what else shall we fix our eyes ? ... Lo! whilst Jesus is permitting us thus to caress him; whilst he is overwhelming us with the greatness of these mysteries, and our hearts are riveted in admira- tion; there comes before us Stephen, full of grace and Jfortitude, doing great wonders and signs among the people.® Is it right that we turn from our King tolook on Stephen, his soldier ? Noj; unless the King himself bid us do so. This our King, who is Son of the King, rises . . . to assist at the glorious combat of his servant. . . . Let us go with him, and contemplate this standard-bearer of the Martyrs.” The Church gives us, in to-day’s Office, this opening of a Sermon of St Fulgentius for the Feast of St Stephen: ‘ Yesterday we celebrated the temporal Birth of our eternal King: to-day we celebrate the triumphant passion of his Soldier. Yesterday our King, having put on the garb of our flesh, came from the sanctuary of his Mother’s 2 Ps, xliv 3. * Acts vi 8. 224 CHRISTMAS virginal womb, and mercifully visited the earth: to-day his Soldier, quitting his earthly tabernacle, entered triumphantly into heaven. Jesus, whilst still continuing to be the eternal raiment world: God, of flesh, and assumed to himself the lowly entered the battle-field of this Stephen, laying aside the perishable garment of the body, ascended to the palace of heaven, there to Jesus descended veiled in our flesh: reign for ever. Stephen ascended wreathed with a martyr’s laurels. Stephen ascended to heaven amidst the shower of stones, because Jesus had descended on earth midst the singing of Angels. Yesterday the holy Angels exultingly sang, Glory be to God in the highest; to-day they joyously received Stephen into their company. . . . Yesterday Jesus was wrapped, for our sakes, in swaddling-clothes: to-day Stephen was clothed with the robe of immortal glory. Yesterday a narrow crib contained the Infant Jesus: to-day the immensity of the heavenly court received the triumphant Stephen.” Thus does the sacred Liturgy blend the joy of our Lord’s Nativity with the gladness she feels at the triumph of the first of her Martyrs. Nor will Stephen be the only one admitted to share the honours of this glorious Octave. After him we shall have John, the Beloved Disciple; the Innocents of Bethlehem; Martyr of the Liberties of the Church; Thomas, the and Sylvester, the Pontiff of Peace. But, the place of honour amidst all who stand round the Crib of the new-born King belongs to Stephen, the Protomartyr, who, as the Church sings of him, was ‘ the first to pay back to the Saviour the death suffered by the Saviour.’ It was just that this honour should be shown to Martyrdom ; for Martyrdom is the creature’s testimony and return to his Creator for all the favours bestowed on him: it is Man testifying, even by shedding his blood, to the truths which God has revealed to the world. In order to understand this, let us consider what is the plan of God in the salvation he has givex to man. The Son of God is sent to instruct mankind; he sows ST STEPHEN the seed of to his 225 his divine word ; and his works give testimony divinity. But after his sacrifice on the cross, he again ascends to the right hand of his Father; so that his own testimony of himself has need of a second testimony, in order to be received by them that have neither seen nor heard Jesus himself. Now it is the Martyrs who are to provide this second testimony; and this they will do not only by confessing Jesus with their lips, but by shedding their blood for him. The Church, then, is to be founded by the Word and the Blood of Jesus, the Son of God; but she will be upheld, she will of Christ: that continue throughout all ages, she will triumph over all obstacles by the blood of her Martyrs, the members their Divine this their Head, blood and will mingle their sacrifice with be united of to his. The Martyrs shall bear the closest resemblance to their Lord and King. They shall be, as he said, like lambs among wolves.* The world shall be strong, and they shall be weak and defenceless: so much the grander will be the victory of the Martyrs, and the greater the glory of God who gives them to conquer. The Apostle tells us that Christ crucified is the power and the wisdom of God ;* the Martyrs, immolated, and yet conquerors of the world, will prove, with a testimony which even the world itself will understand, that the Christ whom they confessed, and who gave them constancy and victory, is in very deed the power and the wisdom of God. We repeat, then: it is just that the Martyrs should share in all the triumphs of the Man-God, and that the liturgical Cycle should glorify them as does the Church herself, who puts their sacred Relics in her altar-stones; for thus the Sacrifice of their glorified Lord and Head is never celebrated without they themselves being offered together with him in the unity of his mystical Body. Ngw the glorious Martyr-band of Christ is headed by St Stephen. His name signifies the Crowned ; a 1St Luke x 3. 1 Coriag. s 226 CHRISTMAS He conqueror such as he could not be better named. marshals, as in the name the Church calls the of Christ, the white-robed army, Martyrs; for he was the first, even before the Apostles themselves, to receive the summons, and right nobly did he answer it. Stephen courageously bore witness, in the presence of the Jewish Synagogue, to the divinity of Jesus of Nazareth; by thus proclaiming the Truth, he offended the ears of the unbelievers; the enemies of God became the enemies of Stephen, and rushing upon him, they stoned him to death. Amidst the pelting of the blood-drawing missiles, he, like a true soldier, flinches not, but (as St stands Gregory of Nyssa so beautifully describes it) as though snowflakes were falling on him, or roses were covering him with the shower of their kisses. Through the cloud of stones he sees the glory of God: Jesus, for whom he was laying down his life, showed himself to his Martyr, and the Martyr again rendered testimony to the divinity of Emmanuel, but with all the energy of a last act of love. Then, to make his sacrifice complete, he imitates his divine Master, and prays for his executioners: falling on his knees, he begs that this sin be not laid to their charge. Thus, all is consummated: the glorious type of Martyrdom is created and shown to the world, that it may be imitated by every generation to the end of time, until the number of the Martyrs of Christ shall be filled up. Stephen sleeps in the Lord, and is buried in peace—in pace—until his sacred Tomb shall be discovered, and his glory be celebrated a second time in the whole Church, by that anticipated Resurrection of the miraculous Finding of his Relics. Stephen, then, deserves to stand near the Crib of his King as leader of those brave champions, the Martyrs, who died for the Divinity of that Babe whom we adore. Let us join the Church in praying to our Saint, that he help us to come to our Sovereign Lord, now lying on his humble throne in Bethlehem. Let us ask him to initiate us into the mystery of that divine Infancy, which we are all bound to know and imitate. It was ST STEPHEN 227 from the simplicity he had learned from that Mystery that he heeded not the number of the enemies he had to fight against, nor trembled at their angry passion, nor winced under their blows, nor hid from them the Truth and their crimes, nor forgot to pardon them and pray for them. What a faithful imitator of the Babe of Bethlehem ! Our Jesus did not send his Angels to chastise those unhappy Bethlehemites who refused a shelter to the Virgin-Mother, who in a few hours was to give birth to him, the Son of David. He stays not the fury of Herod, who plots his Death; but meekly flees into Egypt, like some helpless bondsman, escaping the threats of a tyrant lordling. But it is under such apparent weakness as this that he will show his Divinity to men, and he the Infant-God prove himself the Strong God. Herod will pass away; so will his tyranny; Jesus will live, greater in his Crib, where he makes a King tremble, than, prince-tributary under his borrowed of Rome; nay, majesty, than Casar is this Augustus himself, whose world-wide empire has no other destiny than this—to serve as handmaid to the Church, which is to be founded by this Babe, whose name stands humbly written in the official registry of Bethlehem. MASS The Martyr, Introit is composed who, of the words of the holy in the language of the Royal Psalmist, tells us of the plot formed against him by the wicked, and of his own humble confidence in God, whereby he triumphed over their persecutions. From the murder of the innocent Abel to the future Martyrs who are to shed their blood in the days of Anti-christ, the Church is always under persecution; in some country, she is ever shedding her blood; but her strength lies in her fidelity to Jesus her Spouse, and in the simplicity which the Babe of Bethlehem example. is come to teach her by his own 228 CHRISTMAS INTROIT Sederunt principes, et adversum me loquebantur; et iniqui persecuti sunt me; adjuva “me, Domine Deus meus, quia servus tuus exercebatur in tuis justificationibus. Ps. Beati immaculati in via, qui ambulant in_lege Domini. Y. Gloria Patri. Sederunt. Princes sat, and _spoke against me; and sinners persecuted me: help me, O Lord my God, for thy servant hath practised thy commandments. _ Ps. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord. ¥. Glory, etc. Princes sat, etc. In the Collect the Church asks, both for herself and her children, that divine vigour which makes the holy Martyrs forgive their persecutors, and perfects not only their testimony to the truth, but also their imitation of Jesus Christ. It speaks the praise of St Stephen, who was the first to follow our Saviour’s example. COLLECT Da nobis, quasumus, Domine, imitari quod colimus: ut discamus et_inimicos ligere; qufa ejus natalitia celebramus, qui_ novit etiam pro persecutoribus exorare Dominum _ nostrum Jesum Christum Filium tuum. Qui tecum. Grant, O Lord, we beseech thee, that we may imitate him whose memory we celebrate, so as to learn to love even our encmies; because we now solemnize his martyrdom, who knew how to pray even for his persecutors to our Lord Jesus Christ, thy Son. Who liveth, etc. Commemoration of Christmas Day oREMUS Concede, _quasumus, omnipotens Deus: ut nos Unigeniti tui nova per carnem nativitas liberet ; quos sub peccati jugo vetusta servitus tenet. Per eumdem. LET US PRAY Grant, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that we who groan under the old captivity of sin, may be freed therefrom by the new birth of thine OnlyBegotten Son. Through the same, etc. 229 ST STEPHEN EPISTLE Lectio Actuum Apostolorum. Cap. VI et VII. In dicbus illis, Stephanus, plenus gratia_ct fortitudine, faciebat prodigia et signa magna in populo. Surrexerunt autem quidam de synagoga qua appellatur Libertinorum, et Cyrenensium, et Alexandrinorum, et eorum qui crant a Cilicia et Asia, disputantes cum Stephano, et non poterant resistere sapientiz ct Spiritui qui loquebatur. Audientes autem hazc, dissecabantur cordibus suis, et stridebant dentibus in_eum. Cum autem csset Stephanus plenus Spiritu Sancto, intendens in coclum, vidit gloriam Dei, et Jesum stantem a dextris Dei. Et ait: Ecce video calos apertos, et Filium hominis_stantem a dextris Dei. Exclamantes autem voce magna continuerunt aures suas, et impetum fecerunt unanimiter in eum. Et ejicientes eum extra civitatem, lapidabant. Et testes deposuerunt vestimenta sua secus pedes adolescentis, qui vocabatur Saulus. Et lapidabant Stephanum invocantem et dicentem: Domine Jesu, suscipe spiritum meum. ~Positis autem genibus, clamavit voce magna dicens: Domine, ne statuas illis hoc peccatum. Et cum hoc dixisset, obdormivit in Domino, Lesson from the Acts of the Apostles. Ch. VI and VII. In those days, Stephen, full of grace and fortitude, did great wonders and signs among the people. Now there arose some of that which is called the Synagogue of the Libertines, and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of them that were of Cilicia and Asia, disputing with Stephen; and thcy were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit that spoke. Now hearing these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed with their teeth at him. But Stephen being full of the Holy Ghost, looking up steadfastly to heaven, saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God. And he said: Behold, 1 see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. And they crying out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and with ‘one accord ran violently upon him. And casting him forth without the city, they stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, invoking and saying: Lord Jesus! receive my spirit. And falling on his knees, he cried with a loud voice, saying: Lord ! lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep in the Lord, 230 CHRISTMAS Thus, O glorious Prince of Martyrs! thou wast led outside the gates of the City for thy sacrifice, and thy punishment was that of blasphemers. The Disciple was to be like to his Master in all things. But neither the ignominy of such a death nor its cruelty could daunt thy great soul: thou didst carry Jesus in thy heart, and with him thou wast stronger than all thy enemies. And what was thy joy when thou sawest the heavens open, and this same Jesus in his glorified Humanity standing at the right hand of God, and looking upon thee with love ! A God looking complacently on the creature that is going to die for him, and the creature permitted to behold the God for whom he is dying—truly, this was more than enough to encourage thee ! Let thine enemies cast their stones against thee, and bruise and tear thy flesh, as they please: nothing can distract thee from this sight of the Eternal King, who raised himself from his throne to applaud thee, and deck thee with the Crown which he had prepared for thee from all eternity ! Now that thou art reigning in the kingdomn of heaven, pray for us, that we also may be faithful, and faithful even unto death, to this same Jesus, who not only left his throne, but even came down among us as a Little Child. GRADUAL Sederunt principes, et adPrinces sat and spoke versum me loquebantur; et against me; and the wicked iniqui persecuti sunt me. persecuted me. ¥. Adjuva me, Domine ¥. Help me, O Lord my Deus meus: salvum me fac God: save me for thy mercy’s propter misericordiam tuam. sake. Alleluia, alleluia. Alleluia, alleluia. ¥. Video ceelos apertos, _¥.Iseetheheavensopened,and et Jesum stantem a dextris Jesus standingat the right hand virtutis Dei. Alleluia. of the power of God. Alleluia. Sequentia sancti GOSPEL Evangelii secundum Matthzum. Cap. XXIII. In illo tempore: dicebat Jesus scribis et Pharismis: Sequel of the holy Gospel according to Matthew, Ch. XXIII. At that time: Jesus said to the Scribes and Pharisees: 231 icce ego mitto ad vos Pro- Behold, I send to you Proshetas, et sapientes, et scri- phets, and wise men, and ras; et ex illis occidetis, et scribes; and some of them you rucifigetis, et ex eis flagel- will put to death and crucify, abitis in synagogis vestris, and some you will scourge in it persequemini de civitate your synagogues, and persen civitatem: ut veniat su- cute from city to city: that ser vos omnis sanguis jus- upon you may come all the wus, qui effusus est super just blood that hath been shed ‘erfam, a sanguine Abel upon the earth, from the blood justi usque ad sanguinem of Abel the just, even unto the blood of Zacharias, the son of Zachari@, fili _Barachie, Juem occidistis inter tem- Barachias, whom you killed plum et altare. Amen dico between the temple and the altar. Amen, I say to you, all vobis, venient hzc omnia super generationem istam. these things shall come upon Jerusalem, Jerusalem, - Jerusalem, qua this generation. occidis Prophetas, et lapiJerusalem, thou that killest das eos qui ad te missi sunt, the Prophets, and stonest them quoties volui congregare that are sent unto thee, how filios tuos, quemadmodum often would I have gathered gallina congregat pullos together thy children, as the suos sub alas, et noluisti! hen doth gather her chickens Ecce relinquetur vobis_do- under her wings, and thou mus vestra deserta. Dico wouldst mot? Behold, your enim vobis, non me videbi- house shall be left to you detis amodo, donec dicatis: solate. For I say to you, you Benedictus qui venit in no- shall not see me henceforth, mine Domini. till you say: Blessed is he that ST STEPHEN cometh in the name of the Lord. The Martyrs are given to the world that they may continue the ministry of Christ on the earth by bear- ing testimony to his word, and by confirming this testimony by their blood. The world has despised them; like their divine light. Nevertheless Master, they have shone in the darkness, and darkness has not understood their many have received their testi- mony, and the seed of the Martyr’s blood has brought forth in them the rich fruit of Faith. The Synagogue was cast off by God for having shed the blood of Stephen, after having imbrued its hands in that of Jesus. Unhappy they who cannot appreciate the Martyrs! Let us who are Christians take in the sublime lessons taught us by their generous sacrifice; and let our respect and CHRISTMAS love for them testify that we are grateful for the noble 232 ministry they have fulfilled, and are still fulfilling in the Church. The Church is never without Martyrs, just as she is never without Miracles: it is the twofold testimony that she will give to the end of time, by which she evidences the divine life she has received from her almighty Founder. During the Offertory, the Church once more proclaims the merits and the glorious death of Stephen: and by this she teaches us that the sacrifice of the holy Deacon is united with that of Jesus himself. OFFERTORY Elegerunt Apostoli Stephanum Levitam, plenum fide et Spiritu Sancto; quem lapidaverunt Judmi orantem, et dicentem: Domine Jesu, accipe spiritum meum. Alleluia. The Apostles chose Stephen, a Levite, full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, whom the Jews stoned, praying, and saying: Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. Alleluia. SECRET Suscipe, Domine, munera pro tuorum commemoratione Sanctorum; ut sicut illos passio gloriosos effecit, ita nos devotio reddat innocuos. Per Dominum. Receive, O Lord, these offerings in memory of thy Saints; and as_their sufferings have made them glorious, So may our devotion render us free from sin. Through, etc. Commemoration of Christmas Day Oblata, Domine, munera nova Unigeniti tui nativitate sanctifica, nosque a peccatorum nostrorum maculis emunda. Per eumdem. Sanctify, O Lord, ings, by the new thine Only-Begotten cleanse us from the oursins. Through the our offerBirth of Son, and stains of same, etc. United by Holy Communion to her divine Spouse, the Church, too, sees the heavens opened, and jesus standing at the right hand of God. She sends up to this Incarnate Word the yearning: s of her intense love, and derives from the heavenly Food she has received ST STEPHEN 233 that meekness which makes her bear with the injuries and insults put upon her by her enemies, in order that she may win them all to the faith and love of Jesus Christ. It was by partaking of this same heavenly Food that Stephen obtained the superhuman strength whereby he won his victory and Crown. COMMUNION Video ceelos apertos, et Jesum stantem a dextris Virtutis Dei: Domine Jesu, accipe spiritum meum, et ne statuas illis hoc peccatum, I see the heavens opened and Jesus standing on the right ‘hand of the power of God: Lord Jesus, receive my spirit, and lay not this sin to their charge. POSTCOMMUNION Auxilientur nobis, DoMay the mysteries we have mine, sumpta mysteria: et received, O Lord, be help to intercedente beato Ste- us: and by the intercesphano, Martyre tuo, sempi- sion of the blessed Martyr terna protectione confir- Stephen, strengthen us with ment. Per Dominum. thy perpetual protection. Through, etc. Commemoration of Christmas Day Presta, quesumus, omnipotens Deus; ut natus hodie Salvator mundi, sicut divine nobis generationis est auctor, ita et immortalitatis sit ipse largitor. Qui tecum. Grant, we beseech thee, O Almighty God, that as the Saviour of the world, who was born this day, procured for us a divine birth, he may also beStow on us immortality. Who liveth, etc. VESPERS The solemnity of the Christmas Octave, from which the Feast of St Stephen has in a manner distracted us, returns at Vespers in all its splendour. The Church sings the Psalms and Antiphons of Christmas Day, and the Martyr's Feast is, so to speak, suspended until she 234 CHRISTMAS comes to the Capitulum. In this same way she celebrates the Vespers on all the Feasts which are kept during this Octave. The Psalms and Antiphons are given above, (p. 89). CAPITULUM (Acts vi) Stephanus autem plenus But Stephen, full of grace gratia et fortitudine facie- and fortitude, did great wonbat prodigia et signa mag- ders and signs among the na in populo. people. HYMN! Deus tuorum militum O God! thou the inheritSors, et corona, premium, ance, Crown, and reward of Laudes canentes Martyris thy Soldiers ! absolve from the Absolve nexu criminis. bonds of our sins us who sing the praises of thy Martyr. Hic nempe mundi gaudia For counting the joys of Et blanda fraudum pabula, the world and the deceitful Imbuta felle deputans, bait of its caresses as things emPervenit ad celestia. bittered with gall, thy Martyr obtained the delights of heaven. Peenas cucurrit fortiter, Bravely did he go through, Et sustulit viriliter, and manfully did he bear his Fundensque pro te sangui- pains; and shedding his blood nem, for thy sake, he now possesses Zterna dona possidet. thy eternal gifts. Ob hoc precatu supplici Therefore, most merciful Te poscimus, Piissime, Father| we beseech thee, in In hoc triumpho Martyris, most suppliant prayer, forgive Dimitte noxam servulis. us thy unworthy servants our sins, for it is the feast of thy Martyr's triumph. * Ia the Monastic Breviary, it is as follows: Ry. breve. Posuisti, Domine, * Super goput cjus Posuisl ¥.Coronam de apide pretioso. * Super. a Patri. Posuisti, Deus, tuorum millitam Sors, et corons, pramium, Laudes canentés Martyris Absolve nexu criminis. Hic nempe mundi gaudia Et blandimenta noxia Caduca rite deputans, Pervenit ad calestia,” Peenas cucurrit fortiter, Bt sustllt viiier: te effundens sanguinem Zterna dona possidet. Ob hoc precatu supplici Te poscimus, Piissime, In hoc triumpho Martyris Dimitte noxam servulls. Gloria tibi Domine, uinatus e de Virgioe, m Patre, et Sancto Spiritu, In sempiterna smcula. - Amen. ST STEPHEN 235 Glory be to thee, O Jesus, that wast born of the Virgin| and to the Father, and to the Spirit of Love, for everlasting ages. Amen. Y. Stephen saw the heavens Y. Stephanus vidit ccelos apertos. opened. Ry. Vidit et introivit; beaR. He saw and entered; blessed man, to whom the tus homo cui ceeli patebant. heavens opened. Jesu, tibi sit gloria, Qui natus es de Virgine, Cum Patre et almo Spiritu, In sempiterna szcula. Amen. ANTIPHON OF THE MAGNIFICAT ANT. Sepelierunt StephaAnt. Devout men num viri timorati, et fece- Stephen, and made runt planctum magnum su- ‘mourning over him. per eum. OREMUS Da nobis, quasumus, Domine, imitari quod colimus, ut discamus et inimicos_di ligere; quia ejus natalitia celebramus, qui novit etiam pro persecutoribus exorare Dominum _nostrum Jesum Christum Filium taum. Qui tecum. sempiterna. great LET US PRAY Grant, O Lord, we beseech thee, that we may imitate him whose memory we celebrate, S0 as to learn to love even our enemies; because we now solemnize his martyrdom, who knew how to pray even for his persecutors to our Lord Jesus Christ thy Son. Who liveth, etc. Commemoration ANT. Iste est Joannes, qui supra pectus Domini in ceena recubuit: beatus Apostolus, cui revelata sunt secreta ceelestia. ¥. Valde honorandus est beatus Joannes. Ry Qui supra pectus Domini in ceena recubuit. OREMUS Ecclesiam tuam, Domine, benignus illustra, ut beati Joannis Apostoli tui et Evangelistz illuminata doctrinis, ad dona perveniat buried of St John ANT. This is John, who leaned upon the Lord's breast at the Supper. Blessed Apostle, unto whom were revealed heavenly secrets. ¥. Most worthy of honour is blessed John. . Who leaned upon the Lord’s breast at the Supper. LET US PRAY Mercifully, O Lord, enlighten thy Church, that being taught by blessed John, thy Apostle and Evangelist, she may come to thy eternal rewards. CHRISTMAS 236 Commemoration of Christmas Day Hodie Christus naANT. This day ANT. tus est; hodie Salvator apparuit; hodie in terra canunt Angeli, letantur Archangeli: hodie exsultant justi icentes: Gloria in excelsis Deo, alleluia. ¥. Notum fecit Dominus, alleluia. Ry. Salutare suum, alleluia. OREMUS Concede, quasumus, omnipotens Deus: ut nos Unigeniti tui nova per carnem nativitas liberet, quos sub peccati jugo vetusta servitus tenet. ~Per eumdem. In honour Christ is give a born; this day the Saviour hath’ appeared; this day the Angels sing on earth; the this day Archangels rejoice; the just exult, saying: Glory be to God in the highest, alleluia. ¥. The Lord hath made known, alleluia. K. His salvation, alleluia. LET US PRAY Grant, we beseech thee, O Almighty God, that we who groan under the old captivity of sin, may be freed therefrom by the new birth of thine OnlyBegotten Son. Through the same, etc. of our Protomartyr, we will now selection from the ancient Liturgical Hymns wherein his merits were celebrated by the various Churches. ‘We begin with the Hymn composed by St Ambrose, . which is in the Breviary of the Church of Milan. HYMN To Stephen the first Martyr let us sing a new canticle: may it be sweet to them that sing, and bring grace to them that believe. Psallamus hoc discipuli, Come, ye disciples of the Laudem dicamus Martyri, Lord, thus let us sing: let us Qui primus post Redemp- give praise to the Martyr, who torem was the first after the ReChristi secutus est crucem. deemer to follow the cross of Jesus. Hic enim per Apostolos For having been found by Probatus in laudem Dei, the Apostles to be fervent in Vexilla mortis rapuit, God's service, he outran all Ut praferretur omnibus. others and bore off the Banner of death. Stephano primo Martyri Cantemus novum canticum, Quod dulce sit psallentibus, Opem ferat credentibus. ST STEPHEN 237 O glorious First place! O O praeferenda gloria ! O beata victoria ! blessed victory | Stephen to Hoc meruisse Stephanum be the first to follow his Lord ! Ut sequeretur Dominum. The noble Martyr preaches Ipse martyr egregius, to men for the love of Christ, Amore Christi praedicans, with his heart full of the Holy Sancto repletus Spiritu, Spirit, and his face beaming Vultum gerens Angelicum. as an Angel's. He raises his eyes, and sees Tle levatis oculis. Vidit Patrem cum Filio, the Father with the Son: he tells Monstrans in ccelis vivere, the people how he beholds, Quem plebs quarebat per- living in heaven, him whom they had sought to destroy. dere. Judzi magis seviunt, The Jews grow the more enraged, and, seizing up stones Saxaque prensant manibus, in their hands, they ran out to Currebant, ut occiderent kill the holy Soldier of Christ. Sacratum Christi militem. He was ready, and standing Iste paratus vertice, up, right gladly receives the Gaudens suscepit lapides, stones: he asks God to forgive Rogans pro eis Dominu, them, and joyfully breathes Gaudens tradidit spiritum. forth his soul. Gloria tibi, Domine, Glory be to thee, O Lord! Glory be to thine Only-BeGloria Unigenito, Una cum Sancto Spiritu, gotten Son, together with the In sempiterna szcula. Holy Ghost, for everlasting ages. Amen. Amen. The Gallican Sacramentary, on the Feast of St Stephen, thus glorifies God for the graces bestowed on this the first of the Martyrs. Missa S. Stefani O Almighty God ! who didst give the holy Martyr Stephen to thy Church as the first sheaf of thy harvest, and didst make disti, et primitivam oblatiothis First offering to be the nem novellz confessionis herald of a new confession, ostendisti praconem, quod because he had yielded such quick ripened fruits; grant fructus maturescentes exhibuit; presta universo cce- to this whole assembly, by the tui, intercessione martyris intercession of thy well-deserving Martyr, that he may aid meriti, ut Ecclesiam tuam juvet suffiragio, quam orna- the Church by his prayers, as he honoured her by his ministry. vit ministerio. Deus omnipotens, qui Ecclesiz tuz sanctum Stephanum martyrem primum messis tuz manipulum de- CHRISTMAS 238 The Gothic Church of Spain has, in her Mozarabic Missal, these magnificent praises to God in his holy Martyr. In natali S. Stephani, Contestatio Dignum et justum est: ®quum et justum est: te laudare, teque benedicere, tibi gratias agere, omnipotens sempiterne Deus, qui gloriaris in conventu Sanctorum tuorum; quos ante mundi constitutionem praelectos spirituali in ccelestibus benedictione signasti: quosque_Unigenito tuo per adsumptionem _carnis, et crucis _redemptionem ~ sociasti. In quibus Spiritum tuum Sanctum regnare fecisti; per quem ad felicis m gloriam pietatis tuz favore venerunt. - Digne igitur tibi, Domine virtutum, festa Solemnitas agitur; tibi hzc dies sacrata cele. bratur; qua beati Stephani primi ‘martyris tui sanguis in tuz veritatis_testimonio profusus, magnificum nominis tui onorem signavit. Hic est enim illius Nominis primus_Confessor, quod est supra_omne nomen; in quo unicum salutis nostre prasidium, Pater mterne, posuistl. Hic in Ecclesia tua quam splendidum ad cunctorum animos confirmandos, unicze laudis praecessit exemplum | Hic post passionem Domini nostri Jesu Christi, victoriz _ palmam _primus invasit. Hic ut levitico ministerio_per Spiritum Sanctum ab Apostolis conse- cratus est; niveo candore It is meet and just, it is right and just, that we praise thee, and ‘bless thee and give thee thanks, O Almighty and eternal God ! that art glorified in the assembly of thy Saints, whom thou didst choose before the foundation of the world, and didst mark with a spiritual blessing unto heavenly things; whom also thou didst associate to thine Only-Begotten Son, by his Incarnation and his redeeming of the world by the cross. Thou didst make to reign in them thy Holy Spirit, under whose guidance they were led by the sweetness of thy mercy to the glory of happy martyrdom. It is just, therefore, O God of hosts, that this festive solemnity should be kept in thy praise; that this sacred day should be devoted to thee; for on it the blood of blessed Stephen, thy first' Martyr, was shed in testimony of thy truth, and thy name thereby received exceeding honour. For this is he who was the first Confessor of that Name which is above all names, and in which, O Eternal Father, thou didst place the only source of our salvation. This is he that left in thy Church an example of courage; but who can say how grand is the example, and how above all praise? This is he that was the first to seize the palm of victory, after the Passion ST STEPHEN confestim emicuit, martyrii cruore purpureus. O benedictum Abrahz semen, Apostolice doctrin®, et dominicz crucis prior omnium factus imitator et testis! Merito ceelos apertos vidit et Jesum stantem ad dexteram Dei. Digne igitur et juste talem sub tui nominis confessione laudamus, omnipotens Deus; quem ad tantam gloriam vocare dignatus es. Suffragia ejus nobis pro tua pietate concede. Talis pro_hac plebe precetur; qualem fllom post trophws venientem _exsultans Christus_excepit. Illi pro nobis oculisublimentur; qui adhuc in hoc mortis corpore constituti, stantem ad dexteram Patris Filium Dei in ipsa passionis hora viderunt. ile pro nobis_obtineat, qui pro_persecutoribus suis dum lapidaretur, orabat ad te, sancte Deus, Pater omnipotens, per Dominum Jesum Christum Filium toum, qui Ppro peccatis nostris nasci carne per Virginem, et pati dignatus est mortem: ut martyres suos suo pati doceret exemplo. Cui merito omnes Angeli atque Archangeli sine cessatione proclamant, dicentes: Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus. 239 of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is he whom the Apostles, by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, had scarce consecrated to the levitical ministry, than he straightway shone with a snow-white purity, and was vested in the scarlet of a martyr's blood. O truly noble child of Abraham! worthy to become the first follower and witness of the Apostles’ teaching, and of Jesus' cross| How well did he deserve to see the heavens opened, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God! It is therefore meet and just, O Almighty Lord, that, whilst giving praise to thy Name, we praise him whom thou didst graciously call to this so great glory. In thy mercy grant that we may have him to intercede for us. May he pray for this thy people, now that he is in possession of the glory with which Christ welcomed him after his victory. May he now, for our sakes, lift up those eyes which, during this his mortal life, and in the hour of his martyrdom, beheld the Son of God standing at the right hand of the Father. May he be heard for us, who, whilst his persecutors were stoning him, prayed for them unto thee, O Holy God, Father Almighty, through our Lord Jesus Christ thy Son, who for our sins vouchsafed to be born of the Virgin, and suffer death: teaching his Martyrs hereby by his own example, how they should sufier. To whom most justly do all the Angels and Archangels cry out unceasingly, saying: Holy, Holy, Holy ! 240 CHRISTMAS Let us next listen to the Greek Church singing the praises of our Protomartyr. She thus extols him in her Menza: XXVI Decembris, in magno Vespertino, et passim Mente illustratus Spiritus gratia, forma velut Angelus videris, Stephane, dato tibi in_corpore qui intus erat splendore, et mente tua cernentibus manifestante fulgorem quo fruitus es, luminisque contemplationes, ccelis tibi mirabiliter apertis, o martyrum caput et gloria. Quasi gradus scale, ad coelestem ingressum tibi fuerunt lapidum flocci, super quos ascendens contemplatus es stantem Dominum ad Patris dexteram, tibi offerentem homonymam coronam sua vivifica dextera, cui vicinus adstas victor gloriosus, athletarumque primitiz. Signis et miraculis coruscans, ceelestibus documentis impiorum combussisti synedrium, et ab illis necatus lapidibusque obrutus, pro injectantium tu deprecatus es venia, vocem imitatus Salvatoris, in cujus manus commendasti sacratissimum spiritum tuum, Stephane. Regi_et Domino_omnium nato in terra Stephanus perlucidus offertur, non pretiosis decoratus gemmis, sed ex proprio sanguine flori- Tllumined in thy soul with the grace of the Holy Ghost, thy face shone like that of an Angel, O Stephen | The brightness that was within sent forth its rays upon thy body, and thy soul evinced to the beholders the light and contem- plation thou didst enjoy, when the heavens were miraculously opened before thee, O thou the leader and the glory of the Martyrs ! The thickly falling stones were to thee as the steps of a ladder reaching the gate of heaven, by which ascending, thou didst behold our Lord standing on the Father's right hand, offering thee, with his own life-giving right hand, that which was thy very name —a Crown: and now thou standest near him, thou the glorious conqueror, and the first combatant. Tllustrious by thy wonders and miracles and heavenly teaching, thou didst burn_the chair of the impious. They stoned thee to death,and thou didst pray God to forgive them, using thy Jesus' own words, and into his hands commending thy own most saintly spirit, O Stephen | To the King and Lord of all, who is born on our earth, is offered the beautiful Stephen, not adorned with precious gems, but glittering in 241 the scarlet of his own blood. Come then, ye that love the Martyrs, cull the flowers of song, and wreathe them into hymns passed on from choir to choir. O Protomartyr of Jesus our God! thy spirit beams with wisdom and love; pray for us, that we may receive peace and plentiful mercy. Thou wast deservedly made an aid to the Apostles of Christ, and thou didst minister to them, O well-named Stephen, as the faithful Deacon. Like Jesus, thou too didst pass through blood. O man carrying God within thee | thou didst rise in_the east like a sun of fairest light, shedding the rays of thy con” fession, and great fortitude, and most generous resistance. Thou, the first of Martyrs, didst look up to heaven and see standing in the immutable divinity and glory of the Father, him that was born of a Virgin-Mother, and became a guest among us. Yesterday the Master became a guest among us by assuming our flesh; to-day his servant is unguested from tae flesh; he is stoned and made the Protomartyr, the god-like Stephen. To-day there shone a bright star for the Birth of Christ— the Protomartyr Stephen; and all the earth was illumined by his dazzling rays. He confuted all the impiety of the Jews, showing them their errofs by words of wisdom, and proving his doctrine by the Scriptures, showing them that Jesus, who was born of the Virgin, was ST STEPHEN dus: at, o martyrum amatores, venite, decerptis carminum floribus _cingamus sertis tempora, et hymnis alternantes canamus: qui sapientia et charitate coruscas mente, protomartyr Christi Dei, deprecare pro nobis pacem et magnam ‘misericordiam. Tu ad auxilium Apostolorum Christi digne vocatus es, et ut fidelis diaconus, o vere nominate Stephane, administrasti; tamquam Christus per sanguinem transivisti. Clarissimus _sicut sol, o Deifer, ad orientem exorsus cs, radios emittens confessionis tuz, et magna fortitudinis atque generosissimz oppugnationis. Tlum qui ex Matre virinescia apud nos hospitatus est, martyrum primus, in immutabili Patris divinitate stantem et gloria, in ccelis contemplatus es. Heri apud nos per carnem hospitabatur Dominus, hodie e carne dehospitatur servus; hodie lapidatur famulus, et ideo perficitur Protomartyr ~ divinusque Stephanus. Stella fulgida hodie in Christi nativitate resplenduit Protomartyr Stephanus, omnes mundi fines suis illuminans fulgoribus; at Judzorum omnem _extinxit impietatem, sapienti@ verbis illos animadvertens et de Scripturis disserens; illisque suadens natum ex Virgine Jesum ipsum Dei esse Filium} illorum impiam 16 242 CHRISTMAS confundit malitiam Protomartyr et divinus Stephanus. Laudum, Stephane, omnem superasti modum, et fers ineffabiliter et sine dolo tuas victoriz palmas; non enim potest mens mortalis tuis dignam praconiis coronam intexere. Primus in diaconis et primus in martyribus demonstratus es, sanctissime Stephane; iter enim fuisti sanctis, et multos ad Dominum perduxisti martyres; ideo ccelum tibi apertum est, et Deus tibi apparuit: ipsum deprecare salvare animas nos- tras. very Son of God. The Protomartyr, the god-like Stephen, confounded their blasphemous impiety. ) Thou art beyond all praise, No tongue can O Stephen! say how honestly was won the laurel-branch thou bearest. No mortal mind can wreathe a Crown worthy thy great acts. Thou, most saintly Stephen | wast first of Deacons, and first of Martyrs; for thou didst open the way to the Saints, and hast led the countless Martyrs to their God: therefore did the heavens open over thy head, and God appear unto thee. Pray to him for us, that he save our souls. The Western Churches of the Middle Ages have left us an almost endless variety of Liturgical compositions, more particularly of Proses and Sequences, in honour of St Stephen. 'We have no hesitation in giving our preference to the one composed by Adam of St Victor. ‘We shall always think it a duty to bring into notice the works of this great Liturgical Poet, whose compositions were for a long period so dear to the faithful in England, France, Germany, northern Europe. and in almost all the Churches of SEQUENCE Heri mundus exsultavit, Yesterday the world exulted, Et exsultans celebravit and in its exultation celebrated Christi natalitia. the Birth of Jesus. Heri chorus Angelorum Yesterday the Angelic Choir Prosecutus est ceelorum in great joy stood round the Regem cum latitia. King of heaven. Protomartyr et Levita The Protomartyr and DeaClarus fide, clarus vita, con Stephen, illustrious for his Clarus et miraculis. faith, illustrious for his holy life, illustrious also for his miracles, ST STEPHEN 243 Sub hac luce triumphavit On this day triumphed, and Et triumphans insultavit in his triumph, vanquished the Stephanus incredulis. unbelieving Jews. Fremunt ergo tamquam fere, Quia victi defuere Lucis adversarii. Falsos testes statuunt, Et linguas exacuunt Viperarum filii. Agonista, nulli cede, Certa, certus de mercede, Persevera, Stephane. Insta falsis testibus, Confuta sermonibus Synagogam Satanz. Testis tuus est in coelis, Testis verax et fideli Testis innocentiz. Nomen habes Coronati: Te tormenta decet pati Pro corona gloriz. Pro corona non marcenti Perfer brevis vim tormenti: Te manet victoria. Tibi fiet mors Natalis, Tibi peena terminalis Dat vita primordia. Plenus Sancto Spiritu, Penetrat intuitu Stephanus ceelestia. Videns Dei gloriam, Crescit ad victoriam, Suspirat ad premia. En a dextris Dei stantem Jesum pro te dimicantem, Stephane, considera. Tibi ccelos reserari, Tibi Christum revelari Clama, voce libera. Se commendat Salvatori Pro quo dulce ducit mori, Sub ipsis lapidibus. Saulus servat omnium Vestes lapidantium, Lapidans in omnibus. These enemies of the Light rage like savage beasts at seeing their own defeat. This brood of vipers bring up false witnesses, and sharpen their tongues. Flinch not, Combatant! Thou art sure of thy reward: fight and persevere, O Stephen ! ‘Withstand the false witnesses, and confute by thy answers the synagogue of Satan. Thine heaven, faithful, own Witness is in a Witness true and and he is Witness of thine innocence. Thy name is The Crowned : it behoves thee to suffer, so to win thy Crown of glory. For a Crown which is to last for ever, what are torments which last but an hour, and are followed by victory ? Thy death will be thy Birth: thy last pang will introduce thee into eternal life. Full of the Holy Ghost, Stephen fixes his gaze on the heavens above: Seeing there the glory of God, he pushes on to victory, he pants for the crown. Behold, Stephen! on God's right hand is thy Jesus, and he is fighting for thee. Boldly tell it to the crowd that the heavens are opened for thee, and that Jesus shows himself to thee. He then commends his spirit to his Saviour, for whom he deemsit sweet to be thus stoned to death. Saul makes himself guardian of the garments of all that cast the stones: casting thus himself each stone they throw. 244 CHRISTMAS But Stephen, compassionating their madness, falls on his knees, and prays that this sin be not laid to the charge of his murderers. Thus did he sleep in Christ, who thus imitated Christ: and now for ever lives with Christ: Stephen, first of Martyrs. St. Augustine and common report assure us that he raised up six dead men to life in Africa. When, through God's mercy, his Relics were discovered, the earth, which was parched by a drought, received a plentiful rain. The very fragrance that came from his"Relics put diseases and demons to flight. Truly, then, is he worthy of praise and honour and ~ eternal remembrance. O Martyr, whose name is so dear to the Church ! refresh our fainting world by celestial fragrance. Amen. Ne peccatum statuatur His a quibus lapidatur, Genu ponit et precatur Condolens insaniz. In Christo sic obdormivit, Qui Christo sic obedivit ! Et cum Christo semper vivit Martyrum primitie. Quod sex suscitaverit Mortuos in Africa, Augustinus asserif, Fama refert publica. Hujus, Dei gratia, Revelato corpore, Mundo datur pluvia Siccitatis tempore. Solo fugat hic odore Morbos et demonia, Laude dignus et honore Jugique memoria. Martyr, cujus est jucundum Nomen in Ecclesia, Languescentem fove mundum Ceelesti fragrantia. Amen. With offered these praises which the venerable to thee, O Prince presume to unite ours. and First ages of old of Martyrs! we Fervently do we congratulate thee that thou hast had assigned thee by the Church the place of honour at the g:ib of our Jesus. How glorious the confession thou didst make of his Divinity whilst thy executioners were stoning thee! How rich and bright the scarlet thou art clad in for thy victory! How honourable the wounds thou didst receive for Christ! How immense and yet how choice that army of Martyrs which follows thee as its leader, and to which fresh recruits will for ever be added, to the end of time. Holy Martyr ! help us by thy prayers to enter into the spirit of the mystery of the Word made Flesh, now that we are celebrating the Birth of our Saviour. Thou ST STEPHEN 245 art the faithful guardsman of his Crib: who could better lead us to the Divine Babe that lies there? bear testimony to his Divinity and Thou didst Humanity; thou didst preach this Man-God before the blaspheming Synagogue. In vain did the Jews stop their ears; they could not stifle thy voice, which charged them with deicide, in that they had put to death him who is at once the Son of Mary and the Son of God. Show this Redeemer to us also, not, indeed, standing in glory at the right hand of his Father, but the sweet and humble Babe, as he now manifests himself to the world into which he has just been born, wrapped in swaddling- clothes, and laid in a manger. We too wish to bear witness to him, and to tell how his Birth is one of love and mercy; we wish to show by our lives that he has been born in our hearts. Obtain for us that devotedness to the Divine Infant which gave thee such courage on the day of trial: we shall have devotedness if, like thee, we are simple-hearted and fearless in our love of Jesus; for love is stronger than death. May we never dom simply because he is a Christian. of Christ, which has again begun within us, us, by our fidelity and our conduct, that as the Apostle expresses it, fo the fulness But bemmdlu&J o glonous Martyr ! May the life so grow within we may come, of Christ? be mindful of forget that every Christian ought to be ready for martyr- the Holy Church in those countries where it is the will of God that she resist even unto blood. May the number of thy fellow-martyrs be thus filled up, and let not one of the combatants grow faint-hearted. May every age and sex be staunch; that so the testimony may be griect and the Church, even in her old age, win immortal urels and crowns, as in the freshness of her infancy, when she had such a champion as thyself. But pray too that the blood of these Martyrs may be fruitful, as it was in times past ; pray that it be not wasted, but becomethe seed of abundant harvests. May infidelity lose ground, and heresy cease to canker those noble hearts 4 Eph. iv 13. 246 CHRISTMAS who, once in the Truth, would be the glory and consola- tion of the Church. Our own dear Martyrs, who in the hope that God blood by restoring her to the Faith, died: oh ! Prince of Martyrs ! pray may be speedily fulfilled. Land has had her would avenge their gladly suffered and that this their hope ‘We must not end this second day of the Christmas Octave without visiting the Stable of Bethlehem, and adoring the divine Son of Mary. Two days have scarce elapsed since his Blessed Mother placed him in his humble Crib; but these two days are of more value for the salva- tion of the world than the four thousand years which preceded the Birth of this Babe. The work of our Redemption has made a great step; the cries and tears of the New-Born Child have begun the atonement of our sins. On this Feast of the First Martyr, let us consider how the cheeks of the Infant Jesus are moistened with tears, and how these tears are the first expression of his sufferings. ‘ Jesus weeps,’ say St Bernard, ‘but not like other children, certainly not for the same cause as other children. . . . They weep from passion; he from compassion. They weep because they are galled by the yoke that sits heavy on all the children of Adam; Jesus weeps because he sees the sins of the children of Adam.” (Third Sermon for the Nativity.) Oh! how dear to us ought to be these tears of a God who has made himself our Brother! Had we not sinned, God would not have wept. Ought not we too to weep over sin, which thus saddens, by the sufferings it causes to our sweet Infant Jesus, the heavenly joy of his Birth among us? Mary also sees these tears, and her maternal heart is pained. She feels that her Child is to be the Man of Sorrows ; and, before many days are over, the same awful truth will be told her in prophecy. With the consolation she offers to her Babe let us unite ours, by giving him our love. It is the one thing he seeks hy all the humiliations he has taken upon himself. Tt is ST STEPHEN to gain our love that he has come down 247 from heaven, and been born among us in the midst of the mysteries we are now celebrating. Let us love him, therefore, with all our love, and ask our Lady to present him our humble offering. The Psalmist hassaid: The Lord is great, and exceedinglyto be praised : let us add, with St Bernard: The Lord is a Little Babe, and exceedingly to be loved. ‘We will honour the Birth of our Jesus to-day by this venerable Sequence of St Gall’s Monastery, written by Blessed Notker. It recounts the combat of our Emmanuel against Satan, and his victory. This victory is the source of those won by Stephen and all the Martyrs. Eia, recolamus Laudibus piis digna, Hujus diei carmina, In quo nobis lux oritur Gratissima. Noctis inter nebulosa, Pereunt nostri criminis Umbracula. Hodie szculo Maris stella Est enixa Nova salutis gaudia. Quem tremunt barathra, Mors cruenta pavet ipsa, A quo peribit mortua. SEQUENCE Come ! let us resume our holy songs of praise in strains worthy of this day, Whereon the much-loved Light rises to the world. It is in the gloomy hour of night that the dark shadows of our sins are made to disappear. This day did the Star of the sea bring forth to the world the joy of its new salvation. Her Child makes hell tremble; nay, cruel Death is filled with fear at the sight of him who is to be its death. Gemet capta Long-triumphant ~pestilence, Pestis antiqua, now captive, mourns out her Coluber lividus perdit sighs; and the crushed serspolia. pent lets go his prey. Homo lapsus, Fallen man, the strayed Ovis obducta, sheep, is carried back to the Revocatur ad @terna eternal joys. Gaudia. Gaudent in hoc die The heavenly host of Angels Agmina Angelorum ccelestia, are full of joy to-day; Quia erat drachma decima For the tenth groat was lost Perdita, and is found. Et est inventa. CHRISTMAS 248 O proles Nimium beata, Qua redempta. Est natura, Deus, qui creavit omnia, Nascitur ex femina. Mirabilis natura, Mirifice induta, Assumens quod non erat, Manens quod erat. Induitur natura Divinitas humana: Quis audivit ‘alia, Dic, rogo, facta ? Quarere venerat Pastor pius quod perierat. Induit galeam, Certat ut miles armatura. Prostratus In sua propria Ruit hostis spicula. Anuferuntur tela In quibus fidebat, Divisa sunt illius spolia, Capta prada sua. Christi pugna Fortissima Salus nostra est vera, Qui nos suam Ad patriam Duxit post victoriam. In qua sibi laus. est Zterna. And Amen. now, Child ! blessed above all | was remankind by whom deemed. O The God who created all things is born of a Woman. He whose nature is admirable, clothes himself by an admirable mystery, assuming what he was not, and remaining what he had ever been. A divine Person puts on human nature: I besecch thee, tell me, was aught like this ever heard ? The Good Shepherd came to seek that which was lost. He puts on the helmet, and as a soldier fights in armour. The enemy is defeated and falls upon his own arrows. The weapons he trusted in are taken from him, his booty is divided, his prey is taken from him. Our true salvation comes of this most gloriovs battle of Christ; Who, after the victory, led us to his own kingdom, Where everlasting praise is given to him. Amen. turning towards his Blessed Mother, we tribute of this beautiful Sequence, will offer her tne taken from the Cluny Missal of 1523. Angelica nos respice, 0 dignitatis Domina. Cum Filio in solio Ceelo regnas per szcula. Dulcis Maria, Vere dulcis, vere pia, ‘Vere mitis a. SEQUENCE Look down upon us, O Queen of the Angel kingdom. With thy Son, thou reignest for ever on the heavenly throne. Sweet Mother Mary! truly sweet and loving and most gentle ! ST STEPHEN Tota affluens pietate, Clementia, Tota mellifiua. Tu flebili Theophili Culpa ades propitia. Te auspice, A fornice Surgit rea Zgyptia. O mater misericordi, O lapsorum spes unica. Votiva servorum Hodie infer cezlo Suspiria. Tu decus Israel, Tu mundi gloria. Nostro Emmanuel Tu reconcilia, Quem lactasti tua sacra mamilla. Tlla ejus membra Fovens dulcia. Mediatrix nostra, Nobis hunc placa. In illa oramus die Tremenda, Oblaturi hic adsumus Deo Patri tuz prolis Pignora, Quorum virtute, quasumus, Reos munda, ‘Trementes corrobora. Tu bona, tu clemens, Tu spes nostra, O Maria. Amen dicat mens devota. Thou art, as a fountain, 249 full of love and clemency; and as a land flowing with honey. Thou mercifully aidest the sorrowing Theophilus to obtain the forgiveness of his sin. By thy prayers, the guilty one of Egypt rises from her abominations. O O Mother of Mercy! singular hope of the fallen ! Bear up this day to heaven the prayers and sighs of thy clients. Thou art the of Is- favour of honour rael, thou art the glory of the world. Restore us to our Emmanuel, the Whom thou didst feed at thy sacred breast, Infant sweet whose And limbs thou didst warm. Do thou, our Mediatrix, appease him in our regard, On the dread Day, we beseech thee. We are here God our Father our Jesus; to offer up the merits to of By their virtue do thou, we beseech thee, obtain forgiveness for the guilty, and bring courage to them that fear. Thou art our good, our mer- ciful Mother; thou hope, O Mary | Let cvery devout spond: Amen | art our soul re- 250 CHRISTMAS DECEMBER SAINT APOSTLE AND 27 JOHN EVANGELIST EAREST to Jesus’ Crib, after Stephen, stands John, the Apostle and Evangelist. It was only right that the first place should be assigned to him, who so loved his God that he shed his blood in his service; for, as this God himself declares, greater love than this hath no man, that he lay down his life for his friends, and Martyrdom has ever been counted by the Church as the greatest act of love, and as having, consequently, the power of remitting sins, like a second Baptism. But next to the sacrifice of Blood, the noblest, the bravest sacrifice, and that which most wins the heart of him who is the Spouse of souls, is the sacrifice of Virginity. Now just as St Stephen is looked upon as the type of Martyrs, St Johnishonoured as the Prince of Virgins. Martyrdom won for Stephen the Crown and palm; Virginity merited for John most singular prerogatives, which, while they show how dear to God is holy Chastity, put this Disciple among those who by their dignity and influence are above the rest of men. St John was of the family of David, as was our Blessed Lady. He was consequently a relation of Jesus. This same honour belonged to St James the Greater, his brother; as also to St James the Less and St Jude, both sons of Alpheus. When our Saint was in the prime of his youth, he left not only his boat and nets, not only his Father Zebedee, but even his betrothed, when every- thing was prepared for the marriage. He followed Jesus, and never once looked back. Hence the special love which our Lord bore him. Others were Disciples or + St John xv 13. 251 ST JOHN Apostles, John was the Friend of Jesus. The cause of this our Lord’s partiality was, as the Church tells us in the Liturgy, that John had offered his Virginity Let us, on this his Feast, enumerate to the Man-God. the graces and privileges that came to St John from his being the Disciple whom Jesus loved. This very expression of the Gospel, which the Evan- gelist repeats several times—The Disciple whom Jesus loved'—says more than any commentary could do. St Peter, it is true, was chosen by our Divine Lord to be the Head of the Apostolic College, and the Rock whereon the Church was to be built: he, most; but St John was loved most. then, was honoured Peter was bid to love more than the rest loved, and he was able to say, in answer to Jesus’ thrice repeated question, that he did love him in this highest way: and yet, notwithstanding, John was more loved by Jesus than was Peter himself, because his Virginity deserved this special mark of honour. Chastity of soul and body brings him who possesses it into a sacred nearness and intimacy with God. it was that at the Last Supper—that Hence Supper which was to be renewed on our Altars to the end of the world, in order to cure our spiritual infirmities and give life to our souls—John was placed near to Jesus, nay, was permitted, as the tenderly loved Disciple, to lean his head upon the Breast of the Man-God. Then it was that he was filled, from their very Fountain, with Light and Love: it was both a recompense and a favour, and became St John Church. the source of two signal graces, an object of special reverence which make to the whole Divine wisdom wishing to make known to the world the Mystery of the Word, and commit to Scripture those profound secrets which, so far, no pen of mortal had been permitted to write, the task was put upon John. Peter had been crucified, Paul had been beheaded, and the rest of the Apostles had laid down their lives in * St John xiii 23; xix 26; xxi 7; xxi 20. 252 CHRISTMAS testimony of the Truths they had been sent to preach to the world; John was the only one left in the Church. Heresy had already begun its blasphemies against the Apostolic Teachings; it refused to admit the Incarnate Word as the Son of God, Consubstantial to the Father. John was asked by the Churches to speak, and he did so in language Master honour had heavenly reserved of writing above measure. His Divine to this his Virgin-Disciple those sublime Mysteries which the the other Apostles had been commissioned only to teach— THE WORD was Gob, and this WorRD was MADE FLESH for the salvation of mankind. Thus did our Evangelist soar, like the Eagle, up to the Divine Sun, and gaze upon him with undazzled eye, because his heart and senses were pure, and therefore fitted for such vision of the uncreated Light. If Moses, after having conversed with God in the cloud, came from the divine interview with rays of miraculous light encircling his head: how radiant must have been the face of St John, which had rested on the very Heart of Jesus, in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge I' how sublime his writings ! 'how divine his teaching! Hence the symbol of the Eagle, shown to the Prophet Ezechiel,* and to St John himself in his Revelations,® has been assigned to him by the Church: and to this title of The Eagle has been added, by universal tradition, the other beautiful name of Theologian. This was the first recompense given by Jesus to his Beloved John—a profound penetration into divine Mysteries. most ardent The second was the imparting to him of a charity, which was equally a grace con- sequent upon his angelic purity, for purity unburdens the soul from grovelling egotistic affections, and raises it to a chaste and generous love. John had treasured up in his heart the Discourses of his Master: he made them known to the Church, and especially that divine one of the Last Supper, wherein Jesus had poured forth his whole Soul to kis own, whom he had always tenderly * Col.ii3. * Ezech. i 105 x 14, 2 Apoc.iv 7. ST JOHN 253 loved, but most so at the end.! He wrote his Epistles, and Charity is his subject: God is Charity—he that loveth not, knoweth not God—perfect Charity casteth out fear— and so on throughout, always on Love. During the rest of his life, even when so enfeebled by old age as not to be able to walk, he was for ever insisting upon all men loving each other, after the example of God, who had loved them and so loved them ! Thus, he that had announced more clearly than the rest of the Apostles the divinity of the Incarnate Word, Apostle of that divine enkindle upon the earth. But our Lord had Charity a further was par excellence the which Jesus came gift to bestow, to and it was sweetly appropriate to the Virgin-Disciple. When dying on his cross, Jesus left Mary upon this earth. Joseph had been dead now some years. Who then shall watch over his Mother ? who is there worthy of the charge? and console Will Jesus send his Angels her? for, surely, what merit to be to her as a second Joseph ? man to protect could ever Looking down, he sees the Virgin-Disciple standing at the foot of the Cross: we know the rest, John Mary is to be John’s Mother. is to be Mary’s Son: Oh ! wonderful Chastity, that wins from Jesus such an inheritance as this ! _Peter, says St Peter Damian, shall have left to him the Church, the Mother of men; but John shall receive Mary, the Mother of God, whom he will love as his own dearest Treasure, and to whom he will stand in Jesus’ stead; whilst Mary will tenderly love John, her Jesus’ Friend, as her Son. Can we be surprised after this, that St John is looked upon by the Church as one of her greatest glories? He is a Relative of Jesus in the flesh; he is an Apostle, a Virgin, the Friend of the Divine Spouse, the Eagle, the Theologian, the Son of Mary; he is an Evangelist, by the history he has given of the Life of his Divine Master and Friend; he is a Sacred Writer, by the three Epistles he wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost; he is * St John xii 1. 254 CHRISTMAS a Prophet, by his mysterious Apocalypse, wherein are treasured the secrets of time and eternity. But is he Yes, for if he did not complete his sacrifice, a Martyr ? he drank the Chalice of Jesus,! when, after being cruelly scourged, he was thrown into a caldron of boiling oil before the Latin Gate at Rome. He was therefore a Martyr in desire and intention, though not in fact. If our Lord, wishing to prolong a life so dear to the Church, as well as to show how he loves and honours Virginity, miraculously stayed the effects of the frightful punishment, St John had, on his part, unreservedly accepted Martyrdom. Such is the companion of Stephen at the Crib, wherein If the Protomartyr lies our Infant Jesus. dazzles us with the robes he wears of the bright scarlet of his own blood; is not the virginal whiteness of John’s vestment fairer than the untrod snow? The spotless beauty of the Lilies of Mary’s adopted Son, and the bright vermilion of Stephen’s Roses—what is there more lovely than their union ? court Glory, then, be to our New-Born is tapestried with such heaven-made King, whose colours as these! Yes, Bethlehem’s Stable is a very heaven on earth, and we have seen its transformation. First we saw Jesus Mary and Joseph alone there: they were adoring in his Crib; then, immediately, there descended a heavenly host of Angels singing the wonderful Hymn; the Shepherds soon followed, the humble, simple-hearted Shepherds; after these entered Stephen the Crowned, and John the Beloved Disciple ; and even before there enters the pageant of the devout Magi, we shall have others coming in, and there will be each day grander glory in the Cave, and gladder joy in our hearts. Oh! this birth of our Jesus! Humble as it seems, yet how divine! What King or Emperor ever received in his gilded cradle, honours like these shown to the Babe of Bethlehem? Let us unite our homage with that given him by these the favoured inmates of his court. Yesterday the sight of the Palm in Stephen’s hand ani* St Matt, xx 22, ST JOHN 255 mated us, and we offered to our Jesus the promise of a stronger Faith: to-day the Wreath that decks the brow of the Beloved Disciple breathes upon the Church the heavenly fragrance of Virginity: an intenser love of Purity Lamb. must be our resolution, and our tribute to the MASS The Church commences her chants of the holy Sacrifice with words taken from the Book of Ecclesiasticus, which she applies to St John. Our Lord has proclaimed his mysteries to the Church by the teaching of his Beloved Disciple. He favoured him with his divine intimacy, which filled him with the spirit of wisdom. He clad him with a robe of glory, in reward for his virginal purity. INTROIT In medio Ecclesiz aperuit os ejus; et implevit eum Dominus Spiritu _sapientiz et intellectus; stolam gloria induit eum. Ps. Bonum est confiteri Domino, et psallere nomini tuo, Altissime. ¥. Gloria. In medio. He opened his mouth in the midst of the Church, and the Lord filled him with the spirit of wisdom; he clad him with a robe of glory. Ps. It is good to give praise to the Lord, and to sing to thy name, O Most High. ¥. Glory, etc. He opened. In the Collect the Church asks for the Light, that is for the Word of God, of whom St John was the propagator by his sublime writings. She aspires to the eternal possession of this Emmanuel who is come to enlighten the world, and who has revealed to his Beloved Disciple the secrets of heaven. COLLECT Ecclesiam tuam, Domine, benignus illustra: ut beati Joannis Apostoli tui et Evangeliste illuminata doctrinis, ad dona perveniat sempiterna. Per Dominum. Mercifully, O Lord, enlighten thy Church: that being taught by blessed John, thine Apostle and Evangelist, she may come to thy eternal rewards. Through, etc. 256 CHRISTMAS Commemoration of Christmas Day Concede, quasumus, omGrant, we beseech thee, O nipotens Deus, ut nos Uni- Almighty God, that we who geniti tui nova per carnem groan under the old captivity nativitas liberet, quos sub of sin, may be freed therefrom peccati jugo vetusta servitus by the new Birth of thine Onlytenet. Per eundem. Begotten Son. Through, etc. EPISTLE Lectio libri Sapientiz, Eccli. cap. XV. Qui timet Deum, faciet bona; et qui continens est justitiz, apprehendet. illam, et obviabit illi_quasi mater honorificata. Cibabit illum pane vitz et intellectus, et aqua sapientiz salutaris potabit illum; et firmabitur in illo, et non flectetur; et continebit illum, et non confundetur; et exaltabit illum apud proximos suos; et in medio Ecclesiz aperiet os ejus, et adimplebit illum Spiritu sapienti et intellectus, et stolam glorie vestiet illum; jucunditatem et exsultationem thesaurizabit super illum, et nomine terno hareditabit illum Dominus Deus noster. Lesson from the Book ‘Wisdom. Ecclus. of ch. XV. He that feareth God, will do good; and he that possesseth justice, shall lay hold on her, and she will meet him as an ‘honourable mother. With the bread of life and understanding she shall feed him, and give him the water of wholesome wisdom to drink, and she shall be made strong in him, and he shall not be moved; and she shall exalt him among his neighbours; and in the midst of the Church she shall open his mouth, and shall fill him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding, and shall clothe him with the robe of glory; she shall heap upon him a treasure of joy and gladness, and our Lord God shall cause him to inherit an everlasting name. The Wisdom here spoken of is Jesus the Eternal Word, who came to St John and called him to the Apostolate. The Bread of life wherewith she fed him is the divine Bread of the Last Supper, the Body and Blood of Jesus; the wholesome Water is that promised by our Saviour to the Samaritan Woman, of which St John drank so abundantly from its very source when he ST JOHN rested his head on the Heart of Jesus. 257 The immovable Strength is the Saint’s close and resolute custody of the treasure of his Virginity, and the courageous profession of the religion of Christ before the Proconsuls of Domitian. The Treasurc which Wisdom heaped upon him is the magnificence of the prerogatives granted to him. Lastly, the everlasting Name is that glorious title given him of John the Beloved Disciple. GRADUAL Exiit sermo inter fratres, quod discipulus ille non moritur; et non dixit Jesus: Non moritur; ¥. Sed: Sic eum volo manere, donec veniam; tu me sequere. Alleluia, alleluia. ¥. Hic est discipulus ille, qui testimonium _perhibet de his; et scimus quia verum est testimonium cjus. Alleluia. A report was spread among the brethren, that that Disciple should not die; but Jesus said not: He should not die; ¥. But: So I will have him remain till I come; follow thou me. Alleluia, alleluia. ¥. This is the Disciple that beareth testimony of these things; and we know his testimony is true. Alleluia. GOSPEL Sequentia sancti Evangelii secundum Joannem. Cap. XXI. In illo tempore, dixit Jesus Petro: Sequere me. Conversus Petrus vidit _illum discipulum quem ~diligebat Jesus sequentem, qui et recubuit in coena super pectus ejus, et dixit: Domine, quis est qui tradet te? Hunc ergo cum vidisset Petrus, dixit Jesu: Domine, hic autem quid? Dicit ei Jesus: Sic eum volo manere donec veniam, quid ad te? Tu me sequere. Exiit ergo sermo iste inter fratres, quia discipulus ille non moritur. Et Sequel of the Holy Gospel according to John. Ch. XXI. At that time: Jesus said to Peter: Follow me. Peter turning about, saw that Disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also leaned on his breast at supper, and said: Lord, who is he that shall betray thee > Him therefore, when Peter had seen, -he saith to Jesus: Lord, ~and what_shall this man do? Jesus saith to him: So I will "have him to remain till I come, what is it to thee? Follow thou me. This saying, therefore, went abroad among the brethren, 17 258 CHRISTMAS non dixit ei Jesus: Non moritur; sed: Sic eum volo manere donec veniam, quid ad te? Hic est discipulus ille, qui_testimonium _perhibet de his, et scripsit hac; et scimus quia verum est testimonium ejus. that that Disciple should not die. And Jesus did not say to him: He should not die; but: So T will have him to remain till I come, what is it to thee ? This is that Disciple who giveth testimony of these things, and hath written these things; and we know that his testimony is true. This passage of the holy Gospel has been much comSome of the Fathers and Commentators mented upon. interpret it as signifying that St John was to be exempt from death, and that he is still living in the flesh, awaiting the coming of the Judge of the living and the dead. It is certain that this opinion regarding our Apostle has been entertained; and one of the arguments in its favour was this very passage. But the general opinion of the Holy Fathers is that nothing further is implied by it than the difference between the two vocations of St Peter and St John. The former shall follow his divine Master, by dying, like him, on a cross; the latter shall remain—he shall live to a venerable old age—and at length Jesus shall come and take him out of this world by sending him a sweet and peaceful death. During the Offertory, the Church makes a remembrance of the flourishing Palms which grew up around the Beloved Disciple; she tells us of the spiritual children he had trained, and of the Churches he had founded; all which, like young cedars round the venerable parent-tree on Li‘banus, multiplied under the fostering care of their Father. OFFERTORY Justus ut palma florebit; The just shall flourish like sicut cedrus qua in Libano the palm-tree; he_shall grow est multiplicabitur. up like the cedar of Libanus. SECRET Suscipe, Domine, munera qua in ejus tibi solemnitate deferimus, cujus nos confidimus patrocinio liberari. Per Dominum, Receive, O Lord, the offerings we make to thee, on his feast, by whose intercession we hope to be delivered. Through, etc. ST JOHN 259 Commemoration of Chyistmas Day Oblata, Domine, munera Sanctify, O Lord, our offernova Unigeniti tui nativi- ings by ‘the new Birth of tate sanctifica: nosque a pec- thine Only-Begotten Son, and catorum nostrorum maculis cleanse us_from the stains of emunda. Per eundem. our sins. Through, etc. The Preface as on page 64: but on the Octave-Day it is as below.! The mysterious words of the Gospel are repeated in the Communion, that is, at the moment when Priest and people have partaken of the Victim of salvation; they convey this teaching—that he who eats of this Bread, though he must die the death of the body, will yet live for the. coming of the supreme Judge and Rewarder. COMMUNION Exiit sermo inter fratres quod discipulus ille non moritur. Et non dixit Jesus: Non moritur; sed: Sic eum volo manere donec veniam. A report was spread among the brethren, that that disciple should not die. But Jesus said not: He should not die; but: So T will that he remain till I come. POSTCOMMUNION Being refreshed, O Lord, with Refecti cibo potuque coelesti, Deus noster, te sup- this heavenly meat and drink, plices deprecamur; ut in cujus we humbly beseech thee that hac commemoratione percepi- we may be assisted by his mus, ejus muniamur et preci- prayers, on whose feast we have bus. Per Dominum. received these sacred mysteries. Through, etc. + PREFACE. 3 For the Octave-Day. Vere dignum et justum est, quum It is truly meet and just, right and et salutare, te Domine suppliciter exorare, available to salvation, humbly to beut gregem tuum, Pastor aterne, non de- seech thes that thou, O'Lord, our eternal ‘Shepherd, wouldst not forsake thy flock, seras, sed per beatos Apostolos tuos con- but keep it under thy continual protecs tinua_protectione custodias. Ut iisdem rectoribus _guberuetur, 'quos_operis _tui tion, by thy blessed Apostles. That it vicarios eidem contulisti praesse Pastores. may be govenedby those whom thou Ef oo cum Angelis ot Arohangeli, oum hast appointed its vicars and pastors. ‘Thronis et Dominationibus, cumque omni And therefore with the Angels and Arch. militia calestis exercitus, hymoum gloria angels, with the Thrones and Dominaa2 canimus,sine fne dicntes: Sanctus, tions, and with all the heavenly host, we sing an everlasting bymn to thy glory, ete. saying: Holy, etc. CHRISTMAS 260 Comimemeration of Chrisimas Day Grant, we bescech thee, O Prasta, quasumus, omnipotens Deus: ut natus hodie Almighty God. that as the Salvator mundi, sicut divi Saviour of the world, who was nz nobis gencrationis est born this day, procured for us auctor, ita et immortalitatis a divine birth, he may also sit ipse largitor. Qui tecum. bestow on us immortality. Who liveth, etc. VESPERS The Antiphons and Psalms are sung as yesterday, the Feast of St Stephen: they are given on page 210. After the last Psalm, the Office of St John is resumed, commencing as follows: CAPITULUM (Ecelus. xv) Qui timet Deum, facict He that feareth God, will do bona: et qui continens est good; and he that possesseth justitiz apprehendet illam, justice shall lay hold on her, et obviabit illi quasi mater and she shall meet him as an honorificata. honourable mother. Exsultet orbis gaudii Ceelum resultet laudibus; Apostolorum gloriam Tellus et astra concinunt. HYMN! Let the earth exult with joy: let the heavens re-echo with praise: the glory of the Apostles is sung by both earth and heaven. 1 Accordiog to the Monastic Rite, it is as follows: Nos a peccatis omnibus Solvite jussu, quesumus. Quorum pracepto subditur Super. Gloria at Salus et languor omnium, Sanate gros moribus, Exsultet ccelum laudibus, Nos reddentes virtutibus, Resultet terra gaudii Ut cum judex advenerit Apostolorum gloriam. Christus in fine saculi, Sacra canunt solemnia. Nos sempiterni gaudii ‘Vos sacli justi judices Faciat esse compotes. Et vera mundi lumina, Gloria tibi, Domine, Votis precamur cordium, ui natus es de Virgine, Audite preces supplicum. um Patre, et Sancto Spiritu, Qui ceelum verbo clauditis, In-sempiterna szcula. Serasque ejus solvitis, Amen. ST JOHN Vos szculorum judices, Et vera mundi lumina: Votis precamur cordium, Audite voces supplicum. Qui templa ceeli clauditis, Serasque verbo solvitis, Nos a reatu noxios Solvi jubete, quasumus. Pracepta quorum protinus Languor salusque sentiunt; Sanate mentes languidas, Augete nos virtutibus. Ut cum redibit Arbiter In fine Christus szculi, Nos sempiterni gaudii Concedat esse compotes. Jesu, tibi sit gloria, Qui natus es do Virgine: Cum Patre et almo Spiritu 261 O ye, the Judges of the world, and the “true Lights of the earth | we pray to you with all carnestness of heart: hear the prayers of your clients. "Tis ye that have power, by your word, to shut and open the gates of heaven: we beseech you, loosen us from the bonds of sin. Sickness and health promptly do your bidding; oh ! heal our languid souls, bring us growth in virtue; That so, when Jesus our judge shall come again at the end of the world, he may grant us to be partakers of neverending bliss. Glory be to thee, O Jesus, that wast born of the Virgin | and to the Father, and to the In sempiterna szcula. Spirit of love, for everlasting ages. Amen. Amen. ¥. Valde honorandus est ¥. Most worthy of honour beatus Joannes. is the blessed John. Ry. Qui supra pectus DoR. Who leaned upon the mini in ceena recubuit. Lord’s breast at the supper. ANTIPHON OF THE MAGNIFICAT ANT. There went abroad fratres, quod discipulus_ille among the brethren this saynon moritur: et non dixit ing, that that disciple should Jesus: Non moritur; sed: not die: and Jesus did mot Sic eum volo manere’ donec say to him: He should not die; but: So T will have him veniam. ANnT. Exiit sermo inter to remain till I come. OREMUS Ecclesiam tuam, Domine, benignus illustra, ut _beati Joannis Apostoli tui et Evas geliste illuminata doctrinis, ad dona perveniat sempiterna. Per Dominum. LET US PRAY Mercifully, O Lord, enlighten thy Church; that being taught by blessed John, thine Apostle and Evangelist, she may come to thy eternal rewards. Through, etc. 262 CHRISTMAS Commemoration of the Holy Innocents ANT. These are they who ANT. Hi sunt, qui cum mulieribus_non sunt coin- were not defiled with women: quinati: virgines enim sunt, for they are virgins, and follow et sequuntur Agnum quo- the Lamb whithersoever he cumaque ierit. goeth. ¥. Herod, being angry, killed Y. Herodes iratus occidit ‘multos pueros. many children. K. In Bethlehem of Juda, R. In Bethlehem Jude, civitate David. the city of David. OREMUS Deus cujus hodierna die praeconium Innocentes martyres non loquendo, sed moriendo confessi sunt, omnia in nobis vitiorum mala mortifica: ut fidem tuam, quam lingua nostra loquitur, etiam moribus vita fateatur. LET US PRAY O God, whose praise the holy Martyrs, the Innocents, published this day, not by speaking, but by dying; mortify in us all our vicious inclinations: that we may show forth in our actions thy faith, which we profess with our lips. Commemoration of Christmas Day ANT. Hodie Christus naANt. This day Christ is tus est: hodie Salvator born; this day the Saviour apparuit: hodie in terra ca- hath’ appeared; this day the nunt Angeli, lztantur Arch- Angels sing on earth: the angeli: hodie, exsultant justi, Archangels rejoice; this day dicentes: Gloria in excelsis the just exult, saying: Glory Deo. Alleluia. be to God in the highest, alleluia. ‘ ¥. Notum fecit Dominus, V. The Lord hath made alleluia, known, alleluia. R. Salutare suum, alleR. His salvation, alleluia. luia. OREMUS LET US PRAY Concede, quzsumus, omGrant, we beseech nipotens Deus, ut nos Uni- Almighty God, that geniti tui nova per carnem groan under the old Nativitas liberet, quos sub of sin, may be freed peccati jugo vetusta servitus by the new Birth tenet. Per eundem. Only-Begotten Son. etc. thee, O we who captivity therefrom Of thine Through, ST JOHN 263 Now let us listen to the several Churches, proclaiming in their liturgical praises the glory of St John. We begin with the Church of Rome, from which we take this beautiful Preface of the Leonine Sacramentary. PREFACE It is truly meet and just, right and available to salvation, that we should give thanks to thee, O Almighty Father! now that we are celebrating the Feast of thy blessed Apostle, John the Evangelist. Having received the vocation of our Lord Jesus Christ thy Son, he leff his venire ccelestem: retia szculi, quibus implicabatur, abjecit, carthly father, that he might ut @ternitatis dona mente find one in heaven. He threw libera sectaretur: nutantem down the nets of this world, fluctibus navem reliquit, ut in wherein he was entangled, that ecclesiastice gubernationis he might, with a free soul, tranquilitate consisteret: a pursue the goods that are eterpiscium captione cessavit, ut nal. He abandoned his boat animas mundanis gurgitibus which was ever tossing on the immersas, calamo doctrinz waves, that he might calmly salutaris abstraheret: destitit steer a spiritual bark in the pelagi profundari mari, secre- Church. He gave up his trade torum scrutator redditus divi- of fishing, that by the hook norum. Eo usque procedens, of saving doctrine he might ut et in cene mystice sa- draw out souls ingulfed in the crosancto convivio in ipsius surges of the world. He ceased recumberet pectore Salva- his searchings in the deep waters of the sea, that he might toris; et eum in cruce Domi: nus constitutus, vicarium sui, be made worthy to_penetrate Matri Virgini_Filium subrointo secrets divine. Even thus garet, et in principio Verbum, was he favoured—he leaned his quod Deus erat apud Deum, head on the Saviour's breast, pra cateris ostenderet pradi- in the most holy banquet of the candum. mystic supper; our Lord, when hanging on the cross, gave him Vere dignum et justum est, zquum et salutare, nos tibi gratias agere, Pater omnipotens, beati Apostoli tui Joannis Evangelistz natalitia venerantes. Qui Domini nostri Jesu Christi Filii tui vocatione suscepta, terrenum respuit patrem, ut posset in- to the Virgin-Mother to be her Son in his own stead; and it was he, above all others, that showed how this was to be preached: In the beginning was the who was God with God. Word, CHRISTMAS 264 The Church of Milan, in her Ambrosian Missal, thus sings forth the praises of the Beloved Disciple: Vere dignum et justum est, zquum et salutare, nos tibi gratias agere, ®terne Deus: beati Joannis Evangeliste merita recolentes, quem Dominus'Jesus Christus non solum peculiari semper decore ornavit; sed et in cruce positus, tamquam hareditario munere prosecutus, vicarium pro se Matri_ Filium clementer attribuit. Quem ad eum usque dignitatis gradum divina benignitas evexit, ut et factus ex piscatore Discipulu et humane dispensation: modum excedens, ipsam Verbi tui sine initio Deitatem pra cateris et mente conspiceret, et voce perferret. It is truly meet and just, right and available to salvation, that we should give thanks to thee, O Eternal God ! whilst celebrating the merits of blessed John the Evangelist, whom our’ Lord Jesus Christ not only adorned with every peculiar grace, but to whom also he, when fastened to the cross, lovingly granted, as though it were the gift of inheritance, to take his own place and be the Son of Mary. Even unto this grade of honour did thy divine goodness raise him, that being changed from a fisherman into a Disciple, and, in dispensing thy Truth, going beyond the measure of other men, he, above all others, both saw and preached the very Divinity of thy Eternal Word. The Mozarabic Missal has the following prayer our holy Apostle and Evangelist: PRAYER Genite ingeniti Filius Dei summi; qui sacrum illud arcanum pectoris tui dilecto tuo Joanni Apostolo reserasti; cum in sinu tuo recubans Evangelii sui fluenta ex ipso pectoris tui fonte haurire promeruit. Tu nos intuere propitius, ut abdita cognoscamus, per te per te bona quz manifesta sunt impleamus. Reserans nobis pectoris tui occulta, quibus possimus cognoscere et conditionis nostra infirmitatem, et ad tuz to O Son of God, Begotten of the Unbegotten infinite God ! who didst open the sacred treasury of thy Breast to thine Apostle, when he, reclining on thy Bosom, merited to drink in from the very fountain of thy Heart the streams of his own Gospel: look upon us with an eye of pity, that so by thee we may know thy mysteries, and do the good thou hast manifested unto us. Reveal unto us the hidden things of thy Heart, Whereby we may be taught both ST JOHN cogni- the weakness 205 * divinitatis _pervenire of onr own nature, which is tionem. Manifestans de te and the Divinity quid amemus, indicans de thine. Show us thysel(, that nobis quid corrigamus. Quo we may love thee; show us hujus dilecti tui suffragiis, in ourselves what we must moribus nostris in melius correct. That thus, by the commutatis, aufugiat pestis, prayers of thy beloved Disciple, dispereat languor, pellatur our evil ways being converted, mucro. Quidquid ~adversum pestilence may flee from us, sickness disappear, and the est fidei christiane intereat; quidquid prosperum, conval- sword be sheathed. May all escat. Arceantur fames, se- that is adverse to Christian faith perish; may all that prospers it dentur lites, hzresum obtrudantur fautores. Fcecundebe strengthened. May famines tur frugibus terra, vestiatur cease, may dissensions be apvirtutibus anima; atque cunc- peased, may the upholders of ta nobis in commune proveni- heresy be confounded. May ant bona. Quo tibi Deo the earth be pregnant with nostro fideliter servientes, et fruits, our souls be clad with his sine peccato utamur con- virtues, and all good things come cessis, et post deliciis frua- unto us all. That thus, faithmur @terna possessionis. fully serving thee our God, we Amen. may both use these gifts without sin, and, hereafter cnjoy the bliss of possessing thee for eternity. Amen, The following Hymn, which we have taken from the Milan Liturgy, is attributed to St Ambrose; it certainly bears a resemblance majestically told. to his HYMN Amore Christi nobilis Et filius Tonitrui, Arcana Joannes Dei Fatu revelavit sacro. Captis solebat piscibus Patris senectam pascere; Turbante dum natat salo Tmmobilis fide stetit. Hamum profundo merserat, Piscatus est Verbum Dei; Jactavit undis retia, Vitam levavit hominum. style—sublime thoughts, John, the honoured loved one of Jesus, named by him the Son of Thunder, revealed in sacred words the hidden things of God. He was a fisherman, and supported his aged parent by his toil: whilst sailing on_ the troubled waves, he received the faith, and firmly did he hold toit. He throws his hook into the deep, and takes the Word of God; he lets down his nets into the waters, he draws in him who is the Light of the world. 266 CHRISTMAS Piscis bonus pia est Fides, Mundi supernatans salum, Subnixa Christi pectore, Sancto locuta Spiritu: His fervent Faith is the good Fish which swam through the briny flood of this world; it rested on the Breast of Christ, and thus spoke in the Holy Spirit: * In principio erat Verbum, “In the beginning was the Et Verbum erat apud Deum, Word, and the Word was Et Deus erat Verbum. Hoc with God, and the Word was erat God. The same was in the In principio apud Deum. beginning with God. All things were made by “Omnia per ipsum facta Him. Then let us sing the sunt.’ praises of this Disciple, and Sed ipse laude resonet; Et laureatus Spiritu, since_he bears the laurels of the Spirit, let his writings be Scriptis coronetur suis. his crown. Commune multis passio, Martyrdom has been granted Cruorque delictum lavans; to many, and this shedding of Hoc morte prastat Martyrum their own blood purifies them from every sin; but_John did Quod fecit esse Martyres. what was better than Martyrdom: he taught to_the world that which made the Martyrs. Vinctus tamen ab impiis, Yet we are told that he was Calente olivo dicitur bound by wicked men, and Tersisse mundi pulverem, plunged into boiling oil; it Stetisse victor 2muli. did but cleanse him from this world’s dust, and give him victory over the enemy. Glory be to thee, O Lord, Gloria tibi, Domine, Qui natus es de Virgine; that wast born of the Virgin | Cum Patre et Sancto Spiritu and to the Father, and to the In sempiterna secula. Holy Ghost, for everlasting Amen. ages. Amen. We which will now the Greck give a few Church, stanzas from in her accustomed language, sings in honour of St John. Feast on September 26. XXVI Venite, the Hymns pomp She keeps his Septembris, in magno Vespertino, et passim _sapientiz abys- qi Come, ye Faithful, let us sum et orthodoxorum scri this day crown with sacred torem dogmatum, Fideles, hymns the glorious and Behymnis _coronemus divinis loved John, an abyss of wishodie, Joannem, gloriosum dom, and the writer of ortho- ST JOHN 267 et dilectum: is enim into- dox dogmas: for it was he Verbum crat in prin- that uttered, In the beginning it: Ideo voce tonitru si was the Word. Therefore did mili demonstratus est, quasi lie appear as with the voice Evangelio mundum _illumi- of thunder, enlightening the nans, multisapiens et cele- world with his Gospel—he the exceeding wise and world-wide berrimus. Vere ] ] aperteque tu mani- festatus es_amicus ex corde Christi__magistri magnus pectori enim illius incubuisti, unde hausisti sapientiz dogmata, quibus tamquam Dei praeco divinus, diterr@ circuitum, tas omnem jucunda possidens quam Christi Ecclesia nunc gaudens exornat. theologe, vere Gaude, gaude, Matris Domini fili amabilissime: tu enim stans juxta crucem Christi, divinam tri: audisti Ecce vocem nunc mater Magis- tua, ad te clamantis. Ideo digne te omnes ut Christi Apostolum magnum et dilectum beatificamus. Contemplator _ineffabilium revelationum, et interpres supernorum Dei mysteriorum, Zebedi filius, scribens Evangelium Christi nobis divine loqui Patrem et Filium et Spiritum nos docuit. Lyra a Deo mota ceelestium odarum, mysticus ille scriptor, os divina loquens, Canticum canticorum = dulciter decantat, et precatur salvari nos. Tonitru filium, divinorum sermonum fundamentum, theologiz ducem et primum preconem vere sapientia dogmatum, Joannem dilec- famed Disciple. Thou wast truly and manifestly the great bosom-friend of Jesus thy Master; for thou didst recline upon his Breast, imbibing thence the dogmas of wisdom, wherewith, as God’s sublime herald, thou enrichest the earth’s circuit, and which the glad Church now possessing honours. Rejoice, thou of Christ, true Theolo- it, exultingly gian! rejoice, thou most lovable Son of our Lord's Mother ! for when standing nigh the Cross of Jesus, thou didst hear his divine voice saying unto thee: Behold now thy Mother. Therefore do we all bless thee, as the great and Beloved Apostle of Christ. The contemplator of ineffable revelations, the interpreter of God’s most high mysteries, the son of Zebedee, wrote us the Gospel of Christ, and thereby taught us how to speak theologically of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. This heaven-hymned Harp attuned by God, this mystic writer, this mouth that speaks divine things, is now sweetly singing the Canticle of Canticles, and prays for our salvation. Let us, O ye mortals ! pro- claim his many praises: John, the Son of Thunder, the source of divine language, the Prince of Theology, the first preacher CHRISTMAS 268 tum et virginem, o morta- liam genus, multis laudemus acclamationibus. Flumina theologiz ex venerando ore tuo salierunt, Apostole, quibus Ecclesia Dei potata adorat orthodoxe " Trinitatem consubstantialem; et nunc deprecare, Johannes theologe, stabiliri tras. et salvari Virgultum animas puritatis, nos- boni odoris unguentam apparuit nobis in hodierna festivitate; ad ipsum igitur cla: Tu qui supra pectus recubuisti Dominicum, tu qui mundo stillare fecisti Verbum, Joannes Apostole; qui Virginem custodivisti ut pupillam oculi, postula pro nobis apud Christum magnam misericordiam. Apostolorum celsitudinem, theologi tubam, spiritalem ducem, qui orbem terrarum Deo subegit, venite, fideles, beatificemus Joannem illustrissimum, e terra sublatum et non ablatum, sed viventem et exspectantem terribilem Domini secundum adventu cui ut inculpabiliter assista- mus deprecare, amice mystice Christi pectori ejus innixe cum amore, tuam memoriam celebrantes. of true wisdom's dogmas, the Beloved and Virgin Disciple. The streams of Theology gushed from thy venerable lips, O Apostle! the Church of God has drunk them in, O teacher of truth! and adores the consubstantial Trinity. O holy Theologian John ! now pray that our souls may be unwavering and saved. The flower of purity, the fragrant perfume, breathes upon this day's feast; let us therefore pray to him: Blessed Apostle John! who didst recline upon Jesus' Breast | who didst pour out The Word upon the earth! who didst guard the Virgin as the apple of thine eyel Oh! ask Jesus to show his great mercy unto us. Come, ye faithfull let us bless the most renowned John, the exalted one among the Apostles, the trumpet of theology, the spiritual guide—he that brought the world into subjection to God—he that was raised above the earth, not _taken away from it, and is living and awaiting the dread second coming of our Lord. O thou the mystic Frieud of Christ, that didst lovingly lean upon his Breast, help us who celebrate thy memory, help us by thy prayers to present ourselves guiltless before our judge. As usual, we will close these liturgical praises of our dear Saint by a Prose of the Western Churches in the Middle Ages, which we have taken from the collection of the Monastery of St Gall. It wascomposed by Blessed Notker, and was for centuries in the Roman-French Missals. ST JOHN 269 SEQUENCE O John'! the dearly Beloved Joannes, Jesu Christo Virgin Disciple of Jesus ! Multum dilecte virgo. For love of him thou didst Tu ejus amore leave thy father Zebedee and Carnalem in navi his boat. Parentem liquisti. Thou didst disdain the caTu leve conjugis resses of thy young betrothed, Pectus respuisti, and didst follow the Messias, Messiam secutv That thou mightest merit to Ut ejus pectoris drink at the sacred fount of Sacra meruisses his heart. Fluenta potare. Thou too, when on th Tuque in terris positus, Gloriam conspexisti carth, didst behold the transFilii Dei, figuration of the Son of God, Which vision, as we are Que solum sanctis In Vita creditur taught, is not granted save to Contuenda esse perenni. the Saints in life eternal, Jesus, when conquering on Te Christus In cruce triumphans, his cross, entrusted his Mother Matri suz dedit custo- to thy keeping; dem; Ut Virgo That thou, a Virgin, mightest Virginem servares, protect and care for the Virgin Atque curam suppedi- in his stead. tares. Imprisoned and torn by Tute carcere Flagrisque fractus, scourges, thou didst rejoice, Testimonio pro Christo for it was thy bearing testimony to Christ. Es gavisus. Idem mortuos suscitas, Thou raisest, too, the dead Inque Jesu nomine to life, and in the name of Venenum forte vincis. Jesus breakest the poison’s Ppower. Tibi summus tacitum To thee, above the rest, the Pra cateris Verbum suum Almighty Father reveals his Pater revelat. own embosomed Word. Tu nos omnes Do thou ever commend us Sedulis precibus all to God by unwearied inApud Deum tercession. Semper commenda, Joannes, Christi care. O John, Disciple dear to Christ ! Amen. Amen. Beloved Disciple of the Babe of Bethlehem! how great is thy happiness! how wonderful is the reward 270 CHRISTMAS given to thy love and thy purity | In thee was fulfilled that word of thy Master: Blessed are the clean of heart ; Jfor they shall see God. Not only didst thou see this Godthou Man: wast his Friend, and on his Bosom didst rest thy head. John the Baptist trembles at having to bend the head of Jesus under the water of Jordan; Magdalen, though assured by his own lips that her pardon was perfect as her love, yet dares not raise her head, but keeps clinging to his feet; Thomas scarce resumes to obey him when he bids him put his finger into his wounded Side; and thou, in the presence of all the Apostles, sittest close to him, leaning thy head upon his Norisit only Jesus in his Humanity that thou Breast! seest and possessest; but, because thy heart is pure, thou soarest like an eagle up to the Sun of Justice, and fixest thine eye upon him in the light inaccessible wherein he dwelleth eternally with the Father and the Holy Ghost. Thus was rewarded the fidelity wherewith thou didst keep intact for Jesus the precious treasure of thy Purity. And now, O worthy favourite of the great King! forget not us poor sinners. We believe and confess the Divinity of the Incarnate Word whom thou hast evangelized unto us; but we desire to draw nigh to him during this holy season, now that he shows himself so desirous of our company, and so humble, so poor ! Alas! so full of love, so dear a Child, our sins keep us back; our heart is not pure like thine; we have need of a Patron to introduce us to our Master’s crib.* Thou, O Beloved Disciple of Emmanuel ! thou must procure us this happiness. Thou hast shown us the Divinity of the Word in the bosom of the Eternal this same Word made flesh. Father; lead us now to Under thy patronage Jesus will permit us to enter into the Stable, to stand near his Crib, to see with our eyes and touch with our hands? this sweet Fruit of eternal Life. May it be granted us to contemplate the sweet Face of him that is our Saviour and thy Friend; to feel the throbs of that Heart which Hlsa.is. *1StJobniz ST JOHN 271 loves both thee and us, which thou didst see wounded by the Spear, on Calvary. It is good for us to fix our- selves here near the Crib of our Jesus, and share in the graces he there lavishes, and learn, as thou didst, the grand lesson of this Child’s simplicity: thy prayers must procure all this for us. Then too, as Son and Guardian of Mary, thou hast to present us to thine own and our Mother. Ask her to give us somewhat of the tender love wherewith she watches over the Crib of her Divine Son; to see in us the Brothers of that Child she bore; and to admit us to a share of the maternal affection she had for thee, the favoured confidant of the secrets of her Jesus. We also pray to thee, O holy Apostle! for the Church of God. She was planted and watered by thy labours, embalmed with the celestial fragrance of thy virtues, and illumined by thy sublime teachings; pray now that these graces may bring forth their fruit, and that to the end of her pilgrimage faith may be firm, the love of Jesus fervent, and Christian morals pure and holy. Thou tellest us in thy Gospel of a saying of thy Divine Master: I will not now call you my Servants, but my Friends :* pray, dear Saint, that there may come to this, from our hearts and lips, a response of love and courage, telling our Emmanuel that, like thyself, we will follow him whithersoever he leads us. Let us, on this second day after our Divine Infant’s Birth, meditate upon the Sleep he deigns to take. Let us consider how this God of all goodness, who has come down from heaven to invite his creature man to come to him and seek rest for his soul, seeks rest himself in our earthly home, and sanctifies by that rest which to us is a necessity. his own divine sleep We have just been dwelling with delighted devotion on the thought of his offering his Breast as a resting-place for the Beloved Disciple, and for all souls that imitate John in his love and devotedness: now let us look + 5t Joba 2V 15. at this our God, 272 CHRISTMAS lswe(-!tly sleeping in his humble Crib, or on his Mother’s ap. St Alphonsus Liguori, in one of his delicious Canticles, thus describes the sleep of Jesus, and the enraptured love of the Mother: Mary sings—the ravished heavens Hush the music of their spheres; Soft her voice, her beauty fairer Than the glancing stars appears: ‘While to Jesus slumbering nigh, Thus she sings her lullaby. Sleep, my Babe | my God ! my Treasure ! Gently sleep: but ah ! the sight With its beauty so transports me, I am dying of delight: Thou canst not thy Mother see, Yet thou breathest flames to me. If within your lids unfolded, Slumbering eyes | you seem so fair; ‘When upon my gaze you open, How shall I your beauty bear ? Ah ! T tremble when you wake, Lest my heart with love should break. Cheeks than sweetest roses sweeter, Mouth where lurks a smile divine— Though the kiss my Babe should waken, I must press those lips to mine. Pardon, Dearest, if I say, Mother’s love will take no nay. As she ceased, the gentle Virgin Clasped the Infant to her breast, And upon his radiant forehead Many a loving kiss impressed: Jesus woke, and on her face Fixed a look of heavenly grace. ST JOHN 273 Ah ! that look, those eyes, that beauty, How they pierce the Mother’s heart ; Shafts of love from every feature Through her gentle bosom dart. Heart of stone ! can I behold Mary’s love, and still be cold ? Where, my soul ! thy sense, thy reason ? ‘When will these delays be o'er ? All things else, how fair soever, Are but smoke—resist no more ! Yes ! 'tis done ! I yield my arms Captive to those double charms. If, alas, Now Now at With For the O heavenly beauty ! so late those charms I learn, least, and ever, ever, thy love my heart will burn Mother and the Child, Rose and Lily undefiled. Plant and fruit, and fruit and blossom, I am theirs, and they are mine: For no other prize I labour, For no other bliss I pine; Love can every pain requite, Love alone is full delight. + Translation by the Very Rev. R. A. Coffia. We subjoin the original: Fermarono i cieli La loro armo Cantando Maria_ La nanna a Ges. Con voce divina La Virgine bella, Pit vaga che stella, Diceva cosi: Mio figlio, mio Dio, Mio caro {esoro, Tu dormi, ed i6 moro Per tanta belta. ‘Dormendo, mio bene, Tua Madee non mi, Ma I’ aura che spiri, E foco per me. Cogli occhi serrati Vol pur mi ferite; Or quando li aprite, Per me che sara ? Le guance di rose Mi rubano il core: 0 Dio' che si more Quest’ alma per te. Mi sforza a baciarti Un labbro si raro: Perdonami, caro, Non posso pi, Bo. 18 274 CHRISTMAS Let us, then, adore the Divine Babe in this state of Sleep to which he voluntarily subjects himself, and t:ontmst it with the cruel fatigues which are one day to be his. When he is grown up, and come to the age of manhood, he will go through every toil and suffering in search of us his Lost Sheep. But these first slumbers shall not be troubled by anything of ours which could pain this loving wakeful Heart; and the Blessed Mother shall not be disturbed in the blissful contemplation of her Sleeping Child, over whom she is at a future time to shed such bitter tears. The day is not far distant when he will say: The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air nests ; but the Son of Man hath not where to lay his head.* “ Christ has had three resting-places,” says Peter of Celles. ‘The first was in the Bosom of his Eternal Father. He says, I am in the Father, and the Father s in me® What repose could be compared to this, of the Father’s complacency in the Son, and the Son’s complacency in the Father? It is a mutual and ineffable love, and they are happy in the union. But whilst maintaining this place of his eternal rest, the Son of God has sought a second in the womb of the Virgin Mary. He overshadowed her with the Holy Ghost and slept a long sleep in her chaste womb, whilst his Bod was there being formed. The holy Virgin tronhled not the sleep of her Child: she kept all the powers of her soul in a silence like that of heaven; and Si tacque, ed al petto Stringendo i1 Bashbino, Al voito divino Un baci dond. Si desta il diletto; E tutto amoroso, Con occhio vezzoso La Madre guardd. AnDio! o alla guesliocch que Mdre gardo Srate, 0 Che T il e + St Matt, viii 20, £ tu non languisci, O dur’ alma mia, Vedeodo Maria Langui per Gesi. Se tardi v amai, Bellezze divine, Ormai senza fine Per voi ardero. 1 Figlo ¢ la Madre, (adre colvFiglio, B oo Quest” alma vorra. * St Joba xiv 11, ST JOHN 275 tapt in self-contemplation, she heard mysteries which it is not permitted to man to utter. The third restingplace of ghrist is in man. Jesus dwells in a heart that is purified by faith, enlarged by charity, raised above earth by contemplation, and is renewed by the Holy Ghost. Such a heart as this offers to Jesus not an earthly but a heavenly dwelling; and the Child who is born unto us will not refuse to enter it, and rest within it." take his To this Eternal Word made flesh for our salvation let us offer up this Hymn of our great ecclesiastical Poet, Prudentius: Corde natus ex parentis Ante mundi exordium; 4 et O cognominatus: Ipse fons et clausula Omnium que sunt, fuerunt, Quaque post futura sunt. Ipse jussit, et creata, Dixit ipse, et facta sunt; Terra, ceelum, fossa ponti, Trina rerum machina, Quaque in his vigent sub alto Solis et lunz globo. Corporis formam caduci, Membra morti obnoxia Induit, ne gens periret Primoplasti ex germine, Merserat quem lex profundo Noxialis Tartaro. O beatus ortus ille, Virgo cum puerpera Edidit nostram salutem, Feeta Sancto Spiritu, Et puer Redemptor orbis Os sacratum protulit. HYMN Born from the bosom of the Father before the world began, his name is Alpha and Omega, He is the beginning and end of all things present, past, and future. He commanded and they were created, he spoke and they were made: earth, heaven, and sca, the triple kingdom, and all things that are in them, under the sun and moon. He_clothes himself with a frail Body, and with members subject to death; lest the human race, the offspring_of Adam, should perih together with their first Parent, whom a terrible sentence had condemned to the depth of hell. O that happy Birth, when a Virgin-Mother, having _ conceived of the Holy Ghost, brought forth the Child that was our salvation; and the Babe, the Redeemer of the world, showed unto us his divine Face | 3 Fourth Sermon On our Lord's Nativity. 276 CHRISTMAS Psallat altitudo ceeli, Psallite, omnes Angeli, Quidquid est virtutis usquam, Psallat in laudem Dei: Nulla linguarum silescat, Vox et omnis consonet. Ecce quem vates vetustis Concinebant szculis, Quem Prophetarum fideles Paginz spoponderant, Emicat promissus olim; Cuncta collaudent eum. Te senes et te juventus. Parvulorum te chorus, Turba matrum, virginumque, Simplices puellule, Voce concordes pudicis Perstrepant concentibus. Fluminum lapsus, et undz Littorum crepidines, Imber, @stus, nix, pruine, Silva et aura, nox, dies, Omnibus te concelebrent Szculorum szculis. Amen. Let high heaven sing, and sing all ye Angels! Let every living creature sing to the praise of God! Let every tongue proclaim it, and every voice join in the hymn of praise. Behold the Promised Messias, of whom sang the Seers in the ancient times, and whom the Prophets foretold in their truthful oracles! Praise be to him from every creature. May the aged and the young, and children, mothers and virgins and innocent maidens, sing to thee, O Jesus ! and with concordant ~ voice chastely hymn thy praise | May the flowing river and the sea-shore wave, rain and heat, snow and frost, forest and zephyr, day and night, for ever and for cver give thec praise. Amen. Let us now honour and invoke the ever Blessed and most Merciful Mother of our God, and use the words of this beautiful Hymn of the ancient Roman-French Missals: HYMN Latare, puerpera, Lato pucrperio, Cujus casta viscera Feecundantur Filio. Lacte fluunt ubera Cum pudoris lilio; Membra foves tenera, Virgo, lacte proprio. Patris Unigenitus, Per quem fecit szcula, Hic degit humanitus, Sub Matre paupercula. Rejoice, O Virgin-Mother | in thy joy-giving delivery, for thy chaste womb was ‘made fraitful of the very Son of God. O wondrous sight—Jesus feeding from the Lily of Purity! Yea, most pure Virgin, thou feedest at thy infant life. breasts his The Only-Begotten of the TFather, by whom he made this world, is dwelling here the Babe of a poor Mother. ST JOHN Tbi sanctos reficit Angelos Letitia: Hic sitit et esurit Degens ab infantia. Tbi regit omnia, Hic a Matre regitur: Ibi dat imperia, Hic ancille subditur. Tbi summi culminis Residet in solio; Hic ligatus fasciis Vagit in prasepio. O homo ! considera, Revocans memori, Quanta sint hwc opera Divinz clementiz. Non desperes veniam, Si multum deliqueris, Ubi tot insignia Charitatis videris. Sub Matris refugio Fuge, causa veniz: Nam tenet in gremio Fontem indulgentiz. Hanc salutes sepius Cum spei fiducia, Dicens, flexis genibus: Ave plena gratia. Quondam flentis lacrymas Sedabas uberibus: Nunc iratum mitigas Pro nostris excessibus. Jesu, lapsos respice, Piz Matris precibus; Emendatos effice Dignos celi civibus. Amen, 277 There he is feeding the holy Angels with joy: here he is in hunger and thirst from his cradle. There he holds all things in subjection: here he is in_subjection to a Mother. There he commands: here he obeys his Handmaid. There he is seated on the throne of highest majesty: here he is lying swathed and weeping in a manger. Think on this, O man! and to thy memory recall these stupendous works of God's mercy. And though thy sins be great, yet canst thou not deSpair, for the proofs thou seest here of Jesus' love speak but of pardon. Thou wouldst have pardon ? fly to the Mother for protection, for she holds on her lap the Infinite Fountain of Mercy. Often bend thy knee before her, and with hopeful love salute her thus: Haill full of grace | As_thou of old didst feed thy Jesus and stay his infant tears; so now, dear Mother, appease him angered by our sins. Hear, O Jesus! thy sweet Mother's prayers, and with an eye of pity look upon us sinners! Correct and change us, and make us worthy to be citizens of heaven. Amen, 278 CHRISTMAS DECEMBER THE HOLY HE feast of the that of the Holy where we have already Martyrs and the Eagle 28 INNOCENTS* beloved Disciple is followed by Innocents. The Crib of Jesus, met and venerated the Prince of of Patmos, has to-day standing round it a lovely choir of little Children, clad in snow- white robes, and holding green branches in their hands. The Divine Babe smiles upon them: he is their King; and these Innocents are smiling upon the Church of God. Courage and Fidelity first led us to the Crib; Innocence now comes, and bids us tarry there. Herod intended to include the Son of God amongst the murdered Babes of Bethlehem. The Daughters of Rachel wept over their little ones, and the land streamed with blood; but the Tyrant’s policy can do no more: it cannot reach Jesus, and its whole plot ends in recruiting an immense army of Martyrs for heaven. These Children were not capable of knowing what an honour it was for them to be made victims for the sake of the Saviour of the world; but the very first instant after their immolation, had now God them wake all was revealed to them: they gone through this world without knowing it, and that they know it, they possess an infinitely better. showed here the riches of his mercy: he asks of but a momentary suffering, and that over, they up in Abraham’s Bosom: no further trial awaits them, they are in spotless innocence, and the glory due to a soldier who died to save the life of his Prince belongs eternally to them. They died for Jesus’ sake; therefore their death was a real Martyrdom, and the Church calls them by * Aucicatly * Childermas Day.’ (Note of Trauslator.) 279 HOLY INNOCENTS the beautiful name of the Flowers of the Martyrs, because of their tender age and their innocence. Justly then does the ecclesiastical Cycle bring them before us to-day, immediately after the two valiant Champions of Christ, Stephen and John. The connection of these three Feasts is thus admirably explained by St Bernard: ‘In St Stephen, we have both the act a.nd the desire of Martyrdom; in St John, we have but the desire; in the Holy Innocents, anyone doubt we have whether but a crown the act. . . . was given to Wwill these Innocents? . . . If you ask me what merit could they have that God should crown them ? let me ask you what was the fault for which Herod slew them7 What ! is the mercy of Jesus less than the cruelty Herod ? and whilst Herod could put these Babes to death, who had done him no crown them for dying for him ? injury, Jesus may not ‘ Stephen, therefore, is a Martyr by a Martyrdom of which men can judge, for he gave this evident proof of his sufferings being felt and accepted, that, at the very moment of his death, his solicitude both for his own soul and for those of his persecutors increased; the pangs of his bodily passion were less intense than the affection of his soul’s compassion, which made him weep more for their sins than for his own wounds. John was a Martyr, by a Martyrdom which only Angels could see, for the proofs of his sacrifice being spiritual, only spiritual creatures could ken them. But the Innocents were Martyrs, to none other eye save thine, O God! Man could find no merit; Angel could find no merit: the extraordinary prerogative of thy grace is the more boldly brought out. From the mouth of the Infants and thz Sucklmgs thou hast perfected pmzsz‘ The praise the Angels give thee is: Glory be to God in the highest, and peace on earth to men of gaad will 2itisa magnificent praise, but I make bold to say that it is not perfect till he cometh who will say : *“ Suffer Little Children to come unto me, for of such is the kingdom of heaven ;® 1 Ps, vili 3. 2 St Luke ii 14, * St Matt xix 14, 280 CHRISTMAS and in the mystery of my mercy, there shall be peace o men that cannot even use their will.”” ' the Feast of the Holy Innocents.) (Sermon for Yes, God did for these Innocents, who were immolated on his Son’s account, what he is doing now by the sacrament of regeneration children who die before coming to the We, who have been baptized by water, every moment in the case of use of reason. should be all the more ready to honour these Little Ones, who were baptized in their own blood, and thereby associated to all the mysteries of the Divine Infancy. We ought, together with the Church, to congratulate them, for that a glorious and premature death secured them their innocence. defiled them They have lived upon our earth, and yet it not! Truly, these tender Lambs deserve to be for ever with the Lamb of God! earth of ours, grown May this same old in wickedness, draw down the divine mercy on itself, by the love and honour it gives each year to these sweet Children of Bethlehem, who, like the Dove of Noah’s Ark, could not find whereon to rest their feet. In the midst fills both heaven of the joy which, at this holy time, and earth, the Holy Church of Rome forgets not the lamentations of the Mothers who beheld their Children cruelly butchered by Herod’s soldiers. She hears the wailing of Rachel, and condoles with her; and unless it be a Sunday, she suspends on this Feast some of the manifestations of the joy which inundates her soul during the Octave of her Jesus’ Birth. The Red vestments of a Martyr’s Day would be too expressive of that stream of infant blood which forbids the Mothers to be comforted, and joyous White would ill suit their poignant grief; she therefore vests in Purple, the symbol of mournfulness.* The Gloria in excelsis, the Hymn she loves so passionately during these days, when Angels come down from heaven to sing it—even that must be hushed to-day: and in the Holy Sacrifice she sings no Alleluia. Inthis, as in everything she does, the * Unless it be a Sunday; in which case the colour used is Red. 281 INNOCENTS HOLY Her Church acts with an exquisite delicacy of feeling. Liturgy is a school of refined Christian considerateness. This expression of sympathy gives to-day’s Office a pathetic sadness, which, however, in no way inter- feres with the joy which the Church feels in celebrating the Feast of the Holy Innocents. She keeps it with an Octave, as she does the two preceding Feasts of St Stephen and St John. She sanctions the practice, observed in Cathedrals and Collegiate Churches, of allowing young boys to share in the duties of the Choir, and blend their innocent chanting with that of the Ministers of God. She grants them several privileges, and takes pleasure in seeing the delight wherewith these children perform the several functions entrusted to them. This joy, this simplicity, this innocence, all add a charm to the divine Service; and through these youthful Choristers the Church pays honour to the Infant Jesus, and to the Holy Innocents of Bethlehem. In Rome, the Station for the Feast of St Stephen is in the Church dedicated to the holy Protomartyr, on Monte Celio; that for St John is in the Basilica of St Mary Major; to-day the Station is made at St Paul’s without the Walls, which possesses several of the bodies of the Holy Innocents. In the sixteenth century, Pope Xystus V caused a portion of these Relics to be translated to St Mary Major’s, and put near the holy Relic of our Lord’s Crib. MASS In the Introit, the Church proclaims the wisdom of God in disconcerting the impious plans of Herod, and turning the murder of the Innocents into his own glory, by raising them to the dignity of Martyrs of Christ, whose praises they gratefully sing for ever, INTROIT Ex ore infantium, Deus, Out of the mouth of inet lactentium perfecisti lau’ fants and sucklings thou hast dem propter inimicos tuos. perfected praise, O God, to confound thine enemies. CHRISTMAS 282 Ps. Domine, Dominus nos- ter, quam admirabile est Nomen tuum in universa terra| Y. Gloria Patri. Exore. Ps. O Lord our Lord, how admirable is thy name in the ¥. Glory, etc. whole earth. Outof. In the Collect, the Church prays that her children may confess by their works their faith in Christ. The Holy Innocents give their testimony—the only one in their power—of suffering for their divine Master: but the Christian who has attained the use of reason has more to do than suffer for his faith: he must confess it before persecutors and tyrants when they bid him deny it, and also before that more permanent tribunal of the world and his own passions. No man has received the glorious character of a Christian on the condition that he should never own himself one. COLLECT Deus, cujus hodierna die praeconium Innocentes martyres non loquendo, sed moriendo confessi sunt: omnia in nobis vitiorum mala mortifica, ut fidem tuam, quam lingua nostra loquitur, etiam moribus vita fateatur. Per Dominum. O God, whose praise the holy Martyrs, the Innocents, published this day, not by speaking, but by dying; mortify us in all our vicious inclinations: that we may show forth in our actions thy faith which we profess with our lips. Through, etc. Commemoration of Christmas Day Concede, quasumus, omnipotens ~ Deus; ut nos Unigeniti tui nova per carnem nativitas liberet, quos sub peccati jugo vetusta servitus tenet. ~Per eundem. Lectio libri Apocalypsis Joannis Apostoli. Cap. XIV. In diebus illus: Vidi montem Sion Agnum tem, et cum eo centum Grant, we beseech thee, O Almighty God, that we who groan under the old captivity of sin, may be freed therefrom by the new birth of thine OnlyBegotten Son. Through, etc. EPISTLE beati Lesson from the book of the Apocalypse of St John the Apostle. Ch. XIV. supra In those days: I beheld the stan- Lamb standing on Mount Sion, qua- and with him a hundred forty- 283 HOLY INNOCENTS draginta quatuor millia, ha- four thousand, having his name, bentes nomen ejus, et no- and the name of his Father, written men Patris ejus scriptum in {rontibus suis. Et audivi vo- And I on heard their a foreheads. voice from cem de ceelo tamquam vo- heaven, as the voice of many cem aquarum multarum, et waters, and as the voice of tamquam vocem tonitrui great thunder; and the voice magni; et vocem quam au- which I heard was as the voice divi, sicut citharedorum of harpers harping on their citharizantium in citharis harps. ~ And they sung as it suis. Et cantabant quasi ‘were a new canticle before the canticum novum ante se- throne, and before the four dem, et ante quatuor ani- living creatures and the anmalia et seniores; et nemo cients; and no man could say poterat dicere canticum, the canticle but those hunnisi illa centum quadra® dred forty-four thousand, who ginta quatuor millia, qui were purchased from the earth. empti sunt de terra. Hi sunt These are they who are not qui cum mulieribus non defiled with women: for they sunt coinquinati: virgines are virgins. These follow the enim sunt. Hi sequuntur Lamb whithersoever he goeth. Agnum quocumque jerit. Hi These were purchased from empti sunt ex hominibus pri- among men, the first-fruits to mitiz Deo et Agno, et in ore God and to the Lamb, and in eorum non est inventum their mouths there was found ‘mendacium: sine macula enim no lie: for they are without spot sunt ante thronum Dei. before the throne of God. The Church shows us, by her choice of this mysterious passage of the Apocalypse, how great a value she sets on Innocence, be. are and what our own esteem of it ought to The Holy Innocents follow the Lamb, because they pure. Personal merits on earth they could not have; but they went rapidly through this world, and its defilements never reached them. Their purity was not tried, as was St John’s; but it is beautified by the blood they shed for the Divine Lamb, and he is pleased with it, and makes them his companions. Let the Christian, therefore, be ambitious for this Innocence, which is thus singularly honoured. If he have preserved it, let him keep and guard it as his most precious treasure; if he have lost it, let him repair the loss by repentance, and having done so, let him say with the Spouse in the Canticle: I have washed my feet ; how shall I defile them »* i Cant. v 3. 284 CHRISTMAS In the Gradual, we have the Innocents blessing their God for having broken the snare, wherewith the world would have made them captive. They have fled as a bird set free; there was nothing to clog their flight. The Tract expresses the lamentation of Rachel over the cruelty of Herod and his minions. It invokes the divine vengeance which swept away the whole family of this vile Tyrant. GRADUAL Anima nostra, sicut passer, erepta est de laqueo venantium, ¥. Laqueus contritus est, et nos liberati sumus: adjutorium nostrum in nomine Domini, qui fecit ceelum et terram. Our soul hath been delivered, as a sparrow, out of the snare of the {owlers. ¥. The snare is broken, and we are delivered: our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. Effuderunt sanguinem Sanctorum velut aquam in circuitu Jerusalem. ¥. Et non erat qui sepeliret. ¥. Vindica, Domine, sanguinem Sanctorum tuorum, qui effusus est super terram. They have spilt the blood of the Saints like water about Jerusalem. ¥. And there was none to bury them. ¥. Revenge, O Lord, the blood of thy Saints, which hath been spilt on earth. TRACT If the Feast of the Holy Innocents fall on a Sunday, the Tract is not sung, but, in its place, the usual Alleluia verse, as follows: Alleluia, alleluia. Y. Laudate pueri Dominum, laudate nomen Domini. Alleluia. Alleluia, alleluia. ¥. Praise the Lord, ye children, praise_ye the name of the Lord. Alieluia. GOSPEL Sequentia sancti Evangelii Sequel to the holy Gospel acsecundum Mattheum. cording to Matthew. Cap. 1I. In illo tempore: Angelus Ch. I1. At that time: An Angel of Domini apparuit in somnis the Lord appeared in sleep to Joseph, dicens: surge, et Joseph, saying: Arise, and take HOLY INNOCENTS 285 accipe puerum et matrem the Child and his Mother, ejus, et fuge in Egyptum, and fly into Egypt, and be et esto ibi usque dum di- there until I shall tell thee. cam tibi. Futurum est enim, For it shall come to pass that ut Herodes quarat puerum Herod will seek the Child to ad perdendum eum. Qui destroy him. Who arose, and consurgens, accepit puerum took the Child and his Mother et matrem cjus nocte, et by night, and retired into secessit in ZEgyptum, et Egypt, and he was there until erat ib usque ad obitum the death of Herod; that it Herodis: ut adimpleretur might be fulfilled which the quod dictum est a_ Domino Lord spoke by the Prophet, per Prophetam dicentem: saying: Out of Egypt have I Ex Zgypto vocavi Filium called my son. Then Herod, meum. Tunc Herodes vi- perceiving that he was deluded dens quoniam illusus esset by the Wise Men, was exa Magis, iratus est valde: ceedingly angry, and sending, et mittens, occidit omnes killed all the men children pueros qui erant in Bethle- that were in Bethlchem, and hem, et in omnibus finibus in all the borders thereof, from ejus, a bimatu et infra, se- two years old and under, accundum tempus quod ex- cording to the time which quisierat a Magis. Tunc ad- he had diligently inquired of the impletum est quod dictum Wise Men. Then was fulfilled est per Jeremiam Prophetam that which was spoken by dicentern: Vox in Rama au- Jeremias the Prophet, saying: dita est, ploratus et ululatus A voice in Rama was heard, multus: Rachel plorans filios lamentation and great mournsuos; et noluit consolari, quia ing: Rachel bewailing her children, and would not be non sunt. comforted, because they are not. Thus does the Gospel, in its sublime simplicity, relate the Martyrdom of the Innocents. Herod, sending, killed all the Children! The earth paid no attention to the fell tyranny, which made so rich a harvest for heaven: there was heard a voice in Rama, Rachel wailing her little ones; it went up to heaven, and Bethlehem was But still again, as though nothing had happened. these favoured Victims had been accepted by God, and they were to be the companions looked at them of his Son. from his crib, and blessed them; Jesus Mary compassionated with them and their mothers; the Church, which Jesus had come to form, would, for all future ages, glorify these youthful Martyrs, and place 286 CHRISTMAS the greatest confidence in the patronage of these Children, for she knows how powerful their intercession is with her heavenly Spouse. During the Offertory, it is the choir of our Holy Innocents again singing their beautiful Canticle: as birds sct free, they give praise to him who broke the snare which held them. OFFERTORY Our soul hath been Anima nostra, sicut passer erepta est de laqueo ven- livered, as a sparrow, out antium laqueus contritus est, the snare of the fowlers: snare is broken, and we et nos liberati sumus. delivered. deof the are SECRET Sanctorum tuorum, mine, nobis pia non oratio; qua et munera tra conciliet, et tuam indulgentiam semper neat. Per Dominum. Do- desit nosnobis obti- May the pious prayers of thy Saints, O Lord, be never wanting to us; both to make our offerings acceptable, and to obtain for us thy mercy. Through, etc. Commemoration of Christmas Day Oblata, Domine, munera, Sanctify, O Lord, our offernova Unigeniti tui Nativi- ings, by the new Birth of tate sanctifica, nosque a thine Only-Begotten Son, and peccatorum nostrorum ma- cleanse us from the stains of culis emunda. Per eundem. our sins. Through, etc. In the Communion Anthem we agai in hear the voice of Rachel’s lamentation. Now that the Church has been nourished by the mystery of divine charity, she could not forget the affliction of the mothers of her dear Innocents. She compassionates them all through her Office, and turns to him who alone can comfort them that are in sorrow. HOLY Vox in Rama audita ploratus et ululatus: chel plorans filios suos; noluit consolari, quia sunt. INNOCENTS 287 COMMUNION A voice in Rama was heard; est, Ra- lamentation and great mournet ing: Rachel bewailing her non children, and would not be comforted, because they are not. POSTCOMMUNION Votiva, Domine, dona percepimus: qua Sanctorum nobis precibus, et praesentis quasumus_vite, pariter et @ternz tribue conferre subsidium. Per Dominum. Commemoration Prasta, quasumus, omnipotens Deus: ut natus hodie Salvator mundi, sicut divinz nobis _generationis est auctor, ita et immortalitatis sit ipse largitor. Qui tecum. Now we have partaken, O Lord, of the votive offerings: grant, we beseech thee, that by the prayers of thy Saints, they may procure us the heips of this present life, and those of that which is to come. Through, etc. of Christmas Day Grant, we beseech thec, O Almighty God, that as the Saviour of the world, who was born this day, procured for us a divine birth, he may, also, bestow on usimmortality. Who liveth, etc. VESPERS The Antiphons and Psalms of Christmas Day having been sung, as given on p. 210, the rest of the Office is as follows: CAPITULUM (dpoc. xiv) I saw upon Mount Sion a Vidi supra montem Sion Agnum stantem, et cum eo Lamb standing, and with him centum quadraginta quatuor a hundred forty-four thousand, millia, habentes nomen ejus, having his name, and the name et nomen Patris ejus scriptum of his Father written on their foreheads. in frontibus suis. 288 CHRISTMAS Salvete, flores Martyrum, Quos lucis ipso in limine Christi insecutor sustulit, Ceu turbo nascentes rosas. Vos, prima Christi victima, Grex immolatorum tener, Aram sub ipsam simplices Palma et coronis luditis. Jesu, tibi sit gloria, Quii natus es de Virgine, Cum Patre et almo Spiritu In sempiterna secula. Amen. ¥. Sub throno Dei omnes sancti clamant. ®. Vindica sanguinem nostrum, HYMN Deus noster. ANTIPHON Hail, ye flowers of the Martyrs, whom, on the very threshold of the light, he who sought to slay Christ bare away, as doth the biting wind the rosebuds. Ye, Christ’s first victim, tender flock of lambs ready for sacrifice, now in your simplicity play with your palms and crowns beneath the very altar. Glory be to thee, O Jesus, who art born of a Virgin, with Father and Holy Spirit, for ever and ever. Amen. V. Beneath the throne of God all the Saints cry out. . Avenge our blood, O our God. OF THE MAGNIFICAT AnT. Innocentes pro Christo infantes occisi sunt, ab iniquo rege lactentes interfecti sunt: ipsum sequuntur Agnum sine macula, et dicunt semper: Gloria tibi, Domine. OREMUS Deus, cujus hodierna_die praeconium Innocentes Martyres non loquendo sed moriendo confessi sunt, omnia in nobis vitiorum mala mortifica; ut fidem tuam, quam lingua nostra loquitur, etiam moribus vita fateatur. Per Dominum. Axt. Innocent infants were slain for Christ, children at the breast were murdered by a wicked king; they follow the spotless Lamb himself, and ever say: Glory be to thee, O Lord. LET US PRAY 0 God, whose praise thy Holy Martyrs the Innocents published this day, not by speaking, but by dying; mortify in us all our vicious inclinations, that we may show forth in our actions thy faith which we profess with our lips. Through our Lord. Commemoration of St Thomas ANT. Iste sanctus pro lege ANT. This Saint fought even Dei sui certavit usque ad to death for the law of his God, mortem, et a verbis impiorum and feared not the words of the non timuit: fundatus enim wicked; for he was founded erat supra firmam petram. upon a firm rock. 289 HOLY INNOCENTS ¥. Gloria et honore coro¥. Thou hast crowned him nasti eum, Domine. R. Et constituisti eum super opera manuum tuarum. oREMUS Deus, pro cujus Ecclesia gloriosus ~ Pontifex Thomas gladiis impiorum occubuit: prasta, quasumus, ut omnes qui_ejus implorant auxilium, petitionis suz salutarem consequantur effectum. Per Dominum. with glory and honour, O Lord. Ry. And hast set him over the works of thy hands. LET US PRAY O God, in defence of whose Church the glorious Prelate Thomas fell by the swords of wicked men; grant, we beseech thee, that all who implore his assistance may find comfort in the grant of their petition. Through, etc. Commemoration of Christmas Day Ant. Hodie Christus natus est, hodie Salvator apparuit, hodie in terra canunt Angeli, letantur Archangeli: hodie exsultant justi, dicentes: Gloria in excelsis Deo, alleluia. ¥. Notum fecit Dominus, alleluia. K. Salutare suum, alleluia. OREMUS Concede, quasumus, omnipotens Deus, ut nos Unigeniti_tui nova per carnem Nativitas liberet, quos sub peccati jugo vetusta servitus tenet. Per eumdem. ANT, This day Christ is born; this day the Saviour hath appeared; this day Angels sing on earth: the Archangels rejoice; this day the just exult, saying: Glory be to God in the highest, alleluia. Y. The Lord hath made known, alleluia. Ry. His salvation, alleluia, LET US PRAY Grant, we beseech thee, O Almighty God, that we who groan under the old captivity of sin, may be freed therefrom by the new Birth of thine OnlyBegotten Son. Through the same, etc. And now let us listen to the several Churches cele- brating chants begin the triumph for with this the Feast are following both the Ambrosian mentary: of the Holy very fine Innocents. beautiful. Preface, We which Missal and the Leonine Their is will in Sacra19 290 CHRISTMAS PREFACE Vere dignum et justum est, zquum et salutare: nos in pretiosa morte parvulorum te, sancte Pater omni potens, gloriosius collaudare quos propter Filii tui Domini nostri Salvatoris _infantiam immani sevitia Herodes funestus occidit: immensa clementiz tuz dona cogaoscimus. Fulget namque sola magis gratia, quam voluntas: et clara est prius confessio, quam loquela. i isterent: testes Christi, qui ejus nondum fuerant agnitores. O infinita benignitas Omnipotentis: cum pro suo nomine trucidatis, etiam nescientibus, mtern@ meritum gloria perire non patitur; sed ‘proprio cruore perfusis et salus regenerationis expletur et imputatur corona martyrii | It is truly meet and just, right and available to salva: tion, that we should exceedingly praise thee, O holy Almighty Father, in the precious death” of the Infants whom the unhappy Herod with savage cruelty slew because of the Tnfant Jesus, thy Son our Lord. Herein "do we recognize how immeasurable are the gifts of thy mercy, for the splendour of thy free grace outshines the martyrs’ will; and hey nobly confess thy name, who are not yet able to speak. They suffer martyrdom before their bodies are ripe for martyrdom: they bear testimony to Christ before they have even known him. O the infinite_goodness of the Omnipotent God | He suffers not the merit of everlasting glory to be lost by them that are slain for his sake, though they know not what they do: and being bathed in their own blood, he effects in them the salvation of regeneration, and gives them the crown of martyrdom. The following is from the Mozarabic Missal, and is full of unction and eloquence: Dignum et justum est: vere dignum et justum est, nos tibi semper et ubique gratias agere, Domine saccte, Pater omnipotens, @terne Deus, pro his pracipue, quorum hodierno die annua fest_ivi!ate reco_lentfi memoriam passionis celebramus: quos ~ Herodianus satelles Jactantum matrum uberibus abstraxit. Qui jure dicun- It is meet and just, yea truly right and just, that we should always and in all places, give thanks to thee, O Holy Lord, Almighty Father, Eternal God, and now especially for these whose yearly feast we this day keep, celebrating the memory of their passion. These are they whom Herod's satellites snatched from their mothers' breasts. Rightly are HOLY INNOCENTS tur Martyrum flores; qui in medio frigore_infidelitatis exorti, velut primas erumpentes Ecclesiz gemmas quzdam persecutionis pruina discussit, rutilante fonte in Bethlehem civitate. Infantes enim quia @tate loqui non_ poterant, laudem Domini cum gaudio resonabant. Occisi pradicant: quod vivi non poterant. Loquuntur sanguine, quod lingua nequiverunt. ~ Contulit _his Martyrium laudem; quibus abnegaverat lingua _sermonem. Praemittit infantes Infans Christus ad ceelos; transmittit nova xenia Patri; primitias exhibet Genitori parvulorum prima martyria, Herodis scelere perpetrata. Praestat hostis corpori; dum nocet, beneficium tribuit; dum occidit, moriendo vivitur: cadendo resurgitur: victoria per interitum comprobatur. 291 they called The Flowers of the Martyrs, for they grew in the mid-winter of infidelity as the first buds of the Church, and being nipped by the frost of persecution, filled the city of Bethlehem with a ruddy stream. They were Babes, and could not speak; yet did they joyfully proclaim the praise of the Lord. Their deaths profess what their lives could not. They say by their blood what they could not with their tongue. Martyrdom gave them power to praise, though their tongue denied them that of speech. The Infant Jesus sends these Infants, before himself, to heaven: he presents these new gifts to his Father, and offers to him, as the first fruits of martyrdom, this of the Innocents, who were slain by the wicked Herod. This enemy confers on them what their body could not; while he injures their body, he benefits it; whilst their body falls, it lives by its death, it rises by its fall, it conquers by its defeat. Our own Venerable Bede offers us the following Hymn, which is full of melody and pathos: Hymnum canentes Martyrum Dicamus Innocentium, Quos terra flendo perdidit Gaudens sed wthra suscipit. Vultum Patris per szcula, Quorum tuentur Angeli, Ejusque laudant gratiam, Hymnum canentes Martyrum. HYMN Let us chant the hymn of the martyred Innocents, whom carth lost and wept, but heaven gained and was glad. Their Angels see the Face of the Eternal Father, and sing the Hymn of their Martyrs, lauding the grace of God. 292 CHRISTMAS Quos rex peremit impius, Pius sed Auctor colligit, Secum beatos collocans, Tn luce regni perpetis. Qui mansiones singulis Largitus in domo Patris; Donat supernis sedibus, Quos rex peremit impius. Bimos et infra parvulos, Herodis ira perculit; Finesque Bethlehemiticos, Sancto respersit sanguine. Praclara Christo splenduit Mors innocens fidelium: Ceelis ferebant Angeli Bimos et infra parvulos. Vox in Rama percrebuit, Lamenta luctus maximi, Rachel suos, cum lacrymis Perfusa, flevit filios. Gaudent triumpho perpeti, Tormenta quique vicerant, Quorum gemens ob verbera, Vox in Rama percrebuit. Ne, grex pusille, formides Dentes leonis perfidos | Pastor bonus nam pascua Vobis dabit ceelestia. Agnum Dei qui candidum Mundo sequeris tramite; Manus latronis impias Ne, grex pusille, formides. Absterget omnem lacry‘mam Vestris Pater de vultibus; Mors vobis ultra non nocet, Vitz receptis meenibus. Qui_seminant in lacry‘mis, Longo metent in gaudio, Genis lugentum Conditor Absterget omnem lacrymam. O quam beata civitas, In qua Redemptor nascitur: A cruel king destroyed them, the merciful Creator received them, making them happy with himself in the brightness of the never-ending kingdom. He that gives to each elect a mansion in his_Father's house, places the Innocents, massacred by the impious king, on thrones in heaven above. Herod was angry, and slew every child below the age of two, staining with their sacred blood the borders of Bethlehem. Precious in the sight of Jesus shone the innocent death of these his faithful ones; and Angels came down to carry them to the land of heaven. A voice in Rama was heard, lamentation of poignant grief, and Rachel shed a flood of tears over her infant sons, Who now rejoice in_endless triumph, for they overcame their torments, whose cruel blows filled Rama with the voice of wailing. Fear not, Little Flock, the prowling Lion’s tooth! for the Good Shepherd will give you the pastures of heaven. Following the spotless Lamb of God in the path of purity, ye need not fear, dear Little Flock, a robber’s wicked grasp. The Father will wipe every tear from off your cheeks; death shall have mo further power to hurt you, inclosed now within the walls of Life. They that sow in_tears, reap eternal joy: and the Creator wipes every tear away from the mourner’s face. O truly happy Bethlehem ! city wherein our Redeemer HOLY INNOCENTS 293 was born, and where he was In qua dicantur hostie. presented with the first Martyrs—the first Victims dedicated to the new-born King. Nunquam vocaris parvula, No, Bethlehem ! thou shalt In civitatum millibus, not be called the least among Ex qua novus dux ortus est; the thousand cities, for out of O quam beata civitas. thee came the divine Leader ! O truly blessed City ! Adstant nitentes fulgidis Around his throne now Ejus throno nunc vestibus, stand, glittering in their fair Stolas suas qui laverant bright robes, these Innocents Agni rubentes sanguine. that washed their garments red in the Blood of the Lamb. Qui perpetis pro patria They had sighed and wept Regno gementes fleverant: for the kingdom of the everLati Deo cum laudibus lasting world: now they stand Adstant nitentes fulgidis. joyfully before God, and bright in’ their robes of glory arc ever singing his praise. Natoque prima Martyrum The Greek Church is, of course, profuse in her praises of the Holy Innocents. the following stanzas: We extract from her Menza XXVI Decembris, in magno Vesperlino, et passim. Thesaurum_occultatum exquirens _impius, Innocentes ueros immolavit, et Rachel inconsolabilis exundantem intuens cladem iniquam, mortemque pramaturam; quos ploravit, imis visceribus commota, eos nunc in sinu Abrahze contemplata gaudet. Regem sine tempore sub tempore natum, rex impius exquirebat, et non inveniens quomodo occideret, puerorum ‘messuit malinesciam maultitudinem, quos (et non cogitabat) fecit Martyres, supernique regni_ habitatores, et illius in szcula impietatem exprobantes. The impious Herod, searching out Jesus the Hidden Treasure, slew the Innocent Children; and_the inconsolable Rachel, sceing the iniquitous shedding of blood and the premature death of her Babes, first grieving from the bottom of her heart, now rejoices sceing them in Abraham'’s Bosom. The wicked king sought for the King Eternal, yet born in time: and not finding how to kill him, he mowed down the innocent multitude of children, thinking not that he was making them Martyrs, and citizens of the heavenly kingdom, and eternal accusers of his impiety. 204 CHRISTMAS Te ex Virgine nato, antesecularis Domine, teque parvulo, ob tuam bonitatem facto; parvulorum chorus tibi oblatus est in Martyrum sanguine; limpida anima _justissime fulgidus; quos _inhabitare fecisti in mansionibus sempiterni Herodis infamantes mal tiam et crudelissimam iniquitatem. Rachel clamans lacrymatur, ut scriptum est, super filios: parvulos enim Herodes occidens impius implebat Scripturam, Judzam inundans innocuo_sanguine; nam terra rubescebat infantium sanguinibus, Ecclesiaque ex gentibus mystice purificatur, et stola induitur. Venit Veritas, sedentibus in umbra mortis Deus apparuit, ex Virgine natus ad salvandum nos. Sursum et deorsum exsultantibus omnibus in Regis omnium manifestatione, solus Herodes tristatur cum Prophetarum bomicidis Judais; decet enim illos solos lamentari; deinceps enim non amplius regnant, sed regnum Domini, posthac dominabitur, inimicorum depulsans audaciam, et multitudinem Fidelium convocans, ad videndum cum venerandis pueris illum qui in prasepio jacet velut infans. Herbivirentem agellum puerorum impius Herodes mittens emessuit pramnatu- Thou, O Lord! being born of the Virgin, that wast born of the Father before all ages, and having become out of thy infinite goodness a Little presented was there Child, unto thee a choir of little children, made Martyrs by the shedding of their blood, and clad in brightness, the most just reward of their innocence of soul. Thou didst give them to dwell in eternal mansions, where they proclaim Herod's malice and most cruel injustice. Rachel wailing, weeps, as 'tis for her Babes, over written, Herod fulfilled the Scripture when he slew the little ones, and inundated Judea with innocent blood. The earth was reddened by the Infants’ blood, and the Gentile Church mystically made pure and beautiful. The Truth had come: to them that were sitting in the shadow of death God had shown himself, born of a Virgin for our salvation. In this manifestation of the King of all, all exulted in heaven and on earth, save only Herod and the Jews, the murderers of the Prophets: they are sad, for they alone have cause for sadness, seeing that their kingdom is at an end; but the kingdom of the Lord henceforth shall rule, repelling the daring of our enemics, and calling the multitude of the the with come to Faithful holy Children, and see him the Little Child, that lies in the manger. The impious Herod fearing, sent his reapers to cut the tender grass of Bethlehem's little HOLY rum timidus; et natum INNOCENTS Do- minum cum’ nequit interficere, omni impletur confusione. Plorat Rachel infantes, et in Rama vox magna auditur hodie: Herodes furit et impie fremescit: Joannes fugit ad montes, petra matrem recipit, Zacharias in templo caditur, et Christus fugit, desertam _linquens Hebrzorum habitationem. Immaculate tuz nativi tati, Domine, prima hostia fuerunt infantes; Herodes enim manu _apprehendere te imprehensibilem volens deceptus est, Martyrum adducens tibi chorum; ideo te deprecamur hominem factum salvare animas nostras. Ad aures Domini Sabaoth pervenit czdes vestra, Infantes honorandi; per eam enim sanguinem effudistis, et in sinu Abrahw requi citis, Herodis in szcula odiosam malitiam repellentes, virtute Christi nati. Odiosa Herodis puerorum interaecio per illius cruentam militiam, et veneranda puerorum hostia, qui Christi comtanei praepassi prasacrificati sunt: noli et flere, Rachel, filios, recordata Abraha sinum, ubi corum omnium Iztantium est cohabitatio. Into this sublime 205 field, the Innocents: and failing in the murder of the Infant-God, confusion fills his soul. Rachel bewails her sons, and a loud cry is heard to-day in Rama: Herod rages and maddens in impiety: John flees to the mountains, his mother Elizabeth hides in a cave, Zachary s slin in the temple, and Jesus escapes, leaving the Hebrew land a desert. The Innocents were the first offering consecrated to thy immaculate Birth, O Jesus! for Herod, that fain would apprehend 'Thee, the Incomprehensible God, was fooled in his craft, and gave thee a choir of Martyrs. Therefore, O God made Man! save us, we beseech thee | Most honoured Innocents ! the cry of your murder has ascended to the ears of the God of Sabaoth. Your blood was shed by the massacre, but ye are resting in Abraham's bosom, and by the power of the Infant Christ, your triumph over Herod's detested malice is eternal. Hateful is Herod’s massacre of thy Children, O Rachel, by his cruel soldiers, but venerable the holocaust of thy Babes, the companions of Jesus in age, but his predecesSors in their sacrifice and passion: weep not then for thy Children, ~ Rachel, remembering Abraham’s Bosom, where is the onme dwelling of them all, and they are in joy. concert of the Liturgies singing the praises of the Innocents, we must admit the Latin CHRISTMAS 296 Churches of the Middle Ages. Wehave selected a Prose of the eleventh century, found in most of the ancient Roman- French Missals. SEQUENCE Celsa pueri concrepent melodia, Pia Innocentum colentes tripudia. Quos infans Christus hodie vexit ad astra, Hos trucidavit frendens insania Herodianz fraudis, ob nulla crimina, In Bethlehem ipsius cuncta. Et per confinia, A bimatu et infra, Juxta nascendi tempora, Herodes rex, Christi Verens, infelix | imperia, nati Infremit totus, erigit arma Superba dextera. Querit lucis et cceli Regem, Cum mente turbida; Ut extinguat, qui vitam Per sua jacula. Dum non valet intueri Iucem splendidam, Nebulosa querentis pectora. Ira_fervet, fraudes auget e Herodes sevus, 't perdat piorum agmina. Castra militum dux iniquus aggregat, Ferrum figit in membra teDera. Inter ubera lac effundit, Antequam sanguinis fierent coagula. Sound forth, O Children! your shrill melodies In honour of the holy joyz of the Innocents. The Infant Jesus took them this day to the realms above, When the rabid madness of Herod's craft slew them, Though guilty of no crime: They were the Children in the cify, And all the confines of Bethlchem, Two years old and under, Dating from the time of their birth. The unhappy King Herod, fearing _the kingdom of the Infant Christ, Trembles from head to foot, and brandishes bis sword with his haughty hand. He, with his troubled mind, secks for the King of Light and heaven; That by his weapons he i ut to death him that givesi For his eye cannot look on the bright Light of him who searcheth clonded hearts. Herod is inflamed with rage, and cruelly plots the death of thousands of Innocents. A wicked chieftain takes with him a troop of soldiers, and plunges his sword in the tender flesh. The pure stream of infant veins (for blood is scarce yet formed) flows upon the mothers’ breasts. HOLY Hostis naturz natos eviscerat Atque jugulat: INNOCENTS Ante prosternit, quam @tas parvula Sumat robora. Quam beata sunt Innocentum casa Corpuscula | Quam felices existunt matres, Funerunt qua talia pignora ! O dulces Innocentum acies ! 297 The brutal enemy tears the flesh with gaping wounds, and on the gash: throat inflicts a fatal Trampling out life, eer the tender age is sinewed into strength. Oh! how glorious the bodies of these murdered Innocents ! How happy the Mothers of such Children ! O lovable legion of Innocents | O holy infant combats fought for Christ ! The Babes lay slain in thousands, and from their tender limbs there flows a stream of sinless blood. The citizens of heaven come O pia lactantum pro Christo certamina ! Pal{vomm trucidantur milia: Membris ex teneris manant lactis flumina. Cives angelici veniunt obviam, forth to meet the snow-white Mira victoria, troop that takes the crown of Vita captat merita Life, won by a singular vicTurba candidissima. tory. Te, Christe, petimus, mente We most devoutly beseech devotissima, thee, O Jesus! who camest to Nostra qui venisti reformare reform the world, szcula, Innocentum gloria That thou grant us to enjoy Perfrui nos concedas per for everlasting ages the glory @terna. of the Innocents. Amen. Amen. And we, too, blessed Babes ! celebrate your triumph, and we congratulate you on your having been chosen as the companions of Jesus when in his Crib. What a where were congregated all the elect! dear to glad waking was yours, from the darkness of unconscious infancy to the precious light of Abraham’s bosom, you the sword that thus transformed How you! What gratitude had you not to God, who thus chose you, out of millions of other children, to do honour to the birth of his Son by this sacrifice of your blood and lives ! Too young to fight the battle, yet did you win the 208 CHRISTMAS crown. The Martyr’s Palm waved in those tiny hands which had not strength to pluck it. God would give proof of his munificence: he would teach us that he is Master of his gifts. And was it not fitting that the birth of the Son of this great King should be comSweet Infant memorated by largess such as this? Martyrs | we give praise to our God for having thus favoured you, and with the whole Church we rejoice in the privileges you have received. Flowers of the Martyrs | we confide in your intercession, and beseech you, by the reward so gratuitously conferred on you, struggling ‘We too which to be you mindful of us your brethren, who are amidst the dangers of this sinful world. desire to receive those same Palms and Crowns have won, but with such innocence and simplicity that the Church says you played with them :* whereas we have to fight hard and long for them, and are so often on the point of losing them for ever ! The God that has glorified you is our last end as truly as he is yours; in him alone can our hearts find their rest; pray for us, that we may possess him for all eternity. Pray for us, that we may obtain child-like simplicity of heart, whence comes that unreserved confidence in God which leads man to the perfect accomplishment of his holy will. May we bear the cross with patience when he sends it, and desire nothing but his holy will. You gazed upon the murderers who broke your gentle sleep, and you found nothing to make you fear; the bright sword they held over your cradle had but the look of a toy with which you asked to play; death stared you in the face, and you smiled on him. May we imitate you, and be meek and graceful in the trials that come to us; making them our martyrdom by the quiet endurance of our courage, and the conformity of our will with that of our Sovereign Lord and Master, who only gives the cross that he may give the crown. 1. .. . Simplices Palma et coronis luditis, (Hymn for Vespers.) 299 HOLY INNOCENTS May we never object to or hate the instruments he uses wherewith to try us; may no harshness nor injustice nor pain ever quench the fire of our charity, nor any event ever deprive us of that peace without which our souls live not to God. And, lastly, O ye Innocent slain for Jesus, Lambs, and following him whithersoever he goeth, because ye are pure, pray for us to the Lamb of God, that he permit us to come to him in Bethlehem, and, like you, fix our dwelling there, for it is the abode of love and innocence. Speak us for to Mary, a more Mother compassionate than Rachel; tell her that we are her children, and your brethren. She that compassionated your momentary sufferings will pity us and help us in our long years of temptation, pain and sorrow. Three days have passed since the Birth of Jesus: let us visit him manuel. in the Stable, and humbly adore Em- Let us think on the mercy which led him to become a Little Child in order to bring us near to himself: let us be filled with astonishment at seeing our God thus close to his creatures. Abbot Guerric,! ‘ that in heaven, ‘He,’ says the holy surpasses the sublime intellects of the Angels, is here on earth the dull sense of men. For whereas God palpable to could not speak to us as spiritual beings, for we are carnal, his Word was made Flesh, that all flesh might not only hear, but might even see him whom by condescension, the mouth of the Lord had spoken.? And whereas the world knew not the Wisdom of God in his wisdom, that same wisdom, an ineffable made himself Foolish- ness.® . . . Igive thee praise, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for that thou hast hid this Wisdom from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed it to little ones.* . . . The haughtiness of the proud is exceedingly adverse to the humility of this Little One; and that which is i Sermon. the Fitth, On the Wonderful Providence of God in.the Nty of st s xl s * 1 Corias. * St Matt. xi 25. 300 CHRISTMAS high to men is an abomination before God.* . . . This Little One finds sympathy with none save with them that are little in heart, and he takes up his abode with none save with them that are humble and peaceful. As, therefore, these Little Children sing, glorying in him: A little Child is born unto us ;* so does he say of them: Behold me and my Children, whom the Lord hath given unto me * Thus it was that the glory of Martyrdom began with innocent Babes; for the Father would give to his Son, the Infant Jesus, Companions of his own tender age; and hereby the Holy Ghost taught us that of such is the Kingdom of heaven.’* us In honour recite the of this Childhood following of the Great admirable Hymn, King, let composed by one of the most learned men of the primitive Church, Clement of Alexandria. HYMN Fraznum pullorum indo- Curb of the young untamed cilium, ones, Wing that protectest Penna volucrum non erran- chickens which keep nigh their tium, mother, sure Rudder of inVerus clavus infantium, fant age, Shepherd of the Pastor agnorum regalium, King's lambs! call together Tuos simplices thy simple children, and bid Pueros congrega, them praise with holy hearts, Ad sancte laudandum, and sweetly sing with pure Sincere canendum, lips Jesus, the King of InOre innoxio, Christum puerorum ducem. Rex sanctorum, Verbum, qui domas omnia, Patris altissimi Sapientia rector, Laborum sustentaculum, ZEvo gaudens, Humani generis Servator, Jesu, Pastor, arator, Clavus, frenum, Penna ceelestis Sanctissimi gregis, + St Luke xvi 15. * lsa.ix 6. fants. King of Saints, Incarnate Word that rulest all things, Dispenser of the Most High, the Father, support of them that toil, joy etcrnal, Saviour of mankind, Jesus ! Shepherd, Husbandman, Rudder, Curb, Wing celestial of the most holy flock, Fisher of the elect, drawing the chaste 3 Iid.viiias, ¢ StMatt. xix 14, HOLY Piscator hominum Qui salvi fiunt; Pelagi vitii, Pisces castos Unda ex infesta, Dulci vita inescans. Sis dux, ovium. Rationalium pastor; Sancte, sis dux, Rex puerorum intactorum: Vestigia Christi, Via celestis. Verbum perenne, ZEvum infinitum, Lux @terna, Foos misericordiz, Operatrix virtutis, Honesta vita Deum laudantium, Christe Jesu, Lac cosleste, Dulcibus uberibus Nymphz gratiarum, Sapientiz tus expressum, Infantuli Ore tenero Enutriti, Mamm rationalis Roscido spiritu Tmpleti, Laudes simplices, Hymnos veraces Regi Christo. Mercedes sanctas Vitz doctrinz Canamus simul, Canamus simpliciter Puerum valeatem. Chorus pacis, Christo geniti, Populus modestus, Psallamus simul Deum pacis. 301 fish by the bait of the sweet Bread of Life from the boisterous sea of sin. INNOCENTS O Shepherd of the spiritual flock, be thou our Guide! Guide us, O Holy One, O King of spotless Children | The way to heaven is to follow the footsteps of Christ. O Eternal Word, Infinite duration, Light Eternal, Fount of mercy, Author of virtue, the Holy Life of them that praise God, Christ Jesus | We thy little ones, whose infant mouths have drunk the milk of heaven, drawn from the sweet breasts of thy wis- spring: dom, grace's virgin filled with the dewy spirit of thy divine breast, we sing to Christ the King our simple praises and our truthful hymns. Let us together sing the holy recompense of the doctrine of Life! Let us together sing to the Almighty Babel O choir of peace O children of Christ, O wisdom-loving people, let us together praise the God of Peace | Let us also salute Mary, , the Mother of this Divine Infant, in the words of this beautiful Prose, taken from the ancient Missals of Germany. 302 CHRISTMAS SEQUENCE Imperatrix gloriosa, Potenset imperiosa, esu Christi generosa ater atque filia: Radix Jesse speciosa, Virga florens et frondosa Quam rigavit copiosa Deitatis gratia. Auster levis te perflavit, Et perflando feecundavit, Aquilonem qui fugavit Sua cum potentia. Florem ergo genuisti, Fructum ex quo profulisti, Gabrieli dum fuisti Paranympho credula. Joseph, justus vir, expavit, Ista dum consideravit, Sciens quod non irrigavit Florescentem virgulam: Bene tamen conservavit Arcanum, nec divulgavit; Sponsam sed magnificavit, Honorans ut Dominam. Ceeli quoniam roraverunt, Nubes ex quo concreverunt, Concretzque stillaverunt Virginis in utero. Res miranda | res novella | Nam procedit sol de stella, Regem dum parit puella, Viri tori nescia. Ergo clemens et benigna, Cunctorumque laudem digna, Tuo nato nos consigna Pia per suffragia; Ut mortali, quo gravamur, Compede sic absolvamur, Ut soluti transferamur Ad cceli palatia. Amen. Glorious, _ powerful, _and Empress |~ Noble sovereign Mother and daughter of Jesus | Fair Root of Jesse, Branch lovely in thy bioom and leaf, watered by the plentiful grace of God | The soft south zephyr breathed upon thee, and breathing gave thee Fruit, and by his power put the rough north wind to flight. Thou therefore, believing the Angel Gabriel's word, didst conceive a Flower, one day to bring him forth, thy Fruit. Joseph, the Just Man, saw his lovely Branch in Flower; none else could know like him and tremble at the Mystery. But the secret was sacred and well did he keep it, revealing it to no mortal ear. Mary was his Spouse, and he extolled her: she was his Lady, and he honoured her. The heavens had truly dropped down their dew, and the clouds, laden with a mystic rain, rained the Holy One; He dwelt in the Virgin's womb. O wondrous thing| O thing most strange! A Star brings forth the Sun! A Maid, a Virgin most_pure, brings forth the Kingof Heaven, i Then, by thy loving prayers, commend us to thy Som, O Mother sweet and kind, and worthy of this and every praise | Pray for us, that loosened from the shackle of mortality that weighs us down, we may take wing to the heavenly courts. Amen, ST THOMAS OF CANTERBURY DECEMBER 303 29 SAINT THOMAS ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY AND MARTYR NOTHER Martyr comes to-day to take his place round the Crib of our Jesus. He does not belong to the first ages of the Church: his name is not written in the Books of the New Testament, like those of Stephen, John and the Innocents of Bethlehem. Yet does he stand most prominent in the ranks of that Martyr Host which has been receiving fresh recruits in every age, and is one of those visible abiding proofs of the vitality of the Church, and of the undecaying energy infused into her by her divine Founder. This glorious Martyr did not shed his blood for the faith; he was not dragged before the tribunals of pagans or heretics, there to confess the truths revealed by Christ and taught by the Church. He was slain by Christian hands; it was a Catholic King that condemned him to death; it was by the majority of his own brethren, and they his countrymen, that he was abandoned could he be a Martyr ? and blamed. How, then, How did he gain a Palm like Stephen’s ? He was the Martyr for the liberty of the Church. Every Christian is obliged to lay down his life rather than deny dny of the articles of our holy Faith: it was fhe debt we contracted with Jesus Chnst when he adopted us in Baptism as his Brethren. All are not called to the honour of Martyrdom, required to bear that testimony that is, all are not to the Truth which consists in shedding one’s blood for it: but all must so love their Faith as to be ready to die rather than deny it, under pain of incurring the etemal death from which the grace of our Redeemer has already delivered us. 304 CHRISTMAS The same obligation lies still more heavily on the Pastors It is the pledge of the truth of their of the Church. teachings. Hence we find in almost every page of the History of the Church the glorious names of saintly Bishops, who laid down their lives for the Faith they had delivered to their people. dearest pledge they It was the last and could give of their devotedness to the Vineyard entrusted to them, spent years of care and toil. in which they had The blood of their Martyr- dom was more than a fertilizing element—it was a guarantee, the highest that man can give, that the seed they had sown in the hearts of men was in very truth the revealed Word of God. But beyond the debt which every Christian has, of shedding his blood rather than denying his Faith, that is, of allowing no threats or dangers to make him disown the sacred ties which unite him to the Church, and through her to Jesus Christ; beyond this, Pastors have another debt to pay, which is that of defending the liberty of the Church. To Kings and Rulers, and, in general to all diplomatists and politicians, there are few expressions so unwelcome as this of the liberly of the Church ; with them it means a sort of conspiracy. The world talks of it as being an unfortunate scandal, originating in priestly ambition. Timid temporizing Catholics regret that it can elicit anyone’s zeal, and will endeavour to persuade us that we have no need to fear anything, so long as our Faith is not attacked. Notwithstanding all this, the Church has put upon her altars the glorious St Thomas of Canterbury, who was slain in his Cathedral in the twelfth century because he resisted a King's infringements on the extrinsic rights of the Church. She sanctions the noble maxim of St Anselm, one of St Thomas’s predecessors in the See of Canterbury: Nothing does God love so much in this world as the liberly of his Church ; and the Apostolic See declares by the mouth of Pius VIII, in the nineteenth century, the very same doctrine she would have taught by St Gregory VII, in the eleventh century: The Church, the spotless Spouse of ST THOMAS OF CANTERBURY 305 Jesus Christ the immaculate Lamb, is by God's appointment FREE, and subject to no earthly power.* But in what does this sacred liberty consist? It consists in the Church’s absolute independence of every secular power in the ministry of the Word of God, which she is bound to preach in season and out of season, as St Paul says, to all mankind, without dis- tinction of nation or race or age or sex: in the adminis- tration of the Sacraments, to which she must invite all men without exception, in order to the world’s salvation: in the practice, free from all human control, of the Counsels, as well as of the Precepts, of the Gospel: in the unobstructed intercommunication of the several degrees of her sacred hierarchy: in the publication and application of her decrees and ordinances in matters of discipline: in the maintenance and development of the Institutions she has founded: in holding and governing her temporal patrimony: and lastly in the defence of those privileges which have been adjudged to her by the civil authority itself, in order that her ministry of peace and charity might be unembarrassed and respected. Such is the Liberty of the Church. 1t is the bulwark of the Sanctuary. Every breach there imperils the Hierarchy, and even the very Faith. A Bishop may not flee, as the hireling, nor hold his peace, like those dumb dogs of which the Prophet Isaias speaks, and which are not able to bark.* He is the Watchman of Israel: he is a traitor if he first lets the enemy enter the citadel, and then, but only then, gives the alarm and risks his person and his life. The obligation of laying down his life for his flock begins to be in force at the enemy’s first attack upon the very outposts of the City, which is only safe when they are strongly guarded. The consequence of the Pastor’s resistance may be of the most serious nature; in which event we must remember a truth which has been admirably expressed 3 Littera Apostolicaad Episcopos Provincia Rhenane. 30 Junii 1830 * Isa. Ivi To. 20 CHRISTMAS 306 by Bossuet in his magnificent panegyric on St Thomas of Canterbury, which we regret not being able to give from beginning to end. ‘It is an established law,” he says, ‘ that every success the Church acquires costs her the life of some of her children, and that in order to secure her rights she must shed her own blood. Her Divine Spouse redeemed her by the Blood he shed for her; and he wishes that she should purchase on the same terms the graces he bestows upon her. It was by the blood of the Martyrs that she extended her conquests far beyond the limits of the Roman Empire. It was her blood that procured her both the peace she enjoyed under the Christian, and the victory she gained over the Pagan Emperors. So that as she had to shed her blood for the propagation of her teaching, she had also to bleed in order to make her authority accepted. The discipline, therefore, as well as the faith of the Church, was to have its Martyrs.’ Hence it was that St Thomas, and the rest of the martyrs for ecclesiastical liberty, never once stopped to consider how it was possible, with such weak means as were at their disposal, to oppose the invaders of the rights of the Church. One great element of Martyrdom is simplicity united with courage; and this explains how there have been martyrs amongst the lowest classes of the faithful, and that young girls, and even children, can show their rich palm-branch. God has put into the heart of a Christian a capability of humble and inflexible resistance which makes every opposition give way. What, then, must that fidelity be, which the Holy Ghost has put into the souls of Bishops, whom he has constituted the Spouses of his Church, and the defenders of his beloved Jerusalem? ‘St Thomas,’” says Bossuet, ‘ yields not to injustice, under the pretext that it is armed with the sword, and that it is a King who commits it; on the contrary, seeing that its source is high up, he feels his obligation of resisting it to be the greater, just as men throw the embankments higher when the torrent swells.” ST THOMAS OF CANTERBURY 307 But the Pastor may lose his life in the contest ! Yes, it may be so: he may possibly have this glorious privilege. Our Lord came into this world to fight against it and conquer it; but he shed his blood in the contest, he died on a Cross. So likewise were the martyrs put to death. Can the Church, then, which was founded by the Precious Blood of her Divine Master, and was established by the blood of the martyrs—can she ever do without the saving laver of blood, which reanimates her with vigour, and vests her with the rich crimson of her royalty? St Thomas understood this: and when we remember how he laboured to mortify his flesh by a life of penance, and how every sort of privation and adversity had taught him to crucify to this world every affection of his heart, we cannot be surprised at his possessing, within his soul, the qualities which fit 2 man for martyrdom—calmness of courage, and a patience proof against every trial. In other words, he had received from God the Spirit of Fortitude, and he faithfully corresponded to it. ‘In the language of the Church,” continues Bossuet, ¢ fortitude has not the meaning it has in the language of the world. Fortitude, as the world understands it, is undertaking great things; according goes not beyond suffering every sort it stops. Listen to the words of St et resisted unto blood ; as though he to the Church, it of trial, and there Paul: Ye have not would say: ““ You have not yet gone the whole length of your duty, because you have not resisted your enemies unto blood.” He does not say, ““ You have not attacked your enemies and shed their blood;” but, *“ Your resistance to your enemies has not yet cost you your blood.” “ These are the high principles of St Thomas; but see how he makes use of them. He arms himself with this sword of the Apostle’s teaching, not to make a parade of courage, and gain a name for heroism, but simply because the Church is threatened, and he must hold over her the shield of his resistance. The strength of the holy Archbishop lies not in any way either in the inter- 308 CHRISTMAS ference of sympathizers, or in a plot ably conducted. He has but to publish the sufferings he has so patiently borne, and odium will fall upon his persecutor: certain secret springs need only to be touched by such a man as this, and the people would be roused to indignation against the King! But the Saint scorns both plans. All he has on his side is the prayer of the poor, and the sighs of the widow and the orphan: these, as St Ambrose would say, these are the Bishop's defenders, guard, these his army | these his He is powerful, because he has a soul that knows not either how to fear or how to murmur. He can in all truth say to Henry, King of England, what Tertullian said in the name of the whole Church to a magistrate of the Roman Empire, who was a cruel persecutor of the Church: We neither frighten thee nor fear thee :* we Christians are neither dangerous men, nor cowards; not dangerous, because we cannot cabal, and not cowards, because we fear not the sword.” Our panegyrist proceeds to describe the victory won for the Church by her intrepid martyr of Canterbury. We can scarcely be surprised when we are told that during the very year in which he preached this eloquent Sermon, Bossuet was raised to- the episcopal dignity. We need offer no apology for giving the following fine passage. ‘ Christians | give me your attention. If there ever were a martyrdom, which bore a resemblance to a sacrifice, it was the one I have to describe to you. of all there is the preparation: the Bishop First is in the Church with his ministers, and all are robed in the sacred vestments. And the victim? The victim is near at hand—the Bishop is the victim chosen by God, and he is ready. So that all is prepared for the sacrifice, and they that are to strike the blow enter the Church. The holy man walks before them, as Jesus did before his enemies. He forbids his clergy to make the slightest resistance, and all he asks of his enemies is that they injure none of them that are present: it is the close imitation of his Divine Master, who said to them that * Non te terremus, qui nec timemus, ST THOMAS OF CANTERBURY 309 apprehended him: If it be I whom you seek, suffer these t0 go their way. And when all this had been done, and the moment for the sacrifice was come, St Thomas begins the ceremony. He is both victim and priest: he bows down his head, and offers the prayer. Listen to the solemn prayer, and the mystical words of the sacrifice: And I am ready to die for God, and for the claims of justice, and for the lnberl of the Church, if only she may gain peace and liberty by thzs shedding of my blood I* He prostrates himself before God: and as in the Holy Sacrifice there is the invocation of the Saints our intercessors, Thomas omits not so important a ceremony; he beseeches the holy Martyrs and the Blessed Mary ever a Virgin to deliver the Church from oppression. He can pray for nothing Church; but the Church; his heart beats but for the his lips can speak nothing but the Church; and when the blow has been struck, his cold and lifeless tongue seems still to be saying: The Church I’ Thus did our glorious Martyr, the type of a Bishop of the Church, consummate his sacrifice, thus did he gain his victory; and his victory will produce the total abolition of the sinful laws which would have made the Church the creature of the State, and an object of contempt to the people. The tomb of the Saint will become an altar; and at the foot of that altar, there will one day kneel a penitent King, humbly praying for pardon and blessing. What has wrought this change? Has the death of Thomas of Canterbury stirred up the people to revolt ? Has his martyrdom found its avengers? No. Itis the blood of one who died for Christ producing its fruit. The world is hard to teach, else it would have long since learned this truth, that a Christian people can never see with indifference a pastor put to death for fidelity to his charge; and that a government that dares to make a martyr will pay dearly for the crime. Modern diplomacy has learned the secret; experience has given it the instinctive craft of waging war against the 1 Et ego pro Deo mori paratus sum, et pro assertione justitis, 't pro Ecclesi@ libertate; dummodo effusions sanguinis el pacem et libertatem con equatur 310 CHRISTMAS liberty of the Church with less violence and more intrigue—the intrigue of enslaving her by political administration. It was this crafty diplomacy which forged the chains wherewith so many churches are now shackled, and which, be they ever so gilded, are insupportable. There is but one way to unlink such fetters—to break them. He that breaks them will be great in the Church of heaven and earth, for he must be a martyr: he will not have to fight with the sword, or be a political agitator, but simply to resist the plotters against the liberty of the Spouse of Christ, and suffer patiently whatever may be said or done against him. Let us give ear once more to the sublime panegyrist of our St Thomas: he is alluding to this patient resistance which made the Archbishop triumph over tyranny. ‘ My brethren, see what manner of men the Church finds rising up to defend her in her weakness, and how truly she may say with the Apostle: When I am weak, then am I powerful* It is this blessed weakness which provides her with invincible power, and enlists in her cause the bravest soldiers and the mightiest conquerors this world has ever seen—the Martyrs. He that infringes on the authority of the Church, let him dread that precious blood of the martyrs which consecrates and protects it.’ Now all this fortitude, and the whole of this victory, came from the Crib of the Infant Jesus: therefore it is that we find St Thomas standing near it, in company with the Protomartyr Stephen. Any example of humility, and of what the world calls poverty and weakness, which had been less eloquent than this of the mystery of God made a little Child, would have been insufficient to teach man what real power is. Up to that time, man had no other idea of power than that which the sword can give, or of greatness than that which comes of riches, or of joy than such as triumph brings: but when God came into this world, and showed himself 2 2 Cor, xii 10, ST THOMAS 31 OF CANTERBURY poor and persecuted, everything was changed. weak and Men were found who loved the lowly Crib of Jesus, with all its humiliations, better than the whole world besides: and from this mystery of the weakness of an Infant God they imbibed a greatness of soul which even the world could not help admiring. It is most just, therefore, that the two laurel- wreaths of St Thomas and St Stephen should intertwine round the Crib of the Babe of Bethlehem, for they are the two trophies of his two dear martyrs. As regards St Thomas, divine Providence marked out most clearly the place he was to occupy in the cycle of the Christian year, by permitting his martyrdom to happen on the day following the Feast of the Holy Innocents; so that the Church could have no hesitation in assignis December 29 as the day for celebrating the memory of the saintly Archbishop of Canterbury. As long as the world lasts, this day will be a feast of dearest interest to the whole Church of God; and the name of Thomas of Canterbury will be, to the day of judgement, terrible to the enemies of the liberty of the Church, and music breathing hope and consolation to hearts that love that liberty, which Jesus bought at the price of his Precious Blood. We will now listen to this dear Mother of ours, the Church, who gives us, in her Divine Office, a short history of the life and sufferings of St Thomas. Thomas, Londini in Anglia_natus, Theobaldo successit Cantuariensi episcopo: et qui antea in adminiss trando Cancellariz munere preclare se gesserat, in episcopali _officio fortis et invictus fuit. Cum enim Henricus Secundus Angliz Rex, convocatis ad se episcopis et proceribus regni, leges ferret utilitati ac dignitati ecclesiastice repugnantes, adeo constanter ob- Thomas was born in Enge land, in the city of London. He ~succeeded Theobald as Bishop of Canterbury. He had previously acquitted himself ‘with much honour as Chancellor, and was strenuous and_unflinching in his_duty as Bishop; for when Henry II, King of England, in an assembly of the Bishops and nobles of the realm, passed certain laws inconsistent with the interests and the honour 312 CHRISTMAS stitit regiz cupiditati, ut of the Church, the Bishop neque pollicitationibus, ne- withstood the King's avarice que terroribus de sententia 5o courageously that neither decedens proxime conjicien- fair promises nor threats could dus in carcerem clam reces- draw him over to the King's serit. Inde propinqui ejus side, and being in danger of omnis atatis ejecti, amici, imprisonment, ~ he privatel; fautores omnes, iis, quibus withdrew. Not long after, al per mtatem liceret, jureju- his relatives young and old, rando adstrictis, universos all his friends and household, Thomam adituros, si fortasse were banished, and such of miserabili suorum calamitatis them as had attained the age aspectu moveretur, qui a of discretion were made to sancto proposito privatis in- promise on oath that they commodis deterreri minime would go to Thomas, as perpotuisset. Non respexit car- haps he, who could not be nem aut sanguinem, neque made to swerve from his holy ullus in eo humanitatis sensus, purpose by any personal conpastoralis officii constantiam sideration, might Telent at the heart-rending spectacle of the labefactavit, sufferings of them who were dear to him. But he regarded not the demands of fiesh and blood, neither did he permit the feelings of natural affection to weaken the firmness required of him as Bishop. Contulit igitur se ad AlexHe therefore repaired to Po) andrum Tertium Pontificem, Alexander III, from -whom he & quo benigne acceptus est: et met with a kind reception, and inde profectus, monachis Pon- who commended him on his tiniacensis monasterii, Cister- departure to the Cistercian ciensis Ordinis, ab eodem com- Monks of Pontigny. As soon mendatus. Quod ut cognovit as Henry came to know this, he Henricus, missis ad conven- strove to have Thomas expelled tum Fratrum Cisterciensium from Pontigny, and for this minacibus litteris, Thomam e purpose sent threatening letPontiniaco monasterio ex- ters to the General Chapter of turbare conatur. Quare vir Citeaux. Whereupon the holy sanctus veritus ne sua causa man, fearing lest the Cistercian Cisterciensis familia patere- Order should be made to suffer tur, sponte discessit, et Lu- on his account, left the dovicum Galliz regem ejus monastery of his own accord, invitatu convenit: ubi.tam- and betook himself to the hosdiu fuit, quoad Pontifice pitable shelter to which he Maximo et ipso Rege agen- had been invited by Louis, tibus ab_exilio summa to- King of France. There he retius regni gratulatione revo- mained until, by the intervencatur. Qui dum boni pas- tion of the Pope and Louis the e ST THOMAS OF CANTERBURY 313 toris officium securus _exse- King, he was called home from quitur, ecce calumniatores his banishment, to the joy of ad regem deferunt eum the whole kingdom. Whilst multa contra regnum et pubresuming the intrepid dislicam quietem moliri: ut charge of the duty of a good propterea smpius conquere- shepherd, certain calumniaretur rex, se in suo regno tors denounced him to King cum uno sacerdote pacem Henry as one that was plotting sundry things against the habere non posse. country aud the public peace. Wherefore the King was heard frequently complaining _that there was only one Priest in his kingdom with whom he could not be in peace. Ex qua regis voce nefarii Certain wicked satellites consatellites sperantes gratum cluded from this expression of se regi facturos, si Thomam the King that he would be e medio tollerent; clam con- pleased at their ridding him venientes Cantuariam, Epis- of Thomas. Accordingly, they copum in templo vesperti- stealthily entered Canterbury, nis horis operam dantem and finding the Bishop was in aggrediuntur. Qui clericis the church officiating at Vestempli aditus pracludere pers, they began their attack. conantibus accurrens, ostium The clergy were using means aperuit, illis usus verbis ad to prevent them from entering suos: Non est Dei Ecclesia the church, when the Saint custodienda more castrorum; coming_to them forbade their et ego pro Ecclesia Dei lib- opposition, and opening the enter_mortem subibo. Tum door, thus spoke to them: The ad milites: Vos Dei jussu ca- church is not to be guarded vete ne cuipiam meorum no- like a citadel, and I am glad ceatis. Deinde flexis genibus, to die for God’s Church. Then Deo, beate Mariz, sancto turning to the soldiers, he Dionysio et reliquis Sanctis, said: I command you in_the ejus Ecclesi patronis, Eccle- name of God that you hurt siam et seipsum commen- not any of them that are with dans, sacrum caput eadem me. After this he knelt down, constantia qua iniquissimi, and commending his church regis legibus restiterat, im- and himself to God, to the pio ferro pracindendum Blessed Mary, to St Denis, obtulit, quarto Kalendas Ja- and to the other Patron Saints nuarii, anno_Domini mille- of his Cathedral, with the same 8imo centesimo septuage- courage that he had shown in simo primo, cujus cerebro resisting the King's execrable respersum est totius templi laws, he bowed down his head pavimentum. Quem multis to the impious murderers, on postea illustrem miraculis the Fourth of the Calends of idem Alexander Pontifex January (December 2g), in 314 CHRISTMAS the year of our Lord I1zr. His brains were scattered on the floor of the entire church. God having shown the holiness of his servant by many miracles, he was canonized by the same Pope, Alexander I11. retulit in Sanctorum numerum. MASS The solemn Introit of to-day’s Mass shows the trans- port of joy wherewith the Church celebrates the Feast of our holy Martyr. The words, and the chant which accompanies them, are only used about four times in the year. Both words and music bespeak enthusiasm and joy: and the Church on earth is elated at the thought that she and the Angels are making one choir to the praise of the victory of Thomas of Canterbury. INTROIT Gaudeamus omnes in Domino, diem festum celebrantes sub homore beati Thoma Martyris: de cujus passione gaudent Angeli, et collaudant Filium Dei. Ps. Exsultate justi in Domino; rectos decet collaudatio. ¥. Gloria Patri. Gaudeamus. In the Collect, Holy Let us all rejoice in the Lord, and celebrate this festival in honourof Blessed Thomas the Martyr: for whose martyrdom the Angels rejoice, and praise the Son of God. Ps. Rejoice in the Lord, O ye just, praise becometh the Ypright. ¥ Glory, eto. Let us, etc. Church emphasizes the merit of the glorious Martyr by saying that it was for the very Spouse of the Son of God that he shed his blood. ~After this, she expresses the special confidence she has in his intercession. Deus, pro cujus gloriosus ~ Pontifex gladiis impiorum prasta, quzsumus: COLLECT Ecclesia O God, in defence of whose Thomas Church the glorious Pontiff occubuit; Thomas fell by the swords of ut om- wicked men: grant, we be- ST THOMAS OF CANTERBURY 315 nes qui ejus implorant auxi- seech thee, that all who imlium, petitionis suz salutarem plore his assistance may find consequantur effectum. Per comfort in_the grant of their petition. Through, etc. Dominum. Commemoration of the Octave of Christmas, p. 203. EPISTLE Lectio Epistolz beati Pauli Apostoli ad Hebrzos. Cap. V. Fratres: Omnis pontifex ex hominibus assumptus, pro_hominibus _constituitur in iis qua sunt ad Deum, ut offerat dona et sacrificia pro peccatis: qui condolere possit iis qui ignorant et errant: quoniam et _ipse circumdatus est infirmitate: et propterea debet, quemadmodum pro populo, ita etiam et pro semetipso offerre pro peccatis. Nec quisquam sumat sibi honorem, sed qui vocatur a Deo, tamquam Aaron. Sic et Christus non semetipsum clarificavit ut Pontifex fieret : sed qui locutus est ad eum: Filius meus es tu, ego hodie genui te. Quemadmodum et in alio loco dicit: Tu es Sacerdos in @ternum, secundum ordinem Melchisedech. Lesson of the Epistle of St Paul the Apostle to the Hebrews. Ch. V. Brethren: Every High Priest taken from among men is ordained for men in the things that appertain to God, that he may offer up gifts and sacrifices for sins: who can have compassion on them that are ignorant and that err: because he himself also is compassed with infirmity: and therefore he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins. Neither doth any man take the honour to himself, but he that is called by God, as Aaron was. So also Christ did not glorify himself that he might be made a High Priest: but he that said to him: Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. As he saith also in another place: Thou art a Priest for ever, according to the order of Melchisedech. When we meet in the annals of the Church with the names of those great Bishops who have been the glory of the Christian Pontificate, we are at once sure that these men, the true images of the great High Priest Jesus our Lord, did not intrude themselves uncalled into the dread honours of the Sanctuary. The history of their lives shows us that they were called by God himself, as CHRISTMAS 316 Aaron was; and when we come to examine how 1t was that they were so great, we soon find that the source of their greatness was their humility, which led them to refuse the honourable burden that others would put God assisted them in the day of trouble upon them. and trial, because their exaltation to the episcopacy had been his own work. Thus was it with St Thomas, who sat on his episcopal throne of Canterbury, the dignified and courageous Primate. He began by declining the high honour that was offered him. VII, before peror who ~He boldly tells the King, as St Gregory ascending the Papal Throne, fain would see him told the Em- Pope, that if forced to accept the proffered dignity, he is determined to oppose abuses. He thought by this to frighten men from putting him into the honours and responsibilities of the pastoral charge, and hoped that they would no longer wish him to be a Bishop, when they suspected that he would be a true one: but the decree of God had gone forth, and Thomas, down his head called by God, was obliged to bow and receive the holy anointing. And what a Bishop he, that begins by humility, and the determination to sacrifice his very life in the discharge of hisduty ! Heis worthy to follow, and that to Calvary, the God-Man, who being called by his Father to Priest- hood and to Sacrifice, enters this world saying: Behold/ 1 come to do thy will, O God I* The Gradual, in its first Versicle, applies to St Thomas the encomium given by the Sacred Scripture to Abraham. These words, which speak the praises of one who sur- passed all others in merit, are singularly applicable to our illustrious Martyr, whose glory exceeds that of most other holy Bishops whose memory is celebrated by the Church. The Alleluia-Verse repeats the words of our Saviour, in which he declares himself to be the Good Shepherd. ‘Why does the Church use them on this feast > She would thereby tell us that St Thomas was a faithful representation of him whom St Peter calls the Prince of Pastors.? * Heb.xg, t1StPet vy, ST THOMAS OF CANTERBURY 317 GRADUAL Ecce Sacerdos magnus, qui in diebus suis placuit Deo. ¥. Non est inventus similis'illi, qui conservaret legem Excels Alleluia, alleluia. ¥. Ego sum Pastor bonus: et cognosco oves meas, et cognoscunt me mez. AlleInia. Behold a great Prelate, who in his days pleased God. ¥. There was none found like him in keeping the law of the Most High. Alleluia, alleluia. ¥.1am the Good Shepherd: and T know my sheep, and my sheep know me. Alleluia. GOSPEL Sequentia sancti Evangelii secundum Joannem. Cap. X. In illo tempore: Dixit Jesus Phariseis: Ego sum Pastor bonus. Bonus pastor animem suam dat pro ovibus suis. Mercenarius autem, et qui non est pastor, cujus non sunt oves propri, videt lupum venientem, et dimittit oves, et fugit; et lupus rapit et dispergit oves: mercenarius _autem fugit, quia mercenarius est, et non pertinet ad eum de ovibus. Ego sum Pastor bonus: et cognosco oves meas, et cognoscunt me mez. Sicut novit me Pater, et ego agnosco Patrem: et animam meam pono pro ovibus meis. Et alias oves habeo, qua non sunt ex hoc ovili: et illas oportet me adducere, et vocem meam audient, et fiet unum ovile et unus Pastor. All the strength of the Sequel*of the holy Gospel according to John. Ch. X. At that time: Jesus said to the Pharisees: I am the Good Shepherd. The good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But the hireling, and he that is not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and flieth: and the wolf catcheth and scattereth the sheep; and the hireling flicth, because he is a hireling, and he hath no care for the sheep. I am the Good Shepherd: and I know mine, and mine know me. As the Father knoweth me, and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for my sheep. And other sheep I have, that are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice, and there shall be one fold and one Shepherd. Pontiffs and Pastors of the Church consists in their imitation of Jesus. It is not enough that they have in them the character of his CHRISTMAS 318 Priesthood; they must also be ready, like him, to lay down their lives for their sheep. The Shepherd who thinks more of his own life than of the salvation of his flock, is a hireling, not a shepherd: he loves himself, and not his sheep. His flock has a claim upon his shedding his blood for them; and if he will not, he is no longer an image of the Good Shepherd, Jesus. See how calmly St Thomas lays down his life! He bows down his head to receive the blows of his executioners, as though he were simply acquitting himself of a duty, or paying a debt: After the example of Jesus, he gives his blood for the deliverance of his people; and no sooner has the sword done its work, than the Church, over which God had placed him, is set free: his blood has brought peace. He withstood the wolf that threatened destruction to his flock; he vanquished him; the wolf himself was turned into a lamb, for the king visited the tomb of his victim, and sought in prostrate supplication the Martyr’s blessing. Thomas knew his sheep, that is, he loved them; was a happiness to him, therefore, to die for them. it He was made Pastor on the condition that he would die for them; order just as our Emmanuel that he might offer was made Sacrifice, was both Priest and Victim. High Priest in in which, too, he Jesus’ sheep know their divine Shepherd : they know that he came in order to save them; therefore is it that his Birth at Bethlehem is so dear to them. The Shepherd of Canterbury, too, is also known by his sheep ; and, therefore the feast of his triumphant martyrdom is very dear to them, not only in the century when it happened, but even now, and so will it ever be, even to the end of time. In return for this love and devotion paid him by the Church on earth, Thomas blesses her from heaven. We cannot doubt it—the wonderful return to the ancient Faith which we are now witnessing in our dear England, is due in no little measure to the powerful intercession of St Thomas of Canterbury; and this intercession is the return * Cohi 20, ST THOMAS OF CANTERBURY 319 made by our glorious Martyr for that fervent and filial devotion which is shown him, and which the faithful will ever show to him who was so heroically what only the true Church can produce: a true Pastor. In the Offertory, holy Church sings of the crown of glory wherewith Emmanuel encircled the brow of his Martyr. The Pastor gave his blood to purchase that crown; and his death gave him life. OFFERTORY Posuisti, Domine, in capite Thou hast set, O Lord, on ejus coronam de lapide pre- his head a crown of precious tioso: vitam petiit a te, et stones: he asked life of thee, and tribuisti ei, alleluia. thou didst give it him, alleluia. The Secret shows us that the merits of the Martyr are united with those of the offering the Blood of the Lamb Divine Victim. to the Eternal we remind him of that shed by his Martyr. Whilst Father, SECRET Munera tibi, Domine, diSanctify, O Lord, the offers cata sanctifica: et interce- ings consecrated to thee; and dente beato Thoma, Martyre being appeased thereby, mertuo atque Pontifice, per cifully look upon us, by the eadem nos placatus intende. intercession of blessed Thomas, Per Dominum. thy Martyr and Bishop. Through, etc. In the Communion Verse, we have our Divine Pastor Jesus speaking to us, the same that has just been giving himself to his sheep as their food. It is by this Holy Sacrament that the Sheep more intimately know their Shepherd, and that the Shepherd, who has just been born in the House of Bread, Bethlehem, receives a proof of their love to him. COMMUNION Ego sum Pastor bomus: I am the Good Shepherd: et cognosco oves meas, et and I know my sheep, and my cognoscunt me mez. sheep know me. 320 CHRISTMAS In the Postcommunion, the Church once more pro- nounces the name of our great Martyr. She prays that she may obtain through his intercession the grace of receiving more fully than ever the effects of the divine Mystery which cleanses our souls, and is the remedy of their infirmities. POSTCOMMUNION May this communion, O Lord, mine, purget a crimine: et cleanse us from sin: and by the intercession of blessed intercedente beato Thoma, Martyre tuo atque Pontifice, Thomas, thy Martyr and Bishop, coelestis remedii_faciat esse make us effectually partakers participes. Per Dominum. of this heavenly ~remedy. Through, etc. H®c nos communio, Do- VESPERS The Antiphons and Psalms of Christmas Day, as given on pages 210-216, having been sung, the rest of the Office is as follows: CAPITULUM (Jas. i) Beatus vir qui suffert tenBlessed is the man that entationem : quoniam, cum pro- dureth temptation: for when he batus fuerit, accipict coronam hath been proved, he shall vite, quam repromisit Deus receive the crown of life which God hath promised to them diligentibus se. that love him. HYMN Deus tuorum militum, p. 234. ¥. Justus ut palma florebit. ¥. The just man shall flourish like the palm-tree. R. Sicut cedrus Libani Ry. He shall grow up like the multiplicabitur. cedar of Libanus. AT THE MAGNIFICAT ANT. Qui vult venire past ANT. He that willeth to come me, abneget semetipsum, et after me, let him deny himself, tollat crucem suam, et sequa- and take up his cross, and follow tur me. me. ST THOMAS 321 OF CANTERBURY LET US PRAY O God, in defence of whose Deus, pro cujus Ecclesia gloriosus Pontifex Thomas Church the glorious bishop gladiis impiorum occubuit: Thomas fell by the swords of prasta, quzsumus, ut omnes wicked men: grant, we beseech qui_ejus implorant auxilium, thee, that all who implore his petitionis suz salutarem con- assistance may find comfort in sequantur effectum. Per Do- the grant of their petitions. minum. Through, etc. OREMUS Commemoration of the Sunday (This is said only if the Office of the Sunday in the Octave is said on the following day.) ANT. Dumi medium silentium tenerent omnia, et nox in suo cursu mediom iter perageret, omnipotens sermo fuus, Domine, a regalibus sedibus venit, alleluia. ¥. Verbum caro factum est, alleluia. Ry. Et habitavit in nobis, alleluia. OREMUS Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, dirige actus nostros in beneplacito tuo: ut in nomine dilecti Filii_tui mereamur bonis operibus abundare. ANT. While all things were in quiet silence, and the night was in the midst of her course, thy Almighty Word, O Lord, came down from thy royal throne, alleluia. ¥. The Word was made flesh, alleluia. R. And dwelt among us, alleluia. LET US PRAY O Almighty and _Eternal God, regulate our actions according to thy divine wil that in the name of thy beloved Son, we may abound in good works. Commemoration of Christmas Day ANT. This day Christ is born; Axt. Hodie Christus natus est; hodie Salvator appa- this day the Saviour hath ruit; hodie in terra canunt appeared; this day the Angels Angeli; letantur Archangeli; sing on earth, the Archangels hodie_exsultant justi, dicen- rejoice; this day the just exult, tes: Gloria in excelsis Deo, saying: Glory be to God in the highest, alleluia. alleloia. . Notum fecit Dominus, The Lord hath made alleluia. known, alleluia. K. Salutare suum, alleR His Salvation, alleluia. luia. 21 CHRISTMAS 322 OREMUS LET US PRAY Grant, we beseech thee, O Concede, quasumus, omnipotens Deus, ut nos Uni- Almighty God, that we who geniti_tui nova per carnem groan under the old captivity Nativitas liberet, quos sub of sin, may be freed therefrom peccati jugo vetusta servitus by the new Birth of thine Onlytenet. Per eumdem. Begotten Son. Through the same, etc. As we might expect, the Liturgy of our English Church honours her beloved Martyr with an affectionate and enthusiastic homage. We copy from the ancient Salisbury Breviary several passages, and we begin with some of the Antiphons of Matins and Lauds. The whole Office is rhymed, according to the custom observed in the thirteenth century, St Thomas was composed. Summo sacerdotio Thomas sublimatus, et in virum alium subito mutatus. Monachus sub clerico clam ciliciatus, carnis, carne fortior, edomat conatus. Cultor agri Domini tribulos evellit, et vulpes a vineis arcet et expellit. Nec in agnos sustinet lupos deszvire, nec in hortum olerum tineam transire. Exulantis pradia _prada sunt malignis, sed in igne positum non exurit ignis. Satanz satellites irrumpentes templum, inauditum perpetrant sceleris exemplum. Strictis Thoma ensibus obviam procedit, non minis, non gladiis, sed nec morti cedit. Felix locus, felix ecclesia the time when this Office of Thomas being raised to the fulness of the Priesthood, was suddenly transformed into a new man. A monk, wearing_ the hairshirt secretly under his cleric's dress, he subdues the rebellion of his flesh, for he was not a slave to the flesh. Husbandman of the Lord’s vineyard, he roots up the brambles, and drives the foxes from the vines. He neither suffers wolves to prowl among the lambs, nor slugs to crawl in the garden. He is sent into exile, and his possessions made over to wicked men; but the fire of tribulation burns him not. The satellites of Satan rush into the Temple, and perpetrate the unheard-of crime. Thomas advances to meet the unsheathed swords: nor threats nmor swords nor very death can make him yield. Happy Canterbury ! Happy ST THOMAS OF CANTERBURY 323 in qua Thom vivit memo- Church that cherishes the ria: Felix terra qua dedit memory of her Thomas! praesulem, felix illa qu fovit Happy land that gave such a exulem. Bishop, and happy too the country that harboured such an exile | Granum cadit, copiam gerThe grain of wheat falls, and minat frumenti: alabastrum bringeth forth much fruit: the frangitur, fragrat vis unguenti. precious vase is broken, and perfumes all the earth ! Totus orbis Martyris cerThe whole earth seeks how tat in amorem, cujus signa most to love our Martyr, and singulos agunt in stuporem. men look in wonder at each other as they hear or see the miracles that are wrought. Our next selection is of passages equally interesting as showing the affection and confidence of the faithful in our glorious Martyr. ANT. Pastor casus in gregis ANt. The Shepherd, slain medio, pacem emit cruoris in the midst of his flock, purpretio’ lztus dolor in tristi chaseth peace at the price of gaudio! Grex respirat, pas- his blood. O joyful mourning, tore mortuo; plangens plaudit O mournful joy! The Shep‘mater in filio, quia vivit victor herd dead, new life is in the sub gladio. Flock! The Mother speaks, Ry. Mundi florem a mundo conteri, Rachel plorans, jam cessa conqueri; Thomas casus dum datur funeri, novus Abel succedit veteri. through her tears, the praises of her Son, for still he lives, the conqueror of the sword. R. Cease mow to mourn, that the flower of the world hath been broken by the world, O sorrowing Rachel I The tomb of thy martyred Thomas gives thee back an Abel for the Abel thou didst lose. Ant. Salve, Thoma, virANT. Hail, O Thomas ! scepga justitie, mundi jubar, tre of justice, light of the robur Ecclesi, plebis amor, earth, strong champion of the deri deliciz. Salve, gregis Church, beloved of the people, tutor egregie, salva tuz gau- favourite of the clergy ! Hail, dentes gloriz. admirable keeper of the Flock ! keep in safety all us who rejoice in thy glory. We cannot resist adding the following Responsory from the same Salisbury Breviary. It is remarkable 324 CHRISTMAS for containing an entire prose, inserted as a verse, with the repetition of the Calum domo at the end. We need scarcely draw the attention of our readers to the fresh- ness and beauty of this liturgical gem. K. The grain of wheat lies R. Jacet granum oppressum palea, justus cesus pra- smothered by the chaff, the just man slain by the sword of vorum framea. * Ceelum tans lutea. domo commu- V. Cadit custos vitis in vinea, dux in castris, cultor in area. * Ceelum domo commutans lutea. Prosa. Clangat pastor in tuba cornea, Ut libera sit Christi vinea, Quam assumpsit, sub carnis trabea, Liberavit cruce purpurea. Adversatrix ovis erronea, Fit pastoris cade sanguinea. Pavimenta Christi marmorea Sacro madent cruore rubea. Martyr, vite donatus laurea, Velut granum purgatum lea, In divina transfertur horrea. * Ceelum domo commautans lutea. sinners. * Changing his house of clay for heaven. Y. The vino-keeper dies in his vineyard, the general in his camp, the husbandman on the place of his toil. * Changing his house of clay for heaven. Prose. Let the Pastor, trumpet-tongued, cry out to men That Christ’s vineyard must be free: The vineyard that he took unto himself, when he clothed himself with our flesh, And made free by the blood he shed upon the Cross. A lost sheep, become an enemy, Ts blood-stained by the murder of his Shepherd. The marble pavement of Christ’s sanctuary Is .purpled with the stream of holy blood. The Martyr, decked with the laurel-crown of life, Ts, like wheat well winnowed from its chaff, Carried into the garner-house of heaven. * Changing his house of clay for heaven. The Church of France also testified by its Liturgy its admiration for our illustrious Martyr. Adam of Saint Victor composed as many as three Sequences, ST THOMAS 325 OF CANTERBURY which are given below, in honour of his triumph over the enemies of God. They breathe the warmest sympathy for the saintly Archbishop of Canterbury, and prove how dear was the liberty of the Church faithful of those days, and how the cause to the for which St Thomas was the Martyr, was then looked upon as the cause of the whole of Christendom. FIRST SEQUENCE Gaude, Sion, et lztare, Voce, voto jocundare Solemni letitia. Tuus Thomas trucidatur: Pro te, Christe, immolatur Salutaris hostia. Archiprasul et legatus Nullo tamen est elatus Honoris fastigi Dispensator sumni Regis, Pro tutela sui gregis Damnatur exilio. Telo certans pastorali, Ense cinctus spiritali, Triumphare meruit. Hic pro Dei sui lege, Et pro suo mori grege, Decertare studuif. Tunc rectore desolatam, Et pastore viduatam, Se plangebat Cantua. Versa vice, plausu miro, Exsultavit tanto viro Senonensis Gallia. Quo absente infirmatur, Infirmata_conculcatur Libertas Ecclesiz. Sic nos, pastor, reliquisti, Nec a vero recessisti Tramite justitie. Rejoice, O Sion! and be glad; in voice and heart make holiday on this joyous solemnity. Thy Thomas, O Jesus! is slain: for thee is he immolated as a saving host. He is Archbishop and Legate, yet is he humble amidst all these great honours. Steward of the Almighty King, he is sentenced to exile for having defended his flock. He combats with a Pastor’s weapons; he is girt with the sword of the spirit; he deserved his victory. He sought to fight and die for the law of his God, and for the flock entrusted to him. Then did_Canterbury weep to see herself left lonely without her guide, and widowed of her Shepherd. Whilst she wept, another city was in strangest joy: it was Sens in France, exulting in her possession of so great a man. While he was absent, the liberty of the Church was weakened, and being weakened was trampled on. Thus, dear Shepherd, didst thou leave us, nor ever didst thou turn from the right path of justice. * CHRISTMAS 326 Quondam ccetu curiali Primus eras, et regali Militans palatio. Plebis aura favorali, Et, ut mos est, temporali Plaudebas praconio. Consequenter es mutatus, Prasulatu sublimatus, Novus homo reparatus Felici commercio. Ex adverso ascendisti, Et te murum objecisti, Caput tuum obtulisti Christi sacrificio. Carnis tuz morte spreta, Triumphalis es athleta; Palma tibi datur lzta, Quod testantur insueta Plurima miracula. Cleri gemma, clare Thoma, Motus carnis nostra doma Precum efficacia. Ut in Christo, vera vite, Radicati, vera vite Capiamus premia. Amen. SECOND Pia mater plangat Ecclesia Quod patravit major Britannia Factum detestabile; Pietate movetur Francia; Fugit ceelum, tellus et maria, Scelus execrabile | Scelus, inquam, non dicen- dum, Grande scelus et horrendum Perpetravit Anglia. Patrem suum przdamnavit, Et in sede trucidavit Restitutum propria. There was a time when thou wast fist Lord of the Court, serving as a faithful minister in the palace of a King. Thou didst enjoy the public favour and praise—short-lived things, as they ever are. But being raised to the episcopal dignity, thy whole heart is changed. It was a happy barter of office, for it made thee a new man. Thou didst set thyself up as a wall against iniquity: thou didst offer thy head as a sacrifice to Christ. The death of thy body was a small thing in thy eyes, brave champion and conqueror! Thou didst receive a splendid palm, as thy extraordinary and numerous miracles testify. O glorious Martyr Thomas | thou pearl of priests, tame the rebellion of our flesh by thy powerful prayers. That so, being rooted in the True Vine, Jesus, we may receive the solid rewards of cternal life. Amen. SEQUENCE Our loving mother the Church weeps over Britannia’s hateful deed. France is moved to compassion, and Heaven, earth and sea turn away from the execrable crime. Yea, England perpetrated a crime too great to tell: a heinous, horrid crime. She gave sentence against her own Father, and having restored him to his See, she slew him. ST THOMAS OF CANTERBURY 327 Thomas, England’s fair Thomas totius Angliz flower, the Church’s special Flos vernans, et Ecclesi® glory, is made Priest and VicSpecialis gloria, tim, for the laws of justice, in In templo Cantuariz Canterbury’s Church. Pro legibus justitiz Fit sacerdos et hostia. Between the temple and the Inter templum et altare, altar, on the threshold of God’s Templi super liminare House, he is struck, but is not Concatitur, non frangitur; vanquished; it is the rending Sed gladiis conscinditur of the veil of the temple by Velum templi medium. the edge of the sword, 'Tis Eliseus decalvatur, Zacharias trucidatur, Eliseus made bald, ‘tis Zacharias slain. The kiss of peace Pax tradita dissolvitur just given is broken, and the Et organum convertitur voice of the organ is changed In lamentum flentium. into lamentation and weeping. Prope festum Innocentum, “Twas the morrow of the Innocenter ad tormentum Innocents’ Feast when this Pertrahitur, concutitur, innocent victim was dragged Et cerebrum effunditur to execution and struck down, Cuspide mucionis. and his brains picked out with Ad decoris ornamentum, a sword’s point. The paveTempli rubet pavimentum, ment of God’s House is enQuod sanguine respergitur, riched with rubies: it is Dum Sacerdos induitur sprinkled with blood, as its Veste passionis. Priest puts on the vestment of the Passion. Furor ingens debacchatur, The murderers are wild with Sanguis justus condemnatur, rage; the blood of the just Ense caput dissecatur man is condemned, and his In conspectu Domini head is split with a sword, in Cum sacrabat, hic sacratur, the very presence of our Lord, TImmolator immolatur, He that celebrates the sacred Ut virtutis relinquatur rite is himself made sacred; Hoc exemplum homini. the sacrificer is made the sacrifice, leaving the world this example of courage. Holocaustum medullatum, The Pontiff is offered up, a Jam per orbem propalatum, holocaust full of marrow: the In odorem Deo gratum whole world is filled with its Est pontifex oblatus; fame, and its fragrance is most Pro corona quz secatur sweet unto God. ~ For the blow Duplex stola praeparatur, which cut off the top part of his head, whereon was marked Ubi sedes restauratur the tonsure-crown, he receives Archiepiscopatus. a twofold robe when the Archiepiscopal See is restored. CHRISTMAS ridet The Jews scoff, and Pagans laugh, and Idolaters reproach 328 Synagoga derogat, paganismus, Insultant _idolatre, quod Christianismus Feedus violaverit, Nec patri pepercerit Christianitatis. Rachel plorat filium, non vult consolari, Quem in matris utero vidit trucida Super cujus obitum Dant in fletu gemitum Mentes pietatis. Hic est ille Pontifex, Quem supernus artifex In ceelorum culmine Magnum stabilivit, Postquam pertransivit Gladios Anglorum. Cum mori non timuit, Sed cervicem prabuit In suo sanguine; Ut abhinc exivit, Semel introivit In Sancta sanctorum. Cujus mortem pretiosam Testantur miracula: Christe, nobis sufiragetur Per @terna secula. Amen. a Christian people that broke the sacred vow and murdered Christian of the a Bishop Church. =~ Rachel bewails her Son, nor will she be comforted, murdered for she saw him whilst in_her sacred lap; and every feeling heart sheds o'er this~ glorious of its sad grief. death the tears This is the Pontiff who, after he had passed the English swords, was magnified in high heaven by the supreme Creator. Not having feared to die and shed his blood, he left this world, and_entered once and for ever into the Holy of Holies. Miracles attest how precious was this death; may it, O Jesus! draw down thy grace upon us for eternity. SEQUENCE Amen. Aquas plenas amaritudine Our Eliseus turns the bitter Novi salis nova dulcedine, waters into sweet, by putting Ollam _plenam lethali gra- into them a new vase of salt; mie and by the seasoning of fresh Novi farris sanat pinguedine meal, removed the bitterness Eliszus; from the pot of poisonous herbs; Novus vervex pro grege moHe is shin, as a sheep that ritur, dies to save the flock, or as a Et pro matre proles occidi- child that is sacrificed that tur; the mother may be spared. In obscuris sol novus oritur He rises as a new Sun in a In quo serus annus promit- night-covered world, promistitur ing a long year of Jubilee. Jubileus. ST THOMAS OF CANTERBURY Abel novum Cayn malitia, Novum Jacob Seir szvitia, Novum " Joseph fratrum invidia, Intercepit fraude nefaria, His diebus. Surrexerunt in patrem pueri, Non materno parcentes ube1; Thomas presul dum datur funeri, Novum chaos videtur ingeri Mundi rebus. Sed occumbit Abel in gloria, Jacob servat Mesopotamia, Joseph regnat in aula regia, Thomas noster in ceeli curia Coronatur. Renovantur Anglorum gaudia Bethel novus fit Dorovernia, Fit piscina propitiaria, In qua fugis et multifaria Salus datur. Dilatatur Jordanis fluvius, Fit Naaman alter et tertius, Derivatur Siloe longius, Ceelum pluit manna profusius Quam solebat. Duplicatur solaris radius, Magnus Annz donatur filius. Novum vatem Herodis gladius Trucidavit inverecundius Quam decebat. Trucidato non desunt pramia; Sancto namque, pro sancti‘monia, Pro sincer mentis constantia, Vita, salus, et lux atherea Condonatur. 329 In these our days, by a wicked plot, a new Abel has been sacrificed by a wicked Cain, a new Jacob by a cruel Esau, and a new Joseph by envious brethren. Children have risen up against their father, harrowing the bosom of their Mother. A new chaos seems to have enveloped all things on earth; how else could the Pontiff Thomas have met with death ? But Abel falls in glory, Jacob is safe in Mesopotamia, Joseph rules in the court of the king, and our Martyr, Thomas, Wears a crown in the palace of heaven. "Tis merry England now once more, and Canterbury becomes a new Bethel, and a land where is a pool of ever and many-healing waters. The Jordan river flows through England’s vales, and who could tell how many Naamans there receive their cure ? The spring of Silod has sent her stream to Albion, and heaven’s manna falls where once it was not known. A long summer smiles on the fair island. The barren Anna is blessed with a noble Son. But, oh! shame above that of old! a Herod’s sword has slain the new Prophet. How great is the reward of the martyred Saint! Life, salvation and celestial light are bestowed on him for his holy deeds, and for the courage of his upright mind. 330 CHRISTMAS Ablinc multa facit prodigia Lepram curat, fugat dzmonia; Cacis visum, claudis vestigia, Verba mutis, wgris remedia Imprecatur. Vir Belial luit blasphemias Quas in Sanctum arsit injurias; Visu' dempto, tristes exsequias, Maturando nefandas furias Terminavit. Vir devotus in Sanctum Do‘mini, Zelo pravo sustractus lumini Sed mox datus visus acumini, Laudes letus divino nomini Decantavit. Cruces, facte manu angelica, Pii Patris prece benefica, Crebro pollent virtute caelica; Far fit humi, quod paralytica Membra sanat. Immolentur lucernz gemina Accenduntur ceelesti lumine; Declaratur in vasis fragmine Locum sanctum fraudes molimine Qui profanat. Calce puer qui matrem leserat, Peenitendo calcem absciderat; Mox, ut opem Sancti peterat, Bipedalem gressum meruerat, Res stupenda | And now from heaven he works so many miracles! He heals leprosy, he puts devils to flight, he gives sight to the blind, he makes the lame walk, he gives speech to the dumb, he obtains a cure for every sickness. A son of Belial, who had poured out blasphemies against the Saint, was struck blind; and whereas he desisted not from his mad fury, he met with a wretched death. A man who had great devotion to the Saint, had, through a false zeal, lost his sight: he recovered it immediately on praying to the Saint, and went his_ way singing joyfully his praises to God. Crosses made by an Angel's hand are often known to have a heavenly power, by the powerful prayer of the loving Pastor. The dust from round his sepulchre is known to heal paralysis. Two lamps had been presented to his shrine, as a votive offering; they were lit by a light from heaven. A man who had attempted to profane the holy spot, was found out by the breaking of a vase. A boy had kicked his mother, and repenting of his deed, had maimed himself. No soorer has he begged the prayers of the Saint, than, wonderful miracle! he re. covers the use of both his feet. ST THOMAS Nauta potens in navi mystica, Nostra, Thoma, laudes cantica Summo Regi prece gratifica Et eidem prece magnifica Nos commenda. Amen. OF CANTERBURY et O Thomas! thou skilful pilot in the mystic Bark! let thy prayers give worth to our praises and hymns, that they be pleasing to the King our God; and by thy powerful intercession, commend us to the same | Amen. Our readers will not regret our giving the following beautiful Missal of Liege. Laureata novo Thoma, Sicut suo Petro Roma, Gaude Cantuaria | 33t Prose, PROSE taken from insertion to the ancient Rejoice, O Canterbury adorned with thy late Martyr, Thomas, as Rome is with her Peter. Immo tota sit devota, Nay, let the whole Church Militant be devout to thy Pia laudum solvens vota, Saint, and pay him the holy Militans Ecclesia. tribute of her praise. Thomas iste dum tuetur This is the Pontiff who Legem Dei, promeretur draws on himself the anger Tram regis Angliz. of England’s king, because he defends the law of God. Ergo pulsus urbe cedit, For which reason he is sent Et transcurso mari, credit into banishment, and crossing Sese regi Franci. the sea, seeks protection from the King of France. Quem gratanter et conThe king receives him gladly, digne, as he well deserved; and Tam devote quam benigne, visits the Pontiff devoutly and Sicut patrem visitat. affectionately, as he would a father, Ubi, velut novus tyro, In France Thomas, like a Thomas, in fervore miro, young novice, serves the King Regi regum militat. of kings with wonderful fervour. Tandem pace reformata, At length, when peace was Pace dolis palliata, restored, though it was but Regressus ad propria. the crafty show of peace, he returns to his country. He asserts the Church's Jura servans, Deo servit; Inde sevit et protervit, right, and serves his God; wherefore the king, his artful Hostis arte varia. enemy, grows mad with rage and wantons in his wrath. 332 CHRISTMAS Now like a cunning fox, and now like a savage tigress, he Nunc ut tygris virulenta, tries each door, each scheme: Tentat omnes aditus. at threats; time one Nunc minatur, nunc blanAt another flattery; but Thomas ditur, Tlle nihil emollitur, is nothing moved, unflinching Idem manens penitus. as at first. The king finding that the Rex compertus non mochampion of the truth was veri not to be moved, and that his Virum assertorem veri, resolve was inflexible: Nec frangi propositum ; Omnes armatin Pastorem, He turns all men against the Pastor and whispers murCohortatur ad cruorem der to a minion troop. Cohortem satellitum. Ergo nequam patricidz The parricides have understood the king; crafty and Tam in fraude quam in fide, Libertatis ut Patronum faithless, they enter the church, Tollant et usurpent thronum, that they may make away with Ruunt in Ecclesia. the champion of liberty, and usurp his throne. Prasul orans in secreto, The Pontiff was at prayer in the sanctuary; he comes Palam prodit, hoste spreto; Nec turbatur quies mentis forth, heeding not the enemy. Turbz metu sevientis, The serenity of his soul is Sed procedit obviam. ruffled not with fear of the raging troop; he goes to meet them. The head of that saintly Sancti caput Sacerdotis, Exoptatum mille votis Priest, which had been fondly Suz matris gremio, caressed on a mother’s breast, Ferrum bibit, cruor maNow feels the edge of nat, deadly steel; the blood gushes forth; and there, in the Et ibidem czecos sanat In tumultu medio. midst of all the disorder, gives sight to a blind man. Quid loquamur qua loBut why need we tell what quuntur, his miracles so_eloquently proPer se satis eloquuntur, claimed throughout the world ? Ubique miracula ? Dzmon cedit, mors obeDevils are put to flight, dit, death yields up her victims, Desperatis salus redit, health is restored to them that Fugit lepre macula. had lost all hope, and lepers are cleansed. Cleri gemma, clare ThoO thou gem of the Priestma, hood! O ~ glorious Pontiff Motus nostr carnis doma Thomas! thy prayers are Precum efficacia. ne'er refused—oh | calm the rebellion of our fiesh. Nunc ut vulpes fradulenta, ST THOMAS Ut in Christo, vera vite, Radicati, vere vitz Capiamus premia. Amen. O glorious Martyr OF CANTERBURY 333 That being rooted in Christ, the true Vine, we may receive the solid rewards of eternal life. Amen. Thomas! courageous defender of the Church of thy divine Master ! we come on this day of thy feast to do honour to the wonderful graces bestowed upon thee by God. As children of the Church, we look with delighted admiration on him who so loved her, and to whom the honour of this Spouse of Christ was so dear that he gladly sacrificed his life in order to secure her independence and liberty. Because thou didst so love the Church as to sacrifice thy peace, thy temporal happiness, and thy very life for her; because, too, thy sacrifice was for nothing of thine own, but for God alone; therefore have the tongues of sinners and cowards spoken ill of thee, and heaped calumnies upon thee. O Martyr truly worthy of the name! for the testimony thou didst render was against thine own interests. O Pastor ! who, after the example of Jesus the Good Shepherd, didst shed thy blood for the de- liverance of thy flock ! we venerate thee because the enemies of the Church insulted thee; we love thee because they hated thee; and we humbly ask thee to pardon them that have been ashamed of thee, and have wished that thy Martyrdom had never been written in the history of the Church, because they could not under- stand it ! How great is thy glory, O faithful Pontiff ! in being chosen, together with Stephen, John and the Innocents, to attend on the Infant Jesus in the stable of Bethlehem ! Thou didst enter on the battle-field at the eleventh hour; and far from being on that account deprived of the reward granted to the earliest of thy brother-combatants, thou art great even amongst the Martyrs. How dear must thou not be to the Divine Babe whose Birthday we are keeping, and who came into the world that he might be the King of Martyrs! What will he refuse to his grand Martyr of Canterbury ? Then pray 334 CHRISTMAS for us, and gain us admission into Bethlehem. Our ambition is to love the Church as thou didst—that dear Church for love of which Jesus has come down upon the earth; that sweet Church our Mother, who is now un- folding to us such heavenly consolations by the celebration of the great Mysteries of Christmas, with which thy name is now inseparably associated. Obtain for us by thy prayers the grace of Fortitude, that so we may courageously go through any suffering, and make any sacrifice, rather than dishonour our proud title of Catholic. Speak for us to the Infant Jesus—to him that is to bear the Cross upon his shoulders, as the insignia of Ais government'—and tell him that we are resolved, by the assistance of his grace, never to be ashamed of his cause or its defenders; that, full of simple filial love for the Holy Church, which he has given us to be our Mother, we will ever put her interests above all others; for she alone has the words of eternal life, she alone has the power and the authority to lead men to that better world which is our last end, and passes not away as do the things of this world; for everything in this world is but vanity, illusion, and more frequently than not, obstacles to the only real happiness of mankind. But in order that this Holy Church of God may fulfil her mission, and avoid the snares which are being laid for her along the whole road of her earthly pilgrimage, she has need, above thee, O Holy Martyr all things of Christ! else, of Pastors like Pray, therefore, the Lord of the vineyard that he send her labourers who will not only plant and water what they plant, but will also defend her from those enemies that are at all times seeking to enter in and lay waste, and whose character is marked by the sacred Scripture, where she calls them the wild boar® and the fox® May the voice of thy blood cry out more suppliantly than ever to God, for in these days of anarchy the Church of Christ is treated in many lands as the creature and slave of the State. 1 Isa. ix 6. # Ps. lxxix 14, * Cant. i 15, ST THOMAS OF CANTERBURY 335 Pray for thine own dear England, which, three hundred years ago, made shipwreck of the faith through the apostacy of so many Prelates who submitted to those usurpations which thou didst resist even unto blood. Now that the Faith is reviving in her midst, stretch out thy helping hand to her, and thus avenge the outrages offered to thy venerable name by thy country, when she, the once fair Island of Saints, was sinking into the abyss of heresy. Pray also for the Church of France, for she harboured thee in thy exile, and in times past was fervent in her devotion to thee. Obtain for her Bishops the spirit that animated thee; arm them with episcopal courage, and like thee they will save the liberty of the Church. Wheresoever and in what way soever this sacred Liberty is trampled on or threatened, do thou be its deliverer and guardian, and by thy prayers and thine example win victory for the Spouse of our Lord Jesus Christ. Our new-born King is five days old to-day! Let us contemplate him seated on his Throne. The Holy Scriptures tell us* that our God sitteth upon the Cherubim in heaven: and that, under the old and figurative Law, he chose for his throne on Covenant.? Blessed be his name, earth the Ark of the for thus revealing to us the mystery of his Throne ! But beyond this, the Psalmist told us of another place where God rested. Adore, said he, the footstool of his feet® The adoration here commanded to be paid, not to God himself, but to the resting-place of his Divine Majesty, seems to contrast with so many other passages of the Sacred Volume, wherein God commands us to adore only himself. But, as the Holy Fathers observe, the mystery is now explained. The Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, the Word, the Son of God, has assumed our human nature; he has united it in unity of Person to his Divine Nature; and he commands us to adore this his Humanity, 1 Isa. xxxvii 16, and frequently dlsewhere. ST s e ety o Ps. xeviii 5. this 336 CHRISTMAS Body and Soul which are like our own, this Throne of his Majesty, in a word, this ineffable holy Footstool of his Fee. But this Humanity itself has its Throne. Mother, Mary, raises the Divine The Blessed Infant from the Crib; she presses him to her heart ; she places him on her knees; it is our God, Emmanuel, throned, but with such love and majesty ! on the Ark of the New Covenant. How far is the glory of Mary above that of the other living Throne formed for the Eternal Word by the trembling wings of Cherubim! And the Ark of Moses, made of corruptible wood, covered with plates of gold, holding within it the Manna and the Rod of Aaron and the very Tables of the Law—is it not a figure that pales in the presence of the holiness and the dignity of the Mother of God ? How adorable art thou on this Throne, O Jesus ! and how lovable and easy of approach! stretched out to sinners, and Those tiny hands the smile of Mary, the Living Throne: both bid us go near. Oh ! the happiness of being subjects of a King so great and yet so endearing ! Mary is the Seat of Wisdom because thou, O Wisdom of the Father! art reposing on her. Reign there for ever, sweet Jesus ! be thou our King and Lord, and rule us in thy comeliness and beauty thy subjects, and we offer thee love; and to Mary, the Queen promise the homage of our best and meekness I' We are our adoring loyalty and thou hast given us, we devotion ! We will celebrate the Birth of our Divine King to-day, in the words used by the Greek Church in her Office of Christmas Day. EVENING Nato Domino Jesu et sacra Virgine, lucida facta sunt omnia; pastoribus enim de nocte vigilantibus, Magis adorantibus, Angelis hymnificantibus, OFFICE Al things were made light when Jesus our Lord was born of the Holy Virgin; for the Shepherds watched at night, the Magi adored, the Angels 3 Paxlivs. ST THOMAS OF CANTERBURY Herodes_ turbabatur, quia Deus in carne apparuit Salvator animarum nostrarum. Regnum tuum, _Christe Deus, regnum_ omnium szculorum, et dominatio tua in omni generatione et generationem. Qui caro factus est ex Spiritu Sancto et homo factus ex Maria semper virgine, lumen illuxit. Tuus adventus, Christe Deus, lumen de lumine, Patris splendor, omnem creaturam exhilaravit. Omnis spiritus laudavit characterem gloriz Patris; qui es et ante fuisti, et illuxisti ex virgine, Deus, ‘miserere nobis. Quid tibi offeremus, Christe, quia visus es super terram sicut homo pro nobis ? Qualibet enim creaturarum " tibi submissarum ad te profert gratiarum actionem: Angeli hymnum, celi stellam, magi dona, pastores admirationem, terra’~ speluncam, solitudo prasepium, nos vero matrem virginem: qui es ante szcula, Deus, miserere nobis. Regnante Augusto super terram, hominum cessata est polyarchia, et te homine facto ex agna, idolorum debilitata est polytheia: sub uno mundano civitates facte sunt regno, et in unam dominationem ~ divinitatis gentes crediderunt. Inscripti sunt populi decreto Casaris, inscripti sumus fideles sub divinitatis nomine, te homine facto, Deus noster. 337 sang hymns, Herod was troubled, because God, the Saviour of our souls, had appeared. Thy Kingdom, O Christ our God! is a Kingdom of all ages, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations. The Light hath shone, He that was made flesh by the Holy Ghost, and was made Man of the ever Blessed Virgin Mary. Thy coming, O Jesus, Light of Light, Brightness of the Father, hath gladdened every creature. Every spirit hath given praise to thee the image of the Father's glory; who art, and who wast before all ages, and hast shone forth from the Virgin; O God ! have ‘mercy on us. What shall we offer unto thee, O Jesus! for that thou, for our Sakes, hast been seen on earth as Man? For every creature is subject to thee, and rendereth thee thanks: the Angels give thee their hymns, the heavens the Star, the Magi their gifts, the Shepherds their admiration, the earth a Cave, solitude a Crib, and we, we give thee thy Virgin Mother. O God, that wast before all ages | have mercy on us. During the reign of Augustus on this earth, the various other kingdoms ceased; and when thou, O Jesus, wast made Man from thy Virginal Mother, thine own dear Lamb, the idolatrous religion of many gods was sapped. As the cities of the world were confederated under one Kingdom; so were all nations brought to the obedience of faith in one God. People were enrolled by 22 CHRISTMAS icordia; Do- the decree of Casar; and we, thy faithful, were enrolled under the divine name of thee our God, when thou didst become Man. Glory be to thee, O Lord | for great is thy mercy. And now a Hymn to our Lady, the Seatof Wisdom ! Let us offer her this beautiful one, taken from the Cluny Missal of 1523. SEQUENCE Ave, mundi spes, Maria, Ave mitis, ave pi Ave, plena gratia. Ave, Virgo singularis, Quz per rubum designaris Non passum incendia. Ave, rosa speciosa, Ave, Jesse virgula, Cujus fructus Nostri Iuctus Relaxavit vincula. Ave, cujus viscera Contra mundi feedera, Ediderunt filium. Ave, carens simili, Mundo diu flebili Reparasti gaudium. Ave, virginum lucerna, Per quam fulsit lux superna His quos unda tenuit. Ave, Virgo de qua nasci Et de cujus lacte pasci Rex ceelorum voluit. Ave, gemma, ceeli luminarium, Ave, sancti Spiritus sacrarium. O quam mirabilis, Et quam laudabilis Hec est virginitas. In qua per Spiritum Facta Paraclitum Fulsit feecunditas | Hail Mary! sweet hope of the world | Hail, gentle Queen ! Hail, loving Mother | Hail, full of grace | Hail, peerless Virgin ! imaged in the Bush that burned, yet was not burnt. . Hail, lovely Rose! Hail, Jesse's Rod | whose Fruit broke the chains of our misery. Hail, Holy Mother! for whom God set aside all nature’s laws, and made thy virginal womb bring forth his Son. Hail, matchless Queen | "twas thou didst make the long sad world rejoice. Hail, Beacon of Virgins' pouring out thy celestial light on them whom tempests toss. Hail, Virgin! of whom the King of heaven would be born, and suck the food whereon he deigned to live. Hail, Pearl | Hail Heavenly Orb! Hail, Temple of the Holy Ghost | Oh ! how wonderful and how venerable s this Virginity | In it shone forth a fruitfulness produced by the Holy Paraclete. ST THOMAS 0 quam sancta ! Quam serena | Quam benigna ! Esse virgo creditur | Quam ameena. Per quam servitus finitur, Porta ceeli aperitur, Et libertas redditur. O castitatis lilium, Tuum precare filium, Qui salus est humilium, Ne nos pro nostro vitio, In fiebili judicio, Subjiciat supplicio. Sed nos tua sancta prece, Mundans a peccati fece, Collocet in lucis domo. Amen dicat omnis homo. OF CANTERBURY 339 And she, the Virgin, how holy | how peaceful | how kind ! how lovely must we deem her | By the gift she gave us slavery was abolished, the gate of heaven was opened, and liberty brought back again. O Lily of purity! pray for us to thy Son, the Saviour of the humble. That in the awful judgement he may not sentence us to torments for our sins; But moved by thy holy prayers, may he cleanse us from the dross of sin; And admit us into mansions of eternal light. Amen! let every Christian say, Amen ! 340 CHRISTMAS DECEMBER SUNDAY 30 WITHIN THE OCTAVE CHRISTMAS OF OR THE SIXTH DAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE (If December 30 falls on a Saturday, it is called the Sixth Day within the Octave, and the third Mass of Christmas Day, page 202, is repeated, except for the Gospel, which are taken from the second Mass, 192, the extra prayers are given on page 415, case the Office of the Sunday in the Octave Epistle and pages 191, and in this is said on December 31, with a commemoration of St Silvester. But if December 30 falls on any other day of the week, the Office 1s of the Sunday within the Octave of Christmas.) HIS is the only day within the Christmas Octave which is not a Saint’s Feast. During the Octaves of the Epiphany, Easter and Pentecost, the Church is so absorbed in the respective mysteries that she puts off everything that could share her attention; whereas during this of Christmas, there is only one day which does not celebrate the memory of some glorious Saint, and our Infant Jesus is surrounded by a choir of heroes who loved and served him. Thus the Church, or, more correctly, God—for God is the first author of the cycle of the yeé.r—shows us how the Incarnate Word, who came to save mankind, desires to give mankind confidence by this his adorable familiarity. We have already shown that the Birth of our Lord took place on a Sunday, the Day on which, in the beginning of the world, God created Light. We shall find, later on, that his Resurrection also was on a Sunday. This the first day of creation, and the first of the weeL was consecrated by the old Pa.gzms to the Sun: with us SUNDAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE 341 Christians, it is most sacred and holy, on account of the two risings of our divine Sun of Justice—his Birth and his Resurrection. Whilst the solemnity of Easter is always kept on a Sunday, that of Christmas falls by turns on each of the days of the week—we have already had this difference explained to us by the Holy Fathers: but the mystery of Jesus’ Birth is moreaptly and strongly expressed, when its anniversary falls on a Sunday. Other years, when the coincidence does not happen, the Faithful will at least be led by their Christian instincts, to give especial honour to the day within the Octave which falls on the Sunday. The Church has honoured it with a proper Mass and Office, and we of course insert them. MASS It was at midnight that the Lord delivered his people from bondage, by the Passage of his destroying Angel over the land of the Egyptians: so also was it in the still hour of midnight that Jesus, the Angel of Great Counsel, came down from his royal throne, bringing mercy to our earth. It is just, that whilst commemorating this second Passage, the Church should sing the praises of her Emmanuel, who comes, clad in his strength beauty, to take possession of his Kingdom. and INTROIT Dum medium silentiom ~ While all things were in tenerent omnia, et nox in quiet silence, and the night suo cursu medium iter hawas in the midst of her course, beret, omnipotens sermo tu- thy Almighty Word, O Lord, us, Domine, de ccelis, a re- came down from thy royal throne. galibus sedibus venit. Ps. Dominus regnavit, dePs. The Lord hath reigned, corem indutus est: indutus he is clothed with beauty: the Lord is clothed with strength, fortitudinem, Dominus est et precinxit se. V. Gloria and hath girded himself. Y. Glory, etc. While all. Patri. Dum medium. In the Collect the Churci. prays to be directed by that divine rule which was taught us by our Saviour, CHRISTMAS 342 the Sun of Justice, who shone upon us in order to enlighten and guide our steps in the path of good ‘works. COLLECT Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, dirige actus nostros in beneplacito tuo: ut in nomine dilecti Filii tui mereamur bonis operibus abundare. Qui tecum. O Almighty and Eternal God, regulate our actions according to thy divine will: that in the name of thy beloved Son, we may abound in good works. Wio liveth, etc. The Commemoration of the Octave of Christmas is given on page 228. EPISTLE Lectio Epistole beati Pauli ‘Apostoli ad Galatas. Cap. IV. Fratres, quanto tempore hares parvulus est, nil differt a servo, cum sit dominus omnium; sed sub tutoribus et actoribus est usque ad prefinitum tempus a patre: ita et nos, cum essemus parvuli, sub elementis mundi eramus servientes. At ubi venit plenitudo temporis, misit Deus Filium suum factum ex muliere, factum sub lege, ut eos, qui sub lege erant, redimeret, ut adoptionem filiorum _ reciperemus. Quoniam autem estis filii, misit Deus Spiritum Filii sui in corda vestra, clamantem: Abba, Pater. Ttaque jam filius. sed servus, est non Quod si filius: et hares per Deum, Lesson of the Epistle of St Paul the Apostle to the Galatians. Ch. IV. Brethren: As long as the heir is a child, he differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all: but is under tutors and_governors, until the time appointed by the father: so_we also, when we were children, were serving under the elements of the world. But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, that he might redeem them who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because you are sons, God hath sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying: Abba, Father. Therefore now he is not a servant, but a son. And if a son, an heir also, through God. The Child that is born of Mary and is couched in the Crib at Bethlehem, Eternal raises his feeble voice to the Father, and calls him, My Father | He turns SUNDAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE 343 towards us and calls us My Brethren | We, consequently, when we speak to his Father, may call him Our Father! This is the mystery of adoption, revealed to us by the great event we are solemnizing. All things are changed, both in heaven and on earth: God has not only one Son, he has many sons; henceforth we stand before this our God, not merely creatures drawn out of nothing by his power, but children that he fondly loves. Heaven is now not only the throne of his sovereign Majesty; it is become our inheritance, in which we are joint-heirs with our Brother Jesus, the Son of Mary, Son of Eve, Son of Adam, according to his Human Nature, and (in the unity of Person) Son of God according to his Divine Nature. Let us turn our wondering and loving thoughts first to this sweet Babe, that has brought us all these blessings, and then to the blessings themselves, to the dear inheritance made ours by him. Let our mind be seized with astonishment at creatures having such a destiny ! and then let our heart pour out its thanks for the incomprehensible gift ! GRADUAL Speciosus forma pre filiis hominum: diffusa est gratia in labiis tuis. ¥. Eructavit cor meum verbum bonum; dico ego opera mea Regi: lingua mea cala‘mus scrib velociter scribentis. Alleluia, alleluia. ¥. Dominus regnavit, decorem induit: induit Dominus fortitudinem, et precinxit se virtute. Alleluia. Thou art beautiful above the sons of men: grace is poured abroad in thy lips. ¥. My heart hath uttered a good word; I speak my works to the King: my tongue s the pen of ascrivener, that writeth swiftly. Alleluia, alleluia. ¥. The Lord hath reigned: he' hath clothed himself with beauty: he hath clothed himself with strength, and armed himself with might. Alleluia. GOSPEL Sequentia sancti Evangelii Sequel to the holy Gospel acsecundum Lucam. cording to Luke. Cap. II. Ch. II. In illo tempore: Erat At that time: Joseph, and Joseph, et Maria mater Mary the Mother of jesus, 344 CHRISTMAS Jesu, mirantes super his Qque’ dicebantur de illo. Et benedixit illis Simeon, et dixit ad Mariam matrem ejus: Ecce positus est hic in ruinam et in resurrectionem multorum_in Israel et in signum cui contradi: cetur: et tuam ipsius ani mam. pertransibit gladius, ut revelentur ex multis cordibus cogitationes. Et erat Anna Prophetissa, filia Phanuel, de tribu Aser. Hac processerat in diebus multis, et vixerat cum viro suo annis septem a virginitate sua. Et hac vidua usque ad octoginta quatuor: annos quz non discedebat de templo, jejuniis et obsecrationibus_serviens nocte ac die. Et hwc, ipsa_hora superveniens, confitebatur_Domino, et loquebatur de illo omnibus, qui exspectabant redemptionem Isracl. Et ut perfecerunt secun, reversi sunt in Galilzam, in civitatem suam Nazareth. Puer autem crescebat, et confortabatur, plenus sapientia: et gratia Dei erat in illo. were wondering at those things which were spoken concerning him. And Simeon blessed them, and said to his Mother: Behold, this Child is set for the fall and for the re surrection of many in Isra and for a sign which shall be contradicted: and thine own soul a sword shall pierce, that out of many hearts thoughts may be revealed. And there was one Anna, a_prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was far advanced in years, and had lived with her husband seven years from her virginity. And She was a widow until fourscore and four years: who departed not from the temple, by fastings and prayers serving day and night. Now she at the same hour, coming in, confessed to the Lord, and spoke of him to all that looked for the redemption of Israel. And after they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their city Nazareth. And the Child grew and waxed strong, full of wisdom: and the grace of God was in him The passage of the Gospel selected for this Mass, though bearing on the Divine Infancy, yet gives us, we may almost say prematurely, the terrible prophecy of Simeon regarding the dear Babe of Bethlehem. The heart of Mary, that was overflowing with joy at the miraculous Birth of her Child, is here made to feel the sword spoken of by the venerable Priest of the temple. Her Son, then, is to be but a sign that shall be coniradicted | The mystery of man’s adoption by God is to cost this Child of hers his life ! We that are the Redeemed in his Blood, we may not yet dwell on the fatigues SUNDAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE 345 and the Passion and the Death of our Emmanuel; the time will come for that; at present we are forbidden to think of him other than as the sweet Child that is born to us, the source of all our happiness by his having come among us. Let us catch up the words of Anna, who calls him the Redemption of Israel. Let our eye delight in the sight of the earth regenerated by the birth of its Saviour. Let us admire and study well this Jesus newly born among us, and adore in humble love the wisdom and grace that are in him. During the Offertory, the Church celebrates wonderful vation renovation which saved wrought it from in the world, destruction. the a reno- She sings the praises of the great God who came down into the poor Stable of Bethlehem, yet left not his eternal throne. OFFERTORY Deus firmavit orbem ter12, qui non commovebitur; parata sedes tua, Deus, ex tunc: a szculo tu es. God world, moved; hath established the which shall not be thy throne, O God, is prepared from of old; thou art from everlasting. SECRET Concede, quasumus, omnipotens Deus; ut oculis tuz majestatis munus oblatum et gratiam nobis pie devotionis obtineat, et effectum beatz perennitatis acquirat. Per Dominum. The p. 232. Commemoration of Grant, we bescech thee, O Almighty God, that this sacrifice, offered to thy divine majesty, may obtain for us the grace of true devotion, and a happy cternity. Through, etc. the Oclave is given above, The words chanted by the Church at the Commu- nion are those spoken by the Angel to St Joseph. She has given this Divine Infant to her faithful children in Holy Communion, in order that they may carry him in their hearts, and bids them guard him against the snares laid for him by his and their enemies. Let the 346 CHRISTMAS Christian, therefore, take heed lest Jesus should be taken from him. Let him, by strict watchfulness and by good works, crush the tyrant sin that seeks the life of the Divine Guest of his soul. It is for this reason that, in the Postcommunion, the Church prays that our vices may be destroyed, and our desires for a virtuous life be blessed. COMMUNION Take the Child and his Tolle puerum et matrem ejus, et vade in terram Is- Mother, and go into the land rael} defuncti sunt enim qui of Isracl: for they are dead quzrebant animam pueri. who sought the life of the Child. Per hujus, Domine, rationem ~mysterii et nostra purgentur, et desideria compleantur. Dominum. The b. 233 POSTCOMMUNION opevitia justa = Per Commemoration May the efficacy of this crament, O Lord, cleanse from our sins, and obtain us the accomplishment of just desires. Through, etc. of the Octave is given saus for our above, VESPERS If December 30 be kept as the Sunday in the Octave of Christmas, Vespers are as follows : The Antiphons Day, p. 210. and Psalms are those of Christmas CAPITULUM (Gal. iv) Fratres: Quanto tempore Brethren: As long as the heir heres parvulus est, _nihil is a child, he differeth nothing differt a servo, cum sit Domi- from a servant, though he be nus omnium; sed sub tutoribus lord of all; but is under tutors et actoribus est usque ad pre- and governors, until the time finitum tempus a patre. appointed by the father. Hymn, Jesu Redemptor omnium, p. 217. SUNDAY WITHIN ¥. Verbum Caro factum est, alleluia. Ry. Et habitavit in nobis, alleluia. ANTIPHON THE OCTAVE 347 Y. The Word was made Flesh, alleluia. K. And dwelt among us, alleluia. TO THE MAGNIFICAT ANT. Puer Jesus proficiebat @tate et sapientia coram Deo et hominibus. ANT. The child Jesus increased in age and wisdom before God and men. OREMUS LET US PRAY Omnipotens sempiterne O Almighty and eternal God, Deus, dirige actus nostros in regulate our actions according to beneplacito tuo: ut in nomine thy divine will: that in the name dilecti Filii tui Mereamur of thy beloved Son we may bonis operibus abundare: Qui abound in good works. Who tecum vivit. liveth, etc. Commemoration of St Sylvester, Pope et ANT. Sacerdos et Pontifex, virtutum opifex, pastor bone in populo, ora pro nobis Dominum, ¥. Amavit eum Dominus, et ornavit eum. R. eum. Stolam OREMUS glorie induit Da, quazsumus, omnipotens Deus, ut beati Silvestri, Confessoris tui atque Pontificis, veneranda solemnitas et devotionem nobis augeat et salutem. Per Dominum. ANT. O Priest and Pontiff, and worker of virtuous deeds, good shepherd of thy people, pray for us to the Lord. Y. The Lord loved him and adorned him. K. And hath clothed him with a robe of glory. LET US PRAY Grant, we beseech thee, O Almighty God, that the venerable solemnity of blessed Sylvester thy Confessor and Bishop may improve our devotion, and strengthen in us the hopes of salvation. Through, etc. Then Commemoration of Christmas Day, p. 321. But if the Sunday in the Octave be kept on December 31, Vespers are as above, except that the Antiphon fo the Magnificat 48 Dum medium silentium, as on . 321; and commemorations are made of St Sylvester, as above, and of the Octave of Christmas, as on f. 321. 348 CHRISTMAS On this the sixth day since the Birth of our Emmanuel, let us consider how the Divine Infant lics in the Crib of a Stable, and is warmed by the breath of the Ox and the Ass, as Isaias had foretold: The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib ; but Israel hath not known me.* Thus does the great God enter that world which his own hands have created! The dwellings of men are refused him, for man has a hard heart for his God, and an indifference which is a real contempt. The only shelter he can find to be born in is a Stable; and that necessitates his coming into the world in the company of poor dumb brautes. he At all events, these animals are his own work. created subjected the irrational it, as the inferior world part of living of creation, When things, he to man; and man was to ennoble it, by referring it to the Creator. When Adam sinned, this subjection, this harmony, was broken. The apostle teaches us that the brute creation is not insensible to the degradation thus forced upon it by sinful man.? It obeys him with reluctance; it not infrequently rebels against and deservedly punishes him; and on the day of judgement it will take the side of its Creator, and avenge itself of that wickedness of which man has made it the unwilling instrument.® In the mystery of his Birth, the Son of God visits this part of his creation; men refused to receive him, and he accepts the hospitality of the dwelling of brutes. It is from their dwelling that he begins the divine career of the three and thirty years. The first human beings he invites into the company of his blessed Mother and his dear St Joseph, the first he admits into the Stable to see and adore himself, are shepherds, who were busy watching their flocks, and whose simple hearts have not been corrupted by the atmosphere of cities. The Ox—which, as we learn from Ezechiel* and St John,? is one of the symbolic creatures standing round God'’s throne—is the figure of the sacrifices of the Old Psais « Bzcch i 10, * Rom. vil 19, 20, § Apos.ivy. * Wisd. v ar. SUNDAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE 349 Law. The blood of oxen has flowed in torrents upon the altar of the Temple: it was the imperfect and material offering prescribed to be made to God, until he should send the true Victim. The Infant Jesus, who lies in the Crib, is that Victim, and St Paul tells us what he says to his Eternal Father: Sacrifices and Oblations and Holo- causts for sin thou wouldst not have, neither pleasing to thee ; behold, I come I* are they The Prophet Zachary,? foretelling the peaceful triumph of the Meek King, says that he will make his entry into Sion riding upon an Ass. We shall assist, further on in the year, at the accomplishment of this prophecy. Now that we are at Bethlehem, in 6ur Christmas mystery, let us observe how the heavenly Father places his Divine Son between the instrument of his peaceful triumph and the symbol of his Sacrifice on Calvary. Ah! dear Jesus! Creator of heaven and earth! how strange is this thy entrance into thine own world ! The whole universe should have given thee a welcome of love and adoration: and yet what motionless indifference ! Not one house to take thee in! Men buried in sleep! And when Mary had placed thee in the Crib, thy first sight was that of two poor animals, the slaves of him who proudly rejected thee! Yet this sight did not displease thee, for thou dost not despise the work of thy hands. What afflicts thy loving Heart is the presence of sin in our souls, the sight of that enemy of thine which has so often caused thee to suffer. Oh! hateful sin! we renounce it, and wish, dear Jesus, to acknowledge thee for our Lord and Master, at did the Ox and the Ass. We will unite in that hymn of praise which creation is ever sending up to thee, by henceforth- adding to it the homage of our adoration and gratitude; nay, we will lend speech to nature, and give it soul, and sanctify it, by referring all creatures to thy service. The following Prose is the composition of Adam of St Victor, 3 Heb.x 8,9, and is one of the most mystical of the * Zach, ix g, quoled by St Matt. xxi 5. CHRISTMAS 350 Sequences in the Missals of the Middle Ages. It will serve us as a further tribute of praise to the Divine Infant. Splendor Patris et figu Se conformans homis Potestate, SEQUENCE non natura, Partum dedit virgini. Adam vetus, Tandem letus, Novum promat canticum; Fugitivus, Et captivus, Prodeat in publicum. Eva luctum, Vit fructum Virgo gaudens edidit. Nec sigillum Propter illum Castitatis perdidit. Si crystallus sit humecta, Atque Soli sit objecta, Scintillat igniculum: Nec crystallus rumpitur, Nec in partu solvitur Pudoris signaculum. Super tali genitura Stupet usus et natura, Deficitque ratio. Res est ineffabilis: Tam pia, tam humilis Christi generatio. Frondem, florem, nucem sicca Virga profert, et pudica Virgo Dei Filium. Fert ccelestem Vellus rorem, Creatura creatorem, Creatura pretium. He that is the brightness of the Father, and his_figure, taking to himself the likeness and nature of man, Gave fruitfulness to the Virgin, who became Mother not by nature, but by his divine power. The old Adam is at length made glad, and may sing a new canticle; And he that was a fugitive and captive may now come before the world. Eve brought forth sadness to mankind; Mary, the glad Virgin, _brought ~ forth the Fruit of Life. Neither did she thereby lose the treasure of virginity. Hold a dew-wet crystal up to the sun; the spark glitters through, Yet breaks not the crystal; so in the Birth of Jesus, it injured naught of the Mother's purity. Law dering and Nature stood wonat that divine Birth, and reasen was confounded. Yea, the Birth of Christ is an_inefiable mystery—so full of love, and so humble ! Aaron’s sapless branch yields leaf and flower and almond: so does the chaste Virgin her Child, the Son of God. Gedeon’s fleece bears the dew from heaven; the crea- ture bears the creature’s ransom—the Creator. SUNDAY WITHIN Frondis, floris, Nucis, roris; Pietati Salvatoris Congruunt mysteria. Frons est Christus, Protegendo; Flos, dulcor Nux, pascendo: Ros, ceelesti gratia. Cur quod Virgo peperit Est Judis scandalum, Cum virga produxerit Sicca sic amygdalum ? Contemplemur adhuc nucom: Nam prolata nux in lucem Lucis est mysterium. Trinam gerens unionem, Tria confert, unctionem, Lumen et edulium. Nux est Christus; cortex nucis, Circa_carnem peena crucs, Testa, corpus osseum. Carne tecta deitas, Et Christi suavitas Signatur per nucleum. Lux est cacis, et unguentum Christus xgris, et fomentum Piis animalibus. O quam dulce sacramentum | Feenum carnis in frumentum Convertit fidelibus. Quos sub umbra Sacramenti, Jesu, pascis in prasenti, Tuo vultu satia. Splendor, Patri coxterne, Nos hinc transfer ad paternz Claritatis gaudia. Amen. THE OCTAVE The leaf and 351 flower, the almond and the dew, are mys- tic emblems of our Saviour's love. Jesus is the leaf that shades us; the sweet flower that regales us; the almond-nut that feeds us; the dew that waters us with heavenly grace. Why is it that the Virgin's delivery should be a stumbling-block to the Jews? Have they forgotten the dry branch of Aaron, how it bore the almonds ? Let us once more contem- plate viewed the almond-nut; in its true light, for, it is the mystic emblem of him that is the Light. It unites in itself three things, and all three it gives to man: unction, light and food. Jesus is the almond-nut. The rind is the cross and passion he endured in the Flesh: the shell is his Body—his Flesh and Bones. The Divinity and the sweetness of Jesus, which are sheathed within the Flesh, are figured by the kernel. Jesus is Light to the blind, and_unction to the sick, and. soothing to holy souls. O how sweet a Sacrament ! He changes his Flesh, that lies as hay in the manger, into the Wheat of the elect. Give us, O Jesus! whom thou now feedest with thyself under the Sacramental veils, to be satiated with the sight of thy holy Face in heaven. O Brightness of the Father, coeternal with him! take us hence to the joys of thy Father's glory. Amen. CHRISTMAS 352 We borrow from the Syrian Church the following stanzas of one of its hymns, written by her sublime poet, St Ephrem the Deacon of Edessa. HYMN Quis sciret quonam tuam, Domine, Genitricem nomine appellare deberet, nemo fui Virginemne diceret ? at ejus in oculis omnium prostabat natus: Nuptamne affirmaret ? at ad ejus nuptias neminem pervenisse certum erat. Jam si Matrem tuam mente infelligentiaque assequi nemo potest, quis te attingere se posse credat? Mater tua Maria sola est, si solam cogito, alioquin soror, si cum reliquis confundo feminis. Facta tibi Mater est, et in communi sanctarum ~ feminarum choro_soror quoque et sponsa: video ut omnibus illam decorasti modis, o matris tuz decus. Sponsa tibi data est, ante: quam venires; venisti, teque concepit, et hoc supra naturam, sicut et illud quod te peperit, et Virgo permansit. Omnium nuptarum preerogativas habuit Maria: citra viri operam viscera prole, lacte implevit ubera; ‘te jubente, statim fons lacteus erupit e torra sitiente. By what name, O Lord Jesus ! shall we call Mary thy Mother? A Virgin? Yet all eyes are on thee, her Son. Must we call her a Spouse ? Yet we know she was not such as men would call a Spouse. And now if thy Mother exceed the mind and understanding of all men; who shall think himself able to reach thee, O Jesus? Mary is thy Mother, if I think of her as she stands alone: if I think of her in what she has in common with other women, she is thy Sister. Yea, she was made thy Mother; and she is, too, thy Sister and thy Spouse, in the company of other Lioly women. How truly art thou thy Mother's glory, who hast given her every kind of glory | She was thy Spouse before thou camest into the world; and when thou didst come, she conceived thee in a supernatural way, and in the same did she give birth to_thee, herself remaining a pure Virgi Mary had the prerogatives of other mothers, without their humiliations. She__conceived thee, but was a Virgin; she fed thee at her breasts, but was a Virgin. It was thy bidding, O Jesus! and at once the purest Virgin was the perfect Mother SUNDAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE 353 She carries thee in her arms, Aspectu_illo tuo magno recreata Mater te gestat, and refreshed with the lovely nec tamen ipso gravatur sight of her Jesus, she feels no onere; cibum ministrat esu- weight. She gives thee food, rire volenti, porrigit pocu- for thou didst will to hunger; lum tibi ipsi ultro scienti she gives thee drink, for thou sitim. Si illi amplexari te didst will to thirst. And i tua istud prastitit when she willed to press thee benignitas, prunam arden- to her heart, thy love did tem, ne pectus ejus exure- temper down the burning fire ret, attemperans. of thine infinite perfection, that she might fondle thee and live. 354 CHRISTMAS DECEMBER 31 SAINT SYLVESTER POPE AND CONFESSOR O far, the only ones we have seen standing round the Crib of our Jesus have been Martyrs: Stephen, overwhelmed with Martyr in heart, Holy Innocents, murdered in his the shower of stones; John, the who survived his fiery torture; the massacred by the sword; Thomas, cathedral; these are the champions of Christ, who keep guard in the palace of Bethlehem. Yet all Christians are not called to be Martyrs. Besides this countless battalion of the King’s favourite soldiers, there are other troops of sainted heroes which form the heavenly army; and amongst these there are the Confessors, who conquered the world without shedding their blood in the combat. Though the place of honour in the service of the King belongs to the Martyrs, yet did the Confessors fight manfully for the glory of his name and the spreading of his Kingdom. The palm is not in their hands, but they are crowned with the crown of justice, and Jesus, who gave it to them, has made it be part of his own giory that they should be near his throne. The Church would therefore grace this glorious Christmas Octave with the name of one of her children, who should represent at Bethlehem the whole class of her unmartyred Saints. She chose a Confessor—St Sylvester: a Confessor who governed the Church of Rome, and therefore the universal Church; a Pontiff whose reign was long and peaceful; a Servant of Jesus Christ adorned with every virtue, who was sent to edify and guide the world immediately after those fearful com- bats that had lasted for three hundred years, in which ST SYLVESTER 355 millions of Christians had gained victory by martyrdom, under the leadership of thirty Popes—predecessors of St Sylvester—and they, too, all Martyrs. So that Sylvester is messenger of the Peace which Christ came to give to the world, of which the Angels sang on Christmas Night. He is the friend of Constan- tine; he confirms the Council of Nicza: he organizes the discipline of the Church for the new era on which she is now entering: the era of Peace. His predecessors in the See of Peter imaged Jesus in his sufferings; Sylvester represented Jesus in his triumph. His appearance during this Octave reminds us that the Divine Child object these world Let who lies wrapped in swaddling-clothes, and is the of Herod’s persecution, is, notwithstanding all humiliations, the Prince of Peace, the Father of the to come.* us read the history of Sylvester’s peaceful Ponti- ficate, as related by the Church in her Breviary. The character of our work excludes purely critical discussions, and we, therefore, say nothing of the objections that have been raised against the Emperor Constantine’s having received Baptism in Rome at the hands of St Sylvester. It is sufficient for us to tell our readers that the Roman tradition regarding that event has been adopted by the most learned men, such as Baronius, Schelstrate, Bianchini, Marangoni, Vignoli, etc. Silvester Romanus, patre Ruffino, a prima @tate operam dedit Cyrino presbyte10, cujus doctrinam et mores egregie imitatus, trigesimum annum _ agens, _Presbyter sanctz Romana Ecclesiz a Marcellino Pontifice creatur, Quo in munere cum omni aude clericis aliis antecelleret, in Melchiadis postea locum successit, imperatore Constantino, Cui imperatori, cum lepre curande Sylvester, a Roman by birth, and son of Rufinus, was brought up from childhood by the priest Cyrinus. He imitated his master by his learning and a good life, and when in his thirtieth year, was ordained Priest of the holy Roman Church by Pope Marcellinus. He surpassed the rest of the clergy in the admirable manner wherein he performed his sacred duties, and was chosen as the succes- 3 Isa, ix 6. CHRISTMAS 356 causa, sibi ex infantium sanguine, medicorum _consilio, balneum parari jussisset, sancti Apostoli Petrus et Paulus in quiete apparuerunt, pracipientes ei, ut si ex lepra liberari vellet, omissa impii balnei immanitate, Silvestrum in Soracte monte latitantem accerseret: a quo salutari lavacro recreatus, in omni ditione Romani imperii templa Christiano more dificari imperaret; sublatisque inanium deorum simulacris, vero Deo cultum adhiberet. Constantinus igitur, ceelestibus monitis obtemperans, Silvestrum diligentissime conquisitum vocat: a quo, Apostolorum imagines recognoscens, baptismo sanatur, et ad tuendam propagandamque Christi flammatur. religionem in- Ttaque auctore Silvestro multas basilicas _zdificavit, quas sacris imaginibus, donisque ac muneribus magnificentissimis _exornavit, facultate etiam data Christianis, quod antea negatum erat, publice templa extruendi. Hoc Pontifice habita sunt duo Concilia, Nicanum, ubi prasidentibus ejus legatis, ~prasenteque Con- sor of Pope Melchiades, under the reign of the Emperor Constantine. This Emperor, having been advised by his physicians to seek the cure of his leprosy by bathing in infants’ blood, was visited in_his sleep by the holy Apostles Peter and Paul. They bade him refuse the sinful remedy of the bath, if he desired to be cleansed from his leprosy, and go to Sylvester, who was then hiding on mount Soracte; that having been regenerated in the saving waters of baptism, he should give orders that Churches, after the manner of the Chris tians, should be built in every part of the Roman empire; and that he should destroy the idols of the false gods, and worship the true God. Constantine therefore, obeying the heavenly admonition, caused the most diligent search to be made for Sylvester, and ordered him, when found, fo be brought tohim. This being done, and the Pontifi having shown Constantine the portraits of the two Apostles he had seen in his sleep, the Emperor was baptized and healed, and became exceedingly zealous for the defence and propagation of the Christian religion. By the persuasion of the holy Pontiff, Constantine also built several Basilicas, which he enriched with sacred images, and most princely donations and gifts: he moreover granted permission to the Christians publicly to erect churches, which _previously they were forbidden to do. Two Councils were held during the reign of this Pontifi: firstly that of ST SYLVESTER stantino, et trecentis decem et octo Episcopis, sancta et catholica Fides explicata est, Ario ejusque sectatoribus condemnatis; quam _etiam Synodum confirmavit, petentibus Concilii Patribus universis: et Romanum, in quo interfuere ducenti octoginta quatuor Episcopi, ubi iterum Arius condemnatus est. Multa item decreta fecit Ecclesiz Dei utilia. In his: Ut a solo Episcopo Chrisma. conficeretur; Ut presbyter Chrismate baptizati summum liniret verticem; Ut Diaconi dalmaticis in Ecclesia, et palla linostima ad levam uterentur; Ut in lineo tantum velo Sacrificium altaris conficeretur, Prscripsit tempus, omnibus qui Ordinibus initiati ~essent, exercendi singulos ordines in Ecclesia, antequam quisque ad altiorem gradum ascenderet. Ut laicus clerico non inferret crimen. Ne clericus apud profanum judicem causam diceret. Sabbati, et Dominici diei nomine retento, reliquos hebdomadz dies Feriarum nomine distinctos, ut jam ante in Ecclesia vocari cceperant, appellari voluit: quo_ significaretur quotidie clericos, abjecta ceterarum rerum cura, uni Deo prorsus vacare debere. Huic ceelesti prudentiz, qua Ecclesiam administrabat, insignis vit sanctitas, et benignitas in pauperes perpetuo Tespondit. Quo in genere providit, ut clericis copiosis egentes conjungeret: et sacris vir- Nicea, 357 over which presided his Legates; Constantine was present, and 318 Bishops were assembled there; the holy and Catholic_faith was explained, and Arius and his followers were condemned; the Council was confirmed by Sylvester, at the request of all the Fathers assembled: the second was that of Rome, at which 284 Bishops were present, and there again Arius was candemned. Sylvester also passed several decrees most useful to the Church of God. For example: That the Chrism should be blessed by a Bishop person he baptized; only; That the Priest should the crown of the head anoint of the That Deacons should wear Dalmatics in the church, aad a linen ornament on_the left arm; That the Sacrifice of the Altar should not be celebrated ex- cepting on a linen veil. laid down during ceived the which Orders length they should of who He time re- exercise the functions belonging to each Order before passing to a higher grade. He made it illegal for a layman to be the public accuser of a cleric, and forbade a cleric to plead before a civil tribunal. The names of Safurday and Sunday were to be still used; but all the other days of the week were to be called Ferias (Second Feria, Third Feria, and the rest) as the Church had already begun to call them; hereby signifying that the clergy should put aside all other cares, and spend every day in the undisturbed service of God. To this heavenly CHRISTMAS 358 ginibus qu ad victum neces- prudence wherewith he governed saria essent suppeditarentur. the Church he ever joined the Vixit in Pontificatu annos most admirable holiness of life viginti unum, menses decem, and charity towards the poor. diem unum. Sepultus est in For instance, he arranged that coemeterio Priscille, via Sa- those among the clergy who had laria. Fecit ordinationes sep- no means should live with tem mense Decembri, quibus wealthy members of the clergy; creavit Presbyteros quadragin- and again, that everything ta duos, Diaconos viginti quin- needed for their maintenance que, Episcopos per diversa should be supplied to Virgins loca sexaginta quinque. consecrated to God. He governed the Church twenty-one years, ten months and a day. He was buried in the cemetery of Priscilla on the Salarian: Way. He seven times held ordinations in the December month: the number of the ordained was forty-two Priests, twenty-five Deacons and sixtyfive Bishops for various places. The ancient Liturgical Books of Italy had a Proper Office for St Sylvester. We have found, in the Breviary of the old Abbatial (now the Collegiate) Church of St Ba:rba:a, at Mantua, a very beautiful Office; and from this we extract the following Antiphons sories: and Respon- Sedatis persecutionum flucThe storm of persecution tibus, beato Silvestro Ponti- being calmed, the religion of fice, in_omnem Romani im- Christ our Lord was spread, in Rerii ditionem _ propagatur the Pontificate of blessed Sylhristi Domini religio. vester, throughout the entire dominions of the Roman Empire. Omnia pie Silvester adHolily did Sylvester administravit, idem propagavi minister all things; he proevangeliceque pradicationi pagated the faith, and gave in urbe cui regna subjiciuntur, liberty and confidence for the libertatem et fiduciam dedit. preaching the Gospel in the City, the Mistress of kingdoms. Multa sustinuit ad meriHe suffered much, and it tum vite, multa constituit filled his life with merit; he ad documentum scientiz. made many rules, and they proved bis wisdom. ST SYLVESTER 359 Erat Silvester vir sanctus, Sylvester was a holy man, ac celestem in terris vi and led a life of heaven whilst pr2 se ferebat; ut in: on this earth: being a Pontiff of sanctitate fuit, sic ceelesti exceeding virtue, he governed prudentia administravit Ec- the Church with heavenly clesiam Dei. prudence. Electus Dei Pontifex, tyrBeing chosen Pontiff of God's anni Maxentii declinans im- Church, he sought a hiding place manitatem, in Soracte monte on Mount Soracte, that he might latitans, Dominum exorabat, escape the cruelty of the tyrant ut pacem suam tandem daret Maxentius: there he_besought God to bless the Church at Ecclesi. Dum latitat, Apostolorum Petri et Pauli admonitu, ab imperatore Constantino vocatur, quem lepra laborantem salutari baptismi lavacro recreat ac sanat. Constantinum_Casarem in Christi fide plenius instruens, Augusti basilicam in Salvatoris nomine Ecclesiam primus publice consecravit. De gloria Dei et hominum salute sollicitus Silvester, salutaris doctrina prazceptis populum instruens, eum a versuti serpentis dogmate mirabiliter liberavit. In mystico Sacerdotum numero universalem Nicanam _Synodum convocans, hereticorum machinas Spiritus Sancti virtute prostravit. Hic est sanctus Pontifex cujus temporibus Christus pacem dedit Ecclesiz, et Romanum_ imperium _sublimem antiquz glori@ apicem sacerdotis pedibus inclinavit. length with peace. Whilst hid on the mount, the Apostles Peter and Paul admonish the Emperor to call the Pontiff: Sylvester regenerates Constantine in the saving waters of baptism, and heals him of leprosy. Having fully instructed the Emperor Constantine in the faith of Christ, he was the first publicly to consecrate a Church, and it was the Basilica built by the Emperor: he called it Our Saviour's. Sylvester, solicitous for the glory of God and the salvation of men, instructed the people in the knowledge of saving doctrine, and delivered them in a wonderful manner from the errors of a wily serpent. Convoking the General Council of Nicza, where was assembled a mystic number of Bishops, he subverted the machinations of heretics by the power of the Holy Ghost. This is the holy Pontiff in whose day Christ gave peace to the Church, and the Roman Empire prostrated at the feet of a Priest the lofty summit of its ancient glory. 360 CHRISTMAS O beate Pontifex, et universa Ecclesie Pastor mirifice, quem Dominus in conspectu omnium gentium magnificavit et Romano- Casari celsiorem praposuit, in caelesti gloria exsultans, ora pro nobis Dominum. O lux et splendor coruscans, beate Silvester sanctissime, cujus temporibus pers secuti nubesa oni fideli populo disjectz sunt, et pacis tranquillitas apparuit, tuis nos precibus adjuva, ut_quietis munere gaudeamus in ternum. O blessed Pontiff, and admirable Pastor of the universal Church! whom the Lord glorified in the sight of all nations, and exalted above the Emperor of Rome; O thou that art now exulting in heavenly glory, pray for us to our Lord. O'shining Light and Brightness, blessed and most holy Sylvester | in whose time the clouds of persecution were scattered over the heads of the Faithful, and the calmness of peace appeared: help us by thy prayers, that we may for ever enjoy the blessing of peace. The Greek Church is_enthusiastic in its hymns of praise to St Sylvester. In the stanzas we extract from her Men=za, she gives to this great Pope the whole honour of the Nicene Council, and honours him as the conqueror of the Arian heresy. (In magno Vespertino, et passim) Pater, hierarcha, Silvester, sanctitatis lumine sancte illuminatus, fideles illuminasti luciferis documentis ad adorandam unitatem npaturz _tripersonalem, et depulsisti harescon tenebras; ideoque splendide tuam hodie fulgentem memoriam gaudentes hymnificamus, Pater Deifer, Sylvester, visibilis_columna ignis sacre pregradiens sancto agmini, nubes umbrifera, educens semper fdeles ex ZEgypti errore _tuis inerrabilibus praceptis; gloriosam ideo atque sacratissimam tuam veneramur memoriam. Father and Hierarch, Sylvester | holily enlightened by the light of holiess! thou didst enlighten the Faithful by thy light-giving teachings, to adore the unity of nature in the Three Persons, and didst dispel the darkness of heresies. Therefore we, with great solemnity, joyfully hymn to-day thy glorious memory. O Father Sylvester, that carriest God with thee thou visible pillar of fire, that goest before the holy flock! thou shade-giving cloud, that ever leadest the faithful out of Egyptian errors by thy incomparable precepts | we venerate thy glorious and most holy memory. 361 ST SYLVESTER Pater divineloquens, SilO Sylvester, divinely speakvester, fluminibus tuarum ing Father! by the torrent of precum multiformem luto in- thy prayers thou didst sink the clusisti draconem; sacer et many-headed dragon in the Holy and admirable mirabilis, Ethnicorum ad mire. Deum_adduxisti multitudi Pontiff | thou didst lead thounes, Hebraorum humiliasti sands of Pagans unto God, and audaciam, miracula maxima didst humble the haughty Jews operans ante illorum oculos by the astounding miracles thou sapienter; ideo te honoramus didst so wisely work before their eyes. Therefore do we honour and bless thee. Perfect 1 thy obedience to Legi divinitus obediens divinz, divineque inspirite the Law of God, and admirably Scriptur® cognitione deor- versed in the knowledge of the natus, Ethnicorum sapientes inspired Scriptures, thou didst veritatem docuisti, et Chris- teach the truth to the heathen tum confiteri cum Patre et philosophers; thou didst lead Spiritu, clamantes: Cantemus them to confess Christ together Domino; gloriose enim mag- with the Father and Spirit, and nificatus est. say: Let us sing to the Lord, for he'is gloviously magnified. Hierarch inspired” of God, Hierarcha a_Deo inspiratus, ungens Sacerdotes in Sylvester our Father ! thou art divino Spiritu demonstratus shown to us as anointing Priests es, Silvester Pater, et popu- in the Holy Ghost, and enlightening the people, O most los illuminans, o sacerrime. Hereseon errorem _effugasti, sacred Pontiff | Thou didst put gregem pavisti, pietatis salire the errors of heresy to flight, and faciens undas in divinz cog- didst feed the flock, making the ow the waters of holinesstoflupon nitionis gramina. pastures of souls that know God. By thy words, which left no Tuorum sermonum nodis omnino solvisti vanum li- escape, thou didst unravel the gamen, et ad divinam fidem knots of sophistry; thou didst errore ligatos alligasti, ada- bind to the faith them that periens, Pater, illorum men- were bound by error, opening tem Scripturarum explica- their minds by thy interpretione, Hierarcha beatissime. tation of the Scriptures, most blessed Hierarch, our Father. Immobilem et zternaliter By thy prayers, O blessed conclusum _ fecisti _precibus one ! thou didst for ever paratuis malignum, invidiosa lyze and imprison the wicked peste infestantem eos qui ad serpent, who sought to infect te accedebant, o beate, qui with his detestable pestilence draconibus, velut portas et them that approached thee: pessulos, crucis sigillum im- thou didst fasten down the draposuisti. gons with the seal of the Cross, as with prison-gates and bolts. et beatificamus. CHRISTMAS 362 Supreme Pastor of the Church of Christ ! thou lendest to the beauty of the holy Octave of Christmas the lustre of thy glorious merits. There thou worthily representest the countless choir of Confessors, for it was thou didst steer the bark of Peter after the three hundred years’ tempest, leading her with watchful love in her first hours of calm. The pontifical Diadem, reflecting heaven in its gems, sits on thy venerable brow. The Keys of the Kingdom of heaven are in thy hands; thou openest it for the admission of the Gentiles who embraced the faith of Christ; thou shuttest it against the Arians, in that august Council of Nicza, where thou presidest by thy Legates, and to which thou givest authority, by confirming it with thy apostolic approbation. The furious storms will again soon rage against the Church, and the angry billows of heresy will beat against her; thou wilt then be in the bosom of God ; but together with St Peter, thou wilt keep guard over the purity of the Faith of Rome. Thou wilt support Julius; thou wilt rescue Liberius; and Athanasius, aided by thy prayers, will find a shelter within the walls of Rome. Under thy peaceful reign, Christian Rome receives the reward of her long-endured persecution. She is acknowledged as Queen of Christendom, and her empire becomes the sole empire that is universal. The son of thy pastoral zeal, Constantine, leaves the city of Romulus, which has now become the City of Peter; the imperial majesty would be eclipsed by that greater one of the Vicar of Christ; he makes Byzantium his capital, leaving Rome to be that of the Pontiff-King. The temples of the false gods become ruins, and make room for the Christian Basilicas, in which are enshrined the Relics of the Apostles and Martyrs. In a word, the Church has triumphed over the Prince of this world, and the victory is typified by the destruction of that Dragon which infected the air by its poisonous breath. Honoured with all these wonderful prerogatives, saintly Vicar of Christ ! forget not the Christian people, which was once thy flock. It asks thee, on this thy ST SYLVESTER 363 Feast, to make it know and love the mystery of the Birth of Jesus. By the sublime Symbol which embodies the Faith of Nicza, and which thou didst confirm and promulgate throughout the whole Church, thou hast taught us to acknowledge this sweet Infant as God of God, Light of Light, begotten not made, Consubstantial with the Father. Thou biddest us to come and adore this little Child as he by whom all things were made. Holy Con- fessor of Christ | vouchsafe to present us to him, as the Martyrs have done, whose feasts have filled up the days since this Nativity. Pray to him for us, that our desires for true virtue may be fulfilled, that we may persevere in his holy love, that we may conquer the world and our passions, and that we may at length obtain the Crown of justice, which is to be the reward of our confessing him before men, and is the only object of our ambition. Pontiff of Peace ! from the abode of rest where thou now dwellest, look down upon the Church of God, surrounded as she is by implacable enemies, and beseech Jesus, the Prince of Peace, to hasten her triumph. Cast thine eye on that Rome which is so dear to thee, and which is so faithful in her love of thee. Protect and direct her Father, King and Pontiff. May she triumph over the wiles of political intrigue, the violence of tyranny, matics, the craft of heretics, the apathy of her own children. of worldlings, the perfidy of schis- and the cowardice May she be honoured, loved, and obeyed. May the sublime dignity of the Priesthood be recognized. May the spiritual power enjoy freedom of action. May the civil authority work hand in hand with the Church. May the Kingdom of God now come, and be received throughout the whole world, and may there be but one Fold and one Shepherd. Still watch, O holy Sylvester ! over the sacred treasure of the Faith, which thou didst defend when against every danger. on earth May its light put out the vapours of man’s proud dreams, those false and daring doctrines which mislead countless souls. May every mortal CHRISTMAS 364 bow down his understanding to the obedience of faith in the divine Mysteries, without which all human wisdom is but folly. May Jesus, the Son of God and Son of Mary, be King, by his Church, over the minds and hearts of all men. Pray for Byzantium, that was once called the New Rome, but which so soon became the capital of heresies, and the scene of everything that could degrade a Chris- tian country. Pray that the days of her deep humiliation may be shortened; that she may again see herself united with Rome; that she may honour Christ and his Vicar; that she may obey, and by her obedience be saved. May the people, misled and debased by her influence and rule, recover their dignity as men, which can only subsist ;vl_‘ne}:x men have faith, or be regained by a return to the aith. And lastly, O Conqueror of Satan ! keep this hellish monster in the prison whither thou didst drive him; confound his pride and his schemes; let him no longer seduce the people of God’s earth ; but may all the Children of the Church, according to the word of Peter thy predecessor, resist him, by the strength of their faith. Let us, on this the Seventh Day within the Christmas Octave, consider the new-born Babe wrapped in the swaddling-clothes of Infancy. They are the indications of ‘weakness; the Child that is swathed in them is helpless, and dependent on others; another’s hand must loosen his bands, and until then he is not free to move. in this infantine human helplessness, and It was in the bondage of weakness, that he who gives life and motion to every creature first appeared on our earth ! Let us contemplate our Blessed Lady wrapping the limbs of her Child, her God, in these swathing-bands: but who can picture to himself the respectful love wherewith she does it? She adores his humiliations— humiliations which he has taken upon himself in order that he may sanctify every period of man’s life, even 1rStPe v ST SYLVESTER that feeblest of all, infancy. 365 So deep was the wound of our pride, that it needed a remedy of such exceeding efficacy as this! Can we refuse to become little children, now that he who gives us the precept sets us so touching an example ? Sweet Jesus ! we adore thee wrapped in thy Swaddling-Clothes, and our ambition is to imitate thy divine humility “ Let not,” says the holy Abbot Guerric, ‘ let not the eye of your faith be offended or shocked, brethren, at these outward humble coverings. As the Mother of Jesus wrapped him in swaddling-clothes, so do Grace and Wisdom, your spiritual mother, veil over with certain material things the truth of our Incarnate God, and hide under the representation of symbolical figures the majesty of this same Jesus. When I, brethren, deliver to you, by my words, the Truth, which is Jesus, 1 am swathing Jesus in bands of exceeding great poverty. Happy the soul that loves and adores its Jesus not the less because he receives him thus poorly clad! Let us therefore most devoutly think upon our Lord clothed in the swathing-bands wherewith his Mother covered his infant limbs; that so, in the world of eternal happiness, we may see the glory and beauty wherewith his Father hath clad him; and this glory is that of the Only-Begotten Son of the Father.” Let us once more celebrate the joyous Birth of our Jesus, making use of this ancient Prose so redolent of the piety of the ages of Faith. It is found in the old Roman-French Missals. SEQUENCE Nato canunt omnia Domino pie agmina, Syllabatim neumata Perstringendo organica. Hazc dies sacrata, In qua nova sunt gaudia Mundo plene dedita. Every choir devoutly sings to the new-born King, Melodising each word with organ-notes. Dear holiday | whereon the earth is filled with joy, ne'er felt before. + Sermon the Fifth On our Lord's Natisity, CHRISTMAS 366 “Twas on this grand night that Angels’ voices intoned the Intonuit et Gloria In voce angelica. sweet Gloria. A dazzling light shone at midFulserunt immania, night on the Shepherds. Nocte media, Pastoribus lumina. They are tending their flocks, Dum fovent sua pecora, when suddenly they hear the Subito_divina Percipiunt monita: divine announcement: ‘Glory infinite in_the heaEst immensa In ceelo gloria, vens—and on earth Peace: Pax et in terra: Natus alma Virgine * He that is eternal is born Qui exstat ante szcula. of the glorious Virgin I Then let the heavenly host Sic ergo cceli caterva Altissime jubila, give forth excessive jubilee, And earth, from pole to pole, Ut tanto canore tremat alta thrill with the loud melodious Poli machina. song. Confracta sunt imperia The enemy’s intolerable cruHostis crudelissima. elty is crushed. Let the whole race of men Humana concrepant cuncta sing praise to the God now born Deum natum in terra. upon the earth. Peace is restored to the Pax in terra reddita, Nunc letentur omnia world; let all things rejoice at Nati per exordia. the birth of the Child. Sonet et per omnia Let our Gloria be sung to-day with voices full and clear, that Hac in die gloria, Voce clara,_reddita. it may echo through creation. Solus qui tuetur omnia, May he that alone rules all things— Solus qui gubernat omnia, May he that alone governs all things— 5 Ipse sua pietate salvet In his mercy save all kingomnia pacata regna. doms, and give them Peace. Amen. Amen. Hac nocte pracelsa The saintly Abbot of Cluny, Peter the Venerable, is the author of the hymn we will now offer to the incomparable Mother. It is full of that scriptural unction which filled the writer’s fervent soul. SEQUENCE Coslum gaude, terra plauRejoice, ye Heavens ! and be de, glad, O earth | let no man keep Nemo mutus sit in laude: his lips from praise. ST SYLVESTER 367 Ad antiquam originem It was by the Virgin that Redit homo per Virginem. Virgo Deum est enixa, Unde vetus perit rixa: Perit vetus discordia, Succedit pax et gloria. Tunc de ceno surgit reus, Cum in feeno jacet Deus. Tunc vile celat stabulum Ceelestis esca pabulum. Nutrit virgo creatorem, Ex se factum Redemptorem. Latet in pueritia Divina Sapientia. Lac stillant matris ubera, Lac fundunt nati viscera, Dum gratiz dulcedinem Per assumptum dat hominem. Ergo dulci melodia Personemus, o Maria, Religiosis vocibus, Et clamosis affectibus. Salve, Virgo benedicta, Qua fugasti maledicta. Salve, Mater Altissimi, Agni Sponsa mitissimi. Tu serpentem evicisti, Cujus caput contrivisti, Cum Deus ex te genitus Ejus fuit interitus. Tu ceelorum Imperatrix, Tu terrarum reparatrix, Ad quam suspirant homines, Quam nequam tremunt dee‘mones. Tu fenestra, porta, vellus, Auls, domus, templum, tel us: man was restored to the primeval state. A Virgin brought forth our God, and the ancient anger ceased: The ancient discord ceased, and Peace and Glory came in its stead. Guilty man was drawn from the mire, when God lay on his Crib of straw. A wretched Stable held then within it the Food of heaven’s own gift. The Virgin feeds the Creator —the Redeemer, who had become her Child. Divine Wisdom lay hid in childhood. The milk of the Mother's breast fed her Jesus; her Jesus feeds us with the milk of his tender mercy. Giving us the sweetness of grace through the assuming our human nature, Therefore let our sweetest music give our Ave Maria In sacred words, and with speaking hearts. Hail | Virgin ever Blest, that didst destroy the curse. Hail | Mother of the Most High, and Spouse of the Lamb most meek. Thou didst_conquer the serpent, and crush his head, For the God that was born of thee was the serpent’s death. Thou art the Queen of heaven, and Reparatrix of the earth, The loved Mother of men, and the terror of the demons of hell. The Scriptural figures of Window, Gate, Fleece, Palace, House, Temple and Earth— all are fulfilled in thee. CHRISTMAS 368 Thou art the Lily by thy Virginitatis lilium, virginity; thou art the Rose by Et rosa per martyrium: thy martyrdom: Hortus clausus, fons hor- _ The Garden enclosed, the Fountain of gardens that cleanstorum, est the defilements of sin, Sordes lavans peccatorum. Purifiest them that are unInquinatos purificans; glean, and bringest the dead to Et mortuos vivificans. e. O Queen of the Angels, and, Dominatrix Angelorum, Spes, post Deum, seculorum. after God, the Hope of mankind| Regis reclinatorium Thou art the couch of the King and the Throne of God. Et deitatis solium. Stella fulgens Orientis, Thou art the Star of the Unmbras fugans Occidentis, ~ East, that puttest to flight the shadows of the Western night. Aurora solis pravia, Thou art the Aurora, the Et dies noctis nescia. Sun’s harbinger, and the Day that knowest not night. Parens nostri tu Parentis, ~ Thou art Mother of the God Et genitrix nos gignentis. ~ who is our Father; thou givest life to him who giveth life to us. Pie matris fiducia, Oh | may the Holy Mother's Natos Patri concilia. confidence in her Son reconcile him to us his children | Ora Mater Deum natum, Mother of Jesus | pray for us Nostrum solvat ut reatum, to thy Diviné Son, that he forgive us our sins, Et post concessam veniam, And after this our pardon, Det gratiam et gloriam. give us grace and glory. Amen. Amen. The Civil Year ends to-day. At Midnight, a New Year will begin, as the world counts time, and the resent one will sink into the abyss of eternity. It is one step further on in our lives, and brings us nearer to that end of all things, which St Peter says s at hand.* The Liturgy, which begins a new ecclesiastical year on the First Sunday of Advent, has no special prayers, in the Roman Church, for the beginning of the year on the First of January; but her spirit, which takes an interest in everything affecting the well-being of individuals or of society at large—her spirit is that we should, sometime in the course of this last day of the year, make 1St Pet. iv 7. ST SYLVESTER 369 a fervent act of thanksgiving to God for the blessings he has bestowed upon us during the past twelve months. Rome sets us the example. To-day the Sovereign Pontiff goes in state to the Ges# (or, as we should call it, Jesus Church) and there assists at a solemn Te Deum ; the Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament follows it, blessing, as it were, the public act of thanksgiving, and giving a pledge of blessings for the coming year. The only Church that has given a liturgical expression to the sentiments, which the close of the Year inspires, is that of the Mozarabic Rite, in which there occurs the following beautiful Preface, which we gladly offer to our readers. It is part of the Mass of the Sunday which immediately precedes the Feast of the Epiphany. ILLATIO Dignum et justum est nos tibi gratias agere, Domine sancte, Pater zterne, omnipotens Deus, per Jesum Christum Filium tuum, Dominum nostrum. Qui ante tempus natus ex te, Deo Patre, tecum pariter et cum It is meet and just that we should give thanks to thee, O Holy Lord, Eternal Father, Almighty God, through Jesus Christ thy Son, our Lord; who being before all time born of thee God the Father, did to- Spirita Sancto condidit tempora, dignatus est nasci et ipse sub tempore, ex utero virginis Mariz. Qui tamen cum sit sempiternus, statutos annorum discrevit recursus, per quos evolutus dedu- gether Ghost tinguens annum certis atque by regular and suitable changes ceretur hic congruentibus mundus. Dis- vicissitudini- with thee and the Holy create all seasons, and deigned himself to be born in time from the womb of the Virgin Mary. He, though the eternal One, established the fixed revolutions of years through which this world runs its course, and divided the year of seasons, wherewith the Sun bus temporum, quibus _sol should in orderly variety mark certa cursus sui dimensione the round of the year, as he ran anni orbem inconfusa varie- the measured circuit of his tate distingueret. Illi etenim course. For we this day dediDeo vivo hodic et finem ex- cate by the gifts we offer the pleti anni, et subsequentis close of the past year, and the initium oblatis muneribus commencement of that which dedicamus; per quem et de- follows, unto him, the living cursum annorum transegi- God, by whose mercy we have 24 370 CHRISTMAS mus, et principium_alterius inchoamus. Hunc igitur quia in annum nos ad supplicandum sancta et communis fecit devotio convenire, tibi, Deus Pater, simplices fundimus preces. Ut qui in nativitate ejusdem Filii tui presentis temporis curricula _consecrasti, prebeas nobis hunc annum habere placabilem, et dies_ejus in_tua transigere servitute. Terram quoque fructibus reple, animas corporaque facito morbis delictisque carere. Scandala remove, contere hostem, cohibe famem, et omnes in commune nocivorum casuum eventus a nostris finibus procul exclude. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum. Amen. lived through the years gone by, and are about to commence the beginning of another. Since, therefore, a sacred devotion wherein we all share has this year brought us together to invoke this thy Divine Son, we pour out our humble prayers unto thee, O God the Father | that whereas thou hast consecrated the present portion of the year by the Birth of this same thy Son, thou mayest vouchsafe to make this year a happy one unto us, and to give us to spend it in thy service. Fill, too, the earth with its fruits, and deliver our souls and bodies from sickness and sin. Take away scandal, defeat our enemy, keep down famine, and drive far from our country all such events as would bring evil upon her. Through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. THE CIRCUMCISION JaNUARY THE 371 1 CIRCUMCISION OF OUR LORD AND OCTAVE OF CHRISTMAS DAY UR new-born King and Saviour is eight days old to-day; the Star that guides the Magi is advancing towards Bethlehem, and five days hence will be standing over the Stable where our Jesus is being nursed by his Mother. To-day the Son of Man is to be circumcised; Saviour. So that mysteries abound this first sacrifice of his innocent Flesh must honour the eighth day of his mortal life. To-day also a Name is to be given him: the Name will be Jesus, and it means on this day: let us not pass one of them over, but honour them with all possible devotion and love. But this day is not exclusively devoted to the Circumcision of Jesus. The mystery of this Circumcision forms part of that other great mystery, the Incarnation and Infancy of our Saviour—a mystery on which the Church fixes her heart not only during this Octave, but during the whole forty days of Christmastide. Then, as regards our Lord’s receiving the Name of Jesus, a special Feast, which we shall soon be keeping, is set apart in honour of it. There is another object that shares the love and devotion of the Faithful on this great Solemnity. This object is Mary, the Mother of God. The Church celebrates to-day the august prerogative of this divine Maternity which was conferred on a mere creature, and made her the co-operatrix with Jesus in the great work of man’s salvation. The holy Church of Rome used formerly to say two Masses on the first of January; one was for the Octave of Christmas Day, the other was in honour of Mary. She now unites the two intentions in one Sacrifice, in the 372 CHRISTMAS same manner as, in the rest of this Day’s Office, she unites together the acts of her adoration of the Son, and the expressions of her admiration for and confidence in the Mother. The Greek Church does not wait for this eighth day, in order to pay her tribute of homage to her who has given us our Emmanuel. She consecrates to Mary the first day after Christmas, that is December 26, and calls it the Synaxis of the Mother of God, making the two days one continued Feast. She is thus obliged to defer the Feast of St Stephen to December 27. But it is to-day that we, the children of the Roman Church, must pour forth all the love of our hearts for the Virgin-Mother, and rejoice with her in the exceeding happiness she feels at having given birth to her and our Lord. During Advent we contemplated her as pregnant with the world’s salvation; we proclaimed the glory of that Ark of the New Covenant, whose chaste womb was the earthly paradise chosen by the King of Ages for his dwelling-place. Now she has brought him forth, and he, is her Son. Mother. the God Infant-God; she adores him, him who She has the right to call him her Child ; as he is, calls her in strictest truth Ais Let us not be surprised, therefore, at the enthusiasm and profound respect wherewith the Church extols the Blessed Virgin and her prerogatives. Let us on the contrary be convinced that all the praise the Church can give her, and all the devotion she can ever bear towards her, are far below what is due to her as Mother of the Incarnate God. No mortal will ever be able to describe, or even comprehend, how great a glory accrues to her from this sublime dignity. For, as the glory of Mary comes from her being the Mother of God, one would have first to comprehend God himself in order to measure the greatness of her dignity. It is to God that Mary gave our human nature; it is God whom she had as her Child; it is God who gloried in rendering himself, inasmuch as he is Man, subject to her: hence, the true THE CIRCUMCISION 373 value of such a dignity, possessed by a mere creature, can only be appreciated in proportion to our knowledge of the sovereign perfections of the great God, who thus deigns to make himself dependent upon that favoured creature. tion before Let us therefore bow down in deepest adorathe Majesty of our God; let us therefore acknowledge that we cannot respect as it deserves the extraordinary dignity of her whom Mother. The same sublime Mystery he chose overpowers for his the mind from another point of view: what were the feelings of such a Mother towards such a Son? The Child she holds in her arms and presses to her heart is the Fruit of her virginal womb, and she loves him as her own; she loves him because she is his Mother, and a Mother loves her Child as herself, nay, more than herself: but when she thinks upon the infinite majesty of him who has thus given himself to her to be the object of her love and her fond caresses, she trembles in her humility, and her soul has to turn, in order to bear up against the overwhelming truth, to the months she held this Babe in smile he gave her when her two deep-rooted feelings—of other thought her womb, and eyes first met a creature that of the nine of the filial his. These adores, and of a Mother that loves—are in Mary's heart. To be Mother of God implies all this: and may we not well say that no pure creature could be exalted more than she ? and that in order to comprehend her dignity, we should first have to comprehend God himself ? and that only God’s infinite wisdom could plan such a work, and only his infinite power accomplish it ? A Mother of God! It is the mystery whose fulfilment the world, without knowing it, was awaiting for four thousand years. It is the work which, in God’s eyes, was incomparably greater than that of the creation of a million new worlds, for such a creation would cost him nothing; he has but to speak, and all whatsoever he wills is made. But that a creature should become Mother of God, he has had not only to suspend the laws 374 CHRISTMAS of nature by making a Virgin Mother, but also to put himself in a state of dependence upon the happy creature he chose for his Mother. He had to give her rights over himself, and contract the obligation of certain duties towards her. He had to make her his Mother, and himself her Son. It follows from all this, that the blessings of the Incarnation, for which we are indebted to the love where- with the Divine Word loved us, may and ought to be referred, though in an inferior degree, to Mary herself. If she be the Mother of God, it is because she consented to it, for God vouchsafed not only to ask her consent, but moreover to make the coming of his Son into this world depend upon her giving it. Eternal answer Word, his FIAT over chaos, and the to his word was creation; so did Mary use the same word F1AT: heard spoke As this his Son, the her descended word, into let it be done unto me,* she said. and immediately her virginal womb. the Son After of God, God God then, it is to Mary, his ever Blessed Mother, that we are indebted for our Emmanuel. The divine plan for the world’s salvation included the existence of a Mother of God: and as heresy sought to deny the mystery of the Incarnation, it equally sought to deny the glorious prerogative of Mary. Nestorius asserted that Jesus was only man; was not Mother of God, Mary consequently but merely Mother of a Man called Jesus. This impious doctrine roused the indignation of the Catholic world. The East and West united in proclaiming that Jesus was God and Man, in unity of Person; and that Mary, being his Mother, was, in strict truth, ‘ Mother of God.” This victory over Nestorianism was won at the Council of Ephesus. It was hailed by the Christians of those times with an enthusiasm of faith which not only proved the tender love they had for the Mother of Jesus, but was sure to result in the setting up of some solemn trophy that would 1St Luke i 38, * Deipara, Ocorseos, ace the respective Latin and Greek terms, THE perpetuate CIRCUMCISION the memory of the victory. It was 375 then that the pious custom began, in both the Greek and Latin Churches, of uniting during Christmas the venera- tion due to the Mother with the supreme worship given to the Son. The day assigned for the united commemo- ration varied in the several countries, but the sentiment of religion which suggested the Feast was one and the same throughout the entire Church. The holy Pope Xystus III ordered an immense mosaic to be worked into the chancel-arch of the Church of St Mary Major, in Rome, as a monument Mother of God. The mosaic still exists, mony as to what was the faith held in the It represents the various scriptural types and the inscription of the holy Pontiff is its bold letters: Xystus Episcopus PLEBI to the holy bearing testififth century. of our Lady, still legible in DEI (Xystus Bishop to the people of God): for the Saint had dedicated to the faithful this his offering to Mary, the Mother of God. Special chants were also composed at Rome for the celebration of the great mystery of the Word made Man through Mary. Sublime Responsories and Antiphons, accompanied by appropriate music, were written to serve the Church and her children as the expression of their faith, and they are the ones we now use. The Greek Church makes use of some of these very antiphons for the Christmas Solemnity; so that with regard to the mystery of the Incarnation there is not only unity of faith, there is also oneness of devotional sentiment. FIRST The First Vespers of VESPERS the Circumcision are made peculiarly solemn by the chanting of the five venerable Antiphons to which we have just alluded. The Psalms are those which are sung at the Vespers of the Feasts of our Lady. The first of these Psalms celebrates the kingly charac- ter, the Priesthood and the sovereign Judgeship of our 376 CHRISTMAS Emmanuel, and implies, consequently, the wonderful dignity of her who gave him Birth. The second contains the praise of God, who. exalts the humble, and gives the joys of maternity where nature has refused them; it announces with an air of triumph the glories and the maternity of Mary, Mother of God and Mother of men. The last three Psalms chant the praises of Jerusalem, the City of God: the symbol of Mary, who is the City of God. ANT. O admirable Intermercium | Creator generis change! The Creator of manhumani animatum corpus su- kind, assuming a living Body, mens, de Virgine nasci digna- deigned to be born of a Virgin; tus est; et procedens homo and becoming Man without sine semine, largitus est nobis man’s aid, bestowed on us his suam deitatem. Divinity. ANT. O admirabile com- PSALM 109 Dixit Dominus Domino The Lord said to my Lord, meo: * Sede a dextris meis. his Son : Sit thou at my right hand, and reign with me. Donec ponam inimicos Until, on the day of thy last tuos: * scabellum pedum coming, 1 make thy enemies tuorum. thy footstool. Virgam virtutis tuz emitO Christ | the Lord thy Father tet Dominus ex Sion: * do- will send forth the sceptre of minare in medio inimicorum thy power out of Sion: from tuorum. thence rule thou in the midst of thy enemies. Tecum principium in_die With thee is the principality virtutis tuz, in splendoribus in the day of thy strength, in sanctorum: the brightness of the Saints, ex utero ante luciferum genui te. for the Father hath said to thee : From the womb before the daystar I begot thee. Juravit Dominus, et non The Lord hath sworn, and he peenitebit eum: * tu es sacer- will not repent: ke hath said, dos in @ternum secundum speahing of thee, the God-Man : ordinem Melchisedech. Thou art a Priest for ever, according to the order of Melchisedech. Dominus a dextris tuis: * Therefore, O Father | the Lord confregit in die irz suz reges. thy Son is at thy right hand: he hath broken kings in the day of his wrath. THE CIRCUMCISION Judicabit in nationibus, implébit ruinas, * conquassabit capita in terra multorum. De torrente in via bibet: * propterea exaltabit caput. ANT. O admirabile commercium | Creator generis humani, animatum corpus sumens, de Virgine nasci dignatus est: et procedens homo sine semine, largitus est nobis suam deitatem. ANT. Quando natus es ineffabiliter ex Virgine, tunc implet® sunt Scripture; sicut pluvia in vellus descendisti, ut salvum faceres genus humanum: te laudamus, Deus noster. 377 He shall also judge among nations; he shall fill the ruins of the world : he shall crush the heads in the land of many. He cometh now in humility ; he shall drink in the way of the torrent of sufferings : therefore shall he lift up the head. Interadmirable ANT. O change | The Creator of mankind, assuming a living Body, deigned to be born of a Virgin, and becoming Man without man’s aid, bestowed on us his Divinity. ANT. When thou wast born ineffably of the Virgin, the Scriptures were fulfilled. As dew upon Gedeon’s Fleece, thou camest down to save mankind. O Lord our God! we praise thee. PSALM II2 Praise the Lord, ye children: praise ye the name of the Lord. Blessed be the name of the Sit nomen Domini benedictum: * ex hoc nunc et Lord: from henceforth now and usque in szculum. for ever. A solis ortu usque ad ocFrom the rising of the sun * laudabile nomen unto the going down of the Domini. same, the name of the Lord is worthy of praise. Excelsus super omnes genThe Lord is high above all tes Dominus: * et super celos nations; and his glory above the gloria ejus. heavens. Quis sicut Dominus Deus Who is as the Lord our God, noster qui in altis habitat: * who dwelleth on high: and et humilia respicit in ceelo et looketh down on the low things in terra ? in heaven and in earth ? Nay, not content with this, he deigns to come down among ws. Suscitans a terra inopem: Raising up, from his divine . et de stercore erigens pau- Crib, the needy, and lifting up perem. the "poor out 'of _the dungiill. Laudate pueri Dominum: * laudate nomen Domini. CHRISTMAS That he may place him with Ut collocet eum cum prin- 378 cipibus: * cum principibus populi sui. Qui habitare facit sterilem in domo: * matrem filiorum letantem. ANT. Quando natus es in- effabiliter ex Virgine, tunc impletz sunt Scriptura; sicut pluvia in vellus descendisti, ut salvum faceres genus humanum: te laudamus, Deus noster. ANT. Rubum, quem vide- rat Moyses incombustum, conservatam agnovimus tuam laudabilem virginitatem: Dei Genitrix, intercede pro nobis. princes: with the princes of his people. ‘Who maketh a barren woman to dwell in a house, the joyful mother of children. ANT. When thou_ wast born ineffably of the Virgin, the Scriptures were fulfilled. As dew upon Gedeon's Fleece, thou camest down to save mankind. O Lord our God ! we praise thee. ANT. In the bush seen by Moses as burning yet unconsumed, we recognize the preservation of thy glorious Vis ginity. O Mother of God, intercede for us. PSALM I2I Latatus sum in his quz dicta sunt mihi: * In domum Domini ibimus. Stantes erant pedes nostri: * in atriis tuis, Jerusalem. Jerusalem qua_ wdificatur ut civitas: * cujus participatio ejus in idipsum. Tlluc enim ascenderunt tribus, tribus Domini: * testimonium Israel ad confitendum Nomini Domini. Rogate quz ad pacem sunt Jerusalem: * et abundantia diligentibus te. Fiat pax in virtute tu * et abundantia in turribus tuis. T rejoiced at the things that weresaid to me: We shall go into the house of the Lord. Our feet were standing in thy courts, O Jerusalem | Our heart loves and confides in thee, O Mary. Mary is like to Jerusalem that is built as a city; which is compact together. For thither did the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord: the testimony of Israel, to praise the Name of the Lord. Because seats sat there in judgement; seats upon the house of David; and Mary is of a kingly race. Pray ye, through Mary, for the things that are for the peace of Jerusalem: and may abundance be on them that love thee, O Church of our God 1 The voice of Mary : Let peace be in thy strength, O thow new Sion/ and abundance in thy towers. THE CIRCUMCISION Propter fratres meos et proximos meos: * loquebar pacem de te. ‘ Propter domum _ Domini Dei nostri: * quasivi bona tibi. ANT. Rubum, quem vide- rat Moyses incombustum, conservatam agnovimus tuam laudabilem virginitatem: Dei_Genitrix, intercede pro nobis. ANT. Germinavit radix Jesse; orta est stella ex Jacob; Virgo peperit Salvatorem: te laudamus, Deus noster. 379 1, a daughter of Israel, for the sake of my brethren and of my neighbours, spoke peace of thee. Because of the house of the Lord our God, I have sought good things for thee. ANT. In the Bush seen by Moses as burning yet unconsumed, we recognize the preservation of thy glorious Virginity. O Mother of God ! intercede for_us. ANT. The Root of Jesse hath budded; the Star hath risen out of Jacob; a Virgin hath brought forth the Saviour. O Lord our God ! we praise thee. PSALM 126 Nisi Dominus zdificaverit domum: * in vanum laboraverunt qui zdificant eam. Nisi Dominus custodierit civitatem: * frustra vigilat qui_custodit eam. Vanum est vobis ante lu- cem surgere: * surgite post- quam sederitis, qui manducatis panem doloris. Cum dederit dilectis suis somnum: * ecce hareditas Domini filii: merces, fructus ventris. Sicut sagittz in manu potentis: * ita filii excussorum. Beatus vir, qui implevit desiderium _suum ex ipsis: * non confundetur cum loquetur inimicis suis in porta. ANT. Germinavit radix Jesse; orta est stella ex JaCob; Virgo peperit Salvatorem’ te laudamus, Deus noster. Unless the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it. Unless the Lord keep the city, he watcheth in vain that keepeth it. 1t is vain for you to rise before light; rise y€ after you have sitten, you that eat of the bread of sorrow. When he shall give sleep to his_beloved: behold the inheritance of the Lord are children; the reward, the fruit of the womb. As arrows in the hand of the mighty, so the children of them that have been shaken. Blessed is the man that hath filled his desire with them; he shall not be confounded when he shall speak to his enemics in the gate. ANT. The Root of Jesse hath budded; the Star hath risen out of Jacob; a Virgin hath brought forth the Saviour. O Lord our God | we praise thee. N s : u CHRISTMAS 38 Axt. Lo | Mary hath brought ANT. Ecce Maria genuit nobis Salvatorem, quem Jo- forth a Saviour unto us, whom annes videns exclamavit, di- John sceing exclaimed: Behold cens: Ecce Agnus Dei, ecce the Lamb of God | Behold him qui_ tollit peccata mundi, that taketh away the sins of the world, alleluia. alleluia. PSALM 147 e a Lauda, Jerusalem, Domi\ num: * lauda Deum tuum, .. Sion. Quoniam confortavit seras portarum tuarum: * benedixit filiis tuis in te. U Qui posuit fines tuos pa. cem, * et adipe frumenti satiat te. Praise the Lord, O Mary, thou_true Jerusalem: O Mary, O Sion ever holy, praise thy God. Because he hath strengthened against sin the bolts of thy gates: Le hath blessed thy children within thee. Who hath placed peace in thy borders, and filleth thee with the fat of corn, with Jesus who is the Bread of life. RO non vy v Qui emittit eloquium suum ‘Who sendeth forth by thee % terra: * velociter currit sermo his Word to the earth; his Word . ejus. runneth swiftly. v Qui dat nivem sicut lanam: Who giveth snow like wool; 0 * “nebulam sicut cinerem scattereth mists like ashes. °¢ spargit. i Mittit crystallum suam siHe sendeth his crystal like cut buccellas: ante faciem morsels: who shall stand before frigoris ejus quis sustine- the face of his cold ? bit ? Emittet verbum suum, et He shall send forth his Word liquefaciet ea: * flabit spiri- by Mary, and shall melt them: tus ejus, et fluent aque. his spirit shall breathe, and the waters shall run. Qui annuntiat verbum suWho declareth his Word to um Jacob: * justitias, et judi- Jacob: his justices and judgecia sua Isracl. ‘ments to Israel. Non fecit taliter omni naHe hath not donme in like tioni: * et judicia sua non manner to every nation; and manifestavit eis. his judgements he hath not made manifest to them. > Ant. Ecce Maria genuit ANT. Lo | Mary hath brought it nobis Salvatorem, quem Jo- forth a Saviour unto us, whom e annes videns exclamavit, di- John seeing exclaimed: Behold 5 cens: Ecce Agnus Dei, ecce the Lamb of God ! Behold him qui_tollit peccata mundi, that taketh away the sins of the v alleluia. world, alleluia, THE CIRCUMCISION 381 CAPITULUM (Tit. ii) The grace of God our Saviour Apparuit gratia Dei Salvatoris nostri omnibus hohath appeared to all men, inminibus, erudiens nos, ut ab- structing us, that denying unnegantes impietatem et secugodliness and worldly desires, laria desideria, sobrie et juste we should live soberly and et pie vivamus in hoc saculo. justly and godly in this world. Then is sung the Hymn of Christmas Redemptor omnium, as on p. 116. Y. Verbum caro factum est, alleluia. Ry. Et habitavit in nobis, alleluia. ANTIPHON Day, Jesu, ¥. The Word was made flesh, alleluia. K. And dwelt among us, alleluia. OF THE MAGNIFICAT ANT. Propter nimiam charitatem _suam qua dilexit nos Deus, Filium suum misit i ilitudinem carnis pecAlleluia. ceeding charity wherewith God loved us, he sent us his Son in the likeness of sinful flesh. Alleluia. OREMUS LET US PRAY Deus, qui salutis mtern, beate Marie virginitate foocunda, humano generi pramia preastitisti: tribue, quesumus, ut ipsam pro nobis intercedere sentiamus, per quam meruimus auctorem vita suscipere, Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum, Filium tuim. Qui tecum. ANT. By reason of the ex- O God, who by the fruitful Virginity of the Blessed Mary hast given to mankind the rewards of eternal salvation; grant, we beseech thee, that we may experience her intercession, by whom we received the Author of Life, our Lord Jesus Christ, thy Son. Who liveth, etc. MASS This Station is at St Mary’s across the Tiber. It was but just that this Basilica should.receive such an honour, for it is the most ancient of all the Churches raised by the devotion of the faithful of Rome in honour of our Blessed Lady. It was consecrated in the third 382 CHRISTMAS century by St Callixtus, on the site of the ancient Taberna Meritoria, celebrated even among the Pagans, for the fountain of oil which sprang up in that spot in the reign of Augustus, and flowed into the Tiber. The piety of the Christians interpreted this as a symbol of the Christ that was afterwards born; and the Basilica times called, even to this day, Fons Oles. is some- The Introit is that of the Third Mass of Christmas Day, as are also most of the portions that are chanted by the choir. It celebrates the Birth of the Child who is born unto us, and is to-day eight days old. INTROIT Puer natus est nobis, et Filius datus est nobis: cujus imperium super humeTum ejus; et vocabitur nomen ejus magni Consilii Angelus. Ps. Cantate Domino canticum novum: quia mirabilia fecit. V. Gloria Patri. Puer. In the Collect the A Child is born to us, and Son is given to us: and the government is upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called the Angel of great Counsel. Ps. Sing to the Lord a new canticle: for he wonderful things. etc. Church hath done ¥. Glory, A Child. celebrates the Frutful Virginity of the Mother of God, and shows Mary to us as the source whence God poured out upon mankind the blessing of the Incarnation. She expresses to God himself the hopes we have in the intercession of this privileged creature. COLLECT Deus, qui salutis_wmtern, beatm Marie virginitate f cunda, humano generi pramia prastitisti: tribue, quasumus, ut ipsam pro nobis intercedere sentiamus, per quam meruimus auctorem vite suscipere Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum, FiTium tuum. Qui tecum, a 0 God, who by the fruitful Virginity of Blessed Mary hast given to mankind the rewards of eternal salvation; grant, we beseech thee, that we may experience her intercession, by ‘whom we received the Author of Life, our Lord Jesus Christ, thy Son. Who liveth, etc. THE CIRCUMCISION 383 EPISTLE Lectio Epistole beati Pauli Apostoli ad Titum. Cap. II. Carissime, apparuit gratia Dei Salvatoris nostri omnibus hominibus, erudiens nos, ut abnegantes impietatem et szcularia desideria, sobrie et juste et pie vivamus in hoc seculo, exspectantes beatam spem, et adventum gloriz magni Dei et Salvatoris nostri Jesu Christi: qui dedit semetipsum pro nobis, ut nos redimeret ab omni_iniquitate et mundaret sibi populum acceptabilem, sectatorem bonorum operum. Hzc loguere et exhortare: in Christo Jesu Domino nostro. Lesson of the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to Titus. Ch. St II. Dearly beloved: The grace of God our Saviour hath appeared to all men, instructing us that denying ungodliness and worldly desires, we should live soberly and justly and godly in this world, looking for the blessed hope and coming of the glory of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and might cleanse to himself a people acceptable, a pursuer of good works. These things speak and exhort: in Christ Jesus our Lord. These counsels of our great Apostle, who warns -the Faithful of the obligation they are under of making a good use of the present life, are most appropriate to this first day of January, which is now the beginning of the new Civil Year. worldly desires; let and permit nothing of that blessedness, and Saviour Jesus in these days of his Let us, therefore, renounce all us live soberly, justly, and piously, to distract us from the expectation which is our hope. The great God Christ, who shows himself to us mercy in order to instruct us, will come to us in a second coming in order to give us our reward. The beginning of a New Year tells us plainly enough that this last day is fast approaching; let us cleanse ourselves from all iniquity, and become a people acceptable to our Redeemer, a people doing good works. The Gradual proclaims the grand tidings of the Birth of our Jesus, and invites all nations to give praise to him, as also to the Eternal Father, who had promised him by the Prophets, and at length sent him. CHRISTMAS 384 GRADUAL All the ends of the earth have seen the Salvation of our God: sing joyfully to the Lord, all the earth. ¥. The Lord hath made koown his Salvation; he hath spectum gentium revelavit revealed his justice in the sight justitiam suam. of the Gentiles. Alleluia, alleluia. Alleluia, alleluia. ¥.God, who at sundry times ¥. Multifarie olim Deus loquens patribus in Prophe- and in divers manners spoke in tis, novissime diebus _istis time past to our fathers by the locutus est nobis in Filio. Prophets, last of all in these days hath spoken to us by his Son. Alleluia. Alleluia. Viderunt omnes fines terr@ Salutare Dei nostri: jubilate Deo omnis terra. ¥. Notum fecit Dominus Salutare suum: ante con- GOSPEL Sequentia sancti Evangelii secundum Lucam. Cap. II. Sequel of the holy Gospel according to Luke. Chi-IT; In illo tempore: PostAt that time: After eight quam consummati sunt dies days were accomplished that octo, ut circumcideretur the Child should be circumPuer; vocatum est nomen cised, his name was called Jesus, ejus Jesus, quod vocatum which was called by the Angel est ab Angelo priusquam in before he was conceived in the utero conciperetur. womb. The Child is circumcised: he is now not only a member of the human race; he is made to-day a member of God’s chosen People. He subjects himself to this painful ceremony, to this symbol of one devoted to the Divine service, in order that he may fulfil all justice. He receives, at the same time, his Name: the Name is Jesus, and it means a Saviowr. A Saviour! Then heistosaveus? Yes;and heis tosave us by his Blood. Such is the divine appointment, and he has bowed down his will to it. The Incarnate Word is upon the earth in order to offer a Sacrifice, and the Sacrifice is begun to-day. This first shedding of the Blood of the Man-God was sufficient to the fulness and perfection of THE CIRCUMCISION 385 a Sacrifice; but he is come to win the heart of the sinner, and that heart is so hard that all the streams of that Precious Blood, which flow from the Cross on Calvary, will scarcely make it yield. The drops that were shed to-day would have been enough to satisfy the justice of the Eternal Father, but not to cure man’s miseries, and the Babe’s Heart would not be satisfied to leave us uncured. He came for man’s sake, and his love for man will go to what looks like excess—he will carry out the whole meaning of his dear name—he will be our ‘ Jesus,’ our Saviour. The Offertory extols the power of our Emmanuel. Now that he is humbled by the wound of the Circumcision, it must be our delight to proclaim his power, his riches, his independence. Let us also magnify his love for us, for it is in order to cure our wounds that he so humbly condescends to feel their smart himself. OFFERTORY Tui sunt cceli, et tua est Thine are the heavens, and terra: orbem ferrarum et thine is the earth: the world plenitudinem ejus tu fun- and the fulness thereof thou hast dasti: justitia_et judicium founded: justice and judgement praparatio sedis tuz. arethe preparation of thy throne, SECRET Muneribus_ nostris, quzsumus, Domine, precibusque susceptis: et ccelestibus nos munda mysteriis, et clementer exaudi. Per Dominum. Receive, O Lord, our offerings and prayers: cleanse us by these mysteries, and mercifully hear us. Through, etc. At the Communion, the Church rejoices in the Jesus, the Saviour, who visits her, and acts up to his sweet Name with such perfection by redeeming the inhabitants of the whole earth. In the Postcommunion she prays that by the intercession of Mary the Holy Communion may cure our hearts of their sins, that thus we may offer to God the homage of that spiritual circumcision of which the Apostle so often speaks. 25 CHRISTMAS 386 COMMUNION Viderunt omnes fines rz Salutare Dei nostri. ter- All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. POSTCOMMUNION Hzc nos communio, Domine, purget a crimine: et intercedente beata Virgine Dei Genitrice Maria, coelestis remedii faciat esse consortes. Per Dominum. SECOND May this communion, O Lord, cleanse us from sin: and by the intercession of Blessed Mary, the Virgin-Mother of God, make us partakers of thy heavenly remedy. Through, etc. VESPERS The Antiphons and Psalms are the same as in First Vespers, p. 376. The Capitulum and Hymn of yesterday are repeated; after which are said the following: ¥. The Lord hath made ¥. Notum fecit Dominus, alleluia. K. Salutare suum, alleluia. ANTIPHON known, alleluia. OF THE R. His salvation, alleluia. MAGNIFICAT ANT. Great is the mystery of our inheritance ! The womb of a_most pure Virgin became the Temple of God. He is not defiled assuming to himself Flesh from her. All nations shall come, saying: Glory be to thee, O Lord ! OREMUS LET US PRAY Deus, qui salutis zternz, O God, who by the fruitful beate Mariz virginitate fce- Virginity of Blessed Mary hast cunda, humano generi pra- given to mankind the rewards mia prastitisti: tribue, qua- of eternal salvation; grant, we sumus, ut ipsam pro nobis beseech thee, that we may intercedere sentiamus, per experience her_intercession, by quam meruimus auctorem whom we received the Author vite suscipere Dominum no- of Life, our Lord Jesus Christ, strum Jesum Christum Fi- thy Son. Who liveth, etc. lium tuum. Qui tecum. ANT. Magnum hareditatis mysterium | Templum Dei factus est uterus nesciens virum: non est pollutus ex ea carnem assumens; omnes gentes venient, dicentes: Gloria tibi, Domine. THE CIRCUMCISION 387 We now give a short selection from the Offices of this Octave of Christmas Day, which will assist the Faithful in their devotion to the Holy Mother of God. We begin with the Roman Breviary, and take from it the following Responsories of the Matins of the Circumcision. K. Congratulamini _mihi omnes qui diligitis Dominum: * Quia cum essem par- vula, placui Altissimo, et de meis visceribus genui Deum et hominem. ¥. Beatam me dicent omnes generationes, quia ancillam _ humilem respexit Deus. * Quia. R. Confirmatum est cor Virginis, in quo divina mysteria, Angelo nuntiante, concepit: tunc speciosum forma pre filiis hominum castis suscepit visceribus: * Et benedicta in @ternum, Deum nobis protulit et hominem. K. Benedicta et venerabilis es, Virgo Maria, que sine tactu pudoris inventa es Mater Salvatoris: * Jacebat in prasepio, et fulgebat in celo. ¥. Domine, audivi_ auditionem tuam et timui: consideravi opera tua et expavi: in medio duorum animalium * Jacebat in_prasepio, et fulgebat in ccelo. . Nesciens Mater Virgo virum peperit sine dolore * Salvatorem seculorum; ipsum Regem Angelorum, sola K. Rejoice with me all ye that love the Lord: * For that I, when I was little in my own eyes, pleased the Most High, and ‘gave birth to him that is God and Man. ¥. All generations shall call me Blessed, because God hath regarded the humility of his Handmaid. For that I. Ry. The heart of the Virgin was strengthened, wherein at the message of the Angel she conceived the divine mysteries. Then did she receive into her chaste womb him that is beautiful above all the children of men: * And she that is Blessed for ever brought forth unto us Jesus, God and Man. Ry. Blessed and venerable art thou, O Virgin Mary | that wast found to be Mother of the Saviour, yet still the purest Virgin: '* He was laid in the Crib, and yet filled heaven with his brightness. ¥. 1 have heard thy hearing, and I feared; I meditated on thy works, and I trembled: between two animals * He was laid in the Crib, and yet filled heaven with his brightness. R. A purest Virgin-Mother brought forth without travail * The Saviour of the world: He that was very King of CHRISTMAS 388 Virgo lactabat ubere de caelo Angels drank at the breast of pleno. ¥. Domus pudici_pectoris templum rcpente it Dei: intacta nesciens virum, verbo concepit Filium: * Salvatorem. The Greek Church, on the Virgin-Mother the food that heaven gave. living chastest ¥. This dwelling becomes, in an instant, God's own Temple: the purest of Virgins conceives, at the Angel's word, her Son: * The Saviour. December 26, the day she consecrates to the Mother of Jesus, pours forth to Mary her praises with her wonted profusion. We take from the Menza the two following strophes, the former of which is also the Benedictus-Antiphon for the Feast of the Circumcision, in the Roman Breviary. Mirabile mysterium declaratur hodic: innovantur naturz, Deus homo factus est: id quod fuit permansit, et quod non erat, assumpsit; non commixtionem passus, neque divisionem. Uvam incultam postquam germinasset vitis mystica, in brachiis _velut ramusculis ferebat: Tu, aiebat, fructus meus, tu es vita mea, a te novi quia quod eram adhuc sum, O Deus meus; sigillum enim virginitatis mez videns infractum, pradico te imm tabile Verbum caro factu: virum non novi; te autem novi perniciei solutorem. Casta enim sum, te ex me egresso, sicut invenisti, sic uterum meum reliquisti: ideo concinit omnis_creatura ad me clamans: Gaude, gratia plena. An admirable mystery s this day revealed: the two Natures are united in a new way, God is made Man: he remained what he was, and he assumed what he was not, suffering neither confusion nor division. When_the mystic Vine had produced, without human aid, the Grape-bunch, she carried him in her arms, as the branches their fruit; and she said to him: Thou art my Fruit, thou art my Life, and I know from thyself, O my God, that I am what I was: the treasure of my virginity is preserved, and therefore do T confess thee to be the Immutable One, the Word made Flesh. Man I know not; but I acknowledge thee as the Redeemer of lost man. Thy Birth impaired not the purity thou gavest me, for what I was when thou didst enter into my womb, that thou didst leave me at thy Nativity. Therefore is it that every creature sings to me saying: Rejoice, O full of grace | 389 THE CIRCUMCISION On this the eighth day since the Birth of our Emmanuel, let us consider the great mystery which the Gospel tells us was accomplished in his divine Flesh: the Circumcision. our sweet On this day the earth sees the first-fruits of that Blood-shedding which is to be its Redemption, and the first sufferings of that Divine Lamb who is to atone for our sins. Let us compassionate Jesus, who meekly submits to the knife with the most which is to put upon him the sign of a Servant of God. Mary, who affectionate has watched solicitude, has over him felt her heart sink within her as each day brought her nearer to this hour of her Child’s first suffering. ~ She knows that the justice of God does not necessarily require this first sacrifice, or might accept it, on account of its infinite value, for the world’s salvation: and yet, the innocent Flesh of her Son must, even so early as this, be torn, and his Blood flow down his infant limbs. What must be her affliction at seeing the prepara- tions for this painful ceremony! She cannot leave her Jesus, and yet how shall she bear to see him writhe under this his first experience of suffering ? She must stay, then, and hear his sobs and heartrending cries; she must bear the sight of the tears of her Divine Babe, forced from him by the violence of the pain. We need St Bonaventura to describe this wonderful mystery. ‘ And if he weeps, thinkest thou his Mother could keep in her tears? No: she, too, wept, and when the Babe, who was standing on her lap, perceived her tears, he raised his little hand to her mouth and face, as though he would beckon to her not to weep, for it grieved him to see her weeping, whom he so tenderly loved. The Mother, on her side, was touched to the quick at the suffering and tears of the Babe, and she consoled him by caresses and fond words; and as she was quick to see his thoughts, as though he had expressed them in words, she said to him: If thou wishest me to cease weeping, weep not thow, my Child | Then the Babe, If thou weepest, I must weep too. from compassion for the Mother, re- 390 CHRISTMAS pressed his sobs, and Mary wiped his eyes and her own, and put his Face to her own, and gave him her Breast, and consoled him in every way she could.” And now, what shall we give in return to this Saviour of our souls for the Circumcision which he has deigned to suffer in order to show us how much he loved us? We must, according to the teaching of the Apostle, circumcise our heart from all its evil affections, its sins and its wicked inclinations; we must begin at once to live that new life of which the Infant Jesus is the sublime model. for this his Let us thus show him our compassion earliest suffering for us, and be more attentive than we have hitherto been to the example he sets us. The following beautiful Sequence will assist us to praise this mystery of the Divine Infancy. We have taken it from the ancient Missal of the Church of Paris. Apparuit hodie Mira virtus gratie, Qua Deum circumeidit. Nomen ei ceelicum, Nomen et salvificum, Quod est Jesus, indidit. Nomen salus homini Nomen quod os Domini Ab @terno nominat. Dudum Matri Numinis Hoc et sponso Virginis Angelus denuntiat. Tu nequam vim Zabuli, Tu peccatum szculi Nomen sacrum superas. Jesu, nostrum pretium, Jesu, spes meerentium, Mentes sana miseras. SEQUENCE This day there hath been shown to us the wonderful power of grace in the Circumcision of the Infant-God. ‘A Name of heaven’s making, a Name that means Salvation —and it is ' Jesus '—is given to him. This Name imports Salvation to man: it is the Name which the mouth of the Lord hath uttered from eternity. The Angel revealed it, months ago, to the Mother of God, and to her holy spouse. Sacred ~ name! thou conquerest Satan’s wicked power, and the sins of the world. “Jesus’ our ransom!| * Jesus,’ hope of the afflicted | our souls are sick—do thou heal them. * Meditation; on the Life of Christ, by St Bonaventura. THE CIRCUMCISION Quod deest in_homine Supple tuo nomine, Quod est salutiferum. Tua circumcisio Cordis sit pracisio, Efficax cauterium. Sanguis fusus sordidos Lavet, riget aridos, Mestis det solatium. Anni_ nunc initio, Pro felici xenio Para, Jesu, pramium. 391 What is wanting in man, supply by thy Name, which means and gives salvation. May thy Circumcision be the cleansing and the healing of our heart’s wounds. May the Blood thou didst shed purify our stains, refresh our parched hearts, and give consolation to the sad. We are beginning now a New Year, when friends give gifts to friends; let thine, dear ' Jesus,’ be the preparing us our recompense. ~ Amen. Amen, Adam of St Victor offers us one of his hymns to help us to speak the praises of the Holy Mother of Jesus, It is an extremely graceful poem, and, for a long period. was to be found in the ancient Roman-French Missals. SEQUENCE Salve, Mater Salvatoris, Vas electum, vas honoris, Vas ceelestis gratie. Ab terno vas provisum, Vas insigne, vas excisum Manu Sapientie. Salve Verbi sacra Parens, Flos de spinis, spina carens, Flos spineti gratia. Nos spinetum, nos pec: cati Spina sumus cruentati, Sed tu spin@ nescia. Porta clausa, fons hortorum, Cella custos unguentorum, Cella pigmentaria. Cinnamomi calamum, Myrrham, thus et balsamum Superas fragrantia. Hail, Mother of the Saviour ! Vessel elect, Vessel of honour, Vessel of heavenly grace | Vessel predestined from eternity, Vessel of singular beauty, Vessel formed by the hand of the All-Wise One. Hail, holy Mother of the Word ! the Flower that grew midst thorns, thyself the thornless Flower that decked the thorny Earth. The thorny earth are we, bleeding from the prickly thorns of sin: and thou art free from thorns. Thou art the Gate of the sanctuary closed for the Prince. Thou art the Fountain of the gardens, the Casket of sweet ointments and perfumes. Thy fragrance is sweeter than that of cinnamon, or myrrh, or frankincense, or aromatic balm. 392 CHRISTMAS Hail, Virgin of Virgins! Salve, decus virginum, Mediatrix hominum, Mediatrix of men | Mother of Salutis puerpera: the Jesus who saved us. Myrtus temperantiz, Myrtle of temperance, rose Rosa patientiz, of patience, spikenard most Nardus odorifera. fragrant | Tu convallis humilis, Vale of humility | Soil most Terra non arabilis, fruitful, though untilled | Qua fructum parturiit. Flos campi, convallium Flower of the field | matchSingulare lilium: less lly of the valley, that Christus ex te prodiit. broughtest forth Christ | Tu ceelestis paradisus, Heavenly Paradise| CedarLibanusque non incisus, tree untouched, yet breathing Vaporans dulcedinem. forth such sweetness | Tu candoris et decoris, Purity and beauty, sweetTu dulcoris et odoris ness and fragrance, are all in Habes plenitudinem. thee above measure. Tu thronus es Solomonis, Thou art the throne of SoloCui nullus par in thronis, mon, the throne rich above Arte vel materia. all others in form and substance. Ebur candens, castitatis, The whiteness of the ivory prefigures thy chastity; the Aurum fulvum, charitatis Prasignant mysteria. glittering gold thy charity. singulaprafers ‘The palm thou holdest is like Palmam rem, no other: thou hast no equal Nec in terris habes parem, among creatures on earth or in Nec in ceeli curia. heaven. Laus humani generis, Thou art the glory of the human race, and art privileged Virtutum pra caeteris Habens privilegia. with virtues above Angels and men. Sol luna lucidior, As the sun is brighter than Et luna sideribus: the moon, and the moon is Sic Maria dignior brighter than the stars; so is Creaturis omnibus. Mary exalted above all creatures. Lux eclipsim nesciens The sun’s light, which no Virginis est castitas; eclipse quenches, is Mary’s virArdor indeficiens, ginal purity: the sun’s unImmortalis charitas. failing heat is her undying charity. Salve, mater pietatis Hail, Motherof Mercy | Thou Et totius Trinitatis art the noble dwelling of the Nobile triclinium. blessed Trinity; Verbi tamen incarnati But for the majes:ly of the Speciale majestati Incarnate Word thou didst prePraparans hospitium. pare a special sanctuary. THE CIRCUMCISION 393 Dignitate singularis, Super omnes ordinaris O Mary, Star of the Sca! Peerless Queen, set above all the heavenly choirs | In supremo sita poli, Nos assigna tuz Proli, Seated on thy lofty throne, commend us to thy Son; nor O Maria, stella maris, Ordines ccelestium. Ne terrores, sive doli Nos supplantent hostium. In procinctu constituti, Te tuente, simus tuti; Pervicacis et versuti Tuz cedat vis virtuti, Dolus, providentize. Jesu, Verbum summi Patris, Serva servos tuz Matris, Solve reos, salva gratis, Et nos tuz claritatis Configura gloriz. Amen. suffer our enemies to defeat us by strength or craft. In the battle we are fighting, may we be safely shielded by thy protection. Our enemy’s obstinacy and skill must needs yield to thy power, and his treachery to thy watchful care. O Jesu! Word of the Eternal Father ! save us the devoted servants of thy Mother. We are guilty, absolve us. Save us by thy grace, and make us like to thee in the brightness of thy glory. Amen. 304 CHRISTMAS SUNDAY BETWEEN THE CIRCUMCISION AND THE EPIPHANY FEAST (When OF THE MOST HOLY NAME OF JESUS the first Sunday occurring in the year falls on January 1 or 6, or 7, the feast of the holy Name is kept on January 2.) THE second Sunday after the Epiphany, which recalls the Marriage feast of Cana, was at first chosen as the day on which to honour the most holy Name of Jesus. It is on the Wedding Day that the Bridegroom gives his Name to the Bride, and it is the sign that, from that day forward, she belongs to him alone. The Church, there- fore, wishing to honour a name so precious to her with a special feast, could find no day more appropriate for it than that of the Marriage at Cana. But now she has chosen for the celebration of this august Name, a day eight called closer to the Anniversary on which it was given, ‘ after Jesus’; days were accomplished, she leaves, however, his name was the commemoration of the Sacred Nuptials to the Sunday of which it has ever been the glory. In the Old Covenant, the Name of God inspired fear and awe: nor was the honour of pronouncing it granted to all the children of Israel. We can understand this. God had not yet come down from heaven to live on earth, and converse with men; he had not yet taken upon himself our poor nature, and become Man like the fulness of time had come—when the ourselves; the sweet Name expressive of love and tenderness, could not be applied to him. But, when mystery of love was about to be revealed—then did heaven send down the Name of ‘ Jesus’ to our earth, FEAST OF THE HOLY NAME 395 asa pledge of the speedy coming of him who was to bear it. The archangel Gabriel said to Mary: Thou shalt call his Name JEsus. How sweet ‘ Jesus' means Saviour. It seems to will this Name not be to poor lost man! link earth to heaven! No name is so amiable, none is so powerful. Every knee in heaven, in hell, bows in adoration on earth, and at hearing this Name ! and yet, who can pronounce it, and not feel love spring up within his heart? But we need such a saint as Bernard, to tell us of the power blessed Name. Sermons. He and sweetness of this thus speaks of it in one of his ‘ The Name of Jesus is Light, and Food, and Medicine. It is Light, when it is preached to us; it is Food, when we think upon it; it is the Medicine that soothes our pains when we invoke it. of these. Let us say a word on each Tell me, whence came there, into the whole world, so bright and sudden a light, if not from the preaching of the Name of Jesus? Was it not by the light of this Name that God called us unto his admirable Light? Wherewith being enlightened, and in this light, seeing the Light, we take these words of Paul as truly addressed to ourselves: Heretofore, you were darkness; but now, light in the Lord.* ‘ Nor is the Name of Jesus Light only; it is also Food. Art thou not strengthened, as often as thou thinkest of this Name ? What is there that so feeds the mind of him that meditates upon this Name ? What is there that so restores the wearied faculties, strengthens virtue, gives vigour to good and holy habits, and fosters chastity? Every food of the soul is dry, that is not steeped in this unction; it is insipid, if it be not seasoned with this salt. If thou write, I relish not thy writing, unless I read there the Name of Jesus. If thou teach me, or converse with me, I relish not thy words, unless I hear thee say the Name mouth, and music heart. of Jesus. JESUS is honey to the to the ear, and gladness to the 396 CHRISTMAS It is also Medicine. Is any one among you sad ? Let but Jesus come into his heart, and the mouth echo him, saying Jesus! and lo! the light of that Name disperses every cloud, and brings sunshine back again. Have any of you committed sin ? and is despair driving you into the snare of death? Invoke the Name of life, and life will come back to the soul. Was there ever a man, that, hearing this saving Name, could keep up that common fault of hardness of heart, or drowsiness of sluggishness, or rancour of soul, or languor of sloth ? If any one, perchance, felt that the fountain of his tears was dry, did it not gush forth more plentifully than ever, and flow more sweetly than ever, as soon as he invoked the Name of Jesus? If any of us were ever in danger, and our heart beat with fear, did not this Name of power bring us confidence and courage the moment we pronounced it ? When we were tossed to and fro by perplexing doubts, did not the evidence of what was right burst on us as we called upon the Name of light ? When we were discouraged, and well nigh crushed, by ad- versity, did not our heart take courage, when our tongue uttered the Name of help? All this is most true; for all these miseries are the sicknesses and faintings of our soul, and the Name of Jesus is our Medicine. ‘But, let us see how all this comes to pass. Call upon me in the day of trouble, says the Lord; I will deliver thee, and thow shalt glorify me> There is nothing which so restrains the impulse of anger, calms the swelling of pride, heals the wound of envy, represses the insatiability of luxury, smothers the flame of lust, quenches the thirst of avarice, and dispels the fever of uncleanliness —as the Name of Jesus. For when I pronounce this Name, I bring before my mind the Man, who, by ex- cellence, is meek and humble of heart, benign, sober, chaste, merciful, and filled with everything that is good and holy, nay, who is the very God Almighty—whose example me. heals me, and whose assistance I say all this, when I say Jesus. 3 Ps. xlix 15. strengthens Here have I FEAST OF THE HOLY NAME 397 my model, for he is Man; and my help, for he is God; the one provides me with precious drugs, the other gives them efficacy; and from the two I make a potion such as no physician knows how to make. “Here is the electuary, my soul, hid in the casket of this Name Jesus; believe me, it is wholesome, and good for every ailment thou canst possibly have. Ever have it with thee, in thy bosom and in thy hand; so glhat all thy affections and actions may be directed to ESUS.’? The feast of the Holy Name is of comparatively retent origin, its first promoter was St Bernardine of Siena, who lived in the fifteenth century. This holy man established the practice of representing the Holy Name of Jesus surrounded with rays, and formed into a monogram of its three first letters, 11s.> The custom spread rapidly through Italy, and was zealously propagated by the great St John of Capestrano, who, like St Bernardine of Siena, was of the Order of Friars Minor. The Holy See gave its formal approbation to this manner of honouring the Name of our Saviour, and, in the early part of the sixteenth century, Pope Clement VI, after long entreaties, granted to the whole Franciscan Order the privilege of keeping a special Feast in honour of the Most Holy Name of Jesus. Rome extended the same favour to various Churches; and, at length, the Feast was inserted in the universal Calendar. It was in the year 1721, at the request of Charles VI, Emperor of Germany, that Pope Innocent XII decreed that the Feast of the Most Holy Name of Jesus should be kept throughout the whole Church; he also chose the Second Sunday after the Epiphany as the day, but as we have already explained, the feast is now fixed for the Sunday following the Circumcision. 1 Fifteenth Sermon on the Canticle of Canticles. # The Name was, anciently, often written Thesus ; hence, in its contracted form alluded to, the letter 1 would be given: the E following was virtually included in the aspicate, (Translalor.) CHRISTMAS 398 MASS The Church begins her chants by proclaiming the glory of the Name of her Spouse. Heaven, earth, and hell! bow ye down at the sound of this adorable Name, for the Son of Man, who bears this Name, is also the Son of God. INTROIT In Nomine Jesu omne genu flectatur, strium et ccelestium, infernorum; terre- et omnis lingua confiteatur, quia Dominus Jesus Christus in gloria est Dei Patris Ps. Domine, Dominus noster, quam admirabile est Nomen tuum in_universa terra! Y. Gloria Patri. In Nomine Jesu. At the Name of Jesus, let every knee bend in heaven, on earth, and under the earth; and every tongue confess, that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father. Ps.O Lord, our Lord, how wonderful is thy name over the whole earth. Name. ¥. Glory. At the In the Collect, the Church, which, during her exile, finds consolation in the Name of her divine Spouse, prays that she may see his blessed face in heaven. COLLECT Deus, qui unigenitum Fi0 God, who didst appoint thy lium tuum_constituisti hu- Only-Begotten Son the Saviour mani generis Salvatorem, et of mankind, and commandedst Jesum vocari jussisti: con- that his name should be called Cede propitius, ut cujus sanc- Jesus: mercifully grant, that we tum Nomen veneramur in Who venerate this holy Name on terris, ejus quoque aspectu earth, may also enjoy his sight perfruamur in caelis. ~ Per in heaven. Through the same, eumdem. ete. No commemoration is made of the Sunday; but on January 2, 3, or 4 the occurring Octave Day is commemo- rated n private Masses only; and on January 5 the Vigil of the Epiphany is commemoraled in all Masses, and St Telesphorus, Pope and Martyr, in private Masses. FEAST OF THE HOLY NAME 399 EPISTLE Lectio Actuum Apostolo- Lesson from the Acts of the rum. Apostles. Cap. IV. Ch. IV. In those days: Peter being In dicbus illis, Petrus Spiritu Sancto repletus, dixit: filled with the Holy Ghost, Principes populi, et seniores, said: Ye princes of the people audite: si nos hodie dijudica- and ancients, hear. If we this mnur in benefacto hominis in- day are examined concerning firmi, in quo iste salvus fac- the good deed done to the intus est; notum sit omnibus firm man, by what mcans he vobis, et omni_ plebi Israel, hath been made whole, be it quia in Nomine Domini nostri known to you all, and to all Jesu Christi Nazareni, quem the people of Israel, that by vos crucifixistis, quem Deus the name of our Lord Jesus suscitavit a mortuis, in hoc Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God hath raised iste adstat coram vobis sanus. Hic est lapis qui reprobatus from the dead, even by him this est a vobis adificantibus, qui man standeth here before you factus est in caput anguli; et whole. This is the stone which non est in alio aliquo salus. was rejected by you the builders, Nec enim aliud nomen est sub which is become the head of the celo datum hominibus, in corner; neither is there salvaquo oporteat nos salvos fieri. tion in any other. For thereisno othernameunderheavengivento men whereby we must be saved. Oh! how true is this, dear Jesus! no other Name but thine could give us salvation, and thy Name means Saviour. Be thou praised for having taken such a Name! Be thou praised for having saved us! Thou art of heaven heavenly, and yet thou takest a Name of earth, and one which our mortal lips can say. The holy Church then commences a second canticle in praise of this divine Name, which is blessed by all nations, for it is the name of him who redeemed them all. Salvos fac nos, GRADUAL Domine Deus noster; et congrega nos de nationibus: ut confiteamur Nomini sancto tuo, et gloriemur in laude tua. Save us, O Lord, our God! and gather us from amidst the nations: that we may give thanks to thy holy Name, and may glory in thy praise. 400 CHRISTMAS ¥. Tu, Domine, Pater noster, et Redemptor noster; a szculo nomen tuum. ‘Alleluia, alleluia. ¥. Laudem Domini loquetur os meum, et benedicat omnis caro Nomen sanctum ejus. Alleluia. After Septuagesima, instead of the Alleluia. ¥. Thou, Lord, art our Father and Redeemer; thy Name is from eternity. Alleluia, alleluia. ‘ ¥. My mouth shall publish the praises of the Lord, and let all flesh bless his holy Name. Alleluia. the following Tract is sung, TRACT Domine, Deus virtutum, Convert us to thee, O Lord God of hosts; and show thy converte nos; et ostende faciem tuam et salvi erimus: face, and we shall be saved: sonet vox tua in auribus let thy voice sound in my meis. ears. ¥. For sweet is thy voice, ¥. Vox enim tua_dulcis, and’ very beautiful is thy et facies tua decora nimis. countenance. ¥. Oleum effusum Nomen ¥. Thy Name, O Jesus, is as tuum, Jesu; ideo adoles- oil poured out; therefore have centul dilexerunt te. virgins loved thee. GOSPEL Sequentia sancti Evangelii secundum Lucam. Cap. II. In illo tempore: Postquam consummati sunt dies octo, ut circumcideretur tum est Nomen Puer, ejus voca- Jesus; quod vocatum est ab Angelo, priusquam in utero conciperetur. Sequel of the holy Gospel according to Luke. Ch. II. At that time, After eight days were accomplished that _the Child should be circumcised, his name was called Jesus, which was called by the angel, before he was conceived in the womb. It is during the first shedding of thy Blood, by the Circumcision, that thou didst receive this Name of Jesus, dear Lord ! and it was fitting that it should be so, for this Name signifies Saviour, and we could not be saved but by thy Blood. Our immortal life is to be purchased at the price of thy Death! This truth is FEAST OF THE HOLY 401 NAME Saviour! expressed to us by thy Name, O Jesus! Thou art the Vine, and thou invitest us to drink of thy delicious Wine; but the heavenly Fruit must be first unsparingly pressed in the wine-press of thy Eternal Father’s justice; we cannot drink of its juice, until it shall have been torn from the branch and bruised for our sakes. May thy sacred Name ever remind us of this sublime Mystery, and may the remembrance keep us from sin, and make us always faithful. During the Offertory, the holy Church resumes her chants in honour of the Holy Name; she celebrates the mercies, which on this Name. are reserved for all them that call OFFERTORY I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify thy name for ever; because, O Lord, thou art’ good and gracious, and full of mercy towards ali that call upon thee. Alleluia. Confitebor tibi, Domine Deus meus, in foto_corde meo; et glorificabo_Nomen tuum in @ternum. Quoniam tu, Domine, suavis et mitis es, multz misericordiz omnibus invocantibus te. AlTeluia. SECRET Benedictio tua, clementis- sime Deus, qua omnis viget creatura, sanctificet, quasu‘mus, hoc sacrificium nostrum, quod ad_gloriam Nominis Filii tui Domini nostri Jesu Christi offerimus tibi: ut majestati tuz placere possit ad laudem, et nobis proficere ad salutem. Per eumdem. The Faithful having May thy blessing, O most merciful God, by which every creature is enlivened and subsists, sanctify this our sacrifice, which we offer thee in honour of the name of thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ: that it may be acceptable to the praise of thy majesty, and available to our salvation. Through the same, etc. received the heavenly food— the Body and Blood of their Saviour, Jesus—the Church, filled with gratitude towards her Lord, invites all nations ttcl)l glorify the Name of him who made and redeemed em. 26 402 CHRISTMAS COMMUNION Omnes gentes quascumque fecisti venient, et adorabunt coram te, Domine, et glorificabunt Nomen tuum: quoniam magnus es tu, et faciens mirabilia; tu es Deus solus. Alleluia. All the nations thou hast made shall come and adore before thee, O Lord, and they shall glorify thy name, for thou art great and dost wonderful things: thou art God alone. Alleluia. The holy Church has now but one more prayer to make: it is, that the names of her children may be written, under the glorious Name of ‘ Jesus,” in the book of eternal predestination, which is, as it were, the deed of the contract made with us by our Saviour. This happiness will assuredly be ours, if we are but wise enough to profit by all that this sweet Name offers us, and to make our life conformable to the lessons it teaches us. POSTCOMMUNION Omaipotens, zterne Deus, 0 Almighty and Eternal God, qui creasti et redemisti nos: who didst both create and rerespice propitius vota nostra, deem us, mercifully hear our salutaris hoprayers, and vouchsafe, with a et sacrificium Nohonorem in quod stiz, pleasing and kind countenance, minis Filii tui Domini nostri to receive the sacrifice of this Jesu_Christi, majestati tuz victim of our salvation, which obtulimus, placido et benigno we have offered to thy divine vultu suscipere digneris; ut Majesty, in honour of the Name gratia tua nobis infusa, sub of thy Son, our Lord Jesus glorioso Nomine Jesu, wter- Christ; that thy grace being nz pradestinationis titulo, poured upon us, through the gaudeamus nomina nostra glorious Name of Jesus as a scripta_esse in coelis. Per pledge of our eternal preeumdem. destination, we may rejoice that ournames are written in heaven. Through the same, etc. VESPERS ANT. Omnis_qui invocaverit Nomen Domini salvus erit. Psalm: ANT. Whosoever shall call upon_the Name of the Lord, shall be saved. Dizit Dominus, p. 89. FEAST OF THE HOLY NAME 403 ANT. Holy and terrible is his Nomen ejus: _initium sa- Name: the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. pienti timor Domini. Psalm: Confitebor, p. 9o. ANT. Ego autem in DoANT. But I will rejoice in mino gaudebo, et exsultabo the Lord, and I will joy in in Deo Jesu meo. God my Jesus. Psalm: Beatus vir, p. or. ANT. A solis ortu_usque ANT. From the rising of the ad occasum, laudabile Nomen sun unto the going down of the Domini. same, the Name of the Lord is worthy of praise. Psalm: Laudate pueri, p. o2. ANT. Sacrificabo hostiam ANT. T will sacrifice the laudis, et Nomen Domini sacrifice of praise, and I will invocabo. call upon the Name of the Lord. ANT. Sanctum et terribile PSALM 115 T have believed, therefore Credidi, propter quod locutus sum: * ego autem have I spoken: but I have been humiliatus sum nimis. humbled exceedingly. Ego dixi in excessu meo: T said in my excess: Every * Omnis homo mendax. man is a liar. Quid retribuam Domino, What shall T render to the * pro omnibus, qua retri- Lord, for all the things that he buit mihi ? hath rendered to me ? Calicem salutaris accipiam: T will take the chalice of sal* et Nomen Domini invocabo. vation: and I will call upon the Name of the Lord. Vota mea Domino reddam T will pay my vows to the coram_omni populo ejus: Lord before all his people: * pretiosa in conspectu Do- precious in the sight of the Lord mini mors sanctorum ejus. is the death of his saints. O Domine, quia ego servus O Lord, for I am thy servant: tuus: * ego servus tuus et 1 am thy servant, and the son filius ancille tuz. of thy handmaid. Dirupisti vincula mea: * Thou hast broken my bonds: tibi sacrificabo hostiam lau- I will sacrifice to thee the dis, et Nomen Domini invo- sacrifice of praise, and I will call upon the Name of the cabo. Lord. 404 CHRISTMAS . Vota mea Domino reddam 1 will pay my vows to the in conspectu omnis populi Lord in the sight of all his ejus: * in atriis domus Do- people, in the courts of the house of the Lord, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. CAPITULUM (Phil. ii) Fratres, Christus humiliaBrethren, Christ humbled vit semefipsum, factus obe- himself, becoming obedient unto diens usque ad mortem, mor- death, even to the death of the tem autem crucis: propter cross; for which cause, God also quod et Deus exaltavit illum, hath exalted him, and hath et donavit illi Nomen quod given him a Name, which is est super omne nomen: ut in above all names: that in the Nomine Jesu omne genu Name of Jesus every knee flectatur. should bow. Jesu, dulcis memoria, Dans vera cordi gaudia: Sed super mel et omnia, Ejus dulcis praesentia. HYMN! Nil canitur suavius, Nil auditur jucundius, Nil cogitatur dulcius, Quam Jesus Dei Filius. Jesu, spes peenitentibus, Quam pius es petentibus | Quam bonus te quarentibus | Sed quid invenientibus ? Nec lingua valet dicere, Nec littera exprimere; Expertus potest credere, Quid sit Jesum diligere. Sis Jesu nostrum gaudium, Qui es futurus premium, Sit nostra in te gloria, Per cuncta semper secula. Amen. Jesus ! how sweet the remémbrance of that name, which gives true joy to the heart! But, the sweet presence of him who bears that Name is sweeter than honey and every pleasure. No song is so sweet, no word is so sweet, no thought is so sweet as—Jesus, the Som of God / Dear Jesus! thou hope of penitent “hearts | how merciful thou art to them that ask for thee | how good to them that seek thee | but, oh ! what art thou to them that find thee! No tongue can tell, no pen can describe, what it is to love Jesus. He that has felt it, can alone believe the bliss. Jesus | be thou our joy, as thou wilt, one day, be our reward. May our glory for eternal ages be in thee. Amen. * In the Monastic Breviary, it is preceded by this Responsory. R. br. Adjutorium nostrum {_in Nomine Domini, * Alleluia, alleluia. V. Qui fecit ceelum et terram. * Alleluia. Gloria Patri. Adjutorium, Adjutorium, FEAST OF THE ¥. Sit Nomen Domini benedictum, Alleluia. R. Ex hoc nunc, et usque in seculum, Alleluia. HOLY NAME 405 ¥. Blessed be the Name of the Lord, Alleluia. K. From henceforth, now, and for ever, Alleluia. ANTIPHONS OF THE MAGNIFICAT ANT. (1 Vp). Fecit mihi magna qui potens est, et sanctum nomen ejus, alleluia. ANT. (2 Vp.). Vocabis Nomen ejus Jesum; ipse enim salvum faciet populum suum a peccatis eorum. Alleluia. OREMUS Deus qui unigenitum Filium tuum_constituisti humani generis Salvatorem, et Jesum vocari jussisti: concede propitius, ut, cujus sanctum Nomen veneramur in terris, ejus quoque_aspectu perfruamur in ceelis. = Per eumdem. ANT. (1 Vp.). For he that is mighty has done great things to me, and holy is his Name, alleluia. ANT. (2 Vp.). Thou shalt call his Name Jesus ; for he shall save his people from their sins. Alleluia. LET US PRAY O God, who didst appoint thy Only-Begotten Son, the Saviour of mankind, and commandedst that his Name should be called Jesus: mercifully grant, that we who venerate his holy Name on earth, may also enjoy his sight in heaven. Through the same, etc. The two Hymns which follow, and which are used by the Church for the Matins and Lauds of the Feast, are by the same writer as the Hymn of Vespers, Jesu dulcis memoria. They were for a long time attributed to St Bernard; but Manuscripts have been found, which prove beyond a doubt, that they were composed by a holy Abbess of the Order of St Benedict, who lived in the fourteenth century. HYMN Jesu, Rex admirabilis, Et triumphator nobilis, Dulcedo inefiabilis, Totus desiderabilis. Quando cor nostrum visitas, Tunc lucet ei veritas, O Jesus! admirable King ! noble” Conqueror | _ineffable Sweetness | most lovely Jesus | When thou visitest the heart, then does truth shine upon her, the vanity of the world grows 406 CHRISTMAS Mundi vilescit vanitas, Et intus fervet charitas, Jesu, dulcedo cordium, Fons vivus, lumen mentium, Excedens omne gaudium, Et omne desiderium. Jesum omnes agnoscite; Amorem ejus poscite; Jesum ardenter quarite, Quierendo inardescite. Te nostra, Jesu, vox sonnet, Nostri te mores exprimant, Te corda nostra diligant, Et nunc et in perpetuum. Amen. Jesu decus Angelicum, In"aure dulce canticum, In ore mel mirificum, In corde nectar ceelicum. Qui te gustant esuriunt; Qui bibunt adhuc sitiunt; Desiderare nesciunt Nisi Jesum, quem diligunt. O Jesu, mi dulcissime, Spes ‘suspirantis anima | Te quaerunt piz lacryma, Te clamor mentis intime. Mane nobiscum, Domine, Et nos illustra lumine; Pulsa mentis caligine, Mundum reple dulcedine. Jesu, flos Matris virginis, Amor nostre dulcedini Tibi laus, honor Nominis, Regnum beatitudinis. Amen. contemptible, and charity burns within. O Jesus! Sweetness of the heart] Fount of life! Light of the soul| Thou surpassest every joy, and every desire. Acknowledge this Jesus, all ye people | Pray for his love, seek him with all eagerness, and, as ye seek him, burn with love of him. May our tongue proclaim thee, O Jesu| may our lives reflect thy virtues! may our hearts love thee, both now and for eternity | Amen. HYMN My Jesus, thou glory of the Angels| Thou art sweet music to the ear, sweetest honey to the mouth, heavenly nectar to the heart | They that taste thee, still hunger after thee; they that drink, still thirst to drink; they know not what to desire save the Jesus whom they love. O Jesus | my sweetest Jesus | hope of this panting heart | these tears of love, this cry of my innermost soul, both ask thee to be mine. Abide with us, O Lord ! and illumine us with light; drive darkness from our souls, and fill the world with thy sweetness. To thee, O Jesus! thou Flower of thy Virgin-Mother, thou love of our delighted nature | be praise, and the honour of thy Name, and the kingdom of eternal bliss. Amen, FEAST OF THE HOLY NAME 407 The following Sequence is the composition of the devout Bernardine de Bustis, a Franciscan, who also composed, during the pontificate of Sixtus IV, an Office and a Mass of the Holy Name of Jesus. SEQUENCE Duleis Jesus Nazarenus, Judzorum Rex ameenus, Pius, pulcher, floridus. Pro salute suz gentis Subit mortem cum tormentis, Factus pallens, lividus. Dulce Nomen et cognomen, Hoc transcendens est pranomen Omnibus nominibus. Mulcet reos, sanat eos; Fovet justos, munit eos; Servans ab insultibus. Hujus Regis sub vexillo Statu degis in tranquillo: Hostes tui fugiunt. Nomen Jesu meditatum Belli fugat apparatum, Hostes victi fugiunt. Hoc est Nomen recolendum, Quod sic semper est tre‘mendum Malignis spiritibus. Hoc est Nomen salutare, Et solamen singulare, Quod succurrit tristibus. Hoc nos decet honorare, Arca cordis inserare, Cogitare, peramare, Amore sed heroico. Ignatius hoc docuit, Hoc passus insonuit, Cor ejus scissum patuit Inscriptum Jesu ccelico. Sweet Jesus of Nazareth! dear King of the Jews! the good, the beautiful, the flowerlike Jesus | He suffers death and torments for the salvation of his people: he is pale and livid with his wounds. Sweet Name and epithet | It is the Name surpassing all names. It softens the sinner’s heart, and heals him: it warms up the just, and strengthens them, and defends them from temptation. Under this King’s standard, thou livest in peace, for thine enemies fly before thee. Think upon the Name of Jesus, and it will break up thine enemies’ plans, conquer them, and put them to flight. This is the Name deserving of all honour, at which the wicked spirits ever tremble. ‘This is the Name of salvation, and the wonderful consolation which comforts the sorrowfu . It behoves us to honour this Name, put it in the treasury of our heart, think on it, love it, but love it bravely. Tgnatius taught men this Name; when he suffered martyrdom he had it on his lips, and when his heart was opened, there was found written on it this heavenly word Jesus. 408 CHRISTMAS What could we wish for better than this, to_have Jesus as a bosom-friend 2 He is lovely above all measure, and desires Et quarit nos amare. to love us. He loves most ardently, he Amat ferventissime, loves most constantly, he loves Amat constantissime, most faithfully, and seeks how Amat fidelissime, Et suos vult juvare. to assist his friends. Nomen suum fecit tale, He made his own Name, Ut sit cunctis cordiale, and he made it such as that Capitale, principale, all should love it above all names, and before all names, Dilectum ex intimis. and more intimately than ali other names. that law: Habent hoc nature jura: This is nature’s Ut amantem tota cura we study our best to love him Redamemus, placitura who loves us, and cordially do Prastantes ex animis. all we can to please him. Jesu Nomen omne bonum The Name of Jesus includes Tenet, dulcem facit sonum: all good things; its sound is Promeretur regni thronum, sweet; it merits for us a throne in the kingdom; it gladdens our Auditum lztificat. hearing. The brightness of the Father In hoc lucet splendor Patris, shines in it; the beauty of the In hoc patet decor Matris: Mother beams through it; the In hoc fulget honor Patris, honour of the Father is reflected Hoc fratres magnificat. in it; the glory of the Brethren comés from it. Ergo si quis velit scire Would any one, therefore, Quare Nomen Jesu mire know, how it is that the Name Facit bonos concupire of Jesus so wonderfully causes Sui inharentia. the good to desire him whose Name it is ? Jesu, pulcher in decore, It is that Jesus is beautiful in Summe bonus in valore, comeliness, “infinitely good in Mitis, lenis, cum dulcore worth, meek, gentle, and sweetly Pronus ad clementiam. prone to mercy. Jesus est Rex gloriosus, Jesus is the King of glory; Jesus forma speciosus: Jesus is beautiful in appearJesus lingua gratiosus, ance; Jesus is graceful in speech, Et mirandus opere. and admirable in his works. Jesus fortis, animosus, Jesus is strong, and valiant; Jesus pugil vigorosus, Jesus is a vigorous combatant; Jesus donis copiosus, Jesus is generous in his gifts, Et gaudet tribuere. and loves to give. Jesus pie viscerosus, Jesus is tenderly compasJesus ductor luminosus, sionate; Jesus is the enlightUt quid majora cupimus Quam quod Jesus sit intimus Qui est przamantissimus, FEAST OF THE Jesus est deliciosus, Et sapit dulcissime. Jesus fama gloriosus, Jesus cunctis fructuosus, Jesus totus virtuosus, Fovet suos optime. Summe celsus in honore, Summe gratus in amore, Omnem laudem obtinet. In sciendo omne sapit, Ambiendo cuncta capit, Diligendo corda rapit, Et illata detinet. Eia nobis Nomen gratum, Dulcis Jesus appellatum: Sit in corde sic firmatum, Ut non possit erui. Hoc reatum peccatorum Tollat, prastet jubilorum Odas: 'sede beatorum Donet nobis perfrui. Amen. HOLY NAME 409 ened guide; Jesus is the delight of all who know him, and most sweet is his company. Jesus is glorified throughout the world; Jesus brings the fruit of blessings to all; Jesus is the source of every virtue, and takes the tenderest care of those that are his. There is none equal to him in honour, there is none like him in affection, and all the earth praises him. He knows all things, and holds all things in his omnipresent_providence; his love wins him the hearts of his creatures and keeps them fastened to himself. All hail, then, to this Name so loved —* Sweet Jesus’ ! May it be so fixed within our hearts, that no power may take it from us! May it bring us the forgiveness of our sins; may it inspire us to hymn God’s praise; may it lead us to the possession of our blissful throne in heaven. Amen. We cannot refuse to our readers the following Hymn from the ancient Missals of Germany, notwithstanding its being, in several of the repetition of the one just given. Nomen jure sublimatum, In excelsis adoratum, Nomen summe glorie: Gabrieli revelatum, Et in terris nunciatum Genitrici gratiz. Hzc octavo die natum, Circumcisum more patrum, Salvatorem nominat. HYMN ideas and expressions, a Jesus, Name so justly honoured, adored in heaven, and expressive of infinite glory | It was revealed to Gabriel, and announced earth to the Mother of divine grace. She, on the eighth day, when her Son had been circumcised according to the Jewish cere. 410 CHRISTMAS Universo publicatum mony, she called him Jesus. Mundo Nomen hoc beatum The blessed Name was preached Credentes salvificat. to the whole world, and saves them that believe. In hoc lucet Trinitatis The glory of the divine Splendor atque unitatis; Trinity and Unity blazes forth Hoc celum letificat. in this Name; it gladdens In hoc fulget honor Patris, heaven; the brightness of the In hoc patet decor Matris, Father shines in it; the beauty Hoc fratres glorificat. of the Mother beams_through it; the glory of the Brethren comes from it. Hoc est Nomen salutare, This is the Name of salvation, Et solamen singulare, and the wonderful consolation Quod succurrit tristibus. which comforts the sorrowful. Foc nos decet honorare, It behoves us ever to honour, Benedicere, laudare and bless, and praise, with joySemper letis mentibus. ful hearts, this dear Name. Hoc est melos pradicatum, Tt is music when preached to Dulce mel est invocatum, us; it is sweet honey when inServat ab insultibus. voked by us; it defends us from Jubilus est cogitatum, temptation. Itis joy to us when Nomen mire formidatum we think on it, and the wicked Malignis spiritibus. spirits are seized with strange fear when they hear us say it. Ecce Nomen gratiosum, This is the Name that is full Fructuosum, virtuosum of grace, and fruit, and virtue, Pra cunctis nominibus. above all mames. It makes Vultum Dei gratiosum, known to men the gracious, the Speciosum, amorosum, beautiful, the loving face of God. Ostendit hominibus. Nomen pulchrum in decore, It s fair in beauty, it is surSumme bonum in valore, passingly good in worth, its Intus sapit dulcites inner relish is most sweet; it is Summe potens in vigore, most powerful in energy, most high in honour, and gives a Summe celsum in honore Delectat feliciter. happy delight. Ergo Pastor animarum, Do thou, therefore, good Jesus! Shepherd and Light unBone Jesu, et earum Lumen indeficiens, Tailing of our souls ! defend us, Propter Nomen tuum carum and, for thy dear Name's sake, Tetrum chaos tenebrarum let not the dismal chaos of darkObstrue, nos muniens. ness ingulf us. O Reformator cunctarum O thou the Reformer of all Nationum humanarum, nations, that destroyest death Vita mortem auferens, by thy Life! O Restorer of Restaurator ruinarum the loss sustained by the AnVirtutum angelicarum, gels, give thyself unto us. Te ipsum sis largiens. ~Amen. Amen. OCTAVE JANUARY THE 2 OCTAVE OF ST STEPHEN THE FIRST MARTYR ESTERDAY of Jesus; 411 OF ST STEPHEN we finished the Octave of the Birth to-day we shall finish the Octave of St Stephen; but this without losing sight one moment of the Divine Babe, whose Court is formed by Stephen, John the Beloved Disciple, the Holy Innocents, and St Thomas of Canterbury. the Magi prostrate before In five days we shall see the Crib of the new-born of him of August, King; they are already on the way, and the Star is advancing towards Bethlehem. Let us spend the interval in reconsidering how great is the glory of our Emmanuel in his having lavished such extraordinary favours on these Saints whom he has chosen to be near him at his first coming into the world. Let us begin with Stephen, for this is the last day of the Octave dedicated to him by the Church. We must take leave now till the month when we shall again meet him on the Feast of the Finding of his Relics. In a sermon which was for a long time thought to have been written by St Augustine, we find it mentioned that St Stephen was in the flower of his youth when he was called by the Apostles to receive the sacred character of deaconship. Six others were ordained deacons with him; and these seven, whose office was to minister at the Altar here below, represented the seven Angels, whom St John saw standing near the Altar in heaven. Stephen was appointed as the head of the Seven, and St Irenzus, who lived in tle second century, calls him the Arch-Deacon. The characteristic virtue of a Deacon is fidelity. Hence, he is intrusted with the care of the treasures 412 CHRISTMAS of the Church, treasures which consist not merely in the alms destined for the poor, but in that which is the most precious thing in heaven and earth—the Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, of which the Deacon is the minister, in virtue of his Order. For this reason, the Apostle St Paul, in his first Epistle to Timothy, bids the Deacons hold the Mystery conscience.® It was, therefore, of Faith in a pure more than an appropriate coin- cidence, that the first of all the Martyrs was a Deacon, for Martyrdom is the great proof of fidelity, and fidelity is the official virtue of the Diaconate. This same truth is still more strongly impressed upon us by the fact that the three who stand pre-eminent amongst the Martyrs of Christ are vested in the holy Dalmatic—the three glorious Deacons: Stephen, the glory of Jerusalem; Laurence, the pride of Rome; and Vincent, of whom Spain so justly boasts. The present holy season gives us Stephen, who has been gladdening us with his festal Fresence ever since Christmas Day, and Vincent, whose east falls on January 22. Laurence will come to us, with his rich waving Palm, in the sunny month of August; and us, a second Stephen, time, in the same month, will visit in the Feast of the Finding of his Relics. With the intention of paying respect to the Holy Order of Deaconship in the person of its first repre- sentative, it is a custom in a great many Churches, on the Feast of St Stephen, that Deacons should fulfil every office which is not beyond their Order. For example, the Chanter yields his staff of office to a Deacon; the Choristers, who assist the Chanter, are also Deacons, vested in Dalmatics; and the Epistle of the Mass is sung by a Deacon, because it is the passage from the Acts of the Apostles which relates the history of the holy Martyr’s death. The institution of St Stephen’s Feast, and its being fixed on the day immediately following that of our * 1 Tim, iii 9. OCTAVE Lord’s Birth, OF ST STEPHEN are so ancient that it is impossible 413 to assign their date. The Apostolic Constitutions, which were compiled at the latest towards the close of the third century, mention this Feast as already established, and that, too, on the morrow of Christmas Day. St Gregory of Nyssa and St Asterius of Amasea, both of them earlier than the miraculous discovery of the Holy Deacon’s Relics, have left us Homilies for the Feast of St Stephen, in which they lay stress on the circumstance of its having the honour to be kept the very day after the solemnity of Christmas. With regard to its Octave, the institution is less ancient, though the date cannot be defined. Amalarius, who wrote in the ninth century, speaks of this Octave as already established; and Not- ker’s Martyrology, compiled in the tenth century, makes express mention of it. But how comes it that the Feast of a mere Deacon has been thus honoured, whilst almost all those of the Apostles have no Octave? The rule followed by the Church in her Liturgy is to give more or less solemnity to the Feasts of the Saints, according to the importance of the services they rendered to mankind. Thus it is that the honour she pays to St Jerome, for example, who was only a Priest, is more marked than that she gives to a great number of holy Popes. It is her gratitude which guides her in assigning to the Saints their respective rank in her Calendar, and the devotion of the Faithful to the saintly benefactors whom she now venerates as members of the Church Triumphant is thus regulated by a safe standard. St Stephen led the way to Martyrdom; his example inaugurated that sublime witnessing by shedding one’s own blood, which is the very strength of the Church, ratifies the truths she teaches to the world, and confirms the hopes of eternal reward promised by those truths. Glory, then, and honour to the Prince of Martyrs! As long as time shall last, so long shall the Church on earth celebrate the name of Stephen, who was the first to shed his blood for the God who died on Calvary ! 414 CHRISTMAS We have already noticed St Stephen’s imitation of Jesus, by praying for and forgiving his enemies; it is the circumstance which the Church continually alludes to in her Office of his Feast. But there is another very important incident in the martyrdom of our Saint which we must, for a moment, dwell upon. One of the accom- plices in the murder which was being committed under the walls of Jerusalem was a young man of the name of Saul. He made himself exceedingly active, for he was of an ardent temperament, and, as the Fathers observe, he helped every man who stoned the holy Deacon, because he took care of the murderers’ garments whilst they committed the crime. Not long after, this same Saul, whilst travelling to Damascus, was converted into an Apostle of that Jesus whom he had heard Stephen confess as the Son of God. He was the fruit of Stephen’s dying prayer. The blood of Stephen cried to heaven for mercy, and heaven sent to the Gentiles the Apostle who would bring them to the knowledge and love of Jesus. ‘What an admirable scene! cries out St Augustine. ‘ Here is Stephen being stoned, and Saul taking care of the garments of them that stone him. But this Saul is now Paul, the Apostle of Jesus Christ, and Stephen is the servant of Jesus Christ. . . . Saul ! thou hast been prostrated, and raised up again: prostrated a persecutor, raised up a preacher. Everywhere are thy Epistles read; everywhere art thou bringing to Christ them that are his enemies; everywhere art thou the good Shepherd, surrounded by a numerous flock. Thou art now reigning with Christ, in company with him thou didst once stone. Both of you are looking upon us; both of you now hear what I am saying; do both of you pray, also, for us. He who crowned you both will hear both. Stephen was a lamb; Saul was awolf; now both are lambs, and both will acknowledge us as of the flock of Christ, and will pray for us, that the Church of their Master may be blessed with a peaceful and tranquil life.” Stephen and Paul both visit us * Sermon 316: The Third for the Feast of St Stephen. OCTAVE 415 OF ST STEPHEN during this grand season of Christmas; for we shall keep the Feast of the Conversion of St Paul on January 25; and thus Stephen leads his spiritual conquest to the Crib of their common Lord and Master. Catholic piety has chosen St Stephen as one of the Patrons of a Happy Death. This choice was suggested by the death of the Holy Martyr: a death so tranquil that the Scripture calls it a Slecp, in spite of the cruel torture to which his executioners put him. Let us, therefore, beg the intercession of St Stephen for that awful hour of our death, when we must return to our Creator these souls of ours; nay, let us ask him to pray that we may be habitually in such a disposition of mind as to be ever ready to make the total sacrifice of the life which God has given to us: it was a sacred deposit he intrusted {o our keeping, which we were to hold in readiness for him whensoever he might demand it at our hands. The Mass is given which is as follows ! above, p. 228, cxcept the Collect, COLLECT Omnipotens _ sempiterne O Almighty and eternal God, Deus, qui primitias Marty- who didst consecrate the firstrum in beati Levite Stefruits of Martyrdom in the phani sanguine dedicasti: blood of blessed Stephen the tribue, quasumus, ut pro Levite; grant, we bescech thee, nobis intercessor existat, qui that he may intercede for us, pro suis etiam persecutori- who even for his persecutors bus exoravit Dominum nos- begged mercy of our Lord Jesus tram Jesum Christum, Fili- Christ, thy Son. um tuum. Commemoration of the Blessed Virgin Mary Deus qui salutis_wtern, beate Mari@ virginitate feocunda, humano generi pramia prastitisti; tribue ,quasumus, ut ipsam pro nobis intercedere sentiamus, per quam meruimus auctorem O God, who, by the fruitful Virginity of the Blessed Mary, hast given to mankind the rewards of eternal salvation, grant, we beseech thee, that we may experience her intercession, by whom we received the 416 CHRISTMAS vitz suscipere, Dominum no- Author of life, our Lord Jesus strum Jesum Christum Fi- Christ, thy Son. lium tuum. The third Prayer is one of the following: Against the perseculors of the Church Ecclesiz tuz, quesumus, Domine, preces placatus admitte: ut, destructis adversitatibus et erroribus universis, secura tibi serviat libertate. Mercifully hear, we beseech thee, O Lord, the prayers of thy Church, that all oppositions and errors being removed, she may serve thee with a secure and undisturbed devotion. For the Pope Deus omnium fidelium Pastor et Rector, famulum tuum N. quem Pastorem Ecclesie tue praeesse voluisti, propitius respice; da ei, quasumus, verbo et exemplo, quibus praest, proficere; ut ad vitam, una cum grege sibi credito, perveniat sempiternam. Per Dominum. 0 God, the Pastor and Governor of all the Faithful, look down in thy mercy on thy servant N. whom thou hast appointed Pastor over thy Church; and grant, we beseech thee, that, both by word and example, he may edify all those that are under his charge, and, with the flock intrusted to him, arrive, at length, at eternal happiness. Through, etc. SECRET Commemoration of the Blessed Virgin Mary Tua, Domine, _propitiatione, et beatz Mariz semper Virginis intercessione, ad perpetuam atque prasentem hzc oblatio nobis proficiat prosperitatem et pacem. Being appeased, O Lord, by the intercession of blessed Mary ever Virgin, grant that this oblation may avail for our present and lasting prosperity and peace. Against the persecutors of the Church Protege nos, Domine, tuis Protect us, O Lord, while we mysteriis servientes: ut di- assist at thy sacred mysterics, vinis rebus inhzrentes, et cor- that being employed in acts of pore tibi famulemur et mente. religion, we may serve thee both in body and mind. OCTAVE 417 OF ST STEPHEN For the Pope Oblatis, quasumus, Domine, placare muneribus, et famulum twum N., quem Pastorem Ecclesiz tuz praesse voluisti, assidua protectione guberna. Per Dominum. Be appeased, O Lord, the offering we have made, cease not to protect thy vant N., whom thou hast pleased to appoint Pastor thy Church. Through, etc. with and serbeen over POSTCOMMUNION Commemoration of the Blessed Virgin Mary May this communion, O Lord, cleanse us from sin, and by the intercession of blessed Mary, the Virgin-Mother of God, make us partakers of thy heavenly remedy. Hac nos communio, Domine, purget a crimine; et intercedente beata Virgine Dei Genitrice Maria, ccelestis remedii faciat esse consortes. Against the persecutors of the Church We beseech thee, O Almighty Quasumus, Domine Deus noster, ut quos divina tribuis God, not to leave exposed to the participatione gaudere, hu- dangers of human life, those manis non sinas subjacere whom thou hast permitted to periculis. partake of these divine mysteries. For the Pope Hazc nos, quasumus, Domine, divini sacramenti perceptio protegat: et famulum tuum N., quem Pastorem Ecclesiz tuz -praeesse vol isti, una cum commisso sibi grege, salvet semper et muniat. Per Dominum. We will now select May the participation of this divine Sacrament protect us, we beseech thee, O Lord; and always procure safety and defence to thy servant N., whom thou hast appointed Pastor over thy Church, together with the flock committed to his charge. Through, etc. from the ancient Liturgies few additional pieces in honour of our Saint. We begin with two Responsories as given in the Roman Breviary. 27 a CHRISTMAS 418 RESPONSORIES Ry. Stephanus, servus Dei, quem lapidabant Judai, vidit ceelos apertos: vidit et introivit: * Beatus homo, cui ceeli patebant. ¥. Cum igitur saxorum crepitantium turbine quateretur, inter @thereos aule ceelestis sinus divina ei claritas fulsit. * Beatus homo. K. Patefactz sunt janua ceeli Christi Martyri beato Stephano, qui in numero Martyrum_inventus est primus: * Et ideo triumphat in ceelis coronatus. ¥. Mortem enim, quam Salvator noster dignatus est pro nobis pati, hanc ille primus reddidit Salvatori. * Et ideo. The secrates Church Martyrs. this of Milan, Preface Ry. Stephen, the servant of God, whom the Jews stoned, saw the heavens opened; he saw and entered: * Blessed man, to whom the heavens were opened. ¥. While, therefore, the loud pelting of the storm of stones was beating against him, a divine brightness shone upon him from the ethereal recesses of the heavenly court. * Blessed man. . The gates of heaven were thrown open to Stephen, the blessed Martyr of Christ, who was the first among the Martyrs. * And he therefore tri in heaven, with his Crown_upon him. ¥. For he was the first to pay back to the Saviour the Death our Saviour deigned to suffer for us. * And he. in its Ambrosian to the praise of the PREFACE Vere dignum et Missal, justum est, ®quum et salutare, nos tibi semper et ubique gratias agere, @terne Deus: qui Levitarum praconem vocasti Stepbanum. Hic tibi primus dedicavit Martyrii nomen: hic tibi inchoavit primus effundere sanguinem: hic meruit videre ccelos apertos, et Filium stantem ad dexteram Patris. In terris hominem adorabat, et in ccelo Filium Patris esse clamabat. Hic Prince con- of It is truly meet and just, right and available to salvation, that we should always and 'in all places give thanks to thee, O Eternal God, who didst call Stephen to be the first of Deacons. He was the first that dedicated unto thee the offering of Martyrdom: he was the first to shed his blood for thee: he it was that merited to see the heavens opened, and the Son standing at the right hand of the Father. He adored Jesus OCTAVE OF ST STEPHEN 419 Magistri verba referebat; the Man-God on earth, and he quia, quod Christus dixit in proclaimed him to be the Son of cruce, hoc Stephanus docuit the Father in heaven. He rein sanguinis sui morte. Chris- peated the words of his Master; tus in cruce indulgentiam for what Christ said on the cross, seminabat: et Stephanus pro that did Stephen teach when suis lapidatoribus Dominum shedding his blood in death. supplicabat. Christ on the Cross sowed the seed of his pardon: so did Stephen beseech his Lord to have mercy on them that stoned him. The same Liturgy has the following Collect for St Stephen’s Feast. COLLECT Ministrantium tibi, Deus, eruditor et rector, qui Ecclesiz tuz primordia beati Levite Stephani _ministerio et pretioso martyrii sanguine decorasti; da, quasumus: ut in oxcessu nostro veniam consequentes, mereamur exemplis_ejus imbui, et intercessionibus adjuvari. Per Dominum Jesum Christum. 0 God, the teacher and ruler of them that are thy ministers, who didst adorn the early days of thy Church by the ministry and precious blood of blessed Stephen the Levite; grant, we beseech thee, that meeting with pardon at the hour of our death, we may deserve to follow his example, and be aided by his_intercession. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. The Gothic Liturgy of Spain gives us, in its Mozarabic Missal, the following admirable Prayer to St Stephen. CAPITULUM Beatissime Stephane, Protomartyr, vocabitur tibi nomen novum, quod os Domini nominavit: ut qui mortem pro_illo sumeres, coronam per illum et nomine et virtute susciperes: primus in Martyrio, primus in premio; primus in aula mundi, primus in aula celi: ut hic pro Christo lapidatus, illic ab ipso coronatus, exsultes; ut pro Most blessed Protomartyr Stephen ! thou shalt be called by 2 new name, which the mouth of the Lord hath named: for that thou, who didst suffer death for him, didst by him receive a Crown for thy name and a Crown for thy virtue. Thou wast the first in Martyrdom and first in its reward; first Martyr in the world, and the first in the courts of heaven. 420 CHRISTMAS quo_hic crudelissimam sus- Here stoned for_Christ; there tinuisti peenam, illic pretio- exulting in the Crown he gave sissimam susciperes coronam: thee. Here thou didst suffer, for ergo qui exstitisti Ecclesiz his sake, the most cruel torprimitivus, nunc esto patro- ments; there thou didst receive nus assiduus: ut sit Christus the most precious Crown. Thou, nobis, te precante, propitius, therefore, that wast the first Pro quo Martyr exstitisti miri- flower of the Church, be now her ficus. untiring patron; that so, by thy prayers, that Jesus for whose sake thou wast a glorious Martyr may be merciful unto us. The and following Hymn, remarkable for its simplicity of style, is to be found in most ancient Roman-French Breviaries. Sancte Dei pretiose Protomartyr Stephane, Qui virtute charitatis Circumfultus undique, Dominum pro inimi Exorasti_popul Tu ceelestis primitivus Signifer militi, Veritatis assertivus, Testis primus gratiz, Fundamento lapis vivus, Basis patientiz. Saxo casus, non mucrone, Per saxorum cuspides, Corpus membri passione Circumcidi prevides: Ad decorem sunt coronz Rubricati lapides. Tu ceelorum primus stratam Consternis lapideam, Tu per Christum hebetatam Primus transis rhomphzam, Primum granum trituratum, Ditans Christi aream. HYMN unction of the O holy Protomartyr Stephen, most dear to God ! in the virtue of charity wherewith thou wast armed on every side, thou didst beseech the Lord to have mercy on thine enemies. Thou art the Standardbearer of heaven’s martyr-host; the herald of truth; the first witness of Christian grace; the living _ foundation-stone, ~and ground-work of martyrdom. Stones were the instrument of thy martyrdom, not the sword. The sharp-edged stones, like knives of a second circumcision, tore thine innocent flesh; but, tinged in thy blood, they were made rubies for thy Crown. Thou wast the first to tread the stony rugged path that leads to heaven; thou wast the first to breast that sword which had slain our Lord and lost its keen edge by piercing him ; thou wast the earliest winnowed wheat that graced the granaries of Christ. OCTAVE Tibi primum reseratz Ceeli patent janu, Jesum vides potestate, Cui pugnas strenue; Stans cum Patris majestate Tecum est assidue. Funde preces pro devoto Tibi nunc collegio, 421 OF ST STEPHEN To thee were heaven's gates Ut tuo propitiatus Interventu Dominus Nos purgatos a peccatis Jungat ceeli civibus. Gloria et honor Deo, Qui te flore roseo Coronavit et locavit In throno sidereo: Salvet reos, solvens eos A mortis aculeo. Amen. first opened, showing thee Jesus in his power, for whom “thou didst_so bravely fight: He, standing at the right hand of his Father's majesty, is with thee incessantly. Pray now for this thy devout people, that our Lord, through thy prayers, may mercifully forgive us our sins, and grant us fellowship with the citizens of heaven. Glory and honour to the God who gave thee thy Crown of roses and thy throne above the stars. May he free us from the sting of death, and save us sinners. Amen. We will close our selection with a Sequence composed by Notker; we find it in the collection of St Gall. SEQUENCE Hanc concordi famulatu, colamus solemnitatem, Auctoris illius _exemplo docti benigno, Pro persecutorum precantis fraude suorum. O Stephane, signifer Regis summe boni, nos exaudi: Proficue qui es pro tuis exauditus inimicis. Paulus tuis precibus, Stephane, te quondam persecutus Christo credit, Et tecum tripudiat in regno, cui nullus persecutor appropinquat: Nos proinde, nos supplices ad te clamantes et precibus te pulsantes, Let us solemnize this Feast in the union of fraternal charity, Instructed by the sweet example of its Saint Who prayed for his guilty persecutors. Hear us, O Stephen, thou standard-bearer of the infinitely ‘merciful King, Who heard the prayers thou didst offer him for thine enemies. By thy prayers, O Stephen, that very Paul who once persecuted thee was converted to believe in Jesus, And now exults with thee in that Kingdom, nigh which no persecutors come. We, then, who humbly cry to thee for pity, and besiege thee with our prayers, 422 CHRISTMAS We, surely, shall be reconOratio sanctissima nos tua semper conciliet Deo nostro. ciled to our God by thy most holy prayers. Peter ordained thee as a Te Petrus Christi ministrum statuit: Tu Petro nor- minister of Christ: and thou mam credenti adstruis, ad to the faithful Peter didst dextram summi Patris os- affirm and show this truth, that tendendo, quem plebs furens he whom the mad populace crucifixit. crucified is at the right hand of the Father. Se tibi Christus eligit, SteChrist chose thee, O Stephen ! phane, per quem fideles suos as the example whereby he corroboret, se tibi inter rota- would give courage to his faithtus saxorum solatio mani- ful ones, for he showed himself festans. to thee amidst the shower of stones, and sweetly consoled thee. Nunc inter inclytas MarNow amidst the red-robed tyrum purpuras coruscas co- army of the Martyrs thou ronatus. shinest as The Crowned Prince. ‘We return thee our grateful thanks, O glorious Stephen ! for the help thou hast given us in this great Feast of Christmas. It is thy yearly office to initiate us into the sublime mystery of the Birth of Jesus. Thy Feast ever brings us into the company of this Divine Child, and the Church trusts thee to reveal him to the hearts of her children, as thou heretofore didst to the Jews. Thou hast done thy work, dear Saint ! and here is our faith: we adore this Babe of Bethlehem as the Word of God; we hail him as our King; we offer ourselves to him, to serve him as thou didst; we acknowledge his absolute right over us, and our obligation of serving him even to the last drop of our blood, should he put our loyalty to that great test. Stephen, Faithful Deacon ! pray for us, that we may have the grace to give our whole heart to Jesus from this time forward ; that we may use our best efforts to please him; and that we may conform our lives and affections to his blessed will. Doing this, we shall have the grace to fight his Fight, if not before tyrants and persecutors, at least before the base passions of our own hearts. We are the descendants of the Martyrs, and the Martyrs conquered the world; for OCTAVE OF ST STEPHEN 423 Jesus, the Babe of Bethlehem, had conquered it before them: shall we, then, be cowards, selves to our eternal enemy ? and re-enslave our- Obtain for us also that fraternal charity which pardons every injury, and prays for them that hate us, and converts sinners and heretics when all means else have failed. O valiant Martyr of Jesus! watch over us at the hour of our death; assist us in our agony; show us that Jesus whom thou hast shown us so often as the dear Babe of Bethlehem; show us him then as the glorified, the triumphant, but above all as the merciful Jesus, holding in his divine hands the Crown he has prepared for us; and may our last words be those which thou didst utter when going to thy God: Lord Jesus ! receive my Spirit I' * Acts vii 8. 424 CHRISTMAS Janvary 3 THE OCTAVE OF ST JOHN APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST 'HE Octave of the Beloved Disciple closes to-day: let us devoutly offer him our parting homage. We shall meet him again, during the year; for, on May 6, when the Resurrection of his Divine Master is gladdening the Church with the Easter joys, we shall have the Feast of our Apostle’s Confession made before the Latin Gate : but his grand Feast ends to-day, and he has done too much on our behalf this Christmas for us to allow this Octave Day to pass without returning him our warmest thanks. Let us begin by exciting ourselves to a great reverence for our Saint; and to this end, let us continue the considerations we were }his day week on the favours conferred upon esus. making him by The Apostolate of St John produced a plentiful harvest among the people to whom he was sent. The Parthians received the Gospel from him, and most of the Churches of Asia Minor were founded by him. Of these latter, seven, together with their Angels, were chosen by Christ himself' to typify the several kinds of Pastors; and probably, as some have interpreted this passage of the Apocalypse, these Seven may be taken as representing the seven Ages of the Church herself. Neither must we forget that these Churches of Asia Minor, shortly after St John had founded them, sent Apostles into western Europe. Thus, for example, the illustrious Church of Lyons was one of the conquests made by these early Missioners; and St Pothinus, the first Bishop of Lyons, was a disciple of the disciple of St John—St Polycarp— * Apoc. OCTAVE OF ST JOHN 425 the Angel of the Church of Smyrna,* whose Feast we shall keep a few days hence. But St John's apostolic labours in no wise interfered with the care which his own filial affection and the injunctions of our Saviour imposed upon him—the care of the Blessed Mother and Virgin Mary. So long as Jesus judged her visible presence on the earth to be necessary for the consolidation of his Church, so long did John enjoy the immense happiness of her society, and of being permitted to treat her as his most beloved Mother. After a certain number of years, during which he had dwelt with her in the city of Ephesus, he returned with her to Jerusalem, whence she ascended to heaven from the desert of this world, as the Church sings of her, as a pillar of smoke of aromatic spices of myrrh and frankincense.* The holy Apostle had to bear this second separation, and continue preaching the Gospel until that happy day should come when he also should ascend to that blissful region where Jesus his Divine Friend, and Mary his incomparable Mother, were awaiting his arrival. The Apostles, those Lights placed by the hand of Jesus himself upon the candlestick® of the Church, died out by martyrdom one after the other, leaving St John the sole survivor of the Twelve. His white hair, as the early Fathers tell us, was encircled with a thin plate of gold, the mark of episcopal dignity; the Churches treasured up the words which fell from his inspired lips, and considered them as their rule of Faith; and his prophecy of Patmos, the Apocalypse, proves that the future of the Church was also revealed to him. Notwithstanding all this, John was humble and simple, like the Divine Infant of Bethlehem; and one cannot read without emotion what the early writers tell us of him, how he was often seen fondling a pet bird in his venerable hands. He who had, when young, leaned his head upon' the Breast of God, whose delights are to be with the children + Apoc.ii 8. 2 Cant. i 6. * StMatt. v 1s. 426 CHRISTMAS of men ;* who had stood near his Lord during the Crucifixion, when all the other Apostles kept away in fear; who had seen the soldier’s Spear pierce the Sacred Heart which so loved the world; when old age had come upon him, was for ever urging upon all he met the duty of loving one another. His tender compassion for sinners 'was such as we might naturally look for from the favourite Disciple of the Redeemer; and we are not surprised at that example, which would have been wonderful in any other Saint than John, of his going in search of a young man, whom he had loved with a Father’s love, and who had abandoned himself, during the Apostle’s absence, to every sort of sin: old age was no hindrance to this fatiguing search, which ended in his finding the young man amidst the mountains, and leading him back to repentance. And yet this same gentle and loving Saint was the inflexible enemy of heresy; for heresy, by destroying Faith, poisons Charity in its very source. It is from this Apostle that the Church has received the maxim she gives to us, of shunning heresy as we would shun a [f any man come to you and bring not the doctrine of Christ, receive him not into the house, nor say o him “ God speed thee ;" for he that saith unto him, ‘ God speed thee,” communicateth with his wicked works* St John having one day entered one of the public baths, he was no sooner informed that the heresiarch Cerinthus was in the same building, than he instantly left the place as though it were infected. The disciples of Cerinthus were indignant at this conduct of the Apostle, and endeavoured to take away his life by putting poison into the cup from which he used to drink; but St John having made the sign of the cross over the cup,a serpent was seen to issue from it, testifying both to the wickedness of his enemies and to the divinity of Christ. This apostolic firmness in resisting the enemies of the Faith made him the dread of the herencs of Asia; and hereby he proved how justly he had received from Jesus the * Prov. viii 31, * 25t Johni 10, 11, 427 OCTAVE OF ST JOHN surname of Son of Thunder, a name which he shared with his Brother, James the Greater, the Apostle of Spain. The miracle we have just related has suggested assigning to St John, as one of his emblems, a cup with a serpent coming from it: and in many countries, in Germany particularly, is a custom of blessing wine on the Feast of St John; and the prayer used on the occasion alludes to the miracle. In these same countries prevails also the custom of taking at the end of meals what is called St John's Cup, putting as it were under the Saint’s protection the repast just taken. For brevity’s sake, we omit several other traditions regarding our holy Apostle, to which allusion is made in many of the Medieval Liturgical pieces which we have quoted: but we cannot refrain from saying a few words in reference to his Death. The passage of the holy Gospel read on the Feast of St John has often been interpreted in the sense that the Beloved Disciple was never to die, although our Lord’s words are easily explained without putting such a meaning upon them. The Greek Church, as we have already seen in her Offices, professes her belief in St John’s exemption from death. It was also the opinion of several holy Doctors of the Church, and found its way into some of the Hymns of the Western Church. The Church of Rome seems to countenance it, by one of the Antiphons at Lauds of the Feast; but it must be acknowledged that she has never favoured this opinion, although she has not thought proper to condemn it. Moreover, the Tomb of St John once existed at Ephesus; we have early traditions regarding it, and miracles are related which were wrought by the miraculous oil which flowed for centuries from the Tomb. Still it is strange that no mention has ever been made of any Translation of the Body of St John; no Church has ever boasted of its possessing it; and as to particular Relics of this Apostle, they are not only very rare, but a great deal of vagueness has always clung to them. 428 CHRISTMAS At Rome, when a Relic of St John is asked for, the only With one given is a small piece of the Tomb. these facts before us, we are forced into the idea that there is something mysterious in this total ignorance with regard to the Body of a Saint so dear to the whole Church; whereas the Bodies of all the other Apostles have been the subject of most interesting and detailed accounts, and we can name the Churches which have possessed either the whole or a portion of their venerable Has our Redeemer willed that the Body of remains. his dear Disciple should be glorified before the Day of Judgement ? ~ Has he, in his own inscrutable designs, withdrawn Moses ? be solved it from the sight of man, on earth; as he did that of These are questions which will, perhaps, never this but it is almost impossible not to acknowledge, as so many holy writers have done, that the mystery wherewith it has pleased our Lord to shroud the virginal Body of St John may be considered as an additional reward given to the Disciple whom he so tenderly loved during life, on account his purity. The Mass is given above, p. 255, the are given on pp. 415-417. of other prayers Let us listen, once more, to the sweet praises given to St John in the various Liturgies. open the Roman Breviary, following Responsories: where RESPONSORIES Ry. Iste est Joannes qui supra pectus Domini in ccena recubuit: * Beatus Apostolus, cui revelata sunt secreta ceelestia. Y. Fluenta Evangelii de sacro Dominici pectoipso ris fonte potavit. * Beatus. we And first, let us shall find the K. This is John, who at the Supper reclined his head on the Lord’s Breast: * Blessed Apostle, unto whom the secrets of heaven were revealed. ¥. He drank in the streams of ‘the Gospel from the sacred fount itself of our Lord’s Breast. * Blessed. OCTAVE Ry. Diligebat autem eum Jesus, quoniam specialis praTogativa castitatis ampliori dilectione fecerat dignum: * Quia virgo electus ab ipso, virgo in @vum permansit. . 1o cruce Sdcaitiae mes riturus, huic Matrem suam virginem _virgini commendavit. * Quia. ®. In illum diem suscipiam te servum meum, et ponam te sicut signaculum in conspectu meo: * Quoniam ego elegi te, dicit Dominus. Y. Esto fidelis usque ad mortem, et dabo tibi coronam vite. * Quoniam. The Mozarabic 429 OF ST JOHN Breviary, B, Jesus loved him, for the special prerogative of his chastity made him_worthy of a special love: * Because, being chosen by Christ as a virgin, he remained a virgin for ever. Y. When at length he was about to die on commended his the Cross, he Virgin-Mother to_this his virgin disciple. * Because. R, In that day I will take thee to be my Servant, and I will make thee as a signet in my sight: * For I have chosen thee, saith the Lord. ¥. Be thou_faithful unto death, and T will give thee the crown of life. * For. in the Office of St John the Evangelist, contains the following beautiful prayer: CAPITULUM Ineffabilia sunt, Domine, fluenta uteri tui, quibus pra cateris dilectus ille a te discipulus, recubans in sinu tuo, satiari promeruit: quzsumus ergo, ut mortificatis membris nostris, tuis semper mereamur inhwrere vestigiis: ut intercessu hujus sancti Joas nis, ita nos ignis amoris tui concremet et absumat, qualiter beneplacitum nos tibi in toto holocaustum efficiat. Ineffable, O Lord, are the streams of thy Heart, wherewith_the Disciple whom thou lovedst above the rest deserved to be filled, when leaning on thy Breast: we therefore humbly beseech thee that, our senses being mortified, we may deserve to walk at all times in thy footsteps: that thus, by the intercession of this thy holy disciple John, the fire of thy love may so burn and consume us, as to make us in all things a_holocaust well-pleasing unto thee. ‘We find also this other prayer in the Missal of the same Gothic Liturgy. PRAYER See, see, O God, the sins whereby we are weighed down, qualiterque nobis' ipsi quo- and how we daily create to Vide, gravati vide, Deus, quibus delictis obruimur; 430 CHRISTMAS tidie efficimur causa veneni et peena supplicii, dum cum quotidiano carnis nostre veneno polluimur, et de reparatione melioris vitz nullo modo cogitamus. Sed quia certum est quod hoc videas, qui semper es clemens; et ideo per confessionem nos ad te redituros exspectas, ideo suggerimus ut Apostolo_tuo Joanne intercedente, qui inVocato nomine tuo lethale ebibens virus, non solum ipse evasit, sed etiam alios ex eodem extinctos populo suscitavit. Procul a nobis efficias et incentivam carnis nostra libidinem, et virus persuasionis hostis antiqui, ut fide te colentes, sicut Joannem Apostolum non nocuit oblatum venenum, ita nos non noceat latentium vitioram virus occultum, We ourselves the poison that destroys and the pain that punishes, inasmuch as we are each day infected with the poison of the deeds of our flesh, yet give we no thought to the amending our lives. But whereas faith teaches us that thou seest our sins, and because thou art ‘merciful, thou awaitest us that we return to thee by humble confession; therefore do we beg the intercession of John thine Apostle, who having drunk a deadly poison, not only, by the invocation of thy name, escaped hurt himself, but raised them to life who had been poisoned by that same cup, By this his intercession, drive far from us both the lustful flames of our own flesh, and the poison of the old enemy’s suggestions; that worshipping thee by our faith, we may be guarded against the hidden poison of latent passions, as the poison offered to the Apostle John left him uninjured. take from the Menza of the Greek Church a second selection of stanzas in honour of the holy Evan- gelist. ON THE FEAST OF ST (XX VI Maris abyssum derelinquens, crucis calamo omnes sapienter fidei piscatus es gentes velut pisces; nam, ut dixit tibi Christus, apparuisti piscator hominum carpens eos ad pietatem; ideo sparsisti Verbi gnosim Patmos et Ephesum sermonibus cepisti tuis, Theologe Apostole; deprecare Chris- JOHN THE THEOLOGIAN Septembris) Leaving the waters of the sea, thou didst, with much wisdom, draw all nations to the Faith by the rod of the Cross; for, as Christ told thee, thou wast a Fisher of men, drawing them unto holiness. Therefore didst thou spread abroad the knowledge of the Word, and by thy preachings, O Theologian Apostle, thou OCTAVE OF ST JOHN tum Deum ut det lapsuum remissionem _ celebrantibus cum amore tuam sanctam commemorationem. Lingua tua facta est cala- ‘maus scriptoris Spiritus sancti, deifice demonstrans venerabile et divinum Evangelium. Magne divineque tuz theologim faces totam; gloriose, _illuminarunt terram Iuce trisolari splendentem. Vere fuit tamquam_calamus velociter scribentis tua lingua theodica, veram pulchre scribens gnosim et legem novissimam in tabulis, theologe, cordium nostrorum. Ceelorum scire celsitudines, marisque explorare abyssos temerarium et intentabile; astra autem numerare vel littoralem arenam _par est. Sic de theologo dici non potest quot ipsum coronis quem amabat coronavit Christus, supra cujus pectus recubuit, et in mystica ceena eum lautissime refecit sicut theologum et Christi amicum. Terrestrem petisti apud Christum sedem habere; at ille tibi pectus suum donat, o vocate theologe, tranquilla et permanente sede pulchritudinis ditatus es Apostolorum gloria. Virginitatis florem, venerandarum virtutum electum habitaculum, sapientiz i strumentum, templum Spi tus, os Ecclesiz igniferum, charitatis manifestissimum oculum, venerandissimum Joannem, spiritualibus canticis 431 didst gain over Patmos and Ephesus. Beseech Christ our Lord to grant forgiveness of sin to us who lovingly celebrate thy holy memory. Thy tongue was made the pen of him who wrote by thee, the Holy Ghost; it showed us, by divine inspiration, the venerable and diving Gospel. The blaze of thy great and divine Theology, O glorious Apostle, illumined the earth that was shining with a triple light. Truly was thy divinely taught tongue, O Theologian, as the pen of one that writes swiftly, for it beautifully wrote on the tablets of onr hearts the true knowledge and the New Law. To measure the height of the heavens, and explore the depths of the sea, is a rash and vain attempt: so too is it to count the stars or the sand on the shore. In like manner we may not count the number of crowns wherewith Christ crowned his Beloved Disciple, who reposed on his Breast, and in the mystic Supper was most sumptucusly regaled as the Theologian and Friend of Jesus. Thou didst once ask to sit near Jesus on a terrestrial throne; but he gave thee to recline on his Breast, and placed thee on a peaceful and eternal throne of beauty, O thou that art called the Theologian, and art the glory of the Apostles | Let us now loudly celebrate in spiritual canticles this servant of Christ: he is the flower of holy Virginity, the chosen dwelling of sublime virtues, the instrument of wisdom, ~ the temple of the Spirit, the burning tongue of the Church, the 432 CHRISTMAS nunc sursum celebremus, tamquam Christi famulum. Evangelista Joannes, par Angelo, virgo a Deo docte, limpidissimum latus sanguine et aqua fluens pradicasti, per quem deducimur ad vitam @ternam animabus nostris. most bright eye of charity, the most venerable John. O Evangelist John | angelic, virgin taught of God! ‘twas thou didst tell us of that Sacred Side, from whence, as from a most limpid stream, flowed Blood and Water: thus didst thou teach our souls the way to life eternal. The Latin Churches of the Middle Ages were fervent in their praises of St John, and have left us a great many Hymn: s in his honour. Out of the number we select only two; the first is the composition of Adam of St Victor, and is the finest of the four written on St John by the great lyric poet of those times. SEQUENCE Gratulemur ad festivam, Jocundemur ad votivum Joannis praconium. Sic versetur laus in ore, Ne fraudetur cor sapore Quo degustet gaudium. Hic est Christi praedilectus Qui reclinans supra pectus, Hausit sapientiam. Huic in cruce davit Matrem Christus; vavit commenhic ser- Virgo viri nesciam. Intus ardens charitate, Foris lucens honestate, Signis et eloquio, Ut ab astu criminali, Sic immunis a peenali, Prodiit ex dolio. Vim veneni superavit, Morti, morbis imperavit, Nec non et demonibus. “Tis the Feast of St John: let us rejoice; let us sing his praise with glad hearts. But let our lips so speak his praise that our hearts be not devoid of fervour, and so relish the hidden joy. This is the Disciple the Beloved of Christ, who leaned on his sacred breast, and imbibed wisdom. ‘Twas to him that Jesus, dying on the Cross, left his Mother: John, the virgin, was guardian of the Virgis His heart was filled with burning charity; his exterior, his miracles, his words, were a shining light. As the fire of criminal passion had never impaired his soul, 50 did he come unhurt from the caldron of boiling oil. He checked the power of poison; death, disease and demons fled at his bidding. OCTAVE Sed vir tanta potestatis, Non minoris pietatis Erat tribulantibus. Cum gemmarum partes fractas Solidasset, has distractas Tribuit pauperibus. Tnexhaustum fert thesauTum, Qui de virgis fecit aurum, Gemmas de lapidibus. Invitatur ab amico Convivari; Christum dico Visum cum discipulis. De sepulcro quo descendit Redivivus sic ascendit, Frui summis epulis. Testem habes populum, Immo, si vis, oculum, Quod ad ejus tumulum Manna scatet, epulum De Christi convivio, Scribens Evangelium, Aquile fert proprium, Cernens solis radium, Scilicet Principium Verbum in Principio. Hujus signis est conversa Gens gentilis, gens perversa, Gens totius Asie. Hujus scriptis illustratur, Tllustrata solidatur Unitas Ecclesiz. Salve, salvi vas pudoris, Vas ccelestis plenum roris, Mundum intus, clarum foris, Nobile per omnia ! Fac nos sequi sanctitatem; Fac per mentis puritatem Contemplari Trinitatem In una substantia. Amen. OF ST JOHN 435 And yet, with all this heavenly power, he was the tenderest-hearted friend that were in grief. to them Some precious stones had been broken; he miraculously brought the fragments together, and thus pieced, gave them to the poor. He was a living treasure, for he changed the branches of a tree into gold, and stones into gems. He is invited to a banquet by a Friend; that Friend was Jesus, surrounded by his DisCiples: From the tomb wherein he had been laid, he then came forth alive, and ascended to enjoy the infinite feast. Innumerable witnesses will tell thee (though thyself may see it, if thou wilt), that round his tomb there falls a Manna, the symbol of that Banquet which Jesus gave him. The Eagle is the emblem of this Evangelist, for he looks steadfastly at the Sun, that is, at the Eternal Word in the Bosom of the Eternal Father. By his miracles the gentile world, world a stubborn of Asia, world, the was con- verted. His writings enlighten, and by their light confirm the one true Church. Hail then, vessel of unsullied chastity | vessel filled with heavenly dew ! pure within, fair without, and noble in every part. Oh ! pray for us, that we may follow the path of holiness, and by the cleanliness of our hearts be rewarded with the vision of the Triune God. Amen. 28 434 Our CHRISTMAS second Sequence is taken from the ancient Missals of the Churches of Germany, and is extremely beautiful. SEQUENCE Verbum Dei, Deo natum, The Word of God, who was Quod nec factum nec crea- born of God, and was not made nor created, and who came tum, down from heaven—this Word Venit de ceelestibus: was seen and handled and reHoc vidit, hoc attrectavit, vealed to men by John the Hoc de ccelo reseravit Evangelist. Joannes hominibus. John sprang up amidst those Inter illos primitivos true rivulets, which from the Veros veri fontis rivos commencement flowed from the Joannes exsiliit, True Fountain; he has made Toti mundo propinare the whole world drink of that Nectar illud salutare life-giving nectar that flows Quod de throno prodiit. from the throne of God. Ceelum transit, veri rotam He soared above the heavens, Solis ibi vidit, totam and gazed with the fixedness of Mentis figens aciem: his soul’s eye on the brightness Speculator spiritalis of the true Sun; this spiritual Quasi Seraphim sub alis contemplator saw, as it were Dei videt faciem. [from under the wings of the Seraphim, the Face of God. Audiit in gyro sedis He hears what songs are sung Quid psallant cum citha- round the Throne by the four raedis and twenty elders’ and the Quater seni proceres: heavenly Harpers. He has De sigillo Trinitatis stamped upon the coin of our Nostrz nummo civitatis terrestrial city the impress and TImpressit characteres. seal of the Holy Trinity. Iste custos Virginis He, the guardian of the VirArcanum originis gin, wrote his Gospel, that he Divinz mysterium, might show to the world the Scribens Evangelium, profound mystery of the Divine Mundo demonstravit: Generation: and Jesus, after Cordis cui sacrarium allowing him to recline on his Suum Christus lilium, Sacred Heart, commended his Filio tonitrui own pure Lily, Mary, to this Sub amoris mutui his and her much loved one, Pace commendavit. the Son of Thunder. Haurit virus hic lethale, He drinks a deadly poison | Ubi corpus virginale but the virtue of his faith preVirtus servat fidei: serves his virginal body from Poena stupet quod in pena death, Nay, the very creature OCTAVE Sit Joannes sine paena Bullientis olei, OF ST JOHN 435 that was prepared to torture him — the boiling oil— stood wondering at his feeling not its cruel power to pain. Nature is obedient to him. He bids the stones be gems, and they obey: he bids the branch Hic naturis imperat Ut et saxa transferat In decus gemmarum: Quo jubente riguit, of a tree turn its pliant fibres Auri fulvum induit into the precious metal of gold, Virgula silvarum. and it obeys. Hic infernum reserat, He bids the sepulchre and death yicld back them whom Morti jubet, referat poison had made their victims; ‘Quos venenum stravit: Obstruit quod Ebion, they obey. He stops the blas: phemous howlings of Ebion, Cerinthus et Marcion Cerinthus, and Marcion. Perfide latravit. He is the Eagle, soaring to Volat avis sine meta Quo nec vates, nec Pro- the infinite; nor Seer mor Prophet passed him in his flight. pheta No pure mind ever saw more Evolavit altius: Tam implenda, quam impleta clearly than he so many mysNumquam vidit tot secreta teries, already past or yet to Purus homo purius. come. Bridegroom, Jesus, the Sponsus rubra veste tecclothed in his scarlet robe, tus, after being seen by men, but Visus sed non intellectus, not understood, returned to Redit ad palatium: his palace above: he sent to Aquilam Ezechielis his Bride the Eagle of Ezechiel, Sponsa misit qua de caelis that he might relate to her the Referret mysterium, mystery seen in heaven. Dic, dilecte, de dilecto, 0 Beloved Disciple ! speak to Qualis sit, et ex dilecto us of thy Beloved: tell the Sponsus sponsz nuncia: Church the beauty of this thy Dic quis cibus Angelorum, Jesus, who is her chosen Spouse: supero festa sint Qua tell her who is the Bread of the rum De sponsi prasentia. Angels: tell her what feasts her Spouse’s presence causes to the citizens of heaven. Veri panem intellectus, Speak to her of that Bread pectus supra Christi Ceenam which feeds the soul with truth; Christi sumptam resera: reveal to her that Supper of Ut cantemus de patrono, thy Lord taken on the Breast of Coram Agno, coram throno, thy Lord: we will sing to the Laudes super @thera. Lamb, we will sing round the Throne, wewill praise him above the heavens, for his having given us such a Patron as thee. CHRISTMAS 436 O glorious Saint ! we thank thee with all the gratitude of our hearts for the assistance thou hast so lovingly granted us during the celebration of this grand Feast of Jesus’ Birth. Thou art ever with us at Christmas; but it is only to help us to know Jesus the more; for, in considering thy prerogatives, we are giving praise to him who gave them to thee. We offer thee, then, the homage of our admiration and thanks, dear Friend of Jesus, and adopted Child of Mary! Before leaving us, suffer us to offer thee once more our humble petitions. Pray, sweet Apostle of Fraternal Love! that the hearts of all men may be united in holy charity; that dissensions may cease; that the simplicity of the dove, of which thou wast such a touching example, may become the spirit of our present age, adverse though it seem to this commandment of our Lord. May Faith, without which love and charity cannot exist, be maintained in all its purity; may the serpent of heresy be crushed, and its poisoned cup find neither teachers to offer it, nor disciples to drink it. May the attachment to the doc- trines of the Church be firm and courageous; human schemes or theories, or cowardly may no toleration of error, enervate the principles of truth and morals; may the children of light boldly disown fellowship with the children of darkness. Remember, O holy Prophet! the sublime vision granted thee of the Churches of Asia Minor; and obtain for the Angels who are set over ours, that unflinching faithfulness which alone wins the victory and the Crown. Pray also for those countries which received the Gospel from thee, but have since deserved to lose the Faith. They have been suffering now for ages the consequences of false doctrines, slavery and degradation; intercede for them, that they may be regenerated by Jesus and his Spouse the Church. ~From thy heavenly home send Peace to thine own dear Church of Ephesus, and to her Sister Churches of Smyrna, Pergamus, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea; may they awake from their sleep; may they rise from their tomb; may Mo- OCTAVE OF ST JOHN 437 hammedanism cease its brutalizing tyranny over them; may schism and heresy, which now keep the East in a state of barbarism, be extinguished ; and may the whole flock be once more united in the one Fold. Cover with thy protecting love the holy Church of Rome, which was witness of thy glorious Confession, which she counts as one of those her grand glories which began with the Martyrdom of thy fellow Apostles, Peterand Paul. May she receive a fresh infusion of light and charity, now that the harvest is whitening over so many countries.! And, lastly, Beloved Disciple of the Saviour kind ! })ra that, on the last day we may of man- enjoy the sight of thy glorified Body; and after having so often presented us on this earth to Jesus and Mary in Bethlehem, present us on that day to the same Jesus and Mary in the glories of the eternal Vision. * St Jobn iv 35. CHRISTMAS 438 JANUARY THE OCTAVE 4 OF HOLY E finish to-day INNOCENTS the Octave consecrated to the memory of the Holy Innocents of Bethlehem. Thanks be to God, who has given them to us to be our intercessors and our models! Their name will not reappear on the Church’s Calendar until the return of the Christmas Solemnity; approach these sweet The Church, let us therefore devoutly Infant Saints—venerate them, love them, and address to them our farewell prayers. Holy which on the Feast vested in the colour of mourning, and this out of condolence with Rachel’s grief, now on the Octave Day clothes herself in the red of her Martyrs, in order to honour these Babes who shed their Blood for Jesus. Notwithstanding, who suffered such agonies of grief at the sight of the she is full of tender compassion for those poor Mothers, murder of their little ones; she continually alludes to them in to-day’s Liturgy, and reads in the Office of Matins a passage from an ancient Sermon which vividly describes their feelings. We cannot withhold it from our readers. The Sermon from which it is taken was for a long time attributed to St Augustine. “ When our Lord was born, there began lamentation, not indeed in heaven, but on earth! Lamentation for the Mothers, joy for the Angels, heaven for the Babes. He that is born is God: a victim must be offered him, and Innocents must be that offering, for he came to condemn the malice of this world. Tender lambs must be slain, for the Lamb who is come to take away the sins of the world is to be crucified. But the Mothers wail because voice to they make lose their lambs, their bleatings that heard. O scarce have wonderful OCTAVE OF HOLY INNOCENTS 439 martyrdom ! O sight most cruel! The sword is unsheathed, and there is no enemy; jealousy alone spurs on the band, for he that is born would injure no man. ‘ There, then, sit the Mothers, weeping lambs. mourning. A voice in Rama These sweet over their is heard, lamentation and great pledges are not mere intrusted to their care, they are the children things of their own wombs; they are pledges, but they are not given, they are cruelly stolen from them. Nature herself is witness, it betrays the children of whom the tyrant is in search. The Mother tears her hair, for she has lost her beauty in losing her babe. Oh! how she sought to hide him, and the innocent one betrayed himself ! He knew not how to be silent, for he had not yet learnt to fear. The Mother struggled with the executioner; he seized her child, resolved to murder him; she clung to him, resolved to hold him to her bosom. “ Why,” she exclaimed, *“ why separate me from my child ? gave him birth, and I fed him at my breast untiringly. I bore him in my arms with fondest care, and thy cruel hand has dashed him on the ground! This fresh and lovely fruit—thus trampled on ! ‘A second Mother bade the executioner take away her life together with that of her child; he would not, and she cried out to him: “ Why dost thou send me away, having slain my son? If there were any fault, I only could be guilty: if there were no fault, let me die with my babe, and rid me of my wretched life.” A third exclaimed: ‘“ What is it that ye seek? Ye are in search of one, and ye slay so many ! and him who is One ye cannot find!” And again another cried out: ““Come, O come, thou Saviour of the world! How long shalt thou be sought for ? Thou fearest no man: let these soldiers see thee, and so not slay our children.” These were the lamentations of the Mothers; and the immolation of their Babes ascended as a sacrifice to heaven.’ Among these Children thus cruelly massacred, from the age of two years and under, there were some be- 440 CHRISTMAS longing to those Shepherds of Bethlehem who had been called on the Night of our Saviour’s Birth to go and adore him in his Crib. These, after Mary and Joseph the first worshippers of the Incarnate Word, thus offered to the God who had called them the most precious treasure they possessed. They knew to what Child their children were sacrificed, and a holy pride filled their souls as they thought of this new proof of God’s singular mercy to them in preference to so many others of their fellowcreatures. As to Herod, he was foiled in his schemes, as must ever be the case with those who wage war against Christ and his Church. His edict for the murder of every male child that was two years old or younger, included Bethlehem and its entire neighbourhood; but the Child he alone cared for, and wished to destroy, escaped the sword and fled into Egypt. It was another proof of the world’s folly in opposing the stance, the heaven with very designs of God; and, in this in- measure that was intended to effect evil produced good: the tyrant enriched the Church of Saints, and many fresh patrons. Jesus, the new-born Herod without Herod, to tremble the Church militant King of the Jews,' who with so causes on his throne, is but a Little Child, so much as one single soldier to defend him. like all the persecutors of the Church, has an instinctive knowledge which teaches him that this apparent weakness is real and formidable power: what neither he nor his successors knew was that it is worse than useless, to crush a spiritual apparent weakness of crease with his years; who seeks his life; but and worse than folly, to attempt power by the sword. This the Babe of Bethlehem will innow he flees from the tyrant later on, when he has grown into Manhood, he will not escape from his enemies; they will fasten him to an infamous gibbet, between two Thieves: but on that very day a Roman Governor will declare this Jesus to be King, he will write with his * St Matt, i 2. 441 OCTAVE OF HOLY INNOCENTS own hand the inscription to be nailed on the Cross: Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews. Pilate will give Jesus with all possible formality that very Title which now makes Herod turn pale: the enemies of Jesus will protest, they will insist on the Title hexng altered; but Pilate will not change an iota, and will say: What 1 have wrilten, I have written.* As on the day of hxs Crucifixion he will admit one of the two Thieves to share in his triumph; so now that he is laid in the Crib, he will share his glory with the Innocents of Bethlehem. The Mass is given above, p. 281. The Gloria in excelsis is said, the other prayers are given on pp. 415-417. Let us once more honour these dear Innocents, culling their praises from the various Liturgies. will begin Breviary. with three Responsories from RESPONSORIES Ry. Isti qui amicti sunt stolis albis, qui sunt, et unde venerunt ? Et dixit mihi: * Hi sunt qui venerunt de tribulatione magna, et laverunt stolas suas, et dealbaverunt eas in sanguine Agni. ¥. Vidi sub altare Dei animas interfectorum propter Verbum Dei, et propter testimonium quod habebant. * Hi sunt. K. Isti sunt qui non inquinaverunt vestimenta su; * Ambulabunt mecum in albis, quia digni sunt. ¥. Hi sunt qui cum mulieribus non sunt _coinquinati; virgines enim sunt. « Ambulabunt. the by We Roman K. These that are clad in white robes, who are they, and whence came they? And he said unto me: * These are they who are come out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and have made them white in the Blood of the Lamb. ¥. T saw under the altar of God the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held. * These. K. These are they which have not defiled their garments; * They shall walk with me in’ white, because they are worthy. ¥. These are they who were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. * They. 1 St John xix 22. CHRISTMAS K. These Saints sang a new Ry. Cantabant Sancti canticum novum ante sedem canticle before the throne of 442 Dei et Agni: * Et resonabat terra in voces eorum. ¥. Hi empti sunt ex homi- nibus, primitiz Deo et Agno, et in ore ipsorum non est inventum mendacium. * Et resonabat. God and the Lamb; * And the carth resounded with their voices. Y. These were purchased from among men, the first-fruits to God and to the Lamb, and in their mouth there was found no lie. * And the earth. The two Collects which follow are from the Leonine Sacramentary. PRAYER Deus qui licet sis magnus O God, who though great in in magnis, mirabilia tamen great things, dost nevertheless gloriosius operaris in mini- work with exceeding glory in mis: da nobis, quasumus, those that are the least: grant, in eorum celebritate gau- we beseech thee, that we may dere, qui Filio tuo Domino rejoice on this the Feast of nostro testimonium prabu- them who bore testimony, erunt etiam non loquentes. though they spoke not, to thy Son our Lord. PRAYER Tribue, Domine, quasumus, fidelibus tuis, ut, sicut ait Apostolus, non efficiantur pueri sensibus, sed malitia " innoxii reperiantur ut parvuli; ut Martyres festivitatis hodierne, quos meritis =quare non possunt, mentis simplicitate sectentur. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Grant, we beseech thee, O Lord, to thy faithful people, that, as thy Apostle saith, they may become children nof_in sense, but in malice ; that thus they may imitate the Martyrs of this day’s Feast by the simplicity of their hearts, since they cannot attain to the merits they acquired. Through Christ our Lord. We take the following beautiful prayer from Mozarabic Breviary of the Gothic Liturgy of Spain. CAPITULA the Christe, inenarrabile lumen O Jesus, Light ineffable of mundi, qui adhuc in ipsis the world | who, whilst yet in cunabulis constitutus, non- thy Crib, and not thyself a OCTAVE OF HOLY dum effectus martyr, martyrii palma catervas Infantium dedicasti: qui necdum loqui valentes, sub mucrone s@vientium varios fecisti mugitus emittere: quorum animas de abditis infernorum, te spontanee pro nobis omnibus moriente, maluisti eripere; inspira eis, sine intermissione orare pro parvulis: ut, qui propriis non valeamus supplicationibus emundari a crimine, eorum, qui te, quocumque ieris, cum hymnis et canticis adsequuntur, et hic et in @ternum postulationibus abluamur. The prayer. Deus Missal of the same cujus utrumque sexum et per omnem cucurrit tatem, ita plurimum Infantibus affectum paternz pietatis indulgens, ut parvulos nec ab ZEgypto teneri sineres, nec ab Evangelio prohiberi, dum in Lege cum patribus evaderent mundum; et in gratia cum perfectis vocarentur ad regDum, atque institutione doctrin, innocentia expers mali forma induceretur exempli: Dona_nobis famulis tuis, ut malitiz viribus defecati, in usum concupiscentiz carnalis invalidi, docibilem servemus disciplinis voluntatem. Quo mens nec rigida nec superba, sic sit blanda, sic innocens, ne imprudens: sic humilis, ne imbecillis; quatenus maturo 443 Martyr, didst give the palm of martyrdom to the army of Innocents, who, not being able to speak, did by thy will utter their ‘many cries when being massacred by the cruel soldiers: whose souls, when thou didst freely die for all our sakes, were taken by thee from the depths of limbo: to these same, O Jesus, inspire the desire of incessantly praying for us, the little and weak: that thus, not deserving to be cleansed from our sins by our own prayers, we may obtain both present and eternal purity by the intercession of them that follow thee whithersoever thou goest, singing to thee their hymns and canticles. Church PRAYER misericordia INNOCENTS gives us also this O God, whose mercy is granted to every age and sex; and who didst lavish on the Innocents such richness of fatherly love, that thou wouldst neither suffer them to be kept in Egyptian bondage, nor, when they left this world under the Law, as their fathers had done, to be deprived of the Gospel’s fulness of grace; but didst call them to thy kingdom, in common with them that were made perfect under the law of Grace, thus making them a lesson and an example to us of innocence that knows no evil: grant unto us thy servants, that laying aside our power for evil, and dying to the concupiscence of the flesh, we may have no will save that of being taught by thy instructions. May our soul CHRISTMAS 444 discretionis judicio sic sufficiat probare quod placeat, ut efiectare nesciat quod delinquat. Atque ita salubrem sumat temperantiam moderante consilio, ut et simplicitatem imitetur infantium, et fortitudinem vindicet pugnatorum. Amen. be thus neither rigid nor proud; may she be gentle and innocent without being imprudent; may she be humble without being weak; that hereby, by the timely judgement of discernment, she may both know thy goodpleasure and do it, and ignore how to do that which offends May she, moreover, thee. possess that wholesome temperance which flows from the guidance of counsel; that so she both imitate the simplicity of these Innocents, in that they were children, and emulate their fortitude, in that they were combatants. Amen. Prudentius, the Poet of the Mysteries and the Martyrs, from whom the Church has taken her beautiful stanzas for the Feast of the Holy Innocents, Salvete, Flores Martyrum, celebrates the immolation of these lovely Babes of Bethlehem in his exquisite Hymn for the It is to this Hymn that the Roman Liturgy Epiphany. has had recourse for several great Feasts; and we now extract from it the strophes which refer to our dear Innocents. HYMN Audit tyrannus anxius Adesse regum Principem, Qui nomen Israel regat, Teneatque David regiam. Exclamat amens nuntio: Successor instat, pellimur: Satelles, i, ferrum rape, Perfunde cunas sanguine. Mas infans omnis occidat Scrutare nutricum sinus; Interque materna ubera Ensem cruentet pusio. The anxious Tyrant hears that the King of kings is come, who is to rule over the Jews, and sit on the throne of David. Maddened by jealous fear he calls a messenger, and says to him: * Our rival is at hand—we are in_danger: go, slave, arm thee with thy sword, and bathe every cradle with blood. “Let every malechild be slain, and every nurse be watched, and every Babe feel thy sharp-edged Dblade, even whilst he sucks his mother’s breast. OCTAVE OF HOLY INNOCENTS 445 * Not a Mother about BethSuspecta per Bethlem mihi lchem but I suspect her; then Puerperarum est omnium Fraus, ne qua fartim sub- watch them all, lest they hide their boys fram thee.’ trahat Prolem virilis indolis. On this the executioner goes, Transfgit ergo carnifex, and in his wild cruelty plunges Mucrone districto furens, his naked dagger into the tender Effusa nuper corpora, Animasque rimatur novas. flesh and the but freshly formed hearts of these little ones. Locum minutis artubus But where shall he strike ? where find space enough to Vix interemptor invenit, Quod plaga descendat pa- hold a gaping wound in these tens, infant-bodies not so big as the Jugulogue major pugio est. dagger in his hand ? O barbarum spectaculum | Yet still these butchers murTllisa cervix cautibus der every child. Here it is an Spargit cerebrum lacteum, infant dashed against a rock, Oculosque per vulnus vomit. covering its flinty sides, oh ! cruel sight! with blood and brains and eyes. Aut in profundum palThere it is a lovely babe pitans torn from his mother’s arms Mersatur infans gurgitem, and thrown into a deep stream, Cui subter arctis faucibus whose gurgling waters weep whilst drowning sobs and life Singultat unda, et halitus. so sweet as these. Salvete flores Martyrum, Hail, ye Flowers of the Martyrs| The enemy of Christ cut Quos lucis ipso in limine Christi insecutor sustulit, you down in the very threshCeu turbo nascentes rosas. old of life, as rose-buds are snapped by a storm. Vos prima Christi victima, First Victims for Jesus! Grex immolatorum tener, Tender flock of his Martyrs ! Aram sub ipsam simplices ye, with sweet simplicity, play with palms and your crowns Palma et coronis luditis. even at the very altar of your sacrifice | Quid proficit tantum neAnd what does Herod gain fas ? by this dark crime ? Does it ‘Quid crimen Herodem juvat ? give him what he sought? Unus tot inter funera The single One he cared to kill Tmpune Christus tollitur. is Jesus, and he still lives | Inter comvi sanguinis The stream of infant-blood Fluenta, solus integer, has ceased to flow, and he Ferrum, quod orbabat nu- alone is safe: the Virgin's rus, Child has escaped that sword which robbed all other Mothers Partus fefellitVirginis. of their babes. 446 CHRISTMAS Sic stulta Pharaonis mali Edicta quondam fugerat, Christi figuram praeferens, Moses, receptor civium. So was it in that time of old, when Moses, the liberator of his people, and the type of Christ, escaped the senseless edicts of the wicked Pharaoh. ‘We will close our selection by this Sequence of Notker, which is given in the collection of St Gall. SEQUENCE Laus tibi, Christe, Patris Praise be to thee, O Jesus, optimi Nate, Deus omnipo- Son of the all-perfect Father, Almighty God ! tentiz, Quem ceelitus jubilat suUnto whom the sweet hymns pra astra manentis plebis of the citizens of heaven are decus harmonia: ever giving praise, Quem agmina infantium And the Innocent Babes are sonoris _hymnis collaudant ever singing their melodious @theris in arce: songs of praise in the courts above. Quos impius, ob nominis These Babes were slain by odium tui, misero straverat the ruthless sword, at the bidvulnere: ding of a wicked king who hated thy name, Quos pie nunc remuneras And now are richly rewarded in_caelis, Christe, pro peenis in heaven by thee, O Jesus, in nitide; return for the sufferings they endured; Solita usus gratia, qua Herein showing thy tuos ornas coronis splen- mercy, which gives to dide; serve thee crowns of beauty. Quorum precibus _ sacris By ‘the holy prayers dele, precamur, nostra pie Innocents, mercifully crimina vite, Et quos laudibus tuis junxeras, nobis istic dones clemens favere: Illis @terne dans lumen gloriz, nobis terrea concede vincere; Ut liceat serenis actibus pleniter adipisci dona tuz gratiz: us, we sins of And whom thyself become below. beseech thee, wonted all who richest of these cleanse from the our past lives, lovingly grant that they thou hast associated to to give thee praise, may our protectors here On them bestow the light of endless glory; on us the victory over earthly things, That thus, by a life of holiness, we may merit an abundance of the riches of thy grace. OCTAVE Herodis ut non OF HOLY fiat socius, quisquis in horum laude se exercet propere; Sed mternaliter cum dem catervis tecum Domine. Amen. Sweet Flowers eissit, INNOCENTS 447 Of all that devoutly praise these thy holy Innocents, may none be made companions with Herod. But may they all live for ever with thee, O Lord, in the society of this sweet choir of heaven. Amen. of the Martyrs! your Feast is over in our Church on earth, but your patronage will never leave us. During this new year of the holy Liturgy, which God has given us, you will watch over us, and &x;ay for us to the Lamb, who loves you so tenderly. ‘e entrust to you the fruits of grace which our souls have gathered from the Christmas Feasts. We have become little children together with our Lord; we have begun a new life with him; pray for us, that we may grow with him in wisdom and age before God and man. Secure us perseverance by your prayers; and to this end, keep up in our hearts that Christian simplicity which is the special virtue of Children of Christ. are innocent; we are sinners; still, we are You brethren; love us, then, with brotherly love. You were garnered into heaven at the very dawn of the Law of Grace; our lives have fallen on the close of time, and the world has grown cold in charity; be near and help us; cheer and encourage us in our combat, by showing us your lovely palms of victory; pray to our Lord, that we may speedily obtain by repentance the heavenly crown which his infinite mercy allowed you to win, without the fatigues and risks of a battle. Infant Martyrs! forget not the young generation, which has just entered on the scene of life. You were taken to eternal glory at the age of infancy; these little ones are like you in their innocence; love them, watch over them, pray for them. The grace of their Baptism is upon them in all its freshness, and their pure souls reflect as a mirror the holiness of the God that dwells * St Luke ii 52. 148 CHRISTMAS in them by grace. Alas! these Babes are to go through great trials; many of them will forfeit the grace of God, and their Baptismal garment will lose its unspotted purity. The world will seek to corrupt their heart and mind, and the frightful influence of bad example is almost always successful. Christian mothers will have to weep over the ruin of their children’s souls, and what consolation is there for such a grief as theirs ? There is a Christian Rama and a Christian Rachel ever wailing in the Church: do you, sweet Innocents of Bethlehem, comfort these mothers, by praying for their little ones. Pray that our times may grow less evil, and that parents may have less need to fear than they now have that the first step taken by their children in the world will be death to their souls. VIGIL OF THE JaNUARY 449 EPIPHANY 5 THE VIGIL OF THE EPIPHANY, WITH A COMMEMORATION OF SAINT TELESPHORUS POPE AND MARTYR HE Feast of Christmas is over; the four Octaves are closed; and we are on the Eve of the Solemnity of our Lord’s Epiphany. We must spend this January 5 in preparing ourselves for the Manifestation which Jesus, the Angel of Great Counsel, is about to make to us of his glory. A few more hours, and the Star will stand still in the heavens, and the Magi will be seeking for admission into the stable of Bethlehem. This Vigil is not like that of Christmas, a day of penance. The Child whose coming we were then awaiting, in the fervour of our humble desires, is now among us, preparing to bestow fresh favours upon us. This eve of to-morrow’s Solemnity is a day of joy, like those that have preceded it; and therefore we do not fast, nor does the Church put on the vestments of mourn- ing. If the Office of the Vigil be the one of to-day, the colour used is White. This is the Twelfth day since the Birth of our Emmanuel. If the Vigilof the Epiphany fall on a Sunday, it shares with Christmas Eve the privilege of not being anticipated, as all other Vigils are, on the Saturday: it is kept on the Sunday, has all the privileges of a Sunday, and the Mass is that of the Sunday within the Octave of Christmas Day. joy of graces. The of the Let us, therefore, celebrate this Vigil in great heart, and prepare our souls for to-morrow’s Greek Church keeps this a fasting-day, in memory preparation for Baptism, which used formerly to be administered, especially in the East, on the night 29 450 CHRISTMAS preceding the feast of the Epiphany. She still solemnly blesses the Water on this Feast. We will in our next volume speak of this ceremony, of which some vestiges still remain in the Western Church. The Church of Rome commemorates to-day the holy Pope and Martyr, St Telesphorus. This Pontiff began his reign in the year 127; and among his decrees, we find that he prescribed the holy sacrifice of the Mass to be offered up on Christmas Night, in order to honour the hour when our Saviour was torn: he also ordered that the Angelic Hymn Gloria in_ excelsis should be said on most days at the beginning of Mass. This devotion of the holy Pope towards the great Mystery which we are now celebrating renders his commemoration at this season of the year doubly dear to us. Telesphorus suffered a glorious martyrdom, as St Irenzus expresses it, and was crowned with eternal glory in the year 138. MASS The Mass of the Vigil of the Epiphany is that of the Sunday within the Octave of Christmas, except the Com- memoration of St Telesphorus and the Gospel. INTROIT Dum medium silentium, p. 341. COLLECT Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, p. 342. Commemoration of St Telesphorus oREMUS LET US PRAY Deus qui nos beati TelesO God, who by the yearly phori, Martyris tui atque solemaity of blessed Telesontificis, annua solemni- phorus, thy Martyr and Bishop, tate latificas: concede pro- rejoicest the hearts of the pitius; ut cujus natalitia faitbful; mercifully grant that VIGIL OF THE colimus, de ejusdem etiam protectione gaudeamus. 451 EPIPHANY we who celebrate his martyrdom may enjoy his protection. Commemoration of the Blessed Virgin Deus, qui salutis @lerne, p. 415. EPISTLE Fratres, quanto tempore, p. 342. GRADUAL Speciosus forma, p. 343. GOSPEL Sequentia sancti Evangelii secundum Matthzum. Cap. II. In illo tempore: defuncto Herode, ecce Angelus Domini apparuit in somnis Joseph in ZEgypto, dicens: Surge, et accipe Puerum et Matrem ejus, et vade in terram Israel; defuncti sunt enim qui quarebant animam Pueri. Qui consurgens accepit Puerum et Matrem ejus, et venit in terram Israel. Audiens autem quod Archelaus _regnaret in Judza pro Herode patre suo, timuit illo ire: et admonitus in somnis, secessit in partes Galilez. Et veniens habitavit_in civitate que vocatur Nazareth: ut adimpleretur quod dictum est per Prophetas: quoniam Nazarzus vocabitur. Sequel of the holy Gospel according to Matthew. Ch. II. When Herod was dea” hold an_Angel of + peared in slec Egypt, s»the Chile ther, and « Tsrael: for go into the they are dead tnat sought the life of the Child. Who arose, and took the Child and his Mother, and came into the land of Isracl. But hearing that Archelaus reigned in Judea in the room of Herod his father, he was afraid to go thither: and being warned in sleep retired into the quarters of Galilee. And coming he dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was said by the prophets: That he shall be called a Nazarene. OFFERTORY Deus firmavit, p. 343. CHRISTMAS SECRET Concede, quesumus, p. 345. Commemoration of St Telesphorus Munera_tibi, Domine, dicata sanctifica: et, interceTelesphoro, beato dente Martyre tuo atque Pontifice, per cadem nos placatus intende. Sanctify, O Lord, the offerings consecrated to thee: and being appeased thereby, mercifully look upon us, by the intercession of blessed Telesphorus, thy Martyr and Bishop. Commemoration of the Blessed Virgin Tua, Domine, propitiatione, p. 416. COMMUNION Tolle pucerum, p. 346. Commemoration of St Telesphorus OREMUS Refecti participatione muneris sacri, quasumus, Domine Deus noster, ut cujus exsequimur cultum, intercedente beato Telesphoro, Martyre tuo atque Pontifice, sentiamus effectum. Commeinoration LET US PRAY May this communion, O Lord, cleanse us from sin, and by the intercession of blessed Telesphorus, thy Martyr and Bishop, make us effectnally partakers of this heavenly remedy. of the Blessed Virgin Hac nos communio, p. 417. The last words of Advent were those of the Spouse, recorded in the prophecy of the Beloved Disciple: Come, Lord Jesus, come I* We will close this first part of our Christmas with those words of the Prophet Isaias, which the Church has so often spoken to us: unfo us a Child is born[* The heavens have dropped down their Dew, the clouds have rained down * Apoc. xxii 20. the Just One, *lea. ix 6. VIGIL OF THE EPIPHANY 453 the earth has yielded its Saviour, THE WORD IS MADE FLEsH, the Virgin has brought forth her sweet Fruit, our Emmanuel, that is, God with us. The Sun of Justice now shines upon us; darkness has fled; in heaven there is Glory to God; on earth there is Peace to men. All these blessings have been brought to us by the humble yet glorious Birth of this Child. Let us adore him in his Crib; let us love him for all his love of us; and let us prepare the gifts we intended to present to him, with the Magi, on to-morrow’s Feast. The joy of the Church is as great as ever; the Angels are adoring in their wondering admiration; all nature delight: Unto us is born a little Child ! thrills with APPENDIX HYMN The stanzas usually sung are marked thus * * Adeste fideles, leti, tri* Come, ye Faithful, in joy umphantes, and triumph, to Bethlehem, Venite, venite in Bethle- and gaze on the new-born King of Angels | Come, let us adore hem | Natum videte Regem An- the Lord | gelorum | Venite adoremus! Venite adoremus | Venite adoremus Dominum | * The Virgin’s womb carries * Deum de Deo, Lumen the God of God, the Light of de Lumine, Gestant Puell viscera, Light, the true God that was Deum verum, genitum non born, not made. Come, let us factum. adore the Lord | Venite adoremus | etc. En grege relicto, humiles Lo | the Shepherds are called, and leaving their flocks, hasten ad cunas Vocati Pastores adprope- to the humble Crib. Let us also rant: go thither with joy. Come, let us adore the Lord | Et nos ovanti gradu festinemus. Venite adoremus | etc. We shall see the eternal ZEterni Parentis splendorem zternum brightness of the Eternal FaVelatum sub carne videbi- ther hid under the veil of Flesh: the Infant-God wrapped in mus, Deum Infantem pannis in- swaddling-clothes. ~ Come, let volutum. us adore the Lord | Venite adoremus | etc. Let us devoutly embrace Pro nobis egenum et feno cubantem him who, for our sakes, is Piis foveamus amplexibus. become poor and lies on straw. Sic nos amantem quis mon Oh! who will refuse to_love redamaret ? him who so loves us ? Come, Venite adoremus | etc. let us adore the Lord | 455 CHRISTMAS 456 * Cantet Cantet nunc angelorum, Io tium: nunc aula chorus ceeles- Gloria in excelsis Deo | Venite adoremus ! etc. * Ergo qui natus die hodierna, Jesu, tibi sit gloria | Patris wmterni Verbum caro factum | Venite adoremus | etc. END * Let the Angel choir now sing its hymns. Let the court of the Blessed give forth its Glory be to God in the highest! Come, let us adore the Lord ! * To thee, O Jesus! who art this day born, be glory. Glory be to thee, O Word of the Eternal Father, that art now made Flesh| Come, let us adore | OF THE FIRST VOLUME