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THE 


LITURGICAL    YEAR 


CHRISTMAS. 


THE 


LITURGICAL  YEAR. 


BY  THE 


YERY  REY.  DOM  PROSPER  GUERANGER, 


ABBOT  OF  SOLESMES. 


STransIateb'  from  t\z  $ttxa\, 

BY  THE 

REV.    DOM    LAURENCE    SHEPHERD, 

MONK  OF  THE  ENGLISH-BENEDICTINE  CONGBEGATION. 


CHRISTMAS. 

VOL.  I. 


DUBLIN: 
JAMES   DUFFY,   15,   WELLINGTON-QUAY; 

AND 

22,  PATERNOSTER-ROW,   LONDON. 

1868. 

UNIVERSITY  LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 

AT  CHAPEL  HILL 


DUBLIN : 

frmteb  op  |.  p.  #'&ooIe  «  Sort, 
6&7,  Great  Brunswick-st. 


CONTENTS. 


CHRISTMAS. 

PAGE 

Chapter  I. —  The  History  of  Christmas,    ...        1 
Chap.  II.     —  The  Mystery  of  Christmas,   ...        7 
Chap.  III.    —  Practice  during  Christmas,   .        .        .17 
Chap.  IV.    —  Morning  and  Night  Prayers  for  Christ- 
mas,     34 

Chap.  V.      —  On  hearing  Mass,  during  the  Season 

of  Christmas, 51 

Chap.  VI.    —  On  Holy  Communion,  during  Christ- 
mas,     88 

Chap.  VII.  — On  the  Office  of  Vespers  for  Sundays 

and  Feasts,  during  Christmas,  .        .      98 
Chap.  VIII. —  On  the   Office   of   Compline,  during 

Christmas, 109 


Christmas  Day,  .        .       .        .        .        .        .        .    120 

Afternoon  of  the  Eve, ibid. 

First  Vespers,  ...        .        . .      .        .128 

The  Hour  before  Midnight  Service,        .        .        .135 

Matins, .146 

Midnight  Mass, 184 

Lauds, 194 

The  Second  Mass,  or  Mass  of  the  Aurora,     .        .    208 

Early  Morning,  before  Mass, 219 

The  Third  Mass, 225 

Second  Vespers,      .        .        .        .  -       .        .        .    233 


VI  CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

December  26. — Saint  Stephen,  the  First  Martyr,       .  249 

Mass, 254 

Vespers, 260 

December  27. — Saint  John,  Apostle  and  Evangelist,  .  278 

Mass, 283 

Vespers, 290 

December  28. — The  Holy  Innocents,         .        .       .  310 

Mass, 314 

Vespers, 321 

December  29. — Saint  Thomas,  Archbishop  of  Canter- 
bury, and  Martyr,       .        .        .339 

Mass, 351 

Vespers, 358 

December  30. — Sunday  within  the  Octave  of  Christmas, 
or   the   Sixth  Day  within   the 

Octave, 374 

Mass, 375 

Vespers, 381 

December  31. — Saint  Sylvester,  Pope  and  Confessor,  390 

January    1. — The  Circumcision  of  our  Lord,     .  409 

First  Vespers, 414 

Mass, 420 

Second  Vespers,  ....  425 
January  2. — The  Octave  of  Saint  Stephen,  .  .  434 
January  3. — The  Octave  of  Saint  John,  .  .  .  446 
January  4. — The  Octave  of  Holy  Innocents,  .  .  461 
January  5. — The  Octave  of  Saint  Thomas  of  Can- 
terbury,      473 

Same  Day. — The  Vigil  of  the  Epiphany,  and  Com- 
memoration of  St.  Telesphorus, 

Pope  and  Martyr,       .        .        .  484 

Mass  of  the  Vigil,       ....  485 

Appendix. — Adeste  Fideles,     .        .  489 


CHRISTMAS. 


CHAPTER    THE    FIRST. 

THE  HISTOKY  OF  CHRISTMAS. 

We  apply  the  name  of  Christmas  to  the  forty  days, 
which  begin  with  the  Nativity  of  our  Lord,  Decem- 
ber 25th,  and  end  with  the  Purification  of  the 
Blessed  Virgin,  February  2nd.  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  im- 
mense joy,  of  which  she  received  the  good  tidings 
from  the  Angels,1  on  that  glorious  Night,  for  which 
the  world  had  been  longing  four  thousand  years. 
The  Faithful  will  remember,  that  the  Liturgy  com- 
memorates this  long  expectation,  by  the  four  peni- 
tential weeks  of  Advent. 

The  custom  of  celebrating  the  Solemnity  of  our 
Saviour's  Nativity  by  a  feast  or  commemoration  of 

1  St.  Luke,  ii.  10. 

B 


2  CHKISTMAS. 

forty-days'  duration,  is  founded  on  tlie  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  perfect 
humility,  the  ceremonies  which  the  Law  demanded 
of  the  daughters  of  Israel,  when  they  became  Mo- 
thers. 

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  the 
25th  of  December,  we  have  St.  John  Chrysostom 
telling  us,  in  his  Homily  for  this  Feast,  that  the  Wes- 
tern Churches  had,  from  the  very  commencement  of 
Christianity,  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  Borne  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  Borne. 
The  holy  Doctor  adduces  a  second  argument,  which 
he  founds  upon  the  Gospel  of  St.  Luke,  and  he  rea- 
sons thus  :  we  know  from  the  sacred  Scriptures,  that 
it  must  have  been  in  the  fast  of  the  seventh  month1 
that  the  Priest f  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 


1  Lev.  xxiii.  24  and  following  verses.  The  seventh  month  (or 
Tisri)  corresponded  to  the  end  of  our  September  and  beginning 
of  our  October.     Tr. 


HISTORY   OF  CHRISTMAS.  3 

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  Homily  we  have  just  cited,  which  he  gave  in 
386,  tells  us  that  the  Roman  custom  of  celebrating 
the  Birth  of  our  Saviour  on  the  25th  December, 
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  Yalentinian,  which  appeared  towards  the  close 
of  the  fourth  century,  and  decreed  that  the  Nativity 
and  Epiphany  of  our  Lord  should  be  made  two 
distinct  Festivals.  The  only  Church,  that  has  main- 
tained the  custom  of  celebrating  the  two  mysteries 
on  January  6th,  is  that  of  Armenia;  owing,  no  doubt, 
to  the  circumstance  of  that  country's  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  preclude  the  possibility  of  our  fixing  the  date  of  its 
institution.  According  to  the  unanimous  opinion  of 
Liturgists,  it  is  the  most  ancient  of  all  the  Feasts  of 


4  CHKISTMAS. 

the  Holy  Mother  of  God  ;  and  as  her  Purification  is 
related  in  the  Gospel  itself,  they  rightly  infer,  that  its 
anniversary  was  solemnised  at  the  very  commence- 
ment 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  definitively  fixed  to  the  2nd  of  February,  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  was  made  the  Mother  of  God. 
There  is  scarcely  a  prayer,  or  a  rite,  in  the  Liturgy 
of  this  glad  Season,  which  does  not  imply  these  two 
grand  mysteries  : — an  Infant-God,  and  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  vir- 
ginity1 of  the  Mother  of  God,  by  three  special 
Prayers  in  the  Holy  Sacrifice  of  the  Mass.  On  those 
same  days,  at  Lauds  and  Vespers,  she  begs  the 
suffrage  of  Mary,  by  proclaiming  her  quality  of 
Mother  of  God  and  her  inviolate  purity,2  which 
remained  in  her  even  after  she  had  given  birth  to 
her  Son.  And  again,  the  magnificent  Anthem,  Alma 
Redemptoris,    composed    by    the    Monk     Herman 

1  The  Collect,  Deus  qui  salutis  seternae  beatae  Marise  Virgini- 
tate  fcecunda  humano  generi,  &c. 

2  V.  Post  partum,  Virgo,  inviolata  permansisti.  R.  Dei  Geni- 
trix,  intercede  pro  nobis. 


HISTORY  OF   CHRISTMAS.  5 

Contractus,  continues,  up  to  the  very  day  of  the 
Purification,  to  be  the  termination  of  each  Canoni- 
cal 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  Christ- 
mas. 

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.  Christrnastide,  (that  is,  the  forty  days 
between  Christmas  Day  and  the  Purification,)  in- 
cludes sometimes  four  out  of  these  six  Sundays; 
frequently  only  two ;  and  sometimes,  only  one,  as 
is  the  case  when  Easter  comes  so  early,  as  to  neces- 
sitate the  keeping  Septuagesima,  and  even  Sexa- 
gesima,  Sunday,  in  January.  Still,  nothing  is 
changed,  as  we  have  already  said,  in  the  ritual  obser- 
vances of  this  joyous  season,  excepting  only,  that 
on  those  two  Sundays — the  fore-runners  of  Lent — 
the  Vestments  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  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 


6  CHRISTMAS. 

Nativity,  to  the  day  when  Mary  comes  to  the  Temple 
to  present  her  Jesus. 

The  Greeks,  too,  make  frequent  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  Epi- 
phany, which,  in  their  Liturgy,  are  called  the  Dode- 
ca/meron.  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 
the  6th  of  January. 

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  deax  to  the  christian  world.  What  are  the 
Mysteries  embodied  in  its  Liturgy,  will  be  shown 
in  the  following  Chapter. 


CHAPTER  II. 

THE  MYSTERY  OF  CHRISTMAS. 

Everything  is  Mystery  in  this  holy  Season.  The 
Word  of  God,  whose  generation  is  before  the  day-star1 
is  born  in  time — a  Child  is  God — a  Virgin  becomes  a 
Mother,  and  remains  a  Virgin — things  divine  are 
commingled  with  those  that  are  human — and  the 
sublime,  the  ineffable,  antithesis,  expressed  by  the 
Beloved  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  the  under- 
standing, but  it  inundates  the  heart  with  joy.  It  is 
the  consummation  of  the  designs  of  God  in  time.  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  sym- 
bolism of  her  Liturgy. 

The  four  weeks  of  our  preparation  are  over — they 
were  the  image  of  the  four  thousand  years,  which  pre- 
ceded the  great  Coming — and  we  have  reached  the 
Twenty-fifth  day  of  the  Month  of  December,  as  a  long- 
desired  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 

1  Ps.  cix.  3. 


8  CHRISTMAS. 

and  remodelled,  in  order  to  yield  that  ever-varying 
day,  which  is  to  be  the  feast  of  his  Resurrection — 
Easter  Sunday  ? 

The  question  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  cele- 
brated Epistle  to  Januarius.  The  holy  Doctor  offers 
this  explanation :  We  solemnise  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  ford'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  Bites, 
(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  Rational. 

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  Fri- 
day, for  the  redemption  of  man ;  that  as,  moreover, 
the  Resurrection  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  myste- 
"  rious  and  holy  thing."1 

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. 

1  Epist.  Ad  Januarium. 


MYSTEEY  OF  CHRISTMAS.  9 

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  reference,  not  to  the  division 
of  time  marked  out  by  God  himself,  and  which  is 
called  the  Week ;  but  to  the  course  of  that  great  Lu- 
minary, which  gives  life  to  the  world,  because  it  gives 
it  light  and  warmth.  Jesus,  our  Saviour,  the  Light 
of  the  World,1  was  born  when  the  night  of  idolatry 
and  crime  was  the  darkest ;  and  the  day  of  his  Birth, 
the  Twenty-fifth  of  December,  is  that  on  which  the 
material  Sun  begins  to  gain  his  ascendancy  over  the 
reign  of  gloomy  night,  and  show  to  the  world  his 
triumph  of  brightness. 

In  our  "Advent,"  we  showed,  after  the  Holy 
Fathers,  that  the  diminution  of  the  physical  light 
may  be  considered  as  emblematic  of  those  dismal 
times,  which  preceded  the  Incarnation.  We  joined 
our  prayers  with  those  of  the  people  of  the  Old  Testa- 
ment ;  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  Sol- 
stice— 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.  Bernard,  and  the  principal 
Liturgists,  dwell  with  complacency  on  this  profound 
mystery,  which  the  Creator  of  the  universe  has  willed 
should  mark  both  the  natural  and  the  supernatural 

1  St.  John,  viii.  12. 


10  CHRISTMAS. 

world.  We  shall  find  the  Church,  also,  making  con- 
tinual 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  in- 
"  creases,  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 
"  them,  I  mean,  who  are  able  to  appreciate  this  cir- 
"  cumstance  of  our  Saviour's  coming.  Nature  seems 
"  to  me  to  say  :  Know,  0  Man  !  that  under  the  things 
"  which  I  show  thee,  there  lie  Mysteries  concealed. 
"  Hast  thou  not  seen  the  Night,  that  had  grown  so 
"  long,  suddenly  checked  ?  Learn  hence,  that  the 
"  black  night  of  Sin,  which  had  got  to  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  shortened,  until  at  length  there 
"  shall  be  naught  but  Light.  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."1 

"  Let  us,  my  Brethren,  rejoice,"  cries  out  St.  Augus- 
tine :2  "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  to  be  born  on,  as  he  chose  the  Mother  he  was 
"  to  be  born  from,  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 

1  Homily  on  the  Nativity.     2  Sermon  on  the  Nativity  of  our  Lord,  iii. 


MYSTERY   OF  CHRISTMAS.  11 

"  For  the  eternal  Creator  having  willed  to  be  born  in 
"  time,  his  Birth  Day  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  mys- 
terious expression  of  St.  John  Baptist,  which  admi- 
rably confirms  the  tradition  of  the  Church.  The  great 
Precursor  said  on  one  occasion,  when  speaking  of 
Christ :  He  "must  increase,  but  I  must  decrease.1 
These  prophetic  words  signify,  in  their  literal  sense, 
that  the  Baptist's  mission  was  at  its  close,  because 
Jesus  was  entering  upon  his.  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- 
"  creases."2  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.3 

There  have  been  men,  who  dared  to  scoff  at  Chris- 
tianity 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  erudi- 
tion, they  concluded,  that  a  Religion  could  not  be 
divinely  instituted,  which  had  certain  rites  or  customs 


1  John,  iii.  30. 

2  Sermon  In  Natali  Domini,  xi. 

3  It  is  almost  unnecessary  to  add,  that  this  doctrine  of  the  Holy 
Fathers,  which  is  embodied  in  the  Christmas  Liturgy,  is  not  in 
any  degree  falsified  by  the  fact  that  there  are  some  parts  of  God's 
earth,  where  Christmas  falls  in  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 
darkness  and  cold.  Our  Brethren  in  Australia,  for  example, 
will  have  the  Mystery  without  the  Winter,  when  they  are  keeping 
Christmas  ;  or,  more  correctly,  their  faith  and  the  Holy  Liturgy 
will  unite  them  with  us,  both  in  the  Winter,  and  the  Mystery,  of 
the  great  Birth  in  Bethlehem.    [Translator's  Note.] 


12  CHRISTMAS. 

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  Birth-day  of  God  upon  this 
earth.  Let  us,  now,  respectfully  study  another  mys- 
tery : — 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.1  The  Jewish  Priests  are  well 
aware  of  the  prophecy,  and,  in  a  few  days  hence, 
will  tell  it  to  Herod.2  But,  why  was  this  insignifi- 
cant Town  chosen,  in  preference  to  every  other,  to 
be  the  Birth-place  of  Jesus  ?  Be  attentive,  Chris- 
tians, to  the  mystery !  The  name  of  this  City  of 
David  signifies  the  House  of  Bread :  therefore  did 
He,  who  is  the  living  Bread  come  down  from  hea- 
ven,3 choose  it  for  his  first  visible  home.  Our 
Fathers  did  eat  manna  in  the  desert,  and  are 
dead  ;4  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.5  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 

1  Mich.  v.  2.  4  St.  John,  vi.  49. 

2  St.  Matt.  ii.  5.  5  Ibid.  56. 

3  St.  Joho,  vi.  41. 


MYSTERY  OF  CHEISTMAS.  13 

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  transformation ;  for,  this  Jesus 
himself  has  said :  He  that  eateth  my  flesh  abideth  in 
me,  and  I  in  him.1 

It  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  him.2 
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  spiritual  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,3 
and  that  all  may  have  life,  and  may  have  it  more 
abundantly.41  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  He  in  us  ;  and  in  order  that  this  mys- 
tery may  be  effected  in  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  men.5 

And  when,  having  thus  visited  us  by  his  grace 
and  nourished  us  in  his  love,  he  shall  have  changed 
us  into  himself,  there  shall  be  accomplished  in  us  a 
still  further  mystery.  Having  become  one  in  spirit 
and  heart  with   Jesus — the  Son  of   the    heavenly 


1  St.  John,  vi.  57.  4  St.  John,  x.  10. 

2  Ibid.  i.  12.  5  St.  Luke,  ii.  40,  52. 

3  Ibid.  iii.  17. 


14  CHRISTMAS. 

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  I1 
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  by  what  means  it  is  to  be  maintained  and  in- 
creased. 

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  Bethle- 
hem, 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, 
and  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  there,  that  can  show,  within  the  same  number 
of  days,  so  brilliant  a  constellation  ?  The  Apostolic 
College  contributes  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  sends  us  the  splendid  champions  of 
Christ,  Timothy,  Ignatius  of  Antioch,  Polycarp,  Vin- 
cent, and  Sebastian.  The  radiant  line  of  Roman 
Pontiffs  lends  us  four  of  its  glorious  links,  named, 
Sylvester,  Telesphorus,  Hyginus,  and  Marcellus. 
The  sublime  school  of  Holy  Doctors  offers  us  Hilary, 
John  Chrysostom,  and  Ildephonsus;  and  in  their 
company  stands  a  fourth  Bishop — the  amiable  Francis 

]  I.  St.  John,  iii.  1. 


MYSTEKY  OF  CHEISTMAS.  15 

of  Sales.  The  Confessor-kingdom  is  represented  by- 
Paul  the  Hermit,  Anthony  the  conqueror  of  Satan, 
Maurus  the  Apostle  of  the  Cloister,  Peter  Nolasco 
the  deliverer  of  Captives,  and  Raymond  of  Penna- 
fort,  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  died  in 
defence  of  our  Holy  Mother,  and  Charlemagne,  who 
loved  to  sign  himself  "the  humble  champion  of 
"  the  Church."  The  choir  of  Holy  Virgins  gives  us 
the  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  Christ- 
mas-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  Red;  and  to 
condole  with  Rachel  wailing  her  murdered  Inno- 
cents, 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  clean-hearted- 
ness  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  so  as  to  harmonise,  either  with  the 
red  Roses  which  wreathe  a  Martyr,  or  with  the  white 
Everlastings  which  grace  her  Bishops  and  her  Con- 
fessors, or  again,  with  the  spotless  Lilies  which  crown 


16  CHRISTMAS. 

her  Virgins.  On  the  Sundays  which  come  during 
this  time — unless  there  occur  a  Feast  of  a  Double 
class,  requiring  Red  or  White ;  or,  unless  Septuage- 
sima  has  begun  its  three  mournful  weeks  of  prepara- 
tion for  Lent — the  colour  of  the  Vestments  is  Green. 
It  is,  say  the  interpreters  of  the  Liturgy,  to  teach 
us,  that,  in  the  Birth  of  Jesus,  who  is  the  flower 
of  the  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  interpre- 
tation of  those  rites  which  belong  to  Christmas 
in  general.  Our  readers  will  have  observed  that 
there  are  many  other  sacred  and  symbolical  usages, 
which  we  have  not  even  alluded  to ;  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.  1. 


CHAPTER  III. 

PRACTICE  DURING  CHRISTMAS. 

The  time  has  now  come  for  the  faithful  soul  to  reap 
the  fruit  of  the  efforts  she  made,  (during  the  peniten- 
tial weeks  of  Advent,)  to  prepare  a  dwelling-place 
for  the  Son  of  God,  who  desires  to  be  born  within 
her.  The  Nuptials  of  the  Lamb  are  come,  and 
his  Spouse  hath  prepared  herself.1  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,  where- 
with 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 ;  let  as,  first,  learn  from  the 
Church  the  duties,  which  human  nature,  and  each 
of  our  souls,  owe  to  the  Divine  Infant,  whom  the 
Heavens  have  at  length  given  to  us  as  the  refresh- 
ing Dew  we  asked  them  to  rain  down  upon  our 
earth.  During  Advent,  we  united  with  the  Saints 
of  the  Old  Law,  in  praying  for  the  coming  of  the 

1  Apoc.  xix.  7- 


18  CHRISTMAS. 

Messias,  our  Redeemer  ;  now  that  tie  is  come,  let  us 
consider  what  is  the  homage  we  must  pay  him. 

The  Church  offers  to  the  Infant-God,  during  this 
holy  season,  the  tribute  of  her  profound  adoration, 
the  enthusiasm  of  her  exceeding  joy,  the  return  of 
her  unbounded  gratitude,  and  the  fondness  of  her 
intense  love.  These  four  offerings,  adoration,  joy, 
gratitude,  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  Devo- 
tions 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  neces- 
sary. In  heaven,  the  Angels  veil  their  faces,  and 
prostrate  themselves  before  the  throne  of  Jehovah ; 
the  Four-and-Twenty  Elders  are  for  ever  casting 
their  crowns  before  the  throne1  of  the  Lamb  ;  what, 
then,  shall  we  do — we  who  are  sinners,  and  un- 
worthy 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  fulfilled  by  the  Creator  himself  ?  now,  that  the 
eternal  God  bows  down,  not  only  before  the  Sove- 
reign Majesty  of  the  Godhead,  but  even  before  sinful 
man,  his  creature? 

Let  us  endeavour  to  make,  by  our  profound  adora- 
tions, some  return  to  the  God  who  thus  humbles 
himself  for  us ;  let  us  thus  give  him  back  some  little 
of  that,  of  which  he  has  deprived  himself  out  of  love 

1  Apoc.  iv.  10. 


PRACTICE  DURING  CHRISTMAS.  19 

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  protesta- 
tion 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  Bethlehem, 
who  is  the  more  worthy  of  every  tribute  we  can  pay 
him,  because  he  has  made  himself  thus  little  for 
our  sakes.  Unhappy  we,  if  the  apparent  weakness 
of  the  Divine  Child,  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  pre- 
sence 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 
study  to  find  out  how  to  make  him  amends,  by  our 
self-humiliation,  for  this  Crib,  these  swa thing-bands, 
this  eclipse  of  his  glory.  And  yet,  all  our  humilia- 
tions will  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  the  Emmanuel,  that  is,  of  God  with 
us,  is  to  her  a  source  of  singular  joy.  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  ?     She  therefore  studies  to  imitate 


20  CHEISTMAS. 

the  blithe  Shepherds,  who  ran  for  joy  to  Bethlehem,1 
and  the  glad  Magi,  who  were  well-nigh  out  of  them- 
selves 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  of  the  Church,  let  us 
take  our  share  in  her  joy!  This  is  not  the  season  for  sigh- 
ing or  for  weeping.  For  unto  us  a  Child  is  born  !3 
He,  for  whom  we  have  been  so  long  waiting  is 
come  ;  and  he  is  come  to  dwell  amongst  us.4"  Great, 
indeed,  and  long  was  our  suspense  ;  so  much  the  more 
let  us  love  our  possessing  him.  The  day  will  too 
soon  come  when  this  Child,  now  bom  to  us,  will 
be  the  Man  of  Sorrows,5  and  then  we  will  com- 
passionate 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 
Scripture  tells  us,  that  a  secure  mind  is  like  a 
continual  feast,6  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,  to  men  of  good  will ! 

Intimately  and  inseparably  united  with  this  ex- 
quisite mystic  joy,  is  the  sentiment  of  gratitude. 
Gratitude  is  indeed  due  to  Him,  who,  neither  de- 


1  St.  Luke,  ii.  16.         3  Is.  ix.  6.  6  Is.  liii.  3. 

2  St.  Matth.  ii.  10.       4  St.  John,  i.  14.      6  Prov.  xv.  15. 


PRACTICE  DURING  CHRISTMAS.  21 

terred  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  Babe,  our  Deliverer.  He  is  the 
Only  Begotten  Son  of  the  Father,  that  Father  who 
hath  so  loved  the  world',  as  to  give  his  Only  Son.1  He, 
the  Son,  unreservedly  ratifies  his  Father's  will,  and 
comes  to  offer  himself  because  it  is  his  own  will.2  How, 
as  the  Apostle  expresses  it,  hath  not  the  Father, 
with  Him,  given  us  all  things  f  O  gift  inesti- 
mable !  How  shall  we  be  able  to  repay  it  by 
suitable  gratitude,  we  who  are  so  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  without  measure,  and  may  grow  for  ever  in 
intensity.  For  this  reason,  the  Church,  after  she 
has  offered  her  adorations,  and  hymns,  and  grati- 
tude, to  her  Infant  Saviour,  gives  him  also  her 
tenderest  Love.  She  says  to  him  :  "  How  beautiful 
"  art  thou,  my  Beloved  One,  and  how  comely  /4  How 
"  sweet  to  me  is  thy  rising,  0  Divine  Sun  of  Justice ! 
"  How  my  heart  glows  in  the  warmth  of  thy  beams  ! 
"  Nay,  dearest  Jesus,  the  means  thou  usest  for  gain- 
"  ing  me  over  to  thyself,  are  irresistible — the  feeble- 


1  St.  John,  iii.  16.  3  Rom.  viii.  32. 

2  Is.  liii.  7.  4  Cant.  i.  15. 


22  CHRISTMAS. 

"  ness  and  humility  of  a  Child !"  Thus  do  all  her 
words  end  in  love ;  and  her  adoration,  praise,  and 
thanksgiving,  when  she  expresses  them  in  her 
Canticles,  get  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  accep- 
tance. Know,  then,  that  nothing  will  please  him, 
but  that  which  he  came  to  seek — oar  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  judgment,  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  iu  '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. 

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, 
and  during  which  the  soul  cleanses  herself  from  sin 
and  the  occasions  of  sin,  by  the  fear  of  God's  judg- 
ments, and  by  combating  against  evil  concupiscence. 
We  are  taking  it  for  granted,  that  every  faithful 
soul  has  journeyed  through  these  rugged  paths, 
and  which  must  be  gone  through,  before  she  could 
be  admitted  to  the  Feast,  to  which  the  Church  in- 
vited all  mankind,  saying  to  them,  on  the  Saturday 


PEACTICE  DUEING  CHEISTMAS.  23 

of  the  Second  Week  of  Advent,  those  words  of  the 
Prophet  Isaias  :  Lo  I  this  is  our  God ;  we  have 
waited  for  him ;  and  he  will  save  us.  We  have 
patiently  waited  for  him,  and  we  shall  rejoice 
and  be  joyful  in  his  Salvation  I1  As  in  the  house 
of  our  heavenly  Father  there  are  many  mansions? 
so  likewise,  on  the  grand  Solemnity  of  Christmas, 
when  those  words  of  Isaias  are  realised,  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  spiritual  life  had  long 
been  healthy,  have  so  spent  their  Advent,  that  its 
holy  exercises  have  redoubled  their  love  of  their 
Lord,  and  their  entrance  into  Bethlehem  has  been 
to  them  a  renewal  of  their  soul's  life. 

Now,  every  soul  that  has  been  admitted  to  Beth- 
lehem, that  is  to  say,  into  the  House  of  Bread,  and 
has  been  united  with  Him,  who  is  the  Light  of  the 
World — 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.  Hence- 
forward, 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 
successive  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  gui- 
dance ! 

1  Is.  xxv.  2  St.  John  xiv.  2. 


24  CHKISTMAS. 

But,  in  the  mystery  of  Christmastide,  this  Light 
is  given  to  us,  so  to  speak,  softened  down ;  our  weak- 
ness required  that  it  should  be  so.  It  is,  indeed, 
the  Divine  Word,  the  Wisdom  of  the  Father,  that 
we  are  invited  to  know  and  imitate  ;  but  this  Word, 
this  Wisdom,  are  shown  us  under  the  appearance  of 
a  Child.  Let  nothing  keep  us  from  approaching 
him.  We  might  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  all  is  sweetness,  and  silence, 
and  a  simple  Little  Babe  !  Come  to  him,  says  the 
Psalmist,  and  be  enlightened  I1 

Where  shall  we  find  an  interpreter  of  this  twofold 
mystery,  which  is  wrought  at  this  holy  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  de- 
veloped, by  growth  of  age,  into  the  fulness  of  the 
"  perfect  man,  and,  the  triumph  of  his  Passion  and 
"  Resurrection  having  been  achieved,  all  thehumilia- 
"  tions  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 

1  Ps.  xxxiii.  6. 


PRACTICE  DURING  CHRISTMAS.  25 

"  of  us  that  are  his  Body.  It  is  true,  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  him  in  his 
"  Passion,  and  have  risen  together  wTith  his  Resur- 
"  rection,  and  in  his  Ascension  are  placed  at  the 
"  right  hand  of  the  Father.  For,  every  believer,  no 
"  matter  in  what  part  of  the  world  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."1 

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,  wdiich  the 
Church  has  chosen  for  the  third  Mass  of  the  great 
Feast :  As  many  as  received  Him,  he  gave  them 
power  to  be  made  the  Sons  of  God,  to  them  that  be- 
lieve 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.2  So  that,  all  they,  who — having  purified  their 
souls,  freed  themselves  from  the  slavery  of  flesh  and 
blood,  and  renounced  everything  which  is  of  man 
inasmuch  as  man  means  sinner — wish  now  to  open 
their  hearts  to  the  Divine  Word,  that  is,  to  the  Light 
which  shineth  in  darkness,  and  which  darkness  did 
not  comprehend,3  these,  I  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. 

1  Sixth  Sermon  On  the  Nativity  of  our  Lord.     Ch.  2. 

2  St.  John,  i.  12.  3  Ibid.  5. 


26  CHRISTMAS. 

How  beautiful  are  these  first  beginnings  of  the 
Christian  Life  !  How  great  is  the  glory  of  Bethlehem, 
that  is,  of  our  holy  Mother  the  Church,  the  true 
House  of  Bread  !  for,  in  her  midst,  there  is  produced, 
during  these  days  of  Christmas,  and  everywhere 
throughout  the  world,  a  countless  number  of  sons  of 
God.  Oh  !  the  unceasing  vitality  of  our  mysteries  ! 
As  the  Lamb,  who  was  slain  from  the  beginning  of 
the  world,1  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  our  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  !  "2  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;3  "hereby  declaring,"  continues 
Venerable  Bede,  "  that  not  only  is  She  blessed,  who 
"  merited  to  conceive  in  the  flesh  the  Word  of  God, 
"  but  they,  also,  who  endeavour  to  conceive  this  same 
"  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 
u  was  Blessed  in  that  she  was  made,  for  a  time,  the 

1  Apoc.  xiii.  8. 

2  Commentary  on  St.  Luke,  Bk.  4,  Ch.  49. 

3  St.  Luke,  xi.  28. 


PKACTICE  DURING  CHRISTMAS.  27 

"  minister  to  the  wants  of  the  Incarnate  Word  ;  but 
"  much  more  Blessed  was  she,  in  that  she  was  and 
"  ever  will  be  the  keeper  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  ?1  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  undivided  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  the  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  sanc- 
tification  ? 

But,  no  member  of  the  human  race  is  excluded 
from  the  honour  of  imitating  Mary,  though  at  an 
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  Lord2  during 
the  weeks  of  Advent ;  and  if  so,  our  hearts  have  con- 
ceived him  :  therefore,  now,  our  good  works  must 
bring  him  forth,  that  thus  our  heavenly  Father,  see- 
ing 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  Incar- 

1  St.  Matth.  xii.  50.  2  St.  Matth.  iii.  3  ;  Is.  xl.  3. 


28  CHRISTMAS. 

nate  Word :  This  is  my  beloved  Son,  in  whom  I 
am  well  pleased.1 

Let  us  give  ear  to  the  words  of  the  Seraphic  Saint 
Bonaventure,  who,  in  one  of  his  sermons  for  Christ- 
mas Day,  thus  explains  the  mystery  of  the  birth  of 
Jesus  in  the  soul  of  man.     "  Tbis  happy  birth  hap- 
'  pens,  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 
1  produced  in  due  time  :  then  do  interior  peace  and 
cjoy   return   to   the  soul.     In   this   birth,  there  is 
'  neither  travail,  nor  pain,  nor  fear ;  everything  is 
'  admiration,  and  delight,  and  glory.     If  then,  0  de- 
'  vout  soul !  thou  art  desirous  for  this  birth,  imagine 
'  thyself  to  be  like  Mary.     Mary  signifies  bitterness  ; 
1  bitterly  bewail  thy  sins  :  it  signifies  illuminatrix  ; 
'  be  thou  illumined  by  thy  virtues  :  and  lastly,  it  sig- 
'  nines  Mistress ;   learn    how  to    be    mistress    and 
1  controller  of  thy  evil  passions.     Then  will  Christ 
c  be  born    of  thee,  and  oh  !  with  what    happiness 
cto  thyself!     For,  it  is   then   that   the  soul  tastes 
c  and  sees  how  sweet  is  her  Lord  Jesus.     She  ex- 
periences this  sweetness,  when,   in   holy    medita- 
1  tion,  she  nourishes  this  Divine  Infant ;  when  she 
1  covers  him  with  her  tears  ;  when  she  clothes  him 
with  her  holy  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.     0  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    cor- 
porally r 

Now,  that  we  may  pass  on  from  this  spiritual  con- 
ception to  the  birth  of  our  Lord  Jesus ;  in  other 
words,  that  we  may  pass  from  Advent  to  Christmas, 

1  St.  Matth.  iii.  17. 


PRACTICE  DURING  CHRISTMAS.  29 

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  a  new  life.  Our  study  and  am- 
bition 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 — their  being  made  like  to  the  image  of  his  Son.1 

Let  us,  therefore,  hearken  to  the  invitation  of  the 
Angels,  and  go  over  to  Bethlehem.2  We  know  what 
sign  will  be  given  to  us  of  our  Jesus — a  Child  wrap- 
ped in  swaddling-clothes,  and  laid,  in  a  crib.2.  So 
that,  you,  O  Christians !  must  become  children  ;  you 
must  not  disdain  to  be  tied  in  the  bands  of  a  spiri- 
tual 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  crib.  Thus  will  you  begin,  with  him, 
a  new  life.  Thus  will  the  Light,  that  goeth  forwards 
and  increaseth  even  to  perfect  day,41  illumine  your 
path  the  whole  remaining  length  of  your  journey. 
Thus  the  sight  of  God  which  leaves  room  for  faith, 
and  which  you  receive  at  Bethlehem,  will  merit  for 
you  the  face-to-face  vision  on  Thabor,  and  prepare 
you  for  the  blissful  Union,  which  is  not  merely 
Light,  but  the  plentitude  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  over- 
look those  of  our  Brethren,  who  are  dead  in  sin ;  and 
so  dead,  that  neither  the  Coming  of  their  Emmanuel, 


1  Rom.  viii.  29,  3  St.  Luke,  ii.  12. 

2  St.  Luke,  ii.  15.  *  Prov.  iv.  18. 


30  CHRISTMAS. 

nor  the  example  of  the  Christians  throughout  the 
universal  Church  earnestly  preparing  for  that  coming, 
could  rouse  them  ?  No,  we  cannot  forget  them :  we 
love  them,  and  come  to  tell  them,  (for  even  now, 
they  ma}^  yield  to  grace,  and  live,) — that  there  hath 
appeared  the  goodness  and  kindness  of  God  our 
Saviour.1  If  this  volume  of  ours  should  perchance  fall 
into  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 ;  and  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  help- 
ing 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 
jpain  of  being  considered  as  no  longer  Catholics,  to 
receive  Holy  Communion  on  Christmas  Day,  as  well 
as  on  Easter  and  Whit  Sundays.  We  find  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. 

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  Mys- 
tery. The  heavenly  Father  has  resolved  to  honour 
the  Birth-day  of  his  Son,  by  granting  pardon  to  all, 
save  to  those  who  obstinately  refuse  it.  Oh  !  how 
worthy  is  the  Coming  of  our  dear  Emmanuel  to  be 
honoured  by  this  divine  amnesty  ! 

1  Tit.  iii.  4. 


PRACTICE  DURING  CHRISTMAS.  31 

Nor  is  it  we  that  give  this  invitation  ;  it  is  the 
Church  herself.  Yes,  it  is  she,  that  with  divine  au- 
thority, 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  recognise  their  Master  in  the  Babe 
who  lies  there. 

"  I  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  contrite  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  Birth  Day, 
"he  that  has  a  good  conscience,  rejoices  more  than 
"  usual ;  and  he  whose  conscience  is  guilty,  fears  with 
"  a  more  useful  fear.  *  *  Yes,  it  is  a  sweet  Feast, 
"  bringing  true  sweetness  and  forgiveness  to  all  true 
"  penitents.  My  little  Children,  I  promise  you  with- 
"  out  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  re- 
"  turn  to  sinful  pleasures. 

"  On  this  Day,  is  taken  away  the  sins  of  the  entire 
"  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  to  the  Lord  your 


32  CHEISTMAS. 

"  God.1  Let  us  make  our  promises  with  confidence 
"  and  love ;  He  will  enable  us  to  keep  them  *  * 
"  And  when  I  speak  of  promises,  I  would  not  have 
"  any  one  think  that  I  mean  the  promise  of  fleeting 
"  and  earthly  goods.  No — I  mean,  that  each  of  us 
"should  offer  what  our  Saviour  redeemed,  namely, 
"  our  soul.  '  But  how,'  some  one  will  say,  '  how  shall 
"'we  offer  our  souls  to  Him,  to  whom  they  already 
" '  belong  V  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  re- 
"  deemed,)  by  forgiving  them  that  sin  against  us,  (for 
"we  ourselves  were  once  in  sio,)  by  trampling  on 
"pride,  since  it  was  by  pride  that  our  first  Parent 
"  was  deceived  and  fell."2 

It  is  thus  our  affectionate  Mother  the  Church  in- 
vites sinners  to  the  Feast  of  the  Divine  Lamb ;  nor 
is  she  satisfied  until  her  House  be  filled.3  The  grace 
of  a  New  Birth,  given  her  by  the  Sun  of  Justice,  fills 
this  Spouse  of  Jesus  with  joy.  A  new  year  has  be- 
gun for  her,  and,  like  all  that  have  preceded  it,  it  is 
to  be  rich  in  flower  and  fruit.  She  renews  her  youth 
as  that  of  an  eagle.  She  is  about  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  at- 
tentive hearts,  that  so  we  may  merit  to  advance, 
with  our  Jesus,  in  wisdom,  and  age,  and  grace,  be- 
fore God  and  men.4  The  Christmas  Mystery  is  the 
gate  of  all  the  others  of  the  rest  of  the  year ;  but  it  is 

1  Ps.  lxxv.  12. 

2  Fourth  Homily  On  the  Nativity  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

3  St.  Luke,  xiv.  23.  4  Ibid,  li.  52. 


PRACTICE  DURING  CHRISTMAS.  33 

a  gate  which  we  may  all  enter,  for,  though  most  hea- 
venly, yet  it  touches  earth  ;  since,  as  St.  Augustine 
beautifully  remarks,  in  one  of  his  sermons  for  Christ- 
mas •}  "  We  cannot  as  yet  contemplate  the  splendour 
'  of  Him,  who  was  begotten  of  the  Father,  before  the 
'Day  Star;2  let  us,  then,  visit  Him,  who  was  born  of 
1  the  Virgin,  in  the  night-hour.  We  cannot  under- 
'  stand  how  his  Name  continueth  before  the  sun  f 
'  let  us,  then,  confess  that  he  hath  set  his  tabernacle 
1  in  Her  that  is  purer  than  the  sun.4"  We  cannot  as 
'yet  see  the  Only  Begotten  Son  dwelling  in  the 
'Father's  Bosom;  let  us,  then,  think  on  the  Bride- 
'  groom  that  cometh  out  of  his  bride  chamber.5  We 
are  not  yet  ready  for  the  banquet  of  our  heavenly 
'  Father ;  let  us,  then,  keep  to  the  Crib  of  Jesus  our 
'  Master  "e 

1  Eleventh  Sermon  On  the  Nativity  of  our  Lord. 

2  Ps.  cix.  3.  4  Ps.  xviii.  6.  6  Is.  i.  3. 

3  Hid.  lxxi.  17.  5  Ibid. 


D 


CHAPTER  IV. 

MORNING  AND  NIGHT  PRAYERS 


FOR    CHRISTMAS. 

During  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 ;        Christ    is   born    unto    us  ; 
venite,  adorenms  !  come,  let  us  adore  him! 

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  Prayer  being  come,  he  may  use  the 
following  method,  which  is  formed  upon  the  very 
prayers  of  the  Church : — 

MORNING   PRAYERS. 

First,  praise  and  adoration  of  the  Most  Holy 
Trinity  : — 

]v .  Benedicamus   Patrem        ^.  Let  us  bless  the  Father, 

et  Filium,  cum  Sancto  Spi-  and  the  Son,  and  the  Holy 

ritu :  Ghost. 

J$.   Laudamus   et   super-        I£.  Let  us  praise  him  and 

exaltemus  eum  in  ssecula.  extol  him  above  all,  for  ever. 

$".  Gloria  Patri  et  Filio,         p.  Glory  be  to  the  Father, 

et  Spiritui  Sancto  ;  and  to  the  Son,  and  to  the 

Holy  Ghost. 

I£.  Sicut  erat  in  principio,        I£.  As  it  was  in  the  begin- 

et  nunc  et  semper,  et  in  sae-  ing,  is  now,  and  ever  shall  be 

cula  saeculorum.    Amen.  world  without  end.    Amen. 


MORNING  PRAYERS.  35 

Then,  praise  to  our  Lord  and  Saviour,  Jesus  Christ : 

$".  We  adore  thee,  0  Christ,  "ff.  Adoranras  te,  Christe, 

and  we  bless  thee.  et  benediciinus  tibi. 

I£.  Because    by  thy  Cross  I£.  Quia  per  Crucem  tuam 

thou  hast  redeemed  the  world,  redemisti  mundum. 

Thirdly,  invocation  of  the  Holy  Ghost : — 

Come,  0   Holy  Spirit,  fill  Veni,  Sancte  Spiritus,  re- 

the  hearts  of  thy  faithful,  and  pie  tuorum  corda  fidelium, 

enkindle  within  them  the  fire  et  tui  amoris  in  eis  ignem 

of  thy  love.  accende. 

After  these  fundamental  acts  of  Religion,  you  will 
recite  the  Lord's  Prayer,  asking  of  God,  the  Father 
of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  to  grant  that  his  holy  Name 
may  be  glorified  on  earth,  now  that  he  has  blessed 
it  by  sending  it  his  Son,  over  whose  Crib  the  Angels 
sang  :  Glory  be  to  God  in  the  highest  f  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  share  in  these  divine  in- 
tentions. 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  LOED'S  PEAYEE. 

Our  Father,  who  art  in  Pater  noster,  qui  es  in 
heaven,  hallowed  be  thy  name :  ccelis,  sanctificetur  nomen 
thy  kingdom  come :  thy  will  be  tuum  :  adveniat  regnum  tu- 
done  on  earth  as  it  is  in  heaven,  um  :  fiat  voluntas  tua  sicut 
Give  us  this  day  our  daily  in  ccelo,  et  in  terra.  Panem 
bread;  and  forgive  us  our  nostrum  quotidianum  da  no- 
trespasses,  as  we  forgive  them  bis  hodie  :  et  dimitte  nobis 
that  trespass  against  us  :  and  debita  nostra,  sicut  et  nos 
lead  us  not  into  temptation  :  dimittimus  debitoribus  nos- 
but  deliver  us  from  evil,  tris  :  et  ne  nos  inducas  in 
Amen.  tentationem  :  sed  libera  nos 

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 


36 


CHRISTMAS. 


yielded  the  divine  Fruit,  of  which  the  world  was  in 
expectation  :  every  creature  should  proclaim  her  to 
be  the  Mother  of  God. 


THE  ANGELICAL   SALUTATION. 


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

Sancta  Maria,  Mater  Dei, 
ora  pro  nobis  peccatoribus, 
nunc  et  in  hora  mortis  nos- 
tras.   Amen. 


Hail  Mary,  full  of  grace ; 
the  Lord  is  with  thee ;  blessed 
art  thou  among  women,  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,  Bom  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. 


Credo  in  Deum  Patrem 
omnipotentem,  creatorem 
cceli  et  terras.  Et  in  Jesum 
Christum  Fihum  ejus  uni- 
cum,  Dominum  nostrum : 
qui  conceptus  est  de  Spiritu 
Sancto,  natus  ex  Maria  Vir- 
gine,  passus  sub  Pontio  Pi- 
lato,  crucifixus,  mortuus,  et 
sepultus  :  descendit  ad  in- 
feros, tertia  die  resurrexit  a 
mortuis  :  ascendit  ad  coelos, 
sedetad  dexteramDei  Patris 
omnipotentis :  indeventurus 
est  judicare  vivos  et  mortuos. 

Credo  in  Spiritum  Sanc- 
tum, sanctam  Ecclesiam  Ca- 
tholicam,  Sanctorum  com- 
munionem,  remissionem 
peccatorum,  carnis  resurrec- 
tionem,  vitam  aeternam. 
Amen. 


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 
Mary ;  suffered  under  Pon- 
tius Pilate,  was  crucified,  dead, 
and  buried  ;  he  descended  into 
hell,  the  third  day  he  arose 
again  from  the  dead  :  he  as- 
cended into  heaven,  sitteth  at 
the  right  hand  of  God  the 
Father  Almighty ;  from  thence 
he  shall  come  to  judge  the 
living  and  the  dead. 

I  believe  in  the  Holy  Ghost  : 
the  Holy  Catholic  Church ; 
the  communion  of  Saints,  the 
forgiveness  of  sins,  the  resur- 
rection of  the  body,  and  life 
everlasting.    Amen. 


MORNING  PRAYERS.  37 

After  having  thus  made  the  Profession  of  your 
Faith,  excite  within  yourself  sentiments  of  penance 
and  compunction,  by  the  remembrance  of  the  sins 
you  have  committed,  and  of  lively  gratitude  of  the 
Lamb  of  God,  who  is  come  that  he  may  wash  away 
our  sins  by  his  Blood,  and  give,  us  to  partake  of  his 
divinity.  For  this  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  FOE   CHEISTMAS. 

Ant.  O  admirable  Inter-  Ant.  0  admirabile  corn- 
change  !  The  Creator  of  man-  mercium  !  Creator  generis 
kind,  assuming  a  living  Body,  humani,  animatum  corpus 
deigned  to  be  born  of  a  Virgin;  sumens,  de  Virgine  nasci 
and,  becoming  Man  without  dignatus  est ;  et  procedens 
man's  aid,  bestowed  on  us  his  homo  sine  semine,  largitus 
Divinity.  est  nobis  suam  deitatem. 

Ant.  When  thou  wast  born  Ant.  Quando  natus  es 
ineffably  of  the  Virgin,  the  meffabiliter  ex  Virgine,  tunc 
Scriptures  were  fulfilled.  As  impletse  sunt  Scripturse  :  si- 
dew  upon  Gedeon's  fleece,  cut  pluvia  in  vellus  descen- 
thou  earnest  down  to  save  disti,  ut  salvum  faceres  ge- 
mankind.  O  Lord  our  God  !  nus  humanum  :  te  lauda- 
we  praise  thee.  mus,  Deus  noster. 

Ant.  Lo!  Mary  hath  brought  Ant.  Ecce  Maria  genuit 

forth  a  Saviour  unto  us,  whom  nobis     Salvatorem,     quern 

John  seeing  exclaimed  :   Be-  Joannes  videns  exclamavit 

hold  the  Lamb  of  God  !     Be-  dicens :   Ecce  Agnus  Dei  ; 

hold  him  that  taketh  away  the  ecce  qui  tollit  peccata  mun- 

sins  of  the  world.    Alleluia.  di.    Alleluia. 

Here  make  an  humble  confession  of  your  sins, 
reciting  the  general  formula  made  use  of  by  the 
Church. 

the  confession  of  sins. 

I  confess  to  Almighty  God,  Confiteor  Deo  Omnipo- 
to  blessed  Mary  ever  Virgin,  tenti,  beatae  Marise  semper 
to  blessed  Michael  the  Arch-    Virgini,     beato      Michaeli 


38 


CHKISTMAS. 


Archangelo,  beato  Joanni 
Baptistse,  Sanctis  Apostolis 
Petro  et  Paulo,  et  omnibus 
Sanctis,  quia  peccavi  nimis 
cogitatione,  verbo,  et  opere : 
mea  culpa,  mea  culpa,  mea 
maxima  culpa.  Ideo  precor 
beatam  Mariam  semper  Vir- 
ginem,  beatum  Michaelem 
Archangelum,beatum  Joan- 
nem  Baptistam,  sanctos 
Apostolos  Petrum  et  Paul- 
um,  et  omnes  sanctos,  orare 
pro  me  ad  Dominum  Deum 
nostrum. 

Misereatur  nostri  omni- 
potens  Deus,  et  dimissis 
peccatis  nostris,  perducat 
nos  ad  vitam  seternam. 
Amen. 

Indulgentiam,  absolutio- 
nem,  et  remissionem  pecca- 
torum  nostrorum  tribuat 
nobis  omnipotens  et  miseri- 
cors  Dominus.    Amen. 

This  is  the  proper  time  for  making  your  Medita- 
tion, as  no  doubt  you  practise  this  holy  exercise. 
During  Christmas,  our  Meditation  should  turn  prin- 
cipally 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.  The  object  of  our  contemplation,  as  well  as 
the  source  of  our  confidence,  is  Jesus,  the  Incarnate 
Word,  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 

1  St.  Luke,   i.  19  and  51. 


angel,  to  blessed  John  Baptist, 
to  the  holy  Apostles  Peter  and 
Paul,  and  to  all  the  saints, 
that  I  have  sinned  exceedingly 
in  thought,  word,  and  deed  : 
through  my  fault,  through  my 
fault,  through  my  most  griev- 
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  lif e 
everlasting.    Amen. 

May  the  Almighty  and  mer- 
ciful Lord  grant  us  pardon, 
absolution,  and  remission  of 
our  sins.     Amen. 


MORNING  PRAYEES.  39 

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  Child'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,  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  Morning  Prayer  must  be  to 
ask  of  God,  by  the  following  prayers,  grace  to  avoid 
every  kind  of  sin  during  the  day  you  are  just  begin- 
ning. Say,  then,  with  the  Church,  whose  prayers 
must  always  be  preferred  to  all  others  : 

~ft.    O  Lord,  hear  my  prayer.        ft.    Domine,  exaudi  ora- 

tionem  Hieam. 
1$.    And  let  my  cry  come        1$.    Et  clamor  meus  ad  te 
unto  thee.  veniat. 

LET  US  PEAY.  OREMTJS. 

Almighty  Lord  and    God,  Domine,  Deusomnipotens? 

who  has   Drought  us  to  the  quiadprincipiumhujus  diei 

beginning  of  this  day,  let  thy  nospervenire  f  ecisti,  tua  nos 

powerful  grace  so  conduct  us  hodie  salva  virtute,  ut  in  hac 

through  it,  that  we  may  not  die  ad  nullum  declinemus 

fall  into  any  sin,  but  that  all  peccatum,    sed    semper  ad 

our    thoughts,    words,     and  tuam  justitiam    faciendam 

actions     may    be    regulated  nostra    procedant    eloquia, 

according  to  the  rules  of  thy  dirigantur    cogitationes    et 

heavenly  justice,  and  tend  to  opera.     Per  Dominum  nos- 

the  observance   of  thy  holy  trum  Jesum  Christum  Fi- 

law.     Through  Jesus  Christ  Hum  tuum,  qui  tecumvivit 

our  Lord.    Amen.  et  regnat  in  unitate  Spiritus 

Sancti    Deus,    per    omnia 
saecula  sgeculorum.    Amen. 


40 


CHRISTMAS. 


Then,  beg  the  divine  assistance  for  the  actions  of 
the  day,  that  you  may  do  them  well ;  and  say  thrice : 


$\  Deus,  in  adjutorium 
meum  intende. 

I£.  Domine,  ad  adjuvan- 
dum  me  festina. 

$".  Deus,  in  adjutorium 
meum  intende. 

1^.  Domine,  ad  adjuvan- 
dum  me  festina. 

ft.  Deus,  in  adjutorium 
meum  intende. 

1$.  Domine,  ad  adjuvan- 
dum  me  festina. 


"j^.  Inchne  unto  my  aid,  O 
God. 

I£.  O  Lord,  make  haste  to 
help  me. 

'Jv .  Incline  unto  my  aid,  O 
God. 

]^.  0  Lord,  make  haste  to 
help  me. 

$".  Incline  unto  my  aid,  0 
God. 

I£.  O  Lord,  make  haste  to 
help  me. 


OEEMUS. 

Dirigere  et  sanctificare,  re- 
gere  et  gubernare  dignare, 
Domine  Deus,  Rex  cceli  et 
terrae,  hodie  corda  et  corpora 
nostra,  sensus,  sermones  et 
actus  nostros  in  lege  tua,  et 
in  operibusmandatorumtuo- 
rum,  ut  hie  et  in  3eternurn,te 
auxiliante,  salvi  et  hberi  esse 
mereamur,  Salvator  mundi. 
Qui  vivis  et  regnas  in  ssecula 
sseculorum.    Amen. 


LET  US  PEAY. 

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  Sa- 
viour of  the  world  !  we  may 
be  fenced  and  freed  from  all 
evils.  Who  livest  and  reign- 
est  for  ever  and  ever.    Amen. 


After  this,  uniting  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  $.  The    Word    was    made 

est.    Alleluia  !  Flesh.     Alleluia  ! 

I£.  Et  habitavit  in  nobis.  1$.  And    dwelt   among  us. 

Alleluia  !  Alleluia  ! 


NIGHT  PRAYERS. 


41 


LET  US  PEAY. 

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  in- 
structions 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. 


OREMUS. 

Da  nobis,  quaesumus, 
omnipotens  Deus,  ut  qui 
nova  incarnati  Verbi  tui  luce 
perfundimur ;  hoc  in  nos- 
tro  resplendeat  opere  quod 
per  fidem  fulget  in  mente. 
Per  eumdem  Christum  Do- 
minuin  nostrum.  Amen. 


NIGHT  PRAYERS. 

After  having  made  the  sign  of  the  Cross,  begin  by 
adoring  and  praising  the  Son  of  God  made  Flesh,  and 
dwelling  amongst  us  his  creatures,  for  our  salvation. 
For  this  end,  you  may  recite  the  following  stanzas 
of  one  of  the  Hymns  sung  by  the  Church  during 
Christmas. 


HYMN". 


O  Jesu  !  Redeemer  of  man- 
kind !  born  before  the  light 
was  made,  and  born  of  the 
Eternal  Father,  equal  to  Him 
in  infinite  glory ; 

O  thou  the  Light  and  bright- 
ness of  the  Father  !  0  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. 


Jesu,  Redemptor  omnium, 
Quern  lucis  ante  originem 
Parem  paternaa  glorias 
Pater  supremus  edidit ; 

Tu  lumen  et  splendor  Patris, 
Tu  spes  perennis  omnium  ; 
Intende  quas  fundunt  pre- 

ces, 
Tui  per  orbem  servuli. 

Memento,  rerum  conditor, 
Nostri  quod  olim  corporis 
Sacrata  ab  alvo  Virginis 
Nascendo    formam    sump- 
seris. 


42  CHRISTMAS. 

Jesu,  tibi  sit  gloria  Glory  be  to  thee,  0  Jesus, 

Qui  natus  es  de  Virgine,  who  wast  born  of  the  Virgin  ! 

Cum  Patre  et  almo  Spiritu  and  to  the  Father  and  the  Holy 

In  senipiterna  ssecula.  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  sin  makes  us 
of  the  caresses  and  the  company  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  Examination  of  Conscience  concluded,  recite 
the  Confiteor  (or  /  confess)  with  heartfelt  contrition, 
and  then  give  expression  to  your  sorrow  by  the  fol- 
lowing Act,  which  we  have  taken  from  the  Venerable 
Cardinal  Bellarmine's  Catechism : — 

ACT  OF   CONTRITION". 

O  my  God,  I  am  exceedingly  grieved  for  having  offended 
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  14 
has  granted  an  indulgence  of  seven  years  and 
seven  quarantines  for  each  time. 

ACT  OF   FAITH. 

0  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. 


NIGHT  PEAYEES. 


43 


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  eternal  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. 

ACT  OF   CHAEITY. 

0  my  God,  I  love  thee  with  my  whole  heart  and  above  all 
things,  because  thou  art  the  sovereign  Good  :  I  would  rather 
lose  all  things  than  offend  thee.  For  thy  love  also,  I  love 
and  desire  to  love  my  neighbour  as  myself. 

Then  say  to  our  blessed  Lady,  in  honour  of  the 
ineffable  dignity  of  her  Maternity,  the  following 
Anthem  : — 


ANTHEM  TO   THE  BLESSED   VIRGIN. 


Sweet  Mother  of  our  Re- 
deemer, 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  admi- 
ration, when  thou  didst  give 
birth  to  thy  divine  Creator, 
thyself  remaining,  before  and 
after  it,  a  pure  Virgin.  Ga- 
briel spoke  his  Hail  to  thee ; 
we  sinners  crave  thy  pity. 

$\  After  child-birth,  thou 
didst  remain  most  pure,  O 
Virgin ! 

I£.  O  Mother  of  God,  make 
intercession  for  us. 


Alma    Redemptoris    mater 

quse  pervia  cceli, 
Porta  manes,  et  stella  maris, 

succurre  cadenti, 
Surgere  qui  curat  populo :  tu 

quse  genuisti, 
Natura  mirante,  tuum  sanc- 
tum Genitorem, 
Virgo  prius  ac  posterius,  Ga- 

brielis  ab  ore, 
Sumens  illud  Ave,  peccato- 

rum  miserere. 

$".     Post  partum,  Virgo, 
inviolata  permansisti. 

~E&.    Dei  Genitrix,  inter- 
cede pro  nobis. 


LET  ITS  PRAY. 

0  God,  who  by  the  fruitful 
Virginity  of  the  Blessed  Mary, 
hast  given  to  mankind  the 
rewards  of  eternal  salvation  : 


OREMUS. 


Deus,  qui  salutis  aeternse, 
beatae  Mariae  virginitate  fe- 
cunda,  humano  generi  prae- 
mia  praestitisti :  tribue,  quae- 
grant,  we  beseech  thee,  that    sumus,  ut  ipsam  pro  nobis 


u 


CHEISTMAS. 


intercedere  sentiamus,  per 
quam  meruimus  auctorem 
vitse  suscipere  Domimim 
nostrum,  Jesum  Christum, 
Filium  tuum.    Amen. 


we  may  experience  Her  inter- 
cession, by  whom  we  received 
the  Author  of  Life,  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  thy  Son.  Amen. 


You  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  VIRGIN. 


Kyrie,  eleison. 

Christe,  eleison. 

Kyrie,  eleison. 

Christe,  audi  nos. 

Christe,  exaudi  nos. 

Pater  de  ccelis,  Deus,  mise- 
rere nobis. 

Fili,  Eedemptor  mundi, 
Deus,  miserere  nobis. 

Spiritus  Sancte,  Deus,  mise- 
rere nobis. 

Sancta  Trinitas,  unus  Deus, 
miserere  nobis. 

Sancta  Maria,  ora  pro  nobis. 

Sancta  Dei  Genitrix,  ora, 
etc. 

Sancta  Virgo  virginum, 

Mater  Christi, 

Mater  divines  gratise, 

Mater  purissima, 

Mater  castissima, 

Mater  inviolata, 

Mater  intemerata, 

Mater  amabilis, 

Mater  admirabilis, 

Mater  Creatoris, 

Mater  Salvatoris, 

Virgo  prudentissima, 

Virgo  veneranda, 

Virgo  praedicanda, 

Virgo  potens, 

Virgo  clemens, 

Virgo  fidelis, 

Speculum  justitise, 


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. 
God    the   Holy  Ghost,   have 

mercy  on  us. 
Holy  Trinity,  one  God,  have 

mercy  on  us. 
Holy  Mary,  pray  for  us. 
Holy  Mother  of  God,  pray, 

etc. 
Holy  Virgin  of  virgins, 
Mother  of  Christ, 
Mother  of  divine  grace, 
Mother  most  pure, 
Mother  most  chaste, 
Mother  inviolate, 
Mother  undefiled, 
Mother  most  amiable, 
Mother  most  admirable, 
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, 


NIGHT  PRAYERS. 


45 


"Seat  of  wisdom, 

Cause  of  our  joy, 

Spiritual  vessel, 

Vessel  of  honour, 

Vessel  of  singular  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, 

Queen  of  Virgins, 

Queen  of  all  Saints, 

Queen  conceived  without  ori- 
ginal sin. 

0  Lamb  of  God,  who  takest 
away  the  sins  of  the  world, 
spare  us,  O  Lord. 

O  Lamb  of  God,  who  takest 
away  the  sins  of  the  world, 
graciously  hear  us,  O  Lord. 

O  Lamb  of  God,  who  takest 
away  the  sins  of  the  world, 
have  mercy  on  us. 

Christ,  hear  us. 

Christ,  graciously  hear  us. 
$".    Pray    for    us,    O    holy 

Mother  of  God. 
]^.  That  we  may  be  made 

worthy  of   the    promises    of 

Christ. 


Sedes  sapientise, 

Causa  nostrse  laetitiae, 

Vas  spirituale, 

Vas  honorabile, 

Vas  insigne  devotionis, 

Rosa  mystica, 

Turris  Davidica, 

Turris  eburnea, 

Domus  aurea, 

Foederis  area, 

Janua  cceli, 

Stella  matutina, 

Salus  infirmorum, 

Refugium  peccatorum, 

Consolatrix  afflictorum, 

Auxilium  Christianorum, 

Regina  Angelorum, 

Regina  Patriarcharum, 

Regina  Prophetarum, 

Regina  Apostolorum, 

Regina  Martyrum, 

Regina  Confessorum, 

Regina  Virginum, 

Regina  Sanctorum  omnium, 

Regina  sine  labe  concepta. 

Agnus  Dei,  qui  tollis  pec- 
cata  mundi,  parce  nobis, 
Domine. 

Agnus  Dei,  qui  tollis  pec- 
cata  mundi,  exaudi  nos, 
Domine. 

Agnus  Dei,  qui  tollis  pec- 
cata  mundi,  miserere  no- 
bis. 

Christe,  audi  nos. 

Christe,  exaudi  nos. 

(V.  Ora  pro  nobis,  sancta 

Dei  Genitrix. 
I£.  Ut    digni    efficiamur 

promissionibus  Christi. 


LET  US  PRAY. 


Grant,  O  Lord,  we  beseech 
thee,    that    we    thy  servants 


OEEMTJS. 


Concede  nos  f  amulos  tuos, 
quaesumus,    Domine   Deus, 


46 


CHEISTMAS. 


perpetua  mentis  et  corporis 
sanitate  gaudere :  et  gloriosa 
beatae  Mariae  semper  Vir- 
ginis  intercessione,  a  prae- 
senti  liberari  tristitia,  et 
aeterna  perfrui  laetitia.  Per 
Christum  Dominum  nos- 
trum.    Amen. 


may  enjoy  constant  health  of 
body  and  mind,  and  by  the 
glorious  intercession  of  Bles- 
sed Mary,  ever  a  Virgin,  be 
delivered  from  all  present 
affliction,  and  come  to  that  joy 
which  is  eternal.  Through 
Christ  our  Lord.     Amen. 


Here  invoke  the  Holy  Angels,  whose  protection 
is,  indeed,  always  so  much  needed  by  us,  but  never 
so  much  as  during  the  hours  of  night.  Say  with  the 
Church  : — 


Sancti    Angeli,   custodes        Holy   Angels,    our 
nostri,     defendite    nos    in 
praelio,  ut  non  pereamus  in 
tremendo  judicio. 

$".  Angelis  suis  Deus  man- 
davit  de  te. 


I£.  Ut  custodiant  te  in 
omnibus  vhs  tuis. 

OREMTJS. 

Deus,  qui  ineffabili  provi- 
dentia  sanctos  Angelos  tuos 
ad  nostram  custodiam  mit- 
tere  dignaris :  largire  suppli- 
cibus  tuis,  et  eorum  semper 
protectione  def endi,  et  aeter- 
na  societate  gaudere.  Per 
Christum  Dominum  nos- 
trum.   Amen. 


loving 
Guardians,  defend  us  in  the 
hour  of  battle,  that  we  may 
not  be  lost  at  the  dreadful 
judgment. 

$".  God  hath  given  his 
Angels  charge  of  thee. 

I£.  That  they  may  guard 
thee  in  all  thy  ways. 

LET   US   PEAY. 

O  God,  who  in  thy  wonder- 
ful providence  hast  been 
pleased  to  appoint  thy  holy 
Angels  for  our  guardians; 
mercifully  hear  our  prayers, 
and  grant  we  may  rest  se- 
cure under  their  protection, 
and  enjoy  their  fellowship  in 
heaven  for  ever.  Through 
Christ  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 
nostra  omniumque  salute.        and  for  all  men,  that  we  may 

be  saved. 

"ff.  Laetamini  in  Domino  $".  Rejoice  in  the  Lord,  ye 
et  exsultate,  justi.  just,  and  be  glad. 


NIGHT   PEAYEES. 


47 


m 


I  I£.  And  glory,   all  ye  right        I£.  Et  gloriamini  omnes 
of  heart.  recti  corde. 


LET  TJS  PKAY. 

Protect,  O  Lord,  thy  people ; 
and  because  we  have  confi- 
dence in  the  intercession  of 
blessed  Peter  and  Paul  and 
thy  other  Apostles,  ever  de- 
fend 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  salva- 
tion every  step,  and  action, 
and  desire,  of  us  and  of  all 
thy  servants.  Repay  our  bene- 
factors with  everlasting  bless- 
ings ;  and  grant  eternal  rest 
to  all  the  faithful  departed. 
Through  Christ  our  Lord. 
Amen. 


OREMTTS. 

Protege,  Domine,  popu- 
lum  tuum,  et  Apostolorum 
tuorum  Petri  et  Pauli  et 
aliorum  Apostolorum  patro- 
cinio  confidentem,  perpetua 
defensione  conserva. 

Omnes  Sancti  tui,  qusesu- 
mus,  Domine,  nos  ubique 
adjuvent  :  ut  dum  eorum 
merita  recolimus,  patroci- 
nia  sentiamus :  et  pacem 
tuam  nostris  concede  tem- 
poribus,  et  ab  Ecclesia  tua 
cunctam  repelle  nequitiam  : 
iter,  actus,  et  voluntates 
nostras,  et  omnium  famu- 
lorum  tuorum,  in  salutis 
tuee  prosperitate  dispone  : 
benefactoribus  nostris  sem- 
piterna  bona  retribue :  et 
omnibus  fidelibus  defunctis 
requiem  aeternam  concede. 
Per  Christum  Dominum 
nostrum.    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  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. 


From  the  depths  I  have 
cried  to  thee,  0  Lord  ;  Lord, 
hear  my  voice. 


De  profundis  clamavi  ad 
te,  Domine :  Domine,  exaudi 
vocem  meam. 


48 


CHRISTMAS. 


Fiant  aures  tuae  intenden- 
tes  :  in  vocem  deprecationis 
meae. 

Si  iniquitates  observave- 
ris,  Domine  :  Domine,  quis 
sustinebit  1 

Quia  apud  te  propitiatio 
est :  et  propter  legem  tuani 
sustinui  te,  Domine. 

Sustinuit  anima  mea  in 
verbo  ejus  :  speravit  anima 
mea  in  Domino. 

A  custodiamatutinausque 
ad  noctem  :  speret  Israel  in 
Domino. 

Quia  apud  Dominum  mi- 
sericordia  :  et  copiosa  apud 
eum  redemptio. 

Et  ipse  redimet  Israel ;  ex 
omnibus  iniquitatibus  ejus. 

Requiem  seternani  dona 
eis,  Domine. 

Et  lux  perpetua  luceat 
eis. 

ft.  A  porta  inferi. 

I£.  Erue,  Domine,  animas 
eorum. 

ft.  Requiescant  in  pace. 

I£.  Amen. 

ft.  Domine,  exaudi  ora- 
tionem  meam. 

]$.  Et  clamor  meus  ad  te 
veniat. 


Let  thine  ears  be  attentive 
to  the  voice  of  my  supplica- 
tion. 

If  thou  wilt  observe  iniqui- 
ties, O  Lord,  Lord,  who  shall 
endure  it  1 

For  with  thee  there  is  mer- 
ciful forgiveness  ;  and  by  rea- 
son of  thy  law  I  have  waited 
for  thee,  0  Lord. 

My  soul  hath  relied  on  his 
word  ;  my  soul  hath  hoped  in 
the  Lord. 

From  the  morning  watch 
even  until  night,  let  Israel 
hope  in  the  Lord. 

Because  with  the  Lord  there 
is  mercy,  and  with  him  plenti- 
ful redemption. 

And  he  shall  redeem  Israel 
from  all  his  iniquities. 

Eternal  rest  give  to  them,  O 
Lord. 

And  let  perpetual  light  shine 
upon  them. 

ft.  From  the  gate  of  hell. 

I£.  Deliver  their  souls,  0 
Lord. 

ft.  May  they  rest  in  peace. 

3$.  Amen. 

ft.  0  Lord,  hear  my  prayer. 

I£.  And  let  my  cry  come 
unto  thee. 


OEEMTJS. 

Fidelium  Deus  omnium 
Conditor  et  Redemptor,  ani- 
mabus  famulorum  famula- 
rumque  tuarum,  remissio- 
nem  cunctorem  tribue  pec- 
catorum  :  ut  indulgentiam, 
quam  semper  optaverunt, 
piis  supplicationibus  conse- 
quantur.  Qui  vivis  et  regnas 
in  sascula  sseculorum.  Amen. 


LET  US  PEAY. 

O  God,  the  Creator  and 
Redeemer  of  all  the  faithful, 
give  to  the  souls  of  thy  ser- 
vants departed  the  remission 
of  their  sins  :  that  through  the 
help  of  pious  supplications, 
they  may  obtain  the  pardon 
they  have  always  desired. 
Who  livest  and  reignest  for 
ever  and  ever.     Amen. 


NIGHT  PRAYERS. 


49 


Here  make  a  special  memento  of  such  of  the 
Faithful  departed  as  have  a  particular  claim  upon 
your  charity  ;  after  which,  ask  of  God  to  give  you 
his  assistance,  whereby  you  may  pass  the  night  free 
from  danger.  Say  then,  still  keeping  to  the  words 
of  the  Church : 


Ant.  Save  us,  O  Lord, 
whilst  awake,  and  watch  us 
as  we  sleep  ;  that  we  may 
watch  with  Christ,  aud  rest  in 
peace. 

ft.  Vouchsafe,  O  Lord,  this 
night. 

1$.    To  keep  us  without  sin. 

ft.  Have  mercy  on  us,  O 
Lord. 

I£.    Have  mercy  on  us. 

ft.  Let  thy  mercy,  O  Lord, 
be  upon  us. 

I£.  As  we  have  hoped  in 
thee. 

ft.    O  Lord,  hear  my  prayer. 

I£.  And  let  my  cry  come 
unto  thee. 


Ant.  Salva  nos,  Domine, 
vigilantes,  custodi  nos  dor- 
mientes  :  ut  vigilemus  cum 
Christo,  et  requiescamus  in 
pace. 

ft.  Dignare,  Domine, 
nocte  ista. 

]^.  Sine  peccato  nos  cus- 
toclire. 

ft.  Miserere  nostri,  Do- 
mine. 

1$.    Miserere  nostri. 

ft.  Fiat  misericordia  tua, 
Domine,  super  nos. 

]$.  Quemadmodum  spe- 
ravimus  in  te. 

ft.  Domine,  exaudi  ora- 
tionem  meam. 

1^.  Et  clamor  meus  ad  te 
veniat. 


LET  US  PEAY. 

Visit,  we  beseech  thee,  0 
Lord,  this  house  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. 


OEEMUS. 

Visita,  qusesumus,  Do- 
mine, habitationem  istam, 
et  omnes  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, 
Filium  tuum,  qui  tecum 
vivit  et  regnat  in  unitate 
Spiritus  Sancti  Deus,  per 
omnia  saecula  saeculorum 
Amen. 

E 


50 


CHKISTMAS. 


And  that  you  may  end  the  dsij  in  the  same  senti- 
ments wherewith  you  began  it,  devoutly  pay  your 
homage  to  the  divine  Mystery  of  the  Incarnation, 
by  reciting  the  following  prayer : 

f".    Notum    fecit    Domi-  ft.    The  Lord  hath    made 

nus,  alleluia  !  known,  alleluia  ! 

I£.    Salutare   suum,  alle- 
luia !  1$.    His  Salvation,  alleluia ! 


0REMTJS. 

Deus,  qui  sacratissirnam 
noctem  veri  luminis  fecisti 
illustratione  clarescere  ;  da, 
qusesumus,  ut  cujus  lucis 
mysteria  in  terra  cognovi- 
rnus,  ejus  quoque  gaudiis 
in  coelo  perfruamur.  Qui 
tecum  vivit  et  regnat  in  sse- 
cula  sa3culorum.     Amen. 


LET   US  PEAY. 

O  God !  who  hast  enlighten- 
ed 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. 


CHAPTER  V. 

ON   HEARING  MASS,  DURING  THE  SEASON  OF 
CHRISTMAS. 

Such  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  they  have 
been  asking  of  the  Eternal  Father  with  so  much 
earnestness  during  Advent,  in  those  words  of  the 
Prophet  Isaias :  Send  forth,  0  Lord,  the  Lamb,  the 
Ruler  of  the  Earth} 

This  tender  Lamb  is  come ;  the  Child  is  born  unto 
us,2  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  willedst  not;  but  a  Body  thou  hast 
fitted  unto  me. — Then  said  I ;  Behold  I  come  : — to 
do  thy  will,  0  God.3  It  is  true,  that  the  Sacrifice  of 
the  Cross,  of  which  that  of  the  Mass  is  the  continua- 
tion, 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  spirit  of  the  Church,  if,  whilst 
assisting  at  Mass,  we  keep  before  our  minds,  not  only 
the  bleeding  Victim  of  Calvary,  but  likewise  the 
sweet  Lamb  of  Bethlehem.  Moreover,  does  not  oui 
Jesus  offer  himself,  for  us,  to  his  Father,  from  his 
Crib  as  well  as  from  his  Cross  ?     Thus,  we  read  in 

1  Is.  xvi.  1.  2  Ibid,  ix.  6.  3  Heb.  x.  5. 


52  CHRISTMAS. 

the  Acts  of  the  Saints,  that  as  often  as  this  our 
Redeemer  wished  to  requite  the  faith  and  love  of  his 
servants,  by  manifesting  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  repre- 
sents 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  16th  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 
Body  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  ;l  from  the  mid-night  of  this  world, 
to  that  Light  which  shineth  in  darkness.2  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  to- 
gether with  him — and  all  this,  with  the  humility  and 
simplicity  of  Little  Children. 

We  will  now  endeavour  to  embody  these  senti- 
ments 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 

1  St.  Luke,  ii.  16.  2  St.  John,  i.  5. 


MASS.  53 


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  Holy  Sacrifice  is  either  of  the  Saints  or  of  the 
Sundays,  which  come  during  this  time,  and  on  which 
there  does  not  occur  a  Double  Feast.  The  Sundays  of 
Septuagesima  and  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  Sea- 
son, we  have  explained  them  in  a  previous  chapter. 

On  the  Sundays,  if  the  Mass,  at  which  the  Faith- 
ful 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. 

Daring  the  Asperges,  let  them  unite  with  the  in- 
tentions 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  the 
Word  Incarnate  first  appeared  to  his  creatures. 

ANTIPHON  OF  THE  ASPEKGES. 

Thou  shalt  sprinkle  me  with  Asperges    me,     Domine, 
hyssop,  O  Lord,  and  I  shall  be  hyssopo,  et  mundabor  ;  la- 
cleansed  ;  thou  shalt  wash  me,  vabis   me,  et  super  nivem 
and  I  shall  be  made  whiter  dealbabor. 
than  snow. 

Ps.  Have  mercy  on  me,  O  Ps.  Miserere  mei,  Deus, 

God,  according  to  thy  great  secundum  magnam  miseri- 

mercy.  cordiam  tuam. 


54 


CHEISTMAS. 


ft.  Gloria  Patri,  &c. 

Ant.  Asperges  me,  &c. 

ft.  Ostende  nobis,  Domine, 
misericordiam  tuam. 

1^.  Et  salutare  tuuni  da 
nobis. 

ft.  Domine,  exaudi  ora- 
tionem  meam. 

1$.  Et  clamor  mens  ad  te 
veniat. 

ft.  Dominus  vobiscum. 

I£.  Et  cum  spiritu  tuo. 

OEEMUS. 

Exandi  nos,  Domine  sanc- 
te,  Pater  omnipotens,  seterne 
Deus  :  et  mittere  digneris 
sanctum  Angelum  tuum  de 
ccelis,  qui  custodiat,  foveat, 
protegat,  visitet  atque  de- 
fendat  omnes  habitantes  in 
lioc  habitaculo.  Per  Chris- 
tum Dominum  nostrum. 

1^.  Amen. 


ft.  Glory,  &c. 

Ant.  Sprinkle  me,  &c. 

ft.  Show  us,  O  Lord,  thy 
mercy. 

^.  And  grant  us  the  Saviour, 
whom  we  expect  from  thee. 

ft.  O  Lord,  hear  my  prayer. 

1$.  And  let  my  cry  come 
unto  thee. 
ft.  The  Lord  be  with  you. 
^.  And  with  thy  spirit. 

LET  US   PRAY. 

Graciously  hear  us,  O  holy 
Lord,  Father  Almighty,  eter- 
nal God  :  and  vouchsafe  to 
send  thy  holy  Angel  from 
heaven,  who  may  keep,  che- 
rish, protect,  visit,  and  defend 
all  who  are  assembled  in  this 
place.  Through  Christ  our 
Lord. 

]^.  Amen. 


The  Procession,  which  immediately  precedes  the 
Mass,  should  remind  us  of  the  Shepherds  and  Magi 
going  to  Bethlehem,  and  how,  after  a  holy  impatience 
to  reach  the  holy  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  action 
are  those  of  the  great  High  Priest,  Jesus  Christ. 
Let  us  make  the  sign  of  the  cross  with  him. 


THE   ORDINARY   OF   THE  MASS. 


00 


THE  ORDINARY  OF  THE  MASS. 


In  the  name  of  the  Father, 
and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the 
Holy  Ghost.    Amen. 

I  unite  myself,  0  my  God, 
with  thy  Church,  who  comes 
to  seek  consolation  in  Jesus 
Christ  thy  Son,  who  is  the 
true  Altar. 

Like  her,  I  beseech  thee  to 
defend  me  against  the  malice 
of  the  enemies  of  my  salva- 
tion. 

It  is  in  thee  that  I  have  put 
my  hope ;  yet  do  I  feel  sad 
and  troubled  at  being  in  the 
midst  of  the  snares  which  are 
set  for  me. 

Send  me,  then,  him  who  is 
light  and  truth ;  it  is  he  will 
open  to  us  the  way  to  thy  holy 
mount,  to  thy  heavenly  taber- 
nacle. 

He  is  the  Mediator,  and  the 
living  Altar ;  I  will  draw  nigh 
to  him,  and  be  filled  with  joy. 

When  he  shall  have  come, 
I  will  sing  in  my  gladness, 
Be  not  sad,  0  my  soul  !  why 
wouldst  thou  be  troubled  % 

Hope  in  his  coming ;  he  who 
is  thy  Saviour  and  thy  God, 
will  soon  be  with  thee. 

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. 

I  am  to  go  to  the  altar  of 
God,  and  feel  the  presence  of 
him  who  consoles  me  ! 


In  nomine  Patris  et  Filii 
et  Spiritus  Sancti.    Amen. 

"Jv.  Introibo  ad  altare  Dei. 
^.  Ad  Deum  qui  laetificat 
juventutem  meam. 


Judica  me,  Deus,  et  dis- 
cerne  causani  meam  de  gente 
non  sancta  :  ab  homine  ini- 
quo  et  doloso  erue  me. 

Quia  tu  es,  Deus,  forti- 
tudo  mea  :  quare  me  repu- 
listi  1  et  quare  tristis  incedo, 
dum  affligit  me  inimicus  1 

Emitte  lucem  tuam  et  ve- 
ritatem  tuam  :  ipsa  me  de- 
duxerunt  et  adduxerunt  in 
montem  sanctum  tuum,  et 
in  tabernacula  tua. 

Et  introibo  ad  altare  Dei  : 
ad  Deum  qui  laetificat  ju- 
ventutem meam. 

Confitebor  tibi  in  cithara 
Deus,  Deus  meus :  quare 
tristis  es  anima  mea'?  et 
quare  conturbas  me  % 

Spera  in  Deo,  quoniam 
adhuc  confitebor  ilk'  :  salu- 
tare  vultus  mei,  et  Deus 
meus. 

Gloria  Patri,  et  Filio,  et 
Spiritui  Sancto. 

Sicut  erat  in  principio,  et 
nunc  et  semper,  et  in  saecula 
saeculorum.     Amen. 

$\  Introibo  ad  altare  Dei. 

I£.  Ad  Deum  qui  laetificat 
juventutem  meam. 


56  CHRISTMAS. 

ft.  Adjutorium    nostrum  This  my  hope    comes  not 

in  nomine  Domini.  from  any  merits  of  my  own, 

I£.  Qui    fecit    ccelum  et  but  from  the  all-powerful  help 

terram.  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  con- 
fession 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    omnipo-  May  Almighty  God    have 

tens  Deus,  et  dimissis  pec-  mercy  on  thee,  and,  forgiving 

catis   tuis,  perducat  te  ad  thy  sins,  bring  thee  to  ever- 

vitam  seternam.  lasting  life. 

The  Priest  having  answered  Amen,  make  your 
confession,  saying  with  a  contrite  spirit : 

Confiteor    Deo    omnipo-  I  confess  to  Almighty  God, 

tenti,  beatse  Marise  semper  to  blessed  Mary  ever  Virgin, 

Virgini,      beato      Michaeli  to  blessed  Michael  the  Arch- 

Archangelo,    beato    Joanni  angel,  to  blessed  John  Baptist, 

Baptistse,  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.     There- 

Mariam  semper  Virginem,  fore    I    beseech    the    blessed 

beatum    Michaelem    Arch-  Mary    ever    Virgin,    blessed 

angelum,  beatum  Joannem  Michael  the  Archangel,  blessed 

Baptistam,  sanctos  Aposto-  John  Baptist,  the  holy  Apos- 

los  Petrum  et  Paulum,  om-  ties  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. 


THE  ORDINARY  OF  THE  MASS. 


57 


Receive  with  gratitude  the  paternal  wish  of  the 
Priest,  who  says  to  you  : 


May  Almighty  God  he  mer- 
ciful to  you,  and,  forgiving 
your  sins,  bring  you  to  ever- 
lasting life. 

1$.  Amen. 

May  the  almighty  and  mer- 
ciful Lord  grant  us  pardon, 
absolution,  and  remission  of 
our  sins. 

1$.  Amen. 


Misereatur  vestri  omnipo- 
tens  Deus,  et  dimissis  pec- 
catis  vestris,  perducat  vos 
ad  vitam  aeternam. 

I£.  Amen. 

Indulgentiam,  absolutio- 
nem,  et  remissionem  pec- 
catorum  nostrorum,  tribuat 
nobis  omnipotens  et  miseri- 
cors  Dominus. 

B.    Amen. 


Invoke  the  divine  assistance,   that  you  may  ap- 
proach to  Jesus  Christ. 


ft.  0  God,  it  needs  but  one 
look  of  thine  to  give  us  life. 

1$.  And  thy  people  shall 
rejoice  in  thee. 

ft.  Show  us,  0  Lord,  thy 
mercy. 

I£.  And  give  us  the  Saviour 
whom  thou  hast  prepared  for 
us. 

ft.  O  Lord,  hear  my  prayer. 

I£.  And  let  my  cry  come 
unto  thee. 


ft.  Deus,  tu  conversus  vi- 
vificabis  nos. 

I£.  Et  plebs  tua  lastabitur 
in  te. 

ft.  Ostende  nobis,  Domi- 
ne,  misericordiam  tuam. 

1$.  Et  Salutare  tuam  da 
nobis. 

ft.  Domine,  exaudi  ora- 
tionem  meam. 

1$.  Et  clamor  meus  ad  te 
veniat. 


The  Priest  here  leaves  you  to  ascend  to  the  altar ; 
but  first  he  salutes  you  : 

ft.  The  Lord  be  with  you.  ft.  Dominus  vobiscum. 

Answer  him  with  reverence  : 
R.  And  with  thy  spirit.  1$.  Et  cum  spiritu  tuo. 

LET   US   PRAY.  OREMUS. 

He  ascends  the  steps,  and  comes  to  the  Holy 
of  Holies.  Ask,  both  for  him  and  yourself,  the 
deliverance  from  sin  : 


58  CHRISTMAS. 

Aufer  a  nobis  qusesumus,  Take  from   our   hearts,   O 

Domine,    iniquitates     nos-  Lord,  all   those    sins,   which 

tras ;  ut  ad  Sancta  sanctorum  make  us  unworthy  of  thy  visit ; 

puris    mereamur    mentibus  we  ask  this   of  thee  by  thy 

introire.     Per  Christum  Do-  divine  Son,  our  Lord, 
minum  nostrum.     Amen. 

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  reliquiae  hie  sunt,  et  your  own  blood  with  his,  in- 

omnium  Sanctorum  :  ut  in-  tercede  for  us  that   our   sins 

dulgere  digneris  omnia  pec-  may  be  forgiven  :  that  so  we 

cata  mea,     Amen.  may,  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  man- 
ner; and  this  white  cloud,  which  you  see  ascending 
from  every  part  of  the  Altar,  signifies  the  prayer 
of  the  Church,  who  addresses  herself  to  Jesus  Christ; 
and  which  this  Divine  Mediator  then  causes  to 
ascend,  united  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  expres- 
sion 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.  Lord,  have  mercy  on  us  ! 

Kyrie  eleison.  Lord,  have  mercy  on  us  ! 

Kyrie  eleison.  Lord,  have  mercy  on  us  ! 


THE   ORDINARY   OF   THE   MASS.  59 

To  the  Son,  who  has  come  down  to  us: 

Christ,  have  mercy  on  us  !  Christe  eleison. 

Christ,  have  mercy  on  us  !  Christe  eleison. 

Christ,  have  mercy  on  us  !  Christe  eleison. 

To  the  Holy  Ghost,  whose  operation  has  accomplished 

the  mystery: 

Lord,  have  mercy  on  us  !  Kyrie  eleison. 

Lord,  have  mercy  on  us  !  Kyrie  eleison. 

Lord,  have  mercy  on  us  !  Kyrie  eleison. 

Then,  mingling  his  voice  with  that  of  the  heavenly 
host,  the  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  aivay  the  sins  of  the  world.  She 
offers  to  this  Lamb,  in  return  for  the  humiliations  of 
the  Stable  and  the  Crib,  the  homage  of  her  fervent 
praise,  declaring  that  He  alone  is  Holy,  He  alone  is 
Lord,  He  alone  Most-High.  Enter,  Christians,  into 
these  sentiments  of  profound  adoration,  of  confidence, 
and  of  tender  love,  towards  the  Divine  Lamb. 

the  angelic  hymn. 

Glory  be  to  God  on  high,  Gloria  in  excelsis  Deo, 

and  on  earth  peace  to  men  et  in  terra  pax  homini- 

of  good  will.  bus  bon^  voluntatis. 

We  praise  thee  :  we  bless  Laudamus  te  :   benedici- 

thee  :    we    adore    thee:    we  mus  te :  adoramus  te :  glori- 

glorify  thee  :    we    give    thee  ficamus  te  :   gratias  agimus 

thanks  for  thy  great  glory.  tibi  propter  magnamgloriam 

tuam. 

O    Lord    God,    Heavenly  Domine  Deus  Rex  coeles- 

King,  God  the  Father  Al-  tis,  Deus  Pater  omnipotens. 
mighty. 

O   Lord  Jesus   Christ,  the  Domine,   Fili    unigenite, 

only  begotten  Son.  Jesu  Christe. 


60  CHRISTMAS. 

Domine  Dens,  Agnus  Dei,  O  Lord  God,  Lamb  of  God, 

Films  Patris.  Son  of  the  Father. 

Qui  tollis  peccata  mundi,  Who  takest  away  the  sins 

miserere  nobis.  of  the  world,  have  mercy  on  us. 

Qui  tollis  peccata  mundi,  Who  takest  away  the  sins  of 

suscipe  deprecationem  nos-  the  world,  receive  our  humble 

tram.  prayer. 

Qui  sedes  ad    dexteram  Who    sittest  at   the    right 

Patris,  miserere  nobis.  hand    of    the    Father,    have 

mercy  on  us. 

Quoniam  tu  solus  sanctus,  For   thou  alone  art    holy, 

tu  solus  Dominus,  tu  solus  thou    alone   art    Lord,    thou 

Altissimus,    Jesu    Christe,  alone,  0  Jesus  Christ,  together 

cum  Sancto  Spiritu,  in  glo-  with  the  Holy  Ghost,  art  most 

ria  Dei  Patris.    Amen.  high,  in  the  glory  of  God  the 

Father.    Amen. 

The  Priest  turns  towards  the  people,  and  again 
salutes  them,  as  it  were  to  make  sure  of  their  pious 
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.1 

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  recit- 
ing 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  por- 
tion 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 

1  St.  Matth.  i.  23. 


THE  OKDINARY   OF   THE  MASS.  61 

Prophets,  has  deigned,  in  these  days,  to  speak  to  us 
by  his  Son.1 

The  Gradual  is  an  intermediate  formula  of  Prayer 
between  the  Epistle  and  Gospel.  It  again  brings  to 
our  attention  the  sentiments  which  were  expressed 
in  the  Introit.  Read  it  with  devotion,  so  as  to  get 
more  and  more  into  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, 
speaking  to  the  shepherds  :  Behold  I  evangelise  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.2  Afterwards,  came  the 
Apostles,  and  they  evangelised  this  same  joy  to  the 
whole  world ;  and  the  Book,  which  contains  the  words 
which  gave  joy  to  mankind,  is  called  the  Gospel — 
Evangelium.  A  passage  from  this  divine  Book  is 
now  going  to  be  read  to  the  assembly  of  the  Faith- 
ful ;  we  shall  hear  the  very  words  of  Him,  who  be- 
came a  Little  Child,  in  order  to  be  thus  able  to  speak 
to  us. 

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  : 


Alas!    these  ears    of  mine        Munda cor meum, ac labia 
are  but  too  often  defiled  with    mea,  onmipotens  Deus,  qui 

1  Heb.  i.  1,  2.  2  St.  Luke,  ii.  10,  11. 


G2  CHKISTMAS. 

labia  Isaise  Prophetae  calculo  the  world's  vain  words ;  cleanse 

nxundasti  ignito :  ita  me  tua  them,  O  Lord,  that  so  I  may 

grata    miseratione    dignare  hear  the  words  of  eternal  life, 

mundare,  ut  sanctum  Evan-  and  treasure  them  in  my  heart, 

gelium  tuum  digne  valeam  Through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 

nuntiare.  Per  Christum  Do-  Amen, 
minum  nostrum.    Amen. 

Dominus  sit  in  corde  meo,  Grant  to  thy  ministers  thy 

et  in  labiis  meis  :  ut  digne  grace,  that  they  may  faithfully 

et  competenter  animntiem  explain  thy  law ;  that  so  all, 

Evangelium  suum  :  In  no-  both  pastors  and  flock,  may 

mine  Patris,  et  Filii,  et  Spi-  be   united  to  thee  for  ever, 

ritus  Sancti.    Amen.  Amen. 

You  will  stand  during  the  Gospel,  as  though  you 
were  waiting  the  orders  of  your  Lord ;  and  at  the 
commencement,  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  speak- 
ing, 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.2 

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  darkness,  and  which  the  darkness  of  un- 
belief did  not  comprehend.  It  is  Faith  that  shows 
us  Him  we  are  to  love.  It  is  Faith,  too,  that  makes 
us  become  little  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  Catho- 
lic Church,  our  Mother  : 

1  Cant.  v.  6,  2  I.  Kings,  iii.   10. 


THE  ORDINARY   OF  THE  MASS. 


63 


THE  NICENE  CREED. 


I  believe  in  one  God,  the 
Father  almighty,  maker  of 
heaven  and  earth,  and  of  all 
things  visible  and  invisible. 

And  in  one  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  to 
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,  ac- 
cording to  the  Scriptures. 
And  ascended  into  heaven, 
sitteth  at  the  right  hand  of 
the  Father.  And  he  is  to 
come  again  with  glory,  to 
judge  the  living  and  the  dead  ; 
of  whose  kingdom  there  shall 
be  no  end. 

And  in  the  Holy  Ghost, 
the  Lord  and  giver  of  life, 
who  proceedeth  from  the 
Father  and  the  Son.  Who 
together  with  the  Father  and 
the  Son,  is  adored  and  glori- 
fied ;  who  spoke  by  the  Pro- 
phets. And  one  holy  Catho- 
lic and  Apostolic  Church.  I 
confess  one  Baptism  for  the 
remission  of  sins.  And  I 
expect  the  resurrection  of  the 
dead,  and  the  life  of  the  world 
to  come.    Amen. 


Credo  in  unum  Deum, 
Patrem  omnipotentem,  fac- 
torem  cceli  et  terras,  visibi- 
lium  omnium  et  invisibi- 
lium. 

Et  in  unum  Dominum 
Jesum  Christum,  Filium  Dei 
unigenitum.  Et  ex  Patre 
natum  ante  omnia  ssecula, 
Deum  de  Deo,  lumen  de 
lumine,Deumverum  de  Deo 
vero.  Genitum  non  factum, 
consubstantialem,  Patri,  per 
quern  omnia  facta  sunt.  Qui 
propter  noshomines,et  prop- 
ter nostram  salutem,  descen- 
dit  de  ccelis.  Et  incarnatus 
est  de  Spiritu  Sancto,  ex 
Maria   Virgine ;  et  homo 

FACTTTS      EST.  CmcifixUS 

etiam  pro  nobis  sub  Pontio 
Pilato,  passus,  et  sepultus 
est.  Et  resurrexit  tertia  die, 
secundum  Scripturas.  Et 
ascendit  in  ccelum  ;  sedet  ad 
dexteram  Patris.  Et  iterum 
venturus  est  cum  gloria  judi- 
care  vivos  et  mortuos  ;  cujus 
regni  non  erit  finis. 


Et  in  Spiritum  Sanctum, 
Dominum  et  vivificantem, 
qui  ex  Patre  Filioque  proce- 
dit.  Qui  cum  Patre  et  Filio 
simul  adoratur,  et  conglori- 
ficatur  ;  qui  locutus  est  per 
Prophetas.  Et  unam  sanc- 
tam  Catholicam  et  Apostoli- 
cam  Ecclesiam.  Confiteor 
unum  Baptisma  in  remissio- 
nem  peccatorum.  Et  exspec- 
to  resurrectionum  mortuo- 
rum,  et  vitam  venturi  sseculi. 
Amen. 


64  CHRISTMAS. 

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  for- 
merly 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  are  destined  to  become 
in  our  Christian  Sacrifice.  Their  substance  will  soon 
give  place  to  God  himself,  and  of  themselves  nothing 
will  remain  but  the  appearances.  Happy  creatures, 
thus  to  yield  up  their  own  being,  that  God  may  take 
its  place  !  We,  too,  are  to  undergo  a  like  transforma- 
tion, when,  as  the  Apostle  expresses  it,  that  which  to 
us  is  mortal,  shall  put  on  immortality.1  Until  that 
happy  change  shall  be  realised,  let  us  offer  ourselves 
to  God,  as  often  as  we  see  the  bread  and  wine  pre- 
sented 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.2 

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  : 

Suscipe,      sancte     Pater,  All  that  we  have,  O  Lord, 

omnipotens    asterne    Deus,  comes  from  thee,  and  belongs 

hanc  immaculatam  hostiani,  to  thee ;  it  is  just,  therefore, 

quam  ego  indignus   famu-  that  we  return  it  unto  thee, 

lus  turns  offero  tibi  Deo  meo  But,  how  wonderful  art  thou 

vivo  et  vero,  pro  innumera-  in  the  inventions  of  thy  im- 

1  I.  Cor.  xv.  53.  2  II.  St.  Pet  i  4. 


THE  ORDINARY  OF  THE  MASS. 


65 


mense  love !  This  bread 
which  we  are  offering  to  thee, 
is  to  give  place,  in  a  few 
moments,  to  the  sacred  Body 
of  Jesus.  We  beseech  thee, 
receive,  together  with  this 
oblation,  our  hearts  which 
long  to  live  by  thee,  and  to 
cease  to  live  their  own  life  of 
self. 


bilibus  peccatis  et  offen- 
sionibuset  negligentiismeis, 
et  pro  omnibus  circumstan- 
tibus,  sed  et  pro  omnibus 
fidelibus  christianis  vivis 
atque  defunctis ;  ut  mini 
et  illis  proficiat  ad  salutem 
in  vitam  aeternam.     Amen. 


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  Incarna- 
tion, which  is  manifested  to  the  world  by  the  Birth 
of  our  Emmanuel ;  and  say : 


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 
hast  deigned  to  unite  thy 
divine  nature  to  our  weak 
humanity,  which  is  signified 
by  this  drop  of  water.  O 
come  and  make  us  partakers 
of  thy  divinity,  by  showing 
thyself  to  us  in  thy  sweet  and 
wondrous  visit. 


Deus  qui  humanse  sub- 
stantia© dignitatem  mirabi- 
liter  condidisti,etmirabilius 
reformasti  :  da  nobis  per 
hujus  aquae  et  vini  myste- 
rium,  ejus  divinitatis  esse 
consortes,  qui  humanitatis 
nostrae  fieri  dignatus  est 
particeps,  Jesus  Christus 
Filius  tuus  Dominus  noster: 
qui  tecum  vivit  et  regnat 
in  unitate  Spiritus  Sancti 
Deus,  per  omnia  saecula 
saeculorum.    Amen. 


The  Priest  then  offers  the  mixture  of  wine  and 
water,  beseeching  God  graciously  to  accept  this 
oblation,  the  figure  of  which  is  so  soon  to  be  changed 
into  the  reality,  of  which  it  is  now  but  the  figure. 
Meanwhile,  say,  in  union  with  the  Priest : 


Graciously  accept  these 
gifts,  O  sovereign  Creator  of 
all  things.  Let  them  be  fitted 
for  the  divine  transformation, 
which  will  make  them,  from 


Offerimus  tibi,  D  online, 
calicem  salutaris,  tuam  de- 
precantes  clementiam :  ut  in 
conspectu  divinae  Majestatis 
tuae,  pro  nostra  et  totius 
F 


66  CHRISTMAS. 

nmndi    salute,    cum  odore    being  mere  offerings  of  created 
suavitatis  ascendat,    Amen,     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,  0  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  opera- 
tion 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  Incarna- 
tion : 

Veni,  Sanctificator  om-  Come,  0  Divine  Spirit, 
nipotens  seterne  Deus,  et  make  fruitful  the  offering 
benedic  hoc  sacrificium  tuo  which  is  upon  the  altar,  and 
sancto  nomini  praeparatum.     produce  in  our  hearts   Him 

whom  they  desire. 

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  ap- 
proaches. 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 


THE  OEDINAEY  OF  THE  MASS. 


67 


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  public  confession,  which  he  made  at  the  foot  of 
the  altar,  is  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 


psalm  25. 


I,  too,  would  wash  my 
hands,  0  Lord,  and  become 
like  unto  those  who  are  in- 
nocent, that  so  I  may  be  wor- 
thy 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  dwelling- 
place  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 ;  redeem  me 
yet  more,  thou  who  hast  so 
mercifully  brought  me  back  to 
the  right  path.  In  the  midst 
of  these  thy  faithful  people,  I 
give  thee  thanks.    Glory  be  to 


Lavabo  inter  innocentes 
manus  meas  :  et  circumdabo 
altare  tuum,  Domine. 

Ut  audiam  vocem  laudis  : 
et  enarrem  universa  mira- 
bilia  tua. 

Domine,  dilexi  decorem 
domus  tuse,  et  locum  habi- 
tationis  glorias  tuse. 

Ne  perdas  cum  impiis, 
Deus,  animam  meam,  et 
cum  viris  sanguinum  vitam 
meam. 

In  quorum  manibus  ini- 
quitatessunt :  dexteraeorum 
repleta  est  muneribus. 

Ego  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 


68  CHRISTMAS. 

nunc,  et  semper,  et  in  saecula    the  Father  and  to  the  Son, 
saeculorum.    Amen.  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  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,  O  Holy  Trinity,  graciously 
hanc  oblationem,  quam  tibi  accept  the  Sacrifice  we  have 
offerimus  ob  memoriam  Pas-  begun.  We  offer  it  in  remem- 
sionis,  Resurrectionis,  et  As-  brance  of  the  Passion,  Resur- 
censionis  Jesu  Christi  Do-  rection,  and  Ascension  of  our 
mini  nostri :  et  in  honore  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  Permit 
beatse  Marise  semper  Virgi-  thy  Church  to  join  with  this 
nis,  et  beati  Joannis  Bap-  intention  that  of  honouring 
tistse,  et  sanctorum  Aposto-  the  ever  glorious  Virgin  Mary, 
lorum  Petri  et  Pauli,  et  the  Blessed  Baptist  John,  the 
istorum,  et  omnium  Sane-  holy  Apostles  Peter  and  Paul, 
torum :  ut  illis  proficiat  ad  the  Martyrs  whose  relics  he 
honorem,  nobis  autem  ad  here  under  our  altar  awaiting 
salutem  :  et  illi  pro  nobis  their  resurrection,  and  the 
intercedere  dignentur  in  Saints  whose  memory  we  this 
ccelis,  quorum  memoriam  day  celebrate.  Increase  the 
agimus  in  terris.  Per  eum-  glory  they  are  enjoying,  and 
dem  Christum  Dominum  receive  the  prayers  they  ad- 
nostrum.    Amen.  dress  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  in  the  prayers  of  his  brethren 
who  are  present.     He  says  to  them  : 


THE  OEDINARY  OF  THE  MASS.  69 

Brethren,  pray  that  my  Sa-        Orate,  fratres  :  ut  meum 

crifice,  which  is  yours    also,  ac  vestrum  sacrificium  ac- 

may  be  acceptable  to  God,  our  ceptabile  fiat  apud  Deum 

Almighty  Father.  Patrem  omnipotentem. 

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 : 

May  our  Lord  accept  this        Suscipiat  Dominus  sacri- 

Sacrifice  at  thy  hands,  to  the  ficium  de  manibus  tuis,  ad 

praise  and  glory  of  his  name,  laudem  et  gloriam  nominis 

and  for  our  benefit  and  that  of  sui,   ad  utilitatem    quoque 

his  holy  Church  throughout  nostram  totiusque  Ecclesiae 

the  world.  suae  sanctae. 

Here  the  Priest  recites  the  prayers  called  the  Se- 
crets, 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  reli- 
gion, 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  oar  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  their 
silent  prayer  by  terminating  it  aloud,  saying  : 

For  ever  and  ever !      -  Per  omnia  saecula  saeculo- 

rum ! 

In  the  same  feeling,  answer  your  A  men  !  Then 
he  continues : 

Jr.  The  Lord  be  with  you.  "ff.  Dominus  vobiscum. 

1$.  And  with  thy  spirit.  I£.  Et  cum  spiritu  tuo. 

$".  Lift  up  your  hearts !  %  Sursum  corda  ! 


70  CHRISTMAS. 

Let  your  response  be  sincere  : 

1$.  Habemus  ad  Domi-  1$.  We  have  them  fixed  on 
num.  God. 

And  when  he  adds : 

]v.  Gratias  agamus  Do-  fl.  Let  us  give  thanks  to 
mino  Deo  nostro.  the  Lord  our  God. 

Answer  him  with  all  the  earnestness  of  your  soul : 
I£.  Dignumet  justumest.        I£.  It  is  meet  and  just. 

Then  the  Priest : 
preface  •} 

Vere  dignum  et  justum  It  is  truly  meet  and  just, 

est,  aequum  et  salutare,  nos  right  and  available  to  salva- 

tibi  semper  et  ubique  gra-  tion,  that  we  should  always 

tias  agere  :  Domine  sancte,  and  in  all  places  give  thanks 

Pater    omnipotens,    seterne  to  thee,  O  holy  Lord,  Father 

Deus ;    quia  per   inearnati  Almighty,  eternal  God ;    for 

Verbi  mysterium,  nova  men-  that,  by  the  mystery  of  the 

tis  nostrse  oculis  lux  tute  Incarnate  Word,  a  new  ray  of 

claritatis  infulsit :  ut  dum  thy  glory  has  appeared  to  the 

visibiliter   Deum  cognosci-  eyes  of  our  soul :  so  that,  while 

mus,  per  hunc  in  invisibi-  we  behold  God  visibly,  we  may 

lium  amorem  rapiamur  :  et  be  carried  by  him  to  the  love 

ideo  cum  Angelis  et  Arch-  of  things  invisible  :  and  there- 

angelis,  cum  Thronis  et  Do-  fore,    with    the    Angels    and 

minationibus,  cumque  omni  Archangels,  with  the  Thrones 

militia    ccelestis    exercitus,  and  Dominations,  and  with  all 

hymnum  glorias  tuae  cani-  the  heavenly  host,  we  sing  a 

mus,  sine  fine  dicentes.  hymn  to  thy  glory,  saying  un- 
ceasingly : 

1  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  Virgin.  The  Prefaces  for  the  Epiphany,  of  the 
Blessed  Trinity,  and  of  the  Apostles,  will  be  given  in  their  proper 
places. — The  following  is  the  Common  Preface,  which  is  said  as 
often  as  there  is  not  a  proper  one  assigned. 

PREFACE. 

Vere  dignum  et  justum  est,  It  is  truly  meet  and  just,  right 
sequum  et  salutare,  nos  tibi  and  available  to  salvation,  that 
semper  et  ubique  gratias  agere :     we  should  always  and  in  all  places 


THE  OEDINARY  OF  THE  MASS. 


71 


Here  unite  with  the  Priest,  who,  on  his  part,  unites 
himself  with  the  blessed  Spirits,  in  giving  thanks  to 
God  for  the  unspeakable  Gift :  bow  down  and  say : 


Holy,  Holy,  Holy,  Lord  God 
of  hosts ! 

Heaven  and  earth  are  full 
of  thy  glory. 

Hosanna  in  the  highest ! 

Blessed  be  the  Saviour 
whom  we  were  expecting,  and 
who  is  coming  to  us  in  the 
name  of  the  Lord  who  sends 
him. 

Hosanna  be  to  him  in  the 
highest  1 


SanctUs,  Sanctus,  Sanc- 
tus,  Dominus  Dens  sabaoth ! 

Pleni  sunt  cceli  et  terrae 
gloria  tua. 

Hosanna  in  excelsis ! 

Benedictus  qui  venit  in 
nomine  Domini. 


Hosanna  in  excelsis ! 


After  these  words  commences  the  Canon,  that  mys- 
terious 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  the 
altar,  all  is  silence.  It  was  thus,  says  the  Book  of 
Wisdom,  in  the  quiet  of  silence,  and  while  the  night 
was  in  the -midst  of  her  course,  that  the  Almighty 
Word  came  down  from  his  royal  throne.1  Let  us 
await  him  in  a  like  silence,  and  respectfully  fix  our 
eyes  on  what  the  Priest  does  in  the  holy  place. 


give  thanks  to  thee,  0  holy  Lord, 
Father  Almighty,  eternal  God  : 
through  Christ  our  Lord ;  by 
whom  the  Angels  praise  thy  ma- 
jesty, the  Dominations  adore  it, 
the  powers  tremble  before  it ;  the 
heavens  and  the  heavenly  Virtues, 
and  the  blessed  Seraphim,  with 
common  jubilee,  glorify  it.  To- 
gether with  whom,  We  beseech 
thee  that  we  may  be  admitted 
to  join  our  humble  voices,  say- 
ing: 


Domine  sancte,  Pater  omnipo- 
tens,  seterne  Deus,  per  Chris- 
tum Dominum  nostrum  ;  pe 
quern  ma jestatemtuam  laudant 
Angeli,  adorant  Dominationes, 
tremunt  Potestates,  Cceli,  cce- 
lorumque  Virtutes,  ac  beata 
Seraphim,  socia  exultatione 
concelebrant.  Cum  quibus  et 
nostras  voces,  ut  admitti  ju- 
beas  deprecamur,  supplici  con- 
fessione  dicentes. 


1  Wisd.  xviii.  14,  15. 


72 


CHRISTMAS. 


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  nos- 
trum supplices  rogamus  ac 
petimus,  uti  accepta  habeas, 
et  benedicas  hsec  dona,  hsec 
munera,  haec  sancta  sacri- 
ficia  illihata,  in  primis  quae 
tibi  offerimus  pro  Ecclesia 
tua  sancta  Catholica  :  quam 
pacificare,  custodire,  adu- 
nare,  et  regere  digneris  toto 
orbe  terrarum,  una  cum  fa- 
mulo  tuo  Papa  nostro  N.  et 
Antistite  nostro  N.,  et  om- 
nibus orthodoxis,  atque  ca- 
tholicae  et  apostolicae  fidei 
cultoribus. 


O  God,  who  manifestest  thy- 
self unto  us  by  means  of  the 
mysteries  which  thou  hast  en- 
trusted to  thy  holy  Church, 
our  Mother  ;  we  beseech  thee, 
by  the  merits  of  this  sacrifice, 
that  thou  wouldst  remove  all 
those  hindrances  which  op- 
pose her  during  her  pilgrimage 
in  this  world.  Give  her  peace 
and  unity.  Do  thou  thyself 
guide  our  Holy  Father  the 
Pope,  thy  Vicar  on  earth.  Di- 
rect thou  our  Bishop,  who  is 
our  sacred  link  of  unity  ;  and 
watch  over  all  the  orthodox 
children  of  the  Catholic  Apos- 
tolic Roman  Church. 


Here  pray,  together  with  the  Priest,  for  those  whose 
interests  should  be  dearest  to  you. 


Memento,  Domine,  famu- 
lorum  famularumque  tua- 
rum  N.  et  N.,  et  omnium 
circumstantium,  quorum 
tibi  fides  cognita  est,  et  nota 
devotio :  pro  quibus  tibi 
offerimus,  vel  qui  tibi  offe- 
runt  hoc  sacrificium  laudis, 
pro  se,  suisque  omnibus,  pro 
redemptione  animarum  sua- 
rum,  pro  spe  salutis  et  in- 
columitatis  suae  ;  tibique 
reddunt  vota  sua  seterno 
Deo,  vivo  et  vero. 


Permit  me,  O  God,  to  inter- 
cede with  thee  in  more  earnest 
prayer  for  those,  for  whom 
thou  knowest  that  I  have  a 
special  obligation  to  pray : 
*  *  *  Pour  down  thy  bless- 
ings upon  them.  Let  them 
partake  of  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  bless- 
ings of  this  present  life  and  of 
that  which  is  eternal. 


THE  ORDINARY  OF  THE  MASS. 


73 


Here  let  us  commemorate  the  Saints :  they  are 
that  portion  of  the  Body  of  Jesus  Christ,  which  is 
called  the  Church  Triumphant. 


But  the  offering  of  this  Sa- 
crifice, 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 
ever  Virgin  Mary,  of  whom 
Jesus  is  born  to  us  ;  of  the 
Apostles,  Confessors,  Virgins, 
and  of  all  the  Saints  ;  that  so 
they  may  assist  us,  by  their 
powerful  intercession,  to  be- 
come worthy  to  see  Jesus  in 
Bethlehem,  and  to  contem- 
plate thee,  as  they  now  do,  in 
the  mansion  of  thy  glory. 


Commnnicantes,  et  me- 
moriam  venerantes,  in  pri- 
mis  gloriosae  semper  Virgi- 
nis  Mariae,  Genitricis  Dei  et 
Domini  nostri  Jesu  Christi : 
sed  et  beatorum  Apostolo- 
rum  ac  Martyrum  tuorum, 
Petri  etPauli,  Andreae,  Jaco- 
bi,  Joannis,  Thomas,  Jacobi, 
Philippi,  Bartholomasi,  Mat- 
thaei,  Simonis,  et  Thaddaei  : 
Lini,  Cleti,  Clementis,  Xysti, 
Cornelii,  Cypriani,  Lauren- 
tii,  Chrysogoni,  Joannis  et 
Pauli,  Cosmae  et  Damiani, 
et  omnium  sanctorum  tuo- 
rum, quorum  meritis  preci- 
busque  concedas,  ut  in  om- 
nibus protectionis  tuae  mu- 
niamur  auxilio.  Per  eum- 
dem  Christum  Dominum 
nostrum.     Amen. 


The  Priest,  who,  up  to  this  time,  had  been  praying 
with  his  hands  extended,  now  joins  them,  and  holds 
them  over  the  bread  and  wine,  as  the  High  Priest  of 
the  Old  Law  did  over  the  figurative  victim :  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  in- 
stants, to  yield  its  place  to  the  living  Host,  upon 
whom  all  our  iniquities  are  to  be  laid. 


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 


Hanc  igitur  oblationem 
servitutis  nostras,  sed  et 
cunctae  familiae  tuae,  quae- 
sumus  Domine,  ut  placatus 
accipias  :  diesque  nostros  in 
tua  pace  disponas,  atque  ab 


74 


CHRISTMAS. 


aeterna  damnatione  nos 
eripi,  et  in  electorum  tuo- 
rum  jubeas  grege  numerari. 
Per  Christum  Dominum 
nostrum.    Amen. 

Quam  oblationem  tu  Deus 
in  omnibus  qusesumus,  be- 
nedictam,  adscriptam,  ra- 
tam,  rationabilem,  accepta- 
bilemque  facere  digneris  j 
ut  nobis  Corpus  et  Sanguis 
fiat  dilectissimi  Filii  tui 
Domini  nostri  Jesu  Christi. 


thy  wrath,    and    number  us 

among  thy  elect,  through  Him 
who  is  coming  to  us,  thy  Son 
our  Saviour. 

Yea,  Lord,  this  is  the  mo- 
ment when  this  bread  is  to 
become  his  sacred  Body,  which 
is  our  food  ;  and  this  wine  is 
to  be  changed  into  his  Blood, 
which  is  our  drink.  Ah  !  de- 
lay no  longer,  but  send  to  us 
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  the  Emmanuel,  the  God  with  us,  is 
coming  down  from  heaven. 

Qui  pridie  quam  patere- 
tur,  accepit  panem  in  sanc- 
tas  ac  venerabiles  manus 
suas  :  et  elevatis  oculis  in 
ccelum,  ad  te  Deum  Patrem 
suum  omnipotentem,  tibi 
gratias  agens,  benedixit, 
fregit,  deditque  discipulis 
suis,  dicens  :  Accipite,  et 
manducate  ex  hoc   omnes. 

HOC      EST      ENIM       COEPTJS 
METJM. 


What,  0  God  of  heaven  and 
earth,  my  Jesus,  the  long  ex- 
pected 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, 
then,  Lord  Jesus,  come  ! 


The  Divine  Lamb,  the  Son  of  Mary,  is  now  lying 
on  our  Altar  !  Glory  and  love  be  to  him  for  ever  ! 
But  he  is  come,  that  he  may  be  immolated.  When 
Isaias,  in  prophetic  vision,  contemplated  this  Child 
that  is  born  unto  us,  he  saw,  that  even  then  his  go- 
vernment was  upon  his  shoulder,1  and  this  was  the 
Cross.  Hence,  the  Priest,  who  is  the  minister  of  the 
will  of  the  Most  High,  immediately  pronounces  over 


1  Is.  ix.  6. 


THE   OEDINARY   OF  THE  MASS. 


75 


the  Chalice  those  sacred  words,  which  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  asso- 
ciate ourselves  to  the  Angels,  who  tremblingly  look 
upon  this  deepest  wonder. 

O  Precious  Blood !  thou 
price  of  my  salvation  !  I  adore 
thee  !  Wash  away  my  sins, 
and  give  me  a  purity  above  the 
whiteness  of  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. 


Simili  modo  postquam 
ccenatum  est,  accipiens  et 
hunc  praeclarum  Calicem  in 
sanctas  ac  venerabiles  ma- 
nus  suas  :  item  tibi  gratias 
agens,  benedixit,  deditque 
discipulis  suis,  dicens  :  Ae- 
cipite  et  bibite  ex  eo  omnes. 

HlC  EST  ENIM  CALIX  SAN- 
GUINIS MEI,  NO VI  ET  JETEENI 
TESTAMENTI  :  MYSTEEIUM 
FIDEI  :  QUI  PEO  VOBIS  ET 
PEO  MULTIS  EFFUNDETUE 
IN    EEMISSIONEM    PECCATO- 

eum.  Haec  quotiescumque 
feceritis,  in  mei  memoriam 
facietis. 

The  Priest  is  now  face  to  face  with  God.  He  again 
raises  his  hands  towards  heaven,  and  tells  our  hea- 
venly Father,  that  the  oblation,  now  on  the  altar,  is 
no  longer  an  earthly  offering,  but  the  Body  and  Blood, 
the  whole  Person,  of  his  divine  Son. 


Father  of  infinite  holiness, 
the  Host  so  long  expected  is 
here  before  thee  !  Behold 
this  thy  eternal  Son,  who  suf- 
fered a  bitter  passion,  rose 
again  with  glory  from  the 
grave,  and  ascended  trium- 
phantly into  heaven.  He  is 
thy  Son ;  but  he  is  also  our 
Host — Host  pure  and  spotless 


Unde  et  memores,  Do- 
mine,  nos  servi  tui,  sed  et 
plebs  tua  sancta,  ejusdem 
Christi  Filii  tui  Domini  nos- 
tri  tarn  beatse  Passionis,  nee 
non  et  ab  inferis  Resurrec- 
tionis,  sed  et  in  ccelos  glo- 
riosse  Ascensionis :  offeri- 
mus  prseclarae  majestati  tuae 
de  tuis  donis  ac  datis  Hos- 


76 


CHRISTMAS. 


tiam  puram,  Hostiam  sanc- 
tam,  Hostiam  immacula- 
tam  :  Panem  sanctum  vitas 
aeternse,  et  Calicem  salutis 
perpetuse. 

Supra  quae  propitio  ac 
sereno  vultu  respicere  dig- 
neris  :  et  accepta  habere, 
sicuti  accepta  habere  digna- 
tus  es  munera  pueri  tui  justi 
Abel,  et  sacrificium  Patri- 
archs nostri  Abrahaa,  et 
quod  tibi  obtulit  summus 
Sacerdos  tuus  Melchisedeeh, 
sanctum  sacrificium,  imma- 
culatam  hostiam. 


— our  Meat  and  Drink  of  ever- 
lasting life. 


Heretofore  thou  didst  accept 
the  sacrifice  of  the  innocent 
lambs  offered  to  thee  by  Abel ; 
and  the  sacrifice  which  Abra- 
ham made  thee  of  his  son 
Isaac,  who,  though  immolated, 
yet  lived ;  and,  lastly,  the 
sacrifice,  which  Melchisedeeh 
presented  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  tri- 
bute 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,  om- 
nipotens  Deus :  jube  hsec 
perferri  per  manus  sancti 
Angeli  tui  in  sublime  Altare 
tuum,  in  conspectu  divinse 
Majestatistuse  :  ut  quotquot 
ex  hac  altaris  participatione, 
sacrosanctum  Filii  tui  Cor- 
pus et  Sanguinem  sumpseri- 
mus,  omni  benediction  e  cce- 
lesti  et  gratia  repleamur. 
Per  eumdem  Christum  Do- 
minum  nostrum.    Amen. 


But,  O  God  of  infinite 
power,  these  sacred  gifts  are 
not  only  on  this  altar  here  be- 
low ;  they  are  also  on  that  sub- 
lime Altar  of  heaven,  which 
is  before  the  throne  of  thy  di- 
vine Majesty.  These  two  al- 
tars are  but  one  and  the  same, 
on  which  is  accomplished  the 
great  mystery  of  thy  glory  and 
our  salvation.  Vouchsafe  to 
make  us  partakers  of  the  Body 
and  Blood  of  the  august  Vic- 
tim, from  whom  flow  every 
grace  and  blessing. 


THE  ORDINAEY  OF  THE  MASS. 


77 


Nor  is  the  moment  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  captives  there. 
Let  us  pray  expressly  for  those  amongst  them,  who 
have  a  claim  on  our  suffrages. 


Dear  Jesus  !  let  the  happi- 
ness of  this  thy  visit  extend  to 
every  portion  of  thy  Church. 
Thy  face  gladdens  the  elect  in 
the  holy  City  ;  even  our  mor- 
tal eyes  can  see  beneath  the 
veil  of  our  delighted  faith  ; 
ah !  hide  not  thyself  from 
those  brethren  of  ours,  who  are 
imprisoned  in  the  place  of  ex- 
piation. Be  thou  refreshment 
to  them  in  their  flames,  light 
in  their  darkness,  and  peace 
in  their  agonies  of  torment. 


Memento  etiam,  Domine, 
famulorum  famularumque 
tuarum  N.  et  N.  qui  nos 
prsecesserunt  cum  signo 
fidei,  et  dormiunt  in  somno 
pacis.  Ipsis  Domine,  et 
omnibus  in  Christo  quies- 
centibus,  locum  refrigerii, 
lucis  et  pacis,  ut  indulgeas, 
deprecamur.  Per  eumdem 
Christum  Dominum  nos- 
trum.   Amen. 


This  duty  of  charity  fulfilled,  let  us  pray  for  our- 
selves, sinners,  alas  !  and  who  profit  so  little  by  the 
visit,  which  our  Saviour  pays  us.  Let  us,  together 
with  the  Priest,  strike  our  breast,  saying : 


Alas  !  we  are  poor  sinners, 
O  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  more  than  pu- 
nishment, but  because  of  the 
merits  of  this  Sacrifice,  which 
we  are  offering  to  thee.  Re- 
member, too,  the  merits  of  thy 
holy  Apostles,  of  thy  holy 
Martyrs,  of  thy  holy  Virgins, 


Nobis  quoque  peccatori- 
bus  famuhs  tuis,  de  multi- 
tudine  miserationum  tua- 
rum sperantibus,  partem 
aliquam  et  societatem  do- 
nare  digneris  cum  tuis  Sanc- 
tis Apostolis  et  Martyribus : 
cum  Joanne,  Stephano 
Mathia,  Barnaba,  Ignatio 
Alexandra,  MarceUino,  Pe- 
tro,  Felicitate,  Perpetua, 
Agatha,  Lucia,  Agnete, 
Csecilia,  Anastasia,  et  omni- 


78  CHEISTMAS. 

bus  Sanctis  tuis ;  intra  quo-  and  of  all  thy  Saints.  Grant  us, 

rum    nos   consortium,    non  by  their  intercession,  grace  in 

^estimator  meriti,  sed  venise,  this  world,  and  glory  eternal 

qusesumus,  largitor  admitte.  in  the  next :  which  we  ask  of 

Per  Christum  Dominum  nos-  thee,  in  the  name  of  our  Lord 

trum.   Per  quern  haec  omnia,  Jesus  Christ,  thy  Son.     It  is 

Domine,  semper  bona  creas,  by  him  thou  bestowest  upon 

sanctificas,   vivificas,   bene-  us  thy  blessings  of  life  and 

dicis,  et  prsestas  nobis  :  per  sanctification ;    and    by    him 

ipsum,  et  cum   ipso  et  in  also,  with  him,  and  in  him,  in 

ipso,  est  tibi  Deo  Patri  om-  the  unity  of  the  Holy  Ghost, 

nipotenti,  in  unitate  Spiri-  may  honour  and  glory  be  to 

tus  Sancti,  omnis  honor  et  thee  ! 
gloria. 

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  Canon. 
The  silence  of  the  Mysteries  is  broken.  The  Priest 
concludes  his  long  prayers,  by  saying  aloud,  and  so 
giving  the  faithful  the  opportunity  of  expressing  their 
desire  that  his  supplications  be  granted  : 

Per  omnia  saecula  ssecu-        For  ever  and  ever, 
lorum. 

Answer  him  with  faith,  and  in  a  sentiment  of  union 
with  your  holy  Mother  the  Church : 

Amen.  Amen  !    I  believe  the  mys- 

tery which  has  just  been  ac- 
complished. I  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 


THE  OEDINAEY  OF  THE  MASS.        79 

together  with  the  sacrifice  of  the  Body  and  Blood  of 
Jesus  Christ.  How  could  it  be  otherwise  than  heard, 
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. 

LET  US  PRAY.  OREMUS. 

Having  been  taught  by  a        Prseceptis  salutaribus  mo- 
saving  precept,  and  following    niti,  et  divina  institutione 
the  form  given  us  by  a  divine    formati,  audemus  dicere  : 
instruction,  we  thus  presume 
to  speak ; 

THE  LOED'S  PRAYER, 

Our  Father,  who  art  in  hea-  Pater    noster,   qui   es  in 

ven,  hallowed  be  thy  name ;  ccelis  :  Sanctificetur  nomen 

thy  kingdom  come ;  thy  will  tuum  :    Adveniat    regnum 

be  done  on  earth  as  it  is  in  tuum  :    Fiat  voluntas  tua, 

heaven.     Give  us  this  day  our  sicut  in  ccelo,  et  in  terra. 

daily  Bread ;  and  forgive  us  Panem    nostrum    quotidia- 

our  trespasses,  as  we  forgive  num   da   nobis   hodie  :   Et 

them  that  trespass  against  us ;  dimitte  nobis  debita  nostra, 

and  lead  us  not  into  tempta-  sicut  et  nos  dimittimus  de- 

tion.  bitoribus  nostris.    Et  ne  nos 

mducas  in  tentationem. 

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 
imm  to  your  last  petition — deliver  us  from  evil — 
on  which  he  forms  his  own  next  prayer :  and  could 
he  pray  for  anything  more  needed  ?  Evil  surrounds 
us  everywhere,  and  the  Lamb  on  our  altar  has  been 
sent  to  expiate  it  and  deliver  us  from  it. 

How  many,  O  Lord,  are  the  Libera    nos,     quaesumus 

evils  which  beset  us  !     Evils  Domine,  ab  omnibus  malis, 

past,  which  are  the  wounds  prseteritis,    prsesentibus    et 

left  on  the  soul  by  our  sins,  futuris  :     et     intercedente 

and    strengthen    her   wicked  beata  et  gloriosa  semper  Vir- 


80  CHRISTMAS. 

gine  Dei  Genitrice  Maria,  propensities.  Evils  present, 
cum  beatis  Apostolis  tuis  that  is,  the  sins  now  at  this 
Petro  et  Paulo,  atque  An-  very  time  upon  our  soul ;  the 
drea,  et  omnibus  Sanctis,  da  weakness  of  this  poor  soul ; 
propitius  pacem  in  diebus  and  the  temptations  which 
nostris  :  ut  ope  misericordiae  molest  her.  There  are,  also, 
tua3adjuti,etapeccatosimus  future  evils,  that  is,  the  chas- 
semper  liberi,  et  ab  omni  tisement  which  our  sins  de- 
perturbatione  securi.  Per  serve  from  the  hand  of  thy 
eumdem  Dominum  nos-  justice.  In  presence  of  this 
trum  Jesum  Christum  Fi-  Host  of  our  Salvation,  we  be- 
lium  tuum,  qui  tecum  vivit  seech  thee,  O  Lord,  to  deliver 
et  regnat  in  unitate  Spiritus  us  from  all  these  evils,  and  to 
Sancti  Deus.  accept  in  our  favour  the  inter- 

cession of  Mary  the  Mother  of 
Jesus,  of  thy  holy  Apostles 
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  ssecula  ssecu-        World  without  end. 
lorum. 
1$.  Amen.  1$.  Amen. 

Then  he  says : 

Pax  Domini  sit  semper  May  the  Peace  of  our  Lord 
vobiscum.  be  ever  with  you. 

To  this  paternal  wish  reply  : 

1$.  Et  cum  spiritu  tuo.  1$.  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  Resurrection.     To  this  end,  he  reverently  breaks 


THE  ORDINARY  OF  THE  MASS.        81 

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 : 

Glory  he  to  thee,  O  Saviour  Hsec  commixtio  et  conse- 

of  the  world,  who  didst,  in  thy  cratio  Corporis  et  Sanguinis 

Passion,  permit  thy  precious  Domini  nostri  Jesu  Christi, 

Blood  to  be  separated  from  fiat  accipientibus  nobis  in 

thy  sacred  Body,  afterwards  vitam  seternam.     Amen, 
uniting  them  again  together 
by  thy  divine  power. 

Offer  now  your  prayer  to  the  ever  living  Lamb, 
whom  St.  John  saw  on  the  Altar  of  Heaven  standing, 
though  slain :  say  to  this  your  Lord  and  King  : 

Lamb  of  God,  who  takest  Agnus  Dei,  qui  tollis  pee- 
away  the  sins  of  the  world,  cata  mundi,  miserere  nobis, 
have  mercy  on  us. 

Lamb  of  God,  who  takest  Agnus  Dei,  qui  tollis  pee- 
away  the  sins  of  the  world,  cata  mundi,  miserere  nobis, 
have  mercy  on  us. 

Lamb  of  God,  who  takest  Agnus  Dei,  qui  tollis  pee- 
away  the  sins  of  the  world,  cata  mundi,  dona  nobis  pa- 
give  us  Peace.  cem. 

Peace  is  the  grand  object  of  our  Saviour's  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.1  It 
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  : 

Lord    Jesus    Christ,    who        Domine  Jesu  Christe,  qui 
saidst  to  thy  Apostles,  "  my    dixisti  Apostolis  tuis :  Pa- 

1 1.  Cor.  x.  17. 

G 


82 


CHRISTMAS. 


cem  relinquo  vobis,  pacem 
meam  do  vobis  :  ne  respicias 
peccata  mea,  sed  fidem  Ec- 
clesiae  tuse  :  eamque  secun- 
dum voluntatem  tuam  paci- 
ficare,  et  coadunare  digneris. 
Qui  vivis  et  regnas  Deus, 
per  omnia  saecula  sasculo- 
rum.     Amen. 


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  ac- 
cording to  thy  will.  Who 
livest  and  reignest  God  for 
ever  and  ever.     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,  and  he  to  the  Choir.  Daring  this  cere- 
mony, you  should  excite  within  yourself  feelings  of 
Christian  charity,  and  pardon  your  enemies,  if  you 
have  any.     Then  continue  to  pray  with  the  Priest : 


Domine  Jesu  Christe,  Fili 
Dei  vivi,  qui  ex  voluntate 
Patris,  cooperante  Spiritu 
Sancto,  per  mortem  tuam 
mundum  vivhicasti  :  libera 
me  per  hoc  sacrosanctum 
Corpus,  et  Sanguinem  tuum, 
ab  omnibus  iniquitatibus 
meis,  et  universis  malis,  et 
f ac  me  tuis  semper  inhserere 
mandatis,  et  a  te  nunquam 
separari  permittas.  Qui  cum 
eodem  Deo  Patre  et  Spiritu 
Sancto  vivis  et  regnas  Deus 
in  ssecula  saeculoruni.  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  thy 
death  given  hfe  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  sepa- 
rated 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  : 

Let  not  the  participation  of 
thy  Body,  O  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  which  I,  though  un- 
worthy, presume  to  receive, 
turn  to  my  judgment  and  con- 
demnation ;  but  through  thy 
mercy  may  it  be  a  safeguard 


Perceptio  Corporis  tui 
Domine  Jesu  Christe,  quod 
ego  indignus  sumere  prae- 
sumo,  non  mihi  proveniat 
in  judicium  et  condemna- 
tionem  :  sed  pro  tua  pietate 
prosit  mihi  ad  tutamentum 


THE  OEDINAEY  OF  THE  MASS.        83 

and  remedy  both  to  my  soul  mentis  et  corporis,   et    ad 

and  body.     Who  with  God  medelam  percipiendam.  Qui 

the  Father,  in  the  unity  of  the  vivis  et    regnas  cum    Deo 

Holy  Ghost,  livest  and  reign-  Patre    in    unitate    Spiritus 

est  God  for  ever  and   ever.  Sancti  Deus,  per  omnia  sse- 

Amen.  cula  saeculorum.    Amen. 

When  the  Priest  takes  the  Host  into  his  hands,  in 
order  to  his  receiving  it  in  Communion,  say  : 

Come,  my  dear  Jesus,  come  !        Panem     coelestem     acci- 

piam,  et  nomen  Domini  in- 
vocabo. 

When  he  strikes  his  breast,  confessing  his  unwor- 
thiness,  say  thrice  with  him  these  words,  and  in  the 
same  disposition  as  the  Centurion  of  the  Gospel,  who 
first  used  them  : 

Lord,  I  am  not  worthy  thou  Domine,  non  sum  dignus, 

shouldst  enter  under  my  roof  ;  ut  intres  sub  tectum  meum  : 

say  it  only  with  one  word  of  sed  tantum  die  verbo,  et  sa- 

thine,  and  my  soul  will  be  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  sacraraen- 
tally,  make  a  Spiritual  Communion.  Adore  Jesus 
Christ  wTho  thus  visits  your  soul  by  his  grace,  and 
say  to  him : 

I  give  thee,  O  Jesus,  this  Corpus     Domini    nostri 

heart  of  mine,  that  thou  may-  Jesu  Christi,  custodiat  ani- 

est  dwell  in  it,  and  do  with  mam  meam  in  vitam  aeter- 

me  what  thou  wilt.  nam.    Amen. 

Then  the  Priest  takes  the  Chalice,  in  thanksgiving, 
and  says : 

What  return  shall  I  make  Quid  retribuam  Domino 
to  the  Lord  for  all  he  hath    pro  omnibus,  quae  retribuit 


84  CHKISTMAS. 

mihi  1  Calicem  salutaris  ac-  given  to  me  ?  I  will  take  the 
cipiam,  et  nomen  Domini  Chalice  of  salvation,  and  will 
invocabo.  Laudans  invoca-  call  upon  the  name  of  the 
bo  Dominum,  et  ab  inimicis  Lord.  Praising  I  will  call 
meis  salvns  ero.  upon  the  Lord,  and  I  shall  be 

saved  from  mine  enemies. 

But  if  you  are  to  make  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  aster-  thyself  to  me  !  and  never  let 

nam.     Amen.  us  be  separated. 

It  is  here  that  you  must  approach  to  the  altar,  if 
you  are  going  to  Communion.  The  dispositions 
suitable  for  Holy  Communion  during  this  season  of 
Advent,  are  given  in  the  next  Chapter,  'page  88. 

The  Communion  being  finished,  and  whilst  the 
Priest  is  purifying  the  Chalice  the  first  time,  say : 

Quod  ore  sumpsimus,  Do-  Thou  hast  visited    me,  O 

mine,  pura  mente  capiamus :  God,  in  these  days  of  my  pil- 

et  de  munere  temporali  fiat  grimage ;  give    me    grace    to 

nobis  remedium  sempiter-  treasure  up  the  fruits  of  this 

num.  visit  for  my  future  eternity. 

Whilst  the  Priest  is  purifying  the  Chalice  the 
second  time,  say : 

Corpus    tuum,    Domine,  Be  thou  for  ever  blessed,  O 

quod    sumpsi,    et    Sanguis  my  Saviour,  for  having   ad- 

quem  potavi,  adhsereat  vis-  mitted  me  to  the  sacred  mys- 

ceribus  meis  :  et  prsesta  ut  tery  of  thy  Body  and  Blood, 

in  me  non  remaneat  scele-  May  my  heart  and  senses  pre- 

rum  macula,  quern  pura  et  serve,  by  thy  grace,  the  purity 

sancta    refecerunt     Sacra-  which  thou  hast  imparted  to 


THE  ORDINARY  OF  THE  MASS.        85 

them  ;  and  I  thus  be  rendered  menta.  Qui  vivis  et  regnas 
less  unworthy  of  thy  divine  insseculasseculorum.  Amen, 
visit. 

The  Priest  having  read  the  Antiphon  called  the 
Communion,  which  is  the  first  part  of  his  Thanks- 
giving for  the  favour  just  received  from  God,  where- 
by he  has  renewed  his  divine  presence  among  us — 
turns  to  the  people  with  the  usual  salutation ;  after 
which  he  recites  the  Prayers,  called  the  Postcom- 
munion,  which  are  the  completion  of  the  Thanks- 
giving. 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  permit  you  to  continue,  for  ever,  in  the  company 
of  Jesus,  Mary,  and  Joseph. 

These  Prayers  having  been  recited,  the  Priest 
again  turns  to  the  people,  and  full  of  joy  for  the  im- 
mense favour  he  and  they  have  been  receiving,  he 
says: 

The  Lord  be  with  you.  Dominus  vobiscum. 

Answer  him : 

And  with  thy  spirit.  Et  cum  spiritu  tuo. 

Go,  the  Mass  is  finished.  Ite,  Missa  est. 

]$.  Thanks  be  to  God.  I£.  Deo  gratias. 

The  Priest  makes  a  last  Prayer,  before  giving  you 
his  blessing  :  pray  with  him  : 

Eternal  thanks  be  to  thee,  Placeat  tibi,  sancta  Trini- 
O  adorable  Trinity,  for  the  tas,  obsequium  servitutis 
mercy  thou  hast  showed  to  me,  mese,  quod  oculis  tuae  ma- 
in permitting  me  to  assist  at  jestatis  indignus  obtuli,  tibi 
this  divine  Sacrifice.  Pardon  sit  acceptabile,  mihique,  et 
me  the  negligence  and  cold-  omnibus,  pro  quibus  ilhid 
ness  wherewith  I  have  re-  obtuli,  sit,  te  miserante,  pro- 
ceived  so  great  a  favour,  and  pitiabile.  Per  Christum 
deign  to  confirm  the  Blessing,  Dominum  nostrum.  Amen, 
which  thy  Minister  is  about  to 
give  me  in  thy  Name. 


86 


CHKISTMAS. 


The  Priest  raises  his  hand,  and  thus  blesses  you 


Benedicat  vos  omnipotens 
Deus,  Pater,  et  Filius,  et 
Spiritus  Sanctus. 

J$.  Amen. 


May  the  Almighty  God, 
Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost, 
bless  you  ! 

I£.  Amen. 


He  then  concludes  the  Mass,  by  reading  the  first 
fourteen  verses  of  the  Gospel  according  to  St.  John, 
which  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  unto 
his  own,  receive  him,  and  are  made  the  sons  of  God. 

The  beginning   of  the   Holy 
Gospel  according  to  John. 


Initium  sancti  Evangelii  se- 
cundum Joannem. 

Cap.  1. 

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  fac- 
tum est  nihil.  Quod  factum 
est,  in  ipso  vita  erat,  et  vita 
erat  lux  hominum :  et  lux  in 
tenebris  lucet,  et  tenebrse 
earn  non  comprehenderunt. 
Fuit  homo  missus  a  Deo,  cui 
nomen  erat  Joannes.  Hie 
venit  in  testimonium,  ut  tes- 
timonium perhiberet  de  lu- 
mine,  ut  omnes  crederent 
per  ilium.  Non  erat  ille 
lux,  sed  ut  testimonium  per- 
hiberet de  lumine.  Erat  lux 
vera,  quae  illuminat  omnem 
hominem  venientem  in  hunc 
mundum.  In  mundo  erat,  et 
mundus  per  ipsum  factus 
est,  et  mundus  eum  non  cog- 
novit. In  propria  venit,  et  sui 
eum  non  receperunt.  Quot- 
quot  autem  receperunt  eum, 


Ch.  1. 

In  the  beginning  was  the 
Word,  and  the  Word  was  with 
God,  and  the  Word  was  God. 
The  same  was  in  the  begin- 
ning with  God.  All  things 
were  made  by  him,  and  with- 
out 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  dark- 
ness 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  testi- 
mony of  the  light.  That  was 
the  true  light  which  enlight- 
eneth  every  man  that  cometh 
into  this  world.  He  was  in 
the  world,  and  the  world  was 
made  by  him,  and  the  world 
knew  him  not.  He  came  unto 
his  own,  and  his  own  received 


THE   ORDINARY   OF   THE  MASS. 


87 


him  not.  But  as  many  as 
received  him,  to  them  he  gave 
power  to  be  made  the  sons  of 
God ;  to  them  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,  full  of  grace  and  truth. 
I£.  Thanks  be  to  God. 


dedit  eis  potestatem  filios 
Dei  fieri,  his,  qui  credunt  in 
nomine  ejus:  quinonexsan- 
guinibus,  neque  ex  volun- 
tate  carnis,  neque  ex  volun- 
tate  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  gratise  et 
veritatis. 

1$.  Deo  gratias. 


CHAPTER  VI 

ON  HOLY   COMMUNION  DURING  CHRISTMAS. 

During  Advent,  Holy  Communion  prepared  the  soul 
for  the  visible  Coming  of  her  heavenly  Spouse.  He 
graciously  granted  her  that  sublime  favour,  as  a  fore- 
taste of  that  happy  Night,  in  which  he  would  show 
himself  to  her  as  the  Divine  Babe,  whose  ineffable 
loveliness  would  ravish  Angels,  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  con- 
cealed from  her  sight. 

But,  now  that  Christmas  is  come ;  now,  that  a 
little  Child  is  born  unto  us,  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  know- 
ledge of  our  Incarnate  Word,  illumine  us  with 
brighter  Light,  and  produce  within  us  a  more  ardent 
longing  to  possess  this  Jesus,  whose  love  and  loveli- 
ness gleam  so  magnificently  through  the  humility  of 
these  swathing- bands  and  manger. 

It  is  no  longer  the  invisible  Jesus,  preparing,  by 
silence  and  stillness,  for  the  laborious  mission  of  his 
conquest  of  souls : — it  is  the  Deliverer  of  mankind 
who  has  begun  to  run  the  ivay  ;x  it  is  the  Sun  of  Jus- 
tice 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,2  striving 
to  win  our  love. 

1  Ps.  xviii.  6.  2  Wisd.  xi.  27. 


BEFOEE  COMMUNION.  89 

Then,  let  us  go  to  him,  that  we  may  know  him  ; 
let  ns  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  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  I1  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  de- 
rive 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  I  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  Beason  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  !  I  believe  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  unto 
you,  in  the  City  of  David,  a  Saviour,  who  is  Christ  the  Lord  : 
and  this  shall  be  a  sign  unto  you : — you  shall  find  the  Infant 

1  Ps.  xxxiii.  6. 


90  CHRISTMAS. 

wrapped  in  swaddling-clothes,  and  laid  in  a  crib  :x  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  re- 
ceive 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.  Thou  lovest  the  humble,  0  my  God  !  and  therefore 
thou  didst  prefer  these  humble  men  to  all  the  rest  of  man- 
kind, giving  them  the  grand  honour  of  being  the  first  Wor- 
shippers 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  les- 
son 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 
I  have  become  one  of  those  little  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,  thou  wouldst  not  be  born  in  any  other 
place  than  a  Stable  and  a  Crib  ;  my  heart,  then,  will  satisfy 
thee,  dear  Jesus  !  and  Bethlehem  itself,  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,  0  God  of  holiness !  the  Stable  and  the  Crib, 
though  most  unworthy  of  thy  Majesty,  had  nothing  in  them 

1  St.  Luke,  ii.  11, 12. 


BEFORE  COMMUNION.  91 

•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  con- 
sequences, 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  im- 
mense that  love  of  thine,  which  could  deign  to  give  it  me  ! 
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 
fibre.  I  do  not  forget  those  words  of  thine  :  Blessed  are  the 
clean  of  heart,  for  they  shall  see  God  :l  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  prayer  of  my  contrite  heart — wilt  thou,  my 
Infant-God,  reject  it  1  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  forgotten  my  sins.  A  con- 
trite heart  which  sues  for  mercy,  is  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  Childhood,  a 
mystery  of  Love  %  Thou  comest  to  me,  because  thou 
lovest  me ;  but  thou  comest  to  me  as  a  little  Infant,  be 
cause  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 

1  St.  Matth.  v.  8. 


92  CHKISTMAS. 

what  I  can  least  understand,  so  tender  1  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  ! 
I  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  thee,  according 
to  thy  word  :  He  that  eateth  my  Flesh,  abideth  in  me,  and  I 
in  him. l  0  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  end  ;  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  her- 
self :  let  it  supply  the  poverty  of  my  own  love,  and  deign,  I 
beseech  thee,  to  enrich  me,  by  this  thy  visit,  with  the  gold 
of  divine  charity. 


ACT   OF  DESIKE. 

I  love  thee,  0  Divine  Babe  !  therefore  do  I  desire  thee, 
and  beseech  thee  to  come  to  me.  I  must  needs  desire  thee, 
for  thou  art,  as  thy  Scripture  tells  me,  The  Desire  of  the 
everlasting  hills}  And  art  thou  not  Light  and  Life  1  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  :  let  us  go  over  to  Bethlehem,  they  say,  and 
let  us  see  this  Word  which  is  come  to  pass,  which  the  Lord 
hath  shewed  to  us.  The  Magi  no  sooner  see  the  Star,  than 
they  set  out  to  seek  thee,  the  Star  of  Jacob.5  The  aged 
Simeon  is  filled  with  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  hastens  to  the 
Temple  to  see  the  Saviour  whom  the  Lord  had  prepared. 

1  St.  John,  vi.  57.        2  Gen.  xlix.  26.         3  Num.  xxiv.  17. 


AFTER   COMMUNION.  93 

Anna,  the  Prophetess,  is  impelled  by  a  holy  enthusiasm, 
though  weighed  down  with  years,  to  come  and  see  Him,  who 
is  the  Consolation  of  Israel.  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,  there- 
fore, come  into  my  soul !  I  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. 

0  Mary  !  Virgin-Mother  of  the  Messias  !  help  me,  by  thy 
prayers,  to  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  glori- 
ous choir,  near  the  Crib  of  our  God  ;  fit  me,  by  your  hea- 
venly influence,  to  share  in  your  adorations,  and,  under  the 
shadow  of  your  sacred  wings,  to  hide  the  tatters  of  my  spi- 
ritual poverty. — All  ye  Saints  of  God  !  by  the  delights  you 
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. 

AFTER  COMMUNION. 

ACT  OF  ADORATION. 

Thou  hast,  then,  come  down  even  unto  me,  O  my  Sove- 
reign 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 
humbling  thyself  to  such  an  abyss  of  lowliness.  To  the 
hymn  of  the  Angels,  Glory  be  to  God  in  the  highest ;  I  must 


94  CHRISTMAS. 

needs  add,  Glory  be  to  thee,  my  God,  in  this  depth  of  my 
misery  and  weakness,  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  1 
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,  0  thou  my  Sovereign  Lord  !  I 
humbly  beseech  thee  to  accept  her  homage  to  supply  for  the 
un worthiness  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,  so  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  con- 
templates, in  glad  amazement,  the  sublime  miracle  of  this 
abasement  of  thy  divine  Majesty. 


ACT  OF   THANKSGIVING. 

But  it  is  not  enough,  0  Divine  Babe  !  that  I  adore  thee  ;  I 
must  thank  thee.  What  an  honour  this  thou  hast  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  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,1  they  kiss  but  the 
ground  whereon  thy  Crib  is  placed.    Happy,  then,  the  aged 

1  Ps.  lxxi. 


AFTER  COMMUNION.  95 

Simeon,  who  is  permitted  to  take  thee  into  his  arms ;  but 
oh  !  how  happier  I !  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  at  those  things  that  were  told  them  by 
the  Shepherds}  So,  too,  will  I  open  my  lips,  and,  borrow- 
ing the  words  of  a  Son  of  Bethlehem,  David,  thy  ancestor, 
I  will  say  :  All  ye  that  fear  God,  come  and  hear,  and  I  will 
tell  you  what  great  things  he  hath  done  to  my  soul.2 

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  dwellesf?  Be 
thou  loved,  then,  my  infinitely  amiable  Jesus  of  Bethlehem  ! 
It  was  to  win  our  love,  that  thou  didst  lay  aside  all  thy 
greatness,  and,  as  thy  Apostle  expresses  it,3  empty  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  ten- 
derest  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  I  am  thine.  Jesus  !  most  amiable  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  wherewith  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  dili- 
gently procured  thee  all  thou  didst  need ;  the  love  where- 
with the  Shepherds  of  Bethlehem  gazed  on  thee,  the  Saviour, 
that  was  born  for  them,  and  knew  thee  by  this  sign  that  thou 
wast  an  Infant — lying — swathed — in  a  manger  ;4  the  love 

1  St.  Luke,  ii.  16,  20,  18.  3  Phil.  ii.  7. 

2  Ps.  lxv.  16.  4  St.  Luke,  ii.  11,  ]2. 


96  CHRISTMAS. 

wherewith  the  adoring  Magi  opened  their  treasures  before 
thee,  and  forgot  all  the  fatigues  of  a  long  journey,  entranced 
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  Jesus ;  the  love,  in  fine,  of 
the  Holy  Angels,  who,  as  thy  Apostle  tells  us,1  adored  thee 
when  born  in  Bethlehem,  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  Trea- 
sure !  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,  0  Divine  Infant  ! 
— thou  commandest  me  to  give  myself  to  thee.  I  was  far 
off,  and  yet  thou  earnest  to  me,  that  thou  mightest  make  me 
thine  own  possession  ;  and  that  I  might  never  more  leave 
thee,  thou  hast  taken  up  thy  dwelling  within  my  heart, 
making  it  thy  Bethlehem,  0  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  dis- 
obedience ;  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.  Henceforth,  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,  ivent  bach  another  way  into  their  coun- 
try. May  this  holy  infancy,  which  I  have  begun  after  thine 
example,  be  to  me  the  beginning  of  a  new  life,  with  no- 
thing of  my  old  one  iri  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  serving  thee  ; 

1  Heb.  i.  6. 


AFTER  COMMUNION.  96 

that  so  I  may  deserve  to  be  united  with  thee,  for  ever,  in 
heaven. 

Mary,  Mother  of  my  Jesus !  pray  for  me,  that  this  gra- 
cious- visit  of  thy  divine  Son  may  produce  in  me  abun- 
dant 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. — All  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. 


H 


CHAPTER  VII. 

OF  THE  OFFICE  OF  VESPEES  FOR  SUNDAYS  AND 

FEASTS  ; 

DURING  CHRISTMAS. 

The  Office  of  Vespers,  or  Even-Song,  during  the 
whole  year,  consists,  firstly,  of  five  Psalms  and  Anti- 
phons,  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  Sun- 
days, 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  pecu- 
liar to  each,  for  the  Proper.  If  it  be  a  Feast,  the 
Office  must  be  sought  for  on  its  own  day. 

After  the  Pater  and  Ave  have  been  said  in  secret, 
the  Church  commences  this  Hour  with  her  favourite 
supplication : 

"ft".  Deus  in  adjutorinm  $".  Incline  unto  my  aid,  O 
meum  intende.  God. 

I£.  Doniine,  ad  adjuvan-  1$.  0  Lord,  make  haste  to 
dum  me  festina.  help  me. 

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  saecula  is  now,  and  ever  shall  be, 
sseculorum.  Amen.  Alleluia,    world  without  end.     Amen. 

Alleluia. 

Ant.  Dixit  Dominus.  Ant.  The  Lord  said. 

The  first  Psalm  is  a  prophecy  of  the  glory  of  the 
Messias.  This  Child,  who  is  now  born  to  us  in  humi- 
lity and  poverty,  is  to  be  seated  on  the  right  hand  of 


SUNDAY  S  VESPERS. 


99 


the  eternal  Father.  Now,  that  we  are  celebrating 
his  temporal  Birth,  it  is  most  just  that  we  should 
often  sing  the  Psalm  which  speaks  of  his  eternal 
Generation,  as  God,  and  of  the  future  glory  which 
awaits  him,  as  Man. 


psalm  109. 


The  Lord  said  to  my  Lord, 
his  Son :  Sit  thou  at  my  right 
hand,  and  reign  with  me. 

Until,  on  the  day  of  thy  last 
coming,  I  make  thy  enemies 
thy  footstool. 

0  Christ!  the  Lord  thy 
Father  will  send  forth  the 
sceptre  of  thy  power  out  of 
Sion  :  from  thence  rule  thou 
in  the  midst  of  thy  enemies. 

With  thee  is  the  principality 
in  the  day  of  thy  strength,  in 
the  brightness  of  the  saints  : 
For  the  Father  hath  said  to 
thee :  From  the  womb  before 
the  day-star  I  begot  thee. 

The  Lord  hath  sworn,  and 
he  will  not  repent :  he  hath 
said,  speaking  of  thee,  the  God- 
Man:  Thou  art  a  Priest  for 
ever,  according  to  the  order  of 
Melchisedech. 

Therefore,  0  Father,  the 
Lord  thy  Son  is  at  thy  right 
hand :  he  hath  broken  kings 
in  the  day  of  his  wrath. 

He  shall  cdso  judge  among 
nations  :  in  that  terrible  com- 
ing, 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:  there- 
fore, shall  he  lift  up  the  head. 

Ant.  The  Lord  said  to  my 


Dixit  Dominus  Domino 
meo  :  *  Sede  a  dextris  meis. 

Donee  ponam  inimicos 
tuos :  *  scabellum  pedum 
tuorum. 

Virgam  virtutis  tuse  emit- 
tet  Dominus  ex  Sion  :  *  do- 
minare  in  medio  inimicorum 
tuorum. 

Tecum  principium  in  die 
virtutis  tuae  in  splendoribus 
sanctorum  :  *  ex  utero  ante 
lucif  erum  genui  te. 


Juravit  Dominus,  et  non 
pcenitebit  eum  :  *  Tu  es  Sa- 
cerdos  in  seternum  secun- 
dum ordinem  Melchisedech. 


Dominus  a  dextris  tuis  :* 
confregit  in  die  irse  suae  re- 

ges. 

Judicabit  in  nationibus, 
implebit  ruinas  :  *  conquas- 
sabit  capita  in  terra  multo- 
rum. 

De  torrente  in  via  bibet :  * 
propterea  exaltabit  caput. 


Ant.  Dixit  Dominus  Do- 


100 


CHRISTMAS. 


mino  meo,  sede  a  dextris    Lord,  sit  thou  at  my  right 
meis.  hand. 

Ant.  Fidelia.  Ant.  Faithful. 

The  following  Psalm  commemorates  the  mercies  of 
God  to  his  people — the  promised  Covenant — the  Re- 
demption— his  fidelity  to  his  promises. 


psalm  110. 


Confitebor  tibi,  Domine, 
in  toto  corde  meo  :  *  in  con- 
cilio  justorum  et  congrega- 
tione. 

Magna  opera  Domini  :  * 
exquisita  in  omnes  volunta- 
tes  ejus. 

Confessio  etmagnificentia 
opus  ejus  :  *  et  justitia  ejus 
manet  in  saeculum  sseculi. 

Memoriam  fecit  mirabi- 
lium  suorum,  misericors  et 
miserator  Dominus :  *  escam 
dedit  timentibus  se. 


Memor  erit  in  saeculum 
testamenti  sui  :  *  virtutem 
operum  suorum  annuntiabit 
populo  suo. 

Ut  det  illis  haereditatem 
Gentium  :  *  opera  manuum 
ejus  Veritas  et  judicium. 

Fidelia  omnia  mandata 
ejus,  confirmata  in  saeculum 
saeculi  :  *  facta  in  veritate  et 
sequitate. 

Redemptionem  misit  po- 
pulo suo :  *  mandavit 
in  aeternum  testamentum 
suum. 

Sanctum  et  terribile  no- 


I  will  praise  thee,  0  Lord, 
with  my  whole  heart :  in  the 
counsel  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  mag- 
nificence :  and  his  justice  con- 
tinueth  for  ever  and  ever. 

He  hath  made  a  remem- 
brance 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. 

He  will  be  mindful  for  ever 
of  his  covenant  with  men :  he 
is  come  and  will  shew  forth  to 
his  people  the  power  of  his 
works. 

That  he  may  give  them,  his 
Church,  the  inheritance  of  the 
Gentiles  :  the  works  of  his 
hand  are  truth  and  judgment. 

All  his  commandments  are 
faithful,  confirmed  for  ever 
and  ever :  made  in  truth  and 
equity. 

He  hath  sent  Eedemption 
to  his  people;  he  hath,  thereby, 
commanded  his  covenant  for 
ever. 

Holy  and   terrible   is   his 


SUNDAY'S  VESPERS. 


101 


name  :  the  fear  of  the  Lord  is 
the  beginning  of  wisdom. 

A  good  understanding  to  all 
that  do  it :  his  praise  con- 
tinueth  for  ever  and  ever. 

Ant.  Faithful  are  all  his 
commandments ;  confirmed  for 
ever  and  ever. 

Ant.  In  his  command- 
ments. 


men  ejus  :  *  initium  sapien- 
tiae  timor  Domini. 

Intellectus  bonus  omnibus 
facientibus  eum  :  *  laudatio 
ejus  manet  in  saeculum  sae- 
culi. 

Ant.  Fidelia  omnia  man- 
data  ejus ;  confirmata  in 
saeculum  saeculi. 

Ant.  In  mandatis. 


The  next  Psalm  sings  the  happiness  of  the  just 
man,  and  his  hopes  on  the  day  of  Jesus'  Birth.  It 
is  applicable  also  to  the  sinner,  who  shall  be  con- 
founded because  he  profited  nothing  by  that  great 
Mystery  of  humility  and  love. 


psalm  ill. 


Blessed  is  the  man  that 
feareth  the  Lord :  he  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 :  he  is  born  and  dwells 
amongst  us. 

Acceptable  is  the  man  that 
showeth  mercy  and  lendeth; 
he  shall  order  his  words  with 
judgment :  because  he  shall 
not  be  moved  for  ever. 

The  just  shall  be  in  ever- 
lasting remembrance :  he  shall 
not  fear  the  evil  hearing. 

His  heart  is  ready  to  hope 
in   the    Lord;    his   heart  is 


Beatus  vir,  qui  timet  Do- 
minum  :  *  in  mandatis  ejus 
volet  nimis. 

Potens  in  terra  erit  semen 
ejus  :  *  generatio  rectorum 
benedicetur. 

Gloria,  et  divitiae  in  domo 
ejus :  *  et  justitia  ejus  manet 
in  saeculum  sseculi. 

Exortum  est  in  tenebris 
lumen  rectis  :  *  misericors, 
et  miserator,  et  Justus. 


Jucundus  homo,  qui  mise- 
retur  et  commodat,  disponet 
sermones  suos  in  judicio  :  * 
quia  in  aeternum  non  com- 
movebitur. 

In  memoria  aeterna  erit 
Justus  :  *  ab  auditione  mala 
non  timebit. 

Paratum  cor  ejus  sperare 
in  Domino,  confirmatum  est 


102 


CHEISTMAS. 


cor  ejus  :  *  non  commovebi- 
tur  donee  despiciat  inimicos 
suos. 

Dispersit,  dedit  pauperi- 
bus,  justitia  ejus  manet  in 
saeculuin  saeculi  :  *  cornu 
ejus  exaltabitur  in  gloria. 

Peccator  videbit,  et  irasce- 
tur,  dentibus  suis  fremet  et 
tabescet :  *  desiderium  pec- 
catorum  peribit. 


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.  In  his  commandments 
he  delighteth  exceedingly. 

Ant.  May  the  name  of  the 
Lord. 

The  Psalm  Laudate  pueri,  is  a  Canticle  of  praise 
to  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. 


ejus 


Ant.  In    mandatis 
cupit  nimis. 
Ant.  Sit  nomen  Domini. 


Laudate,  pueri,  Domi- 
num  :  *  laudate  nomen  Do- 
mini. 

Sit  nomen  Domini  bene- 
dictum  :  *  ex  hoc  nunc  et 
usque  in  sseculum. 

A  sol  is  ortu  usque  ad  oc- 
casum :  *  laudabile  nomen 
Domini. 

Excelsus  super  omnes 
Gentes  Dominus  :  *  et  super 
coelos  gloria  ejus. 

Quis  sicut  Dominus  Deus 
noster  qui  in  altis  habitat  :* 
et  humilia  respicit  in  coelo 
et  in  terra  ] 


Suscitans  a  terra  inopem:* 
et  de  stercore  erigens  paupe- 
rem. 


Praise  the  Lord,  ye  chil- 
dren :  praise  ye  the  name  of 
the  Lord. 

Blessed  be  the  name  of  the 
Lord  :  from  henceforth  now 
and  for  ever. 

From  the  rising  of  the  sun 
unto  the  going  down  of  the 
same,  the  name  of  the  Lord 
is  worthy  of  praise. 

The  Lord  is  high  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 
the  earth  :  and  lifting  up  the 
poor  out  of  the  dunghill. 


SUNDAY  S  VESPERS. 


103 


That  he  may  place  him  with 
princes  :  with  the  princes  of 
his  people. 

Who  maketh  a  barren  wo- 
man to  dwell  in  a  house,  the 
joyful  mother  of  children. 

Ant.  May  the  name  of  the 
Lord  be  for  ever  blessed. 

Ant.  We  that  live. 


Ut  collocet  eumcum  prin- 
cipibus  :  *  cum  principibus 
populi  sui. 

Qui  habitare  f  acit  sterilem 
in  domo  :  *  matrem  filiorum 
lagtantem. 

Ant.  Sit  nomen  Domini 
benedictum  in  saecula. 

Ant.  Nos  qui  vivimus. 


The  fifth  Psalm,  In  exitu,  recounts  the  prodigies 
witnessed  under  the  ancient  Covenant :  they  were 
figures,  whose  realities  begin  their  accomplishment 
in  the  Birth  of  Jesus  ;  for,  he  comes  that  he  may  de- 
liver 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. 


psalm  113. 


When  Israel  went  out  of 
Egypt,  the  house  of  Jacob 
from  a  barbarous  people. 

Judea  was  made  his  sanc- 
tuary, Israel  his  dominion. 

The  sea  saw  and  fled  ;  Jor- 
dan 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  flee :  and  thou, 
O  Jordan,  that  thou  wast 
turned  back  ? 

Ye  mountains  that  ye 
skipped  like  rams :  and  ye 
hills  like  lambs  of  the  flock  1 

At  the  presence  of  the  Lord 
the  earth  was  moved,  at  the 
presence  of  the  God  of  Jacob. 

Who  turned  the  rock  into 
pools  of  water,  and  the  stony 
hills  into  fountain  of  waters. 


In  exitu  Israel  de  iEgyp- 
to  :  *  domus  Jacob  de  po- 
pulo  barbaro. 

Facta  est  Judaea  sanctifi- 
catio  ejus  :  *  Israel  potestas 
ejus. 

Mare  vidit,  et  fugit :  *  Jor- 
danis  conversus  est  retror- 
sum. 

Montes  exsultaverunt  ut 
arietes  :  *  et  colles  sicut 
agni  ovium. 

Quid  est  tibi,  mare,  quod 
fugisti :  *  et  tu,  Jordanis, 
quia  conversus  es  retror- 
sum  1 

Montes  exsultastis  sicut 
arietes  :  *  et  colles  sicut 
agni  ovium  1 

A  facie  Domini  mota  est 
terra  :  a  facie  Dei  Jacob. 

Qui  convertit  petram  in 
stagna  aquarum  :  *  et  ru- 
pem  in  fontes  aquarum. 


104 


CHRISTMAS. 


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 
coelo  :  *  omnia  qusecumque 
voluit,  fecit. 

Simulacra  Gentium  ar- 
gentum  et  aurum:  *  opera 
manuum  hominum. 

Os  habent,  et  non  loquen- 
tur :  *  oculos  habent,  et  non 
videbunt. 

Aures  habent,  et  non  au- 
dient  :  *  nares  habent,  et 
non  odorabunt. 

Man  us  habent,  et  non  pal- 
pabunt,  pedes  habent,  et  non 
ambulabunt :  *  non  clama- 
bunt  in  gutture  suo. 

Similes  illis  fiant  qui  fa- 
ciunt  ea  :  *  et  omnes  qui 
confidunt  in  eis. 

Domus  Israel  speravit  in 
Domino  :  *  adjutor  eorum, 
et  protector  eorum  est. 

Domus  Aaron  speravit  in 
Domino  :  *  adjutor  eorum, 
et  protector  eorum  est. 

Qui  timent  Dominum, 
speraverunt    in     Domino  : 

*  adjutor  eorum,  et  protec- 
tor eorum  est. 

Dominus  memor  fuit  nos- 
tri  :  *  et  benedixit  nobis. 
Benedixit  domui  Israel : 

*  benedixit  domui  Aaron. 

Benedixit  omnibus  qui  ti- 
ment Dominum :  *  pusillis 
cum  majoribus. 

Adjiciat  Dominus  super 
vos :  *  super  vos,  et  super 
filios  vestros. 


Not  to  us,  0  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  what- 
soever 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. 

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. 

They  that  feared  the  Lord 
have  hoped  in  the  Lord :  he 
is  their  helper  and  their  pro- 
tector. 

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. 


SUNDAY  S  VESPEES. 


105 


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  men. 

The  dead  shall p  not  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. 
Lord. 


We  that  live  bless  the 


Benedict!  vos  a  Domino  : 
*  qui  fecit  ccelum  et  terram. 

Coelum  coeli  Domino  :  * 
terram  autem  dedit  filiis 
hominum. 

Non  mortui  laudabunt  te, 
Domine  :  *  neque  omnes 
qui  descendunt  in  inf  ernum. 

Sed  nos  qui  vivimus,  be- 
nedicimus  Domino  :  *  ex 
hoc  nunc  et  usque  in  saecu- 
lum. 

Ant.  Nos  qui  vivimus, 
benedicimus  Domino. 


After  these  five  Psalms,  a  short  Lesson  from  the 
holy  Scriptures  is  then  read.  It  is  called  Capitulum, 
because  it  is  always  very  short.  That  for  the  several 
Feasts,  is  given  on  the  respective  Days.  The  follow- 
ing is  said  on  the  Sundays  called  After  the  Epi- 
phany, as  often  as  the  Vespers  are  of  the  Sunday. 


CAPITULUM. 

II.  Cor.  i. 


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. 

1$.  Thanks  be  to  God. 


Benedictus  Deus  et  Pater 
Domini  nostri  Jesu  Christi, 
Pater  misericordiarum  et 
Deus  totius  consolationis, 
qui  consolatur  nos  in  omni 
tribulatione  nostra. 

1$.  Deo  gratias. 


Then  follows  the  Hymn.  We  give  the  one  of  the 
Sunday's  Office.  It  was  composed  by  St.  Gregory 
the  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. 


106 


CHRISTMAS. 


HYMN.* 


Lucis  Creator  optime, 
Lucem  dierum  prof erens ; 
Primordiis  lucis  novae, 
Mundi  parans  originem. 


Qui  mane  junetum  vesperi 
Diem  vocari  prsecipis, 
Illabitur  tetrum  chaos, 
Audi  preces  cum  fletibus. 

ISTe  mens  gravata  crimine, 
Vitse  sit  exul  munere, 
Dum  nil  perenne  cogitat, 
Seseque  culpis  illigat. 

Cceleste  pulset  intimum, 
Vitale  tollat  preemium  : 
Vitemus  omne  noxium, 
Purgemus  omne  pessimum. 

Praesta,  Pater  piissime, 
Patrique  compar  Unice, 
Cum  Spiritu  Paraclito 
Eegnans  per  omne  saeculum. 
Amen. 


O  infinitely  good  Creator  of 
the  Light !  by  thee  was  pro- 
duced the  Light  of  day,  pro- 
viding thus  the  world's  begin- 
ning 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  tear- 
ful 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. 

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-equal  with  him,  reigning 
for  ever  with  the  Holy  Para- 
clete !  grant  this  our  prayer. 
Amen. 


*  According  to  the  Monastic  Kite,  it  is  as  follows  : — 


R.  breve.  Quam  magnificata 
sunt,  *  Opera  tua  Domine. 
Quam.  V.  Omnia  in  sapientia 
fecisti.  *  Opera.  Gloria  Patri, 
tfcc.     Quam. 

Lucis  Creator  optime, 
Lucem  dierum  proferens  ; 
Primordiis  lucis  novse, 
Mundi  parans  originem. 

Qui  mane  junetum  vesperi 
Diem  vocari  prsecipis, 
Tetrum  chaos  illabitur, 
Audi  preces  cum  fletibus. 


Ne  mens  gravata  crimine, 
Vitse  sit  exul  munere, 
Dum  nil  perenne  cogitat, 
Seseque  culpis  illigat. 

Ccelorum  pulset  intimum, 
Vitale  tollat  prsemium  : 
Vitemus  omne  noxium, 
Purgemus  omne  pessimum. 

Preesta,  Pater  piissime, 
Patrique  compar  Unice, 
Cum  Spiritu  Paraclito 
Pegnans  per  omne  sseculum. 

Amen. 


SUNDAY'S  VESPEES.  107 

The  Versicle  which  follows  the  Hymn,  and  which 
we  here  give,  is  that  of  the  Sunday :  those  for  the 
Feasts  are  given  in  their  proper  places. 

$".  May  my  prayer,  0  Lord,        ft.  Dirigatur,      D  online, 
ascend,  oratio  mea, 

I£.  Like  incense  in  thy  sight.        I£.  Sicut  incensum  in  con- 

spectu  tuo. 

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  Yespers, 
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.1 

our  lady's  canticle. 
(St.  Luke,  i.) 

My  soul  doth  magnify  the  Magnificat :  *  anima  mea 

Lord ;  Dominum : 

And  my  spirit  hath  rejoiced  Et     exsultavit     spiritus 

in  God  my  Saviour.  meus :  *  in  Deo  salutari  meo. 

Because  he  hath  regarded  Quiarespexithumilitatem 

the  humility  of  his  handmaid  :  ancillse  suse :  *  ecce  enim  ex 

for,  behold,  from  henceforth  hoc  Beatam  me  dicent  om- 

all  generations  shall  call  me  nes  generationes. 
Blessed. 

Because  he  that  is  mighty  Quia  fecit  mihi  magna  qui 

hath  done  great  things  to  me :  potens  est :   *  et  sanctum 

and  holy  is  his  name.  nomen  ejus. 

And  his  mercy  is  from  gene-  Et  misericordia  ejus  a  pro- 

1  St.  Luke,  i.  35. 


108 


CHKISTMAS. 


genie  in  progenies :  *  timen- 
tibus  eum. 

Fecit  potentiaminbrachio 
suo :  *  dispersit  superbos 
mente  cordis  sui. 

Deposuitpotentesde  sede: 
*  et  exaltavit  humiles. 

Esurientes  implevit  bo- 
nis :  *  et  divites  dimisit 
inanes. 

Suscepit  Israel  puerum 
suum  :  *  recordatus  miseri- 
cordia3  suae. 

Sieut  locutus  est  ad  patres 
nostros  :  *  Abraham  et  se- 
mini  ejus  in  saecula. 


ration  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  received  Israel  his 
servant,  being  mindful  of  his 
mercy. 

As  he  spake  to  our  fathers, 
to  Abraham  and  to  his  seed 
for  ever. 


The  Magnificat  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  Yersicles  : 


"Jv.  Benedicamus  Domino. 

1$.  Deo  gratias. 

$".  Fidelium  animae  per 
misericordiam  Dei  requies- 
cant  in  pace. 

1$.  Amen. 


(V.  Let  us  bless  the  Lord. 

I£.  Thanks  be  to  God. 

"ff.  May  the  souls  of  the 
Faithful  departed,  through  the 
mercy  of  God,  rest  in  peace. 

1$.  Amen. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

ON  THE   OFFICE  OF  COMPLINE, 

DCTEING   CHEISTMAS. 

This  Office,  which  concludes  the  day,  commences  by 
a  warning  of  the  dangers  of  the  night :  then  imme- 
diately 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  there- 
fore dangerous  state  of  sleep,  which  is  also  such  an 
image  of  death. 

The  Lector,  addressing  the  Priest,  says  to  him  : 

Pray,  Father,  give  thy  bless-        p.  Jube,  Domine,  benedi- 
ing.  cere. 

The  Priest  answers : 

May    the   Almighty    Lord  Noctem  quietanij  et  finem 

grant  us  a  quiet  night  and  a  perfectum    concedat    nobis 

perfect  end.  Domimis  omnipotens. 

1$.  Amen.  1$.  Amen. 

The  Lector  then  reads  these  words,  from  the  first 
Epistle  of  St.  Peter : 

Brethren,     be     sober     and  Fratres  :  Sobrii  estote,  et 

watch  :    for    your    adversary  vigilate  :    quia  adversarius 

the  devil  goes  about  like   a  vester    diabolus,    tamquam 

roaring  lion,  seeking  whom  he  leo  rugiens  circuit  quaerens 

may  devour  :  resist  him,  being  quern  devoret :  cui  resistite 

strong  in  faith.     But  thou,  O  fortes  in  fide.     Tu  autem, 

Lord,  have  mercy  on  us.  Domine,  miserere  nobis. 

The  Choir  answers : 
1$.  Thanks  be  to  God.  1$.  Deo  gratias. 


110  CHEISTMAS. 

Then,  the  Priest : 

$".  Adjutorium  nostrum  "ft".  Our  help  is  in  the  name 
in  nomine  Domine.  of  the  Lord. 

The  Choir : 

1$.  Qui  fecit  coelum  et  ter-  I£.  Who  hath  made  heaven 
ram.  and  earth. 

Then  the  Lord's  Prayer  is  recited  in  secret;  after 
which  the  Priest  says  the  Confiteor ;  and,  when  he 
has  finished,  the  Choir  says  : 

Misereatur   tui    omnipo-        May  Almighty  God  he  mer- 

tens  Deus,  et  dimissis  pecca-  ciful  to  thee,  and,  forgiving 

tis  tuis,  perducat  te  ad  vitam  thy  sins,  bring  thee  to  ever- 

seternam.  lasting  life. 

The  Priest  having  answered  Amen,  the  Choir  re- 
peats the  Confiteor,  thus : 

Confiteor    Deo   Omnipo-  I  confess  to  Almighty  God, 

tenti,  beatae  Marise  semper  to  Blessed  Mary  ever  Virgin, 

Virgini,beato  Michael  iArch-  to  blessed  Michael  the  Arch- 

angelo,  beato  Joanni  Baptis-  angel,  to  blessed  John  Baptist, 

tag,  Sanctis  Apostolis  Petro  to  the  holy  Apostles  Peter  and 

et  Paulo,  omnibus  Sanctis,  et  Paul,  to  all  the  saints,  and  to 

tibi    Pater:     quia    peccavi  thee,  Father,  that  I  have  sinned 

nimis,  cogitatione,  verbo,  et  exceedingly  in  thought,  word, 

opere:mea  culpa, mea  culpa,  and  deed,  through  my  fault, 

mea  maxima  culpa.     Ideo  through  my  fault,  through  my 

precor  beatam  Mariam  sem-  most  grievous  fault.     There- 

per  Virginem,  beatum  Mi-  fore    I    beseech  the    Blessed 

chaelem  Archangelum,  bea-  Mary    ever    Virgin,    blessed 

turn    Joannem    Baptistam,  Michael  the  Archangel,  bless- 

sanctos  Apostolos   Petrum  ed  John    Baptist,    the    holy 

et  Paulum,  omnes  sanctos,  Apostles  Peter  and  Paul,  and 

et  te,  Pater,  orare  pro  me  ad  all  the  saints,  and  thee,  Father, 

Dominum  Deum  nostrum.  to  pray  to  our  Lord  God  for 

me. 

The  Priest  then  says : 

Misereatur  vestri  omni-  May  Almighty  God  be  mer- 
potens    Deus,    et    dimissis    ciful  to  you,  and,  forgiving 


COMPLINE. 


Ill 


your  sins,  bring  you  to  ever- 
lasting life. 

1$.  Amen. 

May  the  Almighty  and  mer- 
ciful Lord  grant  us  pardon,  ab- 
solution, and  remission  of  our 
sins. 

1$.  Amen. 

$\  Convert  us,  0  God,  our 
Saviour. 

I£.  And  turn  away  thy 
anger  from  us. 

JJ".  Incline  unto  my  aid,  O 
God. 

I£.  O  Lord,  make  haste  to 
help  me. 

Glory,  &c. 

Ant.  Have  mercy. 


peccatis  vestris,  perducat 
vos  ad  vitam  aeternam. 

I£.  Amen. 

Indulgentiam,  absolutio- 
nem,  et  remissionem  pecca- 
torum  nostrorum,  tribuat 
nobis  omnipotens  et  miseri- 
cors  Dominus. 

I£.  Amen. 

$\  Converte  nos,  Deus, 
Salutaris  noster. 

1^.  Et  averte  iram  tuam  a 
nobis. 

$".  Deus,  in  adjutorium 
meum  intende. 

I£.  Domine,  ad  adjuvan- 
dum  me  festina. 

Gloria  Patri,  &c. 

Ant.  Miserere. 


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  is  come 
to  dispel  our  darkness. 


psalm  4. 


When  I  called  upon  him, 
the  God  of  my  justice  heard 
me  :  when  I  was  in  distress, 
thou  hast  enlarged  me. 

Have  mercy  on  me :  and  hear 
my  prayer. 

O  ye  sons  of  men,  how  long 
will  you  be  dull  of  heart  ?  why 
do  you  love  vanity,  and  seek 
after  lying  1 

Know  ye  also  that  the  Lord 
hath  made  his  Holy  One  won- 
derful :  the  Lord  will  hear  me, 
when  I  shall  cry  unto  him. 

Be  ye  angry,  and  sin  not : 
the  things  you  say  in  your 


Cum  invocarem  exaudivit 
me  Deus  justitise  meas  :  * 
in  _  tribulatione  dilatasti 
mihi. 

Miserere  mei  :  *  et  exau- 
di  orationem  meam. 

Filii  hominum,  usquequo 
gravi  corde  1  *  ut  quid  chli- 
gitis  vanitatem,  et  quseritis 
mendacium  % 

Et  scitote  quoniam  miri- 
ficavit  Dominus  sanctum 
suum  :  *  Dominus  exaudiet 
me,  cum  clamavero  ad  eum. 

Irascimini,  et  nolite  pec- 
care  :  *  quae  dicitis  in  corcli- 


112 


CHRISTMAS. 


bus  vestris,  in  cubilibus  ves- 
tris  compungimini. 

Sacrificate  sacrificium  jus- 
titise,  et  sperate  in  Domino : 

*  multi  dicunt :  Quis  osten- 
dit  nobis  bona  1 

Signatum  est  super  nos 
lumen  vultus  tui  Domine  : 

*  dedisti  lsetitiam  in  corde 
rneo* 

A  f ructu  f rumenti,  vini  et 
olei  sui :  *  multiplicati  sunt. 

In  pace  in  idipsum  :  * 
dormiam  et  requiescam. 

Quoniam  tu,  Domine,  sin- 
gulariter  in  spe  :  *  constitu- 
isti  me. 


hearts,  be  sorry  for  them  upon 
your  beds. 

Offer  up  the  sacrifice  of  jus- 
tice, and  trust  in  the  Lord : 
many  say,  who  showeth  us 
good  things  1 

The  Light  of  thy  counte- 
nance, 0  Lord,  is  signed  upon 
us :  thou  hast  given  gladness 
in  my  heart. 

By  the  fruit  of  their  corn, 
their  wine,  and  oil,  they  are 
multiplied. 

In  peace,  in  the  self  same,  I 
will  sleep,  and  I  will  rest. 

For  thou,  O  Lord,  singularly 
hast  settled  me  in  hope. 


The  Church  has  introduced  here  the  first  six 
Verses  of  the  thirtieth  Psalm,  because  they  contain 
the  prayer  which  our  Saviour  made  when  dying : 
Into  thy  hands,  0  Lord,  I  commend  my  spirit ! 
words  so  beautifully  appropriate  in  this  Office  of  the 
close  of  day. 


psalm  30. 


In  te,  Domine,  speravi, 
non  confundar  in  seternum  : 
*  in  justitia  tua  libera  me. 

Inclina  ad  me  aurem 
tuam  :  *  accelera  ut  eruas 
me. 

Esto  mihi  in  Deum  pro- 
tectorem,  et  in  domum  re- 
fugii :  *  ut  salvum  me  fa- 
cias. 

Quoniam  fortitudo  mea, 
et  refugium  meum  es  tu  :  * 
et  propter  nomen  tuum  de- 
duces me,  et  enutries  me. 

Educes  me  de  laqueo  hoc, 
quern  absconderunt  mihi :  * 


In  thee,  O  Lord,  have  I 
hoped,  let  me  never  be  con- 
founded :  deliver  me  in  thy 
justice. 

Bow  down  thy  ear  to  me  : 
make  haste  to  deliver  thee. 

Be  thou  unto  me  a  God,  a 
protector,  and  a  house  of  re- 
fuge, to  save  me. 

For  thou  art  my  strength, 
and  my  refuge  :  and  for  thy 
name's  sake  thou  wilt  lead  me, 
and  nourish  me. 

Thou  wilt  bring  me  out  of 
this    snare,  which  they  have 


COMPLINE. 


113 


hidden  for  me :  for  thou  art 
my  protector. 

Into  thy  hands  I  commend 
my  spirit :  thou  hast  redeemed 
me,  O  Lord,  the  God  of  truth. 


quoniam    tu    es    protector 
meus. 

In  manus  tuas  commendo 
spiritum  meum :  *  rede- 
misti  me,  Domine,  Deus 
veritatis. 


The  third  Psalm  gives  the  motives  of  the  just 
man's  confidence,  even  during  the  dangers  of  the 
night.  Then,  we  have  God  himself  speaking,  and 
promising  to  show  us  our  Saviour. 


psalm  90. 


He  that  dwelleth  in  the  aid 
of  the  Most  High,  shall  abide 
under  the  protection  of  the 
God  of  Jacob. 

He  shall  say  to  the  Lord  : 
Thou  art  my  protector,  and  my 
refuge  :  my  God,  in  him  will 
I  trust. 

For  he  hath  delivered  me 
from  the  snare  of  the  hunters  : 
and  from  the  sharp  word. 

He  will  overshadow  thee 
with  his  shoulders :  and  under 
his  wings  thou  shalt  trust. 

His  truth  shall  compass  thee 
with  a  shield  :  thou  shalt  not 
be  afraid  of  the  terror  of  the 
night. 

Of  the  arrow  that  flieth  in 
the  day  :  of  the  business  that 
walketh  about  in  the  dark  :  of 
invasion,  or  of  the  noonday 
devil. 

A  thousand  shall  fall  at  thy 
side,  and  ten  thousand  at  thy 
right  hand  :  but  it  shall  not 
come  nigh  thee. 

But  thou  shalt  consider 
with  thy  eyes  :  and  shalt  see 
the  reward  of  the  wicked. 

Because    thou    hast   said: 


Qui  habitat  in  adjutorio 
Altissimi :  *  in  protectione 
Dei  cceli  commorabitur. 

Dicet  Domino  :  Suscep- 
tor  meus  es  tu,  et  refugium 
meum,  *  Deus  meus,  spe- 
rabo  in  eum. 

Quoniam  ipse  liberavit 
me  de  laqueo  venantium  :  * 
et  a  verbo  aspero. 

Scapulis  suis  obumbrabit 
tibi  :  *  et  sub  pennis  ejus 
sperabis. 

Scuto  circumdabit  te  Ve- 
ritas ejus  :  *  non  timebis  a 
timore  nocturno. 

A  sagitta  volante  in  die.  a 
negotio  perambulante  in  te- 
nebris  :  *  ab  incursu,  et  dae- 
monio  meridiano. 

Cadent  a  latere  tuo  mille, 
et  dacem  milha  a  dextris 
tuis  :  *  ad  te  autem  non 
appropinquabit. 

Verumtamen  oculis  tuis 
considerabis  :  *  et  retribu- 
tionem  peccatorum  videbis. 

Quoniam  tu  es,  Domine, 
I 


114 


CHEISTMAS. 


spes  mea  :  *  Altissimum  po- 
suisti  refugium  tuum. 

Non  accedet  ad  te  malum : 

*  et  flagellum  non  appropin- 
quabit  tabernaculo  tuo. 

Quoniam  Angelis  suis 
mandavit  de  te  :  *  ut  custo- 
diant  te  in  omnibus  viis  tuis. 

In  manibus  portabunt  te  : 

*  ne  forte  offendas  ad  lapi- 
dem  pedem  tuum. 

Super  aspidem  et  basilis- 
cum  ambulabis :  *  et  concul- 
cabis  leonem  et  draconem. 

Quoniam  in  me  speravit, 
liberabo  eum  :  *  protegam 
eum,  quoniam  cognovit  no- 
men  meum. 

Clamabit  ad  me,  et  ego 
exaudiam  eum  :  *  cum  ipso 
sum  in  tribulatione,  eripiam 
eum  et  glorificabo  eum. 

Longitudine  dierum  re- 
plebo  eum  :  *  et  ostendam 
Uli  Salutare  meum. 


Thou,  0  Lord,  art  my  hope  : 
Thou  hast  made  the  Most 
High  thy  refuge. 

There  shall  no  evil  come  to 
thee,  nor  shall  the  scourge 
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 :  Be- 
cause 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. 

I  will  fill  him  with  length 
of  days  :  and  I  will  show  him 
my  salvation. 


The  fourth  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  lift  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- 
minum  :  *  omnes  servi  Do- 
mini. 

Qui  statis  in  domo  Domi- 


now  bless    ye  the 
ye  servants  of  the 


Behold 
Lord,  all 
Lord. 

Who  stand  in  the  house  of 


COMPLINE. 


115 


the  Lord,  in  the  courts  of  the 
house  of  our  God. 

In  the  nights  lift  up  your 
hands  to  the  holy  places,  and 
bless  ye  the  Lord. 

Say  to  Israel:  May  the 
Lord  out  of  Sion  bless  thee, 
he  that  made  heaven  and 
earth. 

Ant.  Have  mercy  on  me,  0 
Lord,  and  hear  my  prayer. 


ni :  *  in  atriis  domus  Dei 
nostri. 

In  noctibus  extollite  ma- 
nus  vestras  in  sancta  :  *  et 
benedicite  Dominum. 

Benedicat  te  Dominus  ex 
Sion  :  *  qui  fecit  ccelum  et 
terram. 

Ant.  Miserere  mei,  Do- 
mine,  et  exaudi  orationem 
meam. 


HYMN* 


Before  the  closing  of  the 
light,  we  beseech  thee,  Crea- 
tor of  all  things !  that,  in 
thy  clemency,  thou  be  our 
protector  and  our  guard. 

May  the  dreams  and  phan- 
toms of  night  depart  far  from 
us ;  and  do  thou  repress  our 
enemy,  lest  our  bodies  be 
profaned. 

Most  merciful  Father  !  and 
thou,  his  Only  Begotten  Son, 
co-equal  with  him  !  reigning 
for  ever  with  the  Holy  Para- 
clete !  grant  this  our  prayer. 
Amen. 

{Tliis  last  Stanza  is  varied  for  Christmas  Day,  &c,  and  for 
the  Epiphany.    See  page  118.) 

CAPITULTTM. 

(Jeremias,  xiv.) 

But  thou  art  in  us,  O  Lord,        Tu    autem    in   nobis  es, 
and  thy  holy  name  has  been    Domine,  et  nomen  sanctum 


Te  lucis  ante  terminum, 
Rerum  Creator,  poscimus, 
Ut  pro  tua  dementia 
Sis  praesul  et  custodia. 

Procul  recedant  somnia, 
Et  noctium  phantasmata ; 
Hostemque   nostrum    corn- 
prime, 
Ne  polluantur  corpora. 

Prsesta,  Pater  piissime, 
Patrique  compar  Unice, 
Cum  Spiritu  Paraclito 
Regnans  per  omne  saeculum. 

Amen. 


*  According  to  the  Monastic  Rite,  as  follows  : 

Te  lucis  ante  terminum,  Hostemque  nostrum  comprime, 

Rerum  Creator,  poscimus,  Ne  polluantur  corpora. 

Ut  solita  dementia  Prsesta  Pater  omnipotens, 

Sis  praesul  ad  custodiam.  Per  Jesum Christum  Dominum, 

3  Procul  recedant  somnia,  Qui  tecum  in  perpetuum 

Et  noctium  phantasmata  ;  Regnat  cum  Sancto  Spiritu. 


116 


CHRISTMAS. 


tuum  invocatum  est  super 
nos ;  ne  derelinquas  nos, 
Domine  Deus  noster. 

I£.  In  manus  tuas,  Domi- 
ne :  *  Comrnendo  spiritum 
meum.    In  manus  tuas. 

ft.  Redemisti  nos,  Domi- 
ne Deus  veritatis.  *  Com- 
rnendo. 

Gloria.    In  manus  tuas. 

ft.  Custodi  nos,  Domine, 
ut  pupi]lam  oculi. 

I£.  Sub  umbra  alarum 
tuarum  protege  nos. 


invoked  upon  us  :  forsake  us 
not,  0  Lord  our  God. 

I£.  Into  thy  hands,  O  Lord  : 
*  I  commend  my  spirit.  Into 
thy  hands. 

ft.  Thou  hast  redeemed  us, 
O  Lord  God  of  truth.  *  I 
commend. 

Glory.     Into  thy  hands. 

ft.  Preserve  us,  0  Lord,  as 
the  apple  of  thine  eye. 

I£.  Protect  us  under  the 
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 — harmonises  admirably  with 
this  closing  Office  of  the  day,  at  Christmastide ;  for, 
during  this  holy  Season,  the  Church  is  for  ever  thank- 
ing God,  because  he  has  dispelled  the  shades  of  death 
by  the  rising  of  the  Sun  of  Justice,  in  whose  love 
she  labours  all  day  long,  and  takes  her  rest  at  night, 
saying  :  I  sleep,  and  my  heart  watcheth.1 


CANTICLE  OF   SIMEON. 

(St,  Luke,  ii.) 


Nunc  dimittis  servum 
tuum,  Domine  :  *  secun- 
dum verbum  tuum  in  pace. 

Quia  viderunt  oculi  mei  : 
*  Salutare  tuum. 

Quod  parasti  :  *  ante  fa- 
ciem  omnium  populorum. 

Lumen  ad  revelationem 
Gentium  :  *  et  gloriam  ple- 
bis  tuse  Israel. 

Gloria  Patri,  et  Filio,  &c. 

Ant.  Salva  nos,  Domine, 


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. 

The  Light  to  the  revelation 
of  the  Gentiles,  and  the  glory 
of  thy  people  Israel. 

Glory. 

Ant.  Save    us,    0     Lord, 


1  Cant.  v.  2. 


COMPLINE. 


117 


whilst  awake,  and  watch  us  as 
we  sleep  ;  that  we  may  watch 
with  Christ,  and  rest  in  peace. 

$".  The  Lord  be  with  you. 
I£.  And  with  thy  spirit. 


vigilantes  :  custodi  nos  dor- 
mientes,  ut  vigilemus  cum 
Christo,  et  requiescamus  in 
pace. 

$r.  Dominus  vobiscum. 

I£.  Et  cum  spiritu  tuo. 


LET  US  PRAY. 

Visit,  we  beseech  thee,  0 
Lord,  this  house  and  family, 
and  drive  from  it  all  snares  of 
the  enemy  :  let  thy  holy  An- 
gels 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  reign- 
eth  with  thee,  in  the  unity  of 
the  Holy  Ghost,  God,  world 
without  end.    Amen. 

$".  The  Lord  be  with  you. 

Jfc.  And  with  thy  spirit. 

$".  Let  us  bless  the  Lord. 

1$.  Thanks  be  to  God. 

May  the  almighty  and  mer- 
ciful Lord,  Father,  Son,  and 
Holy  Ghost,  bless  and  preserve 
us. 

1$.  Amen. 


OREMUS. 

Visita,  quaesumus  D  onli- 
ne, habitationem  istam,  et 
omnes  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  nos- 
trum Jesum  Christum  Fi^ 
lium  tuum?  qui  tecum  vivit 
et  regnat  in  unitate  Spiri- 
tus  Sancti  Deus,  per  omnia 
saecula  saeculorum.     Amen. 

]v.  Dominus  vobiscum. 

3$.  Et  cum  spiritu  tuo. 

$".  Benedicamus  Domino. 

1^.  Deo  gratias. 

Benedicat  et  custodiat  nos 
omnipotens  et  misericors 
Dominus,  Pater,  et  Filius, 
et  Spiritus  Sanetus. 

I£.  Amen. 


ANTHEM   TO   THE  BLESSED   VIRGIN. 


Sweet  Mother  of  our  Re- 
deemer, 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  re- 
maining, before  and  after  it,  a 
pure  Virgin.  Gabriel  spoke 
his  Hail  to  thee ;  we  sinners 
crave  thy  pity. 


Alma  Redemptoris  mater, 
quae  pervia  cceli 

Porta  manes,  et  stella  maris, 
succurre  cadenti, 

Surgere  qui  curat  populo. 
Tu  quae  genuisti, 

Natura  mirante,  tuum  sanc- 
tum Genitorem. 

Virgo  prius  ac  posterius, 
Gabrielis  ab  ore 

Sumens  illud  Ave,  peccato- 
rum  miserere. 


118 


CHRISTMAS. 


ft.  Post    partum,  Virgo, 
inviolata  permansisti. 

I£.  Dei    Genitrix,    inter- 
cede pro  nobis. 


ft.  After  child-birth,  thou 
didst  remain  most  pure,  O 
Virgin  ! 

I£.  O  Mother  of  God  !  make 
intercession  for  us. 


OREMUS. 

Deus  qui  salutis  seternse 
beatae  Marias  virginitate  fe- 
cunda  humano  generi  prse- 
mia  prsestitisti :  tribue,  quas- 
sumus,  ut  ipsam  pro  nobis 
intercedere  sentiamus  per 
quam  meruimus  auctorem 
vitas  suscipere  Dominum 
nostrum  Jesum  Christum 
Filium  tuum. 

3$.  Amen. 

ft.  Divinum  auxilium 
maneat  semper  nobiscum. 

1$.  Amen.* 


LET  TJS   PRAY. 

0  God,  who,  by  the  fruitful 
Virginity  of  the  Blessed  Mary, 
hast  given  to  mankind  the  re- 
wards of  eternal  salvation ; 
grant,  we  beseech  thee,  that 
we  may  experience  Her  inter- 
cession, by  whom  we  received 
the  Author  of  life,  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  thy  Son. 

I£.  Amen. 

ft.  May    the    divine    assis- 
tance remain  always  with  us. 
1^.  Amen. 


Then  in  secret,  Pater,  Ave,  and  Credo,  page  35. 


THE   LAST   STANZA  OF   THE   HYMN   IS   THUS  VARIED 
From  Christmas  Bay  till  the  Epiphany. 


Roman  Breviary. 

Jesu,  tibi  sit  gloria, 
Qui  natus  es  de  Virgine, 
Cum  Patre  et  almo  Spiritu, 
In  sempiterna  seecula. 

Amen. 


Monastic  Breviary. 

Gloria  tibi  Domine, 
Qui  natus  es  de  Virgine, 
Cum  Patre  et  Sancto  Spiritu, 
In  sempiterna  sascula. 

Amen. 


In  the  Monastic  Rite,  this  Response  is  as  follows 


R.  Et  cum  fratribus  nostris 
absentibus.     Amen. 


B.  And  with  our  absent  Bre- 
thren.    Amen. 


COMPLINE. 


119 


For  the  Epiphany,  and  during  the  Octave. 
Roman  Breviary.  Monastic  Breviary. 


Jesu,  tibi  sit  gloria, 
Qui  apparuisti  Gentibus, 
Cum  Patre  et  almo  Spirit^ 
In  sempiterna  saecula. 

Amen. 


Gloria  tibi  Domine, 
Qui  apparuisti  hodie, 
Cum  Patre  et  Sancto  Spiritu, 
In  sempiterna  saecula. 

Amen. 


CHRISTMAS  DAY. 


AFTERNOON      OP      THE      EVE 


Christmas-Eve,  with  its  own  happy  spirit,  is  draw- 
ing to  its  close.  Already  has  the  Church  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  anticipates  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  get  well  into  ourselves  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, 


CHRISTMAS  DAY:  AFTERNOON   OF  THE  EVE.    121 

speaking  of  Christmas  Day,  with  an  eloquence 
worthy  of  the  Feast.  And  first,  we  have  St.  Gregory 
the  Theologian,  Bishop  of  Nazianzum,  who  thus 
opens  his  thirty-eighth  discourse,  which  is  on  the 
Theophania,  or  Nativity  of  our  Lord. 

"  Christ  is  born — glorify  him  !  Christ  comes  down 
"  from  heaven — go  ye  forth  to  meet  him  !  Christ  is 
"  on  the  earth — be  ye  lifted  up  above  it !  0  sing  to 
"  the  Lord  all  thou  earth  !l  and  to  say  all  in  one 
"  word  :  Let  the  heavens  rejoice,  and  let  the  earth  be 
"  glad,2  because  He  that  is  now  born  is  both  of 
"  heaven  and  of  earth  !  Christ  has  assumed  our  Flesh 
"  — exult  in  fear  and  in  joy  ;  in  fear,  because  of  sin  ; 
"  in  joy,  because  of  hope  !  Christ  is  born  of  a  Yir- 
"  gin  : — women  !  honour  holy  virginity,  that  you  may 
"  become  Mothers  of  Christ ! 

"  Who  would  not  adore  Him,  that  is  from  the 
"  beginning  ?  Who  would  not  praise  and  extol  Him, 
"  that  is  born  in  time  ?  Darkoess  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 
"  possesses  the  bright  light  of  knowledge  and  wis- 
"  dora.  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. 

"  0  clap  your  hands,  all  ye  nations  I3  for  a  Child 
"  is  born  unto  us,  and  a  Son  is  given  unto  us.  The 
"  emblem  of  his  Government  is  upon  his  shoulder, 
"  for  his  exaltation  shall  come  by  the  cross ;  and  his 
"  name  shcdl  be  called  the  Angel  of  the  Great  Counsel, 
"  that  is,  of  the  Counsel  of  his  Father.4 

"  Let  the  Baptist  now  cry  out :  Prepare  ye  the  way 

1  Ps.  xcv.  1.  2  Ibid.  11.         3  Ps.  xlvi.  2.        4  Is.  ix.  6. 


122  CHEISTMAS. 

"  of  the  Lord  !  I,  too,  will  proclaim  trie  virtues  and 
"  power  of  this  day.  He  that  is  without  flesh,  takes 
"  flesh ;  the  Word  takes  a  Body;  the  Unseen  is  seen; 
"  the  Untangible  may  be  touched ;  the  Eternal  has  a 
"  beginning ;  the  Son  of  God  is  made  the  Son  of 
"  Man — Jesus  Christ,  yesterday,  and  to-day,  and  the 
"  same  for  ever.1  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  judgment-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  thril- 
"  ling  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  un- 
"  looked-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 

1  Heb.  xiii.  8. 


CHRISTMAS  DAY  :  AFTERNOON   OF  THE  EVE.    123 

"  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  sweet- 
"  ness,  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 
"  Son  of  God — is  born  in  Bethlehem  of  Juda  !" 

Glorious  Day,  indeed,  is  this  of  the  Birth  of  the 
Saviour  !  It  had  been  looked  forward  to  by  the  hu- 
man race,  for  four  thousand  years.  The  Church  had 
prepared  for  it  by  the  four  weeks  of  her  Advent,  a 
Season  which  has  ever  such  a  charm  about  it.  Na- 
ture, too,  longs  for  this  Day,  on  which  the  Sun  begins 
his  yearly  victory  over  the  dreary  reign  of  wintry 
darkness.  A  Holy  Doctor  of  the  Syrian  Church,  St. 
Ephrem,  has  written  the  most  admirable  words  on 
the  beauty  and  fruitful  virtue  of  this  mysterious  Day. 
Let  us  borrow  some  of  these  from  him  and  say  them 
with  his  enthusiasm. 

"  Grant,  O  Lord !  that  we  may  now  celebrate  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  regu- 
"  lar  course,  visiting  us  each  year.  It  grows  old  with 
"  the  old;  it  is  young  and  fresh  with  little  children. 
•  We  remember  when  we  were  young,  how  it  came  and 
"  passed  away ;  and  here  it  is  again,  faithful  as  ever 
"  in  its  welcome  visit.  It  knows  that  nature  could 
"  not  do  without  it ;  here  again  like  to  thee,  it  comes 
"  in  search  of  our  fallen  race.  The  whole  earth 
"  thirsts  after  thy  Birth -Day,  O  Jesus  !  It  stands,  as 
"  it  were,  between  the  past  and  the  future,  command- 
"  ing  all  ages,  as  Thou  dost.  It  is  one,  and  yet  it 
"  multiplies  itself,  as  Thou  dost.  And  since  we  be- 
"  hold  thy  past  Birth-Day  in  this  present  Feast,  make 
"  the  two  resemble  each  other  in  this  also — that  as 


124  CHRISTMAS. 

"  thy  Birth-Day  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  Birth-Day, 
"  0  Jesus  !  is  a  treasure,  out  of  which  we  all  get 
"  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  Vine-Branch, 
"  that  is  to  yield  us,  in  due  time,  the  cup  of  our  salva- 
"  tion.  *  *  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 
"  Boot  of  Jesse  has  given  us  its  Bud.  It  is  in  De- 
"  cember,  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."1 

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,  w7ere  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 

1  Third  Sermon  On  our  Lord's  Nativity. 


CHRISTMAS  DAY  :  AFTERNOON  OF  THE  EVE.     125 

tells  us,  that  the  Incarnation  of  the  Son  of  God  hav- 
ing been  accomplished  on  a  Friday,  (March  25,)  the 
Birth  of  Jesus,  the  Light  of  the  world,  must  have 
taken  place  on  the  25th  of  December,  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  Jerusa- 
lem has  beautifully  treated  this  mystery  in  his  1st 
Homily  for  Christmas  Day. 

In  order  to  impress  the  nations  of  Europe,  that  is, 
of  the  favoured  portion  of  the  Church,  with  the  im- 
portance of  this  ever  blessed  Day,  God,  who  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  was 
founded  the  Kingdom  of  the  Franks ;  for,  it  was  on 
this  glorious  Solemnity,  that  King  Clovis  was  baptised 
at  Kheims  by  St.  Remigius.  The  haughty  Sicam- 
brian,  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  Kingdom 
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  sent  him,  says :  "  he  was  a  Monk  of 
my  Monastery."1  This  holy  Missionary  had  bap- 
tised King  Ethelbert,  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  regenera- 

1  Lib.  7,  Ep.  30. 


126  CHRISTMAS. 

tion  of  the  Catechumens,  and  the  River  which  flows 
through  the  City,  is  chosen  as  the  Baptismal  Font. 
Ten  thousand  men,  not  counting  women  and  children, 
go  down  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  his  Name.  From  the  frozen  waters,  there 
comes,  full  of  joy  sfa^unaogtepce,  the  long  line  of 
Neophytes;  and  the  Birth-Ojay  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  Birth-Day  of 
his  Son.  It  was  on  this  divine  Anniversary,  in  the 
year  800,  and  at  Rome,  in  the  Basilica  of  St.  Peter, 
that  was  created  the  Holy  Roman  Empire,  to  which 
God  assigned  the  grand  mission  of  propagating  the 
Kingdom  of  Christ  among  the  barbarian  nations  of 
the  North,  and  of  upholding,  under  the  direction  of 
the  Sovereign  Pontiffs,  the  confederation  and  unity 
of  Europe.  St.  Leo  III.  crowned  Charlemagne  Em- 
peror. Here,  then,  was  a  new  Caesar,  a  new  Au- 
gustus, on  the  earth  ;  not,  indeed,  a  successor  of  those 
ancient  Lords  of  Pagan  Rome,  but  one  who  was  in- 
vested with  the  title  and  power  by  the  Yicar  of  Him, 
who  is  called,  in  the  Sacred  Scriptures,  King  of 
Kings,  and  Lord  of  Lords. 

Thus  has  God  glorified,  in  the  eyes  of  men,  the 
Divine  Babe  who  is  this  day  born  :  thus  has  he  pre- 
pared, 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  this  Twenty-Fifth  of 
December,  Himself  and  his  Christ. 

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 


CHRISTMAS  DAY  :   AFTERNOON   OF  THE   EVE.    127 

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  ob- 
served at  that  time.  In  several  countries  of  Europe, 
our  own  among  the  rest,  the  custom  has  been  kept 
up  of  wishing  a  HajJpy  Christmas,  which  was  the 
ancient  salutation  when  this  Feast  was  the  beginning 
of  a  new  year.  Hence,  too,  in  these  countries,  the 
custom  of  making  presents,  of  writing  letters  of  good 
wishes,  and  of  other  friendly  acts.  How  many  of 
our  practices  of  every-day  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  III.,  who  ascended  the 
Papal  Throne  in  1216.  It  is  true,  that  we  find  it 
mentioned  by  Pope  St.  Nicholas  I.,  in  the  9th  cen- 
tury ;  but  the  dispensation  was  not  universal ;  for  the 
Pontiff  is  replying  to  the  consultations  of  the  Bulga- 
rians, to  whom  he  concedes  this  indulgence,  in  order 
to  encourage  them  to  celebrate  these  Feasts  with 
solemnity  and  joy:  Christmas  Day,  St.  Stephen,  St. 
John  the  Evangelist,  the  Epiphany,  the  Assumption 
of  our  Lady,  St.  John  the  Baptist,  and  Saints  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,  contri- 
buted 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  remis- 


128  CHRISTMAS. 

sion — a  name  which  it  had  in  common  with  the 
weeks  of  Easter  and  Pentecost. 

But,  let  us  interrupt  these  interesting  details  re- 
garding 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 
grateful  love.  Oh  !  happy  we,  that  have  a  tribute  of 
Song  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  1.  Ant.  The  King  of  Peace, 
magnificatus  est,  cnjus  vul-  whom  the  whole  earth  desi- 
tumdesideratuniversa  terra,     reth  to   see,  hath  shown  his 

greatness. 

Psalm :  Dixit  Dominus,  page  99. 


CHRISTMAS  DAY  :   FIRST  VESPERS. 


129 


2.  Ant.  The  King  of  Peace 
is  magnified  above  all  the 
Kings  of  the  earth. 


2.  Ant.  Magnificatus  est 
Hex  pacificus  super  omnes 
reges  universse  terrse. 


Psalm :  Confitebor  tibi,  page  100. 


3.  Ant.  The  days  were  com- 
pleted for  Mary,  that  she 
should  bring  forth  her  first- 
born Son. 

Psalm :  Beatus  vir,  page  101. 


3.  Ant.  Impleti  sunt  dies 
Marise,  ut  pareret  Filium 
suum  primogenitum. 


4.  Ant.  Know  ye,  that  the  4.  Ant.  Scitote  quia  pro- 
Kingdom  of  God  is  at  hand ;  pe  est  regnum  Dei  :  amen 
amen  I  say  unto  you,  it  shall  dico  vobis  quia  non  tarda- 
not  tarry.  bit. 

Psalm :  Laudate  pueri,  page  102. 


5.  Ant.  Raise  up  your  heads : 
lo !  your  redemption  is  at 
hand. 


5.  Ant.  Levate  capita  ves- 
tra;  ecce  appropinquat  re- 
demptio  vestra. 


PSALM 

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. 


116. 

Laudate  Dominum  omnes 
gentes  :  *  laudate  eum,  om- 
nes populi. 

Quoniam  confirmata  est 
super  nos  misericordia  ejus : 
*  et  Veritas  Domini  manet 
in  seternum. 


After  having  extolled,  in  these  divine  canticles,  the 
eternal  generation,  the  fidelity,  the  mercy,  the  great- 
ness, and  the  truth,  of  her  divine  Spouse,  who  is 
coming,  and  in  a  few  short  hours  will  show  himself 

K 


130 


CHRISTMAS. 


to  her — the  Church  suspends  her  praise  for  a  mo- 
ment, and  listens,  in  the  Capitulum,  to  the  consoling 
words  of  the  Apostle  of  the  Gentiles,  concerning  the 
coming  of  God  our  Saviour. 


CAPITULUM. 

(Tit.  iii.  4.) 


Appamit  benignitas  et 
humanitas  Salvatoris  nostri 
Dei,  non  ex  operibus  justi- 
tise  quae  fecimus  nos,  sed 
secundum  misericordiam 
suam  salvos  nos  fecit. 


The  goodness  and  kindness 
of  God  our  Saviour  hath  ap- 
peared ;  not  by  the  works  of 
justice,  which  we  have  done, 
but  according  to  his  mercy, 
hath  he  saved  us. 


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  Birth-Day,  which  makes  all  Nature  glad,  and 
brings  the  sweetest  joy  of  heart  to  such  as  know  how 
to  love  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, 
Quern,  lucis  ante  origin  em, 
Parem  paternse  glorise 
Pater  supremus  edidit ; 


O  Jesu  !  Eedeemer  of  man- 
kind !  born  before  the  light 
was  made,  and  born  of  the 
Eternal  Father,  equal  to  him 
in  infinite  glory ; 


*  In  the  Monastic  Breviary,  it  is  as  follows  : 

R.  Breve.  Hodie  scietis,  * 
quia  veniet  Dominus.  Hodie. 
V.  Et  mane  videbitis  gloriam 
ejus.  *  Quia.     Gloria.    Hodie. 

In  2nd  Vespers. 

R.  Breve.  Verbum  caro  fac- 
tum est,  *  Alleluia,  Alleluia. 


Verbum.  V.  Et  habitavit  in 
nobis.  *  Alleluia.  Gloria.  Ver- 
bum. 

Christe,  Redemptor  omnium, 
Ex  Patre  Patris  Unice, 
Solus  ante  principium 
Katus  ineffabiliter. 


CHKISTMAS  DAY  :   FIRST  VESPERS. 


131 


0  thou  the  Light  and  bright- 
ness of  the  Father  !  O  thou 
the  everlasting  hope  of  all 
men  !  hear  the  prayers  offered 
thee  by  thy  servants,  through- 
out 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. 
This  present  day,  which  the 
year  has  brought  round  to  us, 
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- 
ven greet  this  the  Author  of 
their  new  salvation,  with  a 
new  canticle. 

And  we,  who  have  been  re- 
deemed by  the  stream  of  thy 
precious  Blood,  we,  too,  pay 
thee  the  tribute  of  this  Hymn, 
in  honour  of  thy  Birth-Day. 

Glory  be  to  thee,  0  Jesus  ! 
who  wast  born  of  the  Virgin  ! 
and  to  the  Father,  and  to  the 
Spirit  of  love,  for  everlasting 
ages.     Amen. 


Tu  lumen  et  splendor  Pa- 
tris, 
Tu  spes  perennis  omnium, 
Intende  quasfundunt  preces 
Tui  per  orbem  servuli. 

Memento,  rerumconditor, 
JSTostri  quod  olim  corporis, 
Sacrata  ab  alvo  Virginis 
Nascendo,  formam  sumpse- 
ris. 

Testatur  hoc  prsesens  dies, 
Currens  per  anni  circulum, 
Quod  solus  e  sinu  Patris 
Mundi  salus  adveneris. 


Hunc  astra,  tellus,  sequora, 
Hunc  omne  quod  ccelo  sub- 

est, 
Salutis  auctorem  novse 
Novo  salutat  cantico. 

Et  nos,  beata  quos  sacri 
Bigavit  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  ssecula. 

Amen. 


Tu  lumen,  tu  splendor  Patris, 
Tu  spes  perennis  omnium, 
Intende  quas  funduut  preces 
Tui  per  orbem  famuli. 

Memento  salutis  Auctor 
Quod  nostri  quondam  corporis 
Ex  illibata  Virgine 
Nascendo  formam  sumpseris. 

Sic  prsesens  testatur  dies, 
Currens  per  anni  circulum, 
Quod  solus  a  sede  Patris 
Mundi  salus  adveneris. 


Hunc   coelum,    terra,    hunc 
mare, 
Hunc  omne  quod  in  eis  est, 
Auctorem  adventus  tui 
Laudans  exsulfcat  cantico. 

Nos  quoque  qui  sancto  tuo 
Redempti  Sanguine  sumus, 
Ob  diem  Natalis  tui 
Hymnum  novum  concinimus. 

Gloria  tibi  Domine, 
Qui  natus  es  de  Virgine 
Cum  Patre  et  Sancto  Spiritu, 
In  sempiterna  ssecula. 

Amen. 


132  CHRISTMAS. 

$".  Crastina  die  delebitur  "ft.  To-morrow,  the  iniquity 

iniquitas  terrae  ;  of  the  earth  shall  be  cancelled ; 

I£.  Et  regnabit  super  nos  1^.  And  over  us  shall  reign 

Salvator  mundi.  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  magnify- 
ing the  Lord,  and  to  rejoice  in  our  spirit,  as  thou 
didst  in  thine,  in  God  our  Saviour,  who  is  thy  Son ! 

ANTIPHOJST   OF    THE   MAGNIFICAT. 

Cum  ortus  fuerit  sol  de  When  the  sun  shall  have 

coelo,  videbitis   Regem  re-  risen  in  the  heavens,  ye  shall 

gum  procedentem  a  Patre,  see  the  King  of  Kings  coming 

tanquam  sponsum  de  tha-  from  the  Father,  as  a  Bride- 

lamo  suo.  groom  from  his  bride-chamber. 

TJie  Canticle,  Magnificat,  page  107. 

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,  qusesumus,  om-  Grant,  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  servi-  by   the   new   Birth  of   thine 

tus  tenet.  Per  eumdem  Do-  Only  Begotten  Son.    Through 

minum     nostrum     Jesum  the    same   Jesus   Christ  thy 


CHRISTMAS  DAY  :  FIRST  VESPERS.  133 

Son,  our  Lord,  who  liveth  and  Christum  Filium  tuum,  qui 

reigneth    with    thee,    in    the  tecum    vivit    et    regnat  in 

unity  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  God,  imitate  SpiritusSanctiDeus 

world  without  end.     Amen.  per  omnia  ssecula    saeculo 


3cula    saeculo 
rum.     Amen. 


During  our  Vespers,  the  last  rays  of  day  have  dis- 
appeared, and  darkness  has  covered  the  earth.  The 
Sacred  Ministers,  vested  in  their  richest  copes,  have 
left  the  Sanctuary.  In  a  few  moments  they  will  re- 
enter 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  Judgment,  which  the  Church  has  nurtured 
within  our  souls  during  the  holy  Season  of  Advent. 

Let  us  embody  these  sentiments  in  a  Prayer,  taken 
from  the  Gothic,  or  Mozarabic,  Liturgy :  it  is  a 
beautiful  one,  and  most  appropriate : 

PRAYER  FROM  THE  MOZARABIC  BREVIARY. 

(For  the  Nativity  of  our  Lord,  in  the  Evening  Office,  Capitula.) 

Drop  down  Dew,  ye  heavens,  Rorate  cceli  desuper,  uti- 

from    above — by  prophesying  que  prophetando  Christum, 

Jesus  to  our  earth  ;  and  let  the  et   nubes    pluant    justum  ; 

clouds  rain  the  Just  One — let  dum  Sancti  omnes  ejus  prse- 

all  the  saintly  prophets  herald  conanturadventum.  Aperia- 

his  coming.     Let  the  earth  be  tur  terra,  ut,  Angelo  scilicet 

opened,  that,  as  the  Angel  is  alloquente,  Virgo  concipiat, 

speaking  unto  her,  the  Virgin  et  pariat  Salvatorem.     Hie 

may  conceive  and  bring  forth  igitur  ros,    qui  abs  te   est, 

the    Saviour.     We  pray  and  omnipotens     Pater,      roga- 

we  beseech  thee,  0  Almighty  mus,    et    petimus,   ut    fiat 


134 


CHRISTMAS. 


Father,   let  this  JDnv,  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  his 
Nativity  hath  enlightened  us  : 
He  that  came  looking  for  the 
lost  ones,  hath  given  light  to 
them  that    sat    in   darkness. 
Grant   unto  us,  therefore,  O 
Almighty  Father,  so  most  de- 
voutly to  celebrate  the  Day  of 
his  Birth,  as  that  the  Day  of 
his  Judgment  may  be  to  us 
a   day  of    exceeding  mercy  : 
that    thus,   having    felt  how 
great  is  his  goodness  in  re- 
deeming, we  may  experience 
how  gentle  is   his  mercy  in 
judging  us. 

And  now,  we  will  leave  the  House  of  God,  and  at- 
tend 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  wre  interrupted  in  order  to  assist  at 
Vespers.     How  few  would  keep  from  the  Service  of 


sanitas  infirmorum  ;  et  hgec 
pluvia   matutini    temporis, 
prsebe,  nostri  temporis  in- 
fundat  arentem,  quse  infusa 
tanta  gratia  prseteritum  fa- 
cinus   abluat,    et   seternum 
credentibus  justitia?  lumen 
infundat ;  nee  non  ejusdem 
Filii  tui  Domini  nostri  in- 
demnes    prsesentiam     con- 
tuentes,   atque    cum    cceli- 
colis  ccetui   ejus  in  jubilo 
occurrentes,   hoc    canticum 
laetitise  praecinamus  orantes : 
Benedictus,    qui    venit   in 
nomine  Domini,  Deus  Do- 
minus,  et  illuxit  nobis  ;  cu- 
jus  nos   adventus   redemit, 
et Nativitas illustravit  :  Qui 
veniens  requisivit  perditos, 
illuminavit  in  tenebris  con- 
stitutes.   Tribue  ergo  omni- 
potens  Pater,  ut  diem  ISTati- 
vitatis   ejus    ita    devotione 
piissima  celebremus,  ut  ju- 
dicii  diem  mitissimum  sen- 
tiamus  :   ut  cujus  benigni- 
tatem  in  redemptione  cog- 
novimus,  ejus   pietatem  in 
judicio   mansuetam   sentia- 
mus. 


CHRISTMAS  DAY  :   THE  HOUR  BEFOEE  MATINS.    135 

Christinas  Night,  and  how  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 
Mid-Night ! — 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  de- 
prived 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  re- 
sumed their  chants,  in  an  Office,  which  was  even 
more  solemn  than  the  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,  every  day,  publicly  recited  in  Cathedral 
and  Monastic  Churches,  and  privately  by  every  one 
in  Holy  Orders.  They  are  by  far  the  longest  por- 
tion 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 


136  CHRISTMAS. 

same  hour  as  anciently ;  for,  with  regard  to  Tenebrce, 
they  are  recited  on  the  afternoons  respectively  pre- 
ceding 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  pre- 
ceding 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  solemnise  the  Divine 
Birth  ;  and  she  begins  her  Mass  at  Mid -night,  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  Chris- 
tendom, used  to  spend  the  whole  Night  in  the  Church. 

In  Rome,  for  many  centuries — at  least,  from  the 
7th  to  the  11th, — two  Matins  were  sung.  The  first 
in  the  Basilica  of  St.  Mary  Major.  They  commenced 
immediately  after  sun -set.  There  was  no  Invitatory. 
As  soon  as  they  were  ended,  the  Pope  celebrated 
the  first  or  midnight  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  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  Tierce,  which  is 
our  9  o'clock.  We  are  indebted  for  these  details  to 
Amalarius,  and  to  the  ancient  Liturgist  of  the  13th 
century,  published  under  the  name  of  Alcuin.  We 
also  find  them  clearly  indicated  by  the  text  of  the 


CHRISTMAS  DAY  :  THE  HOUR  BEFORE  MATINS.    137 

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 
people,  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,  as  now,  unfortunately, 
they  so  often  are,  a  dumb  show,  or,  at  best,  an  un- 
meaning poetry  introduced  for  effect.  What,  in  our 
days,  are  found  only  in  individuals,  were  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 
fire-side,  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  home,  and  so  add  to  the  joy  of  holy 
Christmas-Night,  was  prepared  before-hand.  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  chil- 
dren, as  they  came  in  chilled  by  the  sharp  frost. 

Meanwhile,  till  it  was  time  for  Mass,  their  con- 
versation was  upon  the  Mystery  of  this  much-loved 
Night.     They   compassionated  the  Blessed   Mother 


138  CHRISTMAS. 

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  practice  of  which  they  had 
spent  many  a  pleasant  evening  of  Advent.  The 
whole  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  conversation  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, 
unrealities :  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  learn- 
ing, though  the  examples  that  teach  it  are  too  catholic 
for  these  rough  times.  Let  us,  therefore,  leave  them, 
and  turn  again  to  objects,  which  are  realities,  made 


CHRISTMAS  DAY  :  THE  HOUR  BEFORE  MATINS.    139 

holy  by  To-Night's  Mystery — they  will  assist  us  to 
enter  still  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  the  Cave 
of  the  Nativity,  which  is  Bethlehem's  glory.  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.  It  is  about  forty- 
feet  long,  by  twelve  in  width.  The  ox,  and  the  ass, 
as  spoken  of  by  the  Prophet,  are  there,  standing  near 
the  Manger,  mute  witnesses  of  the  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  adora- 
tion 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  bliss- 
ful 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  for  sin  did  not  please 
thee.  Then,  said  I,  behold  I  come.  In  the  head  of 
the  Book,  it  is  written  of  me,  that  I  should  do  thy 
will,  0  God  I1 

All  this  was  happening  in  the  Stable  at  Bethlehem, 

1  Heb.  x.  5,  6,  7. 


140  CHRISTMAS. 

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. 

0  happy  cave  of  Bethlehem  !  scene  of  these  stu- 
pendous 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  com- 
mencement 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  have  they  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 
Mary.  (Hic  de  Virgine  Maria  Jesus  Christus 
natus  est.) 

In  vain,  however,  should  we  seek  at  Bethlehem 
for  the  holy  Crib,  in  which  the  Infant  Jesus  lay. 
The  curse  of  God  has  struck  that  unhappy  country, 
and  deprived  it  of  this  precious  relic,  which  now,  for 


CHRISTMAS  DAY  :   THE  HOUR  BEFORE  MATINS.    141 

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. 
An  immense  concourse  of  people  is  to-night  assembled 
in  the  Basilica,  awaitiug  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  nourishment  of  their  Love. 

But  the  Basilica  of  the  Crib  is  not  the  only  sanc- 
tuary 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  govern- 
ment is  upon  his  shoulders,1  as  we  shall  sing  to- 

1  Is.  ix.  6. 


142  CHEISTMAS. 

morrow,  with  the  Church.     We  have  already  seen, 
how  the  God  of  Hosts  has  honoured  this  power  of 
the   Emmanuel,    by   leading    powerful    Nations   to 
acknowledge  Him,  who  lay  in  the  Crib  of  Bethle- 
hem, as  the  Lord  to  whom  they  owed  their  adoring 
fealty.     The  same  recognition  of  that  Babe  as  the 
Mighty  God  is  made  by  the  ceremony  we  allude  to. 
The  Sovereign  Pontiff,  the  Yicar  of  our  Emmanuel, 
blesses,  in  his  name,  a  Sword  and  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  the 
Vicar  of  Christ  wishes  to  honour  in  the  name  of 
Jesus,  who  is  King :  for,  the  Angel  said  to  Mary : 
The  Lord  will  give  unto  him  the  Throne  of  David, 
his  father}     It  is  from  Him  alone  that  comes  the 
power  of  the  sword  ;2  for,  God  said  to  Cyrus  :  /  have 
girded  thee  (with  the  sword  ;3)  and  the  Psalmist  thus 
speaks  to  the  Christ  of  God :  Gird  thy  Sword  wpon 
thy  thigh,  0  thou  most  Mighty  /4     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  j)earls,  the  Dove,  which 
is   the   emblem  of  the   Holy   Ghost;   and   this,  to 
teach  him  who  wears  it,  that  it   is   not   from  pas- 
sion 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  meek- 
ness under  the  one  symbol  and  ceremony !  This 
power  of  blending  and  harmonising  the  varied  beauty 

1  St.  Luke,  i.  32.     2  Rom.  xiii.  3,  4.     3  Is.  xlv.  1,  5.     4  Ps.  xliv.  4. 


CHRISTMAS  BAY  :   THE   HOUR  BEFORE  MATINS.  143 

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  ob- 
served. What  a  grand  list  it  would  be,  had  we  the 
names  of  all  those  glorious  Christian  Warriors,  who 
were  thus  created  Knights  of  the  Church,  at  this 
solemn  hour,  when  we  celebrate  the  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  sal- 
vation. 

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  is  near  us ;  it  is  in 
us  ; — it  is  our  own  heart.  Our  heart  is  the  Bethlehem 
that  Jesus  desires  to  visit,  and  in  which  he  would  be 
born,  there  to  live  and  grow  unto  a  perfect  man,  as 
St.  Paul  expresses  it.1  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  ever- 
lasting love,  and  so  ardently,  that  he  came  down  from 
heaven  to  dwell  in  it?  Mary's  virginal  womb  held 
him  but  for  nine  months  ;  he  wishes  us  to  keep  him 
for  ever  in  our  dwelling  ! 

0  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  con- 
trition of  thy  sins,  and  by  the  satisfaction  thou  hast 
made  for  them.  Now,  therefore,  be  all  attention — 
he  is  coming  in  the  Mid-Night.  Let  him  find  every- 
thing ready,  ready  as  were  the  Stable,  the  Crib,  and 

1  Eph.  iv.  13. 


144  CHRISTMAS. 

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  adoration  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,  mast  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 
most  degrading  errors  for  this  last  thousand  years, 
there  are  still  a  few  who  know  and  love  God.  On 
this  glad  Mid-Night,  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  learn,  too,  0  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  un- 
broken 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  our  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  I  come.1 

1  Apoc.  xxii.  20. 


CHKISTMAS  DAY  :   THE  HOUR  BEFORE  MATINS.    145 

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  and  lightning  :  now,  there  is  nothing 
but  humility,  stillness,  and  loveliness  beyond  measure. 
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  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  baptised 
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 : 

ft.  Domine,     labia    mea  ft.  O  Lord  !  thou  wilt  open 

aperies.  my  lips. 

1^5.  Et  os  meum  annuntia-  I£.  And  my  mouth  shall  de- 
bit laudem  tuam.  clare  thy  praise. 

ft.  Dens,  in    adjutorium  ft.  Incline  unto  mine  aid,  0 

meum  intende.  God. 

I£.  Domine,  ad  adjuvan-  I£<  O  Lord,  make  haste  to 

dum  me  festina.  help  me. 

ft.  Gloria  Patri  et  Filio,  ft.  Glory  be  to  the  Father, 

et  Spiritui  Sancto  ;  and  to  the  Son,  and  to  the 

Holy  Ghost ; 

Sicut  erat  in  principio,  et  1^.  As  it  was  in  the  begin  - 

nunc  et  semper,  et  in  ssecu-  ning,  is  now,  and  ever  shall  be, 

la  sasculorum.  Amen.  Alle-  world    without    end.     Amen, 

luia.  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. 

INVITATOEY. 

Christus  natus  est  nobis,*  Christ  is  born  unto  us,  * 
venite,  adoremus.  come  let  us  adore. 

psalm  94. 

Venite,  exsultemus  Domi-  Come,  let  us  praise  the  Lord 
no,  jubileinus  Deo  Salutari    with  joy,  let  us  joyfully  sing 


CHRISTMAS  DAY  :  MATINS. 


147 


to  God  our  Saviour;  let  us 
come  before  his  presence  with 
thanksgiving,  and  make  a  joy- 
ful 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  ;  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  the  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  pro- 
vocation according  to  the  day 
of  temptation  in  the  wilder- 
ness :  where  your  fathers 
tempted  me,  me  the  Lord,  the 
Father  of  the  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 :  so,  I  swore  in  my  wrath, 
that  they  shall  not  enter  into 
my  rest. 

Christ  is  born  unto  us,  * 
come,  let  us  adore. 


nostro  •  prseoccupemus  fa- 
ciem  ejus  in  confessione,  et 
in  psalmis  jubilemus  ei. 

Christus  natus  est  nobis, 

*  venite,  adoremus. 
Quoniam    Deus    magnus 

Dominus,  et  Eex  magnus 
super  omnes  deos  :  quoniam 
non  repellet  Dominus  ple- 
bem  suam,  quia  in  manu 
ejus  sunt  omnes  fines  terrse, 
et  altitudines  montium  ipse 
conspicit. 

Venite,  adoremus. 

Quoniam  ipsius  est  mare, 
et  ipse  fecit  illud,  et  aridam 
fundaverunt  manus  ejus  : 
Venite,  adoremus,  et  proci- 
damus  ante  Deum  :  plore- 
mus  coram  Domino  qui  fecit 
nos  ;  quia  ipse  est  Dominus 
Deus  noster :  nos  autem 
populus  ejus,  et  oves  pascuas 
ejus. 

Christus  natus  est  nobis, 

*  venite,  adoremus. 
Hodie  sivocem  ejus  audie- 

ritis,  nolite  obdurare  corda 
vestra,  sicut  in  exacerba- 
tione  secundum  diem  tenta- 
tionis  in  deserto  :  ubi  tenta- 
verunt  me  patres  vestri,  pro- 
baverunt,  et  viderunt  opera 
mea. 

Venite,  adoremus. 

Quadriginta  annis  proxi- 
mus  fui  generationi  huic,  et 
dixi :  Semper  hi  errant 
corde  :  ipsi  vero  non  cogno- 
verunt  vias  meas,  quibus 
juravi  in  ira  mea,  si  introi- 
bunt  in  requiem  meam. 

Christus  natus  est  nobis, 

*  venite,  adoremus. 


148  CHKISTMAS. 

Gloria  Patri,  et  Filio,  et  Glory  be  to  the  Father,  and 

Spiritui  Sancto.  to  the  Son,  and  to  the  Holy 

Ghost. 

Sicnt  erat  in  principio  et  As  it  was  in  the  beginning, 

nunc  et  semper,  et  in  ssecula  is  now,  and  ever  shall  be,  world 

sseculorum.    Amen.  without  end.    Amen. 

Venite,  adoremus.  Come,  let  us  adore. 

Christus  natus  est  nobis,  Christ  is  born  unto  us,  * 

*  venite,  adoremus.  come,  let  us  adore. 

After  the  Invitatory,  the  Church  intones  the  sweet 
Hymn  on  the  Birth  of  Jesus,  composed  by  St.  Am- 
brose, and  which  was  sung  in  our  First  Vespers.  Let 
us  again  sing  it  to  our  Redeemer,  and  feed  our  spirit 
on  its  delicious  unction. 


HYMN. 

Jesu,     Redemptor     om-        0  Jesus  !  Redeemer  of  man- 
nium.  kind,  &c. 

See  above,  page  130. 

Thus  far,  are  the  preludes  to  our  solemn  Night 
Office,  which  now  commences.     It  is  divided  into 
three  vigils,  or  Noctums,  each  of  which  is  composed 
of  three  Psalms,  three  Lessons,  and  three  Respon- 
sories.      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  Noctums  of  to-night'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  condemnation  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 


CHRISTMAS  DAY:  MATINS.  }49 

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.  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  symbolise  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.  The  Lord  hath  said  to  Ant.  Dominus  dixit  ad 
me  :  Thou  art  my  Son,  this  me  :  Filius  meus  es  tu,  ego 
day  have  I  begotten  thee.  hodie  genui  te. 

PSALM  2. 

Why    have     the    Gentiles  Quare  fremuerunt  gentes : 

raged,  and  the  people  devised  *  et  populi  meditati  sunt 

vain  things  %  inania  1 

The  Kings  of  the  earth  stood  Adstiterunt  reges  terrae, 

up,  and  the  Princes  met  to-  et  principes  convenerunt  in 

gether,  against  the  Lord,  and  unum  :    *  adversus  Domi- 

against  his  Christ.  num,  et  adversus  Christum 

ejus. 

They  said  :   Let  us  break  Dirumpamus  vincula  eo- 
their  bonds  asunder ;  and  let  rum  :  *  et  projiciamus  a  no- 
us cast  away  their  yoke  from  bis  jugum  ipsorum. 
us. 

He  that  dwelleth  in  heaven  Qui  habitat  in  ccelis,  ir- 

shall  laugh  at  them  :  and  the  ridebit  eos  :  *  et  Dominus 

Lord  shall  deride  them.  subsannabit  eos. 

Then  shall  he  speak  to  them  Tunc  loquetur  ad  eos  in 

in  his  anger,  and  trouble  them  ira  sua  :  *  et  in  furore  suo 

in  his  rage.  conturbabit  eos. 


150 


CHRISTMAS. 


Ego  autem  constitutus 
sum  Rex  ab  eo  super  Sion 
montem  sanctum  ejus  :  * 
praedicans  praeceptum  ejus. 

Dominus  dixit  ad  me  :  * 
Filius  meus  es  tu,  ego  hodie 
genui  te. 

Postula  a  me,  et  dabo  tibi 
gentes  haereditatem  tuam  : 

*  et  possessionem  tuam  ter- 
minos  terrae. 

Reges  eos  in  virga  ferrea  : 

*  et  tamquam  vas  figuli  con- 
fringes  eos. 

Et  nunc,  reges,  intelli- 
gite  :  *  erudimini  qui  judi- 
catis  terram. 

Servite  Domino  in  ti- 
more  :  *  et  exsultate  ei  cum 
tremore. 

Apprehendite  discipli- 
nary 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. 


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 
I  begotten  thee. 

Ask  of  me,  and  I  will  give 
thee  the  Gentiles  for  thy  in- 
heritance, 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,  un- 
derstand :  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,  bless- 
ed 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  testi- 
mony which  the  countless  stars  render  to  the  great- 
ness of  their  Creator.  It  then  passes  on  to  speak  of 
the  Sun,  whose  brilliant  rising  is  like  the  Bridegroom 
coming  forth  from  the  nuptial-chamber.  The  San  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,  he  will  mount  to  the 
meridian  of  glory.  Let  us  adore  him  in  his  humble 
commencement,  and  humble  ourselves  together  with 


CHRISTMAS   DAY:  MATINS. 


151 


him.  He  is  the  Lawgiver,  and  the  Laiv  ;  he  is  our 
joy  and  our  light ;  he  is  our  helper,  and  our  Re- 
deemer :  let  us  love  and  obey  him. 

Ant.  The  Lord  is  as  a  Ant.  Tamquam  sponsus 
Bridegroom  coming  out  of  his  Dominus  procedens  de  tha- 
bride-chamber.  lamo  suo. 

psalm  18. 


The  heavens  show  forth  the 
glory  of  God,  and  the  firma- 
ment 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-cham- 
ber, 

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 


Cceli     enarrant    gloriam 

Dei  :  *  et  opera  manuum 
ejus  annuntiat  firmamen- 
tum. 

Dies  diei  eructat  verbum  : 
*  et  nox  nocti  indicat  scien- 
tiam. 

Non  sunt  loquelae,  neque 
sermones  :  *  quorum  non 
audiantur  voces  eorum. 

In  omnem  terram  exivit 
sonus  eorum :  *  et  in  fines 
orbis  terras  verba  eorum. 

In  sole  posuit  tabernacu- 
lum  suum  :  *  et  ipse  tam- 
quam sponsus  procedens  de 
thalamo  suo. 

Exsultavit  ut  gigas  ad  cur- 
rendam  viam  :  *  a  summo 
ccelo  egressio  ejus. 

Et  occursus  ejus  usque  ad 
summum  ejus  :  *  nee  est 
qui  se  abscondat  a  calore 
ejus. 

Lex  Domini  immaculata, 
convertens  animas  :  *  tes- 
timonium Domini  fidele, 
sapientiam  prsestans  parvu- 
lis. 


Justitiae    Domini    rectae, 
lsetificantes  corda  :  *  prae- 


152 


CHRISTMAS. 


ceptum  Domini  lucidum,  il- 
luminans  oculos. 

Timor  Domini  sanctus, 
permanens  in  sseculum  sae- 
culi  :  *  judicia  Domini  vera, 
justificata  in  semetipsa. 

Desiderabilia  super  au- 
rum  et  lapidem  pretiosnm 
mnltum  :  *  et  dulciora  su- 
per mel  et  favum. 

Etenim  servns  tnns  cus- 
todit  ea  :  *  in  custodiendis 
illis  retributio  nmlta. 

Delicta  quis  intelligit  1 
ab  occultis  meis  munda  me  : 

*  et  ab  alienis  parce  servo 
tuo. 

Si  mei  non  fuerint  domi- 
nati,  tunc  immaculatus  ero  : 

*  et   emundabor  a   delicto 
maximo. 

Et  erunt  ut  complaceant 
eloquia  oris  mei  :  *  et  me- 
ditatio  cordis  mei  in  con- 
spectu  tuo  semper. 

Domine  adjutor  meus  :  * 
et  Redemptor  meus. 

Ant.  Tamquam  sponsus 
Dominus  procedens  de  tha- 
lamo  suo. 


commandment  of  the  Lord 
is  lightsome,  enlightening  the 
eyes. 

The  fear  of  the  Lord  is  holy, 
enduring  for  ever  and  ever  : 
the  judgments  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. 

For  thy  servant  keepeth 
them ;  and  in  keeping  them 
there  is  a  great  reward. 

Who  can  understand  sins  1 
From  my  secret  ones  cleanse 
me,  0  Lord  ;  and  from  those 
of  others  spare  thy  servant. 

If  they  shall  have  no  domi- 
nion over  me,  then  shall  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  : 
and  the  meditation  of  my 
heart,  always  in  thy  sight. 

O  Lord,  that  art  bom  for  my 
sake,  thou  art  my  helper  and 
my  Redeemer. 

Ant.  The  Lord  is  as  a  Bride- 
groom coming  out  of  his 
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  truth  and  his 
justice,  perfect ;  and  the  power  of  his  love  is  irresis- 
tible. On  his  right,  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  compa- 
nions of  the  Lamb  whithersoever  he  goeth.  In  this 
most  sublime  Psalm,  let  us  sing  our  canticle  of  praise 


CHEISTMAS  DAY:   MATINS. 


153 


to  the  ineffable  dignity  of  our  Divine  King,  and  to 
the  sweetness  of  our  incomparable  Mother  and 
Queen. 


Ant.  Grace  is  poured  out 
upon  thy  lips  ;  therefore  hath 
God  blessed  thee  for  ever. 


Ant.  Diffusa  est  gratia 
in  labiis  tuis ;  propterea 
benedixit  te  Deus  in  seter- 


num. 


psalm  44. 


My  heart  hath  uttered  a 
good  word  :  I  speak  my  works, 
my  songs,  to  Jesus,  the  King. 

My  tongue  is  the  pen  of  a 
scrivener,  that  writeth  swiftly. 

Thou,  0  Emmanuel,  art 
beautiful  above  the  sons  of 
men  ;  grace  is  poured  abroad 
in'  thy  lips  :  therefore,  hath 
God  blessed  thee  for  ever. 

Thou  comest  that  thou  may  est 
conquer  the  world;  gird  thy 
sword  upon  thy  thigh,  0  thou 
most  Mighty  ! 

With  thy  comeliness  and  thy 
beauty,  set  out,  proceed  pros- 
perously, and  reign, 

Because  of  truth,  and  meek- 
ness, 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,  0  God,  is  for 
ever  and  ever  :  the  sceptre  of 
thy  kingdom  is  a  sceptre  of 
uprightness. 

Thou  hast  loved  justice,  and 
hatedst  iniquity :  therefore 
God,  thy  God  hath  anointed 
thee  with  the  oil  of  gladness 
above  thy  fellows. 

Myrrh,  and  stacte,  and  cassia 


Eructavit  cor  meum  ver- 
bum  bonum  :  *  dico  ego 
opera  mea  Regi. 

Lingua  mea  calamus  scri- 
bse  :  *  velociter  scribentis. 

Speciosus  forma  prse  filiis 
hominum,  diffusa  est  gra- 
tia in  labiis  tuis  :  *  propterea 
benedixit  te  Deus  in  seter- 
num. 

Accingere  gladio  tuo  su- 
per femur  tuum  :  *  poten- 
tissime. 

Specie  tua  et  pulchritudi- 
ne  tua  :  *  intende,  prospere 
procede,  et  regna. 

Propter  veritatem,  et  man- 
suetudinem,  et  justitiam  :  * 
et  deducet  te  mirabiliter 
dextera  tua. 

Sagittse  tuse  acutae,  popu- 
li  sub  te  cadent :  *  in  corda 
inimicorum  regis. 

Sedes  tua,  Deus,  in  ssecu- 
lum  sasculi  :  *  virga  direc- 
tionis,  virga  regni  tui. 

Dilexisti  justitiam,  et  odis- 
ti  iniquitatem  :  *  propterea 
unxit  te  Deus,  Deus  tuus, 
oleo  laetitise  prae  consortibus 
tuis. 

Myrrha,  et  gutta,  et  casia 


154 


CHEISTMAS. 


a  vestimentis  tuis,  a  domi- 
bus  eburneis  :  *  ex  quibus 
delectaverunt  te  filise  regum 
in  honore  tuo. 

Adstitit  Regina  a  dextris 
tuis  in  vestitu  deaurato  :  * 
circumdata  varietate. 


Audi  filia,  et  vide,  et  in- 
clina  aurem  tuam  :  *  et  ob- 
liviscere  populum  tuum,  et 
domum  patris  tui. 


Et  concupiscet  Rex  deco- 
rem  tuum  :  **  quoniam  ipse 
est  Dominus  Deus  tuus,  et 
adorabunt  eum. 

Et  filise  Tyri  in  muneri- 
bus  :  *  vultuni  tuum  depre- 
cabuntur  omnes  divites  ple- 
bis. 

Omnis  gloria  ejus  filiae  re- 
gis ab  intus  :  *  in  fimbriis 
aureis  circumamicta  varie- 
tatibus. 

Adducentur  Regi  virgines 
post  earn  :  *  proximse  ejus 
afferentur  tibi. 


Afferentur  in  laetitia  et 
exsultatione  :  *  adducentur 
in  templum  Regis. 

Pro  patribus  tuis  nati  sunt 
tibi  filii :  *  constitues  eos 
principes  super  omnem  ter- 
rain. 


Memores  erunt  nominis 
tui  :  *  in  omni  generatione, 
et  generationem. 


perfume  thy  garments,  from 
the  ivory  bouses  ;  out  of  which 
the  daughters  of  kings  have 
delighted  thee  in  thy  glory. 

The  Queen,  thy  Mother,  who 
shares  in  thy  triumph,  stood 
on  thy  right  hand  in  gilded 
clothing,  surrounded  with  va- 
riety. 

Thy  Holy  Spirit  spoke  to 
her,  and  said :  "  Hearken,  O 
"  Daughter,  and  see,  and  in- 
"  cline  thine  ear  :  and  forget 
"  thy  people,  and  thy  father's 
"  house. 

"  And  the  King  shall  greatly 
"  desire  thy  beauty  :  for  he  is 
"  the  Lord  thy  God,  and  him 
"  they  shall  adore. 

"  And  the  daughters  of  Tyre 
"  with  gifts,  yea,  all  the  rich 
"  among  the  people,  shall  en- 
"  treat  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,  they  that  have  spi- 
ritually conceived  Christ,  shall 
be  brought  to  thee,  0  King  ! 

They  shall  be  brought  with 
gladness  and  rejoicing  :  they 
shall  be  brought  into  the 
temple  of  the  King. 

Instead  of  thy  fathers  of  the 
Jewish  people,  of  whose  race 
thou  didst  deign  to  be  born, 
but  who  have  not  known  thee, 
0  Emmanuel !  sons  are  born 
to  thee  of  a  new  race:  thou 
shalt  make  them  princes  over 
all  the  earth. 

They  shall  remember  thy 
name  throughout  all  genera- 
tions. 


CHRISTMAS  DAY:  MATINS.  155 

Therefore  shall  people  praise  Propterea  populi  confite- 

thee  for  ever,  yea  for  ever  and  buntur  tibi  in  seternum,  * 

ever.  et  in  saeculum  sseculi. 

Ant.  Grace  is  poured  out  Ant.    Diffusa    est    gra- 

upon  thy  lips  ;  therefore  hath  tia  in  labiis  tuis,  propterea 

God  blessed  thee  for  ever.  benedixit  te  Deus  in  aeter- 

num. 

p.  As  a  Bridegroom,  $".  Tamquam  sponsus. 

1$.  The  Lord  is  coming  from  I£.  Dominus  procedens  de 

his  bride-chamber.  thalamo  suo. 


The  Priest  begins  the  two  first  words  of  the  Lord's 
Prayer : 

Our  Father.  Pater  noster. 

The  rest  is  said  in  silence,  as  far  as  the  last  two 
petitions,  when  the  Priest  says  aloud  : 

ft.  And    lead  us  not  into        ft.  Et  ne  nos  inducas  in 
temptation.  tentationem. 

The  Choir  answers : 
]$.  But  deliver  us  from  evil.        1$.  Sed  libera  nos  a  malo. 

Then  the  Priest : 

Graciously   hear,    O    Lord  Exaudi,     Domine     Jesu 

Jesus  Christ,  the  prayers  of  Christe,    preces    servorum 

thy  servants,  and  have  mercy  tuorum,  et  miserere  nobis, 

upon  us :  who,  with  the  Father  qui  cum   Patre  et  Spiritu 

and  the    Holy  Ghost,  livest  Sancto  vivis  et  regnas  in 

and  reignest  for  ever  and  ever,  ssecula  sseculorum. 

The  Choir  answers  :  Amen. 

Then  one  of  the  Choir  turns  towards  the  Priest, 
and  bowing  down,  says: 

Pray,  Father,  give  thy  bless-        Jube,  Domne,  benedicere. 
ing. 


156 


CHRISTMAS. 


Then  the  Priest : 

May    the    Eternal    Father  Benedictione  perpetua  be- 

bless  us  with  an  everlasting  nedicat  nos  Pater  aeternus. 
blessing. 

^.  Amen.  I£.  Amen. 


The  Lessons  of  the  First  Nocturn  are  taken  from 
the  Prophet  Isaias,  whom  the  Church  has  followed 
through  the  whole  of  Advent.  The  Responsories, 
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,  at  the  very  hour  when  they  are  to  be  accom- 
plished. 

1st  lesson.    Isaias,  Ch.  ix. 


Primo  tempore  alleviata 
est  terra  Zabulon,  et  terra 
Nephtali :  et  novissimo  ag- 
gravata  est  via  maris  trans 
Jordanem  Galilaese  Genti- 
um. Populus  qui  ambu- 
labat  in  tenebris  vidit  lucem 
magnam :  habitantibus  in 
regione  umbrae  mortis,  lux 
orta  est  eis.  Multiplicasti 
gentem,  et  non  magnificasti 
laetitiam.  Lsetabuntur  co- 
ram te,  sicut  qui  laetantur 
in  messe,  sicut  exsultant 
victores  capta  prseda,  quan- 
do  dividunt  spolia.  Jugum 
enim  oneris  ejus,  et  virgam 
humeri  ejus,  et  sceptrum 
exactoris  ejus  superasti,  si- 
cut in  die  Madian.  Quia 
omnis  violenta  praadatio  cum 
tumultu,  et  vestimentum 
mistum  sanguine,  erit  in 
combustionem,  et  cibus  ig- 
nis. Parvulus  enim  natus 
est  nobis,  et  filius  datus  est 
nobis  :  et  factus  est  princi- 


At  the  first  time,  the  land 
of  Zabulon,  and  the  land  of 
Nepktali,  was  lightly  touched 
by  the  Lord :  and  at  the  last, 
the  way  of  the  sea  beyond  the 
Jordan  of  the  Gentiles  was 
heavily  loaded.  The  people 
that  walked  in  darkness  have 
seen  a  great  light :  to  them, 
that  dwelt  in  the  region  of  the 
shadow  of  death,  light  is  risen. 
Thou  hast  multiplied  the  na- 
tion, and  hast  not  increased 
the  joy.  The  inhabitants  of 
Jerusalem,  ivhom  thou  hast 
succoured,  shall  rejoice  before 
thee,  as  they  that  rejoice  in 
the  harvest ;  as  conquerors  re- 
joice after  taking  a  prey,  when 
they  divide  the  spoils.  For 
the  yoke  of  their  burden,  and 
the  rod  of  their  shoulder,  and 
the  sceptre  of  their  oppressor, 
thou  hast  overcome,  as  in  the 
day  of  Madian.  For  every 
violent  taking  of  spoils,  with 
tumult,  and  garment  mingled 


CHRISTMAS  DAY:  MATINS. 


157 


with  blood,  shall  be  burnt,  and 
be  fuel  for  the  fire.  For  a 
Child  is  born  unto  us,  and  a 
Son  is  given  unto  us ;  and 
the  government  is  upon  his 
shoulder  :  and  his  name  shall 
be  called,  Wonderful,  Coun- 
sellor, God  the  Mighty,  the 
Father  of  the  world  to  come, 
the  Prince  of  peace. 

1$.  To-day,  the  King  of 
heaven  deigned  to  be  born  to 
us  of  a  Virgin,  that  he  might 
restore  lost  man  to  the  hea- 
venly kingdom.  *  The  host  of 
Angels  rejoices :  for  that  eter- 
nal salvation  hath  appeared 
to  the  human  race. 

$".  Glory  be  to  God  in  the 
highest ;  and  on  earth,  peace 
to  men  of  good  will.  *  The 
host  of  Angels,  &c.  Glory  be 
to  the  Father. 

Then  is  repeated  the  T$.  To- 
day, the  King,  as  far  as  Glory 
be  to  God. 

Blessing.  May  the  Only 
Begotten  Son  of  God  vouch- 
safe to  bless  and  help  us. 

I£.  Amen. 


patus  super  humerum  ejus  : 
et  vocabitur  nomen  ejus, 
Admirabilis,  Consiliarius, 
Deus,  Fortis,  Pater  futuri 
sseculi,  Princeps  pacis.^ 


I£.  Hodie  nobis  ccelorum 
Rex  de  Virgin  e  nasci  digna- 
tus  est,  ut  hominem  perdi- 
tum,  ad  ccelestia  regna  re- 
vocaret.  *  Gaudet  exerci- 
tus  Angelorum  :  quia  salus 
seterna  humano  generi  appa- 
ruit. 

$".  Gloria  in  excelsis  Deo, 
et  in  terra  pax  hominibus 
bonas  voluntatis.  *  Gaudet 
exercitus.     Gloria  Patri. 

^.  Hodie  nobis  ccelorum. 
$".  Gloria  in  excelsis. 

Benedictio.  Unigenitus 
Dei  Filius  nos  benedicere 
et  adjuvare  dignatur. 

]^.  Amen. 


2nd  lesson.    Isaias,  Ch.  xl. 


Be  comforted,  be  comforted, 
my  people,  saith  your  God. 
Speak  ye  to  the  heart  of  Je- 
rusalem, 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  :  ei  Pre- 
"  pare  ye  the  way  of  the  Lord, 
"  make  straight  in  the  wilder- 
"  ness  the  paths  of  our  God. 


Consolamini,  consolami- 
ni  popule  meus,  dicit  Deus 
vester.  Loquimini  ad  cor 
Jerusalem,  et  advocate  earn, 
quoniam  completa  est  mali- 
tia  ejus,  dimissa  est  iniqui- 
tas  illius  :  suscepit  de  manu 
Domini  duplicia  pro  omni- 
bus peccatis  suis.  Vox  cla- 
mantis  in  deserto  :  Parate 
viam  Dei,  rectas  facite  in 
solitudine  semitas  Dei  nos- 
tri.     Omnis  vallis  exaltabi- 


158 


CHRISTMAS. 


tur  et  omnis  mons  et  collis 
immiliabitur,  et  erunt  prava 
in  directa,  et  aspera  in  vias 
planas.  Et  revelabitur  glo- 
ria Domini  :  et  videbit  om- 
nis caro  pariter  quod  os 
Domini  locutum  est.  Vox 
dicentis  :  Clama.  Et  dixi  : 
Quid  clamabo  1  Omnis  caro 
fcenum,  et  omnis  gloria  ejus 
quasi  flos  agri.  Exsiccatum 
est  fcenum,  et  cecidit  flos ; 
quia  spiritus  Domini  suffia- 
vit  in  eo.  Vere  fcenum  est 
populus  :  exsiccatum  est  fce- 
num, et  cecidit  flos :  Verbum 
autem  Domini  nostri  manet 
in  asternum. 


I£.  Hodie  nobis  de  ccelo 
pax  vera  descendit  :*  Hodie 
per  totum  mundum  melli- 
flui  f  acti  sunt  cceli. 

ft.  Hodie  illuxit  nobis  dies 
redemptionis  novse,  repara- 
tions antiquae,  felicitatis 
seternae.  *  Hodie  per  totum. 

Benedictio.  Spiritus  sanc- 
ti  gratia  illuminet  sensus  et 
corda  nostra.     ^.   Amen. 

3rd  lesson, 

Consurge,  consurge,  in- 
duere  fortitudine  tua,  Sion; 
induere  vestimentis  gloriae 
tuae,  Jerusalem,  civitas 
Sancti :  quia  non  adjiciet 
ultra  ut  pertranseat  per  te 
incircumcisus  et  immundus. 
Excutere  de  pulvere,  con- 
surge, sede,  Jerusalem:  solve 
vincula  colli    tui,    captiva 


"  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  to- 
gether shall  see,  that  the  mouth 
of  the  Lord  hath  spoken.  The 
voice  of  one,  saying :  Cry. 
And  I  said  :  What  shall  I  cry  1 
All  flesh  is  grass,  and  all  the 
glory  thereof  as  the  flower  of 
the  field.  The  grass  is  withered, 
and  the  flower  is  fallen,  be- 
cause 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. 

1^.  To-day,  true  peace  has 
come  down  to  us  from  heaven: 
*  To-day,  throughout  the 
whole  world,  the  heavens  have 
dropped  honey. 

"ft.  To-day,  there  has  shone 
upon  us  the  day  of  the  new 
redemption,  of  the  ancient  re- 
paration, of  the  eternal  hap- 
piness. *  To-day,  throughout. 

Blessing.  May  the  grace  of 
the  Holy  Ghost  enlighten  our 
senses  and  our  hearts.    Amen. 

Isaias,  lii. 

Arise,  arise,  put  on  thy 
strength,  0  Sion  ;  put  on  the 
garments  of  thy  glory,  O  Jeru- 
salem, the  city  of  the  Holy 
One;  for  henceforth,  the  uncir- 
cumcised  and  unclean  shall  no 
morepass  through  thee.  Shake 
thyself  from  the  dust,  arise, 
sit  up,  O  Jerusalem  :  loose 
the  bonds  from  off  thy  neck, 


CHRISTMAS   DAY:   MATINS. 


159 


O  captive  daughter  of  Sion. 
For  thus  saith  the  Lord  :  You 
were  sold  gratis,  and  you  shall 
be  redeemed  without  money. 
For  thus  saith  the  Lord  God: 
My  people  went  down  into 
Egypt,  at  the  beginning,  to 
sojourn  there:  and  the  Assy- 
rian hath  oppressed  them  with- 
out any  cause  at  all.  And 
now,  what  have  I  here,  saith 
the  Lord  :  for  my  people  is 
taken  away  gratis  1  They  that 
rule  over  them,  treat  them  un- 
justly, saith  the  Lord,  and  my 
name  is  continually  blasphe- 
med all  the  day  long.  Therefore 
my  people  shall  know  my  name 
in  that  day  :  for,  I  myself  that 
spoke,  behold  I  am  here. 

1^.  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. 

$".  Say,  what  have  ye  seen  1 
and  tell  us  of  the  birth  of 
Christ.  *  We  have  seen. 
Glory.    *  We  have  seen. 


filia  Sion.  Quia  hsec  dicit 
Dominus  :  Gratis  venum- 
dati  estis,  et  sine  argento 
redimemini.  Quia  hsec  dicit 
Dominus  Deus  :  In  iEgyp- 
tum  descendit  populus  meus 
in  principio,  ut  colonus  es- 
set  ibi :  et  Assur  absque 
ulla  causa  calumniatus  est 
eum.  Et  nunc  quid  mihi 
est  hie,  dicit  Dominus  1 
quoniam  ablatus  est  popu- 
lus meus  gratis  :  domina- 
tores  ejus  inique  agunt, 
dicit  Dominus  :  et  tota  die 
nomen  meum  blasphema- 
tur.  Propter  hoc  sciet  po- 
pulus meus  nomen  meum 
in  die  ilia  :  quia  ego  ipse 
qui  loquebar,  ecce  adsum. 

I£.  Quern  vidistis  pastores*? 
dicite,  annuntiate  nobis,  in 
terris  quis  apparuit  %  *  Na- 
tum  vidimus,  et  choros  An- 
gelorum  collaudantes  Domi- 
num. 

_  $".  Dicite,  quidnam  vidis- 
tis *?  et  annuntiate  Christi 
nativitatem.  *  Natum  vidi- 
mus. Gloria.  *  Natum  vi- 
dimus. 


THE   SECOND   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  con- 
ceited calculations,  to  destroy  the  Church :  God, 
who  has  founded  her,  will  make  her  triumph.  Em- 
pires shall  pass  away,  and  their  persecutions :   the 


160 


CHRISTMAS. 


Church   will    survive    them    all,   knowing    neither 
wrinkle  nor  decay. 


Ant.  Suscepimus,  Dens, 
misericordiam.  tuam  in  me- 
dio templi  tui. 


Aistt.  We  have  received  thy 
mercy,  0  God,  in  the  midst  of 
thy  temple. 


psalm  47. 


Magnns  Dominus,  et  lau- 
dabilis  nimis  :  *  in  civitate 
Dei  nostri,  in  monte  sancto 
ejus. 

Fnndatur  exsultatione 
universse  terras  mons  Sion :  * 
latera  aqnilonis,  civitas  regis 
magni. 

Dens  in  domibus  ejus  cog- 
noscetur  :  *  cum  suscipiet 
earn. 

Quoniam  ecce  reges  terras 
congregati  sunt  :  *  conve- 
nerunt  in  unum. 

Ipsi  videntes,  sic  admirati 
sunt,  conturbati  sunt,  com- 
moti  sunt  :  %  tremor  appre- 
hendit  eos. 

Ibi  dolores  ut  parturien- 
tis  :  *  in  spiritu  vehementi 
conteres  naves  Tharsis. 

Sicut  audivimus,  sic  vi- 
dimus in  civitate  Domini 
virtutum,  in  civitate  Dei 
nostri  :  *  Deus  fundavit  earn 
in  seternum. 

Suscepimus  Deus,  mise- 
ricordiam tuam :  *  in  medio 
templi  tui. 


Secundum  nomen  tuum, 
Deus,  sic  et  laus  tua  in  fines 
terrse  :  *  justitia  plena  est 
dextera  tua. 


Great  is  the  Lord,  and  ex- 
ceedingly to  be  praised,  in  the 
City  of  our  God,  in  his  holy 
mountain. 

On  this  day,  with  the  joy  of 
the  whole  earth  is  Mount  Sion 
founded,  on  the  sides  of  the 
North,  the  City  of  the  great 
King. 

In  her  houses  shall  God  be 
known,  when  he  shall  protect 
her. 

For  behold  the  kings  of  the 
earth  assembled  themselves  : 
they  gathered  together. 

They  saw,  so  they  wondered, 
they  were  troubled,  they  were 
moved  :  trembling  took  hold 
of  them. 

There,  were  pains  as  of  a 
woman  in  labour.  With  a  ve- 
hement wind  thou  shalt  break 
in  pieces  the  ships  of  Tharsis. 

As  we  have  heard,  so  have 
we  seen,  in  the  City  of  the 
Lord  of  hosts,  in  the  City  of 
our  God  :  God  hath  founded 
it  for  ever. 

We  have  received  thy  mer- 
cy, 0  God,  which  appeared  to 
us  in  Bethlehem  ;  we  have  re- 
ceived it  in  the  midst  of  thy 
temple. 

According  to  thy  name,  O 
God,  so  also  is  thy  praise  unto 
the  ends  of  the  earth  :  thy 
right  hand  is  full  of  justice. 


CHRISTMAS  DAY  :   MATINS.  161 

Let  Mount  Sion  rejoice,  and  Lsetetur   mons    Sion,   et 

the    daughters     of    Juda    be  exsultent    filise    Judas  :     * 

glad:  because  of  thy  judg-  propter  judiciatua,  Domine. 
ments,  O  Lord  ! 

Surround  Sion,  and  encom-  Circumdate  Sion,  et  com- 
pass her  :  tell  ye  in  her  towers,  plectimini  earn  :  *  narrate  in 

turribus  ejus. 

Set    your    hearts    on     her  Ponite  corda  vestra  in  vir- 

strength  ;  and  distribute  her  tute  ejus  :   *  et  distribuite 

houses,  that  ye  may  relate  it  in  domos  ejus,  ut  enarretis  in 

another  generation  :  progenie  altera  : 

For  this  is  our  God,  our  God  Quoniam   hie    est  Deus, 

unto  eternity,  and  for  ever  and  Deus  noster  in  asternum,  et 

ever  :  he,    our   Pastor,    shall  in  sseculum  saeculi :  *  ipse 

rule  us  for  evermore.  reget  nos  in  ssecula. 

Ant.  We  have  received  thy  Ant.  Suscepimus,   Deus, 

mercy,  0  God,  in  the  midst  of  misericordiam  tuam  in  me- 

thy  temple.  dio  templi  tui. 

The  fifth  Psalm  prophesies  the  peaceful  reign  of 
the  Son  of  David,  who  comes  to  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,  offer- 
ing 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,  a 
House  of  Bread. 

Ant.  There  shall  spring  up        Ant.  Orietur   in    diebus 
an  abundance  of  peace,  in  the    Domini  abundantia  pacis,  et 
days  of  the  Lord  ;  and  he  shall    dominabitur. 
rule. 

psalm  71. 

Give  to  the  King  thy  judg-        Deus,    judicium       tuum 
ment,    O  God!    and   to    the    Regi  da:  *et  justitiam  tu- 
King's  Son,  who  is  born  to-day,    am  filio  Regis. 
thy  justice, 

M 


162 


CHRISTMAS. 


Judicare  populum  tuum 
in  justitia  :  *  et  pauperes 
tuos  in  judicio. 

Suscipiant  montes  pacem 
populo :  *  et  colles  justi- 
tiam. 

Judicabit  pauperes  po- 
pnli  :  et  salvos  faciet  Alios 
pauperum  :  *  et  humiliabit 
calumniatorem. 

Et  permanebit  cum  sole, 
et  ante  lunaro. :  *  in  genera- 
tione  et  generationem. 

Descendet  sicut  pluvia  in 
vellus  :  *  et  sicut  stillicidia 
stillantia  super  terram. 


Orietur  in  diebus  ejus 
justitia,  et  abundantia  pa- 
cis  :  *  donee  auf eratur  luna. 

Et  dominabitur  a  mari 
usque  ad  rnare  :  *  et  a  flu- 
mine  usque  ad  terminos 
orbis  terrarum. 

Coram  illo  procident 
iEthiopes  :  *  et  inimici  ejus 
terram  lingent. 

Reges  Tharsis,  et  insulae 
munera  offerent  :  *  Reges 
Arabum  et  Saba  dona  addu- 
cent.   • 

Et  adorabunt  eum  omnes 
reges  terrse  :  *  omnes  gen- 
tes  servient  ei. 

Quia  liberabit  pauperem 
a  potente  :  *  et  pauperem, 
cui  non  erat  adjutor. 

Parcet  pauperi  et  inopi  :  * 
et  animas  pauperum  salvas 
faciet. 


To  judge  thy  people  with 
justice,  and  thy  poor  with 
judgment. 

Let  the  mountains  receive 
peace  for  the  people  ;  and  the 
hills  justice. 

He,  the  Messias,  shall  judge 
the  poor  of  the  people,  and  he 
shall  save  the  children  of  the 
poor  ;  and  he  shall  humble  the 
oppressor. 

And  his  kingdom  on  earth 
shall  continue  with  the  sun, 
and  before  the  moon ;  through- 
out all  generations. 

He  shall  come  down  myste- 
riously in  the  midnight  like 
rain  upon  the  fleece,  and  as 
showers  falling  gently  upon 
the  earth. 

In  his  days,  shall  justice 
spring  up,  and  abundance  of 
peace,  till  the  moon  be  taken 
away. 

And  he  shall  rule  from  sea 
to  sea ;  and  from  the  river 
Jordan,  unto  the  ends  of  the 
earth. 

Before  him  the  Ethiopians 
shall  fall  down  ;  and  his  ene- 
mies shall  lick  the  ground. 

The  Kings  of  Tharsis  and 
the  islands  shall  offer  pre- 
sents ;  the  Kings  of  the  Ara- 
bians and  of  Saba  shall  bring 
gifts. 

And  all  kings  of  the  earth 
shall  adore  him ;  all  nations 
shall  serve  him. 

For  he  shall  deliver  the  poor 
from  the  mighty,  and  the 
needy  that  had  no  helper. 

He  shall  spare  the  poor  and 
needy  ;  and  he  shall  be  called 
Jesus,  because  he  shall  save 
the  souls  of  the  poor,  his  crea- 
tures. 


CHKISTMAS  DAY  :  MATINS. 


163 


He  shall  redeem  their  souls 
from  usuries  and  iniquity : 
and  their  name  shall  be  ho- 
nourable in  his  sight. 

And  he  shall  live,  and  to 
him  shall  be  given  of  the  gold 
of  Arabia,  for  him  they  shall 
always  adore  :  they  shall  bless 
him  all  the  day. 

He  is  the  bread  of  life ;  there- 
fore, under  his  reign  there 
shall  be  firmament  on  the 
earth  on  the  tops  of  the  moun- 
tains ;  above  Libanus  shall  the 
fruit  thereof  be  exalted  :  and 
they  of  the  City,  his  Church, 
shall  flourish  like  the  grass  of 
the  earth. 

Let  his  name  be  blessed  for 
evermore :  his  name  continueth 
before  the  sun. 

And  in  him  shall  all  the 
tribes  of  the  earth  be  blessed  : 
all  nations  shall  magnify 
him. 

Blessed  be  the  Lord  the  God 
of  Israel,  who  alone  doth 
wonderful  things. 

And  blessed  be  the  name  of 
his  majesty  for  ever  :  and  the 
whole  earth  shall  be  filled  with 
his  majesty.  So  be  it.  So  be 
it. 

Ant.  There  shall  spring  up 
an  abundance  of  peace,  in  the 
days  of  the  Lord ;  and  he  shall 
rule. 


Ex  usuris  et  iniquitate 
redimet  animas  eorum  :  * 
et  honorabile  nomen  eorum 
coram  illo. 

Et  vivet,  et  dabitur  ei  de 
auro  Arabise,  et  adorabunt 
de  ipso  semper  :  *  tota  die 
benedicent  ei. 

Et  erit  firmamentum  in 
terra  in  suminis  montium, 
superextolletur  super  Liba- 
num  fructus  ejus :  *  et  flore- 
bunt  de  civitate  sicut  foe- 
num  terrse. 


Sit  nomen  ejus  benedic- 
tum  in  ssecula  :  *  ante  solem 
permanet  nomen  ejus. 

Et  benedicentur  in  ipso 
omnes  tribus  terrse :  *  omnes 
gentes  magnificabunt  eum. 

BenedictusDominus  Deus 
Israel :  *  qui  f  acit  mirabilia 
solus. 

Etbenedictum  nomen  ma- 
jestatis  ejus  in  seternum:* 
et  replebitur  maj estate  ejus 
omnis  terra  :  fiat,  fiat. 

Ant.  Orietur  in  diebus 
Domini  abundantia  pacis, 
et  dominabitur. 


The  sixth  Psalm  is  a  hymn  of  gratitude  for  the 
blessing  brought  us  by  the  Divine  Infant.  The 
anger  of  the  Almighty  Lord  is  appeased  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.  Justice  and  Peace  have 
kissed:  Incarnate  Truth  now  dwells  on  our  earth, 


164 


CHRISTMAS. 


and  the  Justice  of  the   Eternal  Father  looks  down 
from  heaven  upon  our  Emmanuel. 


Ant.  Veritas  de  terra  orta 
est ;  et  justitia  de  coelo  pro- 
spexit. 


Ant.  Truth  is  sprung  out 
of  the  earth  ■  and  justice  hath 
looked  down  from  heaven. 


PSALM  84. 


Benedixisti,  Domine,  ter- 
rain tuam  :  *  avertisti  cap- 
tivitatem  Jacob. 

Remisisti  iniquitatem  ple- 
bis  tuse  :  *  operuisti  omnia 
peccata  eorum. 

Mitigasti  omnem  iram 
tuam :  *  avertisti  ab  ira 
indignationis  tuse. 

Converte  nos  Deus  saluta- 
ris  noster  ;  *  et  averte  iram 
tuam  a  nobis. 

Numquid  in  seternum 
irasceris  nobis  :  *  aut  exten- 
des  iram  tuam  a  generatione 
in  generationem  1 

Deus  tu  conversus  vivifi- 
cabis  nos  :  *  et  plebs  tua 
lsetabitur  in  te. 

Ostende  nobis,  Domine, 
misericordiam  tuam  :  *  et 
salutare  tuum  da  nobis. 

Audiam  quid  loquatur  in 
me  Dominus  Deus,  *  quo- 
niam  loquetur  pacem  in  ple- 
bem  suam. 

Et  super  Sanctos  suos  :  * 
et  in  eos  qui  convertuntur 
ad  cor. 

Verumtamen  prope  ti- 
mentes  eum  salutare  ipsius : 
*  ut  inhabitet  gloria  in  terra 
nostra. 


Lord,  thou  hast  blessed  thy 
land  :  thou  hast,  this  night, 
turned  away  the  captivity  of 
Jacob. 

Thou  hast  forgiven  the  ini- 
quity of  thy  people :  thou  hast 
covered  all  their  sins. 

Thou  hast  mitigated  all  thy 
anger  :  thou  hast  turned  away 
from  the  wrath  of  thy  indig- 
nation. 

Convert  us,  O  God,  our 
Saviour !  and  turn  off  thy 
anger  from  us. 

Heavenly  Father  !  wilt  thou 
be  angry  with  us  for  ever  1  or 
wilt  thou  extend  thy  wrath 
from  generation  to  genera- 
tion 1 

Thou  wilt  turn,  0  God,  and 
bring  us  to  life ;  and  thy 
people  shall  rejoice  in  thee. 

Show  us,  0  Lord,  Him  who 
is  thy  mercy :  and  grant  us 
thy  Salvation. 

I  will  hear,  near  my  Sa- 
viour'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  are  converted 
to  the  heart. 

Surely,  his  Salvation  is  near 
to  them  that  fear  him  :  that 
glory  may  dwell  in  our  land. 


CHRISTMAS  DAT  :  MATINS. 


165 


This  day,  in  Bethlehem, 
Mercy  and  Truth  have  met 
each  other  :  Justice  and  Peace 
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. 

~ff.  Thou  art  beautiful,  0 
Jesus,  above  the  sons  of  men. 

^.  Grace  is  poured  forth  on 
thy  lips. 

Our  Father. 


Misericord:' a  et  Veritas 
obviaverunt  sibi  :  *  justitia 
et  pax  osculatse  sunt. 

Veritas  de  terra  orta  est  :* 
et  justitia  de  ccelo  prospexit. 

Etenim  Dominus  dabit 
benignitatem :  *  et  terra 
nostra  dabit  fructum  suum. 

Justitia  ante  eum  ambu- 
labit :  *  et  ponet  in  via  gres- 
sus  suos. 

Ant.  Veritas  de  terra  orta 
est,  et  Justitia  de  ccelo  pros- 
pexit. 

ft.  Speciosus  forma  prse 
filiis  hominum. 

I£.  Diffusa  est  gratia  in 
labiis  tuis. 

Pater  noster. 


After  the  Pater  Noster  has  been  recited,  as  in  the 
First  Nocturn,  the  Priest  says  : 


May  his  goodness  and  mercy 
help  us,  who  with  the  Father 
and  the  Holy  Ghost  liveth  and 
reigneth  for  ever  and  ever. 
1$.  Amen. 


Ipsius  pietas  et  misericor- 
dia  nos  adjuvet,  qui  cum 
Patre  et  Spiritu  Sancto  vivit 
et  regnat  in  saecula  sseculo- 
1$.  Amen. 


rum. 


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 
enraptured  the  people  of  Rome  in  the  fifth  century. 

Benedictio.  Deus  Pater 
omnipotens  sit  nobis  propi- 


Blessing.    May    God    the 
Father  Almighty  be  propitious 


and  merciful  unto  us. 
1$.  Amen. 


tius  et  clemens. 
1$.  Amen. 


4th  lesson. 


Sermon  of  Saint  Leo,  Pope. 

On  this  day,  dearly  Beloved, 
is  born  our  Saviour  :  let  us  be 


Sermo  Sancti  Leonis  Papas. 

Salvator  noster,  dilectissi- 
mi,  hodie  natus  est :   gau- 


166 


CHRISTMAS. 


deamus.  ISTeque  enim  fas 
est  locum  esse  tristitise,  ubi 
natalis  est  vitse  :  quae  con- 
sumpto  mortalitatis  timore, 
nobis  ingerit  de  promissa 
seternitate  lsetitiam.  Nemo 
ab  hujus  alacritatis  parti- 
cipatione  secernitur.  Una 
cunctis  laetitiae  communis 
est  ratio  :  quia  Dominus 
noster  peccati  mortisque  de- 
structor, sicut  nullum  a 
reatu  liberum  reperit,  ita 
liberandis  omnibus  venit. 
Exsultet  sanctus,  quia  pro- 
pinquat  ad  palmam  :  gau- 
deat  peccator,  quia  invitatur 
ad  veniam  :  animetur  Gen- 
tifis,  quia  vocatur  ad  vitam. 
Dei  namque  Filius  secun- 
dum plenitudinem  temp  oris 
quam  divini  consilii  inscru- 
tabilis  altitudo  deposuit,  re- 
conciliandam  auctori  suo 
naturam  generis  assumpsit 
humani,  ut  inventor  mortis 
diabolus,  per  ipsam  quam 
vicerat,  vinceretur. 


I£.  0  magnum  mysterium, 
et  admirable  sacramentum  ! 
ut  animalia  vide  rent  Domi- 
niim  natum  jacentem  in 
prsesepio :  *Beata  Virgo,  cu- 
jus  viscera  meruerunt  por- 
tare  Dominum  Christum. 

ft.  Ave  Maria,  gratia  ple- 
na, Dominus  tecum.  *  Beata 
Virgo. 


glad  :  for,  surely,  it  is  a  sin  to 
be  sad  on  the  Birth-day  of  that 
Life,  which,  ridding  us  of  the 
fear  of  death,  gladdened  us 
with  the  promise  of  immor- 
tality. From  a  share  in  this 
gladness,  not  one  of  us  is  ex- 
cluded. To  all,  there  is  the 
one  same  cause  of  joy :  for, 
our  Lord,  the  destroyer  of  sin 
and  death,  came  to  deliver  all, 
seeing  that  all  were  slaves  to 
guilt.  Let  the  Saint  exult, 
because  he  is  now  brought 
near  to  his  crown  ;  let  the 
Sinner  rejoice,  because  he  is 
invited  to  his  pardon  ;  let  the 
Gentile  be  of  good  heart,  be- 
cause he  is  called  to  life.  For, 
when  there  had  come  the  ful- 
ness of  time,  fixed  by  the  in- 
scrutable depths  of  the  divine 
counsel,  the  Son  of  God  as- 
sumed to  himself  the  nature 
of  man,  in  order  to  restore  it 
to  the  favour  of  its  Maker ; 
that  thus,  the  Devil,  the  author 
of  Death,  might  be  conquered 
by  that  very  nature,  whereby 
himself  had  conquered. 

I^s.  O  great  Mystery,  and 
wonderful  secret !  brute  beasts 
to  see  their  new-born  Lord 
laid  in  a  manger  !  *  Blessed  is 
the  Virgin,  that  deserved  to 
carry  in  her  womb,  Christ  our 
Lord! 

ft.  Hail  Mary  !  full  of  grace, 
the  Lord  is  with  thee.  *  Bless- 
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 


CHRISTMAS  DAY  :   MATINS.  167 

of  the  great  Battle,  between  Christ  and  Satan,  in  the 
glorious  mystery  of  the  Incarnation.  Whilst  the 
Choir  is  singing  the  Responsory  0  magnum  myste- 
rium,  the  Knight  is  taken,  by  the  Master  of  Cere- 
monies, 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  power  and  principle.  The 
Christian  Warrior,  cased  in  his  steel  armour,  was 
resolved,  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  ? 

Blessing.  May  Christ  grant        Benedictio.  Christus  per- 
unto  us  the  joys  of  eternal  life,    petuaa  det  nobis  gaudia  vitse. 
I£.  Amen.  I£.  Amen. 

5th  lesson. 

In  the  conflict  thus  entered  In  quo  conflictu  pro  nobis 

into  for  our  sakes,  the  combat  inito,    magno    et    mirabili 

was  fought  by  our  Omnipo-  sequitatis  jure  certatum  est, 

tent  God  with  great  and  ad-  dum  omnipotens  Dominus 

mirable  equity ;  inasmuch  as  cum  saevissimo   hoste  non 

it  is  not  in  his  own  Majesty,  in  sua  majestate,  sed  in  nos- 

but  in  our  lowliness,  that  he  tra  congreditur  humilitate  : 

attacks  our  bitter  foe  ;  oppos-  objiciens    ei    eamdem  for- 

ing  him  with  the  self-same  mam,  eamdemque  naturam, 

form,  and  self-same  nature  as  mortalitatis  quidem  nostrae 

ours,  Man  like  us  in  every-  participem,      sed      peccati 

thing  save  sin  :  for,  that  which  totius  expertem.     Alienum 

is  written  of  all  men,  had  no  quippeabhacNativitateest, 

place  in  this  Nativity  :  "  Not  quod  de   omnibus  legitur  : 

"  one  is  free  from  defilement,  Nemo  mundus  a  sorde,  nee 

"  no,  not  the  child  whose  life  infans  cujus  est  unius  diei 


3  68 


CHRISTMAS. 


vita  super  terrain.  Mhil 
ergo  in  istam  singularem 
Nativitatemde  carnis  concu- 
piscentia  transivit,  nihil  de 
peccati  lege  manavit.  Vir- 
go regia  Davidicse  stirpis 
eligitur,  quae  sacro  gravi- 
danda  fcetu,  divinam  hu- 
manamque  prolem  prius 
conciperet  mente,  quam  cor- 
pore.  Et  ne  superni  ignara 
consilii  ad  inusitatos  pave- 
ret  affatus,  quod  in  ea  ope- 
randam  erat  a  Spiritu 
Sancto,  colloquio  discit  an- 
gelico,  nee  damnum  credit 
pudoris,  Dei  Genitrix  mox 
futura. 


I£.  Beata  Dei  genitrix 
Maria,  cujus  viscera  intacta 
permanent :  *  Hodie  genuit 
Salvatorem  sseculi. 

ft.  Beata  qua3  credidit, 
quoniam  perfecta  sunt 
omnia  quse  dicta  sunt  ei  a 
Domino.  *  Hodie  genuit 
Salvatorem. 

Benedictio.  Ignem  sui 
amoris  accendat  Deus  in 
cordibus  nostris. 

1$.  Amen. 


"on  earth  is  but  one  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 
sin.  A  Virgin  of  the  royal 
family  of  David  is  chosen, 
who,  having  to  be  made  Mo- 
ther 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  igno- 
rant 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. 

^.  The  Blessed  Mother  of 
God,  Mary,  remaining  ever  the 
spotless  Virgin,  *  Hath  this 
day  given  birth  to  the  Saviour 
of  the  world. 

ft.  Blessed  in  that  she  be- 
lieved, for  all  those  things  have 
been  done  in  her,  that  were 
said  unto  her  by  the  Lord. 

Blessing.  May  God  en- 
kindle within  our  hearts  the 
fire  of  his  love. 

^.  Amen. 


6th  lesson. 


Agamus  ergo,  dilectis- 
simi,  gratias  Deo  Patri,  per 
Filium  ejus  in  Spiritu  sanc- 
to :  qui  propter  multam 
charitatem  suam,  qua  di- 
lexit  nos,  misertus  est  nos- 
tri :  et  cum  essemus  mortui 


Let  us,  therefore,  dearly  Be- 
loved, 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 


CHEISTMAS  DAY  :   MATINS. 


169 


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, 
having  been  made  partakers 
of  the  generation  of  Christ, 
let  us  renounce  the  works  of 
the  flesh.  Learn  thy  own 
worth,  O  Christian  !  and,  hav- 
ing been  made  a  partaker*  of 
the  divine  nature,  scorn  to  be- 
come again  the  vile  thing  of 
old.  Remember  of  what  Head 
and  of  what  Body  thou  art  a 
member.  Remember  how 
thou,  having  been  snatched 
from  the  power  of  darkness, 
hast  been  translated  into  the 
Light  and  Kingdom  of  God. 

I£.  O  holy  and  immaculate 
Virginity,  I  know  not  with 
what  praises  I  shall  extol 
thee  :  *For  thou  didst  bear 
in  thy  womb  Him  whom  the 
heavens  cannot  contain. 

$".  Blessed  art  thou  among 
women,  and  blessed  is  the  fruit 
of  thy  womb.  Glory.  *  For 
thou. 


peccatis,  convivificat  nos 
Christo,  ut  essemus  in  ipso 
nova  creatura,  novumque 
figmentum.  Deponamus 
ergo  veterem  hominem  cum 
actibus'  suis,  et  adepti  par- 
ticipationem  generationis 
Christi,  carnis  renuntiemus 
operibus.  Agnosce,  O  Chris- 
tiane,  dignitatem  tuam  :  et 
divinae  consors  factus  na- 
turae, noli  in  veterem  vili- 
tatem  degeneri  conversa- 
tione  redire.  Memento  cujus 
capitis  et  cujus  corporis 
sis  membrum.  Reminis- 
cere,  quia  erutus  de  potes- 
tate  tenebrarum,  translatus 
es  in  Dei  lumen  et  regnum. 


I£.  Sancta  et  immaculata 
Virginitas,  quibus  te  laudi- 
bus  efferam,  nescio  :  *  Quia 
quern  cceli  capere  non  po- 
terant,  tuo  gremio  contu- 
listi. 

$\  Benedicta  tu  in  mu- 
lieribus,  et  benedictus  fruc- 
tus  ventris  tui.  Gloria.  * 
Quia. 


THE   THIRD   NOCTURN. 

The  seventh  Psalm  of  Christmas-Day's  Matins,  is 
the  prayer  of  the  Jewish  people  for  their  Deliverer, 
the  Messias.  Juda  has  fallen  under  the  Roman 
power ;  she  has  lost  the  sceptre ;  Jerusalem  is  pol- 
luted 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  accom- 


170 


CHRISTMAS. 


plishment  can  alone  put  a  stop  to  the  haughty  blas- 
phemies of  the  Gentiles.  But,  the  hour  has  come ; 
Juda  and  the  Gentiles  are  to  be  kept  no  longer  in 
suspense ;  Jehovah  is  about  to  fulfil  his  word. 

Ant.  Ipse  invocabit  me,  Ant.  He  shall  cry  out  to 
alleluia:  Pater  nieus  es  tu,  me,  alleluia:  "thou  art  my 
alleluia.  "  Father,"  alleluia. 


psalm  88. 


Misericordias  Domini  *  in 
ssternum  cantabo. 

In  generationem  et  gene- 
rationem  :  *  annuntiabo 
veritatem  tuam  in  ore  meo. 

Quoniam  dixisti :  in  aeter- 
num  misericordia  sedifica- 
bitur  in  coelis  :  *  prsepara- 
bitur  Veritas  tua  in  eis. 

Disposui  testamentum 
electis  meis  ;  juravi  David 
servo  meo  :  *  usque  in  aster- 
num  prseparabo  semen  tu- 
um. 

Et  sedificabo  in  genera- 
tionem et  generationem  :  * 
sedem  tuam. 

Confitebuntur  cceli  mira- 
bilia  tua  Domine  :  *  etenim 
veritatem  tuam  in  Ecclesia 
Sanctorum. 

Quoniam  quis  in  nubibus 
sequabitur  Domino  :  *  simi- 
lis  erit  Deo  in  filiis  Dei  1 

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. 


The  mercies  of  the  Lord  I 
will  sing  for  ever. 

Unto  generation  and  gene- 
ration, 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 :  "I  have 
"  made  a  covenant  with  my 
"  elect ;  I  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  1 

.  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,  0  Lord,  and  thy  truth 
is  round  about  thee. 


CHRISTMAS  DAY  :  MATINS. 


171 


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  slain  : 
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. 

Thabor  and  Hermon  shall 
rejoice  in  thy  name  :  thy  arm 
is  with  might. 

Let  thy  hand  be  strength- 
ened, and  thy  right  hand  ex- 
alted :  justice  and  judgment 
are  the  preparation  of  thy 
Throne. 

Mercy  and  truth  shall  go  be- 
fore thy  face  :  blessed  is  the 
people  that  knoweth  jubila- 
tion. 

They  shall  walk,  0  Lord,  in 
the  light  of  thy  countenance, 
and  in  thy  name  they  shall  re- 
joice  all  the  day :  and  in  thy 
justice,  they  shall  be  exalted. 

For  thou  art  the  glory  of 
their  strength :  and  in  thy 
good  pleasure  shall  our  horn 
be  exalted. 

For  our  protection  is  of  the 
Lord :  and  of  our  King,  the 
Holy  One  of  Israel. 

Then  thou  spokest  in  a 
vision  to  thy  Saints,  and 
saidst :  "  I  have  laid  help  upon 
"  one  that  is  mighty,  and  have 
"  exalted  one  chosen  out  of  my 
"  people. 

"I  have  found  David  my 
"  servant :  with  my  holy  oil  I 
"  have  anointed  him. 

"  For  my  hand  shall  help 


Tu  dominaris  potestati 
maris :  *  motum  autem 
nuctuuni  ejus  tu  mitigas. 

Tu  humiliasti  sicut  vul- 
neratum,  superbum  :  *  in 
brachio  virtutis  tuse  disper- 
sisti  inimicos  tuos. 

Tui  sunt  cceli,  et  tua  est 
terra,  orbem  terras  et  pleni- 
tudinem  ejus  tu  fundasti  :  * 
aquilonem  et  mare  tu  cre- 
asti. 

Thabor  et  Hermon  in  no- 
mine tuo  exsultabunt  :  *  tu- 
um  brachium  cum  potentia. 

Firmetur  manus  tua  :  et 
exaltetur  dextera  tua  :  *jus- 
titia  et  judicium  prasparatio 
sedis  tuas. 

Misericordia  et  Veritas 
precedent  faciem  tuam  :  * 
beatus  populus  qui  scit  ju- 
bilationem. 

Domine,  in  lumine  vul- 
tus  tui  ambulabunt,  et  in 
nominetuo  exsultabunt,  tota 
die  :  *  et  justitia  tua  exal- 
tabuntur. 

Quoniam  gloria  virtutis 
eorum  tu  es  :  *  et  in  bene- 
placito  tuo  exaltabitur  cornu 
nostrum. 

_  Quia  Domini  est  assump- 
tio  nostra  :  *  et  sancti  Israel 
Regis  nostri. 

Tunc  locutus  es  in  vi- 
sione  Sanctis  tuis,  et  dixisti : 
*  Posui  adjutorium  in  po- 
tente,  et  exaltavi  electum  de 
plebe  mea. 

Inveni  David  servum  me- 
um  :  *  oleo  sancto  meo  unxi 
eum. 

Manus  enim  mea  auxilia- 


172 


CHRISTMAS. 


bitur    ei :      *  et    brachium 
meum  confortabit  eum. 

Nihil  proficiet  inimicus  in 
eo  :  *  et  filius  iniquitatis 
non  apponet  nocere  ei. 

Et  concidam  a  facie  ipsius 
inimicos  ejus  :  *  et  odientes 
eum  in  fugam  convertam. 

Et  Veritas  mea.  et  miseri- 
cordia  mea  cum  ipso  :  *  et 
in  nomine  meo  exaltabitur 
cornu  ejus. 

Et  ponam  in  mari  manum 
ejus,  *  et  in  numinibus  dex- 
teram  ejus. 

Ipse  invocabit  me  :  Pater 
meus  es  tu  :  *  Deus  meus,  et 
susceptor  salutis  mese. 

Et  ego  primogenitum  po- 
nam ilium  :  *  excelsum  pra3 
regibus  terras. 

In  3eternum  servabo  illi 
misericordiam  meam  :  *  et 
testamentum  meum  fidele 
ipsi. 

Et  poriam  m  sseculum  sse- 
culi  semen  ejus  :  *  et  tb.ro- 
num  ejus  sicut  dies  coeli. 

Si  autem  dereliquerint  filii 
ejus  legem  meam  :  et  in  ju- 
diciis  meis  non  ambulave- 
rint. 

Si  justitias  meas  prof  ana- 
verint  :  *  et  mandata  mea 
non  custodierint. 

Visitabo  in  virga  iniqui- 
tates  eorum  :  *  et  in  verbe- 
ribus  peccata  eorum. 

Misericordiam  autem  me- 
am non  dispergam  ab  eo  :  * 
neque  nocebo  in  veritate 
mea. 

Neque    profanabo    testa- 


"  him :     and    my    arm    shall 
"  strengthen  him. 

"  The  enemy  shall  have  no 
"  advantage  over  him  :  nor  the 
"son  of  iniquity  have  power 
"  to  hurt  him. 

"  And  I  will  cut  down  his 
"  enemies  before  his  face :  and 
"  them  that  hate  him  I  will  put 
"  to  flight. 

"And  my  truth,  and  my 
"  mercy,  shall  be  with  him  : 
"and  in  my  name  shall  his 
"  horn  be  exalted. 

"  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  salva- 
"  tion. 

"  And  I  will  make  him  my 
"First-Born,  high  above  the 
"  Kings  of  the  earth. 

"  I  will  keep  my  mercy  for 
"  him  for  ever  :  and  my  cove- 
"  nant  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 
"judgments  : 

"If  they  profane  my  jus- 

"  tices,  and  keep  not  my  com- 

"  mandments  : 

"  I  will  visit  their  iniquities 

"  with  a  rod :  and  their  sins 

"  with  stripes. 
"  But  my  mercy  I  will  not 
take  away  from  him  :  nor 
will  I  suffer  my  truth  to  fail 

"  Neither  will  I  profane  my 


CHRISTMAS  DAY  :  MATINS. 


173 


"  covenant :  and  the  words, 
"  that  proceed  from  my  mouth, 
"  I  will  not  make  void. 

"  Once  I  have  sworn  by  my 
"  Holiness,  I  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  faith- 
"  ful  witness  in  heaven." 

These  are  thyivords,  0  Lord  ! 
but  thou  hast  rejected  and  de- 
spised :  thou  hast  put  off  thy 
Christ. 

Thou  hast  overthrown  the 
covenant  of  thy  servant  :  thou 
hast  profaned  his  sanctuary  on 
the  earth. 

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  rej  oice. 

Thou  hast  turned  away  the 
help  of  his  sword  :  and  hast 
not  assisted  him  in  battle. 

Thou  hast  made  his  purifi- 
cation 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,  0  Lord,  turnest 
thou  away  unto  the  end  1  shall 
thy  anger  burn  like  fire  % 

Remember  what  my  sub- 
stance is  :  for  hast  thou  made 
all  the  children  of  men  in 
vain1? 

Who  is  the  man  that  shall 
live,  and  not  see  death  ]  that 


mentum  meum  :  *  et  quae 
procedunt  de  labiis  meis,  non 
faciam  irrita. 

Semel  juravi  in  Sancto 
meo  si  David  mentiar  :  * 
semen  ejus  in  aeternum  ma- 
nebit. 

Et  thronus  ejus  sicut  sol 
in  conspectu  meo  :  *  et  sicut 
luna  perfecta  in  aeternum, 
et  testis  in  coelo  fidelis. 

Tu  vero  repulisti  et  de- 
spexisti :  *  distulisti  Chris- 
tum tuum. 

Evertisti  testamentum 
servi  tui :  *  profanasti  in 
terra  sanctuarium  ejus. 

Destruxisti  omnes  sepes 
ejus  :  *  posuisti  firmamen- 
tum  ejus  formidinem. 

Diripuerunt  eum  omnes 
transeuntes  viam  :  *  factus 
est  opprobrium  vicinis  suis. 

Exaltasti  dexteram  depri- 
mentium  eum  :  *  laetificasti 
omnes  inimicos  ejus. 

^Avertisti  adjutorium  gla- 
dii  ejus  :  %  et  non  es  auxi- 
liatus  ei  in  bello. 

Destruxisti  eum  ab  emun- 
datione  :  *  et  sedem  ejus  in 
terrain  collisisti. 

Minorasti  dies  temporis 
ejus  :  *  perfudisti  eum  con- 
fusione. 

_  Usquequo  Domine,  aver- 
tis  in  finem  :  *  exardescet 
sicut  ignis  ira  tua  1 

Memorare  quae  mea  sub- 
stantia :  *  numquid  enim 
vane  constituisti  omnes  filios 
hominum. 

Quis  est  homo  qui  vivet, 
et  non  videbit  mortem :  * 


174 


CHRISTMAS. 


eruet  animam  suam  de  ma- 
im inf  eri  1 

Ubi  sunt  misericordise 
tuse  antiquse  D  online  :  *  si- 
cut  jurasti  David  in  veritate 
tua? 

Memor  esto  Domine  op- 
probrii  servorum  tuorum  :  * 
(quod  continui  in  sinu  meo) 
multarum  gentium. 

Quod  exprobraverunt  ini- 
mici  tui  Domine  :  *  quod 
exprobraverunt  commuta- 
tionem  Christi  tui. 

Benedictus  Dominus  in 
seternum  :  *  fiat,  fiat. 


Ant.  Ipse  invocabit  me, 
alleluia :  Pater  meus  es  tu, 
alleluia. 


shall  deliver  his  soul  from  the 
hand  of  heU ! 
_  Where,  O  Lord,  are  thy  an- 
cient mercies,  according  to 
what  thou  didst  swear  to 
David,  in  thy  truth  1 

Be  mindful,  O  Lord,  of  the 
reproach  of  thy  servants, 
(which  I  have  held  in  my  bo- 
som,) of  many  nations  : 

Wherewith  thy  enemies  have 
reproached,  0  Lord  :  where- 
with they  have  reproached  the 
change  of  thy  Christ. 

But,  blessed  be  the  Lord  for 
evermore  !  this  Christ  is  com- 
ing to  us,  and  this  very  night  ! 
so  be  it — so  be  it ! 

Ant.  He  shall  cry  out  to 
me,  alleluia  :  "  thou  art  my 
"  Father  f  alleluia. 


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.  Laetentur  cceli,  et  Ant.  Let  the  heavens  re- 
exsultet  terra  ante  faciem  joice,  and  let  the  earth  be  glad, 
Domini,  quoniam  venit.  before  the  face  of  the  Lord  ; 

for  lo  !  he  cometh  ! 


psalm  95. 


Cantate  Domino  canticum 
novum  :  *  cantate  Domino 
omnis  terra. 

Cantate  Domino,  et  bene- 
dicite  nomini  ejus  :  *  an- 
nuntiate  de  die  in  diem  Sa- 
lutare  ejus. 

Annuntiate  inter  Gentes 


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 


CHRISTMAS  DAY  :  MATINS. 


175 


Gentiles  :  his  wonders  among 
all  people. 

For  the  Lord  is  great,  and 
exceedingly  to  be  praised  :  he 
is  to  be  feared  above  all  gods. 

For  all  the  gods  of  the  Gen- 
tiles 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  ho- 
nour :  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 
reigned,  he  hath  reigned  in  his 
Crib. 

For,  by  his  much-loved  Birth, 
he  hath  corrected  the  world, 
which  shall  not  be  moved  ;  he 
will  judge  the  people  with  jus- 
tice. 

Let  the  heavens  rejoice,  and 
let  the  earth  be  glad  ;  let  the 
sea  be  moved,  and  the  fulness 
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  re- 


gloriam  ejus  :  *  in  omnibus 
populis  mirabilia  ejus. 

Quoniam  Magnus  Domi- 
nus, et  laudabilis  nimis  :  * 
terribilis  est  super  omnes 
deos. 

Quoniam  omnes  dii  Gen- 
tium daemonia :  *  Dominus 
autem  coelos  fecit. 

Confessio  et  pulchritudo 
in  conspectu  ejus  :  %  sancti- 
monia  et  magnificentia  in 
sanctificatione  ejus. 

Afferte  Domino  patriae 
Gentium,  afferte  Domino 
gloriam  et  honorem  :  * 
afferte  Domino  gloriam  no- 
mini  ejus. 

Tollite  hostias,  et  introite 
in  atria  ejus :  *  adorate 
Dominum  in  atrio  sancto 
ejus. 

Commoveatur  a  facie  ejus 
universa  terra  :  *  dicite  in 
Gentibus,  quia  Dominus 
regnavit. 

Etenim  correxit  orbem 
terrae  qui  non  commove- 
bitur;  *judicabit  populos 
in  aequitate. 

Laetentur  cceli,  et  exsultet 
terra,  commoveatur  mare, 
et  plenitudo  ejus  :  *  gaude- 
bunt  campi,  et  omnia  quae 
in  eis  sunt. 

Tunc  exsultabunt  omnia 
ligna  silvarum  a  facie  Do- 
mini, quia  venit :  *  quoniam 
venit  judicare  terram. 

Judicabit  orbem  terrae  in 
aequitate  :  et  populos  in  ve- 
ritate  sua. 

Ant.  Laetentur    cceli,  et 


176 


CHRISTMAS. 


exsultet  terra,  ante  faciem    joice,  and  let  the  earth  be  glad 
Domini,  quoniam  venit.  before  the  face  of  the  Lord  ; 

for  lo  !  he  cometh  ! 

The  ninth  Psalm,  too,  is  a  New  Canticle,  in  praise 
of  the  Saviour  that  is  corning,  and  of  the  Father  that 
sends  him  to  us.  Jehovah  has  remembered  his 
mercies,  and  the  whole  earth  will  soon  be  permitted 
to  see  its  Emmanuel.  Let  our  holy  songs,  this  beau- 
tiful Night,  be  full  of  enthusiasm,  and  lend  a  voice 
of  praise  to  all  Nature,  for,  all  Nature  was  regene- 
rated by  its  Creator  being  born  on  this  earth. 

Ant.  Notum  fecit  Domi-  Ant.  The  Lord  hath  made 
nus,  alleluia,  Salutare  suum,  known,  alleluia  !  his  Saviour, 
alleluia,  alleluia ! 


psalm  97. 


Cantate  Domino  canti- 
cum  novum  :  *  quia  mira- 
bilia  fecit. 

Salvavit  sibi  dextera 
ejus :  *  et  brachium  sanctum 
ejus. 

Notum  fecit  Dominus  Sa- 
lutare suum  :  *  in  conspectu 
Gentium  re velavit  justitiam 
suam. 

Recordatus  est  misericor- 
dias  suae,  *  et  veritatis  suae 
domui  Israel. 

Viderunt  omnes  termini 
terra  :  *  salutare  Dei  nostri. 

Jubilate  Deo  omnis  terra : 
*  cantate,  et  exsultate,  et 
psallite. 

Psallite  Domino  in  ci- 
thara,  in  cithara  et  voce 
psalmi :  *  in  tubis  ductili- 
bus,  et  voce  tubae  corneas. 

Jubilate  in  conspectu  Re- 
gis   Domini ;    *  moveatur 


Sing  ye  to  the  Lord  a  new 
canticle  :  because  he  hath  done 
wonderful  things. 

Or  this  day,  his  right  hand 
hath  wrought  for  him  salva- 
tion ;  and  his  arm  is  holy. 

The  Lord  hath  made  known 
his  Saviour  :  he  hath  revealed 
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  were  expecting  it,  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 


CHEISTMAS  DAY:  MATINS.  177 


sea  be  moved,  and  the  fulness  mare,    et   plenitudo    ejus, 

thereof  ;  the  world,  and  they  orbisterrarum,  et  qui  habi- 

that  dwell  therein.  tant  in  eo. 

The  rivers  shall  clap  their  Flumina  plaudent  manu, 

hands,  the  mountains  shall  re-  simul  montes  exsultabunt  a 

joice  together  at  the  presence  conspectu  Domini;   *  quo- 

of    the    Lord ;     because    he  niam  venit  judicare  terram. 
cometh  to  judge  and  save  the 
earth. 

He  shall  judge  the  world  Judicabit  orbem  terrarum 

with  justice,  and  the  people  in  justitia  :  *  et  populos  in 

with  equity.  sequitate. 

Ant.  The  Lord  hath  made  Ant.  Notum  fecit  Domi- 

known,  alleluia  !  his  Saviour,  nus,  alleluia,  Salutare  suum, 

alleluia !  alleluia. 

$".  He  shall  cry  out  to  me,  <v .  Ipse  invocabit  me,  al- 

alleluia  !  leluia. 

I£.  "Thou  art  my  Father,"  1$.  Pater  meus  es  tu,  al- 

alleluia !  leluia. 

Our  Father.  Pater  noster. 

The  Pater  noster  having  been  recited,  as  in  the 
two  first  Nocturns,  the  Priest  says : 

May  the  Almighty  and  mer-        A    vinculis    peccatorum 
ciful  Lord,  deliver  us  from  the    nostrorum  absolvat  nos  om- 
chains  of  our  sins.    1$.  Amen,    nipotens  et  misericors  Do- 
minus.    I£.  Amen. 

Then  are  read  the  beginnings  of  the  three  Gospels, 
which  are  said  in  the  three  Masses  of  Christmas  Day. 
To  each  portion  of  these  Gospels  is  appended  a  pas- 
sage 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' 
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  so  fulfilling  the  designs  of  God, 

N 


178 


CHRISTMAS. 


which  he  had  revealed  to  the  ancient  Prophets.  The 
Emperor  is  led  to  the  Pope,  in  the  same  manner  as 
the  Knight  who  had  to  sing  the  fifth  Lesson ;  he 
puts  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 
Yicar  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. 

Benedictio.  Evangelica  Blessing.  May  the  read- 
lectio  sit  nobis  salus,  et  pro-  ing  of  the  Gospel  bring  us 
tectio !    I£.  Amen.  salvation      and      protection. 

I£.  Amen. 


Lectio  sancti  Evangelii  se- 
cundum Lucam. 
Cap.  II. 


Lesson  from  the  holy  Gospel 

according  to  Luke. 

Oh.  II. 


7th  lesson. 


In  illo  tempore,  exiit 
Edictum  a  Csesare  Augusto, 
ut  describeretur  universus 
orbis.     Et  reliqua. 

Homilia  S.  Gregorii  Papse. 

Quia,  largiente  Domino, 
Missarum  solemnia  ter  ho- 
die  celebraturi  sumus,  loqui 
diu  de  Evangelica  lectione 
non  possumus  ;  sed  nos  ali- 
quid  vel  breviter  dicere  Be- 
demptoris  nostri  Nativitas 
ipsa  compellit.  Quid  est 
enim  quod  nascituro  Do- 
mino, mundus  describitur, 
nisi  hoc  quod  aperte  mon- 
stratur,  quia  ille  apparebat 
in  carne,  qui  electos  suos 
adscriberet  in  seternitate  1 
Quo  contra  de  reprobis  per 
Prophetam  dicitur  :  Delean- 


At  that  time,  there  went  out 
a  decree  from  Caesar  Augus- 
tus, that  the  whole  world 
should  be  enrolled.  And  the 
rest. 

Homily    of    Saint    Gregory, 
Pope. 

Since,  by  the  divine  bounty, 
we  are,  this  day,  thrice  to  cele- 
brate the  solemn  office  of  Mass, 
we  cannot  speak  long  on  the 
lesson  of  the  Gospel ;  and  yet, 
this  very  Nativity  of  our  Re- 
deemer compels  us  to  say 
something,  however  brief. 
Why,  then,  is  it,  that  when 
our  Lord  was  about  to  be 
born,  the  world  is  enrolled  ;  if 
not  that  hereby  is  shown,  that 
He,  who  appeared  in  the  flesh, 
is  He  that  would  enrol  his 
elect  in  eternity?  Just  as, 
when  speaking  of  the  repro- 


CHRISTMAS  DAY:   MATINS. 


179 


bate,  the  Prophet  says :  Let 
them  be  blotted  out  of  the  book 
of  the  living ;  and  with  the 
just,  let  them  not  be  written. 
Then,  again :  Jesus  is  born 
in  Bethlehem  ;  'tis  well ;  for 
Bethlehem  signifies  a  House  of 
Bread,  and  Jesus  said  of  him- 
self :  I  am  the  living  Bread, 
that  came  down  from  heaven. 
The  place,  therefore,  in  which 
he  is  born,  had  had  the  name 
of  House  of  Bread  given  to  it, 
because  there  would  appear  in 
the  material  reality  of  our 
flesh,  He  who  was  to  refresh  the 
souls  of  the  elect  with  spiritual 
repletion.  And,  why  is  he 
born,  not  at  his  Mother's  home, 
but  away  from  it  ?  Is  it  not, 
to  show,  how,  by  his  assuming 
human  nature,  he  was  born,  so 
to  say,  in  a  foreign  country  1 

1$.  Blessed  is  the  womb  of 
the  Virgin  Mary,  that  bore  the 
Son  of  the  Eternal  Father; 
and  blessed  are  the  breasts, 
that  fed  Christ  the  Lord,  * 
Who  deigned  to  be  born,  this 
day,  of  the  Virgin,  for  the 
world's  salvation. 

p.  A  holy  day  hath  shone 
upon  us  j  come,  ye  Gentiles, 
and  adore  the  Lord.  *  Who 
deigned. 


tur  de  libro  viventium,  et 
cum  justis  non  scribantur. 
Qui  bene  etiam  in  Bethle- 
hem nascitur  :  Bethlehem 
quippe  domus  panis  inter- 
pretatur.  Ipse  namque  est 
qui  ait :  Ego  sum  panis 
vivus  qui  de  ccelo  descendi. 
Locus  ergo,  in  quo  Domi- 
nus  nascitur,  domus  panis 
antea  vocatus  est  :  quia  fu- 
turum  profecto  erat,  ut  ille 
ibi  per  materiam  carnis  ap- 
pareret,  qui  electorum  men- 
tes  interna  satietate  refice- 
ret.  Qui  non  in  parentum 
domo,  sed  in  via  nascitur, 
ut  profecto  ostenderet,  quia 
per  humanitatem  suam, 
quam  assumpserat,  quasi  in 
alieno  nascebatur. 


I£.  Beata  viscera  Marias 
Virginis,  quae  portaverunt 
seterni  Patris  Filium,  et 
beata  ubera,  quae  lactave- 
runt  Christum  Dominum,  * 
Qui  hodie  pro  salute  mundi 
de  Virgine  nasci  dignatus 
est. 

~ft.  Dies  sanctificatus  il- 
luxit  nobis  :  venite  Gentes, 
et  adorate  Dominum.  Qui 
hodie. 


The  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.  It  gives 
the  description  of  the  Shepherds  going  to  the  holy 
Stable. 


Blessing.  May  our  sins  be 
wiped  away  by  the  words  of 
the  Gospel.    ]J.  Amen. 


Benedictio.  PerEvange- 
lica  dicta  deleantur  nostra 
delicta.    1$.  Amen. 


180 


CHEISTMAS. 


Lectio  sancti  Evangelii 
cundum  Lucam. 
Cap.  II. 


se-    Lesson  of  the  holy  Gospel  ac- 
cording to  Luke. 
Ch.  II 


8th  lesson 
In  illo  tempore  :  Pastores 


loquebantur  ad  invicem  : 
Transeamus  usque  Bethle- 
hem, et  videamus  hoc  ver- 
bum  quod  factum  est,  quod 
Dominus  ostendit  nobis.  Et 
reliqua. 

Homilia  sancti  Ambrosii 
Episcopi. 

Videte  Ecclesise  surgentis 
exordium:  Christus  nasci- 
tur,  et  Pastores  vigilare  cce- 
perunt :  qui  gentium  gre- 
ges,  pecudum  more  ante 
viventes,  in  caulam  Domini 
congregarent,  ne  quos  spi- 
ritualium  bestiarum,  per 
offusas  noctium  tenebras 
paterentur  incursus.  Et 
bene  pastores  vigilant,  quos 
bonus  pastor  informat.  Grex 
igitur  populus,  nox  saecu- 
lum,  pastores  sunt  sacerdo- 
tes.  Aut  f ortasse  etiam  ille 
sit  Pastor,  cui  dicitur  :  Esto 
vigilans  et  confirma ;  quia 
non  solum  Episcopos_  ad 
tuendum  gregem  Dominus 
ordinavit,  sed  etiam  An- 
gelos  ordinavit. 


1$.  Verbum  caro  factum 
est,  et  habitavit  in  nobis  : 
*  Et  vidimus  gloriam  ejus, 
gloriam  quasi  Unigeniti  a 
Patre ;  plenum  gratiae  et  ve- 
ritatis. 


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  Saint  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  Gen- 
tile 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  Shep- 
herd, to  whom  it  is  said :  Be 
thou  watchful,  and  give- 
strength ;  for,  not  only  has 
our  Lord  set  Bishops  to  guard 
the  Flock,  he  has  set  the  very 
Angels.. 

]^.  The  Word  was  made 
flesh,  and  dwelt  among  us  :  * 
And  we  saw  his  glory,  the 
glory  as  it  were  of  the  Only- 
Begotten  of  the  Father ;  full  of 
grace  and  truth. 


CHEISTMAS  DAY:  MATINS. 


181 


"ft".  All  things  were  made  by  $\  Omnia  per  ipsum  facta 

him  ;  and  without  him  was  sunt :  et  sine  ipso  factum 

made  nothing.  *  And  we  saw.  est  nihil.   Et  vidimus.  Glo- 

Glory  be  to  the  Father,  &c.  *  ria.    Et  vidimus. 
And  we  saw. 

The  third  Gospel,  which  forms  the  subject  of  the 
ninth  Lesson,  is  the  beginning  of  that  according  to 
St.  John,  and  is  commented  by  St.  Augustine  :  it 
speaks  of  the  Eternal  Generation  of  the  Word. 


Blessing.  May  Christ,  the 
Son  of  God,  teach  us  the 
words  of  the  Holy  Gospel. 
1^.  Amen. 


Benedictio.  Verba  Sancti 
Evangelii  doceat  nos  Chris- 
tus  Filius  Dei.    I£.  Amen. 


Lesson  of   the    holy  Gospel 

according  to  John. 

Ck  I. 


Lectio  sancti  Evangelii  se- 
cundum Joannem. 
Cap.  I. 

9th  lesson. 


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  common- 
place 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  pos- 
sible, that  the  Word  of  God 
could  be  made,  when  God 
made  all  things  by  the  Word  1 
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 


In  principio  erat  Verbum, 
et  Verbum  erat  apud  Deum, 
et  Deus  erat  Verbum.  Et 
reliqua. 

Honiilia  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  Ver- 
bum Dei  factum  est.  Quo- 
modo  potest  fieri,  ut  ver- 
bum Dei  factum  sit,  quando 
Deus  per  Verbum  fecit 
omnia  1  Si  et  Verbum  Dei 
ipsum  factum  est,  per  quod 
aliud  Verbum  est  ?  Si  hoc 
dicis,  quia  hoc  est  Verbum 
Verbi,  per  quod  factum  est 
illud  ;  ipsum  dico  ego  uni- 
cum  Filium  Dei.  Si  autem 
non  dicis  Verbum   Verbi, 


182 


CHRISTMAS. 


concede  non  factum,  per  thee,  that  this  very  one  is  He 
quod  facta  sunt  omnia.  Non  whom  we  mean  by  the  Son  of 
enim  per  seipsum  fieri  po-  God.  But,  if  thou  do  not  say 
tuit,  per  quod  facta  sunt  there  is  a  Word  that  made  the 
omnia.  Crede  ergo  evange-  Word, — then  grant,  that  He, 
listse.  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  beauti- 
ful 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  Salva- 
tion 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. 


Te  Deum  laudamus:*  te 
Dominum  confitemur. 

Te  seternum  Patrem  j  * 
omnis  terra  veneratur. 

Tibi  omnes  Angeli;  *  tibi 
coeli,  ut  universse  potestates. 

Tibi  Cherubim  et  Sera- 
phim :  *  incessabili  voce 
proclamant. 

Sanctus, 

Sanctus, 

Sanctus,  *  Dominus  Deus 
Sabaoth! 


We  praise  thee,  0  God  !  we 
acknowledge  thee  to  be  our 
Lord. 

Thee,  the  Father  everlast- 
ing, all  the  earth  doth  worship. 

To  thee  the  Angels,  to  thee 
the  heavens,  and  all  the 
Powers: 

To  thee  the  Cherubim  and 
Seraphim,  cry  out  without 
ceasing: 

Holy! 

Holy! 

Holy! 
baoth! 


Lord    God    of    Sa- 


CHRISTMAS  DAY  :  MATINS. 


183 


Full  are  the  heavens  and 
the  earth  of  the  majesty  of 
thy  glory. 

Thee  the  glorious  choir  of 
the  Apostles. 

Thee  the  laudable  company 
of  the  Prophets. 

Thee  the  white-robed  army 
of  Martyrs  doth  praise. 

Thee  the  holy  Church 
throughout  the  world  doth 
acknowledge. 

The  Father  of  incomprehen- 
sible majesty. 

Thy  adorable,  true,  and  only 
Son. 

And  the  Holy  Ghost  the 
Paraclete. 

Thou,  O  Christ,  art  the  King 
of  glory. 

Thou  art  the  everlasting  Son 
of  the  Father. 

Thou  being  to  take  upon 
thee  to  deliver  man,  didst  not 
disdain  the  Virgin's  womb. 

Thou  having  overcome  the 
sting  of  death,  hast  opened  to 
believers  the  kingdom  of  hea- 
ven. 

Thou  sittest  at  the  right 
hand  of  God,  in  the  glory  of 
the  Father. 

Thee  we  believe  to  be  the 
Judge  to  come. 


Pleni  sunt  coeli  et  terra  * 
majestatis  gloriae  tuas. 

Te  gloriosus  *  Apostolo- 
rum  chorus. 

Te  Prophetarum  *  lauda- 
bilis  numerus. 

Te  Martyrum  candidatus 

*  laudat  exercitus. 

Te  per  orbem  terrarum  * 
sancta  conlitetur  Ecclesia. 

Patrem  *  immensae  ma- 
jestatis. 

Venerandum  tuum  ve- 
rum,  *  et  unicum  Filium. 

Sanctum  quoque  *  Para- 
clitum  Spiritum. 

Tu  Kex  glorise,  *  Christe. 

Tu  Patris,  *  sempiternus 
es  Filius. 

Tu  ad  liberandum  suscep- 
turus  hominem,  *  non  hor- 
ruisti  Virginis  uterum. 

Tu  devicto  mortis  aculeo  : 

*  aperuisti  credentibus  reg" 
na  coelorum. 

Tu  ad  dexteram  Dei  se- 
des  :  *  in  gloria  Patris. 

Judex  crederis  *  esse  ven- 
turus. 


All  hieel  at  the  following  Verse 


"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. 


Te  ergo  quaesumus,  tuis 
f amulis  subveni,  *  quos  pre- 
tioso  sanguine  redemisti. 

iEterna  fac  cum  Sanctis 
tuis  *  in  gloria  numerari. 

Salvum  fac  populum  tuum 
Domine  :  *  et  benedic  hsere- 
ditati  tuae. 


184 


CHRISTMAS. 


Et  rege  eos:  *  et  extolle 
illos  usque  in  seternum. 

Per  singulos  dies  *  bene- 
dicimus  te. 

Et  laudamusNonientuum 
in  saeculum :  *  et  in  saecu- 
lum  sseculi. 

Dignare,  Domine,  die  isto, 

*  sine  peccato    nos    custo- 
dire. 

Miserere  nostri,  Domine  ; 

*  miserere  nostri. 

Fiat  misericordia  tua  Do- 
mine super  nos,  *  quemad- 
modum  speravimus  in  te. 

In  te  Domine  speravi  :  * 
non  confundar  in  seternum. 


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,  0  Lord, 
have  mercy  on  us. 
_  Let  thy  mercy,  0  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  con- 
founded for  ever. 


Our  Hymn  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. 


OEEMTJS. 

Concede,  qusesumus,  om- 
nipotens  Deus,  ut  nos  Uni- 
geniti  tui  nova  per  carnem 
nativitas  liberet,  quos  sub 
peccati  jugo  vetusta  servitus 
tenet.    Per  eumdem. 


LET  US  PEAY. 

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,  &c. 


MIDNIGHT  MASS. 

It  is  now  time  to  offer  the  Great  Sacrifice,  and  to 
call  down  our  Emmanel  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. 


CHRISTMAS  DAY:  MIDNIGHT  MASS.  185 

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  pre- 
cious 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  ever  Blessed 
Three,  the  homage  of  a  triple  Sacrifice  ! 

Besides  : — this  Jesus,  who  is  born  to-night,  is  born 
thrice.  He  is  born  of  the  Blessed  Virgin,  in  the 
stable  of  Bethlehem ;  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}  Outside  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  commis- 
sion 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  waken  when  the  Angels 
begin  to  sing  % 

Midnight  comes.  The  Holy  Virgin  has  been  long- 
ing for  this  happy  moment.  Her  heart  is  suddenly 
overwhelmed  with  a  delight,  which  is  new  even  to 
Her.  She  falls  into  an  ecstasy  of  love.  As  her 
Child  will,  one   day,   in  his   almighty  power,   rise 

1  Is.  ix.  2. 


186  CHEISTMAS. 

through  the  unmoved  barrier  of  his  Sepulchre ;  so 
now,  as  a  sun-beam  gleaming  through  purest  crystal, 
he  is  born,  and  lies  on  the  ground  before  her.  With 
arms  outstretched  to  embrace  her,  and  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. 
Her  faithful  Joseph  unites  his  adoration  with  hers ; 
and  so,  too,  do  the  Angels  of  heaven,  for,  the  Royal 
Psalmist  had  sung  this  prophecy  of  their  adoring 
him  on  his  entrance  into  the  world.1  Heaven  opens 
over  this  spot  of  earth,  which  men  call  a  Stable;  and 
from  it  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  prepare 
the  world's  salvation. 

The  eyes  of  the  faithful  are  now  riveted  on  the 
Sanctuary,  where  the  same  Jesus  is  to  be  their  Holy 
Sacrifice.  The  procession  of  the  sacred  Ministers 
has  entered  the  Holy  of  Holies,  and  the  Priest  comes 
with  them  to  the  foot  of  the  Altar.  The  Choir  is 
singing  its  opening-canticle,  the  Introit ;  where  we 
have  our  God  himself  speaking  to  his  Son,  and  say- 
ing :  This  Day,  have  I  begotten  thee.  Let  the 
Nations  rage,  if  they  will,  and  be  impatient  of  the 
yoke  of  this  Babe  of  Bethlehem ;  he  shall  subdue 
them,  and  reign  over  them,  for  he  is  the  Son  of  God. 

INTROIT. 

Dominus    dixit  ad   me  :  The  Lord  hath  said  unto 

Filius    meus    est   tu ;    ego  me  :  Thou  art  my  Son ;  this 

hodie  genui  te.  day  have  I  begotten  thee. 

Ps.     Quare     fremuerunt  Ps.  Why  have  the  nations 

gentes,  et  populi  meditati  raged,  and  the  people  devised 

sunt    mania1?      ft.    Gloria  vain  things'?     ft.  Glory,   &c. 

Patri.     Dominus  dixit.  The  Lord  hath  said,  &c. 

iPs.  xcvi.  7.— Heb.  i.  6. 


CHEISTMAS  DAY:  MIDNIGHT  MASS.  187 

The  Angelic  Hymn  is  preceded  by  the  Kyrie 
eleison  ;  but  these  nine  supplications  for  mercy  over, 
it  bursts  forth  with  those  sublime  words  :  Gloeia  in 
excelsis  Deo  ;  ET  in  TEEEA  PAX  HOMINIBUS  BON.E 
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  in- 
toned 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  divine  Jus- 
tice, which  gave  not  a  Redeemer  to  their  fallen 
fellow-angels,  yet,  to  us  gives  the  very  Son  of  God  to 
be  our  Redeemer.  They  are  magnifying  that  deep 
humiliation  of  Him,  who  made  both  Angels  and 
men,  and  who  so  lovingly  favours  the  weaker  of  the 
two.  They  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  to  one  day  fill  up  the 
thrones  left  vacant  by  the  rebel  Spirits.  Oh  !  yes  ; 
let  us  all,  men  and  Angels,  Church  of  earth  and 
Church  of  heaven,  let  us  sing :  Glory  be  to  God ! 
and  Peace  to  men  !  The  more  the  Son  of  the  Eter- 
nal Father  has  had  to  humble  himself  in  order  to 
enrich  and  exalt  us,  the  more  fervently  must  we  cry 
out  our  warmest  praise,  and  hymn  this  Mystery  of 
the  Incarnation  :  Tu  solus  Sanctus  !  Tu  solus  Bo- 
minus  !  Tu  solus  altissimus,  Jesu  Christe  ! — Thou 
only,  0  Jesus  !  art  Holy  !  Thou  only  art  Lord  ! 
Thou  only  art  Most  High ! 

The  Collect  then  follows,  summing  up  all  our 
prayers  in  one : 

LET  US  PKAY.  OREMUS. 

O  God,  who  hast  enlightened  Deus,  qui  hanc  sacratissi- 

this  most  sacred  Mght  by  the  mam  noctem   veri  luminis 

brightness  of  Him,  who  is  the  fecisti   illustratione   clares- 

true  Light :  grant,  we  beseech  cere  :    da,    qusesumus,    lit 


188 


CHRISTMAS. 


cujus  lucis  mysteriain  terra 
cognovinms,  ejus  quoque 
gaudiis  in  coelo  perfruamur. 
Qui  tecum. 


Lectio  Epistolse  beati  Pauli 
Apostoli  ad  Titum. 

Cap,  II 

Charissime,  apparuit  gra- 
tia Dei  Salvatoris  nostri  om- 
nibus hominibus,  erudiens 
nos,  ut,  abnegantes  impie- 
tatem  et  ssecularia  deside- 
ria,  sobrie,  et  juste,  et  pie 
vivamus  in  hoc  sagculo  :  ex- 
spectantes  beatam  spem,  et 
adventum  gloriae  magni  Dei 
et  Salvatoris  nostri  Jesu 
Christi :  qui  dedit  semetip- 
sum  pro  nobis,  ut  nos  redi- 
meret  ab  omni  iniquitate, 
et  mundaret  sibi  populum 
acceptabilem,  sectatorembo- 
norum  operum.  Hsec  lo- 
quere  et  exhortare,  in  Chris- 
to  Jesu  Domino  nostro. 


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,  <kc. 

Lesson  of  the  Epistle  of  Saint 
Paul  the  Apostle  to  Titus. 

Ch.  II 

Dearly  beloved,  the  grace  of 
God,  our  Saviour,  hath  ap- 
peared 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  com- 
ing 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. 


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,  he  appeareth  to  all  men,  laid 
in  his  narrow  Crib,  and  fastly  wrapped,  as  a  Babe, 
in  swaddling-clothes.  Yea,  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. 


CHRISTMAS  DAY:  MIDNIGHT  MASS. 


189 


GRADUAL. 


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. 

p.  The  Lord  said  to  my 
Lord  :  Sit  thou  at  my  right 
hand,  until  I  make  thine  ene- 
mies my  footstool. 

Alleluia,  Alleluia. 

"ft.  The  Lord  hath  said  to 
me  :  Thou  art  my  Son,  this 
day  have  I  begotten  thee. 
Alleluia. 


_  Tecum  priricipium  in  die 
virtutis  tuae,  in  splendori- 
bus  sanctorum  :  ex  utero 
ante  luciferum  genui  te. 

"ff.  Dixit  Dominus  Domi- 
no meo  :  sede  a  dextris  meis, 
donee  ponam  inimicos  tuos 
scabellum  pedum  tuorum. 

Alleluia,  alleluia. 

Dominus  dixit  ad  me : 
Filius  meus  es  tu,  ego  hodie 
genui  te.    Alleluia. 


GOSPEL. 


Sequel  of  the  holy  Gospel  ac- 
cording to  Luke. 

Oh.  II. 

At  that  time,  there  went  out 
a  decree  from  Caesar  Au- 
gustus, that  the  whole  world 
should  be  enrolled.  This  en- 
rolling was  first  made  by  Cy- 
rinus,  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  Juclea,  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  first- 
born Son,  and  wrapt  him  up 
in  swaddling-clothes,  and  laid 
him  in  a  manger;  because 
there  was  no  room  for  them 


Sequentia  sancti  Evangelii 
secundum  Lucam. 

Gap.  II. 

In  illo  tempore :  exiit 
edictum  a  Caesare  Augusto, 
ut  describeretur  universus 
orbis.  Haec  descriptio  prima 
facta  est  a  praeside  Syriae 
Cyrino  :  et  ibant  omnes,  ut 
profiterentur  singuli  in  su- 
am  civitatem.  Ascendit  au- 
tem  et  Joseph  a  Galilaea  de 
civitate  Nazareth,  in  Ju- 
daeam,  in  civitatem  David, 
quae  vocatur  Bethlehem ;  eo 
quod  esset  de  domo  et  fa- 
milia  David,  ut  profiteretur 
cum  Maria  desponsata  sibi 
uxore  praegnante.  Factum 
est  autem,  cum  essent  ibi, 
impleti  sunt  dies  ut  pareret. 
Et  peperit  filiuin  suum  pri- 
mogenitum,  et  pannis  eum 
involvit,  et  reclinavit  eum 
in  praesepio  ;  quia  non  erat 
eis  locus  in  diversorio.  Et 
pastores  '  erant  in  regione 
eadem  vigilantes,  et  custo- 


190 


CHRISTMAS. 


dientes  vigilias  noctis  super 
gregem  suum.  Et  ecce  An- 
gelus  Domini  stetit  juxta 
illos,  et  claritas  Dei  circum- 
fulsit  illos,  et  timuerunt  ti- 
more  magno.  Et  dixit  illis 
Angelus  :  ISTolite  timere  : 
ecce  enim  evangelizo  vobis 
gaudium  magnum,  quod  erit 
omni  populo  :  quia  natus 
est  vobis  liodie  Salvator,  qui 
est  Christus  Dominus,  in 
civitate  David.  Et  hoc  vobis 
signum  :  Invenietis  infan- 
tem  pannis  involutum,  et 
positum  in  prsesepio.  Et 
subito  facta  est  cum  Angelo 
multitudo  militise  ccelestis, 
laudantium  Deum,  et  dicen- 
centium  :  Gloria  in  altissi- 
mis  Deo,  et  in  terra  pax 
hominibus  bonse  voluntatis. 


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 
you  :  You  shall  find  the  Infant 
wrapped  in  swaddling-clothes, 
and  laid  in  a  manger.  And 
suddenly  there  was  with  the 
Angel  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. 

0  Divine  Infant !  we,  too,  must  needs  join  our 
voices  with  those  of  the  Angels,  and  sing  with  them  : 
Glory  be  to  God  !  and  Peace  to  men  !  We  cannot 
restrain  our  tears  at  hearing  this  history  of  thy  Birth. 
We  have  followed  thee  in  thy  journey  from  Nazareth 
to  Bethlehem ;  we  have  kept  close  to  Mary  and 
Joseph  on  the  whole  journey;  we  have  kept  sleep- 
less watch  during  this  holy  Night,  waiting  thy 
coming.  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  recognise  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 


CHEISTMAS  DAY  :  MIDNIGHT  MASS.  191 

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,  0  Incarnate  Word  !  this  Mystery  of 
thy  becoming  Man,  works  within  us  a  still  higher 
grace : — it  makes  us,  as  thy  Apostle  tells  us,  partakers 
of  that  divine  nature,1  which  is  inseparable  with 
thee  in  the  midst  of  all  thy  humiliations.  Thou  hast 
made  us  less  than  the  Angels,  in  the  scale  of  crea- 
tion ;  but,  in  thy  Incarnation,  thou  hast  made  us 
Heirs  of  God,  and  Joint-Heirs  with  thine  own  di- 
vine Self  !2  Never  permit  us,  through  our  own  weak- 
nesses 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  f actus  est,  profoundly  adore  the 
great  God  who  assumed  our  human  nature,  and  became 
like  unto  us,  his  poor  creatures ;  let  your  adoration 
and  love  repay  him,  if  it  were  possible,  for  this  his 
incomprehensible  abasement.  In  each  of  to-day's 
Masses,  when  the  Choir  comes  to  these  words  in  the 
Credo,  the  Priest  rises  from  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  these  of  the  Church,  which  is 
represented  by  the  Celebrant. 

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, 

1 II.  St.  Pet.  i.  4.  2  Rom.  viii.  17. 


192  CHRISTMAS. 

there  will  be  on  our  Altar,  where  we  now  see  mere 
bread  and  wine,  the  Body  and  Blood  of  this  same 
Jesus,  our  Emmanuel. 

OFFEETOEY. 

Lsetentur  coeli  et  exsultet  Let  the  heavens  rejoice,  and 
terra,  ante  faciem  Domini,  the  earth  be  glad,  in  the  pre- 
quoniam  venit.  sence  of  the  Lord,  for  that  he 

is  come. 

SECEET. 

Accepta  tibi  sit,  Domine,        Eeceive,  0  Lord,  the  offer- 

qusesumus,  hodiernse  festi-  ings  we  make  to  thee,  on  this 

vitatis  oblatio  :  ut,  tua  gra-  present    solemnity  :    that    by 

tia  largiente,  per  hasc  sacro-  thy  grace,  through  the  inter- 

sancta  commercia  in  iUius  course  of    these  sacred  mys- 

inveniamur  forma,  in  quo  teries,  we  may  be  conformable 

tecum  est  nostra  substan-  to  Him,  in  whom  our  nature 

tia.     Qui  tecum  vivit.  is  united  to  thine.  Who  liveth, 


The  Preface  then  gives  expression  to  the  thanks- 
giving of  the  people,  and  finishes  with  the  triple 
Sanctus  to  the  God  of  Sabaoth.  At  the  Elevation, 
when,  in  the  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  Eter- 
nal Father,  and  looking  upon  you  with  extreme  ten- 
derness, and  Mary  adoring  him  with  a  Mother's  love, 
and  Joseph  looking  on  and  weeping  with  joy,  and 
the  holy  Angels  lost  in  amazement  at  the  mystery. 
You  must  give  your  heart  to  the  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  the  Communion,  the  Church, — which  has  just 
been  united  to  the  Infant  God  by  partaking  of  the 
sacred  mysteries, — once  more  celebrates  the  Eternal 
Generation  of  that  Divine  Word,  who  was  born  from 


CHEISTMAS  DAY:  MIDNIGHT  MASS.  193 

the  Bosom  of  the  Father  before  any  creature  existed, 
and  who  has  appeared  to  the  world,  this  Night,  before 
the  Day-Star  has  risen. 

COMMUNION. 

In  the  brightness  of  the  In  splendoribus  Sancto- 
Saints,  from  the  womb,  before  rum,  ex  utero  ante  lucif  erum 
the  day-star,  I  begot  thee.  genui  te. 

The  Church  terminates  this  her  first  Sacrifice,  by 
praying  for  the  grace  of  indissoluble  union  with  the 
Saviour,  who  is  born  to  her. 

POSTCOMMUNION. 

Grant,  we  beseech  thee,  0  Da  nobis,  quaesumus,  Do- 

Lord   onr  God,  that  we,  who  mine  Deus  noster,  ut  qui 

celebrate  with  joy  the  Birth  Nativitatem  Domini  nostri 

of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  by  Jesu  Christi  mysteriis   nos 

partaking     several    times    of  f requentare  gaudeamus,  dig- 

these  sacred    mysteries,  may,  nis  conversationibus  ad  ejus 

by  a  worthy  conduct   of  life,  mereamur  pervenire  consor- 

come  to  be  united  with  him.  tium.    Qui  tecum. 
Who  liveth,  &c. 

The  sacred  Night  is  passing  quickly  on ;  and  will 
soon  bring  us  to  the  Second  Mass,  which  is  to  sanc- 
tify the  hour  of  day-break,  or  the  Aurora.  Every 
day  in  the  year,  the  Church  passes  the  hour  before 
Sun-rise  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  Christ- 
mas Day,  however,  she  somewhat  anticipates  the 
usual  hour,  in  order  that  she  may  begin,  at  the  pre- 
cise 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 

o 


194  CHRISTMAS. 

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  celebrate  his  glorious 
rising,  whilst  Vespers — which  are  said  at  sun-set, 
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.1  Lauds  are  the  morning, 
Vespers  the  evening,  incense.  The  mysteries  of  the 
liturgical  day,  begin  with  the  first,  and  end  with  the 
second. 


LAUDS. 

"ft.  Deus,   in   adjutorium  "ft.  Incline  unto  my  aid,  O 

meum  intende.  God. 

1$.  Domine  ad  adjuvan-  I£.  O  Lord,  make  haste  to 

dum  me  festina.  help  me. 

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  sascula  is  now,   and   ever    shall    be, 

sseculorum.     Amen.     Alle-  world  without  end.     Amen, 

luia.  Alleluia. 

The  first  Psalm  of  Lauds  shows  us  our  Lord  in 
his  infinite  power  and  majesty.  His  admirable  Birth 
has  renewed  our  earth.  He  is  born  in  time ;  but  he 
was  before  all  time.  The  voice  of  the  deep  sea  be- 
tokens marvellous  power;  the  power  of  our  Emma- 
nuel is  more  wonderful  far.  Let  us  lead  lives  worthy 
of  the  holiness  of  his  House,  which  he  has  come  to 
throw  open  to  us. 

Ant.  Quern  vidistis  pas-        Ant.  Whom  have  ye  seen, 
tores  1     Dicite :  annuntiate    0  Shepherds  1     Say,  tell  us, 

1  Apoc.  xxi.  23. 


CHRISTMAS  DAY:   LAUDS. 


195 


who  is  it  lias  appeared  on 
the  earth  1 — We  have  seen 
the  Child  that  is  born,  and 
choirs  of  Angels  praising  the 
Lord,  alleluia,  alleluia. 


nobis,  in  terris  quis  appa- 
ruit?  Natum  vidimus,  et 
choros  Angelorum  collau- 
dantes  Dominum,  alleluia, 
alleluia. 


psalm  92. 


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,  0  Divine  In- 
fant!  is  prepared  from  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  be- 
come exceedingly  credible  : 
holiness  becometh  thy  House, 
O  Lord,  which  is  thy  Church, 
unto  length  of  days. 

Ant.  Whom  have  ye  seen, 
O  Shepherds  1  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. 


Dominus  regnavit,  deco- 
rem  indutus  est :  *  indutus 
est  Dominus  fortitudinem 
et  praecinxit  se. 

Etenim    firmavit    orbem 


qui  non  commo- 


terrse  : 
vebitur. 

Parata  sedes  tua  ex  tunc: * 
a  sseculo  tu  es. 


Elevaverunt  flumina,  Do- 
mine:  *  elevaverunt  flumina 
vocem  suam. 

Elevaverunt  flumina  fluc- 
tus  suos:  *  a  vocibus  aqua- 
rum  multarum. 

Mirabiles  elationes  maris: 
*  mirabilis  in  altis  Domi- 
nus. 

Testimonia  tua  credibilia 
facta  sunt  nimis:  *  domum 
tuam  decet  sanctitudo,  Do- 
mine,  in  longitudinem  die- 
rum. 

Ant.  Quern  vidistis  pas- 
tores  1  Dicite :  annuntiate 
nobis,  in  terris  quis  appa- 
ruif?  Natum  vidimus,  et 
choros  Angelorum  collau- 
dantes  Dominum.  Alleluia, 
alleluia. 


The  second  Psalm  is  an  invitation  to  all  nations, 
that  they  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 


196 


CHRISTMAS. 


he  most  sweet  and  merciful;  let  us  celebrate   his 
coming  with  joy  and  gratitude. 


Ant.  Genuit  puerpera 
regem,  cui  nomen  seternum, 
et  gaudia  niatris  habens 
cum  virginitatis  honore,  nee 
primam  similem  visa  est, 
nee  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  99. 


Jubilate  Deo  omnis  terra: 

*  servite  Domino  in  lsetitia. 

Introite  in  conspectu  ejus: 

#  in  exsultatione. 

Scitote  quoniam  Dominus 
ipse  est  Deus:  *  ipse  fecit 
nos,  et  non  ipsi  nos. 

Populus  ejus,  et  oves  pas- 
cuse  ejus,  introite  portas  ejus 
in  confessione:  *  atria  ejus 
in  hymnis,  confitemini  illi. 

Laudate  nomen  ejus,  quo- 
niam suavis  est  Dominus ; 
in  seternum  misericordia 
ejus  :  *  et  usque  in  genera- 
tionem  et  generationem  Ve- 
ritas ejus. 

Ant.  Genuit  puerpera  re- 
gem,  cui  nomen  seternum, 
et  gaudia  matris  habens 
cum  virginitatis  honore, 
nee  primam  similem  visa 
est,  nee  habere  sequentem, 
alleluia. 


Sing  joyfully  to  God,  all  the 
earth!  serve  ye  the  Lord  with 
gladness. 

Come  in  before  his  presence, 
with  exceeding  great  joy. 

Know  ye,  that  this  Infant, 
the  Lord,  is  God:  he  made  us, 
and  not  we  ourselves. 

We  are  his  people,  and  the 
sheep  of  his  pasture;  go  ye  in- 
to his  gates,  with  praise:  into 
his  courts,  with  hymns,  and 
give  glory  to  him. 

Praise  ye  his  name,  for  the 
Lord  is  sweet;  his  mercy  en- 
dureth  for  ever:  and  his  truth 
to  generation  and  generation. 


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. 


The  two  following  Psalms,  which  the  Church 
unites  into  one,  are  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  Re- 
deemer.   To-day  we  have  this  same  God  lying  before 


CHRISTMAS  DAY:   LAUDS. 


197 


us  in  his  Crib ;  he  comes  that  he  may  fill  our  soulsi 
and  nourish  us,  with  his  own  substance  :— how  shall 
we  do  otherwise  than  rejoice  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  Yirgin- Mother  has  yielded  ! 


Ant.  The  Angel  said  unto 
the  Shepherds:  I  bring  you 
tidings  of  great  joy;  for,  this 
day,  is  born  unto  you  the  Sa- 
viour of  the  world,  alleluia. 


Ant.  Angelus  ad  pasto- 
res  ait:  Annuntio  vobis 
gaudium-  magnum  :  quia 
natus  est  vobis  hodie  Sal- 
vator  mundij  alleluia. 


psalm  62. 


O  God,  my  God,  to  thee  do 
I  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  Bethle- 
hem have  I  come  before  thee, 
to  see  thy  power  and  thy  glory. 

For  thy  mercy  is  better  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,  0  Bread 
of  Life  !  and  my  mouth  shall 
praise  thee  with  joyful  lips. 

If  I  have  remembered  thee 
upon  my  bed,  I  will  medi- 
tate on  thee  in  the  morning: 
because  thou  hast  been  my 
helper. 

And  I  will  rejoice  under 
the  covert  of  thy  wings ;  my 


Deus,  Deus  meus:  *  ad  te 
de  luce  vigilo. 

Sitivit  in  te  anima  mea: 
*  quam  multipliciter  tibi 
caro  mea. 

In  terra  deserta,  et  invia, 
et  inaquosa:  *  sic  in  sancto 
apparui  tibi,  ut  viderem 
virtutem  tuam,  et  gloriam 
tuam. 

Quoniam  melior  est  mi- 
sericordia  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 
os  meum. 

Si  memor  fui  tui  super 
stratum  meum,  in  matuti- 
nis  meditabor  in  te:  *  quia 
fuisti  adjutor  meus. 

Et  in  velamento  alarum 
tuarum  exsultabo,  adhsesit 


198 


CHRISTMAS. 


anima  mea  post  te  :  *  me 
suscepit  dextera  tua. 

Ipsi  vero  in  vanum  quae- 
sierunt  animani  meam,  in- 
troibunt  in  inf eriora  terras  :* 
tradentur  in  manus  gladii, 
partes  vulpium  erunt. 


Rex  vero  lastabitur  in  Deo, 
laudabuntur  omnes  qui  ju- 
rant  in  eo  :  *  quia  obstruc- 
turn  est  os  loquentium  ini- 
qua. 


soul  hath,  stuck  close  to  thee  : 
thy  right  hand  hath  received 
rne. 

But  they  have  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  shall  be  the  portions  of 
foxes. 

But  the  just  man  thus  de- 
livered shall,  as  a  King,  re- 
joice in  God ;  all  they  shall  be 
praised  that  swear  by  Him  : 
because  the  mouth  is  stopped 
of  them  that  speak  wicked 
things. 


psalm  66. 


Deus  misereatur  nostri, 
et  benedicat  nobis  ;  *  illu- 
minet  vultum  suum  super 
nos,  et  misereatur  nostri. 


Ut  cognoscamus  in  terra 
viam  tuam  :  *  in  omnibus 
gentibus  Salutare  tuum. 

Confiteantur  tibi  populi 
Deus  :  *  confiteantur  tibi 
populi  omnes. 

Lastentur  et  exsultent 
gentes  :  *  quoniam  judicas 
populos  in  asquitate,  et  gen- 
tes in  terra  dirigis. 

Confiteantur  tibi  populi 
Deus,  confiteantur  tibi  po- 
puli omnes  :  *  terra  dedit 
f  ructum  suum. 

Benedicat  nos  Deus,  Deus 
noster,  benedicat  nos  Deus : 
*  et  metuant  eum  omnes 
fines  terras. 


May  God  have  mercy  on  us, 
and  bless  us ;  may  the  divine 
Infant,  from  his  Crib,  cause 
the  light  of  his  countenance 
to  shine  upon  us,  and  may  he 
have  mercy  on  us. 

That  we  may  know  thy  way 
upon  earth,  0  Emmanuel  I 
thy  salvation  in  all  nations. 

Let  people  confess  to  thee, 
0  God  !  let  all  people  give 
praise  to  thee. 

Let  the  nations  be  glad  and 
rejoice  :  for  thou  judgest  the 
people  with  justice,  and  di- 
rectest  the  nations  upon 
earth. 

Let  the  people,  0  God,  con- 
fess to  thee  :  let  all  the  people 
give  praise  to  thee  :  for,  to- 
day, the  earth  hath  yielded  her 
Fruit. 

May  God,  our  God,  bless  us, 
may  God  bless  us  :  and  all  the 
ends  of  the  earth  fear  him. 


CHEISTMAS  DAY  :   LAUDS. 


199 


Ant.  The  Angel  said  unto 
the  Shepherds :  I  bring  you 
tidings  of  great  joy  ;  for,  this 
day,  is  born  unto  you  the  Sa- 
viour of  the  world,  alleluia. 


Ant.  Angelus  ad  pastores 
ait :  Annuntio  vobis  gau- 
dium  magnum  :  quia  natus 
est.  vobis  hodie  Salvator 
mundi,  alleluia. 


The  Canticle,  in  which  the  Three  Children,  in  the 
fiery  Furnace  of  Babylon,  bid  all  creatures  of  God 
bless  his  name,  is  sung  by  the  Church  in  the  Lauds 
of  every  Feast.  It  gives  a  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  the  God,  who  comes 
down  among  his  own  creatures,  and  repairs  the 
injury  done  to  them  all  by  sin. 


Ant.  With  the  Angel  was 
a  multitude  of  the  heavenly 
army,  praising  God  and  say- 
ing :  Glory  to  God  in  the 
highest ;  and  on  earth,  peace 
to  men  of  good  will,  alleluia. 


Ant.  Facta  est  cum  An- 
gelo  multitudo  ccelestis  ex- 
ercitus  laudantium  Deum, 
et  dicentium  :  Gloria  in  ex- 
celsis  Deo,  et  in  terra  pax 
hominibus  bonse  voluntatis, 
alleluia. 


CANTICLE  OF   THE  THREE   CHILDREN. 


{Dan.  3.) 


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. 

O  all  ye  waters,  that  are 
above  the  heavens,  bless  the 
Lord  :  O  all  ye  powers  of  the 
Lord,  bless  the  Lord. 

O  ye  sun  and  moon,  bless 
the  Lord :  O  ye  stars  of  heaven, 
bless  the  Lord. 

O  every  shower  and  dew, 
bless  ye  the  Lord :  O  all  ye 
spirits  of  God,  bless  the  Lord. 


Benedicite  omnia  opera 
Domini  Domino  :  *  laudate 
et  superexaltate  eum  in  sse- 
cula. 

Benedicite  Angeli  Domini 
Domino  :  *  benedicite  cceli 
Domino. 

Benedicite  aquae  omnes, 
quae  super  coelos  sunt,  Do- 
mino :  *  benedicite  omnes 
virtutes  Domini  Domino. 

Benedicite  sol  et  luna  Do- 
mino :  *  benedicite  stellae 
cceli  Domino. 

Benedicite  omnis  imber 
et  ros  Domino  :  *  benedicite 
omnes  spiritus  Dei  Domino. 


200 


CHRISTMAS. 


Benedicite  ignis  et  aestus 
Domino :  %  benedicite  frigus 
et  aestus  Domino. 

Benedicite  rores,  et  pruina 
Domino  :  *  benedicite  gelu 
et  frigus  Domino. 

Benedicite  glacies  et  nives 
Domino  :  *  benedicite  noc- 
tes  et  dies  Domino. 

Benedicite  lux  et  tenebrae 
Domino  :  *  benedicite  ful- 
gura  et  nubes  Domino. 

Benedicat  terra  Domi- 
num  :  *  laudet  et  superex- 
altet  eum  in  saecula. 

Benedicite  montes  et  col- 
les  Domino  :  *  benedicite 
universa  germinantia  in 
terra  Domino. 

Benedicite  fontes  Domi- 
no :  *  benedicite  maria  et 
flumina  Domino. 

Benedicite  cete,  et 
omnia  quae  moventur  in 
aquis,  Domino  :  *  benedi- 
cite omnes  volucres  cceli 
Domino. 

Benedicite  omnes  bestiae, 
et  pecora  Domino  :  *  bene- 
dicite filii  hominum  Do- 
mino. 

Benedicat  Israel  Domi- 
num  :  *  laudet  et  superex- 
altet  eum  in  saecula. 

Benedicite  Sacerdotes  Do- 
mini Domino  :  *  benedicite 
servi  Domini  Domino. 

Benedicite  spiritus  et  ani- 
mae  justorum  Domino :  *  be- 
nedicite Sancti  et  humiles 
corde  Domino. 

Benedicite  Anania,  Aza- 
ria,  Misael  Domino  :  *  lau- 
date  et  superexaltate  eum  in 
saecula. 

Benedicamus   Patrem  et 


O  ye  fire  and  heat,  bless  the 
Lord  :  O  ye  cold  and  heat, 
bless  the  Lord. 

O  ye  dews  and  hoar  frosts, 
bless  the  Lord  :  O  ye  frost  and 
cold,  bless  the  Lord. 

O  ye  ice  and  snow,  bless  the 
Lord  :  0  ye  nights  and  days, 
bless  the  Lord. 

O  ye  light  and  darkness, 
bless  the  Lord  :  0  ye  light- 
nings and  clouds,  bless  the 
Lord. 

Oh  !  let  the  earth  bless  the 
Lord :  let  it  praise  and  exalt 
him  above  all  for  ever. 

O  ye  mountains  and  hills, 
bless  the  Lord  :  0  all  ye  things 
that  spring  up  in  the  earth, 
bless  the  Lord. 

O  ye  fountains,  bless  the 
Lord  :  0  ye  seas  and  rivers, 
bless  the  Lord. 

O  ye  whales,  and  all  that 
move  in  the  waters,  bless  the 
Lord  :  O  all  ye  fowls  of  the 
air,  bless  the  Lord. 

O  all  ye  beasts  and  cattle, 
bless  the  Lord  :  O  ye  sons  of 
men,  bless  the  Lord. 

Oh !  let  Israel  bless  the 
Lord :  let  them  praise  and 
exalt  him  above  all  for  ever. 

0  ye  Priests  of  the  Lord, 
bless  the  Lord  :  O  ye  servants 
of  the  Lord,  bless  the  Lord. 

0  ye  spirits  and  souls  of  the 
just,  bless  the  Lord  :  O  ye 
holy  and  humble  of  heart,  bless 
the  Lord. 

O  Ananias,  Azarias,  Misael, 
bless  ye  the  Lord  :  praise  and 
exalt  him  above  all  for  ever. 

Let  us  bless  the  Father,  and 


CHEISTMAS  DAY  :   LAUDS. 


201 


the  Son,  with  the  Holy  Ghost ; 
let  us  praise  and  exalt  him 
above  all  for  ever. 

Blessed  art  thou,  0  Lord,  in 
the  firmament  of  heaven  :  and 
worthy  of  praise,  and  glorious, 
and  exalted  above  all,  for 
ever. 

Ant.  With  the  Angel,  was 
a  multitude  of  the  heavenly 
army,  praising  God  and  say- 
ing :  Glory  to  God  in  the 
highest ;  and  on  earth,  peace  to 
men  of  good  will,  alleluia. 


Filium  cum  sancto  Spiritu  : 
*laudemus,  et  superexalte- 
mus  eum  in  ssecula. 

Benedictus  es  Domine,  in 
firmamento  cceli :  *  et  lau- 
dabilis  et  gloriosus,  et  su- 
perexaltatus  in  ssecula. 

Ant.  Facta  est  cum  An- 
gelo  multitudo  ccelestis  ex- 
ercitus  laudantium  Deum 
et  dicentium  :  Gloria  in  ex- 
celis  Deo  et  in  terra  pax 
hominibus  bonae  voluntatis, 
alleluia. 


The  three  last  Psalms  of  Lauds,  which  the  Church 
unites  under  the  same  Antiphon,  are  also  the  last  of 
the  Psaltery.  They  sing  the  praise  of  the  Lord,  aud 
urge  all  creatures  to  bless  his  holy  name.  The  first 
of  the  three  has  a  great  resemblance  with  the  Can- 
ticle of  the  Three  Children ;  the  second  invites  the 
Saints  to  sing  to  Him,  who  has  glorified  them,  and 
made  them  the  instruments  of  his  providence  ;  the 
third  calls  on  every  thing  that  can  breathe  forth 
music,  to  come  and  honour  our  dearest  Infant  King 
with  sweetest  thrills  of  melody. 


Ant.  A  Little  Child  is,  this 
day,  born  unto  us,  and  he  shall 
be  called  God,  the  Mighty  One, 
alleluia,  alleluia. 


Ant.  Parvulus  filius  hodie 
natus  est  nobis,  et  vocabitur 
Deus,  Fortis,  alleluia,  alle- 
luia. 


psalm  148. 


Praise  ye  the  Lord  from  the 
heavens  :  praise  ye  him  in  the 
high  places. 

Praise  ye  him,  all  his  An- 
gels :  praise  ye  him,  all  his 
hosts. 

Praise  ye  him,  0  sun  and 
moon  :  praise  ye  him,  all  ye 
stars  and  light. 


Laudate  Dominum  de  cce- 
lis :  *  laudate  eum  in  ex- 
celsis. 

Laudate  eum  omnes  An- 
geli  ejus  :  *  laudate  eum 
omnes  virtutes  ejus. 

Laudate  eum  sol  et  luna  : 
*  laudate  eum  omnes  stellse 
et  lumen. 


202 


CHEISTMAS. 


Laudate  eum  cceli  ccelo- 
rum  :  *  et  aquae  omnes  quae 
super  coelos  sunt,  laudent 
nomen  Domini. 

Quia  ipse  dixit  et  facta 
sunt :  *  ipse  mandavit,  et 
creata  sunt. 

Statuit  ea  in  asternum,  et 
in  saeculum  saeculi  :  *  prae- 
ceptum  posuit,  et  non  prae- 
teribit. 

Laudate  Dominion  de 
terra  :  *  dracones  et  omnes 
abyssi. 

Ignis,  grando,  nix,  gla- 
cies,   spiritus  procellarum  : 

*  quae  faciunt  verbum  ejus. 
Montes  et  omnes  colles  : 

*  ligna  fructifera,  et  omnes 
cedri. 

Bestiae  et  universa  pe- 
cora  :  *  serpentes  et  volu- 
eres  pennatae. 

Reges  terras  et  omnes  po- 
puli  :  *  principes,  et  omnes 
judices  terrae. 

Juvenes,  et  virgines,  se- 
nes  cum  junioribus,  laudent 
nomen  Domini  :  *  quia  exal- 
tatum  est  nomen  ejus  solius. 

Confessio  ejus  super  cce- 
lum  et  terram :  *  et  exaltavit 
cornu  populi  sui. 

Hymnus  omnibus  Sanctis 
ejus  :  *  filiis  Israel,  populo 
appropinquanti  sibi. 


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. 

He  hath  established  them 
for  ever,  and  for  ages  of  ages  : 
he  hath  made  a  decree,  and  it 
shall  not  pass  away. 

Praise  the  Lord  from  the 
earth,  ye  dragons  and  all  ye 
deeps. 

Fire,  hail,  snow,  ice,  stormy 
winds,  which  fulfil  his  word. 

Mountains  and  all  hills ; 
fruitful  trees,  and  all  cedars. 

Beasts  and  all  cattle  ;  ser- 
pents and  feathered  fowls. 

Kings  of  the  earth,  and  all 
people  ;  princes  and  all  judges 
of  the  earth. 

Young  men  and  maidens ; 
let  the  old  with  the  younger 
praise  the  name  of  the  Lord  : 
for  his  name  alone  is  exalted. 

His  praise  is  above  heaven 
and  earth:  and  he  hath,  this 
Day,  exalted  the  horn  of  his 
people. 

A  hymn  to  all  his  Saints  : 
to  the  children  of  Israel,  a 
people  approaching  to  him. 


psalm  149. 


Cantate  Domino  canticum 
novum :  *  laus  ejus  in  Eccle- 
sia  Sanctorum. 

Laetetur  Israel  in  eo,  qui 
fecit  eum  :  *  et  filii  Sion 
exsultent  in  rege  suo. 


Sing  ye  to  the  Lord  a  new 
canticle,  let  his  praise  be  in 
the  Church  of  the  Saints. 

Let  the  new  Israel  rejoice  in 
him  that  made  him,  and  let 
the  children  of  Sion  be  joyful 
in  their  King. 


CHEISTMAS  DAY :   LAUDS. 


203 


Let  them  praise  his  name  in 
choir :  let  them  sing  to  him 
with  the  timbrel  and  the  psal- 
tery. 

For  the  Lord  is  well  pleased 
with  his  people :  and  the  meek 
and  humble,  like  the  Babe  of 
Bethlehem,  he  will  exalt  unto 
salvation. 

The  saints  shall  rejoice  in 
glory:  they  shall  be  joyful  in 
their  beds. 

The  high  praises  of  God 
shall  be  in  their  mouth  :  and 
two-edged  swords  in  their 
hands. 

To  execute  vengeance  upon 
the  nations :  chastisements 
among  the  people ; 

To  bind  their  kings  with 
fetters  :  and  their  nobles  with 
manacles  of  iron ; 

To  execute  upon  them  the 
judgment  that  is  written  :  this 
glory  is  to  all  his  Saints. 


Laudent  nomen  ejus  in 
choro  :  *  in  tympano  et  psal- 
terio  psallant  ei. 

Quia  beneplacitum  est 
Domino  in  populo  suo  :  * 
et  exaltabit  mansuetos  in 
salutem. 

Exsultabunt  Sancti  in 
gloria :  *  laetabuntur  in 
cubilibus  suis. 

Exaltationes  Dei  in  gut- 
ture  eorum  :  *  et  gladii  an- 
cipites  in  manibus  eorum. 

Ad  faciendam  vindictam 
in  nationibus  :  *  increpa- 
tiones  in  populis. 

Ad  alligandos  reges  eorum 
in  compedibus  :  *  et  nobiles 
eorum  in  manicis  ferreis. 

Utfaciant  in  eis  judicium 
conscriptum :  *  gloria  haec 
omnibus  Sanctis  ejus. 


PSALM   150. 


Praise  ye  the  Lord  in  his 
holy  places  :  praise  ye  him  in 
the  firmament  of  his  power. 

Praise  ye  him  for  his  mighty 
acts  :  praise  ye  him  according 
to  the  multitude  of  his  great- 
ness. 

Praise  him  with  sound  of 
trumpet :  praise  him  with 
psaltery  and  harp. 

Praise  him  with  timbrel  and 
choir  :  praise  him  with  strings 
and  organs. 

Praise  him  on  high  sounding 
cymbals,  praise  him  on  cym- 
bals of  joy  :  let  every  spirit 
praise  the  Lord. 


Laudate  Dominum  in 
Sanctis  ejus  :  *  laudate  eum 
in  firmamento  virtutis  ejus. 

Laudate  eum  in  virtuti- 
bus  ejus :  *  laudate  eum 
secundum  multitudinem 
magnitudinis  ejus. 

Laudate  eum  in  sono 
tubse  :  *  laudate  eum  in 
psalterio  et  cithara. 

Laudate  eum  in  tympano 
et  choro  :  *  laudate  eum  in 
chordis  et  organo. 

Laudate  eum  in  cymba- 
lis  benesonantibus,  laudate 
eum  in  cymbalis  jubilatio- 
nis  :  *  omnis  spiritus  laudet 
Dominum. 


204 


CHRISTMAS. 


Ant.  Parvulus  films  hodie 
natus  est  nobis,  et  vocabitur 
Deus,  Fortis,  alleluia,  alle- 
luia. 


Ant.  A  Little  Child  is,  this 
day,  born  unto  us,  and  he 
shall  be  called  God,  the  Mighty 
One,  alleluia,  alleluia. 


The  Capitulum  is  taken  from  the  Epistle  of  St. 
Paul  to  the  Hebrews ;  we  shall  have  it  repeated,  and 
with  several  additional  verses,  in  the  Epistle  of  the 
Third  Mass. 


CAPITULUM. 


{Heb.  1.) 


Multifariam,  multisque 
modis  olim  Deus  loquens 
patribus  in  Prophetis  :  no- 
vissinie  diebus  istis  locutus 
est  nobis  in  Filio,  quern  con- 
stituit  hseredem  universo- 
rum,  per  quern  fecit  et  sae- 
cula. 

I£.  Deo  gratias. 


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. 

1$.  Thanks  be  to  God. 


Sedulius,  a  Christian  Poet  of  the  fourth  century, 
is  the  author  of  the  beautiful  Hymn,  which  now  fol- 
lows : — 


HYMN* 


A  solis  ortus  cardine 
Ad  usque  terras  limitem, 
Christum  canamus   Princi- 

pem, 
Natum  Maria  Virgine. 


From  where  the  sun  rises, 
to  the  furthest  west,  let  us  all 
sing  to  Jesus  our  King,  the 
Son  of  the  Virgin  Mary. 


*  In  the  Monastic  Breviary,  it  is  as  follows  : 


R.  breve.  Verbum  caro  fac- 
tum est,  *  Alleluia,  alleluia. 
Verbum.  V.  Et  habitavit  in 
nobis.  *  Alleluia,  alleluia. 
Gloria  Patri.     Verbum. 

A  solis  ortus  cardine 
Ad  usque  terrae  limitem, 


Christum  canamus  Principem, 
JSTatum  Maria  Virgine. 

Beatus  Auctor  sseculi 
Servile  corpus  induit ; 
Ut  Carne  carnem  liberans, 
Ne  perderet  quos  condidit. 


CHRISTMAS  DAY  :  LAUDS. 


205 


The  blessed  Creator  of  the 
universe  assumed  the  Body  of 
a  servant  :  that  he  might  thus 
by  Flesh  deliver  flesh,  and 
save  from  perdition  the  crea- 
tures of  his  hands. 

The  heavenly  grace  enters 
into  the  womb  of  the  Virgin- 
Mother  :  the  young  Maiden 
carries  within  her  a  Secret, 
which  she  knows  not. 

This  chastest  living  Dwell- 
ing becomes,  in  that  instant, 
God's  own  Temple  :  the  purest 
of  Virgins  conceives  the  Son 
of  God. 

She  gives  him  birth :  Him, 
whom  Gabriel  had  foretold,  and 
whom  the  Baptist,  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  him- 
self on  a  few  drops  of  milk  ! 

The  heavenly  citizens  keep 
glad  choir,  singing  their  angel- 
hymns  to  God :  and  the 
Shepherd,  the  Creator  of  the 
world,  is  looked  at  by  shep- 
herds. 


Beatus  auctor  sseculi 
Servile  corpus  induit : 
Ut  carne  carnem  liberans, 
Ne  perderet  quos  condidit. 


Castas  Parentis  viscera 
Coelestis  intrat  gratia  : 
Venter  puellse  bajulat 
Secreta,  quae  non  noverat. 

Domus  pudici  pectoris 
Templum  repente  fit  Dei ; 
Intacta  nesciens  virum. 
Concepit  alvo  Filium. 

Enititur  puerpera 
Quern  Gabriel  praedixerat, 
Quern    ventre    matris    ges- 

tiens, 
Baptista  clausum  senserat. 

Fceno  jacere  pertulit : 
Praesepe  non  abhorruit : 
Et  lacte  modico  pastus  est, 
Per  quern  nee  ales  esurit. 

Gaudet  chorus  coelestium, 
Et  Angeli  canunt  Deo  ; 
Palamque  fit  pastoribus 
Pastor,  creator  omnium. 


Castee  Parentis  viscera 
Coelestis  intrat  gratia  : 
Venter  Puellse  bajulat 
Secreta,  quae  non  noverat. 

Domus  pudici  pectoris 
Templum  repente  fit  Dei : 
Intacta  nesciens  virum, 
Verbo  concepit  Filium. 

Enixa  est  Puerpera 
Quern  Gabriel  praedixerat, 
Quern  matris  alvo  gestiens, 
Clausus  Joannes  senserat. 


Foeno  jacere  pertulit, 
Praesepe  non  abhorruit  : 
Parvoque  lacte  pastus  est, 
Per  quern  nee  ales  esurit. 

Gaudet  chorus  ccelestium, 
Et  Angeli  canunt  Deo : 
Palamque  fit  pastoribus 
Pastor,  Creator  omnium. 

Gloria  tibi  Domine, 
Qui  natus  es  de  Virgine, 
Cum  Patre  et  Sancto  Spiritu, 
In  sempiterna  specula. 

Amen. 


206 


CHEISTMAS. 


Glory  be  to  thee,  0  Jesus, 
that  wast  born  of  the  Virgin  ! 
and  to  the  Father,  and  to  the 
Spirit  of  Love,  for  everlasting 
ages. 

Amen. 

"ft.  The  Lord  hath  made 
known,  alleluia. 

I£.  His  salvation,  alleluia. 


Jesu,  tibi  sit  gloria, 
Qui  natns  es  de  Yirgine, 
Cum  Patre  et  almo  Spiritu, 
In  sempiterna  ssecula. 

Amen. 

p.  Notum  fecit  Dominus, 
alleluia. 

1$.  Salutare  suum,  alle- 
luia. 

The  Canticle  of  Zachary  is  now  sung :  it  is  the 
Church's  daily  welcome  of  the  rising  Sun.  It  cele- 
brates 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  bonse  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  redemptionem  plebis 
suae. 

Et  erexit  cornu  salutis 
nobis :  *  in  domo  David 
pueri  sui. 

Sicut  locutus  est  per  os 
Sanctorum  :  *  quia  a  sseculo 
sunt  Prophetarum  ejus. 

Salutem  ex  inimicis  nos- 
tris  :  *  et  de  manu  omnium 
qui  oderunt  nos. 

Ad  faciendam  misericor- 
diam  cum  Patribus  nostris  : 
*  et  memorari  testamenti 
sui  sancti. 

Jusjurandum  quod  jura- 
vit  ad  Abraham  patrem  nos- 
trum :  *  daturum  se  nobis. 


Blessed  be  the  Lord  God  of 
Israel :  because  he  hath,  this 
day,  visited  and  wrought  the 
redemption  of  his  people. 

And  hath  raised  up  an  horn 
of  salvation  to  us,  in  the  house 
of  David  his  servant. 

As  he  spoke  by  the  mouth 
of  his  holy  Prophets,  who  are 
from  the  beginning. 

Salvation  from  our  enemies, 
and  from  the  hand  of  all  that 
hate  us. 

To  perform  mercy  to  our 
Fathers,  and  to  remember  his 
holy  testament. 

The  oath  which  he  swore  to 
Abraham,  our  Father ;  that 
he  would  grant  to  us. 


CHRISTMAS  DAY  :  LAUDS. 


207 


That  being  delivered  from 
the  hand  of  our  enemies,  we 
may  serve  him,  without  fear. 

In  holiness  and  justice  be- 
fore him,  all  our  days. 

And  thou,  child,  the  Precur- 
sor of  our  Emmanuel,  shalt  be 
called  the  Prophet  of  the  Most 
High  :  for  thou  shalt  go  before 
the  face  of  the  Lord  to  pre- 
pare his  ways. 

To  give  to  his  people  the 
knowledge  of  the  Salvation 
brought  them  by  the  Messias, 
unto  the  remission  of  their  sins. 

Through  the  bowels  of  the 
mercy  of  our  God,  in  which 
the  Orient,  from  on  high,  hath 
visited  us. 

To  enlighten  them  that  sit 
in  darkness  and  in  the  shadow 
of  death ;  to  direct  our  feet 
into  the  way  of  peace. 

Ant.  Glory  be  to  God  in 
the  highest ;  and,  on  earth, 
peace  to  men  of  good  will, 
alleluia,  alleluia. 


Ut  sine  timore  de  manu 
inimicorum  nostrorum  li- 
berati  :  *  serviamus  illi. 

In  sanctitate  et  justitia 
coram  ipso  ;  *  omnibus  die- 
bus  nostris. 

Et  tu  puer,  Propheta  Al- 
tissimi  vocaberis  :  *  prseibis 
enim  ante  faciem  Domini 
parare  vias  ejus. 


Ad  dandam  scientiam 
salutis  plebi  ejus  :  *  in  re- 
missionem  peccatorum  eo- 
rum. 

Per  viscera  misericordise 
Dei  nostri  :  *  in  quibus  vi- 
sitavit  nos,  Oriens  ex  alto. 

Illuminare  his  qui  in  tene- 
bris  et  in  umbra  mortis  se- 
dent :  *  ad  dirigendos  pedes 
nostros  in  viam  pacis. 

Ant.  Gloria  in  excelsis 
Deo,  et  in  terra  pax  homi- 
nibus  bonse  voluntatis,  alle- 
luia, alleluia. 


COLLECT. 


Grant,  we  beseech  thee,  O 
Almighty  God,  that  we  who 
groan  under  the  old  captivity 
of  sin,  may  be  freed  there- 
from by  the  new  Birth  of 
thine  Only  Begotten  Son. 
Through  the  same,  <kc. 


Concede,  quaesumus,  om- 
nipotens  Deus,  ut  nos  Uni- 
geniti  tui  nova  per  carnem 
Nativitas  liberet,  quos  sub 
peccati  jugo  vetusta  servitus 
tenet.    Per  eumdem. 


208  CHRISTMAS. 


THE    SECOND    MASS, 

OR 

MASS   OF  THE  AURORA. 

The  Office  of  Lauds  is  finished  :  the  Canticles  of 
joy  are  ended,  wherewith  the  Church  thanks  the 
Eternal  Father  for  his  having  made  to  rise  upon  us 
the  divine  San  of  Justice.  It  is  time  to  offer  up  the 
second  Sacrifice,  or,  as  it  is  called,  the  Mass  of  the 
Aurora.  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  bom  unto  them.  They  find  all  things 
just  as  the  Angels  had  said.  Who  could  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. 
They  are  at  once  Christians,  and  the  Christian 
Church  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 


CHRISTMAS    DAY:   SECOND   MASS.  209 

Saviour  of  Israel  to  death ; — but,  the  faith  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  Shep- 
herds ?  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, 
as  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  this  Night  been  accomplished,  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 
preparing  to  go  to  the  altar,  and  a  second  time  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  be- 
hold 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.  Suddenly,  they 
see  the  Infant ;  and  as  they  gaze  upon  him  in  speech- 
less wondering,  Jesus  looks  at  them  from  his  Crib, 
and  smiles  upon  them : — they  are  changed  men,  full 
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  attention — now  the  Day  will  dawn, 
and  the  Day- Star  arise  in  our  hearts.1 

1  II.  St.  Pet.  i.  19. 


210  CHRISTMAS. 

This  long  longed-for  Aurora  has  come  !  The  divine 
Orient  has  risen  upon  us,  to  set  now  no  more  ;  for, 
we  are  firmly  resolved  to  keep  from  the  night  of  sin, 
which  his  grace  has  destroyed.  His  mercy  has  made 
us  to  be  children  of  light  and  children  of  the  day} 
There  must  be  no  more  sleep  of  death  for  us.  We 
must  watch  in  ceaseless  vigilance,  remembering  how 
the  Shepherds  were  keeping  their  watch,  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  brightness  of  the  Sun  of 
Justice  ;  they  must  be  sweet  to  us,  as  is  to  captives, 
long  buried  in  the  cold  darkness  of  their  dungeon, 
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  un- 
grateful 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  veiy  midst  of  her  celebration  of  this  mys- 
tery of  the  Birth  of  Jesus,  the  Church  offers  us 
another  object  of  admiration  and  joy  : — it  is  one  of 
her  own  children.  Whilst  solemnising  the  divine 
Mystery  of  to-day's  Feast,  she  commemorates,  in  this 
the  second  Mass,  one  of  those  glorious  heroines,  who 
preserved  the  Light  of  Christ  within  their  souls,  in 

1 1.  Thess.  v.  5. 


CHRISTMAS  DAY  :   SECOND  MASS.  211 

spite  of  all  the  attacks  made  to  rob  them  of  it.  Her 
name  is  Anastasia.  This  holy  Widow  of  Eome  suf- 
fered martyrdom  under  the  persecution  of  Dioclesian, 
and  had  the  privilege  of  being  thus  born  to  eternal 
life,  on  the  Birth-Day  of  that  Jesus,  for  whom  she 
suffered  death. 

She  had  been  married  to  a  Pagan  of  the  name  of 
Publius  ;  himself  also  a  Roman  ;  who,  being  irritated 
against  her  on  account  of  her  great  charities  to  the 
Christians,  treated  her  with  every  sort  of  cruelty. 
She  endured  all  with  admirable  patience ;  and  when 
this  heavy  trial  was  removed  from  her  by  the  death 
of  her  husband,  she  devoted  herself  to  visiting  and 
solacing  the  holy  Confessors,  who  had  been  cast  into 
the  prisons  of  Rome,  for  the  Faith.  Being,  at  length, 
apprehended  as  a  Christian,  she  was  tied  to  a  stake 
and  burnt  to  death.  Her  Church,  in  Rome,  which 
is  built  on  the  site  where  formerly  stood  her  house, 
is  the  Station  for  this  Second  Mass.  The  Sovereign 
Pontiffs  used  formerly  to  say  it  here,  and  the  ancient 
custom  was  observed,  in  our  own  times,  by  Pope 
Leo  12th. 

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  pre- 
ference is  given  to  Anastasia,  the  Widow.  This 
choice  of  the  Church — which  is  dictated  by  her  hea- 


212  CHRISTMAS. 

venly  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  to  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,  0  ye  Widows  of  Christ !  for  ye  have 
"  vowed  a  holy  continency  to  Him,  that  made  Vir- 
"  ginity  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  faith, 
"  give  him  birth  by  your  good  works  ;  in  order  that 
"  what  the  womb  of  Mary  did  in  the  Flesh  of  Jesus, 
"  your  heart  may  do  in  the  law  of  Jesus.  Believe 
"  me,  you  yourselves  are  children  of  virginity,  for  are 
"  you  not  the  members  of  Christ  ?  Mary  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."2 

But,  the  Holy  Sacrifice  is  about  to  commence.  The 
Introit  tells  us  of  the  Birth  of  Jesus  our  Sun  of  Jus- 
tice. 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. 

1  St.  Matth.  xii.  50.  s  Ninth  Sermon  On  our  Lord's  Nativity. 


CHRISTMAS  DAY  :   SECOND   MASS. 


213 


INTROIT. 


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 
no  end. 

Ps.  The  Lord  hath  reigned, 
he  is  clothed  with  beauty  :  the 
Lord  is  clothed  with  strength, 
and  hath  girded  himself,  "ff. 
Glory,  &c.    A  light. 


Lux  fulgebit  hodie  super 
nos ;  quia  natus  est  nobis 
Dominus  :  et  vocabitur  Ad- 
mirabilis,  Deus,  Princeps 
pacis,  Pater  futuri  saeculi ; 
cujus  regni  non  erit  finis. 


Ps.  Dominus  regnavit,  de- 
corem  indutus  est :  indutus 
est  Dominus  fortitudinem, 
et  praecinxit  se.  "ff.  Gloria 
Patri.  Lux  fulgebit. 


The  prayer  of  the  Church,  in  this  the  Mass  of  the 
Aurora,  is  the  begging  of  God  to  pour  upon  our  souls 
the  rays  of  the  Sun  of  Justice,  that  so  we  may  be- 
come fruitful  in  works  of  Light,  and  be  no  more  the 
slaves  of  darkness. 


COLLECT. 


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, 
&c. 


Da  nobis,  quaesumus,  om- 
nipotens  Deus,  ut  qui  nova 
incarnati  Verbi  tui  luce  per- 
fundimur,  hoc  in  nostro  re- 
spondeat opere,  quod  per 
fidem  fulget  in  mente.  Per 
eumdem. 


Commemoration  of  St.  Anastasia. 


Grant,  we  beseech  thee,  O 
Almighty  God,  that  as  we 
celebrate  the  solemnity  of 
blessed  Anastasia,  thy  Martyr, 
we  may  be  sensible  of  the 
effects  of  her  prayers  to  thee 
in  our  behalf.     Through,  &c. 


Da,  quaesumus,  omnipo- 
tens  Deus,  ut  qui  beatae 
Anastasiae,  Martyris  tuae, 
solemnia  colimus,  ejus  apud 
te  patrocinia  sentiamus.  Per 
Dominum. 


214  CHRISTMAS. 


EPISTLE. 

Lectio  Epistolae  beati  Pauli    Lesson  of  the  Epistle  of  Saint 
Apostoli  ad  Titum.  Paul  the  Apostle  to  Titus. 

Cap.  III.  Ch.  III. 

Charissime  :  apparuit  be-        Most  dearly  beloved  :    the 

nignitas  et  humanitas  Sal-  goodness  and  kindness  of  God 

vatoris  nostri  Dei  :  non  ex  our  Saviour  appeared  :  not  by 

operibus  justitiae,  quae  feci-  the  works  of  justice,  which  we 

mus  nos  ;  sed  secundum  su-  have  done,  but  according  to 

am  misericorcliam  salvos  nos  his  mercy,  he  saved  us,  by  the 

fecit  per  lavacrum  regenera-  laver  of  regeneration  and  reno- 

tionis,  et  renovationis   Spi-  vation  of    the    Holy    Ghost, 

ritus   Sancti,  quern   effudit  whom  he  hath  poured  forth 

in  nos  abunde  per  Jesum  upon  us  abundantly,  through 

Christum   Salvatorem   nos-  Jesus  Christ  our  Saviour :  that 

trum  :  ut  justificati  gratia  being  justified  by  his  grace, 

ipsius,  hseredes  simus  secun-  we  may  be  heirs  according  to 

dum  spem  vitse  aeternae,  in  hope     of     life      everlasting, 

Christo  Jesu  Domino  nos-  through    Jesus    Christ     our 

tro.  Lord. 

This  Sun  which  has  appeared  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  received  regeneration,  justifi- 
cation, and  heirship  to  eternal  life.    Who  shall  hence- 
forth separate  us  from  the  love  of  this  Infant  Jesus  ? 
Is  it  possible,  that  we  ourselves  can  ever  frustrate 
the  designs  of  that  love,  by  rendering  all  that  it  has 
done  for  us  useless,  and  becoming  once  more  the 
slaves  of  darkness  and  death  ?     May  God  forbid  it  I 
and  grant  us  grace  to  maintain  our  hope  of  everlast- 
ing life,  which  the  Mystery  of  our  Redemption  has 
purchased  for  us. 

GRADUAL. 

Benedictus  qui  venit  in        Blessed  be  he  that  cometh 


CHKISTMAS  BAY:   SECOND  MASS. 


215 


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. 

"ft.  The  Lord  hath  reigned, 
he  is  clothed  with  beauty  :  the 
Lord  is  clothed  with  strength, 
and  hath  girded  himself  with 
might.    Alleluia. 


nomine  Domini :  Deus  Do- 
minus,  et  illuxit  nobis. 

$".  A  Domino  factum  est 
istud,  et  est  mirabile  in  ocu- 
lis  nostris. 

Alleluia,  alleluia. 

$".  Dominus  regnavit,  de- 
coreminduit  :  induitDomi- 
minus  fortitudinem,  et  prae- 
cinxit  se  virtute.    Alleluia. 


Sequel  of  the  holy  Gospel  ac- 
cording to  Luke. 

Oh.  ii. 

At  that  time  :  The  Shep- 
herds 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,  con- 
cerning 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. 


Sequentia  sancti  Evangelii 
secundum  Lucam. 

Cap.  II. 

In  illo  tempore  :  Pastores 
loquebantur  ad  invicem : 
Transeamus  usque  Bethle- 
hem, et  videamus  hoc  ver- 
bum  quod  factum  est,  quod 
Dominus  ostendit  nobis.  Et 
venerunt  festinantes  ;  et  in- 
venerunt  Mariam  et  Joseph, 
et  infantem  positum  in  prse- 
sepio.  Videntes  autem  cog- 
noverunt  de  verbo  quod 
dictum  erat  illis  de  puero 
hoc.  Et  omnes  qui  audie- 
runt,  mirati  sunt,  et  de  his 
quse  dicta  erant  a  pastoribus 
ad  ipsos.  Maria  autem  con- 
servabat  omnia  verba  hsec, 
conferens  in  corde  suo.  Et 
reversi  sunt  pastores  glori- 
ficantes  et  laudantes  Deum 
in  omnibus  quae  audierant 
et  viderant,  sicut  dictum  est 
ad  illos. 


Let  us  imitate  trie  earnestness  of  the  Shepherds  in 
their  hastening  to  Jesus.  No  sooner  do  they  hear 
the  Angel's  words,  than  they  start  for  the  holy  Stable 


216  CHRISTMAS. 

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  ex- 
ample of  Mary,  who  keeps  unceasingly  in  her  most 
pure  Heart  the  wonderful  things  that  God  has  been 
accomplishing  by  her  and  in  her. 

During  the  Offertory  of  the  sacred  gifts,  the 
Church  extols  the  power  of  our  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  ter-  God  hath  established  the 
rse,  qui  non  commovebitur  :  world,  which  shall  not  be 
parata  sedes  tua,  Deus,  ex  moved  :  thy  throne,  0  God,  is 
tunc  ;  a  saeculo  tu  es.  prepared  from  of  old ;  thou 

art  from  everlasting. 

SECRET. 

Munera    nostra,    qusesu-  May  the  offerings,  0  Lord, 

mus,    Domine,    Nativitatis  we  make,  be  agreeable  to  the 

hodiernse     mysteriis     apta  mystery  of  this  day's  Birth, 

proveniant,  et  pacem  nobis  and  always  pour  forth  peace 

semper  infundant :  ut,  sicut  upon  us  :  that  as  He,  who, 

homo  genitus  idem  refulsit  though  born  Man,  showed  him- 

et    Deus ;    sic    nobis    haec  self  also  God,   so    may  this 


CHRISTMAS  DAY:   SECOND  MASS. 


217 


earthly  substance  give  us  that  terrena  substantia  conferat 
which  is  divine.  Through  the  quod  divinum  est.  Pereum- 
same,  &c.  dem. 


Commemoration 

Graciously  receive,  0  Lord, 
we  beseech  thee,  our  offerings, 
and  grant,  by  the  merits  of 
blessed  Anastasia,  thy  Martyr, 
that  they  may  avail  to  our 
salvation.     Through,  <kc. 


of  St.  Anastasia. 

Accipe,  qusesumus,  Do- 
mine,  munera  dignanter 
oblata  :  et  beatas  Anastasia?, 
martyris  tuae,  suffraganti- 
bus  meritis,  ad  nostra?  sa- 
lutis  auxilium  provenire 
concede.     Per  Dominum. 


After  both  Priest  and  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  addressed  to  her,  when  he  an- 
nounced the  coming  of  the  King,  her  Saviour. 


COMMUNION. 


Rejoice,  0  daughter  of  Sion • 
shout  for  joy,  0  daughter  of 
Jerusalem  :  behold  !  thy  King 
will  come  to  thee,  the  Holy 
One,  and  the  Saviour  of  the 
world. 


Exsulta,  filia  Sion ;  lauda, 
filia  Jerusalem :  ecce  Rex 
tuus  venit  Sanctus,  et  Sal- 
vator  mundi. 


POSTCOMMUNION. 


May  we,  0  Lord,  always  re- 
ceive new  Light  from  this 
Sacrament,  which  reneweth  to 
us  the  memory  of  that  wonder- 
ful Birth,  which  destroyed  the 
old  man.  Through  the  same, 
doc. 


Hujus  nos,  Domine,  sa- 
cramenti  semper  novitas 
natalis  instauret :  cujus  na- 
tivitas  singularis  humanam 
repulit  vetustatem.  Per 
eumdem  Dominum. 


Commemoration  of  St.  Anastasia. 


Thou  hast  fed,  O  Lord,  thy 
family  with  these  sacred  ob- 
lations ;  ever,  therefore,  com- 
fort us  with  her  intercession, 
whose  feast  we  celebrate. 
Through,  <kc. 


Satiasti,  Domine,  fami- 
liam  tuam  muneribus  sa- 
cris  :  ejus,  quaesumus, inter- 
ventione  nos  refove,  cujus 
solemnia  celebramus.  Per 
Dominum. 


218  CHEISTMAS. 

The  Mass  of  the  Aurora  ended,  and  the  Birth  of 
Grace  having  been  honoured  by  this  second  immola- 
tion of  the  divine  Immortal  Victim — the  Faithful 
retire  from  the  Church,  that  they  may  refresh  them- 
selves 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  which  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  else- 
where, 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 
necessities  of  our  human  nature,  which  he  has 
assumed,  he  closes  his  tender  eye-lids,  and  sleep 
comes,  because  he  so  wills  it,  and  lulls  his  senses  to 
rest: — but,  even  while  asleep,  his  heart  watcheth,1 
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  for  our  pride  by  his  own  humilia- 
tions ;  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. 

1  Cant.  v.  2. 


CHEISTMAS  DAY:   EAELY  MORNING.  219 


CHRISTMAS  MORNING. 

BEFORE  MASS. 


The  merry-pealing  Bells  have  wakened  us  up,  echo- 
ing to  us  the  sweet  burden  of  our  Matin-Song,  and 
inviting  us  to  come  once  more  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,  indeed,  as  he 
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  triumphant  course  I1 

Until  the  hour  of  Mass  comes,  let  us  keep  up  in 
our  souls  the  spirit  of  this  glorious  Festival,  by  read- 
ing the  following  selections  from  the  ancient  Litur- 
gies. 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.) 

HYMN. 

Why  is  it,  that  the  Sun,        Quid  est,  quod  arctum  cir- 
which  rises  to-day,  leaves  his  culum 

narrow  path  ]    Is  it  not,  that    Sol  jam  recurrens  deserit  ? 

1  Ps.  xviii.  6. 


220 


CHEISTMAS. 


Christusne  terris  nascitur 
Qui  lucis  auget  tramitem  ? 

Heu,  quani  fugacem  gra- 
tiam 
Festina  volvebat  dies ! 
Quam  pene  subductam  fa- 

cem. 
Sensim  recisa  extinxerat  ! 

Coelum  nitescat  lsetius, 
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 
Sudans  amomum  stipite  ; 
Jam  sunt  myricis  balsama. 

0  sancta  prsesepis  tui, 
iEterne  Rex,  cunabula, 
Populisque  per  seclum  sacra, 
Mutis  et  ipsis  credita. 


Jesus  is  born  on  our  earth, 
Jesus,  who  comes  to  widen  for 
us  the  way  of  Light  1 

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 
se/iseless,  feel  that  thou  art 
born :  the  very  stones  relent, 
and  verdure  comes  from  rocks. 

The  flinty  mountain-side 
drips  now  with  honey ;  the 
oak's  stiff  trunk  now  sweats  its 
sappy  tears  ;  and  balsam  oozes 
now  from  humblest  shrub. 

How  holy  is  thy  cradle-crib, 
0  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,  begin- 
ning with  those  of  the  East,  as  being  nearest  to  the 
country  where  the  great  Event  took  place.  First, 
comes  the  Church  of  Syria;  her  Chanter  is  St. 
Ephraim  ;  and  he  begins  his  song  thus  : 


Nato  Filio,  lumen  affulsit, 
et  ex  mundo  tenebrse  fu- 
gatse,  illuminatusque  est  or- 
bis ;  laudes  ergo  referat 
Nato,  qui  ilium  illuminavit. 

Ortus  est  ex  utero  Virgi- 
nis,  eoque  viso  defecerunt 
umbrse  :  et  tenebrae  erroris 
ab  eo    expulsae ;    orbisque 


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  Vir- 
gin's womb ;  the  shades  of 
night  have  seen  him  and  fled  : 
the  darkness  of  error  has  been 


CHRISTMAS  DAY  :   EARLY  MORNING. 


221 


scattered ;  let  the  whole  earth 
sing  praise  to  Him,  by  whom 
it  has  been  illumined. 


totus  illustratus 
go  illi  referat. 


laudes  er- 


The  Church  of  Armenia  thus  sings  to  our  Emma- 
nuel, during  the  Holy  Sacrifice  of  the  Mass  : 


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  hea- 
vens exult,  and  ye  foundations 
of  the  world  be  glad  !  for,  the 
Eternal  God  has  appeared 
upon  the  earth,  and  has  con- 
versed with  men,  that  he  may 
save  our  souls  ! 


Novus  flos  hodie  oritur  ex 
radice  Jesse,  et  hlia  David 
parit  Filium  Dei. 


Multitudo  Angelorum  et 
militias  coelestis,  descenden- 
tes  de  ccelis  cum  unigenito 
rege  cantabant  et  dicebant  : 
Hie  est  Filius  Dei.  Omnes 
dicamus  :  exsultate  coeli,  et 
laetamini  fundamenta  mun- 
di,  quia  Deus  aeternus  in 
terris  apparuit,  et  cum  ho- 
minibus  conversatus  est,  ut 
salvet  animas  nostras. 


The  Greek  Church  thus  cries  out  in  her  beautiful 
language : 


Come  !  let  us  rejoice  in  the 
Lord,  celebrating  the  mystery 
of  this  day.  The  wall  of  di- 
vision is  destroyed ;  the  fiery 
sword  is  sheathed,  and  the 
Angel  no  longer  keeps  us 
from  the  Tree  of  Life.  I, 
yea  I,  that  was  driven,  by  the 
sin  of  disobedience,  from  the 
Paradise  of  delights,  may  now 
enter  and  feast.  The  unchange- 
able Image  of  the  Father,  the 
type  of  his  eternity,  assumes 
the  form  of  a  servant,  and  is 
born  of  a  Virgin-Mother  ;  yet, 
h&  suffers  not  any  change  : 
for,  that  which  he  was,  he  con- 
tinues to  be — the  true  God  ; 


Venite,  exsultemus  Domi- 
no, hodiernum  celebrantes 
mysterium.  Murus  dirutus 
est  medius  ;  avertitur  flam- 
meus  gladius,  Cherubim 
a  ligno  vitse  recedit.  Et  ego 
paradisum  deliciarum  par- 
ticipo,  a  quo  per  inobedien- 
tiam  expulsus  fueram.  In- 
commutabilis  imago  Patris, 
typus  ejus  aeternitatis,  for- 
mam  servi  accipit,  ex  nupti- 
necia  matre  progrediens, 
nullam  passus  commutatio- 
nem  :  quod  enim  erat  per- 
mansit,  Deus  cum  esset 
verus  ;  quod  autem  non  erat 
praeteraccipit,  homo  factus 


222 


CHRISTMAS. 


per  philanthropiam.  Illi  but  that  which  he  was  not,  he 
clamenius  :  Qui  natus  es  de  now  becomes,  being  made  Man 
Virgine,  miserere  nobis.  for  love  of  man.    Let  us  cry- 

out  to  him :  O  thou,  that 
art  born  of  the  Virgin !  have 
mercy  on  us. 

The  holy  Roman  Church,  by  the  mouth  of  St. 
Leo,  in  his  Sacramentary,  thus  celebrates  the  mys- 
tery of  the  divine  Light : 


Vere  dignum  et  justum 
est,  aBquum  et  salutare  :  nos 
tibi  gratias  agere,  seterne 
Deus,  quia  nostri  Salvatoris 
hodie  lux  vera  processit, 
quae  clara  nobis  omnia  et 
intellectu  manifestavit  et 
visu.  Quibus  non  solum 
praesentem  vitam  suo  splen- 
dore  dirigeret,  sed  ad  ipsam 
nos  majestatis  immensae 
gloriam  perduceret  intuen- 
dam. 


It  is  truly  meet  and  just, 
right  and  available  to  salva- 
tion, that  we  should  give 
thanks  to  thee,  0  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  pre- 
sent life,  but  bring  us  to  the 
very  vision  of  thy  divine  Ma- 
jesty. 

The  same  Church  of  Rome,  in  the  Sacramentary 
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  in- 
carnationem  Yerbi  tui,  et 
per  partum  beatae  Yirginis 
consecrasti  ;  da  populis  tuis 
in  hac  celebritate  lietitias, 
ut  et  qui  tua  gratia  sunt 
redempti,  tua  adoptione  sint 
filii. 


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  joy- 
ous 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,  omnipo-  Grant  unto  us,  O  .Almighty 
tens  Deus,  ut  salutare  tuum,    God !  that  the  Saviour — whom 


CHEISTMAS  DAY  :   EAELY  MORNING. 


223 


thou  sendest  for  the  world's  nova    coeloram   luce  mira- 

salvation  on  this  day's  solem-  bile,  quod  ad  salutem  mundi 

nity,    whereon    the     heavens  hodierna  festivitate  proces- 

are    renewed    in    light — may  sit,  nostris  semper  innovan- 

ever  rise  in  our  hearts  and  re-  dis  cordibus  oriatur. 
new  them. 

The  Church  of  Milan,  in  its  Ambrosian  Liturgy, 
also  celebrates  the  new  Light  and  the  joys  of  the 
Yirgin-Mother : 


When  our  Lord  came,  he 
dispelled  all  the  darkness  of 
night ;  and  where  had  been  no 
light,  there  was  made  bright- 
ness, and  the  day  appeared. 

Rejoice  and  be  glad,  O 
Mary,  thou  joy  of  Angels  ! 
Rejoice,  O  thou  Virgin  of  the 
Lord,  and  joy  of  the  prophets ! 
Rejoice,  thou  Blessed  one,  the 
Lord  is  with  thee.  Rejoice, 
thou  that  didst  receive,  at  the 
Angel's  announcing,  Him  who 
is  the  joy  of  the  world.  Re- 
joice, thou  that  didst  give 
birth  to  thy  Creator  and  Lord. 
Rejoice,  in  that  thou  wast 
worthy  to  be  made  the  Mother 
of  Christ. 

The  ancient  Church  of  Gaul  expresses  its  gladness 
by  these  joyous  Antiphons,  and  which  were  adopted, 
for  several  ages,  by  the  Church  of  Rome  : 


Adveniens  Dominus,  abs- 
tulit  omnem  caliginem  noc- 
tis  ;  et,  ubi  non  erat  lumen, 
facta  est  claritas,  et  appa- 
ruit  dies. 

Gaude,  et  laetare,  exsulta- 
tio  Angelorum.  Gaude,  Do- 
mini Virgo,  prophetarum 
gaudium.  Gaudeas,  bene- 
dicta,  Dominus  tecum  est. 
Gaude,  quae  per  Angelum 
gaudium  mundi  suscepisti. 
Gaude,  quae  genuisti  facto- 
rem  et  Dominum.  Gaudeas, 
quia  digna  es  esse  Mater 
Christi. 


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 


Hodie  intacta  Virgo  Deum 
nobis  genuit,  teneris  indu- 
tum  membris,  quern  laetare 
meruit ;  omnes  Christum 
adoremus  qui  venit  salvare 
nos. 

Gaudeamus  omnes  fideles, 
Salvator  noster  natus  est  in 
mundo  :  hodie  processit 
Proles    magnifici  germinis, 


224 


CHRISTMAS. 


et  perseverat  pudor  virgini- 
tatis. 

O  mundi  Domina,  regio 
ex  semine  orta,  ex  tuo  jam 
Christus  processit  alvo,  tan- 
quam  sponsus  de  thalamo  : 
hie  jacet  in  praesepio  qui  et 
sidera  regit. 


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  com- 
ing from  the  bride-chamber : 
He  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  Bre- 
viary, thus  hails  the  rising  of  the  Divine  Sun  : 


Hodie  lumen  mundi  pro- 
diit :  hodie  salus  aevi  emi- 
cuit :  hodie  Salvator  Israel 
de  climate  cceli  descendit, 
ut  eruat  omnes  captivos, 
quos  antiquus  hostis  prasdo 
per  primi  hominis  delictum 
captivaverat :  et  ut  caecis 
mentibus  lumen,  surdis  au- 
ditum,  gratia  praeveniente, 
restitueret :  ob  istius  tanti 
mysterii  beneficia  montes 
et  colles  tripudiant,  ipsaque 
mundi  elementa  ineffabili 
gaudio  ista  in  die  melos  de- 
cantant :  ob  hoc  gemebunda 
prece  pii  Redemptoris  cle- 
mentiam  suppliciter  exora- 
mus  ;  ut  nos,  qui  in  tenebris 
peccatorum  nostrorum  in- 
volvimur,  per  cordis  accla- 
mationem  protinus  expie- 
mur,  ut  illo  in  nobis  appa- 
rente,  et  splendor  glorias 
jucundius,  ac  multiplicius 
nostris  in  prascordiis  vigeat, 
et  salutis  gaudia  sine  fine 
dulcescant. 


To-day,  has  risen  the  Light 
of  the  world :  to-day,  has 
shone  forth  the  earth's  salva- 
tion :  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 
a  mystery,  let  the  mountains 
and  hills  leap  with  joy,  and 
the  very  elements  of  the  world 
be  exceeding  glad,  on  this  day, 
and  sing  sweet  melody.  There- 
fore, 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-ending  sweetness. 


CHRISTMAS  DAY:   THIRD  MASS.  225 

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  Banchor  Antiphonary,  published  by  Mura- 
tori.  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. 

From  this  Day,  night  de-  Ab  hodierno  die  nox  mi- 
creases,  day  increases,  dark-  nuitur,  dies  crescit,  concu- 
ness  is  shaken,  light  grows  tiuntur  tenebrae,  lumen 
longer,  and  the  loss  of  night  augetur,  et  in  lucro  lucis 
shall  make  the  gain  of  day.         nocturna    dispendia    trans- 

ferentur. 

And  now,  Christians,  let  us  to  the  House  of  our 
God,  and  prepare  for  our  third  Sacrifice. 


THE  THIRD  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  mid- 
night, she  celebrated  the  God-Man,  born,  in  the 
Stable,  from  the  Womb  of  the  glorious  Virgin  Mary; 
at  the  Aurora,  this  same  Divine  Infant,  born  in  the 
souls  of  the  Shepherds ;  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  wit- 
ness 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 
ineffable  Generation,  which  makes  him  consubstan- 
tial  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, 

Q 


226  CHEISTMAS. 

and  was  himself  God  ;l  for,  lie  is  the  brightness  of 
his  Father's  glory,  and  the  figure  of  his  substance.2 

The  Church's  first  Chant  in  this  her  Third  Mass 
is  an  acclamation  to  the  new-born  King.  She  cele- 
brates 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. 

INTEOIT. 

Puer  natus  est  nobis,  et  A  Child  is  born  unto  us, 

Films  datus  est  nobis ;  cujus  and  a  Son  is  given  to  us ;  and 

impermm  super    humerum  the  government  is  upon  his 

ejus  :    et  vocabitur  nomen  Shoulder  :  and  his  name  shall 

ejus  magni  Consilii  Angelus.  be  called  the  Angel  of  the  great 

Counsel. 

Ps.  Cantate  Domino  can-  Ps.  Sing  to  the  Lord  a  new 

ticum   novum,   quia    mira-  Canticle,  for  he  hath  done  won- 

bilia  fecit.    $\  Gloria  Patri.  derful  things,    "ft.  Glory,  <kc. 

Puer.  A  Child,  &c. 

In  the  Collect,  the  Church  prays  that  the  New 
Birth,  whereby  the  Eternal  Son  of  God  deigned  to 
be  born  in  time,  may  produce  its  effect  in  us,  and 
work  our  deliverance. 

COLLECT. 

Concede,  qusesumus,  om-        Grant,  we  beseech  thee,  O 
nipotens    Deus  :     ut     nos    Almighty  God,  that  we  who 

1  St.  John,  i.  1.  2  Heb.  i.  3. 


CHRISTMAS   DAY:   THIRD  MASS. 


227 


groan  under  the  old  captivity 
of  sin,  may  be  freed  therefrom 
by  the  new  Birth  of  thine  Only 
Begotten  Son.  Through  the 
same,  &c. 


Unigeniti  tui  nova  per  car- 
nem  nativitas  liberet ;  quos 
sub  peccati  jugo  vetusta 
servitus  tenet.  Per  eum- 
dem. 


EPISTLE. 


Lesson  of  the  Epistle  of 
Saint  Paul  the  Apostle  to  the 
Hebrews. 

Ch.L 

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  ap- 
pointed 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  Son,  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-Begot- 
ten into  the  world,  he  saith : 
And  let  all  the  Angels  of  God 
adore  him.  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, 
0  God,  is  for  ever  and  ever : 
a  sceptre  of  justice  is  the  sceptre 
of  thy  kingdom.     Thou  hast 


Lectio  Epistolse  beati  Pauli 
Apostoli  ad  Hebraeos. 

Cap.  I. 

Multifariam  multisque 
modis  olim  Deus  loquens 
patribus  in  Prophetis  ;  no- 
vissime  diebus  istis  locutus 
est  nobis  in  Filio,  quern 
constituit  hseredem  uni- 
versorum,  per  quern  fecit 
et  ssecula.  Qui  cum  sit 
splendor  glorias,  et  figura 
substantise  ejus,  portansque 
omnia  verbo  virtutis  suae, 
purgationem  peccatorum  fa- 
ciens,  sedet  ad  dexteram 
Majestatis  in  excelsis :  tanto 
mehor  Angelis  effectus, 
quanto  differentius  prae  illis 
nomen  hsereditavit.  Cui 
enim  dixit  aliquando  Ange- 
lorum  :  Filius  meus  es  tu, 
ego  hodie  genui  te1?  Et  rur- 
sum :  Ego  ero  illi  in  Patrem, 
et  ipse  erit  mini  in  Filium. 
Et  cum  iterum  introducit 
Primogenitum  in  orbem 
terrae,  dicit :  Et  adorent 
eum  omnes  Angeli  Dei.  Fit 
ad  Angelos  quidem  dicit  : 
Qui  facit  Angelos  suos  Spi- 
ritus,  et  ministros  suos 
nammam  ignis.  Ad  Filium 
autem :  Thronus  tuus,  Deus, 
in  saeculum  saeculi :  yirga 
aequitatis,  virga  regnitui.  Di- 
lexisti  justitiam,  et  odisti  ini- 
quitatem :    propterea  unxit 


228  CHRISTMAS. 

te  Deus,  Deus  tuus,  oleo  loved  justice,  and  hated  ini- 
exsultationis  prse  participi-  quity :  therefore  God,  thy  God 
bus  tuis.  Et:  Tuinprincipio,  hath  anointed  thee  with  the  oil 
Domine,  terrain  fundasti ;  of  gladness  above  thy  fellows. 
et  opera  manuum  tuarum  And:  Thou  in  the  beginning, 
sunt  coeli.  Ipsi  peribunt,  tu  0  Lord,  didst  found  the  earth, 
autem  permanebis ;  et  om-  and  the  works  of  thy  hands  are 
nes  ut  vestimentum  vete-  the  heavens.  They  shall  perish, 
rascent,  et  velut  aniictum  but  thou  shalt  continue;  and 
mutabis  eos,  et  mutabun-  they  shall  all  grow  old  as  a 
tur  :  tu  autem  idem  ipse  es,  garment,  and  as  a  vesture  shalt 
et  anni  tui  non  deficient.  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  bis  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  Son  ;  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  vouch- 
safed 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  impas- 
sible and  immortal,  for  he  was  born  of  the  Father, 
from  all  eternity. 

GRADUAL. 

Viderunt  omnes  fines  ter-  All  the  ends  of  the  earth 
rae  Salutare  Dei  nostri  :  ju-  have  seen  the  salvation  of  our 
bilate  Deo  omnis  terra.  God  :    sing  joyfully   to    the 

Lord,  all  thou  earth. 


CHRISTMAS   DAY  :   THIRD   MASS. 


229 


ft.  The  Lord  hath  made 
known  his  salvation  :  he  hath 
revealed  his  justice  in  the  sight 
of  the  Gentiles. 

Alleluia,  alleluia. 

ft.  A  sanctified  day  hath 
shone  upon  us :  Come,  ye  Gen- 
tiles, and  adore  the  Lord ;  for, 
this  day,  a  great  Light  is  come 
down  upon  the  earth.  Alleluia. 


ft.  Notum  fecit  Dominus 
Salutare  suum  :  ante  con- 
spectum  gentium  revelavit 
justitiam  suam. 

Alleluia,  alleluia. 

ft.  Dies  sanctificatus  il- 
luxit  nobis  :  Venite,  gentes, 
et  adorate  Dominum;  quia 
hodie  descendit  lux  magna 
super  terram.     Alleluia. 


GOSPEL. 


The    beginning    of   the   holy 
Gospel  according  to  John. 

Ch.T. 

In  the  beginning  was  the 
Word,  and  the  Word  was  with 
God,  and  the  Word  was  God. 
The  same  was  in  the  begin- 
ning with  God.  All  things 
were  made  by  him,  and  with- 
out 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  dark- 
ness 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  testi- 
mony of  the  Light.  That  was 
the  true  Light,  which  enlight- 
eneth  every  man  that  cometh 
into  this  world.  He  was  in 
the  world,  and  the  world  was 
made  by  him  ;  and  the  world 
knew  him  not.  He  came  unto 
his  own,  and  his  own  received 
him  not.      But   as  many  as 


Initium  sancti  Evangelii  se- 
cundum Joannem. 

Gap.  I. 

In  principio  erat  Yerbum, 
et  Yerbum  erat  apud  Deum, 
et  Deus  erat  Yerbum.  Hoc 
erat  in  principio  apud 
Deum.  Omnia  per  ipsum 
facta  sunt,  et  sine  ipso  fac- 
tum est  nihil,  quod  factum 
est.  In  ipso  vita  erat ;  et 
vita  erat  lux  hominum  ;  et 
lux  in  tenebris  lucet,  et  tene- 
brae  earn  non  comprehen- 
derunt.  Fuit  homo  missus 
a  Deo,  cui  nomen  erat  Jo- 
annes. Hie  venit  in  testi- 
monium, ut  testimonium 
perhiberet  de  lumine,  ut 
omnes  crederent  per  ilium. 
Non  erat  ille  lux,  sed  ut  tes- 
timonium perhiberet  de 
lumine.  Erat  lux  vera 
quae  illuminat  omnem  ho- 
minem  venientem  in  hunc 
mundum.  In  mundo  erat, 
et  mundus  per  ipsum  fac- 
tus  est ;  et  mundus  eum 
non  cognovit.  In  propria 
venit,  et  sui  eum  non  rece- 
perunt.      Quotquot    autem 


230  CHRISTMAS. 

receperunt    euni,    dedit  eis  received  him,  to  them  he  gave 

potestatemfilios Dei  fieri:  his  power  to  be  made  the  sons  of 

qui  credunt  in  nomine  ejus  ;  God  :  to  them  that  believe  in 

qui    non    ex    sanguinibus,  his  name,  who  are  born  not  of 

neque  ex  voluntate  earn  is,  blood,  nor  of  the  will  of  the 

neque  ex  voluntate  viri,  sed  flesh,  nor  of  the  will  of  man, 

ex  Deo  nati  sunt.    Et  Ver-  but     of     God.      Akd     the 

BUM   CAEO    FACTUM   EST,  et  WORD  WAS  MADE  FLESH,  and 

habitavit  in  nobis  :  et  vidi-  dwelt    among  us  :     and    we 

mus  gloriam  ejus,  gloriam  saw  his  glory,  as   it  were  the 

quasi    Unigeniti    a    Patre,  glory  of  the  Only-Begotten  of 

plenum  gratise  et  veritatis.  the  Father,  full  of  grace  and 

truth. 


0  Eternal  Son  of  God !  in  presence  of  the  Crib, 
where,  for  the  love  of  us,  thou  vouebsafest  this  day  to 
show  thyself  to  thy  creatures — we  confess  thy  eter- 
nity, thy  omnipotence,  thy  divinity,  and  most  pro- 
foundly do  we  adore  thee.  Thou  wast  in  the  begin- 
ning ;  thou  wast  in  God ;  and  thyself  wast  God. 
Everything  was  made  by  thee,  and  we  are  the  work 
of  thy  hands.  O  Light,  infinite  and  eternal !  O  Sun 
of  Justice  !  enlighten  us,  for  we  are  but  darkness. 
Too  long  have  we  loved  our  darkness,  and  thee  we 
have  not  comprehended :  forgive  us  our  blindness 
and  our  errors.  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,  hence- 
forth, to  be  neither  of  blood,  nor  of  the  %vill  of  the 
flesh,  nor  of  the  will  of  man,  but  of  God,  by  thee  and 
in  thee.  Thou  hast  been  made  Flesh,  0  Word  Eter- 
nal !  in  order  that  we  may  become  sons  of  God.  We 
beseech  thee,  support  our  weak  human  nature,  and 
fit  us  for  this  our  sublime  destiny.  Thou  art  born 
of  God  thy  Father  ;  thou  art  born  of  Mary  ;  thou  art 
born  in  our  hearts ;  thrice  glorified  be  thou  for  this 


CHEISTMAS  DAY:   THIRD  MASS.  231 

thy  triple  Birth,  O  Jesus  !  so  merciful  in  thy  Divi- 
nity, aud  so  divine  in  thy  self-sought  humiliations ! 

At  the  Offertory,  the  Church  sings  praise  to  her 
Emmanuel  for  the  work  of  his  hands,  the  universe ; 
for  it  was  He  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 
Crib  ;  but  she  is  unceasingly  praising  the  power  and 
majesty  of  the  Incarnate  God. 

OFFERTORY. 

Thine  are  the  heavens,  and  Tui  sunt  coeli,  et  tua  est 
thine  is  the  earth  ;  the  world  terra  ;  orbem  terrarum  et 
and  the  fulness  thereof,  thou,  plenitudinem  ejus  tu  fun- 
hast  founded  :  justice  and  dasti  :  justitia  et  judicium 
judgment  are  the  preparation  prasparatio  sedis  tuse. 
of  thy  throne. 

SECRET. 

Sanctify,  0  Lord,  our  offer-  Ohlata,  Domine,  munera 

ings,  by  the  new  Birth  of  thine  nova  Unigeniti  tui  nativi- 

Only    Begotten    Son  :      and  tate    sanctifica :    nosque    a 

cleanse  us  from  the  stains  of  peccatorum  nostrorum  ma- 

our  sins.  Through  the  same,  doc.  culis  emunda.  Per  eumdem. 

During  the  Communion,  the  choir  sings  the  happi- 
ness 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  Postcomm union, 
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. 

The  whole  earth  hath  seen  Yiderunt  omnes  fines  fer- 
tile salvation  of  our  God.  rae  Salutare  Dei  nostri. 


232 


CHRISTMAS. 


POSTCOMMUNION. 


Prassta,  qusesumus,  omni- 
potens  Deus  :  ut  natus  hodie 
Salvator  mundi,  sicut  di- 
vinae  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  be- 
stow on  us  immortality.  Who 
liveth,  <kc. 


After  the  Blessing,  the  following  Last  Gospel  is 
read. 


Sequentia  sancti  Evangelii 
secundum  Matthaeum. 

Cap.  II. 

Cum  natus  esset  Jesus  in 
Bethlehem  Juda,  in  diebus 
Herodis  regis,  ecce  Magi  ab 
Oriente  venerunt  Jerosoly- 
mam,  dicentes  :  Ubi  est,  qui 
natus  est  Rex  Judseorum'? 
vidimus  enim  stellam  ejus 
in  Oriente,  et  venimus  ado- 
rare  eum.  Audiens  autem 
Herodes  rex,  turbatus  est, 
et  omnis  Jerosolyma  cum 
illo.  Et  congregans  omnes 
principes  sacerdotum,  et 
scribas  populi,  sciscitabatur 
ab  eis  ubi  Christus  nascere- 
tur.  At  illi  dixerunt  ei :  In 
Bethlehem  Judae  :  sic  enim 
scriptumest  per  Prophetam : 
Et  tu,  Bethlehem,  terra  Ju- 
da, nequaquam  minima  es 
in  principibus  Juda  :  ex  te 
enim  exiet  dux  qui  regat 
populum  meum  Israel.  Tunc 
Herodes,  clam  vocatis  Magis, 
diligenter  didicit  ab  eis  tem- 
pus  stellse,  quae  apparuit  eis : 
et  mittens  illos  in  Bethle- 
hem, dixit :  Ite,  et  interro- 
gate diligenter  de  puero  :  et, 


Sequel  of  the  holy  Gospel  ac- 
cording to  Matthew. 

Gk  II. 

When  Jesus  was  born  in 
Bethlehem  of  Juda,  in  the 
days  of  king  Herod,  behold 
there  came  Wise  Men  from 
the  East  to  Jerusalem,  saying  : 
Where  is  he  that  is  born  King 
of  the  Jews  1  for  we  have  seen 
his  star  in  the  East,  and  are 
come  to  adore  him.  And 
Herod  hearing  this,  was  trou- 
bled, and  all  Jerusalem  with 
him.  And  assembling  together 
all  the  chief  Priests  and  the 
Scribes  of  the  people,  he  en- 
quired of  them,  where  Christ 
should  be  born.  But  they  said  to 
him  :in  Bethlehem  of  Juda :  for 
so  it  is  written  by  the  Prophet :. 
And  thou,  Bethlehem,  the  land 
of  Juda,  art  not  the  least 
among  the  princes  of  Juda  : 
for  out  of  thee  shall  come  forth 
the  captain,  that  shall  rule  my 
people  Israel.  Then,  Herod, 
privately  calling  the  Wise  Men, 
learned  diligently  of  them  the 
time  of  the  star,  which  ap- 
peared to  them  :  and  sending 
them  into  Bethlehem,    said : 


CHEISTMAS  DAY  :  THIRD   MASS. 


233 


Go,  and  diligently  enquire 
after  the  Child,  and  when  you 
have  found  him,  bring  me 
word  again,  that  I  also  may 
come  and  adore.  Who,  having 
heard  the  king,  went  their 
way.  And  behold,  the  star, 
which  they  had  seen  in  the 
East,  went  before  them,  until 
it  came  and  stood  over  where 
the  Child  was.  And  seeing 
the  star,  they  rejoiced  with  ex- 
ceeding great  joy.  And  enter- 
ing 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  re- 
turn to  Herod,  they  went  back, 
another  way,  into  their  own 
country.  l|.  Thanks  be  to 
God. 


cum  inveneritis,  renuntiate 
mihi,  ut  et  ego  veniens 
adorem  eum.  Qui,  cum  au- 
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,  inve- 
nerunt  puerum  cum  Maria 
matre  ejus,  (here,  all  Tcneel,) 
et  procidentes  adoraverunt 
eum.  Et,  apertis  thesauris 
suis,  obtulerunt  ei  munera  ; 
aurum,  thus,  et  myrrham. 
Et  responso  accepto  in  som- 
nis  ne  redirent  ad  Herodem, 
per  aliam  viam  r  ever  si  sunt 
in  regionem  suam.  I£.  Deo 
gratias. 


SECOND  VESPERS. 

The  Even-Song  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  re- 
ceived 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 


234 


CHRISTMAS. 


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. 


"fT.  Dens,  in  adjutorium 
meum  intende. 

1$.  Domine,  ad  adjuvan- 
dum  me  f  estina. 

Gloria  Patri  et  Filio  et 
Spiritui  Sancto ; 

Sicut  erat  in  principio,  et 
nunc  et  semper,  et  in  ssecula 
saeculorum.  Amen.  Alle- 
luia. 


$".  Inchne  unto  my  aid,  O 
God. 

I£.  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. 
Allehiia. 


The  first  Psalm  of  Second  Vespers  for  Christmas 
Day,  is  that  which  always  begins  the  Evening  Office, 
on  Sundays  and  Feasts.  It  celebrates  the  Eternal 
Generation  of  the  Word,  and  prophesies  his  Suffer- 
ings and  his  Triumph. 


Ant.  Tecnm  principinm 
in  die  virtutis  tuae,  in 
splendoribus  Sanctorum : 
ex  utero  ante  luciferum  ge- 
nui  te. 


Ant.  With  thee  is  the  prin- 
cipality in  the  day  of  thy 
strength,  in  the  brightness  of 
the  Saints  ;  for  the  Father  has 
said  to  thee :  From  the  womb, 
before  the  day-star,  I  begot 
thee. 


psalm  109. 


Dixit  Dominus  Domino 
meo  :  *  Sede  a  dextris  meis. 

Donee  ponam  inimicos 
tuos  :  *  scabellum  pedum 
tuorum. 

Virgam  virtutis  tuse  emit- 
tet  Dominus  ex  Sion  :  *  do- 
minare  in  medio  inimicorum 
tuorum. 

Tecum  principium  in  die 
virtutis  tuae,  in  splendori- 


The  Lord  said  to  my  Lord, 
his  Son :  Sit  thou  at  my  right 
hand,  and  reign  ivith  me. 

Until,  on  the  day  of  thy  last 
coming,  I  make  thy  enemies 
thy  footstool. 

0  Christ!  the  Lord,  thy 
Father,  will  send  forth  the 
sceptre  of  thy  power  out  of 
Sion  :  from  thence,  rule  thou 
in  the  midst  of  thy  enemies. 

With  thee  is  the  principality 
in  the  day  of  thy  strength,  in 


CHRISTMAS  DAY:   SECOND  VESPERS. 


235 


bus  Sanctorum  :  *  ex  utero 
ante  luciferum  genui  te. 


the  brightness  of  the  Saints : 
for  the  Father  hath  said  to 
thee :  From  the  womb,  before 
the  day-star,  I  begot  thee. 

The  Lord  hath  sworn,  and 
he  will  not  repent :  he  hath 
said,  speaking  of  thee,  the  God- 
Man  :  Thou  art  a  Priest  for 
ever,  according  to  the  order  of 
Melchisedech. 

Therefore,  0  Father  I  the 
Lord,  thy  Son,  is  at  thy  right 
hand  :  he  hath  broken  kings 
in  the  day  of  his  wrath. 

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 :  there- 
fore, shall  he  lift  up  the  head. 

Ant.  With  thee  is  the  prin- 
cipality in  the  day  of  thy 
strength,  in  the  brightness  of 
the  Saints  ;  for  the  Father  has 
said  to  thee :  From  the  womb, 
before  the  day-star,  I  begot 
thee. 

The  second  Psalm  praises  our  Lord  for  the  Cove- 
nant he  has  made  with  his  people,  and  for  the  Re- 
demption 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  heavenly  food, 
that  preserves  from  death. 

Ant.  Redemptionem  mi- 
sit  Dominus  populo  suo, 
mandavit  in  aeternum  testa- 
men  turn  suum. 


Juravit  Dominus,  et  non 
pcenitebit  eum  :  *  Tu  es  sa- 
cerdos  in  aeternum,  secun- 
dum ordinem  Melchisedech. 


Dominus  a  dextris  tuis  : 
*  confregit  in  die  irae  suae 

reges. 

Judicabit  in  nationibus, 
implebit  ruinas  :  *  conquas- 
sabit  capita  in  terra  multo- 
rum. 

De  torrente  in  via  bibet ;  * 
propterea  exaltabit  caput. 


Ant.  Tecum  principium 
in  die  virtutis  tuae,  in  splen- 
doribus  Sanctorum  :  ex  ute- 
ro ante  luciferum  genui  te. 


Ant.  He  hath  sent  Re- 
demption to  his  people  ;  he 
hath  commanded  his  covenant 
for  ever. 


psalm  110. 


I  will  praise  thee,  O  Lord, 
with  my  whole  heart :  in  the 


Confitebor,  tibi,  Domine, 
in  toto  corde  meo  :  *  in  con- 


236 


CHEISTMAS. 


cilio  justorum  et  congrega- 
tione. 

Magna  opera  Domini :  * 
exquisita  in  omnes  volun- 
tates  ejus. 

Confessio  et  magnificen- 
tia  opus  ejus  :  *  et  justitia 
ejus  manet  in  sseculum  sse- 
culi. 

Memoriam  fecit  mirabi- 
lium  suorum,  misericors  et 
miserator  Dominus  :  *  es- 
cam  dedit  timentibus  se. 


Memor  erit  in  sseculum 
testamenti  sui :  *  virtutem 
operum  suorum  annuntiabit 
populo  suo. 

Ut  det  illis  haereditatem 
gentium:  *  opera  manuum 
ejus  Veritas  et  judicium. 

Fidelia  omnia  mandata 
ejus,  confirmata  in  speculum 
sseculi  :  *  facta  in  veritate 
et  sequitate. 

Redemptionem  misit  po- 
pulo suo  :  *  mandavit 
in  asternum  testamentum 
suum. 

Sanctum  et  terribile  no- 
men  ejus:  *  initium  sapien- 
tial timor  Domini. 

Intellectus  bonus  omni- 
bus facientibus  eum  :  *  lau- 
datio  ejus  manet  in  sascu- 
lum  saeculi. 

Ant.  Redemptionem  mi- 
sit  Dominus  populo  suo, 
mandavit  in  aetemura  tes- 
tamentum suum. 


counsel  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  mag- 
nificence :  and  his  justice  con- 
tinueth  for  ever  and  ever. 

He  hath  made  a  remem- 
brance 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. 

He  will  be  mindful  for  ever 
of  his  covenant  with  men :  he 
urill  come  and  will  show  forth 
to  his  people  the  power  of  his 
works. 

That  he  may  give  them,  his 
Church,  the  inheritance  of  the 
Gentiles  :  the  works  of  his 
hand  are  truth  and  judgment. 

All  his  commandments  are 
faithful,  confirmed  for  ever  and 
ever:  made  in  truth  and  equity. 

He  hath  sent  Redemption 
to  his  people:  he  hath,  thereby, 
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  con- 
tinueth  for  ever  and  ever. 

Ant.  He  hath  sent  Re- 
demption to  his  people ;  he 
hath  commanded  his  cove- 
nant for  ever. 


The  third  Psalm  tells  the  happiness  and  hopes 
of  the  just  man,  on  the  day  of  Jesus'  Birth.     In  the 


CHEISTMAS  DAY:   SECOND  VESPERS. 


237 


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  en- 
lightened by  him :  but,  wo  to  the  sinner  that  will 
not  receive  him  ! 


Ant.  To  the  upright  of  heart 
a  Light  has  risen  up  in  dark- 
ness ; — the  merciful,  and  com- 
passionate, and  just  Lord. 


Ant.  Exortum  est  in 
tenebris  lumen  rectis  corde : 
misericors  et  miserator,  et 
Justus  Dominus. 


PSALM  111. 


Blessed  is  the  man  that 
feareth  the  Lord  :  he  shall  de- 
light exceedingly  in  his  com- 
mandments. 

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  re- 
maineth  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 
the  man  that  showeth  mercy 
and  lendeth  ;  he  shall  order 
his  words  with  judgment :  be- 
cause he  shall  not  be  moved 
for  ever. 

The  just  shall  be  in  everlast- 
ing remembrance:  he  shall  not 
fear  the  evil  hearing. 

His  heart  is  ready  to  hope  in 
the  Lord;  his  heart  is  strength- 
ened :  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  : 


Beatus  vir,  qui  timet  Do- 
minum  :  *  in  mandatis  ejus 
volet  nimis. 

Potens  in  terra  erit  se- 
men ejus  :  *  generatio  rec- 
torum  benedicetur. 

Gloria  et  divitise  in  domo 
ejus :  *  et  justitia  ejus  ma- 
net  in  saBculum  saeculi 

Exortum  est  tenebris  lu- 
men rectis:  *  misericors  et 
miserator,  et  Justus. 


Jucundus  homo  qui  mise- 
retur  et  commodat,  disponet 
sermones  suos  in  judicio:  * 
quia  in  seternum  non  com- 
movebitur. 

In  memoria  seterna  erit 
Justus:  *  ab  auditione  mala 
non  timebit. 

Paratum  cor  ejus  sperare 
in  Domino,  confirmatum  est 
cor  ejus:  *  non  commovebi- 
tur  donee  despiciat  inimi- 
cos  suos. 

Dispersit,  dedit  paupe- 
ribus,  justitia  ejus  ma- 
net  in  sseculum  saeculi :  * 


238 


CHRISTMAS. 


cornu    ejus    exaltabitur  in 
gloria. 

Peccator  videbit  et  irasce- 
tur,  dentibus  suis  fremet  et 
tabescet  :  *  desiderium  pec- 
catorum  peribit. 

Ant.  Exortum  est  in  te- 
nebris  lumen  rectis  corde  : 
misericors  et  miserator  et 
Justus  Doniinus. 


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.  To  the  upright  of 
heart  a  Light  is  risen  up  in 
darkness  ; — the  merciful,  and 
compassionate,  and  just  Lord. 


The  fourth  Psalm  expresses  the  cry  of  distress 
sent  forth  to  its  Deliverer  by  the  human  race,  when 
in  the  depth  of  its  misery  and  degradation.  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. 

Ant.  Apud  Dominum  Ant.  With  the  Lord,  there 
misericordia,  et  copiosa  is  merciful  forgiveness ;  and 
apud  eum  redemptio.  with  him,  a  plentiful  Redemp- 

tion. 

psalm  129. 


De  profundis  clamavi  ad 
te,  Domine  :  *  Domine,  ex- 
audi  vocem  meam. 

Fiant  aures  tuae  inten- 
dentes:  *  in  vocem  depreca- 
tionis  mese. 

Si  iniquitates  observave- 
ris,  Domine:  *  Domine,  quis 
sustinebit  1 

Quia  apud  te  propitiatio 
est:  *  et  propter  legem  tuam 
sustinui  te,  Domine. 


Sustinuit  anima  mea  in 
verbo  ejus:  *  speravit  anima 
mea  in  Domino. 


From  the  depths  have  I, 
thy  people,  cried  to  thee,  O 
Lord:  Lord  hear  my  voice. 

Let  thine  ears  be  attentive 
to  the  voice  of  my  supplica- 
tion. 
_  If  thou  wilt  observe  iniqui- 
ties, 0  Lord,  Lord,  who  shall 
endure  it  1 

For  with  thee  there  is  mer- 
ciful forgiveness ;  and  by 
reason  of  thy  law,  I  have 
waited,  all  these  long  ages,  for 
thee,  O  Lord. 

My  soul  hath  relied  on  his 
word  ;  my  soul  hath  hoped  in 
the  Lord. 


CHRISTMAS   DAY:   SECOND  VESPERS. 


239 


From  the  morning  watch 
even  nntil  night,  let  Israel 
hope  in  the  Lord. 

Because  with  the  Lord  there 
is  mercy,  and  with  him  plen- 
tiful redemption. 

This  day  he  hath  been  born 
among  us,  and  he  shall  redeem 
Israel  from  all  his  iniquities. 

Ant.  With  the  Lord,  there 
is  merciful  forgiveness ;  and 
with  him,  a  plentiful  Kedemp- 
tion. 


A  custodia  matutina  us- 
que ad  noctem  :  *  speret 
Israel  in  Domino. 

Quia  apud  Dominum  mi- 
sericordia:  *  et  copiosa  apud 
eum  redemptio. 

Et  ipse  redimet  Israel :  * 
ex  omnibus  iniquitatibus 
ejus. 

Ant.  Apud  Dominum 
misericordia,  et  copiosa 
apud  eum  redemptio. 


The  fifth  Psalm  celebrates  the  Ark  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  of  his  Church,  which  begins,  to-day, 
in  Bethlehem;  let  him  arise,  and,  together  with 
Mary,  the  Queen  of  mercy,  govern  us.  Henceforth, 
he  is  to  dwell  among  us — console  us  in  all  our  tri- 
bulations— 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  immu- 
table 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  ever- 
lasting ages. 


Ant.  I  will  set  upon  thy 
throne,  0  David,  one  of  the 
fruit  of  thy  womb. 


Ant.  De  fructu  ventris 
tui  ponam  super  sedem  tu- 
am. 


psalm  131. 


0  Lord,  remember  David, 
and  all  his  meekness. 


Memento,  Domine,  Da- 
vid :  *  et  omnis  mansuetu- 
dinis  ejus. 


240 


CHRISTMAS. 


Sicut  juravit  Domino  :  * 
votum  vovit  Deo  Jacob. 

Si  introiero  in  taberna- 
culum  domus  meae  :  *  si 
ascendero  in  lectum  strati 
mei. 

Si  dedero  somnum  oculis 
meis  :  *  et  palpebris  meis 
dormitationem. 

Et  requiem  temporibus 
meis,  donee  inveniam  locum 
Domino  :  *  tabernaculum 
Deo  Jacob. 

Ecce  audivimus  earn  in 
Ephrata  :  #  invenimus  earn 
in  campis  silvse. 

Introibimus  in  taberna- 
culum ejus  :  *  adorabimus 
in  loco  ubi  steterunt  pedes 
ejus. 

Surge,  Domine,  in  requi- 
em tuam  :  *  tu  et  area  sanc- 
tificationis  tuse. 

Sacerdotes  tui  induantur 
justitiam  :  *  et  Sancti  tui 
exsultent. 

Propter  David  servumtu- 
um  :  *  non  avertas  faciem 
Christi  tui. 

Juravit  Dominus  David 
veritatem,  et  non  frustra- 
bitur  earn  :  *  De  fructu  ven- 
tris  tui  ponam  super  sedem 
tuam. 

Si  custodierint  filii  tui 
testamentum  meum  :  *  et 
testimonia  mea  haec,  quae 
docebo  eos. 

Et  filii  eorum  usque  in 
saBculum  :  *  sedebunt  super 
sedem  tuam. 

Quoniam  elegit  Dominus 
Sion  :  *  elegit  earn  in  habi- 
tationem  sibi. 


How  he  swore  to  the  Lord  : 
he  vowed  a  vow  to  the  God  of 
Jacob. 

"If  I  shall  enter  into  the 
"tabernacle  of  my  house  :  if 
"I  shall  go  up  into  the  bed 
"  wherein  I  lie  ; 

"  If  I  shall  give  sleep  to  my 
"  eyes  :  or  slumber  to  my  eye- 
"lids, 

"  Or  rest  to  my  temples, 
until  I  find  out  a  place  for  the 
"Lord,  a  tabernacle  for  the 
"God  of  Jacob." 

Behold  !  we  have  heard  of 
it  that  it  was  in  Bethlehem  of 
Ephrata ;  we  found  it  in  the 
fields  of  the  wood. 

We  will  go  into  his  taber- 
nacle ;  we  will  adore  in  the 
place  where  his  feet  have 
stood. 

Arise,  O  Lord,  into  thy  rest- 
ing place ;  thou  and  Mary,  the 
Ark  which  thou  hast  sanctified. 

Let  thy  priests  be  clothed 
with  justice :  and  let  thy  Saints 
rejoice. 

For  thy  servant  David's 
sake,  0  heavenly  Father  !  turn 
not  away  the  face  of  thy 
Christ. 

The  Lord  hath  sworn  truth 
to  David,  and  he  will  not  make 
it  void  :  "  Of  the  fruit  of  thy 
"womb,  I  will  set  upon  thy 
"  throne. 

"If  thy  children  will  keep 
"  my  covenant,  and  these  my 
"testimonies,  which  I  shall 
"  teach  them ; 

"Their  children  also,  for 
"  evermore,  shall  sit  upon  thy 
"throne." 

For  the  Lord  hath  chosen 
Sion,  his  Church :  he  hath 
chosen  it  for  his  dwelling. 


CHRISTMAS  DAY  :  SECOND  VESPERS. 


241 


He  hath  said :  "  This  is  my 
"  rest  for  ever  and  ever  :  here 
"  will  I  dwell  for  I  have  chosen 
"it. 

"Blessing,  I  will  bless  her 
"widow,  by  the  Birth  of  my 
"Son;  in  Bethlehem,  I  will 
"  satisfy  her  poor  with  Bread. 

"I  will  clothe  her  priests 
"with  salvation :  and  her 
"  Saints  shall  rejoice  with  ex- 
"  ceeding  great  joy. 

"  There,  in  my  Church,  will 
"I  bring  forth  the  horn,  the 
"  strength,  of  David  :  I  have 
"prepared  a  lamp  for  my 
"Christ. 

"  His  enemies  I  will  clothe 
"with  confusion:  but  upon 
"him  shall  my  sanctification 
"  flourish." 

Ant.  I  will  set  upon  thy 
throne,  0  David!  one  of  the 
fruit  of  thy  womb. 


Hsec  requies  mea  in  sae- 
culum  sseculi :  *  hie  habi- 
tabo,  quoniam  elegi  earn. 

Viduam  ejus  benedicens 
benedicam  :  *  pauperes  ejus 
saturabo  panibus. 

Sacerdotes  ejus  induam 
salutari :  *  et  Sancti  ejus 
exsultatione  exsultabunt. 

Illuc  producam  cornu  Da- 
vid :  *  paravi  lucernam 
Christo  meo. 


Inimicos  ejus  induam  con- 
fusione  :  *  super  ipsum  au- 
tem  efflorebit  sanctificatio 
mea. 

Ant.  De  fructu  ventris 
tui  ponam  super  sedem  tu- 
am. 


CAPITULUM. 

(Heb.  1.) 


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. 


Multifariam,  multisque 
modis  olim  Deus  loquens 
patribus  in  Prophetis :  no- 
vissime  diebus  istis  locutus 
est  nobis  in  Filio,  quern 
constituit  haeredem  univer- 
sorum,  per  quern  fecit  et 
ssecula. 


HYMN.* 


O  Jesu  !  Redeemer  of  man- 
kind !  born  before  the  light 
was  made,  and  born  of  the 
Eternal  Father,  equal  to  him 
in  infinite  glory ; 


Jesu,  redemptor  omnium, 
Quern,  lucis  ante  originem, 
Parem  paternse  gloriae 
Pater  supremus  edidit  j 


*  For  the   version,  as  preserved  in  the  Monastic   Rite,    see 
page  130. 

R 


242 


CHRISTMAS. 


Tu  lumen  et  splendor  Pa- 
tris, 
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    sump- 
seris. 

Testatur  hoc  prsesens  dies, 
Currens  per  anni  circulum, 
Quod  solus  e  sinu  Patris 
Mundi  salus  adveneris. 


Hunc  astra,  tellus,  sequora, 
Hunc  omne  quod  ccelo  sub- 

est, 
Salutis  auctorem  novae 
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  ssecula. 

Amen. 

^.  Notum  fecit  Dominus, 
alleluia. 

I£.  Salutare  suum,  alle- 
luia. 

ANTIPHON  OF 

Hodie  Christus  natus  est ; 
hodie  Salvator  apparuit ; 
hodie  in  terra  canunt  An- 
geli  •  lsetantur  Archangeli ; 
hodie  exsultant  justi,  di- 
centes  :  Gloria  in'  excelsis 
Deo,  alleluia. 


O  thou  the  light  and  bright- 
ness of  the  Father !  O  thou 
the  everlasting  hope  of  all 
men  !  hear  the  prayers  offered 
thee  by  thy  servants,  through- 
out the  world. 

Be  mindful,  0  Creator  of  all 
things  !  that  heretofore  thou 
didst  assume  a  Body  like  unto 
ours,  and  wast  born  from  the 
sacred  womb  of  a  Virgin. 

This  present  Day,  which  the 
year  has  brought  round  to  us, 
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- 
ven, greet  this  the  Author  of 
their  new  salvation,  with  a 
new  Canticle. 

And  we,  who  have  been  re- 
deemed by  the  stream  of  thy 
precious  Blood,  we,  too,  pay 
thee  the  tribute  of  this  Hymn, 
in  honour  of  thy  Birth-Day. 

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. 

$".  The  Lord  hath  made 
known,  alleluia. 

1$.  His  Salvation,  alleluia. 

the  Magnificat. 

This  day,  Christ  is  born  ; 
this  day,  the  Saviour  hath  ap- 
peared ;  this  day,  the  Angels 
sing  on  earth ;  the  Archan- 
gels rejoice  ;  this  day,  the  just 
exult,  saying :  Glory  be  to 
God  in  the  highest,  alleluia. 


The  Canticle,  Magnificat,  page  107. 


CHRISTMAS  DAY:  SECOND  VESPERS. 


243 


XET  US  PEAV. 

Grant,  we  beseech  thee,  0 
Almighty  God,  that  we  who 
groan  under  the  old  captivity 
of  sin,  maybe  freed  therefrom 
by  the  new  Birth  of  thine 
Only  Begotten  Son.  Through 
the  same,  &c. 


OEEMUS. 

Concede,  qusesumus,  om- 
nipotens  Deus,  ut  nos  Uni- 
geniti  tui  nova  per  carnem 
Nativitas  liberet,  quos  sub 
peccati  jugo  vetusta  servitus 
tenet.    Per  eumdem. 


Commemoration  of  St.  Stephen. 


Ant.  But  Stephen,  full  of 
grace  and  fortitude,  did  great 
signs  among  the  people. 

$".  Thou  hast  crowned  him, 
O  Lord,  with  glory  and  ho- 
nour. 

I£.  And  hast  placed  him 
over  the  works  of  thy  hands. 


Ant.  Stephanus  autem 
plenus  gratia  et  fortitudine, 
faciebat  signa  magna  in  po- 
pulo. 

'ftf.  Gloria  et  honore  coro- 
nasti  eum,  Domine. 

I£.  Et  constituisti  eum 
super  opera  manuum  tua- 
rum. 


LET  US  PEAY. 

Grant,  0  Lord,  we  beseech 
thee,  that  we  may  imitate  him 
whose  memory  we  celebrate, 
so  as  to  learn  to  love  even  our 
enemies  :  because,  we  now 
solemnise  his  martyrdom,  who 
knew  how  to  pray,  even  for  his 
persecutors,  to  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  thy  Son.  Who  liveth, 
<kc. 


OEEMUS. 

Da  nobis,  quaesumus,  Do- 
mine, imitari  quod  colimus, 
ut  discamus  et  inimicos  di- 
ligere  :  quia  ejus  natalitia 
celebramus,  qui  novit  etiam 
pro  persecutoribus  exorare 
Dominum  nostrum  Jesum 
Christum  Filium  tuum.  Qui 
tecum. 


For  Compline,  see  page  109. 


244  CHRISTMAS. 

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  Mar- 
tyrology  of  this  25th  of  December.  Dioclesian  and  his 
colleagues  in  the  Empire  had  recently  published  the 
famous  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  faith- 
ful of  the  same  City  were  ready  for  the  combat,  and 
feared  not  to  brave  the  Emperor's  power,  by  conti- 
nuing to  frequent  their  Church,  which  was  con- 
demned 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  build- 
ing. 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."  Where- 
upon 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 


CHRISTMAS  DAT:  AFTER  COMPLINE.  245 

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,  our  Emmanuel,  who  had  come  from 
heaven  to  dwell  among  us.  Let  us,  after  the  ex- 
ample 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. 

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  unc- 
tion 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 
c  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  may  est  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  him  as 
'  affectionately  as  thou  pleasest,  and  will  not  call  it 

too   much  freedom,  but  will   set  it  down  to  thy 

love."1 

1  Meditations  on  the  Life  of  Christ,  by  St.  Bonaventure. 


246 


CHRISTMAS. 


Asa  conclusion  to  our  Feast,  we  give  two  favourite 
Pieces  of  the  Middle-Ages,  whereby  our  Fathers  ex- 
pressed 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  11th  century, 
and,  consequently,  it  must  have  been  written  earlier 
than  the  date  usually  assigned  to  it. 


SEQUENCE. 


Laetabundus 
Exsultet  fidelis  chorus. 
Alleluia. 
Regem  regum 
Intactas  profudit  torus  : 
Res  niiranda  ! 
Angelus  Consilii 
Natus  est  de  Virgine, 
Sol  de  Stella. 
Sol  occasum  nesciens, 
Stella  semper  rutilans, 
Semper  clara. 
Sicut  sidus  radium, 
Profert  Virgo  Filiuni 
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  caeca. 


Let  the  choir  of  all  the  faith- 
ful exult  in  their  joy.  Alle- 
luia ! 

The  Virgin's  womb  hath 
given  us  the  King  of  Kings  ! 
O  wonderful  mystery ! 

The  Angel  of  the  great  Coun- 
sel 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, 
so  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. 

Isaias  had  foretold  all  this  ; 
and  the  Jews,  though  they 
knew  the  prophecy  by  heart, 
see  not  its  accomph^hment  in 
this  mystery. 


CHEISTMAS  DAY:  AFTEK  COMPLINE. 


247 


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  1 

"  This  is  the  Child,  of  whom 
"  thy  books  tell  thee :  He  is  the 
"  Son  of  a  Virgin-Mother." 

Amen. 


Si  non  suis  vatibus, 
Credat  vel  gentilibus, 
Sibyllinis  versibus 
Hsec  praedicta : 

Infelix,  propera, 
Crede  vel  Vetera  : 
Cur  damnaberis,  gens 
sera? 

Quern  docet  littera 
Natum  considera  : 
Ipsum  genuit  puerpera. 

Amen. 


mi- 


The  second  Piece  is  a  Sequence  in  honour  of  the 
most  Holy  Mother  of  God.  It  belongs  to  the  15th 
century.  It  is  one  of  the  many  imitations  of  the 
Easter  Sequence,  Victimce  Paschali,  which  are  to  be 
found  in  many  of  the  Missals  of  the  15th  and  16th 
centuries. 


SEQUENCE. 


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,  0  Mary,  Virgin  most 
merciful  and  kind  ! 

How  thou,  the  creature  of 
Him  that  was  born  of  thee, 
didst  become  his  Mother  1 

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. 


Virgini  Mariae  laudes 
Intonent  Christiani. 

Eva  tristis  abstulit ; 
Sed  Maria  protulit 
Natum,  qui  redemit 
Peccatores. 
Mors  et  vita  modulo 
Convenere  mirando  : 
Mariae  Filius 
Regnat  Deus. 
Die  nobis,  Maria, 
Virgo  clemens  et  pia  : 
Quomodo  facta  es  geni- 
trix, 
Cum  tu  sis  plasma 
De  te  nascentis  1 
Angelus  est  testis 
Ad  me  missus  coelestis. 
Natus   est   ex   me    spes 
mea; 
Sed  incredula 
Manet  Judaea. 


248 


CHEISTMAS. 


Credendum  est  magis  soli 
Gabrieli  Forti, 
Quam  Judseorum 
Pravae  cohorti. 
Scimus  Christum  proces- 
sisse 
Ex  Maria  vere  : 
Tu  nobis  nate, 

Rex  !  miserere. 
Amen. 


Faith  must  be  had  to  Ga- 
briel, the  Power  of  God,  rather 
than  to  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. 


dec.  26.    st.  stephen.  249 

December  26. 
SAINT  STEPHEN,  THE  FIRST  MARTYR. 


St.  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,1  and  the  Blessed  among 
w  women  to  Him  that  is  Blessed  above  all.  She 
"  tell  us  *  #  that  now  the  veils  of  prophecy  are 
"  drawn  aside,  and  the  counsel  of  God  is  accom- 
"  plished.  *  *  Is  there  anything  capable  of  dis- 
"  tracting  us  from  this  sweet  Birth  ?  On  what  else 
"  shall  we  fix  our  eyes  ?  *  *  Lo  !  whilst  Jesus  is 
"  permitting  us  thus  to  caress  him;  whilst  he  is  over- 
"  whelming  us  with  the  greatness  of  these  mysteries, 
"and  our  hearts  are  riveted  in  admiration — there 
"  comes  before  us  Stephen,  full  of  grace  and  forti- 
"  tude,  doing  great  wonders  and  signs  among  the 
"people.2  Is  it  right,  that  we  turn  from  our  King, 
"  to  look  on  Stephen,  his  soldier  ?  No — 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  open- 
ing of  a  Sermon  of  St.  Fulgentius  for  the  Feast  of 
St.  Stephen :  "  Yesterday,  we  celebrated  the  temporal 

1  Ps.  xliv.  3.  2  Acts,  vi.  8. 


250  CHEISTMAS. 

"  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  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  God,  assumed  to  himself  the  lowly 
"  raiment  of  flesh,  and  entered  the  battle-field  of 
"  this  world :  Stephen,  laying  aside  the  perishable 
"  garment  of  the  body,  ascended  to  the  palace  of 
"  heaven,  there  to  reign  for  ever.  Jesus  descended 
"  veiled  in  our  flesh :  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,  was  Jesus  wrapped,  for  our  sakes,  in 
"  swaddling-clothes :  to-day,  was  Stephen  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  ;  Thomas,  the  Martyr  of  the  Liberties  of 
the  Church ;  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  Proto-Martyr,  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 


DEC.   26.      ST.   STEPHEN.  251 

honour  should  be  shown  to  Martyrdom;  for,  Martyr- 
dom is  the  Creature's  testimony,  and  return  to  his 
Creator  for  all  the  favours  bestowed  on  him :  it  is 
Man  s  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  given  to 
man.  The  Son  of  God  is  sent  to  instruct  mankind ; 
he  sows  the  seed  of  his  divine  word  ;  and  his  works 
give  testimony  to  his  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  its  being 
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 
continue  throughout  all  ages,  she  will  triumph  over 
all  obstacles,  by  the  blood  of  her  Martyrs,  the  mem- 
bers of  Christ :  this  their  blood  will  mingle  with 
that  of  their  Divine  Head,  and  their  sacrifice  be 
united  to  his. 

The  Martyrs  shall  bear  the  closest  resemblance  to 
their  Lord  and  King.  They  shall  be,  as  he  said,  like 
lambs  among  wolves.1  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  ;2 — the  Martyrs, 
immolated,  and  yet  conquerors  of  the  world,  will 
prove,  and  with  a  testimony  which  even  the  world 
itself  will  understand,  that  the  Christ  whom  they 

1  St.  Luke,  x.  3.  2 1.  Cor.  i.  24. 


252  CHRISTMAS. 

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. 

Now,  the  glorious  Martyr-band  of  Christ  is  headed 
by  St.  Stephen.  His  name  signifies  the  Crowned; — 
a  conqueror  like  him  could  not  be  better  named.  He 
marshals,  in  the  name  of  Christ,  the  white-robed 
army,  as  the  Church  calls  the  Martyrs  ;  for,  he  was 
the  first,  even  before  the  Apostles  themselves,  to  re- 
ceive the  summons,  and  right  nobly  did  he  answer 
it.  Stephen  courageously  bore  witness,  in  the  pre- 
sence 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  stone  him  to  death.  Amidst  the 
pelting  of  the  blood-drawing  missives,  he,  like  a  true 
soldier,  flinches  not,  but  stands,  (as  St.  Gregory  of 
JSTyssa  so  beautifully  describes  it,)  as  though  snow- 
flakes  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  our  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 


DEC.    26.      ST.   STEPHEN.  253 

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  Re- 
surrection of  the  miraculous  Invention  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  Sove- 
reign 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  from  the  sim- 
plicity he  had  learnt  from  that  Mystery,  that  he 
needed  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  is,  under  his  borrowed  majesty,  this 
prince-tributary  of  Rome ;  nay,  than  Caesar- Augustus 
himself,  whose  world-wide  empire  has  no  other  des- 
tiny than  this — to  serve  as  handmaid  to  the  Church, 


254  CHRISTMAS. 


which  is  to  be  founded  by  this  Babe,  whose  name 
stands  humbly  written  in  the  official  registry  of 
Bethlehem. 


MASS 


The  Introit  is  composed  of  the  words  of  the  holy 
Martyr,  who,  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  one  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  is  come  to  teach  her  by  his  own  example. 


INTKOIT. 

Sederunt  principes,  et  ad-  Princes     sat,     and     spoke 

versum  Hie  loquebantur ;  et  against  me ;  and  sinners  per- 

iniqui  persecuti  sunt  me  ;  secuted  me  :  help  me,  0  Lord 

adjuva   me,   Domine  Deus  my  God,  for  thy  servant  hath 

meus,  quia  servus  tuus  ex-  practised  thy  commandments, 
ercebatur  in  tuis  justifica- 
tionibus. 

Ps.  Beati  immaculati  in  Ps.  Blessed  are  the  undefiled 

via,  qui  ambulant  in  lege  in  the  way,  who  walk  in  the 

Domini,     "ff.  Gloria  Patri.  law  of  the  Lord.    "fT.  Glory, 

Sederunt.  <kc.    Princes  sat,  &c. 

In  the  Collect,  the  Church  asks,  for  both  her- 
self 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  sjDeaks 
the  praise  of  St.  StejDken,  who  was  the  first  to  follow 
our  Saviour's  example. 


DEC.   26.      ST.   STEPHEN. 


255 


COLLECT. 


Grant,  0  Lord,  we  beseech 
thee,  that  we  may  imitate  him 
whose  memory  we  celebrate, 
so  as  to  learn  to  love  even  our 
enemies  ;  because  we  now 
solemnise  his  martyrdom,  who 
knew  how  to  pray,  even  for 
his  persecutors,  to  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  thy  Son.  Who 
liveth,  dec. 


Da  nobis,  qusesumus,  Do- 
mine,  imitari  quod  colimus : 
ut  discamus  et  inimicos  di- 
ligere ;  quia  ejus  natalitia 
celebramus,  qui  novit  etiam 
pro  persecutoribus  exorare 
Dominum  nostrum  Jesum 
Christum  Filium  tuum.  Qui 
tecum. 


Commemoration  of  Christmas  Day. 


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 
Only  Begotten  Son.  Through 
the  same,  dec. 


OREMTJS. 

Concede,  qusesumus,  om- 
nipotens  Deus  :  ut  nos  Uni- 
geniti  tui  nova  per  carnem 
nativitas  liberet,  quos  sub 
peccati  jugo  vetusta  servi- 
tus  tenet.    Per  eumdem. 


EPISTLE. 


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  Liber- 
tines, and  of  the  Cyrenians, 
and  of  the  Alexandrians,  and 
of  them  that  were  of  Cilicia 
and  Asia,  disputing  with 
Stephen ;  and  they  were  not 
able  to  resist  the  wisdom  and 
the  spirit  that  spoke.  Now 
hearing  these  things,  they  were 
cut  to  the  heart,   and   they 


Lectio  Actuum  Apostolo- 
rum. 

Cap.  VI.  et  VII. 

In  diebus  illis,  Stephanus, 
plenus  gratia  et  fortitudine, 
faciebat  prodigia  et  signa 
magna  in  populo.  Surrexe- 
runt  autem  quidam  de  syn- 
agoga,  quse  appelatur  Li- 
bertinorum,  et  Cyrenen- 
sium,  et  Alexandrinorum, 
et  eorum  qui  erant  a  Cilicia 
et  Asia,  disputantes  cum 
Stephano,  et  non  poterant 
resistere  sapientise,  et  Spi- 
ritui  qui  loquebatur.  Au- 
dientes  autem  haec,  disse- 
cabantur  cordibus  suis,  et 


256 


CHRISTMAS. 


stridebant  dentibus  in  eum. 
Cum  autem  esset  Stephanus 
plenus  Spiritu  Sancto,  in- 
tendens  in  coehnn,  vidit 
gloriam  Dei,  et  Jesum  stan- 
tem  a  dextris  Dei.  Et  ait : 
Ecce  video  coelos  apertos,  et 
Filium  hominis  stantem  a 
dextris  Dei.  Exclamantes 
autem  voce  magna  conti- 
nuerunt  aures  suas,  et  im- 
petum  fecerunt  unanimiter 
in  eum.  Et  ejicientes  eum 
extra  civitatem,  lapidabant. 
Et  testes  deposuerunt  ves- 
timenta  sua  secus  pedes 
adolescentis,  qui  vocabatur 
Saulus.  Et  lapidabant  Ste- 
phanum  invocantem,  et  di- 
centem  :  Domine  Jesu,  sus- 
cipe  spiritum  meum.  Posi- 
tis  autem  genibus,  clamavit 
voce  magna,  dicens :  Do- 
mine, ne  statuas  illis  hoc 
peccatum.  Et  cum  hoc  dix- 
isset,  obdormivit  in  Do- 
mino. 


gnashed  with  their  teeth  at 
him.  But  Stephen  being  full 
of  the  Holy  Ghost,  looking  up 
stedfastly  to  heaven,  saw  the 
glory  of  God,  and  Jesus  stand- 
ing on  the  right  hand  of  God. 
And  he  said  :  Behold,  I  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. 


Thus,  0  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 


DEC.    26.      ST.   STEPHEN. 


257 


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  him- 
self from  his  throne  to  applaud  thee,  and  deck  thee 
with  the  Grown,  which  he  had  prepared  for  thee 
from  all  eternity  !  Now  that  thou  art  reigning  in 
the  kingdom  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. 


Princes  sat,  and  spoke 
against  me  :  and  the  wicked 
persecuted  me. 

~P~.  Help  me,  0  Lord  my 
God  :  save  me  for  thy  mercy's 
sake. 

Alleluia,  alleluia. 

$".  I  see  the  heavens  opened, 
and  Jesus  standing  at  the 
right  hand  of  the  power  of 
God.    Alleluia. 


Sederunt  principes,  et  ad- 
versum  me  loquebantur  :  et 
iniqui  persecuti  sunt  me. 

~ff.  Adjuva  me,  Domine 
Deus  meus ;  salvum  me 
fac  propter  misericordiam 
tuam. 

Alleluia,  alleluia. 

p.  Video  ccelos  apertos, 
et  Jesum  stantem  a  dextris 
virtutis  Dei.    Alleluia. 


GOSPEL. 


Sequel    of   the    holy  Gospel 
according  to  Matthew. 

Gh.  XXIII. 

At  that  time  :  Jesus  said  to 
the  Scribes  and  Pharisees : 
Behold,  I  send  to  you  Pro- 
phets, and  wise  men,  and 
scribes  ;  and  some  of  them  you 
will  put  to  death,  and  crucify, 
and  some  you  will  scourge  in 
your  synagogues,  and  perse- 
cute from  city  to  city :  that 
upon  you  may  come  all  the 
just  blood  that  hath  been  shed 
upon  the  earth,  from  the  blood 
of  Abel  the  just,  even  unto  the 
blood  of  Zacharias,  the  son  of 


Sequentia  sancti  Evangelii 
secundum  Matthaeum. 

Cap.  XXIII. 

In  illo  tempore  :  dicebat 
Jesus  scribis  et  Pharisaeis  : 
Ecce  ego  mitto  ad  vos  Pro- 
phetas,  et  sapientes,  et  scri- 
bas  ;  et  ex  illis  occidetis,  et 
crucifigetis,  et  ex  eis  flagel- 
labitis  in  synagogis  vestris, 
et  persequemini  de  civitate 
in  civitatem  :  ut  veniat  su- 
per vos  omnis  sanguis  Jus- 
tus, qui  effusus  est  super 
terram,  a  sanguine  Abel 
justi  usque  ad  sanguinem 
Zachariae,  filii  Barachise, 
S 


258  CHEISTMAS. 

quem  occidistis  inter  tern-  Barachias,  whom  you  killed 

plum  et  altare.    Amen  dico  between  the  temple  and  the 

vobis,   venient  hsec  omnia  altar.    Amen,  I  say  to  you,  all 

super  generationem  istam.  these  things  shall  come  upon 

Jerusalem,  Jerusalem,  quae  this    generation.     Jerusalem, 

occidis  Prophetas,  et  lapi-  Jerusalem,  thou  that  killest 

das  eos  qui  ad  te  missi  sunt,  the  Prophets,  and  stonest  them 

quoties     volui    congregare  that  are  sent  unto  thee,  how 

Alios  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   not  ?     Behold,  your 

enim  vobis,  non  me  videbi-  house  shall  be  left  to  you  de- 

tis   amodo,   donee    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 

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  Master,  they  have  shone  in 
the  darkness,  and  darkness  has  not  understood  their 
light.  Nevertheless,  many  have  received  their  testi- 
mony, and  the  seed  of  the  Martyrs'  blood  has  brought 
forth  in  them  the  rich  fruit  of  Faith.  The  Syna- 
gogue was  cast  off  by  God  for  its  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  love  for  them  tes- 
tify, that  we  are  grateful  for  the  noble  ministry  they 
have  fulfilled  in  the  Church,  and  are  still  fulfilling. 
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,  and  by  which 
she  evidences  the  divine  life  she  has  received  from 
her  almighty  Founder. 


DEC.   26.      ST.   STEPHEN. 


259 


During  the  Offertory,  the  Church  once  more  pro- 
claims 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. 


OFFEETOEY. 


The  Apostles  chose  Stephen, 
a  Levite,  full  of  faith  and  of 
the  Holy  Ghost,  whom  the 
Jews  stoned,  praying  and  say- 
ing :  Lord  Jesus,  receive  my 
spirit.    Alleluia. 


Elegerunt  Apostoli  Ste- 
phanum  Levitam,  plenum 
fide  et  Spiritu  Sancto;  quern 
lapidaverunt  Judaei  oran- 
tem,  et  dicentem  :  Domine 
Jesu,  accipe  spiritum  meum. 
Alleluia. 


SECEET. 


Receive,  0  Lord,  these  offer- 
ings in  memory  of  thy  Saints  ; 
and  as  their  sufferings  have 
made  them  glorious,  so  may 
our  devotion  render  us  free 
from  sin.    Through,  &c. 


Suscipe,  Domine,  munera 
pro  tuorum  commemora- 
tione  Sanctorum  ;  ut  sicut 
illos  passio  gloriosos  effecit, 
ita  nos  devotio  reddat  inno- 
cuos.  Per  Dominum. 


Commemoration  of  Christmas  Day. 


Sanctify,  0  Lord,  our  offer- 
ings, by  the  new  Birth  of 
thine  Only  Begotten  Son,  and 
cleanse  us  from  the  stains  of 
our  sins.    Through  the  same, 


Oblata,  Domine,  munera, 
nova  Unigeniti  tui  nativi- 
tate  sanctifica,  nosque  a  pec- 
catorum  nostrorum  maculis 
emunda.    Per  eumdem. 


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  yearnings  of  her  intense 
love,  and  derives  from  the  heavenly  Food  she  has 
received  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  got  the  superhu-. 
man  strength,  whereby  he  won  his  victory  and  Crown* 


260 


CHRISTMAS. 


COMMUNION. 


Video  coelos  apertos,  et 
Jesum  stantem  a  dextris 
virtutis  Dei :  Domine  Jesu, 
accipe  spiritum  menm,  et 
ne  statuas  illis  hoc  pecca- 
tum. 


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,  Do- 
mine, sumpta  mysteria :  et 
intercedente  beato  Ste- 
phano,  Martyre  tuo,  sempi- 
terna  protectione  confir- 
ment.    Per  Dominum. 


May  the  mysteries  we  have 
received,  0  Lord,  be  help  to 
us  :  and,  by  the  intercession 
of  the  blessed  Martyr  Ste- 
phen, strengthen  us  with 
thy  perpetual  protection. 
Through,  <kc. 


Commemoration  of  Christmas  Day. 


Praesta,  qusesumus,  omni- 
potens  Deus  ;  ut  natus  ho- 
die  Salvator  mundi,  sicut 
divinse  nobis  generationis 
est  auctor,  ita  et  immortali- 
tatis  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,  &c. 


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  comes  to  the  Capitulam.  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,  page 
234. 


DEC.    26.      ST.    STEPHEN. 


261 


CAPITULUM. 

(Acts,  VI.) 


But  Stephen,  full  of  grace 
and  fortitude,  did  great  won- 
ders and  signs  among  the 
people. 


Stephanus  autem  plenus 
gratia  et  fortitudine  facie - 
bat  prodigia,  et  signa  mag- 
na in  populo. 


HYMN* 


O  God !  thou  the  inheri- 
tance, Crown,  and  reward  of 
thy  Soldiers !  absolve  from  the 
bonds  of  our  sins  us  who  sing 
the  praises  of  thy  Martyr. 

For,  counting  the  joys  of 
the  world,  and  the  deceitful 
bait  of  its  caresses,  as  things 
embittered  with  gall,  thy 
Martyr  Stephen  obtained  the 
delights  of  heaven. 

Bravely  did  he  go  through, 
and  manfully  did  he  bear,  his 
pains;  and,  shedding  his  blood 
for  thy  sake,  he  now  possesses 
thy  eternal  gifts. 

Therefore,  most  merciful 
Father !  we  beseech  thee,  in 
most  suppliant  prayer,  forgive 
us,  thy  unworthy  servants,  our 
sins,  for  it  is  the  feast  of  thy 
Martyr's  triumph. 


Deus  tuorum  militum 
Sors,  et  corona,  premium, 
Laudes  canentes  Martyris 
Absolve  nexu  criminis. 

Hie  nempe  mundi  gaudia, 
Et  blanda  fraudum  pabula, 
Imbuta  felle  deputans, 
Pervenit  ad  ccelestia. 


Pcenas  cucurrit  fortiter, 
Et  sustulit  viriliter, 
Fundensque  pro  te  sangui- 

nem, 
iEterna  dona  possidet. 

Ob  hoc  precatu  supplici 
Te  poscimus,  Piissime, 
In  hoc  triumpho  Martyris, 
Dimitte  noxam  servulis. 


*  In  the  Monastic  Breviary,  it 

B.   breve.     Posuisti,  Domine, 

*  Super  caput  ejus.       Posuisti. 
V.   Coronam  de  lapide  pretioso. 

*  Super.     Gloria  Patri.     Gloria 
et  honore. 

Deus,  tuorum  militum 
Sors,  et  corona,  prsemium, 
Laudes  canentes  Martyris 
Absolve  nexu  criminis. 

Hie  nempe  mundi  gaudia, 
Et  blandimenta  noxia, 
Caduca  rite  deputans 
Pervenit  ad  ccelestia. 


is  as  follows  : — 

Pcenas  cucurrit  fortiter, 
Et  sustulit  viriliter 
Pro  te  effundens  sanguinem 
iEterna  dona  possidet. 

Ob  hoc  precatu  supplici 
Te  poscimus,  Piissime, 
In  hoc  triumpho  Martyris 
Dimitte  noxam  servulis. 

Gloria  tibi  Domine, 
Qui  natus  es  de  Virgine, 
Cum  Patre,  et  Saucto  Spiritu, 
la  sempiterna  ssecula. 
Amen. 


62 


CHRISTMAS. 


Jesu  tibi  sit  gloria, 
Qui  natus  es  de  Virgine, 
Cum  Patre  et  almo  Spiritu, 
In  sempiterna  ssecula. 

Amen. 

]v.  Stephanus  vidit  ccelos 
apertos. 

I£.  Vidit  et  introivit;  bea- 
tus  homo  cui  coeli  patebant. 


Ant.  Sepelierunt  Stepha- 
num  viri  timorati,  et  fece- 
runt  planctum  magnum  su- 
per eum. 

OREMUS. 

Da  nobis,  qusesumus.  Do- 
mine,  imitari  quod  colimus 
ut  discamus  et  inimicos  dili- 
gere,  quia  ejus  natalitia  cele- 
bramus,  qui  novit  etiam  pro 
persecutoribus  exorare  Do- 
minum  nostrum  Jesum 
Christum  Filium  tuum.  Qui 
tecum. 


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. 

p.  Stephen  saw  the  heavens 
opened. 

I£.  He  saw  and  entered  ; 
blessed  man,  to  whom  the 
heavens  opened. 

antiphon  of  the  Magnificat. 

Ant.  Devout  men  buried 
Stephen,  and  made  great 
mourning  over  him. 


LET  US  PEAY. 

Grant,  O  Lord,  we  beseech 
thee,  that  we  may  imitate  him 
whose  memory  we  celebrate, 
so  as  to  learn  to  love  even  our 
enemies,  because  we  now  so- 
lemnise his  martyrdom  who 
knew  how  to  pray,  even  for 
his  persecutors,  to  our  Lord, 
Jesus  Christ,  thy  Son.  Who 
liveth,  &c. 


Commemoration  of  St.  John. 


Ant.  Iste  est  Joannes,  qui 
supra  pectus  Domini  in 
ccena  recubuit :  beatus  Apos- 
tolus, cui  revelata  sunt  se- 
creta  ccelestia. 

$".  Valde  honorandus  est 
beatus  Joannes. 

Ijfc.  Qui  supra  pectus  Do- 
mini in  ccena  recubuit. 

OREMTJS. 

Ecclesiam  tuam,  Domine, 
benignus  illustra,  ut  beati 
Joannis  Apostoli  tui  et 
Evangelistae  illuminata  doc- 
trinis,  ad  dona  perveniat 
sempiterna. 


Ant.  This  is  John,  who 
leaned  upon  the  Lord's  breast 
at  the  Supper.  Blessed  Apos- 
tle, unto  whom  were  revealed 
heavenly  secrets. 

y.  Most  worthy  of  honour 
is  the  blessed  John. 

I£.  Who  leaned  upon  the 
Lord's  breast  at  the  Supper. 

LET  US  PRAY. 

Mercifully,  O  Lord,  en- 
lighten thy  Church,  that  being 
taught  by  blessed  John,  thy 
Apostle  and  Evangelist,  she 
may  come  to  thy  eternal  re- 
wards. 


DEC.    26.     ST.   STEPHEN. 


263 


Commemoration  of  Christmas  Day. 


Ant.  This  day,  Christ  is 
born ;  this  day,  the  Saviour 
hath  appeared ;  this  day,  the 
Angels  sing  on  earth ;  the 
Archangels  rejoice  ;  this  day, 
the  just  exult,  saying  :  Glory 
be  to  God  in  the  highest,  alle- 
luia. 

$".  The  Lord  hath  made 
known,  alleluia. 

1$.  His  Salvation,  alleluia. 


Ant.  Hodie  Christus  na- 
tus  est ;  hodie  Salvator  ap- 
paruit;  hodie  in  terra  canunt 
Angeli  :  laetantur  Archan- 
geli  :  hodie  exsultant  justi, 
dicentes  :  Gloria  in  excelsis 
Deo,  alleluia. 

]v  Notum  fecit  Dominus, 
alleluia. 

I£.  Salutare  suum,  alle- 
luia. 


LET  US   PKAY. 

Grant,  we  beseech  thee,  0 
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,  &c. 


OEEMXJS. 

Concede,  quaesumus,  om- 
nipotens  Deus,  ut  nos  Uni- 
geniti  tui  nova  per  carnem 
nativitas  liberet,  quos  sub 
peccatijugo  vetusta  servitus 
tenet.     Per  eumdem. 


In  honour  of  our  Protomartyr,  we  will  now  give  a 
selection  from  the  ancient  Liturgical  Hymns,  wherein 
his  merits  were  celebrated  by  the  various  Churches. 
We  begin  with  the  Hymn  composed  by  St.  Ambrose, 
and  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. 

Come,  ye  disciples  of  the 
Lord,  thus  let  us  sing  :  let  us 
give  praise  to  the  Martyr,  who 
was  the  first,  after  the  Re- 
deemer, to  follow  the  cross  of 
Jesus. 

For,  having  been  found,  by 


Stephano  primo  Martyri 
Cantemus  novum  canticum, 
Quod  dulce  sit  psallentibus, 
Op  em  ferat  credentibus. 

Psallamus  hoc  discipuli, 
Laudem  dicamus  Martyri, 
Qui  primus,  post  Eedemp- 

torem, 
Christi  secutus  est  crucem. 

Hie  enim  per  Apostolos 


264 


CHRISTMAS. 


Probatus  in  laudem  Dei, 
Vexilla  mortis  rapuit, 
Ut  praeferretur  omnibus. 

O  praeferenda  gloria  ! 
O  beata  victoria ! 
Hoc  meruisse  Stephanum 
Ut  sequeretur  Dominum. 

Ipse  martyr  egregius, 
Amore  Christi  praedicans, 
Sancto  repletus  Spiritu, 
Vultum  gerens  Angelicum. 

Ille  levatis  oculis, 
Vidit  Patrem  cum  Filio, 
Monstrans  in  coslis  vivere, 
Quern  plebs  quaerebat  per- 
dere. 

Judasi  magis  saeviunt, 
Saxaque  prensant  manibus, 
Currebant,  ut  occiderent 
Sacratum  Christi  militem. 

Iste  paratus  vertice, 
Gaudens  suscepit  lapides, 
Rogans  pro  eis  Dominum, 
Gaudens  tradidit  spiritum. 

Gloria  tibi,  Domine, 
Gloria  Unigenito, 
Una  cum  Sancto  Spiritu, 
In  sempiterna  saecula. 

Amen. 


the  Apostles,  to  be  fervent  in 
God's  service,  he  outran  all 
others  and  bore  off  the  Banner 
of  death. 

O  glorious  First  place  !  O 
blessed  victory  !  Stephen  to 
be  the  first  to  follow  his  Lord  ! 

The  noble  Martyr  preaches 
to  men  for  the  love  of  Christ, 
with  his  heart  full  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,  and  his  face  beaming 
as  an  Angel's. 

He  raises  his  eyes,  and  sees 
the  Father  with  the  Son  :  he 
tells  the  people  how  he  be- 
holds, living  in  heaven,  Him 
whom  they  had  sought  to  de- 
stroy. 

The  Jews  grow  the  more 
enraged,  and,  seizing  up  stones 
in  their  hands,  they  ran  out  to 
kill  the  holy  Soldier  of  Christ. 

He  was  ready,  and  standing 
up,  right  gladly  receives  the 
stones  :  he  asks  God  to  for- 
give them,  and  joyfully  breaths 
forth  his  soul. 

Glory  be  to  thee,  O  Lord  ! 
Glory  be  to  thine  Only  Be- 
gotten Son,  together  with  the 
Holy  Ghost,  for  everlasting 
ages. 

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.) 

Deus  omnipotens,  qui  Ec-  O  Almighty  God !  who  didst 

clesiae  tuae  sanctum  Stepha-  give  the  holy  Martyr  Stephen 

num     martyrem,     primum  to  thy  Church  as  the  first  sheaf 

messis  tuae  manipulum  de-  of  thy  harvest,  and  didst  make 

disti,  et  primitivam  oblatio-  this  First-offering  to  be  the 


DEC.    26.       ST.    STEPHEN. 


265 


herald  of  a  new  confession, 
because  he  had  yielded  such 
quick  ripened  fruits, — grant 
to  this  whole  assembly,  by  the 
intercession  of  thy  well-deser- 
ving Martyr,  that  he  may  aid 
the  Church  by  his  prayers,  as  he 
honoured  her  by  his  ministry. 


nem  novelise  confessionis 
ostendisti  prseconem,  quod 
fructus  maturescentes  exhi- 
buit ;  prsesta  universo  cce- 
tui,  intercessione  martyris 
meriti,  ut  Ecclesiam  tuam 
juvet  suffragio,  quam  orna- 
vit  ministerio. 


The  Gothic  Church  of  Spain  has,  in  her  Mozarabic 
Missal,  these  magnificent  praises  to  God  in  his  holy 
Martyr. 

(In  natali  S.  Stephani,  Contestatio.) 


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  spiri- 
tual blessing  unto  heavenly 
things  ;  whom  also  thou  didst 
associate  to  thine  Only  Be- 
gotten Son,  by  his  Incarnation 
and  his  redeeming  the  world 
by  the  cross.  Thou  didst  make 
to  reign  in  them  thy  Holy 
Spirit,  under  whose  guidance 
they  were  led,  by  the  sweet- 
ness 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  tes- 
timony of  thy  truth,  and  thy 
name  thereby  received  exceed- 
ing honour.  For  this  is  he, 
who  was  the  first  Confessor  of 
that  Name,  which  is  above  all 


Dignum  et  justum  est ; 
aequum  et  justum  est  :  te 
laudare,  teque  benedicere, 
tibi  gratias  agere,  omnipo- 
tens  sempiterne  Deus,  qui 
gloriaris  in  conventu  Sanc- 
torum tuorum  ;  quos  ante 
mundi  constitutionem  prae- 
electos  spirituali  in  ccelesti- 
bus  benediction  e  signasti  : 
quosque  Unigenito  tuo  per 
adsumptionem  carnis,  et 
cruris  redemptionem  soci- 
asti.  In  quibus  Spiritum 
tuum  Sanctum  regnare  fe- 
cisti ;  per  quern  ad  felicis 
martyrii  gloriam  pietatis 
tuse  favore  venerunt.  Digne 
igitur  tibi,  Domine  virtu- 
tum,  f esta  solemnitas  agitur ; 
tibi  hsec  dies  sacrata  cele- 
bratur  ;  qua  beati  Stephani 
primi  martyris  tui  sanguis 
in  tuse  veritatis  testimonio 
profusus,  magnificum  no- 
minis  tui  honorem  signavit. 
Hie  est  enim  illius  Nominis 
primus  Confessor,  quod  est 
supra  omne  nomen  :  in  quo 
unicum  salutis  nostras  prae- 
sidium,  Pater  aeterne,  posu- 
isti.      Hie  in  Ecclesia  tua 


266 


CHRISTMAS. 


quam  splendidum  ad  cunc- 
torum  animos  confirmandos, 
unicaelaudis  praecessitexem- 
plum  !  Hie  post  passionem 
Domini  nostri  Jesu  Christi, 
victoriae  palmam  primus 
invasit.  Hie  ut  levitico  ini- 
nisterio  per  Spiritum  {Sanc- 
tum ab  Apostolis  conse- 
cratus  est ;  niveo  candore 
confestim  emicuit,  martyrii 
cruore  purpureus.  O  be- 
nedictum  Abrahae  semen, 
Apostolicae  doctrinae,  et  do- 
minicae  crucis  prior  omnium 
f actus  imitator  et  testis  ! 
Merito  ccelos  apertos  vidit 
et  Jesum  stantem  ad  dexte- 
ram  Dei.  Digne  igitur  et 
juste  talem  sub  tui  nominis 
conf  essione  laudamus,  omni- 
potens  Deus  ;  quern  ad  tan- 
tam  gloriam  vocare  dignatus 
es.  Suffragia  ejus  nobis  pro 
tua  pietate  concede.  Talis 
pro  hac  plebe  precetur ; 
qualem  ilium  post  trophaea 
venientem  exsultans  Chris- 
tus  excepit.  Illi  pro  nobis 
oculi  sublimentur  ;  qui  ad- 
huc  in  hoc  mortis  corpore 
constituti,  stantem  ad  dex- 
teram  Patris  Filium  Dei  in 
ipsa  passionis  horaviderunt. 
Hie  pro  nobis  obtineat,  qui 
pro  persecutoribus  suis  dum 
lapidaretur,  orabat  ad  te, 
sancte  Deus,  Pater  omni- 
potens,perDominum  Jesum 
Christum  Filium  tuum,  qui 
pro  peccatis  nostris  nasci 
came  per  Virginem,  et  pati 
dignatus  est  mortem  :  ut 
martyres  suos  suo  pati  do- 
ceret  exemplo.  Cui  merito 
omnes  Angeli  atque  Arch- 
angeli  sine  cessatione  pro- 


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  oh  !  who  can  say  how 
grand  is  the  example,  and  how 
above  all  praise  1  This  is  he, 
that  was  the  first  to  seize  the 
palm  of  victory,  after  the  Pas- 
sion 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  straightways  shone  with  a 
snow-white  purity,  and  was 
vested  in  the  scarlet  of  a  mar- 
tyr's blood.  0  truly  noble 
child  of  Abraham  !  worthy  to 
become  the  first  follower  and 
witness  of  the  Apostles'  teach- 
ing, 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,  0  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  vic- 
tory. May  he  now,  for  our 
sakes,  lift  up  those  eyes,  which, 
during  this  his  mortal  life, 
and  in  the  hour  of  his  mar- 
tyrdom, beheld  the  Son  of  God 
standing  at  the  right  hand  of 
the  Father.  May  he  be  heard 
for  us,  who,  whilst  his  perse- 
cutors    were     stoning    him, 


DEC.   26.      ST.   STEPHEN. 


267 


prayed  for  them  unto  thee,  0  clamant,  dicentes  :  Sanctus, 
Holy  God,  Father  Almighty,  Sanctus,  Sanctus. 
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  suffer.  To  whom  most 
justly  do  all  the  Angels  and 
Archangels  cry  out  unceas- 
ingly, saying:  Holy,  Holy, 
Holy  ! 

Let  us  next  listen  to  the  Greek  Church  singing  the 
praises  of  our  Protomartyr.  She  thus  extols  him  in 
her  Mensea: 

(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  cer- 
nentibus  manifestante  ful- 
gorem  quo  fruitus  es,  lu- 
minisque  contemplationes, 
ccelis  tibi  inirabiliter  aper- 
tis,  o  martyrum  caput  et 
gloria. 


Illumined  in  thy  soul  with 
the  grace  of  the  Holy  Ghost, 
thy  face  shone  like  that  of  an 
Angel,  O  Stephen !  The  bright- 
ness that  was  within  sent  forth 
its  rays  upon  thy  body,  and 
thy  soul  evinced  to  the  be- 
holders the  light  and  contem- 
plation thou  didst  enjoy,  when 
the  heavens  were  miraculously 
opened  before  thee,  0  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,  and  by  which  ascend- 
ing, 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. 

Illustrious  by  thy  wonders 


Quasi  gradus  scalae,  ad 
ccelestem  ingressum  tibi  fu- 
erunt  lapidum  flocci,  super 
quos  ascendens  contempla- 
tus  es  stantem  Dominuin, 
ad  Patris  dexteram,  tibi 
offerentem  homonymam  co- 
ronam  sua  vivifica  dextera, 
cui  vicinus  adstas  victor 
gloriosus,athletarumque  pri- 
mitise. 


Signis  et  miraculis  corus- 


263 


CHRISTMAS. 


cans,  coelestibus  docuinen- 
tis,  impiorum  combussisti 
synedrium,  et  ab  illis  neca- 
tus  lapidibusque  obrutus, 
pro  injectantium.  tu  depre- 
catus  es  venia,  vocem  imi- 
tatus  Salvatoris,  in  cujus 
manus  commendasti  sacra- 
tissimum  spiritum  tuuni, 
Stephane. 

Regi  et  Domino  omnium 
nato  in  terra,  Stephanus 
perlucidus  offertur,  non  pre- 
tiosis  decoratus  gemmis,  sed 
ex  proprio  sanguine  flori- 
dus  :  at,  o  martyrum  ama- 
tores,  venite,  decerptis  car- 
minum  floribus  cingamus 
sertis  tempora,  et  hymnis 
alternantes  canamus :  qui 
sapientia  et  charitate  corus- 
cas  mente,  protomartyr 
Christi  Dei,  deprecare  pro 
nobis  pacem  et  magnam 
misericordiam. 

Tu  ad  auxilium  Apostolo- 
rum  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 
es,  radios  emittens  confes- 
sionis  tuae,  et  magnae  forti- 
tudinis  atque  generosissimse 
oppugnationis. 

Ilium  qui  ex  Matre  viri- 
nescia  apud  nos  hospitatus 
est,  martyrum  primus,  in 
immutabili  Patris  divinitate 
stantem  et  gloria,  in  coelis 
contemplatus  es. 

Heri  apud  nos  per  car- 


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  commend- 
ing thy  own  most  saintly 
spirit,  O  Stephen  ! 

To  the  King  and  Lord  of 
all,  who  is  born  on  our  earth, 
is  offered  the  beautiful  Ste- 
phen, not  adorned  with  pre- 
cious gems,  but  glittering  in 
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.  0  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,  0  well-named  Ste- 
phen, 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  Fa- 
ther, Him  that  was  born  of  a 
Virgin-Mother  and  became  a 
guest  among  us. 

Yesterday,  the  Master  be- 


DEC.   26.      ST.   STEPHEN. 


269 


came  a  guest  among  us  by- 
assuming  our  flesh  ;  to-day, 
his  servant  is  unguested  from 
the  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  errors  by 
words  of  wisdom,  and  proving 
his  doctrine  by  the  Scriptures, 
and  showing  them  that  Jesus, 
who  was  born  of  the  Virgin,  was 
very  Son  of  God.  The  Proto- 
martyr, the  god-like  Stephen, 
confounded  their  blasphe- 
mous impiety. 

Thou  art  beyond  all  praise, 
0  Stephen  !  No  tongue  can 
say  how  honestly  was  won  the 
laurel-branch  thou  bearest. 
No  mortal  mind  can  wreathe 
a  Grown  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 :  there- 
fore did  the  heavens  open  over 
thy  head,  and  God  appear  un- 
to thee.  Pray  to  him  for  us, 
that  he  save  our  souls. 


nem  hospitabatur  Dominus, 
hodie  e  carne  dehospitatur 
servus  ;  hodie  lapidatur  fa- 
mulus, et  ideo  perficitur 
Protomartyr  divinusque  Ste- 
phanus. 

Stella  fulgida  hodie  in 
Christi  nativitate  resplen- 
duit  Protomartyr  Stepha- 
nus,  omnes  muncli  fines  suis 
illuminans  fulgoribus ;  at 
Judseorum  omnem  extinxit 
impietatem,  sapientise  ver- 
bis illos  animadvertens  et 
de  Scripturisdisserens ;  illis- 
que  suadens  natum  ex  Vir- 
gine  Jesum  ipsum  Dei  esse 
Filium ;  illorum  impiam 
confundit  malitiam  Proto- 
martyr et  divinus  Stepha 
nus. 

Laudum,  Stephane,  om- 
nem superasti  modum,  et 
f  ers  ineffabiliter  et  sine  dolo 
tuas  victorise  palmas  ;  non 
enim  potest  mens  mortalis 
tuis  dignam  praeconiis  coro- 
nam  intexere. 

Primus  in  diaconis  et  pri- 
mus in  martyribus  demon- 
stratus  es,  sanctissime  Ste- 
phane ;  iter  enim  fuisti 
Sanctis,  et  multos  ad  Domi- 
num  perduxisti  martyres ; 
ideo  ccelum  tibi  apertum 
est,  et  Deus  tibi  apparuit  : 
ipsum  deprecare  salvare  ani- 
mas  nostras. 


The  Western  Churches  of  the  Middle-Ages  have 
left  us  an  almost  endless  variety  of  Liturgical  com- 
positions, 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  Saint  Victor.     We  shall  always  think  it  a  duty  to 


270 


CHRISTMAS. 


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, 
and  in  almost  all  the  Churches  of  northern  Europe. 


SEQUENCE. 


Heri  mundus  exsultavit, 
Et  exsultans  celebravit 
Christi  natalitia. 
Heri  chorus  Angeloram 
Prosecutus  est  ccelorum 
Regem  cum  lsetitia. 
Protomartyr  et  Levita 
Claras  fide,  clarus  vita, 
Claras  et  miraculis. 


Sub  hac  luce  triumphavit 
Et  triumphans  insultavit 
Stephanus  increduhs. 
Fremunt    ergo  tamquam 
ferae, 
Quia  victi  defuere 
Lucis  adversarii. 
Falsos  testes  statuunt, 
Et  hnguas  exacuunt 
Yiperarum  filii. 
Agonista,  nulh  cede, 
Certa,  certus  de  mercede, 
Persevera,  Stephane. 
Insta  falsis  testibus, 
Confuta  sermonibus 

Synagogam  Satanae. 
Testis  tuus  est  in  ccelis, 
Testis  verax  et  fidelis, 
Testis  innocentiae. 

Nomen  habes  Coronati : 
Te  tormenta  decet  pati 
Pro  corona  glorias. 
Pro  corona  non  marcenti 
Perfer  brevis  vim  tormenti  : 
Te  manet  victoria. 

Tibi  fiet  mors  Natalis, 


Yesterday,  the  world  ex- 
ulted, and,  in  its  exultation, 
celebrated  the  Birth  of  Jesus. 

Yesterday,  the  Angelic 
Choir,  in  great  joy,  stood 
round  the  King  of  heaven. 

The  Protomartyr  and  Dea- 
con Stephen,  illustrious  for  his 
faith,  illustrious  for  his  holy 
life,  illustrious  also  for  his 
miracles; 

On  this  day  triumphed,  and, 
in  his  triumph,  vanquished  the 
unbelieving  Jews. 

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,  0  Stephen ! 

Withstand  the  false  witnes- 
ses, and  confute,  by  thy  an- 
swers, the  synagogue  of  Satan. 

Thine  own  Witness  is  in 
heaven,  a  Witness  true  and 
faithful,  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  1 

Thy  death  will  be  thy  Birth ; 


DEC.    26.      ST.    STEPHEN. 


271 


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 
deems  it  sweet  to  be  thus 
stoned  to  death. 

Saul  makes  himself  guar- 
dian of  the  garments  of  all  that 
cast  the  stones  :  casting  thus 
himself  each  stone  they  throw. 

But  Stephen  compassionat- 
ing 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  dis- 
eases and  demons  to  flight. 
Truly,  then,  is  he  worthy  of 
praise,  and  honour,  and  eternal 
remembrance. 


Tibi  poena  terminalis 
Dat  vitae  primordia. 
Plenus  Sancto  Spiritu, 
Penetrat  intuitu 

Stephanus  ccelestia. 
Videns  Dei  gloriam, 
Crescit  ad  victoriam, 
Suspirat  ad  prsemia. 
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. 

ISTe  peccatum  statuatur 
His  a  quibus  lapidatur, 
Genu  ponit  et  precatur 
Condolens  insaniaa. 

In  Christo  sic  obdormivit, 
Qui  Christo  sic  obedivit ! 
Et  cum  Christo  semper  vivit 
Martyrum  primitiae. 

Quod  sex  suscitaverit 
Mortuos  in  Africa, 
Augustinus  asserit, 
Fama  refert  publica. 

Hujus,  Dei  gratia, 
Revelato  corpore, 
Mundo  datur  pluvia 
Siccitatis  tempore. 

Solo  fugat  hie  odore 
Morbos  et  daemonia, 
Laude  dignus  et  honore 
Jugique  memoria. 


272  CHRISTMAS. 

Martyr,  cujus  est  jucun-  0  Martyr,  whose  name  is  so 

dum  dear  to  the  Church  !  refresh 

JSTomen  in  Ecclesia,  our  fainting  world  by  celestial 

Languescentem  fove  mun-  fragrance.     Amen. 

dum 
Ccelesti  fragrantia.   Amen. 

With  these  praises,  which  the  venerable  ages  of 
old  offered  to  thee,  O  Prince  and  First  of  Martyrs ! 
we  presume  to  unite  ours.  Fervently  do  we  con- 
gratulate thee,  that  thou  hast  had  assigned  thee,  by 
the  Church,  the  place  of  honour  at  the  Crib  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  art  the  faithful  guardsman  of  his 
Crib : — who  could  better  lead  us  to  the  Divine  Babe, 
that  lies  there  ?  Thou  didst  bear  testimony  to  his 
Divinity  and  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,  wTho  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 


DEC.   26.      ST.   STEPHEN.  273 

been  born  in  our  hearts.  Obtain  for  us  that  devoted- 
ness  to  the  Divine  Infant,  which  gave  thee-  such 
courage  on  the  day  of  trial :  we  shall  have  devoted- 
ness,  if,  like  thee,  we  are  simple-hearted  and  fearless 
in  our  love  of  Jesus ;  for  love  is  stronger  than  death. 
May  we  never  forget,  that  every  Christian  ought  to 
be  ready  for  martyrdom,  simply  because  he  is  a 
Christian.  May  the  life  of  Christ,  which  has  again 
begun  within  us,  so  grow  within  us,  by  our  fidelity 
and  our  conduct,  that  we  may  come,  as  the  Apostle 
expresses  it,  to  the  fulness  of  Christ1 

But,  be  mindful,  0  glorious  Martyr !  be  mindful  of 
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  tes- 
timony may  be  perfect,  and  the  Church,  even  in  her 
old  age,  win  immortal  laurels  and  crowns,  as  in  the 
freshness  of  her  infancy,  when  she  had  such  a  cham- 
pion 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  become  the 
seed  of  abundant  harvests.  May  infidelity  lose 
ground,  and  heresy  cease  to  canker  those  noble  hearts, 
who,  once  in  the  Truth,  would  be  the  glory  and  con- 
solation of  the  Church.  Our  own  dear  Land  has  had 
her  Martyrs,  who,  in  the  hope  that  God  would  avenge 
their  blood  by  restoring  her  to  the  Faith,  gladly  suf- 
fered and  died — oh !  Prince  of  Martyrs  !  pray,  that 
this  their  hope  may  be  speedily  fulfilled. 


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 

1  Eph.  iv.  13. 


274  CHRISTMAS. 

scarce  elapsed,  since  his  Blessed  Mother  placed  him 
in  this  humble  Crib ;  but  these  two  days  are  of  more 
value,  for  the  salvation  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  the  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  expres- 
sion of  his  sufferings.  "  Jesus  weeps,"  says  St.  Ber- 
nard, "  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." 
(3rd  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  pro- 
phecy. With  the  consolation  she  offers  to  her  Babe, 
let  us  unite  ours,  by  giving  him  our  love.  It  is  the 
one  thing  he  seeks  by  all  the  humiliations  he  has 
taken  upon  himself.  It  is  to  gain  our  love  that  he 
has  come  down  from  heaven,  and  been  born  among 
us  in  the  midst  of  the  mysteries  we  are  now  cele- 
brating. Let  us  love  him,  therefore,  with  all  our 
love,  and  ask  our  Lady  to  present  him  our  humble 
offering.  The  Psalmist  has  said  :  The  Lord  is  great, 
and  exceedingly  to  be  praised  :  let  us  add,  with  St. 


DEC.   26.      ST.   STEPHEN. 


275 


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  the  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. 


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  disap- 
pear. 

This  day,  did  the  Star  of 
the  sea  bring  forth  to  the  world 
the  joy  of  its  new  salvation. 

Her  Child  makes  hell  trem- 
ble ;  nay,  cruel  Death  is  rilled 
with  fear  at  the  sight  of  Him 
who  is  to  be  its  death. 

Long-triumphant  pestilence, 
now  captive,  mourns  out  her 
sighs  ;  and  the  crushed  ser- 
pent lets  go  his  prey. 

Fallen  man,  the  strayed 
sheep,  is  carried  back  to  the 
eternal  joys. 

The  heavenly  host  of  Angels 
are  full  of  joy  to-day; 

For,  the  tenth  groat  was  lost 
and  is  found. 

0  Child  !  blessed  above  all ! 
by  whom  mankind  was  re- 
deemed. 


Eia,  recolamus 
Laudibus  piis  digna. 

Hujus  diei  carmina, 
In  quo  nobis  lux  oritur 
Gratissima. 
Noctis  inter  nebulosa, 
Pereunt  nostri  criminis 
Umbracula. 

Hodie  sseculo 
Maris  stella 
Est  enixa 

Novse  salutis  gaudia. 
Quern  tremunt  barathra, 
Mors  cruenta  pavet  ipsa, 
A  quo  peribit  mortua. 

Gemet  capta 
Pestis  antiqua, 

Coluber  lividus  perdit 
spolia. 
Homo  lapsus, 
Ovis  obducta, 

Revocatur  ad  seterna 
Gaudia. 
Gaudent  in  hoc  die 
Agmina  Angelorum  ccelestia, 
Quia  erat  drachma  decima 
Perdita, 

Et  est  inventa. 
0  proles 
Mmium  beata, 
Qua  redempta 
Est  natura. 


276 


CHRISTMAS. 


Deus,  qui  creavit  omnia, 
Nascitur  ex  femina. 
Mirabilis  natura, 
Mirifice  induta, 

Assumens    quod    non 

erat, 
Manens  quod  erat. 
Induitur  natura 
Divinitas  humana  : 
Quis  audivit  talia, 
Die,  rogo,  facta  1 
Quaerere  venerat 
Pastor  pius  quod  perierat. 

Induit  galeam, 
Certat  ut  miles  armatura. 

Prostratus 
In  sua  propria 

Ruit  hostis  spicula. 
Auferuntur  tela 
In  quibus  fidebat, 
Divisa  sunt  illius  spolia, 
Capta  praeda  sua. 
Christi  pugna 
Fortissima 
Salus  nostra  est  vera, 
Qui  nos  suam 
Ad  patriam 

Duxit  post  victoriam. 
In  qua  sibi  laus  est 
Sterna.     Amen. 


The  God,  who  created  all 
things,  is  born  of  a  Woman. 

He,  whose  nature  is  admi- 
rable, clothes  himself  by  an 
admirable  mystery,  assuming 
what  he  was  not,  and  remain- 
ing what  he  had  ever  been. 

A  divine  Person  puts  on 
human  nature :  I  beseech  thee, 
tell  me,  was  aught  like  this 
ever  heard  of  1 

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  glorious  battle  of 
Christ  j 

Who,  after  the  victory,  led 
us  to  his  own  kingdom, 

Where  everlasting  praise  is 
given  to  him.    Amen. 


And  now,  turning  towards  his  Blessed  Mother,  we 
will  offer  her  the  tribute  of  this  beautiful  Sequence, 
taken  from  the  Cluny  Missal,  of  1523. 


Angelica  nos  respice, 
O  dignitatis  Domina. 

Cum  Filio  in  solio 
Ccelo  regnas  per  saecula. 

Dulcis  Maria, 
Vere  dulcis,  vere  pia, 
Vere  mitissima. 


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 ! 


DEC.   26.      ST.   STEPHEN. 


277 


Thou  art,  as  a  fountain,  full 
of  love  and  clemency  ;  and  as 
a  land  flowing  with  honey. 

Thou  mercifully  aidest  the 
sorrowing  Theophilus  to  ob- 
tain the  forgiveness  of  his  sin. 

By  thy  prayers,  the  guilty 
one  of  Egypt  rises  from  her 
abominations. 

0  Mother  of  Mercy  !  0  sin- 
gular hope  of  the  fallen  ! 

Bear  up,  this  day,  to  hea- 
ven, the  prayers  and  sighs  of 
thy  clients. 

Thou  art  the  honour  of  Is- 
rael, thou  art  the  glory  of  the 
world. 

Restore  us  to  the  favour  of 
our  Emmanuel, 

Whom  thou  didst  feed  at 
thy  sacred  breast, 

And  whose  sweet  Infant 
limbs  thou  didst  warm. 

Do  thou,  our  Mediatrix,  ap- 
pease him  in  our  regard, 

On  the  dread  Day,  we  be- 
seech thee. 

We  are  here  to  offer  up  to 
God  our  Father  the  merits  of 
our  Jesus  ; 

By  their  virtue,  do  thou,  we 
beseech  thee,  obtain  forgive- 
ness for  the  guilty,  and  bring 
courage  to  them  that  fear. 

Thou  art  our  good,  our  mer- 
ciful, Mother ;  thou  art  our 
hope,  O  Mary ! 

Let  every  devout  soul  re- 
spond :  Amen  ! 


Tota  afnuens  pietate, 
Clementia, 
Tota  melliflua. 
Tu  flebili  Theophili 
Culpse  ades  propitia. 

Te  auspice, 
A  fornice 
Surgit  rea  iEgyptia. 

O  mater  misericordise, 
0  lapsorum  spes  unica. 

Votiva  servorum 
Hodie  infer  coelo 
Suspiria. 

Tu  decus  Israel, 
Tu  mundi  gloria. 

Nostro  Emmanuel 

Tu  reconcilia, 
Quern   lactasti  tua  sacra 

mamilla. 
Ilia  ejus  membra 
Fovens  dulcia. 
Mediatrix  nostra, 

Nobis  hunc  placa. 
In  ilia  oramus  die 

Tremenda. 
Oblaturi  hie  adsumus 
Deo  Patri  tuae  prolis 
Pignora, 
Quorum  virtute,  quaesu- 
mus, 
Reos  munda, 
Trementes  corrobora. 
Tu  bona,  tu  clemens, 
Tu  spes  nostra, 
O  Maria, 
Amen  dicat  mens  devota. 


278  DEC.   27.      ST.   JOHN. 


December  27. 
SAINT  JOHN,  APOSTLE  AND  EVANGELIST. 


Nearest  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,  and  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.  John  is 
honoured  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  everything  was  pre- 

1  St.  John,  xv.  13. 


DEC.  27.     ST.  JOHN.  279 

pared  for  the  marriage.  He  followed  Jesus,  and 
never  once  looked  back.  Hence,  the  special  love 
which  our  Lord  bore  him.  Others  were  Disciples  or 
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  Vir- 
ginity to  the  Man-God.  Let  us,  on  this  his  Feast, 
enumerate  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  loved1 — 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, 
then,  was  honoured  most ;  but  St.  John  was  loved 
most.  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  pos- 
sesses it  into  a  sacred  nearness  and  intimacy  with 
God.  Hence  it  was,  that  at  the  Last  Supper — that 
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,  and  from  their  very  Fountain,  with  Light  and 
Love:  it  was  both  a  recompense  and  a  favour,  and 
became  the  source  of  two  signal  graces,  which  make 

1  St.  John,  xiii.  23 ;  xix.  26 ;  xxi.  7  ;  xxi  20. 


280  CHRISTMAS. 

St.  John  an  object  of  special  reverence  to  the  whole 
Church. 

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  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  Teach- 
ings ;  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  heavenly  above  measure.  His  Divine 
Master  had  reserved  to  this  his  Virgin-Disciple  the 
honour  of  writing  those  sublime  Mysteries,  which 
the  other  Apostles  had  been  commissioned  only  to 
teach — the  Word  was  God,  and  this  Word  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  there- 
fore 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  I1  how 
sublime  his  writings !  how  divine  his  teaching ! 
Hence,  the  symbol  of  the  Eagle,  shown  to  the 
Prophet  Ezechiel,2  and  to  St.  John  himself  in  his 
Revelations,3  has  been  assigned  to  him  by  the 
Church:  and  to  this  title  of  The  Eagle   has  been 

1  Coloss.  ii.  3.        2  Ezechiel,  i.  10 ;  x.  14.        3  Apoc.  iv.  7. 


DEC.  27.      ST.  JOHN.  281 

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.  The  second  was  the  imparting  to  him  a 
most  ardent  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  cjiaste  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  his  oivn,  whom  he  had 
always  tenderly  loved,  but  most  so  at  the  end.1  He 
wrote  his  Epistles,  and  Charity  is  his  subject :  God 
is  Charity — he  that  loveth  not,  knoweih  not  God — 
perfect  Charity  casteth  out  fear — and  so  on  through- 
out, always  on  Love.  During  the  rest  of  his  life, 
even  when  so  enfeebled  bv  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  an- 
nounced more  clearly  than  the  rest  of  the  Apostles 
the  divinity  of  the  Incarnate  Word,  was  by  excellence 
the  Apostle  of  that  divine  Charity,  which  Jesus  came 
to  enkindle  upon  the  earth. 

But,  our  Lord  had  a  further  gift  to  bestow,  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  ?  Will  Jesus  send  his  Angels  to  protect 
and  console  her  ? — for,  surely,  what  man  could  ever 
merit  to  be  to  her  as  a  second  Joseph  ?  Looking 
down,  he  sees  the  Virgin-Disciple  standing  at  the 
foot  of  the  Cross :  we  know  the  rest,  John  is  to  be 

1  St.  John,  xiii.  1. 


282  CHRISTMAS. 

Mary's  Son  —  Mary  is  to  be  John's  Mother.  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  1  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  a  Prophet, 
by  his  mysterious  Apocalypse,  wherein  are  treasured 
the  secrets  of  time  and  eternity.  But,  is  he  a  Martyr  ? 
Yes,  for  if  he  did  not  complete  his  sacrifice,  he  drank 
the  Chalice  of  Jesus,1  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,  un- 
reservedly accepted  Martyrdom. 

Such  is  the  companion  of  Stephen  at  the  Crib, 
wherein  lies  our  Infant  Jesus.  If  the  Protomartyr 
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 

1  St.  Matth.  xx.  22. 


DEC.   27.     ST.  JOHN.  283 

is  there  more  lovely  than  their  union  ?  Glory,  then, 
be  to  our  New-Born  King,  whose  court  is  tapestried 
with  such  heaven-made  colours  as  these  !  Yes,  Beth- 
lehem's Stable  is  a  very  heaven  on  earth,  and  we  have 
seen  its  transformation.  First,  we  saw  Mary  and 
Joseph  alone  there — they  were  adoring  Jesus  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  animated  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 
must  be  our  resolution,  and  our  tribute  to  the  Lamb. 


MASS. 


The  Church  commences  her  chants  of  the  holy 
Sacrifice  with  words  taken  from  the  Book  of  Ecclesi- 
asticus,  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. 


284 


CHEISTMAS. 


INTEOIT. 


In  medio  Ecclesiae  aperuit 
os  ejus  ;  et  implevit  eum 
Domimis  Spiritu  sapientise 
et  intellectus;  stolamglorise 
induit  eum. 

Ps.  Bonum  est  confiteri 
Domino,  et  psallere  nomini 
tuo,  Altissime. 

y.  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,  0  Most  High. 

y.  Glory,  &c.     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 
Evangelists,  illuminatadoc- 
trinis,  ad  dona  perveniat 
sempiterna.    Per  Dominum. 


Mercifully,  0  Lord,  en- 
lighten thy  Church :  that 
being  taught  by  blessed  John, 
thine  Apostle  and  Evangelist, 
she  may  come  to  thy  eternal 
rewards.     Through,  <&c. 


Commemoration  of  Christmas  Day. 


Concede,  quoesumus,  om- 
nipotens  Deus,  ut  nos  Uni- 
geniti  tui  nova  per  carnem 
nativitas  liberet,  quos  sub 
peccatijugo  vetusta  servitus 
tenet. 


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. 


Commemoration  of  St.  Stephen. 


Da  nobis,  qusesumus,  Do- 
mine, imitari  quod  colimus  : 
ut  discamus  et  inimicos  dili- 
gere,  quia  ejus  natalitia  ce- 
lebramus,  qui  novit  etiam 
pro  persecutoribus  exorare 


Grant,  0  Lord,  we  beseech 
thee,  that  we  may  imitate  him 
whose  memory  we  celebrate, 
so  as  to  learn  to  love  even  our 
enemies,  because  we  now  so- 
lemnise his  martyrdom  who 


DEC.   27.      ST.   JOHN. 


285 


knew  how  to  pray,  even  for 
his  persecutors,  to  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ  thy  Son.  Who 
liveth,  <Scc. 


Dominum  nostrum  Jesum 
Christum  Filium  tuum.  Qui 
tecum. 


EPISTLE. 


Lesson  from  the  Book  of 
Wisdom. 

Ecclus.  ch.  XV. 

He  that  feareth  God,  will 
do  good  ;  and  he  that  possess- 
eth  justice,  shall  lay  hold  on 
her,  and  she  will  meet  him  as 
an  honourable  mother.  With 
the  bread  of  life  and  under- 
standing 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. 


Lectio  libri  Sapientiae. 

Eccli.  cap.  XV. 

Qui  timet  Deum,  faciet 
bona ;  et  qui  continens  est 
justitiae,  apprehendet  illam, 
et  obviabit  illi  quasi  mater 
honorificata.  Cibabit  ilium 
pane  vitae  et  intellectus,  et 
aqua  sapientiae  salutaris 
potabit  ilium  ;  et  firmabitur 
in  illo,  et  non  flectetur ;  et 
continebit  ilium,  et  non 
confundetur ;  et  exaltabit 
ilium  apud  proximos  suos  ; 
et  in  medio  Ecclesiae  aperiet 
os  ejus,  et  adimplebit  ilium 
Spiritu  sapientiae  et  intellec- 
tus, et  stolam  gloriae  vestiet 
ilium  ;  jucunditatem  et  ex- 
sultationem  thesaurizabit 
super  ilium,  et  nomine 
aeterno  haereditabit  ilium 
Dominus  Deus  noster. 


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,  and  of  which  St.  John  drank  so  abundantly 
from  its  very  source,  when  he  rested  his  head  on  the 
Heart  of  Jesus.     The  immovable  Strength,  is  the 


286 


CHRISTMAS. 


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  Treasure  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  ma- 
nere,  donee  veniam  ;  tu  me 
sequere. 

Alleluia,  alleluia. 

~ff.  Hie  est  discipulus  ille, 
qui  testimonium  perhibet 
de  his ;  et  scimus  quia  ve- 
rum  est  testimonium  ejus. 
Alleluia. 


A  report  was  spread  among 
the  brethren,  that  that  Dis- 
ciple 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  testi- 
mony is  true.    Alleluia. 


GOSPEL. 


Sequentia  sancti  Evangelii 
secundum  Joannem. 

Cap.  XXI. 

In  illo  tempore,  dixit  Je- 
sus Petro  :  Sequere  me. 
Conversus  Petrus  vidit  il- 
ium discipulum  quern  dili- 
gebat  Jesus,  sequentem,  qui 
et  recubuit  in  coena  super 
pectus  ejus,  et  dixit :  Do- 
mine,  quis  est  qui  tradet  te  1 
Hunc  ergo  cum  vidisset  Pe- 
trus, dixit  Jesu  :  Domine, 
hie  autem  quid1?  Dicit  ei 
Jesus  :  Sic  eum  volo  manere 
donee  veniam,  quid  ad  te1? 
Tu  me  sequere.  Exiit  ergo 
sermo  iste  inter  fratres,  quia 


Sequel  of  the  Holy  Gospel 
according  to  John. 

Ch.  XXI. 

At  that  time  :  Jesus  said  to 
Peter :  Follow  me.  Peter  turn- 
ing 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  1  Jesus  saith  to 
him  :  So  I  will  have  him  to 
remain  till  I  come,  what  is  it 
to  thee1?  Follow  thou  me. 
This  saying,  therefore,  went 


DEC.   27.      ST.  JOHN.  287 

abroad  among  the  brethren,  discipulus  ille  non  moritur. 

that  that  Disciple  should  not  Et  non  dixit  ei  Jesus  :  Non 

die.     And  Jesus  did  not  say  moritur ;  sed  :  Sic  eum  volo 

to  him  :  He  should  not  die ;  manere  donee  veniam,  quid 

but :   So  I  will  have  him  to  ad  te  1  '  Hie  est  discipulus 

remain  till  I  come,  what  is  it  ille,  qui  testimonium  per- 

to  thee  1  This  is  that  Disciple,  hibet  de  his,  et  scripsit  haec  ; 

who  giveth  testimony  of  these  et  scimus  quia  verum  est 

things,  and  hath  written  these  testimonium  ejus, 
things ;  and  we  know  that  his 
testimony  is  true. 

This  passage  of  the  holy  Gospel  has  been  much 
commented  upon.  Some  of  the  Fathers  and  Com- 
mentators 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  the  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  remem- 
brance of  the  flourishing  Palms  which  grew  up 
around  the  Beloved  Disciple ;  she  tells  us  of  the  spi- 
ritual children  he  had  trained,  and  of  the  Churches 
he  had  founded ;  all  which,  like  young  cedars  round 
the  venerable  parent-tree  on  Libanus,  multiplied 
under  the  fostering  care  of  their  Father. 

OFFERTORY. 

The  just  shall  flourish,  like  Justus  ut  palma  florebit ; 
the  palm-tree  ;  he  shall  grow  sicut  cedrus,  quae  in  Libano 
up  like  the  cedar  of  Libanus.      est  multiplicabitur. 


288 


CHRISTMAS. 


SECEET. 


Suscipe,  D  online,  nrnnera 
quae  in  ejus  tibi  solemnitate 
deferimus,  cujus  nos  confi- 
dimus  patrocinio  liberari. 
Per  Dominum. 


Receive,  O  Lord,  the  offer- 
ings we  make  to  thee,  on  his 
feast,  by  whose  intercession 
we  hope  to  be  delivered. 
Through,  &c. 


Commemoration  of  Christmas  Day. 


Oblata,  Domine,  munera, 
nova  Unigeniti  tui  nativi- 
tate  sanctifica :  nosque  a 
peccatorum  nostrorum  ma- 
culis  emunda. 


Sanctify,  0  Lord,  our  offer- 
ings by  the  new  Birth  of 
thine  Only  Begotten  Son,  and 
cleanse  us  from  the  stains  of 
our  sins. 


Commemoration  of  St.  Stephen. 


Suscipe,  Domine,  munera, 
pro  tuorum  commemora- 
tione  Sanctorum ;  ut  sicut 
illos  passio  gloriosos  effecit, 
ita  nos  devotio  reddat  in- 
nocuos.    Per  Dominum. 


Receive,  0  Lord,  these  offer- 
ings in  memory  of  thy  Saints  ; 
and  as  their  sufferings  have 
made  them  glorious,  so  may 
our  devotion  render  us  free 
from  sin.     Through,  &c. 


The  Preface  as  in  'page  70  :  but  on  the  Octave- 
Day  it  is  as  below.* 


PREFACE. 


For  the  Octave-Day. 


Vere  dignum  et  justum  est 
aequum  et  salutare,  te  Domine 
suppliciter  exorare,  ut  gregem 
tuum,  Pastor  seterne,  non  de- 
seras,  sed  per  beatos  Apostolos 
tuos  continua  protectione  custo- 
dias.  Ut  iisdem  rectoribus  gu- 
bernetur,  quos  operis  tui  vicarios 
eidem  contulisti  preeesse  Pasto- 
res.  Et  ideo  cum  Angelis  et 
Archangelis,  cum  Thronis  et 
Dominationibus,  cumque  omni 
militia  eoelestis  exercitus,  hym- 
num  gloriae  tuse  canimus,  sine 
fine  dicentes  :  Sanctus,  &c. 


It  is  truly  meet  and  just,  right 
and  available  to  salvation,  hum- 
bly to  beseech  thee,  that  thou, 
0  Lord,  our  eternal  Shepherd, 
wouldst  not  forsake  thy  flock, 
but  keep  it  under  thy  continual 
protection,  by  thy  blessed  Apos- 
tles. That  it  may  be  governed 
by  those  whom  thou  hast  ap- 
pointed its  vicars  and  pastors. 
And  therefore  with  the  Angels 
and  Archangels,  with  the 
Thrones  and  Dominations,  and 
with  all  the  heavenly  host,  we 
siug  an  everlasting  hymn  to  thy 
glory,  saying  :  Holy,  &c. 


DEC.    27.      ST.   JOHN. 


289 


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  su- 
preme Judge  and  Rewarder. 


COMMUNION". 


A  report  was  spread  among 
the  brethren,  that  that  disciple 
should  not  die.  But  Jesus 
said  not :  He  should  not  die ; 
but  :  So  will  I  that  he  remain 
till  I  come. 


Exiit  sermo  inter  fratres 
quod  discipulus  ille  non 
moritur.  Et  non  dixit  Jesus : 
Non  moritur  ;  sed  :  Sic  eum 
volo  manere  donee  veniam. 


POSTCOMMUNIOK 


Being  refreshed,  O  Lord, 
with  this  heavenly  meat  and 
drink,  we  humbly  beseech 
thee,  that  we  may  be  assisted 
by  his  prayers,  on  whose  feast 
we  have  received  these  sacred 
mysteries.     Through,  &c. 


Refecti  cibo  potuque  coe- 
lesti,  Deus  noster,  te  sup- 
plices  deprecamur;  ut  in 
cujus  haec  commemoratione 
percepimus,  ejus  muniamur 
et  precibus.   Per  Dominium 


Commemoration  of  Christmas  Day. 


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. 


Praesta,  quaesumus,  omni- 
potens  Deus :  ut  natus  hodie 
Salvator  mundi,  sicut  divi- 
nae  nobis  generation!  s  est 
auctor,  ita  et  immortahtatis 
sit  ipse  largitor. 


Commemoration  of  St.  Stephen. 


May  the  mysteries  we  have 
received,  O  Lord,  be  a  help  to 
us;  and,  by  the  intercession 


Auxilientur  nobis,  Domi- 
ne,  sumpta  mysteria  ;  et  in- 
tercedente  beato  Stephano, 
U 


290 


CHRISTMAS. 


Martyre  tuo,  sempiterna 
protectione  confirment.  Per 
Dominum. 


of  the  blessed  Martyr  Stephen, 
strengthen  us  with  thy  perpe- 
tual protection.  Through,  dec. 


VESPERS. 

The  Antiphons  and  Psalms  are  sung  as  yesterday, 
the  Feast  of  St.  Stephen :  they  are  given  in  page 
234.  After  the  last  Psalm,  the  Office  of  St.  John  is 
resumed,  commencing  as  follows  : 

CAPITULTJM. 

{Ecclus.  XV.) 


Qui  timet  Deum,  faciet 
bona  :  et  qui  continens  est 
justitiae,  apprehendet  illam, 
et  obviabit  illi  quasi  mater 
honorificata. 


He  that  f  eareth  God,  will  do 
good  :  and  he  that  possesseth 
justice,  shall  lay  hold  on  her, 
and  she  shall  meet  him  as  an 
honourable  mother. 


HYMN.* 


Exsultet  orbis  gaudiis  : 
Coelum  resultet  laudibus 
Apostolorum  gloriam 
Tellus  et  astra  concinunt. 


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. 


According  to  the  Monastic  Rite  it  is  as  follows  :- 


R.  Breve.  Constitues  eos  prin- 
cipes,  *  Super  omnem  terram. 
Constitues.  V.  Memores  erunt 
nominis  tui,  Domine.  *  Super. 
Gloria  Patri.     Constitues. 

Exsultet  ccelum  laudibus, 
Resultet  terra  gaudiis ; 
Apostolorum  gloriam 
Sacra  canunt  solemnia. 

Vos  ssecli  justi  judices 
Et  vera  mundi  lumina, 
Votis  precamur  cordium, 
Audite  preces  supplicum. 

Qui  coelum  verbo  clauditis, 
Serasque  ejus  solvitis, 


Nos  a  peccatis  omnibus 
Solvite  jussu,  qusesumus. 

Quorum  prsecepto  subditur 
Salus  et  languor  omnium, 
Sanate  eegros  moribus, 
Nos  reddentes  virtutibus. 

Ut  cum  judex  advenerit, 
Christus  in  fine  sseculi, 
Nos  sempiterni  gaudii 
Faciat  esse  compotes. 

Gloria  tibi,  Domine, 
Qui  natus  es  de  Virgine, 
Cum  Patre,  et  Sancto  Spiritu, 
In  sempiterna  specula. 

Amen. 


DEC.    27.      ST.   JOHN. 


291 


0  ye,  the  Judges  of  the 
world,  and  the  true  Lights  of 
the  earth  !  we  pray  to  you  with 
all  earnestness  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  be- 
seech you,  loosen  us  from  the 
bonds  of  sin. 

Sickness  and  health  prompt- 
ly 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  never- 
ending  bliss. 

Glory  be  to  thee,  0  Jesus, 
that  wast  born  of  the  Virgin  ! 
and  to  the  Father,  and  to  the 
Spirit  of  love,  for  everlast- 
ing ages. 

Amen. 

$\  Most  worthy  of  honour 
is  the  blessed  John. 

^.  Who  leaned  upon  the 
Lord's  breast  at  the  supper. 


Vos  sseculorum  judices, 
Et  vera  mundi  lumina  : 
Votis  precamur  cordium, 
Audite  voces  supplicum. 

Qui  templa  cceli  clauditis, 
Serasque  verbo  solvitis, 
Nos  a  reatu  noxios 
Solvi  jubete  quaesumus. 

Prsecepta  quorum  proti- 
nus 
Languor  salusque  sentiunt ; 
Sanate  mentes  languidas, 
Augete  nos  virtutibus. 

Ut  cum  redibit  Arbiter 
In  fine  Christus  saeculi, 
Nos  sempiterni  gaudii 
Concedat  esse  compotes. 

Jesu  tibi  sit  gloria, 
Qui  natus  es  de  Virgine  : 
Cum  Patre  et  almo  Spiritu 
In  sempiterna  ssecula. 

Amen. 

"ff.  Valde  honorandus  est 
beatus  Joannes. 

I£.  Qui  supra  pectus  Do- 
mini in  coena  recubuit. 


antiphon  of  the  Magnificat. 


Ant.  There  went  abroad 
among  the  brethren  this  say- 
ing, that  that  disciple  should 
not  die  :  and  Jesus  did  not 
say  to  him  :  He  should  not 
die  ;  but :  So  I  will  have  him 
to  remain  till  I  come. 


Ant.  Exiit  sermo  inter 
fratres,  quod  discipulus  ille 
non  moritur :  et  non  dixit 
Jesus  :  Non  moritur  ;  sed  : 
Sic  eum  volo  manere  donee 
veniam. 


let  us  pray. 


Mercifully,  0  Lord ,  enlighten 
thy  Church ;  that  being  taught 
by  blessed  John,  thine  Apos- 


OREMUS, 


Ecclesiam  tuam,  Domine, 
benignus  illustra,  ut  beati 
Joannis  Ap ostoli  tui  et  Evan- 


292 


CHRISTMAS. 


gelistas  illuminata  doctrinis,  tie  and  Evangelist,  she  may- 
ad  dona  perveniat  sempi-  come  to  thy  eternal  rewards, 
terna.     Per  Dominum.  Through,  <kc. 

Commemoration  of  the  Holy  Innocents. 


Ant.  Hi  sunt,  qui  cum 
mulieribus  non  sunt  coin- 
quinati :  virgines  enim  sunt, 
et  sequuntur  Agnum  quo- 
cumque  ierit. 

$".  Herodes  iratus  occidit 
multos  pueros. 

I£.  In  Bethlehem  Judse, 
civitate  David. 


Ant.  These  are  they  who 
were  not  defiled  with  women : 
for  they  are  virgins,  and  follow 
the  Lamb  whithersoever  he 
goeth. 

Y-  Herod,  being  angry, 
killed  many  children. 

I£.  In  Bethlehem  of  Juda, 
the  city  of  David. 


OREMUS. 

Deus  cujus  hodierna  die 
praeconium  Innocentes  mar- 
tyres  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  ;  mor- 
tify in  us  all  our  vicious  in- 
clinations :  that  we  may  show 
forth,  in  our  actions,  thy  faith, 
which  we  profess  with  our 
lips. 


Commemoration  of  Christmas  Day. 


Ant.  Hodie  Christus  na- 
tus  est :  hodie  Salvator 
apparuit :  hodie  in  terra  ca- 
nunt  Angeli,  lsetantur  Arch- 
angeli :  hodie  exsultant 
justi,  dicentes  :  Gloria  in 
excelsis  Deo.  Alleluia. 

~fr.  Notum  fecit  Dominus, 
alleluia. 

Jfe.  Salutare  suum,  alle- 
luia. 

OREMUS. 


Ant.  This  day,  Christ  is 
born ;  this  day,  the  Saviour 
hath  appeared ;  this  day,  the 
Angels  sing  on  earth;  the 
Archangels  rejoice  ;  this  day, 
the  just  exult,  saying :  Glory 
be  to  God  in  the  highest,  alle- 
luia. 

y.  The  Lord  hath  made 
known,  alleluia. 

I£.  His  salvation,  alleluia. 


LET   US  PRAY. 


Concede,  quaesumus,  om-  Grant,  we  beseech  thee,  O 
nipotens  Deus,  ut  nos  Uni-  Almighty  God,  that  we  who 
geniti  tui  nova  per  carnem    groan  under  the  old  captivity 


DEC.   27.      ST.   JOHN. 


293 


of  sin,  may  be  freed  therefrom 
by  the  new  Birth  of  thine 
Only  Begotten  Son. 

Commemoration 

Ant.  Devout  men  buried 
Stephen,  and  made  great 
mourning  over  him. 

fl.  Stephen  saw  the  heavens 
opened. 

1$.  He  saw  and  entered  : 
blessed  man,  to  whom  the 
heavens  opened. 


Nativitas  liberet,  quos  sub 
peccatijugovetusta  servitus 
tenet. 

of  St.  Stephen. 

Ant.  Sepelierunt  Ste- 
phanum  viri  timorati,  et  fe- 
cerunt  planctum  magnum 
super  eum. 

ft.  Stephanus  vidit  coelos 
apertos. 

I£.  Vidit  et  introivit  : 
beatus  homo  cui  coeli  x^ate- 
bant. 


LET  US  PEAY. 

Grant,  O  Lord,  we  beseech 
thee,  that  we  may  imitate  him 
whose  memory  we  celebrate, 
so  as  to  learn  to  love  even  our 
enemies,  because  we  now 
solemnise  his  martyrdom  who 
knew  how  to  pray,  even  for  his 
enemies,  to  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  thy  Son.  Who  liveth, 
<&c. 


OREMUS. 

Da  nobis,  qusesumus,  Do- 
mine  imitari  quod  colimus, 
ut  discamus  et  inimicos  di- 
ligere :  quia  ejus  natalitia 
celebramus,  qui  novit  etiam 
pro  persecutoribus  exorare 
Dominum  nostrum  Jesum 
Christum,  Filium  tuum.  Qui 
tecum. 


Now  let  us  listen  to  the  several  Churches,  pro- 
claiming, 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 
Leonian  Sacramentary. 


PREFACE. 


It  is  truly  meet  and  just, 
right  and  available  to  salva- 
tion, that  we  should  give 
thanks  to  thee,  0  Almighty 
Father !  now  that  we  are 
celebrating  the  Feast  of  thy 
blessed  Apostle,  John  the 
Evangelist.  Having  received 
the  vocation  of  our  Lord  Jesus 


Yere  dignum  et  justum 
est,  aequum  et  salutare,  nos 
tibi  gratias  agere,  Pater  om- 
nipotens,  beati  Apostoli  tui 
Joannis  Evangelistse  natali- 
tia venerantes.  Qui  Domini 
nostri  Jesu  Christi  Filii  tui 
vocatione  suscepta,  terre- 
num    respuit    patrem,    ut 


294 


CHRISTMAS. 


posset  invenire  coelestem  : 
retia  sseculi,  quibus  inipli- 
cabatur,  abjecit,  ut  seterni- 
tatis  dona  mente  libera  sec- 
taretur :  rmtantem  fluctibus 
navem  reliquit,  ut  in  ec- 
clesiasticse  gubernationis 
tranquilitate  consisteret : 
a  piscium  captione  cessavit, 
ut  animas  mundanis  gur- 
gitibus  immersas,  calamo 
doctrinse  salutaris  abstra- 
heret :  destitit  pelagi  pro- 
fundari  mari,  secretorum 
scrutator  redditus  divino- 
rum.  Eo  usque  procedens, 
ut  et  in  ccenae  mysticse  sa- 
crosancto  convivio  in  ipsius 
recumberet  pectore  Salva- 
toris  ;  et  eum  in  cruce  Do- 
minus  constitutus,  vica- 
rium  sui,  Matri  Virgini 
Filiurn  subrogaret,  et  in 
principio  Verbum,  quod 
Deus  erat  apud  Deum,  prse 
casteris  ostenderet  praedi- 
candum. 


Christ  thy  Son,  he  left  his 
earthly  father,  that  he  might 
find  one  in  heaven.  He  threw 
down  the  nets  of  this  world, 
wherein  he  was  entangled,  that 
he  might,  with  a  free  soul, 
pursue  the  goods  that  are  eter- 
nal. He  abandoned  his  boat, 
which  was  ever  tossing  on  the 
waves,  that  he  might  calmly 
steer  a  spiritual  bark  in  the 
Church.  He  gave  up  his  trade 
of  fishing,  that,  by  the  hook 
of  saving  doctrine,  he  might 
draw  out  souls  ingulfed  in  the 
surges  of  the  world.  He  ceased 
his  searchings  in  the  deep 
waters  of  the  sea,  that  he 
might  be  made  worthy  to  pene- 
trate into  secrets  divine.  Even 
thus  was  he  favoured — he 
leaned  his  head  on  the  Sa- 
viour's breast,  in  the  most 
holy  banquet  of  the  mystic 
supper ;  our  Lord,  when  hang- 
ing on  the  cross,  gave  him  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  Word,  ivho  was  God 
with  God. 


The  Church  of  Milan,  in  her  Ambrosian  Missal, 
thus  sings  forth  the  praises  of  the  Beloved  Disciple  : 


Vere  dignum  et  justum 
est,  sequum  et  salutare,  nos 
tibi  gratias  agere,  aeterne 
Deus  :  beati  Joannis  Evan- 
gelistse  merita  recolentes, 
quern  Dominus  Jesus  Chris- 
tus  non  solum  peculiari 
semper  decore  ornavit ;  sed 
et  in  cruce  positus,  tamquam 


It  is  truly  meet  and  just, 
right  and  available  to  salva- 
tion ,  that  we  should  give  thanks 
to  thee,  O  Eternal  God  !  whilst 
celebrating  the  merits  of  bless- 
ed John  the  Evangelist,  whom 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  not 
only  adorned  with  every  pecu- 
liar grace,  but  to  whom  also. 


DEC.   27.      ST.  JOHN. 


295 


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  nnto 
this  grade  of  honour  did  thy 
divine  goodness  raise  him,  that 
being  changed  from  a  fisher- 
man into  a  Disciple,  and,  in 
the  dispensing  thy  Truth, 
going  beyond  the  measure  of 
other  men, — he,  above  all 
others,  both  saw  and  preach- 
ed the  very  Divinity  of  thy 
Eternal  Word. 


hsereditario  munere  prose- 
cutus,  vicarium  pro  se  Ma- 
tri  Filium  clementer  attri- 
buit.  Quern  ad  eum  usque 
dignitatis  gradum  divina 
benignitas  evexit,  ut  et  fac- 
tus  ex  piscatore  Discipulus, 
et  humanae  dispensationis 
modum  excedens,  ipsam 
Verbi  tui  sine  initio  Deita- 
tem  prae  caeteris  et  mente 
conspiceret,  et  voce  perfer- 
ret. 


The  Mozarabic  Missal  has  the  following  prayer  to 
our  holy  Apostle  and  Evangelist : 


PRAYER. 


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  the 
weakness  of  our  own  nature, 
and  the  Divinity  which  is 
thine.  Show  us  thyself,  that 
we  may  love  thee  ;  show  us 
in  ourselves  what  we  must 
correct.  That  thus,  by  the 
prayers  of  thy  beloved  Dis- 
ciple, our  evil  ways  being  con- 
verted,   pestilence    may    flee 


Genite  ingeniti  Filius  Dei 
summi ;  qui  sacrum  illud 
arcanum  pectoris  tui  di- 
lecto  tuo  Joanni  Apostolo 
reserasti  :  cum  in  sinu  tuo 
recubans  Evangelii  sui 
fluenta  ex  ipso  pectoris  tui 
fonte  haurire  promeruit. 
Tu  nos  intuere  propitius,  ut 
per  te  abdita  cognoscamus, 
per  te  bona  quae  manifesta 
sunt  impleamus.  Reserans 
nobis  pectoris  tui  occulta, 
quibus  possimus  cognos- 
cere,  et  conditionis  nostras 
infirmitatem,  et  ad  tuae  di- 
vinitatis  pervenire  cogni- 
tionem.  Manifestans  de  te 
quid  amemus,  indicans  de 
nobis  quid  corrigamus.  Quo 
hujus  dilecti  tui  suffragiis, 
moribus  nostris  in  melius 
commutatis,  aufugiat  pes- 
tis,  dispereat  languor,  pel- 
latur  mucro.     Quidquid  ad- 


296 


CHRISTMAS. 


versum  est  fidei  christians 
intereat ;  quidquid  prospe- 
ruin,  convalescat.  Arcean- 
tur  fames,  sedentur  lites, 
hseresum  obtrudantur  fau- 
tores.  Fcecundetur  f  rugibus 
terra,  vestiatur  virtutibus 
anima  ;  atque  cuncta  nobis 
in  commune  proveniant 
bona.  Quo  tibi  Deo  nostro 
fideliter  servientes,  et  his 
sine  peccato  utamur  con- 
cessis,  et  post  deliciis  frua- 
mur  ssternae  possessionis. 
Amen. 


from  us,  sickness  disappear, 
and  the  sword  be  sheathed. 
May  all  that  is  adverse  to 
Christian  faith  perish ;  may- 
all  that  prospers  it,  be  strength- 
ened. May  famines  cease, 
may  dissensions  be  appeased, 
may  the  upholders  of  heresy 
be  confounded.  May  the  earth 
be  pregnant  with  fruits,  our 
souls  be  clad  with  virtues,  and 
all  good  things  come  unto  us 
all.  _  That  thus,  faithfully 
serving  thee  our  God,  we  may 
both  use  these  gifts  without 
sin,  and,  hereafter,  enjoy  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  to  his  style — sublime 
thoughts,  majestically  told. 


HYMN. 


Amore  Christi  nobilis 
Et  filius  Tonitrui, 
Arcana  Joannes  Dei 
Fatu  revelavit  sacro. 

Captis  solebat  piscibus 
Patris  senectam  pascere  ; 
Turbante  dum  natat  salo 
Immobilis  fide  stetit. 


Hamum  profundo  merse- 
rat, 
Piscatus  est  Verburn  Dei ; 
Jactavit  undis  retia, 
Vitam  levavit  hominum. 

Piscis  bonus  pia  est 
Fides, 
Mundi  supernatans  salum, 


John — the  honoured  loved- 
one  of  Jesus,  and  named  by 
Him  the  Son  of  Thunder — re- 
vealed 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  to  it. 

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. 

His  fervent  Faith  is  the 
good  Fish  which  swam 
through  the  briny  flood  of  this 


DEC.    27.     ST.   JOHN. 


297 


world  ;  it  rested  on  the  Breast 
of  Christ,  and  thus  spoke  in 
the  Holy  Spirit : 

"  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."  Then,  let  us  sing  the 
praises  of  this  Disciple,  and 
since  he  bears  the  laurels  of 
the  Spirit,  let  his  writings  be 
his  crown. 

Martyrdom  hasbeen  granted 
to  many,  and  this  shedding  of 
their  own  blood  purities  them 
from  every  sin  ;  but  John  did 
what  was  better  than  Martyr- 
dom— he  taught  to  the  world 
that  which  made  the  Mar- 
tyrs. 

Yet  we  are  told,  that  he  was 
bound  by  wicked  men,  and 
plunged  into  boiling  oil ;  it 
did  but  cleanse  him  from  this 
world's  dust,  and  give  him 
victory  over  the  enemy. 

Glory  be  to  thee,  O  Lord, 
that  wast  born  of  the  Virgin  ! 
and  to  the  Father,  and  to  the 
Holy  Ghost,  for  everlasting 
ages.    Amen. 


Subnfxa  Christi  pectore, 
Sancto  locuta  Spiritu  : 

"In    principio  erat  Ver- 
bum, 
Et  Yerbum  erat  apud  Deum, 
Et  Deus  erat  Yerbum.   Hoc 

erat 
In  principio  apud  Deum. 
"  Omnia  per  ipsum  facta 
sunt." 
Sed  ipse  laude  resonet  ; 
Et  laureatus  Spiritu, 
Scriptis  coronetur  suis. 

Commune  multis  passio, 
Cruorque  delictum  lavans  ; 
Hoc  morte  prsestat  Marty- 
rum. 
Quod  fecit  esse  Martyres. 


Yinctus  tamen  ab  impiis, 
Calente  olivo  dicitur 
Tersisse  muncli  pulverem, 
Stetisse  victor  semuli. 


Gloria  tibi,  Domine, 
Qui  natus  es  de  Yirgine  ; 
Cum  Patre  et  Sancto  Spi- 
ritu 
In  sempiterna  ssecula. 
Amen. 


We  will  now  give  a  few  stanzas  from  the  Hymns 
which  the  Greek  Church,  in  her  accustomed  pomp  of 
language,  sings  in  honour  of  St.  John.  She  keeps 
his  Feast  on  the  26th  September. 


(XX  VI.  Septembris,  in  magno  Vespertino,  et  passim.) 

Come,   ye   Faithful,  let  us        Yenite,    sapientise    abys- 
this  day    crown  with   sacred    sum  et  orthodoxorum  scrip- 


298 


CHRISTMAS. 


torem  dogmatum,  Fideles, 
hymnis  coronemus  divinis 
hodie,  Joannem  gloriosurn 
et  dilectum  :  is  enim  into- 
nuit  :  Verbum  erat  in  prin- 
cipio.  Ideo  voce  tonitru  si- 
mili  demonstratus  est,  quasi 
Evangelic-  mundum  illumi- 
nans,  multisapiens  et  cele- 
berrimus. 

Vere  aperteque  tu  mani- 
festatus  es  amicus  ex  corde 
magnus  Christi  magistri ; 
pectori  enim  illius  incu- 
buisti,  unde  hausisti  sapien- 
tise  dogmata,  quibus  tam- 
quam  Dei  praeco  divinus,  di- 
tas  omnem  terras  circuitum, 
quam  possidens  jucunda 
Christi  Ecclesia  nunc  gau- 
dens  exornat. 

Gaude,  vere  theologe, 
gaude,  Matris  Domini  iili 
amabilissime :  tu  enim  stans 
juxta  crucem  Christi,  divi- 
nam  audisti  vocem  Magis- 
tri :  Ecce  nunc  mater  tua, 
ad  te  clamantis.  Ideo  digne 
te  omnes  ut  Christi  Aposto- 
lum  magnum  et  dilectum 
beatificamus. 

Contemplator  ineffabilium 
revelationum,  et  interpres 
supernorum  Dei  mysterio- 
rum,  Zebedgei  films,  scribens 
nobis  Christi  Evangelium, 
divine  loqui  Patrem,  et  Fi- 
lium,  et  Spiritum  nos  do- 
cuit. 

Lyra  a  Deo  mota  cceles- 
tium  odarum,  mysticus  ille 
scriptor,  os  divina  loquens, 
Canticum  canticorum  dul- 
citer  decantat,  et  precatur 
salvari  nos. 


hymns  the  glorious  and  Be- 
loved John,  an  abyss  of  "wis- 
dom, and  the  writer  of  ortho- 
dox dogmas  :  for  it  was  he 
that  uttered,  In  the  beginning 
was  the  Word.  Therefore  did 
he  appear  as  with  the  voice 
of  thunder,  enlightening  the 
world  with  Ms  Gospel — he  the 
exceedingwise  and  world-wide 
famed  Disciple. 

Thou  wast  truly  and  mani- 
festly 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  of  Christ, 
now  possessing  it,  exultingly 
honours. 

Rejoice,  thou  true  Theolo- 
gian !  rejoice,  thou  most  ami- 
able 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  inef- 
fable revelations,  the  interpre- 
ter of  God's  most  high  myste- 
ries, the  son  of  Zebedee,  wrote 
us  the  Gospel  of  Christ,  and 
therebytaught  us  howto  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  Can- 
ticles, and  prays  for  our  salva- 
tion. 


DEC.    27.      ST.   JOHN. 


299 


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  of  true  wisdom's  dog- 
mas— the  Beloved  and  Virgin- 
Disciple. 

The  streams  of  Theology 
gushed  from  thy  venerable 
Hps,  O  Apostle  !  the  Church 
of  God  has  drunk  them  in,  O 
teacher  of  truth  !  and  adores 
the  consubstantial  Trinity.  0 
holy  Theologian  John  !  now 
pray  that  our  souls  may  be 
unwavering  and  saved. 

The  flower  of  purity,  the  fra- 
grant perfume,  breathes  upon 
this  day's  feast  ;  let  us,  there- 
fore, pray  to  him  :  Blessed 
Apostle  John  !  who  didst  re- 
cline upon  Jesus'  Breast  !  who 
didst  pour  out  The  Word  upon 
the  earth  ;  who  didst  guard 
the  Virgin  as  the  apple  of  thine 
eye  !  Oh  !  ask  Jesus  to  show 
his  great  mercy  unto  us. 

Come,  ye  faithful !  let  us 
bless  the  most  renowned  John, 
the  exalted  one  among  the 
Apostles,  the  trumpet  of  theo- 
logy, 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 
Friend  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. 


Tonitru  nlium,  divinorum 
sermonum  fundamentum, 
theologise  ducem,  et  primum 
prseconem  verae  sapientise 
dogmatum,  Joannem  dilec- 
tum  et  virginem,  o  morta- 
lium  genus,  multis  laude- 
mus  acclamationibus. 

Flumina  theologies,  ex 
venerando  ore  tuo  salierunt, 
Apostole,  quibus  Ecclesia 
Dei  potata,  adorat,  ortho- 
doxe,  Trinitatem  consub- 
stantialem ;  et  nunc  depre- 
care,  Joannes  theologe,  sta- 
biliri  et  salvari  animas  nos- 
tras. 

Virgultum  puritatis,  boni 
odoris  unguentum  apparuit 
nobis  in  hodierna  festivi- 
tate ;  ad  ipsum  igitur  cla- 
memus  :  Tu  qui  supra  pec- 
tus recubuisti  Dominicum, 
tu  qui  mundo  stillare  fecisti 
Verbum,  Joannes  Apostole ; 
qui  Virginem  custodivisti 
ut  pupillam  oculi,  postula 
pro  nobis  apud  Christum 
magnam  misericordiam. 

Apostolorum  celsitudi- 
nem,  theologiae  tubam,  spi- 
ritalem  ducem,  qui  orbem 
terrarum  Deo  subegit,  ve- 
nite,  fideles,  beatificemus 
Joannem  illustrissimum,  e 
terra  sublatum  et  non  abla- 
tum,  sed  viventem  et  exspec- 
tantem  terribilem  Domini 
secundum  adventum ;  cui  ut 
inculpabiliter  assistamus 
deprecare,  amice  mystice 
Christi  pectori  ejus  innixe 
cum  amore,  tuam  memo- 
riam  celebrantes. 


300 


CHRISTMAS. 


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  Saint  Gall.  It  was 
composed  by  the  Blessed  Notker,  and  was  for  cen- 
turies in  the  Roman -French  Missals. 


SEQUENCE. 


Joannes,  Jesn  Christo 
Multum  dilecte  virgo. 
Tu  ejus  amore 

Carnalem  in  navi 
Parentem  liquisti. 
Tu  leve  conjugis 
Pectus  respuisti, 
Messiam  secutus, 
Ut  ejus  pectoris 
Sacra  meruisses 
Fluenta  potare. 
Tuque  in  terris  positus, 
Gloriam  conspexisti 
Filii  Dei, 
Quae  solum  Sanctis 
In  vita  creditur 

Contuenda  esse  perenni. 
Te  Christus 
In  cruce  triumphans, 

Matri  suss  dedit  custo- 
dem ; 
TJt  Virgo 
Yirginem  servares, 

Atque  curam  suppedi- 
tares. 
Tute  carcere 
Flagrisque  fractus, 
Testimonio  pro  Christo 
Es  gavisus. 
Idem  mortuos  suscitas, 
Inque  Jesu  nomine 

Venenum  forte  vincis. 

Tibi  summus  taciturn 
Prae  caeteris  Verbum  suum 
Pater  revelat. 


0  John  !  the  dearly  Beloved 
Virgin-Disciple  of  Jesus  ! 

For  love  of  Him,  thou  didst 
leave  thy  father  Zebedee  and 
his  boat. 

Thou  didst  disdain  the  ca- 
resses of  thy  young  betrothed, 
and  didst  follow  the  Messias, 

That  thou  mightest  merit  to 
drink  at  the  sacred  fount  of 
his  Heart. 

Thou,  too,  when  on  this 
earth,  didst  behold  the  trans- 
figuration of  the  Son  of  God, 

Which  vision,  as  we  are 
taught,  is  not  granted  save  to 
the  Saints  in  life  eternal. 

Jesus,  when  conquering  on 
his  cross,  entrusted  his  Mother 
to  thy  keeping ; 

That  thou,  a  Virgin,  mightest 
protect  and  care  the  Virgin,  in 
His  stead. 

Imprisoned  and  torn  by 
scourges,  thou  didst  rejoice — 
for  it  was  thy  bearing  testi- 
mony to  Christ. 

Thou,  too,  raisest  the  dead 
to  life,  and,  in  the  name  of 
Jesus,  breakest  the  poison's 
power. 

To  thee,  above  the  rest,  the 
Almighty  Father  reveals  his 
own  embosom'd  Word. 


DEC.    27.      ST.   JOHN.  301 

Do  thou  ever  commend  us  Tu  nos  omnes 

all  to  God,  by  unwearied  in-  Sedulis  precibus 

tercession,  Apud  Deum 

Semper  commenda, 

O   John,   Disciple    dear  to  Joannes,  Christi  care. 
Christ  ! 

Amen.  Amen. 

Beloved  Disciple  of  the  Babe  of  Bethlehem ! — 
how  great  is  thy  happiness  !  how  wonderful  is  the 
reward  given  to  thy  love  and  thy  purity  !  In  thee 
was  fulfilled  that  word  of  thy  Master :  Blessed  are 
the  clean  of  heart ;  for  they  shall  see  God.  Not  only 
didst  thou  see  this  God-Man — thou  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 ;  Magdalene,  though  as- 
sured 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  presumes  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 
Breast  !  Nor  is  it  only  Jesus  in  his  Humanity  that 
thou  seest  and  possessest ;  but,  because  thy  heart  is 
pure,  thou  soarest,  like  an  eagle,  up  to  the  Sun  of 
Justice,  and  flxest  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,  0  worthy  favourite  of  the 
great  King !  forget  not  us  poor  sinners.  We  believe 
and  confess  the  Divinity  of  the  Incarnate  Word, 
whom  thou  hast  evangelised  unto  us ;  bat  we  desire 
to  draw  nigh  to  him  during  this  holy  season,  now 
that  he  shows  himself  so  desirous  of  our  company,  so 
humble,  so  full  of  love,  so  dear  a  Child,  and  so  poor  ! 
Alas !  our  sins  keep  us  back ;  our  heart  is  not  pure 
like  thine ;  we  have  need  of  a  Patron  to  introduce 


302  CHRISTMAS. 

us  to  our  Masters  Crib}  Thou,  O  Beloved  Disciple 
of  the  Emmanuel !  thou  must  procure  us  this  happi- 
ness. Thou  hast  shown  us  the  Divinity  of  the  Word 
in  the  bosom  of  the  Eternal  Father ;  lead  us  now  to 
this  same  Word  made  flesh.  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,2  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  loves  both  thee  and 
us — and  which  thou  didst  see  wounded  by  the  Spear, 
on  Calvary.  It  is  good  for  us  to  fix  ourselves  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 
get  us  all  this. 

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,  0  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  teach- 
ings ; — 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  :  /  will 
not  now  call  you  ray  Servants,  but  my  Friends  :3 
pray,  dear  Saint,  that  there  may  come  to  this,  from 

1  Is.  i.  3.  2  I.  St.  John,  i.  ].  3  St.  John,  xv.  15. 


DEC.    27.      ST.   JOHN.  303 

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  his  own  divine  Sleep,  that  rest,  which  to  us  is  a 
necessity.  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  their  love  and  devotedness  : 
now,  let  us  look  at  this  our  God,  sweetly  sleeping  in 
his  humble  Crib,  or  on  his  Mother's  lap. 

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  ravish'd  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  ; 


304  CHRISTMAS. 

When  upon  my  gaze  you  open, 

How  shall  I  your  beauty  bear  ? 
Ah  !  I  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  impress'd  : 

Jesus  woke,  and  on  her  face 

Fixed  a  look  of  heavenly  grace. 

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  so  ever, 

Are  but  smoke  : — resist  no  more  ! 
Yes  !  'tis  done  !  I  yield  my  arms 
Captive  to  those  double  charms. 

If,  alas,  0  heavenly  beauty ! 

Now  so  late  those  charms  I  learn, 
Now  at  least,  and  ever,  ever, 

With  thy  love  my  heart  will  burn 
For  the  Mother  and  the  Child, 
Rose  and  Lily  undefiled. 


DEC.   27.      ST.   JOHN. 


305 


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.1 

Let  us,  then,  adore  the  Divine  Babe  in  this  state 
of  Sleep,  to  which  he  voluntarily  subjects  himself, 


1  Translation  by  the  Very  B,ev. 
original : 

Fermarono  i  cieli 
La  loro  armonia, 
Cantando  Maria 
La  nanna  a  Gesu. 

Con  voce  divina 
La  Virgine  bella, 
Piu  vaga  che  stella, 
Diceva  cosi : 

Mio  figlio,  mio  Dio, 
Mio  caro  tesoro, 
Tu  dormi,  ed  io  moro 
Per  tanta  belta\ 

Dormendo,  mio  bene, 
Tua  Madre  non  miri, 
Ma  l'aura  che  spiri, 
E  foco  per  me. 

Cogli  occhi  serrati 
Voi  pur  mi  f erite ; 
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  sf  orza  a  baciarti 
Un  labbro  si  raro : 


It.  A.  Coffin. — We  subjoin  the 


Perdonami,  caro, 
Non  posso  piu,  no. 

Si  tacque,  ed  al  petto, 
Stringendo  il  Bambino, 
Al  volto  divino 
Un  baci  dond. 

Si  desta  il  diletto  ; 
E  tutto  amoroso, 
Con  occhio  vezzoso 
La  Madre  guardo. 

Ah  Dio  !  ch'alla  Madre 
Quegli  occhi,  quel  guardo 
Fu  strale,  fu  dardo, 
Che  l'alma  feri. 

E  tu  non  languisci, 
O  dur'  alma  mia, 
Vedendo  Maria 
Languir  per  Gesu. 

Se  tardi  v'amai, 
Bellezze  divine, 
Ormai  senza  fine 
Per  voi  arderd. 

II  Figlio  e  la  Madre, 
La  Madre  col  Figlio, 
La  rosa  col  giglio 
Quest' alma  vorrii. 


.306  CHRISTMAS. 

and  contrast  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  any- 
thing of  ours,  which  could  pain  this  loving  wakeful 
Heart ;  and  the  Blessed  Mother  shall  not  be  dis- 
turbed 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.1 

"  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  is  in  nie.2  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 
11  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  Body  was  there  being 
"  formed.  The  holy  Virgin  troubled  not  the  sleep  of 
"  her  Child  :  she  kept  all  the  powers  of  her  soul  in  a 
"  silence  like  that  of  heaven ;  and,  rapt  in  self-con- 
"  templation,  she  heard  mysteries  which  it  is  not 
"  permitted  to  man  to  utter.  The  third  resting-place 
"  of  Christ  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, 


1  St.  Matth.  viii.  20.  2  St.  John,  xiv.  11. 


DEC.   27.      ST.   JOHN. 


307 


"  who  is  born  unto  us,  will  not  refuse  to  enter  it,  and 
"  take  his  rest  within  it."1 

To  this  Eternal  Word,  made  Flesh  for  our  salva- 
tion, let  us  offer  up  this  Hymn  of  our  great  eccle- 
siastical Poet,  Prudentius. 


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  sea — 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  perish  together 
with  their  first  Parent,  whom 
a  terrible  sentence  had  con- 
demned to  the  depth  of  hell. 

O  that  happy  Birth,  when  a 
Virgin-Mother,  having  con- 
ceived of  the  Holy  Ghost, 
brought  forth  the  Child  that 
was  our  salvation  ;  and  the 
Babe,  the  Redeemer  of  the 
world,  showed  unto  us  his  di- 
vine Face  ! 

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 


Corde  natus  ex  parentis 
Ante  mundi  exordium 
A  et  0  cognominatus  : 
Ipse  fons  et  clausula 
Omnium  quae  sunt,  fuerunt, 
Quaeque  post  futura  sunt. 

Ipse  jussit,  et  creata, 
Dixit  ipse,  et  facta  sunt ; 
Terra,  ccelum,  fossa  ponti, 
Trina  rerum  machina, 
Quaeque  in  his  vigent  sub 

alto 
Solis  et  lunae  globo. 

Corporis  formam  caduci, 
Membra  morti  obnoxia 
Induit,  ne  gens  periret 
Primoplasti  ex  germine, 
Merserat  quern  lex  profundo 
Noxialis  Tartaro. 


0  beatus  ortus  ille, 
Virgo  cum  puerpera 
Edidit  nostram  salutem, 
Fceta  Sancto  Spiritu, 
Et  puer  Redemptor  orbis 
Os  sacratum  protulit. 


Psallat  altitudo  coeli, 
Psallite,  omnes  Angeli, 
Quidquid    est   virtutis   us- 

quam, 
Psallat  in  laudem  Dei : 


1  Fourth  Sermon  On  our  Lord's  Nativity. 


308 


CHEISTMAS. 


Nulla  linguarum  silescat, 
Vox  et  omnis  consonet. 

Ecce  quern  vates  vetustis 
Concinebant  sseculis, 
Quern  Prophetarum  fideles 
Paginse  spoponderant, 
Emicat  promissus  olim  : 
Cuncta  collaudent  eum. 

Te  senes  et  te  juventus, 
Parvulorum  te  chorus, 
Turba    matrum,  virginum- 

que, 
Simplices  puellulse, 
Voce  Concordes  pudicis 
Perstrepant  concentibus. 

Fluminum  lapsus,  et  unda3 
Littorum  crepidines, 
Imber,  sestus,  nix,  pruinse, 
Silva,  et  aura,  nox,  dies, 
Omnibus  te  concelebrent 
Saeculorum  sseculis. 

Amen. 


voice  join  in  the  hymn  of 
praise. 

Behold  the  Promised  Mes- 
sias,  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  ever  give  thee 
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. 


Lsetare,  puerpera, 
LaBto  puerperio, 
Cujus  casta  viscera 
Fcecundantur  Filio. 

Lacte  fluunt  ubera 
Cum  pudoris  lilio  ; 
Membra  foves  tenera, 
Virgo,  lacte  proprio. 

Patris  Unigenitus, 
Per  quern  fecit  ssecula, 
Hie  degit  humanitus, 
Sub  Matre  paupercula. 


Kejoice,  O  Virgin-Mother ! 
in  thy  joy-giving  delivery,  for 
thy  chaste  womb  was  made 
fruitful  of  the  very  Son  of 
God. 

O  wondrous  sight — Jesus 
feeding  from  the  Lily  of  Pu- 
rity !  Yea,  most  pure  Virgin, 
thou  f  eedest  at  thy  breasts  his 
infant  life. 

The  Only  Begotten  of  the 
Father,  by  whom  he  made  this 
world,  is  dwelling  here  the 
Babe  of  a  poor  Mother. 


DEC.   27.      ST.  JOHN. 


309 


There,  lie  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  sub- 
jection 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  de- 
spair, for  the  proofs  thou 
seest  here  of  Jesus'  love  speak 
but  of  pardon. 

Thou  wouldst  have  pardon  1 
fly  to  the  Mother  for  protec- 
tion, for  she  holds  on  her 
lap  the  Infinite  Fountain  of 
Mercy. 

Often  bend  thy  knee  before 
her,  and,  with  hopeful  love,  sa- 
lute her  thus  :  Hail  !  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,  0  Jesus  !  thy  sweet 
Mother's  prayers,  and,  with  an 
eye  of  pity,  look  upon  us  sin- 
ners !  Correct  and  change  us, 
and  make  us  worthy  to  be 
citizens  of  heaven,  j 

Amen. 


Ibi  sanctos  reficit 
Angelos  laetitia  : 
Hie  sitit  et  esurit 
Degens  ab  infantia. 

Ibi  regit  omnia, 
Hie  a  Matre  regitur  : 
Ibi  dat  imperia, 
Hie  ancillse  subditur. 

Ibi  summi  culminis 
Residet  in  solio ; 
Hie  ligatus  fasciis 
Vagit  in  prassepio. 

O  homo  !  considera, 
Eevocans  memoriae, 
Quanta  sint  haec  opera 
Divinae  clementiae. 

Non  desperes  veniam, 
Si  multum  deliqueris, 
Ubi  tot  insignia 
Charitatis  videris. 

Sub  Matris  refugio 
Fuge,  causa  veniae  : 
Nam  tenet  in  gremio 
Fontem  indulgentiae. 

Hanc  salutes  saepius 
Cum  spei  fiducia, 
Dicens,  flexis  genibus  : 
Ave  plena  gratia. 

Quondam  flentis  lacrymas 
Sedabas  uberibus  : 
Nunc  iratum  mitigas 
Pro  nostris  excessibus. 

Jesu,  lapsos  respice, 
Piae  Matris  precibus  ; 
Emendatos  efiice 
Dignos  cceli  civibus. 


Amen. 


310  CHRISTMAS. 


December  28. 
THE  HOLY  INNOCENTS. 


The  feast  of  the  beloved  Disciple  is  followed  by  that 
of  the  Holy  Innocents.  The  Crib  of  Jesus — where 
we  have  already  met  and  venerated  the  Prince  of 
Martyrs  and  the  Eagle  of  Patmos — has  to-day  stand- 
ing 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  immo- 
lation, and  all  was  revealed  to  them  :  they  had  gone 
through  this  world  without  knowing  it,  and  now  that 
they  know  it,  they  possess  an  infinitely  better.  God 
showed  here  the  riches  of  his  mercy — he  asks  of 
them  but  a  momentary  suffering,  and  that  over,  they 
wake  up  in  Abraham's  Bosom :  no  further  trial 
awaits  them,  they  are  in  spotless  innocence,  and  the 


DEC.   28.      HOLY  INNOCENTS.  311 

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 
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  con- 
nection of  these  three  Feasts  is  thus  admirably  ex- 
plained by  St.  Bernard  :  "  In  St.  Stephen,  we  have 
"  both  the  act  and  the  desire  of  Martyrdom ;  in  St. 
"  John,  we  have  but  the  desire ;  in  the  Holy  Inno- 
"  cents,  we  have  but  the  act.  *  *  Will  any  one 
"  doubt  whether  a  crown  was  given  to  these  Inno- 
" cents?  *  *  If  you  ask  me  what  merit  could 
"  they  have,  that  God  should  crown  them  ?  let  me 
"  ask  vou,  what  was  the  fault,  for  which  Herod  slew 
"  them  ?  What !  is  the  mercy  of  Jesus  less  than  the 
"  cruelty  of  Herod  ?  and  whilst  Herod  could  put 
"these  Babes  to  death,  who  had  done  him  no  injury, 
"  Jesus  may  not  crown  them  for  dying  for  Him  ? 

"  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  Mar- 
"  tyrdom  which  only  Angels  could  see,  for  the 
"  proofs  of  his  sacrifice  being  spiritual,  only  spiri- 
tual creatures  could  ken  them.  But,  the  Inno- 
"  cents  were  Martyrs  to  none  other  eye  save  thine,  0 
"  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 


312  CHKISTMAS. 

"  mouth  of  the  Infants  and  the  Sucklings  thou  hast 
"perfected  praise.1  The  praise  the  Angels  give  thee, 
"  is :  Glory  be  to  God  in  the  highest,  and  peace  on 
"earth  to  men  of  good  will:2  it  is  a  magnificent 
"praise,  but  I  make  bold  to  say,  that  it  is  not  per- 
fect, till  He  cometh  who  will  say :  '  Suffer  Little 
" '  Children  to  come  unto  me,  for  of  such  is  the 
"  '  kingdom  of  heaven  ;3  and  in  the  mystery  of  my 
" '  mercy,  there  shall  be  peace  to  men  that  cannot 
" '  even  use  their  will.'  "  (Sermon  for  the  Feast  of 
" '  the  Holy  Innocents.) 

Yes,  God  did  for  these  Innocents,  who  were  im- 
molated on  his  Son's  account,  what  he  is  doing  every 
moment  now  by  the  sacrament  of  regeneration,  in 
the  case  of  children,  who  die  before  coming  to  the 
use  of  reason.  We,  who  have  been  baptised  by 
water,  should  be  all  the  more  ready  to  honour  these 
Little  Ones,  who  were  baptised  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  prema- 
ture death  secured  them  their  innocence.  They  have 
lived  upon  our  earth,  and  yet  it  defiled  them  not ! 
Truly,  these  tender  Lambs  deserve  to  be  for  ever  with 
the  Lamb  of  God !  May  this  same  earth  of  ours, 
grown  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  of  the  joy,  which,  at  this  holy  time, 
fills  both  heaven  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  con- 
doles with  her ;  and,  unless  it  be  a  Sunday,  she  sus- 

1  Ps.  viii.  3.        2  St.  Luke,  ii.  14.        3  St.  Matth.  xix.  14. 


DEC.   28.      HOLY  INNOCENTS.  313 

pends  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  mournful- 
ness.1  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.  In  this,  as  in  everything  she  does,  the 
Church  acts  with  an  exquisite  delicacy  of  feeling. 
Her  Liturgy  is  a  school  of  refined  christian  consider- 
ateness. 

This  expression  of  sympathy  gives  to-day's  Office 
a  pathetic  sadness,  which,  however,  in  no  ways  in- 
terferes with  the  joy,  which  the  Church  feels  in  cele- 
brating 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  Cathedral  and  Collegiate 
Churches,  of  allowing  young  boys  to  share  in  the 
duties  of  the  Choir,  and  blend  their  innocent  chant- 
ing 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. 

1  Unless  it  be  a  Sunday ;  in  which  case,  the  colour  used  is  Red. 


314  CHRISTMAS. 

Paul's  beyond  the  Walls,  which  possesses  several  of 
the  bodies  of  the  Holy  Innocents.  In  the  16th 
century,  Pope  Xystus  the  Fifth  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  in- 

et  lactentium  perfecisti  lau-  fants  and  sucklings,  thou  hast 

dem  propter  inimicos  tuos.  perfected  praise,   O   God,  to 

confound  thine  enemies. 

Ps.     Domine,    Dominus  Ps.  0  Lord,  our  Lord,  how 

noster,  quam  admirabile  est  admirable  is  thy  name  in  the 

Nonien  tuum  in    universa  whole  earth,      "jv.   Glory,   dec. 

terra !      ~ft.    Gloria    Patri.  Out  of. 
Ex  ore. 

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  per- 
manent 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. 


DEC.    28.      HOLY  INNOCENTS. 


315 


COLLECT. 


O  God,  whose  praise  the 
Holy  Martyrs,  the  Innocents, 
published  this  day,  not  by 
speaking,  but  by  dying  ;  mor- 
tify in  us  all  our  vicious  in- 
clinations :  that  we  may  show 
forth,  in  our  actions,  thy  faith, 
which  we  profess  with  our 
lips.    Through,  <kc. 

Commemoration  of 

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. 

Commemoration 

Grant,  0  Lord,  we  beseech 
thee,  that  we  may  imitate  him, 
whose  memory  we  celebrate, 
so  as  to  learn  to  love  even  our 
enemies  ;  because  we  now  so- 
lemnise his  martyrdom,  who 
knew  how  to  pray,  even  for 
his  persecutors,  to  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  thy  Son. 

Commemoration 

Mercifully,  O  Lord,  en- 
lighten thy  Church  :  that 
being  taught  by  blessed  John, 
thine  Apostle  and  Evangelist, 
she  may  come  to  thy  eternal 
rewards.    Through,  &c. 


Deus,  cujus  hodierna  die 
prseconium  Innocentes  Mar- 
tyres  non  loquendo,  sed  mo- 
riendo  confessi  sunt :  omnia 
in  nobis  vitiorum  mala  mor- 
tifica,  ut  fidem  tuam,  quam 
lingua  nostra  loquitur,  eti- 
am  moribus  vita  fateatur. 
Per  Dominum. 

Christmas  Day. 

Concede,  qusesumus,  om- 
nipotens  Deus ;  ut  nos  Uni- 
geniti  tui  nova  per  carnem 
Nativitas  liberet,  quos  sub 
peccati  jugo  vetusta  servi- 
tus  tenet. 

of  St.  Stephen. 

Da  nobis,  qusesumus,  Do- 
mine,  imitari  quod  colimus ; 
ut  discamus  et  inimicos  dili- 
gere;  quia  ejus  natalitia  ce- 
lebramus,  qui  novit  etiam 
pro  persecutoribus  exorare 
Dominum  nostrum  Jesum 
Christum  Filium  tuum. 

of  St.  John. 

Ecclesiam  tuam,  Domine, 
benignus  illustra  :  ut  beati 
Joannis,  Apostoli  tui  et 
EvangeHstse,  illuminata  doc- 
trinis,  ad  dona  perveniat 
sempiterna.    Per  Dominum. 


EPISTLE. 


Lesson  from  the  book  of  the 
Apocalypse  of  Saint  John 
the  Apostle. 

Ch.  XIV 
In  those  days  :  I  beheld  the 

Lamb  standing  on  mount  Sion, 


Lectio      libri     Apocalypsis 
beati  Joannis  Apostoli. 

Cap.  XIV 
In  diebus  illus:  Vidi  supra 
montem  Sion  Agnum  stan- 


316 


CHRISTMAS. 


tern,  et  cum  eo  centum  qua- 
draginta  quatuor  millia,  ha- 
bentes  uomen  ejus,  et  no- 
men  Patris  ejus  scriptum  in 
f rontibus  suis.  Et  audivi  vo- 
cem  de  coelo,  tamquam  vo- 
cem  aquarum  multarum,  et 
tamquam  vocem  tonitrui 
magni ;  et  vocem  quam  au- 
divi, sicut  citharaedorum 
citharizantium  in  citharis 
suis.  Et  cantabant  quasi 
canticum  novum  ante  se- 
dem,  et  ante  quatuor  ani- 
malia  et  seniores  ;  et  nemo 
poterat  dicere  canticum, 
nisi  ilia  centum  quadra- 
ginta  quatuor  millia,  qui 
empti  sunt  de  terra.  Hi  sunt 
qui  cum  mulieribus  non 
sunt  coinquinati  :  virgines 
enim  sunt.  Hi  sequuntur 
Agnum  quocumque  ierit. 
Hi  empti  sunt  ex  homini- 
bus,  primitige  Deo  et  Agno, 
et  in  ore  eorum  non  est  in- 
ventum  mendacium :  sine 
macula  enim  sunt  ante  thro- 
num  Dei. 


and  with  him  a  hundred  forty- 
four  thousand,  having  his 
name,  and  the  name  of  his 
Father,  written  on  their  fore- 
heads. And  I  heard  a  voice 
from  heaven,  as  the  voice  of 
many  waters,  and  as  the  voice 
of  great  thunder;  and  the  voice 
which  I  heard  was  as  the  voice 
of  harpers  harping  on  their 
harps.  And  they  sung  as  it 
were  a  new  canticle,  before  the 
throne,  and  before  the  four 
living  creatures  and  the  an- 
cients ;  and  no  man  could  say 
the  canticle,  but  those  hun- 
dred forty-four  thousand,  who 
were  purchased  from  the 
earth.  These  are  they,  who 
are  not  denied  with  women  : 
for  they  are  virgins.  These 
follow  the  Lamb  whitherso- 
ever he  goeth.  These  were  pur- 
chased from  among  men,  the 
first-fruits  to  God  and  to  the 
Lamb,  and  in  their  mouths 
there  was  found  no  lie  :  for 
they  are  without  spot,  before 
the  throne  of  God. 


The  Church  shows  us,  by  her  choice  of  this  mys- 
terious passage  of  the  Apocalypse,  how  great  a  value 
she  sets  on  Innocence,  and  what  our  own  esteem  of 
it  ought  to  be.  The  Holy  Innocents  follow  the 
Lamb,  because  they  are  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 


DEC.  28.      HOLY  INNOCENTS.  317 

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  ?1 

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  in- 
vokes the  divine  vengeance,  which  swept  away  the 
whole  family  of  this  vile  Tyrant. 

GEADTJAL. 

Our   soul    hath  been   de-  Anima  nostra,  sicut  pas- 

livered,  as  a  sparrow,  out  of  ser,  erepta  est  de  laqueo  ve- 

the  snare  of  the  fowlers.  nantium. 

ft.  The  snare  is  broken,  and  ft.  Laqueus  contritus  est, 

we  are  delivered  :  our  help  is  et  nos  liberati  sumus :  adju- 

in  the  name  of  the  Lord,  who  torium  nostrum  in  nomine 

made  heaven  and  earth.  Domini,  qui  fecit  ccelum  et 

terram. 

TEACT. 

They  have  spilt  the  blood  of  EfTuderunt       sanguinem 

the  Saints,  like  water,  about  Sanctorum,  velut  aquam,  in 

Jerusalem.  circuitu  Jerusalem. 

1  ft.  And  there  was  none  to  ft.  Et  non  erat  qui  sepeli- 

bury  them.  ret. 

ft.   Revenge,   O  Lord,  the  ft.  Vindica,  Domine,  san- 

blood  of    thy  Saints,  which  guinem  Sanctorum  tuorum, 

hath  been  spilt  on  earth.  qui  effusus  est  super  terram. 

If  the  Feast  of  Holy  Innocents  fall  on  a  Sunday, 
the  Tract  is  not  sung,  but,  in  its  place,  the  usual 
Alleluia  verse,  as  follows  : 

Alleluia,  Alleluia.  Alleluia,  alleluia. 

ft.  Praise  the  Lord,  ye  chil-        ft.  Laudate  pueri  Domi- 

dren,  praise  ye  the  name  of  num,  laudate  nomen  Domi- 

the  Lord.    Alleluia.  ni.    Alleluia. 

1  Cant.  v.  3. 


318 


CHRISTMAS. 


GOSPEL. 


Sequentia  sancti  Evangelii 
secundum  Matthasum. 

Cap.  II. 

In  illo  tempore  :  Angelus 
Domini  apparuit  in  somnis 
Joseph,  dicens:  surge,  et 
accipe  puerum  et  matrem 
ejus,  et  fuge  in  iEgyptum, 
et  esto  ibi  usque  dum  di- 
cam  tibi.  Futurum  est'enim, 
ut  Herodes  quserat  puerum 
ad  perdendum  eum.  Qui 
consurgens,  accepit  puerum 
et  matrem  ejus  nocte,  et 
secessit  in  iEgyptum,  et 
erat  ibi  usque  ad  obitum 
Herodis  ;  ut  adimpleretur 
quod  dictum  est  a  Domino 
per  Prophetam  dicentem  : 
Ex  iEgypto  vocavi  Filium 
meum.  Tunc  Herodes  vi- 
dens  quoniam  illusus  esset 
a  Magis,  iratus  est  valde : 
et  mittens,  occidit  omnes 
pueros  qui  erant  in  Bethle- 
hem, et  in  omnibus  finibus 
ejus,  a  bimatu  et  infra,  se- 
cundum tempus  quod  ex- 
quisierat  a  Magis.  Tunc  ad- 
impletum  est  quod  dictum 
est  per  Jeremiam  Prophe- 
tam dicentem  :  Vox  in  Ra- 
ma audita  est,  ploratus  et 
ululatus  multus :  Rachel 
plorans  filios  suos;  et  noluit 
consolari,  quia  non  sunt. 


Sequel    to    the    holy  Gospel 
according  to  Matthew. 

Oh.  II. 

At  that  time  :  An  Angel  of 
the  Lord  appeared  in  sleep  to 
Joseph,  saying :  Arise,  and 
take  the  Child,  and  his  Mother, 
and  fly  into  Egypt,  and  be 
there  until  I  shall  tell  thee. 
For  it  shall  come  to  pass,  that 
Herod  will  seek  the  Child,  to 
destroy  him.  Who  arose,  and 
took  the  Child,  and  his  Mother, 
by  night,  and  retired  into 
Egypt,  and  he  was  there  until 
the  death  of  Herod ;  that  it 
might  be  fulfilled  which  the 
Lord  spoke  by  the  Prophet, 
saying  :  Out  of  Egypt  have  I 
called  my  son.  Then  Herod, 
perceiving  that  he  was  deluded 
by  the  Wise  Men,  was  ex- 
ceedingly angry :  and  sending, 
killed  all  the  men  children, 
that  were  in  Bethlehem,  and 
in  all  the  borders  thereof,  from 
two  years  old  and  under,  ac-> 
cording  to  the  time,  which 
he  had  diligently  inquired 
of  the  Wise  Men.  Then 
was  fulfilled  that  which  was 
spoken  by  Jeremias,  the  Pro- 
phet, saying  :  A  voice  in  Ra- 
ma was  heard,  lamentation 
and  great  mourning:  Rachel 
bewailing  her  children,  and 
would  not  be  comforted,  be- 
cause 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 


DEC.   28.      HOLY  INNOCENTS.  319 

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  still  again,  as  though 
nothing  had  happened.  But,  these  favoured  Victims 
had  been  accepted  by  God,  and  they  were  to  be  the 
companions  of  his  Son.  Jesus  looked  at  them  from 
his  crib,  and  blessed  them ;  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  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  set  free,  they  give  praise  to  Him  who  broke 
the  snare  which  held  them. 

OFFERTORY. 

Our  soul  hath  been  de-  Anima  nostra,  sicut  pas- 
livered,  as  a  sparrow,  out  of  ser  erepta  est  de  laqueo 
the  snare  of  the  fowlers  :  the  venantium  :  laqueus  con- 
snare  is  broken,  and  we  are  tritus  est,  et  nos  liberati 
delivered.  sunrus. 

SECRET. 

May  the  pious  prayers  of  Sanctorum  tuoram,   Do- 

thy  Saints,  O  Lord,  be  never  mine,  nobis  pia  non  desit 

wanting  to  us  ;  both  to  make  oratio  ;  quae  et  munera  nos- 

our  offerings  acceptable,  and  tra  conciliet,  et  tuam  nobis 

to  obtain  for  us  thy  mercy,  indulgentiam  semper  obti- 

Through,  doc.  neat.     Per  Dominum. 

* 

Commemoration  of  Christmas  Day. 

Sanctify,  O  Lord,  our  offer-  Oblata,  Domine,  munera, 
ings  by  the  new  Birth  of  thine  nova  Unigeniti  tui  Nativi- 
Only  Begotten  Son,  and  tate  sanctifica,  nosque  a  pec- 
cleanse  us  from  the  stains  of  catorum  nostrorum  maculis 
our  sins.  emunda. 


320 


CHEISTMAS. 


Commemoration  of  St.  Stephen. 


Suscipe,  Domine,  munera, 
pro  tuorum  commemora- 
tione  Sanctorum  :  ut  sicut 
ilios  passio  gloriosos  effecit, 
ita  nos  devotio  reddat  inno- 


cuos. 


Receive,  O  Lord,  these  offer- 
ings in  memory  of  thy  Saints : 
and  as  their  sufferings  have 
made  them  glorious,  so  may 
our  devotion  render  us  free 
from  sin. 


Commemoration  of  St.  John. 


Suscipe,  Domine,  munera, 
quae  in  ejus  nos  tibi  solem- 
nitate  deferimus,  cujus  nos 
confidimus  patrocinio  libe- 
rari.     Per  Dominum. 


Receive,  O  Lord,  the  offer- 
ings we  make  to  thee  on  his 
feast,  by  whose  intercession, 
we  hope  to  be  delivered. 
Through,  &c. 


In  the  Communion-Anthem,  we  again  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. 


COMMUNION. 


Vox  in  Rama  audita  est, 
ploratus  et  ululatus  :  Ra- 
chel plorans  Alios  suos ;  et 
noluit  consolari,  quia  non 
sunt. 


A  voice  in  Rama  was  heard, 
lamentation  and  great  mourn- 
ing :  Rachel  bewailing  her 
children,  and  would  not  be 
comforted,  because  they  are 
not. 


POSTCOMMTJNION. 


Votiva,  Domine,  dona  per- 
cepimus :  quae  Sanctorum 
nobis  precibus,  et  praesentis 
quaesumus  vitae,  pariter  et 
aeternae  tribue  conferre  sub- 
sidium.    Per  Dominum. 


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  helps  of 
this  present  life,  and  those 
of  that  which  is  to  come. 
Through,  <kc. 


DEC.   28.      HOLY  INNOCENTS. 


321 


Commemoration  of  Christmas  Day. 


Grant,  we  beseech  thee,  0 
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. 


Praesta,  quaesumus,  omni- 
potens  Deus :  ut  natus  hodie 
Salvator  mundi,  sicutdivinae 
nobis  generationis  est  auc- 
tor,  ita  et  immortalitatis 
sit  ipse  largitor. 


May  the  mysteries  we  have 
received,  O  Lord,  be  a  help  to 
us,  and,  by  the  intercession  of 
the  blessed  Martyr  Stephen, 
strengthen  us  with  thy  perpe- 
tual protection. 


Commemoration  of  St.  Stephen. 

Auxilientur  nobis,  D  onli- 
ne, sumpta  mysteria,  et  in- 


tercedente  beato  Stephano, 
Martyre  tuo,  sempiterna 
protectione  confirment. 


Commemoration  of  St.  John. 


Being  refreshed,  O  Lord, 
with  this  heavenly  meat  and 
drink,  we  humbly  beseech 
thee,  that  we  may  be  assisted 
by  his  prayers,  on  whose  feast 
we  have  received  these  sacred 
mysteries.     Through,  &c. 


Refecti  cibo  potuque  coe- 
lesti,  Deus  noster,  te  suppli- 
ces  deprecamur,  ut  in  cujus 
haec  commemoratione  per- 
cepimus,  ejus  muniamur  et 
precibus.    Per  Dominum. 


VESPERS. 

The  Antiphons  and  Psalms  of  Christmas-Day 
having  been  sung,  as  given  in  pages  234-241,  the 
rest  of  the  Office  is  of  St.  Thomas  of  Canterbury,  and 
is  the  First  Vespers  of  to-morrow's  Feast. 


CAPITULUM. 

(J as.  I.) 


Blessed  is  the  man  that  en- 
dureth  temptation  :  for,  when 
he  hath  been  proved,  he  shall 
receive  the  crown  of  life,  which 
God  hath  promised  to  them 
that  love  him. 


Beatus  vir  qui  suffert  ten- 
tationem  :  quoniam,  cum 
probatus  fuerit,  accipiet  co- 
ronam  vitae,  quam  repro- 
mist  Deus  diligentibus  se. 


322 


CHRISTMAS. 


HYMN. 
Deus  tuorum  militum,  page  261. 

After  the    Hymn,    the   following  Yersicles   and 
Antiphons  are  sung  : 


First 


ft.  Gloria  et  honore  coro- 


nasti  eum,  Domine. 


1$.  Et  constituisti  eum 
super  opera  manuum  tua- 
rum. 

Ant.  Iste  sanctus  pro 
lege  Dei  sui  certavit  usque 
ad  mortem,  et  a  verbis  im- 
piorum  non  timuit:  funda- 
tus  enim  erat  supra  firmam 
petram. 


Vespers. 

ft.  Thou  hast  crowned  him 
with  glory  and  honour,  O 
Lord. 

I£.  And  hast  set  him  over 
the  works  of  thy  hands. 

Ant.  This  Saint  fought, 
even  to  death,  for  the  law  of 
his  God,  and  feared  not  the 
words  of  the  wicked ;  for  he 
was  founded  upon  a  firm  rock. 


Second  Vespers. 


ft.  Justus  ut  palma  flore- 
bit. 

I£.  Sicut  cedrus  Libani 
multiplicabitur. 

Ant.  Qui  vult  venire  post 
me,  abneget  semetipsum,  et 
tollat  crucem  suam,  et  se- 
quatur  me. 


y.  The  just  man  shall 
flourish  like  the  palm-tree. 

Jfe.  He  shall  grow  up  like 
the  cedar  of  Libanus. 

Ant.  He  that  willeth  to 
come  after  me,  let  him  deny 
himself,  and  take  up  his  cross, 
and  follow  me. 


OKEMUS. 

Deus,  pro  cujus  Ecclesia 
gloriosus  Pontifex  Thomas 
gladiis  impiorum  occubuit  : 
praesta  quaesumus,  ut  omnes 
qui  ejus  implorant  auxilium, 
petitionis  suae  salutarem 
consequantur  effectum.  Per 
Dominum. 


LET  US  PEAY. 

O  God,  in  defence  of  whose 
Church,  the  glorious  Prelate 
Thomas  fell  by  the  swords  of 
wicked  men  :  grant,  we  be- 
seech thee,  that  all  who  im- 
plore his  assistance,  may  find 
comfort  in  the  grant  of  their 
petition.    Through,  <kc. 


Commemoration  of  Holy  Innocents. 

Ant.      Innocentes      pro        Ant.  Innocent  Infants  were 
Christo  infantes  occisi  sunt,    slain  for  Christ ;  children  at 


DEC.   28.      HOLY  INNOCENTS. 


323 


the  breast  were  murdered  by 
a  wicked  king :  they  follow 
the  spotless  Lamb  himself, 
and  say  ever  :  Glory  be  to 
thee,  O  Lord. 

"ff.  Beneath  the  throne  of 
God,  all  the  Saints  cry  out : 

I£.  0  God,  avenge  thou  our 
blood. 


ab  iniquo  rege  lactentes  in- 
terfecti  sunt  :  ipsum  se- 
quuntur  Agnum  sine  macu- 
la, et  dicunt  semper  :  Gloria 
tibi,  Domine. 

$".  Sub  throno  Dei  omnes 
Sancti  clamant : 

1$.  Vindica  sanguinem 
nostrum,  Deus  noster. 


LET  US  PKAY. 

O  God,  whose  praise  the 
Holy  Martyrs,  the  Innocents, 
published  this  day,  not  by 
speaking,  but  by  dying ;  mor- 
tify in  us  all  our  vicious  in- 
clinations :  that  we  may  show 
forth,  in  our  actions,  thy  faith 
which  we  profess  with  our 
lips. 

Commemoration  of 

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  ex- 
ult, saying  :  Glory  be  to  God 
in  the  highest,  alleluia. 

$\  The  Lord  hath  made 
known,  alleluia. 

I£.  His  salvation,  alleluia. 

LET  US  PEAY. 

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,  &c. 


OEEMUS. 

Deus,  cujus  hodierna  die 
prseconium  Innocentes  Mar- 
tyres  non  loquendo,  sed 
moriendo  conf  essi  sunt,  om- 
nia in  nobis  vitiorum  mala 
mortifica  :  ut  fidem  tuam, 
quam  lingua  nostra  loquitur, 
etiam  moribus  vita  f ateatur. 


Christmas  Day. 

Ant.  Hodie  Christus  na- 
tus  est,  hodie  Salvator  appa- 
ruit,  hodie  in  terra  canunt 
Angeli  ,laetantur  Archangeli : 
hodie  exsultant  justi,  dicen- 
tes  :  Gloria  in  excelsis  Deo, 
alleluia. 

"ff.  Notum  fecit  Dominus, 
alleluia. 

B.  Salutare  suum,  alle- 
luia. 

OEEMUS. 

Concede,  qusesumus,  om- 
nipotens  Deus  :  ut  nos  Uni- 
'  geniti  tui  nova  per  carnem 
Nativitas  liberet,  quos  sub 
peccati  jugo  vetusta  servitus 
tenet.    Per  eumdem. 


And  now,  let  us  listen  to  the  several  Churches 
celebrating  the  triumph    of    the   Holy   Innocents. 


.324 


CHRISTMAS. 


Their  chants  for  this  Feast  are  very  beautiful.  We 
will  begin  with  the  following  fine  Preface,  which  is 
in  both  the  Ambrosian  Missal,  and  in  the  Leonian 
Sacramentarv. 


PREFACE. 


Vere  dignum  et  justum 
est,  sequum  et  salutare  :  nos 
in  pretiosa  morte  parvulo- 
rum  te,  sancte  Pater  omni- 
potens,  gloriosius  collau- 
dare  :  quos  propter  Filii  tui 
Domini  nostri  Salvatoris  in- 
f  antiam  immani  ssevitia  He- 
rodes  funestus  occidit  :  im- 
mensa  dementias  tuse  dona 
cognoscimus.  Fulget  nam- 
que  sola  magis  gratia,  quam 
voluntas  :  et  clara  est  prius 
confessio,  qnam  loquela. 
Ante  passio,  quam  membra 
passionis  existerent  :  testes 
Christi,  qui  ejus  nondum 
fuerant  agnitores,  O  infinita 
benignitas  Omnipotentis  : 
cum  pro  suo  nomine  truci- 
datis,  etiam  nescientibus, 
seternas  meritum  glorias  pe- 
rire  non  patitur ;  sed  proprio 
cruore  perfusis  et  salus  re- 
generationis  expletur  et  im- 
putatur  corona  niartyrii ! 


It  is  truly  meet  and  just, 
right  and  available  to  salva- 
tion, that  we  should  exceed- 
ingly praise  thee,  O  Holy  Al- 
mighty Father,  in  the  precious 
death  of  the  Infants,  whom 
the  unhappy  Herod,  with 
savage  cruelty,  slew  because 
of  the  Infant  Jesus,  thy  Son, 
our  Lord.  Herein  do  we  re- 
cognise how  immeasurable  are 
the  gifts  of  thy  mercy,  for  the 
splendour  of  thy  free  grace 
outshines  the  martyrs'  will ; 
and  they  nobly  confess  thy 
name,  who  are  not  yet  able  to 
speak.  They  suffer  martyr- 
dom 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  mar- 
tyrdom. 


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 


It  is  meet  and  just,  yea 
truly  right  and  just,  that  we 
should  always  and  in  all  places, 


DEC.    28.      HOLY   INNOCENTS. 


325 


give  thanks  to  thee,  0  Holy- 
Lord,  Almighty  Father,  Eter- 
nal 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 
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  pro- 
fess, 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  In- 
nocents, who  were  slain  by  the 
wicked  Herod.  This  enemy 
confers  on  them  what  their 
body  could  not ;  while  he  in- 
jures their  body,  he  benefits 
it ;  whilst  their  body  falls,  it 
lives  by  its  death,  it  rises  by 
its  fall,  it  conquers  by  its  de- 
feat. 


gratias  agere,  Domine,  sanc- 
te,  Pater  omnipotens,  aeterne 
Deus,  pro  his  prsecipue,  quo- 
rum hodierno  die  annua  fes- 
tivitate  recolentes  memo- 
riam  passionis  celebramus  : 
quos  Herodianus  satelles 
lactantum  matrum  uberibus 
abstraxit.  Qui  jure  dicun- 
tur  Martyrum  flores  ;  qui 
in  medio  f rigore  infidelitatis 
exorti,  velut  primas  erum- 
pentes  Ecclesiae  gemmas 
quaedam  persecutionis  prui- 
na  discussit,  rutilante  fonte 
in  Bethlehem  civitate.  In- 
fantes enim  quia  aetate  loqui 
non  poterant,  laudem  Do- 
mini cum  gaudio  resonabant. 
Occisi  predicant :  quod  vivi 
non  poterant.  Loquuntur 
sanguine,  quod  lingua  ne- 
quiverunt.  Contulit  his 
Martyrium  laudem  ;  quibus 
abnegaverat  lingua  sermo- 
nem.  Praemittit  infantes 
Infans  Christus  ad  ccelos  ; 
transmittit  novaxeniaPatri; 
primitias  exhibet  Genitori 
parvulorum  prima  martyria, 
Herodis  scelere  perpetrata. 
Praestat  hostis  corpori ;  dum 
nocet,  beneficium  tribuit ; 
dum  occidit,  moriendo  vivi- 
tur  :  cadendo  resurgitur : 
victoria  per  interitum  com- 
probatur. 


Our  own  Venerable  Bede  offers  us  the  following 
Hymn,  which  is  full  of  melody  and  pathos. 


326 


CHRISTMAS. 


HYMN. 


Hymnum  canentes  Mar- 
tyrum 
Dicamus  Innocentium, 
Quos  terra  flendo  perdidit, 
Gaudens  sed  sethra  suscipit. 

Vultum  Patris  per  ssecula, 
Quorum  tuentur  Angeli, 
Ej  usque  laudant  gratiam, 
Hymnum  canentes  Marty- 
rum. 

Quos  rex  peremit  impius, 
Pius  sed  Auctor  colligit, 
Secum  beatos  collocans, 
In  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  Bethlemiticos, 
Sancto  respersit  sanguine. 

Prseclara   Christo    splen- 
duit 
Mors  innocens  fidelium  : 
Ccelis  ferebant  Angeli 
Bimos  et  infra  parvulos. 

Vox  in  Rama  percrebuit, 
Lamenta  luctus  maximi, 
Rachel  suos,  cum  lacrymis 
Perfusa,  flevit  filios. 

Gaudent   triumpho    per- 
peti, 
Tormenta  quique  vicerant, 
Quorum  gemens  ob  verbera, 
Vox  in  Rama  percrebuit. 

Ne,  grex  pusille,  f ormides 
Dentes  leonis  perndos ! 


Let  us  chant  the  hymn  of 
the  Martyred  Innocents,  whom 
earth  lost,  and  wept,  but  hea- 
ven 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. 

A  cruel  king  destroyed 
them,  the  merciful  Creator  re- 
ceived 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  Bethle- 
hem. 

Precious  in  the  sight  of  Je- 
sus 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 


DEC.   28.      HOLY  INNOCENTS. 


327 


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  no  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 
was  born,  and  where  he  was 
presented  with  the  first  Mar- 
tyrs— the  first  Victims  dedi- 
cated to  the  new-born  King. 

No,  Bethlehem  !  thou  shalt 
not  be  called  the  least  among 
the  thousand  cities,  for  out  of 
thee  came  the  divine  Leader  ! 
0  truly  blessed  City  ! 

Around  his  throne  now 
stand,  glittering  in  their  fair 
bright  robes,  these  Innocents 
that  washed  their  garments 
red  in  the  Blood  of  the  Lamb. 

They  had  sighed  and  wept 
for  the  kingdom  of  the  ever- 
lasting world — now  they  stand 
joyful  before  God,  and  bright 
in  their  robes  of  glory,  are  ever 
singing  his  praise. 


Pastor  bonus  nam  pascua 
Vobis  dabit  ccelestia. 

Agnum  Dei  qui  candidum 
Mundo  sequeris  tramite ; 
Manus  latronis  impias 
Ne,  grex  pusille  f ormides. 

Absterget  omnem  lacry- 

mam 
Yestris  Pater  de  vultibus  ; 
Mors  vobis  ultra  non  nocet, 
Vitas  receptis  mcenibus. 
Qui    seminant    in  lacry- 

mis, 
Longo  metent  in  gaudio, 
Genis  lugentum  Conditor 
Absterget    omnem     lacry- 

mam. 
O  quam  beata  civitas, 
In  qua  Redemptor  nascitur : 
Natoque  primse  Martyrum 
In  qua  dicantur  hostise. 


Nunquam    vocaris    par- 
vula, 
In  civitatum  millibus, 
Ex  qua   novus  dux   ortus 

est ; 
0  quam  beata  civitas. 

Adstant  nitentes  fulgidis 
Ejus  throno  nunc  vestibus, 
Stolas  suas  qui  laverant 
Agni  rubentes  sanguine. 

Qui  perpetis  pro  patriae 
Regno  gementes  fleverant  : 
Lseti  Deo  cum  laudibus 
Adstant  nitentes  fulgidis. 


The  Greek  Church  is,  of  course,  profuse  in  her 
praises  of  the  Holy  Innocents.  We  extract  from  her 
Menaea  the  following  stanzas. 


328 


CHRISTMAS. 


(XXVI.  Decembris,  in  magno  Vespertino,  et  passim.) 


Thesauruin  occultatum 
exquirens  impius,  Innocen- 
tes  pueros  immolavit,  et 
Rachel  inconsolabilis  exun- 
dantem  intuens  cladem  ini- 
quam,  mortemque  praema- 
turam  ;  quos  ploravit,  imis 
visceribus  commota,  eos 
nunc  in  sinu  Abrahse  con- 
templata  gaudet. 

Regem  sine  tempore  sub 
tempore  natum,  rex  im- 
pius exquirebat,  et  non  in- 
veniens  quomodo  occideret, 
puerorum  messuit  maline- 
sciam  multitudinem,  quos 
(et  non  cogitabat)  fecit  Mar- 
tyres,  supernique  regni  ha- 
bitatores,  et  illlus  in  saecula 
impietatem  exprobantes. 

Te  ex  Virgine  nato,  ante- 
saecularis  Domine,  teque 
parvulo,  ob  tuam  bonita- 
tem  facto  ;  parvulorum  cho- 
rus tibi  oblatus  est  in  Mar- 
tyrum  sanguine ;  limpida 
anima  justissime  fulgidus ; 
quos  inhabitare  fecisti  in 
mansionibus  sempiternis, 
Herodis  infamantes  mali- 
tiam  et  crudelissimam  ini- 
quitatem. 


Rachel  damans  lacryma- 
tur,  ut  scriptum  est,  super 
filios  :  parvulos  enim  Hero- 
des  occidens  impius  imple- 
bat  Scripturam,  Judasam 
inundans  innocuo  sanguine ; 
nam  terra  rubescebat  infan- 


The  impious  Herod,  search- 
ing out  Jesus  the  Hidden  Trea- 
sure, slew  the  Innocent  Chil- 
dren ;  and  the  inconsolable 
Rachel,  seeing  the  iniquitous 
shedding  of  blood,  and  the  pre- 
mature death  of  her  Babes, 
first  grieving  from  the  bottom 
of  her  heart,  now  rejoices 
seeing  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  chil- 
dren, thinking  not  that  he  was 
making  them  Martyrs,  and 
citizens  of  the  heavenly  king- 
dom, and  eternal  accusers  of 
his  impiety. 

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 
Child — there  was  presented 
unto  thee  a  choir  of  little  chil- 
dren, 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  injus- 
tice. 

Rachel  wailing,  weeps,  as  'tis 
written,  over  her  Babes,  for 
Herod  fulfilled  the  Scripture 
when  he  slew  the  little  ones, 
and  inundated  Judea  with  in- 
nocent blood.  The  earth  was 
reddened  by  the  Infants' blood, 


DEC.   28.      HOLY  INNOCENTS. 


329 


and  the  Gentile  Church  mys- 
tically made  pure  and  beauti- 
ful. The  Truth  had  come  : 
to  them  that  were  sitting  in 
the  shadow  of  death  God  had 
shown  himself,  born  of  a  Vir- 
gin for  our  salvation. 

In  this  manifestation  of  the 
King  of  all,  all  exulted  in  hea- 
ven and  on  earth,  save  only 
Herod  and  the  Jews,  the  mur- 
derers 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  enemies,  and 
calling  the  multitude  of  the 
Faithful  to  come,  with  the 
holy  Children,  and  see  Him, 
The  Little  Child,  that  lies  in 
the  manger. 

The  impious  Herod  fearing, 
sent  his  reapers  to  cut  the  ten- 
der grass  of  Bethlehem's  little 
field — the  Innocents  :  and  fail- 
ing in  the  murder  of  the  In- 
fant-God, confusion  fills  his 
soul. 

Rachel  bewails  her  sons,  and 
a  loud  cry  is  heard  to-day  in 
Rama  :  Herod  rages  and  mad- 
dens in  impiety  :  John  flees 
to  the  mountains,  his  mother 
Elizabeth  hides  in  a  cave, 
Zachary  is  slain  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  Incom- 
prehensible God,  was  fooled  in 
his  craft,  and  gave  thee  a  choir 
of  Martyrs.    Therefore,  0  God 


tium  sanguinibus,  Eccle- 
siaque  ex  gentibus  mystice 
purificatur,  et  stola  induitur. 
Venit  Veritas,  sedentibus  in 
umbra  mortis  Deus  appa- 
ruit,  ex  Virgine  natus  ad 
salvandum  nos. 

Sursum  et  deorsum  exsul- 
tantibus  omnibus  in  Regis 
omnium  manifestatione,  so- 
lus Herodes  tristatur  cum 
Prophetarum  homicidis  Ju- 
dseis  ;  decet  enim  illos  solos 
lamentari ;  deinceps  enim 
non  amplius  regnant,  sed 
regnum  Domini  posthac 
dominabitur,  inimicorum 
depulsans  audaciam,  et  mul- 
titudinem  Fidelium  convo- 
cans,  ad  videndum  cum  ve- 
nerandis  pueris  ilium  qui 
in  prsesepio  jacet  velut  in- 
fans. 

Herbivirentem  agellum 
puerorum  impius  Herodes 
mittens  emessuit  prgematu- 
rum  timidus ;  et  natum  Do- 
minum  cum  nequit  interfi- 
cere,  omni  impletur  confu- 
sione. 

Plorat  Rachel  infantes,  et 
in  Rama  vox  magna  audi- 
tur  hodie  :  Herodes  f  urit  et 
impie  fremescit :  Joannes 
fugit  ad  montes,  petra  ma- 
trem  recipit,  Zacharias  in 
templo  cseditur,  et  Christus 
fugit,  desertam  linquens 
Hebrseorum  habitationem. 

Immaculatse  tua3  Nativi- 
tati,  Domine,  prima  hostia 
fuerunt  infantes ;  Herodes 
enim  manu  apprehendere 
te  imprehensibilem  volens 
deceptus  est,  Martyrum  ad- 
ducens  tibi  chorum ;  ideo 
te     deprecamur    hominem 


330 


CHRISTMAS. 


factum  salvare  animas  nos- 
tras. 

Ad  aures  Domini  Sabaoth 
pervenit  caedes  vestra,  In- 
fantes honorandi ;  per  earn 
enim  sanguinem  effudistis, 
et  in  sinu  Abrahae  requies- 
citis,  Herodis  in  sascula  odi- 
osam  malitiam  repellentes, 
virtute  Christi  nati. 


Odiosa  Herodis  puerorum 
internecio  per  illius  cruen- 
tam  militiam,  et  veneranda 
puerorum  hostia,  qui  Christi 
coaetanei  praesacrificati  et 
pragpassi  sunt :  noli  flere, 
Rachel,  filios,  recordata 
Abrahae  sinum,  ubi  eorum 
omnium  laetantium  est  co- 
habitatio. 


made  Man  !  save  us,  we  be- 
seech 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  tri- 
umph over  Herod's  detested 
malice  is  eternal. 

Hateful  is  Herod's  massacre 
of  thy  Children,  0  Rachel,  by 
his  cruel  soldiers,  but  vene- 
rable the  holocaust  of  thy 
Babes,  the  companions  of 
Jesus  in  age,  but  his  predeces- 
sors in  their  sacrifice  and  pas- 
sion :  then,  weep  not  for  thy 
Children,  Rachel,  remember- 
ing Abraham's  Bosom,  where 
is  the  one  dwelling  of  them 
all,  and  they  are  in  joy. 


Into  this  sublime  concert  of  the  Liturgies  singing 
the  praises  of  the  Innocents,  we  must  admit  the  Latin 
Churches  of  the  Middle  Ages.  We  have  selected  a 
Prose  of  the  11th  century,  found  in  most  of  the 
ancient  Roman-French  Missals. 


SEQUENCE. 


Celsa    pueri    concrepent 

melodia, 
Pia  Innocentum  colentes 

tripudia. 
Quos  infans  Christus  ho- 

die  vexit  ad  astra, 
Hos   trucidavit  frendens 

insania 
Herodianae    fraudis,     ob 

nulla  crimina, 
In  Bethlehem  ipsius  cunc- 

ta, 


Sound  forth,  O  Children ! 
your  shrill  melodies, 

In  honour  of  the  holy  joys 
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  city 


DEC.    28.      HOLY  INNOCENTS. 


331 


And  all  the  confines  of 
Bethlehem, 

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  his  sword  with 
his  haughty  hand. 

He,  with  his  troubled  mind, 
seeks  for  the  King  of  Light 
and  heaven ; 

That,  by  his  weapons,  he 
might  put  to  death  Him  that 
gives  life  : 

For  his  eye  cannot  look  on 
the  bright  Light  of  Him,  who 
searcheth  clouded  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. 

The  brutal  enemy  tears  the 
flesh  with  gaping  wounds,  and 
on  the  throat  inflicts  a  fatal 
gash  : 

Trampling  out  life,  e'er  the 
tender  age  is  sinewed  into 
strength. 

Oh !  how  glorious  the  bodies 
of  these  murdered  Innocents ! 

How  happy  the  Mothers  of 
such  Children  ! 


0  amiable  legion  of  Inno- 
cents ! 


Et  per  confinia, 

A  bimatu  et  infra, 
Juxta  nascendi  tempora. 

Herodes  rex,  Christi  nati 
Verens,  infelix !  imperia, 

Infremit  totus,erigit  anna 
Superba  dextera. 

Quaerit  lucis  et  coeli  Re- 
gem, 
Cum  mente  turbida ; 
Ut  extinguat,  qui  vitam 
praestat, 
Per  sua  jacula. 
Dum    non   valet   intueri 
lucem  splendidam, 
Nebulosa  quaerentis  pectora. 
Ira  f  ervet,  f  raudes  auget 
Herodes  saevus, 
Ut  perdat  piorum  agmina. 
Castra  militum  dux  ini- 
quus  aggregat, 
Ferrum  figit  in  membra  te- 
nera. 
Inter  ubera  lac  effundit, 
Antequam  sanguinis  fierent 
coagula. 

Hostis  naturae  natos  evis- 
cerat 
Atque  jugulat : 

Ante    prosternit,     quam 
setas  parvula 
Sumat  robora. 
Quam  beata  sunt  Inno- 
centum  caesa 
Corpuscula  ! 
Quam     felices     existunt 
matres, 
Fuderunt    quae    talia    pig- 
nora  ! 
O     dulces     Innocentum 
acies  ! 


332  CHRISTMAS. 

O     pia     lactantum     pro  0      holy      infant-combats 

Christo  certamina !  fought  for  Christ. 

Parvorum        trucidantur  The  Babes  lay  slain  in  thou- 

millia  :  sands,  and  from  their  tender 

Membris  ex  teneris  manant  limbs  there  flows  a  stream  of 

lactis  flumina.  sinless  blood. 

Cives     angelici    veniunt  The  citizens  of  heaven  come 

obviam,  forth  to  meet  the  snow-white 

Mira  victoria,  troop,  that  takes  the  crown  of 

Vitse  captat  merita  Life,  won  by  a  singular  vic- 

Turba  candidissima.  tory. 

Te,      Christe,      petimus,  We  most  devoutly  beseech 

mente  devotissima,  thee,  0  Jesus !  who  earnest  to 

Nostra  quivenisti  reformare  reform  the  world, 
ssecula, 

Innocentum  gloria  That  thou  grant  us  to  enjoy, 

Perfrui    nos   concedas    per  for  everlasting  ages,  the  glory 

seterna.  of  the  Innocents. 

Amen.  Amen. 


And  we,  too,  Blessed  Babes !  we  celebrate  your  tri- 
umph, and  we  congratulate  you  in  your  having  been 
chosen  as  the  companions  of  Jesus  when  in  his  Crib. 
What  a  glad  waking  was  yours,  from  the  darkness  of 
unconscious  infancy  to  the  divine  light  of  life  eter- 
nal !  How  dear  to  you  the  sword  that  thus  trans- 
formed you!  What  gratitude  had  you  not  for  the 
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  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  com- 
memorated by  largess  such  as  this  ?  Sweet  Infant 
Martyrs  !  we  give  praise  to  our  God  for  his  having 
thus  favoured  you,  and,  with  the  whole  Church,  we 
rejoice  in  the  privileges  you  have  received. 

Flowers  of  the  Martyrs  I  we  confide  in  your  inter- 


DEC.    28.      HOLY  INNOCENTS.  333 

cession,  and  beseech  you,  by  the  reward  so  gra- 
tuitously conferred  on  you,  to  be  mindful  of  us  your 
Brethren,  who  are  struggling  amidst  the  dangers  of 
this  sinful  world.  We,  too,  desire  to  receive  those 
same  Palms  and  Crowns,  which  you  have  won,  but 
with  such  innocence  and  simplicity,  that  the  Church 
says  you  "played  with  them:1  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  sim- 
plicity of  heart,  whence  comes  that  unreserved  confi- 
dence in  God,  which  leads  man  to  the  perfect  accom- 
plishment 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  you  asked 
to  play  with ;  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.  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,  0  ye  Innocent  Lambs,  slain  for  Jesus, 


■  *        *         *      Sirnplices 

Palma  et  Coronis  luditis. 

{Hymn for  Vespers.) 


334  CHRISTMAS. 

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  for  us  to  Mary,  a  Mother 
more  compassionate  than  Rachel ;  tell  her  that  we 
are  her  Children,  and  your  Brethren.  She  that  com- 
passionated 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  in  the  Stable,  and  humbly  adore  our 
Emmanuel.  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.  "  He," 
says  the  holy  Abbot  Guerric,1  "He  that,  in  heaven, 
"surpasses  the  sublime  intellects  of  the  Angels,  is 
"here  on  earth  palpable  to  the  dull  sense  of  men. 
"  For,  whereas  God  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  the  mouth  of  the  Lord  had 
"  spoken.2  And  whereas  the  world  knew  not  the  Wis- 
"  dom  of  God  in  his  wisdom,  that  same  wisdom,  by 
"  an  ineffable  condescension,  made  himself  Foolish- 
"  ness.3  *  *  I  give  thee  praise,  0  Father,  Lord  of 
"  heaven  and  earth,  for  that  thou  hast  hid  this  Wis- 
"dom  from  the  wise  and  prudent,%and  hast  revealed 
"  it  to  little  ones.4  *  *  The  haughtiness  of  the  proud 
"is  exceedingly  adverse  to  the  humility  of  this  Little 
"  One ;  and  that  which  is  high  to  men,  is  an  abomi- 

1  Sermon  the  Fifth  On  the  wonderful  providence  of  God  in  the 
Nativity  of  Christ. 

2  Is.  xl.  5.  3  I.  Cor.  i.  25.  4  St.  Matth.  xi.  25. 


DEC.   28.      HOLY  INNOCENTS.  335 

"  nation  before  God.1  *  *  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  ;2  so  does 
"  He  say  of  them :  Behold  Me  and  my  Children, 
"  whom  the  Lord  hath  given  unto  me  !B  Thus  it 
"was  that  the  glory  of  Martyrdom  began  with  In- 
"  nocent  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."4 

In  honour  of  this  Childhood  of  the  Great  King,  let 
us  recite  the  following  admirable  Hymn,  composed 
by  one  of  the  most  learned  men  of  the  primitive 
Church,  Clement  of  Alexandria. 

HYMN. 

Curb  of  the  young  untamed  Frsenum  pullorum  indo- 

ones  —  Wing   that  protectest  cilium, 

chickens  which  keep  nigh  their  Penna  volucrum  non  erran- 

mother — sure  Rudder  of  in-  tium, 

fant    age — Shepherd    of    the  Verus  clavus  infantium, 

King's  lambs  ! — call  together  Pastor  agnorum  regalium, 

thy  simple  children,  and  bid  Tuos  simplices 

them  praise  with  holy  hearts,  Pueros  congrega, 

and  sweetly  sing  with    pure  Ad  sancte  laudandum, 

lips,  Jesus,  the  King  of  In-  Sincere  canendum, 

fants.  Ore  innoxio, 

Christum  puerorum  ducem. 

King  of   Saints — Incarnate  Rex  sanctorum, 

Word — that  rulest  all  things —  Verbum,  qui  domas  omnia, 

Dispenser  of  the  Most  High,  Patris  altissimi 

the  Father — support  of  them  Sapientiae  rector, 

that  toil — j  oy  eternal — Saviour  Laborum  sustentaculum, 

of  mankind — Jesus  !  iEvo  gaudens, 

Humani  generis 
Servator,  Jesu, 

1  St.  Luke,  xvi.  15.  3  Is.  viii.  18. 

2  Is.  ix.  6.  4  St.  Matth.  xix.  14. 


336 


CHKISTMAS. 


Pastor,  arator, 
Clavus,  frsenum, 
Penna  ccelestis 
Sanctissimi  gregis, 
Piscator  homimim 
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  ccelestis. 

Verbum  perenne, 
iEvum  infinitum, 
Lux  seterna, 
Fons  misericordiae, 
Operatrix  virtutis, 
Honesta  vita 

Deum  laudantium,  Christe 
Jesu, 

Lac  cceleste, 
Dulcibus  uberibus 
Nyniphse  gratiarum, 
Sapientise  tuse  expressum, 
Infantuli 
Ore  tenero 
Enutriti, 

Mammas  rationales 
Roscido  spiritu 
Impleti, 

Laudes  simplices, 
Hymnos  veraces 
Regi  Christo. 

Mercedes  sanctas 
Vitse  doctrinae 
Canamus  simul. 
Canamus  simpliciter 
Puerum  valentem. 
Chorus  pacis, 
Christo  geniti, 
Populus  modestus, 
Psallamus     simul      Deum 
pacis. 


Shepherd —  Husbandman — 
Rudder — Curb  —  Wing  celes- 
tial of  the  most  holy  flock — 
Fisher  of  the  elect,  drawing 
the  chaste  fish,  by  the  bait  of 
the  sweet  Bread  of  Life,  from 
the  boisterous  sea  of  sin. 


O  Shepherd  of  the  spiritual 
flock,  be  thou  our  Guide ! 
Guide  us,  0  Holy  One,  0  King 
of  spotless  Children  !  The  way 
to  heaven,  is  to  follow  the  foot- 
steps 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- 
dom, grace's  virgin-spring : 
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  Babe  !  O 
choir  of  peace — O  children 
of  Christ — O  wisdom-loving 
people — let  us  together  praise 
the  God  of  Peace  ! 


DEC.   28.   HOLY  INNOCENTS. 


337 


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. 


SEQUENCE. 


Glorious,  powerful,  and  so- 
vereign Empress !  Noble  Mo- 
ther and  Daughter  of  Jesus  ! 
Fair  Root  of  Jesse,  Branch 
lovely  in  thy  bloom  and  leaf, 
watered  by  the  plentiful  grace 
of  God. 

The  soft  south  zephyr  breath- 
ed upon  thee,  and  breathing 
gave  thee  Fruit,  and  by  his 
power  put  the  rough  north- 
wind  to  flight.  Thou,  there- 
fore, believing  the  Angel  Ga- 
briel'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  mys- 
tic 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  King  of  Heaven. 

Then,  by  thy  loving  prayers, 
commend  us  to  thy  Son,  O 
Mother  sweet  and  kind,  and 


Imperatrix  gloriosa, 
Potens  et  imperiosa, 
Jesu  Christi  generosa 
Mater  atque  filia : 
Radix  Jesse  speciosa, 
Virga  florens  et  frondosa 
Quam  rigavit  copiosa 
Deitatis  gratia. 

Auster  levis  te  perflavit, 
Et  perflando  fcecundavit, 
Aquilonem  qui  fugavit 
Sua  cum  potentia. 
Florem  ergo  genuisti, 
Fructum  ex  quo  protulisti, 
Gabrieli  dum  fuisti 
Paranympho  credula. 

Joseph,  Justus  vir,  expavit, 
Ista  dum  consideravit, 
Sciens  quod  non  irrigavit 
Florescentem  virgulam : 
Bene  tamen  conservavit 
Arcanum,  nee  divulgavit ; 
Sponsam  sed  magnificavit, 
Honorans  ut  Dominam. 


Cceli  quoniam  roraverunt, 
Nubes  ex  quo  concreverunt, 
Concretseque  stillaverunt 
Virginis  in  utero. 
Resmiranda  !  res  novella  ! 
Nam  procedit  sol  de  stella, 
Regem  dum  parit  puella, 
Viri  tori  nescia. 


Ergo  clemens  et  benigna, 
Cunctorumque  laudum  dig- 


na, 


Z 


338 


CHEISTMAS. 


Tuo  nato  nos  consigna 
Pia  per  suffragia  : 
Ut  mortali,  quo  gravamur, 
Compede  sic  absolvamur, 
Ut  soluti  transf  eramur 
Ad  cceli  palatia. 
Amen. 


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  hea- 
venly courts. 
Amen. 


DEC.    29.      ST.    THOMAS   OF   CANTERBURY.       339 


December  29. 
SAINT  THOMAS, 

ARCHBISHOP  OF  CANTERBURY,  AND  MARTYR. 


Another  Martyr  comes  in  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  country- 
men, that  he  was  abandoned  and  blamed.  How, 
then,  could  he  be  a  Martyr  ?  How  did  he  gain  a 
Palm  like  Stephen's  ?  He  was  the  Martyr  for  the 
Liberty  of  the  Church. 

Eyery  Christian  is  obliged  to  lay  down  his  life 
rather  than  deny  any  of  the  Articles  of  our  holy 
Faith  :  it  was  the  debt  we  contracted  with  Jesus 
Christ,  when  he  adopted  us,  in  Baptism,  as  his 
Brethren.     All  are  not  called  to  the  honour  of  Mar- 


340  CHRISTMAS. 

tyrdom,  that  is,  all  are  not  required  to  bear  that  tes- 
timony 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  eternal  death,  from  which  the  grace  of 
our  Redeemer  has  already  delivered  us.  The  same 
obligation  lies  still  more  heavily  on  the  Pastors  of  the 
Church.  It  is  the  pledge  of  the  truth  of  their  teach- 
ings. 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.  It  was  the  last  arid 
dearest  pledge  they  could  give  of  their  devotedness 
to  the  Vineyard  entrusted  to  them,  and  in  which  they 
had  spent  years  of  care  and  toil.  The  blood  of  their 
Martyrdom  was  more  than  a  fertilising  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  deny  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  Liberty  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  temporising  Catholics  regret  that 
it  can  elicit  any  one's  zeal,  and  will  endeavour  to 
persuade  us,  that  we  have  no  need  to  fear  any  thing, 
so  long  as  our  Faith  is  not  attacked.  Notwithstand- 
ing all  this,  the  Church  has  put  upon  her  altars  and 
associated  with  St.  Stephen,  St.  John,  and  the  Holy 
Innocents,  this  our  Archbishop,  who  was  slain  in  his 


DEC.   29.      ST.   THOMAS  OF  CANTERBURY.       341 

Cathedral  of  Canterbury,  in  trie  12th  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'  predecessors 
in  the  See  of  Canterbury :  Nothing  does  God  love 
so  much  in  this  world,  as  the  Liberty  of  his  Church; 
and  the  Apostolic  See  declares  by  the  mouth  of  Pius 
the  8th,  in  the  19th  century,  the  very  same  doctrine 
she  would  have  taught  by  St.  Gregory  the  7th,  in  the 
11th  century:  The  Church,  the  spotless  Spouse  of 
Jesus  Christ  the  immaculate  Lamb,  is,  by  God's  ap- 
pointment, Free,  and  subject  to  no  earthly  power.1 

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,  with- 
out distinction  of  nation,  or  race,  or  age,  or  sex  : — in 
the  administration  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  inter- 
communication 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  the  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.     It  is  the 

1  Libera  est  institutioue  divina,  nullique  obnoxia  terrense  po- 
testati  Ecclesia  intemerata  sponsa  immaculati  Agni  Christi  Jesu. 
Litterce  Apostolical  ad  Episcopos  Provincial  Rhenanw.  30  Junii, 
1830. 


342  CHRISTMAS. 

bulwark  of  the  Sanctuary.  Every  breach  there,  im- 
perils 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.1  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  out-posts  of  the  City,  which  is  only 
safe  when  they  are  strongly  guarded. , 

The  consequences  of  the  Pastor's  resistance  may  be 
of  the  most  serious  nature;  in  which  event,  we  must 
remember  a  truth,  which  has  been  admirably  ex- 
pressed 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  es- 
"  tablished  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  Sj)Ouse  re- 
"  deemed  ber  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  con- 
"  quests  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  for  the  making 
"  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 

1  Is.  lvi.  10. 


DEC.   29.      ST.   THOMAS  OF  CANTERBURY.       343 

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  in- 
vaders of  the  rights  of  the  Church.  One  great  ele- 
ment 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  resis- 
tance, 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  con- 
stituted 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  re- 
"  sisting  it  to  be  the  greater,  just  as  men  throw  the 
"  embankments  higher,  when  the  torrent  swells." 

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  Mar- 
tyrs put  to  death.  Can  the  Church,  then,  that  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  under- 
stood 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  a  man  for  martyrdom — 


344  CHRISTMAS. 

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  corres- 
ponded to  it. 

"  In  the  language  of  the  Church,"  continues  Bos- 
suet,  "  Fortitude  has  not  the  meaning  it  has  in 
"  the  language  of  the  world.  Fortitude,  as  the  world 
"understands  it,  is  the  undertaking  great  things; 
"  according  to  the  Church,  it  goes  not  beyond  the 
"  suffering  every  sort  of  trial,  and  there  it  stops. 
"  Listen  to  the  words  of  St.  Paul :  Ye  have  not  yet 
"  resisted  unto  blood ;  as  though  he  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 
" f  attacked  your  enemies  and  shed  their  blood  ;'  but, 
"  '  Your  resistance  to  your  enemies  has  not  yet  cost 
"  l  you  your  blood.' 

"  These  are  the  high  principles  of  St.  Thomas ; 
"  but  see  how  he  makes  use  of  them.  He  arms  him- 
"  self  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  threat- 
"  ened,  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  interference  of 
"  sympathisers,  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,  these  his  guard, 
"  these  his  army  !  He  is  powerful,  because  he  has  a 
"  soul  that  knows  not  either  how  to  fear  or  how  to 


DEC.   29.      ST.   THOMAS  OF   CANTERBURY.       345 

"  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  .-1  we  Chris- 
"  tians  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  Can- 
terbury. 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  the  resemblance 
"  to  a  Sacrifice,  it  was  the  one  I  have  to  describe  to 
"  you.  First  of  all,  there  is  the  preparation :  the 
"  Bishop  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  apprehended  him  :  If  it  be  I 
"  whom  ye  seek,  suffer  these  to  go  their  way.  And 
"  when  all  this  had  been  done,  and  the  moment  for 
"  the  sacrifice  was  come,  St.  Thomas  begins  the  cere- 
"mony.  He  is  both  Victim  and  Priest — he  bows 
"  down  his  head,  and  offers  the  prayer.     Listen  to 

1  Non  te  terremus,  qui  nee  timemus. 


346  CHRISTMAS. 

"  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  Liberty  of  the 
"  Church,  if  only  she  may  gain  peace  and  Liberty 
"  by  this  shedding  of  my  blood  I1  He  prostrates 
"  himself  before  God  :  and  as  in  the  Holy  Sacrifice 
"there  is  the  invocation  of  the  Saints  our  Interces- 
"  sors,  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  but  the 
"  Church ;  his  heart  beats  but  for  the  Church ;  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  /" 

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.  It  is  the 
blood  of  one,  who  died  for  Christ,  producing  its  fruit. 
The  world  is  hard  to  teach,  else  it  would  have  long 
since  learnt  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  learnt  the  secret ;  ex- 
perience has  given  it  the  instinctive  craft  of  waging 

1  Et  ego  pro  Deo  mori  paratus  sum,  et  pro  assertione  justitite,  et 
pro  Ecclesiae  Libertate  ;  dummodo  effusione  sanguinis  mei  pacem 
et  Libertatem  consequatur ! 


DEC.   29.      ST.   THOMAS   OF  CANTERBURY.       347 

war  against  the  Liberty  of  the  Church  with  less 
violence  and  more  intrigue — the  intrigue  of  enslav- 
ing 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  Panegy- 
rist 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  weak- 
"  ness,  and  how  truly  she  may  say  with  the  Apostle : 
"  When  1  am  tveak,  then  am  I  powerful.1  It  is  this 
"blessed  weakness,  which  provides  her  with  invinci- 
"ble  power,  and  which  enlists  in  her  cause  the 
"bravest  soldiers  and  the  mightiest  conquerors  this 
"world  has  ever  seen — I  mean,  the  Martyrs.  He 
"  that  infringes  on  the  authority  of  the  Church,  let 
"him  dread  that  precious  Wood  of  the  Martyrs, 
"  which  consecrates  and  protects  it." 

Now,  all  this  Fortitude,  and  the  whole  of  this 
Victory,  come  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 

1 II.  Cor.  xii.  10. 


348  CHRISTMAS. 

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  weak,  and  poor, 
and  persecuted — every  thing  was  changed.  Men 
were  found  who  loved  the  lowly  Crib  of  Jesus,  with 
all  its  humiliations,  better  than  the  whole  world  be- 
sides :  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  in- 
tertwine round  the  Crib  of  the  Babe  of  Bethlehem, 
for  they  are  the  two  trophies  of  his  two  dear  Mar- 
tyrs. 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  assigning  the  29th  of  December 
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  judgment, 
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  An-  Thomas  was  born  in  Eng- 

glia  natus,  Theobaldo  sue-  land,  in  the  city  of  London. 

cessit     Cantuariensi     epis-  He    succeeded    Theobald    as 

copo  :  et  qui  antea  in  admi-  Bishop  of   Canterbury.      He 

nistrando  Cancellariae  mu-  had  previously  acquitted  him- 


DEC.    29.      ST.   THOMAS   OF   CANTERBURY.       349 


self    with    much    honour    as 
Chancellor,  and  was  strenuous 
and  unflinching  in  his   duty 
as  Bishop  ;   for  when  Henry 
2nd,  King  of  England,  in  an 
assembly  of  the  Bishops  and 
Nobles  of  the  realm,  passed 
certain  laws  inconsistent  with 
the  interests  and  the  honour 
of    the    Church,  the    Bishop 
withstood  the  King's  avarice 
so  courageously,  that  neither 
fair  promises  nor  threats  could 
draw  him  over  to  the  King's 
side,  and,  being  in  danger  of 
imprisonment,    he    privately 
withdrew.    Not  long  after,  all 
his  relatives  young  and   old, 
all  his  friends,  and  household, 
were  banished,  and  such  of 
them,  as  had  attained  the  age 
of  discretion,  were  made  to 
promise    on    oath    that  they 
would  go  to  Thomas,  as  per- 
haps he,  who   could  not    be 
made    to    swerve    from    his 
holy  purpose,  by  any  personal 
consideration,  might  relent  at 
the  heart-rending  spectacle  of 
the  sufferings  of    them  who 
were  dear  to  him.     But  he  re- 
garded not  the  demands   of 
flesh  and  blood,  neither  did  he 
permit  the  feelings  of  natural 
affection  to  weaken  the  firm- 
ness required  of  him  as  Bishop. 
He,  therefore,  repaired    to 
Pope    Alexander     3rd,    from 
whom  he  met  with  a  kind  re- 
ception, and  who  commended 
him,  on  his  departure,  to  the 
Cistercian  Monks  of  Pontigny. 
As   soon   as   Henry  came  to 
know  this,  he  strove  to  have 
Thomas   expelled   from  Pon- 
tigny, and,  for  this  purpose, 
sent  threatening  letters  to  the 


nere  prseclare  se  gesserat,  in 
Episcopali  officio  fortis  et 
invictus  fuit.  Cum  enim 
Henricus  Secundus  Angliae 
Bex,  convocatis  ad  se  Epis- 
copis,  et  Proceribus  regni, 
leges  ferret  utilitati  ac  dig- 
nitati  Ecclesiastical  repug- 
nantes,  adeo  constanter  ob- 
stitit  regise  cupiditati,  ut 
neque  pollicitationibus,  ne- 
que  terroribus  de  sententia 
decedens  proxime  conjicien- 
dus  in  carcerem  clam  reces- 
serit.  Inde  propinqui  ejus 
omnis  aetatis  ejecti,  amici, 
fautores  omnes,  iis,  quibus 
per  aetatem  liceret,  jureju- 
rando  adstrictis,  universos 
Thomam  adituros,  si  for- 
tasse  miserabili  suorum  ca- 
lamitatis  aspectu  movere- 
tur,  qui  a  sancto  proposito 
privatis  incommodls  deter- 
reri  minime  potuisset.  Non 
respexit  carnem  aut  san- 
guinem,  neque  ullus  in  eo 
humanitatis  sensus,  pasto- 
ralis  officii  constantiam  la- 
befactavit. 


Contulit  igitur  se  ad  Alex- 
andrum  Tertium  Pontifi- 
cem,  a  quo  benigne  accep- 
tus  est :  et  inde  profectus, 
monachis  Pontiniacensis 
monasterii,  Cisterciensis  Or- 
dinis,  ab  eodem  commenda- 
tus.  Quod  ut  cognovit  Hen- 
ricus, missis  ad  Conventum 
Fratrum  Cisterciensium  mi- 
nacious litteris,  Thomam  e 


350 


CHRISTMAS. 


Pontiniaco  monasterio  ex- 
turbare  conatur.  Quare  vir 
sanctus  veritus  ne  sua  causa 
Cisterciensis  familia  patere- 
tur,  sponte  discessit,  et  Lu- 
dovicum  Galliae  regem,  ejus 
iuvitatu  convenit :  ubi  tam- 
diu  fuit,  quoad,  Pontifice 
Maximo,  et  ipso  Rege  agen- 
tibus,  ab  exilio  summa  to- 
tius  regni  gratulatione  revo- 
catur.  Qui  duni  boni  pas- 
toris  officium  securus  exse- 
quitur,  ecce  calumniatores 
ad  regem  deferunt  eum 
multa  contra  regnum  et  pub- 
licam  quietem  moliri  :  ut 
propterea  ssepius  conquere- 
retur  rex,  se  in  suo  regno 
cum  uno  sacerdote  pacem 
habere  non  posse. 


Ex  qua  regis  voce  nefarii 
satellites  sperantes  gratum 
se  regi  facturos,  si  Tnomam 
e  medio  tollerent ;  clam  con- 
venientes  Cantuariam,  Epis- 
copum  in  templo  vesperti- 
nis    horis    operam  _  dantem 
aggrediuntur.     Qui  clericis 
templi    aditus    prsecludere 
conantibus     accurrens,    os- 
tium aperuit,  illis  usus  ver- 
bis ad  suos  :  Non  est  Dei 
Ecclesia    Dei    custodienda 
more  castrorum ;  et  ego  pro 
Ecclesia  Dei  libenter  mor- 
tem subibo.     Turn  ad  mili- 
tes  :  Vos  Dei  jussu  cavete  ne 
cuipiam  meorum  noceatis. 
Deinde  flexis  genibus,  Deo, 
beatse  Marise,  sancto  Diony- 


General  Chapter  of  Citeaux. 
Whereupon,  the  holy  man, 
fearing  lest  the  Cistercian  Or- 
der should  be  made  to  suffer 
on  his  account,  left  the 
Monastery  of  his  own  accord, 
and  betook  himself  to  the  hos- 
pitable shelter  to  which  he 
had  been  invited  by  Louis, 
King  of  France.  There  he  re- 
mained, until,  by  the  interven- 
tion of  the  Pope  and  Louis  the 
King,  he  was  called  home  from 
his  banishment,  to  the  joy  of 
the  whole  kingdom.  Whilst 
resuming  the  intrepid  dis- 
charge of  the  duty  of  a  good 
Shepherd,  certain  calumnia- 
tors denounced  him  to  King 
Henry  as  one  that  was  plotting 
sundry  things  against  the 
country  and  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. 

Certain  wicked  satellites  con- 
cluded from  this  expression  of 
the  King,  that  he  would  be 
pleased  at  their  ridding  him 
of  Thomas.    Accordingly,  they 
stealthily    enter    Canterbury, 
and  finding  the  Bishop  was  in 
the  Church,  officiating  at  Ves- 
pers, they  began  their  attack. 
The  Clergy  were  using  means 
to  prevent  them  from  entering 
the  Church,  when  the  Saint, 
coming  to  them,  forbad  their 
opposition,  and,  opening  the 
door,  thus  spoke  to  them  :  The 
Church  is  not  to  be  guarded 
like  a  citadel,  and  I  am  glad 
to  die  for  God's  Church.  Then 
turning    to    the   soldiers,  he 
said  :  I  command  you,  in  the 


DEC.    29.      ST.   THOMAS   OF   CANTEKBURY.      351 


name  of  God,  that  you  hurt 
not  any  of  them  that  are  with 
me.  After  this,  he  knelt  down, 
and  commending  his  Church 
and  himself  to  God,  to  the 
Blessed  Mary,  to  St.  Denis, 
and  to  the  other  Patron  Saints 
of  his  Cathedral,  with  the  same 
courage  that  he  had  shown  in 
resisting  the  King's  execrable 
laws,  he  bowed  down  his  head 
to  the  impious  murderers,  on 
the  Fourth  of  the  Calends  of 
January  (December  29th),  in 
the  Year  of  our  Lord  1171. 
His  brains  were  scattered  on 
the  floor  of  the  entire  Church. 
God  having  shown  the  holiness 
of  his  servant  by  many  mira- 
cles, he  was  canonised  by  the 
same  Pope,  Alexander  3rd. 


sio,  et  reliquis  Sanctis,  ejus 
Ecclesise  patronis,  Eccle- 
siam  et  seipsum  commen- 
dans,  sacrum  caput  eadem 
constantia,  qua  iniquissimi 
regis  legibus  restiterat,  im- 
pio  ferro  prsecindendum 
obtulit,  quarto  Kalendas  Ja- 
nuarii,  anno  Domini  mille- 
simo  centesimo  septuage- 
simo  primo,  cujus  cerebro 
respersum  est  totius  templi 
pavimentum.  Quern  multis 
postea  illustrem  miraculis 
idem  Alexander  Pontifex 
retulit  in  Sanctorum  nume 
rum. 


MASS. 


The  solemn  Introit  of  to-day's  Mass  shows  the 
transport  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. 


Let  us  all  rejoice  in  the 
Lord,  and  celebrate  this  festi- 
val in  honour  of  Blessed 
Thomas  the  Martyr  :  for 
whose  martyrdom  the  Angels 
rejoice,  and  praise  the  Son  of 
God. 


Gaudeamus  omnes  in  Do- 
mino, diem  festum  cele- 
brantes  sub  honore  beati 
Thomas  Martyris  :  de  cujus 
passione  gaudent  Angeli,  et 
collaudant  Filium  Dei. 


352 


CHRISTMAS. 


Ps.  Exsultatejusti  in  Do- 
mino ;  rectos  decet  collau- 
datio.     $\  Gloria  Patri. 

Gaudeamus. 


Ps.  Rejoice  in  the  Lord,  0 

ye  just ;  praise  becometh  the 
upright,     ~fr.  Glory,  doc. 
Let  us,  <kc. 


In  the  Collect,  the  holy  Church  emphasises  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  con- 
fidence she  has  in  his  intercession. 


COLLECT. 


Deus,  pro  cujus  Ecclesia, 
gloriosus  Pontifex  Thomas 
gladiis  impiorum  occubuit ; 
prsesta  quassumus  :  ut  om- 
nes,  qui  ejus  implorant  auxi- 
lium,  petitionis  suae  salu- 
tarem  consequantur  effec- 
tum.     Per  Dominum. 


O  God,  in  defence  of  whose 
Church  the  glorious  Pontiff 
Thomas  fell  by  the  swords  of 
wicked  men  :  grant,  we  be- 
seech thee,  that  all  who  im- 
plore his  assistance,  may  find 
comfort  in  the  grant  of  their 
petition.     Through,  &c. 


If  the  Commemorations  of  the  four  Octaves  are  to 
be  made,  they  will  be  found  in  the  Mass  of  Holy 
Innocents,  page  314. 


EPISTLE. 


Lectio  Epistolse  beati  Pauli 
Apostoli  ad  Hebrseos. 

Cap.  V. 

Fratres  :  Omnis  pontifex 
ex  hominibus  assumptus, 
pro  hominibus  constituitur 
in  iis,  quae  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,  quemad- 
modum  pro  populo,  ita  etiam 


Lesson  of  the  Epistle  of  Saint 
Paul  the  Apostle  to  the  He- 
brews. 

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 


DEC.    29.      ST.    THOMAS   OF   CANTERBURY.       353 

the  people,  so  also  for  himself,  et  pro  semetipso  offerre  pro 

to  offer  for  sins.     Neither  doth  peccatis.    Nee  quisquam  su- 

any  man  take  the  honour  to  mat  sibi  honorem,   sed  qui 

himself,  but  he  that  is  called  vocatur    a    Deo,   tamquam 

by  God,  as  Aaron  was.     So,  Aaron.     Sic  et  Christus  non 

also,    Christ   did  not   glorify  semetipsum    clarificavit    ut 

himself  that  he  might  be  made  Pontifex  fieret :  sed  qui  lo- 

a  High-Priest :   but  he  that  catus  est  ad  eum  :    Films 

said  to  him  :    Thou  art  my  meus  es  tu,  ego  hodie  genui 

Son,  this  day  have  I  begotten  te.     Quemadmodum  et  in 

thee.     As  he  saith,    also,   in  alio  loco  dicit  :  Tu  es  Sacer- 

another  place :    Thou    art    a  dos  in  seternum,  secundum 

Priest  for  ever,  according  to  ordinem  Melchisedech. 
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  them- 
selves, uncalled,  into  the  dread  honours  of  the  Sanc- 
tuary. The  history  of  their  Lives  shows  us,  that 
they  were  called  by  God  himself,  as  Aaron  was  : 
and  when  we  come  to  examine,  how  it  was  that  they 
were  so  great — we  soon  find,  that  the  source  of  their 
greatness  was  their  humility,  that  led  them  to  refuse 
the  honourable  burden,  which  others  would  put  upon 
them.  God  assisted  them  in  the  day  of  trouble  and 
trial,  because  their  exaltation  to  the  episcopacy  had 
been  his  own  work. 

Thus  was  it  with  St.  Thomas,  who  sat  on  his  epis- 
copal throne  of  Canterbury,  the  dignified  and  cou- 
rageous Primate.  He  began  by  declining  the  high 
honour  that  was  offered  him.  He  boldly  tells  the 
King,  (as  St.  Gregory  the  Seventh,  before  ascending 
the  Papal  Throne,  told  the  Emperor  who  fain  would 
see  him  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 

2  A 


354  CHRISTMAS. 

to  be  a  Bishop,  when  they  suspected  that  he  would  be 
a  true  one  : — but,  the  decree  of  God  had  gone  forth, 
and  Thomas,  called  by  God,  was  obliged  to  bow  down 
his  head,  and  receive  the  holy  anointing.  And  what 
a  Bishop  he,  that  begins  by  humility,  and  the  deter- 
mination to  sacrifice  his  very  life  in  the  discharge  of 
his  duty !  He  is  worthy  to  follow,  and  that  to 
Calvary,  the  God-Man,  who,  being  called,  by  his 
Father,  to  Priesthood  and  to  Sacrifice,  enters  this 
world,  saying :  Behold  !  I  come  to  do  thy  will,  0 
God!1 

The  Gradual,  in  its  first  Yersicle,  applies  to  St. 
Thomas,  the  encomium  given  by  the  Sacred  Scrip- 
ture to  Abraham.  These  words,  which  speak  the 
praises  of  one,  who  surpassed  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- Yerse  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.2 

GKADTJAL. 

Ecce    Sacerdos    magnus,  Behold  a  great  Prelate,  who 

qui  in  diebus  suis  placuit  in  his  days  pleased  God. 
Deo. 

y.  Nbn  est  inventus  simi-  $".  There   was  none  found 

lis  illi,  qui  conservaret  legem  like  him  in  keeping  the  law  of 

Excelsi.  >  the  Most  High. 

Alleluia,  alleluia.  Alleluia,  alleluia. 

"fT.  Ego  sum  Pastor  bonus :  ~ft.  I  am  the  Good  Shepherd  : 

et  cognosco   oves  meas,   et  and  I  know  my  sheep,  and  my 

cognoscunt  me  meae.     Alle-  sheep  know  me.     Alleluia, 
hria. 

1  Heb.  x.  9.  2  I.  St.  Pet.  v.  4. 


DEC.    29.      ST.   THOMAS   OF   CANTERBURY.       355 


GOSPEL. 


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 
flieth,  because  he  is  a  hireling, 
and  he  hath  no  care  for  the 
sheep.  I  am  the  Good  Shep- 
herd :  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. 


Sequentia  sancti  Evangelii 
secundum  Joannem. 

Cap.  X. 

In  illo  tempore  :  Dixit  Je- 
sus Pharisseis  :  Ego  sum 
Pastor  bonus.  Bonus  pas- 
tor animam  suam  dat  pro 
ovibus  suis.  Mercenarius 
autem,  et  qui  non  est  pastor, 
cujus  non  sunt  oves  proprise, 
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 
mese.  Sicut  novit  me  Pater, 
et  ego  agnosco  Patrem  :  et 
animam  meam  pono  pro 
ovibus  meis.  Et  alias  oves 
habeo,  quse  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  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  Priesthood  ;  they  must,  also,  be  ready,  like  Him, 
to  lay  down  their  lives  for  their  sheep.  The  Shep- 
herd who  thinks  more  of  his  own  life  than  of  the 
salvation  of  his  flock,  is  a  hireling — he  is  not  a  shep- 
herd :  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 


356  CHRISTMAS. 

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.1  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 ; 
it  was  a  happiness  to  him,  therefore,  to  die  for 
them.  He  was  made  Pastor,  on  the  condition  that 
he  would  die  for  them  ;  just  as  our  Emmanuel  was 
made  High-Priest  in  order  that  he  might  offer  Sacri- 
fice, in  which,  too,  he  was  both  Priest  and  Victim. 
Jesus'  sheep  know  their  divine  Shepherd — they  knotu 
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  inter- 
cession of  St.  Thomas  of  Canterbury  ;  and  this  inter- 
cession is  the  return,  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. 

1  Col.  i.  20. 


DEC.    29.     ST.   THOMAS   OF   CANTEKBTTRY.       357 

In  the  Offertory,  the  holy  Church  sings  of  the 
crown  of  glory,  wherewith  our  Emmanuel  encircled 
the  brow  of  his  Martyr.  The  Pastor  gave  his  blood 
to  purchase  that  crown ;  and  his  death  gave  him 
life. 

OFFERTORY. 

Thou  hast  set,  0  Lord,  on  Posuisti,  Domine,  in  ca- 

his  head  a  crown  of  precious  pite  ejus  coronam  de  lapide 

stones  :  he  asked  life  of  thee,  pretioso  :  vitam  petiit  a  te, 

and  thou  didst  give  it  him,  et  tribuisti  ei,  alleluia, 
alleluia. 

The  Secret  shows  us  that  the  merits  of  the  Martyr 
are  united  with  those  of  the  Divine  Victim.  Whilst 
offeriug  the  Blood  of  the  Lamb  to  the  Eternal  Father, 
we  remind  him  of  that  shed  by  his  Martyr. 

SECRET. 

Sanctify,  0  Lord,  the  offer-  Munera  tibi,  Domine,  di- 

ings  consecrated  to  thee  ;  and  cata  sanctifica  :  et  interce- 

being  appeased  thereby,  mer-  dente  beato  Thoma,  Martyre 

cifully  look  upon  us,  by  the  tuo    atque    Pontiuce,     per 

intercession  of  blessed  Thomas,  eadem  nos  placatus  intende. 

thy     Martyr      and      Bishop.  Per  Dominum. 
Through,  &c. 

In  the  Communion- Verse,  we  have  our  Divine 
Pastor  Jesus  speaking  to  as,  the  same  that  has  just 
been  giving  himself  to  his  sheep,  as  their  food.  It  is 
by  this  Holy  Sacrament,  that  the  Sheep  more  inti- 
mately know  their  Shepherd,  and  that  the  Shepherd, 
who  has  just  been  born  in  the  House  of  Bread,  (Beth- 
lehem,) receives  a  proof  of  their  love  to  him. 

COMMUNION". 

I  am  the  Good  Shepherd  :  Ego  sum  Pastor  bonus  : 
and  I  know  my  sheep,  and  my  et  cognosco  oves  meas,  et 
sheep  know  me.  cognoscunt  me  uieas. 

In  the  Postcommunion,  the  Church  once  more  pro- 
nounces the  name  of  our  great  Martyr.     She  prays 


358 


CHRISTMAS. 


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. 


POSTCOMMUNTON. 


Hsec  nos  communio,  Do- 
mine,  purget  a  crimine  :  et 
intercedente  beato  Thoma, 
Martyre  tuo  atque  Pontifice, 
coelestis  remedii  faciat  esse 
participes.     Per  Doininum. 


May  this  communion,  O 
Lord,  cleanse  us  from  sin  :  and 
by  the  intercession  of  blessed 
Thomas,  thy  Martyr  and 
Bishop,  make  us  effectually 
partakers  of  this  heavenly  re- 
medy.    Through,  <kc. 


VESPERS. 

The  Second  Vespers  are  the  same  as  the  First, 
given  in  page  321.  After  the  Prayer  of  the  Feast, 
the  following  Commemorations  are  made : 

Commemoration  of  the  Sunday. 

Ant.  Dum  medium  silen-  Ant.  While  all  things  were 

tium  tenerent  omnia,  et  nox  in  quiet  silence,  and  the  night 

in  suo   cursu  medium  iter  was  in  the  midst  of  her  course, 

perageret,  omnipotens  sermo  thy  Almighty  Word,  O  Lord, 

tuus,   Domine,   a  regalibus  came    down  from   thy  royal 

sedibus  venit,  alleluia.  throne,  alleluia. 

iff.  Verbum  caro  factum  $".  The    Word    was    made 

est,  alleluia.  flesh,  alleluia. 

I£.  Et  habitavit  in  nobis,  1$.  And    dwelt   among  us, 

alleluia.  alleluia. 


(or) 

ft.  Notum  fecit  Dominus,  ft.  The    Lord   hath    made 

alleluia.  known,  alleluia. 

1$.  Salutare    suum,   alle-  1$.  His  Salvation,  alleluia, 
luia. 


OREMITS. 


LET  ITS  PRAY. 


Omnipotens,    sempiterne        O   Almighty    and    Eternal 
Deus,  dirige  actus  nostros  in     God,  regulate  our  actions  ac- 


DEC.  29.      ST.  THOMAS   OF  CANTERBURY.       359 


cording  to  thy  divine  will : 
that,  in  the  name  of  thy  be- 
loved Son,  we  may  abonnd  in 
good  works. 


beneplacito  tuo  :  ut  in  no- 
mine dilecti  Filii  tui  mere- 
amur  bonis  operibus  abun- 
dare. 


Commemoration  of  Christmas  Day. 


This  day,  Christ  is  born; 
this  day,  the  Saviour  hath  ap- 
peared ;  this  day,  the  Angels 
sing  on  earth  ;  the  Archangels 
rejoice ;  this  day,  the  just  ex- 
ult, saying  :  Glory  be  to  God 
in  the  highest,  alleluia. 

if.  The  Lord  hath  made 
known,  alleluia. 

1$.  His  Salvation,  alleluia. 


Ant.  Hodie  Christus  na- 
tus  est,  hodie  Salvator  appa- 
ruit,  hodie  in  terra  canunt 
Angeli,  lsetantur  Archan- 
geli ;  hodie  exsultant  justi, 
dicentes  :  Gloria  in  excelsis 
Deo,  alleluia. 

if.  Notum  fecit  Dominus, 
alleluia. 

Tfe.  Salutare  suum,  alle- 
luia. 


(or) 


if.  All  the  ends  of  the  earth 
have  seen,  alleluia. 

1$.  The    Salvation    of 
God,  alleluia. 


our 


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  Only 
Begotten  Son.  Through  the 
same,  <kc. 


if.  Yiderunt  omnes  fines 
terra?,  alleluia. 

I£.  Salutare  Dei  nostri, 
alleluia. 

OREMUS. 

Concede,  quaesumus,  om- 
nipotens  Deus,  ut  nos  Uni- 
geniti  tui  nova  per  carnem 
nativitas  liberet,  quos  sub 
peccati  jugo  vetusta  servitus 
tenet.     Per  eumdem. 


As  we  might  expect,  the  Liturgy  of  our  English 
Church  honours  her  beloved  Martyr  with  an  affec- 
tionate 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  13th  century,  the  time 
when  this  Office  of  St.  Thomas  was  composed. 


360 


CHRISTMAS. 


Summo  sacerdotio  Tho- 
mas sublimatus,  et  in  vi- 
ram  alium  subito  muta- 
tus. 

Monachus  sub  clerico 
clam  ciliciatus,  carnis,  carne 
fortior,  edomat  conatus. 


Cultor  agri  Domini  tribu- 
los  evellit,  et  vulpes  a  vineis 
arcet  et  expellit. 

Nee  in  agnos  sustinet  lu- 
pos  desaevire,  nee  in  liortum 
olerum  tineam  transire. 

Exulantis  praedia  prseda 
sunt  malignis,  sed  in  igne 
positum  non  exurit  ignis. 

Satanae  satellites  irrum- 
pentes  templum,  inaudi- 
tum  perpetrant  sceleris 
exemplum. 

Strictis  Thoma  sensibus 
obviam  procedit,  non  minis, 
non  gladiis,  sed  nee  morti 
cedit. 

Felix  locus,  felix  ecclesia 
in  qua  Tnom.ce  vivit  memo- 
ria  :  Felix  terra  quae  dedit 
praesulem,  felix  ilia  quae 
fovit  exulem. 


Granum  cadit,  copiam 
germinat  frumenti :  ala- 
bastrum  frangitur,  fragrat 
vis  unguenti. 

Totus  orbis  Martyris  cer- 
tat  in  amorem,  cujus  signa 
singulos  agunt  in  stuporem. 


Thomas  being  raised  to  the 
fulness  of  the  Priesthood,  was 
suddenly  transformed  into  a 
new  man. 

A  monk,  wearing  the  hair- 
shirt  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  perpe- 
trate the  unheard-of  crime. 

Thomas  advances  to  meet 
the  unsheathed  swords  :  nor 
threats,  nor  swords,  nor  very 
death  can  make  him  yield. 

Happy  Canterbury  1  Happy 
Church  that  cherishes  the 
memory  of  her  Thomas !  Hap- 
py Land  that  gave  such  a 
Bishop,  and  happy,  too,  the 
country  that  harboured  such 
an  exile  ! 

The  grain  of  wheat  falls,  and 
bringeth  forth  much  fruit  :  the 
precious  vase  is  broken,  and 
perfumes  all  the  earth  ! 

The  whole  earth  seeks  how 
most  to  love  our  Martyr,  and 
men  look  in  wonder  at  each 
other  as  they  hear  or  see  the 
miracles  that  are  wrought. 


Our  next  selection  is  of  passages  equally  interest- 


DEC.    29.      ST.   THOMAS   OF   CANTERBURY.      361 

ing,  as  showing  the  affection  and  confidence  of  the 
Faithful  in  our  glorious  Martyr. 


Ant.  The  Shepherd,  slain 
in  the  midst  of  his  flock,  pur- 
chaseth  peace  at  the  price  of 
his  blood.  O  j  oyf  ul  mourning, 
O  mournful  joy  !  The  Shep- 
herd dead,  new  life  is  in  the 
Flock  !  The  Mother  speaks, 
through  her  tears,  the  praises 
of  her  Son,  for  still  he  lives, 
the  conqueror  of  the  sword. 

I£.  Cease  now  to  mourn, 
that  the  flower  of  the  world 
hath  been  broken  by  the 
world,  O  sorrowing  Rachel ! 
The  tomb  of  thy  martyred 
Thomas  gives  thee  back  an 
Abel  for  the  Abel  thou  didst 
lose. 

Ant.  Hail,  0  Thomas !  scep- 
tre of  justice,  light  of  the 
earth,  strong  champion  of  the 
Church,  beloved  of  the  people, 
favourite  of  the  clergy  !  Hail, 
admirable  keeper  of  the  Flock ! 
keep  in  safety  all  us  who  re- 
joice in  thy  glory. 


Ant.  Pastor,  caesus  in 
gregis  medio,  pacem  emit 
cruoris  pretio  :  laetus  dolor 
in  tristi  gaudio !  Grex  respi- 
rat,  pastore  mortuo  :  plan- 
gens  plaudit  mater  in  Alio, 
quia  vivit  victor  sub  gladio. 


I£.  Mundi  florem  a  mundo 
conteri,  Rachel  plorans, 
jam  cessa  conqueri ;  Tho- 
mas caesus  dum  datur 
funeri,  novus  Abel  succedit 
veteri. 


Ant.  Salve,  Thoma,  vir- 
ga  justitiae,  mundi  jubar, 
robur  Ecclesiae,  plebis  amor, 
cleri  deliciae.  Salve,  gregis 
tutor  egregie,  salva  tuae 
gaudentes  gloriae. 


We  cannot  resist  adding  the  following  Responsory 
from  the  same  Salisbury  Breviary.  It  is  remarkable 
for  its  containing  an  entire  Prose,  inserted  as  a 
Verse,  with  the  repetition  of  the  Coelum  domo  at  the 
end.  We  need  scarcely  draw  the  attention  of  our 
readers  to  the  freshness  and  beauty  of  this  liturgical 
gem. 


1$.  The  grain  of  wheat  lies 
smothered  by  the  chaff,  the 
just  man  slain  by  the  sword  of 
sinners. 

*  Changing  his  house  of 
clay  for  heaven. 


I£.  Jacet  granum  oppres- 
sum  palea,  Justus  caesus  pra- 
vorum  framea. 

*  Coelum  domo  commu- 
tans  lutea. 


362 


CHRISTMAS. 


$".  Cadit  custos  vitis  in 
vinea,  dux  in  castris,  cultor 
in  area. 

*  Coelum  domo  commu- 
tans  lutea. 
Prosa.  Clangat  pastor  in 
tuba  cornea, 

Tit  libera  sit  Christi  vinea, 

Quani  assumpsit,  sub  car- 
nis  trabea, 

Liberavit  cruce  purpurea. 

Adversatrix  ovis  erronea. 

Fit  pastoris  csede  sangui- 

nea. 
Pavimenta  Christi    mar- 

morea 
Sacro  madent  cruore  ru- 

bea. 
Martyr,  vitae  donatus  lau- 

rea, 
Velut  granum  purgatum 

palea. 
In  divina  transfertur  hor- 

rea. 
*  Ccelum  domo  commu- 

tans  lutea. 


$".  The  vine-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, 

Is  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, 

Is,  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  Litur- 
gy, its  admiration  for  our  illustrious  Martyr.  Adam 
of  Saint- Victor  composed  as  many  as  three  Sequences 
in  honour  of  his  triumph  over  the  enemies  of  God. 
We  will  give  two  to-day,  reserving  the  third  for  the 
Octave-Day.  They  breathe  the  warmest  sympathy 
for  the  saintly  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  and  prove 
how  dear  was  the  Liberty  of  the  Church  to  the 
Faithful  of  those  days,  and  how  the  cause,  for  which 
St.  Thomas  was  the  Martyr,  was  then  looked  upon  as 
the  cause  of  the  whole  of  Christendom. 


DEC.    29.      ST.   THOMAS   OF   CANTERBURY.      363 


1st  sequence. 


Rejoice,  0  Sion!  and  be 
glad ;  in  voice  and  heart  make 
holiday  on  this  joyous  solem- 
nity. 

Thy  Thomas,  O  Jesus  !  is 
slain  :  for  thee  is  he  immo- 
lated, 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  de- 
served 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  with- 
out 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  weak- 
ened, was  trampled  on. 

Thus,  dear  Shepherd,  didst 
thou  leave  us,  nor  ever  didst 
thou  turn  from  off  the  right 
path  of  justice. 

There  was  a  time  when  thou 
wast  first  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. 


Gaude,    Sion,   et  lastare, 
Voce,  voto  jocundare 
Solemni  lsetitia. 

Tuus  Thomas  trucidatur : 
Pro  te,  Christe,  immolatur 
Salutaris  hostia. 

Archiprsesul  et  legatus, 
Nullo  tamen  est  elatus 
Honoris  fastigio. 

Dispensator  summi  Regis, 
Pro  tutela  sui  gregis 
Damnatur  exiko. 

Telo  certans  pastorali, 
Ense  cinctus  spiritali, 
Triumphare  meruit. 

Hie  pro  Dei  sui  lege, 
Et  pro  suo  mori  grege, 
Decertare  studuit. 

Tunc  rectore  desolatam, 
Et  pastore  viduatam, 
Se  plangebat  Cantua. 

Versa  vice,  plausu  miro, 
Exsultavit  tanto  viro 
Senonensis  Gallia. 


Quo  absente  infirmatur, 
Infirmata  conculcatur 
Libertas  Ecclesise. 

Sic  nos,  pastor,  reliquisti, 
Nee  a  vero  recessisti 
Tramite  justitise. 

Quondam  ccetu  curiali 
Primus  eras,  et  regali 
Militans  palatio. 

Plebis  aura  favorali, 
Et,  ut  mos  est,  temporali 
Plaudebas  praeconio. 


364 


CHRISTMAS. 


Consequenter  es  mutatus, 
Prsesulatu  sublimatus, 
Novus  homo  reparatus 
Felici  commercio. 

Ex  adverso  ascendisti, 
Et  te  murum  objecisti, 
Caput  tuum  obtulisti 
Christi  sacrificio. 

Carnis  tuse  morte  spreta, 
Triumphalis  es  athleta ; 
Palma  tibi  datur  lceta, 
Quod  testantur  insueta 
Plurima  miracula. 


Cleri  gemma,  clare  Thoma, 
Motus  carnis  nostras  doma 
Precum  efficacia. 

Ut  in  Christo,  vera  vite, 
Radicati,  vera  vite 
Capiamus  praemia. 


Amen. 


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  sacri- 
fice to  Christ. 

The  death  of  thy  body  was 
a  small  thing  in  thy  eyes, 
brave  champion  and  con- 
queror !  Thou  didst  receive 
a  splendid  Palm,  as  thy  extra- 
ordinary and  numerous  mi- 
racles 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  re- 
ceive the  solid  rewards  of 
eternal  life. 

Amen. 


2nd  sequence. 


Pia  mater  plangatEcclesia 

Quod   patravit  major  Bri- 
tannia 

Factum  detestabile ; 

Pietate  movetur  Francia ; 

Fugit  coelum,  tellus  etmaria, 
Scelus,  execrabile! 
Scelus,  inquam,  non  di- 
cendum, 

Grande  scelus  et  horrendum 
Perpetravit  Anglia. 

Patrem  suum  praedamnavit, 

Et  in  sede  trucidavit 
Restitutum  propria. 
Thomas  totius  Angliae 

Flos  vernans,  et  Ecclesiae 
Specialis  gloria, 

In  templo  Cantuarise 

Pro  legibus  justitiae 

Fit  sacerdos  et  hostia. 


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. 

Thomas,  England's  fair 
flower — the  Church's  special 
glory — is  made  Priest  and 
Victim,  for  the  law's  of  jus- 
tice, in  Canterbury's  Church. 


DEC.   29.      ST.   THOMAS  OF  CANTERBURY.        365 


Between  the  temple  and  the 
altar,  on  the  threshold  of  God's 
House,  he  is  struck,  but  is  not 
vanquished ;  it  is  the  rending 
of  the  veil  of  the  temple  by 
the  edge  of  the  sword.  "lis 
Eliseus  made  bald,  'tis  Zacha- 
rias  slain.  The  kiss  of  peace 
just  given,  is  broken,  and  the 
voice  of  the  organ  is  changed 
into  lamentation  and  weep- 
ing. 

'Twas  the  morrow  of  the 
Innocents'  Feast,  when  this 
innocent  victim  was  dragged 
to  execution,  and  struck  down, 
and  his  brains  picked  out  with 
a  sword's  point.  The  pave- 
ment of  God's  House  is  en- 
riched with  rubies :  it  is 
sprinkled  with  blood,  as  its 
Priest  puts  on  the  vestment  of 
the  Passion. 

The  murderers  are  wild  with 
rage ;  the  blood  of  the  just 
man  is  condemned,  and  his 
head  is  split  with  a  sword,  in 
the  very  Presence  of  our  Lord. 
He  that  celebrates  the  sacred 
rite,  is  himself  made  sacred ; 
the  sacrificer  is  made  the  sa- 
crifice, leaving  the  world  this 
example  of  courage. 

The  Pontiff  is  offered  up  a 
holocaust  full  of  marrow — the 
whole  world  is  filled  with  its 
fame,  and  its  fragrance  is  most 
sweet  unto  God.  For  the  blow 
which  cut  off  the  top  part  of 
his  head,  whereon  was  marked 
the  tonsure-crown,  he  receives 
a  twofold  robe,  when  the  Ar- 
chiepiscopal  See  is  restored. 

The  Jews  scoff,  and  Pagans 
laugh,  and  Idolaters  reproach 
a  Christian  people  that  broke 


Inter  templum  et  altare, 
Templi  super  liminare 
Concutitur,  non  frangitur ; 
Sed  gladiis  conscinditur 
Velum  templi  medium. 
Eliseus  decalvatur, 
Zacharias  trucidatur, 
Pax  tradita  dissolvitur, 
Et  organum  convertitur 
In  lamentum  flentium. 


Prope    festum    Innocen- 

tum, 
Innocenter  ad  tormentum 
Pertrahitur,  concutitur, 
Et  cerebrum  effunditur 

Cuspide  mucionis. 
Ad  decoris  ornamentum, 
Templi  rubet  pavimentum. 
Quod     sanguine     respergi- 

tur, 
Dum  Sarcerdos  induitur 

Yeste  passionis. 
Furor  ingens  debacchatur, 
Sanguis  Justus    condemna- 

tur, 
Ense  caput  dissecatur 

In  conspectu  Domini ; 
Cum    sacrabat,    hie    sacra- 

tur, 
Immolator  immolatur, 
Ut  virtutis  relinquatur 

Hoc  exemplum  homini. 
Holocaustum       medulla- 
turn, 
Jam  per  orbem  propalatum, 
In  odorem  Deo  gratum 
Est  pontifex  oblatus ; 
Pro  corona  quae  secatur 
Duplex  stola  prseparatur, 
Ubi  sedes  restauratur 

Archiepiscopatus. 

Synagoga    derogat,   ridet 
paganismus, 
Insultant     idolatrse,     quod 


366 


CHRISTMAS. 


Christianisnms 

Foedus  violaverit, 

Nee  patri  pepercerit 

Christianitatis. 
Eacliel   plorat  filium,   non 

vult  consolari, 
Quern  in  matris  utero  vidit 

trucidari ; 

Super  cuj  us  obitum 

Dant  in  netu  gemituni 
Mentes  pietatis. 

Hie  est  ille  Pontifex, 
Quern  supernus  artifex 
In  coelorum  culmine 
Magnum  stabilivit, 
Postquam  pertransivit 
Gladios  Anglorum. 

Cum  mori  non  timuit, 
Sed  cervicem  prsebuit 

In  suo  sanguine  ; 

Ut  abhinc  exivit, 

Semel  introivit 

In  Sancta  sanctorum. 
Cuj  us  mortem  pretiosam 

Testantur  miracula  : 
Christe,  nobis  suffragetur 
Per  seterna  ssecula.    Amen. 


the  sacred  vow  and  murdered 
a  Bishop  of  the  Christian 
Church.  Rachel  bewails  her 
Son,  nor  will  she  be  comforted, 
for  she  saw  him  murdered 
whilst  in  her  sacred  lap :  and 
every  feeling  heart  sheds  o'er 
this  glorious  death  the  tears  of 
its  sad  grief. 


This  is  the  Pontiff,  who, 
after  he  had  passed  the  Eng- 
lish swords,  was  magnified, 
in  high  heaven,  by  the  su- 
preme 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.    Amen. 


O  glorious  Martyr  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 ; — there- 
fore, have  the  tongues  of  sinners  and  cowards  spoken 
ill  of  thee,  and  heaped  calumnies  upon  thee.  0 
Martyr  truly  worthy  of  the  name  !  for,  the  testimony 


DEC.   29.      ST.   THOMAS   OF   CANTERBURY.       367 

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  deliverance 
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 
understand  it ! 

How  great  is  thy  glory,  0  faithful  Pontiff!  in  being 
chosen,  together  with  Stephen,  John,  and  the  Inno- 
cents, 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  ac- 
count, 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  Birth-Day  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  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 
unfolding  to  us  such  heavenly  consolations,  by  the 
celebration  of  the  great  Mysteries  of  Christmas,  with 
which  thy  name  is  now  inseparably  associated.  Get 
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  his  government1 — and  tell  him  that  we  are  resolved, 

1  Is.  ix.  6. 


368  CHEISTMAS. 

by  the  assistance  of  his  grace,  never  to  be  ashamed 
of  his  cause,  or  its  defenders ;  that,  full  of  filial  simple 
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  all  things 
else,  of  Pastors  like  thee,  0  Holy  Martyr  of  Christ ! 
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 
hoar1  and  the  fox.2  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. 

Pray  for  thine  own  dear  England,  which,  three 
hundred  years  ago,  made  shipwreck  of  the  faith 
through  the  apostacy  of  so  many  Prelates,  who  sub- 
mitted 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 

1  Ps.  lxxix.  14.  2  Cant.  ii.  15. 


DEC.   29.      ST.   THOMAS  OF  CANTERBURY.        369 

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. 


Oar  new-born  King  is  five  days  old  to-day !  Let 
us  contemplate  him  seated  on  his  Throne.  The  Holy 
Scriptures  tell  us,1  that  our  God  sitteth  upon  the 
Cherubim,  in  heaven  :  and  that,  under  the  old  and 
Figurative  Law,  he  chose  for  his  throne,  on  earth,  the 
Ark  of  the  Covenant.2  Blessed  be  his  name,  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.3  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  com- 
mands 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, 
this  Body  and  Soul  which  are  like  our  own,  this 
Throne  of  his  Majesty,  in  a  word,  this  ineffably  holy 
Footstool  of  his  Feet. 

But  this   Humanity  itself  has  its  Throne.     The 
Blessed  Mother,  Mary,  raises  the  Divine  Infant  from 

1  Is.  xxxvii.  16,  and  frequently  elseiohere. 

2  Exod.  xxv.  22.  3  Ps.  xcviii.  5. 

2  B 


370  CHRISTMAS. 

the  Crib ;  she  presses  him  to  her  heart ;  she  places 
hirn  on  her  knees — it  is  our  God,  the  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 
to  the  Eternal  Word  by  the  trembling  wings  of 
Cherubim  !  And  the  Ark  of  Moses,  made  of  corrupt- 
ible 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,  0  Jesus ! 
and  how  amiable  aud  easy  of  approach  !  Those  tiny 
hands  stretched  out  to  sinners,  and  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,  be- 
cause thou,  0  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,  and  meekness  I1  We  are  thy  subjects,  and 
we  offer  thee  our  adoring  loyalty  and  love ;  and  to 
Mary,  the  Queen  thou  hast  given  us,  we  promise  the 
homage  of  our  best  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  OFFICE. 

Nato   Domino    Jesu    ex        All  things  were  made  fight, 

sacra  Virgine,  lucida  facta  when  Jesus  our  Lord  was  born 

sunt      omnia  ;     pastoribus  of  the  Holy  Virgin  ;  for,  the 

enim  de  nocte  vigilantibus,  Shepherds  watched  at  night, 

Magis  adorantibus,  Angelis  the  Magi  adored,  the  Angels 

hymnificantibus,      Herodes  sang  hymns,  Herod  was  trou- 

turbabatur,    quia  Deus  in  bled,  because  God,  the  Saviour 

carne  apparuit  Salvator  ani-  of  our  souls,  had  appeared, 
marum  nostrarum. 

1  Ps.  xliv.  5. 


DEC.  29.      ST.  THOMAS  OF   CANTEKBUKY.        371 


Thy  Kingdom,  O  Christ  our 
God !  is  a  Kingdom  of  all 
ages,  and  thy  dominion  en- 
dureth  throughout  all  genera- 
tions. 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,  0  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 ;  0  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  1  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. 

Duringthe  reign  of  Augustus 
on  this  earth,  the  various  other 
kingdoms  ceased  ;  and  when 
thou,  0  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  con- 
federated under  one  Kingdom; 
so  were  all  nations  brought  to 
the  obedience  of  faith  in  one 
God.  People  were  enrolled  by 
the  decree  of  Caesar ;  and  we, 


Regnum  tuum,  Christe 
Deus,  regnum  omnium  sae- 
culorum,  et  dominatio  tua 
in  omni  generatione  et  ge- 
nerationem.  Qui  caro  factus 
est  ex  Spiritu  Sancto  et  ho- 
mo factus  ex  Maria  semper 
virgine,  lumen  illuxit.  Tuus 
adventus,  Christe  Deus,  lu- 
men de  lumine,  Patris  splen- 
dor, omnem  creaturam  ex- 
hilaravit.  Omnis  spiritus 
laudavit  characterem  glorias 
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  no- 
bis 1  Quaelibet  enim  creatu- 
rarurn  tibi  submissarum  ad 
te  profert  gratiarum  actio- 
nem :  Angeli  hymnum,  cceli 
stellam,  magi  dona,  pastores 
admirationem,  terra  spelun- 
cam,  solitudo  praesepium, 
nos  vero  matrem  virginem  : 
qui  es  ante  saecula,  Deus, 
miserere  nobis. 

Regnante  Augusto  super 
terram,  hominum  cessata  est 
polyarchia,  et  te  homine 
facto  ex  agna,  idolorum  de- 
bilitata  est  polytheia :  sub 
uno  mundano  civitates  fac- 
tae  sunt  regno,  et  in  unam 
dominationem  divinitatis 
gentes  I*  crediderunt.  In- 
scripti  sunt  populi  decreto 
Caesaris,  inscripti  sumus  fi- 
deles  sub  divinitatis  no- 
mine, te  homine  facto,  Deus 
noster.      Magna   tua  mise- 


372 


CHKISTMAS. 


ricordia ;] 
tibi. 


Domine,    gloria 


thy  faithful,  were  enrolled 
under  the  divine  name  of  thee 
our  God/ when  thou  didst  be- 
come Man.  Glory  be  to  thee, 
O  Lord !  for,  great  is  thy 
mercy. 


And  now,  a  Hymn  to  our  Lady,  the  Seat  of  Wisdom ! 
Let  us  offer  her  this  beautiful  one,  taken  from  the 
Cluny  Missal  of  1523. 


SEQUENCE. 


Ave,  mundi  spes,  Maria, 
Ave  mitis,  ave  pia, 
Ave,  plena  gratia. 

Ave,  Virgo  singularis, 
Quse  per  rubum  designaris 
Non  passum  incendia. 

Ave,  rosa  speciosa, 
Ave,  Jesse  virgula, 

Cujus  fructus 
Nostri  luctus 
Relaxavit  vincula. 

Ave,  cujus  viscera 
Contra  mundi  foedera, 
Ediderunt  filium. 


Ave,  carens  simili, 
Mundo  diu  flebili 
Reparasti  gaudium. 

Ave,  virginum  lucerna, 
Per  quam  f ulsit  lux  superna 
His  quos  unda  tenuit. 

Ave,  Virgo  de  qua  nasci 
Et  de  cujus  lacte  pasci 
Rex  ccelorum  voluit. 

Ave,  gemma,   cceli  lumi- 

narum, 
Ave,   sancti   Spiritus   sa- 

crarium. 
O  quam  mirabilis, 
Et  quam  laudabilis 
Hsec  est  virginitas. 


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 
misery. 


our 


Hail,  Holy  Mother  !  for 
whom  God  set  aside  all  na- 
ture'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  is  this  Virgi- 
nity ! 


DEC.  29.      ST.  THOMAS   OF  CANTERBURY.        373 


In  it,  shone  forth  a  fruitful- 
ness  produced  by  the  Holy 
Paraclete. 

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  judgment, 
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  ! 


In  qua  per  Spiritum 
Facta  Paraclitum 
Fulsit  fcecunditas  ! 

O  quam  sancta  ! 
Quam  serena  ! 
Quam  benigna  ! 
Esse  virgo  creditur  !, 
Quam  amoena. 

Per  quam  servitus  finitur, 
Porta  cceli  aperitur, 
Et  libertas  redditur. 

O  castitatis  lilium, 
Tuum  precare  filium, 
Qui  salus  est  humilium. 

Ne  nos  pro  nostro  vitio, 
In  flebili  judicio, 
Subjiciat  supplicio. 

Sed  nos  tua  sancta  prece, 
Mundans  a  peccati  fsece, 

Collocet  in  lucis  domo. 

Amen  dicat  omnis  homo. 


374  CHRISTMAS. 


December  30. 

SUNDAY  WITHIN   THE    OCTAVE   OF 
CHRISTMAS, 

OR  THE   SIXTH  DAY  WITHIN   THE   OCTAVE. 


(When  the  30th  of  December  does  not  fall  on  a 
Sunday,  it  is  called  "  the  Sixth  Bay  within  the 
"  Octave,"  and  the  3rd  Mass  of  Christmas  Bay  is  re- 
peated, page  225  ;  excepting  only  the  Epistle  and 
Gospel,  which  are  taken  from  the  2nd  Mass,  pages 
214,215.) 


This  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  Year — 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  week,  was  consecrated,  by  the  old  Pagans,  to 


DEC.    30.      SUNDAY  WITHIN  THE   OCTAVE.      375 

the  Sun :  with  us  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  more  aptly  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  destroy- 
ing Angel  over  the  land  of  the  Egyptians :  so,  also, 
was  it  in  the  still  hour  of  midnight,  that  Jesus,  the 
Angel  of  the  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  and  beauty,  to  take 
possession  of  his  Kingdom. 

INTROIT. 

While  all  things  were  in  Dum  medium  silentium 
quiet  silence,  and  the  night  tenerent  omnia,  et  nox  in 
was  in  the  midst  of  her  course,  suo  cursu  medium  iter  ha- 
thy  Almighty  Word,  O  Lord,  beret,  omnipotens  sermo  tu- 
came  down  from  thy  royal  us,  Domine,  de  ccelis,  a  re- 
throne,  galibus  sedibus  venit. 

Ps.  The  Lord  hath  reigned,  Ps.  Dominus  regnavit,  de- 
he  is  clothed  with  beauty  :  the  corem  indutus  est :  indutus 


376 


CHEISTMAS. 


est  Dominus  fortitudinem, 
et  praacinxit  se.  ft.  Gloria 
Patri.    Dum  medium. 


Lord  is  clothed  with  strength, 
and  hath  girded  himself,  ft. 
Glory,  &c.     While  all. 


In  the  Collect,  the  Church  prays  to  be  directed  by 
that  divine  rule,  which  was  taught  us  by  our  Saviour, 
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  me- 
reamur  bonis  operibus  abun- 
dare.     Qui  tecum. 


O  Almighty  and  Eternal 
God,  regulate  our  actions  ac- 
cording to  thy  divine  will : 
that,  in  the  name  of  thy  be- 
loved Son,  we  may  abound  in 
good  works.    Who  liveth,  <kc. 


The  Commemorations  of  the  Octaves  of  Christmas, 
&c.,  are  given  in  page  315  :  that  of  St.  Thomas  of 
Canterbury,  in  page  352. 


EPISTLE. 


Lectio  Epistolse  beati  Pauli    Lesson  of  the  Epistle  of  Saint 
Apostoli  ad  Galatas.  Paul  the  Apostle  to  the  Ga- 

latians. 


Cap.  IT. 

Fratres,  quanto  tempore 
hseres  parvulus  est,  nihil 
differt  a  servo,  cum  sit  do- 
minus omnium :  sed  sub 
tutoribus  et  actoribus  est 
usque  ad  prsefinitum  tem- 
pus  a  patre  :  ita  et  nos,  cum 
essemus  parvuli,  sub  de- 
mentis mundi  eramus  ser- 
vientes.  At  ubi  venit  pleni- 
tudo  temporis,  misit  Deus 
Filium  suum  factum  ex 
muliere,  factum  sub  lege, 
ut  eos,  qui  sub  lege  erant, 
redimeret,    ut    adoptionem 


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 


DEC.    30.      SUNDAY  WITHIN  THE  OCTAVE.       377 

the  adoption  of  sons.     And  filiorum  reciperemus.    Quo- 

because  you  are  sons,  God  hath  niam  autem  estis  filii,  misit 

sent  the  Spirit  of  his  Son  into  Dens  Spiritum  Filii  sui  in 

your   hearts,    crying :    Abba,  corda    vestra,    clamantem  : 

Father.     Therefore,  now  he  is  Abba,  Pater.     Itaque,  jam 

not  a  servant,  but  a  son.   And  non  est  servus,  sed  films, 

if  a  son,  an  heir,  also,  through  Quod  si  filius  :  et  haeres  per 

God.  Deum. 

The  Child  that  is  born  of  Mary  and  is  couched  in 
the  Crib  at  Bethlehem,  raises  his  feeble  voice  to  the 
Eternal  Father,  and  calls  him,  My  Father !  He 
turns  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  solemnising. 
All  things  are  changed,  both  in  heaven  and  on  earth  : 
God  has  not  only  one  Son,  he  has  many  Sons  ;  hence- 
forth, we  stand  before  this  our  God,  not  merely  crea- 
tures 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  in- 
heritance, 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  bless- 
ings 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. 

Thou  art  beautiful  above  the  Speciosus  forma  prse  filiis 

sons  of  men  :  grace  is  poured  hominum  :  diffusa  est  gra- 

abroad  in  thy  lips.  tia  in  labiis  tuis. 

$".  My  heart  hath  uttered  a  $".  Eructavit   cor    meum 

good  word ;  I  speak  my  works  verbum  bonum  ;   dico  ego 


378 


CHRISTMAS. 


opera  mea  Eegi :  lingua 
mea  calamus  scribae  veloci- 
ter  scribentis. 

Alleluia,  alleluia. 

$".  Dominus  regnavit,  de- 
corem  induit  :  induit  Do- 
minus fortitudinem.  et  prae- 
cinxit  se  virtute.    Alleluia. 


to  the  King  :  my  tongue  is  the 
pen  of  a  scrivener,  that  writeth 
swiftly. 

Alleluia,  alleluia. 

"jty".  The  Lord  hath  reigned  : 
he  hath  clothed  himself  with 
beauty  :  he  hath  clothed  him- 
self with  strength,  and  armed 
himself  with  might.    Alleluia. 


GOSPEL. 


Sequentia  sancti  Evangelii 
secundum  Lucam. 

Cap.  II. 

In  illo  tempore  :  Erat 
Joseph,  et  Maria,  mater 
Jesu,  mirantes  super  his 
quae  dicebantur  de  illo.  Et 
benedixit  illis  Simeon,  et 
dixit  ad  Mariam  matrem 
ejus  :  Ecce  positus  est  hie 
in  ruinam  et  in  resurrec- 
tionem  multorum  in  Israel : 
et  in  signum  cui  contradi- 
cetur  :  et  tuam  ipsius  ani- 
mam  pertransibit  gladius, 
ut  revelentur  ex  multis  cor- 
dibus  cogitationes.  Et  erat 
Anna  Prophetissa,  filia  Pha- 
nuel,  de  tribu  Aser.  Haec 
processerat  in  diebus  mul- 
tis, et  vixerat  cum  viro  suo 
annis  septem  a  virginitate 
sua.  Et  haec  vidua  usque  ad 
annos  octoginta  quatuor : 
quae  non  discedebat  de  tem- 
plo,  jejuniis  et  obsecrationi- 
bus  serviens  nocte  ac  die. 
Et  haec,  ipsa  hora  superve- 
niens,  confitebatur  Domino, 
et  loquebatur  de  illo  omni- 
bus, qui  exspectabant  re- 
demption em  Israel.  Et  ut 
perfecerunt  omnia  secun- 
dum legem  Domini,  reversi 


Sequel  of  the  holy  Gospel  ac- 
cording to  Luke. 

Ch.  II. 

At  that  time  :  Joseph,  and 
Mary,  the  Mother  of  Jesus, 
were  wondering  at  those  things, 
which  were  spoken  concerning 
him.  And  Simeon  blessed 
them,  and  said  to  Mary  his 
Mother  :  Behold,  the  Child  is 
set  for  the  fall  and  for  the  re- 
surrection of  many  in  Israel : 
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  Asar  :  she  was  far 
advanced  in  years,  and  had 
lived  with  her  husband  seven 
years  from  her  virginity.  And 
she  was  a  widow  until  four- 
score and  four  years  :  who  de- 
parted not  from  the  temple,  by 
fastings  and  prayers  serving 
day  and  night.  Now  she,  at 
the  same  hour,  coming  in,  con- 
fessed 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 


DEC.   30.      SUNDAY  WITHIN  THE  OCTAVE.      379 

the  Lord,  they  returned  into  sunt  in  Galilseam,  in  civita- 

Galilee,  to  their  city,  Naza-  tern  suam  Nazareth.     Puer 

reth.     And   the    Child  grew,  autem  crescebat,  et  confor- 

and  waxed  strong,  full  of  wis-  tabatur,   plenus   sapientia  : 

dom  :  and  the  grace  of  God  et  gratia  Dei  erat  in  illo. 
was  in  him. 

The  passage  of  the  Gospel  selected  for  this  Mass, 
though  bearing  on  the  Divine  Infancy,  yet  gives  us, 
and  we  may  almost  say  prematurely,  the  terrible 
prophecy  of  Simeon  regarding  the  dear  Babe  of 
Bethlehem.  The  heart  of  Mary,  that  was  overflow- 
ing with  joy  at  the  miraculous  Birth  of  her  Child,  is 
here  made  to  feel  the  sword  spoken  of  by  the  vene- 
rable Priest  of  the  temple.  Her  Son,  then,  is  to  be 
but  a  sign  that  shall  be  contradicted !  The  mys- 
tery of  man's  being  adopted  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 
and  the  Passion  and  the  Death  of  our  Emmanuel ; 
the  time  will  come  for  that ;  at  present,  we  are  for- 
bidden to  think  of  Him  other  than  the  sweet  Child 
that  is  born  to  us,  and  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  ad- 
mire 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  the 
wonderful  renovation  wrought  in  the  world,  a  reno- 
vation which  saved  it  from  destruction.  She  sins^s 
the  praises  of  the  great  God  who  came  down  into 
the  poor  Stable  of  Bethlehem,  yet  left  not  his  eter- 
nal throne. 

OFFERTORY. 

God  hath  established  the  Deus  firmavit  orbem  ter- 
world,    which    shall    not    be    rse,  qui  non  commovebitur ; 


380  CHRISTMAS. 

parata  sedes  tua,  Deus,  ex    moved  ;  thy  throne,  O  God,  is 
tunc  :  a  seculo  tu  es.  prepared  from  of  old  ;   thou 

art  from  everlasting. 

SECEET. 

Concede,  quaesumus,  om-  Grant,  we  beseech  thee,  O 

nipotens  Deus  ;    ut  oculis  Almighty  God,  that  this  sacri- 

tuae  majestatis  munus  obla-  fice,  offered  to  thy  divine  ma- 

tum,  et  gratiam  nobis  pise  jesty,  may  obtain  for  us  the 

devotionis  obtineat,  et  effec-  grace  of  true  devotion,  and  a 

turn  beatae  perennitatis  ac-  happy  eternity.    Through,  dec. 
quirat.     Per  Dominum. 

The  Commemorations  of  the  four  Octaves  are  given 
above,  page  319 ;  that  of  St.  Thomas,  page  357. 

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  ene- 
mies. Let  the  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  Postcom- 
munion,  the  Church  prays,  that  our  vices  may  be 
destroyed,  and  our  desires  for  a  virtuous  life  be 
blessed. 

COMMUNION. 

Tolle  puerum,  et  matrem  Take  the  Child  and  his 
ejus,  et  vade  in  terram  Is-  Mother,  and  go  into  the  land 
rael ;  defuncti  sunt  enim  qui  of  Israel :  for  they  are  dead, 
quserebant  animam  pueri.        who   sought   the    life  of  the 

Child. 

POSTCOMMUNION. 

Per  hujus,  Domine,  ope-  May  the  efficacy  of  this  sa- 

rationem  mysterii,   et  vitia  crament,   0  Lord,  cleanse  us 

nostra  purgentur,   et  justa  from  our  sins,  and  obtain  for 

desideria  compleantur.     Per  us  the  accomplishment  of  our 

Dominum.  just  desires.    Through,  &c. 


DEC.    30.      SUNDAY  WITHIN  THE  OCTAVE.      381 

The  Commemorations  of  the  four  Octaves  are  given 
above,  page  320  ;  that  of  St  Thomas,  page  358. 


VESPERS. 

The  Antiphons  and  Psalms  are  those  of  Christmas 
Day,  pages  234-241  ;  after  which  the  Office  is  of  St. 
Sylvester,  Pope  and  Confessor. 


CAPITULUM. 

{Ecclus.  XLIV.) 


Behold  a  great  Prelate,  who 
in  his  days  pleased  God,  and 
was  found  just :  and  in  the 
time  of  wrath  he  was  made  a 
reconciliation. 


Ecce  sacerdos  magnus,  qui 
in  diebus  suis  placuit  Deo, 
et  inventus  est  Justus  :  et 
in  tempore  iracundiae  factus 
est  reconciliatio. 


HYMN* 


This  Confessor  of  the  Lord, 
whom  the    christian    people, 


Iste    Confessor 
colentes 


Domini, 


*  In  the  Monastic  Breviary  it 

5.  Breve.  Elegit  eum  Domi- 
nus,  *  Sacerdotem  sibi.  Elegit. 
V.  Ad  sacriflcandum  ei  hostiam 
laudis.  *  Sacerdotem  sibi.  Gloria 
Patri.     Elegit. 

Iste  Confessor  Domini  sacra- 
tus 
Festa  plebs  cujus  celebrat  per 

orbem, 
Hodie  lsetus  meruit  secreta 
Scandere  cceli. 
Qui   pius,    prudens,    humilis, 
pudicus, 
Sobrius,  castus  fuit,  et  quietiis, 
Vita    dum    praesens    vegetavit 
ejus 

Corporis  artus. 
Ad    sacrum  cujus    tumulum 
frequenter 


is  as  follows  : — 

Membra  languentum  modo  sani- 

tati, 
Quolibet  morbo  f  uerint  gravata, 
Restituuntur. 
Unde  nunc  noster  chorus  in 
honorem 
Ipsius,  hymnum  canit  hunc  li- 

benter  : 
Ut  piis  ejus  meritis  juvemur 
Omne  per  sevum. 
Sit   salus    illi,  decus,    atque 
virtus, 
Qui  supra  cceli   residens   cacu- 

men, 
Totius  mundi  machinam  guber- 
nat 

Trinus  et  unus. 
Amen. 


382 


CHRISTMAS. 


Quern  pie  laudant  populi  per 

orbem, 
Hac  die  laetus  meruit  beatas 
Scandere  sedes. 
Qui  pius,  prudens,  humi- 
lis,  pudicus, 
Sobriam    duxit    sine    labe 

vitam, 
Donee    humanos    animavit 
aura3 

Spiritus  artus. 
Cujus  ob  praestans  meri- 
tum,  frequenter. 
JEgra,  quae  passim  jacuere 

membra, 
Viribus  morbi  domitis,  sa- 
luti 

Restituuntur. 
Nbster    hinc    illi  chorus 
obsequentem 
Concinit  laudem,   celebres- 

que  p  almas  ; 
Ut  piis  ejus  precibus  juve- 
mur 

Omne  per  aevum. 
Sit  salus  illi,  decus,  atque 
virtus, 
Qui  super  coeli  solio  corus- 

cans, 
Totius  mundi  seriem  guber- 
nat, 

Trinus  et  unus. 
Amen. 

ft.  Amavit  eum  Dominus 
et  ornavit  eum. 

I£.  Stolam  glorias  induit 
eum. 


throughout  the  world,  de- 
voutly celebrate,  merited  on 
this  day  to  ascend  in  joy  to 
the  heavenly  mansions. 

As  long  as  the  present  life 
kept  him  in  this  world,  he  was 
pious,  prudent,  humble,  mo- 


dest, 
able. 


sober,  and    irreproach- 


Such  were  his  merits,  that, 
oftentimes,  they  who  were  sick 
were  restored  to  health,  by  his 
intercession,  and  the  virulence 
of  disease  was  conquered. 


Therefore  is  it,  that  our 
choir  sings  willingly  his  praise 
and  his  palms  ;  that  so,  by 
his  prayers,  we  may  be  helped 
for  all  eternity. 


To  him,  the  Tri-une  God, 
that  shineth  on  his  heavenly 
throne,  and  governs  the  uni- 
versal world — be  salvation, 
honour,  and  power  ! 


Amen. 

y.  The  Lord  loved  him  and 
adorned  him. 

I£.  And  hath  clothed  him 
with  a  robe  of  glory. 


antiphon  op  the  Magnificat. 


Sacerdos  et  Pontifex,  et 
virtutum  opif  ex,  pastor  bone 
in  populo,  ora  pro  nobis  Do- 
minum. 


0  Priest  and  Pontiff,  and 
worker  of  virtuous  deeds,  good 
Shepherd  of  thy  people,  pray 
for  us  to  the  Lord. 


OEEMUS. 

Da,   quaesumus,  omnipo- 


LET  US  PKAY. 

Grant,  we  beseech  thee,  O 


DEC.   30.      SUNDAY  WITHIN  THE  OCTAVE.      383 

Almighty  God,  that  the  vene-  tens  Dens,  ut  beati  Silvestri, 

rable    Solemnity    of    blessed  Confessoris  tui  atqne  Pon- 

Sylvester,  thy  Confessor  and  tificis,  veneranda  solemnitas 

Bishop,     may    improve    our  et  devotionem  nobis  augeat 

devotion,    and   strengthen  in  et  salutem.    Per  Dominum. 
us    the    hopes    of    salvation. 
Through,  <kc. 

Commemoration  of  the  Sunday. 

Ant.  The  Child  Jesus  ad-  Ant.  Puer  Jesus  proficie- 
vanced  in  age  and  wisdom  bat  setate  et  sapientia  coram 
with  God  and  men.  Deo  et  hominibus. 

The  Prayer,  as  in  page  376. 

Commemoration  of  Christmas  Day. 

Page  292. 

Commemoration  of  St.  Thomas  of  Canterbury. 

Page  322. 

Commemoration  of  St.  Stephen. 

Page  262. 

Commemoration  of  St.  John. 

Page  291. 

Commemoration  of  Holy  Innocents. 

Page  322. 


Od  this  the  sixth  day  since  the  Birth  of  our  Em- 
manuel, let  us  consider  how  the  Divine  Infant  lies 
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  one.1  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  brutes. 

1  Is.  i.  3. 


384  CHRISTMAS. 

At  all  events,  these  animals  are  his  own  work. 
When  he  created  the  irrational  world  of  living 
things,  he  subjected  it,  as  the  inferior  part  of  crea- 
tion, to  Man ;  and  Man  was  to  ennoble  it,  by  refer- 
ring 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.1  It  obeys  him  with  reluctance  ;  it  not  unfre- 
quently  rebels  against  and  deservedly  punishes  him ; 
and  on  the  day  of  judgment,  it  will  take  the  side  of 
its  Creator,  and  avenge  itself  of  that  wickedness,  of 
which  Man  has  made  it  the  unwilling  instrument.2 

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  him- 
self, are  Shepherds,  who  were  busy  watching  their 
flocks,  and  whose  simple  hearts  have  not  been  cor- 
rupted by  the  atmosphere  of  cities. 

The  Ox — which,  as  we  learn  from  Ezechiel3  and 
St.  John,4  is  one  of  the  symbolic  creatures  standing 
round  God's  throne — is  the  figure  of  the  sacrifices  of 
the  Old  Law.  The  blood  of  oxen  has  flowed  in  tor- 
rents upon  the  altar  of  the  Temple :  it  was  the  im- 
perfect 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  Holocausts 
for  sin,  thou  wouldst  not  have,  neither  are  they 
pleasing  to  thee ;  behold,  I  come  !5 

1  Eom.  viii.  19,  20.         3  Ezech.  i.  10.        5  Heb.  x.  8,  9. 
a  Wisd.  v.  21.  4  Apoc.  iv.  7. 


DEC.    30.      SUNDAY  WITHIN  THE  OCTAVE.      385 

The  Prophet  Zachary,1  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 
our  Christmas  mystery,  let  us  observe  how  the  hea- 
venly 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  !  hate- 
ful sin !  we  renounce  it,  and  wish,  dear  Jesus,  to 
acknowledge  thee  for  our  Lord  and  Master,  as  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  adora- 
tion 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  Saint- Victor,  and  is  one  of  the  most  mystical  of 
the  Sequences  in  the  Missals  of  the  Middle-Ages.  It 
will  serve  us  as  a  further  tribute  of  praise  to  the 
Divine  Infant. 

1  Zach.  ix.  9,  quoted  by  St.  Matth.  xxi.  5. 

2  c 


386 


CHRISTMAS. 


SEQUENCE. 


Splendor  Patris  et  figura, 
Se  conformans  honiini, 


Potestate,  non  natura, 
Partum  dedit  virgini. 


Adam  vetus, 

Tandem  lsetus, 
Novum  promat  canticum ; 

Fugitivus, 

Et  captivus, 
Prodeat  in  publicum. 

Eva  luctum, 

Vitse  fructum 
Virgo  gaudens  edidit. 

Nee  sigillum, 
Propter  ilium, 
Castitatis  perdidit. 

Si  crystallus  sit  huniecta, 
Atque  soli  sit  objecta, 
Scintillat  igniculum  : 

Nee  crystallus  rumpitur, 
Nee  in  partu  solvitur 
Pudoris  signaculum. 

Super  tali  genitura, 
Stupet  usus  et  natura, 
Deficitque  ratio. 

Res  est  ineffabilis  : 
Tarn  pia,  tarn  humilis 
Christi  generatio. 

Frondem,  florem,  nucem 
sicca 
Virga  profert,  et  pudica 
Virgo  Dei  Filium. 

Fert  ccelestem 
Vellus  rorem, 
Creatura  creatorem, 
Creatures  pretium. 

Frondis,  floris, 
Nucis,  roris  ; 


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  di- 
vine 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  Mo- 
ther's purity. 

Law  and  Nature  stood  won- 
dering at  that  divine  Birth, 
and  reason  was  confounded. 

Yea,  the  Birth  of  Christ  is 
an  ineffable  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  ran- 
som— the  Creator. 

The  Leaf  and  Flower,  the 
Almond   and    the    Dew,  are 


DEC.   30.      SUNDAY  WITHIN  THE  OCTAVE.        387 


mystic  emblems  of    our  Sa- 
viour'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  stum- 
bling-block to  the  Jews?  Have 
they  forgotten  the  dry  Branch 
of  Aaron,  how  it  bore  the 
Almonds  ] 

Let  us  once  more  contem- 
plate the  Almond-Nut;  for, 
viewed  in  its  true  light,  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  pas- 
sion he  endured  in  the  Flesh  : 
the  shell  is  his  Body — his 
Flesh  and  Bones. 

The  Divinity  and  the  sweet- 
ness 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. 

0  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. 

0  Brightness  of  the  Father, 


Pietati  Salvatoris 
Congruunt  mysteria. 
Frons  est  Christus, 
Protegendo  ; 
Flos,  dulcore  ; 
Nux,  pascendo  : 
Eos,  coelesti  gratia. 

Cur  quod  Virgo  peperit 
Est  Judseis  scandalum, 
Cum  virga  produxerit 
Sicca  sic  amygdalum  % 


Contemplemur  adhuc  nu- 
cem  : 
Nam  prolata  nux  in  lucem 
Lucis    est    mysterium. 

Trinam  gerens  unionem, 
Tria  confert,  unctionem, 
Lumen  et  edulium. 

Nux  est  Christus  ;  cortex 
nucis, 
Circa  carnem  pcena  crucis, 
Testa,   corpus   osseum. 

Carne  tecta  deitas, 
Et  Christi  suavitas 

Signatur  per  nucleum. 

Lux  est  csecis,  et  unguen- 
tum 
Christus  segris,  et  f  omentum 
Piis  animalibus. 
0  quam  dulce  sacramen- 
tum  ! 
Fcenum  carnis  in  frumen- 
tum 

Convertit  fidelibus. 
Quos   sub  umbra   Sacra- 
menti, 
Jesu,  pascis  in  praesenti, 
Tuo  vultu  satia. 

Splendor,  Patri  coseterne, 


388 


CHRISTMAS. 


Nos  hinc  transfer 
ternse 
Claritatis  gaudia. 
Amen. 


ad  pa.-    co-eternal  with  him  !  take  us 
hence  to  the  joys  of  thy  Fa- 
ther's glory. 
Amen. 


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  qnonam  tuam, 
Domine,  Genitricem  no- 
mine appellare  deberet, 
nemo  fuit :  Virginemne 
diceret  1  at  ejus  in  oculis 
omnium  prostabat  natus : 
Nuptamne  affirraaret  ?  at 
ad  ejus  nuptias  neminem 
pervenisse  certum  erat. 

Jam  si  Matrem  tuam 
mente  intelligentiaque  asse- 
qui  nemo  potest,  quis  te  at- 
tingerese  posse  credat?  Ma- 
ter tua  Maria  sola  est,  si 
solam  cogito,  alioquin  so- 
ror,  si  cum  reliquis  con- 
fundo  feminis. 


Facta  tibi  Mater  est,  et  in 
communi  sanctarum  femi- 
narum  choro  soror  quo  que 
et  sponsa :  video,  ut  omni- 
bus illam  decorasti  modis, 
o  matris  tuse  decus. 

Sponsa  tibi  data  est,  ante- 
quam  venires ;  venisti,  te- 
que  concepit,  et  hoc  supra 
naturam,  sicut  et  illud, 
quod  te  peperit,  et  Virgo 
permansit. 


Omnium  nuptarum  prse- 
rogativas  habuit  Maria  :  ci- 
tra    viri    operant     viscera 


By  what  name,  O  Lord 
Jesus  !  shall  we  call  Mary  thy 
Mother?  A  Virgin  ?  Yet,  all 
on  thee,  her  Son. 
call  her  a  Spouse  % 
know  she  was  not 
would   call    a 


eyes  are 
Must  we 
Yet,  we 
Such  as 
Spouse. 


men 


And  now  if  thy  Mother  ex- 
ceed the  mind  and  under- 
standing of  all  men  ; — who 
shall  think  himself  able  to 
reach  Thee,  0  Jesus  1  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  holy  women. 
How  truly  art  thou  thy  Mo- 
ther's glory,  who  hast  given 
her  every  kind  of  glory  ! 

She  was  thy  Spouse,  before 
thou  earnest  into  the  world  ; 
and  when  thou  didst  come,  she 
conceived  thee  in  a  superna- 
tural way,  and  in  the  same 
did  she  give  birth  to  thee,  her- 
self remaining  a  pure  Virgin. 

Mary  had  the  prerogatives 
of  other  mothers,  without  their 
humiliations.    She  conceived 


DEC.   30.   SUNDAY  WITHIN  THE   OCTAVE.         389 


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. 

She  carries  thee  in  her  arms, 
and  refreshed  with  the  lovely- 
sight  of  her  Jesus,  she  feels  no 
weight.  She  gives  thee  food, 
for  thou  didst  will  to  hunger  ; 
she  gives  thee  drink,  for  thou 
didst  will  to  thirst.  And 
when  she  willed  to  press  thee 
to  her  heart,  thy  love  did 
temper  down  the  burning  fire 
of  thine  infinite  perfection, 
that  she  might  fondle  thee 
and  live. 


prole,  lacte  implevit  ubera ; 
te  jubente,  statim  fons 
lacteus  erupit  e  terra  si- 
tiente. 


Aspectu  illo  tuo  magno 
recreata  Mater  te  gestat, 
nee  tamen  ipso  gravatur 
onere  ;  cibum  ministrat  esu- 
rire  volenti,  porrigit  pocu- 
lum  tibi  ipsi  ultro  scienti 
sitim.  Si  illi  amplexari  te 
licuit,  tua  istud  prsestitit 
benignitas,  prunam  arden- 
tem,  ne  pectus  ejus  exure- 
ret,  attemperans. 


390  CHRISTMAS. 


December  31. 

SAINT     SYLVESTEE, 

Pope  and  Confessor. 


So  far,  the  only  ones  we  have  seen  standing  round 
the  Crib  of  our  Jesus,  have  been  Martyrs  :  Stephen, 
overwhelmed  with  the  shower  of  stones ;  John,  the 
Martyr  in  heart,  who  survived  his  fiery  torture  ;  the 
Holy  Innocents,  massacred  by  the  sword ;  Thomas, 
murdered  in  his  Cathedral ; — these  are  the  champions 
of  Christ,  who  keep  guard  in  the  palace  of  Bethle- 
hem. Yet,  all  Christians  are  not  called  to  be  Mar- 
tyrs. 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  jus- 
tice, and  Jesus,  who  gave  it  to  them,  has  made  it  be 
part  of  his  own  glory  that  they  should  be  near  his 
throne. 

The  Church  would  therefore  grace  this  glorious 
Christmas  Octave  with  the  name  of  one  of  her  Chil- 
dren, who  should  represent,  at  Bethlehem,  the  whole 
class  of  her  unmartyred  Saints.  She  chose  a  Con- 
fessor— St.  Sylvester :  a  Confessor  who  governed 
the  Church  of  Rome,  and,  therefore,  the  universal 


DEC.   31.      ST.   SYLVESTER  391 

Church  ;  a  Pontiff,  whose  reign  was  long  and  peace- 
ful ;  a  Servant  of  Jesus  Christ  adorned  with  every 
virtue,  who  was  sent  to  edify  and  guide  the  world 
immediately  after  those  fearful  combats,  that  had 
lasted  for  three  hundred  years,  and  in  which  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,  and  of  which  the 
Angels  sang  on  Christmas  Night.  He  is  the  friend 
of  Constantine ;  he  confirms  the  Council  of  Nicaea ; 
he  organises  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  re- 
minds us,  that  the  Divine  Child  who  lies  wrapt  in 
swaddling-clothes,  and  is  the  object  of  Herod's  per- 
secution, is,  notwithstanding  all  these  humiliations, 
the  Prince   of  Peace,  the  Father  of  the  world  to 


come 


i 


Let  us  read  the  history  of  Sylvester's  peaceful 
Pontificate,  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,  Ma- 
rangoni,  Yignoli,  &c. 

Sylvester,  a  Roman  by  birth,  Silvester  Romanns,  patre 

and    son    of    Rufinus,    was  Ruffino,  a  prima  aetate  ope- 

brought  up,  from  childhood,  ram  dedit  Cyrino  presbyte- 

by  the  priest  Cyrinus.      He  ro,  cujus  doctrinam  et  mores 

1  Is.  ix.  6. 


392 


CHKISTMAS. 


egregie  imitatus,  trigesimum 
annum  agens,  Presbyter 
sanctse  Romanse  Ecclesise  a 
Marcellino  Pontifice  creatur. 
Quo  in  munere  cum  omni 
laude  clericis  aliis  anteceile- 
ret,  in  Melchiadis  postea  lo- 
cum successit,  imperatore 
Constantino.  Cui  impera- 
tori,  cum  lepras  eurandae 
causa,  sibi  ex  infantium 
sanguine,  medicorum  con- 
silio,  balneum  parari  jussis- 
set,  sancti  Apostoli  Petrus 
et  Paulus  in  quiete  apparu- 
erunt,  prsecipientes  ei,  ut  si 
ex  lepra  liberari  vellet, 
omissa  impii  balnei  imma- 
nitate,  Silvestrum  in  Soracte 
monte  latitantem  accerseret : 
a  quo  salutari  lavacro  re- 
creatus,  in  omni  ditione  Ro- 
mani  imperii  templa  chris- 
tiano  more  sedificari  impe- 
raret ;  sublatisque  inanium 
deorum  simulacris,  vero  Deo 
cultum  adhiberet.  Constan- 
tinus  igitur,  coelestibus  mo- 
nitis  obtemperans,  Silves- 
trum diligentissime  conqui- 
situm  vocat  :  a  quo,  Apos- 
tolorum  imagines  recognos- 
cens,  baptismo  sanatur,  et 
ad  tuendam  propagandam- 
que  Christi  religionem  in- 
flammatur. 


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  Mar- 
cellinus.  He  surpassed  the 
rest  of  the  clergy  in  the  ad- 
mirable manner  wherein  he 
performed  his  sacred  duties, 
and  was  chosen  as  the  succes- 
sor of  Pope  Melchiades,  under 
the  reign  of  the  Emperor  Con- 
stantine.  This  Emperor,  hav- 
ing been  advised  by  his  phy- 
sicians 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.  Con- 
stantine,  therefore,  obeying  the 
heavenly  admonition,  caused 
the  most  diligent  search  to  be 
made  for  Sylvester,  and,  when 
found,  to  be  brought  to  him. 
This  being  done,  and  the  Pon- 
tiff having  shown  Constantine 
the  portraits  of  the  two  Apos- 
tles he  had  seen  in  his  sleep, 
the  Emperor  was  baptised,  and 
healed,  and  became  exceed- 
ingly zealous  for  the  defence 
and  propagation  of  the  Chris- 
tian religion. 


DEC.    31.      ST.   SYLVESTER. 


393 


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,  grant- 
ed permission  to  the  Christians 
publicly  to  erect  churches, 
which,  previously,  they  were 
forbidden  to  do.  Two  Coun- 
cils were  held  during  the  reign 
of  this  Pontiff  :  firstly,  that  of 
Nicasa,  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  con- 
demned. 

Sylvester  also  passed  several 
decrees  most  useful  to  the 
Church  of  God.  For  example : 
That  the  Chrism  should  be 
blessed  by  a  Bishop  only ; 
That  the  Priest  should  anoint 
the  crown  of  the  head  of  the 
person  he  baptised ;  That 
Deacons  should  wear  Dalma- 
tics in  the  church,  and  a  linen 
ornament  on  the  left  arm ; 
That  the  Sacrifice  of  the  Altar 
should  not  be  celebrated  ex- 
cepting on  a  linen  veil.  He 
laid  down  the  length  of  time, 
during  which,  they  who  re- 
ceived Orders,  should  exercise 
the  functions  belonging  to  each 
Order,  before  passing  to  a 
higher  grade.  He  made  it 
illegal  for  a  layman  to  be  the 


Itaque  auctore  Silvestro 
muftas  basilicas  sedificavit, 
quas  sacris  imaginibus,  do- 
nisque  ac  muneribus  mag- 
nificentissimis  exornavit, 
facilitate  etiam  data  Chris- 
tianis,  quod  antea  negatum 
erat,  publice  templa  extru- 
endi.  Hoc  Pontifice  habita 
sunt  duo  Concilia,  Nicae- 
num,  ubi  praesidentibus  ejus 
legatis,  praasenteque  Con- 
stantino, et  trecentis  decern 
et  octo  Episcopis,  sancta  et 
catholica  Fides  explicata  est, 
Ario,  ej usque  sectatoribus 
condemnatis  ;  quam  etiam 
Synodum  confirmavit,  pe- 
tentibus  Concilii  Patribus 
universis  :  et  Romanum,  in 
quo  interfuere  ducenti  octo- 
ginta  quatuor  Episcopi,  ubi 
iterum  Arius  condemnatus 
est. 


Multa  item  decreta  fecit 
Ecclesise  Dei  utilia.  In  his : 
Ut  a  solo  Episcopo  Chrisma 
conficeretur  ;  Ut  presbyter 
Chrismate  baptizati  sum- 
mum  liniret  verticem  ;  Ut 
Diaconi  dalmaticis  in  Eccle- 
sia,  et  palla  linostima  ad 
laevam  uterentur ;  Ut  in  li- 
neo  tantum  velo  Sacrificium 
altaris  conficeretur.  Prse- 
scripsittempus,  omnibus  qui 
Ordinibus  initiati  essent, 
exercendi  singulos  ordines 
in  Ecclesia,  antequam  quis- 
que  ad  altiorem  gradum  as- 
cenderet.  Ut  laicus  clerico 
non  inferret  crimen.  Ne 
clericus  apud  profanum  ju- 
dicem  causam  diceret.  Sab- 
bati,  et  Dominici  diei  nomi- 


394 


CHRISTMAS. 


ne  retento,  reliqnos  hebdo- 
mads dies  Feriaruin  nomine 
distinctos,  ut  jam  ante  in 
Ecclesia  vocari  cceperant, 
appellari  voluit  :  quo  signi- 
ficaretur  quotidie  clericos, 
abjecta  eseterarum  rerum 
cura,  uni  Deo  prorsus  va- 
care  debere.  Huic  ccelesti 
prudentiae,  qua  Ecclesiam 
administrabat,  insignis  vitas 
sanctitas,  et  benignitas  in 
pauperes  perpetuo  respon- 
dit.  Quo  in  genere  providit, 
ut  clericis  copiosis  egentes 
conjungeret :  et  sacris  virgi- 
nibus  quae  ad  victum  neces- 
saria  essent,  suppeditaren- 
tur.  Vixit  in  Pontificatu 
annos  viginti  unum,  menses 
decern,  diem  unum.  Sepul- 
tus  est  in  ccemeterio  Pris- 
cillse,  via  Salaria.  Fecit  or- 
dinationes  septem  mense 
Decembri,  quibus  creavit 
Presbyteros  quadraginta 
duos,  Diaconos  viginti  quin- 
que,  Episcopos  per  diversa 
loca  sexaginta  quinque. 


public  accuser  of  a  cleric,  and 
forbade  a  cleric  to  plead  be- 
fore a  civil  tribunal.  The 
names  of  Saturday  and  Sun- 
day were  to  be  still  used  ;  but 
all  the  other  days  of  the  week 
were  to  be  called  Fe?°ias,  (Se- 
cond 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 
prudence,  wherewith  he  go- 
verned the  Church,  he  ever 
joined  the  most  admirable 
holiness  of  life,  and  charity 
towards  the  poor.  For  in- 
stance, he  arranged,  that  those 
among  the  clergy  who  had 
no  means,  should  live  with 
wealthy  members  of  the  clergy; 
and,  again,  that  everything 
needed  for  their  maintenance, 
should  be  supplied  to  Virgins 
consecrated  to  God.  He  go- 
verned 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  gave 
ordinations  in  the  December 
month  ;  the  number  of  the  or- 
dained was,  forty-two  Priests, 
twenty-five  Deacons,  and  sixty- 
five  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  Col- 
legiate) Church  of  St.  Barbary,  at  Mantua,  a  very 
beautiful  Office;  and  from  this  we  extract  the  fol- 
lowing Antiphons  and  Responsories : 


DEC.    31.      ST.    SYLVESTER. 


395 


The  storm  of  persecution 
being  calmed,  the  religion  of 
Christ  our  Lord  was  spread,  in 
the  Pontificate  of  blessed  Syl- 
vester, throughout  the  entire 
dominions  of  the  Roman  Em- 
pire. 

Holily  did  Sylvester  ad- 
minister all  things ;  he  pro- 
pagated the  faith,  and  gave 
liberty  and  confidence  for  the 
preaching  the  Gospel  in  the 
City,  the  Mistress  of  king- 
doms. 

He  suffered  much,  and  it 
filled  his  life  with  merit ;  he 
made  many  rules,  and  they 
proved  his  wisdom. 

Sylvester  was  a  holy  man, 
and  led  a  life  of  heaven  whilst 
on  this  earth  :  being  a  Pontiff 
of  exceeding  virtue,  he  go- 
verned the  Church  with 
heavenly  prudence. 

Being  chosen  Pontiff  of 
God's  Church,  he  sought  a 
hiding  place  on  Mount  Soracte, 
that  he  might  escape  the 
cruelty  of  the  tyrant  Maxen- 
tius :  there,  he  besought  God 
to  bless  the  Church,  at  length, 
with  peace. 

Whilst  hid  on  the  mount, 
the  Apostles  Peter  and  Paul 
admonish  the  Emperor  to  call 
the  Pontiff :  Sylvester  rege- 
nerates 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  to  publicly  consecrate  a 
Church,  and  it  was  the  Basi- 
lica built  by  the  Emperor :  he 
called  it  Our  Saviour's. 

Sylvester,  solicitous  for  the 


Sedatis  persecutionum 
fluctibus,  beato  Silvestro 
Pontifice,  in  omnem  romani 
imperii  ditionem  propaga- 
tur  Christi  Domini  religio. 


Omnia  pie  Silvester  ad- 
ministravit,  fidem  propa- 
gavit,  evangeliceeque  prse- 
dicationi  in  urbe  cui  regna 
subjiciuntur,  libertatem  et 
fiduciam  dedit. 

Multa  sustinuit  ad  meri- 
tum  vitae,  multa  constituit 
ad  documentum  scientise. 

Erat  Silvester  vir  sanctus, 
ac  ccelestem  in  terris  vitam 
prae  se  ferebat ;  ut  insigni 
sanctitate  fuit,  sic  ccelesti 
prudentia  administravit  Ec- 
clesiam  Dei. 

Electus  Dei  Pontifex, 
tyranni  Maxentii  declinans 
immanitatem,  in  Soracte 
monte  latitans,  Dominum 
exorabat,  ut  pacem  suam 
tandem  daret  Ecclesiae. 


Dum  latitat,  Apostolorum 
Petri  et  Pauli  admonitu,  ab 
imperatore  Constantino  vo- 
catur,  quern  lepra  laboran- 
temsalutaribaptismi  lavacro 
recreat  ac  sanat. 

Constantinum  Caasarem 
in  Christi  fide  plenius  ins- 
truens,  Augusti  basilicam  in 
Salvatoris  nomine  Eccle- 
siam  primus  publice  conse- 
cravit. 

De  gloria  Dei  et  hominum 


396 


CHRISTMAS. 


salute  sollicitus  Silvester, 
salutaris  doctrinae  prseceptis 
populum  instruens,  eum  a 
versuti  serpentis  dogmate, 
mirabiliter  liberavit. 


In  mystico  Sacerdotum 
numero  universalem  Nicse- 
nam  Synodum  convocans, 
haereticorum  machinas  Spi- 
ritus  Sancti  virtute  prostra- 
vit. 

Hie  est  sanctus  Pontifex 
cujus  temporibus  Christus 
pacem  dedit  Ecclesise,  et 
romanum  imperium  subli- 
rnem  antiquae  gloriae  api- 
cem  sacerdotis  pedibus  in- 
dinavir 

O  beate  Pontifex,  et  uni- 
verse Ecclesiae  Pastor  miri- 
flce,  quern  Dominus  in  con- 
spectu  omnium  gentium 
magnificavit  et  romano  Cse- 
sari  celsiorem  prseposuit,  in 
ccelesti  gloria  exsultans,  ora 
pro  nobis  Dominum. 

O  lux  et  splendor  corns- 
cans,  beate,  Silvester  sanc- 
tissime,  cujus  temporibus 
persecutionis  nubes  a  fideli 
populo  disjectae  sunt,  et  pa- 
cis  tranquillitas  apparuit, 
tuis  nos  precibus  adjuva,  ut 
quietis  munere  gaudeamus 
in  aeternum. 


glory  of  God  and  the  salva- 
tion of  men,  instructed  the 
people  in  the  knowledge  of 
saving  doctrine,  and  delivered 
them,  in  a  wonderful  manner, 
from  the  errors  of  a  wily  ser- 
pent. 

Convoking  the  General 
Council  of  Nicaea,  where  there 
was  assembled  a  mystic  num- 
ber 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. 

0  blessed  Pontiff,  and  ad- 
mirable Pastor  of  the  univer- 
sal 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  hea- 
venly glory,  pray  for  us  to  our 
Lord. 

0  shining  Light  and  Bright- 
ness, 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  Mensea,  she  gives  to  this  great  Pope  the 
whole  honour  of  the  Nicene  Council,  and  honours 
him  as  the  conqueror  of  the  Arian  heresy. 


DEC.   31.      ST.    SYLVESTEE. 


397 


{In  magno  Vespertino,  et  passim.) 


Father  and  Hierarch,  Syl- 
vester !  holily  enlightened  by 
the  light  of  holiness !  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 
earnest  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  incom- 
parable precepts !  we  venerate 
thy  glorious  and  most  holy 
memory. 

O  Sylvester,  divinely  speak- 
ing Father  !  by  the  torrent  of 
thy  prayers  thou  didst  sink 
the  many-headed  dragon  in 
the  mire.  Holy  and  admirable 
Pontiff!  thou  didst  lead 
thousands  of  Pagans  unto 
God,  and  didst  humble  the 
haughty  Jews,  by  the  astound- 
ing miracles  thou  didst  so 
wisely  work  before  their  eyes. 
Therefore,  do  we  honour  and 
bless  thee. 

Perfect  in  thy  obedience  to 
the  Law  of  God,  and  admir- 
ably versed  in  the  knowledge 
of  the  inspired  Scriptures, 
thou  didst  teach  the  truth  to 
the  heathen  philosophers ; 
thou  didst  lead  them  to  confess 
Christ  together  with  the  Father 
and  Spirit,  and  say:  Let  us 
sing  to  the  Lord,  for  he  is  glo- 
riously magnified. 


Pater,  hierarcha,  Sil- 
vester, sanctitatis  lumine 
sancte  illuminatus,  fideles 
illuminasti  luciferis  docu- 
mentis  ad  adorandam  uni- 
tatem  naturae  tripersona- 
lem,  et  depulsisti  haereseon 
tenebras ;  ideoque  splendide 
tuam  hodie  fulgentem  me- 
moriam  gaudentes  hymnifi- 
camus. 

Pater  Deifer,  Sylvester, 
visibilis  columna  ignis  sacre 
praegradiens  sancto  agmini, 
nubes  umbrifera,  educens 
semper  fideles  ex  JEgypti 
errore  tuis  inerrabilibus 
prseceptis  ;  gloriosam  ideo 
atque  sacratissimam  tuam 
veneramur  memoriam. 

Pater  divineloquens,  Sil- 
vester, numinibus  tuarum 
precum  multiformem  luto 
inclusisti  draconem  ;  sacer 
et  mirabilis,  Ethnicorum  ad 
Deum  adduxisti  multitudi- 
nes,  Hebrseorum  humiliasti 
audaciam,  miracula  maxi- 
ma operans  ante  illorum 
oculos  sapienter ;  ideo  te 
honoramus  et  beatificamus. 


Legi  divinitus  obediens 
divinse,  divineque  inspiratae 
Scripturse  cognitione  deor- 
natus,  Ethnicorum  sapientes 
veritatem  docuisti,  et  Chris- 
tum confiteri  cum  Patre  et 
Spiritu,  clamantes :  Cante- 
mus  Domino ;  gloriose  enim 
magnificatus  est. 


398 


CHRISTMAS. 


Hierarcha  a  Deo  inspira- 
tus,  ungens  Sacerdotes  in 
divino  Spiritu  demonstra- 
tus  es,  Silvester  Pater,  et 
populos  illuminans,  o  sa- 
cerrime.  Hsereseon  errorem 
effugasti,  gregem  pavisti, 
pietatis  salire  faciens  undas 
in  divinse  cognitionis  gra- 
mina. 


Tuorum  sermonum  nodis 
omnino  solvisti  vanum  li- 
gamen,  et  ad  divinam  fidem 
errore  ligatos  alligasti,  ada- 
periens,  Pater,  illorum  men- 
tem  Sripturarum  explica- 
tione,  Hierarcha  beatissime. 

Immobilem  et  seternaliter 
conclusum  fecisti,  precibus 
tuis,  malignum,  invidiosa 
peste  infestantem  eos  qui 
ad  te  accedebant,  o  beate, 
qui  draconibus,  velut  portas 
et  pessulos,  crucis  sigilluni 
imposuisti. 


Hierarcha  inspired  of  God, 
Sylvester  our  Father !  thou 
art  shown  to  us  as  anointing 
Priests  in  the  Holy  Ghost,  and 
enlightening  the  people,  O 
most  sacred  Pontiff !  Thou 
didst  put  the  errors  of  heresy 
to  flight,  and  didst  feed  the 
flock,  making  the  waters  of 
holiness  to  flow  upon  the 
pastures  of  souls  that  know 
God. 

By  thy  words,  which  left  no 
escape,  thou  didst  unravel  the 
knots  of  sophistry  ;  thou  didst 
bind  to  the  faith  them  that 
were  bound  by  error,  opening 
their  minds  by  thy  interpre- 
tation of  the  Scriptures,  most 
blessed  Hierarch,  our  Father. 

By  thy  prayers,  0  blessed 
one  !  thou  didst  for  ever  para- 
lyse and  imprison  the  wicked 
serpent,  who  sought  to  infect 
with  his  detestable  pestilence 
them  that  approached  thee: 
thou  didst  fasten  down  the  dra- 
gons with  the  seal  of  the  Cross, 
as  with  prison-gates  and  bolts. 


Supreme  Pastor  of  the  Church  of  Christ !  thou 
lendest  to  the  beauty  of  the  holy  Octave  of  Christ- 
mas the  lustre  of  thy  glorious  merits.  There  thou 
worthily  representest  the  countless  choir  of  Con- 
fessors, 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  embrace  the  faith  of 
Christ ;  thou  shuttest  it  against  the  Arians,  in  that 
august  Council  of  Nicsea,  where  thou  presidest  by 


DEC.   31.      ST.   SYLVESTEK.  399 

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  Basi- 
licas, in  which  are  enshrined  the  Relics  of  the  Apos- 
tles 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  Feast,  to  make  it  know  and  love  the  mys- 
tery of  the  Birth  of  Jesus.  By  the  sublime  Symbol 
which  embodies  the  Faith  of  Nicsea,  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,  Consubstanticd  to  the  Father.  Thou 
biddest  us  to  come  and  adore  this  Little  Child,  as 
He  by  whom  all  things  were  made.     Holy  Confessor 


400  CHRISTMAS. 

of  Christ !  vouchsafe  to  present  us  to  him,  as  the 
Martyrs  have  done,  whose  Feasts  have  filled  up  the 
days  since  his  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  at  length,  that  we  may 
obtain  the  Grown  of  justice,  which  is  to  be  the  re- 
ward 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,  the  craft  of  heretics, 
the  perfidy  of  schismatics,  the  apathy  of  worldlings, 
and  the  cowardice  of  her  own  children.  May  she  be 
honoured,  loved,  and  obeyed.  May  the  sublime 
dignity  of  the  Priesthood  be  recognised.  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 
on  earth,  against  every  danger.  May  its  light  put  out 
the  vapours  of  man's  proud  dreams,  those  false  and 
daring  doctrines  which  mislead  countless  souls.  May 
every  mortal  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 


DEC.   31.      ST.   SYLVESTER.  401 

Rome,  but  which  so  soon  became  the  capital  of 
heresies,  and  the  scene  of  everything  that  could 
degrade  a  Christian  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  when  men 
have  faith,  or  be  regained  by  a  return  to  the  faith. 

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.1 


Let  us,  on  this  the  Seventh  Day  within  the  Christ- 
mas Octave,  consider  the  new-born  Babe  wrapt  in 
the  swaddling-clothes  of  infancy.  They  are  the  in- 
dications 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.  It  was  in  this  infantine  helplessness, 
and  in  the  bondage  of  human  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 
that  feeblest  of  all,  infancy.     So  deep  was  the  wound 

1 1.  St.  Pet.  v.  9. 

2d 


402  CHRISTMAS. 

of  our  pride,  that  it  needed  a  remedy  of  such  exceed- 
ing 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  does  Grace  and  Wisdom,  which  is 
"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,)  I  am  swathing  Jesus  in  bands  of 
"exceeding  great  poverty.  Happy  the  soul,  that 
"  loves  and  adores  not  its  Jesus  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  happi- 
"  ness,  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."1 

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. 

Nate-  canunt  omnia  Every  choir  devoutly  sings 

Domino  pie  agamina,  to  the  new-born  King, 

Syllabatim  neumata  Melodising  each  word  with 

Perstringendo  organica.  organ-notes. 

1  Sermon  the  Fifth  On  our  Lord's  Nativity. 


DEC.    31.      ST.   SYLVESTER. 


403 


Dear  Holiday  !  whereon  the 
earth  is  filled  with  joy,  ne'er 
felt  before. 

'Twas  on  this  grand  Night, 
that  Angels'  voices  intoned  the 
sweet  Gloria. 

A  dazzling  light  shone  at 
mid-night  on  the  Shepherds. 

They  are  tending  their  flocks, 
when  suddenly  they  hear  the 
divine  announcement  : 

"  Glory  infinite  in  the  hea- 
vens— and  on  earth,  Peace  : 

"  He  that  is  eternal,  is  born 
of  the  glorious  Virgin  I" 

Then,  let  the  heavenly  host 
give  forth  excessive  jubilee, 

And  earth,  from  pole  to 
pole,  thrill  with  the  loud  me- 
lodious song. 

The  enemy's  intolerable  cru- 
elty is  crushed. 

Let  the  whole  race  of  men 
sing  praise  to  the  God  now 
born  upon  the  earth. 

Peace  is  restored  to  the 
world ;  let  all  things  rejoice 
at  the  birth  of  the  Child. 

Let  our  Gloria  be  sung  to- 
day with  voices  full  and  shrill, 
that  it  may  echo  through  crea- 
tion. 

May  He  that  alone  rules  all 
things — 

May  He  that  alone  governs 
all  things — 

In  his  mercy  save  all  king- 
doms, and  give  them  Peace. 

Amen. 


Haec  dies  sacrata, 
In  qua  nova  sunt  gaudia 
Mundo  plene  dedita. 

Hac  nocte  prsecelsa 
Intonuit  et  Gloria, 
In  voce  angelica. 

Fulserunt  immania, 
Nocte  media, 
Pastoribus  lumina. 

Dum  fovent  sua  pecora, 
Subito  divina 
Percipiunt  monita : 

Est  immensa 
In  ccelo  gloria, 
Pax  et  in  terra  : 

Natus  alma  Virgine 
Qui  exstat  ante  ssecula. 

Sic  ergo  cceli  caterva 
Altissime  jubila, 

Ut  tanto  canore  tremat 
alta 
Poli  machina. 

Confracta    sunt    imperia 
Hostis  crudelissima. 

Humana  concrepant  cunc- 
ta 
Deum  natum  in  terra. 

Pax  in  terra  reddita, 
Nunc  laetentur  omnia 
Nati  per  exordia. 

Sonet  et  per  omnia 
Hac  in  die  gloria, 
Voce  clara  reddita. 

Solus  qui  tuetur  omnia, 

Solus  qui  gubernat  om- 
nia, 
Ipse   sua    pietate    salvet 
omnia  pacata  regna. 
Amen. 


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. 


404 


CHRISTMAS. 


SEQUENCE. 


Coelum  gaude,  terra  plau- 
de, 
Nemo  mutus  sit  in  laude  : 

Ad  antiquarn  originem 
Redit  homo  per  Virginem. 

Virgo  Deum  est  enixa, 
Unde  vetus  perit  rixa  : 

Perit  vetus  discordia, 
Succedit  pax  et  gloria. 

Tunc  de  cceno  surgit  reus, 
Cum  in  fceno  jacet  Deus. 

Tunc  vile  celat  stabulum 
Ccelestis  escse  pabulum. 

Nutrit  virgo  creatorem, 
Ex  se    factum    Redempto- 
rem. 

Latet  in  pueritia 
Divina  Sapientia. 

Lac  stilant  matris  ubera, 
Lac  fundunt  nati  viscera, 


Dum  gratiae  dulcedinem 
Per  assunxptuin  dat  homi- 
nem. 

Ergo  dulci  melodia 
Personemus,  o  Maria, 

Religiosis  vocibus, 
Et  clamosis  affectibus. 

Salve,  Virgo  benedicta, 
Quae  f  ugasti  maledicta. 

Salve,  Mater  Altissimi, 
Agni  Sponsa  mitissimi. 

Tu  serpentem  evicisti, 
Cujus  caput  contrivisti, 

Cum  Deus  ex  te  genitus 
Ejus  fuit  interitus. 


Rejoice  ye  Heavens !  and  be 
glad,  O  earth  !  let  no  man 
keep  his  lips  from  praise. 

It  was  by  the  Virgin  that 
man  was  restored  to  the  prime- 
val 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  Crea- 
tor— 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  vps  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  ser- 
pent, and  crush  his  head, 

For  the  God,  that  was  born 
of  thee,  was  the  serpent's 
death. 


DEC.    31.      ST.   SYLVESTEE. 


405 


Thou  art  the  Queen  of  hea- 
ven, 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. 

Thou  art  the  Lily,  by  thy 
virginity;  thou  art  the  Rose, 
by  thy  martyrdom : 

The  Garden  enclosed,  the 
Fountain  of  gardens  that 
cleansest the  defilements  of  sin, 

Purifiest  them  that  are  un- 
clean, and  bringest  the  dead  to 
life. 

O  Queen  of  the  Angels,  and, 
after  God,  the  Hope  of  man- 
kind! 

Thou  art  the  couch  of  the 
King,  and  the  Throne  of  God. 

Thou  art  the  Star  of  the 
East,  that  puttest  to  flight  the 
shadows  of  the  Western  night. 

Thou  art  the  Aurora,  the 
Sun's  harbinger,  and  the  Day 
that  knowest  not  night. 

Thou  art  Mother  of  the  God 
who  is  our  Father ;  thou  giveth 
life  to  Him  who  giveth  life  to  us. 

Oh !  may  the  Holy  Mother's 
confidence  in  her  Son  reconcile 
Him  to  us  his  children  ! 

Mother  of  Jesus  !  pray  for 
us  to  thy  Divine  Son,  that  he 
forgive  us  our  sins, 

And,  after  this  our  pardon, 
give  us  grace  and  glory. 

Amen. 


Tu  coelorum  Imperatrix, 
Tu  terrarum  reparatrix, 

Ad  quam  suspirant  homi- 
nes, 
Quam  nequam  tremunt  dce- 
mones. 
Tu  fenestra,  porta,  vellus, 
Aula,    domus,    templum, 
tellus  : 

Virginitatis  lilium, 
Et  rosa  per  martyrium  : 

Hortus  clausus,  fons  hor- 
torum, 
Sordes  lavans  peccatorum. 

Inquinatos  purificans ; 
Et  mortuos  vivificans. 

Dominatrix  Angelorum, 
Spes,  post  Deum,   sseculo- 
rum. 

Regis  reclinatorium 
Et  deitatis  solium. 

Stella  fulgens  Orientis, 
Umbras  fugans  Occidentis, 

Aurora  solis  prsevia, 
Et  dies  noctis  nescia. 

Parens  nostri  tu  Parentis, 
Et  genitrix  nos  gignentis. 

Piae  matris  fiducia, 
Natos  Patri  concilia. 

Ora  Mater  Deum  natum, 
Nostrum  solvat  ut  reatum, 

Et  post  concessam  veni- 
am, 
Det  gratiam  et  gloriam. 
Amen. 


The  Civil  Year  ends  to-day.     At  Mid-night,  a  New 
Year  will  begin,  as  the  world  counts  time,  and  the 


406  CHEISTMAS. 

present  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  is  at  hand.1  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  Janu- 
ary; 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  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  Gesu  (or,  as  we  should 
call  it,  Jesus'  Church,)  and  there  assists  at  a  solemn 
Te  Deum ;  the  Benediction  of  the  Blessed  Sacra- 
ment 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  ex- 
pression 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  It  is  meet  and  just,  that  we 

nos  tibi  gratias  agere,  Do-  should  give  thanks  to  thee,  O 

mine  sancte,  Pater  seterne,  Holy   Lord,   Eternal  Father, 

omnipotens  Deus,per  Jesum  Almighty  God,  through  Jesus 


1  I.  St.  Pet.  iv.  7. 


DEC.   31.   ST.   SYLVESTER. 


407 


Christ  thy  Son,  our  Lord ; 
who  being,  before  all  time, 
born  of  thee,  God  the  Father, 
did,  together  with  thee  and 
the  Holy  Ghost,  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  revolu- 
tions of  years,  through  which 
this  world  runs  its  course,  and 
divided  the  Year  by  regular 
and  suitable  changes  of  Sea- 
sons, wherewith  the  Sun 
should,  in  orderly  variety, 
mark  the  round  of  the  Year, 
as  he  ran  the  measured  cicruit 
of  his  course.  For  we,  this 
day,  dedicate,  by  the  gifts  we 
offer,  the  close  of  the  past 
year,  and  the  commencement 
of  that  which  follows,  unto 
Him,  the  living  God,  by  whose 
mercy  we  have  lived  through 
the  years  gone  bye,  and  are 
about  to  commence  the  be- 
ginning 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  pray- 
ers unto  thee,  0  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 


Christum  Filium  tuum, 
Dominum  nostrum.  Qui 
ante  tempus  natus  ex  te, 
Deo  Patre,  tecum  pariter 
et  cum  Spiritu  Sancto 
condidit^  tempora,  dignatus 
est  nasci  et  ipse  sub  tem- 
pore, ex  utero  virginis 
Mariae.  Qui  tamen  cum 
sit  sempiternus,  statutos 
annorum  discrevit  recursus, 
per  quos  evolutus  dedu- 
ceretur  hie  mundus.  Dis- 
tinguens  annum  certis 
atque  congruentibus  vicis- 
situdinibus  temporum,  qui- 
bus  sol  certa  cursus  sui  di- 
mensione  anni  orbem  in- 
confusa  varietate  distingue- 
ret.  Illi  etenim  Deo  vivo 
hodie  et  hnem  expleti  anni, 
et  subsequentis  initium 
oblatis  muneribus  dedica- 
mus ;  per  quern  et  decur- 
sum  annorum  transegi- 
mus,  et  principium  alte- 
rius  inchoamus.  Hunc 
igitur  quia  in  annum  nos 
ad  supplicandum  sancta 
et  communis  fecit  devo- 
tio  convenire,  tibi  Deus 
Pater,  simplices  fundimus 
preces.  _  Ut  qui  in  nativi- 
tate  ejusdem  Filii  tui 
prsesentis  temporis  curri- 
cula consecrasti,  praebeas 
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  fa- 
mem,  et  omnes  in  commune 


408 


CHRISTMAS. 


nocivorum  easuum  eventus 
a  nostris  finibus  procul 
exclude.  Per  Dominum 
nostrum  Jesum  Christum. 
Amen* 


sin.  Take  away  scandal,  de- 
feat 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, 
Amem 


JAN.    1.      THE  CIRCUMCISION.  409 


January  1. 
THE  CIRCUMCISION  OF  OUR  LORD, 

AND   OCTAVE   OF   CHRISTMAS  DAT. 


Our  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 ;  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  Saviour.  So  that, 
Mysteries  abound  on  this  day :  let  us  not  pass  one 
of  them  over,  but  honour  them  with  all  possible  de- 
votion and  love. 

But  this  Day  is  not  exclusively  devoted  to  the 
Circumcision  of  Jesus.  The  mystery  of  this  Circum- 
cision 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 
Christmas-Tide.  Then,  as  regards  our  Lord's  receiv- 
ing 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  de- 
votion 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  di- 
vine Maternity,  which  was  conferred  on  a  mere  crea- 
ture, and  which  made  her  the  co-operatrix  with 
Jesus  in  the  great  work  of  man's  salvation. 


410  CHRISTMAS. 

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  same  manner  as,  in  the  rest  of  this 
Day's  Office,  she  unites  together  the  acts  of  her  ado- 
ration of  the  Son,  and  the  expressions  of  her  admira- 
tion 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,  the  26th 
December,  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 
the  27th  December. 

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  ex- 
ceeding 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  pro- 
claimed 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,  the  Infant-God;  she 
adores  him,  Him  who  is  her  Son.  She  has  the  right 
to  call  him,  her  Child  ;  and  He,  God  as  he  is,  calls  her 
in  strictest  truth,  his  Mother. 

Let  us  not  be  surprised,  therefore,  at  the  enthu- 
siasm 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 


JAN.    1.      THE  CIRCUMCISION.  411 

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  him- 
self, inasmuch  as  he  is  Man,  subject  to  her :  hence, 
the  true  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  depen- 
dent upon  that  favoured  creature.  Let  us,  therefore, 
bow  down  in  deepest  adoration  before  the  Majesty 
of  our  God ;  let  us,  therefore,  acknowledge  that  we 
cannot  respect,  as  it  deserves,  the  extraordinary  dig- 
nity of  Her,  whom  he  chose  for  his  Mother. 

The  same  sublime  Mystery  overpowers  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  other  thought  of  the  nine  months  she 
held  this  Babe  in  her  womb,  and  of  the  filial  smile 
he  gave  her  when  her  eyes  first  met  his.  These  two 
deep-rooted  feelings — of  a  creature  that  adores,  and 
of  a  Mother  that  loves — are  in  Mary's  heart.  The 
being  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 


412  CHRISTMAS. 

plan  such  a  work,  and  only  his  infinite  power  accom- 
plish it  ? 

A  Mother  of  God ! — It  is  the  mystery,  whose  ful- 
filment 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  crea- 
tion 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  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 
wherewith  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. 
As  this  his  Son,  the  Eternal  Word,  spoke  his  Fiat 
over  chaos,  and  the  answer  to  his  word  was  creation ; 
so  did  Mary  use  the  same  word  Fiat  : — let  it  be  done 
unto  me}  she  said.  God  heard  her  word,  and,  im- 
mediately, the  Son  of  God  descended  into  her  virginal 
womb.  After  God,  then,  it  is  to  Mary,  "his  ever 
Blessed  Mother,  that  we  are  indebted  for  our  Emma- 
nuel. 

The  divine  plan  for  the  world's  salvation  included 
there  being  a  Mother  of  God  :  and  as  heresy  sought  to 
deny  the  mystery  of  the  Incarnation,  it  equally  sought 

1  St.  Luke,  i.  38. 


JAN.    1.      THE  CIRCUMCISION.  413 

to  deny  the  glorious  prerogative  of  Mary.  Nestorius 
asserted,  that  Jesus  was  only  man ;  Mary,  conse- 
quently was  not  Mother  of  God,  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"1  This 
victory  over  ISTestorianism  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  perpetuate  the  me- 
mory of  the  victory.  It  was  then  that  began,  in  both 
the  Greek  and  Latin  Churches,  the  pious  custom  of 
uniting,  during  Christmas,  the  veneration  due  to  the 
Mother  with  the  supreme  worship  given  to  the  Son. 
The  day  assigned  for  the  united  commemoration 
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  3rd  ordered  an  immense 
Mosaic  to  be  worked  into  the  Chancel- Arch  of  the 
Church  of  St.  Mary  Major,  in  Rome,  as  a  monument 
to  the  holy  Mother  of  God.  The  Mosaic  still  exists, 
bearing  testimony  as  to  what  was  the  faith  held  in  the 
Fifth  Century.  It  represents  the  various  Scriptural 
types  of  our  Lady,  and  the  inscription  of  the  holy 
Pontiff  is  still  legible  in  its  bold  letters  :  Xystus 
Episcopus  plebi  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 

1  "  Deipara"  "  ©eoTo/cos, "  are  the  respective  Latin  and  Greek 
terms. 


414  CHRISTMAS. 

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. 


FIKST  VESPERS. 

The  First  Vespers  of  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 
character,  the  Priesthood,  and  the  sovereign  Judge- 
ship of  our  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  admirabile  com-  Ant.  O    admirable    Inter- 

mercium !     Creator  generis  change !        The     Creator     of 

humani    animatum    corpus  mankind,  assuming  a  living 

sumens,    de   Virgine   nasci  Body,  deigned  to  be  born  of  a 

dignatus  est ;  et  procedens  Virgin ;    and,  becoming  Man 

homo  sine  semine,  largitus  without  man's  aid,  bestowed 

est  nobis  suam  deitatem.  on  us  his  Divinity. 

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. 


JAN.   1.      THE  CIRCUMCISION. 


415 


Until,  on  the  day  of  thy  last 
coming,  I  make  thy  enemies 
thy  footstool. 

0  Christ !  the  Lord,  thy 
Father,  will  send  forth  the 
sceptre  of  thy  power  out  of 
Sion  :  from  thence  rule  thou  in 
the  midst  of  thy  enemies. 

With  thee  is  the  principa- 
lity in  the  day  of  thy 
strength,  in  the  brightness  of 
the  Saints,  for  the  Father  hath 
said  to  thee :  From  the  womb,be- 
f  ore  the  day-star,  I  begot  thee. 

The  Lord  hath  sworn,  and 
he  will  not  repent :  he  hath 
said,  speaking  of  thee,  the  God- 
Man:  Thou  art  a  Priest  for 
ever,  according  to  the  order  of 
Melchisedech. 

Therefore,  0  Father !  the 
Lord,  thy  Son,  is  at  thy  right 
hand  :  he  hath  broken  kings, 
in  the  day  of  his  wrath. 

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:  there- 
fore, shall  he  lift  up  the  head. 

Ant.  O  admirable  Inter- 
change !  The  Creator  of  man- 
kind, 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  earnest  down  to  save  man- 
kind. O  Lord  our  God !  we 
praise  thee. 


Donee  ponam  inimicos 
tuos  :  *  scabellum  pedum 
tuorum. 

Virgam  virtutis  tuae  emit- 
tet  Dominus  ex  Sion  :  *  do- 
niinare  in  medio  inimicorum 
tuorum. 

Tecum  principium  in  die 
virtutis  fuse,  in  splendoribus 
sanctorum  :  *  ex  utero  ante 
luciferum  genui  te. 


Juravit  Dominus,  et  non 
poenitebit  eum  :  *  tu  es 
sacerdos  in  seternum  secun- 
dum ordinem  Melchisedech. 


Dominus  a  dextris  tuis  :* 
confregit    in    die   irae  suae 

reges. 

Judicabit  in  nationibus, 
implebit  ruinas,  *  conquas- 
sabit  capita  in  terra  multo- 
rum. 

De  terrente  in  via  bibet : 
*  propterea  exaltabit  caput. 


Ant.  O  admirabile  com- 
mercium  !  Creator  generis 
humani  animatum  corpus 
sum  ens,  de  Virgine  nasci 
dignatus  est :  et  proceclens 
homo  sine  semine,  largitus 
est  nobis  suam  deitatem. 

Ant.  Quando  natus  es 
ineffabiliter  ex  Virgine, 
tunc  impletae  sunt  Scriptu- 
rae  ;  sicut  pluvia  in  vellus 
descendisti,  ut  salvum  face- 
res  genus  humanum :  te 
laudamus,  Deus  noster. 


416 


CHRISTMAS. 


PSALM  112. 


Laudate  pueri  Domimim : 
*  laudate  nonien  Domini. 

Sit  nomeri  Domini  bene- 
dictum  :  *  ex  hoc  nunc  et 
usque  in  sseculum. 

A  solis  ortu  usque  ad  oc- 
casum :  *  laudabile  nomen 
Domini. 

Excelsus  super  omnesgen- 
tes  Dominus :  *  et  super 
coelos  gloria  ejus. 

Quis  sicut  Dominus  Deus 
noster  qui  in  altis  habitat :  * 
et  humilia  respicit  in  coelo 
et  in  terra  ] 


Suscitans  a  terra  inopem : 
**  et  de  stercore  erigens  pau- 
perem. 

Ut  collocet  eum  cum  prin- 
cipibus  :  *  cum  principibus 
populi  sui. 

Qui  habitare  facit  steri- 
lem  in  domo  :  *  matrem  fi- 
liorum  laetantem. 

Ant.  Quando  natus  es 
ineffabiliter  ex  Yirgine,  tunc 
impletaB  sunt  Scripturse ; 
sicut  pluvia  in  vellus  des- 
cendisti,  ut  salvum  faceres 
genus  humanum  :  te  lauda- 
mus,  Deus  noster. 

Ant.  Rubum,  quern  vide- 
rat  Moyses  incombustum, 
conservatam  agnovimus 
tuam  laudabilem  virginita- 
tem  :  Dei  Genitrix,  inter- 
cede pro  nobis. 


Praise  the  Lord,  ye  children: 
praise  ye  the  name  of  the 
Lord. 

Blessed  be  the  name  of  the 
Lord  :  from  henceforth,  now, 
and  for  ever. 

From  the  rising  of  the  sun, 
unto  the  going  down  of  the 
same,  the  name  of  the  Lord  is 
worthy  of  praise. 

The  Lord  is  high,  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,  not  content  ivith  this,  he 
deigns  to  come  down  among 
us. 

Raising  up,  from  his  divine 
Crib,  the  needy,  and  lifting 
up  the  poor  out  of  the  dung- 
hill. 

That  he  may  place  him  with 
princes  :  with  the  princes  of 
his  people. 

Who  maketh  a  barren 
woman  to  dwell  in  a  house, 
the  joyful  mother  of  child- 
ren. 

Ant.  When  thou  wast  born 
ineffably  of  the  Virgin,  the 
Scriptures  were  fulfilled.  As 
dew  upon  Gedeon's  Fleece, 
thou  earnest  down  to  save  man- 
kind. O  Lord  our  God  !  we 
praise  thee. 

Ant.  In  the  bush  seen  by 
Moses  as  burning  yet  uncon- 
sumed,  we  recognise  the  pre- 
servation of  thy  glorious 
Virginity.  0  Mother  of  God 
intercede  for  us. 


JAN.    1.      THE  CIRCUMCISION. 


417 


PSALM  121. 


I  rejoiced  at  the  things  that 
were  said  to  me  :  We  shall  go 
into  the  house  of  the  Lord. 

Our  feet  were  standing  in 
thy  courts,  0  Jerusalem  !  Our 
heart  loves  and  confides  in  thee, 
0  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 
judgment ;  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,  0  Church  of  our 
God  ! 

The  voice  of  \  Mary :  Let 
peace  be  in  thy  strength,  0 
thou  new  Sion  !  and  abundance 
in  thy  towers. 

I,  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  uncon- 
sumed,  we  recognise  the  pre- 
servation of  thy  glorious  vir- 
ginity. O  Mother  of  God  ! 
intercede  for  us. 

Ant.  The  Boot  of  Jesse 
hath  budded  ;  the  Star  hath 
risen  out  of  Jacob ;  a  Virgin 


Laetatus  sum  in  his  quae 
dicta  sunt  mihi  :  *  In  do- 
mum  Domini  ibimus. 

Stantes  erant  pedes  nos- 
tri  :  *  in  atriis  tuis  Jerusa- 
lem. 

Jerusalem  quae  aedificatur 
ut  civitas  :  *  cujus  partici- 
pate ejus  in  idipsum. 

Illuc  enim  ascenderunt 
tribus,  tribus  Domini :  *  tes- 
timonium Israel  ad  confiten- 
dum  Nomini  Domini. 

Quia  illic  sederunt  sedes 
in  judicio  :  *  sedes  super 
domum  David. 

Bogate  quae  ad  pacemsunt 
Jerusalem  :  *  et  abundantia 
diligentibus  te. 


Fiat  pax  in  virtute  tua  : 
*  et  abundantia  in  turribus 
tuis. 

Propter  fratres  meos  et 
proximos  meos  :  *  loquebar 
pacem  de  te. 

Propter  domum  Domini 
Dei  nostri  :  *  quassivi  bona 
tibi. 

Ant.  Bubum,  quern  vide- 
rat  Moyses  incombustum, 
conservatam  agnovimus  tu- 
am  laudabilem  virginitatem: 
Dei  Genitrix,  intercede  pro 
nobis. 

Ant.  Germinavit  radix 
Jesse  :  orta  est  stella  ex  Ja- 
cob ;  Virgo  peperit  Salvato- 
2  E 


418 


CHKISTMAS. 


rem  :    te 
noster. 


laudamus,    Deus 


hath  brought  forth  the  Sa- 
viour. 0  Lord  our  God  !  we 
praise  thee. 


Psalm  126. 


NisiDominus  sedificaverit 
doruum  :  *  iu  vanum  labora- 
verunt  qui  asdificant  earn. 

Nisi  Dominus  custodierit 
civitatem  :  *  frustra  vigilat 
qui  custodit  earn. 

Vanum  est  vobis  ante  lu- 
cem  surgere  :  *  surgite  post- 
quam  sederitis,  qui  mandu- 
catis  panem  doloris. 

Cum  dederit  dilectis  suis 
somnum  :  *  ecce  haereditas 
Domini,  filii :  merces,  f ructus 
ventris. 

Sicut  sagittse  in  manu  po- 
tentis  :  *  ita  filii  excusso- 
rum. 

Beatus  vir,  qui  implevit 
desiderium  suuni  ex  ipsis  : 
*  non  confundetur  cum  lo- 
quetur  inimicis  suis  in  porta. 

Ant.  Germinavit  radix 
Jesse  ;  orta  est  stella  ex  Ja- 
cob ;  Virgo  peperit  Salvato- 
rem  :  te  laudamus,  Deus 
noster. 

Ant.  Ecce  Maria  genuit 
nobis  Salvatorem,  quern 
Joannes  videns  exclamavit, 
dicens :  Ecce  Agnus  Dei, 
ecce  qui  tollitpeccata  mundi, 
alleluia. 


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. 

It  is  vain  for  you  to  rise  be- 
fore light ;  rise  ye  after  you 
have  sitten,  you  that  eat  of  the 
bread  of  sorrow. 

When  he  shall  give  sleep  to 
his  beloved  :  behold  the  in- 
heritance of  the  Lord  are  chil- 
dren ;  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  enemies 
in  the  gate. 

Ant.  The  Boot  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. 

Ant.  Lo  !  Mary  hath  brought 
forth  a  Saviour  unto  us,  whom 
John  seeing  exclaimed  :  Be- 
hold the  Lamb  of  God  !  Be- 
hold him  that  taketh  away  the 
sins  of  the  world,  alleluia. 


Psalm  147. 


Lauda,  Jerusalem,  Domi- 
num  :  *  lauda  Deum  tuum, 
Sion. 


Praise  the  Lord,  0  Mary, 
thou  true  Jerusalem  :  0  Mary, 
O  Sion  ever  holy,  praise  thy 
God. 


JAN.    1.      THE   CIECUMCISION. 


419 


Because  he  hath  strength- 
ened against  sin  the  bolts  of 
thy  gates  :  he  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. 

Who  sendeth  forth  by  thee 
his  Word  to  the  earth ;  his 
Word  runneth  swiftly. 

Who  giveth  snow  like  wool ; 
scattereth  mists  like  ashes. 

He  sendeth  his  crystal  like 
morsels  :  who  shall  stand  be- 
fore the  face  of  his  cold  1 

He  shall  send  forth  his  Word 
by  Mary,  and  shall  melt  them : 
his  spirit  shall  breathe,  and  the 
waters  shall  run. 

Who  declareth  his  Word  to 
Jacob  :  his  justices  and  judg- 
ments to  Israel. 

He  hath  not  done  in  like 
manner  to  every  nation  ;  and 
his  judgments  he  hath  not 
made  manifest  to  them. 

Ant.  Lo  !  Mary  hath  brought 
forth  a  Saviour  unto  us,  whom 
John  seeing  exclaimed  :  Be- 
hold the  Lamb  of  God  !  Be- 
hold him  that  taketh  away  the 
sins  of  the  world,  alleluia. 


Quoniam  confortavit  se- 
ras  portarum  tuarum  :  *  be- 
nedixit  filiis  tuis  in  te. 

Qui  posuit  fines  tuos  pa- 
cem,  *  et  adipe  frumenti 
satiat  te. 

Qui  emittit  eloquium  su- 
um  terrse  :  *  velociter  cur- 
rit  sermo  ejus. 

Qui  dat  nivem  sicut  la- 
nam  :  *  nebulam  sicut  cine- 
rem  spargit. 

Mittit  crystallum  suam 
sicut  buccellas  :  *  ante  fa- 
ciem  frigoris  ejus  quis  sus- 
tinebit  1 

Emittet  verbum  suum,  et 
liquefaciet  ea  :  *  flabit  spiri- 
tus  ejus,  et  fluent  aquae. 

Qui  annuntiat  verbum 
suum  Jacob  :  *  justitias,  et 
judicia  sua  Israel. 

]STon  fecit  taliter  omni 
nationi :  *  et  judicia  sua  non 
manifestavit  eis. 

Ant.  Ecce  Maria  genuit 
nobis  Salvatorem,  quern  Jo- 
annes videns  exclamavit, 
dicens :  Ecce  Agnus  Dei, 
ecce  qui  tollit  peccata  mun- 
di,  alleluia. 


CAPITULTJM. 

(Tit.  II) 


The  grace  of  God  our  Sa- 
viour hath  appeared  to  all  men, 
instructing  us,  that  denying 
ungodliness  and  worldly  de- 
sires, we  should  live  soberly, 
and  justly,  and  godly,  in  this 
world. 


Apparuit  gratia  Dei  Sal- 
vatoris  nostri  omnibus  ho- 
minibus,  erudiens  nos,  ut 
abnegantes  impietatem  et 
ssecularia  desideria,  sobrie, 
et  juste,  et  pie  vivamus  in 
hoc  saeculo. 


420 


CHRISTMAS. 


Then  is  sung  the  Hymn  of  Christmas  Day,  Jesu, 
Redemptor  omnium,  as  in  page  130. 

y.  Verbum  caro  factum  $".  The    Word    was    made 

est,  alleluia.  flesh,  alleluia. 

I£.  Et  habitavit  in  nobis,  I£.  And  dwelt  among    us, 

alleluia.  alleluia. 


antlphon  of  the  Magnificat. 


Ant.  P  ropter  nimiam 
charitatem  suam  qua  di- 
lexit  nos  Deus,  Filium  suum 
misit  in  similitudinem  car- 
nis  peccati.     Alleluia. 


Ant.  By  reason  of  the  ex- 
ceeding charity  wherewith 
God  loved  us,  he  sent  us  his 
Son  in  the  likeness  of  sinful 
flesh.    Alleluia. 


OPEMTTS, 

Deus,  qui  salutis  aeternae, 
beatae  Mariae  virginitate  fce- 
cunda,  humano  generi  pras- 
mia  praestitisti  :  tribue, 
quaesumus,  ut  ipsam  pro 
nobis  intercedere  sentiamus, 
per  quam  meruimus  aucto- 
rem  vitae  suscipere,  Domi- 
num  nostrum  Jesum  Chris- 
tum, 1  Filium  tuum.  Qui 
tecum. 


LET  US  PRAY. 

0  God,  who  by  the  fruitful 
Virginity  of  the  Blessed  Mary, 
hast  given  to  mankind  the  re- 
wards of  eternal  salvation  ; 
grant,  we  beseech  thee,  that 
we  may  experience  Her  inter- 
cession, by  whom  we  received 
the  Author  of  Life,  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  thy  Son.  Who 
liveth,  <kc. 


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  con- 
secrated in  the  3rd  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 


JAN.    1.      THE   CIRCUMCISION. 


421 


interpreted  this  as  a  symbol  of  the  Christ  that  was 
afterwards  born  ;  and  the  Basilica  is  sometimes  called, 
even  to  this  day,  Fons  Olei. 

The  Introit  is  that  of  the  Third  Mass  of  Christmas 
Day,  as  are  also  most  of  the  portions  that  are  chanted 
b}r  the  Choir.  It  celebrates  the  Birth  of  the  Child 
who  is  born  unto  us,  and  is  to-day  eight  days  old. 


INTROIT. 


A  Child  is  born  to  us,  and 
a  Son  is  given  to  us  :  and  the 
government  is  upon  his  shoul- 
der ;  and  his  name  shall  be 
called  the  Angel  of  the  great 
Counsel. 

Ps.  Sing  to  the  Lord  a  new 
canticle  :  for  he  hath  done 
wonderful  things.  ]v .  Glory, 
&c.    A  Child. 


Puer  natus  est  nobis,  et 
Filius  datus  est  nobis  :  cu- 
jus  impermm  super  huine- 
rum  ejus  ;  et  vocabitur  no- 
men  ejus  magni  Consilii 
Angelus. 

Ps.  Cantate  Domino  can- 
ticum  novum  :  quia  mira- 
bilia  fecit,  ^f.  Gloria  Patri. 
Puer. 


In  the  Collect,  the  Church  celebrates  the  Fruit- 
ful 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  ex- 
presses to  God  himself  the  hopes  we  have  in  the  in- 
tercession of  this  privileged  creature. 


COLLECT. 


O  God,  who  by  the  fruitful 
Virginity  of  Blessed  Mary, 
hast  given  to  mankind  the  re- 
wards of  eternal  salvation  ; 
grant,  we  beseech  thee,  that 
we  may  experience  Her  inter- 
cession, by  whom  we  received 
the  Author  of  Life,  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  thy  Son.  Who 
liveth,  <kc. 


Deus,  qui  salutis  aeternae, 
beatse  Marise  virginitate  f  ce- 
cunda,  humano  generi  prae- 
mia  praestitisti :  tribue, 
quaesumus,  ut  ipsam  pro 
nobis  intercedere  sentiamus, 
per  quam  meruimus  aucto- 
rem  vitae  suscipere  Domi- 
num  nostrum  Jesum  Chris- 
tum, Filium  tuum.  Qui 
tecum. 


422 


CHEISTMAS. 


EPISTLE. 


Lectio  Epistolse  beati  Pauli 
Apostoli  ad  Titum. 

Cap.  XI. 

Charissime,  apparuit  gra- 
tia Dei  Salvatoris  nostri 
omnibus  hominibus,  eru- 
diens  nos,  ut  abnegantes 
impietatem,  et  saecularia  de- 
sideria,  sobrie  et  juste,  et 
pie  vivamus  in  hoc  sseculo, 
exspectantes  beatam  spem, 
et  adventum  glorise  magni 
Dei,et  Salvatoris  nostri  Jesu 
Christi  :  qui  dedit  semetip- 
sum  pro  nobis,  ut  nos  re- 
dimeret  ab  omni  iniquitate 
et  mundaret  sibi  populum 
acceptibilem,  sectatorem  bo- 
norum  operum.  Haec  lo- 
quere  et  exhortare :  in  Chris- 
to  Jesu  Domino  nostro. 


Lesson  of  the  Epistle  of  Saint 
Paul  the  Apostle  to  Titus. 

Ch.  XL 

Dearly  Beloved  :  The  grace 
of  God,  our  Saviour,  hath  ap- 
peared 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  mak- 
ing a  good  use  of  the  present  life,  are  most  appro- 
priate to  this  first  day  of  January,  which  is  now  the 
beginning  of  the  New  Civil  Year.  Let  us,  therefore, 
renounce  all  worldly  desires ;  let  us  live  soberly, 
justly,  and  piously,  and  permit  nothing  to  distract  us 
from  the  expectation  of  that  blessedness,  which  is 
our  hope.  The  great  God  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ, 
who  shows  himself  to  us,  in  these  days  of  his  mercy, 
in  order  to  instruct  us — will  come  to  us,  in  a  second 
coming,  in  order  to  give  us  our  reward.  The  begin- 
ning 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 


JAN.    1.      THE   CIRCUMCISION. 


423 


praise  to  him,  as  also  to  the  Eternal  Father,  who 
had  promised  him  by  the  Prophets,  and  at  length 
sent  him. 

GRADUAL. 


All  the  ends  of  the  earth 
have  seen  the  Salvation  of  our 
God  :  sing  joyfully  to  the 
Lord,  all  the  earth. 

~fr.  The  Lord  hath  made 
known  his  Salvation  ;  he  hath 
revealed  his  justice  in  the 
sight  of  the  Gentiles. 

Alleluia,  alleluia. 

"ft.  God,  who  at  sundry 
times,  and  in  divers  manners, 
spoke  in  time  past  to  our  fa- 
thers, by  the  Prophets,  last  of 
all,  in  these  days,  hath  spoken 
to  us  by  his  Son.     Alleluia. 


Viderunt  omnes  fines  ter- 
rse  Salutare  Dei  nostri  :  ju- 
bilate Deo  omnis  terra. 

"ft".  ISTotum  fecit  Dominus 
Salutare  suum  :  ante  con- 
spectum  gentium  revelavit 
justitiam  suam. 

Alleluia,  alleluia. 

"ft.  Multifarie  olim  Deus, 
loquens  patribus  in  Prophe- 
tis,  novissime,  diebus  istis, 
locutus  est  nobis  in  Filio. 
Alleluia. 


GOSPEL. 


Sequel    of    the    holy  Gospel 
according  to  Luke. 

Ck  II 

At  that  time  :  After  eight 
days  were  accomplished,  that 
the  Child  should  be  circum- 
cised, his  name  was  called  Je- 
sus, which  was  called  by  the 
Angel,  before  he  was  conceived 
in  the  womb. 


Sequentia  sancti  Evangelii 
secundum  Lucam. 

Cap.  II. 

In  illo  tempore  :  post- 
quam  consummati  sunt  dies 
octo,  ut  circumcideretur 
Puer  ■  vocatum  est  nomen 
ejus  Jesus,  quod  vocatum 
est  ab  Angelo  priusquam.  in 
utero  conciperetur. 

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  him- 
self 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  Saviour. 
A  Saviour  !  Then,  he  is  to  save  us  ?  Yes  ;  and  he 
is  to  save  us  by  his  Blood.  Such  is  the  divine  ap- 
pointment, and  he  has  bowed,  down  his  will  to  it. 


424  CHRISTMAS. 

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  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  Cal- 
vary, 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  Cir- 
cumcision, 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. 

OFFEKTORY. 

Tui  sunt  coeli,  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 
praeparatio  sedis  tuae.  j  udgment  are  the  preparation 

of  thy  throne. 

SECRET. 

Muneribus  nostris,  quae-  Receive,  O  Lord,  our  ofFer- 

sumus,   Domine,    precibus-  ings  and  prayers  :  cleanse  us 

que  susceptis  :  et  ccelestibus  by  these  mysteries,  and  merci- 

nos  munda  mysteriis,  et  cle-  fully  hear  us.     Through,  &c. 
menter  exaudL     Per  Domi- 
num. 

At  the  Communion,  the  Church  rejoices  in  the 
Jesus,  the  Saviour,  who  visits  her,  and  acts  up  to  his 


JAN.    1.      THE  CIRCUMCISION.  425 

sweet  Name  with  such  perfection,  by  redeeming  the 
inhabitants  of  the  whole  earth.  In  the  Postcommu- 
nion,  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. 

COMMUNION. 

All  the  ends  of  the  earth        Viderunt  omnes  fines  ter- 
have  seen  the  salvation  of  our    rse  Salutare  Dei  nostri. 
God. 

P0STC0MMUNI0N. 

May  this  commnnion,  O  Haec  nos  communio,  Do- 
Lord,  cleanse  us  from  sin  :  and  mine,  purget  a  crimine  :_  et 
by  the  intercession  of  Blessed  intercedente  beata  Virgine 
Mary,  the  Virgin-Mother  of  Dei  Genitrice  Maria,  cceles- 
God,  make  us  partakers  of  thy  tis  remedii  faciat_  esse  con- 
heavenly  remedy.      Through,  sortes.     Per  Dominum. 


SECOND  VESPERS. 

The  Antiphons  and  Psalms  are  the  same  as  in 
First  Vespers,  page  414.  The  Capitulum  and  Hymn 
of  yesterday  are  repeated ;  after  which  are  said  the 
following : 

~ft.  The  Lord  hath  made  $\  Notum  fecit  Dominus, 
known,  alleluia.  alleluia. 

I£.  His  salvation,  alleluia.  I£.    Salutare  suum,   alle- 

luia. 

antiphon  of  the  Magnificat. 

Ant.  Great  is  the  mystery        Ant,  Magnum  haeredita- 

of  our  inheritance !  The  womb  tis  mysterium  !     Templum 

of  a  most  pure  Virgin  became  Dei    factus  est  uterus  ne- 

the  Temple  of  God.   He  is  not  sciens  virum  :  non  est  pollu- 

defiled  assuming   to    himself  tus  ex  ea  carnem  assumens  ; 

Flesh  from  her.     All  nations  omnes  gentes  venient,  dicen- 

shall  come,  saying  :  Glory  be  tes  :  Gloria  tibi,  Domine. 
to  thee,  0  Lord  ! 


426 


CHRISTMAS. 


0REMTJS. 

Dens,  qui  salutis  seternse, 
beatse  Marias  virginitate  f  ce- 
cunda,  humano  generi  prse- 
mia  praestitisti :  tribue,  quse- 
sumus,  nt  ipsam  pro  nobis 
intercedere  sentiamus,  per 
quam  meruimus  auctorem 
vitaB  suscipere  Dominum 
nostrum  Jesum  Christum, 
Filium  tuum.     Qui  tecum. 

Commemoration  of  the 

Ant.  Stephanus  autem 
plenus  gratia  et  fortitudine, 
faciebat  signa  magna  in 
populo. 

"ff.  Stephanus  vidit  ccelos 
apertos. 

I£.  Vidit  et  introivit  : 
beatus  homo  cui  cceli  pate- 
bant. 


LET   US   PRAY. 

0  God,  who  by  the  Fruitful 
Virginity  of  the  Blessed  Mary, 
hast  given  to  mankind  the  re- 
wards of  eternal  salvation ; 
grant,  we  beseech  thee,  that 
we  may  experience  Her  inter- 
cession, by  whom  we  received 
the  Author  of  Life,  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  thy  Son.  Who 
liveth,  dec. 

Octave  of  St.  Stephen. 

Ant.  But  Stephen,  full  of 
grace  and  fortitude,  did  great 
signs  among  the  people. 

(V .  Stephen  saw  the  heavens 
opened. 

I£.  He  saw  and  entered ; 
blessed  man,  to  whom  the 
heavens  opened. 


PRAYER. 


Omnipotens  sempiterne 
Deus,  qui  primitias  Marty- 
rum  in  beati  Levitse  Ste- 
phani  sanguine  dedicasti  : 
tribue,  quaesumus,  ut  pro 
nobis  intercessor  existat,  qui 
pro  suis  etiam  persecutori- 
bus  exoravit  Dominum  nos- 
trum Jesum  Christum,  Fili- 
um tuum.     Qui  tecum. 


O  Almighty  and  eternal  God, 
who  didst  consecrate  the  first- 
fruits  of  Martyrdom  in  the 
blood  of  blessed  Stephen  the 
Levite  ;  grant,  we  beseech 
thee,  that  he  may  intercede 
for  us,  who  begged  mercy,  even 
for  his  persecutors,  of  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  thy  Son. 
Who  liveth,  dec. 


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. 

I£.  Congratulamini  mihi  I£.  Rejoice  with  me  all  ye 
omnes  qui  diligitis  Domi-    that    love    the  Lord  :  *  For 


JAN.    1.      THE   CIRCUMCISION. 


427 


that  I,  when  I  was  little  in  my 
own  eyes,  pleased  the  Most 
High,  and  gave  birth  to  Him 
that  is  God  and  Man. 

ft.  All  generations  shall  call 
me  Blessed,  because  God  hath 
regarded  the  humility  of  his 
Handmaid.     For  that  I. 


num  :  *  Quia  cum  essem 
parvula,  placui  Altissimo, 
et  de  meis  visceribus  genui 
Deum  et  hominem. 

ft.  Beatam  me  dicent  om- 
nes  generationes,  quia  an- 
cillam  humilem  respexit 
Deus.  *  Quia. 


I£.  The  heart  of  the  Virgin 
was  strengthened,  wherein 
at  the  message  of  the  Angel, 
she  conceived  the  divine  mys- 
teries. 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. 


I£.  Confirmatum  est  cor 
Virginis,  in  quo  divina  mys- 
teria,  Angelo  nuntiante,  con- 
cepit  :  tunc  speciosum  for- 
ma prae  filiis  hominum  castis 
suscepit  visceribus  :  *  Et 
benedicta  in  aeternum,  Deum 
nobis  protulit  et  hominem. 


I£.  Blessed  and  venerable 
art  thou,  0  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  hea- 
ven with  his  brightness. 

ft.  I  have  heard  thy  hear- 
ing, 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  bright- 
ness. 


I£.  Benedicta  et  venera- 
bilis  es,  Virgo  Maria,  quae 
sine  tactu  pudoris,  inventa 
es  Mater  Salvatoris  :  *  Jace- 
bat  in  prassepio,  et  fulgebat 
in  ccelo. 

ft.  Domine,  audivi  audi- 
tion em  tuam  et  timui  : 
consideravi  opera  tua  et 
expavi :  in  medio  duorum 
animalium  *  Jacebat  in 
praesepio,  et  fulgebat  in 
ccelo. 


I£.  A  purest  Virgin-Mother, 
brought  forth,  without  travail, 
*  The  Saviour  of  the  world  : 


1$.  Nesciens  Mater  Virgo 
virum,  peperit  sine  dolore,* 
Salvatorem  saeculorum  j  ip- 


428 


CHRISTMAS. 


sum  Regem  Angelorum, 
sola  Virgo  lactabat  ubere  de 
coelo  pleno. 

$".  Domus  pudici  pectoris 
templum  repente  fit  Dei : 
intacta  nesciens  virum, 
verbo  concepit  Filium  :  * 
Salvatorem. 


He,  that  was  very  King  of 
Angels,  drank  at  the  breast  of 
the  Virgin-Mother  the  food 
that  heaven  gave. 

flT.  This  chastest  living 
Dwelling  becomes,  in  an  in- 
stant, God's  own  Temple  :  the 
purest  of  Virgins  conceives,  at 
the  Angel's  word,  her  Son  :  * 
The  Saviour. 


The  Greek  Church,  on  the  26th  December,  (the 
day  she  consecrates  to  the  Mother  of  Jesus,)  pours 
forth  to  Mary  her  praises  with  her  wonted  profusion. 
We  take  from  the  Mensea  the  two  following  strophes, 
the  former  of  which  is  also  the  Benedictus- Antiiph.011 
for  the  Feast  of  the  Circumcision,  in  the  Roman 
Breviary. 


Mirabile  mysterium  de- 
claratur  hodie  :  innovantur 
naturae,  Deus  homo  factus 
est  :  id  quod  fuit  permansit, 
et  quod  non  erat,  assump- 
sit ;  non  commixtionem 
passus,  neque  divisionem. 

Uvam  incultam  post- 
quam  germinasset  vitis 
mystica,  in  brachiis  velut 
ramusculis  ferebat  :  Tu, 
aiebat,  fructus  meus,  tu  es 
vita  mea,  a  te  novi  quia 
quod  eram  adhuc  sum,  6 
Deus  meus ;  sigillum  enim 
virginitatis  meae  videns  in- 
fractum,  prsedico  te  immu- 
tabile  Verbum  caro  fac- 
tum ;  virum  non  novi ;  te 
autem  novi  perniciei  solu- 
torem.  Casta  enim  sum,  te 
ex  me  egresso,  sicut  inve- 
nisti,  sic  uterum  meum  re- 
liquisti :  ideo  concinit  om- 


An  admirable  mystery  is 
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,  suf- 
fering 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,  0  my 
God,  that  I  am  what  I  was  : 
the  treasure  of  my  virginity  is 
preserved,  and  therefore  do  I 
confess  thee  to  be  the  Immu- 
table 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 


JAN.    1.      THE   CIRCUMCISION  429 

thou  gavest  me,  for,  what  I    nis    creatu'ra    ad    me    cla- 

was  when  thou  didst  enter  in-    mans  :  Gaude,  gratia  plena. 

to  my  womb,  that  thou  didst 

leave    me    at    thy    Nativity. 

Therefore    is    it,    that   every 

creature  sings  to  me  saying  : 

Rejoice,  0  full  of  grace  ! 


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.  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  Di- 
vine Lamb,  who  is  to  atone  for  our  sins.  Let  us 
compassionate  our  sweet  Jesus,  who  meekly  submits 
to  the  knife  which  is  to  put  upon  him  the  sign  of  a 
Servant  of  God. 

Mary,  who  has  watched  over  him  with  the  most 
affectionate  solicitude,  has  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  jus- 
tice 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  inno- 
cent 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  heart- 
rending 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.  Bonaventure  to  describe 
this  wonderful  mystery.  "And  if  lie  weeps,  thinkest 
"  thou  his  Mother  could  keep  in  her  tears  ?  No — 
"  she,  too,  wept,  and  when  the  Babe,  who  was  stand- 


430  CHRISTMAS. 

"  ing  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 ; 
K  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, 
"  iveep  not  thou,  niy  Child  I  If  thou  weepest,  I 
"  must  weep  too.  Then  the  Babe,  from  compassion 
"  for  the  Mother,  repressed  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."1 

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.  Let 
us  thus  show  him  our  compassion  for  this  his  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  Missals  of  the 
Church  of  Paris. 

SEQUENCE. 

Apparuit  hodie  This  day,  there  hath  been 

Mira  virtus  gratias,  shown  to  us   the  wonderful 

Quae  Deum  circumcidit.  power  of  grace,  in  the  Cir- 

cumcision of  the  Infant-God. 

1  Meditations  on  the  Life  of  Christ,  by  St.  Bonaventure. 


JAN.    1.      THE   CIRCUMCISION. 


431 


A  Name  of  heaven's  mak- 
ing, a  Name  that  means  Sal- 
vation— and  it  is  "  Jesus  " — is 
given  to  him. 

This  Name  imports  Salva- 
tion to  man  :  it  is  the  Name 
which  the  month  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  con- 
querest  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. 

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. 


Nomen  ei  ccelicum, 
Nomen  et  salvihcum, 
Quod  est  Jesus,  indidit. 

Nomen  salus  homini, 
Nomen  quod  os  Domini 
Ab  asterno  nominat. 

Dudum  Matri  Numinis 
Hoc  et  sponso  Virginis 
Angelus  denuntiat. 

Tu  nequam  vim  Zabuli, 
Tu  peccatum  sseculi 
Nomen  sacrum  superas. 

Jesu,  nostrum  pretium, 
Jesu,  spes  mcerentium, 
Mentes  sana  miseras. 

Quod  deest  in  homine 
Supple  tuo  nomine, 
Quod  est  salutiferum. 

Tua  circumcisio  i 
Cordis  sit  praecisio, 
Efficax  cauterium. 

Sanguis  fusus  sordidos 
Lavet,  riget  aridos, 
Mcestis  det  solatium. 

Anni  nunc  initio, 
Pro  felici  xenio 
Para,  Jesu,  prasmium. 


Amen. 


Adam  of  Saint- 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. 


Hail,  Mother  of  the  Saviour ! 
Vessel  elect,  Vessel  of  honour, 
Vessel  of  heavenly  grace  ! 


Salve,  Mater  Salvatoris, 
Vas  electum,  vas  honoris, 
Vas  ccelestis  gratiae. 


432 


CHRISTMAS. 


Ab  seterno  vasprovisum, 
Vas  insigne,  vas  excisum 
Manu  Sapientiae. 

Salve  Verbi  sacra  Parens, 
Flos    de   spinis,   spina    ca- 

rens, 
Flos  spineti  gratia. 

Nos  spinetum,   nos  pec- 
cati 
Spina  sunms  cruentati, 
Sed  tu  spinse  nescia. 
Porta  clausa,  fons  horto- 
rum, 
Cella  custos  unguentorum, 
Cella  pigmentaria. 

Cinnamomi  calamum, 
Myrrham,    thus    et    balsa- 
mum, 
Superas  fragrantia. 

Salve,  decus  virginum, 
Mediatrix  hominum, 
Salutis  puerpera. 

Myrtus  temperantise, 
Rosa  patientise, 
Nardus  odorifera. 

Tu  convallis  humilis, 
Terra  non  arabilis, 
Quae  fructum  parturiit. 

Flos  campi,  convallium 
Singulare  lilium  : 
Christus  ex  te  prodiit. 

Tu  coelestis  paradisus, 
Libanusque  non  ineisus, 
Vaporans  dulcedinem. 

Tu  candoris  et  decoris, 
Tu  dulcoris  et  odoris 
Habes  plenitudinem. 

Tu  thronus  es  Solomonis, 
Cui  nullus  par  in  thronis, 
Arte  vel  materia. 

Ebur  candens,  castitatis, 
Aurum  fulvum,  charitatis 
Praesignant  mysteria. 


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  thorn- 
less  Flower,  that  decked  the 
thorny  Earth. 

The  thorny  earth  are  we, 
bleeding  from  the  prickly 
thorns  of  sin  :  and  thou,  Oh  ! 
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. 

Hail,  Virgin  of  Virgins ! 
Mediatrix  of  men  !  Mother  of 
the  Jesus  who  saved  us. 

Myrtle  of  temperance,  Rose 
of  patience,  Spikenard  most 
fragrant ! 

Vale  of  humility  !  Soil  most 
fruitful,  though  untilled  ! 

Flower  of  the  field  !  match- 
less Lily  of  the  valley,  that 
broughtest  forth  Christ  ! 

Heavenly  Paradise  !  Cedar- 
tree  untouched,  yet  breathing 
forth  such  sweetness  ! 

Purity  and  beauty,  sweet- 
ness and  fragrance,  are  all  in 
thee  above  measure. 

Thou  art  the  Throne  of  So- 
lomon, the  throne  rich  above 
all  others  in  form  and  sub- 
stance. 

The  whiteness  of  the  Ivory 
prefigures  thy  Chastity ;  the 
glittering  Gold,  thy  Charity. 


JAN.   1.      THE  CIRCUMCISION. 


433 


The  palm  thou  holdest  is 
like  no  other :  thou  hast  no 
equal  among  creatures  on  earth 
or  in  heaven. 

Thou  art  the  glory  of  the 
human  race,  and  art  privileged 
with  virtues  above  Angels  and 
men. 

As  the  sun  is  brighter  than 
the  moon,  and  the  moon  is 
brighter  than  the  stars  ;  so  is 
Mary  exalted  above  all  crea- 
tures. 

The  sun's  light,  which  no 
eclipse  quenches,  is  Mary's 
virginal  purity  :  the  sun's  un- 
failing heat,  is  her  undying 
charity. 

Hail,  Mother  of  Mercy! 
Thou  art  the  noble  dwelling 
of  the  blessed  Trinity ; 

But,  for  the  majesty  of  the 
Incarnate  Word,  thou  didst 
prepare  a  special  sanctuary. 

0  Mary,  Star  of  the  Sea ! 
Peerless  Queen,  set  above  all 
the  heavenly  choirs  ! 

Seated  on  thy  lofty  throne, 
commend  us  to  thy  Son  ;  nor 
suffer  our  enemies  to  defeat 
us  by  strength  or  craft. 

In  the  battle  we  are  fight- 
ing, 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  watch- 
ful care. 

O  Jesu  !  Word  of  the 
Eternal  Father  !  save  us  the 
devoted  servants  of  thy  Mo- 
ther. We  are  guilty,  absolve 
us.  Save  us  by  thy  grace,  and 
make  us  like  to  thee  in  the 
brightness  of  thy  glory. 

Amen. 


Palmam  praefers  singula- 
rem, 
Nee  in  terris  habes  parem, 
Nee  in  cceli  curia. 

Laus  humani  generis, 
Virtutum  prae  caeteris 
Habens  privilegia. 

Sol  luna  lucidior, 
Et  luna  sideribus  : 
Sic  Maria  dignior 
Creaturis  omnibus. 

Lux  eclipsim  nesciens 
Virginis  est  castitas  ; 
Ardor  indeficiens, 
Immortalis  charitas. 

Salve,  mater  pietatis, 
Et  totius  Trinitatis 
Nobile  triclinium. 

Verbi  tamen  incarnati 
Speciale  majestati 
Praeparans  hospitium. 

O  Maria,  stella  maris, 
Dignitate  singularis, 
Super  omnes  ordinaris 
Ordines  ccelestium. 

In  supremo  sita  poli, 
Nos  assigna  tuae  Proli, 
Ne  terrores,  sive  doli 
Nos  supplrjitent  hostium. 

In  procinctu  constituti, 
Te  tuente,  simus  tuti ; 
Pervicacis  et  versuti 
Tuse  cedat  vis  virtuti, 
Dolus,  providentiae. 


Jesu,  Verbum  summi  Pa- 
tris, 
Serva  servos  tuae  Matris, 
Solve  reos,  salva  gratis, 
Et  nos  tuae  claritatis 
Configura  gloriae. 


Amen. 


2  F 


434  CHRTSTMAS. 


January  2. 
THE  OCTAVE  OF  SAINT  STEPHEN, 

THE  FIEST  MARTYR. 


Yesterday,  we  finished  the  Octave  of  the  Birth  of 
Jesus ;  to-day,  we  shall  finish  the  Octave  of  St.  Ste- 
phen ;  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.  In  five  days,  we  shall 
see  the  Magi  prostrate  before  the  Crib  of  the  new- 
born 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  extra- 
ordinary 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  of  him  now  till  the  month  of  August, 
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,  re- 
presented the  Seven  Angels,  whom  St.  John  saw 
standing  near  the  Altar  in  heaven.     Stephen  was 


JAN.  2.      OCTAVE  OF  ST.  STEPHEN.  435 

appointed  as  the  head  of  the  Seven,  and  St.  Irenaeus, 
who  lived  in  the  second  century,  calls  him  the  Arch- 
Deacon. 

The  characteristic  virtue  of  a  Deacon  is  fidelity. 
Hence,  he  is  entrusted  with  the  care  of  the  treasures 
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 
Body  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  of  which  the  Deacon 
is  the  minister,  in  virtue  of  his  Order.  For  this  rea- 
son, the  Apostle  St.  Paul,  in  his  first  Epistle  to 
Timothy,  bids  the  Deacons  hold  the  Mystery  of  Faith 
in  a  pure  conscience} 

It  was,  therefore,  more  than  an  appropriate  co-in- 
cidence, that  the  First  of  all  the  Martyrs  was  a  Dea- 
con, for  Martyrdom  is  the  great  proof  of  fidelity,  and 
fidelity  is  the  official  virtue  of  the  Deaconate.  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  presence  ever  since 
Christmas  Day,  and  Vincent,  whose  Feast  falls  on 
January  22nd.  Laurence  will  come  to  us,  with  his 
rich  waving  Palm,  in  the  sunny  month  of  August ; 
and  Stephen,  in  the  same  month,  will  visit  us,  a 
second  time,  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. 

1  I.  Tim.  iii.  9. 


436  CHRISTMAS. 

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  Lord's  Birth,  are  so  ancient,  that  it  is  impossible 
to  assign  their  date.  The  Apostolic  Constitutions, 
which  were  compiled,  at  the  latest,  towards  the  close 
of  the  3rd  century,  mention  this  Feast  as  already 
established,  and  that,  too,  on  the  morrow  of  Christ- 
mas 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  insti- 
tution is  less  ancient,  though  the  date  cannot  be  de- 
fined. Amalarius,  who  wrote  in  the  9  th  centary, 
speaks  of  this  Octave  as  already  established,  and 
Notker's  Martyrology,  compiled  in  the  10th  century, 
makes  express  mention  of  it. 

But,  how  comes  it,  that  the  Feast  of  a  mere  Dea- 
con 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 


JAN.   2.      OCTAVE  OF   ST.   STEPHEN.  437 

members  of  the  Church  Triumphant,  is  thus  regu- 
lated by  a  safe  standard.  St.  Stephen  led  the  way 
to  Martyrdom  ;  his  example  inaugurated  that  sub- 
lime witnessing  by  the  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 ! 

We  have  already  noticed  St.  Stephen's  imitating 
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  accomplices  in  the  murder,  which  was 
being  committed  under  the  walls  of  Jerusalem,  was 
a  young  man  of  the  name  of  Saul.  He  made  him- 
self exceedingly  active,  for  he  was  of  an  ardent  tem- 
perament, 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  ad- 
"mirable  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.  *     *  O 


438  CHEISTMAS. 

'  Saul !  thou  hast  been  prostrated,  and  raised  up 
( again  :  prostrated  a  Persecutor,  raised  up  a  Preacher. 
f  Everywhere  are  thy  Epistles  read ;  everywhere 
'  art  thou  bringing  to  Christ  them  that  are  his  ene- 
f  mies ;  everywhere  art  thou  the  good  Shepherd, 
1  surrounded  by  a  numerous  flock.  Thou  art  now 
(  reigning  with  Christ,  in  company  with  him  thou 
1  didst  once  stone.  Both  of  you  are  looking  upon  us; 
1  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  a  wolf;  now,  both  are  lambs,  and  both 
1  will  acknowledge  us  as  of  the  flock  of  Christ,  and 
1  will  pray  for  us,  that  the  Church  of  their  Master 
'  may  be  blessed  with  a  peaceful  and  tranquil  life."1 
Stephen  and  Paul,  both  visit  us  during  this  grand 
season  of  Christmas  ;  for  we  shall  keep  the  Feast  of 
the  Conversion  of  St.  Paul  on  the  25th  of  January ; 
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  Sleeji,  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  habitu- 
ally 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  entrusted  to 
our  keeping,  and  which  we  were  to  hold  in  readiness 
for  him,  whensoever  he  might  demand  it  at  our 
hands. 

1  Sermon  316  :  The  Third  for  the  Feast  of  St.  Stephen. 


JAN.   2.      OCTAVE  OF   ST.   STEPHEN. 


439 


The  Mass  is  given  above,  page   255,  except  the 
Collect,  which  we  give  at  the  bottom  of  this  page. 


ancient  Liturgies  a 


We  will  now  select  from  the 
few  additional  pieces  in  honour  of  our  Saint.     We 
begin  with  two  Responsories,  and  the  proper  Collect 
for  this  Octave-Day,  as  given  in  the  Roman  Breviary. 


RESPONSORIES. 


I£.  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. 

y.  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.  *  Bless- 
ed man. 

I£.  The  gates  of.  heaven  were 
thrown  open  to  Stephen,  the 
blessed  Martyr  of  Christ,  who 
was  the  first  among  the  Mar- 
tyrs. *  And  he,  therefore, 
triumphs  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. 


I£.  Stephanus,  servus  Dei, 
quern  lapidabant  Judaei,  vi- 
dit  coelos  apertos  :  vidit  et 
introivit  :  *  Beatus  homo, 
cui  cceli  patebant. 

~ft.  Cum  igitur  saxorum 
crepitantium  turbine  quate- 
retur,  inter  sethereos  aula? 
ccelestis  sinus  divina  ei  cla- 
ritas  fulsit.  *  Beatus  homo. 


I£.  Patefactse  sunt  januae 
cceli  Christi  Martyri  beato 
Stephano,  qui  in  numero 
Martyrum  inventus  est  pri- 
mus :  *  Et  ideo  triumphat 
in  ccelis  coronatus. 

y.  Mortem  enim,  quam 
Salvator  noster  dignatus  est 
pro  nobis  pati,  hanc  ille 
primus  reddidit  Salvatori. 
*  Et  ideo. 


COLLECT. 


O  Almighty  and  eternal  God, 
who  didst  consecrate  the  first- 
fruits  of  Martyrdom  in  the 
blood  of  blessed  Stephen  the 
Levite ;  grant,  we  beseech 
thee,  that  he  may  intercede  for 


Gmnipotens  sempiterne 
Deus,  qui  primitias  Marty- 
rum  in  beati  Levitse  Ste- 
phani  sanguine  dedicasti  : 
tribue  qusesumus  ut  pro 
nobis    intercessor    existat, 


440 


CHRISTMAS. 


qui  pro  suis  etiam  persecu- 
toribus  exoravit  Dominum 
nostrum  Jesum  Christum, 
Filium  tuum. 


us,  who  begged  mercy,  even 
for  his  persecutors,  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  thy  Son. 


The  Church  of  Milan,  in  its  Ambrosian  Missal, 
consecrates  this  Preface  to  the  praise  of  the  Prince 
of  Martyrs. 


PEEFACE. 


Vere  dignum  et  justum 
est,  eequum  et  salutare,  nos 
tibi  semper  et  ubique  gra- 
tias  agere,  seterne  Deus  : 
qui  Levitarum  praeconem 
vocasti  Stephanum.  Hie  tibi 
primus  dedicavit  Martyrii 
nomen :  hie  tibi  inchoavit 
primus  effundere  sangui- 
nem  :  hie  meruit  videre 
ccelos  apertos,  et  Filium 
stantem  ad  dexteram  Patris. 
In  terris  hominem  adorabat, 
et  in  ccelo  Filium  Patris 
esse  clamabat.  Hie  Magistri 
verba  referebat ;  quia,  quod 
Christus  dixit  in  cruce,  hoc 
Stephanus  docuit  in  sangui- 
nis sui  morte.  Christus  in 
cruce  indulgentiam  semina- 
bat :  et  Stephanus  pro  suis 
lapidatoribus  Dominum  sup- 
plicabat. 


It  is  truly  meet  and  just, 
right  and  available  to  salva- 
tion, 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  rig^ht  hand  of  the  Father. 
He  adored  Jesus  the  Man- 
God  on  earth,  and  he  pro- 
claimed him  to  be  the  Son  of 
the  Father  in  heaven.  He  re- 
peated the  words  of  his  Mas- 
ter ;  for,  what  Christ  said  on 
the  cross,  that  did  Stephen 
teach  when  shedding  his  blood 
in  death.  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  Ec- 
clesise  tuae  primordia  beati 


0  God,  the  teacher  and  ruler 
of  them  that  are  thy  ministers, 
who  didst  adorn  the  early  days 


JAN.    2.      OCTAVE  OF   ST.   STEPHEN. 


441 


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  fol- 
low his  example,  and  be  aided 
by  his  intercession.  Through 
Jesus  Christ  our  Lord. 


Levitae  Stephani  ministerio, 
etpretiosomartyrii  sanguine 
decorasti,  da,  qusesumus  : 
ut  in  excessu  nostro  veniam 
consequentes,  mereamur  ex- 
emplis  ejus  imbui,  et  inter- 
cessionibus  adjuvari.  Per 
Dominum  Jesum  Christum. 


The  Gothic  Liturgy  of  Spain  gives  us,  in  its 
Mozarabic  Missal,  the  following  admirable  Prayer  to 
St.  Stephen. 


CAPITTJLUM. 


Most  blessed  Protomartyr 
Stephen  I  thou  shalt  be  called 
by  a  new  name,  which  the 
mouth  of  the  Lord  hath  named: 
for  that  thou,  who  didst  suffer 
death  for  him,  didst,  by  him, 
receive  a  Grown  for  thy  name, 
and  a  Croivn  for  thy  virtue. 
Thou  wast  the  first  in  Martyr- 
dom, and  first  in  its  reward  : 
first  Martyr  in  the  world,  and 
the  first  in  the  courts  of  hea- 
ven. Here,  stoned  for  Christ ; 
there,  exulting  in  the  Crown 
he  gave  thee.  Here,  thou  didst 
suffer,  for  his  sake,  the  most 
cruel  torments ;  there,  thou 
didst  receive  the  most  precious 
Crown.  Thou,  therefore,  that 
wast  the  first  flower  of  the 
Church,  be  now  her  untiring 
patron ;  that  so,  by  thy  prayers, 
that  Jesus,  for  whose  sake  thou 
wast  a  glorious  Martyr,  may 
be  merciful  unto  us. 


Beatissime  Stephane,  Pro- 
tomartyr, vocabitur  tibi  no- 
men  novum,  quod  os  Do- 
mini nominavit  :  ut  qui 
mortem  pro  illo  sumeres, 
coronam  per  ilium  et  no- 
mine et  virtute  susciperes: 
primus  in  Martyrio,  primus 
in  praemio  ;  primus  in  aula 
mundi,  primus  in  aula  cceli  : 
ut  hie  pro  Christo  lapidatus, 
illic  ab  ipso  coronatus,  ex- 
sultes  ;  ut  pro  quo  hie  crude- 
lissimam  sustinuisti  pcenam, 
illic  pretiosissimam  susci- 
peres coronam  :  ergo  qui 
extitisti  Ecclesiaa  primiti- 
vus,  nunc  esto  patronus  as- 
siduus  :  ut  sit  Christus  no- 
bis, te  precante,  propitius, 
pro  quo  Martyr  extitisti 
mirificus. 


The  following  Hymn,  remarkable  for  its  unction 
and  simplicity  of  style,  is  to  be  found  in  most  of  the 
ancient  Roman-French  Breviaries. 


442 


CHRISTMAS. 


HYMN. 


Sancte  Dei  pretiose, 
Protomartyr  Stephane, 
Qui  virtute  charitatis 
Circumfultus  undique, 
Dominum  pro  inimico 
Exorasti  populo. 

Tu  coelestis  primitivus 
Signifer  militiae, 
Yeritatis  assertivus, 
Testis  primus  gratise, 
Fundamento  lapis  vivus, 
Basis  patientiae. 

Saxo  caesus,  non  mucrone, 
Per  saxorum  cuspides, 
Corpus  membri  passione 
Circumcidi  provides  : 
Ad  decorem  sunt  coronse 
Rubricati  lapides. 


Tu  coelorum  primus  stra- 
tam 
Consternis  lapideam, 
Tu  per  Christum  hebetatam 
Primus  transis  rhomphseam, 
Primum  granum  trituratum, 
Ditans  Christi  aream. 


Tibi  primum  reseratse 
Coeli  patent  januse, 
Jesum  vides  potestate, 
Cui  pugnas  strenue ; 
Stans  cum  Patris  maj estate 
Tecum  est  assidue. 

Funde  preces  pro  devoto 
Tibi  nunc  collegio, 
Ut  tuo  propitiatus 
Interventu  Dominus 
Nos  purgatos  a  peccatis 
Jungat  cceli  civibus. 


0  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  Standard- 
bearer  of  heaven's  martyr-host; 
the  herald  of  truth  ;  the  first 
witness  of  Christian  grace; 
the  living  foundation-stone, 
and  ground-work  of  martyr- 
dom. 

Stones  were  the  instrument 
of  thy  martyrdom,  not  the 
sword.  The  sharp-edged  stones, 
like  knives  of  a  second  cir- 
cumcision, 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  win- 
nowed wheat,  that  graced  the 
granaries  of  Christ. 

To  thee  were  heaven's  gates 
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. 


JAN.   2.      OCTAVE  OF  ST.   STEPHEN. 


443 


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. 


Gloria  et  honor  Deo, 
Qui  te  flore  roseo 
Coronavit  et  locavit 
In  throno  sidereo  : 
Salvet  reos,  solvens  eos 
A  mortis  aculeo. 

Amen. 


We  will  close  our  selection  with  a  Sequence,  com- 
posed by  Notker ;  we  find  it  in  the  collection  of 
Saint- Gall. 


SEQUENCE. 


Let  us  solemnise  this  Feast 
in  the  union  of  fraternal  cha- 
rity, 

Instructed  by  the  sweet  ex- 
ample of  its  Saint, 

Who  prayed  for  his  guilty 
persecutors. 

Hear  us,  O  Stephen,  thou 
standard-bearer  of  the  infi- 
nitely merciful  King, 

Who  heard  the  prayers  thou 
didst  offer  him  for  thine  ene- 
mies. 

By  thy  prayers,  O  Stephen, 
that  very  Paul,  who  once  per- 
secuted thee,  was  converted  to 
believe  in  Jesus, 

And  now  exults  with  thee 
in  that  Kingdom,  nigh  which 
no  persecutors  come. 

Then,  we  who  humbly  cry  to 
thee  for  pity,  and  besiege  thee 
with  our  prayers, 

We,  surely,  shall  be  recon- 
ciled to  our  God  by  thy  most 
holy  prayers. 

Peter  ordained  thee  as  a 
minister  of  Christ :  and  thou 
to  the  faithful  Peter  didst 
affirm  and  show  this  truth, 
that  He,  whom  the  mad  popu- 
lace crucified,  is  at  the  right 
hand  of  the  Father. 


Hanc  concordi  famulatu, 
colamus  solemnitatem, 

Auctoris  illius  exemplo 
docti  benigno, 

Pro  persecutorum  pre- 
cantis  fraude  suorum. 

O  Stephane,  signifer  Ee- 
gis  summe  boni,  nos  exaudi  : 

Proficue  qui  es  pro  tuis 
exauditus  inimicis. 

Paulus  tuis  precibus,  Ste- 
phane, te  quondam  perse- 
cutus  Christo  credit, 

Et  tecum  tripudiat  in  reg- 
no, cui  nullus  persecutor 
appropinquat : 

Nos  proinde,  nos  suppli- 
ces  ad  te  clamantes  et  pre- 
cibus te  pulsantes, 

Oratio  sanctissima  nos 
tua  semper  conciliet  Deo 
nostro. 

Te  Petrus  Christi  minis- 
trum  statuit :  Tu  Petro  nor- 
mam  credenti  adstruis,  ad 
dextram  summi  Patris  os- 
tendendo,  quern  plebs  fu- 
rens  crucifixit. 


444  CHRISTMAS. 

Se  tibi  Christus  eligit,  Christ  chose  thee,  O  Ste- 
Stephane,  per  queni  fideles  phen  !  as  the  example  where- 
suos  corroboret,  se  tibi  in-  by  he  would  give  courage  to 
ter  rotatus  saxorum  solatio  his  faithful  ones,  for  he  showed 
manifestans.  himself    to  thee    amidst  the 

shower  of  stones,  and  sweetly 
consoled  thee. 

Nunc  inter  inclytas  Mar-  Now  amidst  the  red-robed 
tyrum  purpuras  coruscas  army  of  the  Martyrs  thou 
coronatus.  shinest  as  The  Crowned  Prince. 

We  return  thee  our  grateful  thanks,  0  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  to  thy 
revealing  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  droj)  of  our  blood,  should  he  put  our 
loyalty  to  that  great  test.  Stephen,  the  Faithful 
Deacon  !  pray  for  us,  that  we  may  have  the  grace  to 
give  our  whole  heart  to  Jesus,  from  this  time  for- 
ward; that  we  may  use  our  best  efforts  to  please 
him  ;  and  that  we  may  conform  our  lives  and  affec- 
tions 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  Jesus,  the 
Babe  of  Bethlehem,  had  conquered  it  before  them  : — 
shall  we,  then,  be  cowards,  and  re-enslave  ourselves 
to  our  eternal  enemy  ?  Obtain  for  us,  also,  that 
fraternal  charity,  which  pardons  every  injury,  and 
prays  for  them  that  hate  us,  and  converts  sinners  and 


JAN.   2.      OCTAVE  OF   ST.    STEPHEN.  445 

heretics  when  all  means  else  have  failed. — 0  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  pre- 
pared for  us  ;  and  may  our  last  words  be  those  which 
thou  didst  utter  when  going  to  thy  God  :  Lord  Jesus  ! 
receive  my  Spirit  I1 

1  Acts,  vii.  58. 


446  CHRISTMAS. 


January  3. 
THE  OCTAVE  OF  SAINT  JOHN, 

APOSTLE  AND  EVANGELIST. 


The  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  the 
6th  of  May,  when  the  Resurrection  of  his  Divine 
Master  is  gladdening  the  Church  with  the  Easter 
joys,  we  shall  have  the  Feast  of  our  Apostle's  Con- 
fession, made  before  the  Latin  Gate  : — but  his  grand 
Feast  ends  to-day,  and  he  has  done  too  much  for  us 
this  Christmas,  that  we  should  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  for  this  end,  let  us 
continue  the  considerations,  we  were  making  this  day 
week,  on  the  favours  conferred  upon  him  by  Jesus. 

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,1  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  our  western 

1  Apoc.  i. 


JAN.   3.      OCTAVE  OF   ST.   JOHN.  447 

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 — 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  inter- 
fered 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  happi- 
ness 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.2  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  candlestick3  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  Apoca- 
lypse, proves  that  the  future  of  the  Church  was  also 

1  Apoc.  ii.  8.  2  Cant.  iii.  6.  3  St.  Matth.  v.  15. 


448  CHRISTMAS. 

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  that  had,  when  young,  leaned  his  head  upon  the 
Breast  of  that  God,  whose  delights  are  to  be  with  the 
children  of  men1 — that  had  stood  near  his  Lord 
during  the  Crucifixion,  when  all  the  other  Apostles 
kept  away  in  fear — that  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  de- 
stroying 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  plague  :  If  any  man  come  to  you  and 
bring  not  the  doctrine  of  Christ,  receive  him  not 
into  the  house,  nor  say  to  him  "  God  speed  thee;" 
for  he  that  saith  unto  him,  "  God  speed  thee,"  com- 
municateth  with  his  wicked  works.2  St.  John  having, 
one  day,  entered  one  of  the  public  baths,  he  was  no 

1  Pro  v.  viii.  31.  s  II.  St.  John,  i.  10,  11. 


JAN.    3.      OCTAVE  OF   ST.   JOHN.  449 

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  he  used  to  drink  from ;  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 
heretics  of  Asia ;  and  hereby,  he  proved  how  justly 
he  had  received  from  Jesus  the  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 
the  assigning  to  St.  John,  as  one  of  his  emblems, 
a  cup  with  a  serpent  coming  from  it ;  and,  in  many 
countries,  in  Germany  particularly,  there  is  the  cus- 
tom, on  the  Feast  of  St.  John,  of  blessing  wine ;  and 
the  prayer,  used  on  the  occasion,  alludes  to  the 
miracle.  In  these  same  countries,  there  also  pre- 
vails the  custom  of  taking,  at  the  end  of  meals,  what 
is  called  St  John's  Gup,  putting,  as  it  were,  under 
the  Saint's  protection,  the  repast  just  taken. 

For  brevity's  sake,  we  omit  several  other  tradi- 
tions 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 

2  G 


450  CHRISTMAS. 

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  in  the 
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.  More- 
over, 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.  At  Rome,  when  a  Relic  of 
St.  John  is  asked  for,  the  only  one  given  is  a  small 
piece  of  the  Tomb.  With  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  re- 
mains. Has  our  Redeemer  willed  that  the  Body  of 
his  dear  Disciple  should  be  glorified  before  the  Day  of 
Judgment  ?  Has  he,  in  his  own  inscrutable  designs, 
withdrawn  it  from  the  sight  of  man,  as  he  did  that  of 
Moses  ?  These  are  questions,  which  will,  perhaps, 
never  be  solved  on  this  earth  ;  but  it  is  almost  im- 
possible 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 
\>e  considered  as  an  additional  reward  given  to  the 
Disciple,  whom  he  so  tenderly  loved,  during  life,  on 
account  of  his  purity. 

The  Mass  is  given  above,  page  283. 


JAN.  3.      OCTAVE  OF  ST.  JOHN. 


451 


Let  us  listen,  once  more,  to  the  sweet  praises  given 
to  St.  John  in  the  various  Liturgies.  And  first,  let 
us  open  the  Roman  Breviary,  where  we  shall  find  the 
following  Responsories : — 


RESPONSOEIES. 


1$.  This  is  John,  who,  at  the 
Supper,  reclined  his  head  on 
the  Lord's  Breast :  *  Blessed 
Apostle,  unto  whom  the  se- 
crets of  heaven  were  revealed. 

ft.  He  drank  in  the  streams 
of  the  Gospel  from  the  sacred 
fount  itself  of  our  Lord's 
Breast.     *  Blessed. 

1$.  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. 

ft.  When,  at  length,  he  was 
about  to  die  on  the  Cross,  he 
commended  his  Virgin  Mother 
to  this  his  virgin  disciple. 
*  Because. 

I£.  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. 

1$.  Be  thou  faithful  unto 
death,  and  I  will  give  thee  the 
crown  of  life.     *  For. 


1$.  Iste  est  Joannes  qui 
supra  pectus  Domini  in  cce- 
na  recubuit :  *  Beatus  Apos- 
tolus, cui  revelata  sunt  se- 
creta  ccelestia. 

ft.  Fluenta  Evangelii  de 
ipso  sacro  Dominici  pecto- 
ris fonte  potavit.  *  Beatus. 

1$.  Diligebat  autem  eum 
Jesus,  quoniam  specialis 
praerogativa  castitatis  am- 
pliori  dilectione  f  ecerat  dig- 
num  :  *  Quia  virgo  electus 
ab  ipso,  virgo  in  sevum 
permansit. 

ft.  In  cruce  denique  mo- 
riturus,  huic  Matrem  suam 
virginem  virgini  commen- 
davit.  *  Quia. 

R.  In  ilium  diem  susci- 
piam  te  servum  meum,  et 
ponam  te  sicut  signaculum 
in  conspectu  meo  :  *  Quo- 
niam ego  elegi  te,  dicit  Do- 
minus. 

ft.  Esto  fidelis  usque  ad 
mortem,  et  dabo  tibi  coro- 
nam  vitae.  *  Quoniam. 


The  Mozarabic  Breviary,  in  the  Office  of  St. 
John  the  Evangelist,  contains  the  following  beautiful 
prayer : — 


CAPITULUM. 


Ineffable,  O  Lord,  are  the 
streams  of  thy  Heart,  where- 
with the  Disciple,  whom  thou 


Ineffabilia  sunt,  Domine, 
fluenta  uteri  tui,  quibus 
prae  caeteris  dilectus  iHe  a  te 


452 


CHEISTMAS. 


discipulus,  recubans  in  sinu 
tuo,  satiari  promeruit  : 
quaesumus  ergo,  ut,  niorti- 
ficatis  membris  nostris,  tuis 
semper  merearnur  inhaerere 
vestigiis  :  ut  intercessu  hu- 
jus  sancti  Joannis,  ita  nos 
ignis  amoris  tui  concremet, 
et  absumat,  qnaliter  bene- 
placitum  nos  tibi  in  toto 
holocaustum  efficiat. 


lovedst  above  the  rest,  de- 
served to  be  filled,  when  lean- 
ing on  thy  Breast :  we,  there- 
fore, 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  holo- 
caust well-pleasing  unto  thee. 


We  find,  also,  this  other  prayer,  in  the  Missal  of 

the  same  Gothic  Liturgy. 


PRAYER. 


Vide,  vide,  Deus,  quibus 
gravati  delictis  obruimur  ; 
qualiterque  nobis  ipsi  quo- 
tidie  efficimur  causa  veneni 
et  poena  supplier^  dum 
cum  quotidiano  carnis  nos- 
tras veneno  polluimur,  _  et 
de  reparatione  melioris  vitse 
nullo  modo  cogitamus.  Sed 
quia  certum  est  quod  hoc 
videas,  qui  semper  es  Cle- 
mens ;  et  ideo  per  confes- 
sionem  nos  ad  te  redituros 
exspectas,  ideo  suggerimus, 
ut  Apostolo  tuo  Joanne  in- 
tercedente  ;  qui  invocato 
nomine  tuo  lethale  ebibens 
virus,  non  solum  ipse  eva- 
sit,  sed  etiam  alios  ex  eodem 
extinctos  populo  suscitavit. 
Procul  a  nobis  efficias  et  in- 
centivam  carnis  nostras  libi- 
dinem,  et  virus  persuasionis 
hostis  antiqui,  ut  fide  te  co- 
lentes,  sicut  Joannem  Apos- 
tolum  non  nocuit  oblatum 
venenum,  ita  nos  non  noceat 


See,  see,  O  God,  the  sins 
whereby  we  are  weighed  down, 
and  how  we  daily  create  to 
ourselves  the  poison  that  de- 
stroys and  the  pain  that  pu- 
nishes, 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,  be- 
cause thou  art  merciful,  thou 
awaitest  us  that  we  return  to 
thee  by  humble  confession ; 
therefore,  do  we  beg  the  in- 
tercession of  John,  thine  Apos- 
tle, 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 


JAN.    3.      OCTAVE  OF   ST.   JOHN. 


453 


enemy's     suggestions ;     that    latentium    vitiorum    virus 

worshipping  thee  by  our  faith,     occultum. 

we  may  be  guarded  against 

the  hidden  poison  of   latent 

passions,  as  the  poison  offered 

to  the  Apostle  John  left  him 

uninjured. 

We  take  from  the  Mensea  of  the  Greek  Church  a 
second  selection  of  stanzas  in  honour  of  the  holy 
Evangelist. 

ON  THE  FEAST  OF  ST.  JOHN  THE  THEOLOGIAN". 

{XXVI.  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 
didst  gain  over  Patmos  and 
Ephesus.  Beseech  Christ  our 
Lord  to  grant  forgiveness  of 
sin  to  us  who  lovingly  cele- 
brate thy  holy  memory. 

Thy  tongue  was  made  the 
pen  of  Him  who  wrote  by 
thee  —  the  Holy  Ghost ;  it 
showed  us,  by  divine  inspira- 
tion, the  venerable  and  divine 
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 


Maris  abyssum  derelin- 
quens,  crucis  calamo  omnes 
sapienter  fidei  piscatus  es 
gentes  velut  pisces ;  nam, 
ut  dixit  tibi  Christus,  ap- 
paruisti  piscator  hominum, 
carpens  eos  ad  pietatem  ; 
ideo  sparsisti  Yerbi  gno- 
sim  ;  Patmos  et  Ephesum 
sermonibus  cepisti  tuis, 
Theologe  Apostole ;  depre- 
care  Christum  Deum  ut  det 
lapsuum  remissionem  cele- 
brantibus  cum  amore  tuam 
sanctam  commemorationem. 

Lingua  tua  facta  est  cala- 
mus scriptoris  Spiritus 
sancti,  deifice  demonstrans 
venerabile  et  divinum  Evan- 
gelium. 

Magnse  divinasque  tuse 
theologiae  faces  totam,  glo- 
riose,  illuminarunt  terram 
luce  trisolari  splendentem. 

Vere  fuit  tamquam  cala- 
mus velociter  scribentis  tua 
lingua  theodica,  veram  pul- 
chre  scribens  gnosim  et  le- 


454 


CHRISTMAS. 


gem  novissimam  in  tabulis, 
theologe,  cordium  nostro- 
rum. 

Coeloram  scire  celsitudi- 
nes,  marisque  explorare 
abyssos  temerarium  et  in- 
tentabile ;  astra  autem  nu- 
merare  vel  littoralem  are- 
nam  par  est.  Sic  de  theo- 
logo  dici  non  potest  quot 
ipsum  coronis  quern  ania- 
bat  coronavit  Christus,  su- 
pra cujus  pectus  recubuit, 
et  in  mystica  coena  eum 
lautissime  ref  ecit  sicut  theo- 
logum  et  Christi  amicum. 

Terrestrem  petisti  apud 
Christum  sedem  habere  ;  at 
ille  tibi  pectus  suum  donat, 
o  vocate  theologe,  tranquilla 
et  permanente  sede  pulchri- 
tudinis  ditatus  es  Aposto- 
lorum  gloria. 


on  the  tablets  of  our  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  sumptuously  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  Theo- 
logian, and  art  the  glory  of 
the  Apostles  ! 

Let  us  now  loudly  celebrate 
in  spiritual  canticles  this  ser- 
vant 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  most  bright 
eye  of  charity,  the  most  vene- 
rable 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  fer- 


Virginitatis  florem,  vene- 
randarum  virtutum  elec- 
tum  habitaculum,  sapien- 
tise  instrumentum,  templum 
Spiritus,  os  EcclesiaB  igni- 
ferum,  charitatis  manifestis- 
simum  oculum,  venerandis- 
simum  Joannem,  spiritu- 
alibus  canticis  nunc  sur- 
sum  celebremus,  tamquam 
Christi  famulum. 

Evangelista  Joannes,  par 
Angelo,  virgo,  a  Deo  docte, 
limpidissimum  latus  san- 
guine et  aqua  fluens  prsedi- 
casti,  per  quern  deducimur 
ad  vitam  seternam  anima- 
bus  nostris. 


JAN.   3.      OCTAVE  OF  ST.   JOHN. 


455 


vent  in  their  praises  of  St.  John,  and  have  left  us  a 
great  many  Hymns  in  his  honour.  Out  of  the  number, 
we  select  only  two;  the  first  is  the  composition  of 
Adam  of  Saint- Victor,  and  is  the  finest  of  the  four 
written  on  St.  John  by  the  great  lyric  Poet  of  those 
times. 

SEQUENCE. 


'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  im- 
bibed wisdom. 

'Twas  to  him  that  Jesus, 
dying  on  the  Cross,  left  his 
Mother  :  John,  the  virgin, 
was  guardian  of  the  Virgin. 

His  heart  was  filled  with 
burning  charity  \  his  exterior, 
his  miracles,  his  words,  were  a 
shining  light. 

As  the  fire  of  criminal  pas- 
sion had  never  impaired  his 
soul ;  so  did  he  come  unhurt 
from  the  caldron  of  boiling 
oil. 

He  checked  the  power  of 
poison ;  death,  disease,  and 
demons,  fled  at  his  bidding. 

And  yet,  with  all  this  hea- 
venly power,  he  was  the  ten- 
derest  hearted  friend  to  them 
that  were  in  grief. 

Some  precious  stones  had 
been  broken ;  he  miraculously 
brought  the  fragments  to- 
gether, and  thus  pieced,  gave 
them  to  the  poor. 


Gratulemur  ad  festivum, 
Jocundemur  ad  votivum 
Joannis  prseconium. 
Sic  versetur  laus  in  ore, 
ISTe  fraudetur  cor  sap  ore 
Quo  degustet  gaudium. 

Hie  est  Christi  prsedilec- 
tus 
Qui  reclinans  supra  pectus, 
Hausit  sapientiam. 
Huic  in  cruce   commen- 
davit 
Matrem   Christus  ;  hie  ser- 
vavit 
Virgo  viri  nesciam. 
Intus  ardens  charitate, 
Foris  lucens  honestate, 
Signis  et  eloquio, 

Ut  ab  asstu  criminali, 
Sic  immunis  a  poenali, 
Prodiit  ex  dolio. 


Vim  veneni  superavit, 
Morti,  morbis  imperavit, 
Nee  non  et  demonibus. 
Sed  vir  tantse  potestatis, 
Non  minoris  pietatis 
Erat  tribulantibus. 

Cum    gemmarum   partes 
fractas 
Solidasset,  has  distractas 
Tribuit  pauperibus. 


456 


CHRISTMAS. 


Inexhaustum  fert  thesau- 
rum, 
Qui  de  virgis  fecit  aurum, 
Gemmas  de  lapidibus. 
Invitatur  ab  amico 
Convivari ;  Christum  dico 
Visum  cum  discipulis. 

De  sepulcro  quo  descendit 
Redivivus  sic  ascenclit, 
Frui  summis  epulis. 

Testem  habes  populum, 
Immo,  si  vis,  oculum, 
Quod  ad  ejus  tumulum 
Manna  scatet,  epulum 
De  Christi  convivio. 

Scribens  Evangelium, 
Aquilse  fert  proprium, 
Cernens  solis  radium, 
Scilicet  Principium 
Verbum  in  Principio. 

Hujus  signis  est  conversa 
Gens  gentiks,  gens  perversa, 
Gens  totius  Asiae. 
Hujus  scriptis  illustratur, 
Illustrata  solidatur 
Unitas  Ecclesise. 
Salve,  salvi  vas  pudoris, 
Vas  ccelestis  plenum  roris, 
Mundum     intus,      clarum 
foris, 
Nobile  per  omnia ! 
Fac  nos  sequi    sanctita- 
tem ; 
Fac,  per  mentis  puritatem, 
Contemplari  Trinitatem, 
In  una  substantia. 
Amen. 


He  was  a  living  treasure, 
for  lie  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  Dis- 
ciples : 

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 
stedfastly  at  the  Sun,  that  is, 
at  the  Eternal  Word  in  the 
Bosom  of  the  Eternal  Father. 

By  his  miracles,  the  gentile 
world,  a  stubborn  world,  the 
world  of  Asia,  was  converted. 

His  writings  enlighten,  and, 
by  their  light,  confirm  the  one 
true  Church. 

Hail,  then,  vessel  of  unsul- 
lied 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  holi- 
ness, and  by  the  cleanliness  of 
our  hearts,  be  rewarded  with 
the  vision  of  the  Tri-une  God. 

Amen. 


Our  second  Sequence  is  taken  from  the  ancient 
Missals  of  the  Churches  of  Germany,  and  is  extremely 
beautiful. 


JAN. 


O. 


OCTAVE  OF   ST.  JOHN. 


457 


SEQUENCE. 


The  Word  of  God,  who  was 
born  of  God,  and  was  not 
made  nor  created,  and  who 
came  down  from  heaven — this 
Word  was  seen,  and  handled, 
and  revealed  to  men,  by  John 
the  Evangelist. 

John  sprang  up  amidst  those 
true  rivulets,  which,  from  the 
commencement,  flowed  from 
the  True  Fountain ;  he  has 
made  the  whole  world  drink 
of  that  life-giving  nectar,  that 
flows  from  the  throne  of 
God. 

He  soared  above  the  hea- 
vens, and  gazed,  with  the  fixed- 
ness of  his  soul's  eye,  on  the 
brightness  of  the  true  Sun  ; 
this  spiritual  contemplator 
saw,  as  it  were  from  under  the 
wings  of  the  Seraphim,  the 
Face  of  God. 

He  hears  what  songs  are 
sung  round  the  Throne  by  the 
Four  and  Twenty  Elders  and 
the  heavenly  Harpers.  He 
has  stamped  upon  the  coin  of 
our  terrestrial  city  the  impress 
and  seal  of  the  Holy  Trinity. 

He,  the  guardian  of  the  Vir- 
gin, wrote  his  Gospel,  that  he 
might  show  to  the  world  the 
profound  mystery  of  the  Di- 
vine Generation :  and  Jesus, 
after  allowing  him  to  recline 
on  his  Sacred  Heart,  com- 
mended his  own  pure  Lily, 
Mary,  to  this  his  and  her  much 
loved  one,  the  Son  of  Thun- 
der. 

He  drinks  a  deadly  poison  ! 
but  the  virtue  of  his  faith  pre- 
serves his  virginal  body  from 


Verbum  Dei,  Deo  natum, 
Quod  nee  factum  nee  crea- 

tum, 
Venit  de  coelestibus  : 
Hoc  vidit,  hoc  attrectavit, 
Hoc  de  coelo  reseravit 
Joannes  hominibus. 

Inter  illos  primitivos 
Veros  veri  fontis  rivos 
Joannes  exsiliit, 
Toti  mundo  propinare 
Nectar  illud  salutare 
Quod  de  throno  prodiit. 


Ccelum  transit,  veri  rotam 
Solis  ibi  vidit,  totam 
Mentis  figens  aciem  : 
Speculator  spiritalis 
Quasi  Seraphim  sub  alis 
Dei  videt  faciem. 


Audiit  in  gyro  sedis 
Quid    psallant   cum  citha- 

roedis 
Quater  seni  proceres : 
De  sigillo  Trinitatis 
Nostras  nummo  civitatis 
Impressit  characteres. 

Iste  custos  Virginis 
Arcanum  originis 
Divinae  mysterium, 
Scribens  Evangelium, 
Mundo  demonstravit : 
Cordis  cui  sacrarium 
Suum  Christus  lilium, 
Filio  tonitrui 
Sub  amoris  mutui 
Pace  commendavit. 

Haurit  virus  hie  lethale, 
Ubi  corpus  virginale 
Virtus  servat  fidei : 


458 


CHKISTMAS. 


Poena  stupet  quod  in  poena 
Sit  Joannes  sine  poena 
Bullientis  olei. 


Hie  naturis  imperat 
Ut  et  saxa  transferat 
In  decus  gemmarum  : 
Quo  jubente  riguit, 
Auri  fulvum  induit 
Virgula  silvarum. 

Hie  infernum  reserat,    . 
Morti  jubet,  referat 
Quos  venenum  stravit : 
Obstruit  quod  Ebion, 
Cerinthus  et  Marcion 
Perfide  latravit. 

Volat  avis  sine  meta 
Quo    nee    vates,'  nee  Pro- 

pheta 
Evolavit  altius  : 
Tarn    implenda,   quam  im- 

pleta 
Numquam  vidit  tot  secreta 
Purus  homo  purius. 

Sponsus  rubra  veste  tec- 
tus, 
Visus  sed  non  intellectus, 
Redit  ad  palatium  : 
Aquilam  Ezechielis 
Sponsse  misit  quae  de  coelis 
Beferret  mysterium. 


Die,  dilecte,  de  dilecto, 
Qualis  sit,  et  ex  dilecto 
Sponsus  sponsae  nuncia  : 
Die  quis  cibus  Angelorum, 
Quae  sint  festa  superorum 
De  sponsi  praesentia. 


Veri  panem  intellectus, 
Coenam  Christi  supra  pectus 
Christi  sumptam  resera : 
Ut  cantemus  de  patrono, 


death.  Nay,  the  very  crea- 
ture that  was  prepared  to  tor- 
ture 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  of  a  tree  turn  its  pliant 
fibres  into  the  precious  metal 
of  gold,  and  it  obeys. 

He  bids  the  sepulchre  and 
death  yield  back  them  whom 
poison  had  made  their  victims; 
they  obey.  He  stops  the  blas- 
phemous howlings  of  Ebion, 
Cerinthus,  and  Marcion. 

He  is  the  Eagle,  soaring  to 
the  infinite;  nor  Seer,  nor 
Prophet,  passed  him  in  his 
flight.  No  pure  mind  ever 
saw  more  clearly  than  he  so 
many  mysteries,  already  past 
or  yet  to  come. 

Jesus,  the  Bridegroom, 
clothed  in  his  scarlet  robe, 
after  being  seen  by  men,  but 
not  understood,  returned  to 
his  palace  above  :  he  sent  to 
his  Bride  the  Eagle  of  Eze- 
chiel,  that  he  might  relate  to 
her  the  mystery  seen  in  hea- 
ven. 

0  Beloved  Disciple  !  speak 
to  us  of  thy  Beloved  :  tell  the 
Church  the  beauty  of  this  thy 
Jesus,  who  is  her  chosen 
Spouse  :  tell  her,  who  is  the 
Bread  of  the  Angels  :  tell  her, 
what  feasts  her  Spouse's  pre- 
sence causes  to  the  citizens  of 
heaven. 

Speak  to  her  of  that  Bread 
which  feeds  the  soul  with 
truth ;  reveal  to  her  that  Sup- 
per of  thy  Lord  taken  on  the 


JAN.   3.      OCTAVE  OF   ST.   JOHN.  459 

Breast  of  thy  Lord  :  we  will    Coram  Agno,  coram  throno, 
sing  to  the  Lamb,  we  will  sing    Laudes  super  aethera. 
round  the    Throne,   we    will 
praise  him  above  the  heavens, 
for  his  having  given  us  such  a 
Patron  as  thee. 

O  glorious  Saint !  we  thank  thee  with  all  the  gra- 
titude 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  ser- 
pent of  heresy  be  crushed,  and  its  poisoned  cup  find 
neither  teachers  to  offer  it,  nor  disciples  to  drink  it. 
May  the  attachment  to  the  doctrines  of  the  Church 
be  firm  and  courageous ;  may  no  human  schemes  or 
theories,  or  cowardly  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 


460  CHRISTMAS. 

received  the  Gospel  from  thee,  but  have  since  de- 
served 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  Mahometanism  cease  its  brutalising  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,  and  which  she  counts  as  one  of  those  her 
grand  glories,  which  began  with  the  Martyrdom  of 
thy  fellow  Apostles,  Peter  and  Paul.  May  she  re- 
ceive a  fresh  infusion  of  light  and  charity,  now  that 
the  harvest  is  whitening  over  so  many  countries.1 
And,  lastly,  Beloved  Disciple  of  the  Saviour  of  man- 
kind !  pray  that,  on  the  last  day,  we  may  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. 

1  St.  John,  iv.  35. 


JAN.   4.      OCTAVE   OF  HOLY  INNOCENTS.  461 


January  4. 
THE  OCTAVE  OF  HOLY  INNOCENTS. 


We  finish,  to-day,  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  re-appear  on  the  Church's  Calendar,  until  the 
return  of  the  Christmas  Solemnity;  let  us,  there- 
fore, devoutly  approach  these  sweet  Infant  Saints — 
venerate  them,  love  them,  and  address  to  them  our 
farewell  prayers. 

The  Holy  Church,  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.  Not- 
withstanding, she  is  full  of  tender  compassion  for 
those  poor  Mothers,  who  suffered  such  agonies  of 
grief  at  the  sight  of  the  murder  of  their  little  ones: 
she  continually  alludes  to  it  in  to-day's  Liturgy,  and 
reads,  in  the  Office  of  Matins,  a  passage  from  an 
ancient  Sermon,  which  vividly  describes  their  feel- 
ings. 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  lamen- 
"  tation,  not  indeed  in  heaven,  but  on  earth  !  Lamen- 
"  tation  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 


462  CHRISTMAS. 

"  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 
"  they  lose  their  lambs,  that  scarce  have  voice  to 
"  make  their  bleatings  heard.  O  wonderful  martyr- 
"  dom !  0  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  over  their 
"lambs.  A  voice  in  Rama  is  heard,  lamentation 
"  and  great  mourning.  These  sweet  pledges  are  not 
"  mere  things  entrusted  to  their  care,  they  are  the 
"  children  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  whom  the  tyrant  is  in  search  of.  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  ?  I  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 
"  'was  any  fault,  I  only  could  be  guilty :  if  there  was 
"  '  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  !' 


JAN.  4.      OCTAVE  OF  HOLY  INNOCENTS.  4G3 

"And  again  another  cried  out:  'Come,  0  come, 
" '  thou  Saviour  of  the  world  !  How  long  shalt  thou 
"  '  be  sought  for  ?  Thou  fearest  no  man :  let  these 
u<  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  belonging  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  Incar- 
nate Word,  thus  offered,  to  the  God  who  had  called 
them,  the  most  precious  treasure  they  possessed. 
They  knew  to  what  Child  their  children  were  sacri- 
ficed, 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 
fellow-creatures. 

As  to  Herod,  he  was  foiled  in  his  schemes,  as 
must  ever  be  the  case  with  them  that  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  neigh- 
bourhood; 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  designs  of  God ;  and,  in  this  instance, 
the  very  measure  that  was  intended  to  effect  evil, 
produced  good — the  tyrant  enriched  the  Church  of 
heaven  with  Saints,  and  the  Church  militant  with  so 
many  fresh  patrons. 

Jesus,  the  new-born  King  of  the  Jews,1  who 
causes  Herod  to  tremble  on  his  throne,  is  but  a  Little 
Child,  without  so  much   as   one   single   soldier   to 

1  St.  Matth.  ii.  2. 


464  CHKISTMAS. 

defend  him.  Herod,  like  all  the  persecutors  of  the 
Church,  has  an  instinctive  knowledge,  which  teaches 
him,  that  this  apparent  weakness  is  real  and  formi- 
dable power:  what  neither  he  nor  his  successors 
knew,  was,  that  it  is  worse  than  useless,  and  worse 
than  folly,  to  attempt  to  crush  a  spiritual  power 
by  the  sword.  This  apparent  weakness  of  the  Babe 
of  Bethlehem  will  increase  with  his  years ;  now  he 
flees  from  the  tyrant  who  seeks  his  life ;  but  later  on, 
when  he  has  grown  into  Manhood,  he  will  not  escape 
from  his  enemies;  they  will  fasten  him  to  an  infa- 
mous gibbet,  between  two  Thieves — but,  on  that 
very  day,  a  Roman  Governor  will  declare  this  Jesus 
to  he  King;  he  will  write,  with  his  own  hand,  the  in- 
scription to  be  nailed  on  the  Cross :  Jesus  of  Nazareth, 
King  of  the  Jews.  Pilate  will  give  Jesus,  and  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  being  altered; 
but  Pilate  will  not  change  an  iota,  and  will  say  : 
What  I  have  written,  I  have  written.1  As  on  the 
day  of  his  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,  page  314.  The  Gloria 
in  excelsis  is  said. 

Let  us  once  more  honour  these  dear  Innocents,  by 
culling  their  praises  from  the  various  Liturgies.  We 
will  begin  with  three  Responsories  from  the  Roman 
Breviary. 

RESPONSORIES. 

1$.  Isti  qui  amicti    sunt  ^.  These  that  are  clad  in 

stolis   albis,    qui    sunt,    et  white  robes,  who  are  they,  and 

unde   venerunt1?    Et   dixit  whence  came  they?    And  he 

mini :  *  Hi  sunt,  qui  vene-  said  unto  me  :  *  These  are 

1  St.  John,  xix.  22. 


JAN.   4.      OCTAVE  OF  HOLY  INNOCENTS. 


465 


they  who  are  come  out  of 
great  tribulation,  and  have 
washed  their  robes,  and  have 
made  them  white  in  the  Blood 
of  the  Lamb. 

p.  I  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. 


runt  de  tribulatione  magna, 
et  laverunt  stolas  suas,  et 
dealbaverunt  eas  in  san- 
guine Agni. 

^".  Vidi  sub  altare  Dei 
animas  interfectorum  prop- 
ter Verbum  Dei,  et  propter 
testimonium  quod  habe- 
bant.  *  Hi  sunt. 


I£.  These  are  they  which 
have  not  defiled  their  gar- 
ments ;  *  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. 


T$.  Isti  sunt  qui  non  in- 
quinaverunt  vestimenta  sua ; 

*  Ambulabant   mecum   in 
albis,  quia  digni  sunt. 

m  (¥•  Hi  sunt  qui  cum  mu- 
lieribus  non  sunt  coinqui- 
nati;  virgines    enim    sunt. 

*  Ambulabant. 


I£.  These  Saints  sang  a  new 
canticle  before  the  throne  of 
God  and  the  Lamb  ;  *  And 
the  earth  resounded  with  their 
voices. 

$".  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. 


.  I£.  Cantabant  Sancti  can- 
ticum  novum  ante  sedem 
Dei  et  Agni :  *  Et  resonabat 
terra  in  voces  eorum. 

_  $T.  Hi  empti  sunt  ex  homi- 
nibus,  primitiaeDeoet  Agno, 
et  in  ore  ipsorum  non  est 
inventum  mendacium.  *  Et 
resonabat. 


The  two  Collects  which  follow,  are  from  the  Leonian 
Sacramentary. 


PEAYEE. 


O  God,  who  though  great  in 
great  things,  dost  nevertheless 
work  with  exceeding  glory  in 
those  that  are  the  least :  grant. 


Deus  qui  licet  sis  magnus 
in  magnis,  mirabilia  tamen 
gloriosius  operaris  in  mini- 
mis :  da  nobis,  qusesumus, 

2h 


466 


CHRISTMAS. 


in  eorum  celebritate  gau- 
dere,  qui  Filio  tuo  Domino 
nostro  testimonium  prsebu- 
erunt  etiam  non  loquentes. 


we  beseech  thee,  that  we  may 
rejoice  on  this  the  Feast  of 
them,  who  bore  testimony, 
though  they  spoke  not,  to  thy 
Son,  our  Lord. 


PEAYEE. 


Tribue,  Domine,  quaesu- 
mus,  fidelibus  tuis,  ut,  sicut 
ait  Apostolus,  non  effician- 
tur  pueri  sensibus,  sed  ma- 
litia  innoxii  reperiantur  ut 
parvuli ;  ut  Martyres  festi- 
vitatis  hodiernse,  quos  men- 
tis aequare  non  possunt, 
mentis  simplicitate  secten- 
tur.  Per  Christum  Domi- 
num  nostrum. 


Grant,  we  beseech  thee,  O 
Lord,  to  thy  faithful  people, 
that,  as  thy  Apostle  saith,  they 
may  become  children  not  in 
sense,  but  in  malice  ;  that  thus 
they  may  imitate  the  Martyrs 
of  this  day's  Feast  by  the  sim- 
plicity of  their  hearts,  since 
they  cannot  attain  to  the 
merits  they  acquired.  Through 
Christ  our  Lord. 


We  take  the  following  beautiful  prayer  from  the 
Mozarabic  Breviary  of  the  Gothic  Liturgy  of  Spain. 


CAPITULA. 


Christe,  inenarrabile  lu- 
men mundi,  qui  adhuc  in 
ipsis  cunabulis  constitutus, 
nondum  effectus  martyr, 
martyrii  palma  catervas  In- 
fantium  dedicasti  :  qui  nec- 
dum  loqui  valentes,  sub 
mucrone  ssevientium  varios 
fecisti  mugitus  emittere  : 
quorum  animas  de  abditis 
infernorum,  te  spontanee 
pro  nobis  omnibus  morien- 
te,  maluisti  eripere  ;  inspira 
eis,  sine  intermissione  orare 
pro  parvulis  :  ut,  qui  pro- 
priis  non  valeamus  suppli- 
cationibus  emundari  a  cri- 
mine,  eorum,  qui  te,  quo- 
cumque  ieris,  cum  hymnis, 
et  canticis  adsequuntur,  et 
hie  et  in  seternum  postula- 
tionibus  abluamur 


O  Jesus,  Light  ineffable  of 
the  world  !  who,  whilst  yet  in 
thy  Crib,  and  not  thyself  a 
Martyr,  didst  give  the  palm  of 
martyrdom  to  the  army  of  In- 
nocents :  who,  not  being  able 
to  speak,  did,  by  thy  will,  utter 
their  many  cries  when  being 
massacred  by  the  cruel  sol- 
diers :  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  de- 
sire 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  pu- 
rity by  the  intercession  of  them, 
that  follow  thee  whithersoever 
thou  goest,  singing  to  thee  their 
hymns  and  canticles. 


JAN.  4.      OCTAVE  OF  HOLY  INNOCENTS.       467 


The  Missal  of  the  same  Church  gives  us  also  this 
prayer. 

PRAYER. 


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  un- 
der 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  concu- 
piscence of  the  flesh,  we  may 
have  no  will  save  that  of  being 
taught    by    thy   instructions. 
May  our  soul  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 
judgment  of  discernment,  she 
may    both    know  thy    good- 
pleasure  and  do  it,  and  ignore 
how  to  do  that  which  offends 
thee.       May    she,    moreover, 
possess  that  wholesome  tem- 
perance, which  flows  from  the 
guidance  of  counsel ;  that  so, 
she    both    imitate    the    sim- 
plicity of  these  Innocents,  in 
that  they  were  children,  and 
emulate  their  fortitude,  in  that 
they  were  combatants.  Amen. 


Deus  cujus  misericordia 
utrumque    sexum    et     per 
omnem     cucurrit     setatem, 
ita     plurimum     Infantibus 
affectum    paternse    pietatis 
indulgens,  ut  parvulos  nee 
ab  iEgypto  teneri  sineres, 
nee  ab  Evangelio  prohibe- 
ri,  dum  in  Lege  cum  patri- 
bus  evaderent  mundum  ;  et 
in  gratia  cum  perfectis  vo- 
carentur  ad  regnum,  atque 
institutione  doctrinse,  inno- 
centia  expers    mali    forma 
induceretur  exempli.    Dona 
nobis  famulis  tuis,  ut  mali- 
tias  viribus  defecati,  in  usum 
concupiscentise  carnalis  in- 
valid!, docibilem  servemus 
disciplinis  voluntatem.  Quo 
mens  nee  rigida  nee  super- 
ba,  sic  sit  blanda,  sic  inno- 
cens,    ne    imprudens ;     sic 
humilis,  ne  imbecillis  ;  qua- 
tenus    maturo    discretionis 
judicio  sic  sufficiat  probare 
quod    placeat,   ut   effectare 
nesciat  quod  delinquat.  At- 
que    ita    salubrem    sumat 
temperantiam      moderante 
consilio,  ut  et  simplicitatem 
imitetur  infantium,  et  for- 
titudinem  vindicet  pugna- 
torum. 

Amen. 


468 


CHKISTMAS. 


Prudentius,  the  Poet  of  the  Mysteries  and  the 
Martyrs,  and  from  whom  the  Church  has  taken  her 
beautiful  stanzas  for  the  Feast  of  the  Holy  Innocents, 
Salvete,  Flores  Martyrum, — celebrates  the  immola- 
tion of  these  lovely  Babes  of  Bethlehem,  in  his  ex- 
quisite Hymn  for  the  Epiphany.  It  is  from  this 
Hymn  that  the  Roman  Liturgy  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,  ferram  rape, 
Perfunde  cunas  sanguine. 


Mas  inf  ans  omnis  occidat ; 
Scratare  nutricmn  sinus ; 
Interque  materna  ubera 
Ensem  cruentet  pusio. 


Suspecta    per     Bethlem 

mihi 
Puerperarum  est  omnium 
Fraus,  ne  qua  furtim  sub- 

traliat 
Prolem  virilis  inclolis.  _ 

Transfigit  ergo  carnifex, 
Mucrone  distiicto  furens, 
Effusa  nuper  corpora, 
Animasque  rimatur  novas. 


Locum  minutis  artubus 
Vix  interemptor  invenit, 


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  male-child  be 
"slain,  and  every  nurse  be 
"watched,  and  every  Babe 
"feel  thy  sharp-edged  blade, 
"even  whilst  he  sucks  his 
"  mother's  breast. 

"  Not  a  Mother  about  Beth- 
"  lehem  but  I  suspect  her ; 
"then,  watch  them  all,  lest 
"they  hide  their  boys  from 
"thee." 

On  this,  the  executioner 
goes,  and,  in  his  wild  cruelty, 
plunges  his  naked  dagger  into 
the  tender  flesh  and  the  but 
freshly  formed  hearts  of  these 
little  ones. 

But,  where  shall  he  strike  ? 
where  find  space  enough  to 


JAN.   4.      OCTAVE  OF  HOLY  INNOCENTS.       469 


Quod  plaga  descendat  pa- 
tens, 
Juguloque  major  pugio  est. 
O  barbarumspectaculum ! 
Illisa  cervix  cautibus 
Spargit  cerebrum  lacteum, 
Oculosque  per  vulnusvomit. 


hold  a  gaping  wound,  in  these 
infant-bodies  not  so  big  as  the 
dagger  in  his  hand  1 

Yet  still  these  butchers  mur- 
der every  child.  Here,  it  is  an 
infant  dashed  against  a  rock, 
covering  its  flinty  sides,  oh  ! 
cruel  sight  !  with  blood,  and 
brains,  and  eyes. 

There,  it  is  a  lovely  babe 
torn  from  his  mother's  arms 
and  thrown  into  a  deep  stream, 
whose  gurgling  waters  weep 
whilst  drowning  sobs  and  life 
so  sweet  as  these. 

Hail,  ye  Flowers  of  the  Mar- 
tyrs !  The  enemy  of  Christ  cut 
you  down  in  the  very  thresh- 
old of  life,  as  rose-buds  are 
snapped  by  a  storm. 

First  Victims  for  Jesus ! 
Tender  flock  of  his  Martyrs  ! 
ye,  with  sweet  simplicity,  play 
with  palms  and  your  crowns, 
even  at  the  very  altar  of  your 
sacrifice ! 

And  what  does  Herod  gain 
by  this  dark  crime  1  Does  it 
give  him  what  he  sought1? 
The  single  One  he  cared  to 
kill  is  Jesus,  and  He  still 
lives ! 

The  stream  of  infant-blood 
has  ceased  to  flow,  and  He 
alone  is  safe :  the  Virgin's 
Child  has  escaped  that  sword, 
which  robbed  all  other  Mothers 
of  their  babes. 

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  Saint- 
Gall. 


Aut  in  profundum  pal- 
pitans 
Mersatur  infans  gurgitem, 
Cui  subter  arctis  faucibus 
Singultat  unda,  et  halitus. 

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. 


Quid  proficit  tantum  ne- 

.  f  as  l 
Quid  crimen  Herodem  ju- 

vaU  _ 
Unus  tot  inter  funera 
Impune  Christus  tollitur. 

Inter  cosevi  sanguinis 
Fluenta,  solus  integer, 
Ferrum,  quod  orbabat  mi- 
nis, 
Partus  fefellit  Virginis. 

Sic  stulta  Pharaonis  mali 
E  dicta  quondam  fugerat, 
Christi  figuram  prseferens, 
Moses,  receptor  civium. 


470 


CHEISTMAS. 


SEQUENCE. 


Laus  tibi,  Christe,  Patris 
optimi  Nate,  Deus  omnipo- 
tentiaa, 

Quern  coelitus  jubilat  su- 
pra astra  manentis  plebis 
decus  harmonise : 

Quern  agmina  infantium 
sonoris  hyninis  collaudant 
aetheris  in  arce  : 

Quos  impius,  ob  nominis 
odium  tui,  niisero  straverat 
vulnere  : 

Quos  pie  nunc  remuneras 
in  coelis,  Christe,  pro  pcenis 
nitide ; 

Solita  usus  gratia,  qua 
tuos  ornas  coronis  splen- 
dide; 

Quorum  precibus  sacris 
dele,  precamur,  nostra  pie 
crimina  vitas, 

Et  quos  laudibus  tuis 
junxeras,  nobis  istic  dones 
clemens  favere  : 


Illis  aeternaa  dans  lumen 
glorias,  nobis  terrea  concede 
vincere  ; 

Ut  liceat  serenis  actibus 
pleniter  adipisci  dona  tuae 
gratiae  : 

Herodis  ut  non  fiat  socius, 
quisquis  in  horum  laude  se 
exercet  propere ; 

Sed  aeternaliter  cum  eis- 
dem  catervis  tecum  sit, 
Domine.    Amen. 


Praise  be  to  thee,  0  Jesus, 
Son  of  the  all-perfect  Father, 
Almighty  God  ! 

Unto  whom  the  sweet  hymns 
of  the  citizens  of  heaven  are 
ever  giving  praise, 

And  the  Innocent  Babes 
are  ever  singing  their  melo- 
dious songs  of  praise  in  the 
courts  above. 

These  Babes  were  slain  by 
the  ruthless  sword,  at  the  bid- 
ding of  a  wicked  king,  who 
hated  thy  name, 

And  now  are  richly  rewarded 
in  heaven,  by  thee  0  Jesus,  in 
return  for  the  sufferings  they 
endured ; 

Herein  showing  thy  wonted 
mercy,  which  gives,  to  all  who 
serve  thee,  crowns  of  richest 
beauty. 

By  the  holy  prayers  of  these 
Innocents,  mercifully  cleanse 
us,  we  beseech  thee,  from  the 
sins  of  our  past  lives, 

And  lovingly  grant,  that 
they  whom  thou  hast  associat- 
ed to  thyself  to  give  thee  praise, 
may  become  our  protectors 
here  below. 

On  them  bestow  the  light  of 
endless  glory  ;  on  us,  the  vic- 
tory over  earthly  things, 

That  thus,  by  a  life  of  holi- 
ness, we  may  merit  an  abun- 
dance of  the  riches  of  thy  grace. 

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,  0  Lord,  in  the 
society  of  this  sweet  choir  of. 
heaven.     Amen. 


JAN.   4.      OCTAVE  OF   HOLY  INNOCENTS.         471 

Sweet  Flowers  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  pray  for  us  to  the  Lamb,  who  loves  you 
so  tenderly.  We  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.1  Secure  us  perseve- 
rance, by  your  prayers ;  and,  to  this  end,  keep  up  in 
our  hearts  that  Christian  simplicity,  which  is  the 
special  virtue  of  Children  of  Christ.  You  are  inno- 
cent ;  we  are  sinners  ;  still,  we  are  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  hea- 
venly 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  in- 
fancy ;  these  little  ones  are  like  you  in  their  inno- 
cence ;  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  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, 

1  St.  Luke,  ii.  52. 


472  CHRISTMAS. 

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. 


JAN.  5.   OCTAVE  OF  ST.  THOMAS  OF  CANTERBURY.   473 


January  5. 
THE  OCTAYE  OF  SAINT  THOMAS, 

ARCHBISHOP  OF  CANTERBURY,  AND  MARTYR. 


The  Catholic  Church  in  England  celebrates,  to-day, 
the  Octave  of  St.  Thomas  of  Canterbury.  It  is  but 
fitting,  that  the  Country,  which  was  beautified  with 
the  blood  of  the  illustrious  Martyr,  should  honour 
his  memory  with  an  especial  fervour,  and  keep  up 
his  Feast  during  the  joyful  Octaves  of  Stephen,  of 
John  the  Beloved  Disciple,  and  of  the  Innocents  of 
Bethlehem. 

We  have  seen,  on  the  Feast  itself,  how  the  Catholic 
world  gave  expression,  through  the  sacred  Liturgy, 
to  its  love  of  our  great  Martyr.  In  the  Ages  of 
Faith,  a  victory  gained  by  the  Church  was  considered 
as  a  victory  for  the  whole  human  race.  It  is  im- 
possible for  us  to  write  the  Lives  of  the  Saints  in  our 
Liturgical  Year,  which  is  crowded  enough  as  it  is ; — 
and  hence  we  cannot  enter,  with  anything  like  detail, 
into  the  actions  of  this  the  Martyr  for  the  Liberty 
of  the  Church.  But  we  cannot  withhold  from  our 
readers  the  following  eloquent  proof  of  the  affection 
and  esteem  in  which  St.  Thomas  was  held  by  those 
who  had  been  eye-witnesses  of  his  sublime  virtues. 
It  is  a  Letter  written  by  Peter  of  Blois,  Archdeacon 
of  Bath,  to  the  Canons  of  Beau  voir,  a  few  days  after 
the  Martyrdom  of  the  Saint,  whose  blood  was  still 
on  the  pavement  of  the  Metropolitan  Church  of 
Canterbury.  Let  us  notice,  as  we  read  it,  the  self- 
possessed  and  meek  enthusiasm,  with  which  even 


474  CHRISTMAS. 

the   grandest  victories   of  the  Church  inspire  her 
children. 

"  The  Shepherd  of  our  souls  is  dead,  and  my  first 
"impulse  is  to  mourn  with  you  over  this  death. 
"  Yet  Death  I  may  not  call  it,  for  the  death  where- 
"  with  our  Lord  has  honoured  his  Saint  is  rather  a 
"  sleep  than  a  death.  It  has  been  the  harbouring 
"  him  into  rest.  It  has  been  to  him  the  gate  of  life, 
"  and  the  admission  into  the  delights  of  the  heavenly 
"  country,  into  the  power  of  the  Lord,  into  the  abyss 
"  of  eternal  light.  Having  to  set  out  on  a  long 
"journey,  he  has  taken  with  him  all  he  needed,  and 
"  will  return  on  the  day  of  the  full  moon  ;l  for  his 
"  soul,  full  of  merit,  has  left  the  body,  in  order  to 
"return  to  its  ancient  dwelling  in  the  general  and 
"  complete  resurrection.  Jealous  and  crafty  Death 
"  came  to  scrutinise  this  treasury  of  merit,  suspect- 
"  ing  something  to  be  there  which  he  could  claim. 
"  But,  Thomas  was  too  circumspect  and  prudent,  and 
"  never  permitted  his  true  life  to  be  tampered  with. 
"He  had  long  desired  to  be  dissolved  and  to  be  with 
"  Christ  ;2  and,  at  the  close  of  his  life,  was  pining  to 
"  take  his  departure  from  the  body  of  this  death. 
"  He  has  now  thrown  a  handful  of  dust  into  Death's 
"  face,  as  a  tribute  which  he  owed  to  the  old  enemy : 
"  and  the  false  report  has  gone  abroad,  and  people 
"  are  telling  each  other,  that  an  evil  beast  hath  de- 
"  voured  our  Joseph.3  The  coat,  of  which  he  has 
"  been  stripped,  has  given  rise  to  this  false  news  of 
"  his  death  ;  for  Joseph  lives,  and  rules  through  the 
"  whole  land  of  Egypt.  His  blessed  soul,  unburthened 
"  of  its  corruptible  garments,  and  freed  from  the  dust 
"  of  this  present  life,  has  taken  her  flight  to  heaven. 

"  Yes,  he  of  whom  the  world  was  not  worthy,  has 
"  been  called  away  to  heaven.  This  light  is  not  put 
"  out ;  it  is  but  shaken  by  a  passing  wind,  that  it 

1  Prov.  vii.  20.  2  Phil.  i.  23.  3  Gen.  xxxvii.  20. 


JAN.  5.   OCTAVE  OF  ST.  THOMAS  OF  CANTERBURY.   475 

"  may  shine  all  the  brighter,  and  may,  no  longer  kept 
"  under  a  bushel,  give  light  to  all  that  are  in  the 
"  house.  He  hath  seemed  in  the  eyes  of  the  unwise 
"  to  have  died  ?  but  his  life  hath  been  hid  with  Christ 
"  in  God.2  It  has  seemed  as  though  Death  had 
"  conquered  and  swallowed  him  up ;  whereas,  in 
"  reality,  Death  is  swallowed  up  in  victory.3  Thou 
" hast  given  him,  0  Lord,  his  heart's  desire*  for  he 
"  had  long  served  thee,  and,  because  of  the  words  of 
"  thy  lips,  had  kept  hard  ways.5  From  earliest 
"  youth,  his  conduct  was  such  as  to  be  worthy  of  one 
"  advanced  in  years,  and  he  restrained  the  rebellions 
"  of  the  flesh,  by  watching,  fasting,  disciplines,  hair 
"  shirt,  and  perpetual  continency.  The  Lord  chose 
"  him  for  his  Priest,  that  he  might  be  to  the  people 
"  a  guide,  and  teacher ;  a  mirror  of  life,  a  model  of 
"  penance,  and  an  example  of  holiness.  The  God  of 
"  wisdom  gave  him  eloquence  of  speech,  and  abun- 
"  dantly  infused  into  him  the  spirit  of  wisdom  and 
"  understanding,  making  him  the  most  learned  of  the 
"  learned,  the  wisest  of  the  wise,  excellent  even 
"  among  the  best,  and  superior  even  among  the 
"  greatest  men.  He  was  a  herald  of  the  divine  word, 
"  a  trumpet  of  the  Gospel,  a  friend  of  the  Bride- 
"  groom,  the  support  of  the  Clergy,  an  eye  to  the 
"  blind,  a  foot  to  the  lame,6  the  salt  of  the  earth,  the 
"  light  of  his  country,  a  minister  of  the  Most  High,  a 
"  vicar  of  Christ,  a  Christ  of  the  Lord. 

"  He  was  upright  in  his  judgment,  energetic  in 
"  administration,  discreet  in  his  orders,  modest  in  his 
"  speech,  circumspect  in  his  advice,  most  abstemious 
"  in  his  food,  gentle  in  temper,  an  angel  in  human 
"  flesh,  meek  amidst  injuries,  humble  in  prosperity, 
"  most  courageous  in  adversity,  prodigal  in  almsgiving, 
"  and  was  ever  exercising  some  work  of  mercy.     He 

1  Wisd.  iii.  2.  3  I.  Cor.  xv.  54.  6  Ps.  xvi.  4. 

2  Coioss.  iii.  3.  4  Ps.  xx.  3.  6  Job,  xxix.  15. 


476  CHRISTMAS. 

"  was  the  glory  of  Religious,  the  favourite  of  the 
"  people,  the  terror  of  Princes,  the  god  of  Pharaoh1 
"  If  some  men,  when  exalted  to  the  supreme  dignity 
"  of  the  Episcopacy,  begin  at  once  to  be  carnal- 
"  minded,  and  shun  every  bodily  suffering  as  the 
"greatest  evil,  and  desire  to  enjoy  as  long  a  life  as 
"  possible — it  was  not  so  with  our  Pastor.  On  the 
"  very  first  day  of  his  promotion,  he  longed,  but  more 
"  ardently  than  can  be  told,  for  the  end  of  life,  or, 
"more  correctly,  he  thirsted  to  begin  the  life  of 
"  eternity.  For  this  purpose,  he  looked  on  himself 
"  and  comported  himself  as  a  pilgrim,  and  drank  of 
"  the  torrent  in  the  Way  ;2  therefore  is  his  name 
"  glorified  in  the  heavenly  Country.  Thus  it  is,  that 
"  our  Brethren,  the  Monks  of  the  Cathedral  Church, 
"  are  become  as  orphans,  without  their  Father." 

The  sixteenth  century  brought  an  unexpected 
addition  to  the  glory  of  our  Saint.  The  enemy  of 
God  and  man,  Henry  8th,  hated  the  very  name  of 
the  Martyr,  that  had  died  for  the  Liberty  of  the 
Church.  There  was  an  honour,  which  such  a  Tyrant 
could  still  add  to  St.  Thomas'  glorious  name : — he 
could  insult  the  Shrine,  where,  for  four  hundred 
years,  the  Saint  had  received  the  homage  of  the 
entire  Catholic  world.  The  venerable  Relics  of  the 
Martyr  were  dragged  from  beneath  the  Altar:  an 
absurd  action  was  brought  against  Thomas,  formerly 
Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  and  he  was  found  guilty 
of  high  treason  !  His  Relics  were  put  upon  a  pile  ; 
and  in  this  second  Martyrdom,  the  fire  destroyed  the 
last  remains  of  the  holy  man,  whose  intercession  drew 
down  upon  England  the  protection  and  blessings  of 
heaven.  After  all,  how  could  a  country,  that  was  on 
the  eve  of  its  great  apostacy  from  the  True  Faith,  be 
expected  to  appreciate  the  rich  treasure  of  such 
Relics  ?     Besides,  the  See  of  Canterbury  was  defiled. 

1  Exod.  vii.  1.  2  Ps.  cix.  7. 


JAN.  5.  OCTAVE  OF  ST.  THOMAS  OF  CANTERBUKY.   477 

Cranmer  sat  on  the  Chair,  which  had  been  that  of 
an  Augustine,  a  Dunstan,  a  Lanfranc,  an  Anselm, 
and  a  Thomas  a  Becket.  If  our  holy  Martyr  and 
Archbishop  had  looked  through  the  then  existing 
generation  of  his  Brethren,  he  would,  indeed,  have 
found  one,  who  followed  his  example  and  died  a 
Martyr — John  Fisher: — but  he  was  the  only  one  ; 
and  his  sacrifice,  glorious  as  it  was,  had  not  power 
to  save  his  country.  The  Liberty  of  the  Church  had 
long  before  then  been  destroyed  ; — Faith  was  sure  to 
die  out. 


The  Mass  and  Vespers  are  as  on  the  Feast, 
page  351. 

We  here  insert  the  third  Sequence  written  by 
Adam  of  Saint- Victor  in  honour  of  the  glorious  Pri- 
mate of  the  Isle  of  Saints. 


SEQUENCE. 


Our  Eliseus  turns  the  hitter 
waters  into  sweet,  by  putting 
into  them  a  new  vase  of  salt ; 
and  by  the  seasoning  of  fresh 
meal,  removed  the  bitterness 
from  the  pot  of  poisonous 
herbs ; 

He  is  slain,  as  a  sheep  that 
dies  to  save  the  flock,  or  as  a 
child  that  is  sacrificed,  that 
the  mother  may  be  spared. 
He  rises  as  a  new  Sun  in  a 
night-covered  world,  promis- 
ing a  long  year  of  Jubilee. 


Aquas  plenas  amaritudine 
Novi  salis  nova  dulcedine, 
Ollam  plenam  lethali  gra- 
mme 
Novi  f  arris  sanat  pinguedine 
Elisseus  j 

Novus  vervex  pro  grege  mo- 

ritur, 
Et  pro  matre  proles  occidi- 

tur; 
In  obscuris  sol  novus  oritur 
In  quo  serus  annus  promit- 

titur 
Jubileus. 


In    these    our  days,    by  a 
wicked  plot,  a  new  Abel  has 


Abel  novum  Cayn  malitia, 
Novum  Jacob  Sei'r  ssevitia, 


478 


CHEISTMAS. 


Novum  Joseph  fratnim  in- 

vidia, 
Intercepit  fraude  nefaria, 

His  diebus. 
Surrexeruntinpatrem  pueri, 
Non  materno  parcentes  ube- 

ri; 
Thomas  prsesul  dum  datur 

funeri, 
Novum  chaos  videtur  ingeri 
Mundi  rebus. 


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,  harrow- 
ing 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  ? 


Sed  occumbit  Abel  in  gloria, 
Jacob  servat  Mesopotamia, 
Joseph  regnat  in  aula  regia, 
Thomas  noster  in  cceli  curia 
Coronatur. 

Kevovantur  Anglorum  gau- 

dia 
Bethel  novus  fit  Dorovernia, 
Fit  piscina  propitiaria, 
In  qua  jugis  et  multifaria 
Salus  datur. 


But  Abel  falls  in  glory,  Ja- 
cob 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  Dover's  cliffs 
are  shores  of  a  new  Bethel, 
and  of  a  land  where  is  a  pool 
of  ever  and  many-healing 
waters. 


Dilatatur  Jordanis  fluvius, 
Fit  Naaman  alter  et  tertius, 
Derivatur  Siloe  longius, 
Ccelum  pluit  manna  profu- 
sius 

Quam  solebat. 


Duplicatur  Solaris  radius, 

Magnus  Annse  donatur  fi- 
lms. 

Novum  vatem  Herodis  gla- 
dius 

Trucidavit  inverecundius 
Quam  decebat. 

Trucidato  non  desunt  prae- 

mia ; 
Sancto  namque,  pro  sancti- 

monia, 


The  Jordan  river  flows 
through  England's  vales,  and 
who  could  tell  how  many  Naa- 
mans  there  receive  their  cure  1 
The  spring  of  Siloe  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 


JAN.  5.   OCTAVE  OF  ST.  THOMAS  OF  CANTERBURY.    479 


holy  deeds,  and  for  the  cou- 
rage of  his  upright  mind. 


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  devo- 
tion 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. 


Pro  sincere  mentis  constan- 

tia, 
Vita,  salus,  et  lux  aetherea 

Condonatur. 
Abhinc  multa  facit  prodigia; 
Lepram  curat,  fugat  Dsemo- 

nia ; 
Caecis  visum,  claudis  ves- 

tigio, 
Verba  mutis,  aegris  remedia 
Imprecatur. 


Vir  Belial  luit  blasphemias 

Quas  in  Sanctum  arsit  in- 
jurias  ; 

Visu  dempto,  tristes  exse- 
quias, 

Maturando  nefandas  furias, 
Terminavit. 

Vir  devotus  in  Sanctum  Do- 
mini, 

Zelo  pravo  sustractus  lu- 
mini, 

Sed  mox  datus  visus  acu- 
mini, 

Laudes  laetus  divino  nomini 
Decantavit. 


Crosses,  made  by  an  Angel's 
hand,  are  often  known  to  have 
a  heavenly  power,  by  the  pow- 
erful prayer  of  the  loving  Pas- 
tor. The  dust  from  round  his 
sepulchre  is  known  to  heal 
paralysis. 

Two  lamps  had  been  pre- 
sented to  his  Shrine,  as  a  vo- 
tive 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. 


Cruces,  factae  manu  ange- 
lica, 

Pii  Patris  prece  benefica, 

Crebro  pollent  virtute  cce- 
lica; 

Far  fit  humi,  quod  paraly- 
tica 

Membra  sanat. 

Immolentur    lucernae     ge- 
mmae 

Accenduntur     ccelesti    lu- 
mine ; 

Declaratur    in    vasis    frag- 
mine 

Locum    sanctum     fraudes 
molimine 
Qui  profanat. 


480 


CHRISTMAS. 


Calce  puer  qui  matrem  lse- 

serat, 
Poenitendo    calcem    absci- 

derat ; 
Mox,  ut    opem  Sancti  pe- 

tierat, 
Bipedalem  gressum   meru- 

erat, 
Res  stupenda ! 
Nauta  potens  in  navi  mys- 

stica, 
Nostra,   Thoma,  laudes  et 

cantica 
Summo  Regi  prece  gratifica 
Et  eidem  prece  magnifica 
Nos  commenda. 

Amen. 


A  boy  had  kicked  his  mo- 
ther, and  repenting  of  his 
deed,  had  maimed  himself. 
No  sooner  has  he  begged  the 
prayers  of  the  Saint,  than,  oh ! 
wonderful  miracle !  he  re- 
covers the  use  of  both  his 
feet. 

O  Thomas  !  thou  skilful  pi- 
lot 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  insertion  to 
the  following  beautiful  Prose,  taken  from  the  ancient 


Missals  of  Liege. 


PEOSE. 


Laureata  novo  Thoma, 
Sicut  suo  Petro  Borna, 
Gaude  Cantuaria  ! 

Immo  tota  sit  devota, 
Pia  laudum  solvens  vota, 
Militans  Ecclesia. 

Thomas  iste  dum  tuetur 
Legem  Dei,  promeretur 
Iram  regis  Anglise. 

Ergo  pulsus  urbe  cedit, 
Et  transcurso  mari,  credit 
Sese  regi  Franciae. 

Quern  gratanter    et  con- 
digne, 
Tarn  devote  quam  benigne, 
Sicut  patrem  visitat. 


Rejoice,  O  Canterbury ! 
adorned  with  thy  late  Martyr, 
Thomas,  as  Pome  is  with  her 
Peter. 

Nay,  let  the  whole  Church 
Militant  be  devout  to  thy 
Saint,  and  pay  him  the  holy 
tribute  of  her  praise. 

This  is  the  Pontiff,  who 
draws  on  himself  the  anger 
of  England's  king,  because  he 
defends  the  law  of  God. 

For  which  reason  he  is  sent 
into  banishment,  and  crossing 
the  sea,  seeks  protection  from 
the  King  of  France. 

The  king  receives  him  glad- 
ly, as  he  well-deserved;  and 
visits  the  Pontiff,  devoutly 
and  affectionately,  as  he  would 
a  father. 


JAN.  5.    OCTAVE  OF  ST.  THOMAS  OF  CANTEEBUEY.    481 


In  France,  Thomas,  like  a 
young  novice,  serves  the  King 
of  kings  with  wonderful  fer- 
vour. 

At  length,  when  peace  was 
restored,  though  it  was  but 
the  crafty  show  of  peace, 
he  returns  to  his  country. 

He  asserts  the  Church's 
right,  and  serves  his  God ; 
wherefore,  the  king,  his  artful 
enemy,  grows  mad  with  rage 
and  wantons  in  his  wrath. 

Now  like  a  cunning  fox,  and 
now  like  a  savage  tigress,  he 
tries  each  door,  each  scheme  : 

At  one  time,  threats  ;  at 
another,  flattery;  but  Tho- 
mas is  nothing  moved,  un- 
flinching as  at  first. 

The  king  finding  that  the 
champion  of  the  truth  was 
not  to  be  moved,  and  that  his 
resolve  was  inflexible  ; 

He  turns  all  men  against 
the  Pastor,  and  whispers  mur- 
der to  a  minion  troop. 

The  parricides  have  under- 
stood the  king ;  crafty  and 
faithless,  they  enter  the 
Church,  that  they  may  make 
away  with  the  Champion  of 
Liberty,  and  usurp  his  throne. 

The  Pontiff  was  at  prayer 
in  the  sanctuary ;  he  comes 
forth,  heeding  not  the  enemy. 
The  serenity  of  his  soul  is 
ruffled  not  with  fear  of  the 
raging  troop ;  he  goes  to  meet 
them. 

The  head  of  that  saintly 
Priest,  which  had  been  fondly 
caressed  on  a  mother's  breast, 

Now  feels  the  edge  of 
deadly  steel ;  the  blood  gushes 
forth ;    and    there,    in    the 


Ubi,  velut  novus  tyro, 
Thomas,  in  fervore  miro, 
Regi  regum  militat. 

Tandem  pace  reformata, 
Pace  dolis  palliata, 
Regressus  ad  propria. 

Jura  servans,  Deo  servit ; 
Inde  ssevit  et  protervit, 
Hostis  arte  varia. 


Nunc  ut  vulpes  fradulen- 
ta, 
Nunc  ut  tygris  virulenta, 
Tentat  omnes  aditus. 

Nunc  minatur,  nunc  blan- 
ditur, 
Ille  nihil  emollitur, 
Idem  manens  penitus. 

Rex  compertus    non  mo- 
veri 
Virum  assertorem  veri, 
Nee  frangi  propositum ; 

Omnes  armat  inPastorem, 
Cohortatur  ad  cruorem 
Cohortem  satellitum. 

Ergo  nequam  patricidse 
Tarn  in  f  raude  quam  in  fide, 
Libertatis  ut  Patronum 
Tollant   et    usurpent  thro- 

num, 
Ruunt  in  Ecclesia. 

Prsesul  orans  in  secreto, 
Palam  prodit,  hoste  spreto  ; 
Nee  turbat  quies  mentis 
Turbse  metu  ssevientis, 
Sed  procedit  obviam. 


Sancti  caput  Sacerdotis, 
Exoptatum  millevotis 
Suae  matris  gremio, 
Ferrum  bibit,  cruor  ma- 
nat, 
Et  ibidem  ccecos  sanat 
2i 


482  CHRISTMAS. 

In  tumultu  medio.  midst  of  all  the  disorder,  gives 

sight  to  a  blind  man. 

Quid  loquamur    quae  lo-  But,  why  need  we  tell  what 

quuntur,  his  miracles  so  eloquently  pro- 

Per  se  satis  eloquuntur,  claim  throughout  the  world  1 
Ubique  miracula? 

Daemon  cedit,  mors  obe-  Devils   are    put    to    flight, 

dit,  death  yields  up  her  victims, 

Desperatis  salus  redit,  health  is  restored  to  them  that 

Fugit  leprae  macula.  had  lost  all  hope,  and  lepers 

are  cleansed. 
Cleri  gemma,  clare  Tho-  O  thou  gem  of  the  Priest- 
ma,  hood !     O     glorious     Pontiff 
Motus  nostrae  carnis  doma  Thomas  !     thy     prayers    are 
Precum  efficacia.  ne'er  refused — oh  !    calm  the 

rebellion  of  our  flesh. 

Ut  in  Christo,  vera  vite,  That  being  rooted  in  Christ, 

Radicati,  vera  vitae  the  true  Vine,  we  may  receive 

Capiamus  praemia.  the  solid  rewards  of  eternal 

Amen.  life.    Amen. 


Thy  Feast  ends  to-day,  and  we  come  before  thee 
to  pay  thee  a  last  tribute  of  our  devotion,  O  glorious 
Champion  of  the  Liberty  of  the  Church  !  who  stand- 
est  near  the  Crib  of  our  Emmanuel,  as  the  represen- 
tative of  the  combats  he  would  have  to  fight  in  the 
future  of  his  Church.  The  whole  of  Christendom 
implores  thine  intercession ;  but  England  claims  thy 
special  protection.  Thou  art  one  of  her  grandest 
glories,  and  neither  heresy,  which  has  laid  waste  the 
land,  nor  impiety,  which  has  covered  her  with  sacri- 
lege, have  made  her  forgetful  of  her  great  Martyr  of 
Canterbury.  She  is  now  in  the  first  years  of  a  new 
period,  which  is  fraught  with  promise  of  a  bright 
future — and  thy  dear  name  is  honoured  with  a  love, 
which  is  worthy  of  the  devotion  shown  thee  in  times 
now  long  passed  away.  Churches  are  being  built  in 
thy  honour,  on  that  very  soil,  where  it  was  once 
made  obligatory  by  law  to  hate  thee.  Each  year  is 
adding  to  the  number  of  the  members  of  the  true 
Church;  and  they,  whose  conversion  thus  gladdens 


JAN.  5.  OCTAVE  OF  ST.  THOMAS  OF  CANTERBURY.   483 

the  Angels  of  God,  are  men,  whose  early  training 
taught  them  to  look  on  contempt  for  Thomas  a  Beckett 
as  a  sign  of  patriotism  and  refinement.  Each  year,  as 
thy  Feast  comes  round,  the  day  is  kept  with  greater 
solemnity ;  thy  merits  are  better  understood,  and 
the  increase  of  faith  sets  men's  hearts  on  thanking 
their  God  for  having  given  thee  to  his  Church  as  the 
type  of  a  Bishop. 

Bless,  then,  0  holy  Pontiff!  this  flock  of  thine  own 
land,  which  is  so  fast  increasing.  Pray  for  them  who 
are  still  wavering,  that  they  may  have  light  to  see 
the  light  granted  them  by  God.  Three  centuries  of 
error  and  revolt! — oh!  terrible  but  just  chastise- 
ment of  our  dearest  country !  Pray  that  it  may  be 
taken  away  from  her,  and  show,  by  thy  loving  inter- 
cession, that  thou  art  still  the  good  Shepherd  and 
the  affectionate  Father. 

At  the  bidding  of  the  successor  of  Eleutherius  and 
Gregory  the  Great,  the  Episcopal  Hierarchy  has  re- 
appeared in  this  beautiful  Isle  of  ours,  where  thou 
wast  once  the  Primate,  vested  with  the  sacred  Pal- 
lium. Oh  !  protect  the  Bishops  who  are  now  so 
zealously  governing  the  vineyard  over  which  thou 
didst  once  preside,  and  for  which  thou  didst  shed  thy 
blood.  Ask  our  Lord  to  increase  the  number  of  his 
Priests ;  for  the  harvest  is  great,  and  the  labourers 
are  few.  May  they  be  endued,  by  the  Master  of 
the  Vineyard,  with  the  spirit  of  patience  and  courage  ; 
may  they  be  powerful  in  word  and  work,  and  may 
their  name,  as  thine  is,  be  held  in  blessing  by  future 
generations ! 


484  CHRISTMAS. 


The  Same  Day. 
THE  VIGIL  OF  THE  EPIPHANY. 

WITH  A  COMMEMORATION   OF 

SAINT  TELESPHORUS,  POPE  AND  MARTYR 


The  Feast  of  Christmas  is  over ;  the  five  Octaves 
are  closed  ;  and  we  are  on  the  Eve  of  the  Solemnity 
of  our  Lord's  Epiphany.  We  must  spend  this  fifth 
of  January  in  preparing  ourselves  for  the  Manifes- 
tation which  Jesus,  the  Angel  of  the  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  at  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  mourning,  even  in  those 
churches  where  the  Octave  Day  of  St.  Thomas  of 
Canterbury  is  not  observed.  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  Vigil  of  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  : 


JAN.   5.      VIGIL  OF  THE  EPIPHANY.  485 

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.  Let  us,  therefore, 
celebrate  this  Vigil  in  great  joy  of  heart,  and  pre- 
pare our  souls  for  to-morrow's  graces. 

The  Greek  Church  keeps  this  a  fasting-day,  in 
memory  of  the  preparation  for  Baptism,  which  used 
formerly  to  be  administered,  especially  in  the  East, 
on  the  night  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  holy  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  of  his  prescribing  the  holy 
sacrifice  of  the  Mass  to  be  offered  up  on  Christmas 
Night,  in  order  to  honour  the  hour  when  our  Saviour 
was  born :  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  sea- 
son of  the  year  doubly  dear  to  us.  Telesphorus  suf- 
fered a  glorious  martyrdom,  as  St.  Ireneus  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  Commemoration  of  St.  Telesphorus  and  the 
Gospel. 

INTEOIT. 

Dum  medium  silentium,  page  375. 


486 


CHRISTMAS. 


COLLECT. 
Omnipotens,  sempiterne  Deus,  page  376. 

Commemoration  of  St.  Telesphorus. 


OREMUS. 

Deus  qui  nos  beati  Teles- 
phori,  Martyris  tui  atque 
Pontificis,  annua  solemni- 
tate  laetificas  :  concede  pro- 
pitius ;  ut  cujus  natalitia 
colimus,  de  ejusdem  etiani 
protectione  gaudeamus. 


LET  US  PKAY. 

O  God,  who  by  the  yearly 
solemnity  of  blessed  Teles- 
phorus, thy  Martyr  and  Bi- 
shop, rejoicest  the  hearts  of  the 
faithful ;  mercifully  grant  that 
we  who  celebrate  his  martyr- 
dom may  enjoy  his  protection. 


Commemoration  of  the^Blessed  Virgin. 
Deus,  qui  salutis  aeternae,  page  421. 


EPISTLE. 


Fratres,  quanto  temfore,  page  376. 

GRADUAL. 

Speciosus  forma,  page  377. 


GOSPEL. 


Sequentia  sancti  Evangelii 
secundum  Matthseum. 

Cap.  II. 

In  illo  tempore :  defuncto 
Herode,  ecce  Angelus  Do- 
mini apparuit  in  somnis 
Joseph,  in  iEgypto,  dicens  : 
Surge,  et  accipe  Puerum  et 
Matrem  ejus,  et  vade  in  ter- 
rain Israel ;  defuncti  sunt 
enim  qui  quaerebant  ani- 
mam  Pueri.  Qui  consur- 
gens  accepit  Puerum  et  Ma- 
trem ejus,  et  venitin  terram 
Israel.  Audiens  autem  quod 
Archelaus  regnaret  in  Ju- 
daea pro  Herode  patre  suo, 


Sequel  of  the  holy  Gospel  ac- 
cording to  Matthew. 

Ch.  II. 

When  Herod  was  dead,  be- 
hold an  Angel  of  the  Lord 
appeared  in  sleep  to  Joseph 
in  Egypt,  saying  :  Arise  and 
take  the  Child  and  his  Mo- 
ther, and  go  into  the  land  of 
Israel :  for  they  are  dead  that 
sought  the  life  of  the  Child. 
Who  arose,  and  took  the 
Child  and  his  Mother,  and 
came  into  the  land  of  Israel. 
But  hearing  that  Archelaus 
reigned  in  Judea  in  the  room 
of  Herod  his  father,  he  was 


JAN.    5.      VIGIL  OF  THE  EPIPHANY. 


487 


afraid  to  go  thither  :  and  be- 
ing 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  Nazarite. 


timuit  illo  ire  :  et  admoni- 
tus  in  somnis,  secessit  in 
partes  Galilaase.  Et  veniens 
habitavit  in  civitate  quae 
vocatur  Nazareth  :  ut  adim- 
pleretur  quod  dictum  est 
per  Prophetas :  quoniam 
Nazarseus  vocabitur. 


OFFERTORY. 

Deus  firmavit,  page  379. 

SECRET. 

Concede,  qusesumus,  page  380. 
Commemoration  of  St.  Telesphorus. 


Sanctify,  0  Lord,  the  offer- 
ings consecrated  to  thee  :  and 
being  appeased  thereby,  mer- 
cifully look  upon-  us,  by  the  in- 
tercession of  blessed  Telespho- 
rus, thy  Martyr  and  Bishop. 


Munera  tibi,  Domine,  di- 
cata  sanctifica  :  et,  interce- 
dente  beato  Telesphoro, 
Martyre  tuo  atque  Pontifice, 
per  eadem  nos  placatus  in- 
tende. 


Commemoration  of  the  Blessed  Virgin. 
Muneribus  nostris,  page  424. 

COMMUNION". 

Tolle  puerum,  page  380. 
Commemoration  of  St.  Telesphorus. 


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  effectually 
partakers  of  this  heavenly  re- 
medy. 


OREMUS. 

Kef  ecti  participatione  mu- 
neris  sacri,  quaesumus,  Do- 
mine Deus  noster,  ut  cujus 
exsequimur  cultum,  inter- 
cedente  beato  Telesphoro, 
Martyre  tuo  atque  Ponti- 
fice, sentiamus  effectum. 


Commemoration  of  the  Blessed  Virgin. 
Haec  nos  communio,  page  425. 


488  CHRISTMAS. 

The  last  words  of  our  Advent  were  those  of  the 
Spouse,  recorded  in  the  prophecy  of  the  Beloved 
Disciple  :  Come,  Lord  Jesus,  come  ! 1  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  :  unto  us  a  Child  is  bom  ! 2  The 
heavens  have  dropped  down  their  Dew,  the  clouds 
have  rained  down  the  Just  One,  the  earth  has  yielded 
its  Saviour,  the  Wobd  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  intend  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  ador- 
ing in  their  wondering  admiration ;  all  nature  thrills 
with  delight : — Unto  us  is  born  a  little  Child ! 

1  Apoc.  xxii.  20.  2  Is.  ix.  6. 


APPENDIX. 


HYMN. 


[The  stanzas  usually  sung  are  marked  thus  *  ] 


*  Come,  ye  Faithful,  in  joy 
and  triumph,  to  Bethlehem, 
and  gaze  on  the  new-born 
King  of  Angels !  Come,  let 
us  adore  the  Lord  ! 


*  The  Virgin's  womb  carries 
the  God  of  God,  the  Light  of 
Light,  the  true  God,  that  was 
born,  not  made.  Come,  let 
us  adore  the  Lord  ! 

Lo !  the  Shepherds  are 
called,  and,  leaving  their 
flocks,  hasten  to  the  humble 
Crib.    Let  us,  also,  go  thither, 


with  joy. 
the  Lord  ! 


Come,  let  us  adore 


We  shall  see  the  eternal 
brightness  of  the  Eternal  Fa- 
ther hid  under  the  veil  of 
Flesh — the  Infant-God  wrapt 
in  swaddling-clothes.  Come, 
let  us  adore  the  Lord  ! 

Let  us  devoutly  embrace 
Him,  who,  for  our  sakes,  is 
become  poor  and  lies  on  straw. 


*  Adeste  fideles,  laeti,  tri- 
umphantes, 

Venite,  venite  in  Bethle- 
hem ! 

Natum  videte  Eegem  An- 
gelorum  ! 

Venite  adoremus  !  Venite 
adoremus ! 

Venite  adoremus  Domi- 
num  ! 

*  Deum  de  Deo,  Lumen 
de  Lumine, 

Gestant  Puellas  viscera, 
Deum  verum  genitum  non 

factum. 
Venite  adoremus  !  <&c. 
En  grege  relicto,  humiles 

ad  cunas 
Vocati    Pastores    adprope- 

rant : 
Et  nos  ovanti  gradu  festi- 

nemus. 
Venite  adoremus  !  &c. 
iEterni  Parentis  splendo- 

rem  seternum 
Velatum  sub  carne  videbi- 

mus, 
Deum  Infantem  pannis  in- 

volutum. 
Venite  adoremus  !  <fcc. 
Pro  nobis  egenum  et  f  ceno 

cubantem 
Piis  foveamus  amplexibus. 

2k 


490 


CHRISTMAS. 


Sic  nos  ainantem  quis  non 

redamaret  ] 
Venite  adoremus  !  &c. 

*  Cantet  nunc  Io  chorus 
angelorum, 

Cantet    nunc    aula    coeles- 

tium : 
Gloria  in  excelsis  Deo  ! 
Venite  adoremus !  &c. 

*  Ergo  qui  natus  die  ho- 
dierna, 

Jesu,  tibi  sit  gloria  ! 
Patris  seterni  Yerbum  caro 

factum ! 
Venite  adoremus  !  &c. 


Oh  !  who  will  refuse  to  love 
Him,  who  so  loves  us  ]  Come, 
let  us  adore  the  Lord  ! 

*  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,  0  Word  of 
the  Eternal  Father,  that  art 
now  made  Flesh  !  Come,  let 
us  adore  ! 


END  OF  THE  FIRST  VOLUME, 


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