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THE
LITURGICAL YEAR.
PASCHAL TIME.
, V cry^'*^^^
THE
iEtturattal ®^ar.
BY THE
V. R. DOM PROSPER GUERANGER,
ABBOT OF SOLESMES.
CransIateD from tf)e jFrencft,
BY THE
EEV. DOM LAURENCE SHEPHERD,
MONK OF THE KXOLISH-BENEDICTIKE COKOBEOATION.
PASCHAL TIME.
VOL. I.
[second edition.]
DUBLIN :
JAMES DUEFY, 15, WELLINGTON-QUAY;
AND
22 paternoster-row, London,
1888,
PRINTED AT
SAINT MARY'S ABBEY, STANBROOK,
WORCESTER.
PASCHAL TIME.
PEEFACE.
With this Volume we begin the Season of
Easter, wherein are accomplished the Mysteries
prepared for, and looked forward to, since
Advent. Such are the Liturgical riches of this
portion of the Christian Year, that we have found
it necessary to devote three Volumes to it.
The present Volume is whoUy taken up
with Easter Week. A Week is indeed a short
period ; but such a Week as this, with the
importance of the events it brings before us,
and the grandeur of the mysteries it celebrates,
is, at least, equivalent to any other section of
our " Liturgical Year." We have abridged
our explanations as much as possible ; and yet,
having concluded Low Sunday, we find that
we have exceeded two thirds of one of our
ordinary Volumes. Hence, it was out of the
question to add the remaining Weeks ; the
jy PREFACE.
more so, as the Saints' Feasts recommence on
the Monday following the Easter Octave, and
their insertion would have obliged us to have
made our Volume considerably more bulky than
even that of Passiontide. We have, therefore,
been satisfied with giving the Mass and Office
of the Annunciation, already given in our
Volume for Lent, but which are needed for
the Monday after Low Sunday, when Easter
falls between the 22nd of March and the 2nd
of April, which is frequently the case.
CONTENTS.
PAGE.
Preface, iii
PASCHAL TIME.
Chap. I. — The History of Paschal Time, . . 1
Chap. II. — The Mystery of Paschal Time, . .15
Chap. m. — Practice during Paschal Time, . . 22
Chap. TV". — Morning and Night Prayers for Paschal
Time, 29
Chap. V. — On heaiing Mass, dui-ing Paschal Time, 46
Chap. VI. — On Holy Communion, duiing Paschal
Time, 83
Chap. Vn. — Of the Office of Vespers for Sundays
and Feasts during Paschal Time, . 91
Chap. VIII. — Of the Office of CompHne, during
Paschal Time, 102
EASTEE SUNDAY .
113
Morning,
. 113
The Office of Matins,
. 125
Lauds,
. 143
Mass,
. 156
Afternoon,
. 174
The Easter Vespers,
. 178
Evening,
. 192
yi CONTENTS.
PAGE.
201
Easter Monday,
^ss, ^^^
Vespers,
Easter Tuesday, ^^^
nT .... 227
Mass, 235
Vespers,
Wednesday in Easter Week, . . • .243
Mass, ^^^
Blessing of the -4^wws 2)ei, 256
Thursday in Easter Week, 266
Mass,
Friday in Easter Week, 289
■Kir .... 29o
Mass,
Saturday in Easter Week, 308
Mass,
The taking off the White Garments, . . .324
Quasimodo or Low Sunday, 333
Mass, ...••*•
TT .... 346
Vespers,
The Annunciation of the Ever Blessed Virgin, 350
First Vespers, 350
■MT .... 357
Mass,
Second Vespers,
PASCHAL TIME.
CHAPTEE THE FIEST.
THE HISTORY OF PASCHAL TIME.
We give the name of Paschal Time to the period
between Easter Sunday and the Saturday follow-
ing Whit Sunday, It is the most sacred portion of
the Liturcjical Year, and the one towards which the
whole Cycle converges. We shall easily understand
how this is, if we reflect upon the greatness of the
Easter Feast, which is called the Fca.'nt of FcastSy and
the Solemnity of Solemnities, in the same manner,
says St. Gregory, ^ as the most sacred part of the
Temple was called the Holy of holie>i ; and the Book
of Sacred Scripture, wherein are described the
espousals between Christ and the Church, is called
the Canticle of canticles. It is on this day, that the
mission of the Word Incarnate attains the object,
towards which it has hitherto been unceasingly tend-
ing : mankind is raised up from his fall, and regains
what he had lost by Adam's sin.
Christmas gave us a Man- God ; three days have
scarcely passed, since we witnessed his infinitely
precious Blood shed for our ransom : but now, on the
Day of Easter, our Jesus is no longer the Victim of
death ; he is a Conqueror, that destroys Death, the
1 Homilia, xxii.
B
Z PASCHAL TIME.
child of sin, and proclaims Life, that undying life,
which he has purchased for us. The humiliation of
his Swathing-bands, the sufferings of his Agony and
Cross, — these are past ; all is now glory, — glory for
himself, and glory also for us. On the Day of Easter,
Grod regains, by the Eesurrection of the Man-God,
his creation such as he made it at the beginning :
the only vestige now left of Death is that likeness
to sin, which the Lamb of God deigned to take upon
himself. Neither is it Jesus alone that returns to
eternal Life ; the whole human race also has risen to
Immortality together with our Jesus. Bi/ a man
came Death, says the Apostle ; and hy a Man the
Resurrection of the dead : and, as in Adam all die,
so also in Christ all shall be made alive}
The anniversary of this Eesurrection is, therefore,
the Great Day, the Day of Joy, the Day by excellence :
the Day to which the whole year looks forward in ex-
pectation, and on which its whole economy is formed.
But as it is the holiest of days, since it opens to us
the gate of Heaven, into which we shall enter because
we have Risen together with Christ, — the Church
would have us come to it well prepared by bodily
mortification and by compunction of heart. It was
for this, that she instituted the Fast of Lent, and
that she bade us, during Septuagesima, look forward
to the joy of her Easter, and be filled with sentiments
suitable to the approach of so grand a solemnity.
We obeyed; we have gone through the period of our
preparation ; and now the Easter sun has risen upon us !
But it was not enough to solemnise the great Day
when Jesus, our Light, rose from the darkness of the
Tomb : there was another anniversary which claimed
our grateful celebration. The Incarnate Word rose
on the first day of the week, — that same day, where-
on, four thousand years before, he, the Uncreated
1 1 Cor. XV. 21, 22.
HISTORY OF PASCHAL TIME. O
Word of the Father, had begun the work of the Cre-
ation, by calling forth Light, and separating it from
Darkness. The first day was thus ennobled by the cre-
ation of Light. It received a second consecration by
the Resurrection of Jesus ; and from that time forward
Sunday, and not Saturday, was to be the LorcVs Day.
Yes, our Resurrection in Jesus which took place on
the Sunday, gave this first day a pre-eminence above
the others of the week : the divine precept of the
Sabbath was abrogated, together with the other
ordinances of the Mosaic Law, and the Apostles in-
structed the Faithful to keep holy the first Day of
the week, which Grod had dignified with that twofold
glory,— the Creation and the Regeneration of the world.
Sunday, then, being the Day of Jesus' Resurrection,
the Church chose that, in preference to every other,
for 'its yearly commemoration. The Pasch of the
Jews, which, in consequence of its being fixed on the
fourteenth of the moon of March, (the anniversary of
the going out of Egypt,) fell, by turns, on each
of the days of the week. The Jewish Pasch was but
a figure ; ours is the reality, and puts an end to the
figure. The Church, therefore, broke this her last tie
with the Synagogue ; and proclaimed her emancipa-
tion, by fixing the most solemn of her Feasts on a
day, which should never agree with that on which
Jews keep their now unmeaning Pasch. The Apostles
decreed, that the Christian Pasch should never be
celebrated on the fourteenth of the Moon of March,
even were that day to be a Sunday ; but that it should
be everywhere kept on the Sunday following the day
on which the obsolete calendar of the Synagogue still
marks it.
Nevertheless, out of consideration for the many
Jews, who had received Baptism, and who formed the
nucleus of the early Christian Church, it was resolved,
that the law, regarding the Day for keeping the new
4 PASCHAL TIME.
Pasch, should be applied prudently and gradually.
Jerusalem was soon to be destroyed by the Romans,
according to our Saviour's prediction ; and tbe new
City, which was to rise up from its ruins, and receive
the Christian colony, would also have its Church, but
a Church totally free from the Jewish element, which
God had so visibly rejected. In preaching the Grospel
and founding Churches, even far beyond the limits
of the Eoman Empire, the majority of the Apostles
had not to contend with Jewish customs ; most of
their converts were from among the Grentiles. Saint
Peter, who, in the Council of Jerusalem, had pro-
claimed the cessation of the Jewish Law, set up the
standard of emancipation in the City of Eome : so
that the Church, which through him, was made the
Mother and Mistress of all Churches, never had any
other discipline regarding the observance of Easter,
than that laid down by the Apostles, — namely, the
keeping it on a Sunday.
There was, however, one province of the Church,
which for a long time stood out against the uni-
versal practice : it was Asia Minor. The Apostle
St. John, who lived for many years at Ephesus,
where, indeed, he died, — had thought it prudent to
tolerate, in those parts, the Jewish custom of cele-
brating the Pasch, for many of the converts had
been members of the Synagogue. But the Gren-
tiles themselves, who, later on, formed the mass of
the Faithful, were strenuous upholders of this
custom, which dated from the very foundation of
the Church of Asia Minor. In the course of time,
however, this anomaly became a source of scandal :
it savoured of Judaism, and it prevented unity of
religious observance, which is always desii'able, but
particularly so in what regards Lent and Easter.
Pope St. Victor wlio governed the Church from
the year 193, endeavoured to put a stop to this
abuse ; he thought the time had come for estab-
HISTORY OF PASCHAL TIME. O
lishing unity in so essential a point of 'Christian
worship. Already, that is, in the year 160, under
Pope St. Anicetus, the Apostolic See had sought,
by friendly negociations, to induce the Churches of
Asia Minor to conform to the universal practice ;
but it was difficult to triumph over a prejudice,
which rested on a tradition held sacred in that
country. St Victor, however, resolved to make
another attempt. He would put before them the
unanimous agreement which reigned throughout
the rest of the Church. Accordingly, he gave
orders, that Councils should be convened in the
several countries where the Gospel had been
preached, and that the question of Easter should
be examined. Everywhere there was perfect uni-
formity of practice ; and the historian Eusebius,
who lived a hundred and fifty years later, assures
us, that the people of his day used to quote the
decisions of the Councils of Eome, of Graul, of Achaia,
of Pontus, of Palestine, and of Osrhoena in Mesopo-
tamia. The Council of Ephesus, at which Polycra-
tes, the Bishop of that City, presided, was the only
one that opposed the Pontiff, and disregarded the
practice of the universal Church.
Deeming it unwise to give further toleration to
the opposition, Victor separated from communion
with the Holy See the refractory Churches of Asia
Minor. This severe penalty, which was not inflicted
until Pome had exhausted every other means of
removing the evil, excited the commiseration of
several Bishops. St. Ireneus, who was then govern-
ing the See of Lyons, pleaded for these Churches,
which, so it seemed to him, had sinned only through
a want of light ; and he obtained from the Pope, the
revocation of a measure, which seemed too severe.
This indulgence produced the desired effect. In the
following century, St. Anatolius, Bishop of Laodicea,
in his Book on the Pasch, written in 276, tells us
6 PASCHAL TIME.
that the Churches of Asia Minor had then, for some
time past, conformed to the Roman practice.
About the same time, and by a strange co-inci-
dence, the Churches of Syria, Cilicia, and Mesopo-
tamia, gave scandal by again leaving the Christian
and Apostolic observance of Easter, and returning to
the Jewish rite of the fourteenth of the March Moon.
This schism in the Liturgy grieved the Church ; and
one of the points to which the Council of Nicsea
directed its first attention, was the promulgating the
universal obligation of celebrating Easter on the
Sunday. The Decree was unanimously passed, and
the Fathers of the Council ordained, that "all con-
troversy being laid aside, the Brethren in the East
should solemnise the Pasch on the same day as the
Romans, the Alexandrians, and the rest of the Faith-
ful."^ So important seemed this question, inasmuch
as it affected the very essence of the Christian
Liturgy, that St. Athanasius, assigning the reasons
which had led to the calling of the Council of Nicsea,
mentions these two, — the condemnation of the Arian
heresy, and the establishing uniformity in the obser-
vance of Easter.^
The Bishop of Alexandria was commissioned by
the Council to see to the drawing up of astronomical
Tables, whereby the precise day of Easter might be
fixed for each future year. The reason of this choice
was, because the Astronomers of Alexandria were
looked upon as the most exact in their calculations.
These Tables were to be sent to the Pope, and he
would address letters to the several Churches, in-
structing them as to the uniform celebration of the
great Festival of Christendom. Thus was the unity
of the Church made manifest * by the unity of the
holy Liturgy ; and the Apostolic See, which is the
^ Spicilegium Soleamense. t. iv. p. 541.
"^ Epist. ad Afros episcopos.
HISTORY OF PASCHAL TIME. /
foundation of the first, was likewise the source of the
second. But, even previous to the Council of Nicaea,
the Roman Pontiff had addressed to all the Churches,
every year, a Paschal Encyclical, instructing them as
to the Day on which the solemnity of the Resur-
rection was to be kept. This we learn from the
synodical Letter of the Fathers of the great Council
held at Aries, in 314. The Letter is addressed to
Pope St. Sylvester, and contains the following pas-
sage : "In the first place, we beg that the observance
of the Pasch of the Lord may be uniform, both as to
time and day, in the whole worlds and that You
would, according to the custom y address Letters to all
concerning this matter." ^
This custom, however, was not kept up for any
length of time, after the Council of Nicaea. The want
of precision in astronomical calculations occasioned
confusion in the method of fixing the Day of Easter.
It is true, this great Festival was always kept on a
Sunday, nor did any Church think of celebrating it
on the same day as the Jews ; but, owing to there
being no uniform understanding as to the exact time
of the Yernal Equinox, it happened, some years, that
the Feast of Easter was not kept, in all places, on
the same Day. By degrees, there crept in a deviation
from the rule laid down by the Council, of taking
the 21st of March as the day of the Equinox. There
was needed a reform in the Calendar, and no one
seemed competent to bring it about. Cycles were
drawn up contradictory to one another ; Rome and
Alexandria had each their own system of calculation.
So that, some years, Easter was not kept with that
perfect uniformity which the Nicene Fathers had so
strenuously laboured for : and yet, this variation was
not the result of anything like party-spirit.
The West followed Rome. The Churches of
1 Concil. Gallxa:. t. i.
8
PASCHAL TIME.
Ireland and Scotland, which had been misled by
faulty C(/clc8, were, at length, brought into unifor-
mity. Finally, science was sufficiently advanced in
the 16th century, for Pope Gregory the Thirteenth
to undertake a reform of the Calendar. The Equinox
had to be restored to the 21st of March as the Council
of Nicaea had prescribed. The Pope effected this by
publishing a Bull, dated February 24, 1581, and in
which he ordered that ten days of the following year,
namely from the 4th to the 15th of October, should
be suppressed. He thus restored the work of Julius
Caesar, who had, in his day, turned his attention to
the rectification of the Year. Easter was the great
object of the reform, or, as it is called, the New Style,
achieved by Grregory the Thirteenth. The principles
and regulations of the Nicene Council were again
brought to bear on this the capital question of the
Liturgical Year ; and the Roman Pontiff thus gave,
to the whole world, the intimation of Easter, not for
one year only, but for centuries. Heretical nations
were forced to acknowledge the divine power of the
Church in this solemn act, which interested both
religion and society. They protested against the
Calendar, as they had protested against the Rule of
Faith. England and the Lutheran States of Germany
preferred following, for many years, a Calendar, which
was evidently at fault, rather than accept the Neiv
Style, which they acknowledged to be indispensable ;
but it was the work of a Pope ! ^ The only nation
in Europe that keeps up the Old Style is Russia,
whose antipathy to Rome obliges her to be thus ten
or twelve days behind the rest of the civilised
world.
All this shows us how important it was to fix the
precise Day of Easter; and God has several times
1 [ Great Britain adopted the New Style, by Act of Parliament,
in the year 1762, — Tii.]
HISTORY OF PASCHAL TIME. »
shown, by miracles, that the date of so sacred a Feast
was not a matter of indifference, During the ages,
when the confusion of the Cycles and the want of
correct astronomical computations occasioned great
uncertainty as to the Vernal Equinox, miraculous
events more than once supplied the deficiencies of
science and authority. In a Letter to St. Leo the
Great, in the year 444, Paschasinus, Bishop of Lilybea^
in Sicily, relates that under the Pontificate of St.
Zozimus, — Honorius being Consul for the eleventh,
and Constantius for the second time, — the real day
of Easter was miraculously revealed to the people of
one of the Churches there. In the midst of a
mountainous and thickly wooded district of the
Island was a village called Meltinas. Its Church
was of the poorest, but it was dear to Grod. Every
year, on the Night preceding Easter Sunday, as the
Priest went to the Baptistery to bless the Font, it
was found to be miraculously filled with Water,
for there were no human means wherewith it could
be supplied. As soon as Baptism was administered,
the Water disappeared of itself, and left the Font
perfectly dry. In the year just mentioned, the
people, misled by a wrong calculation, assembled for
the ceremonies of Easter Eve. The Prophecies having
been read, the Priest and his flock repaired to the
Baptistery, — but the Font was empty. They waited,
expecting the miraculous flowing of the Water, where-
with the Catechumens were to receive the grace of
regeneration : but they waited in vain, and no Baptism
was administered. On the following 22nd of April,
(the tenth of tlie Kalemh of May ^) the Font was found
to be filled to the brim, and thereby the people
understood that that was the true Easter for that
Year.-
Cassiodorus writing, in the name of king Athalaric,
^ The modem Marsala. 2 g^i Leonis Opera^ Ej)ist. iii.
10 PASCHAL TIME.
to a certain Severus, relates a similar miracle, which
happened every year on Easter Eve, in Lucania, near
the small Island of Leucothea, at a place called
Marcilianum. There was a large fountain there,
whose water was so clear, that the air itself was not
more transparent. It was used as the Font for the
administration of Baptism on Easter Night. As
soon as the Priest, standing under the rock where-
with nature had canopied the fountain, began the
prayers of the Blessing, the Water, as though taking
part in the transports of the Easter joy, arose in the
Font ; so that, if previously it was to the level of the
fifth step, it was seen to rise up to the seventh,
impatient, as it were, to effect those wonders of grace
whereof- it was the chosen instrument. Grod would
show by this, that even inanimate creatures can share,
when he so wills it, in the holy gladness of the
greatest of all Days.^
St. Gregory of Tours tells us of a Font, which
existed even then, in a Church of Andalusia, in a
place called Osen, and whereby G-od miraculously
certified to his people the true Day of Easter. On
the Maundy Thursday of each year, the Bishop,
accompanied by the Faithful, repaired to this Church.
The bed of the Font was built in the form of a cross,
and was paved with mosaics. It was carefully ex-
amined, to see that it was perfectly dry ; and after
several prayers had been recited, every one left the
Church, and the Bishop sealed the door with his seal.
On Holy Saturday, the Pontiff returned, accompanied
by his flock ; the seal was examined, and the door
was opened. The Font was found to be filled, even
above the level of the floor, and yet the water did
not overflow. The Bishop pronounced the exorcisms
over the miraculous Water, and poured the Chrism
into it. The Catechumens were then baptised ; and
^ Cassiodorus, Voriarmn, lib. vii.epist. xxxiii.
HISTORY OF PASCHAL TTME. 11
as soon as the sacrament had been administered, the
Water immediately disappeared, and no one could tell
what became of it.^ Similar miracles were witnessed
in several Churches in the East. John Moschus, a
writer in the 7th century, speaks of a Baptismal Font
in Lycia, which was thus filled every Easter Eve; but
the Water remained in the Font during the whole
fifty days, and suddenly disappeared after the Festival
of Pentecost.^
We alluded, in our History of Passiontide^ to the
decrees passed by the Christian Emperors, which
forbade all Law proceedings during the fortnight of
Easter, that is, from Palm Sunday to the Octave Day
of the Kesurrection. St. Augustine, in a Sermon he
preached on this Octave, exhorts the Faithful to ex-
tend to the whole year this suspension of law-suits,
disputes, and enmities, which the Civil Law inter-
dicted during these fifteen days.
The Church puts upon all her children the obliga-
tion of receiving Holy Communion at Easter. This
precept is based upon the words of our Redeemer,
who left it to his Church to determine the time of
the Year, when Christians should receive the Blessed
Sacrament. In the early Ages, Communion was fre-
quent, and. in some places, even daily. By degrees,
the fervour of the Faithful grew cold towards this
august Mystery, as we gather from a decree of tlie
Council of Agatha (Agde), held in 506, where it is
defined, that those of the laity who shall not approach
Communion at Christmas, Easter, and Pentecost, are
to be considered as having ceased to be Catholics.^
This Decree of the Council of Agatha was accepted
as the law of almost the entire Western Church.
We find it quoted among the regulations drawn up by
^ De Gloria Martip-um^ lib. i. cap. xxiv.
"^ Pratum spirituale, cap. ccxv.
■^ Concii. Agath. Canon xviii.
12 PASCHAL TIME.
Egbert, Archbishop of York, as also in the third
Council of Tours. In many places, however, Com-
munion was obligatory for the Sundays of Lent, and
for the last three Days of Holy Week, independently
of that which was to be made on the Easter Festival.
It was in the year 1215, in the 4th General Council
of Lateran, that the Church, seeing the ever growing
indifference of her children, decreed with regret that
Christians should be strictly bound to Communion
only once in the Year, and that that Communion of
obligation should be made at Easter. In order to
show the Faithful that this is the uttermost limit
of her condescension to lukewarmness, she declares,
in the same Council, that he that shall presume to
break this Law, may be forbidden to enter a church
during life, and be deprived of christian burial after
death, as he would be if he had, of his own accord,
separated .himself from the exterior link of Catholic
unity. ^ These regulations of a Greneral Council show
how important is the duty of the Easter Communion ;
but, at the same time, they make us shudder at the
thought of the millions, throughout the Catholic world,
who brave each year the threats of the Church, by
refusing to comply with a duty, which would both
bring life to their souls, and serve as a profession of
their faith. And when we again reflect upon how
many even of those who make their Easter Com-
munion, have paid no more attention to the Lenten
Penance than if there were no such obligation in
existence, — we cannot help feeling sad, and we won-
der within ourselves, how long God will bear with
such infringments of the Christian Law?
1 Two centuries after tliis, Pope Eugenius the Fourth, in the
Constitution 7)i////rt Fide, given in the year 1440, allowed this annual
Communion to be made on any day between Palm Sunday and Low
Sunday in(dusively. [In England, by pei'mission of the Holy See,
the time for making the Easter Communion extends from Ash
Wednesday to Low Sunday. — Tk.]
HISTORY OF PASCHAL TIME. 13
The fifty days between Easter and Pentecost have
ever been considered by the Church as most holy.
The first week, which is more expressly devoted to
celebrating our Lord's Eesurrection, is kept up as
one continued Feast ; but the remainder of the fifty
days is also marked with special honours. To say
nothing of the joy, which is the characteristic of this
period of the year, and of which the Alleluia is
the expression, — christian tradition has assigned to
Eastertide two practices, which distinguish it from
every other Season. The first is, that Fasting is not
permitted duiing the entire interval : it is an exten-
sion of the ancient precept of never fasting on a
Sunday, and the whole of Eastertide is considered as
one long Sunday. This practice, which would seem
to have come down from the time of the Apostles, was
accepted by the Eeligious Rules of both East and
"West, even by the severest. The second consists in
not kneeling at the Divine Ofiice, from Easter to
Pentecost. The Eastern Churches have faithfully
kept up the practice, even to this day. It was ob-
served for many ages by the Western Churches also ;
but now, it is little more than a remnant. The Latin
Church has long since admitted genuflexions in the
Mass during Easter time. The few vestiges of the
ancient discipline in this regard, which still exist, are
not noticed by the Faithful, inasmuch as they seldom
assist at the Canonical Hours.
Eastertide, then, is like one continued Feast. It
is the remark made by TertuUian, in the 3rd Century.
He is reproaching those Christians who regretted
having renounced, by their Baptism, the festivities
of the Pagan Year ; and he thus addresses them :
" If you love Feasts, you will find plenty among us
*' Christians ; not merely Feasts, that last only for a
*' day, but such as continue for several days together.
" The Pagans keep each of their Feasts once in the
" year ; but you have to keep each of yours many
14 PASCHAL TIME,
*' times over, for you have the eight days of its celebra-
" tion. Put all the Feasts of the Grentiles together,
" and they do not amount to our fifty days of Pente-
*' cost." ^ St. Ambrose speaking on the same subject,
says : " If the Jews are not satisfied with the Sabbath
" of each week, but keep also one which lasts a whole
" month, and another which lasts a whole year ; — how
" much more ought not we to honour our Lord's
" ResuiTcction ? Hence, our ancestors have taught
'* us to celebrate the fifty days of Pentecost as a con-
" tinuation of Easter. They are seven weeks, and the
" Feast of Pentecost commences the eighth. * * * *
" During these fifty days, the Church observes no
" fast, as neither does she on any Sunday, for it is
" the Day, on which our Lord rose : and all these
'* fifty Days are like so many Sundays. "-
1 De Idololatria, cap. xiv. - In Lucaiii, lib. viii. cap. xxv.
THE MYSTERY OF PASCHAL TIME. 15
CHAPTER THE SECOND.
THE MYSTERY OF PASCHAL TIME.
Of all the Seasons of the Liturgical Year, Easter-
tide is, by far, the richest in mystery. We might
even say, that Easter is the summit of the Mystery
of the sacred Liturgy. The Christian who is happy
enough to enter, with his whole mind and heart, into
the knowledge and the love of the Paschal Mystery,
has reached the very centre of the supernatural life.
Hence it is, that the Church uses every effort in
order to effect this : what she has hitherto done, was
all intended as a preparation for Easter. The holy
longings of Advent, the sweet joys of Christmas, the
severe truths of Septuagesima, the contrition and
penance of Lent, the heart-rending sight of the
Passion, — all were given us as preliminaries, as paths,
to the sublime and glorious Pasch, which is now ours.
And that we might be convinced of the supreme
importance of this Solemnity, God willed that the
Christian Easter and Pentecost should be prepared by
those of the Jewish Law : — a thousand five hundred
years of typical beauty prefigured the reality : and
that reality is ours !
During these days, then, we have brought before
us the two great manifestations of Grod's goodness
towai'ds mankind : — the Pasch of Israel, and the
Christian Pasch ; the Pentecost of Sinai, and .the
Pentecost of the Church. We shall have occasion
to show how the ancient figures were fulfilled in the
realities of the new Easter and Pentecost, and how
the twilight of the Mosaic Law made way for the full
day of the Gospel : but we cannot resist the feeling
16 PASCHAL TIME.
of holy reverence, at the bare thought that the
Solemnities we have now to celebrate are more than
three thousand years old, and that they are to be
renewed every year from this till the voice of the
Angel shall be heard proclaiming : Time shall he no
more ! ^ The gates of Eternity will then be thrown
open.
Eternity in Heaven is the true Pasch : hence, our
Pasch, here on earth, is the Feast of feasts, the
Solemnity of solemnities. The human race was dead ;
it was the victim of that sentence, whereby it was
condemned to lie mere dust in the tomb ; the gates
of Life were shut against it. But see ! the Son of
God rises from his grave, and takes possession of
eternal Life. Nor is he the only one that is to die
no more, for, as the Apostle teaches us, he is the first-
born from the dead? The Church would, therefore,
have us consider ourselves as having already risen
with our Jesus, and as having already got possession
of eternal Life. The holy Fathers bid us look on
these fifty days of Easter, as the image of our eternal
happiness. They are days that are devoted exclu-
sively to joy ; every sort of sadness is forbidden ; and
the Church cannot speak to her Divine Spouse
without joining to her words that glorious cry of
heaven, the AllehUa, wherewith, as the holy Liturgy
says,^ the streets and squares of the heavenly Jerusa-
lem resound without ceasing. We have been forbid-
den the use of this joyous word dui'ing the past nine
weeks ; it behoved us to die with Christ : — but now
that we have risen, together with him, from the
Tomb, and that we are resolved to die no more
that death, which kills the soul, and caused our
Redeemer to die on the Cross, we have a right to our
Alleluia.
1 Apoc. X. 6. 2 Coloss. i. 18.
^ Fontificalc Itom. In JDcdicat. Ecoles.
MYSTERY OF PASCHAL TIME. 17
The Providence of Grod, who has established har-
mony between the visible world and the supernatural
work of grace, willed that the Eesurrection of our
Lord should take place at that particular season of
the Year, when even nature herself seems to rise
from the grave. The meadows give forth their ver-
dure, the trees resume their foliage, the birds fill the
air with their songs, and the sun, the type of our
Triumphant Jesus, pours out his floods of light on
our earth made new by lovely Spring. At Christmas,
the sun had little power, and his stay with us was
short ; it harmonised with the humble birth of our
Emmanuel, who came among us in the midst of night,
and shrouded in swaddling clothes : but now, he is
as a giant that noid his way, a)id there is no one
that can hide himself from his heat} Speaking, in
the Canticle, to the faithful soul, and inviting her to
take her part in this new life, which he is now im-
parting to every creature, our Lord himself says :
Arise, my dove, and come ! Winter is now past,
the rain is over and gone. The flowers have ap'
peared in our land. The voice of the turtle is heard.
The fig-tree hath put forth her green figs. The vines,
in fiower, yield their sweet smell. Arise thou, and
come
fi
In the preceding chapter, we explained why our
Saviour chose the Sunday for his Resurrection,
whereby he conquered death and proclaimed Life to
the world. It was on this favoured Day of the week,
that he had, four thousand years previously, created
the Light ; by selecting it now for the commence-
ment of the New Life he graciously imparts to man,
he would show tis that Easter is the renewal of the
entire creation. Not only is the a)iniversary of his
glorious Resurrection to be, henceforward, the greatest
of days, but every Sunday throughout the year is to
» P8. xviii. 6, 7. 2 Cant. ii. 10, 13.
G
18
PASCHAL TIME.
be a sort of Easter, a holy and sacred day. The Syna-
gogue, by God's command, kept holy the Saturday,
or the Sabbath, and this in honour of G-od's resting
after the six days of the creation ; but the Church,
the Spouse, is commanded to honour the Work of
her Lord. She allows the Saturday to pass, — it is
the day her Jesus rested in the Sepulchre : but, now
that she is illumined with the brightness of the
Resurrection, she devotes to the contemplation of
his "Work the first day of the week ; it is the day of
Light, for on it he called forth material Light, (which
was the first manifestation of life upon chaos,) and
on the same, He that is the Brightness of the
Father,^ and the Light of the World,^ rose from the
darkness of the Tomb.
Let, then, the Week, with its Sabbath, pass by ;
what we Christians want, is the Eighth Day, the Day
that is beyond the measure of time, the Day of eter-
nity, the Day whose Light is not intermittent or
partial, but endless and unlimited. Thus speak the
holy Fathers, when explaining the substitution of
the Sunday for the Saturday. It was, indeed, right
that man should keep, as the Day of his weekly
and spiritual repose, that on which the Creator of
the visible world had taken his divine Rest ; but it
was a commemoration of the material Creation only.
The Eternal Word comes down in the world that he
had created ; he comes with the rays of his divinity
clouded beneath the humble veil of our flesh ; he
comes to fulfil the figures of the first Covenant.
Before abrogating the Sabbath, he would observe it,
as he did every tittle of the Law ; he would spend
it as the Day of Rest, after the work of his Passion,
in the silence of the Sepulchre : but, early on the
Eighth Day, he rises to life, and the life is one of
Glory. " Let us," says the learned and pious Abbot
1 Heb. i. 3. » St. John, viii. 12.
MYSTERY OF PASCHAL TIME. 19
Bupert, " leave the Jews to enjoy the ancient Sab-
" bath, which is a memorial of the visible Creation.
" They know not how to love or desire or merit aught
** but earthly things. * * * They would not recog-
" nise this world's Creator as their King, because he
" said Blessed are the Poor ! and, Wo to the Rich !
"But our Sabbath has been transferred from the
" Seventh to the Eighth Day, and the Eighth is the
" First. And rightly was the Seventh changed into
"the Eighth, because we Christians put our joy in a
" better work than the Creation of the world. * * *
" Let the lovers of the world keep a Sabbath for its
" Creation : but our joy is in the Salvation of the
"world, for our life, yea and our Rest, is hidden
" with Christ in God. "^
The mystery of the Seventh followed by an Eighth
Day, as the holy one, is again brought before us by
the number of weeks, which form Eastertide. These
Weeks are seven ; they form a week of weeks, and
their morrow is again a Sunday, the Feast of the
glorious Pentecost. These mysterious numbers, —
which G-od himself fixed, when he instituted the first
Pentecost after the first Pasch, — were followed by the
Apostles, when they regulated the Christian Easter,
as we learn from St. Hilary of Poitiers, St. Isidore,
Amalarius, Rabanus Maurus, and from aU the ancient
interpreters of the mysteries of the holy Liturgy.
" If we multiply seven by seven," says St. Hilary,
" we shall find that this holy Season is truly the
" Sabbath of Sabbaths ; but what completes it, and
" raises it to the plenitude of the Grospel, is the Eighth
" day which follows. Eighth and First both together
" in itself. The Apostles have given so sacred an in-
" stitution to these seven weeks, that, during them,
" no one should kneel, or mar by fasting the spiritual
"joy of this long Feast. The same institution has
^ De Divinis 0£iciis^ lib. vii. cap. xix.
20 PASCHAL TIME.
" been extended to each Sunday ; for this day which
" follows the Saturday has become, by the application
" of the progress of the Gospel, the completion of the
" Saturday, and the day of feast and joy." ^
Thus, then, the whole Season of Easter is marked
with the mystery expressed by each Sunday of the
Year. Sunday is to us the great Day of our week,
because beautified with the splendour of our Lord's
Resurrection, of which the creation of material light
was but a type. We have already said, that this
institution was prefigured in the Old Law, although
the Jewish people were not in any way aware of it.
Their Pentecost fell on the fiftieth day after the Pasch ;
it was the morrow of the seven weeks. Another
figure of our Eastertide was the year of Jubilee, which
Grod bade Moses prescribe to his people. Each
fiftieth year, the houses and lands that had been
alienated during the preceding forty-nine, returned
to their original owners ; and those Israelites, who had
been compelled, by poverty, to sell themselves as
slaves, recovered their liberty. This year, which was
properly called the Sabbatical year was the sequel of
the preceding seven weeks of years, and was thus the
image of our Eighth Day, whereon the Son of Mary,
by his Resurrection, redeemed us from the slavery of
the tomb, and restored us to the inheritance of our
immortality.
The Rites peculiar to Eastertide, in the present
discipline of the Church, are two : the unceasing
repetition of the AUelida, of which we have already
spoken, and the colour of the Vestments used for its
two great solemnities, — ichite for the first, and red for
the second. White is appropriate to the Resurrection ;
it is the mystery of eternal Light, which knows neither
spot nor shadow ; it is the mystery that produces in
a faithful soul the sentiment of purity and joy. Pen-
' Prolog U9 in Fsalmos.
MYSTERY OF PASCHAL TIME. 21
tecost, — which gives us the Holy Spirit, the con-
stoning Fire^ — is symbolised by the red vestments,
which express the mystery of the Divine Paraclete
coming down in the form of fiery tongues upon them
that were assembled in the Cenacle. With regard
to the ancient usage of not kneeling during Paschal
Time, we have already said, that there is a mere
vestige of it now left in the Latin Liturgy.
The Saints' Feasts, which were interrupted during
Holy Week, are likewise excluded from the first
eight days of Eastertide ; but these ended, we shall
have them in rich abundance, as a bright constella-
tion of stars round the divine Sun of Justice, our
Jesus. They will accompany us in our celebration of
his admirable Ascension ; but such is the grandeur
of the mystery of Pentecost, that, from the Eve of
that Day, they will be again interrupted until the
expiration of Paschal Time.
The Eites of the primitive Church with reference
to the Neophytes, who were regenerated by Baptism
on the Night of Easter, are extremely interesting
and instructive. But as they are peculiar to the two
Octaves of Easter and Pentecost, we will explain
them as they are brought before us by the Liturgy
of those days.
1 Heb. xii. 29.
22 PASCHAL TIME.
CHAPTER THE THIRD.
PRACTICE DURING PASCHAL TIME.
The practice for this holy Season mainly consists
in the spiritual Joy, which it should produce in every
soul that is risen with Jesus. This Joy is a foretaste
of eternal happiness, and the Christian ought to con-
sider it a duty to keep it up within him, by ardently
seeking after that Life which is in our Divine Head,
and by carefully shunning sin which causes Death.
During the last nine weeks, we have mourned for our
sins and done penance for them ; we have followed
Jesus to Calvary ; but now, our holy Mother the
Church is urgent in bidding us rejoice. She herself
has laid aside all sorrow ; the voice of her weeping is
changed into the song of a delighted Spouse.
In order that she might impart this Joy to all her
children, she has taken their weakness into account.
After reminding them of the necessity of expiation,
she gave them forty days wherein to do penance ; and
then, taking off all the restraint of Lenten mortifica-
tion, she brings us to Easter as to a land where there
is nothing but gladness, light, life, joy, calm, and the
sweet hope of Immortality. Thus does she produce
in those of her children, who have no elevation of
soul, sentiments in harmony with the great Feast,
such as the most perfect feel ; and by this means, all,
both fervent and tepid, unite their voices in one same
hymn of praise to our Risen Jesus.
The great Liturgist of the 12th century, Rupert,
Abbot of Deutz, thus speaks of the pious artifice used
by the Church to infuse the spirit of Easter into all :
" There are certain carnal minds, that seem unable to
PRACTICE DURING PASCHAL TIME. 23
* open their eyes to spiritual things, unless roused
' by some unusual excitement ; and for this reason,
' the Church makes use of such means. Thus, the
* Lenten Fast, which we offer up to Grod as our yearly
^ tithe, goes on till the most sacred Night of Easter ;
' then follow fifty days without so much as one single
' Fast. Hence it happens, that whilst the body is
' being mortified, and is to continue to be so till Easter
* Night, — that holy Night is eagerly looked forward
' to even by the carnal-minded ; they long for it to
^ come ; and, meanwhile, they carefully count each of
' the Forty Days, as a wearied traveller does the miles.
* Thus, the sacred Solemnity is sweet to all, and dear
' to all, and desired by all, as light is to them that
' walk in darkness, as a fount of living water is to
' them that thirst, and as a Tent which the Lord hath
^pitched for wearied wayfarers."^
What a happy time was that, when, as St. Bernard
expresses it, there was not one in the whole Christian
Army, that neglected his Easter duty, and when all,
both just and sinners, walked together in the path of
the Lenten Observances ! Alas ! those days are gone,
and Easter has not the same effect on the people of
our generation ! The reason is, that a love of ease
and a false conscience lead so many Christians to
treat the law of Lent, with as much indifference as
though there were no such law existing. Hence,
Easter comes upon them as a Feast, — it may be, as
a great Feast ; but that is all : they experience little
of that thrilling Joy which fills the heart of the Church
dui'ing this Season, and which she evinces in every
thing she does. And if this be their case even on
the glorious Day itself, how can it be expected that
they should keep up, for the whole Fifty, the spirit of
Gladness, which is the very essence of Easter ? They
have not observed the Fast, or the Abstinence, of
* De Divinia Officiis^ lib. vi. cap. xxyii.
24
PASCHAL TIME.
Lent : the mitigated form in which the Church now
presents them to her Cliildren, in consideration of
their weakness, was too severe for them ! They
sought, or they took, a total dispensation from this
law of Lenten mortification, and without regret or
remorse. The Alleluia returns, and it finds no re-
sponse in their souls : how could it ? Penance has not
done its work of purification ; it has not spiritualised
them ; how, then, could they follow their Bisen Jesus,
whose Life is henceforth more of heaven than of earth ?
But these reflections are too sad for such a Season
as this : let us beseech our Risen Jesus to enlighten
these souls with the rays of his victory over the world
and the flesh, and to raise them up to himself. No,
nothing must now distract us from Joy. Can the
children of the Bridegroom mourn, as long as the
Bridegroom is with them P Jesus is to be with us
for forty days ; he is to suffer no more, and die no
more ; let our feelings be in keeping with his now
endless glory and bliss. True, he is to leave us, he
is to ascend to the right hand of his Father ; but he
wiU not leave us orphans ; he will send us the Divine
Comforter, who will abide with us for ever.- These
sweet and consoling words must be our Easter text :
The children of the Bridegroom cannot mourn, as long
as the Bridegroom is with us. They are the key to
the whole Liturgy of this holy Season. We must
have them ever before us, and we shall find by
experience, that the Joy of Easter is as salutary as
the contrition and penance of Lent. Jesus on the
Cross, and Jesus in the Resurrection, — it is ever the
same Jesus ; but what he wants from us now, is that
we should keep near him, in company with his
Blessed Mother, his Disciples, and Magdalene, who
are in ecstasies of delight at his Triumph, and have
forgotten the sad days of his Passion.
1 St. Matth. ix. 15. 2 gt John, xiv. 16-18,
PRACTICE DURINfi PASCHAL TIME. 25
But this Easter of ours will have an end ; the
bright vision of our Risen Jesus will pass away ; and
all that will be left to us, will be the recollection of
his ineffable glory, and of the wonderful familiarity
wherewith he treated us. What shall we do, when
He who was our very Life and Light, leaves us, and
ascends to heaven ? Be of good heart, Christians !
you must look forward to another Easter. Each year
will give you a repetition of what you now enjoy.
Easter will follow Easter, and bring you, at last, to
that Easter in Heaven, which is never to have an
end, and of which these happy ones of earth are a
mere foretaste. Nor is this all. Listen to the
Church. In one of her Prayers she reveals to us
the great secret, how we may perpetuate our Easters,
even here in our banishment : — " Grant to thy ser-
" vants, 0 Grod, that they may keep up, by their
" manner of living, the Mystery they have received
" by their believing I " ^ So, then, the mystery of
Easter is to be ever visible on this earth : our Risen
Jesus ascends to heaven ; but he leaves upon us the
impress of his Resurrection, and we must retain it
within us until he again visits us.
And how could it be that we should not retain
this divine impress within us? Are not all the
mysteries of our Divine Master ours also ? From
his very first coming in the Flesh, he has made us
sharers in everything he has done. He was born in
Bethlehem : we were boiTi together with him. He
was crucified : our old man teas crucified with hhnr
He was buried : tee were buried with him} And,
therefore, when he rose from the grave, we, also, re-
ceived the grace that we shoidd walh in the newness
of life}
Such is the teaching of the Apostle, who thus
1 Collect for Tuesday in Easter "Week. ^ Rom. vi. 6.
■'Rom. vi. 4, ^Ibid,
26 PASCHAL TIME.
continues : "We know that Christ rising again from
the dead, dieth now no more; death shall no more
have dominion over him : for in that he died to sin,
(that is, for sin,) he died once ; hut in that he liveth,
he liveth unto God} He is our Head, and we are
his Members : ice share in what is his. To die again
by sin, would be to renounce him, to separate our-
selves from him, to forfeit that Death and Eesur-
rection of his, which he mercifully willed should be
ours. Let us, therefore, preserve within us that
Life, which is the Life of our Jesus, and, yet, which
belongs to us as our own treasure ; for he won it by
conquering death, and then gave it to us, with all his
other merits. You, then, who, before Easter, were
Sinners, but have now returned to the Life of Grrace, —
see that you die no more : let your actions bespeak
your Resurrection. And you, to whom the Paschal
Solemnity has brought growth in grace, show this
increase of more abundant Life by your principles
and your conduct. 'Tis thus all will walk in the
newness of life.
With this for the present, we take leave of the lessons
taught us by the Resurrection of Jesus : the rest we
reserve for the humble commentary we shall have
to make on the Liturgy of this holy season. We
shall then see, more and more clearly, not only our
duty of imitating our Divine Master's Resurrection,
but the magnificence of this grandest Mystery of the
Man-Grod. Easter, — with its three admirable mani-
festations of divine love and power, the Resurrection,
the Ascension, and the Descent of the Holy Grhost, —
yes, Easter is the perfection of the work of our Re-
demption. Everything, both in the order of time,
and in the workings of the Liturgy, has been a pre-
paration for Easter. The four thousand years that
followed the promise made by God to our First
1 Rom. vi. 9, 10,
PRACTICE DURING PASCHAL TIME. 27
Parents were crowned by the event that we are now
to celebrate. All that the Church has been doing
for us from the very commencement of Advent had
this same glorious event in view ; and now that we
have come to it, our expectations are more than
realised, and the power and wisdom of Grod are
brought before us so vividly, that our former knowledge
of them seems nothing in comparison with our present
appreciation and love of them. The Angels them-
selves are dazzled by the grand Mystery, as the Church
tells us in one of her Easter Hymns, where she says :
" The Angels gaze with wonder on the change wrought
" in mankind : — it was flesh that sinned, and now
" Flesh taketh all sin away, and the God that reigns
" is the God made Flesh.''^
Eastertide, too, belongs to what is called the
Ilhiminative Life ; nay, it is the most important part
of that Lifc^ for it not only manifests, as the last four
seasons of the Liturgical year have done, the humili-
ations and the suiferings of the man-God ; it shows
him to us in all his grand glory ; it gives us to see him
expressing, in his own sacred Humanity, the highest
degree of the creatiu'e's transformation into his God.
The coming of the Holy Ghost will bring additional
brightness to this Illumination ; it shows us the rela-
tions that exist between the soul and the Third Person
of the Blessed Trinity. And here we see the way
and the progress of a faithful soul. She was made
an adopted Child of the Heavenly Father ; she was
initiated into all the duties and mysteries of her
high vocation, by the lessons and examples of the
Incarnate Word ; she was perfected, by the visit
and indwelling of the Holy Ghost. From this
there result those several Christian exercises,
which produce within her an imitation of her divine
Model, and prepare her for that Union, to which
^ Hymn for the Matins of Ascension Day.
2g PASCHAL TIME.
she is invited by Him who ga.e ^o fem that re-
ceived him, power to be made ^"^^f ^"f' Z nf
S that is not of blood, nor of the .flesh, but of
God.^
1 St. John, i. 12, 13.
MORNING AM) NIGHT PRAYERS. 29
CHAPTER THE FOURTH.
MORNING AND NIGHT PRAYERS FOR PASCHAL TIME.
During Paschal Time, the Christian, on waking
in the morning, will unite himself with the Church,
who, in her Office of Matins, says to us these solemn
words, which choirs of religious men and women,
throughout the universe, have been chanting during
the deep silence of the night : —
The Lord hath truly lisen. Surrexit Dominus vere.
Alleluia. Alleluia.
He will profoundly adore the Son of God rising
from the Tomb, and surrounded with the dazzling
rays of his grand triumph. He will hail him with
delighted joy, as being the divine Son of Justice, who
rises on the world that he may rescue it from the
darkness of sin, and illumine it with the light of
grace. It is with these ideas deeply impressed upon
his mind, that he must perform his first acts of re-
ligion, 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 :
1( . Tjet us bless the Father, ^ . Benedicamus Patrem
and the Son, and the Holy et Filium, cum Sancto Spi-
G-hofet. ritu.
30 PASCHAL TIME.
^. Wemus et supev- J-^ ^^ Z.':t i^r^t
exaltemus eum in ssBcula extol ti™ ^"°^ ^^^ p^tt^er,
et^SpiStJr-^'""' Jlto&,andtot.eHoI.
et nunc et semper, etrns^,- --g;^Sd wUiouren" Amen,
cula sseculorum. Amen. oe, wui^vi
TheB, praise to our Lord and Saviour, Jesus
Christ :
* In resurrectione tua, ^ In thy Eesurrection, 0
Christe, alleluia. ^^r*'Lt heaven and earth
S. Cceliet terra tetentur, &:^^Let W
alleluia. •"
Thirdly, invocation of the Holy Ghost :
Veni, Sanote Spirrtn^^e- ^.^ome 0 Hdy^Jjnrit, fiU
^^rrr^if eif tTm gj^f '^"'^"^ ^^ ^^^
accende. ^
After these fundamental acts of religion recite the
M\''"^cLst St^heta iiM^^^^^^^^
L?e\'preXth^ii- of his divine Son, who
ias won for himself all power, i^ heaven and on
^4- \ ^'^ ^^0?' a^tthatT: ?othsafe't?S
bv Ms Eesurrection ; ana tnai ue """I., i^^^no-ht
liver us from evil, that is, irom m , f
?r:''.i-"' r-s:i^s,:* ;f.»""
tr".iS viotorj both for him..ll md te »■
THE lord's prayer.
Hnv TTn+Viftr who art in hea-
Pater noster, qui es m Our lather w ^^^^ ^
?:-':-:Srre^nTm £^5t'eS,-ah[is'S
MORNING PRAYERS. 31
daily bread; and forgive us nem nostrum quotidianum
our trespasses, as we forgive da nobis bodie : et dimitte
them that trespass against us ; nobis debita nostra, sicut et
and lead us not into tempta- nos dimittimus debitoribus
tion ; but deliver us from evil, nostris : et ne nos inducas
Amen. in tentationem : sed libera
nos a malo. Amen.
Then, address our Blessed Lady, using the words
of the Angelical Salutation. Congratulate her on
the happiness, which her maternal heart must have
felt, when she saw her Jesus after his Resurrection.
How must she not have exulted at the sight of her
Son, all radiant with the splendour of his triumph !
Her joy was the greater, because the Agony and
cruel Death of this dear Fruit of her icomh had
pierced her soul with a sword of sorrow.
THE ANGELICAL SALUTATION.
Hail Mary, full of grace : Ave Maria, gratia plena :
the Lord is with thee ; blessed Dominus tecum : benedicta
art ^thou among women, and tu in mulieribus, et bene-
blessed is the fruit of thy dictus fructus ventris tui,
womb, Jesus. Jesus.
Holy Marj^ Mother of God, San eta Maria, Mater Dei,
pray for us sinners, now and ora pro nobis peccatoribus,
at the hour of our death, nunc et in hora mortis nos-
Amen. trae. Amen.
After this, you should recite the Creeds that is, the
Symbol of faith. It contains the dogmas we are to
believe ; and amongst these are the Resurrection of
Christ, — which is the foundation of the Christian
religion, — and the Ascension, which raises up our
thoughts and hopes to heaven. You should dwell,
with devout attention, on those words : / hcUeve in
the Holy Ghod, for it was during this season that
the Spirit of love came down upon the earth in order
to sanctify us. Repeat, with enthusiasm, the words,
/ be lie re the Iloh/ CathoUe Chureh^ because this our
Mother was installed in her glorious ministry by our
32
PASCHAL TIME.
Saviour, before his Ascension, and was made fruitful
by the Holy Grhost's descending upon her. Finally,
put on all the ardour of your Faith when you pro-
nounce the words, I believe the resurrection of the
body ; it will be a homage most pleasing to our
Redeemer, who vouchsafed to communicate to our
poor flesh the reality and glory of his own Resur-
rection.
THE apostles' CREED.
Credo in Deum Patrem
omnipotentem, Creatorem
coeli et terrae. Et in Jesum
Christum Filium 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,
sedet ad dexteram Dei Pa-
tris omnipotentis : inde ven-
turus est judicare vivos et
mortuos.
Credo in Spiritum Sanc-
tum, sanctam Ecclesiam Ca-
tholicam. Sanctorum com-
munionem, remissionem
peccatorum, camis resur-
rectionem, vitam seternam.
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; Jie 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 GJiost ;
tlte Holy Catholic Church ;
the communion of Saints, the
forgiveness of sins, the resur-
rection of the body, and life
everlasting. Amen.
After having thus made the profession of your
Faith, give praise to your divine Lord, who, early on
the Sunday morning, rose from the Tomb by his
own power. He, hereby, invited all men to share in
the Easter joy, and, from the very midst of Death,
enriched them with life. With this before you,
recite the following Hymn, given you by the Church
in her Office of Lauds during Paschal Time.
MORNING PRAYERS.
33
HYMN.
Day-dawn gilds the hea-
vens ; — the air re-echoes with
our hymns, the world is tri-
umphant and glad, and hell
howls with fear and rage.
This is the hour when our
most mighty King freed from
the deep prison of death the
venerable host of the fathers,
and led them to the light of
life.
A numerous body of soldiers
keep watch at the Tomb ; a
stone is rolled against it, and
all is sealed. But Jesus tri-
umphs over death, and buries
it in his own Grave.
A bright Angel cries out ;
" Away with mourning, tears,
and grief I The conqueror of
death is risen I"
That thou, 0 Jesus, mayest
be an endless Paschal joy to
our hearts, free us, who have
been regenerated unto life,
from the dread death of sin.
OrloTj be to God the Father,
and to the Son who rose from
the dead, and to the Paraclete,
for everlasting ages.
Amen.
Aurora caelum purpurat,
jEther resultat laudibus,
Mundus triumphans j ubilat,
Horrens avernus infremit.
Eex nie dum fortissimus
De mortis inferno specu
Patrum senatum liberum
Educit ad vitae jubar.
Cu j us sepulchrum plurimo
Custode signabat lapis,
Victor triumphat, et suo
Mortem sepulchre funerat.
Sat funeri, sat lachrymis,
Sat est datum doloribus :
Surrexit exstinctor necis,
Clamat coruscans Angelus.
Ut sis perenne mentibus
Paschale, Jesu, gaudium,
A morte dira criminum
Vitae renatos libera.
Deo^Patri sit gloria,
Et Filio, qui a mortuis
Sui'rexit, ac ParacHto,
In sempiterna saecula.
Amen.
Here make an bumble confession of your sins,
reciting tbe general formula made use of by the
Church.
THE CONFESSION OF SINS.
I confess to Almighty God,
to blessed Mar}' ever Virgin,
to blessed Michael the Arch-
angel, to blessed John Baptist,
to the holy Apostles Peter and
Confiteor Deo Omnipo-
tenti, beatoe Mariae semper
Virgini, beato Michaeli
Archangelo, beato Joanni
Baptist®, Sanctis Apostolis
34
PASCHAL TIME.
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 Vii'-
ginem, beatum Michaelem
Archangelum, beatum Joan-
nem Baptistam, sanctos
Apostolos Petrum et Pau-
lum, 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.
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 Life
everlasting. Amen.
May the Almighty and mer-
ciful Lord grant us pardon,
absolution, and remission of
our sins. Amen.
This is the proper place for making your Medi-
tation, as no doubt you practise this holy exercise.
During Paschal Time, the following should form the
leading subjects of our Meditations : — The power
and glory of the Man-God in his Eesurrection ; the
love he has shown us by giving us to share in his
victory over death ; the apparitions wherewith he
consoled his Blessed Mother, Magdalene and the other
holy women, the Apostles and Disciples ; the forty
days he passed on earth, previous to his Ascension ;
the glorious qualities of his Body after his Resurrec-
tion ; our own Resurrection ; the magnificence of the
Ascension ; the Descent of the Holy Ghost, and the
preparation we should make for it ; and lastly, the
obligation we are under of walking in that new life
which Easter brings with it, and which is the abso-
lutely necessary means of our benefiting by the
sublime Mysteries now brought before us,
MORNING PRATERS.
35
The next part of your Morning Exercise must be
the asking of God, by the following prayers, grace to
avoid every kind of sin. Say, then, with the Church,
whose Prayers must ever be preferred to all others :
y. 0 Lord, hear my prayer. f. Domine, exaudi ora-
tionem meam.
Bt. And let my cry come 5^. Et clamor meus ad te
unto thee. veniat.
LET us PRAY.
Almighty Lord and God,
who hast brought us to the be-
ginning of this day, let thy
powerful grace so conduct us
through it, that we may not
fall into any sin, but that all
our thoughts, words, and ac-
tions may be regulated accord-
ing to the rules of thy heavenly
justice, and tend to the ob-
servance of thy holy law.
Through Jesus Chiist our
Lord. Amen.
OREMUS.
Domine, Deus omnipo-
tens, qui ad principium hu-
jus diei nos pervenire fe-
cisti, tua nos hodie salva
virtute, ut in hac die ad
nullum declinemus pecca-
tum, sed semper ad tuam
justitiam faciendam nostra
procedant eloquia, dirigan-
tur cogitationes et opera.
Per Dominum nostrum Je-
sum Christum filium tuum,
qui tecum vivit et regnat in
unitate Spiritus Sancti
Deus, per omnia saecula
sseculorum. Amen.
Then beg the divine assistance for the actions
of the day, that you may do them well, and say
thrice :
?^. Inchne unto my aid, O
God.
Bt. 0 Lord, make haste to
help me.
f. Incline unto my aid, 0
God.
Bt. 0 Lord, make haste to
help me.
^. Incline unto my aid, 0
God.
Bt. O Lord, make haste to
help me.
f. Deus, in adjutorium
meum intende.
Bt. Domino, ad adjuvan-
dum me festina.
f. Deus, in adjutorium
meum intende.
Bi. Domine, ad adjuvan-
dum me festina.
>". Deus, in adjutorium
meum intende.
Bt. Domine, ad adjuvaa-r
dum me festina.
36
PASCHAL TIME.
OREMUS.
Dirigere et sanctificare,
regere et gubernare dignare,
Domine Deus, Eex coeli et
terrae, hodie corda et corpora
nostra, sensus sermones, et
actus nostros in lege tua, et
in operibus mandatorum
tuorum, ut hie et in aeter-
nnm, te auxiliante, salvi et
liberi esse mereamur, Salva-
tor mundi. Qui vivis et re-
gnas in ssecula sseculorum.
Amen.
LET us PRAY.
Lord God, and King of
heaven and earth, vouchsafe
this day to rule and sanctify,
to direct and govern our souls
and bodies, our senses, words,
and actions in conformity to
thy law, and strict obedience
to thy commands ; that by
the help of thy grace, 0 Savi-
our of the world I we may be
fenced and freed from all evils.
Who livest and reignest for
ever and ever. 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.
NIGHT PEAYEES.
After having made the sign of the Cross, adore
that Sovereign Lord, who has so mercifully preserved
you during this day, and blessed you, every hour,
with his grace and protection. For this end, recite
the following Hymn, which the Church sings in her
Vespers for Paschal Time.
HYMN.
Ad regias Agni dapes,
Stolis amicti candidis,
Post transitum maiis Rubri,
Christo canamus principi.
Divina cujus charitas
Sacrum propinat sangui -
nem,
Almique membra corporis
Amor sftcerdos immolat,
Having passed the red sea,
and now seated at the royal
banquet of the Lamb, clad in
our white robes, — let us sing
a hymn to Christ our King.
He, in his divine love for
us, gives us to drink of his
precious Blood. Love is the
Priest that immolates his
sacred Body,
NIGHT PRAYERS.
37
The destroying Angel looks
with awe upon the Blood that
is sprinkled on the thresholds.
The sea divides its waters, and
buries our enemies in its
waves.
Christ is now our Pasch ; he
is our Paschal Lamb ; he is
the unleavened Bread of sin-
cerity, pure food for pure
souls.
0 truly heavenly Victim !
by whom hell was vanquished,
the fetters of death were
broken, and life was awarded
to mankind.
Christ, our Conqueror, un-
folds his banner, for he has
subdued the powers of hell.
He opens heaven to man, and
leads captive the prince of
darkness.
That thou, 0 Jesus, mayest
be an endless Paschal joy to
our hearts, free us, who have
been regenerated unto life,
from the dread death of sin.
Glory be to God the Father,
and to the Son who rose from
the dead, and to the Paraclete,
for everlasting ages.
Amen.
Sparsum cruorem posti-
bus
Vastator horret Angelus ;
Fugitque divisum mare,
Merguntur hostes fluctibus.
Jam Pascha nostrum
Christus est,
Paschalis idem victima,
Et pura puris mentibus
Sinceritatis azyma.
0 vera coeli victima,
Subjecta cui sunt tartara,
Soluta mortis vincula,
Eecepta vitae prsemia.
Victor subactis in fens
Trophaea Christus explicat,
Cceloque aperto, subditum
Regem tenebrarum trahit.
Ut sis perenne mentibus
Paschale, Jesu, gaudium,
A morte dira criminum
Vitae renatos libera.
Deo Patri sit gloria,
Et Filio, qui a mortuis
Surrexit, ac Paraclito,
In sempiterna ssecula.
Amen.
After this Hymn, say the Our Father, Hail Mary,
and the Apostles^ Creed, as in the Morning.
Then make the Examination of Conscience, going
over in your mind all the faults committed during
the day. Think, how opposed sin is to that new
life, which we ought now to be leading with our
Risen Lord : make a firm resolution to avoid sin
for the time to come, to do penance for it, and to
shun the occasions which might again lead you
into it.
38 PASCHAL^TIME.
The Examination of Conscience concluded, recite
the Confiteor (or I confess) with heartfelt contrition,
and give expression to your sorrow by the follow-
ing Act, which we have taken from, the Venerable
Cardinal Bellarmine's Catechism :
ACT OF CONTRITION.
0 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 the
Fourteenth 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 Eoman Church requires me to believe : I believe
it, because thou hast revealed it to her, thou who art the
very Truth.
ACT OF HOPE.
0 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 CHARITY.
0 my God, I love thee with my whole heart and above all
things, because thou art the sovereign Good : I would rather
NIGHT PRAYERS.
39
lose all tilings than offend thee. For thy love also, I love
and desire to love my neighbour as myself.
Then say to our Blessed Lady the following An-
them, which the Church uses during Paschal Time :
ANTHEM TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN.
Eejoice, 0 Queen of heaven,
alleluia,
Por he whom thou deservedst
to bear, alleluia,
Hath risen, as he said, alle-
luia.
Pray to God for us, alleluia.
f. Rejoice and be glad, 0
Virgin Mary, alleluia.
Bt. For the Lord hath truly
risen, alleluia.
Regina coeli, Isetare, alle-
luia.
Quia quem meruisti por-
tare, alleluia,
Eesurrexit sicut dixit, alle-
luia.
Ora pro nobis Deum, alle-
luia.
}lf. Gaudo et laetare, Virgo
Maria, alleluia,
gt. Quia surrexit Dominus
vere, alleluia.
LET TJS PRAY.
0 God, who, by the Resur-
rection of Jesus Christ thy
Son, didst vouchsafe to make
the world rejoice, grant, we
beseech thee, that, by the
intercession of the Virgin
Mary, his Mother, we may
receive the joys of eternal
life. Through the same
Christ our Lord. Amen.
OREMUS.
Deus, qui per Resurrec-
tionem Filii tui Domini nos-
tri Jesu Christi, mundum
Isetificare dignatus es : prae-
sta quaesumus, ut per ejus
Genitricem Virginem Ma-
riam, perpetuae capiamus
gaudia vitae. Per eumdem
Christum Dominum nos-
trum. 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.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Kyrie, eleison.
Christe, eleison.
Xyrie, eleison.
40
PASCHAL TIME.
Cliriste, audi nos.
Christe, exaudi nos.
Pater de coelis, 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 Cbristi,
Mater divinae 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,
Sedes sapientise,
Causa nostrse Isetitise,
Vas spirituale,
Vas honorabile,
Vas insigne devotionis,
Rosa mystica,
Turris Davidica,
Turris eburnea,
Domus aurea,
Foederis area,
Janua coeli,
Stella matutina,
Salus infirmorum,
Refugium peccatorum,
Consolatrix afflictorum.
Christ hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of heaven,
have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of
the world, haye 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,
Vii'gin most merciful,
Vii'gin most faithful,
Mirror of justice,
Seat of wisdom.
Cause of our joy,
Spiiitual 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.
ASSUMPTION COI.LFGE
SCHOLAR I ICS' LIBRARY
NIGHT PRAYERS.
41
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.
Queen of the most holy Rosary.
0 Lamb of God, who takest
away the sins of the world,
spare us, 0 Lord.
0 Lamb of God, who takest
away the sins of the world,
graciously hear us, O Lord.
0 Lamb of God, who takest
away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciouslj' hear us.
T. Pray for us, 0 Holy
Mother of God.
gt. That we may be made
worthy of the promises of
Christ.
LET US PRAY.
Grant, 0 Lord, we beseech
thee, that we thy sei'vants
may enjoy constant health of
body and mind, and by the
glorious intercession of Blessed
Mary, ever a Virgin, be de-
livered from all present afflic-
tion, and come to that joy
which is eternal. Through
Christ our Lord. Amen.
Auxilium Christianorum,
Eegina Angelorum,
Regina Patriarcharum,
Eegina Prophetarum,
Eegina Apostolorum,
Eegina Marty rum,
Eegina Confessorum,
Eegina Vii'ginum,
Eegina Sanctorum omnium,
Eegina sine labe original!
concepta,
Eegina sacratissimi Eosarii.
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.
^. Ora pro nobis, sancta
Dei Genitrix.
Bt. Ut digni efficiamur
promissionibus Christi.
OREMTJS.
Concede nos famulos tuos,
qusesumus Domine Deus,
perpetua mentis et corporis
sanitate gaudere : et gloriosa
beatae Marise, semper Vir-
ginis, intercessione, a prae-
senti liberari tristitia, et
aeterna perfrui Isetitia. Per
Christum Dominum nos-
trum. 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 :
42 PASCHAL TIME.
Sancti Angeli, custodes Holy Angels, our loving
nostri, defeudite nos in prse- Guardians, defend us in the
lio, ut non pereamus in tre- hour of battle, that we may
mendo judicio. not be lost at the dreadful
judgment.
y. Angelis suis Deus f. God hath given his
mandavit de te. Angels charge of thee.
gt. Ut custodiant te in §:. That they may guard
omnibus viis tuis. thee in all thy ways.
OEEMTJS. LET TJS PRAY.
DevLS, qui ineffabili provi- 0 God, who in thy wonder-
dentia sanctos Angelos tuos ful providence hast been
ad nostram custodiam mit- pleased to appoint thy holy
tere dignaris : largire suppli- Angels for our guardians :
cibus tuis, ut eorum semper mercifully hear our prayers,
protectione defendi, et aeter- and grant we may rest secure
na societate gaudere. Per under their protection, and en-
Christum Dominum nos- joy their fellowship in heaven
trum. Amen. 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, Axt. 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.
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.
De profundis clamavi ad From the depths I have
te, Domino: Domine,exaudi cried to thee, O Lord ; Lord,
vocem meam. hear my voice.
NIGHT PRAYERS.
43
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 ?
For with thee there is mer-
ciful forgiveness ; and by rea-
son of thy law I have waited
for thee, O Lord.
My soul hath reHed on his
word ; my soul hath hoped in
the Lord.
From the morning watch
even until night, let Israel
hope in the Lord.
13ecause Tvdth 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 Ught shine
upon them.
y. From the gate of hell.
Bi. Deliver their souls, 0
Lord.
'^. May they rest in peace.
gt. Amen.
f. 0 Lord, hear my prayer.
gt. And let my cry come
unto thee.
Fiant aures tu3e intenden-
tes : in vocem deprecationis
meae.
Si iniquitates observave-
ris, Domine : Domine, quis
sustinebit ?
Quia apud te propitiatio
est : et propter legem tuam
sustinui te, Domine.
Sustinuit anima mea in
verbo ejus : speravit anima
mea in Domino.
A custodia matutina usque
ad noctem : speret Israel in
Domino.
Quia apud Dominum mi-
sericordia : et copiosa apud
eum redemptio.
Et ipse redimet Israel ; ex
omnibus iniquitatibus ejus.
Eequiem seternam dona
eis, Domine.
Et lux perpetua luceat
eis.
y. A porta inferi.
Bt. Erue, Domine, animas
eorum.
f. Requiescant in pace.
gt. Amen.
F' Domine, exaudi ora-
tionem meam.
Bt. Et clamor meus ad te
veniat.
LET us PRAY.
0 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 rcignest for
ever and ever. Amen.
OREMUS.
Fideliiun Deus omnium
Conditor et Redemptor, ani-
mabus famulorum famula-
rumque tuarum, remissio-
nem cunctorum tribue pec-
catoi-um : ut indulgentiam,
quam semper optaverunt,
piis supplicationibus conse-
quantur. Qui vivis et regnas
iusaeculasaeculorum. Amen.
44
PASCHAL TIME.
Here make a special memento of such of the
Faithful departed as have a particular claim upon
your charity ; after which, ask of Grod 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. Salva nos, Domine,
vigilantes, custodi nos dor-
mientes : ut vigilemus cum
Christo, et requiescamus in
pace.
^ . Dignare Domine, noc-
te ista.
gt. Sine peccato nos cus-
todire.
f. Miserere nostri, Do-
mine.
Bt. Miserere nostri.
y. Fiat misericordia tua,
Domine, super nos.
gt. Quemadmodum spe-
ravimus in te.
1^. Domine, exaudi ora-
tionem meam.
^. Et clamor meus ad te
veniat.
Ant. Save us, 0 Lord,
whilst awake, and watch us
as we sleep ; that we may
watch with Christ, and rest in
peace.
f. Vouchsafe, 0 Lord, this
night.
gt. To keep us without sin.
N'. Have mercy on us, O
Lord.
Bt. Have mercy on us.
y . Let thy mercy , 0 Lord,
be upon us.
gt. As we have hoped in
thee.
f. 0 Lord, hear my prayer.
gt. And let my cry come
unto thee.
OREMUS.
LET us PRAY.
Visita, qusesumus, Domi-
ne, habitationem istam, et
omnes insidias inimici ab ea
longe repelle : Angeli tui
sancti habitent in ea, qui nos
in pace custodiant, et bene-
dictio tua sit super nos sem-
per. Per Dominum nostrum
Jesum Christum, Filium
tuum, qui tecum vivit et
regnat, in unitate Spiritus
Sancti Deus, per omnia sae-
cula saeculorum. Amen.
Visit, we beseech thee, 0
Lord, this house and family,
and drive far 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
rei^neth with thee, in the
unity of the Holy Ghost, God,
world without end. Ameu.
NIGHT PRAYERS. 45
And that you may end the day with sentiments
suitable to the joyous season, repeat, with the Church,
these beautiful words of the two Disciples of Emmaus :
'^. Stay with us, 0 Lord, al- y. Mane nobiscum, Do-
leiuia. mine, alleluia.
^. For it is now evening, ^. Quoniam advespera-
alleluia. scit, alleluia.
46 PASCHAL TIME.
GHAPTEH THE FIFTH.
ON HEARING MASS DURING PASCHAL TIME.
When we assisted at the Holy Sacrifice during
Passiontide, our attention was fixed on the real im-
molation of the Lamb ; we looked upon the Altar
as a new Calvary ; and our devotion was centred
upon the divine Victim slain for our ransom. Dur-
ing Eastertide, the Lamb presents himself to us in
another aspect ; he is living, he is resplendent with
glory, he is the Conqueror. He still deigns to be
immolated ; but it is that he may invite us to a joyous
banquet, — the banquet of the Pasch, — wherein he
gives us to eat of his Flesh. In her chants during the
Mass, the Church is untiring in her Alleluia; she affec-
tionately kisses the Wounds of her Jesus, which now
dart forth rays of dazzling brightness. Her Altar is the
throne of the Risen Grod ; she approaches it without fear,
for the divine Conqueror of death, though so resplen-
dent in his glory, is more loving and affable than ever.
Another source of joy to the Church, when at the
holy Altar, is the sight of her children partaking of
the banquet of the Paschal Lamb. Each Church is
now a Cenacle, where Jesus celebrates the Pasch with
his Disciples. The holy Table is no longer the feast
of a chosen few ; the guests come in in crowds, and
the House is filled. Now is the great figure of the
Old Law changed into a reality. " At this Table of
" the great King, the new Pasch of the New Law
" puts an end to the ancient Passover. The new
" excludes the old ; reality puts the shadow to flight ;
*' light expels night." ^ We are the children of the
^ Sequence for the Feast of Corpus Chi'isti,
MASS. ^i
promise ; we have not denied Christ, as did the Jews ;
but we acknowledged him to be our King, whilst his
faithless people were dragging him to execution.
He, in return, has invited us to his Pasch, and there
he is our host and our food.
During Eastertide, then, the Holy Sacrifice puts
these two spectacles before us in a most special way : —
a Victim, who is risen from the dead, and yet is still
immolated in a real though unbloody manner ; and a
Table prepared for the eating of the Lamb, which is,
indeed, offered, during the whole yea)\ to the Faith-
ful for the life of their souls, but which is now fre-
quented by all. At this Table is likewise fulfilled
the prophetic symbol of the ancient Paschal Lamb.
For fifteen hundred years, it was the figurative Lamb ;
the true Lamb has now reigned eighteen hundred :
and this is the Lamb, whom the Holy Mass repro-
duces in all the efficacy of his Sacrifice and in all the
magnificence of his glory.
We ought, therefore, during Paschal Time, to
assist at Holy Mass with these great truths present
before our minds ; and whilst thinking of the beauty
of the ancient types, we should be most grateful to
our Heavenly Father for his having given us to live
under the reign of the new Pasch. Let us be present
at this great act of the Christian Religion with
extreme joy of soul, for it is here that we have, in all
his reality, the same Jesus that rose again from the
dead, to die no more. Let us unite with his holy
Mother Mary, with Magdalene, and with his Disciples,
in the sentiments tlictj had. They had the immense
happiness of seeing and conversing with him for
forty days after his ResuiTection : he shows himself
to us, also, in this august Sacrifice. Let us give
him our adoration and love, and with all possible fer-
vour.
We will now endeavour to embody these senti*
48 PASCHAL TIME.
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 formulae, but by suggesting such
Acts, as will enable those who hear Mass, to enter into
the ceremonies and spirit of the Church and the
Priest.
During a considerable portion of Paschal Time, the
Mass is celebrated in commemoration of the great
Mysteries which were accomplished at this season of
the Liturgical Year : the prayers used by the Church,
on these several Feasts, are given in their proper
places. On other days, the Holy Sacrifice is generally
said in honour of the Saints, unless there occur a
Sunday, not impeded by a Double Feast.
On the Sundays, if the Mass, at which the Faithful
assist, be the Parochial, or, as it is often called, the
Public Mass, two solemn rites precede it, and they
are full of instruction and blessing : — the Asperges,
or sprinkling of the Holy Water, and the Pro-
cession.
During the Asperges, let us recal to our minds the
Baptism received on Easter Eve by the Neophytes.
Let us also think of our own, whereby we were made
members of Christ. The water that thus regene-
rated us was made fruitful by the Blood of the Lamb
and by the power of the Holy Grhost.
ANTIPHON OF THE ASPERGES.
Vidi aquam egredientem, I saw water flowing from
de templo a latere dextro, the right side of the temple,
alleluia : et omnes, ad quos alleluia : and all to whom that
pervenit aqua ista, salvi water came were saved, and
facti sunt et dicent : Alle- they shall say : Alleluia,
luia, alleluia.
Ps. Confitemini Domino, Ps. Praise the Lord, be-
quoniam bonus : quoniam in cause he is good ; because his
sseculum misericordia ejus. mercy endureth for ever.
OloriaPatri. Vidi aquam r Gllory, &c. I saw.
MASS.
49
^. Show us, 0 Lord, thy
mercy, alleluia.
Bi. And grant us thy sal-
vation, alleluia.
1^ . Ostende nobis, Do-
mine, misericordiam tuam,
alleluia.
gt. Et salutare tuum da
nobis, alleluia.
LET TJS PRAY.
Graciously hear us, O holy
Lord, Father Almighty, Eter-
nal God : and vouchsafe to
send thy holy Angel from hea-
ven, who may keep, cherish,
protect, visit and defend all
who are assembled in this
place. Through Christ our
Lord. Amen.
OREMTJS.
Exaudi nos, Domine sanc-
te, Pater omnipotens, teter-
ne Deus : et mittere digne-
ris sanctum Angelum tuum
de ccelis, qui custodiat, fo-
veat, protegat, visitet, atque
defendat omnes habitantes
inhochabitaculo. PerChris-
tum Dominum nostrum.
Amen.
The Procession, whieli immediately precedes the
Mass, represents the holj Women going to the Se-
pulchre, \\ith the intention of re-embalming the
Body of their divine Master. They found it not
there ; but Jesus at once showed himself to them,
and they returned filled with wonder and joy.
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.
P
50
PASCHAL TIME.
THE ORDINAEY OF THE MASS.
In nomine Patris, et Filii,
et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.
^. Introibo ad altare Dei.
gt. Ad Deum qui Ifetificat
juventutem meam.
Judica me, Deus, et dis-
cerne causam meam de gente
non sancta : ab homine ini-
quo et doloso erue me.
Quia tu es, Deus, forti-
tude mea : quare me repu-
listi y et quare tristis incedo,
dum affligit me inimicus P
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 la'tificat ju-
ventutem meam.
Confitebor tibi in cithara
Deus, Deus mens : quare
tristis es anima mea ? et
quare conturbas me ?
Spera in Deo, quoniam
adbuc confitebor illi : Salu-
tare vultus mei, et Deus
mens.
Gloria Patri, et Filio, et
Spiritui Sancto.
In the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the
Holy Ghost. Amen.
I unite myself, O my God,
with thy Church, whose heart
is filled with the hope of soon
seeing, and in all the splen-
dour of his Resurrection,
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 who
will open to us the way to thy
holy mount, to thy heavenly
tabernacle.
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 I A^Tiy
wouldst thou be troubled ?
Hope in thy Jesus, who will
soon show himself to thee as
the conqueror of that Death
which he will have suffered
in thy stead ; and thou wilt
rise again together with him.
Glorj' be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost,
THE ORDINARY OF THE MASS.
51
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 desires to give me a
new life I
This my hope comes not to
me as thinking that I have any
merits, but from the all-
powerful help of my Creator.
Sicut erat in principio, et
nunc et semper, et in saecula
saeculorum. Amen.
V. Introibo ad altare Dei.
ijt. Ad Deum qui Itetificat
juventutem meam.
f. Adjutorium nostrum
in nomine Domini.
^. Qui fecit coelum et ter-
ram.
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 :
May Almighty God have
mercj' on thee, and, forgiving
thy sins, bring thee to ever-
lasting life.
Misereatur tui omnipotens
Deus, et dimissis peccatis
tuis, perducat te ad vitam
aeternam.
The Priest having answered Ameu^ make your
confession, saying with a contrite spirit :
I confess to Almighty God,
to blessed Mary ever Virgin,
to blessed Michael the Arch-
angel, to blessed John Baptist,
to the holy Apostles Peter and
Paul, to all the saints, and to
thee. Father, that I have sinned
exceedingly in thought, word,
and deed, thi-ough my fault,
^^0. f 0 I
Confiteor Deo omnipo-
tenti, beatae Marise semper
Virgini, beato Michaeli
Archangelo, beato Joanni
Baptistie, Sanctis Apostolia
Petro et Paulo, omnibus
Sanctis, et tibi. Pater : quia
peccavi nimis, cogitatione,
verbo, et opere : jja^ ouk>a, jjj
v.
vsc:
52
PASCHAL TIME.
mea culpa, mea maxima
culpa. Ideo precor beatam
Mariam semper Virginem,
beatum Michaelem Arch-
angelum, beatum Joannem
Baptistam, sanctos Aposto-
los Petrum et Paulum, om-
nes Sanctos, et te, Pater,
orare pro me ad Dominum
Deum nostrum.
through my fault, through my
most grievous fault. There-
fore I beseech the blessed Mary
ever Virgin, blessed Michael
the Archangel, blessed John
Baptist, the holy Apostles
Peter and Paul, and all the
Saints, and thee. Father, to
pray to our Lord God for me.
Receive with gratitude the paternal wish of the
Priest, who says to you :
Misereatur vestri omni-
potens Deus, et dimissis
peccatis vestris, perducat
vos ad vitam seternam.
gt. Amen.
Indulgentiam, absolutio-
nem, et remissionem pecca-
torum nostrorum tribuat
nobis omnipotens et miseri-
cors Dominus.
5^. Amen.
May Almighty God be mer-
ciful to you, and, forgiving
your sins, bring you to ever-
lasting life.
^. Amen.
May the Almighty and mer-
ciful Lord grant us pardon,
absolution, and remission of
our sins.
Bt. Amen.
Invoke the divine assistance, that you may
approach to Jesus Christ.
t. Deus, tu conversus
vivificabis nos.
1^ . J^]t plebs tua Isetabitur
in te.
Si. Ostende nobis, Domi-
ne, misei-icordiam tuam.
Bt. Et Salutare tuum da
nobis.
^. Domine, exaudi ora-
tionem meam.
gf. Et clamor meus ad te
yeniat.
y. 0 God, it needs but one
look of thine to give us life.
g(. And thy people shall
rejoice in thee.
V. Show us, 0 Lord, thy
mercy.
8t . And give us to know and
love the Saviour whom thou
hast sent unto us.
'^. 0 Lord, hear my prayer.
gt. And let my cry come
unto thee.
THE ORDINARY OF THE MASS. 53
The Priest here leaves you to ascend to the altar ;
but first he salutes you :
V. The Lord be with you. \ . Domiuus vobiscum.
Answer him with reverence :
I^. And with thy spiiit. gt. Et cum spiritu tuo.
He ascends the steps, and comes to the Holy of
Holies. Ask, both for him and yourself, the deliver-
ance from sin :
LET us PRAY. OREMIJS.
Take from our hearts, O Aufer a nobis qu?esumus,
Lord, all those sins, which Domine, iniquitates nos-
make us unworthy to appear tras ; ut ad Sancta sanctorum
in thy presence, we ask this of puns mereamur mentibus
thee by thy divine Son, our introire. Per Christum Do-
Lord, minum nostrum. Amen.
When the Priest kisses the altar, out of reverence
for the relics of the Martyrs which are there, say :
Generous soldiers of Jesus Oramus te, Domine, per
Christ, who have mingled merita sanctorum tuorum,
your own blood with his, in- quorum reliquiae hie sunt, et
tercede for us that our sins omnium sanctorum : ut in-
may be forgiven : that so we dulgere digneris omnia pec-
may, like you, approach unto cata mea. Amen.
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 causQs to
54 PASCHAL TIME.
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 expression
to the sentiments which fill her heart.
It is followed by nine exclamations which are
even more earnest, — for they ask for mercy. In
addressing them to Grod, 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 :
Kyrie eleison. Jjord, have mercy on us I
Kyrie eleisou. Lord, have mercy ou us !
Kyrie eleisoii. Lord, have mercy on us !
To the Son :
Christe eleison. Christ, have mercy on us
Christe eleison. Christ, have mercy on us
Christe eleison. Christ, have mercy o]i us
To the Holy Ghost :
Kyrie eleison. Lord, have mercy on us !
Kyrie eleison. Lord, have mercy on us I
Kyrie eleison. Lord, have mercy on us I
Then, mingling his voice with that of the heavenly
host, the Priest intones the sublime Canticle of Beth-
lehem, which announces ylonj to Gocly and peace to
men. Instructed by the revelations of God, the
Church continues, in her own words, the Hymn of
the Angels. She celebrates, with rapture, the Lamb
of God, who taketh away the sln^ of the world ; and,
as it were, in return for the humiliations he suffered,
in his Passion, she proclaims that Jle alo)w is Holy,
THE ORDINARY OF THE MASS.
55
He alonr in Lord, He alone Mod Hir/h. Enter
Christians, into these sentiments of profound adora-
tion, confidence, and tender love, towards the Paschal
Lamb.
THE ANGELIC HYMN.
Glory be to God on high,
and on earth peace to men of
good will.
We praise thee : we bless
thee : we adore thee : we
glorify thee : we give thee
thanks for thy great glory.
0
Kin
mi{
Lord
o, God
htJ^
' Lord
God, ITeavenlv
the Father Al-
the
Jesus Christ,
only begotten Son.
O Lord God, Lai ah of (for/,
Son of the Father.
Who takest away the sins of
the world, have mercy on us.
Who takest away the sins of
the world, receive our humble
prayer.
Who sittest at the i-ight
hand of the Father, have
mercy on us.
For thou alone art holy,
thou alone art Lord, thou
alone, 0 Jesus Christ, together
with the Holy Ghost, art most
high, in the gloiy of God the
Father. Amen.
Gloria in excelsis Beo, et
in terra pax hominibus bonso
voluntatis.
Laudamus te : benedici-
mus te : adoramus te : glori-
ficamus te : gratias agimus
tibi propter maguam gloriam
tuam.
Domine Dens, Eex coeles-
tis, Deus Pater omnipotens.
Domine, Fili unigenite,
Jesu Christe.
Domine Deus, Agnus Dei,
Filius Patris.
Qui tollis peccata mundi,
miserere nobis.
Qui tollis peccata mundi,
suscipe deprecationem nos-
tram.
Qui sedes ad dexterara
Patris, miserere nobis.
Quoniam tu solus sanctus,
tu solus Dominus, tu solus
Altissimus, Jesu Christe,
cum Sancto Spiritu, in glo-
lia Dei Patiis. Amen.
The Priest then 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.
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
56 PASCHAL TIME.
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.
After this, comes the Upistle, which is generally,
a portion of one or other of the Epistles of the
Apostles, or a passage from some Book of the Old
Testament. Whilst it is being read, ask of Grod that
you may profit of the instructions it conveys.
The Gradual is an intermediate formula of prayer
between the Epistle and Gospel. It again brings to
us the sentiments already expressed in the Introit.
Eead it with devotion, that so you may enter more
and more into the spirit of the mystery proposed to
you by the Church.
During Paschal Time, the Gradual is not said,
except for the first six days : we have elsewhere
explained the reason of this exception. On all other
days of the Season, the interval between the Epistle
and Gospel is filled up by two Verses, to each of
which is added Alleluia, the word that is now cease-
lessly on the Church's lips. After the fifty days of
Paschal joy, the Gradual will be resumed in the
Liturgy.
Next follows the Gospel. It was the Holy Ghost
who guided the four Evangelists ; their Gospel, which
is our light and life, is one of the fruits of the glorious
Pentecost. Let us prepare for hearing the words of
our Risen Lamb : it is he himself that is about to
speak to us, as he did to his Disciples, when he
appeared to them during the days between his
Resurrection and Ascension.
If it be a Hiyh Mass, the Deacon, meanwhile,
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 before the
Priest, ho asks a blessing ; and, having received it, at
THE ORDINARY OF THE MASS. 57
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 both Priest and Deacon :
Alas! these ears of mine are Munda cor meum, ac la-
but too often defiled with the bia mea, Omnipotens Deus,
world's vain words : cleanse qui labia Isaise Prophetse
them, 0 Lord, that so I may calculo mundasti ignito : ita
hear the words of eternal life, me tua grata miseratione
and treasure them in my dignare mundare, ut sanc-
heart. Through our Lord turn Evangelium tuum dig-
Jesus Christ. Amen. ne valeam nuntiare. Per
Christum Dominum nos-
trum. Amen.
Grant to thy ministers thy Dominus sit in corde meo,
grace, that they may faith- et in labiis meis : ut digne
fully explain thy law ; that so et competenter annuntiem
all, both pastors and flock, P>angelium suum : In no-
may be united to thee for ever mine Patris, et Filii, et Spi-
Amen. ritus Sancti. Amen.
You will stand during the Grospel, 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. Whild my beloved u'a>> ispeak-
biii, 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 hearethr
After the Gospel, if the Priest says 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 initiates us into the sublime
Easter Mysteries, which divinise our whole life, and
put us in possession of the good things of eternity.
Like the holy women at the Sepulchre, let us believe
with a lively and simple faith. Let us not wait for
experience, as Thomas did ; for our Lord has said :
' Cant. V. 6. - 1 Kings, iii. 10.
58
PASCHAI. TIME.
Blessed are thef/ that hare not seen^ and have believed.^
Let us, then, say with the Catholic Church our
Mother :
THE NICENE CREED.
Credo in unum Deum,
Patrem omnipotentem, fac-
torem coeli et terrae, 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, Deum verum de Deo
vero. Genitum non factum,
consubstantialem Patri, per
quem omnia facta sunt. Qui
propter nos homines, et
propter nostram salutem,
descendit de coeUs. Et in-
carnatus est de Spiritu San-
cto, ex Maria Virgine ; et
HOMO FACTUS EST. Cruci-
fixus etiam pro nobis sub
Pontio Pilato, passus, et
sepultus est. Et resurrexit
tertia die, secundum Scrip-
turas. Et ascendit in coe-
lum ; sedet ad dexteram
Patris. Et iterum venturus
est cum gloria judicare 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-
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 be-
came incarnate by the Holy
Ghost of the Virgin Mary ;
AISD WAS MADE MAN. He
was crucified also for us, under
Pontius Pilate, suffered, and
was buried. And the third
day he rose again, according
to the Scriptures. And as-
cended 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
jyroceedeth from the Father
and the Son. Who together
with the Father and the Son,
is adored and glorified ? who
spoke by the Prophets. And
' St. John, XX. 29.
THE ORDINARY OF THE MASS. 59
one holij Catholic and Apos- tarn Catholicam et Apostoli-
tolic Church. I confe^^s one cam Ecclesiam. Confiteor
Baptism for the remission of unum Baptisma in remissio-
sins. And I expect the lesur- iiempeccatorum. Etexspec-
rection of the dead, and the to resurrectionem mortuo-
life of the world to come, rum, et vitamyenturisseculi.
Amen. Amen.
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 Ob/at ion, and
which immediately follows that, which was called the
J/r/.b-.s* 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 transfor-
mation, when, as the Apostle expresses it, tJiat which
to us is mortal^ shall put on i)nmorialiti/} 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 jiartakers of the dirine nature}
The Priest again turns to the people with the
usual salutation, as though he would warn them to
redouble their attention. Let us read the Offertory
with him, and when he offers the Host to God, let
us unite with him in saying :
' 1 Cor. XV. 60. - 2 St. Pet. i. 4.
60
PASCHAL TIME.
Suscipe, sancte Pater,
omnipotent 8eterne Deus,
hanc immaculatam hor^tiain,
quam ego iudignus famulus
tuns oft'ero tibi Deo meo
vivo et vero, pro innumera-
bilibus peccatis et offensio-
nibus et negligentiis meis,
et pro omnibus circumstan-
tibus, sed et pro omnibus
fidelibus christianis vivis
atque defunctis ; ut mihi
et illis proficiat ad salutem
in vitam seteruam. Amen.
All that we have, 0 Lord,
comes from thee, and belongs
to thee ; it is just, therefore,
that we return it unto thee.
But how wonderful art thou
in the inventions of thy im-
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 theii- own life of
self.
When the Priest puts the wine into the chalice,
and then mingles with it a drop of water, let your
thoughts turn to the divine mystery of the Incar-
nation, which is the source of oui' hope and our
salvation ; and say :
Deus qui humanae sub-
stantias dignitatem mirabi-
liter condidisti, et mirabi-
lius ref ormasti : da nobis per
hujus aqase et vini myste-
rium, ejus divinitatis esse
consortes, qui humanitatis
nostrse fieri dignatus est
particeps, Jesus Christus
Filius tuns DoQiinus noster :
qui tecum vivit et regnat
in unitate Spiritus Sancti
Deus, per omnia ssecula
sseculorum. Amen.
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 I 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.
The Priest then offers the mixture of wine and
water, beseeching Grod graciously to accept this
oblation, 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 :
THE ORDINARY OF THE MASS.
61
Graciouslj' accept these
gifts, O sovereign Creator of
all things. Let them be fitted
for the divine transformation,
which will make them, from
being mere oif erings of created
things, the instrument of the
world's salvation.
Offerimus tibi, Domine,
calicem salutaris, tuam de-
precantes clementiam : ut in
conspectu divinse Majestatis
tu£e, pro nostra et totius
mundi salute, cum odore
suavitatis ascendat. Amen.
After having thus held up the sacred gifts towards
heaven, the Priest bows down : let us also humble
ourselves, and say :
Though daring, as we do, to
approach thy altar, 0 liOrd,
we cannot forget that we are
sinners. Have mercy on us,
and delay not to send us thy
Son, who is our saving Host.
In spiritu humilitatis, et
in animo contrito suscipia-
mui* a te, Domine : et sic fiat
sacrihcium nostrum in con-
spectu tuo hodie, ut placeat
tibi, Domine Deus.
Let us next invoke the Holy Grhost, 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 mj^stery of the Incarna-
tion :
Come, O Divine Spirit, Veni, Sanctificator omni-
make fruitful the offeiing potens oeterne Deus, et be-
which is upon the altar, and nedic hoe saoriticium tuo
produce in our hearts Him sancto nomini prneparatum.
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.
But the thought of his own unworthiness becomes
more intense than ever in the heart of the Priest.
62
PASCHAL TIME.
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 })eople, in the language of a
solemn rite, how far he knows himself to be from
that spotless sanctity, wherewith he should approach
to Grod. He washes his hands. Our hands signify
our (vorkfi ; 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 the Psalm.
PSALM 25.
Lavabo inter innocentes
manus meas : et circumdabo
altare tuum, Domine.
TJt audiam vocem laudis :
et enarrem universa inira-
bilia tua.
Domine, dilexi decorein
domus tuj?e, et locum habi-
tationis glori^e tupe.
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
nunc, et semper, et in ssecula
saeculorum. Amen.
I, too, would wash my
hands, 0 Ijord, 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 thj' glorj\ Leave me
not, O God, in the midst of
them that are enemies both
to thee and me. Thy mercy
having sej^arated 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. Glorj^ 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 with-
out end. Ameu,
THE ORDINARY OF THE MASS.
63
The Priest, taking encouragement from the act of
humility he has just made, returns to tlie middle of
th(^ altar, and bows down full of respectful awe,
begging of Grod 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.
O Holy Trinity, graciously Suscipe, sancta Trinitas,
accept the Sacrifice we have haiic oblationem, quam tibi
begun. We offer it in remem- offorimus ob memoriam Pas-
brance of the Passion, Eesur- sionis, Resurrectionis, et
rection, and Ascension of our Ascensionis Jesu Christi
Lord Jesus Christ. Permit Domini nostri : et in honore
thy Church to join "wdth this beatte Mariae semper Virgi-
intention that of honouring nis, et beati Joannis Bap-
the ever glorious Virgin Mary, tisti^e, et sanctorum Aposto-
the Blessed Baptist John, the lorum Petri et Pauli, et
holy Apostles Peter and Paul, istorum, et omnium Sanc-
the Martyrs whose relics lie torum : ut illis proficiat ad
here under our altar awaiting honorem, nobis autem ad
their resurrection, and the salutem : et illi pro nobis
Saints whose memory we this intercedere dignentur in
day celebrate. Increase the coelis, quorum memoriam
glory they are enjoying, and agimus in terris. Per eum-
receive the prayers they ad- dem Christum Dominum
dress to thee for us. nostrum. Amen.
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 :
Brethren, praj- that my Sa- Orate, fratres : ut meum
critice. which is yours also, ac vestrum sacrificium ac-
may be acceptable to God, our ceptabile fiat apud Deum
Almighty Father. Patrom omnipotontem .
This request made, he turns again to the altar, and
you will see his face no more, until our Lord himself
64 PASCHAL TIME.
shall have come down from heaven upon that same
Altar. Assure the Priest that he has your prayers,
and say to him :
Suscipiat Dominus sacri- May our Lord accept this
ficium de manibus tuis, ad Sacrifice at thy hands, to the
laudem et gloriam nominis praise and glory of his name,
sui, ad utilitatem quoque and for our benefit and that of
nostram totiusque Ecclesiae his holy Church throughout
suae sanctiB. the world.
Here the Priest recites the prayers called flie Sc-
C7'ets, in which he presents the petition of the whole
Church for Grod's acceptance of the Sacrifice, and
then immediately begins to fulfil that great duty of
religion, — Thanksgiving. So far he has adored God,
and has sued for mercy ; he has still to give thanks
for the blessings bestowed on us by the bounty of
our heavenly Father, the chief of which, during this
Season, is his graciously fulfilling the promise he
made after the sin of our First Parents : he fulfilled
it by the Resurrection of the Lamb, who thereby
conquered Death. 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 Qod for
all his gifts, he interrupts his own and their silent
prayer by terminating it aloud, saying :
Per omnia ssecula sseculo- For ever and ever !
rum I
In the same feeling, answer your Amm ! Then
he continues :
V. Dominus vobiscum. t. The Lord be with you.
1^. Et cum spiritu tuo. IJt. And with thy spirit.
^ . Sursum corda I t . Lift up your hearts I
Let your response be sincere.
gt. Habemus ad Domi- iJt. We have them fixed on
num. God,
THE ORDINARY OF THE MASS.
And when he adds :
65
f. Let us give thanks to f. Gratias agamus Do-
the Lord our God. mino Deo nostro.
Answer him with all the earnestness of your soul.
Bt. It is meet and just. B^. Dignum et justum est.
Then the Priest :
THE PREFACE.^
It is truly meet and just,
right and available to salva-
tion, to praise thee, 0 Lord,
at all times, but chiefly at this
time, when Christ our Pass-
over was sacrificed for us. For
he is the true Lamb, who hath
taken away the sins of the
world. Who, by dying, hath
destroyed our death, and by
rising again, has restored us to
life. And therefore, with the
Angels and Archangels, with
the Thrones and Dominations,
and with all the heavenly host,
we sing a hymn to thy glorj',
saying unceasingly :
Vere dignum et justum
est, sequum et salutare, te
quidem Domine omni tem-
pore, sed in hoc potissimum
gloriosius praedicare, cum
Pascha nostrum immolatus
est Christus. Ipse enim ve-
rus est Agnus, qui abstulit
peccata mundi. Qui mor-
tem nostram moriendo de-
struxit, et vitam resurgendo
reparavit. Et ideo cum An-
gelis et Archangelis, cum
Thronis et Dominationibus,
cumque omni militia coeles-
tis exercitus, hjTunum glo-
ria) tuj© canimus, sine fine
dicentes :
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 !
Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanc-
tus, Dominus Deus sabaoth !
Pleni sunt coeli et terra
gloria tua.
Hosanna in excelsis I
^ The Prefaces for the Ascension, Pentecost, and the Annuncia-
tion, are given in the Masses for those Feasts.
66
PASCHAL TIME.
Benedictus qui venit in
nomine Domini.
Hosanna in excelsis.
Blessed be the Saviour \vho
is coming to us in the name ot
the Lord who sends him.
Hosanna be to him in the
highest !
After these words commences the Canon, that
mysterious prayer, in the midst of which heaven bows
down to earth, and God descends unto us. The voice
of the Priest is no longer heard ; yea, even at the
altar, all is silence. Let a profound respect stay all
distractions, and keep our senses m submission to
the soul. Let us fix our eyes on what the Pnest
does in the Holy Place.
THE CANON OF THE MASS.
In this mysterious colloquy with the great God
of heaven and earth, the fii'st prayer of the sacri-
ficing priest is for the CathoHc 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 h?ec dona, hsec
munera, heec sancta sacri-
ficia illibata, in piimis quee
tibi offerimus pro Ecclesia
tua sancta Catholica : quam
pacificare, custodire, adu-
nare, et regere digneris toto
orbe terrarum, una cum fa-
mulo tuo Papa nostroN., et
Antistite nostro N., et om-
nibus orthodoxis, atque ca-
thoUcse et apostolicse fidei
cultoribus.
O God who manifestest thy-
self unto us by means of the
mysteries which thou hast en-
trusted to thy holy Church,
oui' Mother ; we beseech thee,
by the merits of this sacrifice,
that thou wouldst remove all
those hindrances which oppose
her during her pilgrimage in
this world. Give her peace
and unity. Do thou thyself
guide our Holy Father the
Pope, thy Yicar on earth. Di-
rect thou our Bishop, who is
oui' sacred link of unity ; and
watch over all the orthodox
children of the Catholic Apos-
tolic Roman Church.
Here pray, together with the Priest,
whose interests should be dearest to you.
for those
THE ORDINARY OF THE MASS.
67
Peimit me, 0 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
blessings of this present life
and of that which is eternal.
Memento, Domine, famu-
lorum famularumque tua-
rum N. et N. et omnium
circumstantium, quorum
tibi fides cognita est, et nota
devotio: pro quibus tibi
oft'erimus, vel qui tibi offe-
runt hoc sacriticium laudis,
pro se, suisque omnibus, pro
redemptione animarum sua-
rum, pro spe salutis et in-
columitatis suae ; tibique
redd Lint vota sua seterno
Deo, vivo et vero.
Here let us commemorate the Saints : they are
that portion of tlie Body of Jesus Christ, which is
called the CJiiirch Triumphant.
But the offering of this Sa-
crifice, 0 my God, does not
unite us "«nth those only of our
brethren who are still in this
transient life of tiial : it brings
us closer to those also, who
are already in possession of
heaven. Thei-efore it is, that
we wish to honour by it the
memorj'^ of the glorious and
ever Virgin Mary, of whom
Jesus was bom 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 worth}' to contemplate
thee, as they now do, in the
mansion of thy glory.
Communicantes, et me-
moriam venerantes, in pri-
mis glorios?e semper Virgi-
nis Maviie, Genitricis Dei et
Domini nostri Jesu Christi :
sed et beatorum Apostolo-
rum ac Marty rum tuoi-um,
Petri etPauli, Andrea?, Jaco-
bi, Joannis, Thoma?, Jacobi,
Philippi, Bartholomsei, Mat-
thaci, Simonis, et Thaddaei :
Lini, Cleti, Clementis, Xysti,
Cornelii, Cj^priani. Lauren-
tii, Chrysogoni, Joannis et
Pauli, Cosmae et Damiani,
et omnium sanctorum tuo-
rum, quorum mcritis preci-
busquo concedas, ut in om-
nibus protectionis tuoe mu-
niamur auxilio. Per eum-
dem Christum Dominum
nostrum. Amen.
The Priest, who, up to this time had been praying
68 PASCHAL TIME.
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
instants, to yield its place to the living Host, upon
whom are laid all our iniquities.
Hanc igitur oblationem Vouchsafe, 0 God, to accept
servitiitis nostrse, sed et this offering which this thy
cunctDe familia? tuJB quse- assembled family presents to
STimus Domine, ut placatus thee as the homage of its most
accipias : diesque nostros in happy servitude. In return,
tua pace disponas, atque ab give us peace, save us from
seterna damnatione nos thy wrath, and number us
eripi, et in electorum tuo- among the elect, thi-ough Him
rum jubeas grege numerari. who is coming to us, — thy Son
Per Christum Dominum our Saviour,
nostrum. Amen.
Quam oblationem tu Deus Yea, Lord, this is the mo -
in omnibus qusesumus, be- ment when this bread is to
nedictam, adscriptam, ra- become his sacred Body, which
tarn, rationabilem, accepta- is our food; and this wine is
bilemque facere digneris ; to be changed into his Blood,
ut nobis Corpus et Sanguis which is our drink. Ah I de-
fiat dilectissimi Filii tui lay no longer, but send to us
Domini nostri Jesu Christi. this divine Son our Saviour !
And here the Priest ceases to act as man ; he now
becomes more than a mere minister of the Church.
His word becomes that of Jesus Christ, with all its
power and efficacy. Prostrate yourself in profound
adoration ; for God himself is about to descend upon
our Altar, coming down from heaven.
Qui pridie quam patore- What, O God of heaven and
tur, accepit panem in sane- earth, my Jesus, the long ex-
tas ac veuerabiles manus pected Messias, what else can
suas : et elevatis oculis in 1 do at this solemn moment
THE ORDINARY OF THE MASS.
69
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 I
coeltim, ad te Deum Patrem
suum omnipotentem, tibi
gratias agens, benedixit,
f regit, deditque discipulis
suis, dicens : Accipite, et
manducate ex hoc omnes.
Hoc EST EKiM Corpus
MEUM.
The Divine Lamb is now lying on our Altax ! Grlory
and love be to him for ever ! But he is come, that
he may be immolated. Hence, the Priest, who is the
minister of the will of the Most High, immediately
pronounces over 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 Grod gives us in order to give us confidence.
Let us associate ourselves to the Angels, who trem-
bhngly look upon this deepest wonder.
0 Precious Blood I thou
price of my salvation I I adore
thee I 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 I Come also and
reign in me by thy power and
by th)" love.
Simili modo postquam
coenatum est, accipiens et
hunc prseclarum Calicem in
sanctas ac venerabiles ma-
nus suas : item tibi gratias
agens, benedixit, deditque
discijDulis suis, dicens : Ac-
cipite et bibite ex eo omnes.
HiC EST EXIM CaLIX SaN-
GUrMS MEI, NOVI ET ^TER-
NI TESTAMEXTI : MYSTE-
RIUM FEDEI : QUI PRO VO-
BIS ET PRO MULTIS EFFUN-
DETUR IN REMI8SI0NEM
PECCATORUM. Hoec quoti-
escumque feceritis, in mei
memoriam facietis.
The Priest is now face to face with God. He
again raises his hands towards heaven, and tells our
70
PASCHAL TIME.
heavenly 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.
Unde et memores, Do-
mine, nos servi tui, sed et
plebs tua sancta, ejusdera
Christi Filii tui Domini
nostri tam beatee Passionis,
necnou et ab inferis Eesur-
rectionis, sed et in coelos
gloriosse Ascensionis : oiieri-
mus praeclarfB majestati tuse
de tuis donis ac datis Hos-
tiam puram, Hostiam sanc-
tam, Hostiam immacula-
tam : Panem sanctum vitte
seternse, et Calicem salutis
perpeture.
Supra quae propitio ac
sereno Yulto respicere di-
gneris : et accepta habere,
sicuti accepta habere digna-
tus es munera pueri tui
justi Abel, et sacrificium
Patriarchse nostri Abrabae,
et quod tibi obtulit summus
Sacerdos tuns Molcbisedecb,
sanctum sacrificium, imma-
culatamj hostiam.
Father of infinite holiness,
the Host so long expected is
here before thee 1 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,
—our Meat and Drink of
everlasting 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 Melchisedech
presented thee, of bread and
wane. Eeceive our Sacrifice,
which is above all those others.
It is the Lamb, of whom all
others could be but figures : it
is the undpng 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 Briest bows down to the altar, and kisses it as
the throne of love ou whicli is seated the Saviour of
men.
THE ORDINARY OF THE MASS.
71
But, 0 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 mysterj' of thy gloiy 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.
Supplices te rogamus, om-
nipotens Deus : jube hoec
perferri per manus sancti
Angeli tui in sublime Altare
taum, in conspectu divinse
Majestatis tuce ; ut quotquot
ex hac altaris participatione,
sacrosanctum Filii tui Cor-
pus et Sanguinem sumpseri-
mus, omni benedictione cce-
lesti et gratia repleamur.
Per eumdem Christum Do-
minum nostrum. Amen.
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 among
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 among them, who have
a claim on our suffrages.
Dear Jesus I 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 I 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
pra?cesserunt cum signo
lidei, et dormiunt in somno
pacis. Ipsis Domine, et
omnibus in Christo quies^
centibus, locum i-efrigerii,
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
72
PASCHAL TIME.
visit, which our Saviour paj^s us. Let us, together
Tvith the Priest, strike our breast, saying :
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 Martj'ribus :
cum. Joanne, Stepbano,
Mattbia, Barnaba, Ignatio,
Alexandre, Marcellino, Pe-
tro. Felicitate, Perpetua,
Agatba, Lucia, Agnete,
Caecilia, Anastasia, et omni-
bus Sanctis tuis ; intra quo-
rum nos consortium, non
sestimator meriti, sed venire,
qusesumus, largitor admitte.
Per CbristumDominum nos-
trum. Per quern bsec omnia,
Domine, semper bona creas,
sanctificas, vivificas, bene-
dicis, et praestas nobis : per
ipsum, et cum ipso et in
ipso, est tibi Deo Patri om-
nipotenti, in unitate Spiri-
tus Sancti, omnis honor et
gloria.
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 else 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,
and of all thy Saints. Grant us,
by their intercession, grace in
this world, and glory eternal
in the next : which we ask of
thee, in the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ, thy Son. It is
by him thou bestowest upon
us thy blessings of life and
sanctification : and by him
also, with him, and in him, in
the unity of the Holy Ghost,
may honour and glory be to
thee!
Whilst saying these last few words, the Priest has
taken up the sacred Host, which was on the altar ;
he has held it over the chalice, thus re-uniting the
Body and Blood of the divine Victim, in order to
show that he is now immortal. Then raising up
both Chalice and Host, he offers to Grod 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
THE ORDINARY OF THE MASS. 73
giving the faithful the opportunity of expressing
their desii-e that his supplications be granted :
For ever and ever. Per omiiia ssecula sa3cu-
lorum.
Answer him with faith, and in a sentiment of
union with your holy Mother the Church :
Amen ! I believe the mys- Amen,
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
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 the children of God, the Priest recites
it aloud, and begins by inviting us all to join in it.
LET us PRAY. OEEMUS.
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 lord's prayer.
Our Father, who art in hea- Pater noster, qui es in
ven, hallowed be thy name ; coelis, sanctificetur nomen
thy kingdom come ; thy will tuum : adveniat regnum
be done on earth, as it is in tuum: fiat voluntas tua, sic-
heaven. Give us this day our ut in coelo, et in terra. Pa-
daily bread ; and forgive us nem nostrum quotidianum
our trespasses, as we forgive da nobis hodie : et dimitte
74
PASCHAL TIME.
nobis debita nostra, sicut et them that trespass against us ;
nos dimittimus debitoribus and lead us not into tempta-
nostris : et ne nos inducas tion.
in tentationem.
Let us answer with a deep feeling of our misery :
Sed libera nos a malo. But deliver us from evil.
The Priest falls once more into the silence of the
holy Mysteries. His first word is an affectionate
Amen to your last petition — deliver us from evil —
on which he forms his own next prayer : and could
he pray for anything more needed ? Evil surrounds
us everywhere, and the Lamb on our altar has been
sent to expiate it and deliver us from it.
Libera nos, quaesumus,
Domine, ab omnibus malis,
prseteritis, prsesentibus et
futuris : et, intercedente
beata et gloriosa semper Vir-
gine Dei genitrice Maria,
cum beatis Apostolis tuis
Petro et Paulo, atque An-
drea, et omnibus Sanctis, da
propitius pacem in diebus
nostris : ut ope misericordiae
tu8e adjuti, et a peccato
simus semper liberi, et ab
omni perturbatione securi.
Per eumdem Dominum
nostrum Jesum Christum
Filium tuum, qui tecum
vivit et regnat in unitate
Spiritus Sancti Deus.
How many, 0 Lord, are the
evils which beset us ! Evils
past, which are the wounds
left on the soul by her sins,
and strengthen her wicked
propensities. Evils present,
that is, the sins now at this
very time upon our soul ; the
weakness of this poor soul ;
and the temptations which
molest her. There are, also,
future evils, that is, the chas-
tisement which our sins de-
serve from the hand of thy
justice. In presence of this
Host of our Salvation, we be-
seech thee, 0 Lord, to deliver
us from all these evils, and to
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 ORDINARY OF THE MASS. 75
The Priest is anxious to announce the Peace, which
he has asked and obtained ; he therefore finishes his
prayer aloud, saying :
World without end. Per omnia saecula siecu-
lorum.
^. Amen. B^. Amen.
Then he says :
May the Peace of our Lord Pax Domini sit semper
be ever with you. vobiscum.
To this paternal wish reply :
^. And with thy spirit. Bt. Et cum spiritu tuo.
The Mystery is drawing to a close : Grod 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 Besurrection. To this end, he reverently breaks
the sacred Host ; and having divided it into three
parts, he puts one into the Ciialice, thus reuniting the
Body and Blood of the immortal Victim. Do you
adore, and say :
Glory be to thee, O Saviour Hrec commixtio et con-
of the world, who didst, in thy secratio Corporis et San-
Passion, permit thy precious guinis Domini nostri Jesu
Blood to be separated from Christi, fiat accipientibus
thy sacred Body, afterwards nobis in vitam seternam.
uniting them again together Amen,
by thy divine power.
Offer now your prayer to the ever-living Lamb,
whom St. John saw on the Altar of Heaven xtdjidituj^
thoiujli alain : ^ say to this your Lord and King, who
has taken upon himself all our iniquities, in order to
wash them away by his Blood :
1 Apoc. V. 6.
76
PASCHAL TIME.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis pec-
cata mundi, miserere nobis.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis pec-
cata mundi, miserere nobis.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis pec-
cata mundi, dona nobis pa-
cem.
Lamb of God, who takest
away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, who takest
away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, who takest
away the sins of the world,
give us Peace.
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 icho partake
of one Bread, are all one Bread and one Body.^ 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 :
Domine Jesu Christe, qui
dixisti Apostolis tuis : Pa-
cem relinquo vobis, pacem
meam do vobis : ne respicias
peccata mea, sed fidem Ec-
clesise tuae : eamque secun-
dum voluntatem tuam paci-
ficare, et coadunare digne-
ris. Qui vivis et regnas
Deus, per omnia saecula sse-
culorum. 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. During 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 ;
1 1 Cor. X. 17.
Lord Jesus Christ, who
saidst to thy Apostles, "my
peace I leave with you, my
peace I give unto you : " regard
not my sins, but the faith of
thy Church, and grant her that
peace and unity which is ac-
cording to thy will. Who
livest and reign est God for
ever and ever. Amen.
THE ORDINARY OF THE MASS.
77
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of
the living God, who, according
to the Trill of thy Father,
through the co-operation of
the Holy Ghost, hast by thy
death given life to the world ;
deliver me by this thy most
sacred Body and Blood from
all my iniquities, and from all
evils ; and make me always
adhere to thy commandments,
and never suffer me to be
separated from thee, who with
the same God the Father and
the Holy Ghost, livest and
reignest God for ever and ever.
Amen.
Domine Jesu Christe, Fill
Dei vivi, qui ex voluntate
Patris, cooperante Spiritu
Sancto, per mortem tuam
mundum vivificasti : libera
me per hoc sacrosanctum
Corpus, et Sanguinem tuum,
ab omnibus iniquitatibus
meis, et universis maUs, et
fac me tuis semper inhoerere
mandatis, et a te nunquam
separari permittas. Qui cum
eodem Deo Patre et Spiritu
Sancto vivis et regnas
Deus in saecola speculorum.
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, 0 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
and remedy both to my soul
and body. "VNTio with God
the Father, in the unity of the
Holy Ghost, livest and reign-
est God for ever and ever.
Amen.
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
mentis et corporis, et ad me-
delam percipiendam. Qui
vivis et regnas cum Deo
Patre, in unitate Spiritus
Sancti Deus, per omnia sae-
cula sseculorum. 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-
78
PASCHAL TIME.
thiness, say thrice with him these words, and in the
same disposition as the Centurion of the Gospel, who
first used them :
Domine, non sum dignus,
Tit intres sub tectum meum :
sed tantum die verbo, et
sanabitur anima mea.
Lord, I am not worthy thou
shouldst enter under my roof ;
say it only with one word of
thine, and my soul will be
healed.
Whilst the Priest receives the sacred Host, if you
also are to communicate, adore profoundly your Grod,
who is ready to take up his abode within you, and
again say to him with the spouse : Come, Lord Jesun,
come !
But should you not be going to receive sacram en-
tally, make a Spiritual Communion. Adore Jesus
Christ who thus visits your soul by his grace, and
say to him :
Corpus Domini nostri I give thee, 0 Jesus, this
Jesu Christi, custodiat ani- heart of mine, that thou may-
mam meam in vitam teter- est dwell in it, and do with
nam. Amen. me what thou wilt.
Then the Priest takes the Chalice, in thanksgiving,
and says :
Quid retribuam Domino
pro omnibus, quiu retribuit
mihi ? Calicem salutaris
accipiam, et nomen Domini
invocabo. Laudans invoca-
bo Dominum, et ab inimicis
meis salvus ero.
What return shall I make
to the Lord for all he hath
given to me ? I will take the
Chalice of salvation, and will
call upon the name of the
Lord. Praising I will call
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 com-
THE ORDINARY OF THE MASS.
79
ing to you, and keep to your prayer ; Come, Lord
Jesus, come !
If on the contrary, you are going to communicate
only spiritually, again adore your divine Master, and
say to him :
I unite myself to thee, my Sanguis Domini nostri
beloved Jesus I do thou unite Jesu Christi custodiat ani-
thyself to me I and never let mam meam in vitam aeter-
us be separated. nam. Amen.
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
Paschal Time, are given in the next Chapter.
The Communion being finished, and whilst the
Priest is purifjdng the Chalice the first time, say :
Thou hast visited me, 0
God, in these days of my pil-
grimage ; give me grace to
treasure up the fruits of this
visit for my future eternity.
Quod ore sumpsimus, Do-
mine, pura mente capiamus :
et de munere temporali fiat
nobis remedium sempiter-
num.
Whilst the Priest is purifying the Chalice the
second time, say :
Be thou for ever blessed, 0
my Saviour, for having ad-
mitted me to the sacred mys-
tery of thy Body and Blood.
May my heart and senses pre-
serve, by thy grace, the purity
which thou hast imparted to
them ; and I thus be rendered
less unworthy of thy divine
visit.
Corpus tuum, Domine,
quod sumpsi, et Sanguis
quem potavi, adhsereat vis-
ceribus meis : et prnesta ut
in me non remaneat scele-
rum macula, quem pura et
sancta refecerunt Sacra -
menta. Qui vivis et re-
gnas in ssecula sseculorum.
Amen.
The Priest having read the Antiphon called the
Communion, which is the first part of his Thanks-
80 PASCHAL TIME.
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 Fostcom-
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 bestow upon you perseverance in the Paschal joy,
and vigilance over yourself, during the whole course
of this day, that so you keep up within you the love
of that new life which gives you a right to the
company of our Risen Jesus.
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 :
Dominus vobiscum. The Lord be witli you.
Answer him :
Et cum spiritu tuo. And with thy spirit.
The Deacon, or, (if it be not a High Mass,) the
Priest himself, then says :
Ite, Missa est. Go, the Mass is finished.
^. Deo gratias. Bt. Thanks be to God.
The Priest makes a last Prayer, before giving you
his blessing ; pray with him :
Placeat tibi, sancta Trini- Eternal thanks be to thee,
tas, obsequium servitutis O adorable Trinity, for the
meae, quod oculis ture ma- mercy thou hast shown to me,
jestatis indignus obtuli, tibi in permitting me to assist at
sit acceptabile, mihiquc, ot this divine Sacrifice. Pardon
THE ORDINARY OF THE MASS. 81
me the negligence and cold- omnibus, pro qnibus illud
ness wherewith I have re- obtuli, sit, te miserante,
ceived so great a favoui-, and propitiabile. Per Christum
dei^n to confirm the Blessing, Dominum nostrum. Amen,
which thy Minister is about to
give me in thy Name.
The Priest raises his hand, and thus blesses you :
May the Almighty God, Benedicat vos omnipotens
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Deus, Pater, et Filius, et
bless you I Spiritus Sanctus.
^t. Amen. gt. 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 out fleshy
and to dwell among us. The Evangelist tells us,
that this di\'ine Word, the Creator of Light, is himself
the True Light. This Light suddenly shone forth
from the darkness of the Tomb. The Jew refused
to see it ; the Christian hails it with joy, for it is the
Life of men.
^. The Lord be with you. ^. Dominus vobiscum.
gt. And with thy spirit. ^. Et cum spiritu tuo.
THE LAST GOSPEL.
The beginning of the H0I5' Initium sancti Evangelii
Gospel according to John. secundum Joannem.
CJi. I. Cap. I.
In the beginning was the In principio erat Verbum,
Word, and the Word was with et Verbum erat apud Deum,
God, and the Word was God. et Deus erat Verbum. Hoc
The same was in the begin- erat in principio apud
ning with God. All things Deum. Omnia per ipsum
were made by him, and with- facta sunt ; et sine ipso fac-
out him was made nothing turn est nihil. Quod factum
that was made. In him was est, in ipso vita erat, et vita
0
82
PASCHAL TIME.
erat lux hominum : et lux in
tenebris lucet, et tenebrae
earn non comprebenderunt.
Fuit bomo missus a Deo, cui
nomen erat Joannes. Hie
venit in testimonium, ut tes-
timonium perbiberet de lu-
mine, ut omnes crederont
per ilium. Non erat ills
lux, sed ut testimonium per-
biberet de lumine. Erat lux
vera, quoe illuminat omnem
bominem venientem in bunc
mundum. In mundo erat, et
mundus per ipsum factus
est, et mundus eum non co-
gnovit. In propria venit, et
sui eum non receperunt.
Quotquot autem receperunt
eum, dedit eis potestatem
filios Dei fieri, bis, qui cre-
dunt in nomine ejus : qui
non ex sanguinibus, neque
ex voluntate carnis, neque
ex voluntate viri, sed ex Deo
nati sunt. Et Verbum
CARO FACTUM EST, et babi-
tavit in nobis : et vidimus
gloriam ejus, gloriam quasi
Unigeniti a Patre, plenum
gratiae et veritatis.
Bl. Deo gratias.
life, and tbe life was tbe ligbt
of men ; and tbe ligbt sbinetb
in tbe darkness, and tbe dark-
ness did not comprebend it.
Tbere was a man sent from
God, wbose name was Jobn.
Tbis man came for a witness,
to give testimony of tbe ligbt,
tbat all men migbt beheve
tbrougb bim. He was not tbe
ligbt, but was to give testi-
mony of tbe ligbt. Tbat was
tbe true ligbt wbicb enligbt-
enetb every man tbat cometb
into tbis world. He was in
tbe world, and tbe world was
made by bim, and tbe world
knew bim not. He came unto
bis own, and bis own received
bim not. But as many as re-
ceived bim, to tbem be gave
power to be made tbe sons of
God ; to tbem tbat believe in
bis name, wbo are born, not
of blood, nor of tbe will of tbe
flesb, nor of tbe will of man,
but of God. And the Word
WAS MADE FLESH, and dwelt
among us ; and we saw bis
glory, as it were tbe glory of
tbe Only-Begotten of tbe
Fatber, full of grace and trutb.
gi. Tbanks be to God.
BEFORE COMMUNION. 83
CHAPTEE THE SIXTH.
ON HOLY COMMUNION DURING PASCHAL TIME.
In Passiontide, the Christian went to Holy Commu-
nion impressed with these words of the Apostle :
As often as ye shall eat this Bread, and drink the
Chalice, ye shall show the Death of the Lord} He
united himself with the Divine Victim, immolated
for the sins of the world, and he died with his
Saviour. During Paschal Time, the heavenly Food
produces its effects in another manner ; it fortifies
the Life of the Soul, and gives to the Body the germ
of Immortality. It is true, that in each Season of
the Liturgical Year, this twofold effect is produced
in those who worthily receive Communion, — namely,
Immolation and Resurrection ; but as, during the
days consecrated to the Passion, the application of
the Mystery of Immolation and Sacrifice is more
direct and more in accordance with the sentiments
of the Communicant, — so, also, during Paschal Time,
the divine contact of the Body of our Risen Jesus
makes us feel, and in a way that Easter alone can do,
that to the Holy Eucharist we owe the future Re-
surrection of our Bodies.
Our Saviour himself teaches us this, where he
says : Your fathers did eat f/ianna in the desert,
and are dead. This i^ the Bread which comet h doicn
from heaven, that if any man eat of it, he may not
die He that eateth my Flesh, and drinketh
my Blood, hath everlasting life ; and I will raise
him up in the last day}
1 1 Cor. xi. 26. 2 St. John, vi. 49, 50, 65.
84 PASCHAL TIME.
We shall all resume these Bodies of ours on the
Last Day, either for glory or punishment eternal ;
but he that worthily unites himself, by Holy Com-
munion, with the glorious and Risen Body of the
Man-Grod, contracts an alliance and intimacy with him,
which forbid this Divine Guest to leave in corruption
these members made his own by the sublime Mystery.
We must, therefore, approach the Holy Table,
during Eastertide, with an ardent ambition for our
Resurrection, knowing, as we do, that we then receive
into our Bodies an element, which is to preserve
them, even when turned into dust ; and which, more-
over, confers on them a right to the qualities of
Griorified Bodies, whose beauty and happiness will
be like those of our Jesus, after he had risen from
the Grave.
Now, if our Redeemer does all this for our Bodies,
by means of Holy Communion, — gi^^ng them, by it,
the pledge of Immortality, — what must he not do for
our Souls, in order to strengthen and increase within
them that "New Life," that Resurrection-Life, which
is the fruit of Easter, the object of all our past efforts,
the reward of all the victories we have gained over
ourselves during the campaign of Lent ? Nay, unless
this new life be fostered by frequent Communion, it is
in danger of growing weak, perhaps even of becoming
extinct within us. The Apostle tells us, that Christy
having risen from the dead, dieth now no more ; ^
we, then, must die no more, for we are Risen with
him. To this end, we must hunger after the Bread
of Heaven, of which our Jesus says : If any man eat
of this Bread, he shall Live for ever?
We oif er to our readers the following Preparat ion
for Holy Communion during Easter. There are
souls that feel the want of some such assistance as
this ; and, for the same reason, we will add a form
of Thanksgiving for after Communion.
1 Horn. vi. 9, 2 St. John, vi. 52,
BEFORE COMMUNION. 85
BEFORE COMMUNION.
ACT OF FAITH.
O Saviour of mankind I the magnificence of thy works
shines so brightly, that we are compelled to give glorj" to
thy name, and proclaim thee to be the Son of God. We
believed in thee, when thou didst show thyself a weak Babe
in the Crib of Bethlehem ; there was a mysterious power
that attracted us, and, with the Angels, we adored thee
wrapped in thy humble swathing-bands. When we saw
thee hanging on the Cross, outraged and blasphemed by a
whole people, — we still acknowledged thee to be our Ejng,
and said to thee, with the Good Thief : Remember us, 0
Lord, ivhen thou shalt come into thy Kingdom ! But now
that thou hast triumphed over Death, and art Eisen glorious
from the Tomb ; now that the whole earth resounds with
thy praise, and the tidings of thy Resurrection fill all
nations with a gladness as fresh as though thy triumph were
but of this very j^ear ; — who can refuse to confess thy
Divinitj', adore thj' Mysteries, and cry out with thy Dis-
ciple : Mij Lord and my God ! Though my eyes see thee
not, though my hands cannot touch thy sacred wounds, yet
do I most firmly believe thee to be my Lord and my God.
Thou hast said : Hiippy they that have not seen, and have
believed : of these happy believers I would be one, 0 Jesus I
I confess that thou hast verily Eisen, the Son of God and
the Son of Man. I believe, also, that thou art the Living
Bread come down from heaven to give Life to the world,
and that I am about to receive thee into myself. Increase
this my Faith, 0 my Lord and my God I that so I may
render thee the worship thou claimest from me, thy poor
but happy creature.
ACT OF HUMILITY.
0 divine Conqueror of Death I who could see thee in
the splendour of thy Majesty, and not tremble ? Before
thy Passion, thou grantedst a mere glimpse of thy glory
to the three Disciples on Thabor, and they fell down as
though they were dead : and now, when the brightness of
thy Resurrection dazzles even the eyes of the Angels, thou
wishest to do far more than show thyself to me ! Thou
vouchsafest to come down to my nothingness, to unite me,
a weak unworthy creature, with thyself, who art no longer
in the Crib or on the Cross, and ait soon to ascend to
86 PASCHAL TIME.
the right hand of thy Eternal Father ! Thou, the Author
of light, and thyself the infinite Light, art about to
shine amidst such darkness as mine ! If I reflect upon
my nothingness, this thy condescension fills me with
delighted wonder ; but when I remember that I have been
so great a sinner, this union with thee overpowers me.
How can thy sovereign holiness and my sinfulness be
brought thus together ? — Thine Evangelist tells me, that
the Light shineth in darkness, and the darkness doth not
comprehend it ; for the darkness of pride ever thinks itself
to be the Light, and sees not the True Light : let it not be
thus with me, my Jesus ! I humble myself before thee ;
I acknowledge my misery, — it is immense ; deign, then,
0 Divine Light ! to pour out on me the riches of thine
infinite mercy.
ACT OF CONTRITION.
0 Saviour of the world ! 0 Conqueror of Death ! thou
art coming to me, and I am but a sinner. Thou wiliest
to treat me, as thou didst thy Disciples on the Day of thy
Eesurrection. They had basely abandoned thee in thy
Passion, and thou didst return to them ; thou wast all
affection to them ; thou badest them not fear ; not a word
of reproach fell from thy lips. Thou wouldst have them
learn from this thy loving forgiveness, how guilty they had
been in leaving such a Master. 0 thou best of masters !
I, too, must learn the same lesson. But how much more
grievous my sins have been, than were theirs ! They knew
so little of thee, when they sinned ; whereas / sinned with
all the fulness of Light upon me, knowing my Jesus so
well. Thy Apostles were not initiated into all thy Mys-
teries, when they lost their courage ; they had not, as yet,
received the Holy Ghost, who has been so unreservedly
given to me. I will, then, imitate them in the sorrow they
felt, when they found, that he whom they had offended was
so deserving of their love. Yes, I detest my sins, whereby
1 have so cruelly wounded thy Sacred Heart ; I acknow-
ledge that Sin is Death, and the enemy of that Life which
thou renewest within us by thy Eesurrection. I wish to
die to Sin, and live to Grace. By the Mystery of Life which
thou art about to apply to my repentant heart, deign, I
beseech thee, to preserve me from the misery of ever again
forfeiting thy Grace.
ACT OF LOVE.
0 Jesus I thy Eesurrection is not only the trophy of thy
AFTER COMMUNION. 87
Victory, — it is moreover, and more evidently, the grand
triumph of thy Love. It was out of love for us, that thou
didst assume our flesh, and suffer the cruel Passion ; and
yet these proofs of thine adorable goodness towards us, are
but a preparation of the last great act of a God's Love for
sinful man, his creature. Thou risest from the Tomb, thou
takest possession of Immortality ; it is a Triumph well
merited by thy humiliations and sufferings : but it is all for
our sakes. "What need hadst thou of the Crib or the Cross,
0 eternal and infinitely happy God? Why wouldst thou
die, and then return to life ? Why descend into the grave,
and then leave it by a glorious Resurrection ? Ah yes, I
understand thee, my Jesus ! it was because thou lovest us,
who had merited death by our sins. In thine incompre-
hensible love, thou wouldst share in our death, that we
might share in thy Resurrection. Whether nailed to the
Cross, or rising from the Tomb, thou art ever our own
dearest Jesus, ever working for us ; but the last act of
thy almighty love is the greatest. TVTiat return can I
make thee, 0 my Saviour, if not that of the warmest love ?
And when should I give it more fervently than now, when
thou art about to give me that Bread of Heaven which is
ThyseK, and by which thou unitest me to thy Resurrection,
in order to make me a sharer of thy glory and immortality ?
Thou art mine, 0 Jesus I both in thy Death and thy Life !
1 wish to be thine, for time and for eternity. Amen.
In order to make your Prejxiration 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
Thanhsgivinfj after Communion, you may sometimes
recite the following Acts.
AFTER COMMUNION.
ACT OF ADORATION.
O infinite Majesty! thou art in me, and I am in thee.
The earth shook when thou didst rise from the Tomb ; and
now, at this blissful moment of my feeling thee within me,
my whole being thrills with delight. Thou art here on my
heart, thou the great God ; whose only will created the
88 PASCHAL TIME.
Light and whose almighty power re- united thy Soul and
Body for a glorious Eesurrection. I most profoundly adore
thy omnipotence, which is now united to my poor nature.
No, my Almighty Father ! thou shalt find no resistance
here ; thou art my Sovereign Lord, and I delightedly con-
fess it. Thou hast come down from heaven to this lowly
dwelling of my misery, my nothingness, in order to receive
my adoration ; thou shalt have it, dear Lord I the humblest
and best I can give, for my soul is overpowered by the
wondrous honour thou art now conferring upon me ! Thou
art the Infinite Being, the Creator and Preserver of all
things I I adore thee as my King and Lord and Master :
my happiness and glory is in my total dependence upon
thee : the one ambition of my heart is to seiTe thee.
ACT OF THANKSGIVING.
0 my Jesus ! would that I had power to acknowledge, as
it deserves, the favour of this thy visit. Thou art come to
me, in order to give me a share in thine own Life. I am
weak : the mere remembrance of thy Eesurrection would
not suffice to give me pei"severance in the neiv life it has
merited for me : I needed thee, and thou hast graciously
come to me silently and humbly, and yet with all thy omni-
potence and glory. When thou didst visit thine Apostles
on the Day of thy Eesurrection, thou saidst to them : It is
I ; fear not ! So, too, thou speakest to my soul : thou bid-
dest me fear not at the sight of thy Majesty and mine own
misery and unworthiness. The sweet greeting given to
them is now given to me : Peace he ivith thee ! Most grate-
fully do I receive it. Blessed be thou, my Jesus, for the
provident and tender love wherewith thou hast visited me,
broken the chains of my captivity, made me a partaker in
thy triumph, fortified me against my enemies, — and all this
by putting Tvdthin me thine own Immortal Life by the Com-
munion I have just received I I will say, then, with the
Eoyal Prophet : Bless the Lord, 0 my soul ! and let all that
is ivithin me Mess his holy name ! Bless the Lord, 0 my soul !
and never forget all he hath done for thee ! He hath redeemed
thy life from destruction : he hath renewed thy youth as that
of the eagle.
ACT OF LOVE.
O Jesus ! laden thus with thy choicest favours, I must repay
AFTER COMMUNION. 89
thy love by all the love this heart of mine can give. When
Magdalene was at thy Tomb, and heard the sound of thy
voice, her soul melted within her ; throwing herself at thy
feet, she could say nothing, but call thee Master ! And I,
dear Jesus, my Master ! I who not only hear thy words,
but feel thee within me, what must I say to thee, that will
tell thee my love for thee ? The Disciples of Emmaus had
but a conversation with thee, and they said to each other :
Was not our heart hurniny within us lahilst he spoke in the
way ? What must / say, who have thee now resting on my
heart ? Oh yes I I must take courage, and tell thee that I
love thee, my Eisen Jesus ! Thou didst take Magdalene's
love, thou didst encourage that of thy Disciples ; deign also
to receive mine. If it be weak, thou canst add to its ardour.
I am firmly resolved by the aid of thy grace, never to admit
anything that could lessen my love of thee : I will do all in
my power to give it increase ; and, for this end, I will fre-
quently approach this adorable Sacrament, for it is indeed
the Sacrament of Love.
ACT OF OBLATION.
O Jesus ! I belonged to thee, because I was redeemed by
thee ; — I am thine, now, because thou hast restored life to
me by thy Resurrection, and because, by this happy Com-
munion, thou hast made me a partaker in all the glory of thy
Victory over Death. Henceforth, thy lot and mine are one ;
like thee, I am dead to sin, and ahve unto God. Take me,
then, my dearest Jesus I I offer and give myself to thee, nor
will I ever again leave thee. Do with me what thou wiliest ;
I am thy Redeemed, and the Companion of thy glory ; my
present, my future, my eternity, all are in thy hands. There-
fore, do I renounce myself, that I may be guided by thee ; I
renounce the world and its maxims, for they are enemies to
the new life I am resolved to lead. But that I may be
faithful, I have need of a powerful and neverfailiug aid.
This aid, my Jesus I is thy Holy Spirit. Thou hast promised
him to us. Our Easter joy will not be perfect until he come
and dweU within us. Send him, then, I beseech thee, to me.
Thou art to ascend into heaven : leave me not an orphan.
I know that I have thee in this Adorable Sacrament ; but I
cannot receive it as often as I wish, and my necessities are of
every hour recurrence. Vouchsafe, then, to renew within
me the presence of this Holy Spirit, who will preserve and
90 PASCHAL TIME.
give efficacy to the graces thou hast bestowed upon me by
this Cominunion.
0 Mary ! by the joy that filled thy maternal heart at the
Eesurrection of thy Jesus, I beseech thee to intercede for me
with him, that I may never lose the grace of the visit he has
this day granted me. Ye holy Angels of God I 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 possess as your infinite Good, and
your eternal happiness ! Amen.
Sunday's vespers. 91
CHAPTER THE SEVENTH.
OF THE OFFICE OF VESPERS FOR SUNDAYS AND
FEASTS DURING PASCHAL TIME.
The Office of Vespers, or Even Song, consists firstly
of the five following Psalms. According to our cus-
tom, we preface each Psalm with a short explanation,
in order to draw the attention to what is most in
harmony with the spirit of the Easter mysteries.
After the Pater and Ave have been said in secret,
the Church commences this Hour with her favourite
supplication :
^ . Incline unto my aid, 0 f. Deus, in adjutorium
God. meum intende.
Bj. O Lord, make haste to gt. Domine, ad adjuvan-
help me. dum me festina.
Glory be to the Father, and Gloria Patri, et Filio, et
to the Son, and to the Holy Spiritui Sancto.
Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is Sicut erat in principio, et
now, and ever shall be, world nunc et semper, et in seecula
without end. Amen. Alle- saeculorum. Amen. Alle-
luia, luia.
Ant. Alleluia. Ant. Alleluia.
Under this single Antiphon, all the Psalms are
sung, if the Vespers are of the Sunday : but on
Feasts, the Antiphons are proper, and will be given
on their respective days.
The first Psalm is a prophecy of the future glory
of the Messias. It celebrates his Eternal G-eneration,
his being equal with the Father, his Kingship and
Priesthood. He was humbled for a while, even so as
92
PASCHAL TIME.
to drink of the torrent : but now he has triumphed
over his enemies, and will come in glory, at the end
of the world, to judge them.
PSALM 109.
Dixit Dominus Domino
meo : * Sede a dextris meis.
Donee ponam inimicos
tuos : * scabellum pedum
tuorum.
Yirgam virtutis tuse emit-
tet Dominus ex Sion : * do-
minare in medio inimicorum
tuorum.
Tecum principium in die
virtutis tuse in splendoribus
sanctorum : * ex utero ante
luciferum genui te.
Juravit Dominus, et non
poenitebit eum : * Tu es Sa-
cerdos in seternum secun-
dum ordinem Melchisedecb.
Dominus a dextris tuis : *
confregit in die irae suae
reges.
Judicabit in nationibus,
implebit ruinas : * con-
quassabit capita in terra
multorum.
De torrente in via bibet : *
propterea exaltabit caput.
The Lord said to my Lord,
his Soil : Sit thou at my right
hand, aiid reign luith 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, spealdng of thee, the God-
Man : Thou art a Priest for
ever, according to the order
of Melchisedech.
Therefore, 0 Father, the
Lord, thy So7i is at thy right
hand : he hath broken kings
in the day of his wrath.
He shall also judge among
nations : in that terrible com-
ing, he shall fill the ruins of
the tuorld : he shall crush the
heads in the land of many.
He shall drink, in the way,
of the torrent of sufferings ;
therefore shall he lift up the
head on the day of his triumph
over death.
The following Psalm commemorates the mercies of
SITNDAY S VESPKRS.
93
God to his people^ — the promised Covennnt, the Re-
dcinption, his Fidel it i/ to his word. The Resurrection
of Christ (of which our own is a consequence,) was
one of God's promises ; and we are now celebrating
its accomplishment.
PSALM 110.
I -will praise thee, 0 Lord,
with my whole heart : in the
council of the just, and in the
congregation.
Great are the works of the
Lord : sought out according
to all his wills.
His work is praise and 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 : he hath given food to
them that fear him.
He will be mindful for ever
of his covenant luith men : he
will show forth to his people
the power of his works.
That he may give them, liis
Chnrc/t, 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 thtrtby
commanded his covenant for
ever.
Holy and terrible is his
name • the fear of the Ijord is
the beginning of wisdom.
A good understanding to all
Confitebor tibi, Domine,
in toto corde meo : * in con-
silio justorum et congrega-
tione.
Magna opera Domini : *
exquisita in omnes volunta-
tes ejus.
Confessio et magnificentia
opus ejus : * et justitia ejus
manet in sseculum saeculi.
Memoriam fecit mirabi-
lium suorum, misericors et
miserator Dominus : * es-
cam dedit timentibus se.
Memor erit in sseculum
testamenti sui : * virtu t em
operum suorum annuntiabit
populo suo,
Ut det illis hsereditatem
Gentium : * opera manuum
ejus, Veritas et judicium.
Fidelia omnia mandata
ejus, confimiata in sseculum
sseculi : * facta in veritate et
sequitate.
Eedemptionem misit po-
pulo suo : * mandavit
in seternum testamentum
suum.
Sanctum et terribile no-
men ejus : * initium sapien-
tiso timor Domini.
Intellectus bonus omnibus
94
PASCHAL TIME.
facientibus eum : * laudatio that do it : his praise con-
ejus manet in saeculum sae- tinueth for ever and ever,
culi.
The next Psalm sings the happiness and hopes of
the just man. The light that rises up in darkness,
is our Risen Jesus, who appears to us in his mercij.
The ivicked one, who is angry at the triumph of Him,
who is, by excellence, the just, is the Jew, to whom
the Resurrection was a source of the most bitter
regret and confusion.
PSALM 111.
Beatus vir, qui timet Do-
minum : * in mandatis ejus
volet nimis.
Potens in terra erit semen
ejus : * generatio rectorum
benedicetur.
Gloria, et divitise in domo
e j us : * et j ustitia e j us manet
in sseculum 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 seternum non com-
movebitur.
In memoria aeterna erit
Justus : * ab auditione mala
non timebit.
Paratum cor ejus sperare
in Domino, confirmatum est
cor ejus: * non commovebi-
tur donee despiciat inimicos
suos,
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.
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
strengthened : he shall not
be moved until he look over
his enemies,
SUNDAY S VESPERS.
95
He hath distributed, he
hath given to the poor; his
justice romaineth for ever and
ever : his horn shall be ex-
alted in glory.
The wicked shall see, and
shall be angiy ; he shall gnash
with his teeth and pine away ;
the desire of the wicked shall
perish.
Dispersit dedit pauperi-
bus, justitia ejus manet in
sseculum saeculi : * comu
ejus exaltabitur in gloria.
Peccator videbit, et ira-
scetur, dentibus suis fremet
et tabescet : * desiderium
peccatorum peribit.
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 humhled himself
by taking our nature, which he afterwards raised up
by his Resurrection.
PSALM 112.
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 ?
Raising up the needy from
the earth : and lifting up the
poor out of the dunglull.
That he maj' 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.
Laudate, pueri, Domi-
num : * laudate nomen
Domini.
Sit nomen Domini bene-
dictum : * ex hoc nunc et
usque in sseculum.
A solis ortu usque ad oc-
casum : * laudabile nomen
Domini.
Excelsus super omnes
gentes Dominus : * et su-
per ccelos gloria ejus.
Quis sicut Dominus Deus
noster qui in altis habitat : *
et humllia respicit in coelo
et in terra.
Suscitans a terra inopem :
* et de stercore erigens
pauperem.
Ut collocet eum cum prin-
cipibus : * cum principibus
populi sui.
Qui habitare facit steri-
lem in domo : * matrem
fiUorum laetantem.
96
PASCHAL TIME.
The fifth Psalm, In critu, speaks of the ancient
Pasch, (the exodus from Egypt,) and the prodigies
that accompanied and followed it ; of the Bed Sea,
the figure of Baptism ; of the Water which issued
from the Rock in the Desert ; and of the abolition
of idol- worship. Our christian Pasch and Pentecost
are the fulfilment of all these figures ; they bring a
blessing upon all, Jews or Grentiles, who love or fear
Christ. In consequence of our sins, we were con-
demned to go down into hell^ where we should never
have heard the glad hymns of praise sung to our Grod
in the heavenly Jerusalem : — but the Resurrection of
Christ has restored us to life, and we sing, to his and
his Father's ^m^se, the joyous Alleluia.
PSALM 113.
In exitu Israel de ^gyp-
to : * domus Jacob de po-
pulo barbaro.
Facta est Judaea sanclifi-
catioejus: * 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 ?
Montes exsultastis sicut
arietes : * et colles sicut
agni ovium ?
A facie Domini mota est
terra : * a facie Dei Jacob.
Qui convertit petram in
stagna aquarum : * et ru-
pem in fontes aquarum,
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
dan was turned back.
Jor-
The mountains skipped like
rams : and the hills like the
lambs of the flock.
What ailed thee, 0 thou sea,
that thou didst flee : and thou
0 Jordan, that thou wast
turned back ?
Ye mountains that ye skip-
ped like rams : and ye hills
like lambs of the flock !'
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 stormy
hills into fountains of water,
SUNDAY S VESPERS.
97
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.
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
ccelo : * omnia quaecumque
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-
dieut : * nares habent et
non odorabunt.
Manus habent, et non pal-
babunt, 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 eonim, et protector
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
tilios vestros.
98
PASCHAL TIME.
Benedicti vos a Domino : *
qui fecit coelum et terrain.
Coelum cceli Domino : *
terram autem dedit filiis
hominum.
Non mortui laudabunt te,
Domine : * neque omnes qui
descendunt in infernum.
Sed nos qui vivimus, bene-
dicimus Domino : * ex hoc
nunc et usque in sseculum.
Ant. Alleluia, alleluia,
alleluia.
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 not praise
thee, 0 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. Alleluia, alleluia,
alleluia.
After these five Psalms, a short Lesson from the
holy Scriptures is then read. It is called Capituhmif
because it is always very short. The ones for the
Sundays of Lent are given in the Proper of each.
After the Capitulum, follows the Hymn, Ad regias,
which was written by St. Ambrose, though somewhat
changed in the 17th century.
HYMN.
Ad regias Agni dapes,
Stolis amicti candidis,
Having passed the Eed Sea,
and now seated at the royal
* According to the Monastic Rite, it is as originally composed.
It is preceded by the folloM-ing Responsory :
R^. breve. — Surrexit Dominus Q\ii immolatus Agnus est,
vere.
rexit
luia.
* Alleluia, Alleluia. Sur-
Et apparuit Sinioni. Alle-
GloriaPatri, (fee. Siurexit.
Ad coenam Agni providi,
Et stohs albis candidi,
Post transitum maris Rubri
Christo canamus Principi.
Cujus corpus sanctissimum,
In ara Crucis torridum,
Cruore ejus roseo
Gustando vivimus Deo.
Protecti Paschaj vespere
A devastante Angelo,
Erepti de durissimo
Pharaonis imperio.
Jam Pascha nostrum Christus
est,
Sinceritatis azyma
Care ejus oblata est.
0 vere digna hostia.
Per quam fracta sunt tartara,
Redempta plebs captivata,
Reddita vitae proemia.
Consurgit Christus tumulo
Victor redit de barathi'o,
Tyrannum trudens vinculo
Et paradisum reserans.
Quaesumus Auctor omnium,
In hoc PaschaH gaudio,
Ab omni mortis impetu
Tuum defende populum.
Gloria tibi Domine,
Qui siuTexisti a mortuis,
Cum I'atre et Sancto Spiritu,
In sempitema saccula. Amen.
Sunday's
VESPERS.
99
banquet of the Lamb, clad in
our white robes, — let us sing
a hymn to Christ our King.
He, in his divine love for
us, gives us to drink of his
precious Blood. Love is the
Priest that immolates his
sacred Body.
The destroying Angel looks
with awe upon the Blood that
is sprinkled on the thresholds.
The sea divides its waters, and
buries our enemies in its
waves.
Christ is now our Pasch ; he
is our Paschal Lamb ; he is
the unleavened Bread of sin-
cerity, pure food for pure
souls.
0 trulj' heavenly Victim I
by whom hell was vanquished,
the fetters of death were
broken, and life was awarded
to mankind.
Christ, our Conqueror, un-
folds his banner, for he has
subdued the powers of hell.
He opens heaven to man, and
leads captive the prince of
darkness.
That thou, 0 Jesus, mayest
be an endless Paschal joy to
our hearts, free us, who have
been regenerated unto life,
from the dread death of sin.
Glory be to God the Father,
and to the Son who rose from
the dead, and to the Paraclete,
for everlasting ages.
Amen.
t'. Stay with us, O Lord,
alleluia.
Bt. For it is now evening,
alleluia.
Post transitum maris Rubri,
Christo canamus principi.
Divina cujus charitas
Sacrum propinat sangui-
nem,
Almique membra corporis
Amor sacerdos immolat.
Sparsum cruorem posti-
bus
Vastator horret Angelus :
Fugitque di visum mare,
Merguntur hostes fluctibus.
Jam Pascha nostrum
Christus est,
PaschaUs idem victima,
Et pura puris mentibus
Sinceritatis azyma.
0 vera coeli victima,
Subjecta cui sunt tartara,
Soluta mortis vincula,
Eecepta vitae prsemia.
Victor subactis inferis
Troph?Da Christus explicat,
Cooloque aperto, subditum
Eegem tenebrarum trahit.
Ut sis perenne mentibus
Paschale, Jesu, gaudium,
A morte dira criminum
Vitae renatos libera.
Deo Patri sit gloria,
Et Filio, qui a mortuis
Surrexit, ac Paraclito,
In sempitema seecula.
Amen.
V. Mane nobiscum, Do-
mine, alleluia.
Bt. Quoniam advespera-
scit, alleluia.
Then is said the Magnificat Antiphon, which is to
be found in the Proper for the several Days. After
100
PASCHAL TIME.
this, the Church sings the Canticle of Mary, the
Magnificat. This exquisite Canticle is an essential
part of the Vespers, throughout the year. It gives
us the words of our Blessed Lady, wherein she ex-
presses to St. Elizabeth the transports of her joy and
gratitude at bearing Grod within her womb. Let us
join her in celebrating the ineffable honour bestowed
upon her, the merits of that profound humility which
rendered her worthy of such an honour, the over-
throw of the proud spirits who were driven from
heaven, and the exaltation of human nature, of itself
so poor and miserable, to that high place from
which the Angels fell.
OUR LADY S CANTICLE.
{St. Luke, i.)
Magnificat : * anima mea
Dominum.
Et exsultavit spiritus me-
ns : * in Deo salutari meo.
Quia respexit humilita-
tem ancillse suse : * ecce
enim ex hoc Beatam me di-
cent omnes generationes.
Quia fecit mihi magna
qui potens est : * et sanc-
tum nomen ejus.
Etmisericordia ejus a pro-
genie in progenies : * timen-
tibus eum.
Fecit potentiam in brachio
suo : * dispersit superbos
mente cordis sui.
Deposuit potentes de sede :
* et exaltavit humiles.
Esurientes implevit bo-
nis : * et divites dimisit
inanes.
My soul doth magnify the
Lord.
And my spirit hath rejoiced
in God my Saviour.
Because he hath regarded
the humility of his handmaid :
for, behold from henceforth
all generations shall call me
Blessed.
Because he that is mighty
hath done great things to me :
and holy is his name.
And his mercy is from gene-
ration unto generation, to them
that fear him.
He hath showed might in
his arm : he hath scattered the
proud in the conceit of theii-
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.
SUNDAY S VESPERS.
101
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.
Suscepit Israel puenim
suum : * recordatus mise-
ricordioe suae.
Sicut locutus est ad pa-
tres nostros : * Abraham et
semini ejus in saecula.
The Magnificat Antiphon is then repeated. The
Prayer, or Collect, will be found in the Proper of
each Sunday.
The Vespers end with the following Yersicles :
f. Let us bless the Lord.
^. Thanks be to God.
f. May the souls of the
Faithful departed, through
the mercy of God, rest in
peace.
&. Amen.
f. Benedicamus Domino.
Be. Deo gratias.
^. Fidelium animiB per
misericordiam Dei requies-
cant in pace.
Bi. Amen.
102 PASCHAL TTME.
CHAPTER THE EIGHTH.
OF THE OFFICE OF COMPLINE,
DURING PASCHAL TIME.
This Office, whicli 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 Grod'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 :
f. Jube, Domne, benedi- f. Pray, Father, give thy
cere. blessing.
The Priest answers :
Noctem quietam, et finem May the Almighty Lord
perfectum concedat nobis grant us a quiet night and a
Dominus omnipotens. perfect end.
gt. Amen. B^- Amen.
The Lector then reads these words, from the first
Epistle of St. Peter :
Fratres : Sobrii estote, et Brethren, be sober and
vigil ate : quia adversarius watch : for your adversary
vester diabolas, tamquam the devil goes about like a
leo rugiens circuit quserens roaring lion, seeking whom he
quern devoret : cui resistite may devour: resist him, being
fortes in tide. Tu autem, strong in faith. But thou, 0
Pomiue, miserere nobis, Jjord, have jnercy on us,
COMPLINE. 103
The Choir answers :
Bt. Thanks be to God. ^. Deo gratias.
Then, the Priest :
^. Our help is in the name ^. Adjutorium nostrum
of the Lord. in nomine Domini.
The Choir :
gt. Who hath made heaven B^. Qui fecit coelum et ter-
and,earth. ram.
Then the Lord's Prayer is recited in secret ; after
which the Priest says the Confiteor ; and, when he
has finished, the Choir says :
May Almighty God have Misereatur tui omnipotens
mercy on thee, and, forgiving Deus, et dimissis peccatis
thy sins, bring thee to ever- tuis, perducat te ad vitam
lasting life. aeternam.
The Priest having answered Amen, the Choir re-
peats the Confiteor, thus :
I confess to Almighty God, Confiteor Deo omnipo-
to blessed Mary ever Virgin, tenti, beatse Mariae semper
to blessed Michael the Arch- Virgini, beato Michaeli
angel, to blessed John Baptist, Archangelo, beato Joanni
to the holy Apostles Peter and Baptistse, Sanctis Apostolis
Paul, to all the Saints, and to Petro et Paulo, omnibus
thee, Father, that I have sinned Sanctis, et tibi. Pater : quia
exceedingly in thought, word, peccavi nimis, cogitatione,
and deed, through my fault, verbo, et opere : mea culpa,
through my fault, through my mea culpa, mea maxima
most grievous fault. There- culpa. Ideo precor beatam
fore I beseech the blessed Maiy Mariam semper Virginem,
ever Virgin, blessed Michael beatum Michaelem Arch-
the Archangel, blessed John angelum, beatum Joannem
Baptist, the holy Apostles Baptistam, sanctos Aposto-
Peter and Paul, and all the los Petnim et Paulum, om-
Saints, and thee, Father, to nes Sanctos, et te. Pater,
pray to our Lord God for me. orare pro me ad Dominum
Deum nostrum.
104
PASCHAL TIME.
The Priest then says :
Misereatur vestri omni-
potens Deus, et dimissis
peccatis vestris, perducat
vos ad vitam (Bternam.
gt. Amen.
Indulgentiam, absolutio-
nem, et remissionem pecca-
torum nostrorum, tribuat
nobis omnipotens et miseri-
cors Dominus.
^. Amen.
y. Converte nos, Deus,
Salutaris noster.
g^. Et averte iram tuam
a nobis.
y. Deus, in adjutorium
meum intende.
gt. Domine, ad adjuvan-
dum me festina.
Gloria Patri, &c. Alle-
luia.
Ant. Alleluia.
May Almighty God be mer-
ciful to you, and, forgiving
your sins, bring you to ever-
lasting life.
Bt. Amen.
May the Almighty and mer-
ciful Lord grant us pardon,
absolution, and remission of
our sins.
5t. Amen.
f. Convert us, 0 God, our
Saviour.
gt. And turn away thy an-
ger from us.
f. Incline unto my aid, 0
God.
gt. O Lord, make haste to
help me.
Glory, &c. Alleluia.
Ant. Alleluia.
The first Psalm expresses the confidence with
which the just man sleeps in peace ; but the wicked
know not what calm rest is. The beautiful counte-
nance of our Risen Lord sheds light and gladness
upon the Faithful, and renews the hope of their own
Resurrection, which is to be after their sleep in the
tomb.
PSALM 4.
Cum invocarem exaudivit
me Deus justitise mese : *
in tribulatione dilatasti
mihi.
Miserere mei: * etexaudi
orationem meam.
Filii hominum, usquequo
grayi corde : * ut quid dili-
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.
0 ye sons of men, how long
will you be dull of heart ? why
COMPLINE.
105
do you love vanity, and seek
after Ijdng ?
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
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 ?
The Light of thy counte-
nance, 0 Lord, is signed upon
us : thou hast given gladness
in my heart.
By the fruit of their com,
their wine, and oil, they are
multiplied.
In peace, in the self same, I
will sleep, and I will rest.
For thou, 0 Lord, singularly
hast settled me in hope.
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 cordi-
bus vestris, in cubilibus
vestris compungimini.
Sacrificate sacrificium jus-
titise, et sperate in Domino :
* multi dicunt : Quis osten-
dit nobis bona ?
Signatum est super nos
lumen vultis tui Domine : *
dedisti Isetitiam in corde
meo.
A fructu frumenti, vini et
olei sui : * multiplicati sunt.
In pace in idipsum : *
dormiam et requiescam.
Quoniam tu, Domine, sin-
gulariter in spe : * constitu-
isti me.
The Churcli 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 the day. Jesus commends his soul, with
confidence, into his Father's hands ; — on the third
day, the Father restored it to him. Let us confide
ours to this Sovereign Lord of our whole being, and
our hope will not be confounded.
PSALM 30.
In thee, 0 Lord, have I
hoped, let me never be con-
founded : deliver me in thy
justice,
In te, Domine, speravi,
non conf undar in aeternum :
• in justitia tua libera me,
106
PASCHAL TIME.
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 fortitude mea,
et refugium meum es tu : *
et propter nomen tuum de-
duces me, et enutries me.
Educes me de laqueo hoc,
quem absconderunt mihi : *
quoniam tu es protector
meus.
In manus tuas commendo
spiritum meum : * rede-
misti me, Domine, Deus
veritatis.
Bow down thy ear to me :
make haste to deliver me.
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
the snare, which they have
hidden for me : for thou art
my protector.
Into thy hands I commend
my spirit : thou hast redeemed
me, 0 Lord, the God of truth.
The third Psalm gives the motives of the Just
man's confideiice, even during the dangers of the
night. Then, we have Grod himself speaking, and
promising to them that serve him, eternal happiness,
and the sight of the Saviour whose Resurrection
gave them life.
PSALM 90.
Qui habitat in adjutorio
Altissimi : * in protectione
Dei coeli 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.
^cuto circumdabit te ye-
He that dwelleth in the aid
of the Most High, shall abide
under the protection of the
God of heaven.
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
COMPLINE.
lo;
with a shield : thou shalt not
be afraid of the terror of the
night.
Of the arrow that flieth in
the dsij : 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 :
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.
Ood 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 -^-ill deliver him,
and I will glorify him,
I will fill him with length of
days : and I will show him my
Salvation.
ritas ejus : * non timebis a
timore nocturno.
A sagitta volante in die, a
negotio perambulante in te-
nebris : * ab incursu, et dse-
monio meridiano.
Cadent a latere tuo mille,
et decem millia a dextris
tuis : * ad te autem non ap-
propinquabit.
Verumtamen oculis tuis
considerabis : * et retribu-
tionem peccatorum videbis.
Quoniam tu es, Domine,
spes mea : * Altissimum po-
suisti refugium tuum.
Non accedet ad te malum :
* et flagellum non appropin-
quabit tabemaculo 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.
Lougitudine dierum re-
plebo eum : * et ostendam
illi Salutare meum.
The fourth Psalm invites the Servants of God to
108
PASCHAL TIME.
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-
ni: * in atriis domus Dei
nostri.
In noctibus extoUite ma-
nus vestras in sancta : * et
benedicite Dominum.
Benedicat te Dominus ex
Sion : * qui fecit coelum et
terram.
Ant. Alleluia, alleluia,
alleluia.
Behold now bless ye the
Lord, all ye servants of tha
Lord.
Who stand in the house of
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. Alleluia, alleluia,
alleluia.
HYMN.
*
Te lucis ante terminum,
Eerum Creator, poscimus,
Ut pro tua dementia
Sis prsesul et custodia.
Procul recedant somnia,
Et noctium phantasmata ;
Before the closing of the
Hght, we beseech thee, Crea-
tor of all things ! that, in thy
clemency, thou be our protec-
tor and our guard.
May the dreams and phan-
toms of night depart far from
* According to the Monastic Rite, as follo-ws : —
Te lucis ante terminum,
Rerum Creator, poscimus,
Ut solita dementia
Sis praesul ad custodiam,
Procul recedant somnia
Et noctium phantasmata ;
Hostemque nostrum comprime
Ne pdluantui' corpora.
Gloiia tibi Domine
Qui surrexisti a mortuis,
Cum Patre et Sancto Spiritu
In sempiterna saecula.
COMPLINE.
109
US ; and do thou repress our
enemy, lest our bodies be pro-
faned.
Glory be to God the Father,
and to the Son, who rose from
the dead, and to the Paraclete,
for everlasting ages.
Amen.
Hostemque nostrum com-
prime.
Ne polluantuT corpora.
Deo Patri sit gloria,
Et Filio qui a mortuis
Surrexit, ac ParacUto
In sempitema saecula.
Amen.
CAPITULUM.
{Jeremias, xiv.)
But thou art in us, 0 Lord,
and thy holy name has been
invoked upon us : forsake us
not, 0 Lord our God.
^. Into thy hands, 0 Lord :
I commend my spirit. * Alle-
luia, alleluia. Into thy hands.
f. Thou hast redeemed us,
0 Lord God of truth. * Alle-
luia, alleluia.
Glory. Into thy hands.
Bt. Preserve us, 0 Lord, as
the apple of thine eye, alleluia.
?f. Protect us under the
shadow of thy wings, alleluia.
Ant. Save us.
Tu autem in nobis es,
Domine, et nomen sanctum
tuum invocatum est super
nos ; ne derelinquas nos,
Domine Deus noster.
^. In manus tuas, Domi-
ne : Commendo spiritum
meum. * Alleluia, alleluia.
In manus tuas.
^. Eedemisti nos, Domi-
ne Deus vcritatis. * Alle-
luia, alleluia.
Gloria. In manus tuas.
t. Custodi nos, Domine,
ut pupillam oculi, alleluia.
gt. Sub umbra alarum
tuarum protege nos, alleluia.
Ant. Salva nos.
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, — admirably expresses the repose
of heart which the soul, that is in the Grace of God,
will experience in her Jesus ; for, as the apostle says,
ice may live together with Jesus, tchether we are awake
or asleep}
1 1 Thess. V. 10.
110
PASCHAL TIME.
CANTICLE OF SIMEON.
{St. Luke, ii.)
Nunc dimittis servum
tuum Domine : * secundum
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 tuae Israel.
Gloria Patri, et Filio, &c.
Ant. Salva nos, Domine,
vigilantes, custodi nos dor-
mientes : ut vigilemus cum
Cbristo, et requiescamus in
pace, Alleluia.
f. Dominus vobiscum.
gt. Et cum spiritu tuo.
OREMUS.
Visita, qu?esumus, Domi-
ne, babitationem istam, et
omnes insidias inimici ab ea
longe repelle : Angeli tui
sancti babitent in ea, qui nos
in pace custodiant : et bene-
dictio tua sit super nos sem-
per. Per Dominum nostrum
Jesum Cbristum, Filium
tuum, qui tecum vivit et
regnat, in unitate Spiritus
Sancti Deus, per omnia sae-
cula sseculorum. Amen.
^. Dominus vobiscum.
gt. Et cum spiritu tuo.
?f^. Benedicamus Domino.
gj. Deo gratias.
Benedicat et custodiat nos
omnipotens et misericors
Dominus, Pater, et Filius,
et Spiritus Sanctus.
gtt. Amen.
Now dost tbou dismiss thy
servant, 0 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, &c.
Ant. Save us, 0 Lord,
whilst awake, and watch us
as we sleep ; that we may
watch with Christ, and rest in
peace. Alleluia.
f. The Lord be with you.
Bt. And with thy spirit.
LET us PRAY.
Visit, we beseech thee, 0
Lord, this house and family,
and drive far 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.
y. The Lord be with you.
gt. And with thy spirit.
f. Let us bless the Lord.
gt. Thanks be to God.
May the Almighty and
merciful Lord, Father, Son,
and Holy Ghost, bless and
preserve us.
gt. Amen.
COMPLINE. Ill
ANTHEM TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN.
There is a venerable tradition connected with this
joyous Anthem. It is related that a fearful pesti-
lence raged in Eome, during one of the Easters of
the pontificate of St. Grregory the Great. In order to
propitiate the anger of God, the holy Pope prescribed
a public procession of both people and clergy, in which
was to be carried the portrait of our Blessed Lady
painted by St. Luke. The procession was advancing
in the direction of Saint Peter's; and as the holy
Picture, followed by the Pontiff, was carried along,
the atmosphere became pure and free from pestilence.
Having reached the bridge which joins the City with
the Vatican, a choir of Angels was heard singing
above the Picture, and saying : " Eejoice, 0 Queen of
" heaven, alleluia ! for He whom thou deservedst to
" bear, alleluia ! hath risen, as he said, alleluia ! "
As soon as the heavenly music ceased, the saintly
Pontiff took courage, and added these words to those
of the Angels : " Pray to God for us, alleluia ! "
Thus was composed the Paschal Anthem to our Lady.
Raising his eyes to heaven, Gregory saw the destroy-
ing Angel standing on the top of the Mole of Hadrian,
and sheathing his sword. In memory of this appa-
rition, the Mole was called the Castle of Sanf
AngelOf and on the dome was placed an immense
statue representing an Angel holding his sword in
the scabbard.
ANTHEM.
Rejoice, O Queen of heaven, Regina coeh, laetare, alle-
allelnia, luia,
For he whom thou deservedst Quia quern meruisti por-
to bear, alleluia, tare, alleluia,
Hath risen, as he said, alle- Resurrexit sicut dixit, alle-
luia, luia.
Pray to God for us, alleluia. Ora pro nobis Deum, alle-
luia.
112
PASCHAL TIME.
t. Gaude et laetare, Virgo
Maria, alleluia.
gt. Quia surrexit Dominus
vere, alleluia.
OREMUS.
Deus, qui per Eesurrec-
tionem Filii tui Domini nos-
tri Jesu Christi, mundum
Isetificare dignatus es : prse-
sta qusesumus, ut per ejus
Genitricem Yirginem Ma-
riam, perpetuse capiamus
gaudia vitse. Per eumdem
Christum Dominum nos-
trum.
Bn. Amen.
^. Divinum auxilium ma-
neat semper nobiscum.
gt. Amen. *
^. Rejoice and be glad, 0
Virgin Mary, alleluia.
gt. For the Lord hath truly
risen, alleluia.
LET us PRAY.
0 God, who, by the Eesur-
rection of Jesus Christ thy
Son, didst vouchsafe to make
the world rejoice, grant, we
beseech thee, that, by the
intercession of the Virgin
Mary, his Mother, we may
receive the joys of eternal
life. Through the same
Christ our Lord.
gt. Amen.
^. May the divine assist-
ance remain always with us.
gt. Amen. *
Then, in secret, Pater, Ave, and Credo ; page 30.
* In the Monastic Rite, this Response is as follows :
I^. Et cum fratribiis nostris R/. And \^-ith our absent
absentibus. Amen. brethren. Amen.
EASTEE SUNDAY.'
This is the day which H^c dies, qvau fecit
the lord hath made; let domixus ; exsultemus
US BE GLAD AND REJOICE ET LtETEMUR IIS EA !
THEREIN !
MOENING.
The Night between Saturday and Sunday has well
nigh run its course, and the day-dawn is appearing.
The Mother of Sorrows is waiting, in courageous hope
and patience, for the blissful moment of the return of
her Jesus. Magdalene and the other holy women have
spent the Night in watching, and are preparing to
start for the Sepulchre. In Limbo, the Soul of our
Crucified Lord is about to give the glad word of de-
parture to the myriads of the long-imprisoned holy
Souls, who cluster round him in adoring love. Death
is still holding his silent sway over the Sepulchre,
where rests the Body of Jesus. Since that day when
he gained his first victim, Abel, he has swept off
countless generations ; but never had he held in his
grasp a Prey so noble as this that now lies in the
Tomb near Calvary. Never had the terrible sen-
tence of Grod, pronounced against our First Parents,
received such a fulfilment as this ; but, never had
* Easter is the Anglo-Saxon word for April, and was derived,
as Venerable Bede tells us, (in his Book iJe ratioue Temporis^ c.
13,) from Foster, a Goddess of our pagan ancestors. — Others derive
Easter from Oest, Oost, the Saxon for rising, or the East : and hence,
OstereH, the Resurrection. — [Zr. from Butler's Moveable leasts.^
I
114 PASCHAL TIME.
Death received such a defeat as the one that is now
preparing. It is true, the power of Grod has, at
times, brought back the dead to life ; — the son of
the "Widow of Nairn, and Lazarus, were reclaimed
from the bondage of this tyrant Death : but he re-
gained his sway over them all. But his Victim of
Calvary is to conquer him for ever, for this is He
of whom it is written in the Prophecy : /, 0 Death !
will he thy death !^ Yet a few brief moments, and the
battle will be begun, and Life shall vanquish Death.
As Divine Justice could not allow the Body that
was united to the Word to see corruption, and there
wait, like ours must, for the Archangel's word to rise
and come to Judgment — so, neither, could it permit
the dominion of Death to be long over such a Victim.
This Jesus had said to the Jews : A wicked genera-
tion seeketh a sign ; and a sign shall not be given it,
hut that of Jonas the Frophet? Three days in the
Tomb, — the afternoon and night of Friday, the whole
of Saturday, and a few hours of the Sunday, — oh !
yes, these are enough : enough to satisfy Divine
Justice ; enough to certify the Death of the Crucified,
and make his triumph glorious ; enough to complete
the Martyrdom of that most loving of Mothers, the
Queen of Sorrows.
No man taketh away my life from me : I lay it
doivn of myself : I have power to lay it down, and
I have poiver to take it up again} Thus spoke our
Redeemer to the Jews before his Passion : now is the
hour for the fulfilment of his words, and Death shall
feel their full force. The Day of Light, Sunday,
has begun, and its early dawn is struggling with the
gloom. The Soul of Jesus immediately darts from
the prison of Limbo, followed by the whole multitude
of the holy souls that are around him. In the twink-
ling of an eye, it reaches and enters the Sepulchre,
1 Osee, xiii. 14. - St. Mattli. xii. 39. ^ gt. John, x. 18.
EASTER SUNDAY : MORNING. 115
and re-imites itself with that Body, which, three
days before, it had quitted amidst an agony of suffer-
ing. The sacred Body returns to life, raises itself up,
and throws aside the winding-sheet, the spices, and
the bands. The bruises have disappeared, the Blood
has been brought back to the veins ; and from these
Limbs that had been torn by the scourging, from this
Head that had been mangled by the thorns, from
these Hands and Feet that had been pierced with
nails, there darts forth a dazzling light that fills the
cave. The holy Angels had clustered round the
Stable and adored the Babe of Bethlehem ; they are
now around the Sepulchre, adoring the Conqueror of
Death. They take the shrouds, and, reverently fold-
ing them up, place them on the slab, whereon the
Body had been laid by Joseph and Xicodemus.
But Jesus was not to tarry in the gloomy Sepulchre.
Quicker than a ray of light through a crystal, he
passes through the stone that closes the entrance of
the cave. Pilate had ordered his seal to be put upon
this stone, and a guard of soldiers is there to see that
no one touches it. Untouched it is, and unmoved ;
and yet Jesus is free ! Thus, as the Holy Fathers
unanimously teach us, was it at his Birth ; — he
appeared to the gaze of Mary, without having offered
the slightest violence to her maternal womb. The
Birth and the Resurrection, the commencement and
the end of the mission of Jesus, are two Mysteries
which bear on them the unity of resemblance : in
the first, it is a Virgin Mother ; in the last, it is a
sealed Tomb giving forth its Captive God.
And whilst this Jesus, this Man-God, thus breaks
the sceptre of Death, the stillness of the night is un-
disturbed. His and our Victory has cost him no
effort. 0 Death ! where is now thy kingdom ':" Sin
had made us thy slaves ; thy victory was complete :
and now, lo ! thou thyself art defeated ! Jesus, whom
thou didst exultingly hold under thy law, has set
116
PASCHAL TIME.
himself free; and we, after thou hast domineered over
us for a time, we too shall be free from thy grasp.
The Tomb thou makest for us, will become to us the
source of a new life, for He that now conquers thee
is the First-born among the dead ; ^ and to-day is the
Pasch, the Passover, the deliverance, for Jesus and
for us his Brethren. He has led the way ; we shall
follow; and the day will come, when thou, the enemt/,
that destroyest all things, shalt thyself be destroyed
by Immortality.^ Thy defeat dates from this moment
of the Pesurrection of Jesus, and, with the great
Apostle, we say to thee : 0 Death ! where is thy
victory ? 0 Death ! ichere is thy sting ? ^
But the Sepulchre is not to remain shut : it must
be thrown open, and testify to men, that He, whose
lifeless Body lay there, is indeed risen from the dead.
As when our Jesus expired on the Cross, so now,
immediately after his Pesurrection, an earthquake
shook the foundations of the world ; but, this time, it
was for joy. The Angel of the Lord descended from
heaven, rolled hack the Stone, and sat upon it. And
his countenance was as lightning, and his raiment
as snow. And for fear of him, the Guards are struck
with terror, and fall on the ground as dead men.
Grod has mercy on them ; they return to themselves,
and quitting the dread Sepulchre, they hasten to the
City, and relate what they have seen.
Meanwhile, our Pisen Jesus has been seen by no
mortal eye ; he has sped to his most Holy Mother.
He is the Son of God ; he is the vanquisher of Death ;
but he is, likewise, the Son of Mary. She stood near
him to the last, uniting the sacrifice of her Mother's
heart with that he made upon the Cross: it is just,
therefore, that she should be the first to partake of
the joy of his Pesurrection. The Gospel does not
relate the apparition thus made by Jesus to his
» Apoc. i. 6. 2 1 Cor. xv. 26. ^ j^j^, 55,
EASTER SUNDAY I MORNING. 117
Mother, whereas all the others are fully described.
It is not difficult to assign the reason. The other
apparitions were intended as proofs of the Resurrec-
tion ; this to Mary was dictated by the tender love
borne to her by her Son. Both nature and grace
required that his first visit should be to such a
Mother, and Christian hearts dwell with delight on
the meditation of the mystery. There was no need
of its being mentioned in the Gospel ; the Tradition
of the Holy Fathers, beginning with St. Ambrose,
bears sufficient testimony to it : and even had they
been silent, our hearts would have told it us. And
why was it that our Saviour rose from the Tomb so
early on the Day he had fixed for his Resurrection ?
It was, because his filial love was impatient to
satisfy the vehement longings of his dearest and most
afflicted Mother. Such is the teaching of many pious
and learned Writers ; and who that knows aught of
Jesus and Mary could refuse to accept it ?
But who is there that would attempt to describe the
joy of such a meeting ? Those eyes, that had grown
dim from wakefulness and tears, now flash with
delight at beholding the brightness which tells her
Jesus is come. He calls her by her name, not with
the tone of voice which pierced her soul when he
addressed her from the Cross, but with an accent of
joy and love, such as a Son would take when telling
a Mother that he had triumphed. The Body, which,
three days ago, she had seen covered with Blood and
dead, is now radiant with life, beaming with the re-
flection of Divinity. He speaks to her words of
tenderest affection, he embraces her, he kisses her.
Who, we ask, would dare to describe this scene,
which the devout Abbot Rupert says so inundated
the soul of Mary with joy, that it made her forget aU
the sorrows she had endured.
Nor must we suppose that the Visit was a short
one. In one of the revelations granted to the seraphic
118 PASCHAL TIME.
St. Teresa, our Lord told her, that when he appeared
to his Blessed Mother immediately after his Resur-
rection, he found her so overwhelmed with grief that
she would soon have died ; that it was not until
several moments had passed, that she was able to
realise the immense joy of his presence ; and that he
remained a long time with her, in order to console her.^
Let us who love this Blessed Mother, and have seen
her offer up her Son on Calvary for our sakes, — let us
affectionately rejoice in the happiness wherewith
Jesus now repays her, and let us learn to compassion-
ate her in her Dolours. This is the first manifesta-
tion of our Risen Jesus : it is a just reward for the
unwavering Faith which has dwelt in Mary's soul
during these three days, when all hut she had lost it.
But it is time for him to show himself to others, that
so the glory of his Resurrection may be made known
to the world. His first visit was to her that is the
dearest to him of all creatures, and well deserves the
favour ; now, in his goodness, he is about to console
those devoted Women, whose grief is, perhaps, too
human, — but their love is firm, and neither death
nor the tomb have shaken it.
Yesterday, when sun-set proclaimed to the Jews the
end of the great Sabbath and the commencement of
the Sunday, — Magdalene and her companions went
into the City and bought perfumes, wherewith, this
morning, at break of day, they purpose embalming
the Body of their dear Master. They have spent a
sleepless night. Before the dawn of day, Magdalene,
Mary (the mother of James), and Salome, are on the
road that leads to Calvary, for the Sepulchre is there.
So intent are they on the one object, that it never
occurs to them, until it is too late, to provide for
the removing of the heavy stone, which closes the
^ Life of St. Teresa, uriftm by herself : in the Additions. See
p. 402 in the Traaslation by Da^-id Lewis, 1870.
EASTER SUNDAY I MORNING. 119
Sepulchre. There is the seal, too, of the Governor,
which must be broken before they can enter : there
are the soldiers who are keeping guard : these
difficulties are quite overlooked. It is early daybreak
when they reach the Tomb. The first thing that
attracts their attention is, that the Stone has been
removed, so that one can see into the Sepulchre. The
Angel of the Lord, who had received the mission
to roll back the Stone, is seated on it, as upon a
throne ; he thus addresses the three holy women,
who are speechless from astonishment and fear : Be
not ajfrighied ! Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth^ who was
crucified : he is risen, he is not here. Then encourag-
ing them to enter the Sepulchre, he adds : Behold
the place ivhere they laid him !'^
These words should fill them with joy : but, no, —
their faith is weak, and, as the Evangelist says, a
trejuhling and fear seize them.'- The dear Remains
they are in search of are gone : the Angel tells them
so : his saying that Jesus is Risen fails to awaken their
faith in the liesurrection : they had hoped to find the
Body ! Whilst in the Sepulchre, two other Angels
appear to them, and the place is filled with light.
St. Luke tells us that Magdalene and her companions
halved douii their heads, for they were overpowered
with fear and disappointment. Then the Angel said
to them : Why seek ye the Living with the dead ?
Remember how he spake unto you, when he was yet in
Galilee, saying : ^^The Son of man tnust be delivered
'* into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and
'* the third day rise again /"^ These words make some
impression upon the holy women, and they begin to
remember something of what our Lord said of his
Resurrection. Go I said one of the Angels, tell his
Disciples and Peter, that he is going before you into
Galilee. ^
* St. Mark, xvi. 6. ^ Ibid. 8. 3 gt. Luke, xxiv, 5, 6, 7.
* St. Mark, xvi. 7.
120 PASCHAL TIME.
The three women leave the Sepulchre and return
vnth haste to the City : they are full of fear, and yet
there is an irresistible feeling of joy mingled with
their fear. They relate what they have seen, — they
have seen Angels, and the Sepulchre open, and the
Body of Jesus was not there. All three agree in their
account ; but the Apostles, as the Evangelist tells us,
set it down to womanish excitement : t/ieir tcorcls
seem idle talcs, and they believe them not} The Resur-
rection, of which their Divine Master had so clearly
and so often spoken never once crosses their mind.
It is particularly to Peter and John that Magdalene
relates the wonderful things she has seen and heard :
but her own faith is still so weak ! She went with
the intention of embalming the Body of Jesus, and
she found it not ! She can speak of nothing but of
her disappointment : They have taken away the Lord
out of the Sepulchre, and ive hioiv not tchere they have
laid him /^
Peter and John determine to go themselves to the
Sepulchre. They enter. They see the linen cloths
lyincf' upon the slab whereon the body of Jesus had
been placed ; but the Angels who are now keeping
guard in the holy Cave, appear not to them. St. John
tells us, that this was the moment of his receiving
the Faith in the Resurrection : — he believes} We are
now merely giving the history of the events of this
greatest of Days, in the order in which they occurred :
we will afterwards meditate upon them more leisurely,
when the holy Liturgy brings them before us.
So far, Jesus has appeared to no one save to his
Blessed Mother ; the holy Women have only seen the
Angels, who spoke to them. These heavenly Spirits
bade them go and announce the Resurrection of their
Master to the Disciples and Peter. They are not told
1 St. Luke, xxiv. 11. ^ gt. John, xx. 2.
3 Ibid. 6. ^ T^nd. 8.
EASTER SUNDAY: MORNING, 121
to bear the message to Mary : the reason is obvious :
Jesus has already appeared to his Mother, and is with
her whilst all these events are happening. The Sun
is now shedding his beams upon the earth, and the
hours of the grand Morning are speeding onwards : the
Man-God is about to proclaim the triumph he has
won for us over Death. Let us reverently follow him
in each of these manifestations, and attentively study
the lessons they teach us.
As soon as Peter and John returned, Magdalene
hastens once more to the Tomb of her dear Master.
A soul like hers, ever earnest, and now tormented
with anxiety, cannot endure to rest : — where is the
Body of Jesus? perhaps being insulted by his enemies?
Having reached the door of the Sepulchre, she bursts
into tears. Looking in, she sees two Angels, seated at
either end of the slab on which her Jesus had been
laid. They speak to her, for she knows not what to
say : Woman I iclnj weepeat tliou ■ — Because they
have taken aicaij my Lord, and I know not where they
have laid him. Without waiting for the Angels to
reply, she turns as though she would leave the
Sepulchre ; wlien lo ! she sees a man standing before
her, and this Man is Jesus. ^ She does not recognise
him ; she is in search of the dead Body of her Lord ;
she is absorbed in the resolution of giving it a second
Burial ! Her love distracts her, for it is a love that
is not guided by faith : her desire to find him, as she
thinks him to be, blinds her from seeing him as he
really is, — liviny, and near her.
Jesus, with his wonted condescension, speaks to
her : Woman ! why weepent tJiou '{ Whom >iveked
thou f Magdalene recognises not this voice : her
heart is dulled by an excessive and blind sentiment
of grief : her spirit does not as yet know Jesus, Her
eyes are fixed upon him ; but her imagination per-
• St. John, XX.
122 PASCHAL TIME.
suades her that this Man is the Q-ardener, who has
care of the ground about the Sepulchre. She thinks
within herself, — this, perhaps, is he that has taken
my Jesus ! — and thereupon, she thus speaks to him :
SiTf if thou hast taken him hence, tell me where thou
hast laid him, and I will take him away} How is
our loving Redeemer to withstand this ? If he
praised her for the love she showed him in the
Pharisee's house, — we may be sure he will now
reward this affectionate simplicity. A single word,
spoken to her with the tone of voice she so well
understood, is enough: — Mary! — Master! exclaims
the delighted and humble Magdalene.- All is now
clear : she believes.
She rushes forward : she would kiss those sacred
Feet, as on the happy day when she received her
pardon : — but Jesus stays her : this is not the time
for such a demonstration of her affection. Magda-
lene, the first witness of the Resurrection, is to be
raised, in reward for her love, to the high honour of
publishing the great mystery. It is not fitting that
the Blessed Mother should reveal the secret favour
she has received from her Son : Magdalene is to pro-
claim what she has seen and heard at the Sepulchre,
and become, as the Holy Fathers express it, the
Apostle of the very Apostles. Jesus says to her :
Go to my Brethren, and say to them : I ascend to
my Father and your Father, to my God and your
God}
The second apparition of Jesus, then, is to Mary
Magdalene : it is the first in testimony of his Resur-
rection, for the one to his Blessed Mother was for
another object. The Church will bring it before us
on the Thursday of this week, and we will then make
it the subject of our meditation : at present, let us
adore the infinite goodness of our Redeemer, who, before
1 St. John, XX. 16. 2 jii4^ 16. 3 jud, 17.
EASTER SUNDAY : MORNING. 123
seeking to fix the faith of his Resurrection in them
that are to preach it to all nations, deigns to recom-
pense the love of this Woman, who followed him even
to the Cross, was faithful to him after his Death, and
loved him most, because most forgiven. By thus
showing himself to Magdalene, Jesus teaches us, that
he is more anxious to satisfy the love he bears his
faithful creature, than to provide for his own glory.
Magdalene loses no time in doing her Master's
bidding. She hastens back to the City, and having
come to the Disciples, says to them : / have seen the
Lord, and these things he said to me} But as yet,
they have not Faith ; John alone has received that
gift, although he has seen nothing more than the
empty Sepulchre. Let us remember, that, after
having fled like the rest of the Disciples, he followed
Jesus to Calvary, was present at his Death, and was
made the adopted Son of Mary.
Meanwhile, Magdalene's two companions, — Salome,
and Mary the mother of James, — are following her,
though slowly and at some distance, to Jerusalem.
Jesus meets them, and greets them, saying : All
hailr- Overcome with joy, they fall down and adore
him, and kiss his sacred feet. It is the third Appari-
tion : and they that are favoured with it, are per-
mitted to do what was denied to the more favoured
and fervent Magdalene. Before the day is over,
Jesus will show himself to them whom he has chosen
as the heralds of his glory ; but he first wishes to
honour those generous Women, w^ho, braving every
danger, and triumphing over the weakness of their
sex, were more faithful to him, in his Passion, than
the men he had so highly honoured as to make them
his Apostles. When he was born in the stable at
Bethlehem, the first he called to worship him in his
Crib, were some poor Shepherds ; he sent his Angels
1 St. John, XX. 18. 2 St. Matth. xxviii. 9.
124 PASCHAL TIME.
to invite them to go to him, before he sent the star
to call the Magi. So now, — when he has reached the
summit of his glory, put the finish to all his works
by his Resurrection, and confirmed our faith in his
divinity by the most indisputable miracle, — he does
not begin by instructing and enlightening his
Apostles, but by instructing, consoling, and most
affectionately honouring, these humble but courage-
ous Women. How admirable are the dispensations
of our G-od! How sweet, and yet, how strong!'^
Well does he say to us by his Prophet : My thoughts
are not your thoughts !'^
Let us suppose, for a moment, that ive had been
permitted to arrange the order of these two Mysteries.
We should have summoned the whole world, kings
and people, to go and pay homage at the Crib. We
should have trumpeted to all nations the miracle of
miracles, the Resurrection of the Crucified, the
Victory over Death, the restoration of mankind to
Immortality ! But He who is "the power and wis-
dom of Grod,"^ — Christ Jesus our Lord, — has followed
a very different plan. When born in Bethlehem, he
would have for his first worshippers a few simple-
minded shepherds, whose power to herald the great
event was confined to their own village : and yet,
the Birth-day of this Little Child is now the era of
every civilised nation. For the first witnesses of his
Resurrection, he chose three weak Women ; and
yet, the whole earth is now, at this very moment,
celebrating the anniversary of this Resurrection.
There is in it a mysterious feeling of joy unlike that
of any other day throughout the year : no one can
resist it, not even the coldest heart. The infidel who
scoffs at the believer, knows at least that this is
Easter Sunday. Yea, in the very countries where
paganism and idolatry are still rife, there are Chris-
1 Wisd. viii. 1, 2 jg^ j^^ 8, ■' 1 Cor. i. 24.
EASTER SUNDAY I MATINS. 125
tians whose voices unite with ours in singing the
glorious AUchda to our Eisen Jesus. Let us, then,
cry out as Moses did, when the Israelites had crossed
the Bed Sea, and were keeping their first Pasch :
TF/zo, 0 Lord^ is Iilic unto thee, among the strong P
We will resume our history of the Eesurrection,
when we come to the hour of each Apparition. It is
now time for us to unite with the Church in her
Office of Matins. She has spent the greatest part of
the night in administering that holy Sacrament of
Regeneration, which gives her a New Peojyle ; and
now she is about to offer to God the wonted tribute
of her praise.
THE OFFICE OF MATINS.
The Night Office of every Sunday throughout
the year consists of three portions, called Nodurns.
Each Nocturn is composed of three Psalms with
their Antiphons, followed by three Lessons and
Besponsories. These Nocturns are preceded by a
Psalm, which is called the Invitatory, and end
with the Ambrosian Hymn, the Te Deum ; they
begin after midnight, and are over by the aurora,
when the still more solemn office of Lauds is chanted.
But this Night has been almost wholly spent in the
administration of Baptism, and when the Holy
Sacrifice was finished, it was close upon the hour of
sun-rise. It is necessary, therefore, to shorten the
usual Night Office, in order that the Canticles, where-
with the Church welcomes the return of Light, — the
work and type of hor Divine Spouse, — may be sung
at the very time when the Sun is shedding his first
rays upon the earth. This is the reason of there
1 Exod. XV. 11.
126
PASCHAL TIME.
being only one Nooturn for the Night Office^ of
Easter Sunday.
After the secret recitation of the Pater, Ave, and
Credo, the Church thus begins her Matins :
f. O Lord : thou wilt
open my lips.
g:. And my mouth shall
mea
^. Domine, labia
aperies.
gt. Et OS meum annun-
tiabit laudem tuam.
yj . Deus, in adjutorium
meum intend e.
g:. Domine, ad adjuvan-
dum me festina.
Gloria Patri, et Filio, et
Spiritui Sancto ;
Sicut erat in principio, et
nunc, et semper, et in scecu-
la sseculorum. Amen. Al-
leluia.
declare thy praise.
f . Incline unto my aid,
0 God.
gi. 0 Lord make haste to
help me.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the
Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen.
Alleluia.
Then follows, with the glad chorus announcing the
Resurrection, the Invitatory Psalm, whereby the
Church invites her children to come and adore the
Lord their God. To-day, it is the Angels who tell
the mystery to Magdalene and her companions : let
us listen to the glorious tidings, for they are ad-
dressed also to us.
INVITATORY.
Surrexit Dominus vere,
Alleluia !
The Lord hath truly risen,
Alleluia !
PSALM 94.
Venite, exsultemus Domi-
no, jubilemus Deo Salutari
nostro, prseoccupemus fa-
ciem ejus in confessione, et
in psalmis jubilemus ei.
Come, let us praise the Lord
with joy, let us joyfully sing
to God our Saviour ; let us
come before his presence with
thanksgiving, and make a
joyful noise to him with
psalms.
^ The modern appellation of Matins has been given to this portion
of the Divine Office, because it is now celebrated in tlie Mornwy.
EASTER SUNDAY .* MATINS.
127
The Lord hath truly risen,
* Alleluia 1
I'or 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.
Alleluia I
For the sea is his, and he
made it, and his hands formed
the dry land. Come, let us
adore and fall down before
God: let us weep before the
Lord that made us, for he is
the Lord our God : and we are
his people, and the sheep of
his pasture.
The Lord hath truly risen,*
Alleluia !
To-day, if ye shall hear his
voice, harden not your hearts,
as in the provocation accord-
ing to the day of temptation
in the wilderness : where your
fathers tempted me, me the
Lord ; they proved me, and
saw my works.
Alleluia I
Forty years was I nigh unto
this generation, and I said :
These alwaj's 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.
The Lord hath truly risen,*
Alleluia !
Glory be to the Father, and
to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost ;
As it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Ameu.
Surrexit Dominus vere,*
Alleluia :
Quoniam Deus niagnus
Dominus, et Rex magnus
super omnes deos : quoniam
non repellet Dominus ple-
bem suam, quia in manu
ejus sunt omnes fines terrse,
et altitudines montium ipse
conspicit.
Alleluia !
Quoniam ipsius est mare,
et ipse fecit illud, et aridam
fundaverunt manus ejus.
Yenite, adoremus, et proci-
damus ante Deum : plore-
mus coram Domino qui fecit
nos, quia ipse est Dominus
Deus noster : nos autem po-
pulus ejus, et oves pascuae
ejus.
Surrexit Dominus vere, *
Alleluia I
Hodie si vocem ejus au-
dieritis, nolite obdurare cor-
da vestra, sicut in exacer-
batione, secundum diem
tentationis in deserto : ubi
tentaverunt me patres ves-
tri, probaverunt, et viderunt
opera mea.
Alleluia I
Quadraginta annis proxi-
mus fui generationi huic, et
dixi : Semper hi errant cor-
de : ipsi vero non cognove-
runt vias meas, quibus jura-
vi in ira mea, si introibunt
in requiem meam.
Surrexit Dominus vere,*
Alleluia I
Gloria Patri, et FiHo, et
Spiritui Sancto ;
Sicut erat in principio, et
nunc, et semper, et in sae-
cula saeculorum. Amen.
128 PASCHAL TIME.
Alleluia ! Alleluia.
Surrexit Dominus vere,* The Lord hath truly risen,*
Alleluia. Alleluia.
The Invitatory is always followed by a Hymn ;
but out of a motive of respect for this great Solem-
nity, the Church would observe the ancient form of
her Offices, in which there were no Hymns, for they
were not introduced till a comparatively later period.
She observes this same exclusion of Hymns during
the whole week. After the Invitatory, then, imme-
diately follow the three Psalms.
The first speaks of the virtues and happiness of
the just man, and, as the Holy Fathers have inter-
preted it, refers to Christ, who is the New Man that
came down from heaven ; he was the faithful ob-
server of the divine laic, which the first Adam
transgressed ; the Eternal Father glorified him on
this Day of his Resurrection.
An"T. Ego sum qui sum, An"T. I am who am, and my
et consilium meum non est counsel is not with the un-
cum impiis : sed in lege Do- godly : but my will is in the
mini voluntas mea est, alle- law of the Lord, alleluia,
luia.
PSALM 1.
Beatus vir qui non abiit Blessed is the man who hath
in consilio impiorum, et in not walked in the counsel of
via peccatorum non stetit : * the ungodly, nor stood in the
et in cathedra pestilentiae way of sinners, nor sat in the
non sedit. chair of pestilence.
Sed in lege Domini vo- But his will is in the law of
luntasejus: * et in lege ej us the Lord, and on his law he
meditabitur die ac nocte. shall meditate day and night.
Et erit tanquam lignum. And he shall be like a tree,
quod plantatum est secus which is planted near the run-
decursus aquarum : * quod ning waters ; which shall bring
fructum suum dabit in tern- forth its fruit, in due season,
pore suo.
Et folium ejus non de- And his leaf shall not fall
EASTER SUNDAY: MATINS.
129
off; and all whatsoever lie
shall do shall prosper.
Not so the wicked, not so :
but like the dust, which the
wind driveth from the face of
the earth.
Therefore the wicked shall
not rise again in judgment :
nor sinners in the council of
the just.
For the Lord knoweth the
way of the just : and the way
of the wicked shall perish.
Ant. I am who am, and my
counsel is not with the un-
godly : but my will is in the
law of the Lord, alleluia.
fluet : * et omnia quaecum-
que faciet, prosperabuntur.
Non sic impii, non sic : *
sed tanquam pulvis, quern
projicit ventus a facie terrse.
Ideo non resurgent impii
in judicio : * neque peccato-
res in concilio justorum.
Quoniam novit Dominus
viam justorum : * et iter im-
piorum peribit.
Ant. Ego sum qui sum,
et consilium meum non est
cum impiis : sed in lege Do-
mini voluntas mea est, al-
leluia.
The second Psalm tells us how the Synagogue
formed a plot against Christ. The Jews put to death
the Messias who came to save them ; but they could
not prevent his Resurrection. He is the Son of
Man, but he is also the Son of God : he begins his
reign over the whole human race this very day. Wo
to Israel that knew not the day of his visitation !
Ant. I have asked of my
Father, alleluia : he hath given
me the gentiles, alleluia, for
an inheritance, alleluia.
Ant. Postulavi Patrem
meum, alleluia : dedit mihi
gentes, alleluia, in haeredi-
tatem, alleluia.
PSALM 2.
Why have the Gentiles
ra^ed, and the people devised
vain things ?
The kings of the earth stood
up, and the princes met to-
gether, against the Lord, and
against his Christ.
They said : Let us break
Quare fremuerunt gen-
tes: * et populi meditati
sunt inania ?
Adstitorunt reges terrae,
et principes convenerunt in
unum : * adversus Domi-
num, et adversus Christum
ejus.
Dimmpamus vincula eo-
130
PASCHAL TIME.
rum : * et projiciamus a
nobis jugum ii)sorum.
Qui habitat in coelis, irri-
debit eos: * et Dominus
subsannabit eos.
Tunc loqnetur ad eos in
ira sua : * et in furore suo
conturbabit eos.
Ego autem constitutus
sum Eex ab eo super Sion
montem sanctum ejus: *
praedicans prseceptum ejus.
Dominus dixit ad me : *
Filius mens es tu, ego ho-
die genui te.
Postula a me, et dabo
tibi gentes hoereditatem tu-
am : * et possessionem tuam
terminos terrse.
Reges eos in yirga fer-
rea: * et tanquam vas figuli
confringes eos.
Et nunc, reges, intelli-
gite : * erudimini qui judi-
catis terram.
Seryite Domino in timo-
re : * et exsultate ei cum
tremore.
Apprehendite disciplinam,
nequando irascatur Domi-
nus : * et pereatis de via
justa.
Cum exarserit in brevi
ira ejus : * beati omnes qui
confidunt in eo.
Ant. Postulavi Patrem
meum, alleluia : dedit mihi
gentes, alleluia, in bferedi-
tatem, alleluia.
their bonds asunder : and let
us cast away their yoke from
us.
He that dwelleth in heaven
shall laugh at them : and the
Lord shall deride them.
Then shall he speak to them
in his anger, and trouble them
in his rage.
But I am appointed King
by him over Sion, his holy
mountain, j)reaching his com-
mandment.
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 thine in-
heritance, and the utmost parts
of the earth for thy posses-
sion.
Thou shalt rule them ■^dth a
rod of iron, and shalt break
them in pieces like a potter's
vessel.
And now, 0 ye kings, under-
stand : receive instruction, ye
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 ye perish from the just
way.
When his wrath shall be
kindled in a short time, blessed
are all they that trust in him.
Ant. I have asked of my
Father, alleluia : he hath given
me the gentiles, alleluia, for
an inheritance, alleluia.
The t]iird Psalm is a prophecy of the Resurrection
of Christ, His enemies would have it that he was
EASTER SUNDAY : MATINS.
131
abandoned by God. He slept in the Tomb ; but God
protected him, and he arose, the Conqueror of his
adversaries.
Ant. I have slept and taken Ant. Ego dormivi, et
my sleep : and I have risen up, somnum cepi : et exsurrexi,
because the Lord hath pro- quoniam Dominus suscepit
tected me. Alleluia, alleluia, me. Alleluia, alleluia.
PSALM 3.
Why, 0 Lord, are they mul-
tiplied that afflict me ? Many
are they who rise up against
me.
Many say to my soul : There
is no salvation for him in his
God.
But thou, 0 Lord, art my
protector, my glory, and the
lifter up of my head.
I have cried to the Lord
■with my voice : and he hath
heard me from his holj' hill.
I have slept, and have taken
my rest : and I have risen up,
because the Lord hath pro-
tected me.
I will not fear thousands of
the people surrounding me :
arise, 0 Lord, save me, 0 my
God.
For thou hast struck all
them who are my adversaries
without cause : thou hast
broken the teeth of sinners.
Salvation is of the Lord :
and thy blessing is upon thy
people.
Ant. I have slept, and taken
my sleep : and I have risen up,
because the Lord hath pro-
tected me. Alleluia, alleluia.
t . The Lord hath risen from
the Tomb, alleluia.
Domine, quid multipUcati
sunt qui tribulant me ? *
multi insurgunt adversum
me.
Multi dicunt animse
meae : * Non est salus ipsi
in Deo ejus.
Tu autem, Domine, sus-
ceptor mens es : * gloria
mea, et exaltans caput
meum.
Voce mea ad Dominum
clamavi : * et exaudivit me
de monte sancto suo.
Ego dormivi, et soporatus
sum ; * et exsurrexi, quia
Dominus suscepit me.
Non timebo millia populi
circumdantis me : * exsurge
Domine, salvum me fac,
Deus mens.
Quoniam tu percussisti
omnes adversantes mihi sine
causa : * dentes peccatorum
contrivisti.
Domini est salus : * et
super populum tuum bene-
dictio tua.
Ant. Egodormivi,et som-
num cepi : et exsurrexi, quo-
niam Dominus suscepit me.
Alleluia, alleluia.
y/ . Surrexit Dominus d^
sepulchro, alleluia.
132 PASCHAL TIME.
B^. Qui pro nobis pependit ^. Whojoroursakes, was
in ligno, alleluia. nailed to the Cross, alleluia.
The Priest begins the first two words of the Lord's
prayer :
Pater noster. Our Father.
The rest is said in silence, as far as the last two
petitions ; when the Priest says aloud :
^. Et ne nos inducas in ?J^. And lead us not into
tentationem. temptation.
The Choir answers :
gt. Sed libera nos a malo. B^. But deUver us from evil.
Then the Priest :
Exaudi, Domine Jesu Grraciously |hear, 0 Lord
Christe, preces servorum Jesus Christ, the prayers of
tuorum, et miserere nobis, thy servants, and have mercy
qui cum Patre et Spiritu upon us: who, with the Father
Sancto, vivis et regnas in and the Holy Ghost, livest
ssecula sseculorum. and reignest for ever and ever.
The Choir answers :
Amen. Amen.
Then one of the Choir turns towards the Priest,
and, bowing down, says :
Jube, Domne, benedicere. Pray, Father, give thy bless-
ing.
The Priest gives his blessing in these words :
Benedictio. Evangelica Blessing. May the read-
lectio sit nobis salus et pro- ingl'^of" the Gospel bring us
l^(.^iQ^ salvation and protection.
^. Amen. 5^. Amen,
EASTER SUNDAY : MATINS.
13;^
He who asked the hlessing, then reads the first
few words of the Grospel for the Mass of Easter Sun-
day : after this, he opens the Homilies of St. Grregory
the Great, from which he takes a few passages as a
commentary upon the sacred text.
Lesson from the holy Gospel
according to Mark.
Ch. XVI.
At that time, Mary Magda-
len, and Mary the Mother of
James, and Salome, bought
sweet spices, that coming they
might anoint Jesus. And the
rest.
Homily of Saint Gregory,
Pope.
You have heard, dearly be-
loved Brethren, how the holy
women, who had followed the
Lord, came, with sweet spices,
to the Sepulchre, and how,
having loved him whilst he
lived, they would honour him,
now that he is dead, with
proofs of their affection. But
this that thej' did, teaches
what we, the members of the
Church, should do : for we
should so hearken to what
was done, as that we may learn
what we must do in order to
imitate them. Now, we who
believe in Him who was dead,
— if laden with the fragrance
of virtue, and with the reputa-
tion of good works, we seek
the Lord, we may truly be
said to come to the Sepulchre
with sweet spices. Moreover,
the women, who came ivith
sweet spices, saw Angels ; for
those souls do come to the
vision of the heavenly citizens,
Lectio sancti Evangelii se-
cundum Marcum.
Cap. XVI.
In illo tempore : Maria
Magdalene, et Maria Jacobi,
et Salome, emerunt aro-
mata : ut venientes ungerent
Jesum. Et reliqua.
Homilia sancti Gregorii
Papse.
Audistis, fratres charissi-
mi, quod sanctae mulieres,
quae Dominum f uerant secu-
tse, cum aromatibus ad mo-
numentum venerunt, et ei
quern viventem dilexerant,
etiam mortuo studio huma-
nitatis obsequuntur. Sed res
gesta, aliquid in sancta Ec-
clesia signat gerendum. Sic
quippe necesse est audiamus
quae facta sunt, quatenus
cogitemus etiam qute nobis
sunt ex eorum imitatione
facienda. Et nos ergo in
eum, qui est mortuus, cre-
dentes, si odore virtutum
referti, cum opinione bo-
norum operum Dominum
qure'rimus, ad monumentum
profecto illius cum aromati-
bus venimus. lUse autem
mulieres Angelos vident,
quae cum aromatibus vene-
runt : quia videlicet illce
nientes supernos cives aspi-
ciunt, quae cum virtutum
134
PASCHAL TIME.
odoribus ad Dominnin per
sancta desideria proficiscun-
tur.
gt. Angelus Domini de-
scendit de coelo, et accedens
re vol V it lapidem, et super
eum sedit, et dixit mulieri-
bus : * Nolite timere : scio
enim quia crucifixum quae-
ritis, jam surrexit : venite,
et videte locum, ubi positus
erat Dominus, alleluia.
^. Et introeuntes in mo-
numentum, viderunt juve-
nem sedentem in dextris,
coopertum stola Candida, et
obstupuerunt ; qui dixit il-
Hs:
* Nolite timere, &c.
Gloria Patri, &c.
Eepeat : Angelus Domini.
Benedictio. Divinum
auxilium maneat semper
nobiscum. &• Amen.
who fragrant in virtue, tend
to their Lord by boly desires.
Bi . The Angel of the Lord
descended from heaven, and
coming, rolled back the stone,
and sat upon it, and said to
the women : * Fear not : for I
know that ye seek the Cruci-
fied : he is risen : come and
see the place where the Lord
was laid, alleluia.
^. And entering into the
Sepulchre, they saw a young
man sitting on the right side,
clothed with a white robe ;
and they were astonished :
who saith to them :
* Fear not, &c.
Glory be to the Father, «S:c.
Eepeat : The Angel of the
Lord.
Blessing. May the divine
assistance remain always with
us. &• Amen.
2nd lesson.
Notandum vero nobis est,
quidnam sit, quod in dex-
tris sedere Angelus cernitur.
Quidnamque per sinis-
tram, nisi vita praesens :
quid vero per dexteram,
nisi perpetua vita designa-
tur ? Unde in Canticis Can-
ticorum scriptum est : Li©va
ejus sub capite meo, et dex-
tera illius amplexabitur me.
Quia ergo Eedemptor noster
jam praesentis vita3 corrup-
tionem transierat, recte An-
gelus qui nuntiare peren-
nem ejus vitam venerat, in
dextera sodebat. Qui stola
Candida coopertus apparuit :
Let us also take notice, how
the Angel is seen to be seated
on the right hand. What
means this ? This present life
is signified by the left hand;
eternal life by the right. Hence
we have in the Canticle of
Canticles : His left hand is
under my head, and his right
hand shall embrace me. Be-
cause, therefore, our Eedeemer
had passed from this present
corruptible life, it was fitting
that the Angel, who came to
announce his immortal life,
should sit on the right side.
The Aiigol was clad in a white
robe, because he came to herald
EASTER SUNDAY : MATINS.
135
the joy of our feast. For the
beauty of his robe tells us of
the splendour of our solemnity.
Ought I not to say his, rather
than ours ?■ To speak correctly,
the solemnity is both his and
ours ; for our Redeemer's
Resurrection was our feast, be-
cause it restored us to immor-
tality ; and it was the feast of
the Angels, because, by its re-
calling us to heaven, it tilled
up their number.
gi. When the Sabbath was
past, Mary Magdalene, and
Mary, the mother of James,
and Salome, bought sweet
spices, * That coming, they
might anoint Jesus, alleluia,
alleluia.
^. And very early in the
morning, the iirst day of the
week, they come to the Sepul-
chre, the sun being now risen.
* That coming.
Glory be to the Father.
• That coming.
Blessing. May the King of
Angels lead us to the society
of heavenly citizens, gt. Amen.
quia festivitatis nostrse gau-
dia nunciavit. Candor ete-
nim vestis, splendorem nos-
troe denuntiat solemnitatis.
Nostrse dicamus, an suae ?
Sed ut fateamur verius, et
sua3 dicamus, et nostrse. Ilia
quippe Redemptoris nostri
rcsurrrectio et nostra f estivi-
tas fuit, quia nos ad immor-
talitatem reduxit : et Ange-
lorum festivitas exstitit,
quia nos revocando ad coe-
lestia, eorum numerum im-
plevit.
gt. Cum transisset Sabba-
tum, Maria Magdalene, et
Maria Jacobi, et Salome,
emerunt aromata : * Ut ve-
nientes ungerent Jesum, al-
leluia, alleluia.
y. Et valde mane una
sabbatorum veniunt ad mo-
numentum, orto jam sole.
* Ut venientes.
Gloria Patri.
* Ut venientes.
Benedictio. Ad societa-
tem civium supernorum
perdu cat nos Rex Angelo-
rum. gi. Amen.
3rd lesson.
On this, then, both his and
our feast, the Angel appeared
clad in ivJiite robes, because,
when we were restored to
heaven by Jesus' Resurrection,
the celestial country recovered
its losses. But let us listen to
the words he addresses to the
women on their coming to the
Sepulchre : Fear not I says he,
In sua ergo ac nostra fes-
tivitate Angelus in albis ves-
tibus apparuit : quia dum
nos per resurrectionem Do-
minicam ad superna redu-
cimur, ccelestis patiiae dam-
na reparantur. Sed quid
advenientes feminas afta-
tur, audiamus. Nolite oxpa-
vescore. Ac si aperte dicat :
136
PASCHAL TIME.
Paveant illi, qui non am ant
adventum supernorum ci-
vium : pertimescant, qui
carnalibus desideriis pressi,
ad eorum se societatem per-
tingere posse desperant. Yos
autem cur pertimescitis quse
vestros concives videtis ?
Unde Matthseus Angelum
apparuisse describens, ait :
Erat aspectus ejus sicut
fulgur, et vestimenta ejus
sicut nix. In fulgure ete-
nim terror timoris est, in
nive autem blandimentum
candoris.
"Let them fear tbat love not
" the visit of heaven's citizens :
"let them fear who, being
" weighed down by carnal de-
' ' sires, despair of ever being
"able to reach heaven. But
"why should you fear, who
" behold here your fellow-citi-
" zens ? " Hence St. Ma tthew,
describing the Angel's appari-
tion, says : His countenance
was as lightning, and his rai-
ment as snow. The lightning
expresses something that caus-
es fear ; the snoiu denotes the
affability of a sincere friend.
HYMN OF THANKSGIVING.
Te Deum laudamus
Dominum confitemur.
te
Te seternum Patrem : *
omnis terra veneratur.
Tibi omnes Angeli : * tibi
coeli, et universse potestates.
Tibi Cherubim et Sera-
phim : * incessabili voce
proclamant.
Sanctus.
Sanctus.
Sanctus, Dominus Deus
Sabaoth.
Pleni sunt coeli et terra *
majestatis glorise tuae.
Te gloriosus * Apostolo-
rum chorus.
Te Prophetarum * lauda-
bilis numerus.
Te Martyrum candida-
tus * laudat exercitus.
Te per orbem terrarum *
sancta confitetur Ecclesia.
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 ! Lord God of Sab-
aoth !
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.
EASTER SUNDAY : MATINS.
137
The Father of incomprehen-
sible majesty.
Thy adorable, true, and only
Son,
And the Holy Ghost, the
Paraclete.
Thou, 0 Christ, art the King
of gloiy\
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
heaven.
Thou sittest at the right
hand of God, in the glory of
the Father.
Thee we believe to be the
Judge to come.
Patrem * immenssemajes-
tatis,
Yenerandum tuum ve-
rum, * et unicum Filium,
Sanctum quoque * Para-
clitum Spiritum.
Tu Eex glorioe, * Christe.
Tu Patris * sempiternus
es Filius.
Tu ad liberandum suscep-
turus hominem, * non hor-
ruisti Yirginis uterum.
Tu devicto mortis acu-
leo, * aperuisti credentibus
regna coelorum.
Tu ad dexteram Dei se-
des : * in gloria Patris.
Judex crederis * esse ven-
turus.
All kneel 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.
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.
Te ergo qu^esumus, tuis
famulis subveni, * quos pre-
tioso sanguine redemisti.
sterna fac cum Sanctis
tuis * in gloria numerari.
Salvum fac populum tu-
um, Domine : * et benedic
hsereditati tuae.
Et rege eos, * et extolle
illos usque in aeternum.
Per singulos dies * bene-
dicimus ie.
Et laudamus Nomen tuum
in saeculum : * et in sa?culum
sseculi.
Dignare, Domine, die
isto, • sine peccato noa cus-
todire.
138 PASCHAL TIME.
Miserere nostri, Domine : Have mercy on us, 0 Lord,
* raiserere nostri. have mercy on us.
Fiat misericordia tua Do- Let thy mercy, 0 Lord, be
mine super nos, * quemad- upon us, as we have put our
modum speravimus in te. trust in thee.
In te, Domine, speravi : * In thee, 0 Lord, have I put
non confundar in seternum. my trust : let me not be con-
founded for ever.
In most of the Churches in the West, during the
Middle- Ages, as soon as the Third Lesson was read,
and before the Te Deum, the Clergy went in proces-
sion, singing a Responsory, to the Altar, where the
Blessed Sacrament had been kept since Maundy
Thursday, and which was called the Chapel of the
Sepulchre. Three Clerics were vested in Albs, and
represented Magdalene and her two companions.
When the procession reached the Chapel, two Dea-
cons, in white Dalmatics, who were standing at either
end of the Tomb, thus addressed the three Clerics :
Quem quaeritis in sepul- Whom seek ye in the
chro, 0 christicolse ? Sepulchre, friends of Christ 't
The Clerics answered :
Jesum Nazarenum, 0 coe- Jesus of Nazareth, O ye
licolse ! citizens of heaven !
Then the Deacons :
Non est hie ; surrexit si- He is not here : he hath
cut prsedixerat : ite, nun- risen, as he foretold : go, say
ciate quia surrexit. that he is risen.
The three Clerics here went to the Altar, and,
raising up the cloths which covered it, they rever-
ently kissed the Stone. Then turning towards the
Bishop and the Clergy, they sang these words :
Alleluia I Eesurrexit Do- Alleluia I This day the Lord
minus hodio : resurroxit hath risen : the strong Lion,
EASTER SUNDAY : MATINS. 139
Christ the Son of God, hath Leo fortis, Christus Filius
risen. Dei.
Two Chanters stepped forward towards the Altar
steps, on which the Clerics were standing, and ad-
dressed them in these words of the Sequence :
Tell us, 0 Mar^^ what sawest Die nobis, Maria,
thou on the way ? Quid vidisti in via ?
The first Cleric, who represented Magdalene,
answered :
I saw the Sepulchre of the Sepulchrum Christi vi-
hving Christ : I saw the gloiy ventis,
of him that had risen. Et gloriam vidi resurgentis.
The second Cleric, who represented Mary, the
mother of James, added :
I saw the Angels that were Angehcos testes,
the witnesses : I saw the wind- Sudarium et vestes.
ing-sheet and the cloths.
The third Cleric, who represented Salome, com-
pleted the reply, thus :
Christ, my hope, hath risen ! Surrexit Christus spes
He shall go before you into mea.
Galilee. Praecedet vos in Galila3am.
The two Chanters answered with this protest of
Faith :
It behoves us to beheve the Credendum est magis soli
single testimony of the truth- Marise veraci,
ful Mary, rather than the Quam Judseorum
whole wicked host of Jews. Pravte cohorti.
Then the whole of the Clergy joined in this accla-
mation :
We know that Christ hath Scimus Christum sur-
truly risen from the dead. Do rcxisse
thou, O Conqueror and King I A mortuis vere :
have mercy upon us. Tu nobis, victor Rex,
miserere.
140 PASCHAL TIME.
The two Deacons then opened the Tabernacle.
Taking the pyx, in which was the Blessed Sacra-
ment, they laid it upon a portable throne, or brancard,
and the Procession returned to the High Altar.
Clouds of Incense perfumed the way, and the following
beautiful Responsory was enthusiastically sung. The
first part is composed of words from the Epistle of
St. Paul to the Romans ; the Yersicle is taken from
the Grreek Liturgy. The music is worthy of the
words.
gt. Christus resurgens ex gt. Christ rising again from
mortuis, jam non moritur ; the dead, dieth now no more ;
mors, illi ultra non domina- death shall no more have do-
bitur : quod enim mortuus minion over him ; for in that
est peccato, mortuus est se- he died, he died once : * But
mel : * Quod autem vivit, in that he liveth, he liveth
vivit Deo, alleluia, alleluia, unto God, alleluia, alleluia.
f. Dicant nunc Judsei, f. Let the Jews now tell
quomodo milites custodi- us, how the soldiers, who
entes sepulchrum perdide- guarded the Sepulchre, lost
runt Eegem, ad lapidis posi- the King, though they had
tionem ; quare non serva- placed a rock over him ? Why
bant Petram justitiae ? Aut kept they not the Eock of
sepultum reddant, aut re- justice? Either let them re-
surgentem adorent nobis- store the Buried One, or adore
cum dicentes : with us the Risen One, saying :
* Quod autem vivit, vivit * But in that he liveth, he
Deo, alleluia, alleluia. liveth unto God, alleluia, alle-
luia.
The Procession having reached the Sanctuary, the
Deacons placed the Blessed Sacrament upon the
Altar. The Bishop, after offering the homage of
Incense, entoned the Te Beum, in thanksgiving for
the Resurrection of our Redeemer.
This touching ceremony, which probably originated
what were called The Mysteries^ was not one of the
traditions of the Roman Liturgy ; still, it was an
expression of the lively and simple faith of the Middle-
Ages. It gradually fell into disuse during the 16th and
EASTEK SUNDAY I MATINS. 141
17th Centuries, when men became absorbed in mate-
rial things, and lost that appreciation of the super-
natural, which their forefathers loved to encourage by
every possible means. The one we have j ust described,
varied in the manner of its being carried out ; but
we have given its chief traits, such as we find
them mentioned in the ancient Ordinaries of our
Cathedrals.
The Churches of Bohemia, Hungary and Poland,
keep up, even to this day, the custom, borrowed from
the Orientals, of spending the Night preceding
Easter Sunday in prayer. At break of day, the hour
of the Resurrection, the Blessed Sacrament is taken
from the Sepulchre, and a solemn Benediction is
given. Up to quite a recent period, in certain towns
of Spain, two Processions started from the principal
Church : in one, was borne a Statue of the Blessed
Virgin, which was covered with a veil ; in the other,
the Blessed Sacrament was carried under a canopy.
The two separated, and marched in silence through
the streets, until the sun appeared on the horizon,
when they met at an appointed place. The veil that
covered the Statue of the Holy Mother of God was
then removed, and the whole people sang the Anthem,
Regina cceli, liptarc ! — thus commemorating the joy
experienced by Mary when she was visited by Jesus
after his Pesurrection, — by that same Jesus who was
there really present in the adorable Sacrament. The
two Processions then returned together to the Church.
Another demonstration of Paschal Joy consisted in
the Kiss of Peace given by the Faithful in the Church
at the announcement of the Resurrection hour. This
custom, which was taken from the Oriental Churches,
was kept up in the West until the 16th century. In
some places, it was at the beginning of Matins that
this Kiss of Peace was given, and with these words :
Surrexit ChrisfiisI — Christ is risen/ In others again,
it was given after the ceremony we have been describ-
142
PASCHAL TIME.
ing. In the Greek Liturgy, the following stanzas
were sung during the time :
Pascha j ucundissimum ,
Pascha Domini, Pascha,
Pascha sacratissimum, il-
luxit nobis. Pascha I in
gaudio nos invicem am-
plexemur. 0 Pascha, tris-
titise pretium ! etenim ex
sepulchro, tanquam ex tha-
lamo, Christus hodie re-
splendens, ; mulieres Iseta
dulcedine replevit, dicens :
Prsedicate Apostolis.
Dies est Eesurrectionis :
splendescamus, diem fes-
tum agentes, et amplexe-
mur nos invicem, fratres
nuncupemus etiam odien-
tes nos ; omnia dimittamus
propter Eesurrectionem, et
ita clamemus : Surrexit
Christus a mortuis, mortem
morte conterens, et jacen-
tibus in monumentis vitam
suppeditans.
The most joyous Pasch, the
Pasch of the Lord, the Pasch,
the most holy Pasch, has shone
upon us I let us embrace each
other with joy. 0 Pasch !
thou recompense of our sor-
row I for from this Sepulchre,
as from a bride -chamber,
Christ hath this day risen re-
splendent, and hath filled the
women with glad consolation,
saying to them : Tell it to my
Apostles I
It is the Resurrection Daj'" :
let us be radiant with joy as
we keep the feast, and let us
embrace one another, and call
even them that hate us. Breth-
ren. Let us forgive all offences
for the Eesurrection's sake,
and thus let us sing : Christ
hath risen from the dead ; he
hath conquered death by death,
and hath given life to them
that lay in their graves.
We are all Brethren : the Resurrection of Jesus has
made us doubly so, for, the Apostle says, he is the
First-born from the dead} We were Brethren by his
assuming our Nature in his Incarnation ; the Fra-
ternity was renewed and made closer by his rising
from the Tomb, and opening to each of us the path
to Immortality. He is our Elder Brother in that
New Life which dieth now no more. Whilst cele-
brating his Victory, let us all be united together in
mutual charity : — it is his wish, it is the Pasch, it is
the Banquet-Day of Fraternal love !
1 Coloss. i. 18.
EASTER SUNDAY : LAUDS. 143
LAUDS.
Every day throughout the Year, the Church offers
a special Service to God, which is intended as the
Office of the Aurora. It is called Lauds, because it
is mainly composed of Psalms of Praise. The mys-
tery honoured by this Morning-Service is the Resur-
rection : how fervently, how joyously, ought we not
to sing our Lauds on the very Day of that grand
Mystery ! Let us, therefore, unite with our dear
Mother the Church : she is beaming with gladness ;
for her Jesus, her Sun of Justice, whose light has
been clouded for three long Days, is now risen in all
his splendour.
v. IncHne unto my aid, "V". Deus, in adjutorium
0 God. meum intende.
gt. 0 Lord, make haste to B^. Domine, ad adjuvan-
help me. dum me festina.
Glory be to the Father, and Gloria Patri, et Filio, et
to the Son, and to the Holy Spiiitui Sancto.
Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, Sicut erat in principio, et
is now, and ever shall be, nunc, et semper, et in sae-
world ■vN'ithout end. Amen, cula sseculorum. Amen.
Alleluia. Alleluia.
The Jirst Psalm of Lauds shows us our Jesus rising
from his Tomb like a King clot/ted with beaut//, and
like a Conqueror yirded with strength. By his
Resurrection, he restores man to the Immortality he
had forfeited. Wonderful are the surges of the sea;
but far more so is the power of the Risen Jesus, our
Lord. Let us, by the ho/ in ess of our lives, prove
ourselves worthy of heaven, — that House which he
has now thrown open to us.
Ant. And the Angel of the Ant. Angelus autem Do-
Lord descended from heaven ; mini descendit de coelo,
and going to the stone, rolled et accedens revolvit lapidem,
it back, and sat on it. Alle- et sedebat super eum. Alle-
luia, alleluia. luia, alleluia.
144
PASCHAL TIME.
PSALM 92.
Dominus regnavit, deco-
rem indutus est : * indutus
est Dominus fortitudinem,
et prsecinxit se.
Etenim firmavit orbem
terrae : * qui non commove-
bitur.
Parata sedes tua ex tunc :
* a sseculo tu es.
Elevaverunt flumina Do-
mine : * elevaverunt flumina
vocem suam.
Elevaverunt flumina fluc-
tus sues : * a vocibus aqua-
rum multarum.
Mira biles elationes ma-
ris : * mirabilis in altis Do-
minus.
Testimonia tua credibilia
facta sunt nimis : * domum
tuam decet sanctitudo, Do-
mine, in longitudinem die-
rum.
Ant. Angelus autem Do-
mini descendit de coelo, . et
accedens revolvit lapidem,
et sedebat super eum. Alle-
luia, alleluia.
The Lord hath reigned, he
is clothed with beauty : the
Lord is clothed with strength,
and hath girded himself.
For, to-day, hy his Resurrec-
tion, he hath established the
world, which shall not be
moved.
Thy throne, 0 Conqueror of
death, is prepared from old :
thou art from everlasting.
The floods have lifted up,
0 Lord, the floods have lifted
up their voice.
The floods have lifted up
their waves, with the noise of
many waters.
Wonderful are the surges
of the sea ; wonderful is the
Lord on high.
Thy testimonies are become
exceedingly credible : holiness
becometh thy House, 0 Lord,
luhich is thy Church, unto
length of days.
Ant. And the Angel of the
Lord descended from heaven ;
and going to the stone, rolled
it back, and sat on it. Alle-
luia, alleluia.
The following Psalm invites to the Courts of the
Lord all the inhabitants of the earth, there to cele-
brate this great Solemnity, this Feast of feasts. Jesus
is our divine Shepherd, and we are the Sheep of his
pasture. Though the mighty Conqueror and God,
yet is he sweet and compassionate. Let us celebrate
his Triumph in exceeding great joy, and with grate-
ful gladness.
Ant. Et ecce terrae motus Ant. And behold ! there
f actus est magaus : Angelus was a great earthquake : for
EASTER SUNDAY I LAUDS.
145
an Angel of the Lord came enim Domini descendit de
down from heaven, alleluia. coelo. Alleluia.
PSALM 99.
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 the Lord is
God ; he made us, and not we
ourselves.
We are his people, and the
sheep of his pasture ; go ye
into 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. And behold! there was
a great earthquake : for an
Angel of the Lord came down
from heaven, alleluia.
Jubilate Deo omnis terra :
* servite Domino in laetitia.
Introite in conspectu
ejus : * in exsultatione.
Scitote quoniam Dominus
ipse est Deus : * ipse fecit
nos, et non ipsi nos.
Populus ejus, et oves pas-
cua3 ejus, introite portas
ej us in conf essione : * atria
ejus in hymnis, confitemini
illi.
Laudate Nomen ejus quo-
niam suavis est Dominus,
in aeternum misericordia
ejus : * et usque in genera-
tionem et generationem Ve-
ritas ejus.
Ant. Et ecce terraemotus
f actus est magnus : Ange-
lus enim Domini descendit
de ccelo. Alleluia.
The two following Psalms, which the Church here
unites into one, are the prayer of the faithful soul to
her God, at break of day. From the first waking, she
thirsts after the great God, her Creator and Redeemer.
But on this Day of Easter, she delightedly contem-
plates him in all the magnificence of his glory, and
the whole world is filled with it. All men are now
one in unity of sentiment ; all are keeping the Pasch ;
there is not a nation under heaven where the great
mystery is not known. Let us pray, that all may
understand it, love it, and share in its joy.
Ant. And his countenance
was as lightning, and his rai-
Ant. Erat autem aspectus
ejus sicut fulgur, vestimentt^
L
146
PASCHAL TIME.
autem ejus sicut nix. Alle- ment was as
luia, alleluia. alleluia.
PSALM 62.
snow. Alleluia,
Deus, Deus mens : * 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
virtu tern tuam, et gloriam
tuam.
Quoniam melior est mise-
ricordia tua super vitas : *
labia mea laudabunt te.
Sic benedicam te in vita
mea : * et in nomine tuo le-
vabo manus meas.
Sicut adipe et pinguedine
repleatur anima mea : * et
labiis exsultationis laudabit
OS meum.
Si memor fui tui super
stratum meum, in matutinis
meditabor in te : * quia fu-
isti adjutor meus.
Et in velamento alarum
tuarum exsultabo, adhsesit
anima mea post te : * me
suscepit dextera tua.
Ipsi vero in vanum quse-
sierunt animam meam, in-
troibunt in inf eriora terrse :
* tradentur in manus gladii,
partes vulpium erunt.
Eex vero Isetabitur in
Deo, laudabuntur omnes
qui jurant in eo : * quia ob-
structum est os loquentium
jniqua.
0 God, my God, to thee do
I watch, at break of day.
For thee my soul hath
thirsted, for thee my flesh,
oh I how many ways !
In a desert land, and where
there is no way, and no water :
so, in the sanctuary have I
come before thee, to see thy
power and thy glory.
For th}'- 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 meditate
on thee in the morning : be-
cause thou hast been my
helper.
And I will rejoice under
the covert of thy wings ; my
soul hath stuck close to thee :
thy right hand hath received
me.
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 portions of foxes.
But man being set free shall
like a King rejoice in God ;
all thej^ shall be praised that
swear by him : because the
mouth is stopped of them that
speak wicked things,
EASTER SUNDAY I LAUDS.
147
PSALM 66.
May God have mercy on us,
and bless us ; may he, rising
from the Tomby 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 Jesus ! thy sal-
vation 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 direct-
est the nations upon earth.
Let the people, 0 God, con-
fess to thee : let all the people
give praise to thee : 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.
Ant. And his countenance
was as lightning, and his rai-
ment was as snow. Alleluia,
alleluia.
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.
Leetentur et exsultent
gentes : * quoniam judicas
populos in sequitate, et gen-
tes in terra dirigis.
Confiteantur tibi populi
Deus, confiteantur tibi po-
puli omnes : * terra dedit
fructum suum.
Benedicat nos Deus, Deus
noster, benedicat nos Deus :
* et metuant eum omnes
fines terrse.
Ant. Erat autem aspectus
ejus sicut fulgur, vestimen-
ta autem ejus sicut nix. Al-
leluia, 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 hless its divine Author.
How just it is, that on this day, heaven and earth
should unite in giving glory to the great God, who,
by his Death and Eesurrection, repairs the injury
done to them by sin !
Ant. The guards were ter-
rified with fear of him, and
Ant. Prae timore autem
ejus exterriti sunt custodes,
148
PASCHAL TIME.
et facti sunt velut mortui, became as men struck dead,
alleluia. alleluia.
CANTICLE OF THE THREE CHILDREN.
[Dan. III.)
Benedicite omnia opera
Domini Domino : * laudate
et superexaltate eum in spe-
cula.
Benedicite Angeli Domini
Domino : * benedicite coeli
Domino.
Benedicite aquce omnes
quae super coelos sunt Do-
mino : * benedicite omnes
vii'tutes Domini Domino.
Benedicite sol et luna Do-
mino : * benedicite stellse
coeli Domino.
Benedicite omnis imber et
ros Domino : * benedicite
omnes spiritus Dei Domino.
Benedicite ignis et aestus
Domino : * benedicite f rigus
et sestus 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 tene-
brae Domino : * benedicite
fulgura et nubes Domino.
Benedicat terra Domi-
num : * laudet et superex-
altet eum in saBcula.
Benedicite montes et col-
les Domino : * benedicite
universa germinantia in
terra Domino.
Benedicite fontes Domi-
All ye works of tbe Lord,
bless the Lord : praise and
exalt him above all for ever.
0 ye Angels of the Lord,
bless the Lord : 0 ye heavens,
bless the Lord.
0 all ye waters, that are
above the heavens, bless the
Lord : 0 all ye powers of the
Lord, bless the Lord.
0 ye sun and moon, bless
the Lord: 0 ye stars of heaven,
bless the Lord.
O every shower and dew,
bless ye the Lord : 0 all ye
spirits of God, bless the
Lord.
0 ye fire and heat, bless the
Lord : O ye cold and heat,
bless the Lord.
0 ye dews and hoar frosts,
bless the Lord : 0 ye frost and
cold, bless the Lord.
0 ye ice and snow, bless the
Lord : O ye nights and days,
bless the Lord.
0 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,
bles the Lord.
0 ye fountq,ins, bless the
EASTER SUNDAY : LAUDS.
149
Lord : 0 ye seas and rivers,
bless the Lord.
0 ye whales, and all that
move in the waters, bless the
Lord : 0 all ye fowls of the air,
bless the Lord.
O all ye beasts and cattle,
bless the Lord : 0 ye sons of
men, bless the Lord.
Oh I let Israel bless the
Lord : let them praise and ex-
alt him above all for ever.
0 ye priests of the Lord,
bless the Lord : 0 ye servants
of the Lord, bless the Lord.
0 ye spirits and souls of the
just, bless the Lord : 0 ye,
holy and humble of heart,
bless the Lord.
0 Ananias, Azarias, Misael,
bless ye the Lord : praise and
exalt him above all for ever.
Let us bless the Father, and
the Son, with the Holy Ghost ;
let us praise and exalt him
above all for ever.
Blessed art thou, 0 Lord, in
the firmament of heaven ; and
worthy of praise, and glorious,
and exalted above all, for ever.
AxT. The guards were ter-
rified with fear of him, and
became as men struck dead,
alleluia.
no : * benedicite maria et
flumina Domino.
Benedicite cete et omnia
quiie moventur in aquis Do-
mino : * benedicite omnes
volucres cceli Domino.
Benedicite omnes bestise
et pecora Domino : * bene-
dicite filii hominum Domino.
Benedicat Israel Domi-
num : * laudet et super-
exaltet eum in sajcula.
Benedicite Sacerdotes Do-
mini Domino : * benedicite
servi Domini Domino.
Benedicite spiritus et ani-
mte justorum Domino : *
benedicite sancti et humiles
corde Domino.
Benedicite Anania, Aza-
ria, Misael Domino : * lau-
date et superexaltate eum
in scecula.
Benedicamus Patrem et
Filium cum Sancto Spiri-
tu : * laudemus, et super-
exaltemus eum in scecula.
Benedictus es, Domine, in
firmamento cceli : * et lau-
dabilis et gloriosus, et su-
perexaltatus in siecula.
Ant. l*r?e timore autem
ejus exterriti sunt custodes,
et facti sunt velut mortui,
alleluia.
The threelast 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, and
urge all creatures to bless his holy name. The ^first
of the three has a great resemblance with the Canticle
of the Three Children ; the second invites the S(ii)(fs
to sing to Uim who has glorified them, by making
150
PASCHAL TIME.
them sharers in his Eesurrection : the third calls on
every thing that can breathe forth music to come
and honour our Eisen Jesus with sweetest thrills of
melody.
Ant. Eespondens autem
Angelus, dixit nmlieribus :
Nolite timere : scio enim
quod Jesum quseritis, alle-
luia.
AiN'T. And tlie Angel answer-
ing, said to the women : Fear
not : for I know that ye seek
Jesus, alleluia.
PSALM 148.
Laudato Dominum de
coelis : * laudate eum in ex-
celsis.
Laudate eum omnes An-
geli ejus : * laudate eum
omnes virtutes ejus.
Laudate eum sol et luna :
* laudate eum omnes stellas
et lumen.
Laudate eum coeli ccelo-
rum: * et aquse omnes quae
super coelos sunt, laudent
Nomen Domini.
Quia ipse dixit, et facta
sunt : * ipse mandavit, et
creata sunt.
Statuit ea in seternum, et
in sseculum saeculi : * prse-
ceptum posuit, et non prse-
teribit.
Laudate Dominum 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.
Bestise et universa peco-
ra : * serpentes, et volucres
pennatae.
Praise ye the Lord, from the
heavens : praise ye him in the
high places.
Praise ye him, all his Angels :
praise ye him, all his hosts.
Praise ye him, 0 sun and
moon : praise ye him, all ye
stars and light.
Praise him, ye heavens of
heavens : and let all the waters,
that are above the heavens,
praise the Name of the Lord.
For he spoke, and they were
made : he commanded, and
they were created.
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.
EASTER SUNDAY I LAUDS.
161
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 hjTnn to all his Saints :
to the children of Israel, a
people approaching to him.
Eeges terrse et omnes po-
puli : * principes, et omnes
judices terrse.
Juvenes, et virgines, se-
nes cum j unioribus , laudent
Nomen Domini : * quia exal-
tatum est Nomen ejus so-
lius.
Confessio ejus super coe-
lum et terram : * et exal-
tavit cornu populi sui.
Hymnus omnibus Sanctis
ejus : * filiis Israel, populo
appropinquanti sibi.
PSALM 149.
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.
Let them praise his Name
in choir : let them simg to him
with the timbrel and psaltery.
For the Lord is well pleased
with his people : and the meek
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 ;
Cantate Domino canti-
cum novum : * laus ejus in
Ecclesia Sanctorum.
La?tetur Israel in eo, qui
fecit eum : * et filii Sion
exsultent in rege suo.
Laudent Nomen ejus in
choro : * in tympano et
psalterio psallant ei.
Quia beneplacitum est
Domino in populo suo : * et
exaltabit mansuetos in sa-
lutem.
Exsultabunt Sancti in glo-
ria : * laetabuntur in cubi-
libus suis.
Exaltationes Dei in guttu-
re eorum : * et gladii anci-
pites in manibus eorum.
Ad faciendam vindictam
in nationibus : * increpatio-
nes in populis.
Ad alligandos reges eorum
in compedibus : • et nobi-
les eorum in manicis fer-
reis
152
PASCHAL TIME.
Ut faciant in eis judicium
conscriptum : * gloria lia3c
est omnibus Sanctis ejus.
To execute upon tkem tlie
judgment that is written: this
glory is to all his Saints.
PSALM 150.
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 tu-
bae : * laudate eum in psal-
terio et cithara.
Laudate eum in tympano
et chore : * laudate eum in
chordis et organo.
Laudate eum in cymba-
tis benesonantibus, laudate
eum in cymbalis jubilatio-
nis : * omnis spiritus lau-
det Dominum.
Ant. Eespondens autem
Angelus, dixit mulieribus :
NoHte timere : scio enim
quod Jesum quseritis, alle-
luia.
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 tymbrel
and choir : praise him with
strings and organ.
Praise him on high-sound-
ing cymbals, praise him on
cymbals of joy : let every
spirit praise the Lord.
Ant. And the Angel an-
swering said to the women :
Fear not : for I know that ye
seek Jesus, alleluia.
Immediately after the Psalms, is sung the Paschal
Anthem :
Hsec dies quam fecit Do-
minus : exsultemus et Isete-
mur in ea.
This is the day which the
Lord hath made : let us be
glad and rejoice therein.
Then follows the Canticle of Zachaiy : it is the
Church's daily welcome of the rising Sun. It cele-
brates the coming of Jesus to his creatures, the ful-
filment of the promises made by God, and the
apparition of the Divine Orient in the midst of our
darkness.
Ant. Et valde mane Ant. And very early in the
una sabbatorum, veniunt ad morning, the first day of the
EASTER SUNDAY : LAUDS.
153
week, they come to the Sepul- moniimentum, oi-to jam sole,
chre, the sun being now risen, alleluia.
alleluia.
CANTICLE OF ZACHARY.
(^S^. Luke, I.)
Blessed be the Lord God of
Israel ; because he hath, tJds
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 sei-vant.
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.
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, tlie Pre-
cursor of the Man- God, shalt
be called the Prophet of the
Most High : for thou shalt go
before the face of the Lord to
prepare his ways.
To give to his people the
knowledge of Salvation, 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,
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 : * qui 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.
Ut sine timore de manu
inimicorum nostrorum libe-
rati : * 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 sa-
lutis plebi ejus : * in remis-
sionem peccatorum eorum.
Per viscera misericoridiae
Dei nostri : * in quibus visi-
tavit nos Oriens ex alto.
154
PASCHAL TIME.
lUuminare his qui in te-
nebris et in umbra mortis
sedent : * ad dirigendos pe-
des nostros in viam pacis.
AxT. Et valde mane una
sabbatorum, yeniunt ad mo-
numentura, orto jam sole,
alleluia.
OREMTJS.
Deus, qui hodierna die
per Unigenitum tuum seter-
nitatis nobis aditum, devic-
ta morte, reserasti : vota
nostra quae praeveniendo
aspiras, etiam adjuvando
prosequere. Per eumdem.
To enlighten them that sit
in darkness and in the shadow
of death : to direct our feet
into the way of peace.
AxT. And very early in the
morning, the first day of the
week, they come to the Sepul-
chre, the sun being now risen,
alleluia.
LET VS PRAY.
0 God, who, on this day, by
thy Only Begotten Son's vic-
tory over death, didst open
for us a passage to eternity ;
grant that our prayers, which
thy preventing grace inspireth,
may, by thy help, become ef-
fectual. Through the same,
&c.
f. Let us bless the Lord.
Alleluia, alleluia.
Bl. Thanks be to God. Al-
leluia, alleluia.
^ . Benedicamus Domino.
Alleluia, alleluia.
gr. Deo gratias. Alleluia,
alleluia.
The Office of Lauds being over, the Faithful retire
from the Church : but they will soon return, to assist
at the solemn Sacrifice of the Paschal Lamb. In
order the better to understand the holy Liturgy of
our Easter, we will again imagine ourselves to be in
one of the Cathedral Churches of the 4th or 5th
Centuries, where the sacred rites were carried out in
all their magnificence.
The City is filled with strangers. The Priests of
the country Churches have come to assist at the Con-
secration of the Oils, at the administration of Bap-
tism, and at the grand function of Easter. The
inhabitants are not allowed to undertake any journey
that would prevent them from assisting at the Offices
of the Church ; for we find several Councils forbid-
ding even the Nobles to go beyond the City walls
until the Paschal Solemnity is over.^ We shall not
1 Councils of Agatha, of Orleans I. and IV., of Epaon, &c.
EASTER SUNDAY : LAUDS. 155
be surprised at these regulations, if we remember
what we have already stated with regard to Palm
Sunday, how the Monks of the East, — who had
obtained permission from their Abbots to leave their
Monasteries at the beginning of Lent, and retire into
the Desert, there to live with Grod alone, — were
obliged to return for the celebration of Easter. St.
Pachomius, — who was the first to organise, in the
Desert of the East, a Congregation or Confederation
of all the Houses that had sprung from his cele-
brated Monastery of Tabenna, — insisted upon all his
disciples convening, every year, in this central Mon-
astery, for the purpose of celebrating the Resurrec-
tion. On some of these occasions, there were to be
seen encamped around Tabenna as many as fifty
thousand Monks.
Even now, notwithstanding all the deplorable in-
juries done to the spirit of Christianity by heresy,
our Churches are crowded on the great Paschal Solem-
nity. Even they that never think of entering the
House of God on any other day of the Year, make
an exception for Easter Sunday, as though they could
not resist the power of the great Mystery of Jesus'
Triumph. It is the last remnant of Faith left in
these men ; it keeps them from total forgetfulness of
their Religion. When their last hour comes, their
celebration of Easter, though so imperfect, may draw
down upon them the mercy of their Saviour : but if
their Easters have been but so many neglects of the
Sacraments, what consolation, what hope, can they
yield ? those slighted invitations to Mercy will then
cry out for vengeance, and give to the Resurrection
the awful triumph of Justice ! — But these are thoughts
far too sad for our Festivity : let us turn them into
a prayer to our Risen Jesus, that he break jwt the
bruised reedy nor quench the smoking flax ;^ let us
1 Is. xlii. 3.
156
PASCHAL TIME.
delight in the thought of those bright days of the
past, when Faith made Easter so glorious a sight for
heaven and earth ; let us exult in the reflection, that
the same Faith is still that of millions, and will be so
till the end of time !
And before going to Mass, let us aid our enthusiasm
by a remembrance of the Martyrs of Easter. Yes,
the grand Solemnity was once consecrated by the
blood of Saints, and the Church chronicles the event
in her Martyrology. In the year 459, Easter Sunday
fell upon the 5th of April. The Church in Africa
was then suffering persecution from the Vandals ;
they were Arians, and had been brought into the
country by their kings, G-enseric and Hunneric. The
Catholics of the city of Regia were assembled in the
Church for the celebration of the Resurrection, and
in order to keep out the heretics, they had closed the
doors. The Arians, marshalled by one of their priests,
forced an entrance, and rushed in brandishing their
swords. At that very moment a Lector was in the
Ambo, singing the AUeluia ; an arrow, shot by one
of the barbarians, pierced his throat ; he fell, and
finished his song in heaven. The Yandals fell upon
the Faithful, and the Church streamed with blood.
They dragged others from the holy place, and executed
them by order of their king. The little children were
the only ones spared. Let us unite with the Church,
who honours these noble victims of Easter on the
5th of April.
MASS.
It is the hour of Tierce (9 o'clock), and the Basilica
is crowded with the Faithful. The sun is pouring
in its brightest beams, and who has not felt the
charm of an Easter sun ? The pavement is strewed
with flowers. Above the glittering mosaics of the
Apse, the wall is covered with rich tapestry. Fes-
toons hang from the Sanctuary arch to the pillars of
EASTER SI'NDAY : MASS. 157
the nave and aisles. Lamps, fed with the purest oil,
and suspended from the Ciborium (or Canopy), are
burning around the Altar. The Paschal Candle,
which has been ceaselessly burning since last Night,
stands on its marble pillar ; its bright flame attracts
every eye, and the perfumes, wherewith its wick is
saturated, fill the sacred edifice with a delicious
fragrance. It is the noble symbol of Jesus, our
Light, and seems to say : " Alleluia ! Christ is Risen !"
But by far the most interesting object is the group
of the Neophytes, clad in their white garments, like
the Angels that appeared at the Sepulchre. They are
the living expression of the Mystery of our Lord's
Resurrection. Yesterday they were dead, by sin ;
now they are living, by that New Life which is
the fruit of Jesus' victory over Death. Oh ! happy
thought of our Mother the Church, to choose for the
day of their Regeneration that on which the Man-
God won Immortality for us his creatures !
The Station, at Rome, was formerly in the Basilica
of Saint Mary Major, the principal Church of all
those that are dedicated to the Mother of Grod in the
holy City. Was it not just to associate with the
Paschal Solemnity the memory of Her, who more
than all other creatures, had merited its joys, not only
because of the exceptional share she had had in all
the Sufferings of Jesus, but also because of the un-
shaken faith, wherewith, during those long and cruel
hours of his lying in the Tomb, she had awaited his
Resurrection ? But now the Papal Mass is celebrated
in Saint Peter's, as being more convenient, by its
size and situation, to the immense concourse of the
Faithful, who flock to Rome, from every part of the
Christian world, for the Feast of Easter. The Roman
Missal, however, still gives Saint Mary Major as the
Stational Church of to-day ; and the Indulgences are
gained, as f(jrmerly, by those who assist at the
Services celebrated there.
158
PASCHAL TIME.
There is no Water blessed for the Asperges to-day,
as is the custom on all other Sundays throughout the
year. We assisted, a few hours ago, at the imposing
ceremony of the Bishop's blessing the Water, which
was to be used for the Baptism of the Catechumens.
The Water, which is now going to be sprinkled upon
the Faithful, was taken from the Font of Eegenera-
tion. During this ceremony, the Choir sings the
following Antiphon :
ANTIPHON.
Vidi aquam egredientem
de templo, a latere dextro,
alleluia : et omnes, ad quos
pervenit aqua ista, salvi facti
sunt, et dicent : Alleluia,
alleluia.
Ps. Confitemini Domino,
quoniam bonus : quoniam in
sseculum misericordia ejus.
Gloria Patri. Vidi aquam.
y. Ostende nobis. Do-
mine, misericordiam tuam,
alleluia.
E!t. Et Salutare tuum da
nobis, alleluia.
I saw water flowing from
the right side of the temple,
alleluia ; and all to whom that
water came were saved, and
they shall say : Alleluia, alle-
luia.
Ps. Praise the Lord, because
he is good ; because his mercy
endureth for ever.
Glory, &c. I saw.
^ . Show us, 0 Lord, thy
mercy, alleluia.
Bt . And grant us thy salva-
tion, alleluia.
OREMUS.
LET us PRAY.
Exaudi nos, Domine sanc-
te, Pater omnipotens, seter-
ne Deus : et mittere digneris
sanctum Angelum tuum de
ccclis, qui custodiat, foveat,
protegat, visitet atque de-
fendat omnes habitantes in
hoc habitaculo. Per Chris-
tum Dominum nostrum.
Amen.
Graciously hear us, 0 holy
Lord, Father Almighty, Eter-
nal God : and vouchsafe to
send thy holy Angel from
heaven, who may keep,
cherish, protect, visit and
defend all who are assembled
in this place. Through Christ
our Lord. Amen.
Jn many of the Western Churches^ th© following
EASTER SUNDAY I MASS.
159
stanzas, written by St. Yenantius Fortunatus, Bishop
of Poitiers, used formerly to be sung during the Pro-
cession before to-day's Mass. We insert them here,
feeling assured that they will interest our readers,
and assist them to enter more fully into the spirit of
the great solemnity, for which our forefathers made
them serve as a preparation. We shall find them
replete with the same enthusiasm that inspired the
author when he composed the Vexilla Regis, and the
Hymn of the Holy Chrism : there is the same bold
and energetic, almost harsh diction ; the same piety,
the same richness of poetry and sentiment. The
beautiful chant, to which this Hymn was sung, is
still extant.
EASTER SONG.
Hail, thou festive, ever ven-
erable Daj"- I whereon hell is
conquered and heaven is won
by Christ.
Lo I our earth is in her
Spring; bearing thus her wit-
ness that, with her Lord, she
has all her gifts restored.
JRepeat. Hail, thou festive,
&c.
For now the woods with
their leaves, and the meadows
with their flowers, pay homage
to the triumph of Jesus over
the gloomy tomb.
Hail, thou festive, &c.
Light, firmament, fields and
sea, give justly praise to the
God that defeats the laws of
Death, and rises above the
stars.
Hail, thou festive, &c.
The crucified God now
reigns oyer all things : anci
Salve, festa dies, toto ve-
nerabilis aevo ;
Qua Deus infernum vincit,
et astra tenet.
Ecce renascentis testatur
gratia mundi.
Omnia cum Domino dona
redisse suo.
Repeat. Salve, festa dies.
Namque triumphanti post
tristia tartara Christo,
Undique fronde nemus, gra-
mina flore favent.
Salve, festa dies.
Legibus inferni oppressis,
super astra meantem,
Laudant rite Deum lux, po-
lus, arva, fretum.
Salve, festa dies.
Qui crucifixus erat Deus,
ecce per omnia regnat ;
160
PASCHAL TIME.
Dantque creator! cuncta
creata precem.
Salve, festa dies.
Christe salus remm, bo-
ne conditor, atque re-
demptor ;
Unica progenies ex Deitate
Patris.
Salve, festa dies.
Qui genus humanum cer-
nens mersum esse pro-
fundo,
Ut liominem eriperes, es
quoque factus homo.
Salve, festa dies.
Nee voluisti etenim tan-
tum te corpore nasci,
Sed caro qupe nasci pertuUt,
atque mori.
Salve, festa dies.
Funeris exsequias pateris,
vitse auctor et orbis,
Intrans mortis iter, dando
salutis opem.
Salve, festa dies.
Tristia cesserunt infernse
vincula legis,
Expavitque chaos luminis
ore premi.
Salve, festa dies.
Depereunt tenebrse Chris-
ti fulgore fugatae,
^ternse noctis pallia crassa
cadunt.
Salve, festa dies.
Pollicitam sed redde fidem
precor, alma potestas,
Tertia lux rediit, surge se-
pulte mens.
Salve, festa dies,
every creature to its Creator
tells a prayer.
Hail, thou festive, &c.
0 Jesus ! Saviour of the
world ! Loving Creator and
Redeemer I Only Begotten
Son of God the Father!
Hail, thou festive, &c.
Seeing the human race was
sunk in misery deep, thou
wast made Man, that thou
mightest rescue man.
Hail, thou festive, «S:c.
Nor wouldst thou be con-
tent to be born; but being
born in the flesh, in the same
wouldst thon suifer death.
Hail, thou festive, &c.
Thou, the Author of life and
all creation, wast buried in
the Tomb; treading the path
of Death, to give us salvation.
Hail, thou festive, &c.
The gloomful bonds of hell
were broken ; the abyss shook
with fear, as the light shone
upon its brink.
Hail, thou festive, &c.
The brightness of Christ put
darkness to flight, and made
to fall the thick veils of ever-
lasting night.
Hail, thou festive, &c.
But, redeem thy promise,
I beseech thee, merciful King I
This is the third day ; arise,
my buried Jesus !
Hail, thou festive, &c.
EASTEK SLKDAY I MASS.
161
'Tis not meet, that thy Body
lie in the lowly Tomb, or that
a sepulchral stone should keep
imprisoned the ransom of the
world.
Hail, thou festive, &c.
Throw off thy shrouds, I
pray thee I Leave thj- wind-
ing-sheet in the Tomb. Thou
art our all ; and all else, with-
out thee, is nothing.
Hail, thou festive, &c.
Let free the spirits that are
shackled in Limbo's prison.
Kaise up all fallen things.
Hail, thou festive, &c.
Show us, once more, thy
Face, that all ages may see the
Light I Bring back the Day
which fled when thou didst
die.
Hail, thou festive, &c.
But thou hast done all this,
O loving Conqueror, by return-
ing to our world : Death lies
defeated, and its rights are
gone.
Hail, thou festive, &c.
The greedy monster, whose
huge throat had swallowed all
mankind, is now thj* prey, 0
God I
Hail, thou festive, &c.
The savage beast now trem-
bling vomits forth the victims
he had made, and the Lamb
tears jthe sheep from the jaw
of the wolf.
Hail, thou festive, &c.
Non decet, ut vili tumulo
tua membra tegantur,
Neu pretium mundi vilia
saxa premant.
Salve, festa dies.
Lintea tolle, precor, suda-
lia linque sepulchre ;
Tu satis es nobis, et sine te
nihil est.
Salve, festa dies.
Solve catenatas inferni
carceris umbras,
Et revoca sursum, quidquid
ad ima ruit.
Salve, festa dies.
Redde tuam faciem, vi-
deant ut ssecula lumen,
Redde diem, qui nos, te mo-
riente, fugit.
Salve, festa dies.
Sed plane implesti re-
means, pie victor, ad
orbem ;
Tartara pressa jacent, nee
sua jura tenent.
Salve, festa dies.
Inferus insaturabiliter ca-
va guttura pandens,
Qui rapuit semper, fit tua
pra?da, Deus,
Salve, festa dies.
Evomit absorptam trepide
fera bell u a plebem,
Et de fauce lupi subtrahit
Agnus oves.
Salve, festa dies.
M
162
PASCHAL TIMK.
Rex sacer, ecce tui radiat
pars magna triumphi,
Cum puras animas sacra la-
vacra beant.
Salve, festa dies.
Candidas egreditur niti-
dis exercitus undis,
Atque yetus vitium purgat
in amne novo.
Salve, festa dies.
Fulgentes animas vestis
quoqae Candida signat,
Et grege de niveo gaudia
pastor habet.
Salve, festa dies, toto ve-
nerabilis sevo ;
Qua Deus infernum vincit,
et astra tenet.
0 King divine I lo ! here a
bright ray of thy triumph, —
the souls made pure by the
holy Font.
Hail, thou festive, &c.
The white-robed troop comes
from the limpid Waters ; and
the old iniquity is cleansed in
the new Stream.
Hail, thou festive, &c.
The white garments symbo-
lise unspotted souls ; and the
Shepherd rejoices in his snow-
like flock.
Hail, thou festive, ever ven-
erable Day ! whereon hell is
conquered and heaven is won
by Christ.
The preparations completed, the chanters intone
the majestic melody of the Introit. Meanwhile, the
Pontiff, accompanied by the Priests, Deacons, and
other Ministers, advances in procession to the Altar-
steps. This opening chant is the cry of the Man-
Grod as he rises from the Tomb : it is the hymn of
Jesus' gratitude to his Eternal Father.
INTROIT.
Resurrexi, et adhuc tecum
sum, alleluia : posuisti super
me manum tuam, alleluia :
mirabilis facta est scientia
tua. Alleluia, alleluia.
Ps. Domine, probasti me
et cognovisti me : tu cogno-
visti sessionem meam et re-
surrectionem meam. 1^ . Glo-
ria Patri. Resurrexi.
I have risen, and am as yet
with you, alleluia : thou hast
stretched forth thy hand to
me, alleluia : thy knowledge is
become wonderful. Alleluia,
alleluia.
Ps. Lord, thou hast tried
me, and known me : thou hast
known my sitting down and
my up-rising. ^. Glory, &c.
I have risen, &c.
In the Collect, the Church proclaims the grace of
KASTKk StNDAY : MASS.
1G3
Immortality, which our Redeemer's victory over Death
restored to mankind. She prays that her children
may ambition the glorious destiny thus won for
them.
COLLECT.
0 God, who, on this day, by
thj^ Only Begotten Son's vic-
tory over death, didst open
for us a passage to eternity ;
grant that our prayers, which
thy preventing grace inspireth,
may, by thy help, become ef-
fectual. Through the same,
&c.
Deus, qui hodierna die
per Unigenitum tuum aeter-
nitatis nobis aditum, devic-
ta morte, reserasti : vota
nostra quae prseveniendo
aspiras, etiam adjuvando
prosequere. Per eumdem.
EPISTLE.
Lesson of the Epistle of
Saint Paul the Apostle to
the Corinthians.
/. Cor V.
Brethren : Purge out the
old leaven, that you may be a
new paste, as you are unleav-
ened. For Christ, our pasch,
is sacrificed. Therefore let us
feast, not with the old leaven,
nor with the leaven of malice
and wickedness, but with the
unleavened bread of sincerity
and truth.
Lectio Epistolc« beati Pauli
Apostoli ad Corinthios.
/. Cor. V.
Fratres, expurgate vetus
fermentum, ut sitis nova
conspersio, sicut estis azymi.
Etenim Pascha nostrum
immolatus est Christus.
Itaque epulemur, non in
fermento veteri, neque in
fermento malitiae et noqui-
tise : sed in az5nnis sinceri-
tatis et veritatis.
God commanded the Israelites to use unleavened
Bread when they ate the Paschal Lamb ; hereby
teaching them, that, before partaking of this myste-
rious food, they should abandon their sins, which
are signified by Leaven. We Christians, who are
called to the New Life which Jesus has created for
us by his Resurrection, — must, henceforth, be intent
on good works, as the Unleavened Bread, wherewith
we must receive the Paschal Lamb, our Easter
banquet.
164 PASCHAL TIME.
The Gradual is formed of those joyous words,
which the Church untiringly repeats in all her
OjSices of this Solemnity of the Pasch. They are
taken from the 117th Psalm. Joy, on such a Day
as this, is a duty incumbent on every Christian, both
because of the triumph of our beloved Redeemer, and
because of the blessings that triumph has won for us.
Sadness would be a criminal protestation against the
grand things, wherewith Grod has graced us through
his Son, who not only died, but also rose from the
grave for us.
GRADUAL.
Hsec dies quam fecit Do- This is the day which the
minus : exsultemus et loete- Lord hath made : let us be
mur in ea. glad and rejoice therein.
^. Confitemini Domino, f. Praise ye the Lord, for
quoniam bonus : quoniam he is good : and his mercy
in sseculum misericordia endureth for ever,
ejus.
The Alleluia- Verse expresses one of the motives
we have for rejoicing : — a banquet is prepared for us !
Jesus is our Lamb. He was slain ; now he is living :
slain^ that we might be redeemed by his Blood ;
tr/, that we may share his immortality.
Alleluia, alleluia. Alleluia, alleluia.
t. Pascha nostrum im- Ji^. Christ, our Pasch, is
molatus est Christus. sacrificed.
The better to encourage her children to be glad,
the Church adds, to her ordinary chants, a hymn full
of enthusiastic admiration for her Risen Jesus. It is
called a Sequence, because it is a continuation of the
Alleluia.
SEQUENCE.
VictimJB paschali laudes Let Christians offer to the
Immolent christiani. Paschal Victim the Sacrifice
of praise.
EASTER SUNDAY I MASS.
165
The Lamb hath redeemed
the sheep : the innocent Jesus
hath reconciled sinners to his
Father.
Death and Life fought
against each other, and won-
drous was the duel : The King
of Life was put to death ; yet
now he lives and reigns.
Tell us, 0 Mary I what
sawest thou on the way ?
I saw the Sepulchre of the
living Christ ; I saw the glory
of him that had risen.
I saw the Angels that were
the witnesses ; I saw the
winding-sheet and the cloths.
Christ, my hope, hath risen I
He shall go before you into
Galilee.
We know that Christ hath
truly risen from the dead. Do
thou, 0 Conqueror and Xing I
have mercj' upon us. Amen.
Alleluia.
Agnus redemit oves :
Christus innocens Patri
Eeconciliavit peccatores.
Mors et vita duello
Conllixere mirando :
Dux vitse mortuQS
Eegnat vivus.
Die nobis, Maria
Quid vidisti in via ?
Sepulchrum Christi vi-
ventis :
Et gloriam vidi resurgentis.
Angelicos testes,
Sudarium et vestes.
Surrexit Christus spes
mea :
Proecedet vos in Galilaeam.
Scimus Christum surrex-
isse
A mortuis vere ;
Tu nobis victor
Kex, miserere. Amen.
Alleluia.
The Church gives her preference to-day to the
Evangelist St. Mark, who was a disciple of St. Peter,
and wrote his Grospel at Rome, under the eye of this
Prince of the Apostles. It was fitting, that on such
a Festival as Easter, we should, in some manner,
hear Itiin, speaking to us, whom our Divine Master
appointed to he the Rock of his Church, and the
supreme Pastor of all, both sheep and lambs.
GOSPEL.
Sequel of the holy Gospel
according to Mark.
Ch. XVI.
At that time, Mary Magda-
len, and Maiy the Mother of
Sequentia sancti Evangelii
secundum Marcum.
Cap. XVI.
In illo tempore : Maria
Magdalene, et Maria Jacobi,
166
PASCHAI, TIME.
et Salome, emerunt aromata,
ut venientes ungerent Je-
8um. Et valde mane una
sabbatorum, veniunt ad mo-
numentum, orto jam sole.
Et dicebant ad invicem :
Quis revolvet nobis lapidem
ab ostio monumenti ? Et re-
spicientes viderunt revolu-
tum lapidem. Erat quippe
magnus valde. Etintroeun-
tes in monumentum, vide-
runt juvenem sedentem in
dextris, coopertum stola
Candida, et obstupuerunt.
Qui dixit illis : Nolite expa-
vescere : Jesum quaeritis Xa-
zarenum, ciucifixum : sur-
rexit, non est bic ; ecce locus
ubi posuerunt eum. Sedite,
dicite discipulis ejus, et Pe-
tro, quia pr?ecedet vos in
Galilaeam : ibi eum videbitis,
sicut dixit vobis.
James, and Salome, bought
sweet spices, that coming they
might anoint Jesus. And
very early in the morning the
first day of the week, they
come to the Sepulchre, the sun
being now risen. And they
said one to another : Who
shall roll us back the stone
from the door of the sepulchre ?
And looking, they saw the
stone rolled back. For it was
very great. And entering into
the sepulchre, they saw a
young man sitting on the
right side clothed with a
white robe : and they were
astonished. Who saith to
them : Be not affrighted :
you seek Jesus of Nazareth,
who was crucified : he is risen,
he is not here, behold the
place where they laid him.
But go, tell his disciples and
Peter, that he goeth before
you into Galilee : there you
shall see him as he told you.
He is risen : he is not here ! The Corpse, — laid,
by the hands of them that loved their Lord, on the
slab that lies in that Cave, — is riseti ; and, without
removing the Stone that closed the entrance, has
gone forth, quickened with a life, which can never
die. No man has helped him. No Prophet has stood
over the dead body, bidding it return to life. It is
Jesus himself, and by his own power, that has risen.
He suffered Death, not from necessity, but because
he so willed ; and, again, because he willed, he has
delivered himself from its bondage. 0 Jesus ! thou,
that thus mockest Death, art the Lord our God ! We
reverently bend our knee before this empty Tomb,
which is now for ever sacred, because, for a few hours,
EASTER SUNDAY : MASS. 167
it was the place of thy abode. Behold the place
where they laid him ! Behold the winding-sheet
and bands, which remain to tell the mystery of thy
having once been dead ! The Angel says to the
women : Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth^ who ivas cruci-
fied ! The recollection makes us weep. Yes, it was
but the day before yesterday, that his Body was
carried hither, mangled, wounded, bleeding. Here,
in this Cave, from which the Angel has now rolled
back the Stone, — in this Cave, which his presence
fills with a more than mid-day brightness, — stood the
afflicted Mother. It echoed with the sobs of them
that were at the Burial, — John and the two disciples,
Magdalene and her companions. The sun sank
beneath the horizon, and the first day of Jesus' Burial
began. But the Prophet had said : In the evening,
weeping shall have place ; and in the morning,
gladness.^ This glorious, happy Morning has come,
0 Jesus ! and great indeed is our gladness^ at seeing
that this same Sepulchre, whither we followed thee
with aching hearts, is now but the trophy of thy
victory ! Thy precious Wounds are healed ! It was
we that caused them ; permit us to kiss them. Thou
art now living, more glorious than ever, and immortal.
And because we resolved to die to our sins, when
thou wast dying in order to expiate them, — thou
wiliest, that we, too, should live eternally with thee ;
that thy victory over Death should be ours ; that
Death should be for us, as it was for thee, a mere
passing to immortality, and should, one day, give
back, uninjured and glorified, these bodies which are
to be lent, for a while, to the Tomb. Glory, then,
and honour, and love, be to thee, 0 Jesus ! who
didst deign not only to die, but to rise again, for us !
The Offertory is composed of the words, wherein
David foretells that the earth would tremble, when
' Pr, xxix, 6.
168 PASCHAL TIME.
the Man-G-od arose. This earth of ours has not
only witnessed the grandest manifestations of Grod's
power and goodness, but, by the sovereign will of its
Maker, has been frequently made to share in them,
by preternatural movements.
OFFERTORY.
Terra tremuit et quievit, The earth trembled, and
dum resurgeret in judicio was silent, whilst God arose
Deus, alleluia. to judgment, alleluia.
The whole assembly of the Faithful is about to
partake of the Paschal banquet ; the Divine Lamb
invites them to it. The Altar is laden with the
Offerings they have presented. The holy Church, in
her Secret, invokes upon these favoured guests the
graces, which will procure for them the blissful im-
mortality, whereof they are about to receive a
pledge.
SECRET.
Suscipe, quriesumusDomi- Eeceive, 0 Lord, we beseech
ne, preces populi tui cum thee, the prayers of thy people,
oblationibus hostiarum : ut together with the offerings of
paschalibus initiata mys- these hosts : that what is con-
teriis, ad ceternitatis nobis secrated by these paschal mys-
medelam, te operante, profi- teries, may, by the help of thy
ciant. Per Dominum. grace, avail us to eternal life.
Through, &c.
At the Papal Mass, during the Middle- Ages, whilst
the Pontiff recited the Secret, the two youngest Car-
dinal-Deacons came forward, vested in white Dal-
matics, aad stood at each end of the Altar, with their
faces turned towards the people. They represented
the two Angels who kept guard over our Saviour's
Tomb, and announced to the holy women that he
had risen. The two Deacons remained in that posi-
tion until the Pontiff left the Altar at the Aynm
EASTER SUNDAY : MASS. 169
Dei, in order to receive the Holy Communion on the
Throne.
Another impressive custom was observed at Saint
Mary Major's. When the Pope, after breaking the
Host, addressed to the Faithful the wish of Peace,
with the usual greeting of Pa.r Domini sit semper
vohiscum, the Choir did not answer the usual Et cum
spiritii tuo. It was the tradition, that St. Gregory
the Great was once officiatiug in this Church, on an
Easter Sunday : having sung these words, which
bring down the Spirit of Peace on the assembled
people, a choir of Angels responded with such sweet
melody, that the chanters of earth were silent, for
they feared to join in the celestial music. The year
following, the chanters awaited the Angelic response
to the words of the Pontiff : the favour, however,
was never renewed, but the custom of not answering
the Ei cujH spiritii tuo was observed for several
centuries.
The moment is, at length, come for the Faithful to
partake of the Divine Banquet. It was the practice,
in the ancient Church of Gaul, to chant the following
solemn appeal to the people, who were about to re-
ceive the Bread of Life.^ The music, which accom-
panied the Antiphon, is most impressive and appro-
priate. We give the words, as they will assist the
devotion of the Faithful.
INVITATION OF THE PEOPLE TO COMMUNION.
Come, O ye people I to the Venite populi ad sacrum
sacred and immortal Mysterj' I et immortale mysterium, et
Come, and receive the sacred libamen agendum,
libation I
Let us approach with fear, Cum timore, et fide acceda-
* It was sung in the Catheflral Churches, even after the intro-
duction of the Honian Litur^'v into France, by Pepin and Charle-
magne. It was not entirely discontinued, until the last century
came with its unsanctioned and ever to be regretted innovations.
170 PASCHAL TIME.
mus manibus mundis, pceni- and faith and hands undefiled.
tentise munus communice- Let us unite ourselves with
mus, quoniam propter nos Him who is the reward of our
Agnus Dei Patris sacrifi- repentance, for it is for us that
cium propositum est. the Lamb of God the Father
offered himself in sacrifice.
Ipsum solum adoremus, Let us adore him alone, and
ipsum glorificemus : cum glorify him, singing with the
Angelis clamantes, alleluia. Angels, alleluia.
Whilst the sacred Ministers are distributing the
Divine Food, the Church celebrates in her Commu-
nion Anthem, the true Paschal Lamb, v^hich has
been mystically immolate.d on the Altar, and requires,
from them who receive it, that purity of soul, which
is signified by the Unleavened Bread , under whose
accidents the Reality lies hid.
COMMUNION.
Pascha nostrum immola- Christ, our Pasch, is immo-
tus est Christus, alleluia : lated, alleluia : therefore, let
itaque epulemur in azymis us feast on the unleavened
sinceritatis et veritatis. Al- bread of sincerity and truth,
leluia, alleluia, alleluia. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
The last Prayer made by the Church for them that
have received their Grod, is, that the spirit of fraternal
charity, which is the spirit of our Pasch, may abide
in them. The Son of Grod, by assuming our nature,
in the mystery of the Incarnation, has made us to be
his brothers ; by shedding his Blood for us upon the
Cross, he has united us to one another by the bond
of the Pedemption ; and, by his Resurrection, he has
linked us together in one glorious immortality.
POSTCOMM UNION.
Spiritum nobis, Domine, Pour forth on us, 0 Lord,
tuao charitatis infunde : ut the spirit of thy love ; that
(JUGS sacramentin paschali- those whom thou hast filled
EASTKR STTNDAY ! MASS. 171
with the Paschal Sacrament, bus satiasti, tua facias pieta-
may, by thy goodness, live in te Concordes. PerDominum.
perfect concord. Through, &c.
The Pontiff then gives his blessing to the people.
They leave the House of Grod, to return thither for
the Vespers, which most solemn Office will conclude
the magnificent functions of our Solemnity.
At Rome, the Pope descends from the Throne,
wearing his Triple Crown. He ascends the sedia
geatatoria, which is borne on the shoulders of the
servants of the Palace, and is carried to the great
Nave. Having reached the appointed place, he
descends, and humbly kneels down. Then, from the
tribime of the Cupola, are shown by Priests, vested
in their Stoles, the Wood of the True Cross, and the
Veil, called the Veronica^ on which is impressed the
Face of our Redeemer. The thus commemorating
the sufferings and humiliations of the Man-God, at
the very moment when his triumph over Death has
been celebrated with all the pomp of the Liturgy,
eloquently proclaims the glory and power of our
Risen Jesus, and shows us how faithfully and how
lovingly he fulfilled the mission he had so graciously
taken upon himself, of working our salvation. It
was on this very day, that he himself said to the
Disciples of Emmaus : T/iiis it beliovcd C/n-i.sf to suffer
and to rise again from the dead the third day}
The Christian world, in the person of its Supreme
Pastor, hereby pays its homage to the Sufferings and
Glory of its Redeemer. The Pontiff then resumes
the Triple Crown, and is carried, on the Sedia, to the
Balcony, where he gives the Papal Benediction to the
people assembled in the Piazza of Saint Peter's. We
have already described this solemn rite.^
^ St. Luke, xxiv. 46.
- See Paasiontid«' : Maundy Thursday, par/e .3')9.
172 PASCHAL TIME.
Formerly, when the Lateran Palace was the Papal
residence, and the Station of Easter Sunday was held
at Saint Mary Major's, the Sovereign Pontiff, vested
in a Cope, and wearing the Tiara, went to the Basilica
on a horse caparisoned in white. After the Mass, he
proceeded to the Feast Hall, called the Triclinium
Leonianum, It was built bv St. Leo the Third, and
was decorated with mosaics representing Christ, St.
Peter, Constantine and Charlemagne. A repast was
prepared, to which were invited, as guests of the
Pontiff, five Cardinals, five Deacons, and the first in
dignity (the Primiceritis,) of the clergy attached to
the Church of St. John Lateran. Near to the Pope's
own table, a seat was prepared for a twelfth guest, —
the Prior, called Basilicarius. The Paschal Lamb
was then served up : it was laid on a rich dish. The
Pope blessed it, and thus signified that the severe law
of abstinence was at an end. He himself cut it into
portions, and sent one to each of his guests : but first
of all, he cut off a small piece, and gave it to Basili-
carius, saying to him what would have seemed a harsh
allusion, but for the words that followed : " What
" thou hast to do, do quickly ! But what was said as
" a condemnation, I say to thee as a pardon." The
repast began with joyous conversation ; but, after
some time, the Archdeacon gave a signal, and a
Deacon began to read. The papal Choristers were
afterwards introduced and sang such of the favoui'ite
Sequences as the Pope called for. This done, the
Choristers kissed the feet of the Pontiff, who gave to
each of them a cup full of wine from his own table ;
and each received a piece of money, called a Bcsant,
from the Treasurer.
Our object in mentioning such customs as this, is
to show oar readers the simple manners of the Middle-
Ages. The custom of blessing and eating Lamb, on
Easter Sunday, still continues, though, in many
instances, it conveys very little meaning. For those,
EASTER SUNDAY : MASS. 173
who, from idle pretexts, have scarcely observed a
day's Abstinence during the whole of Lent, the
Paschal Lamb is a reproach, rather than a consolation.
We here give the Blessing, as a completion to our
Easter Rites. The venerable prayer, used by the
Church, will take us back, in thought, to other Ages,
and prompt us to ask of God that he will grant us a
return to that simple and practical Faith, which gave
such soul and grandeur to the every-day life of our
Catholic forefathers.
BLESSING OF THE PASCHAL LAMB.
0 God, who, on the deliver- Deus, qui per famulum
ance of thy people from Egj^t, tuum Moysen, in Hberatione
didst command, by thy ser- populi tui de Egypto, agnum
vant Moses, that a lamb occidi jussisti in similitu-
should be slain as a type of dinem Domini nostri Jesu
our Lord Jesus Christ, and Christi, et utrosque postes
didst ordain that both side- domorum de sanguine ejus-
posts of the houses should be dem agni perungi prsecepis-
sprinkled with its blood : ti : ita benedicere, et sanc-
vouchsafe also to bless and tificare digneris hanc crea-
sanctifj' this creature of flesh, turam carnis, quam nos fa-
which we thy servants desire muli tui ad laudem tuam
to eat for thy gloiy, and in sumere desideramus, per re-
honour of the Resurrection of surrectionem ejusdem Do-
the same Jesus Christ, our mini nostri Jesu Christi.
Lord. Who liveth and reign- Qui tecum vivit et regnat in
eth with thee, for ever and saecula saeculorum. Amen,
ever. Amen.
The law of Lent forbids not only flesh-meat, but
also eggs. It is only by dispensation that we are
allowed to eat them during that holy Season of
penance. The Churches in the East have strictly
maintained the ancient discipline on this point, and
no dispensation is admitted. Here again, the Faith-
ful show their joy, by asking the Church to bless the
eggs that are to appear at their Easter repast. The
following is the Prayer used for this blessing.
174 PASCHAL IIME.
BLESSING OF THE PASCHAL EGGS.
Subveniat, qusesumusDo- We beseech thee, 0 Lord,
mine, tuse benedictionis gra- to give the favour of thy bless -
tia huic ovorum creatur;© : ing to these eggs ; that so they
ut cibus salubris fiat fideli- may be a wholesome food to
bus tuis in tuarum gratia- thy Faithful, who gratefully
rum actione sumentibus, ob take them in honour of the
resurrectionem Domini nos- Resurrection of our Lord
tri Jesu Christi. Qui tecum Jesus Christ. Who liveth and
vivit et regnat in ssecula sse- reigneth with thee, for ever
culorum. Amen. and ever. Amen.
Yes, let our Easter repast, blessed as it is by our
Mother the Church, be one of joy, and add to the
gladness of this great Day ! The Feasts of religion
should always be kept as Feasts by Christian families :
but there is not one, throughout the Year, that can
be compared to this of Easter, which we have waited
for so long and in such sorrow, and which has at
length come, bringing with it the riches of God's
pardon, and the hope of our Immortality.
AFTEENOON.
The day is fast advancing, and Jesus has not yet
shown himself to his Disciples. The holy women
are overpowered with joy and gratitude at the favour
they have received. They have told it to the
Apostles, assuring them that not only have they
seen Angels, but Jesus himself ; that he has spoken
to them ; that they have kissed his sacred feet. But
all their assurances fail to convince these men, who
are oppressed with what they have seen of their
Master's Passion. They are cruelly disappointed,
and their disappointment makes them deaf to every
thing, that speaks of consolation. And yet, we shall
soon find them laying down their very lives in testi-
mony of the Resurrection of that Master, whose name
and remembrance is now a humiliation to them.
EASTER SUNDAY : AFTERNOON. 175
We may form some idea of their feelings, from
the conversation of two who have been spending a
part of the day with them, and who themselves were
Disciples of Jesus. This very evening, whilst re^
turning to Emmaus, they thus express their disap-
pointment : We hoped that Jesus would have re-
deemed Israel: and now besides all this^ to-day is
the third day since these things were done. Yea^
and certain Women also of our company affrighted
us ; who^ before it was lights were at the Sepulchre ;
and not finding his body, came, saying that they
had also seen a vision of Angels, who say that he is
alive. And some of our people went to the Sepulchre,
and found it so as the Women had said ; but him they
found not. ^ How strange, that the Resurrection of
which Jesus had so often spoken to them, even in
the presence of the Jews, does not recur to their
minds ! They were still carnal-minded men, and the
awful fact of his Death stifles within them every idea
of that new birth, which our bodies are to receive in
the tomb.
But our Risen Jesus must now show himself to
these men, who are to preach his Divinity to the
furthest ends of the world. So far, his manifesta-
tions have been made to satisfy his affection for his
Blessed Mother, and his infinite love for those souls,
that had done all in their power to testify their gra-
titude towards him. It is now time for him to pro-
vide for his own glory : at least, so it would seem to
us. But no ; having rewarded those that love him,
he would now show the generosity of his Heart ; and
then, after this, proclaim his triumph. The Apostolic
College, of which every member fled at the hour of
danger, has seen its very head so forgetful of his duty
as to deny his Divine Master. But, from the mo-
ment when Jesus cast upon his Disciple a look of
» St. Luke, xxiv. 21—24.
17 fj PASCHAL TIME.
reproach and pardon, Peter has done nothing but
shed bitter tears over his fall. Jesus would now
console the humble penitent ; tell him with his own
lips, that he has pardoned him ; and confirm by this
mark of his divine predilection, the sublime prero-
gatives that he so recently conferred upon him, in
the presence of all the other Apostles. As yet, Peter
doubts of the Eesurrection ; Magdalene's testimony
has not convinced him : but now, that his offended
Master is about to appear to him, his Faith will
acknowledge the grand mystery.
We have already heard the Angel sending the
message of Jesus by the three Women : Go, said he,
tell his Disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into
Galilee} Why this express mention of Peter, but
that he may know, that although he has denied
Jesus, Jesus has not denied him ? Why is he not, on
this occasion, mentioned before the others, except to
spare him the humiliation of the contrast between
his high position and the unworthy conduct he has
shown ? But this special mention of his name tells
him that he is still dear to Jesus, and that he will
soon have an opportunity of expiating his sin, by
expressing his regret and repentance at the ^'ery feet
of his ever-loving, and now glorified. Master. Yes,
Peter is tardy in believing ; but his conversion is
sincere, and Jesus would reward it.
Suddenly, then, in the course of this afternoon, the
Apostle sees standing before him that Divine Master,
whom, three days previously, he had beheld bound
and led away by the servants of Caiphas. This Jesus
is now resplendent with light ; he is the Conqueror,
the glorious Messias : and yet, what most affects the
Apostle, is the ineffable goodness of this his Lord,
who comes to console him, rather than to show
him the splendours of his Kesurrection. Who could
^ St. Mark, xvi. 7.
EASTER SUNDAY I AFTERNOON, 177
describe the interview between the Penitent and his
offended Master ; the sorrow of Peter, now that he
finds himself treated with such generosity ; the loving
pardon which comes from the lips of Jesus, and fills
the Apostle's heart with paschal joy ? Blessed be
thy name, 0 Jesus ! who thus raisest up, from his
fall, him whom thou art to leave us for our Chief
Pastor and Father, when thou ascendest into heaven !
It is, indeed, just that we adore the infinite mercy
which dwells in the Heart of our Risen Jesas, and
which he shows with the same profusion and power,
as during his mortal life : but let us, also, admire
how, by this visit, he continues, in Saint Peter, the
mystery of the Unity of the Church, — a mystery
which is to be perpetuated in this Apostle and his
successors. At the last Supper, Jesus spoke these
words to him, in the presence of the other Apostles :
/ have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not : and
thou, being once converted, confirm thy brethren.^
The time is now come for establishing Peter in this
Faith, which is never to fait : — Jesus gives it to him.
He himself instructs Peter ; he makes him the foun-
dation of his Church. In a few hours hence, he will
manifest himself to the other Apostles ; but Peter
will be present with his Brethren. Thus, if Peter
receive favours not granted to the rest, they never
receive any but he has a share in them. It is their
duty to believe on Peter's word ; they do so. On
Peter's testimony, they believe in the Resurrection,
and proclaim it to others, as we shall soon see. Jesus
is to appear likewise to them, — for he loves them ;
he calls them his Brethren ; he has chosen them to
be the preachers of his name throughout the world :
— but he will find them already iostructed in the
faith of his Resurrection, because they have believed
Peter's testimony ; and Peter's testimony has effected
» St. Luke, xxii. 32.
N
178
PASCHAL TIME.
in them the mystery of that Unity, which he will
effect in the Church to the end of time.
The apparition of Jesus to the Prince of the
Apostles rests on the authority of St. Luke's Grospel ^
and St. Paul's first Epistle to the Corinthians.-
It is the fourth of those that took place on the day
of the Eesurrection.
THE EASTEE VESPEES.
The Evening Office, called, on that account.
Vespers, has brought an immense concourse of the
Faithful to the Church. We continue our description
of to-day's Services as they were formerly celebrated,
in order that our readers may the more fully enter
into the spirit of the Feast. The solemn adminis-
tration of Baptism having ceased to form an essential
part of the Easter functions, the ancient rites which
had reference to it, and especially those used during
the Vespers, have fallen almost universally into disuse.
We will endeavour to give an idea of them, by blend-
ing the ancient ceremonies with those that are now
in use, and which, in most places, are the same as
those of other Solemnities throughout the Year. It
was not so eight hundred years ago.
The Bishop, vested in his pontifical robes, and
accompanied by all the clergy, went to what we should
now call the Eood-Screen, which was richly decorated,
and on which stood the Crucifix. Here the Chanters
intoned the Kyrie eleison, which was repeated nine
times. Immediately after this, began the Vespers.
The Antiphons of the Psalms were not the same as
those we now sing, and which are taken from the
Lauds. Of course, we only give the latter.
Ant. Angelus autem Do- Ant. And the Angel of the
mini descendit de coelo, et Lord descended from heaven ;
» St. Luke, xxiv. 34. 2 1 Qq^^ ^^^ 5^
EASTER SUNDAY : VESPERS.
179
and going to the stone, rolled
it back, and sat on it. Alle-
luia, alleluia.
accedens revolvit lapidem,
et sedebat super eum. Alle-
luia, alleluia.
PSALM 109,
The Lord said to my Lord,
his Soil : Sit thou at my right
hand, and reign with me.
Until, OR the day of thy hist
coining, I make thy enemies
thy footstool.
0 Christ! the Lord thy
Father, will send forth the
sceptre of thy power out of
Sion : fro/u 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 Fdther 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 also judge among
nations: i)i that terrible com-
ing, he shall fill the ruins of
the world : he shall crush the
heads in the land of many.
He shall drink, in the way,
of the torrent of sufferings :
therefore, shall he lift up the
head, on the day of his triumph
over death.
Ant. And the Angel of the
Lord descended from heaven ;
and going to the stone, rolled
it back, and sat on it. Alle-
luia, alleluia.
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 inimico-
rum tuorum.
Tecum principium in die
virtutis tua3 in splendoribus
sanctorum : * ex utero ante
luciferum genui te.
Juravit Dominus, et non
pcenitebit eum : * Tu es Sa-
cerdos in aeternum secun-
dum ordinem Melchisedech.
Dominus a dextris tuis: *
confregit in die irse suae
reges.
Judicabit in nationibus,
implebit ruinas : * con-
quassabit capita in terra
multorum.
De torrente in via bibet : *
propterea exaltabit caput.
Ant. Angelus autem Do-
mini descendit de ccelo,
et accedens revolvit lapidem,
et sedebat super eum. Alle-
luia, alleluia.
180
PASCHAL TIME.
Ant. Etecce terrsemotus
factus est magnus : Angelus
enim Domini descendit de
coelo. Alleluia.
Ant. And behold I there
was a great earthquake : for
an Angel of the Lord came
down from heaven, alleluia.
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.
Conf essio et magnificentia
opus ejus: * et justitia ejus
manet in sseculum sseculi.
Memoriam fecit mirabi-
lium suorum, misericors et
miserator Dominus : * escam
dedit timentibus se.
Memor erit in sseculum
testamenti sui : * virtutem
operum suorum annuntia-
bit populo suo.
Ut det illis hsereditatem
Gentium : * opera manuum
ejus Veritas et judicium.
Fidelia omnia mandata
ejus, confirmata in sseculum
sseculi : * facta in veritate
et sequitate.
Kedemptionem misit po-
pulo suo : * mandavit in
setemum testamentum su-
um.
Sanctum et terribile no-
men ejus: * initium sapi-
entise timer Domini.
Intellectus bonus omnibus
facientibus eum : * laudatio
ejus manet in sa3culum sse-
cuH.
I will praise thee 0 Lord,
with my whole heart : in the
council of the just, and in the
congregation.
Great are the works of the
Lord : sought out according
to all his wills.
His work is praise and 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 : he hath given food to
them that fear him.
He will be mindful for ever
of his covenant with men : he
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 continu-
eth for ever and ever.
EASTER SUNDAY: VESPERS.
181
Ant. And behold I there was
a great earthquake : for an
Angel of the Lord came down
from heaven, alleluia.
Ant. And his countenance
was as lightning, and his rai-
ment was as snow. Alleluia,
alleluia.
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.
Gloiy 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.
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
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 ex-
alted in glorj'.
The wicked shall see, and
B^all be angrj' ; he shall gnash
Ant. Et ecce terrsemotus
factus est magnus : Ange-
lus enim Domini descendit
de coelo. Alleluia.
Ajst. Erat autem aspectus
ejus sicut fulgur, vestimen-
ta autem ejus sicut nix. Al-
leluia, alleluia,
PSALM 111.
Beatus vir, qui timet Do-
minum : * in mandatis ejus
volet nimis.
Potens in terra erit semen
ejus : * generatio rectorum
benedicetur.
Gloria et divitiae in dome
ejus : * et justitia ejus manet
in sseculum saeculi.
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
cor ejus: * non commovebi-
tur donee despiciat inimicos
suos.
Dispersit, dedit pauperi-
bus, justitia ejus manet in
saeculum sceculi: * cornu
ejus exaltabitur in gloria,
Peccator videbit, et irasce-
tur, dentibus suis fremet et
182 PASCHAI. TIME.
tabescet : * desiderium pec- with his teeth, and pine away :
catorum peribit. the desire of the wicked shall
perish.
Ant. Erat autem aspectus Aj^t. And his countenance
ejus sicut fulgur, vestimenta was as lightning, and his rai-
autem ejus sicut nix. Alle- ment was as snow. Alleluia,
luia, alleluia. alleluia.
After having sung these three Psalms, the Office
of Vespers was interrupted, and the Faithful exulted
in the expectation of the sublime ceremony which
was now to be performed. They remembered what
holy emotions filled their souls when thej/ were
Neophytes, and shared in the triumph that was now
preparing for the newly baptised of this Easter.
Meanwhile, the Chanters sang the Alleluia, which
had so gladdened all hearts, this morning, at the
Mass.
Alleluia. Pascha nostrum Alleluia. Christ, our Pasch,
immolatus est Christus. is sacrificed. Alleluia.
Alleluia.
The Canticle Magnificat was then chanted ; after
which, the Bishop sang the Collect of the Feast.
Immediately after this, the Neophytes were taken in
procession to the Font, from whose sacred Waters
they had risen, last night, as Christ from his Tomb :
they came forth, cleansed from their sins, yea, radiant
with light and immortality. By this visit to the
scene of their happy deliverance, the Church wished
to impress them with a life-long appreciation of the
graces they had received at their Baptism, and of the
resemblance they then contracted with their Risen
Lord, who dicfh how no more.
The Paschal Candle was taken from its marble
column, and carried at the head of the Procession.
Now, as well as during last night's procession to the
Baptistery, it represented the pillar of fire that
guided the Israelites amidst the Egyptian darkness.
EASTER SUNDAY : VESPERS. 183
Closely after it followed a Deacon, in a white dalmatic,
carrying the silver phial of holy Chrism, by whose
anointing the Neophytes had, but a few hours since,
received the Holy Grhost with his seven wondrous
Gifts. Next came the Cross, and seven Acolytes
carrying seven torches, symbolical of the heavenly
vision described in the Apocalypse.^ The sacred
Ministers and Priests advanced under the guidance
of the holy Standard : and after them, the Bishop,
his face beaming with the heavenly joy wherewith
these two great mysteries had filled his soul, — the
triumphant Resurrection of Christ, and the fecundity
of holy Church. Immediately after the Pontiff,
came the Neophytes, walking two and two, and at-
tracting all eyes by their recollected demeanour and
the beauty of their white robes. The rest of the Faith-
ful closed the Procession, during which was sung the
following Antiphon :
Ant. In the day of my Ant. In die resurrectionis
Resurrection, saith the Lord, meae, dicit Dominus, alle-
alleluia : I will assemble the luia : congregabo gentes, et
Gentiles, and will gather the coUigam regna, et effiin-
kingdoms, and will pour out dam super vos aquam mun-
upon you a clean water. Al- dam. Alleluia, alleluia,
leluia, alleluia.
The Antiphon was followed by the fourth Psalm of
Vespers : it magnifies the Name of the Lord^ and
celebrates the joys of that Mother, to whom our Lord
has given so many Children.
Ant. The guards were ter- Ant. Prae timore autem
rified with fear of him, and ejus exterriti sunt custodes,
became as men struck dead, et facti sunt velut mortui,
alleluia. alleluia.
* Apoc. i. 12, &c.
184
PASCHAL TIME.
PSALM 112.
Laudate pueri Dominum :
* laudate nomen Domini.
Sit nomen Domini bene-
dictum : * ex hoc nunc et
usque in saeculum.
A solis ortu usque ad oc-
casum : * laudabile nomen
Domini.
Excelsus super omnes
gentes Dominus : * et super
ccelos 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
filiorum Isetantem.
Akt. Prse timore autem
ejus exterriti sunt custodes,
et facti sunt velut mortui,
alleluia.
Praise the Lord, ye children :
praise ^-e the name of the
Lord.
Blessed be the name of the
Lord : from henceforth, now,
and for ever.
Prom 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 ?
Raising up the needy, and
lifting up the poor out of the
dunghill.
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 children.
AxT. The guards were ter-
rified with fear of him, and
became as men struck dead,
alleluia.
Meanwhile, the Procession advanced down the
Nave, descended the steps of the Portico, and tra-
versed the space between the Cathedral, and the
Baptistery. People, Clergy, and Pontiff, — all enter
beneath the spacious dome. In the centre, sur-
rounded by a balustrade, was the Font, reflecting in
its crystal Waters the rays of the evening sun. The
Neophytes were placed immediately round the balus-
trade, and were permitted to fix their delighted gaze
EASTER SUNDAY : VESPERS. 185
on that sacred element, which had cleansed them
from all their sins.
As soon as the Psalm Laiidate was finished, the
Bishop left the platform, where he had been sitting ;
and taking the thurible in his hand, he walked round
the Font, covering with clouds of incense the Water
he had so solemnly blessed on the previous night,
and to which he was indebted for the happy increase
of all these children, newly born to grace. Having
returned to his throne, two Chanters sang this verse :
^. With thee is the foun- ??. Apud te, Domine, est
tain of life, alleluia. fons vitse, alleluia.
To which all answered :
gt. And in thy light we R. Et in lumine tuo vi-
shall see light, alleluia. debimus lumen, alleluia.
Then the Bishop :
LET us PRAY. OREMUS.
Grant, we beseech thee, 0 Praesta quaesumus, omni-
Almighty God, that we, who potens Deus, ut qui resur-
celebrate the solemnity of our rectionis Dominicae solem-
Lord's Resurrection, may de- nia colimus, ereptionis nos-
serve to receive the joy of our trae suscipere Isetitiam me-
deliverance. Through the reamur. Per eumdem Chris-
same Christ our Lord. Amen, tum Dominum nostrum.
Amen.
After this Prayer, the following Antiphon was
sung, in which is celebrated the salvation given to
man by Water.
Ant. I saw water flowing Ant. Vidi aquam egre-
from the right side of tho dientem de templo, a latere
Temple, Alleluia ; and all to dextro, alleluia : et omnes,
whom that water came were ad quos pervenit aqua ista,
saved, and they shall sa}- : salvi fact sunt, et dicent :
Alleluia, alleluia. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Antiphon was followed by the fifth Psalm of
Sunday's Vespers : it celebrates Israel's deliverance
186
PASCHAL TIME.
from Egj-pt bv passing through the Waters of the
Red Sea, and his journey towards the Promised Land.
The Procession then left the Baptistery to return to
the Cathedral.
Ant. Eespondens autem
Angelus, dixit mulieribus :
NoHte timere : scio enim
quod Jesum qu?eritis, alle-
luia.
Ant. And the Angel an-
swering said to the women :
Fear not : for I know that ye
seek Jesus, alleluia.
PSALM 113.
In exitu Israel de ^gyp-
to : * domus Jacob de po-
pulo barbaro.
Facta est Judsea sanctifi-
catioejus: * Israel potestas
ejus.
Mare vidit, et fugit : *
Jordanis conversus est re-
trorsum.
Montes exsultaverunt ut
arietes : * et colles sicut
agni ovium.
Quid est tibi, mare, quod
fugisti : * et tu, Jordanis,
quia conversus es retror-
sum ?
Montes exsultastis sicut
arietes : * et colles sicut
agni ovium ?
A facie Domini mota est
terra : * a facie Dei Jacob.
Qui convertit petram in
stagna aquarum : * et ru-
pem in fontes aquarum.
Non nobis, Domine, non
nobis : * sed nomini tuo da
gloi-iam.
Super misericordia tua, et
veritate tua : * nequando
dicant Gentes : Ubi est Deus
eorum ?
Peus autem noster in
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
dan was turned back.
Jor-
The mountains skipped like
rams : and the hills like the
lambs of the flock.
"\^Tiat ailed thee, 0 thou sea,
that thou didst flee : and thou,
0 Jordan, that thou wast
turned back ?
Ye mountains that ye
skipped like rams : and ye
hills like lambs of the flock ?
At the presence of the Lord
the earth was moved, at the
presence of the God of Jacob.
WTio turned the rock into
pools of wat^r, and the stony
hills into fountains of waters.
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 ;
EASTER SUNDAY I VESPERS.
187
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 mind-
ful of us, and hath blessed us.
He hath blessed the house
of Israel : he hath blessed the
house of Aaron.
He hath blessed all that
fear the Lord, both little and
great.
May the Lord add blessings
upon you : upon you, and upon
your children.
Blessed be you of the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
The heaven of heaven is the
Lord's : but the earth he has
given to the children of men.
The dead shall not praise
thee, 0 Lord : nor any of them
that go down to hell.
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 : * uares habent, et
non odorabunt.
Manus habent, et non
palpabuut, pedes habent et
non ambulabunt : * non
clamabunt 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 protector
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.
Benedicti vos a Domino :
• qui fecit coelum et ten-am.
Coelum coeli Domino : *
terram autem dedit filiis
hominum.
Non mortui laudabunt te,
Domine : * ne<^ue omnes qui
descendunt in infernuni,
188
PASCHAL TIME.
Sed nos qui vivimus, be-
nedicimus Domino : * ex
hoc nunc et usque in saecu-
lum.
Ant. Eespondens autem
Angelus, dixit mulieribus :
Nolite timere : scio enim
quod Jesum quseritis, alle-
luip.
But we that live bless the
Lord : from this time now and
for ever.
AxT. And the Angel answer-
ing, said to the women : Fear
not : for I know that ye seek
Jesus, alleluia.
Whilst singing this Psalm, whicli offers so many
allusions to the favours received by the Neophytes,
the Procession had reached the Porch of the Cathe-
dral. Entering the holy place, it passed up the Nave,
as far as the Eood-Screen. There, the Neophytes
arranged themselves, and the following Prayer was
sung in honour of Him who had saved them by his
Cross and Tomb.
f. Dicite in nationibus,
alleluia.
^. Quia Dominus regna-
vit a ligno, alleluia.
^ . Say ye amon g the Gen -
tiles, alleluia.
&. That the Lord hath
reigned from the Wood, alle-
luia.
The Bishop then addressed this Prayer to God :
OREMUS.
Prsesta qusesumus, om-
nipotens Deus, ut qui gra-
tiam Dominicae resurrectio-
nis agnovimus, ipsi per amo-
rem Sancti Spiritus a morte
animse resurgamus. Per
eumdem Christum Domi-
num nostrum. Amen.
LET ITS PRAY.
Grant we beseech thee, O
Almighty God, that we, who
acknowledge the grace of our
Lord's Eesurrection, may rise
from the death of the soul, by
the love that cometh of the
Holy Ghost. Through the
same Christ our Lord. Amen.
It was thus, in the first eight centuries of the
Church, that the Easter Vespers concluded : and,
with a few slight variations here and there, such was
the ceremony observed. In some Churches, the Mag-
nificat was sung twice ; in others thrice, and even
four times. The essential rite of these Vespers was
EASTER SUNDAY .* VESPERS.
189
the Procession to the Baptistery, during which were
sung the Antiphons we have given, and the Psalms
Laudate puen\ and In exitu. — We will now resume
the Office of Vespers, at which we are assisting.
The five usual Psalms being finished, there is sung
the solemn Antiphon, which the Church repeats in
all the Canonical Hours of this Feast.
This is the day which the
Lord hath made : let us be
glad and rejoice therein. mur in ea.
Haec dies quam fecit Do-
minus : exsultemus et laete-
It is followed by the Canticle of our Blessed Lady,
which forms an essential part of the Evening Office ;
and during its being sung, the Celebrant solemnly
censes the Altar.
Ant. And looking back, they
saw the stone rolled away from
the door of the Sepulchre ; for
it was very large, alleluia.
Ant. Et respicientes, vide-
runt revolutum lapidem ab
ostio monumenti : erat quip-
pe magnus valde, alleluia.
OUR J.ADY S CANTICLE.
{St. Luke, I.)
My soul doth magnify the
Lord;
And my spirit hath rejoiced
God my Saviour.
in
Because he hath regarded
the humility of his handmaid :
for, behold from henceforth
all generations shall call me
Blessed.
Because he that is mighty
hath done great things to me :
and holy is his name.
And his mercy is from gene-
ration unto generation, to them
that fear him.
He hath showed might in
Magnificat : * anima mea
Dominum :
Et exsultavit spiritus
Deo salutari
mens
in
meo.
Quia respexit humilita-
tem ancillse suae : * ecce
enim ex hoc Beatam me di-
cent omnes generationes.
Quia fecit mihi magna
qui potens est : * et sanc-
tum nomen ejus.
Et misericordia ejus a
progenie in progenies * ti-
mentibus eum.
Fecit potentiam in brachio
190
PASCHAL TIME.
Buo : * dispersit superbos
mente cordis sui.
Deposuit potentes de sede :
* et exaltavit humiles.
Esurientes implevit bo-
nis : * et divites dimisit
inanes.
Suscepit Israel puerum
suum : * recordatus miseri-
cordiae suae.
Sicut locutus est ad pa-
tres nostros : * Abraham et
semini ejus in ssecula.
Ant. Et respicientes, vi-
derunt revolutum lapidem
ab ostium monumenti : erat
quippe magnus valde, alle-
luia.
OREMUS.
Deus, qui hodierna die per
TJnigenitum tuum, seterni-
tatis nobis aditum, devicta
morte, reserasti : vota no-
stra, quae praeveniendo aspi-
ras, etiam adjuvando prose -
quere. Per eumdem.
Benedicamus Domino.
Alleluia, alleluia.
Deo gratias. Alleluia, al-
leluia.
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.
Ant. And looking back,
they saw the stone rolled away
from the door of the Sej)ul-
chre ; for it was very large,
alleluia.
LET US PRAY.
0 God, who, on this day,
by thy Only Begotten Son's
victory over death, didst open
for us a passage to eternity :
grant that our prayers, which
thy preventing grace inspireth,
may by thy help become eif ec-
tual. Through the same, &c.
Let us bless the Lord. Al-
leluia, alleluia.
Thanks be to God. AUe-
luia, alleluia.
During the Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacra-
ment, the following joyous Canticle is sung in some
Churches.
THE JOYFUL CANTICLE.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
O filii et filiae.
Rex ccelestis, Bex glorioe,
Morte surrexit hodie.
Alleluia.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
0 ye young men and mai-
dens I on this day, the King
of heaven, the King of glorj',
lose from the dead.
Alleluia.
EASTER SUNDAY : VESPERS.
191
And Mary Magdalene, and
Mary (Mother of James), and
Salome, went that they might
anoint the body.
Alleluia.
Having been told by Mag-
dalene, two of the Disciples
ran to the door of the Se-
pulchre.
Alleluia.
But the Apostle John outran
Peter, and was the first at the
Sepulchre.
Alleluia.
An Angel clad in white, was
sitting there, and said to the
women that the Lord was
risen.
Alleluia.
As the Disciples were stand-
ing together, Christ stood in
their midst, and said : Peace
be to you all I
Alleluia.
Didymus having heard that
Jesus had risen, was incredu-
lous.
Alleluia.
See, Thomas, see my side,
see my feet, see my hands !
Be not incredulous I
Alleluia.
As soon as Thomas saw the
side and feet and hands of
Jesus, he said : Thou art my
God.
Alleluia.
Blessed are they that have
not seen, and have firmly be-
lieved I They shall have eter-
nal life.
Alleluia.
Let us sing hymns of praise
and joy on this most holy
Feast I Let us bless the Lord !
Alleluia.
Et Maria Magdalene,
Et Jacobi et Salome,
Yenerunt corpus ungere.
Alleluia.
A Magdalena moniti,
Ad ostium monumenti
Duo currunt discipuli.
Alleluia.
Sed Joannes Apostolus
Cucumt Petro citius.
Ad sepulchrum venit prius.
Alleluia.
In albis sed ens Angelus,
Respondit mulieribus.
Quia surrexit Dominus.
Alleluia.
Discipulis astantibus,
In medio stetit Christus,
Dicens : Pax vobis omnibus.
Alleluia.
Postquam audivit Didy-
mus,
Quia surrexerat Jesus,
Remansit fide dubius.
Alleluia.
Vide, Thoma, vide latus,
Vide pedes, vide manus ;
Noli esse incredulus.
Alleluia.
Quando Thomas Christi
latus.
Pedes vidit atque manus,
Dixit : Tu es Deus mens.
Alleluia.
Beati qui non viderunt,
Et firmiter crediderunt :
Vitam aotemam habebiint.
Alleluia.
In hoc festo sanctissimo
Sit laus et jubilatio :
Benedicamus Domino.
Alleluia.
192 PASCHAL TIME.
De quibus nos humilli- Let us give to God our most
mas, humble, devout and due
Devotas atque debitas thanks, for all these his
Deo dicamus gratias. favours.
Alleluia. Alleluia.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
EVENING.
The Day of the E-esurrection of Jesus is fast draw-
ing to its close. It is the Day honoured by God with
the greatest of all miracles : it is the most important
Day that has ever dawned upon the world since
Light was first created : but the Night will soon be
upon us, shadowing the brightness of the great Day.
Four times has our Redeemer appeared. He would
now manifest himself to the whole of his Apostles,
and thus enable them to know by their own expe-
rience what they have, a few hours since, learned
from Peter's testimony. But, leaving, for a few
moments longer, these men, whom he honours with
the name of Brethren^ and who now believe in his
Resurrection, — he would first console two hearts
that are grieving on his account, though their grief
comes from their want of faith.
Two men are traversing the road from Jerusalem
to Emmaus, slowly and sadly. They are evidently
suffering from some cruel disappointment ; nay, they
give one the idea that a motive of fear impels them to
leave the City. They had been Disciples of Jesus ;
but the ignominious and violent death of this Master,
in whom they had had such confidence, has filled their
hearts with bitter despondency. They were ashamed
of having joined themselves with one who is not what
they took him to be. They had hid themselves after
his execution ; but the report having been spread of
his Sepulchre having been broken into, and the Body
taken away, they resolve to seek a safer refuge. The
enemies of Jesus have great power, and are doubtless
busy taking proceedings against those who have dared
EASTER SUNDAY I EVENING. 193
to break the seal of the Sepulchre. Perhaps all that
have had any connection with this Jesus will be
arraigned before the public tribunal.
Whilst thus conferring with each other on the sad
events of the last few days, a stranger overtakes them
and walks with them : — it is Jesus. So absorbed are
they in their own sorrow, that they do not recoo-nise
him. The same happens to us, when we give way to
feelings of human grief : — we lose sight of that Grod
who comes to cheer us by his presence along the
path of our exile. Jesus asks these two men the
cause of their sadness. They tell him with all sim-
plicity, and this King of glory, who has, this very
day, triumphed over Death, deigns to enter into a long
conversation with them, and explain to them, as they
walk along, the scriptural prophecies concerning the
humiliations, the death, and the glory of the Messias.
The two wayfarers are delighted with his words. As
they afterwards said to each other, their hearts
burned within them as this stranger went on telling
them the grand truths he did. Jesus feigns to bid
them farewell, but they will not hear of it : Sfajj
ivith us, they say to him, for the creniug comcth on,
and the day is far spent /^ They take him into
their house at Emmaus, constrain him to sit down to
table with them, and yet, strange to say, they have
not an idea who this heavenly instructor is, who has
solved all their doubts with such persuasive wisdom
and eloquence ! — Do not we resemble these two
Disciples, when we allow ourselves to be influenced
by human thoughts and feelings ? Jesus is near us,
he speaks to us, he instructs us, he consoles us ; and
yet, oftentimes, we are long before we recognise
him !
At length, Jesus makes himself known to our two
incredulous Disciples. They have placed him at the
^ St. Luke, xxiv. 29.
194 TASCHAI, IIME.
head of the table ; it is for him to break the bread.
He takes it into his divine hands, as he did at the
Last Supper ; and no sooner has he divided the bread,
and given them their portion, than their eyes are
opened, and they recognise their guest as Jesus, the
Bisen Jesus. They would throw themselves at his
feet, — but he has disappeared, leaving them mute
with surprise, and yet transported with exceeding joy.
It is the fifth Apparition. It is described by St. Luke,
and forms the G-ospel of to-morrow's Mass.
The two Disciples cannot wait : though so late in
the evening, they must hurry back to Jerusalem,
and tell the Apostles that their Master is living, that
they have seen him, and talked with him. They,
therefore, leave Emmaus, where they thought to pass
the night, and are soon back in the City they had
tremblingly fled from. They are soon with the
Apostles, — but they find them already aware of the
glad tidings, and fervent in their faith of the E-esur-
rection. Before they have time to open their lips,
the Apostles exclaim : The Lord hath truly risen ^ and
hath appeared to Simon /^ The two Disciples then
relate what has just happened to themselves.
Such was the conversation of the Apostles, — men
now unknown, but whose names are, in a short time
hence, to be published and loved throughout the
whole universe. The doors of the house, where the
little flock is assembled, are kept carefully closed, for
they are afraid of being discovered. The soldiers,
who had kept watch at the Sepulchre, went early
this morning to the Chief Priests, and told them what
had happened. They were, hereupon, bribed to
perjure themselves, and say that, whilst they were
asleep, the Disciples of Jesus came and took away
the Body. The Jewish authorities hereby hoped to
screen themselves from confusion ; but such a plot
) St. Luke, xxiv. 34,
EASTER SVNDAY I EVENING. 195
was likely to excite the people's indignation against
the Apostles, and these thought it necessary to take
precautions. Ten of them are now together in the
house ; for Thomas, who was present when the two
Disciples came in from Emmaus, had taken the
opportunity, afforded by the darkness of the hour, to
go forth into the City.
The Apostles, then, were speaking to one another
of the great events of this Day, when lo ! Jesus
stands before them, and yet the door has not been
opened. That well-known voice and figure and
face ! — oh yes, it is Jesus ! He speaks to them
with an accent of tenderest love, and says : Peace he
to you !^ What could theij say? This sudden
and mysterious visit robs them of self-possession.
They have no ideas yet of the qualities of a glorified
body ; and, though firmly believing in the mystery
of their Lord's E-esurrection, they are not quite sure
but that what they now behold is a phantom. Jesus
knows this. During the whole day he seems to
have been more anxious to show his love than pro-
claim his glory ; and therefore, he permits them to
touch him ; yea, in order to con^iuce them of the
reality of his divine Body, he asks them to give him
to eat, and he eats in their presence. This loving
familiarity of their Master makes them weep with
joy, and when Thomas returns to them, they express
their delight in these simple words : Wo have seen
the Lord ! - It was the sixth Apparition of Jesus on
the day of his llesurrection. It is related in the
Gospel of St. John, and is read in the Mass of Low
Sunday.
Be thou blessed and glorified, 0 Conqueror of
Death ! for that, on this day, thou didst six times
appear to thy creatures, so to content thy love, and
confirm our faith in thy Resurrection ! Be thou
I St. John, XX. 19. 2 ^id. XX. 25,
196 PASCHAL TIME.
blessed and glorified for having consoled thy afflicted
Mother by thy dear presence and caresses ! Be thou
blessed and glorified for having, with a single word
of thine, brought joy to Magdalene's heart ! Be thou
blessed and glorified for having gladdened the holy
Women, and permitted them to kiss thy sacred feet !
Be thou blessed and glorified for having, with thine
own lips, given Peter the assurance of his pardon,
and for having confirmed in him the gifts of Primacy,
by revealing to him, before all others, the fundamental
dogma of faith ! Be thou blessed and glorified for
having encouraged the drooping confidence of the two
Disciples of Emmaus, and for thy revealing thyself
to them ! Be thou blessed and glorified for having
visited thine Apostles, and removed all their doubts
by thy loving condescension ! And lastly, 0 Jesus !
be thou blessed and glorified for that, on this day,
thou hast so mercifully given us, by thy holy Church,
to share in the joy of thy holy Mother, of Magdalene
and her companions, of Peter, of the Disciples of
Emmaus, and of thine Apostles ! This year's Easter
is as full of reality and life and joy, yea, and of thy-
self, as was that whereon thou didst rise from the
grave. All times and seasons belong to thee : and
as the material world, has ever been supported by
thy power, so the spiritual lives by thy Mysteries.
Praise, then, and honour, and benediction, be to thee,
0 Jesus ! for thy Resurrection, which makes this
day the grandest and gladdest of the year !
Let us to-day celebrate the first of the six days of
the Creation, — namely, the Sunday when Light was
made, — made at the sovereign bidding of the Word
of Grod. This Word is the uncreated Light of the
Father, and he began his work of Creation by call-
ing into existence this material image of his own
EASTER SUNDAY : EVENING.
197
brightness. He himself calls the just, Children of
Light ; and sinners, ChUdren of Dar/iiiess. When
he took Flesh, and showed himself to men, he said to
them : I am the Light of (he world : he that follow eth
m€y icalketh not in darkness, bat shall have the Light of
life} And lastly, — to show us that there exists a
sacred harmony between the two orders of Nature and
Grace, he rose from the gloomy Sepulchre on that
same day whereon he had created that visible Light
which is to us the most precious of material blessings.
The G-othic Church of Spain thus expresses, in the
following beautiful Prayer of her Breviarv, the grati-
tude felt by man for the twofold favour granted to
us, by the Creator, on this ever blessed day.
CAPITULA.
0 God, to whom we owe
this the first of days, whereon
thou wouldst manifest to all
created things both the visible
light, and Him who is the
witness of eternal Light, that
on this one and the same day
there might rise the light of
the seasons and the Light of
souls : and which day, — being
the first of our Lord's creation,
and (by a heavenly calculated
revolution) the one chosen as
fittest for his Resurrection, —
both begins and ends the
mystery of the Paschal Solem-
nity : mercifully, O Lord, —
for now is the acceptable time,
the day of salvation, — merci-
fully look upon thy servants,
whom thou hast redeemed
from the spiritual bondage of
sin by the victoiy of our Lord's
Passion. Look upon them
Deus, cujus unum hunc
ex omnibus duximus diem,
in quo creatis rebus omni-
bus voluisti esse et prresen-
tis lucis indicem, et ?eterni
luminis testem, ut in eo
exsurgeret illuminatio tem-
porum, atque resurgeret il-
luminatio animarum : qui-
que Dominicae et operationis
primus, et rosurrectionis
idoneus revolutus in circulo,
et redactus in calculo, Pas-
chalis solemnitatis incipe-
ret mysterium, et conclu-
deret sacramentum ; respice
in hoc tempore acceptabili,
et in hac die salutis super
servos tuos, Domine, quos
redemisti de captivitate ne-
quitiae spirituali trophseo
Dominica? passionis : quos
Agui tui sanguine tinctos,
ne vastator laederet, liberas-
' St. John, viii. 12.
198
PASCHAL TIME.
ti ; esto nobis prsevius in
solitudine vitse hujus, quo
et in die calorem tentationis
nostrse quasi nubes prote-
gens obumbres, et in nocte
a tenebris peccatorum nos
quasi columna ignis inlu-
mines : ut, dum ades ad
salutem, perducas ad re-
quiem.
whom thou hast freed from
the destrojang Angel, by
sprinkling them with the
Blood of thy Lamb. Be unto
us our guide in the wilder-
ness of this life ; that, during
the day, thou mayest be to us
a cloud protecting and shadow-
ing us from the heat of tempta-
tion ; and, during the night, a
pillar of fire, enlightening us
amidst the darkness of sin.
Here save us, that so thou
mayest lead us to our rest.
We would fain close this glorious Solemnity by
delighting our readers with selections from the various
Liturgies in honour of our Risen Jesus ; but we have
already exceeded our usual limits, though we have
only said what was necessary to explain the Offices.
We therefore reserve these liturgical riches for the
days of our Octave, contenting ourselves, for to-day,
with a few stanzas from the Hymn used by the Greek
Church in her Morning Office for Easter Sunday.
HYMN.
[In Dominica Besurrectioms.)
Dies est Resurrectionis :
splendescamus populi. Pas-
cha Domini, Pascha : et-
enim ex morte ad vitam,
atque ox terra ad caelum
Christus Deus deduxit nos,
triumphale carmen canen-
tes.
Sensus emendemus, et
Christum inaccesso lumine
resurrectionis fulgentem vi-
debimus, et Salvete dicen-
tem perspicue audiemus,
triumphale carmen canen-
tes.
It is the Resurrection Day ;
let us be radiant with joy, 0
ye people ! It is the Pasch of
the Lord, the Passover : for
Christ our God has led us,
singing our song of triumph,
from death to life and from
earth to heaven.
Let us purify our senses,
and we shall see Christ reful-
gent in the inaccessible light
of his Resurrection. We, sing-
ing our song of triumph, shall
hear him saying to us : "All
hail!"
EASTER SUNDAY : EVENING.
199
Let the heavens worthily
rejoice, and let earth be in her
glory. Let the whole world,
visible and invisible, solemnise
the Feast ; for Christ, the
eternal Joy, hath risen.
Come, let us receive the new
drink, which strengthens us ;
it has not been miraculously
drawn from a barren rock, but
is a fount of immortalitj', flow-
ing from the Sepulchre of
Christ.
All things, — heaven, earth,
and what is beneath the earth,
— all are now filled with light ;
let ever J' creature, therefore,
solemnise Christ's Resurrec-
tion, whereby all are strength-
ened.
Yesterday, 0 Jesus I I was
buried together with thee : to-
day, I rise with thee. Yester-
day, I was crucified with thee ;
do thou, my Saviour, give me
U) share with thee in the glorj'
of thy kingdom.
David, the ancestor of Christ
our God, danced before the
figurative Ark : but we, the
holy people of God, — we who
witness the fulfilment of the
figures, — must rejoice in the
divine spirit that is within us,
for Christ has risen, as the
Omnipotent One.
Let us go at dawn of day,
and offer to our Lord the
myrrh of our hymns : we shall
see Him rise who is the Sun
of Justice, and gives life to all
creatures.
They, whom the fetters of
Limbo kept bound, saw thy
infinite mercy, O Jesus ! and,
with a joyful step, hastened to
Cceli digne Icetentur, ter-
raque glorietur : festum so-
lemniter agat mundus, visi-
bilis totus et invisibilis ; sur-
rexit enim Christus, Isetitia
aeterna.
Venite, potum in quo cor-
roboramur bibamus no-
vum, non ex infoecunda ru-
pe mirabiliter eductum ; et
immortalitatis fontem ex
Christi sepulchre manan-
tem.
Omnia lumine nunc re-
pleta sunt, caelum, terra et
inferni ; solemniter igitur
agat omnis creatura Christi
resurrectionem in qua fir-
matur.
Heri tecum, Christe, se-
peliebar ; hodie tecum re-
surgente surge : heri cru-
cifigebar tecum ; tu me con-
glorifica, Salvator, in regno
tuo.
Deiparens David coram
adumbrante area subsilie-
bat saltans ; nos vero, po-
pulus Dei sanctificatus, fi-
gurarum exitum videntes
in afflatu divino gaudea-
mus, quia surrexit Christus
tanquam omnipotens.
Yalde mane eamus, et pro
myrrha hj-mnum ott'era-
mus Domino ;• et Christum
videbimus, justitif© solem,
vitam cunctis reuascentom.
Infinitam misericordiam
tuam aspicientes illi quos
alligabant inferni vincula,
ad lucem loeto pede prope-
200
PASCHAL TIME.
rarunt, Christe, Paschati
plaudentes aeterno.
Adeamus lampadarii ad
Christum, ex sepulcliro pro-
gredientem tanquam spon-
sum ; et in festivis agmini-
bus Pasclia Dei salutare
concelebremus.
meet the Light, thus celebrat-
ing the eternal Pasch.
Let us, with lamps in our
hands, go forth to meet Christ,
coming forth, as a Bridegroom,
from his Sepulchre. Let us,
in festive groups, celebrate to-
gether the saving Pasch of
God.
EASTER MONDAY. 201
EASTER MONDAY.
This is the day which the Hsec dies quam fecit Do-
Lord hath made : let us be minus : exsultemus et laete-
glad and rejoice therein. mur in ea.
So ample and so profound, is the Mystery of the
glorious Pasch, that an entire week may well be
spent in its meditation. Yesterday, we limited our-
selves to our Redeemer's rising from the Tomb, and
showing himself, in six different Apparitions, to them
that were dear to bim. We will continue to give
him the adoration, gratitude and love, which are so
justly due to him for the Triumph, which is both
his and ours : but it also behoves us respectfully to
study the lessons conveyed by the Resurrection of
our Divine Master, that thus the light of the great
Mystery may the more plentifully shine upon us, and
our joy be greater.
And first of all, what is the Pasch ? The Scrip-
tures tell us, that it is the immolation of the Lamb.
To understand the Pasch, we must first understand
the mystery of the Lamb. From the earliest ages of
the Christian Church, we find the Lamb represented,
in the mosaics and frescoes of the Basilicas, as the
symbol of Christ's sacrifice and triumph. Its attitude
of sweet meekness expressed the love, wherewith our
Jesus shed his Blood for us ; but it was put standing
on a green hill, with the four rivers of Paradise flow-
ing from beneath its feet, signifying the four Gospels
wHch have made known the glory of his Name
throughout the earth. At a later period, the Lamb
was represented holding a cross, to which was
202 PASCHAL TIME.
attached a banner : and this is the form in which we
now have the symbol of the Lamb of God.
Ever since sin entered the world, man has need of
the Lamb. Without the Lamb, he never could have
inherited heaven, but would have been, for all eter-
nity, an object of Grod's just anger. In the very
beginning of the world, the just Abel drew down upon
himself the mercy of Grod, by oifering on a sod-made
altar, the fairest Lamb of his flock : he himself was
sacrificed, as a Lamb, by the murderous hand of his
brother, and thus became a type of our Divine Lamb,
Jesus, who was slain by his own Israelite Brethren.
When Abraham ascended the mountain to make the
sacrifice commanded him by G-od, he immolated on
the Altar, prepared for Isaac, the ram he found
amidst the thorns. Later on, Grod spoke to Moses,
and revealed to him the Pasch : it consisted of a Lamb
that was to be slain and eaten. A few days back, we
had read to us the passage from the Book of Exodus,
where God gives this rite to his people. The Paschal
Lamb was to be without blemish ; its blood was to be
sprinkled as a protection against the destroying
Angel, and its flesh was to be eaten. This was the
first Pasch. It was most expressive as a figure, but
void of reality. For fifteen hundred years was it
celebrated by God's people, and the spiritual-minded
among the Jews knew it to be the type of a future
Lamb.
In the age of the great Prophets, Isaias prayed
God to fulfil the promise he made at the beginning
of the world. We united in this his sublime and
inspired prayer, when, during Advent, the Church
read to us his magnificent prophecies. How fervently
did we not repeat those words : Scud forth, 0 Lord,
the Lauih, thr ruler of the earth /^ This Lamb was
the long-expected Messias ; and we said to ourselves ;
' is. xvi. 1.
EASTER MONDAY. 203
Oh ! what a Pasch will that not be, wherein such a
Lamb is to be victim I What a Feast, wherein He
is to be the food of the feasters I
When the fulness of time came and God sent his
Son^ upon our earth, this Word made Flesh, after
thirty years of hidden life, manifested himself to
men. He came to the river Jordan, where John was
baptising. No sooner did the holy Baptist see him,
than he said to his disciples : Behold the Lamb of
God ! Behold him who taketh away the sin of the
world ! ^ By these words, the saintly Precursor pro-
claimed the Pasch ; for it was virtually telling men,
that the earth then possessed the true Lamb, the
Lamb of G-od, of whom it had been in expectation
four thousand years. Yes, the Lamb — who was fairer
than the one offered by Abel, richer in mystery than
the one slain by Abraham on the Mount, and more
spotless than the one the Israelites were commanded
to sacrifice in Egypt, — had come. He was the Lamb
so earnestly prayed for by Isaias : — the Lamb sent
by God himself : — in a word, the Lamb of God. A
few years would pass, and then the immolation.
But three days ago, and we assisted at his sacrifice ;
we witnessed the meek patience wherewith he suffered
his executioners to slay him ; we have been laved
with his precious Blood, and it has cleansed us from
all our sins.
The shedding of this redeeming Blood was needed
for our Pasch. Unless we had been marked with it,
we could not have escaped the sword of the destroy-
ing Angel. It has made us partake of the purity of
the God who so generously shed it for us. Our
Neophytes have risen wliiter than snow from the
Font, wherein that Blood was mingled. Poor sinners,
that had lost the innocence received in their Baptism,
have regained their treasure, because the divine
' Gal. iv. 4. - St. John. i. 29.
204 PASCHAL TIME.
energy of that Blood has been applied to their souls.
The whole assembly of the Faithful is clad in the
nuptial garment, rich and fair beyond measure, for
it has been ))iade white in the Blood of the Lainh}
But why this festive garment ? It is because we
are invited to a great banquet : and here, again, we
find our Lamb. He himself is the food of the happy
guests, and the banquet is the Pasch. The great
Apostle, St. Andrew, when confessing the name of
Christ before the pagan Proconsul ^geas, spoke
these sublime words : "I daily offer upon the altar
the spotless Lamb, of whose Flesh the whole multi-
tude of the Faithful eat : the Lamb, that is sacrificed,
remains whole and living." Yesterday, this banquet
was celebrated throughout the entire universe : it
is kept up during all these days, and by it we contract
a close union with the Lamb, who incorporates himself
with us by the divine food he gives us.
Nor does the mystery of the Lamb end here.
Isaias besought Grod to ^end the Lamb, who was to
be the Ruler of the earth. He comes, therefore, not
only that he may be sacrificed, not only that he may
feed us with his sacred flesh, but likewise that he
tnay command the earth and be King. Here, again,
is our Pasch. The Pasch is the announcement of the
reign of the Lamb. The citizens of heaven thus pro-
claim it : Behold tlie Lion of the tribe of Jiida, the
root of David hath conquered !^ But, if he be the
Lion, how is he the Lamb h Let us be attentive to the
mystery. Out of love for man, who needed redemp-
tion, and a heavenly food that would invigorate, Jesus
deigned to be as a Lamb : but he had, moreover, to
triumph over his own and our enemies ; he had to
reign, for all power was given to Jdm in heaven and
in earth? In this his triumph and power, he is a
Lion ; nothing can resist him ; his victory is cele-
^ Apoc. vii. 14. - Ibid, v, 5. ^ St. Matth. xxviii. 18.
EASTEK MONDAY. 205
brated, this day, throughout the whole world. Listen
to the great Deacon of Edessa, St. Ephrem : "At the
" twelfth hour, he was taken down from the Cross as
" a Lion that slept." ^ Yea, verily, our Lion slept ;
for his rest in the Sepulchre "was more like sleep
"than death," as St. Leo remarks.- Was not this the
fulfilment of Jacob's dying prophecy ? This Patriarch,
speaking of the Messias that was to be born of his
race, said : Juda is a /ion's ichelp. To the prey, my
son, thou art gone up ! Resting thou hast couched
as a Lion. Who whall rouse him /^ He has roused
himself, by his own power. He has risen ; a Lamb
for us, a Lion for his enemies ; thus uniting, in his
person, gentleness and power. This completes the
mystery of our Pasch : — a Lamb, triumphant, obeyed,
adored. Let us pay him the homage so justly due.
Until we be permitted to join, in heaven, with the
millions of Angels and the Four-and-twenty Elders,
let us repeat, here on earth, the hymn they are for
ever singing : The Lamb tliat was slain, is worthy
to receive power, and divinity, and wisdom, and strength,
and honour, and glory, and benediction /"*
Formerly, the whole of this week was kept as a
Feast, with the obligation of resting from servile
work. The edict, published by Theodosiiis, in 389,
forbidding all law proceedings during tlie same
period, was supplementary to this liturgical law,
which we find mentioned in the Sermons of Saint
Augustine,^ and in the Homilies of St. John Chry-
sostom. The second of these two holy Fathers thus
speaks to the newly baptised : *' You are enjoying a
' In Sanctatn Parascertu, et in Crucem it Latronem.
• First Scmion, On the Jienurrection.
' Gen. xlix. 9. ^ Apoc. v. 12.
^ On Our Lord^s Sermon on the Mount.
206 PASCHAL TIME.
" daily instruction during these seven days. We put
" before you a spiritual banquet, that thus we may
" teach you how to arm yourselves and fight against
" the devil, who is now preparing to attack you
" more violently than ever, for the greater is the gift
" you have received, the greater will be the combat
" you must go through to preserve it. * * * *
" During these following seven days, you have the
*' word of Grod preached to you, that you may go
" forth well prepared to fight with your enemies.
" Moreover, you know it is usual to keep up a nuptial
" feast for seven days : you are now celebrating a
" spiritual marriage, and therefore we have established
" the custom of a seven days' solemnity."^
So fervently did the Faithful of those times ap-
preciate and love the Liturgy, so lively was the
interest they took in the newly made children
of holy Mother Church, — that they joyfully went
through the whole of the Services of this Week.
Their hearts were filled with the joy of the Resurrec-
tion, and they thought it but right to devote their
whole time to its celebration. Councils laid down
Canons, changing the pious custom into a formal
law. The Council of Macon thus words its decree :
" It behoves us all to fervently celebrate the feast of
" the Pasch, in which our great High Priest was slain
" for our sins, and honour it by carefully observing
" all it prescribes. Let no one, therefore, do any servile
" work during these six days," (which followed tlie
Sunday,) "but let all come together to sing the
" Easter Hymns, and assist at the daily Sacrifice, and
" praise our Creator and Redeemer in the evening,
" morning, and mid-day."- The Councils of Mayence
(813) and Meaux (845) lay down similar rules. We
find the same prescribed in Spain, in the 7th century,
by the edicts of Kings lieceswind and Wamba. The
^ Homil. V. de Resurrectione, ^ Canon II, — Labbe, t. v.
EASIER MONDAY. 207
Greek Churcli renewed them in her Council hi Trullo:
Charlemagne, Louis the Good, and Charles the Bald,
sanctioned them in their Capitularia ; and the Can-
onists of the 11th and 12th centuries, (Burchard, St.
Ivo of Chartres, Gratian,) tell us they were in force in
their time. Finally, Pope Gregory the Ninth inserted
them in one of his Decretals, in the i'3th century.
But their observance had then fallen into desuetude,
at least in many places. The Council held at Con-
stance, in 1094, reduced the solemnity of Easter to
the Monday and Tuesday. The two great Liturgists,
John Belethus in the 12th, and Durandus in the
13th century, inform us that, in their times, this
was the practice in France. It gradually became the
discipline of the whole of the Western Church, and
continued to be so, until relaxation crept still further
on, and a dispensation was obtained, by some countries,
first for the Tuesday, and finally for the Monday.
In order to the full understanding of the Liturgy
of the whole Easter Octave, (Low Sunday included,)
we must remember that the Neophytes were formerly
present, vested in their White Garments, at the Mass
and iJivine Ofiice of each day. Allusions to their
Baptism are continually being made in the Chants
and Lessons of the entire Week.
At Home, the Station for to-day is in the Basilica of
Saint Peter. On Saturday, the Catechumens received
the Sacrament of Regeneration in the Lateran Basi-
lica of our Saviour; yesterday, they celebrated the
Eesurreetion in the magnificent Church of Saint Mary ;
it is just, that they should come, on this third day,
to pay their grateful devotions to Peter, on whom
Christ has built his whole Church. Jesus, our Sa-
viour,— Mary, Mother of God and men, — Peter, the
visible Head of Christ's mystical Body, — these are
the three divine manifestations whereby we first
entered, and have maintained our place in the Chris*
tian Church.
208 PASCHAL TIME.
MASS.
The Introit, which is taken from the Book of
Exodus, is addressed to the Church's new-born chil-
dren. It reminds them of the milk and honey which
were given to them on the night of Saturday last,
after they had received Holy Communion. They are
true Israelites, brought into the Promised Land.
Let them, therefore, praise the Lord, who has chosen
them from the pagan world, that he might make
them his favoured people.
INTROIT.
Introduxit vos Dominus The Lord hath brought you
in terrain fluentem lac et into a laud flowing with milk
mel, alleluia : et ut lex Do- and honej', alleluia : let then
mini semper sit in ore ves- the law of the Lord be ever in
tro. Alleluia, alleluia. your mouth. Alleluia, alle-
luia.
Fs, Confitemini Domino Ps. Praise the Lord, and
et invocate Nomen ejus : call upon his Name : publish
annuntiate inter gentes his works among the Gentiles,
opera ejus. f. Gloria Pa- y. Glory, &c. The Lord, &c.
tri. Introduxit.
At the sight of Jesus, her Spouse, now freed from
the bonds of death, Holy Church prays God, that we,
the members of this divine Head, may come to that
perfect liberty of which the Resurrection is the type.
Our long slavery to sin should have taught us the
worth of that liberty of the children of God, which
our Pasch has restored to us.
COLLECT.
Deus, qui solemnitate pas- 0 God, who by the mystery
chali, mundo remedia con- of the Paschal solemnity, hast
tulisti : populum tuum bestowed remedies on the
qusesumus, coulesti dono world ; continue, we beseech
prosequere ; ut et jDcrfectam thee, thy heavenly blessings
Ubertatem cousequi merea- on thy people, that they may
EASTER MONDAY: MASS.
209
deserve to obtain perfect
liberty, and advance towards
eternal life. Through, &c.
tur, et ad vitam proficiat
sempiternam. Per Domi-
num.
EPISTLE.
Lesson from the Acts of the
Apostles.
Ch. X.
In those days : Peter stand-
ing up in the midst of the
people, said : You know the
word that hath been published
through all Judea : for it be-
gan from Galilee, after the
baptism which John preached,
Jesus of Nazareth : how God
anointed him with the Holy
Ghost, and with power, who
went about doing good, and
heaHng all that were oppressed
by the devil, for God was with
him. And we are \\atnesses
of all things that he did in the
land of the Jews and in Jeru-
salem, whom they killed hang-
ing him upon a tree. Hira
God raised up the third day,
and gave him to be made
manifest. Not to all the
people, but to witnesses pre-
ordained by God, even to us,
who did eat and drink with
him after he rose again from
the dead. And he commanded
us to preach to the people,
and to testify that it is he
who was appointed by God
to be judge of the living and
of the dead. To him all the
prophets give testimony, that
through his name all receive
remission of sins, who believe
in him.
Lectio Actuum Apostolo-
rum.
Cap. X.
In diebus illis : Stans
Petrus in medio plebis,
dixit: Yiri fratres, vos sci-
tis quod factum est verbum
per universam Judaeam :
incipiens enim a Galilsea
post baptismum, quod pree-
dicavit Joannes, Jesum a
Nazareth : quomodo unxit
eum Deus Spiritu Sancto,
et virtute, qui pertransiit
benefaciendo, et sanando
omnes oppresses a diabolo,
quoniam Deus erat cum illo.
Et nos testes sumus om-
nium, quae fecit in regione
Judaeorum et Jerusalem,
quem occiderunt suspenden-
tes in ligno. Hunc Deus
suscitavit tertia die, et dedit
eum manifestum fieri, non
omni populo, sed testibus
praeordinatis a Deo : nobis,
qui manducavimus et bibi-
mus cum illo, postquam re-
surrexit a raortuis. Et pne-
cepit nobis praedicare po-
pulo, et testificari, quia ipse
est, qui constitutus est a Deo
judex \4vorum et mortuo-
rum. Huic omnes Prophet®
testimonium perhibent, re-
missionem peccatorum acci-
pere per nomen ejus omnes,
qui credunt in eum.
210 PASCHAL TIME.
St. Peter spoke these words to Cornelius, the Cen-
turion, and to the household and friends of this
Grentile, who had called them together to receive the
Apostle whom God had sent to him. He had come
to prepare them for Baptism, and thus make them
the first-fruits of the Gentile- world, for, up to this
time, the Gospel had been preached only to the
Jews. Let us take notice how it is St. Peter, and not
any other of the Apostles, who throws open to us
Gentiles the door of the Church, which Christ had
built upon him, as upon the ' impregnable Rock.
This passage from the Acts of the Apostles is an
appropriate Lesson for this day, whose station is in
the Basilica of St. Peter : it is read near the Con-
fession of the great Apostle, and in presence of the
Neophytes, who have been converted from the wor-
ship of false gods to the true Faith. Let us observe,
too, the method used by the Apostle in the conver-
sion of Cornelius and the other Gentiles. He begins
by speaking to them concerning Jesus. He tells
them of the miracles he wrought ; then, having re-
lated how he died the ignominious death of the
Cross, he insists on the fact of the Resurrection as
the sure guarantee of his being truly God. He then
instructs them on the mission of the Apostles, whose
testimony must be received, — a testimony which
carries persuasion with it, seeing it was most disin-
terested, and availed them nothing save persecution.
He, therefore, who believes in the Son of God made
Flesh, who went about doing good, working all
kinds of miracles ; who died upon the Cross, rose
again from the dead, and intrusted to certain men,
chosen by himself, the mission of continuing on earth
the ministry he had begun ; — he who confesses all
this, is worthy to receive, by holy Baptism, the ve-
misfiion of hk sins. Such is the happy lot of Corne-
lius and his companions ; such has been that of
our Neophytes,
EASTER MONDAY : MASS.
211
Then is sung the Gradual, which repeats the ex-
pression of Paschal joy. The Verse, however, is
different from yesterday's, and will vary every day
till Friday. The Alleluia Verse describes the Angel
coming down from heaven, that he may open the
empty Sepulchre, and manifest the self-gained victory
of the Redeemer.
GRADUAL.
This is the day which the
Lord hath made : Let us be
glad and rejoice therein.
^ . Let Israel now say, that
the Lord is good : that his
mercy endureth for ever.
Alleluia, alleluia.
f. An Angel of the Lord
descended from heaven ; and
coming, he rolled back the
stone, and sat upon it.
Haec dies, quam fecit Do-
minus : exsultemus, et Isete-
mur in ea.
y. Dicat nunc Israel, quo -
niam bonus : quoniam in
sseculum misericordia ejus.
Alleluia, alleluia.
y. Angelus Domini des-
cendit de coelo : et accedens
revolvit lapidem, et sedebat
super eum.
The Sequence, Victimce Paschali, page 164.
GOSPEL.
Sequel of the holy Gospel
according to Li:ie.
Ch. XXIV.
At that time : Two of the
disciples of Jesus went the
same day to a town which was
sixty furlongs from Jerusalem,
named Emmaus. And they
talked together of all these
things which had happened.
And it came to pass, that while
they talked and reasoned with
themselves, Jesus himself also
drawing near, went with them.
But their eyes were hold that
Sequentia sancti Evangelii
secundum. Lucam.
Cap. XXIV.
In illo tempore : Duo ex
discipulis Jesu ibant ipsa
die in castellum, quod erat in
spatio stadiorum sexaginta
ab Jerusalem, nomine Em-
maiis. Et ipse loquebantur
ad invicem de his omnibus,
quae acciderant. Et factum
est, dum fabularentur, et se-
cum qusererent : et ipse Je-
sus appropinquans ibat cum
ilUs : oculi autem illorum
212
PASCHAI. TIME.
tenebantur ne eum agnosce-
rent. Et ait ad illos : Qui
sunt hi sermones, quos con-
fertis ad invicein ambulan-
tes, et estis tristes ? Et re-
spondens unus, cui nomen
Cleophas, dixit ei : Tu sobis
peregrinus es in Jerusalem,
et non cognovisti quee facta
sunt in ilia bis diebus ? Qui-
bus ille dixit : Quse? Etdix-
erunt : De Jesu Nazareno,
qui fuit vir propbeta, potens
in opere, et sermone coram
Deo et omni populo : et quo-
modo eum tradiderunt sum-
mi sacerdotes, et principes
nostri in damnationem mor-
tis, et crucifixerunt eum. Nos
autem sperabamus quia ip-
se esset redempturus Israel :
et nunc super bsec omnia,
tertia dies est bodie quod
bsec facta sunt. Sed et muH-
eres qu^edam ex nostris ter-
ruerunt nos, quoe ante lucem
fuerunt ad monumentum,
et non invento corpore ejus,
venerunt, dicentes se etiam
visionem Angelorum vidis-
se, qui dicunt eum vivere.
Et abierunt quidam ex nos-
tris ad monumentum, et ita
invenerunt, sicut mulieres
dixerunt ; ipsum vero non
invenerunt. Et ipse dixit ad
eos : O stulti, et tardi corde
ad credendum in omnibus,
qua3 locuti sunt Propbeta3 !
Nonne baec oportuit j^ati
Christum, et ita intrare in
gloriam suam ? Et incipiens
aMoyse, et omnibus Prophe-
tis, interpretabatur illis in
omnibus Scripturis, quae de
ipso erant. Et appropinqua-
they should not know him.
And he said to them : What
are these discourses that you
hold one with another as you
walk, and are sad ? And the
one of them whose name was
Cleophas, answering, said to
him : Art thou only a stranger
in Jerusalem, and hast not
known the things that have
been done there in these days ?
To whom he said : What
things ? And they said : Con-
cerning Jesus of Nazareth,
who was a prophet, mighty in
work and word before God
and all the people. And how
our chief priests and j^rinces
delivered him to be condemned
to death, and crucified him.
But we hoped that it was he
that should have redeemed
Israel : and now besides all
this, to-day is the third day
since these things were done.
Yea and certain women also of
our company, affrighted us,
who before it was light were
at the sepulchre. And not
finding his body, came, saying
that they had also seen a
vision of Angels, who say that
he is alive. And some of our
people went to the sepulchre :
and found it so as the women
had said, but him they found
not. Then he said to them :
O foolish, and slow of heart to
believe in all things which the
prophets have spoken. Ought
not Christ to have suffered
these things, and so to enter
into his glory ? And begin-
ning at Moses and all the
prophets, he expounded to
them in all the Scriptures
EASTER MONDAY : MASS.
213
the things that were coucern-
ing him. And they drew nigh
to the town whither they were
foing : and he made as though
e would go farther. But they
constrained him, saying : Stay
with us, because it is towards
evening, and the day is now fai-
spent. And he went in with
them. And it came to pass,
whilst he was at table with
them, he took bread ; and bles-
sed, and brake, and gave to
them. And their eyes were
opened, and they knew him :
and he vanished out of their
sight. And they said one to
the other : was not our heart
burning within us, whilst he
spoke in the way, and opened
to us the scriptures ? And
rising up the same hour they
went back to Jerusalem : and
they found the eleven gathered
together, and those that were
with them, Saying, the Lord
is risen indeed, and hath ap-
peared to Simon. And they
told what things were done in
the way : and how they knew
him in the breaking of bread.
verunt castello, quo ibant :
et ipse se finxit longius ire.
Et coegerunt ilium, dicen-
tes : Mane nobiscum, quo-
niam advesperascit, et incli-
nata est jam dies. Etintravit
cum illis. Et factum est,
dum recumberet cum eis,
accepit panem, et benedixit,
ac fregit, et porrigebat illis.
Et aperti sunt oculi eorum,
et cognoverunt eum : et ipse
evanuit ex oculis eorum. Et
dixerunt ad invicem : Non-
ne cor nostrum ardens erat
in nobis, dum loqueretur
in via et aperiret nobis Scrip-
turas ? Et surgentes eadem
hora regressi sunt in Jeru-
salem : et invenerunt con-
gregates undecim, et eos,
qui cum illos erant, dicentes :
Quod surrexit Dominus ve-
ra, et apparuit Simoni. Et
ipsi narrabant quce gesta
erant in via : et quomodo
cognoverunt eum in frac-
tiono panis.
Let us attentively consider these three travellers
on the road to Emmaus, and go with them in spirit
and affection. Two of them are frail men, like our-
selves, who are afraid of suffering ; the Cross has
disconcerted them ; they cannot persevere in the faith,
unless they find it brings them glory and success. 0
fool ink and slow of heart ! says the third : ought not
Christ to have suffered and so to enter into his
(jlori/ ? Hitherto, we ourselves have been like these
two disciples. Our sentiments ha\ e been more those
of the Jew than of the Christian. Hence our love of
214 PASCHAL TIME.
earthly things, which has made us heedless of such as
are heavenly, and thereby exposed us to sin. We
cannot, for the time to come, be thus minded. The
glorious E-esurrection of our Jesus eloquently teaches
us how to look upon the crosses sent us by Gfod.
However great may be our future trials, we are not
likely to be nailed to a cross, between two thieves. It
is what the Son of God had to undergo : but, did the
sufferings of the Friday mar the kingly splendour of
the Sunday's triumph ? Nay, is not his presnt glory
redoubled by his past humiliations ?
Therefore, let us not be cowards when our time for
sacrifice comes : let us think of the eternal reward that
is to follow. These two disciples did not know that
it was Jesus who was speaking to them ; and yet,
he no sooner explains to them the plan of God's
wisdom and goodness, than they understand the
mystery of suffering. Their hearts burn icithin them
at hearing him explain how the Cross leads to the
Crown; and had he not held their eyes that they should
not know him^ they would have discovered from his
words, that their instructor was Jesus. So will it be
with us, if we will allow him to speak to us. We
shall understand how the disciple is not above the
Master} Let us, this Easter, delight in gazing at the
resplendent glory of our Risen Lord, and we shall
exclaim with the Apostle : No ! the sufferings of this
time are not ivorthy to be compared ivith the glory to
come, that shall be revealed in us?
Now that the efforts made by the Christian for his
conversion, are being recompensed with the honour
of approaching the holy Banquet, clothed in the
nuptial-garment, — there is another consideration that
forces itself upon our attention, from the reading of
to-day's Gospel. It was during the breaking of the
bread that the eyes of the two disciples were opened
1 St. Matth. X. 24. '^ Rom. viii. 18.
I
EASTEK MONDAY : MASS?. 215
to recognise their Master. The sacred Food which
we receive, and whose w^hole virtue comes from the
word of Christ, gives light to our souls, and enables
them to see what before was hidden. Yes, this is the
effect produced in us by the divine mystery of our
Pasch, provided we be of the number of those who are
thus described by the pious author of the FoUotcing of
Christ : ^*'They truly know their Lord in the breaking
" of Bread, whose heart burneth so mightily within
*' them, from Jesus' walking with them." ^ Let us,
therefore, give ourselves unreservedly to our Risen
Jesus. We belong to him now more than ever, not
only because of his having died^ but also for his
having rkcn^ for us. Let us imitate the disciples of
Emmaus, and, like them, become faithful, joyful, and
eager to show forth, by our conduct, that neicness of
life of which the Apostle speaks,^ and which we owe
to ourselves, seeing that Christ has so loved us, as to
wish his own Resurrection to be ours also.
The reason of the Church's choosing this Gospel
for to-day, is because the Station is held in the
Basilica of St. Peter. St. Luke here tells us, that
the two disciples found the Apostles already made
cognizant of the Resurrection of their Master : He
hath, said they, appeared to Simon ! We spoke
yesterday of the favour thus shown to the Prince of
the Apostles, and which the Roman Church so justly
commemorates in to-day's Office.
The Offertory consists of a text from the holy
Gospel, referring to the circumstances of our Lord's
Resurrection.
OFFERTORY.
All Angol of tho Lord caino Angelas Domini doscon-
down from heaven, and said dit do coelo, et dixit niu-
* Book iv. ch. xiv. ' Rom. vi. 4.
216 PASCHAL TIME.
lieribiis : Querri quaeritis, to the women : He -whom you
surrexit sicut dixit, alleluia, seek, is risen, as he told you,
alleluia.
In the Secret, the Church prays that the Paschal
Sacrament may be to her children a food nourishing
them to immortality, and may unite them, as mem-
bers, to their divine Head, not only for time, but even
for eternity.
SECRET.
Suscipe, qusesumus Do- Eeceive, 0 Lord, we be-
mine, preces populi tui cum seech thee, the prayers of thy
oblationibus hostiarum : ut people, together with the of-
paschalibus initiata mys- ferings of these hosts : that
teriis, ad seternitatis nobis what is consecrated by these
medelam, te operante, pro- Paschal mysteries, may, by
ficiant. Per Dominum. the help of thy grace, avail us
to eternal life. Through, &c.
During the Communion, the Church reminds the
Faithful of the visit paid by the Saviour, after his
Resurrection, to St. Peter. The faith of the Resur-
rection is the faith of Peter, and the faith of Peter
is the foundation of the Church, and the bond of
Catholic unity.
COMMUNION.
Surrexit Dominus, et ap- The Lord hath risen, and
paruit Petro, alleluia. appeared to Peter, alleluia.
In the Postcommunion, the Church again prays
that her children, who have been fellow-guests at the
feast of the Lamb, may have that spirit of concord
which should reign amidst the members of one and
the same family, whose union has been again
cemented by this year's Pasch.
POSTCOMMUNION.
Spiritum nobis, Domine, Pour forth on us, O Lord,
tua3 charitatis infundo : ut the spirit of thy love ; that
quos sacramentis paschali- those whom thou hast filled
EASTER MONDAY .* VESPERS. 217
with the Paschal Sacrament, bus satiasti, tua facias pie-
may, by thy goodness, live in tate Concordes. Per Domi-
perfect concord. Through, «S:c. num.
YESPEES.
The Vespers are the same as yesterday, with the
exception of the Magnificat- A ntiphon and the Col-
lect.
ANTiPHON OF THE Mciguificat.
Ant. A\Tiat are these dis- Axt. Qui sunt hi sermo-
courses that ye hold one with nes quos confertis ad invi-
another, and are sad r Alleluia, cem ambulantes et estis tris-
tes ? Alleluia.
LET US PRAY. OREMUS.
O God, who by the mystery Deus, qui solemnitate pas-
of the Paschal solemnit^^ hast ehali, mundo remedia con-
bestowed remedies on the tulisti : populum tuum
world ; continue, we beseech quaesumus, coelesti dono
thee, thy heavenly blessings prosequere ; ut et perfectam
on thy people, that they may libertatem consequi merea-
deserve to obtain perfect li- tur : et ad yitam proficiat
berty, and advance towards sempiternam. Per Domi-
etemal life. Through, <fcc. num.
Let us glorify the Son of God for his having, on
this the second day of the Creation, made the firma-
ment, and divided the waters that were under from
those that were above it. The Holy Fathers have, in
commenting these mysterious words, preferred the
spiritual to the material sense. Here we recognise
the powerful hand of God, who strengthened his
work, and established an equilibrium between those
elements which lay confounded together in chaos.
The Mozarabic Liturgy gives us the following beau-
tiful Prayer, wherewith to praise our Creator in this
portion of his work.
218
PASCHAL TIME.
CAPITULA.
Christe Deus noster, qui
secundo die firmamentum
formans, quasi solidamen-
tum Scripturarum in Eccle-
sia prseparas, quo coelestes
populos Angelorum ab in-
firmitate inferior um homi-
num, quasi aquas ab aquis,
discernere voluisti : quique
duo testamenta constituens,
figuram veteris sacrificii per
testamentum novum immo-
lation e tui corporis comple-
visti ; da nobis, ut inteUec-
tu prudentisD angelicis Po-
testatibus, quasi aquis supe-
rioribus sociemur, et sem-
per ad superna tendamus i
qualiter ita solidamentum
utriusque legis in corde nos-
tro prsepolleat, ut resurrec-
tionis tuse potentia ad gau-
dia nos pertrahat infinita.
0 Christ, our God, who, by-
creating the firmament on the
second day, didst prefigure
the solidity of the Scriptures
on which rests thy Church ;
and who, by separation of the
waters from the waters, didst
designate the separation of the
heavenly choirs of Angels from
the weak and inferior creation,
— man : 0 thou, the Author
of the two Testaments, who
didst fulfil the figure of the
ancient sacrifice by the new
covenant of the immolation of
thy Body : grant, that by
understanding and wisdom,
we may be associated to the
angelic Powers, as to the
Waters that are above us, and
may ever tend to heavenly
things. May the solidity of
the two Laws be so fixed in
our hearts, that the power of
thy Resurrection may lead us
to infinite joy.
Let us close the day with two Prefaces on the
mystery of the Resurrection. The first is the one
used, by the Ambrosian Liturgy, on Easter Sunday.
PREFACE.
Vere quia dignum et jus-
tum est, sequum et salutare,
nos tibi, sancte Deus omni-
potens, gratias agere, nos
devotas laudes roferre. Pater
inclyte, omnium Auctor et
Conditor. Quia, cum Domi-
nus esset majestatis Christus
Jesus Filius tuus, ob libera-
tionom humaui generis cru-
It is truly meet and just,
right and available to salva-
tion, that wo should give
thanks and devout praise to
thee, O holy and Almighty
God, adorable Father, Author
and Creator of all things I for
that Christ Jesus, thy Son,
through the Lord of majesty,
did doiirn to suffer the Cross
EASTER MONDAY.
219
for the redemption of man-
kind. It was this that Abra-
ham, so manj^ ages past, pre-
figured in his son ; it was this
that the Mosaic people typified
by the immolation of a spot-
less lamb. This is he of whom
sang the holy Prophets, who
was to bear upon him the sins
of all men, and wipe away
their crimes. This is the
Pasch, ennobled by the Blood
of Christ, which makes the
Faithful exult with special
devotion. O mystery full of
ice ! 0 ineffable mystery of
God's munificence I 0 ever to
bo honoured Feast of feasts I
whereon Christ gave himself
to men that they might slay
him, and this that he might
ransom slaves. O truly bles-
sed Death, which loosed the
bonds of death I Now let the
prince of hell feel that he is
crushed ; now let us, who have
been snatched from the abyss,
rejoice that we have been ex-
alted to the kingdom of
heaven.
cem subire dignatus est.
Quem dudum Abraham
prEefigurabat in filio, turba
mosaica immaculati agni
immolatione signabat. Ipse
est enim, quem sacra tuba
cecinerat Prophetarum : qui
omnium peccata portaret,
aboleret et crimina. Hoc est
illud Pascha, Christi nobili-
tatum cruore, in quo fidelis
populus praecipua devotione
exsultat. 0 mysterium gra-
tia plenum ! 0 ineffabile di-
vini muneris sacramentum I
O solemnitatum omnium
honoranda solemnitas I In
qua, ut servos redimeret,
mortalibus se praebuit occi-
dendum. Quam utique bea-
ta mors, quae mortis nodos
resolvit I Jam nunc sen-
tiat se tartareus Princeps at-
tritum : et nos de profundi
labe educti ad cceleste Eeg-
num conscendisse gratule-
mur.
The following Preface is the one used by the
ancient Church of Graul, in celebrating the mystery
of our Paschal Lamb.
IMMOLATION.
It is right and just, that we
give thanks to thee, O Al-
mighty and Eternal God,
through Jesus Christ thy Son,
our Lord ; by whom thou
gavest life to mankind, and
wouldst have thy servants
Moses and Aaron celebrate
the Pasch by the sacrifice of a
Dignum et justum est,
nos tibi gratias agere, om-
nipotens sempiterne Deus,
per Jesum Christum Filium
tuum Dominum nostrum.
Per quem humanum genus
vivificans, Pascha etiam per
Moyseu ot Aaron famulos
tuos Agni immolatione jus-
220
PASCHAL TIME.
sisti celebrari : consequen-
tibus temporibus nsque ad
adventum Domini nostri Je-
su Christi (qui sicut agnus
ad victimam ductus est) eam-
dem consuetudinem in me-
moriam observare praecepis-
ti. Ipse est Agnus immacu -
latus, qui prioris populi pri-
ma Pascha in ^gypto f uerat
immolatus. Ipse est aries in
verticem mentis excelsi de
vepreprolatus, sacrificiodes-
tinatus. Ipse est vitulus sa-
ginatus, qui in tabernaculo
patris nostri Abrabee propter
bospites est victimatus. Gu-
jus Passionem et Eesurrec-
tionem celebramus, cujus et
adventum speramus.
lamb. Tbis same rite tbou
commandedst to be observed
and remembered in after times,
even to tbe coming of our
Lord Jesus Cbrist, who was
led like a lamb to the slaugh-
ter. He is the spotless Lamb,
that was slain by God's first
people, when they kept their
first Pasch in Egypt. He is
the ram taken from the thorns
on the top of a high moun-
tain, destined for sacrifice.
He is the fatted calf, slain
under the tent of our father
Abraham, that it might be
served up to his guests. We
celebrate his Passion and Re-
surrection ; we look forward,
with hope, to his last Coming.
And now let us warm our hearts to the Paschal
mystery, by this admirable Sequence of Adam of
Saint- Victor.
SEQUENCE.
Salve, dies dierum gloria,
Dies felix Christi victoria.
Dies digna jugi liBtitia,
Dies prima I
Lux divina caecis irradiat,
In qua Christus infernum
spoliat,
Mortem vincit et reconciliat
Summis ima.
Sempiterni regis sententia
Sub peccato conclusit omnia,
Ut intirmis superna gratia
Subveuiret.
Hail, thou Day of days !
happy day of Jesus' victor^'' !
Day worthy of ceaseless joy !
0 first of days I
It was on this Day, that the
divine Light gladdened the
blind with its brightness ; that
Christ robbed hell of its spoils,
conquered death, and made
peace between heaven and
earth.
The sentence of the Eternal
Kino" coiirliifled all under aiii,
that the weak ujight be made
strong by heavenly grace.
EASTER MONDAY.
221
And when the whole world
was going headlong to the
abyss, the Power and Wisdom
of God softened his anger by
his Mercy.
The old enem3% the author
of sin, insulted us in our
misery, for that there was no
hope left us of the pardon of
our sins.
The world despaired of a
remedy : — when lo I whilst all
things were in quiet silence,
God the Father sent his Son
to them that had no hope.
The greedy thief, the hellish
monster, saw the Flesh, but
not the snare : he grasped at
the hook, and was caught.
"We were restored to our
former dignity by Jesus,
whose Resurrection now glad-
dens us.
He, the restorer of man-
kind, rose again free from the
dead ; he carried his sheep, on
his shoulders, back to heaven.
Peace is made between An-
gels and men ; the heavenly
ranks are filled up : praise,
eternal praise is due to our
triumphant Lord.
Let the voice of Mother
Church blend in harmony
with that of heaven ; let the
Faithful sing now, without
CJeftsing, their Alleluia.
Dei virtus et Sapientia
Temperavit iram demen-
tia.
Cum jam mundus in prse-
cipitia
Totus iret.
Insultabat nostrae mise-
riae
Vetus hostis, auctor mali-
tice.
Quia nulla spes erat venise
De peccatis.
Desperante mundo reme-
dium,
Dum tenerent cuncta silen-
tium,
Deus Pater emisit Filium
Desperatis.
Praedo vorax, monstrum
tartareum,
Carnem videns, nee cavens
laqueum,
In latentem ruens aculeum
Aduncatur.
Dignitatis primcp conditio
Eeformatur nobis in Filio,
Cujus nova nos resurrectio
Consolatur.
Resurrexit liber ab inferis
Restaurator humani gene-
ris,
Ovem suam reportans hu-
meris
Ad superna.
Angelorum pax fit et ho-
minum ;
Plenitudo succrescit ordi-
num :
Tiiumphantem laus decet,
Dominum,
Laus £)otema.
Harmonise coelestis patriae
Vox concordet matris Eccle-
siae ;
Alleluia frequentet hodie
Plebs fidelis.
222
PASCHAL TIME.
Triumphato mortis impe-
rio,
Triumpliali fruamur gau-
dio :
In terra pax, et jubilatio
Sit in coelis ! Amen.
A triumph has been won
over the power of death ; let
us rejoice in the triumph.
Peace on earth, and jubilee
in heaven ! Amen.
EASTER TUESDAY. 223
EASTER TUESDAY.
Hsec dies quam fecit Do- This is the day which the
minus : exsultemus et Icete- Lord hath made : let us be
mur in ea. glad and rejoice therein.
Our Pasch is the Lamb, and we meditated upon
the mystery yesterday : now let us attentively con-
sider those words of Sacred Scripture, where, speaking
of the Pasch, it says : It is the Phase, that is, the
Passage of the Lord. Grod himself adds these words :
I will Pass through the Land of JEgi/pt that night, and
will kill every first-horn in the land of Egypt, both
man and beast ; and against all the gods of Egy2)t I
will execute judgments} So that the Pasch is a
day of judgment, a day of terrible justice upon the
enemies of Grod ; but, for that very reason, it is a day
of deliverance for Israel. The Lamb is slain ; but
his immolation is the signal of redemption to the holy
people of the Lord.
The people of Israel are slaves to the cruel Pharaoh.
Their bondage is the heaviest that can be. Their
male-children are to be put to death. The race of
Abraham, on which repose the promises of the world's
salvation, is doomed. It is time for God to interpose :
the Lion of the tribe of Juda, he whom none can
resist, must show himself.
But in this, the Israelites are a type of another
and a far more numerous people, — the whole human
race ; and it is the slave of Satan, a tyrant worse than
» Exod. xii. 11,
224 PASCHAL TIME.
Pharaoh. Its bondage is at its height. It is debased
by the vilest idolatry. It has made every base thing
its god ; and the G-od that made all things is ignored
or blasphemed. With a few rare exceptions out of
each generation, men are the victims of hell. Has
God's creation of Man, then, been a failure ? Not so.
The time is come for him to show the might of his
arm : he will ^^ass over the earth, and save mankind.
Jesus, the true Israelite, the true man come down
from heaven. He too is made a captive. His enemies
have prevailed against him, and his bleeding lifeless
Body has been hid in the Tomb. The murderers of
the Just One have even fixed a seal upon the Sepul-
chre, and set a guard to watch it. Here again,
the Lord must ^j^.ss, and confound his enemies by his
triumphant passage.
In that Eygpt of old, each Israelite family was com-
manded to slay and eat the Paschal Lamb. Then, at
midnight, the Lord passed^ as he bad promised, over
this land of bondage and crime. The Destroy ingAn gel
followed, slaying with his sword the first-born of the
Egyptians, from the first-horn of PJuiraoh, who sat
on his throne, unto the first-horn of the captive
woman that was in prison, and all the first-horn
of the cattle} A cry of mourning resounded through
Mesraim : but God is just, and his people was made
free !
The same victory was gained in the Resurrection,
which now gladdens us. The midnight was over, and
the last shades of darkness were fleeing from before the
rising light : it was then that our \joidi. passed through
the sealed stone of his Tomb, unperceived by his
guards. His resurrection was a stroke of death to his
first-born people who had refused to receive him as
their Messias, or knoiv the time of their visitation. ^-^ The
Synagogue was hard of heart, like Pharaoh ; it would
1 Exod. xii. 29. » St. Luke, xix. 44,
EASTER TUESDAY. 225
fain have held captive Him of whom the Prophet
had said, that he would be free among the dead}
Hereupon, a cry of impotent rage is heard in Jeru-
salem : but God is just, and Jesus has made himself
free !
And oh 1 what a happiness was this Passage of
our Lord for the human race ! He had adopted us as
his Brethren, and loved us too tenderly to leave us
slaves of Satan : therefore, he would have his own
Resurrection be ours too, and give us Light and
Liberty. The first-born of Satan were routed by
such a victory ; the power of hell was broken. Yet
a little while, and the altars of the false gods shall
everywhere be destroyed; yet a little while, and man,
regenerated by the preaching of the Apostles, shall
acknowledge his Creator and abjure his idols: for this
is the Day which the Lord hath made : it is the
Phase, that is, the Passage of the Lord !
But observe how the two mysteries, — the Lamb
and the Passover, — are united in our Pasch. The
Lord passes, and bids the Destroying Angel slay the
first-born in every house, the entrance of which is
not marked with the blood of the Lamb. This is the
shield of protection; where it is, there Divine Justice
passes by and spares. Pharaoh and his people are
not signed with the blood of the Lamb : yet have
they witnessed the most extraordinary miracles, and
suffered unheard-of chastisements: All this should
have taught them, that the God of Israel is not like
their own gods, which have no power : but their heart
is hard as stone, and neither the works nor the words
of Moses have been able to soften it. Therefore does
God strike them, and deliver his people.
But this very people, this Israel, ungratefully turns
against his deliverer ; he is content with the types
of the good things promised ; he will have no other
' Ps. Lxxxvii. 6.
226 PASCHAL TIME.
Lamb but the material one. In vain do the Propliets
tell him, that "a Lamb is to be sent forth, who shall
" be King of the earth ; that he shall come from the
^' desert to the mount of the Daughter of Sion."^
Israel refuses to acknowledge this Lamb as his Mes-
sias ; he persecutes him and puts him to death ; and
persists in putting all his confidence in the blood of
victims, that have no longer the power to propitiate
the anger of Grod. How terrible will be the Passage
of the Lord over Jerusalem, when the sword of the
Roman Legions shall destroy a whole people !
Satan too, and his wicked angels, had scoffed at
this Lamb ; they had despised him, as being too
meek and humble to be dreaded ; and when they
saw him shedding his Blood on the Cross, a shout of
exultation rang through the regions of hell. But
what was their dismay, when they saw this Lamb
descending, like a Lion into Limbo, and setting free
from their bondage the countless prisoners of the
four thousand previous years ? and after this, return-
ing to our earth, and inviting all mankind to receive
the liberty of the glory of children of God?'^
0 Jesus ! how terrible is thy Passover to thine
enemies I but how glorious for them that serve thee !
The people of Israel feared it not, because their
houses were marked with the blood of the figurative
Lamb. We are more favoured than they : our Lamb
is the Lamb of God, and thy Blood is signed, not
upon our dwellings, but upon our souls. Thy Prophet
foretold the great mystery, when he said, that on the
day of thy vengeance upon Jerusalem, they would be
spared whose foreheads should be marked with the
Tau.^ Israel despised the prophecy, which is our
joy. The Tait is the sign of thy Cross, dear Jesus !
It is thy Cross that shields, and protects, and glad-
dens us in this Pasch of thy Passover, wherein thy
^ Is. xvi. 1. ^ Rom. viii. 21. -^ Ezechiel, ix. G.
EASTER TUESDAY: MASS. 227
anger is all for thine enemies, and thy blessings all
for us !
At Rome, the Station for to-day is in the Basilica
of Saint Paul. The Church is impatient to lead her
white-robed troop of Neophytes to the Apostle of the
Gentiles. Though he is not the foundation of the
Church, yet is he companion of Peter's labours in
Rome, his fellow-martyr, and the preacher of the
Gospel to the Gentiles. As he says of himself^ he
has laboured to form children in God : — who could
tell the number he has given to Christ ? How must
he not rejoice to see these newly made Christians ap-
proach his sacred shrine, there to receive instruction
from his epistles, wherein he still speaks to all
generations.
MASS.
The Introit, taken from the Book of Ecclesiasticus,
celebrates the sublime wisdom of St. Paul, who is
the ever pure source, whereat the people of God
drink instruction and strength, and so prepare their
souls for eternal life.
INTROIT.
He hath given them the Aqua sapientire potavit
water of wisdom to driuk, eos, alleluia : firmabitur in
alleluia : this wisdom shall illis, et non flectetur, alle-
be strengthened in them, and luia : et exaltabit eos in
shall not be moved, alleluia : aeternura. Alleluia, alle-
and it shall raise them up for luia.
ever. Alleluia, alleluia.
p8. Praise the Lord, and Ps. Confitemini Domino,
call upon his Name : declare et invocate Nomen ejus :
his deeds among the Gentiles, annuntiate inter gentes ope-
t. Glory, &c. He hath given, ra ejus. V. Gloria Patri.
&c. Aqua sapientise.
»Gal. iv. 19.
228
PASCHAL TIME.
In the Collect, the Church gives thanks to God
for his rendering her fruitful, and thus giving her,
every Easter, a Mother's joy. She then prays for her
new children, that they may have the grace to per-
severe in the imitation of their Risen Lord.
COLLECT.
Deus, qui Ecclesiam tuam
novo semper foetu multipli-
cas : concede famulis tuis,
ut sacramentum vivendo
teneant, quod fide percepe-
runt. Per Dominum.
0 God, who by a new in-
crease, dost continually en-
large thy Church : grant that
thy servants may keep up, by
their manner of living, the
Mystery they have received
by their believing. ~
«S:c.
Through,
EPISTLE.
Lectio Actuum Apostolo-
rum.
Cap. XIII.
In diebus illis : Surgens
Paulus, et manu silentium
indicens, ait : Viri fratres,
filii generis Abraham, et
qui in vobis timent Deum,
vobis verbum salutis hujus
missum est. Qui enim ha-
bitabant Jerusalem, et prin-
cipes ejus ignor antes Jesum,
et voces Prophetarum, qu«3
per omne sabbatum legun-
tur, judicantes impleverunt,
et nullam causam mortis
invenientes in eo, potierunt
a Pilato, ut interficerent
eum. Cumque consummas-
sent omnia, qur© de eo
scripta erant, deponentes
eum de ligno, posuerunt
eum in monumento. Deus
vero suscitavit eum a mor-
tuis tertia die ; qui visus est
Lesson from the Acts of the
Apostles.
Ch. XIII.
In those days : Paul stand-
ing up, and with his hand
bespeaking silence, said : My
brethren, children of the stock
of Abraham, and whosoever
among you fear God, to you
the word of this salvation is
sent. For they that inhabited
Jerusalem, and the rulers
thereof, not knowing him,
nor the voices of the prophets
which are read every Sabbath,
judging him have fulfilled
them, and finding no cause of
death in him, they desired of
Pilate that they might kill
him. And when they had
fulfilled all things that were
written of him, taking him
down from the tree, they laid
him in a sepulchre. But God
raised him up from the dead
EASTER TUESDAY : MASS. 229
the third day : who was seen per dies multos his, qui
for many days by them who simul ascenderant cum eo de
came up with him from Gali- Galiloca in Jerusalem : qui
lee to Jerusalem, who to this usque nunc sunt testes ejus
present are his witnesses to ad plebem. Et nos vobis
the people. And we declare annuntiamus earn, quae ad
unto you, that the promise patres nostros repromissio
which was made to our fathers, facta est: quoniam hanc
this same God hath fulfilled Deus adimplevit filiis nos-
to our children, raising up tris, resuscitans Jesum
Jesus Christ our Lord. Christum Dominum nos-
trum.
This discourse which was made at Antioch in
Pisidia, in the Synagogue, shows us that the Doctor
of the Grentiles followed the same method, in his in-
structions, as did the Prince of the Apostles. The
great subject of their preaching was the Eesurrec-
tion of Christ, — for it is the fundamental truth, it is
the fact above all others, which proves the divine
mission of the Son of God upon earth. It is not
enough to believe in Christ Crucified ; we must
also believe in Christ Eisen. The Eesurrection is
not only the indisputable fact on which rests
the whole certainty of our faith, but it is also the
dogma which energises the whole Christian world.
Nothing ever happened on this earth which
produced a like impression. See how it is now
being celebrated by millions of men of every race
and nation ! Eighteen centuries have passed away
since the Eelics of St. Paul were first laid in this
Tomb on the Ostian Way : during that time, how
many events have happened, which, in their time,
were looked on as of momentous importance, and
are now completely forgotten ? For more than two
hundred years, the storm of Persecution was almost
ceaseless over Christian Eome ; it even became ne-
cessary, in the third century, to remove these sacred
remains, and hide them, for a time, in the Cata-
combs, After this, came Constantine, who built
230 PASCHAL TIME.
this Basilica, and erected the triumphal arch near the
Altar, under which lies the body of the Apostle.
Since then, how many changes have taken place in
the world ! Dynasties, empires, forms of government,
have succeeded each other, and only one institution has
stood unchanged, — the Church. Every year, during
these fifteen centuries, she has gone to the Basilica
of St. Paul, and there, near his Tomb, has read this
discourse, in which the Apostle proclaimed the Re-
surrection of Christ to the Jews. Seeing such per-
petuity, such unchangeableness, even in things like
this, we cannot help exclaiming : Oh ! truly, Christ
is risen ! He is the Son of &od ! for man could
never have given duration to any work of man. Our
Pasch alone tells us who Jesus is. Let us learn from
the circumstance suggested to us by to-day's Epistle,
how the dazzling beauty of our E;isen Jesus is re-
flected even in the minutest details of our happy
worship, — the Liturgy.
GRADUAL.
Hsec dies quam fecit Do- This is the day which the
minus: exsultemus, etlsete- Lord hath made: let us be
mur in ea. glad and rejoice therein.
^. Dicant nunc, qui re- ^. Let them now say so,
dempti sunt a Domino, quos thej' that have been redeemed
redemit de manu inimici, by the Lord from the hand of
et de regionibus congrega- the enemy : and he that gath-
vit eos. ered them out of the countries.
Alleluia, alleluia. Alleluia, alleluia.
f. Surrexit Dominus de '^. The Lord hath lisen
sepulchro, qui pro nobis pe- from the Tomb, who, for our
pendit in ligno. sakes, was nailed to the Cross.
The Sequence, Victimce Paschali^ page 164.
GOSPEL.
Sequentia sancti Evangelii Sequel of the holy Gospel
secundum Lucam. according to Luke.
Cap. XXIV. Ch. XXIV.
In illo temj)Qre ; Stetit At that time ; Jesus stoo4
EASTER TUESDAY : MASS.
231
in the midst of his disciples,
and said to them : Peace be
to you ; it is I, fear not. But
they being troubled and
frighted, supposed they saw
a spirit. And he said to them :
Why are j'ou troubled, and why
do thoughts arise in your
hearts '? See my hands and
my feet, that it is I myself ;
handle me and see : for a spirit
hath not flesh and bones, as
you see me to have. And
when he had said this, he
shewed them his hands and
his feet. But while they jet
believed not, and wondered
for joy, he said : Have you
here any thing to eat ? And
they offered him a piece of
broiled fish, and a honey comb.
And when he had eaten before
them, taking the remains he
gave to them. And he said
to them : These are the words
which I have spoken to you
whilst I was yet with you,
that all things must needs be
fulfilled, which are written in
the law of Moses, and in the
Prophets, and in the Psalms,
concerning me. Then he
opened their understandings
that they might understand
the Scriptures. And he said
to them : thus it is written,
and thus it behoved Christ to
suffer, and to rise again from
the dead the third day : and
that penance and remission of
sins should be preached in his
name unto all nations.
Jesus in medio discipulo-
rum suorum, et dixit eis :
Pax vobis : ego sum, nolite
timere. Conturbati vero, et
conterriti, existimabant se
spiritum \adere. Et dixit eis :
Quid turbati estis, et cogita-
tiones ascendunt in corda
vestra ? Videte manus meas,
et pedes, quia ego ipse sum :
palpate et videte : quia spi-
ritus carnem et ossa non
habet, sicut me videtis ha-
bere. Et cum hoc dixisset,
ostendit eis manus et pedes.
Adhuc autem illis non cre-
dentibus, et mirantibus prae
gaudio, dixit : Habetis hie
aliquid, quod manducetur ?
At illi obtulemnt ei partem
piscis assi, et favum mellis.
Et cum manducasset coram
eis, sum ens reliquias, dedit
eis. Et dixit ad eos : Haec
sunt.verba, qua) locutus sum
ad vos, cum adhuc essem vo-
biscum, quoniam necesse est
impleri omnia, qua? scripta
sunt in lege Moysi, et Pro-
phetis, et Psalmis de me.
Tunc aperuit illis sensum
ut intelligerent Scripturas.
Et dixit eis : Quoniam sic
scriptum est, et sic oporte-
bat Christum pati, et resur-
gere a mortuis tertia die :
et pra)dicari in nomine ejus
poenitentiam et remissio-
nem peccatorum in omnes
gentes.
Jesus shows himself to all his Apostles, on the
evening of the day on which he rose from the Grave ;
and he greets them with the wish of Peace. 3^
232
PASCHAL TIME.
wishes the same to us, during this Feast of the Pasch.
He desires to establish Peace among us : — Peace
between Man and Grod, Peace in the conscience of
the repentant sinner, Peace between man and man
by the forgiveness of injuries. Let us welcome this
wish of our Pisen Lord, and jealously preserve the
Peace he thus deigns to bring us. At his Birth in
Bethlehem, the Angels announced this Peace to men
of good will ; but now, it is Jesus himself who brings
it to us, for he has accomplished his work of pacifica-
tion, by dying for us on the Cross. The first word
he addresses to his Apostles, and, through them, to
us, is Peace ! Let us lovingly accept the blessing,
and show ourselves to be, in all things, Children of
Peace.
The conduct of the Apostles, on this occasion, de-
serves our attention. They believe in their Lord's
Pesurrection ; they eagerly announced the great
event to the two disciples of Emmaus : — but how
weak is their faith ! They are troubled and frighted at
the sudden apparitiorl of Jesus : and when he gracious-
ly permits them to handle him, they are overpowered
withyo//, and yet there is a certain inexplicable doubt
still lingering in their minds. Our Lord has to con-
descend even to eat in their presence, in order fully
to convince them that it is really Himself, and not
a phantom. What a strange inconsistency there is
in all this ! Had they not already believed and con-
fessed the Pesurrection of their Master, before re-
ceiving this visit ? — We have a lesson to learn here :
it is, that there are some people who believe, — but
their faith is so weak, that the slightest shock would
endanger it ; they say they have faith, but it is of
the most superficial kind. And yet without a lively
and vigorous faith, what can we do in the battle we
have to be incessantly waging against the devil, the
world, and our own selves:' He who wrestles with
an enemy is desirous to have a sure footing ; if be
EASTER TITESDAY I MASS. 233
stand on slippery ground, he is sure to be thrown.
Nothing is so common now-a-days, as unstable
faith, which believes as long as there is nothing
to try it : but let it be put to the test, and it gives
way.
One principal cause of this weakness of faith is
that subtle naturalism, which now fills the atmosphere
in which we live, and which it is so difficult not to
imbibe. Let us earnestly pray for an invincible and
supernatural faith, which may be the ruling principle
of our conduct, which may never flinch, and may
triumph over both our internal and external enemies.
Thus shall we be able to apply to ourselves those
words of the Apostle St. John : This U the victory
wJiich overcometh the world, — our Faith. ^
In the Offertory, the Church speaks to us, in the
words of the Royal Prophet, of the fountains of water
which sprang up at the thunder of God's bidding.
This voice of the Jfost High was made known to the
earth by the preaching of the Apostles, and, in a
special manner, by that of St. Paul. The fountains
are the Baptismal Fonts, from which our Neophytes
came regenerated unto life everlasting.
OFFERTORY.
The Lord thundered from Intonuit de coelo Dominus,
heaven, and the Most Hij^h et Altissimus dedit vocem
sent forth his voice : and the suam : et apparuerunt fon-
fountains of waters appeared, tes aquarum, alleluia.
alleluia.
The Church prays, in the Secret, that the Sacri-
fice, she is about to offer, may aid us to pass safely
to that infinite glory to which Baptism first opened
to us the way.
^ I St. John, V. 4,
234
PASCHAL TIME.
SECRET.
Suscipe, Domine, fide-
lium preces cam oblationi-
bus hostiarum : ut per lisec
pise devotionis officia, ad
coelestem gloriam transea-
mus. Per Dominum.
Eeceive, 0 Lord, we beseech
thee, the prayers of the faith-
ful, together with these obla-
tions : that by these duties of
piety they may pass to eternal
life. Through, &c.
In the Communion-Anthem, we have St. Paul
himself speaking to the Neophytes, and telling them
what manner of life they must henceforth lead, in
order to resemble their divine model, their Eisen
Jesus.
COMMUNION.
Si consurrexistis cum
Christo, quae sursum sunt
qusorite, ubi Christus est in
dextera Dei sedens, alleluia :
quae sursum sunt sapite,
alleluia.
If you be risen with Christ,
seek the things that are above,
where Christ is sitting at the
right hand of God, alleluia :
mind the things that are
above, alleluia.
The Church makes the above words of the Apostle
the subject of her concluding Prayer : she begs, that
her new children, who have just partaken of the
Paschal Mystery, may persevere in the New Life,
of which this Holy Sacrament is the chief sup-
port.
POSTCOMM UNION.
Concede, qusesumus om-
nipotens Deus : ut pascha-
lis perceptio Sacramenti,
continua in nostris men-
tibus persevoret. Per Domi-
Grant, we beseech thee, 0
Almighty God, that the virtue
of the Paschal Sacrament,
which we have received, may
always remain in our souls.
Through, &c,
I
EASTER TUESDAY I VESPERS. 235
YESPEES.
The Vespers are the same as on Easter Sunday,
excepting the Maguificai Antiphon, and the Collect,
which are as follows :
ANTIPHON OF THE Magnificat.
Ant. See my hands and AxT. Videte manus meas
my feet, for it is I myself, et pedes meos, quia ego ipse
Alleluia, alleluia. sum. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Collect is given above, in the Mass ; j^f^Qf" 228.
On the third day of the Creation, the Waters,
which covered the earth, were gathered together, at
the word of the Son of God, and flowed into the
hollows prepared for them. The seas thus formed,
the surface of the Earth became habitable for those
beings that were soon to be called forth from nothing-
ness. On this day, then, the Angels first beheld the
place where we are to have a temporary sojourn.
The time \vill come, when this very Son of God, who
now separates the Waters from the Earth, will him-
self inhabit it, after liaving assumed our human
nature. Let us offer him our Earth, as his rightful
domain, over which, as also over Heaven, all power
has been given to him.' The Mozarabic Breviary
gives us the following beautiful Prayer, in which are
explained the mysteries hid under the text that
describes this third day's creation.
CAPITULA.
O Almighty God, the Omnipotens Deus Pater,
Father I who, on the third daj', qui die tertio ab infidelium
^ St. Matth. xxviii. 18.
236
PASCHAL TIME.
cordibus, quasi ab inferio-
ribus salsis aquis aridam
id est populum. fontein lidei
sitientem, segregare digna-
tus es ; da nobis, ut ab infi-
delium laqueis segregati,
resurrectionem Filii tui prse-
dicemus indubii : ut qui ter-
tio ab inferis suscitatus est
die, trina nos virtutum copu-
latione resuscitet : quo fide,
spe et charitate robusti, de
seterno resurrectionis mere-
amur munere consolari.
didst vouchsafe to separate the
dry land from the briny waters
that were on the earth, hereby
prefiguring how, at a future
time, thou wouldst separate the
people, that thirsted after the
fount of faith, from them that
had unbelieving hearts : grant,
that we, who are freed from,
the fetters of unbelief, may
proclaim, without doubt-
ing, the Eesurrection of thy
Son. May He, that rose from
the grave on the third day,
give us to rise by the union of
three virtues : and that thus
made strong by faith, hope,
and charity, we may merit the
eternal happiness of the Re-
surrection.
Let us again borrow from the ancient Liturgies
the formulas used in the celebration of the Easter.
We find, in the Missal of the Gothic Church of
Spain, this magnificent Preface ; it is an eloquent
and fervent summary of all the grand things said by
the Fathers regarding the Pasch.
ILLATION.
Dignum et j ustum est nos
tibi semper cum Patre et Spi-
ritu Sancto individua divini-
tate regnanti, gratias agere,
Domine Jesu Christe. Qui
nos tam admirabiliter condi-
disti, tam clementer redemi-
sti. Non laboribus in facien-
do fatigatus, nonpassionibus
in redimondo consumptus.
Fecit virtus potentialiter
^uos redemit piotas tq-m clo-
It is meet and just, that we
should ever give thanks to thee,
O Lord Jesus Chi-ist, who
reignest with the Father and
the Holy Ghost in one undi-
vided Godhead. Thou didst
wonderfully create, and merci-
fully redeem us. In the crea-
tion, thou wast not fatigued
by labour ; in the redemption,
thou wast not consumed
by suffering. Thy power
EASTER TUESDAY.
237
powerfully made, thy mercy
mercifully redeemed us. Every
thing is, indeed, possible to
thee, for whatsoever is in the
Father and the Holy Ghost,
is equally in thee, who hast
nought which they have not,
save the privilege of thy
Human Nature. Therefore
canst thou do all whatsoever
thou wishest. As omnipotent,
thou doest what thou wiliest
to do ; as just, thou judgest
all things with equity ; as
mercifiil, thou crownest, with
clemency, them that deserve a
crown.
Though thou couldst have
crushed our enemy by a single
look of thy dread majesty, yet
wouldst thou the rather pros-
trate him by the excess of thy
humility : hereby teaching us,
that the princes of this air have
no further power against us
save that which thy Majesty
permits, seeing that by the
weakness of our flesh thou
didst reduce to nought the
haughtiness of the enemy.
Verily, the proud one felt his
fall the more, in that he knew
it was by humility he was
crushed. Thus did divine
wisdom plan the overthrow of
the old and crafty serpent ; he
would have it to be not a vio-
lent but a legal defeat ; and
that, as Satan boasted that
man was legally his slave, be-
cause he had persuaded him to
consent to the fetters, — so he
might be forced, by a just
judgment, to give up his prey,
when he killed Him over
whom he had no claim. Hence,
when he made bold to put to
menter. Totum tibi est in
veritate possibile, quia hoc
ipsum tibi, excepto huma-
nitatis privilegio, cum Patre
et Spiritu Sancto est essen-
tialiter coaequale. Ita tamen
posse te manet, quod velle te
decet. Id est ut, omnipotens,
cuncta facias facienda ; Jus-
tus, sequitate censeas judi-
canda ; misericors, clemen-
ter perficias coronanda.
Qui, cum solo majestatis
terribili nutu, nostrum po-
tueris conterrere vexatorem,
maluisti eum humilitatis
abjectione prosternere. Ex
hoc magis approbans nul-
1am majestati tuce contra-
riam nobis subsistere aereo-
rum principum tyranni-
dera, cum sic nostrorum in-
firmitate membrorum om-
nem inimici ad nihilum re-
degeris vanitatem. Etenim
superbus se ingemuit gra-
vius corruisso, quando se
elisum sensit ab humiUtate
fuisse. Atque ideo tali
divina sapientia antiqui
serpentis astutiam consilio
vicit, no violenter addi-
ceret, sed legaliter quatere-
tur. Ut qui transgressorem
eo se jure possidere jactabat,
quem suis consentientem
persuasionibus obligaverat :
sic eum justo superatus ju-
dicio redderet, cum istum in
quo suum nihil repere-
rat occidisset. Quapropter
amisit merito reum, qui
238
PASCHAL TIME.
tollentem mundi peccata
crucis supplicio Agnum non
timuit mortificare divinum.
Disruptis igitur cruce infer-
ni catenis legibusque solu-
tis, ad coelos migrant cum
Christo credentes in Christo.
Et cruciandi permanent in
inferno qui delectati sunt
inviscerati diabolo.
Eediit ecce post triduum
victor, ex mortuis vivus, qui
ad hoc pro nobis est crucifix -
us. Innumeris captivorum
ovantium stipatur agmini-
bus, qui passionis tempore
etiam discipulorum suorum
fuerat societate nudatus.
Agitatur eo resurgente tre-
mefacta funditus terra, quo
descendente concussa sunt
et inferna. Cohors militum
terrenorum coelestis regis
terribili regressu perculsa
diffugiit, et quern dudum
incluserat velut reum, jam
et ipsa terribilem victa ju-
dicem verum confitetur et
Deum. Sanctorum corpora
vivificata consurgunt : habi-
taculum qaod paulisper ja-
cuerat resurgit gloriosum,
eodem resuscitante a quo
anima derelicta in inferno
non fuerat. Angeli proprio
famulantur auctori ; splen-
dificus universe mundo ori-
tur dies.
Tripudiant inspirato ro-
surrectionis die, qui mcosti-
ficati fuerant passionis ejus
vulnere ropontino. Agnoscit
the death of the Cross the
Lamb of God, who taketh
away the sins of the world, he
deservedly lost the guilty one.
Therefore, the bonds of hell
being broken, and its laws
abrogated, by the Cross, — let
them that believe in Christ,
pass with Christ to heaven :
and let them remain to be tor-
mented in hell, who put their
happiness in making them-
selves the devil's prey.
Lo ! Christ, after three days,
has returned Conqueror and
living from the grave, for unto
this was he crucified for us.
He that during his Passion,
was deprived of the company
of his Disciples, is now sur-
rounded by a countless num-
ber of glad captives, whom he
has set free. He that made
hell itself tremble when he
descended, now, by his Resur-
rection, makes the earth shake
to its foundations. The sol-
diers of earth take to flight at
the return of heaven's King ;
and Him, whom they had just
before guarded as a guilty cap-
tive, they now confess to be
the terrible Judge and true
God, who has conquered them.
The bodies of the Saints return
to life, and rise ; their earthly
tabernacle, which, for a time,
had lain in dust, rises glorious
with Him, who permitted not
the soul to abide in limbo.
The Angels pay court to their
Creator. A glorious day rises
upon the whole earth.
Let them that mourned be-
cause of the swift and bloodj^
Passion, now exult with ex-
ceeding gladness on this
EASTER TUESDAY.
239
blessed day of the Resurrec-
tion. The Mother recognises
the Son of her womb. Mary
Magdalene is rebuked by the
Angel, and ceases to seek
among the dead Him that is
Living. Peter, accompanied
by John, runs to the Sepulchre,
and in the winding-sheet and
cloths sees the traces of his
Master, who was dead, but
now is risen. The Thief, that
confessed Christ to be God, is
made the first possessor of
Paradise. All that was pro-
phesied, long ages before, of
the Son of Man, is now ful-
filled ; to wit, that, for our
sakes, he would be delivered
into the hands of sinners ; that
he would be crucified and put
to death ; that he would de-
scend into hell with awful
majesty, cast down the proud,
and mercifully exalt the
humble ; that, with ineffable
triumph, he would rise again
from the dead, and would
reign together with the Father
and the Holy Ghost, govern-
ing all creatures with great
power.
Filled with admiration at
the immensity of his power,
the seven standard-bearers of
the heavenly kingdom send
upon the earth countless hosts
of bright Spirits to give him
praise. Each Angel hastes to
his post, paying the debt of his
homage, and, humbly adoring
the Flesh of the eternally
triumphant King, casts at his
feet, with praise, the crown of
his glittering gems. The Sera-
phim, who, with their six
wings, veil, in reverent wor-
Mater membra quee genuit.
Maria Magdalene Angelo in-
crepante resipuit, ne viven-
tem cum mortuis quserere
debuisset. Ad monumentum
Petrus cum Johanne con-
currit, recentiaque in lintea-
minibus defuncti et resur-
gentis vestigia cernit. Latro
Christum confessus posses-
sor paradisi factus est pri-
mitivus. Impletum est quod
dictum fuerat de Filio homi-
nis, tot ante ssecula prophe-
tatum, ut scilicet peccatorum
pro nobis manibus trade -
retur : crucifigeretur, more-
retur : inferna terribiliter
penetraret, superbos dej ice-
ret, humiles misericorditer
exaltaret : cum triumpho
inenarrabili a mortuis re-
surgeret, et cum Patre et
Spiritu Sancto omnipoten-
tialiter cunctis dominando
regnaret.
Cujus virtutis immensi-
tate permoti, etiam septem
vexilla regia beatorum in-
numeras lucifluarum mittit
plebium catervas ad lau-
dem, ac suum quisque pio
pnuveniens officio locum,
debitum exsolvit, caruem
triumphantis Eegis per
sevum submisseque ado-
rat, et glorificatis vultibus
Agnum, suasque rutilanti-
bus gemmis eximias pra'fert
cum laude coronas. Sera-
phim quoque divina3 sedis
240
PASCHAL TIME.
terribilem thro num., alainim
triiio tegmine velant sui
famulatus, unum te fatendo
cum Patre et Spiritu Sancto
Deum trinse confessionis
prseconio declarandum, in
sede siderea permanentem
regnantemque in saecula
sseculorum, incessabili ju-
gitate dicuut : Sandus, Sane-
tus, Sanctus !
ship, the awful throne of the
Godhead ; who, by their triple
hymn of praise, confess thee
to be one God with the Father
and the Holy Ghost, and ac-
knowledge thee as the King
that reigns for ever and ever,
on the throne of heaven ; — they,
also, say in ceaseless song :
Holy, Holy, Holy !
We subjoin to this Mozarabic Preface a Hymn
taken from the Roman-French Missal of the Middle
Ages. It was a favourite Easter Hymn with the
people of those days ; and though somewhat un-
polished, is full of vigour. The chant that accom-
panied it, and which would fatigue any singer of
modern times, is, in spite of its occasional want of
smoothness, very melodious and expressive.
SEQUENCE.
Fulgens prseclara
Rutilat per orbem
Hodie dies in qua
Christi lucida
Narrantur ovanter praslia.
De hoste superbo
Quern Christus triumpha-
vit pulchre,
Castra
Illius perimens teterrima.
Infelix culpa Ev?e,
Qua caruimus omnes vita.
Felix proles Marise,
Qua epulamur modo una.
Benedicta
Sit celsa
Regina ilia,
Generans regem
Spoliantem tartara,
Now shines through the
world the bright fair Day,
whereon are triumphantly told
the splendid combats of
Christ.
He gloriously conquered the
haughty enemy, and routed
his most wicked hosts.
Unhappy sin of Eve, where-
by we were all deprived of
Hfe!
Happy the fruit of Mary,
whereon we all now feed
together !
Blessed be that noble Queen,
The Mother of the King,
who robbed hell of its prey,
EASTER TUESDAY.
24 i
And now reigns in heaven
above I
0 Eternal King I graciously
receive the hymns we devoutly
sing to thee.
Thou sittest on the right
hand of thy Father.
Universal Conqueror ! thou
didst vanquish death, and en-
ter into the joys of heaven.
O mercy of Christ I how
great, how sublime, how beau-
tiful, how sweet, how tender
art thou I
Praise, honour and power
be to thee, that didst lighten
our heavy weight of old I
Purchased by the Blood of
the infinitely merciful Lamb,
the Church glittei*s with the
ruby flowers of her redemp-
tion.
He, who by his mighty
power, washed away our sins,
loads us with precious gifts.
Bewildered in my admira-
tion of this Day's wonders,
I am unworthy to proclaim its
great mysteries.
Son of David I Child of the
tribe of Juda ! Thou didst rise
in glor}', a Lion in strength.
Thou wast seen on earth as
a gentle Lamb.
It was thou that, in the
beginning, didst create the
world .
Thou hast ascended to the
kingdom above :
And there thou mercifully
Pollentem
Jam in frthera.
Rex in seteriium,
Suscipe benignus
Pr?econia nostra
Sedule tibi canentia.
Patris sedens ad dexte-
ram.
Victor ubique,
Morte superata,
Polorum possidens
Gaudia.
0 magna,
0 celsa,
O pulchra dementia
Christi melliflua,
0 alma.
Laus tibi honorque ac
virtus.
Qui nostram antiquam
Leviasti sarcinam.
Eoseo cruore
Agni benignissimi
Empta,
Florida
Micat hoec aula.
Potenti virtute nostra
Qui lavit facinora,
Tribuit dona fulgida.
Stupens valde in mem^t,
Jam miror hodierna,
Tanta
Indignus paudere
Modo sacramenta.
Stirpe Davidica
Ortus de tribu Juda,
Leo potens surrexisti in
gloria.
Agnus visus es in terra.
Fundans olim arva :
Regna petens supera :
Justis reddens priemia.
242
PASCHAL TIME.
In ssecula
Dignanter ovantia.
Die impie Zabule,
Quid valet nunc fraus tua ?
Igneis nexus loris
A Christi victoria.
Tribus, linguae, admi-
ramini :
Quis audivit talia
Miracula ?
Ut mors mortem sic su-
peraret :
Eei perciperent talem gra-
tiam ?
Judaea incredula,
Cur manes adhuc invere-
cunda ?
Respice christicolas,
Qualiter Iseti canunt inclyta
Eedemptori carmina.
Ergo pie Eex Christe,
Nobis laxans crimina,
Solve nexorum vincula.
Electorum agmina
Pac tecum resurgere
Ad beatam gloriam,
Digna rependens merita.
Amen.
rewardest the just with the
rewards of everlasting joy.
Say, Satan, thou wicked
spirit, what now hath thy
craft profited thee ?
The victory of Christ has
bound thee fast in fetters of
fire.
0 ye tribes and nations, be
astounded I Who hath heard
of miracles like these ?
That death should so con-
quer death ? That criminals
should receive favour like
unto this ?
0 incredulous Jew ! hast
thou no shame, that thou
canst continue so ?
See how the Christians re-
joice, singing to the Redeemer
their holy hymns.
Therefore, 0 Jesus, our
merciful King ! forgive us our
sins, loosen our fetters.
Grant that thy elect may
rise with thee to heavenly
glory, and to their just merits
give recompense. Amen.
[
WEDNESDAY IN EASTER WEEK. 243
WEDNESDAY IN EASTEE WEEK.
This i3 the day which the Haec dies, quam fecit Do-
Lord hath made : Let us be minus : exsultemus, et Isete-
glad and rejoice therein. mur in ea.
The hebrow word Pasch signifies Passage^ and we
explained, yesterday, how this great Day first became
sacred by reason of the Lord's Passover. But there
is another meaning which attaches to the word, as
we learn from the early Fathers, and the Jewish
Rabbins. The Pasch is, moreover, the Passage of the
Israelites from Egypt to the Promised Land. These
three great facts really happened on one and the
same night : — the banquet of the Lamb, the death of
the first-born of the Egyptians, and the departure
from Egypt. Let us, to-day, consider how this third
figure is a further development of our Easter Mystery.
The day of Israel's setting forth from Egypt for
his predestined country of the Promised Land, is
the most important in his whole history : but, both
the departure itself, and the circumstances that at-
tended it, were types of future realities to be fulfilled
in the Christian Pasch. The people of God was
delivered from an idolatrous and tyrannical country :
in otir Pasch, they, who are now our Neophytes,
have courageously emancipated themselves from the
slavish sway of Satan, and have solemnly renounced
the pomps and works of this haughty Pharaoh.
On their road to the Promised Land, the Israelites
had to pass through a Sea of Water ; their doing so
was a necessity, both for their protection against
244 PASCHAL TIME.
Pharaoh's army, which was pursuing them, and for
their entering into the land of milk and honey. Our
Neophytes, too, after renouncing the tyrant who had
enslaved them, had to go thi'ough that same saving
element of Water, in order to escape their fierce
enemies ; it carried them safe into the Land of their
hopes, and stood as a rampart to defend them against
invasion.
By the goodness of God, that Water, which is an
obstacle to man's pursuing his way, was turned into
an ally for Israel's march ; the laws it had from nature
were suspended, and it became the saviour of Grod's
people. In like manner, the sacred Font, — which,
as the Church told us on the Feast of the Epiphany,
is made an instrument of divine grace, — has become
the refuge and fortress of our happy Neophytes ;
their passing through its Waters has put them out
of reach of the tyrant's grasp.
Having reached the opposite shore, the Israelites
see Pharaoh and his army, their shields and their
chariots buried in the Sea. When our Neophytes
looked at the holy Font, from which they had risen
to the life of grace, they loved it as the tomb where
their sins, enemies worse than Pharoah and his
minions, lay buried for ever.
Then did the Israelites march cheerfully on towards
the Land that Grod had promised to give them.
During the journey, they will have God as their
Teacher and Lawgiver ; they will have their thirst
quenched by fountains springing up from a rock in
the desert ; they will be fed on Manna sent each day
from heaven. Our Neophytes, too, will run on, un-
fettered, to the heavenly country, their Promised
Land. They will go through the desert of this world,
uninjured by its miseries and dangers, for the divine
Lawgiver will teach them, not amidst thunder and
lightning, as he did when he gave his Law to the
Israelites, but with persuasive words of gentlest
WEDNESDAY IN EASTER AVEEK. 245
love, spoken with that sweet manner which set on
fire the hearts of the two disciples of Emmaus.
Springs of water shall refresh them at every turn,
yea of that Living Water which Jesus, a few
weeks back, told the Samaritan Woman should be
given to them that adore him in spirit and in truth.
And lastly, a heavenly Manna shall be their food,
strengthening and delighting them, — a Manna far
better than that of old, for it will give them im-
mortahty.
So that our Pasch means all this : it is a Passing,
through Water, to the Land of Promise, but with a
reality and truth which the Israelites only had under
the veil of types, sublime indeed and divine, but only
types. Let then our Passover from the death of
original sin to the life of grace, by holy Baptism, be
a great feast-day with us. This may not be the
anniversary of our Baptism ! it matters not ; let us
fervently celebrate our ej-odus from the Egypt of the
world into the Christian Church ; let us, with glad
and grateful hearts, renew our Baptismal Engage-
ments, which made our God so liberal in his gifts to
us : let us renounce Satan, and all his works, and all
his pomps.
The Apostle of the Grentiles tells us of another
mystery of the Waters of Baptism ; it gives comple-
tion to all we have been saying, and equally forms
part of our Pasch. He teaches us, that we were
hidden beneath this Water, as was Christ in his
Tomb ; and that we then died, and were buried,
together with Him.^ It was the death of our life of
sin : that we might live to God, we had to die to sin.
When we think of the holy Font where we were
regenerated, let us call it the Tomb, wherein we buried
the Old Ma)i, who was to have no resurrection.
Baptism by immersion, — which was the ancient inodQ
* I(om.|yi. 4-
246 PASCHAL TIME.
of administering the Sacrament, and is still used in
some countries, — was expressive of this spiritual
burial : the Neophyte was made to disappear heneath
the Water, — he was dead to his former life, as our
buried Jesus was to his mortal life. But, as our
Bedeemer did not remain in the Tomb, but rose
again to a new life, so likewise, says the Apostle,^
they who are baptised rise again with him when they
come from the Font ; they bear on them the pledges
of immortality and glory, and are the true and living
Members of that Head, who dieth now no more.
Here, again, is our Pasch, — our Passage from death
to life.
At Bome, the Station is in the Basilica of Saint
Laurence outside the Walls. It is looked upon as the
most important of the many Churches built by Rome
in honour of her favourite Martyr, whose body lies
under the High Altar. Hither were the Neophytes
led to-day, that they might learn, from the example
of so brave and generous a soldier of Christ, how
courageous they should be in confessing their faith,
and how faithful in living up to their Baptismal
promises. For several centuries, the reception of
Baptism was a preparation for Martyrdom ; but, at
all times, it is an enlisting ourselves in the service of
Christ, which we cannot leave without incurring the
guilt and penalty of traitors.
MASS.
The Introit is composed of those words, which the
Son of God will speak to his elect, at the Last
Judgment, when calling them into his Kingdom.
The Church applies them to the Neophytes, and thus
raises up their thoughts to that eternal happiness,
» Coloss, ii. 12.
WEDNESDAY IN EASTER WEEK ! MASS. 247
the remembrance of which supported the Martyrs in
their sufferings.
INTROIT.
Come, ye blessed of my Venite, benedicti Patris
Father, possess the kingdom, mei ; percipite regnum, alle-
alleluia : which hath been pre- luia : quod vobis paratum
pared for you from the begin- est ab origine mundi. Alie-
ning of the world. Alleluia, luia, alleluia, alleluia,
alleluia, alleluia.
Fs. Sing to the Lord a new Ps. Cantate Domino can-
song : sing to the Lord all the ticum novum : cantate Do-
earth. If. Glory, &c. Come, mino omnis terra, f. Gloria
&c. Patri. Yenite.
In the Collect, the Church reminds her Children,
that the Feasts of the holy Liturgy are a means of
our coming to the eternal Feasts of Heaven. It is
with this truth and hope before us, that we have
drawn up our Liturgical Year. We must, therefore,
80 celebrate our Easter of time, as to deserve to be
admitted into the joys of the eternal Easter.
COLLECT.
0 God, who by the yeariy Deus qui nos resurrectio-
solemnity of the Resurrection nis Dominicae annua solem-
of our Lord, fiUest us ■v^'ith nitate Isetificas : concede
joy ; mercifully grant, that, propitius, ut per temporalia
by these temporal festivals festa quae agimus, pervenire
which we celebrate, we may ad gaudia aetema mereamur.
at last come to the possession Per eumdem.
of those joys that are eternal.
Through the same, &c.
To this the Church, during this week, adds one or
other of the following Collects :
Against the persecutors of the Church.
Mercifully hear, we beseech Ecclesise tuae, quaesumus
thee, O Lord, the prayers of Domine, preces placatus ad-
thy Church : that, all opposi- mitte : ut, destructis adver^
248
PASCHAL TIME.
sitatibus et erroribus uni-
versis, secura tibi serviat
libertate. Per Dominum.
tions and errors being re-
moved, she may serve thee,
with a secure liberty. Through
&c.
For the Pope.
Deus, omnium fidelium
Pastor et Eector, famulum
tuum N. quem Pastorem
Ecclesise tuse prseesse vo-
luisti, propitius respice :
da ei, qusesumus, verbo et
exemplo, quibus prseest,
proficere ; ut ad vitam, una
cum grege sibi credito per-
veniat sempiternam. Per
Dominum.
0 God, the Pastor and Euler
of all the faithful, look down
in thy mercy on thy servant
N., whom thou hast appointed
Pastor over thj' Church : and
grant, we beseech thee, that
both by word and example, he
may edify all those that are
under his charge ; and with
the flock intrusted to him, ar-
rive at length at eternal hap-
piness. Through, tfcc.
EPISTLE.
Lectio Actuum Apostolo-
rum.
Cap. III.
In diebus illis : Aperiens
Petrus OS suum, dixit : Viri
Israelitse, et qui timetis
Deum, audite : Deus Abra-
ham, et Deus Isaac, et Deus
Jacob, Deus Patrum nostro-
rum glorificavit Filium su-
um Jesum, quem vos qui-
dem tradidistis, et negastis
ante faciem Pilati, judicante
illo dimitti. Vos autem
sanctum et justum negastis,
et petistis virum homicidam
donari vobis : auctorem ve-
ro vita) interfecistis, quem
Deus suscitavit a mortuis,
cujus nos testes sumus. Et
nunc fratres, scio quia per
ignoranti^^m fecistis, sicut
Lesson from the Acts of the
Apostles.
Ch. III.
In those days : Peter open-
ing his mouth, said : Ye men
of Israel, and ye who fear
God, give ear. The God of
Abiaham, and the God of
Isaac, and the God of Jacob,
and the God of our fathers,
hath glorified his Son Jesus,
whom you indeed delivered
up and denied him before the
face of Pilate, when he judged
he should be released. But
you denied the Holy One and
the Just, and desired a mur-
derer to be granted unto j'ou.
But the Author of Life you
killed, whom God hath raised
from the dead, of which we
are witnesses. And now,
WEDNESDAY IN EASTER WEEK : MASS. 249
brethren, I know that you et principes vestri. Deus
did it through ignorance as autem, qu?e praenuntiavit
did also your rulers. But per os omnium Prophe-
those things which God before tarum, pati Christum suum,
had shewed by the mouth of sic implevit. Poenitemini
all the prophets, that his igitur, et conyertimini, ut
Christ should suffer, he hath deleantur peccata vestra.
so fulfilled. Repent, therefore,
and be converted, that your
sins may be blotted out.
To-day, again, we have the Prince of the Apostles
proclaiming, in Jerusalem, the Eesurrection of the
Man-Grod. On this occasion, he was accompanied by
St. John, and had just worked his first miracle, of
curing the lame man, near one of the gates of the
Temple. The people had crowded round the two
Apostles, and St. Peter preached to them ; it was the
second time he had spoken in public. His first sermon
brought three thousand to receive Baptism ; the one
of to-day, five thousand. Truly did the Apostle exer-
cise, on these two occasions, his office of Fischer of Men,
which our Lord gave him when he first called him
to be his Disciple. Let us admire the charity, where-
with St. Peter bids the Jews acknowledge Jesus as
their Messias. These are the very men who have
denied him ; and yet the Apostle, by partially excus-
ing their crime, on the score of ignorance, encourages
them to hope for pardon. They clamoured for the
death of Jesus, in the days of his voluntary weakness
and humiliation ; — let them, now that he is glorified,
acknowledge him as their Messias and King, and,
their sin shall be forgiven. In a word, let them
humble themselves, and they shall be saved. Thus
did God call unto himself those who were of a good
will, and an upright heart ; thus does he, also, in these
our days. There were some in Jerusalem who cor-
responded to the call ; but the far greater number
refused to follow it. It is the same now. Let us
250
PASCHAL TIME.
earnestly beseech our Lord that the nets of his Fish-
ermen may be filled, and the Paschal Banquet be
crowded with guests.
GRADUAL.
Hsec dies quam fecit Do-
minus: exsultemus, etlsete-
mur in ea.
^ . Dextera Domini fecit
virtutem, dextera Domini
exaltavit me. Alleluia, alle-
luia.
y . Surrexit Dominus
vere, et apparuit Petro.
This is tlie day wliicli the
Lord hath made : let us be
glad and rejoice therein.
^. The right hand of the
Lord hath wrought strength :
the right hand of the Lord
hath exalted me. Alleluia,
alleluia.
J^. The Lord hath truly
risen, and hath appeared to
Peter.
The Sequence, Vidimce Paschali^ page 164.
GOSPEL.
Sequentia sancti Evangelii
secundum J oannem.
Cap. XXI.
In illo tempore : Manifes-
tavit se iterum Jesus disci-
pulis ad mare Tiberiadis.
Manifestavit autem sic.
Erant simul Simon Petrus,
et Thomas, qui dicitur Didy-
mus, et Nathanael, qui erat
a Cana Galilsese, et filii
Zebedsei, et alii ex discipu-
lis ejus duo. Dicit eis Simon
Petrus: Vadopiscari. Dicunt
ei : Venimus et nos tecum.
Et exierunt, et ascenderunt
in navim : et ilia nocto nihil
prendiderunt. Mane autem
facto, stetit Jesus in lit-
tore : non tamen cognove-
runt discipuli quia Jesus est.
Pixit ergo eis Jesus ; Pueri,
Sequel of the holy Gospel
according to John.
C/i. XXI.
At that time : Jesus shewed
himself again to the disciples,
at the sea of Tiberias. And
he shewed himself after this
manner. There were together
Simon Peter, and Thomas, who
is called Didymus, and Na-
thaniel, who was of Cana in
Galilee, and the Sons of Zebe-
dee, and two others of his dis-
ciples. Simon Peter saith to
them : I go a fishing. They
say to him : We also come with
thee. And they went forth,
and entered into the ship ; and
that night they caught nothing.
But when the morning was
come, Jesus stood on the
shore : yet the disciples knew
I
WEDNESDAY IN EASTER WEEK : MASS.
251
not that it was Jesus. Jesus
therefore said to them : Chil-
dren, have you any meat ?
They answered him : No. He
saith to them : Cast the net on
the right side of the ship ; and
you shall find. They cast there-
fore : and now they are not
able to draw it for the multi-
tude of fishes. That disciple
therefore whom Jesus loved,
said to Peter : It is the Lord.
Simon Peter, when he heard
that it was the Lord, girt his
coat about him (for he was
naked) and cast himself into
the sea. But the other disci-
ples came in the ship, (for
they were not far from the
land, but as it were two hun-
dred cubits) dragging the net
with fishes. As soon then as
they came to land, they saw
hot coals lying, and a fish laid
thereon, and bread. Jesus
saith to them : Bring hither of
the fishes which you have now
caught. Simon Peter went up,
and drew the net to land, full
of great fishes, one hundred
and fifty three. And although
there were so many, the net
was not broken. Jesus saith
to them ; Come, and dine. And
none of them who were at
meat, durst ask him : Who art
thou \ knowing that it was the
Lord. And Jesus cometh and
taketh bread, and giveth them,
and fish in like manner. This
is now the third time that
Jesus was manifested to his
disciples, after he was risen
from the dead.
Jesus had shown himself to all his Apostles, on
the Sunday evening : he repeated his visit to them,
numquid pulmentarium ha-
betis ? Kesponderunt ei :
Non. Dicit eis : Mittite in
dexteram navigii rete, et in-
venietis. Miserunt ergo :
et jam non valebant illud
trahere prse multitudine
piscium. Dixit ergo disci -
pulus ille, quem diligebat
Jesus, Petro : Dominus est.
Simon Petrus cum audisset
quia Dominus est, tunica
succinxit se (erat enim nu-
dus) et misit se in m are. Alii
autem discipuli navigio vene -
runt (non enim longe erant
a terra, sed quasi cubitis
ducentis) : trahentes rete
piscium. Ut ergo descende-
runtinterram, videruntpru-
nas positas, et piscem super-
positum, et panem. Dicit eis
Jesus : Afferte de piscibus
quos prendidistis nunc.
Ascendit Simon Petrus : et
traxit rete in terram, ple-
num magnis piscibus cen-
tum quinquaginta tribus.
Et cum tanti essent, non est
scissumrete. Dicit eis Jesus:
Yenito, prandete. Et nemo
audebat discumbentium in-
terrogare eum : Tu quis es ?
scientes quia Dominus est.
Et venit Jesus, et accipit pa-
nem, et dat eis, et piscem
similiter. Hoc jam tertio
manifestatus est discipulis
suis cum resurrexisset a
mortuis.
252 PASCHAL TIME.
eight days after, as we shall see further on. The
Gospel for to-day tells us of a third apparition, where-
with seven of the eleven were favoured. It took
place on the shore of Lake Grenesareth, which, on ac-
count of its size, was called the Sea of Tiberias, The
seven are delighted beyond measure at seeing their
divine Master ; he treats them with affectionate fami-
liarity, and provides them with a repast. John was
the first to recognise Jesus ; nor can we be surprised :
his purity gave keen perception to the eye of his
soul, as it is written : Blessed are the clean of hearty
for they shall see God} Peter threw himself from
the ship, that he might the quicker reach his Lord.
His natural impetuosity shows itself here as on so
many other occasions ; but in this impetuosity, we
see that he loved Jesus more than his fellow-disciples
did. But let us attentively consider the other mys-
teries of our Gospel.
The seven Disciples are fishing ; — it is the Church
working out her apostolate. Peter is the master-
fisherman ; it belongs to him to decide when and
where the nets are to be thrown. The other six
Apostles unite with him in the work, and Jesus is
with them all, looking upon their labour, and direct-
ing it, for whatever is got by it is all for Him. The
Fish are the Faithful, for, as we have already had
occasion to remark, the Christian was often called
by this name in the early ages. It was the Font, it
was Water, that gave him his christian life. Yester-
day, we were considering how the Israelites owed
their safety to the Waters of the Ped Sea ; and our
Gospel for to-day speaks of a Passover, — a Passing
from Genesareth's Waters to a Banquet prepared by
Jesus. There is a mystery, too, in the number of
the Fishes that were taken ; but what is it that is
signified by these hundred and fifty-three, we shall
» St. Matth. V. 8,
WEDNESDAY IN EASTER WEEK. 253
perhaps never know, until the day of Judgment reveals
the secret. We doubt not but that they denote the
number of tribes or nations of the human race, that
are to be gradually led, by the apostolate of the
Church, to the Grospel of Christ : but, once more,
— till God's time is come, the book must remain
sealed.
Having reached the shore, the Apostles surround
their beloved Master, and lo ! he has prepared them
a repast, — Bread, and a Fish lying on hot coals.
This Fish is not one of those they themselves have
caught : they are to partake of it, now that they
have come from the water. The early Christians
thus interpret the mystery : the Fish represents
Christ, who was made to suffer the cruel torments of
the Passion, and whose love of us was the fire that
consumed him : and he became the divine Food of
them that are regenerated by Water. We have
elsewhere remarked, that, in the primitive Church,
the Greek word for Fish {Ikthus) was venerated as a
sacred symbol, inasmuch as the letters of this word
formed the initials of the titles of our Redeemer.^
But Jesus would unite, in the one repast, both the
divine Fish, which is Himself, and those other Fishes,
which represent all mankind, and have been drawn
out of the Water in Peter's net. The Paschal Feast
has the power to effect, by Love, an intimate and
substantial union between the Food and the Guests,
between the Lamb of God and the other Lambs who
are his Brethren, between the divine Fish and those
others that he has associated to himself by the
closest ties of fellowship. They, like him, have
been offered in sacrifice ; they follow him in suffer-
ing and in glory. Witness the great Deacon Laurence,
around whose tomb the Faithful are now assembled.
He was made like to his divine Master, when he was
^ See our volume of Lent, page 331.
254
PASCHAL TIME.
burnt to death on his red-hot gridiron ; he is now
sharing with him, in an eternal Pasch, the glories of
his Jesus' victory, and the joys of his infinite happi-
ness.
The Offertory is formed from the words of the
Psalm, which commemorate the Manna that heaven
gave to the Israelites, after they had passed through
the Bed Sea. But the new Manna is as far superior
to the old, which only nourished the body, as our
Baptismal Font, which washes away our sins, is
grander than the mighty waves, which swallowed up
Pharoah and his army.
OFFERTORY.
Portas coeli aperuit Do-
minus : et pluit illis man-
na, ut ederent : panem coeli
dedit eis : panem Angelo-
rum manducavit homo, al-
leluia.
The Lord opened the gates
of heaven, and rained down
manna for them to eat : he
gave them the bread of heaven :
man hath eaten the bread of
Angels, alleluia.
In the Secret, the Church speaks, in glowing terms,
of the heavenly Bread that feeds us, and is the Vic-
tim of our Paschal Sacrifice.
SECRET.
Sacrificia, Domine, pas-
chalibus gaudiis immola-
mus : quibus Ecclesia tua
mirabiliter et pascitur et
nutritur. Per Dominum.
We offer thee, 0 Lord, with
joy, these Paschal sacrifices,
wherewith thy Church is won-
derfully fed and nourished.
Through, &c.
To this, the Church, during this week, adds one or
other of the following Secrets :
Against the persecutors of the Church.
Protege nos^ Domine, Protect us, 0 Lord, while we
tuis mysteriis servientos : assist at thy sacred mysteries :
WEDNESDAY IN EASTER WEEK : MASS. 255
that being employed in acts of ut divinis rebus inbserentes,
religion, we may serve thee et corpore tibi famulemur
both in body and mind, et mente. Per Dominum.
Through, &c.
For the Pope.
Be appeased, 0 Lord, with Oblatis, quaesumus, Do-
the offering we have made : mine, placare muneribus :
and cease not to protect thy et famiilum tuum N. quem
servant N., whom thou hast Pastorem Ecclesise tuae prse-
been pleased to appoint Pas- esse voluisti, assidua pro-
tor over thy Church. Through, tectione guberna. Per Domi-
&c. num.
Our Lord says : This is the Bread which cometh
doicn from heaven ; that if any man eat of it, he may
not die} In the Communion- Anthem we have the
Apostle telling us, that Christ, rising from the dead,
dieth note no more. These two texts tell us the
effect produced, in our souls, by the Holy Eucharist :
— we eat an immortal Food, and it communicates to
us its own undying Life.
COMMUNION.
Christ rising from the dead, Christus resurgens ex
dieth now no more, alleluia : mortuis, jam nou moritur,
death shall no more have do- alleluia : mors illi ultra non
minion over him. Alleluia, dominabitur. Alleluia, al-
alleluia. leluia.
In the Postcommunion, the Church prays for us,
that we may receive the effects of the divine Food,
of which we have just partaken ; she prays that it may
purify us, and substitute the new principle, (which is
in our Risen Jesus,) for the old one that was in us.
POSTCOMMUNION.
Grant, we beseech thee, O Ab omni nos, quaesumus
Lord, that being cleansed from Domine, vetustate purga-
^ St. John, \-i. 50.
256
PASCHAL TIME.
tos, Sacramenti tui vene-
randa perceptio in novam
transferat creaturam. Qui
vivis.
the old leaven, the receiving
thy venerable Sacrament may
transform us into a new crea-
ture. Who livest, &c.
To this the Church, during this week, adds one or
other of the following Postcommunions :
Against the persecutors of the Church.
Qusesumus, Domine Deus
noster : ut quos divina tri-
buis participatione gaude-
re, humanis non sinas sub-
jacere periculis. Per Do-
minum.
We beseech thee, 0 Al-
mighty God, not to leave ex-
posed to the dangers of hu-
man life, those whom thou
hast permitted to partake
of these divine mysteries.
Through, &c.
For the Pope.
Hsec nos, qusesumus, Do-
mine, divini Sacramenti
perceptio protegat : et fa-
mulum tuum N. quem Pas-
torem Ecclesise tuse prseesse
voluisti, una cum commisso
sibi grege salvet semper et
muuiat. Per Dominum.
May the participation of
this divine Sacrament protect
us, we beseech thee, 0 Lord :
and always procure safety and
defence to thy servant N.,
whom thou hast appointed
Pastor over thy Church, to-
gether with the flock commit-
ted to his charge. Through,
&c.
BLESSING OF THE AqHUS Dei.
The Wednesday of Easter "Week is the day set
apart, at Kome, for the Blessing of the Agnus Dei.
This ceremony is performed by the Pope, the first
and every seventh year of his pontificate. The Agnus
Dei are discs of wax, on which are stamped, on one
side, the image of the Lamb of Grod, and on the other
that of some Saint. The custom of blessing them at
Eastertide, is very ancient. We find traces of it in
the Liturgy, even so far back as the 7th century.
I
WEDNESDAY IN EASTER 'WEEK. 257
When, in the year 1544, they opened at Rome, the
tomb of the Empress Mary, — the wife of Honorius
and daughter of Stilico, who died before the middle
of the 5th century, — there was found in it an Agnus
Dei, resembling those now blessed by the Pope.
It is, therefore, incorrect to state, as some authors
have done, that the Agnus Dei originated at the
time when the administration of Baptism at Easter
fell into disuse, and that they were meant as symbols
commemorative of the ancient rite. There is very
little doubt, but that, at Rome, each Neophyte used
to receive an Agnus Dei from the Pope, on Holy
Saturday. We may, then, rightly conclude, — and
the conclusion is confirmed by the fact just men-
tioned, regarding the tomb of the Empress Mary, —
that the solemn administration of Baptism and the
blessing of the Agnus Dei were contemporaneous, at
least for a certain period.
The Agnus Dei are made from the Paschal Candle
of the previous year ; of course, a great quantity of
other wax is added to it. Formerly, it was the
custom to pour in some drops of the Holy Chrism.
In the Middle-Ages, the wax was prepared and
stamped by the subdeacons and acolytes of the Pope's
Palace : the Cistercian Monks of the Monastery of
St. Bernard, in Rome, have now that honour.
The ceremony takes place in one of the Rooms of
the Pontifical Palace. A large vase of Holy Water
is prepared ; and the Pope, standing near it, recites
the following prayer :
0 Lord God, Alnughty Father, Creator of the elements,
Preserver of mankind, Author of grace and eternal salvation !
who badest the rivers, that flowed from Paradise, to water
the whole earth I O thou, whose Only- Begotten Son walked
dry-shod on the waters, and in the same was baptised, who
also gave forth from his most sacred Side Water mingled
with Blood, and commanded his Disciples to baptise all
nations ; be merciful unto us, and pour forth thy blessing
9
258 PASCHAL TIME.
upon us who celebrate all these wonders ; that thus, the
creatures which we are about to plunge into this Water , may
be blessed and sanctified by thee, and that the honour and
veneration, which shall be shown to them, may draw down
upon us, thy servants, the forgiveness of sins, pardon and
grace, and finally life eternal together with thy saints and
elect.
After this, the Pontiff pours Balm and Holy
Chrism into the Water, beseeching Grod to sanctify
it for the purpose to which it is now to be used. He
then turns towards the baskets, which hold the waxen
tablets, and recites this prayer :
0 God, the Author of all sanctification, and whose good-
ness is ever with us ; thou who, when Abraham, the father
of our faith, was preparing to slay his son Isaac, in obedience
to thy commands, didst will him to consummate his sacrifice
by offering up the ram that was entangled in the briers :
thou who didst prescribe, through thy seiwant Moses, the
yearly sacrifice of the spotless lambs ; deign, we pray thee,
to bless and sanctify, by the invocation of thy holy Name,
these forms of wax, which bear the impress of the most
innocent Lamb ; that by their contact and presence, the
Faithful may be incited to pray, storms and tempests be
driven away, and the wicked spirits put to flight by the
virtue of the holy Cross hereon marked, before which every
knee bends, and every tongue confesses that Jesus Christ,
having conquered death on the gibbet of the Cross, now
reigneth in the glory of God the Father. He it is who,
when led to death, as a sheep to slaughter, offered unto thee
his Father, the sacrifice of his own Body, that he might
bring back the lost sheep that had been led astray by the
devil's fraud, and carry it, on his shoulders, to the fold of
heaven.
0 Almighty and Eternal God, the institutor of the
ceremonies and sacrifices of the Law I who didst deign to
turn away thine anger from sinful man, as often as
he offered victims of propitiation unto thee : who didst
graciously accept the sacrifices made by Abel, Melchisedech,
Abraham, Moses, and Aaron, which sacrifices were indeed
but figures, yet, by thy blessing, were made holy and pro-
fitable to them that humbly offered them ; grant, we
beseech thee, that as the innocent Lamb, Jesus Christ, thy
Son, when immolated, at thy will, on the altar of the Cross,
WEDNESDAY IN EASTER WEEK. 259
delivered our first parent from the power of the devil, so
may these spotless lambs, which we present to thy divine
Majesty for a blessing, be endued with power unto good.
Deign to bless them, to sanctify them, to consecrate them,
to give them the power to protect those who devoutly carry
them against the malice of demons, against tempests, pesti-
lence, sickness, fire, and enemies ; and make them efficacious
in protecting the mother and her child, in the dangers of
travail. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Lord.
After these prayers, the Pope girds himself with a
cloth, and sits near the vessel of Holy Water. The
ministers bring him the Agnus Dei, which he plunges
into the Water, in imitation of the baptism of the
Neophytes. The Prelates, who are present, take
them from the Water, and place them upon tables,
covered with white linen. Then the Pontiff rises,
and says the following prayer :
0 Holy Spirit ! who makest the Waters fruitful, and usest
them as the instrument of thy greatest mysteries ; who didst
take away their bitterness, and give them sweetness ; and,
sanctifying them by thy breathing, dost employ them for
washing away all sins, by the invocation of the Holy Trinity ;
vouchsafe to bless, sanctify, and consecrate these lambs that
have been cast into the holy water, and have imbibed of the
balm and holy Chrism. May they receive power from thee
against the efforts of the devil's malice ; may they who wear
them abide in safety ; may they have nought to fear from
danger ; may the wickedness of men have no power to hurt
them ; and do thou mercifully be their strength and conso-
lation.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God I who art the
innocent Lamb, the Priest and the Victim ; whom the
Prophets called the Vine and the Corner Stone ; who didst
redeem us by thy Blood, and, with that same, didst sign our
hearts and foreheads, that the enemy, when passing our
dwellings, might not reek his anger upon us ; who art the
spotless Lamb, offered in ceaseless sacrifice ; who art the
Paschal Lamb, become, under the sacramental species, the
remedy and salvation of our souls : who guidest us across
the sea of this present life to the resurrection and glory of
eternity : deign, we beseech thee, to bless, sanctify, and
consecrate these spotless lambs, which, in thy honour, we
have formed out of virgin wax, and have impregnated with
260
PASCHAL TIME.
holy water, and sacred balm and Chrism, intending hereby
to commemorate thy being divinely conceived by the opera-
tion of the Holy Ghost. Protect those that wear them from
fire and lightning, and tempests, and every adversity ; grant
them to be a safeguard to mothers in the pains of childbirth,
as thou didst assist thine own when she gave thee birth.
And as thou, heretofore, didst save Susanna from her false
accusers, and the blessed martyr and virgin Thecla from tor-
ture, and Peter from his prison chains ; so, now, vouchsafe
to deliver us from the dangers of this world, and give us to
merit life eternal with thee.
The Agnus Dei are then respectfully taken, and
kept for the solemn distribution to be made on the
following Saturday. It is not difficult to see how
this ceremony bears on the Pasch ; the Paschal Lamb
is frequently mentioned, and the plunging these
sacred images into the Water is an evident allusion
to the administration of Baptism, which, for so many
centuries, was a prominent feature of the Easter
Octave. The Prayers, which we have somewhat
abridged in our translation, are not of a very ancient
date ; still, the rite which accompanies them, refers
implicitly to Baptism. As we have already remarked,
the custom of blessing the Agnus Dei was observed
several centuries before the abolition of the solemn
administration of Baptism at Easter ; and is an ad-
ditional proof of the fervent devotion wherewith the
Church has ever honoured the mystery of the Lamb
at Eastertide.
On account of their sublime symbolism, their being
blessed by the Sovereign Pontiff, and the solemnity
of their rite, the Agnus Del are considered as one of
the most venerated objects of Catholic piety. They
are sent from the Holy City to every part of the
world. The faith of those who respectfully keep
them in their houses, or wear them, has frequently
been rewarded by miracles. During the pontificate
of St. Pius the Fifth, the Tiber overflowed its banks,
and threatened destruction to several quarters of the
WEDNESDAY IN EASTER WEEK. 261
City : an Agnus Dei was thrown into the river, and
the water immediately receded. This miracle, which
was witnessed by several thousands of the inhabi-
tants, was brought forward in the process of the
Beatification of this great Pontiff.
On this the fourth day, were created the sun, the
glorious type of the Incarnate Word ; the moon, the
symbol of Mary's loveliness,^ and of the Church,
which reflects the light of the Sun of Justice ; and
the stars, which, by their number and beauty, are an
image of the bright countless host of God's elect.
Let us glorify the Son of Grod, the author of all these
wondrous works of nature and grace ; and with hearts
full of gratitude towards Him, who has thus cheered
us with all this magnificent light, let us unite in the
Prayer offered to him, to-day, by the Gothic Church
of Spain.
CAPITULA.
Behold, O Lord, we cole- Ecce, Domino, vesperum
brate, with lights brightly quarti diei hujus officiosis
burning, the evening Office of luminaribus frequentamus,
this fourth daj', whereon, by in quo luminari in finna-
thy setting lights in the firma- mento coeli constituens, qua-
ment of heaven, thou didst si in solidamento leo:is in-
deign to give us a figure of figens, quatuor videlicet
the four Gospels, which are Evangelistarum una te voce
established on the foundation canentium corda illustrare
of the Law, and whose concor- dignatus es : quo te in qua-
dant testimony of thee is a tuor mundi partes et mortem
light to our hearts. They all pro nobis gustasse, et a
unite in telling, through the mortuis resurrexisse, unitis
four parts of the world, that vocibus nuntiarent : te ergo
thou didst suffer death for our potimus, teque rogamus, ut
sakes, and didst rise again in hujus vitio prsofulgeat
from the dead. We, there- gratia, ut resurrecturi me-
» Cant. vi. 9.
262
PASCHAL TIME.
reamur pertingere ad coro-
nam.
fore, pray and beseech thee,
that we may so shine with
grace in this life, as to deserve
a crown when the day of our
resurrection comes.
We take from the Missal of the same Church the
following beautiful allocution in which are celebrated
the mysteries of the miraculous draught of fish, men-
tioned in to-day's Grospel.
MASS.
Procellosum mare fluc-
tuantis ssecuh transeuntes,
Hgnum crucis fiduciahter
ascendamus, et secundis
Sancti Spiritus flatibus vela
fidei committamus. Super
Uttus namque Christusassis-
tens gloriosam sine macula
Ecclesiam figuravit, quando
magnis piscibus indisrup-
tum rete complevit. Nee a
parte dextera jussit deviare
navigium, quod tunc solo-
rum bonorum portendebat
indicium. Subsequamur igi-
tur, sacramenti admirabihs
veritatem diligentes ac te-
nentes principahter unita-
tem. NuUus ad schismata
nefanda prosihat, vel domi-
nica retia nee dum Uttori
prsesentantur abrumpat. Ut
connumerati inter mysticos
pisces, cibus esse Domini
qui nos ex profundo est dig-
natus eruere mereamur, et
specialiter membra ejus ef-
fecti, sacrificiis salutaribus
expiemur.
Having to pass over the
stormy sea of the world, let
us confidently mount upon
the wood of the Cross, and
spread the sails of our faith
to the favourable breathings
of the Holy Ghost. Christ
stood upon the shore, and
gave us a vision of his glorious
and unwrinkled Church, when
he filled the net with great
fishes, and yet was it not
broken. He bade them not
to leave the right side, because,
under this figure, he would
signify the good alone. Let
us, therefore, follow and love
the truth of this admirable
mystery, and keep fast hold
to unity. Let no man pass
over to wicked schism, nor
break the nets of the Lord as
they are being drawn to the
shore. That thus being num-
bered among the mystic fish
of Christ, we may deserve to
become his food, for it was he
that mercifully delivered us
from the abyss : and, whereas
we are, in so special a man-
ner, his members, lot us purify
ourselves by the Sacrifice of
salvation.
WEDNESDAY IN EASTER WEEK.
263
Of all the Sequences composed by Adam of Saint
Victor, the following is the richest in its allusions to
the types of the Old Testament, which refer to Christ's
victory over death. The chant, to which it was sung,
was taken afterwards as the basis of that of the
magnificent Laiida Sion.
SEQUENCE.
Let the old leaven be purged
out, that we may celebrate,
with sincerity, the new Resur-
rection.
This is the Day of our hope ;
the Day of wondrous power,
as the ancient Testament fore-
tells.
It despoiled the Egj^tians,
and delivered from the iron
furnace the Israelites,
Who were treated with
hardship, and made to work as
slaves in clay, and brick, and
picking straw.
Now let us praise the power
of God : now let us give free
scope to our song of triumph
and salvation.
This is the day which the
Lord hath made : the Day
that puts an end to our mourn-
ing : the Day of our salva-
tion.
The Law was the shadow
of things to come ; the end of
all its promises is Christ, for
he consummates all things.
His Blood turned the edge
of the flaming sword, and re-
moved the guard (that forbade
our entrance into Paradise].
Isaac, whose name signifies
laughter, and in whose stead
the ram was slain, was a figure
Zima vetus expurgetur,
Ut sincere celebretur
Nova resurrectio :
Haec est dies nostrae spei,
Hujus mira vis diei
Legis testimonio.
Ha?c .^Egyptum spoliavit
Et Hebr?eos liberavit
De fornace ferrea :
His in arcto constitutis
Opus erat servitutis,
Lutum, later, palea.
Jam divinae laus virtutis,
Jam triumphi, jam salutis
Vox erumpat libera.
Haec est dies quam fecit
Dominus,
Dies nostri doloris terminus,
Dies salutifera.
Lux
umbra futuro-
finis promisso-
est
rum,
Christus,
rum.
Qui consummat omnia.
Christi sanguis igneam
Hebetavit romphaoam,
Amota custodia.
Puer nostri forma risus,
Pro quo vervex est occisus,
Vita) signat gaudium.
264
PASCHAL TIME.
Joseph exit de cistema :
Christus redit ad superna,
Post mortis supplicium.
Hie dracones Pharaonis
Draco vorat, a draconis
Immunis malitia.
Q,uos ignitus vulnerat,
Hos serpentis liberat
-ffinei praesentia.
Anguem forat in maxilla
Christi hamus et armilla :
In cavernam reguli
Manum mittit ablactatus ;
Et sic fugit exturbatus
Vetus bostis sseculi.
Irrisores Elisaei,
Dum conscendit domum
Dei,
Zelum calvi sentiunt :
David arreptitius,
Hircus emissarius
Et passer effugiunt.
In maxilla mille sternit,
Et de tribu sua spernit
Samson matrimonium ;
Samson G-azse seras pandit
Et asportans portas scandit
Montis supercilium.
Sic de Juda Leo fortis
Tractis portis dirse mortis,
Die surgit tertia ;
Rugiente voce Patris,
Ad supema3 sinum matris
Tot revexit spolia.
Cetus Jonam fugitivum,
Veri Jonse siguativum,
Post tres dies reddit vivum
De ventris augustia.
Botrus Cypri reflorescit,
Dilatatur et excrescit ;
of the joyful mystery that
gives us life.
Joseph taken from the well
is Christ rising from the giave,
after being put to death.
He is the serpent that de-
vours Pharaoh's serpents ; but
he has none of the serpent's
wickedness.
Under the type of the Brazen
Serpent, he heals them that
are bitten by the fiery serpent.
The hook he threw out to
the serpent, was taken, and it
tore the monster's jaw. Thus,
the weaned child could safely
thrust his hand into the den of
the basilisk, and the old enemy
of mankind was put to flight.
They that insulted Eliseus,
when he ascended to the house
of the Lord, were made to feel
the anger of him they named
the Bald : David escaped from
his enemy : the scapegoat and
the sparrow were set free.
Samson slays thousands
with a dry bone, and scorns to
take to himself a wife from his
own tribe ; he throws open
the gates of Gaza, and carries
them to the mountain top.
So the mighty Lion of Juda
breaks down the gates of
cruel death, and rises on the
third day ; his Father's voice
awakens him, and he cames
his many spoils to the bosom
of the mother above.
Jonas, the fugitive Prophet,
and the figure of the true
Jonas, came forth alive from
the whale's belly, after three
days.
The vine of Cyprus is again
in flower, and spreads, and
WEDNESDAY IN EASTER WEEK.
265
ripens: the flower of the
SjTiagogue is faded , the Church
is in her bloom.
Death and life fought each
other ; Christ rose again, and
with him many witnesses of
his glory.
The Morning, new and joy-
ous, let it dry up the Even-
ing tears : for Life has con-
quered Death, and it is the
season of joy.
0 Jesus, Conqueror ! Jesus,
our Life I Jesus, our Way !
whose Death killed death I bid
us come, with confidence, to
the Paschal Banquet.
0 living Bread I 0 Water
of life I 0 true and fruitful
Vine I feed us, cleanse us,
save us, by thy grace, from
the second death. Amen.
Sjmagogse flos marcescit,
Et floret Ecclesia.
Mors et vita conflixere,
Resurrexit Christus vere,
Et cum Christo surrexere
Multi testes glorise.
Mane novum, mane Ise-
tum
Vespertinum tergat fletum ;
Quia vita vicit lethum :
Tempus est Isetitioe.
Jesu victor, Jesu vita,
Jesu vitse via trita,
Cujus morte mors sopita,
Ad paschalem nos invita
Mensam cum fiducia.
Vive panis, vivax unda.
Vera vitis et foecunda,
Tu nos pasce, tu nos munda,
Ut a morte nos secunda
Tua salvet gratia. Amen.
266 PASCHAL TIME.
THUESDAY IN EASTER WEEK.
Hsec dies quam fecit Do- This is the day which the
minus: exsultemus, et laete- Lord hath made: let us be
mur in ea. gl^-d and rejoice therein.
After having glorified the Lamb of Grod, and the
Passover whereby our Lord destroyed our enemies ;
after having celebrated our deliverance by Water,
and our entrance into the Promised Land ; let us
now fix our respectful gaze upon Him whose triumph
is prefigured by all these prodigies. So dazzling is
the glory that now beams from this Man-Grod,
that, like the Prophet of Patmos, we shall fall pros-
trate before him. But he is so wonderful, too, in his
love, that he will encourage us to enjoy the grand
vision : he will say to us, as he did to his Disciples :
Fear not ! I am the First, and the Last ; and alive,
and loas dead ; and behold ! I am living for ever
and ever, and have the keys of death and of hell}
Yes, — he is now Master of Death, which had held
him captive ; he holds in his hand the keys of Hell.
These expressions of Scripture signify, that he has
power over Death and the Tomb, — he has conquered
them. Now, the first use he makes of his victory, is
to make us partakers of it. Let us adore his infinite
goodness ; and, in accordance with the wish of holy
Church, let us meditate to-day upon the effects
wrought in each one of ourselves by the mystery of
the Pasch. Jesus says to his Beloved Disciples :
/ am alive, and was dead : the day will come, when
1 Apoc. i. 17, 18.
WEDNESDAY IN EASTER WEEK. 267
we, also, shall triumphantly say : We are living, and
we were dead !
Death awaits us ; it is daily advancing towards us ;
we cannot escape its vengeance. The icages of sin,
is Death : ^ in these few words of Scripture, we are
taught how Death is not only universal, but even
necessary ; for we have all sinned. This, however,
does not make the law less severe ; nor can we help
seeing a frightful disorder in the violent separation
of soul and body, which were united together by God
himself. If we would truly understand Death, we
must remember that God made man immortal : this
will explain the instinctive dread we have of Death,
— a dread which only one thing can conquer ; and
that is, the spirit of sacrifice. In the Death, then,
of each one of us there is the handiwork of sin, and,
consequently, a victory won by Satan : nay, there
would be a humiliation for our Creator himself, were
it not that, by sentencing us to this punishment, he
satisfied his Justice.
This is man's well-merited, but terrible, condem-
nation. What can he hope for ? Never to die ? It
would be foUy : the sentence is clear, and none may
escape. — Can he hope, that this body, which is to
become first a corpse, and then be turned into a
mere handful of dust, will one day retm-n to life, and
be re-imited to the soul, for which it was made ? But,
who could bring about the re -union of an immortal
substance with one that was formerly united with it,
but has now seemingly been annihilated ? And yet,
0 man ! this is to be thy lot ! Thou shalt rise again :
that poor body of thine, which is to die, be buried,
forgotten, and humbled, shall be restored to life.
Yea, it even now comes forth from the tomb, in the
person of our Lord Jesus Christ : our future resur-
rection is accomplished in His : it is to-day that we
are made as sure of our Hesurrection as we are of our
- Rom. vi. 23.
268 PASCHAL TIME.
Death. This, too, makes part of our glorious Feast,
— our Pasch !
Grod did not, at the beginning, reveal this miracle
of his power and goodness : all he said to Adam was :
In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till
thou return to the earth, out of which thou wast
taken ; for dust thou art, and into dust thou shalt
return} Not a word, not an allusion, which gives
the culprit the least hope with reference to that por-
tion of himself, which is thus doomed to death and
the grave. It was fitting, that the ungrateful pride,
which had led man to rebel against his Maker, should
be humbled. Later on, the great mystery was re-
vealed, at least partially. Four thousand years back,
a poor sufferer, whose body was covered with ulcers,
speaks these words of hope : / know that my Re-
deemer liveth, and in the last day I shall rise out
of the earth. And I shall he clothed again with my
skin, and in my flesh I shall see God: — this my
hope is laid up in my bosom. ^
But, in order that Job's hope might be realised,
this Redeemer, of whom he spoke, had to come down
to this earth, give battle to death, feel its pang, and
finally conquer it. He came at the time fixed by the
divine decree : he came, not indeed to prevent us
from dying, (for the sentence of Grod's justice was
absolute,) but to die himself, and so take away from
death its bitterness and humiliation. Like to those
devoted Physicians, who have been known to inocu-
late themselves with the virus of contagion, — our
Jesus swallowed down death,^ as the Apostle forcibly
expresses it. But the enemy's joy was soon at an
end ; for the Man- Grod had risen, to die no more ; and
by his Eesurrection, he won that same right for us.
Henceforth, then, we must see the Grave under a
new aspect. The earth will receive these bodies of ours,
1 Gen. iii. 19. - Job, xix. 25—27. =* 1 St. Pet. iii. 22.
THrKSDAY IN EASTER WEEK. 269
but only to yield them back again, just as she yields
back the hundredfold of the seed that was confided to
her. Her great Creator will, at some future day, bid
her restore the deposit he intrusted to her. The Arch-
angel's Trumpet will give the signal of his command ;
and, in the twinkling of an eye, the whole human race
will rise up from the Grrave, and proclaim the final de-
feat of Death. For the Just, it will be a Pasch, — a
continuation of the Pasch we are now celebrating.
Who could describe the joy we shall experience at
such a meeting ! — our Soul after, it may be, a separa-
tion of hundreds of years, united once more to that
essential part of her being, the Body ! She, perhaps,
has been, all that time, enjoying the Beatific Vision ;
but the whole man was not there ; our happiness was
not complete, because that of the Body was wanting ;
and in the midst of the Soul's rapturous felicity, there
was a trace still left of the punishment to which Man
was condemned when our First Parents sinned. Our
merciful Grod would not, now that his Son has opened
the gates of Heaven, defer till the general Resur-
rection the rewarding the souls of his elect with the
Vision ; and yet, these Elect have not their whole
glory and happiness until that last Day comes and
puts the last finish to the mystery of Man's Redemp-
tion. Jesus, our King and our Head, ^vills that we
his Members shall sing with him, the song that comes
from his own divine lips, and that each of us shall
say for all eternity : / am fin'ufj, and I icas dead !
Mary, who on the third day after her Death was
united to her sinless Body, longs to see her devoted
children united with her in heaven, — but wholly, and
entirely. Soul and Body : and this will be, when
the Tomb has done its work of purification.
The holy Angels, whose ranks are waiting to be
filled up by the Elect among men, are affectionately
looking forward to that happy Day, when the glori-
fied Bodies of the Just will spring up, like the loveliest
270 PASCHAL TIME.
of earth's flowers, to beautify the land of Spirits. One
of their joys consists in their gazing upon the resplen-
dent Bodies of Jesus and Mary, — of Jesus, who, even
as Man, is their King as well as ours, and of Mary,
whom they reverence as their Queen. What a Feast-
Day, then, will they not count that, whereon we,
their Brothers and Sisters, whose Souls have been
long their companions in bliss, shall revest the robe of
Flesh, sanctified and fitted for union with our radiant
Souls ! What a canticle of fresh j oy will ring through
Heaven, as it then receives within itself all the
grandeur and beauty of creation. ! The Angels who
were present at the Resurrection of Jesus, were filled
with admiration at the sight of this Body, which was,
indeed, of a lower nature than themselves, but whose
dazzling glory exceeded all the splendour of the An-
gelic host together : — will they not gladly hail our
arrival, after our Resurrection ? will they not welcome
us with fraternal congratulations, when they see us,
members as we are of this same Risen Jesus, clad in the
same gorgeous robe of glory as His, who is their God ?
The sensual man never gives a thought to the
eternal glory and happiness of the Body : he acknow-
ledges the Resurrection of the Flesh as an article of
faith, but it is not an object of his hope. He cares
but for the present ; material, carnal pleasures being
all he aspires to, he considers his Body as an instru-
ment of self-gratification, which, as it lasts so short
a time, must be the quicker used. There is no respect
in the love he bears to his Body ; hence he fears not
to defile it, and after a few years of insult, which he
calls enjoyment, it becomes the food of worms and
corruption. And yet, this sensual man accuses the
Church of being an enemy to the Body ! the Church
that so eloquently proclaims its dignity, and the glo-
rious destiny that awaits it ! He is the tyrant, and
a tyrant is ever an impudent calumniator. The
Church warns us of the dangers to which the Body
THURSDAY IN EASTER WEEK. 271
exposes the Soul ; she tells us of the infectious weak-
ness that came to the Flesh by Original Sin ; she
instructs us as to the means we should employ for
making it serre Justice^ unto mudification ; ^ but,
far from forbidding us to love the Body, she reveals
to us the truth, which should incite us to true
charity, — its being destined to an endless glory and
happiness. When lain on the bed of death, the
Church honours it with the Sacrament of Extreme
Unction, fitting it for immortality by anointing it
with Holy Oil ; she is present at the departure of the
Soul from this the companion of her combats, and from
which she is to be separated till the Day of the
General Judgment ; she respectfully burns incense
over the Body, when dead, for, from the hour of its
Baptism, she has regarded it as something holy ; and
to the surviving friends of her departed one, she
addresses these inspired words of consolation : Be not
sorrowful, even as others, icJio have no hope /- But
what is this hope ? That same which comforted Job :
In my Fksh, I shall see my God !
Thus does our holy Faith reveal to us the future
glory of our Body ; thus does she encourage, by
supernatural motives, the instinctive love borne by
the Soul for this essential portion of our being.
She unites together the two dogmas, — our Lord's
Pasch, and the Hesurrection of our Body. The
Apostle assures us of the close relation that exists
between them, and says : If Christ he not risen
again, your faith is vain; if the dead rise not again,
neither is Christ risen again : ^ so that the Resurrec-
tion of Jesus and our Resurrection seem to be parts
of one and the same truth. Hence, the sort of for-
getfulness which is now-a-days, so common, of this
important dogma of the "Resurrection of the Body,"
is a sad proof of the decay of lively faith. Such people
> Rom. vi. 19. 2 I Thess. iv. 12. -^ 1 Cor. xv. 14, 17.
272 PASCHAL TIME.
believe in a future Resurrection, for the Creed is too
explicit to leave room for doubt ; but the hope which
Job had, is seldom the object of their thoughts or
desires. They say, that what they are anxious about,
both for themselves and for those that are dear to
them, is what will become of the Soul, after this Kfe :
they do well to look to this : but, they should not
forget what Religion teaches them regarding the
Resurrection of the Body ; by professing it, they not
only have a fresh incentive to virtue, but they also
render testimony to the Resurrection of Jesus,
whereby he gained victory over Death, both for him-
self and us. They should remember, that they are
in this world only to confess, by their words and
actions, the truths that Grod has revealed. It is there-
fore not enough that they believe in the Immortality
of the Soul ; the Resurrection of the Body must also
be believed and professed.
We find this article of our holy Faith continually
represented in the Catacombs : its several symbols
formed, together with the Good Shepherd, quite the
favourite subject of primitive Christian Art. In
those early ages of the Church, when to receive
Baptism was an open breaking with the sensuality of
previous habits of life, this consoling dogma of the
Resurrection of the Body was strongly urged upon
the minds of the Neophytes. Any of them might
be called upon to suifer Martyrdom : the thought of
the future glory that awaited their Flesh, inspired
them with courage, when the hour of trial came.
Thus we read so very frequently in the Acts of the
Martyrs, how, when in the midst of their most cruel
torments, they declared, that what supported them
was the certain hope of the Resurrection of the Body.
How many Christians are there now-a-days, who are
cowardly in the essential duties of their state of life,
simply, because they never think of this important
dogma of their Faith !
THURSDAY IN EASTER WEEK. 273
The Soul is more than the Body ; but the Body is
an essential portion of our being. It is our duty to
treat it with great respect, because of its sublime
destiny. If we, at present, chastise it and keep it in
a state of subjection, it is because its present state
requires such treatment. We chastise it, because we
love it. The Martyrs, and all the Saints, loved their
Body far more than does the most sensual voluptuary :
they, by sacrificing it, saved it ; he, by pampering it,
exposes it to eternal suffering. Let us be on our
guard : — sensualism is akin to naturalism ; se)isualis?fi
will have it, that there is no happiness for the Body
but such as this present life can give, and, with this
principle, its degradation causes no remorse : natural-
ism is that propensity we have to judge of everything
by mere natural light, whereas we cannot possibly
know the glorious future for which God has created
us except by Faith. If the Christian, therefore, can
see what the Son of Grod has done for our Bodies, by
the divine Resurrection we are now celebrating, and
feel neither love nor hope, — he may be sure, that his
faith is weak ; and, if he would not lose his soul, let
him, henceforth, be guided by the word of God, which
alone can teach him what he is now, and what he is
called to be hereafter.
At Rome, the Station is in the Basilica of the
Twelve Apostles. The Neophytes were brought, to-
day, into the Church dedicated to the Witnesses of
the Resurrection, and where repose the bodies of two
out of the Twelve, — St. Philip and St. James (the
Less). In the Mass, frequent allusions are made to
the apostolic labours of these heralds of our Risen
Jesus ; they preached his Name tliroughout the world,
and all ages shall hear their teachings.
274 PASCHAL TIME.
MASS.
The Introit is taken from the Book of Wisdom.
It tells us of the heavenly eloquence of the Apostles,
who, at first, were dumb and timid as little children.
Divine Wisdom changed them into other men, so
that they everywhere published the victory of the
Man-God.
INTROIT.
Yictricem manum tuam, They praised with one ac-
Domine, laudaverunt pari- cord thy victorious hand, O
ter, alleluia : quia Sapientia Lord, alleluia : for wisdom,
aperuit os mutum, et lin- hath opened the mouth of the
guas infantium fecit diser- dumb, and made the tongues
tas. Alleluia, alleluia. of infants eloquent. Alleluia,
alleluia.
Ps. Cantate Domino can- Ps. Sing to the Lord a new
ticum novum : quia mira- song : for he hath done won-
bilia fecit, f. Gloria Patri. derful things. ^. Glory, &c.
Victricem. They praised, &c.
The Collect alludes to the effect produced by the
preaching of the Apostles, — the bringing all nations
into one family. The Neophytes, by their Baptism,
have been admitted into this great unity : the
Church prays that God would preserve them in it,
by his grace.
COLLECT.
Deus, qui diversitatem 0 God, who hast united
gentium in confessione tui various nations in the confes-
Nominis adunasti : da ut, sion of thy name : grant that
renatis fonte baptismatis, they who have been born again
una sit fides mentium, et by the water of baptism, may
pietas actionum. Per Do- have the same faith in their
minum. hearts, and the same piety in
their actions. Through, &c.
Then is added one of the two Collects given in
yesterday's Mass, 2^<^g6 247.
THURSDAY IN EASTER WEEK I MASS.
275
EPISTLE.
Lesson from the Acts of the
Apostles.
Ch. VIIL
In those days : An Angel of
the Lord spoke to Philip, say-
ing : Arise, go towards the
south, to the way that goeth
down from Jerusalem to Gaza ;
this is desert. And rising up
he went. And behold a man
of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great
authority under Candace,
queen of the Ethiopians, who
had charge over all her trea-
sures, had come to Jerusalem
to adore. And he was return-
ing, sitting in his chariot, and
reading Isaias the prophet.
And the Spirit said to Philip :
Go near, and join thyself to
his chariot. And Philip re-
turning thither, heard him
reading the Prophet Isaias,
and he said : Thinkest thou
that thou understandest what
thou readest ? Who said :
And how can I, unless some
man shew me ? And he desired
Philip that he would come up
and sit with him. And the place
of the scripture which he was
reading was this: "He was
led as a sheep to the slaughter :
and like a lamb without voice
before his shearer, so opened
he not his mouth. In humi-
lity his judgment was taken
away. His generation who
shall declare, for his life shall
be taken from the earth y"
And the eunuch answering
Philip, said : I beseech thee,
of whom doth the prophet
speak this 'f of himself, or of
Lectio Actuum Apostolo-
rum.
Cap. VIIL
In diebus illis : Angelus
Domini locutus est ad Phi-
lippum, dicens : Surge et
vade contra meridian um ad
viam, quae descendit ab Je-
rusalem in Gazam : haec est
deserta. Et surgens abiit. Et
ecce vir.ZEthiopus, eunuchus
potens Candacis reginae
.^thiopum, qui erat super
omnes gazas ejus, venerat
adorare in Jerusalem : et
revertebatur sedens super
currum suum, legensque
Isaiam prophetam. Dixit
autem Spiritus Philippo :
Accede, et adjunge te ad
currum istum. Accurrens
autem Philippus, audivit
eum legentem Isaiam pro-
phetam, et dixit : Putasne
intelligis quoe legis ? Qui
ait : Et quomodo possum,
si non aliquis ostenderit
mihi? Rogavitque Philip-
pum ut ascenderet, et sede-
ret secum. Locus autem
Scripturee quam legebat,
erat hie : Tanquam ovis ad
occisioiiem ductus est : et
sicut agnus coram tondente
se, sine voce, sic non aperuit
OS suum. In humilitate ju-
dicium ejus sublatum est.
Generationem ejus quis en-
arrabit, quoniam toUetur de
teri*a vita ejus ? Respondens
autem eunuchus Philippo,
dixit : Obsecro te, de quo
Propheta dicit hoc ? de se,
an de alio aliquo 'f Aperiens
276
PASCHAL TIME.
autem Philippus os suum,
et incipiens a Scriptura ista,
evangelizavit illi Jesum. Et
dum irent per viam, vene-
runt ad quamdam aquam :
et ait eunuchus : Ecce aqua,
quid prohibet me baptizari ?
Dixit autem Philippus : Si
credis ex toto corde, licet. Et
respondens ait : Credo Fi-
lium Dei esse Jesum Chris-
tum. Et jussit stare cur-
rum ; et descenderunt uter-
que in aquam, Philippus et
eunuchus, et baptizavit eum.
Cum autem ascendissent de
aqua, Spiritus Domini ra-
puit Philippum, et amplius
non vidit eum eunuchus.
Ibat autem per viam suam
gaudens. Philippus autem
inventus est in Azoto, et
pertransiens evangelizabat
civitatibus cunctis, donee
veniret Caesaream, nomen
Domini Jesu Christi.
some other man ? Then Philip
opening his mouth, and begin-
ning at this scripture, preached
unto him Jesus. And as they
went on their way, they came
to a certain water : and the
eunuch said : See here is
water, what doth hinder me
from being baptized ? And
Philip said : If thou believest
with all thy heart, thou may-
est. And he answering, said :
I believe that Jesus Christ is
the Son of God. And he com-
manded the chariot to stand
still : and they went down into
the water, both Philip and the
eunuch, and he baptised him.
And when they were come up
out of the water, the spirit of
the Lord took away Philip,
and the eunuch saw him no
more. And he went on his
way rejoicing. But Philip was
found in Azotus, and passing
through, he preached the gos-
pel to all the cities till he came
to Cesarea.
The Church, by this passage from the Acts of the
A-postles, would remind her Neophytes of the sublime
grace of their Baptism, and under what condition
they have been regenerated. Grod put the opportunity
of salvation in their path, as he sent Philip to the
eunuch. He gave them a desire to know the truth,
in the same manner as he inspired this servant of
Queen Candace to read what was to occasion his
being instructed in the faith of Christ. This Pagan,
had he chosen, might have received the instructions
of God's messenger with mistrust and indifference,
and so have resisted the grace that was offered him ;
but no, he opened his heart, and faith filled it. Our
THURSDAY IN EASTER WEEK I MASS. 277
Neophytes did the same : they were docile, and God's
word enlightened them ; they went on from light to
light, until, at length, the Church recognised them as
true disciples of the Faith. Then came the Feast of
the Pasch, and this Mother of souls said to herself :
" Lo here is Water ^ — the Water that purifies, the
" Water that issued from Jesus' Side when opened by
" the Spear : — iv/iat hinders them frmn being hap-
" tisedV Having confessed that Jesus Christ is the Son
of Gody they were baptised as was the Ethiopian of
our Epistle, in the life-giving Waters : like him, they
are about to continue the journey of life, rejoicing, for
they are risen with Christ, who has graciously vouch-
safed to associate the joy of their new birth with
that of his own Triumph.
GRADUAL.
This is the day which the Haec dies, quam fecit Do-
Lord hath made : Let us be minus : exsultemus, et laete-
glad and rejoice therein. mur in ea.
y. The stone which the V. Lapidem quern repro-
builders rejected, the same is baverunt sedificantes, hie
become the head of the corner factus est in caput anguli :
stone: this is the Lord's doing, a Domino factum est istud,
and it is wonderful in our et est mirabile in oculis no-
eyes
stris.
Alleluia, alleluia. Alleluia, alleluia.
t. Christ is risen, who ere- V. Surrexit Christus, qui
ated all things, and hath creavit omnia : et misertus
shewn mercy to mankind. est humano generi.
The Sequence, Victimce Faschali, page 164.
GOSPEL.
Sequel of the holy Gospel Sequentia sancti Evangelii
according to John. secundum Joannem.
Ch. XX. Cap. XX.
At that time: Mary stood In illo tempore ; Mari^sta-.
278
PASCHAL TIME.
bat ad monumentum foris,
plorans. Dum ergo fleret, in-
clinavit se, et prospexit in
monumentum : et vidit duos
Angelos in albis sedentes,
unum ad caput, et unum ad
pedes, ubi positum fuerat
corpus Jesu. Dicunt ei illi :
Mulier, quid ploras ? Dicit
eis: Quia tulerunt Domi-
num meum : et nescio ubi
posuerunt eum. Haec cum
dixisset, conversa est retror-
sum, et vidit Jesum stan-
tem : et non sciebat quia Je-
sus est. Dicit ei Jesus : Mu-
lier, quid ploras ? quem
quaeris? Ilia existimans quia
hortulanus esset, dicit ei :
Domine, si tu sustulisti eum,
dicito mihi ubi posuisti eum :
et ego eum tollam. Dicit ei
Jesus : Maria. Conversa
ilia, dicit ei : Eabboni (quod
dicitur magister). Dicit ei
Jesus : Noli metangere, non-
dum enim ascendi ad Patrem
meum. Vade autem ad fra-
tres meos, et die eis : Ascen-
do ad Patrem meum et Pa-
trem vestrum, Deum meum
et Deum vestrum. Venit
Maria Magdalene annun-
tians discipulis : quia vidi
Dominum, et haec dixit mibi.
at the sepulchre without,
"weeping. Now as she was
weeping, she stooped down,
and looked into the sepulchre :
and she saw two angels in
white, sitting one at the head,
and one at the feet, where the
body of Jesus had been laid.
They say to her : Woman, why
weepest thou ? She saith to
them : Because they have
taken away my Lord, and I
know not where they have laid
him. When she had thus said,
she turned herself back, and
saw Jesus standing ; and she
knew not that it was Jesus.
Jesus said to her : Woman,
why weepest thou ? whom
seekest thou ? She thinking
that it was the gardener, saith
to him : Sir, if thou hast taken
him hence, tell me where thou
hast laid him : and I will take
him away. Jesus saith to her :
Mary. She, turning, saith to
him : Eabboni, (which is to
say. Master.) Jesus saith to
her : Do not touch me, for I
am not yet ascended to my
Father : but go to my brethren,
and say to them : I ascend to
my Father, and to your Fa-
ther, to my God, and your
God. Mary Magdalene cometh
and telleth the disciples : I
have seen the Lord, and these
things he said to me.
To-day's Station is in the Basilica of the Twelve
Apostles ; and, instead of putting before us any of
the apparitions related by the Q-ospel as having been
made to his Apostles by our Saviour, after his Resur-
rection,— the Church reads to us the one, wherewith
THITRSDAY IN EA6TER WEEK : MASS. 279
Magdalene was honoured. Why this apparent for-
getting the very heralds and ambassadors of the New
Law ? The reason is obvious. By thus honouring
her, whom our Lord selected as the Apostle of his
Apostles, the Church would put before us, in their
full truth, the circumstances of the Day of the Re-
surrection. It was through Magdalene and her com-
panions that began the Apostolate of the grandest
mystery of the life of our Jesus upon earth : they
have every right, therefore, to be honoured to-day,
in the Basilica which is sacred to the holy Apostles.
Grod is all-powerful, and delights in showing him-
self in that which is weakest ; he is infinitely good,
and glorious in rewarding such as love him. This
explains how it was, that our Jesus gave to Magda-
lene and her companions the first proofs of his Resur-
rection, and so promptly consoled them. They were
even weaker than the Bethlehem Shepherds ; they
were, therefore, the objects of a higher preference.
The Apostles, themselves, were weaker than the
weakest of the earthly powers they were to bring into
submission ; hence, they too were initiated into the
mystery of the triumph of Jesus. But Magdalene
and her companions had loved their Master even to
the Cross and in his Tomb, whereas the Apostles had
abandoned him ; they therefore, had a better claim,
than the Apostles, to the generosity of Jesus, and
richly did he satisfy the claim.
Let us attentively consider the sublime spectacle
of the Church at this moment of her receiving the
knowledge of that Mystery, which is the basis of her
Faith, — the Resurrection. Who, after Mary, — in
whom the light of Faith never waned, and to whom,
as the sinless Mother, was due the first manifesta-
tion,— who, we ask, were the first to be illumined
with that Faith, whereby the Church lives ? They
were Magdalene and her companions. For several
hours, this was the Little Flock ou which Jesus
280 PASCHAL TIME.
looked with complacency : little^ indeed, and weak in
the world's estimation, but grand, as being the
noblest work of grace. Yet a short time, and the
Apostles will be added to the number ; yea, the
whole world will form a part of this elect group. The
Church now sings these words, in every country of
the earth : Tell us, 0 Mary I what thou sawest on the
ivay? And Mary Magdalene tells the Church the
Mystery : I saiv the Se/pulchre of Christ, and the
glory of Him that rose.
Nor must we be surprised, that Women were the
first to form, around the Son of God, the Church of
Believers, — the Church resplendent with the bright-
ness of the Resurrection : it is the continuation of
that Divine Plan, the commencement of which we
have already respectfully studied. It was by Woman
that the work of Grod was marred in the beginning ;
he willed that it should be repaired by Woman. On
the Day of the Annunciation, we found the Second
Eve making good by her own obedience, the dis-
obedience of the Fii^st ; and now, at Easter, Grod
honours Magdalene and her companions, in prefer-
ence even to the Apostles. We repeat it : — these
facts show us, not so much a personal favour con-
ferred upon individuals, as the restoration of Woman
to her lost dignity. "The AVoman," says St. Ambrose,
" was the first to taste the food of Death ; she is
" destined to be the first witness of the Resurrection.
" By proclaiming this Mystery, she will atone for her
^' fault ; ^ therefore is it, that she who, heretofore, had
" announced sin to man, was sent by the Lord to
" announce the tidings of salvation to men, and
"make known to them his grace. "^ Others of the
Holy Fathers speak in the same strain. They tell
us that Glod, in the distribution of the gifts of his
grace, gives Woman the first place. And in what
^ Jn Lucam, cap. xxiv, * De Spirittt Sancto, cap, xij,
THURSDAY IN EASTER WEEK I MASS. 281
happened at the Resurrection, they recognise, not
merely an act of the supreme will of the Master, but
moreover a well-deserved reward for the love Jesus
met with from these humble Women ; a love, which
he did not receive from his Apostles, though he had
treated them, for the last three years of his Life, with
every mark of intimacy and affection, and had every
right to expect them to be courageous in their
devotedness towards him.
Magdalene stands as a queen amidst her holy
companions. She is most dear to Jesus ; she has
loved him more than all the rest of his friends did ;
she has been more heart-broken at seeing him suffer;
she has been more earnest in paying honour to the
sacred Body of her buried Master. She is well-nigh
beside herself, until she has found him ; and when
she, at length, meets him and finds that Jesus him-
self, still living, and still full of love for Magdalene, —
she could die for very joy ! she would show him her
delight ! — but Jesus checks her, saying : Touch me
not ! for I am not yet ascended to my Father !
Jesus is no longer subject to the conditions of
mortality. True, his Human Nature will be eternally
united with his Divine ; but his Eesurrection tells
the faithful soul, that his relations with her are no
longer the same as before. During his mortal life,
he suffered himself to be approached as Man ; there
was little, in his exterior, to indicate his Divinity ;
but now, his eternal splendour gleams through his
very Body, and bespeaks the Son of God. Hence-
forth, then, we must see him with the heart rather
than with the eye, and offer him a respectful love,
rather than one of sentiment, however tender it might
be. He allowed Magdalene to touch him so long as
she was weak in her conversion, and he himself was
mortal ; but now, she must aspire to that highest
spiritual good, which is the life of the soul, — Jesus,
in the bosom of the Father, In her first estate,
282 PASCHAL TIME.
Magdalene is the type of the soul when commencing
its search after Jesus. But her love needs a trans-
formation : it is ardent, but not wise ; so that the
Angel has to chide her : Why^ says he, seekest thou
the Living among the Dead ? ^ The time is come for
her to ascend to something more perfect, and to seek
in spirit Him who is Spirit.
Jesus says to Magdalene : / am not yet ascended
to my Father ! as though he would say : " The mark
" of love thou wouldst show me, is not what I now
" wish to receive from thee. When I have ascended
" into heaven, and thou art there with me, the sight
" of my Human Nature shall be no obstacle to thy
*' soul's vision of my Divinity : then thou shalt em-
" brace me!" Magdalene takes in the lesson of her
dear Master : she loves him more, because her love
is spiritualised. After his Ascension, she retires into
the Holy Cave? There she lives, pondering upon all
the mysteries of her Jesus' life. Her love feeds on
the memory of all he had done for her, from his first
word which converted her, to the favour he showed
her on the morning of his Resurrection. Each day,
she advances in the path of perfect love. The Angels
visit and console her. Her probation completed, she
follows her Jesus to heaven, where she lavishes on
him the ardour of her love in an unrestrained and
eternal embrace.
The Offertory alludes to the Land flowing with
milk and honey, into which the preaching of the
Apostles has led our Neophytes. But the Altar,
whereon the holy Sacrifice is now being offered, will
give them a still more delicious nourishment.
OFFERTORY.
In die solemnitatis ves- In the days of your solem-
trse, dicit Dominus, indu- nity, saith the Lord, I will
^ St, Jjuke^ xxiv, 5, - Called Z« Sainte Jiaume^ near Marseilles,
THURSDAY IN EASTER WEEK : MASS. 283
bring you into a land flowing cam vos in terram fluentem
with niilk and honey, alleluia, lac et mel, alleluia.
In the Secret, the Church beseeches Grod to accept
the gifts presented him by his new lyeople. The
Bread will be changed, by the words of Consecration,
into a food that will fortify them in their journey
towards their heavenly country.
SECRET.
Graciously accept, we be- Suscipe, qusesumus Do-
seech thee, 0 Lord, the offer- mine, munera populorum
ings of thy people : that being tuorum propitius : ut con-
renewed by the confession of fessione tui Nominis, et
thy name and by baptism, they Baptismate renovati, sem-
may obtain everlasting bliss, piternam beatitudinem con-
Through, &c. sequantur. Per Dominum.
To this is added one of the two Collects given in
yesterday's Mass, page 254.
In the Communion-Anthem, it is the Apostolic
College that speaks by the mouth of St. Peter, to the
newly made Children of God. With paternal affec-
tion, the Apostles congratulate our Neophytes on the
favours they have received from Grod, the author of
Light.
COMMUNION.
Ye, who are a purchased Populus acquisitionis, an-
people, publish his might, nuntiate virtutes ejus, alle-
alleluia : it is he who hath luia : qui vos de tenebris vo-
called you from darkness to cavit in admirabile lumen
his wonderful light, alleluia. suum, alleluia.
The Postcommunion tells us of the grand effects
.produced in us by this adorable Sacrament. It
enriches us with every blessing : it is our support
during this life's pilgrimage, and gives us a foretaste
of heaven, even in our exile.
POSTCOMMUNION.
Graciously hear our prayers Exaudi, Domine, preces
0 liord, thftt by frequenting ^ost^as ; ut redomptiouia
284 PASCHAL TIME.
nostrae sacrosancta commer- these sacred mysteries of our
cia, et vitae nobis conferant redemption, we may obtain
prsesentis auxilium, et gau- the necessary helps of this life,
dia sempiterna concilient. and endless joys of the next.
Per Dominum. Through, «S:c.
To this is added one of the Postcommunions given
in yesterday's Mass, page 256.
The work of the Son of God, the Creation, ad-
vances towards completion. To-day, there appear
living beings in the Waters and the Air. Countless
varieties of Fishes sport in the sea ; and the thril-
ling melody of Birds breaks that solemn silence,
which hitherto had nothing to disturb it save the
wind rustling amidst the trees. Here again, the
visible is a type of the invisible. The Waters of
Baptism are to give birth to other Fishes ; and from
this our earth, souls, like Birds of heaven, are to soar
aloft on the wings of contemplation. This shall be,
when the Creator shall come, in human form, into the
World he is now forming. As our prayer of thanks-
giving for this Fifth Day of the Creation, let us use
the following beautiful one, taken from the Mozarabic
Breviary.
CAPITULA.
Deus qui, in operatione 0 God, who, on the fifth
quiiiti diei reptilia anima- day, didst create the fishes of
rum vivarum, homines sci- the sea, — the figure of them
licet renovates per sacra- that are regenerated by the
mentum Baptismatis, con- sacrament of Baptism ; — and
didisti : et volatilia coeli, the birds of the air, — the figure
animas videlicet sanctorum of the souls of holy men soar-
ad superna volantes, ma- ing to heavenly things, by
nifesta virtutum luce for- their dazzling virtues : grant
masti ; prcebe animabus no- that we may receive from thy
stris invictum de tua resur- Resurrection a consolation
rectione solatium ; ut per which may make us invinci-
THURSDAY IN EASTER WEEK.
285
ble; that thus we, who have te renovati resurgamus ad
been regenerated by thee to gloriam, per quern regene-
lit'e, may, being renewed by rati sumus ad vitam.
thee, rise again to glory.
As the Liturgy of to-day speaks to us of Mary
Magdalene, we will insert here two of the many
Sequences composed in her honour during the Middle
Ages, and sung by our Forefathers during the Easter
Octave. They are exquisite in their simplicity, and
express a tender devotion towards this favoured
Penitent, whose name is inseparable from the mystery
of the Besurrection, and who was so dear to our
Blessed Lord that he chose her to be the first to
announce to the Apostles and mankind the tidings
of his victory over Death.
1st SEQUENCE.
Christ, now changed from a
Lamb to a Lion, rises with his
trophy, the glorious Con-
queror.
By his Death, ho conquered
death : by his Death, he opened
heaven's gate.
This is the Lamb, that hung
upon the Cross, and redeemed
the whole flock.
There was none found to
condole with him, save Mag-
dalene, who pined with burn-
ing grief.
Tell us, O Maiy ! what
sawest thou, when looking at
the Cross of Christ 'f
1 saw my Jesus stripped,
and raised on the Cross, by
the hands of sinners.
Tell us, Mary, what sawest
Surgit Christus cum tro-
phseo.
Jam ex A^no factus Leo
Solemni victoria.
Mortem vicit sua morto,
Reseravit seram portso
Sua3 mortis gratia.
Hie est Agnus qui pen-
debat,
Et in cmce redimebat
Totum grcgem ovium.
Cui cum nullus condole -
bat,
Magdalenam consumebat
Doloris incendium.
Die Maria quid vidisti
Contemplando crucem Chri-
sti?
Vidi Jesum spoliari,
Et in cruce sublevari
Peccatorum manibus.
Die Maria quid vidisti
286
PASCHAL TIME.
Contemplando crucem Chri-
sti?
Spinis caput coronatum,
Vultum sputis maculatum,
Et plenum livoribus.
Die Maria quid vidisti
Contemplando crucem Chri-
sti ?
Clavos manus perforare,
Hastam latus vulnerare,
Vivi fontis exitum.
Die Maria quid vidisti
Contemplando crucem Chri-
sti?
Quod se Patri commen-
davit,
Et quod caput inclinavit,
Et emisit spiritum,
Die Maria quid fecisti,
Postquam Jesum amisisti ?
Matrem flentem sociavi,
Cum qua domum remeavi,
Et in terram me prostravi,
Et utrumque deploravi.
Die Maria quid fecisti,
Postquam Jesum amisisti ?
Post unguenta comparavi,
Et sepulehrum visitavi,
Planctus meos duplicavi.
Die Maria quid fecisti,
Postquam Jesum amisisti ?
Angelus hsec dixit clare :
0 Maria noli flere ;
Jam surrexit Christus vere.
Die Maria quid fecisti,
Postquam Jesum amisisti ?
Certe multis argumentis,
Vidi signa rcsurgentis
Filii omnipotentis.
Die nobis Maria
Quid vidisti in via r*
Sepulehrum Christi vi-
ventis
Et gloriam vidi resurgentis.
thou, when looking at the
Cross of Christ?
His head crowned with
thorns, his face disfigured
with spittle and blows.
Tell us Mary, what sawest
thou, when looking at the
Cross ?
His hands pierced, his side
wounded by a spear, and a
fount of living water gushing
from the wound.
Tell us Mary, what sawest
thou, when looking at the
Cross ?
He commended himself to
his Father ; he bowed down
his head ; he gave up the
ghost.
Tell us, Mary, what didst
thou, after losing Jesus ?
I kept close to his weeping
Mother, and returned with
her to the house : I prostrated
myself on the ground, and
compassionated both Son and
Mother.
Tell us, Mary, what didst
thou after losing Jesus ?
After preparing my oint-
ments and visiting the Tomb,
I redoubled my tears.
Tell us, Mary, what didst
thou after losing Jesus ?
An Angel thus spoke to me :
'*Weep not, Mary! For
Christ hath truly risen."
Tell us, Mary, what didst
thou after losing Jesus ?
I saw many proofs and signs
of the Eesurrection of the Son
of God.
Tell us, Mary, what sawest
thou on the way ?
I saw the Sepulchre of the
living Christ ; I saw the glory
of him that hath risen.
THURSDAY IN EASTER WEEK.
287
I saw the Angels that were
the witnesses ; I saw the wind-
ing-sheet and the cloths.
Christ, my hope, hath risen I
He shall go before you into
Galilee.
It behoves us to believe the
single testimony of the truth-
ful Mary, rather than the
whole wicked host of the
Jews.
We know that Christ hath
truly risen from the dead. Do
thou, 0 Conqueror and King !
have mercy upon us.
Amen.
Angelicos testes,
Sudarium et vestes.
Surrexit Christus spee
mea,
Prsecedet sues in Galilseam.
Credendum est magis soli
Mariae veraci,
Quam Judseorum turbae fal-
laci.
Scimus Christum surrex-
isse
A mortuis vere ;
Tu nobis, victor rex, mise-
rere.
Amen.
2nd SEQUENCE.
Early on the Sunday morn-
ing the Son of God, our hope
and glory, rose from the dead.
He conquered the prince of
wickedness, and returned from
Limbo with all the glory of his
victory upon him.
The first herald of his Ee-
surrection was Mary Magda-
lene.
She bore the glad tidings
to the Disciples, who were sad
for the death of Jesus.
Blessed the eyes that first
beheld the King of Ages, after
he had laid death aside I
This is she, who threw her-
self at Jesus' feet, and had all
her sins washed away by his
grace.
She weeps and prays ; her
life proclaims what her heart
most loves, — Jesus above all
else.
She knows him, before
whom she kneels. What she
Mane prima Sabbati
Surgens Dei Filius,
Nostra spes et gloria.
Victo rege sceleris,
Rediit ab inferis.
Cum summa victoria.
Eesurgentis itaque
Maria Magdalena
Facta est praenuntia.
Ferens Christi fratribus
Ejus morte tristibus,
Exspectata gaudia.
0 beati oculi,
Quibus regem saeculi,
Morte jam deposita,
Primum est intuita I
Hdgc est ilia femina,
Cujus cuncta crimina
Ad Christi vestigia
Ejus lavit gratia.
Quae dum plorat et mens
orat,
Facto clamat quod cor amat,
Jesum super omnia.
Non ignorat quem ado-
rat,
288
PASCHAL TIME.
Quod precatur jam deletur,
Quod mens timet conscia.
0 Maria, mater pia,
Stella maris appellaris,
Operum per merita.
Matri Christi coa3quata,
Dum. fuisti sic vocata,
Sed honore subdita.
Ilia mundi imperatrix,
Ista beata peccatrix :
Lsetitise primordia
Fuderunt in Ecclesia.
Ilia enim fuit porta,
Per quem salus est exorta :
Hsec resurgentis nuntia
Mundum replet Isetitia.
0 Maria Magdalena,
Audi vota laude plena,
Apud Christum chorum
istum
Clementer concilia.
Ut fons summa3 pietatis
Qui te lavit a peccatis,
Servos suos atque tuos
Mundet data venia.
Amen dicant omnia!
prays for, is at once granted, —
the forgiveness of the sins that
weighed her down with fear.
0 Mary ! thou loving mo-
ther ! Thou hast deserved
thy name of Star of the Sea,
because of thy holy deeds.
Thou sharest the name with
the ^Ntother of Christ, though
thy honours are not as hers.
She is the Queen of the
world ; Magdalene is the fa-
voured Sinner : they gave to
the Church her earliest joy.
The Blessed Mother was the
Gate, through which Salvation
came into the world ; Magda-
lene was the messenger of the
Eesurrection, and filled the
world with joy at its tidings.
Hear, 0 Magdalene, our
prayer and praise ; pray to
Jesus for the choir that thus
sings to thee, and draw down
his mercy upon us,
That the Fount of infinite
goodness, who cleansed thee
from thy sins, may purify us
by his pardon, for we are his
and thy servants.
Let all creatures say. Amen !
FRIDAY IN EASTER WEEK. 289
FEIDAY IN EASTER WEEK.
This is the day which the Hsec dies, quam fecit Do-
Lord hath made : Let us be minus : exsultemus, et laete-
glad and rejoice therein. mur in ea.
Eight days ago, we were standing near the Cross, on
which died the Man of Sorrows,^ abandoned by his
Father, and rejected, by a solemn judgment of the
Synagogue, as a false Messias : — and lo ! this is the
sixth time the sun has risen upon our earth since
the voice of the Angel was heard proclaiming the
E-esurrection of this adorable Victim. The Church,
his widowed spouse, then lay prostrate before that
Justice of the Eternal God and Father, who spared
not even his own Son,'^ because he had taken upon
himself the likeness of sin : but now she is feasting
in the sight of the triumph of her Jesus, for he bids
her be exceeding glad. But if within this glad
Octave, there be one day, rather than another, on
which she should proclaim this triumph, it assuredly
is the Friday ; for it was on that Day she saw him
Jilled icith reproaches^ and crucified.
To-day, therefore, let us meditate upon our Saviour's
Resurrection as being the zenith of his own dear
glory, and as the chief argument whereon rests our
faith in his Divinity. // Christ be not risen again,
says the Apostle, t/our faith is vain : * but, because
he is risen again, our faith rests on the surest of
» Is. liii. 3. 2 x^om. \m. 32.
3 Lament, ill. 30. ♦ Cor. xv. 17.
y
290
PASCHAL TIME.
foundations. Our Eedeemer owed it to us, therefore,
that our certainty with regard to his Eesurrection
should be perfect. In order to give this master-
truth such evidence as would preclude all possibility
of doubt, two things were needed : his Death was to
be certified, and the proofs of his Resurrection were
to be incontestable. Jesus fulfilled both these con-
ditions, and with the most scrupulous completeness.
Hence, his triumph over Death is a fact so deeply
impressed on our minds, that even now, eighteen
hundred years since it happened, we cannot celebrate
our Easter without feeling a thrill of enthusiastic
admiration akin to that which the guards of his
Tomb experienced when they found their Captive
gone.
Yes, Jesus was truly dead. The afternoon of Fri-
day was at its close, and Joseph of Arimathea and
Nicodemus took down the Body from the Cross ; they
gave it, stiff and covered with blood as it was, to his
afflicted Mother. Who could doubt of his Death ?
The terrible Agony of the previous night, when his
Human Nature shrank at the foresight of the Cup
he had to drink ; the treachery of one, and the infi-
delity of the rest of his Apostles, which broke his
sacred Heart ; the long hours of insult and cruelty ;
the barbarous scourging, which Pilate devised as a
means for softening brutal Jews to pity ; the Cross,
to which he was fastened with Nails that opened four
founts of Blood ; the anguish of his agonising Heart,
when he beheld his Mother at the Foot of the Cross ;
the burning Thirst, which choked the throbs of life
still left ; the Spear that pierced his Side through to
the very Heart, and drew from it a stream of Blood
and Water ; — these are proofs enough that Death
had made Grod his victim. Dear Jesus ! they are
now but so many motives for us to love thy beautiful
glory. How could we, for whom thou didst suffer
Death, be unmindful of the sufferings that caused it?
FRIDAY IN EASTER WEEK.
291
How could we forget them nmc, for they enhance
the splendour of thy Resurrection ?
He, therefore, gained a true victory over Death :
he appeared on the earth as a Conqueror of a very
different kind from what had hitherto been known.
Here was a fact, which it was impossible to deny : a
Man, whose whole life had been spent in obscurity,
was put to death by the most cruel tortures, and
amidst the insulting shouts of his unworthy fellow-
citizens. Pilate sent to the Emperor Tiberius an
official account of the judgment and death of one,
whom he represented as calling himself the King of
the Jews. What would men think, after all this, of
them that professed themselves followers of this
Jesus ? The philosophers, the wits, the slaves of the
world and pleasure, would point the finger of scorn
at them, and say : "Lo ! these are they that adore a
Q-od who died on a Cross ! " But, if this God rose
again from the grave, is not his Death an evidence
of his Divinity ? He died, and he rose again ; he
foretold his Death and his Resurrection ; who but a
God could thus hold in his power the keys of Death
and Hell? ^
Yet so it was : Jesus was put to Death, and rose
again from the Grave. — How do we know it ? By
the testimony of his Apostles ; they saw him after he
had risen, they touched him, they conversed with
him for forty days. But are these Apostles to be
credited ? Surely they are, for never was there a
testimony that bore such internal evidence of truth.
What interest could these men have in publishing the
glory of their Master, who had been put to a death
that brought ignominy both upon himself and
them, if they knew that he never rose again, as he
promised he would ? We can understand the Chief
Priests bribing the soldiers to say, that whilst they
> Apoc. i. 18.
292 PASCHAL TIME.
were asleep, his Disciples, poor timid men as they
were, came during the night and stole away the Body.
They thought, by this, to throw discredit upon the
testimony of the Apostles ; but what folly ! We may
justly address to them the sarcastic words of St.
Augustine: "What! do you adduce, sleeping wit-
" nesses ? Surely, you yourselves must have been
*' asleep, to have had recourse to such a scheme as
" this ! "^ But, as for the Apostles, what motive could
they have for preaching the Resurrection, if it never
took place ? "In such a supposition," says St. John
Chrysostom, "they would have looked upon their
* Master as a false prophet and an impostor : and is
' it likely they would go and defend him against the
' accusations of a whole nation ? Would they expose
' themselves to all manner of suffering for one who
' had so cruelly deceived them ? What was there to
^ encourage them in such an undertaking ? The re-
' wards he had promised them ? But if he had not
' fulfilled his promise of rising again, how could they
' trust to the rest of his promises ?"^ No : we must
either deny every principle of nature and common
sense, or we must acknowledge the testimony of the
Apostles to be a true one.
Moreover, this testimony was the most disinterested
that could be, for it brought nothing but persecution
and death upon them that gave it. It was a proof
that Grod was with such men as these, who, but a few
hours before, were timid cowards, and now are fearless
of every danger, asserting their conviction with an
intrepidity which human courage could never inspire,
and this, too, in cities which were very centres of
civilisation and learning. The world is made to
listen to their testimony, which they confirm by
miracles ; and thousands of every tongue and nation
are converted into believers of Jesus' Resurrection.
1 Enarrat. in Psalm. Ixiii. - In Matth. Homil. Ixxxix.
FRIDAY IN EASTER WEEK. 293
When, at length, these Apostles laid down their lives
for the doctrines thej preached, they left the world in
possession of the truth of the Eesurrection ; and the
seed they had sown in lands, where even the Roman
Empire had not extended its conquests, produced a
quick and world- wide-harvest. All this gave to the
astounding fact, which they proclaimed, a guarantee
and certainty beyond suspicion. It was impossible
to refuse such evidence, without going against every
principle of reason. Yes, 0 Jesus ! thy Resurrection is
as certain as thy Death. Thy Apostles could never have
preached, they could never have converted the world,
as they did, unless they had had truth on their side.
But the Apostles are no longer here to give their
testimony : the equally solemn testimony of the
Church has succeeded to theirs, and proclaims, with
a like authority, that Jesus is no longer among the ^
dead. By the Church, we here mean those hundreds
of millions of Christians, who have proclaimed the
Resurrection of Jesus by keeping, for now eighteen
hundred years, the Feast of the Pasch. And can
there be room for doubt here ? Who is there, that .
would not assent to what has been thus attested
every year since the Apostles first announced it ?
Among these countless proclaimers of our Lord's ,
Resurrection, there have been thousands of learned
men, the bent of whose mind led them to sift every
truth, and who, before embracing the Faith, had
examined its tenets in the light of reason ; there
have been millions of others, whose acceptance of a
Dogma like this, which puts a restraint on the pas-
sions was the result of the conviction, that the only way
to eternal happiness was in the due performance of
the duties this Dogma imposes ; and finally, there
have been millions of others, who, by their \irtue8,
were the support and ornament of the world, but
who owed all their virtues to their faith in the Death
and Resurrection of Jesus.
294 PASCHAL TIME.
Thus, the testimony of the Church, that is, of the
wisest and best portion of mankind, is admirably
united with that of the Apostles, whom our Lord
himself appointed as his first witnesses. The two
testimonies are one. The Apostles proclaimed what
they had seen ; we proclaim, and shall proclaim to
the end, what the Apostles preached. The Apostles
made themselves sure of the Eesurrection, which they
had to preach to the world ; tee make ourselves sure
of the veracity of their word. They believed after
experience ; so also do ice. They had the happiness
of seeing, hearing, and touching the Word of Life ; ^
ice see and hear the Church, which they established
throughout the world, although it was but in its
infancy, when they were taken from the earth. The
Church is that tree of which Jesus spoke in the
parable, saying, that though exceeding small in its
first commencement, it would afterwards spread out its
branches far and wide.- St. Augustine in one of his
Easter Sermons has these fine words: **As yet, we
" see not Christ ; but we see the Church : therefore,
*' let us believe in Christ. The Apostles, on the con-
" trary, saw Christ ; but they saw not the Church
" except by faith. They saw one thing, and they
" believed an other : so, likewise, let us do. Let us
" believe in the Christ, whom, as yet we see not ;
" and, by keeping ourselves with the Church, which
*' we see, we shall come at length to see Him, whom,
" as yet, we cannot see."^
Having thus, 0 Jesus ! the certainty of thy glo-
rious Resurrection, as well as that of thy Death on
the Cross, — we confess thee to be the great Grod, the
Creator and sovereign Lord of all things. Thy
Death humbled, thy Resurrection exalted thee : but
thou thyself wast the author both of humiliation and
1 1 St. John, i. 1. - St. Matth. xiii. 31, 32.— St. Mark, iv. 31, 32.
•* Sermo ccxxxviii. In diebus I^aachalibus, x.
FRIDAY IN EASTER WEEK I MASS. 295
exaltation. Thou saidst to thine enemies : No man
taketh my life away from me ; but I lay it down of
myself ; and I have power to lay it dmon^ and I
have power to take it up again} None but a Grod
could have such power, none else but a Grod could
have exercised it as thou hast done : we, therefore,
are confessing thy Divinity when we confess thy
Resurrection. We beseech thee, make worthy of
thine acceptance this humble and delighted homage
of our Faith !
In Rome, the Station is at the Church of Saint
Mary ad Martyres. It was the ancient Pantheon of
Agrippa, and had been dedicated to all the false
gods ; it was given by the Emperor Phocas to Pope
Saint Boniface the Fourth, who consecrated it to the
Mother of God and all the Martyrs. It is not known
where to-day's Station was held previously to the
7th century, when this Church was chosen. The
Neophytes were thus assembled, for the second time
within the Octave, in a Temple dedicated to Mary :
it would show them how much the Church desired to
inspire them with confidence in Her, who had become
their Mother, and whose office it is to lead to her
Son all those whom he calls, by his grace, to become
his Brethren.
MASS.
The Introit, which is taken from the Psalms, re-
minds the Neophytes of the passage through the Red
Sea, and how its waters were gifted with the power
of delivering the Israelites. The Church continually
alludes to this great event, during the whole Paschal
Octave.
' St. John, X. 18.
296
PASCHAL TIME.
INTROIT.
Eduxit eos Dominus in
epe, alleluia : et inimicos
eonim operuit mare. Alle-
luia, alleluia, alleluia.
Fs. Attendite, popule
meus, legem meam : incli-
nate aurem vestram in verba
oris mei. ^ . Gloria Patri.
Eduxit.
The Lord hath brought them
forth in hope, alleluia : and
the sea hath covered their
enemies. Alleluia, alleluia,
alleluia.
Ps. Attend, 0 my people,
to my law : incline your ears
to the words of my mouth.
^. Glory, &c. The Lord, &c.
The Pasch is the reconciliation of man with God,
for the Father can refuse nothing to such a Con-
queror as our Risen Jesus, his Son. In her Collect,
the Church prays that we may ever show ourselves
worthy of such a covenant^ by faithfully living up to
the mystery of the Paschal Regeneration.
COLLECT.
Omnipotens sempiterne
Deus, qui Paschale Sacra-
mentum in reconciliationis
humanae f oedere contulisti :
da mentibus nostris, ut quod
professione celebramus, imi-
temur effectu. Per Domi-
num.
0 Almighty and eternal
God, who hast instituted this
Paschal mystery in the cove-
nant of the reconciliation of
mankind; assist us with thy
holy grace, that what we pro-
fess in this solemnity, we may
practise in our lives. Through,
&c.
To this is added one of the Collects
"Wednesday's Mass, page 247.
given
m
EPISTLE.
Lectio EpistolsG beati Petri Lesson of the Epistle of St.
ApostoU. Peter the Apostle.
/. Cap. HI. I. Ch. III.
Charissimi, Christus se- Dearly beloved : Christ died
mel pro peccatis nostris mor- once for our sins, the just for
tuus est, Justus pro injustis, the unjust; that he might
FRIDAY IN EASTER WEEK : MASS.
297
offer us to God, being put to
death indeed in the flesh, but
enlivened in the spirit. In
which also coming, he preached
to those spirits that were in
prison ; which had been some-
time incredulous, when they
waited for the patience of
God in the days of Noe, when
the ark was a building: where-
in a few, that is, eight souls,
were saved by water. "Where-
unto baptism being of the like
form, now saveth you also :
not the putting away of the
filth of the flesh, but the
examination of a good con-
science towards God by the
Resurrection of Jesus Christ,
who is on the right hand of
God.
ut nos offerret Deo, mortifi-
catus quidem carne, viviti-
catus autem Spiritu. In quo
et his, qui in carcere erant,
spiritibus veniens prsedica-
vit : qui increduU f uerant
aliquando, quando exspec-
tabant Dei patientiam in
diebus Noe, cum fabricare-
tur area : in qua pauci, id
est octo animse salvae factse
sunt per aquam. Quod et
vos nunc similis formse sal-
vos f acit baptisma : non car-
nis depositio sordium, sed
conscientise bonae interroga-
tio in Deum, per resurrec-
tionem Jesu Christi Domini
nostri, qui est in dextera
Dei.
Again it is the Apostle St. Peter who speaks to
us, and his instructions are of peculiar interest to
our Neophytes. He begins by telling them how the
Soul of our Redeemer descended into Limbo ; and
how, among the prisoners detained there, were some
of those who had perished in the Deluge, yet had
found salvation in its Waters. They were, at first,
incredulous^ and despised the threats made known
to them by Noe ; but, when the Flood came and
swept them away, they repented them of their sin,
and asked and obtained pardon. The Apostle then
goes on to speak of the favoured inhabitants of the
Ark ; they are a type of our Neophytes, whom we
have seen pass through the Waters of the Font, and
thereby become, as did the sons of Noe, fathers of a
new generation of children of God. Baptism^ says
the Apostle, is not like other washings of the body ;
it is the cleansing of the soid, provided she be sin-
cere in the solemn promise she makes at the Font, to
be faithful to the Christ who saves her, and to re-
298
PASCHAL TIME.
nounce Satan and all that is his. The Apostle con-
cludes by telling us, that the mystery of our Saviour's
Resurrection is the source of the grace of Baptism :
hence, the Church has chosen the Feast of Easter for
the solemn administration of this Sacrament.
GRADUAL.
Haec dies quam fecit Do-
minus : exsultemus, et laete-
mur in ea.
y. Benedictus qui venit
in nomine Domini : Deus
Dominus, et illuxit nobis.
Alleluia, alleluia.
f. Dicite in gentibus :
quia Dominus regnavit a
ligno.
This is the day which the
Lord hath made : let us be
glad and rejoice therein.
f. Blessed is he that com-
eth in the name of the Lord :
the Lord is God, and he hath
shone upon us.
Alleluia, alleluia.
?^. Say ye among the Gen-
tiles, that the Lord hath
reigned from the Wood.
The Sequence Victimce Paschali, page 164.
GOSPEL.
Sequentia sancti Evangelii
secundum Matthseum.
Cap. XXVIII.
In illo tempore : Undecim
discipuli abierunt in Gali-
laeam, in montem, ubi con-
stituerat ilHs Jesus. Et vi-
dentes eum, adoraverunt :
quidam autem dubitaverunt.
Et accedens Jesus locutus
est eis, dicens : Data est mihi
omnis potestas in coelo, et
in terra. Euntes ergo docete
omnes gentes, baptizantes
eo8 in nomine Patris, et Fi-
lii, et Spiritus Sancti : do-
centes eos servare omnia
qusecumque mandavi vobis :
et ecce ego vobiscum sum
Sequel of the holy Gospel
according to Matthew.
Ch. XXVIII.
At that time : the eleven
disciples went into Galilee,
unto the mountain where
Jesus had appointed them.
And, seeing him they adored :
but some doubted. And Je-
sus coming, spoke to them,
saying : All power is given to
me in heaven and in earth.
Going therefore, teach ye all
nations : baptizing them in
the name of the Father, and
of the Son, and of the Holy
Ghost. Teaching them to ob-
serve all things whatsoever I
have commanded you ; and
FRIDAY IN EASTER WEEK I MASS. 299
behold I am with you all days, omnibus diebus, usque ad
even to the consummation of consummationem sseculi.
the world.
St. Matthew's description of the Resurrection is
shorter than those given by the other Evangelists ;
his few brief words on the appearing of Jesus to the
Apostles in Gralilee, are the subject of to-day's Gospel.
It was in Galilee that our Lord vouchsafed to show
himself, not only to the Apostles, but, moreover, to
several other persons. The Evangelist tells us, how
some of those that were thus favoured, readily believed ;
and how others douhtedy before yielding the assent
of their faith. He then relates the words, wherewith
Jesus gave his Apostles the mission to preach the
Gospel to all nations ; and since he is to die no more,
he promises to be with them for ever, even to the
end of the world. But the Apostles are not to live
to the end of the world : how, then, will he fulfil
his promise ? The Apostles, as we said before, are
perpetuated by the Church ; the two testimonies, —
of the Apostles and of the Church, — are inseparably
linked together ; and our Lord Jesus Christ preserves
this united testimony from error or interruption.
The liturgy of to-day brings before us a proof of its
irreristible power. Peter, Paul and John, preached
the Resurrection of Jesus, and established the Chris-
tian faith, in Rome : five centuries after, the Church,
which continued their work, received from an Em-
peror the gift of the temple, which had once been
consecrated to all the false gods, but which St. Peter's
successor dedicated to Mary, the Mother of God, and
to that legion of witnesses of the Resurrection, whom
we call Martf/ra. At the sight of this magnificent
edifice, which for three hundred years, had been
deserted by the pagans, but now is reconciled by the
Church, and holds within its walls the christian
people, — our Neophytes could not refrain from ex-
claiming : *' Oh ! truly is Christ risen, who, after
300 PASCHAL TIME.
"being put to death on the Cross, thus triumphs
" over the Csesars, and over the gods of Olympus ! "
The Offertory is composed of those words of Exo-
dus, wherein Ood commands his people to celebrate,
each year, the anniversary of the Passover. If this
were so for an event, which was but figurative, and
whose effects did not extend beyond this life, — how
fervently and joyously ought not Christians to keep
the anniversary of that other Passover, whose results
are to be eternal, and whose divine reality has put
an end to all the ancient figures !
OFFERTORY.
Erit vobis hsec dies memo- And this Day shall be for a
rialis, alleluia : et diem fes- memorial tQ you, alleluia ; and
turn celebrabitis solemnem you shall keep it a Feast to
Domino in progenies ves- the Lord in yoiu' generations,
tras : legitimum sempiter- with an everlasting observ-
num diem. Alleluia, alle- ance. Alleluia, alleluia, alle-
luia, alleluia. luia.
In the Secret, the Church beseeches God to accept
this present Sacrifice for the forgiveness of the sins
of her Neophytes. But how is this ? — their sins have
been already effaced. It is true ; their sins have
been washed away in the Waters of Baptism ; but
God's fore-knowledge of the Sacrifice that would now
be offered to him, led him to grant his pardon even
before the petition for mercy had really been made.
SECRET.
Hostias, quaesumus Do- Mercifully accept this sacri-
mine, placatus assume : fice, we beseech thee, O Lord,
quas et pro renatorum ex- which we offer for the remis-
piatione peccati deferimus, sion of their sins, who have
et pro acceleratione coelestis been regenerated ; and to ob-
auxilii. Per Dominum. tain speedily the help of thy
grace. Thi-ough, &c.
FRIDAY IN EASTER WEEK : MASS. 301
To this is added one of the Secrets given in Wed-
nesday's Mass, page 254.
The Communion- Anthem joyously proclaims the
command, given by our Saviour to his Apostles and
the Church, to teach all nations, and to baptise all
people. This order is the warrant of their Mission.
The use made of it by the Apostles, and continued
by the Church, during these eighteen hundred years,
plainly proves that He, who spoke these words, is
still living, and will for ever live.
COMMUNION.
All power is given to me Data est mihi omnis po-
in heaven and in earth, alle- testas in coelo et in terra,
luia : go, teach all nations, alleluia : euntes docete om-
baptising them in the name of nes gentes, baptizantes eos
the Father, and of the Son, in nomine Patris, et Filii,
and of the Holy Ghost. Alle- et Spiritus Saucti. Alleluia,
luia, alleluia. alleluia.
After nourishing her children with the Bread of
Eternal Life, the Church, in the Postcommunion,
again prays that they may receive forgiveness of the
sins they commit in this present life, and which
would be to their everlasting perdition, were not
the merits of our Saviour's Death and Resurrection
ever present before the justice of God.
POSTCOMMUNION.
Look down, we beseech thee, Respice, qusesumus Do-
O Jjord, upon thy people : mine, populum tuum : et
and since thou hast vouchsafed quern aeternis dignatus es
to give them a new life by renovare mysteriis, a tem-
these eternal mysteries, grant poralibus culpis dignanter
them also pardon of their torn- absolve. Per Domiiium.
poral offences. Through, «&c.
To this is added one of the Postcommunions given
in Wednesday's Mass, page 256.
302 PASCHAL TIME.
This is the sixth Day of the Creation. Upon it,
the hand of the Son of Grod formed the body of Man
out of the slime of the earth, into which he breathed
a living soul. This was the Creature that was to be
the king of the visible Creation. A simple command
of the Divine Word had sufficed to call from the
earth all the animals that live upon it ; but when,
towards the close of this great day, the Creator said :
Let us make Man to our image and likeness^ he did
more than merely command, — he seems to have
deliberated : he deigned to become the artificer of his
work. Let us adore this his sovereign goodness
towards our race, and ever gratefully honour the
Friday of each week, as the day whereon the Son of
Grod completed the work he began on the Sunday,
by the creation of him who was to be master and
lord of the world. Nor is this the only mystery that
should make Friday dear to us. It was on this same
day, that the Divine Word, having taken upon him-
self the Flesh he himself had made, died upon the
Cross, that he might save his rebellious and lost
creature Man. 0 sacred Day ! Day that didst witness
both our Creation and our Redemption ! — thou
speakest to us of the Son of Grod, and of his love for
us, even more sweetly than of his potcer ! Let us
express all this by reciting the following devout
prayer, which the Mozarabic Liturgy uses on the
Friday of Easter week.
CAPITULA.
0 God, Son of God, who, in Deus, Dei Filius, qui ho-
the sixth age of the world, minem, quern sexto die for-
didst, by thy Blood, redeem masti ex nihilo, sexta setate
Man whom thou hast formed, sseculi redemisti sanguine
out of nothing, on the sixth tuo : et qui tunc bene con-
day, and who, though created ditus male cecidit ; nunc in
in goodness, fell into evil, but melius reformatus surrexit :
has now risen regenerated unto da nobis, ut ita veraciter
•^hat is more perfect : grant, redemptionig iiostrt© jnyste'^
FRIDAY IN EASTER WEEK.
303
that we may so truly prize
the mystery of our redemption,
as that we may for ever glory
in thy Death and Kesurrec-
tion ; and that thou, who, in
the time of our salvation,
didst succour the world and
conquer our death by thine
own, may est deliver us from
the eternal damnation of the
Judgment.
rium perpendamus, qualiter
in morte et resurrectione
tua perenniter gloriemur :
ut qui tempore salutis, mun-
do occurrens, mortem nos-
tram moriendo devicisti, ab
retema nos liberes damna-
tione judicii.
To-day let us hearken to the Church of Armeuia
celebrating the Resurrection. For thirteen centuries,
she has sung the following stanzas, which a Confrere
has translated, for our Work, frora the Hymn Book,
or Charagan. The sentiment is the same as we find
expressed in other Liturgies ; but there is, moreover,
the style peculiar to the Armenian character. The
reader will be pleased with the fragrance of antiquity
which he will find in these verses, whose vigorous and
solemn lyric beauty surpasses that of the general
liturgical compositions of the Grreek Church.
IN RESURRECTIONE DOMINI.
To-day the immortal and
heavenly Bridegroom rose
again from the dead ! To thee
the glad tidings, O Church,
his spouse on earth I Bless
thy God, 0 Sion, with a joyous
voice.
To-day, the ineffable Light
of Light enlightened thy chil-
dren. Be thou enlightened,
O Jerusalem ! for Christ, thy
Light, has risen.
To-day, the darkness of
ignorance is dispelled by the
triple light : an4 th© light of
Hodie resurrexit a mor-
tuis sponsus immortalis et
coelestis : tibi nuntium gau-
dii, o sponsa e terra Eccle-
sia ; benedic voce exsulta-
tionis Deum tuum, Sion.
Hodie inenarrabile Lu-
men de lumine illuminavit
pueros tuos ; illuminare
Jerusalem, quia resurrexit
lumen tuum Christus.
Hodie tenebrae inscitiae
depulsae sunt trina luce, et
tibi orta est lux scientiae,
304
PASCHAL TIME.
resurgens a mortuis Chris-
tus.
Hodie Pasclia nostrum
per immolationem Christi ;
peragamus festum in exsul-
tatione, renovati nos a ve-
tustate peccati, dicentes :
Christus resurrexit a mor-
tuis.
Hodie Angelus refulgens,
e coelis descendens, deter-
ruit custodes, et Sanctis mu-
lieribus prsedicabat dicens :
Christus resurrexit a mor-
tuis.
Hodie magnum nuntium
Adse protoplastse fuit da-
tum : Surge, qui dermis ;
illuminavit te Christus,
Deus patrum nostrorum.
Hodie vocem nuntii ad
Evse aures sonant filise un-
guentiferae : Vidimus re-
surrectum, resurrectionem
tuam, Christum, Deum pa-
trum nostrorum.
Hodie Angeli de coelis de-
scendentes annuntiant ho-
minibus : Eesurrexit cruci-
fixus, et suscitavit vos se-
cum.
Hodie Phase serumnarum
exitus Israel commutasti in
salutis animarum Pascha,
sancta Resurrectione tua,
Christe.
Hodie pro sanguinibus
irrationabilium agnorum
mactatorum, donasti nobis,
Agnus Dei, sanguinem tu-
um salutare.
Hodie pro primogenito-
rum redemptione redemisti
c^ptivos, primitive vitae dor-
knowledge has risen upon
thee, — it is Christ rising again
from the dead.
To-day is our Pasch, by the
sacrifice of Christ ; let us
keep the Feast with gladness,
being renewed from the old-
ness of sin ; and let us say :
Christ hath risen again from
the dead !
To-day a bright Angel came
down from heaven, struck the
guards with fear, and said to
the holy women : Christ hath
risen again from the dead !
To-day, the great tidings
were given to our First Parent,
Adam : Arise, thou that sleep -
est I Christ, the God of our
fathers, hath enlightened thee.
To-day the tidings told by
her daughters, who brought
their perfumes to the Tomb,
sounded in the ears of Eve :
We have seen Him risen, who
is thy resurrection, — Christ,
the God of our fathers.
To-day, the Angels came
down from heaven, saying to
men : The Crucified hath risen,
and hath raised you up with
himself.
To-day, 0 Christ, by thy
holy Resurrection, thou didst
change the mournful Pasch of
Israel into the Pasch that
saves souls.
To-day, thou, 0 Lamb of
God, didst give us thine own
saving Blood for the blood of
irrational lambs that were
slain.
To-day, in place of the
ransom of the first-born, thou,
— the fif^t-fruit? q| life among
FRIDAY IN EASTER ^VEEK.
305
tliein that sleep, the first-born
among the dead, — didst re-
deem the captives.
To-day, the Angels of
heaven rejoice together with
men ; and coming down
from heaven, they say to the
world : Be glad I to-day,
Christ hath risen again from
the dead !
To-day, the Angel that sat
upon the rock and kept guard ,
spoke with a loud voice to the
holy women, that had come
with their spices, and bade
them be messengers to the
Disciples : Be glad I to-day,
Christ hath risen again from
the dead I
To-day, he that is the Rock
of faith, ran with John, the
Beloved, to the Sepulchre of
Jesus, and said, when they
saw it : Christ hath risen
again from the dead I
To-day, let us, also, be
bright in the joy of this Feast.
God is reconciled with us ; let
us embrace each other with
love, and say with one voice :
Christ hath risen again from
the dead !
mientium, et primogenitus
mortuorum.
Hodie Angeli in coelis Ise-
tantur cum hominibus, et
descendentes de coelis an-
nuntiant mundo : Exsultate;
hodie Christus resurrexit a
mortuis.
Hodie vigil secus petram,
thuriferis Sanctis mulieri-
bus, buccinabat voce exsul-
tationis, ut referrent disci-
pulis : Exsultate ; hodie
Christus resurrexit a mor-
tuis.
Hodie Petra fidei et Johan-
nes dilectus vice versa cur-
rebant in monumentum re-
surrecti, quod videntes nar-
rabant : Christus resurrexit
a mortuis.
Hodie nos quoque delec-
tantes clareamus festo hoc ;
placate Deo, invicem am-
plectamur in amore, ac uni-
tim exclamemus : Christus
resurrexit a mortuis.
We are far from having exhausted the treasury of
Adam of Saint -Victor : let us take another of his
Sequences. The one we select, seems the most
appropriate to the Friday of the Easter Octave.
seque;nce.
Christ suffered death on the
sixth day ; ho rose again on
the third. By his victorious
Sexta passus feria.
Die Christus tertia
Resurrexit ;
X
306
PASCHAL TIME.
Surgens cum victoria,
Collocat in gloria
Quos dilexit.
Pro fideli populo,
Cnicis in patibulo
Immolatur ;
Clauditur in tumulo,
Tandem in diluculo
Suscitatur.
Christi crux et passio
Nobis est praesidio,
Si credamus :
Christi resurrectio
Pacit ut a vitio
Eesurgamus.
Hostia sufficiens
Christus fuit moriens
Pro peccato ;
Sanguinis effusio
Abluit nos, impio
Triumph ato.
Morte sua simplici,
Nostrse morti duplici
Pert medelam :
Yitse pandit aditum,
Nostrum sanat gemitum
Et querelam.
Leo fortis hodie
Dat signum potentise,
Pesurgendo,
Principem nequitiae,
Per arma justitise,
Devincendo.
Diem istam Dominus
Fecit, in qua f acinus
Mundi lavit.
In qua mors occiditur,
In qua vita redditur,
Hostis ruit.
Geminatum igitur
Alleluia canitur,
Corde puro ;
Quia culpa tollitur
Et vita promittitur
In future.
In hoc mundi vespere,
Eesurrection, he shares his
own glory with them he
loves.
He is sacrificed on the gib-
bet of the Cross, for his faith-
ful people : he is placed in the
Tomb : he rises at dawn of
day.
To them that have faith,
the Cross and Passion of
Christ are a safeguard : his
Pesurrection gives us to rise
from our sins.
Christ dying for sin, was
our all-sufficient victim : the
shedding of his Blood was our
purification, and the defeat of
our wicked enemy.
Jesus' single Death is the
remedy for ours that was two-
fold : it opens to us the way
of life, and takes away our
mourning and grief.
Now does the mighty Lion
give proof of power by rising,
and conquering the prince of
wickedness by the armour of
justice.
This is the day which the
Lord hath made, for on it the
world was cleansed of its
crimes, Death was slain. Life
was restored, and the enemy
defeated.
A double Alleluia, and with
a pure heart, should be sung
to-day ; for sin is taken away,
and life is promised for the
future to come.
0 Jesus ! give us thy sor-
FRIDAY IN EASTER WEEK.
vants, to rise again when the Fac tuos resurgere
evening of this world sets in ! Jesu Christe • '
May this present Day be one Salutaris omnibus
of grace to all thy faithful. Sit tuis fidelibus
^^®°- Diesiste. Amen.
307
308 PASCHAL TIME.
SATURDAY IN EASTER WEEK.
Hsec dies quam fecit Do- This is the day which the
minus : exsultemus et lae- Lord hath made : let us be
temur in ea. glad and rejoice therein.
The seventh day of the gladdest of weeks has risen
upon us, bringing with it the memory of the Crea-
tor's Rest, after the six days of Creation. It also
reminds us of that other Rest, which this same Grod
took in the Tomb ; like a warrior, who, when sure of
the victory, calmly reposes before the final combat
with the enemy. Our Jesus slept his rest in the
Sepulchre, after permitting Death to vanquish him :
but, when he awoke by his Resurrection, what a vic-
tory over the tyrant ! Let us, to-day, visit this holy
Sepulchre, and venerate it : it will speak to us of Him
we love, and make our love the warmer. Here, we
shall say to ourselves, here rested our dear Master,
after he had died for us ! Here was the scene of
the glorious victory, when he arose again, and this,
too, for us !
The Prophet Isaias had said : In that day, the root
of Jesse, who standeth for an ensign of people, Him
shall the Gentiles beseech ; and his Sepulchre shall
be glorious} The prophecy has been fulfilled. There
is not a Nation under the sun where Jesus has not
his adorers. The Tombs of other men are either
destroyed, or they are monuments of Death ; the
Tomb of Jesus is everlasting, and speaks but of Life.
^ Is. xi. 10.
SATURDAY IN EASTER WEEK. 309
"What a Sepulchre this, the sight of which fills us
with thoughts of glory, and whose praises had been
celebrated so many ages beforehand ! When the
fulness of time came, Grod raised up in Jerusalem a
holy man, named Joseph of Arimathea, who secretly,
but sincerely, became one of the disciples of Jesus.
He was a rich Counsellor, or Senator. He had pre-
pared his own tomb, and the place he chose was on
the side of the hill of Calvary. It was hewn out of
the live rock, and consisted of two cells, one serving
as a sort of entry into the other. Joseph thought he
was labouring for himself, whereas he was preparing
the Sepulchre of a Grod. He only thought of the
debt which every man has to pay, in consequence of
Adam's sin ; but heaven had decreed, that Joseph
should never lie in that tomb, and that here should
originate man's immortality.
Jesus had expired on the Cross, amidst the insults
of his people ; the entire City had risen up against
the Son of David, whom, but a few days before, it had
hailed as its King. Then did Joseph brave the fury
of the deicides, and ask permission from the Roman
Grovernor to be allowed the honour of burying the
Body of the Crucified. He at once repaired to Cal-
vary accompanied by Nicodemiis, and, having taken
down the sacred Corpse from the Cross, he devoutly
laid it upon the stone which he had intended as his
own resting-place. He felt that it was a happiness
and honour to give up his own to the dear Master,
for whom he had not been ashamed to profess, and
that in the very court of Pilate, his devoted attach-
ment. Right worthy art thou, 0 Joseph ! of the
thanks of mankind ! Thou wast our representative
at the Burial of our Jesus ! And Mary, too, the
afflicted Mother, who was present, recompensed thee,
in her own way, for the sacrifice thou didst so will-
ingly make for her Son !
The Evangelists draw our attention to one special
310 PASCHAL TIME.
circumstance of the Sepulchre. St. Matthew, St. Luke,
and St. John, tell us that it was neic^ and that no
man had ever been laid in it. The Holy Fathers
teach us, that we must see here a mysterious dispen-
sation, and one of the grand glories of the holy Tomb.
It marks, as they observe, the resemblance that
exists between the Sepulchre, which restored the
Man-Grod to the life of Immortality, and the virginal
Womb which gave him birth that he might be a
Victim for the world's redemption : and they bid us
learn from this, how God, when he deigns to dwell
in any of his creatures, would have the dwelling to
be pure and worthy of his infinite holiness. Here,
then, is one of the glories of the Holy Sepulchre, —
that it was an image of the incomparable Purity of
the Mother of Jesus.
During the few hours that it possessed the precious
trust, where was there glory on earth like unto what
it enjoyed? Within that silent cave, there lay, —
wrapt in shrouds that were bedewed with Mary's
tears, — the Body which had ransomed the world.
Hosts of holy Angels stood in that little rocky cell,
keeping watch over the Corpse of Him who was their
Creator ; they adored it, in its sleep of Death ; they
longed for the hour to come, when this Lamb, that
was slain, would arise a Lion in power and majesty.
And when the moment, fixed by the eternal decree,
came, that humble spot was made the scene of the
grand prodigy ; — Jesus rose to life, and, swifter than
lightning, passed through the rock to the outer world.
An Angel then rolled back the stone from the en-
trance to the Sepulchre, thus proclaiming the depar-
ture of the divine Captive. Other Angels showed
themselves to Magdalene and her companions, when
they came to visit it. Peter, too, and John were
soon there. Oh ! truly, most holy is this place ! The
Son of God deigned to dwell within it ; his Mother
honoured it with her presence and her tears ; Angels
SATURDAY IN EASTER WEEK. 311
adored in it ; the holiest souls on earth visited,
venerated, and loved it. 0 Sepulchre of the Son of
Jesse, thou art indeed glorious !
Hell witnesses this glory, and would fain destroy
it. The sight of this Sepulchre is insufferable to
Satan's pride, for it is the trophy of the defeat of
Death, the offspring of Sin. He flatters himself on
having succeeded, when Jerusalem is destroyed by
the Roman legions, and, on her ruins, there rises up
a new and pagan City, called JElia. But no ! neither
the name of Jerusalem^ nor the glory of the Holy
Sepulchre, shall perish. The pagans cover it with a
mound of earth, on which they build a temple to
Jupiter ; it was the same spirit that dictated their
raising an altar to Venus on Calvary, and another to
Adonis over the cave of Bethlehem. But all these
sacrilegious efforts only serve to tell the Christians
the exact site of these several sacred Places. The
pagans think by this artifice to turn the respect and
homage of the Christians from Jesus to their false
gods : here again, they fail. The Christians abstain
from visiting the Holy Places, as long as they are
desecrated by the presence of these idols ; but they
keep their eye fixed on what their Redeemer has
endeared to them, and wait, in patience, for the time
when it shall please the Eternal Father to again
glorify his Son.
The time comes. Grod sends to Jerusalem a Chris-
tian Empress, mother of a Christian Emperor : she is
to restore the Holy Places, the scenes of our Re-
deemer's love. Like Magdalene and her companions,
Helen hastens to the Sepulchre. God would have it
so, — woman's privilege in all that happened on the
great morning of the Resun-ection, is to be continued
now. Magdalene and her companions sought Jesus ;
Helen, who adores him as her Risen Lord, only seeks
his Sepulchre : but their love is one and the same.
The pious Empress orders the temple of Jupiter to
312 PASCHAL TIME.
be pulled down, and the mound of earth to be re-
moved ; which done, the trophy of Jesus' victory
once more gleams in the light of day. The defeat
of Death is again proclaimed by this resurrection of
the glorious Sepulchre. A magnificent Temple is
built at the expense of the Imperial treasury, and is
called the Basilica of the E-esurrection. The whole
world is excited by the news of such a triumph ; the
already tottering structure of Paganism receives a
shock, which hastens its destruction ; and pilgrimages
to the Holy Sepulchre are begun by Christian
people throughout the world, forming a procession
of universal homage which is to continue to the end
of time.
During the three centuries following, Jerusalem
was the Holy and free City, and the Sepulchre of
Jesus reflected its glory upon her ; but the East be-
came a very hot- bed of heresies, and God, in his
justice, sent her the chastisement of slavery. The
Saracen hordes inundated the Land of prodigy. If
the torrent of invasion was checked, it was for a brief
period, and the waters returned with redoubled
power. Meanwhile, what becomes of the Holy Se-
pulchre ? Let us not fear : it is safe. The Saracens
themselves look upon it with awe, for it is, they say,
the tomb of a great Prophet. True a tax is imposed
on the Christians who visit it ; but the Sepulchre is
safe. One of the Caliphs presented the keys of the
venerable Sanctuary to the Emperor Charlemagne,
hereby evincing, not only the respect he had for this
greatest of Christian monarchs, but, moreover, the
veneration wherein he held the sacred grotto. Thus
did our Lord's Sepulchre continue to be glorified,
even in the midst of dangers which humanly, would
have wrought its utter destruction.
Its glory shone out still more brightly, when, at
the call of the Father of Christendom, the Western
Nations rose up in arms, and marched, under the
SATURDAY IN EASTER WEEK. 313
banner of the Cross, to the deliverance of Jerusalem.
The love of the Holy Sepulchre was in every heart,
its name on every tongue ; the first engagement drove
back the Saracen, and left the City in the possession
of the Crusaders. A sublime spectacle was then
mtnessed in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre : the
pious Godfrey of Bouillon was consecrated King of
Jerusalem, and the holy mysteries were celebrated,
for the first time in the language and ritual of Kome,
under the oriental dome of St. Helen's Basilica. But
the reign of Japheth in the tents of Sem was of short
duration, owing, partly, to the short-sighted policy of
the Western Sovereigns, which kept them from
appreciating the importance of such a conquest; and,
partly, to the treachery of the Greek Empire, which
betrayed the defenceless Jerusalem once more into
the hands of the Saracens. Still, the period of The
Latin Kingdom in the Holy City was one of the
gloricH of Jesus' Sepulchre, foretold by Isaias.
What are to be its future glories ? At present, it
is profaned by the sacrifices which are offered, in its
Basilica, by schismatical and heretical priests ; it is
intrusted, for a few hours each year, to the Catholics
of Jerusalem, and during that brief interval, it re-
ceives the fervent homage of the true Spouse of
Jesus. When will the Holy Sepulchre be reinstated
in its honour ? will the nations of the West return
to the fervour of faith, and emulate the holy chivalry
of the Crusaders of old ? Or will the East renounce
the schism, which has cost her her liberty ; stretch
out her hand to the Mother and Mistress of all
Churches ; and on the rock of the Resurrection, sign
the covenant of a union, which would be the death-
warrant of Islamism Y Only God knows : but this
much he has revealed to us in Sacred Scripture, that,
before the end of the world, Israel will return to the
Messias he despised and crucified, and that the glory
314 PASCHAL TIME.
of Jerusalem is to be restored by the Jews who shall
be converted.^ Then will the Sepulchre of the Son
of Jesse be at the height of its glory ^ and soon will
this Son of Jesse himself appear, these bodies of
ours will then be on the eve of the general resurrec-
tion ; and thus the final result of the Pasch will be
simultaneous with the last and greatest glonj of the
Holy Sepulchre. As we rise from our graves, we
shall fix our eyes upon our Jesus' Tomb, and love it
as the origin and source of the Immortality we shall
then have. Until the time of our death comes, when
our bodies must be laid in the temporary prison of
the grave, let us love the Sepulchre of our dear
Saviour : let us be zealous for its honour ; and, imi-
tating our forefathers in that earnest faith which
made them its defenders and soldiers, let us get well
into us that portion of the Easter spirit, which con-
sists in understanding and loving the glories of Jesus'
Sepulchre.
The name given in the Liturgy, to this day is
Saturday in albis, or more correctly, in albis dejjo-
n end is ; because it was to-day that the Neophytes
were to lay aside the white robes they had been
wearing during the whole Octave. This Octave had,
indeed, begun earlier for them than for the rest of
the Faithful, inasmuch as it was on the night of Holy
Saturday that they were regenerated, and vested
with these white garments, the emblem of the purity
of their souls. It was, therefore, on the evening of
the following Saturday, and after the Office of Ves-
pers, that they put off their baptismal robes, as we
will describe farther on.
In Home, the Station is in the Lateran Basilica,
the Mother and Mistress of all Churches. It is close
to the Baptistery of Constantine, where, eight days
back, the Neophytes received the grace of regenera-
^ Rom. xi. 12, and several other verses.
SATURDAY IN EASTER WEEK. 315
tion. The Basilica, wherein they are now assembled,
is that from which they set out, during the still and
dark night, to the Font of salvation, led on by the
mysterious light of the Paschal Torch. It was to
this same Church that they returned after their
Baptism, clad in theii' white robes, and assisted, for
the first time, at the entire celebration of the Chris-
tian Sacrifice, and received the Body and Blood of
Christ Jesus. No other place could have been more
appropriate for the Station of this day, whereon they
were to return to the ordinary duties of life. Holy
Church sees assembled around her these her new-
born children. It is the last time that she will see
them in their white garments, and she looks at them
with all the affection of a joyful Mother. They are
most dear to her, as the fruit of heaven's own giving ;
and during the week, she has frequently given ex-
pression to her maternal pride, in canticles such as
she alone can sing.
Sometimes, she thought how they had feasted at
the Divine Banquet, and how they were strengthened
and beautified by the Flesh of Him who is all TTis-
dom and Sweetness ; and she sang these words :
Bt. From the mouth of the I>t. De ore prudentis pro-
Wise Cometh honey, alleluia ; cedit mel, alleluia ; dulcedo
the sweetness of honey is under mellis est sub lingua ejus,
his tongue ; * his lips are as a alleluia ; * Favus distillans
dropping honeycomb, alleluia, labia ejus, alleluia.
V. Wisdom resteth in his S. Sapientia requiescit
heart, and pnidence is in the in corde ejus, et prudentia
word of his mouth. * His lips in sermone oris iUius. *
are as a dropping honeycomb, Favus distillans labia ejus,
alleluia. alleluia.
Sometimes, she was elated with joy, as she saw
transformed into innocent lanihs those who, hereto-
fore, had led worldly lives ; they had now begun a
316
PASCHAL TIME.
new life, and with all the innocence of little children ;
to describe them, she sings this pastoral strain :
Bt. Isti sunt agni novelli
qui annuntiaverunt Alle-
luia : modo venerunt ad
fontes ; * Repleti sunt cla-
ritate. Alleluia, alleluia.
^. In conspectu Agni
amicti sunt stolis albis, et
palmse in manibus eorum. *
Eepleti sunt claritate. Al-
leluia, alleluia.
5j. These are the new lambs,
and they have announced to
us the Alleluia : they have
come but now to the Font ; *
They are tilled with light.
Alleluia, alleluia.
t . They are standing in the
sight of the Lamb, clothed
with white robes, and palms
in their hands. * They are
filled with light. Alleluia,
alleluia.
Again, at other times, she looked, with holy pride,
on the splendid virtues which Baptism had infused
into their souls, and on the spotless purity which
made them beam with light : she thus enthusiastically
speaks of their beauty :
gt. Candidi facti sunt Na-
zarsei ejus, alleluia ; splen-
dorem Deo dederunt, alle-
luia ; * Et sicut lac coagulati
sunt. Alleluia, alleluia.
'^ . Candidiores nive, niti-
diores lacte, rubicundiores
ebore antiquo, sapphiro pul-
chriores. * Et sicut lac coa-
gulati sunt. Alleluia, alle-
luia.
gt. His Nazarites were white,
alleluia ; they gave bright
glory to God, alleluia ; * And
they were pure as milk. Al-
leluia, alleluia.
^\ They were whiter than
snow, purer than milk, more
ruddy than the old ivory, fairer
than the sapphire. * And
they were pure as milk. Al-
leluia, alleluia.
These three Responsories are taken from the
Offices of the Holy Church, during Paschal Time.
MASS.
The Introit is composed of words from the 104th
Psalm, wherein Israel gives praise to the Lord, for
SATURDAY IN EASTER WEEK.
317
that he brought his people out of their exile. By
this people^ we must understand our Neophytes, who
were exiled from heaven because of original sin and
of those sins they themselves had committed : Baptism
has restored them to all the rights they had forfeited,
for it has made them members of the Church.
INTROIT
The Lord hath led forth his
people in gladness, alleluia ;
and his chosen ones in joy.
Alleluia, alleluia.
Ps. Praise the Lord, and
call upon his Name : publish
his works amon» the Gentiles.
??-. Glory, &c. The Lord, &c.
Eduxit Dominus populum
suum in exsultatione, alle-
luia : et electos sues in Ise-
titia. Alleluia, alleluia.
Ps. Confitemini Domino,
et invocate Nomen ejus : an-
nuntiate inter gentes opera
ejus. y. Gloria. Eduxit.
Paschal Week is about to close; the Church, there-
fore, now asks our Lord to grant to us, her Children,
that the joy we have experienced during this happy
Octave may lead us to the still greater joy of the
eternal Pasch.
COLLECT.
Grant, we beseech thee, 0
Almightj' God, that we, who
with reverence have celebrated
this Paschal solemnity, may
happily arrive at everlasting
joys. Through, &c.
Concede, quresumus, om-
nipotens Deus : ut qui festa
paschalia vencrando egimus,
per heec contingere ad gau-
dia reterna mereamur. Per
Dominum.
To this is added one of the Collects given in "Wed-
nesday's Mass, page 247.
EPISTLE.
Lesson of the Epistle of Saint
Peter the Apostle.
1. Ch. IF.
Dearly beloved : Laying
away all malice, and all guilo
and dissimulations, and en-
vies, and all detractions, as
new-bom babes, desire the
Lectio Epistolse beati Petri
Apostoli.
1. Cap. II.
Charissimi, deponentes
igitur omnem malitiam, et
omnem dolum, et simula-
tiones, et invidias, et omnes
detractiones, sicut mode
318
PASCHAL TIME.
geniti infantes, rationabile,
sine dolo lac concupiscite, ut
in eo crescatis in salutem : si
tamen gustastis quoniam
dulcis est Dominus. Ad
quern accedentes lapidem
vivum, ab hominibus qui-
dem reprobatum, a Deo
autem electum et honorifi-
catum : et ipsi tanquam la-
pides yivi supersedificamini,
domus spiritualis, sacerdo-
tium sanctum, offerre spiri-
tuales hostias, acceptabiles
Deo per Jesum Christum.
Propter quod continet Scrip -
tura : Ecce pono in Sion
lapidem summum angula-
rem, electum, pretiosum : et
qui crediderit in eum non
confundetur. Vobis igitur
honor credentibus : non cre-
dentibus autem, lapis quem
reprobaverunt aedificantes,
hie factus est in caput an-
guli : et lapis offensionis, et
petra scandali his, qui offen-
dunt verbo, nee credunt in
quo et positi sunt. Yos
autem genus electum, regale
sacerdotium, gens sancta,
populus acquisitionis : ut
virtutes annuntietis ejus,
qui de tenebris vos vocavit
in admirabile lumen suum.
Qui aliquando non populus,
nunc autem populus Dei :
qui non consecuti miseri-
cordiam, nunc autem mise-
ricordiam, consecuti.
rational milk mthout guile ;
that thereby you may grow
into salvation : if so be you
have tasted that the Lord is
sweet, unto whom coming, as
to a living stone, rejected in-
deed by men, but chosen and
made honourable by God : be
you also as living stones built
up, a spiritual house, a holy
priesthood, to offer up spiritual
sacrifices, acceptable to God
by Jesus Christ. "Wherefore
it is said in the scripture :
" Behold I lay in Sion a chief
corner-stone, elect, precious :
and he that shall believe in
him shall not be confounded."
To you therefore that believe,
honour : but to them that be-
lieve not, "the stone which
the builders rejected, the same
is made the head of the cor-
ner ;" and a stone of stum-
bling and a rock of scandal,
to them who stumble at the
word, neither do believe,
whereunto also they are set.
But you are a chosen genera-
tion, a kingly priesthood, a
holy nation, a purchased peo-
ple : that you may declare his
virtues, who hath called you
out of darkness into his mar-
vellous light. Who in time
past were not a people : but
are now the people of God.
Who had not obtained mercy,
but now have obtained mercy.
The Neophytes could not have received any more
appropriate instruction than this, which the Prince
of the Apostles addresses to us all. St. Peter wrote
this first Epistle to the newly-baptised of those days.
SATURDAY IN EASTER ^VEEK. 319
He affectionately calls them imr-honi Bales. He
urges them to that virtue, which so becomes the age
of infancy, — the vii'tue of simplicity. He tells them,
that the doctrine they have been taught will be to
them a milk, which will feed and strengthen them.
He invites them to taste how sweet is the Lord they
have now vowed to serve.
After this, he speaks of one of the leading charac-
teristics of Christ, namely, his being the foundation
and corner Stone of God's house. It is upon him
that must rest the Faithful, who are the living stones
of the spiritual edifice. He alone can give them
solidity ; and hence, when about to return to his
Father, he chose and established upon earth another
Hock, — a Eock that should be ever visible, united
with and based upon his own divine self, and par-
taking of his solidity. The Apostle's humility for-
bids his developing the whole truth as related in the
Gospel,^ and which tells us of his glorious preroga-
tive ; but, if we remember the words spoken by our
Lord to St. Peter, we understand the whole doctrine
implied in our Epistle.
The Apostle is silent about his own dignity as the
Mocky on which Jesus has built his Church ; but
observe the glorious titles he gives to us, who have
been made members of that Church by Baptism.
Yon are, says he, a chosen generation, a kingtf/
priesthood, a hohj nation, a purchased people ! Oh,
yes, what a difference there is between one that is
baptised and one that is not ! Heaven is opened to
the one, and shut against the other ; the one is a
slave of the devil, and the other is a King in Christ
Jesus, the eternal King, whose brother he has now
become ; the one cut off from God, the other offering
liim a sacrifice of infinite worth by the hands of the
great High Priest, Jesus. And all these gifts have
been bestowed upon us by a purely gratuitous mercy ;
» St, Matth. xvi. 18.
320 PASCHAL TIME.
we had done nothing to merit them. Let us, then,
offer to the Father, who has thus adopted us, our
humble acts of thanksgiving ; let us go back, in
thought, to the time when we ourselves were Neo-
phytes, and renew the promises which were made,
in our name, as the essential condition of our being
admitted to all these graces.
From this day forward, the Church ceases to use,
during Paschal Time, the Responsory called the
Gradual. She substitutes, in its stead, two versicles,
with the Alleluia repeated four times : the formula
is less solemn, but more joyous. During the first
six days of the Octave, which bear an analogy with
the six days of Creation, she would maintain the
customary majestic gravity of her chants ; now that
she has reached the day, whereon the Creator rested
after his work was finished, she gives free scope to
the holy joy, wherewith she is filled.
Alleluia, alleluia. Alleluia, alleluia.
t". Hsec dies, quam fecit ^''. This is the day which
Dominus : exsultemus et the Lord hath made : let us
laetemur in ea. be glad, and rejoice therein.
Alleluia. Alleluia.
v. Laudate pueri Domi- V. Praise the Lord, ye his
num, laudate Nomen Do- servants ; praise the Name of
mini. the Lord.
The Sequence, Vidimce Paschali, page 164.
GOSPEL.
Sequentia sancti Evangelii Sequel of the holy Gospel
secundum Joannem. according to John.
Cap. XX. Ch. XX.
Inillo tempore : Una sab- At that time : The first day
bati Maria Magdalene venit of the week, Mary Magdalene
mane, cum adhuc tenebri© cometh early, while it was yd
essent, ad monumentum : et dark, to the Sepulchre : and
vidit lapidem sublatum a she saw the stone taken away
pionumento. Cucurrit ergo, from the sepulchre. She ran,
SATURDAY IN EASTER WEEK : MASS.
321
therefore, and cometh to Simon
Peter, and to the other disci-
ple whom Jesus loved, and
saith to them : They have
taken away the Lord out of
the sepulchre, and we know
not where they have laid him.
Peter therefore went out, and
that other disciple, and they
came to the sepulchre. And
they both ran together, and
that other disciple did overrun
Peter, and came first to the
sepulchre. And when he
stooped down, he saw the linen
cloths lying : but yet he went
not in. Then cometh Simon
Peter, following him, and went
into the sepulchre, and saw
the linen cloths lying. And
a napkin, that had been about
his head, not Ipng with the
linen cloths, but apart, wrapt
up into one place. Then that
other disciple also went in, who
came first to the sepulchre :
and he saw, and believed ; for
as yet they knew not the Scrip-
ture, that he must rise again
from the dead.
et venit ad Simonem Pe-
trum, et ad alium discipu-
lum, quern amabat Jesus, et
dicit iUis : Tulerunt Domi-
num de monumento, et ne-
scimus ubi posuerunt eum.
Exiit ergo Petrus, et ille
alius discipulus, et vene-
runt ad monumentum. Cur-
rebant autem duo simul, et
ille alius discipulus prsecu-
currit citius Petro, et venit
primus ad monumentum.
Et cum se inclinasset, vidit
posita linteamina, non ta-
men introivit. Venit ergo
Simon Petrus sequens eum,
et introivit in monumen-
tum, et vidit linteamina
posita, et sudarium, quod
fuerat super caput ejus, non
cum linteaminibus positum,
sed separatim involutum
in unum locum. Tunc ergo
introivit et ille discipulus,
qui venerat primus ad mo-
numentum : et vidit, et cre-
didit : nondum enim sciebant
Scripturam, quia oportebat
eum a mortuis resurgere.
This incident, which happened on the morning of
our Lord's Resurrection, has been reserved by the
Church for to-day's liturgy, because it again brings
St. Peter before our notice. This is the last day
of the Neophytes assisting at the holy Sacrifice in
their white garments ; after this, there will be nothing
to distinguish them, exteriorly, from the rest of the
Faithful. It is important, therefore, to give them
a clear idea of the foundation of the Church, — a
foundation, without which the Church could not
exist, and upon which tltey must rest, if they would
persevere in the faith wherein they have been
baptised. They cannot obtain salvation, unless they
322 PASCHAL TIME.
keep their faith inviolate. Now they alone have this
firm and pure faith, who are docile to the teachings
of Peter, and recognise him as the E-ock on which
our Lord has built his Church. In the episode re-
lated in our Gospel, we are taught by an Apostle what
respect and deference are due to him, whom Christ
appointed to feed both Icunb^ and sheep, ^ that is, the
whole flock. Peter and John run together to the
Sepulchre ; John, the younger of the two, arrives
there before Peter ; he looks in, but does not enter.
What means this humble reserve of the Disciple who
was so specially beloved of Jesus ? For whom does
he wait ? — He waits for him, whom the Master has
placed over all, and who is to act as their Head.
Peter, at length, comes to the Sepulchre ; he goes in ;
he examines the holy place ; and then, John also
enters. It is John himself who writes this, and gives
us the admirable instruction embodied in what he
relates. Yes, it is for Peter to lead the way, and
judge and decide as Master ; it is the Christian's
duty to follow him, to listen to his teachings, to
honour and obey him. How can we have any diffi-
culty in doing this, when we see an Apostle, and such
an Apostle, behaving thus to Peter, and this, too,
at a time when Peter had received the 2)romise only
of the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, which were
not really given to him until some days after ?
The words of the Oifertory are taken from the
1 17th Psalm, which is, by excellence, the Psalm of the
Resurrection. They hail the divine conqueror, who
rises like a bright star, and gladdens us with his
benediction.
OFFERTORY.
Benedictus qui venit in Blessed be he that cometh
nomine Domini : benedixi- in the name of the Lord : we
mus vobis do domo Domini : have blessed you out of the
^ St. John, xxi. 15, 17.
SATURDAY IN EASTER WEEK : MASS. 323
house of the Lord : the Lord Deus Dominus et illuxit
is God, and he hath shone nobis. Alleluia, alleluia,
upon us. Alleluia, alleluia.
In the Secret, the Church teaches us, that the
mysteries we celebrate during the year exercise a last-
ing influence upon us. Each Feast, as it comes
round to us, brings with it fresh life and joy ; and it
is by its annual celebration, that the Church applies to
her children the graces, which each mystery brought
with it at the actual time of its accompKshment.
SECRET.
Grant, we beseech thee. Concede, qusesumus Do-
O Lord, that we may always mine, semper nos per haec
gratefully solemnise the Pas- mysteria Paschalia gratu-
chal mysteries, and that the lari : ut continua nostrae
continual celebration of the reparationis operatio, per-
sacrament of our redemption petuse nobis fiat causa Iseti-
may be to us a subject of per- tiae. Per Dominum.
petual joy. Through, &c.
To this is added one of the Secrets given in Wed-
nesday's Mass, page 254.
Our Neophytes are to lay aside, to-day, their white
robes ; but there is a garment which they are never
to put away : — it is Christ himself, who became united
with them by Baptism, as the Apostle of the Grentiles
here reminds them :
COMMUNION.
All you that have been bap- Omnes qui in Christo bap-
tised in Christ, have put on tizati estis, Christum in-
Christ, alleluia. duistis, alleluia.
The Church returns once more, in her Postcom-
munion, to the subject of Faith. Without Faith
there is no Christianity : now, it is the Eucharist
which has the power of fostering it in the soul, for
the Eucharist is the Mystery of Faith.
POSTCOMMUNION.
Being strengthened, O Lord, Redemptionis nostrae mu-
by the sacrameut of our re- nere vegetati, quaesumua
324 PASCHAL TIME.
Domine : ut hoc perpetuse demption, grant that through
salutis auxilio fides semper this help to eternal salvation,
vera proficiat. Per Domi- a true faith may always be
num. increased in us. Through, &c.
To this is added one of the Postcommunions given
in Wednesday's Mass, j9«^e 256.
THE TAKINGl OFF THE WHITE
QAEMENTS.
The Vespers, on each of the days of this week,
were celebrated in the manner we described on the
Sunday. There was a numerous attendance, each
day, in the Basilica ; and the Faithful thus testified
their affectionate interest in the white-robed Neo-
phytes, who visited, during the Vespers of each day,
the sacred Font where they had been born to the
new life of grace. This afternoon, the concourse of
people is greater than on the preceding days, for an
interesting ceremony is to take place. The Neophytes
are about to lay aside the outward symbol of in-
nocence, which they have been wearing ; but they
are, also, to give a solemn promise to maintain the
inward purity of soul. By this public ceremony the
Church restored the newly baptised to the duties of
their ordinary station of life : they must now return
to the world, and comport themselves as Christians, —
disciples of Christ, — for such they are.
The visit to the Baptistery has been made, and the
Office of Vespers has terminated with the Station
before the Crucifix of the Chancel : the Neophytes
are then led to a room adjoining the Cathedral, in
which is prepared a large vessel of water. The
Bishop goes to his throne. Seeing the newly baptised
standing around him, he addresses them in a dis-
course, wherein he expresses the joy he feels, as
Pastor, at the increase wherewith it has pleased G-o(j
SATURDAY IN EASTER WEEK. 325
to bless his much-loved flock. He congratulates
them upon the grace they have received ; and then,
alluding to the main object of their coming together
this afternoon, — that is the laying aside the white
garments they received after Baptism, — he warns
them, with paternal affection, to keep a guard over
themselves, and see that they never sully the purity
of soul, of which their white robes have been but an
emblem.
These were lent to the Neophytes by the Church,
as we said on Holy Saturday ; they come now to re-
store them. The water, in which the garments are
to be washed, is blessed by the Pontiff. As soon as
he has finished the address, to which we have just
been alluding, he says a Prayer, wherein he speaks
of the power, given to this element, of cleansing the
stains of the soul herself. Then turning to the
Neophytes, he recites the 116th Psalm, in thanks-
giving ; to which he adds this beautiful Prayer :
Visit, 0 Lord, thy people with thy salvation I Behold it
now illumined with the Paschal joy I But do thou vouchsafe
to preserve in our Neophytes what thou thyself hast wrought
in them unto salvation. Grant, that whilst laying aside
these whito robes, the change may be but exterior ; that the
spotless purity of Christ, which the eye cannot see, may
ever be in their souls, so that they may never lose it ; and
that thy grace may assist them to gain, by good works, that
immortal life, whereuuto the Paschal mystery obliges us to
aspire.
After this, aided by their Sponsors, — the men by
their godfathers, the women by their godmothers, —
the Neophytes took off their white garments, which
were then consigned to those whose duty it was to
wash and keep them. The Sponsors having assisted
their spiritual children to put on their ordinary dress,
they led them to the Pontiff, who distributed to each
an image of the Divine Lamb, stamped on wax : it
was the Paschal symbol.
326 PASCHAL TIME.
A last vestige of this interesting ceremony is the
distribution of the Agnus Dei. This distribution is
made by the Pope, on this day, in Eome, the first and
every seventh year of his Pontificate. We have
already described the rite observed in their blessing,
and we then drew the attention of our readers to the
allusion to the ancient form of Baptism by Immer-
sion. The Agnus Dei are blessed on the Wednesday
of Easter Week : on the following Saturday, there is
what is called Papal Chapel in the Palace. After
High Mass, the Agnus Bei are brought before the
Pontiff, who is seated on a throne. The Prelate, who
presents them, sings the following words, which are
taken from one of the beautiful Responsories given
above : " Holy Father ! These are the new lambs,
" and they have announced to us the Alleluia : they
" have come but now to the Font : they are filled
" with light." The Pope answers : Deo gratias ! They
who are happy enough to witness this function, are
forcibly reminded of the ancient ceremony we have
been describing, and in which the newly baptised
were led before the Bishop, as the innocent lambs
whom he so gladly welcomed. The Pope then dis-
tributes the Agnus Dei to the Cardinals, Prelates,
and others presented by the Master of ceremonies :
and thus is concluded this function, which is interest-
ing, not only because of its signification, but also
because of the sacred object wherewith it consoles us.
We cannot conclude this last day of our Neophytes'
Octave, without saying a few words upon the An-
notine Pasch. It was the anniversary day of the
previous Easter Sunday, and was looked upon as the
especial Feast of those who were a year old in the
grace of their Baptism. The Mass was solemnly
celebrated for them. The remembrance of the happy
day when they were made children of God, was thus
brought before them ; and, of course, their families
kept the glorious anniversary as a glad holiday. If it
SATURDAY IN EASTER WEEK. 327
came during Lent the Annotinc was not kept, or it
was deferred till Easter Monday. It would seem,
that, in some places, in order to avoid these continual
changes, the Anniversary of Baptism was regularly
fixed for this the Saturday of Easter Week. When
the custom of administering Baptism at Easter fell
into disuse, the An not in e Pcusch also ceased to be ob-
served : however, we find traces of it as late as the
13th century. The custom of looking on the anni-
versary of our Baptism as a feast-day, is one of those
which may be called a christian instinct. The pagans
made much of the day which had given them tem-
poral birth ; surely we ought to show quite as much
respect to the anniversary of our Baptism, when we
were born to the supernatural life. St. Louis used
to sign himself Louiis of Poi-ss//, because it was in
the little church of Poissy that he had received
Baptism. Let us learn from this holy King to love
the day and the place of our Baptism, that is, of
our being made children of God and his Church.
We have been considering, during the preceding
days of this week, the divine work of the Creation.
We began with the Sunday, whereon light was
called forth from nothingness ; and in this we recog-
nised a type of the mystery of the EesuiTection ; for
our Jesus, the uncreated Light, was to rise from his
grave on that same day of tlie week. This is Satur-
day,— the seventh day, — the day whereon the Lord
rested, after the Creation. But it is also the day,
whereon this same Lord rested in his glorious Sepul-
chre. Let us, then, honour this second mystery,
which, even more than the first, reveals to us the
love of the Son of God for man. Let us give him
our Saturday's homage, by addressing him in these
words of the Mozarabic Breviary.
328
PASCHAL TIME.
CAPITULA.
Christe, Dei Fili, nostra-
rum requies animarum, qui
otium Sabbati requiescens
in tumulo complevisti : ut
in quo olim requieveras ab
omni opere faciendo, in eo
etiam requiesceres in sepul-
claro, hunc nobis veraciter
sanctificans diem, cujus ves-
perum in prima nobis Sab-
bati, quae et octava dies
est, lucescit : ut, qui dixe-
ras de tenebris lumen splen-
descere, manifesto a mor-
tuis resurgens appareres in
carne : dirige cursum vitae
nostrse in viam sanctifica-
tionis omnimodae, qualiter
ita in his septem diebus,
quibus mundus iste peragi-
tur, et in quibus quotidie
nobis Agnus occiditur, et
Pascba quotidie celebratur,
salubriori vitse curriculo
conversemur : ut absque
fermento malitise verum
Pascha mereamur quotidie
celebrare : et ita ab omni-
bus oporibus nostris in hoe
die sanctificatione tibi pla-
cita quiescamus, ut octavi
illius aeterni diei resurrec-
tionis gloria consolemur.
0 Christ, the Son of God,
thou rest of our souls, who
didst observe the repose of the
Sabbath by resting in the
Tomb, that thou, who on this
day, didst heretofore rest from
all the work of thy creation,
mightest also, on the same,
rest in the Sepulchre ; hereby
truly keeping holy that day,
whose evening is the begin-
ning of our first day of the
Sabbath, which is likewise the
eighth day ; that thou, who
commandedst light to shine
forth out of darkness, mightest
by thy Eesurrection, appear
in the flesh : so direct the
course of our lives in the path
of all holiness, that in these
seven days of the world's
duration, on each of which the
Lamb is slain and the Pasch
is celebrated for us, we may
live in such wise as to secure
our salvation, and may daily
be found worthy to celebrate
the true Pasch, pure from the
leaven of malice : that thus,
by a holiness pleasing to thee,
we may so rest, on this day,
from all our works, that we
may deserve to receive the
glory of the Resurrection,
on the eighth, that is, the
eternal day.
The Greek Church shall provide us to-day, with a
Hymn in honour of the E-esurrection. We take the
following stanzas from its Liturgy for Easter Sunday.
SATURDAY IN EASTER WEEK.
329
IN DOMINICA RESURRECTI0NI8.
Thou didst descend, 0 Christ,
into the bo^rels of the earth,
and break the eternal bolts
which held thy holy ones cap-
tives ; and, on the third day,
like Jonas, thou didst rise from
the Tomb.
Thou, 0 Jesus, didst leave
unbroken the seal when rising
from the Tomb, as thou didst
leave Mary's virginity perfect
when born of her. Thou
openest to us the gates of
heaven.
My Saviour I thou freely
offeredst thyself to the Father
a living host, for, as God, thou
couldst not be slain ; and, hj
thy rising from the Tomb,
thou didst raise up all the
children of Adam.
Thou didst truly descend
into the Tomb, O Immortal
God I But thou didst break
the power of hell, and rise as
a Conqueror. Thou saidst to
the women, that brought their
perfumes : Jlail ! Thou gavest
Peace to thine Apostles, O thou
that givest resurrection to the
fallen !
We celebrate the destruction
of Death, the overthrow of
hell, the first-fruits of a new
and eternal life. With joy, we
sing hymns to the Creator,
the one only God of our
Fathers, the infinitely glorious
One.
0 truly sacred and festive,
saving and bright night, the
harbinger of the sunny day of
the Resurrection, where the
Light Eternal rose from the
In imam terram descen-
disti, ac aeternas contrivisti,
Christe, seras, quae in com-
pedibus vinctos captivabant ;
et triduanus, sicut e cete
Jonas, ex sepulchre ortus es.
Sigilla intacta servans, e
sepulchre erectus es, Christe,
qui in partu tuo uon Iseseras
claves Yirginis ; et Paradisi
portas nobis aperuisti.
Salvator meus, viventem
et non immolatam hostiam,
quatenus Deus es, teipsum
Patri sponte libera obtulisti ;
exsurgensque e sepulchre
una suscitasti universum
Adam.
In sepulchrum quidem
descendisti, immortalis ; in •
ferni vero confregisti virtu -
tem : et tanquam victor sur-
rexisti, Christe Deus ; mu-
lieribus aromatof eris dixisti :
Salvete I ApostoUsque tuis
pacem dedisti, qui lapsis
prsebes resurrectionem.
Mortis concelebramus in-
teritum, infemi eversionem,
alterius vitae, et quidem
aeternaj, primitias ; et sal-
tantes in hjTnnis cantamus
auctorem, unicum a Patribus
celebratum Deum, et super-
gloriosum.
Vere sacra et plane festiva
est, ipsa salutaris nox et
splendescens, diei rutilantis
ac resurrectionis prsenuntia,
in qua lux aeterna ex sepul-
330
PASCHAL TIME.
chro corporaliter cunctis il-
luxit.
Yenite, ut novo genimini
vitis, divinDe Isetitiae commu-
nicemus, die resurrectionis
regnique Christi prseclara,
laudantes emn in hymnis
tanquam Deum in saecula.
Leva in circuitu oculos
tuos, Sion, et vide ; ecce
enim splendore divino ra-
diantes sicut lampades, ve-
nerunt tibi filii ab Occidente
et ab Aquilone, a mare Me-
ridiano et ab Oriente ; in te
benedicunt Christum in sae-
cula.
0 divina! O amica ! 0 dul-
cissima vox tua ! etenim non
f allaciter promisisti, Christe,
te futurum esse nobiscum
usque ad consummationem
sseculi : quam spei ancho-
ram fideles nos servantes,
Isetamur.
O Pascha magnum et sanc-
tissimum, Christe ! 0 Sa-
pientia, et Yerbum, Deique
virtus ! Da ut juxta ex-
emplar formati, tecum si-
mus participes in die nun-
quam decedente regni tui.
Tomb, and shed his beams
upon all men.
Come, let us participate in
the new fruit of the Yine, and
in the divine joy, for it is the
glorious Day of Christ's Ee-
surrection and Kingdom. Let
us praise him, in our hymns,
as the God who liveth for ever.
0 Sion ! lift up thine eyes
round about, and see ; for
children, shining as lights with
the brightness of God upon
them, have come to thee from
the West and North, from
the South Sea and the East.
In thee, they give praise to
Christ for ever.
0 divine ! 0 welcome ! O
thy most sweet word, 0 Jesus !
Thou hast promised, and the
promise cannot fail, that thou
wilt abide with us even to the
end of the world : it is the
anchor of hope to us thy faith-
ful servants, and makes us
glad.
0 Jesus ! our great and
most holy Pasch ! 0 Wisdom,
Word, and Power of God !
grant that we may live accord-
ing to the model thou hast
given us, and enjoy with thee
the never-ending day of thy
Kingdom.
In the Proper Offices of the Order of Holy Sepul-
chre, there is given the following beautiful Hymn,
which we offer to our readers as being most appro-
priate to the day.
HYMN.
Die sepulchri gloriosi,
Laota mens, miracula ;
Quo vult matris pudicse
Be glad, my soul, and sing
the wonders of the glorious
Sepulchre, whence came thy
SATURDAY IN EASTEK WEEK.
331
Christ, as, heretofore, from
the womb of his Virgin Mother.
Thus was it foretold by the
truthful Prophets.
He was conceived in the
pure womb of a Virgin -Mother ;
so, too, he was buried in a
Tomb, wherein no other man
had been placed ; from both
he comes the glorious Jesus,
as Infant tirst, and then as
Man.
The Mother, after long ages
of hope, brings him forth
created in mortal flesh ; the
Tomb, though none had hoped
it, restores him clad in im-
mortality : Mary wrapped him
in swathing-bands ; the Se-
pulchre held him in the wind-
ing-sheet.
He is bom for the world's
salvation, from the womb of
his Mother ; he lises from the
Tomb, after our salvation had
been wrought : the Mother
nursed him for the Cross ; the
Tomb, for glory.
0 thrice holy Sanctuary I
beautified with the Blood of
the Lamb of God I let earth,
and sea, and heaven, venerate
thee. How strange to call
that a Sepulchre, whence Life
was born I
Glory and honour be, for
ever, to the Most High God !
To the Father, Son, and Holy
Paraclete, one praise and
power, for everlasting ages.
Amen.
Christus alvo prodiit :
Ut prophetarum fideles
Paginae spoponderant.
In novo conceptus alvo
Virginis puerperse,
In novo compostus antro
Conquievit pumicis :
Gloriosus hoc et ilia,
Vir, puerque prodiit.
Hsec parit corpus cadu-
cum.
Omnium spe serius ;
^viternum reddit illud,
Omnium spe citius ;
Ilia pannis involutum,
Linteis hoc conditum.
Ex sinu matris futuram
Ad salutem nascitur ;
At salute jam parata,
Eupis alvus reddidit ;
Ad crucem parens produxit.
At silex ad gloriam.
Ergo te coelestis Agni
Purpurata sanguine.
Aula ter felix, adorent
Terra, pontus, aethera ;
Nee sepulchrum quis voca-
rit.
Vita de quo nascitur.
Gloria et honor Deo
Usquequaque altissimo,
Una Patri, Filioque,
Inclyto Paraclito,
Cui laus est, et potestas
Per immensa scecula.
Amen.
And lastly, let us turn to the Blessed Mother, for
this is her day. Let us congratulate her upon the
Resurrection of her Divine Son, in the words of this
332
PASCHAL TIME.
devout Sequence, taken from the ancient Missals of
the Churches of Germany.
SEQUENCE.
Eesurgenti tuo nato,
Mater, plaude, qui prostrate
Eegnat mortis principe ;
Tuum virgo pone luctum
Jesum ventris tui fructum
Redivivum suscipe.
Morte prolis cruciata,
Corde dure sauciata
Passionis gladio :
Voce jubilationis,
Jam de resurrectionis
Jocundare gaudio.
Crucifixum, qui surrexit
De sepulchre teque vexit
Sua in palatia,
Nobis placa, supplicamus
A peccatis ut surgamus
Ad seterna gaudia.
Amen.
Give praise, O Mother, to
thy Eisen Jesus, who reigns
triumphant over the prince of
death. Cease thy mourning ;
for Jesus, the Fruit of thy
womb, is restored to life, and
visits thee.
His Death was thy cross ;
his Passion, the sword that
cruelly pierced thy Heart :
but now, sing a hymn of joy,
and be glad, because of his
Eesurrection.
He was crucified ; but now
he is risen from the Tomb,
and has taken thee to his hea-
venly court : pray to him, for
us, we beseech thee, that we
may rise, from our sins, to
everlasting joy. Amen.
LOW SUNDAY. 333
QUASIMODO OE LOW SUNDAY.
THE OCTAVE OF THE PASCH.
Our Neophytes closed the Octave of the Resurrec-
tion yesterday. They were before us in receiving the
admirable mystery ; their solemnity would finish
earlier than ours. This, then, is the eighth day for us
who kept the Pasch on the Sunday, and did not anti-
cipate it on the vigil. It reminds us of all the glory
and joy of that Feast of Feasts, which united the
whole of Christendom in one common feeling of
triumph. It is the day of light, which takes the
place of the Jewish Sabbath. Henceforth, the fimt
day of the week is to be kept holy. Twice has the
Son of Ood honoured it with the manifestations of
his almighty power. The Pasch, therefore, is always
to be celebrated on the Sunday ; and thus, every Sun-
day becomes a sort of Paschal Feast as we have al-
ready explained in the Mystery of Eader.
Our Risen Jesus gave an additional proof of his
wishing the Sunday to be, henceforth, the pri\dleged
Day. He reserved the second visit he intended to pay
to all his Disciples for this the eighth day since his
Resurrection. During the previous days, lie has left
Thomas a prey to doubt ; but, to-day he shows him-
self to his Apostle, as well as to the others, and
obliges him, by irresistible evidence, to lay aside his
incredulity. Thus does our Saviour again honour the
Sunday. The Holy Ghost will come down from
he^veu upon this same day of the week, making it
334 PASCHAL TIME.
the commencement of the Christian Church : Pente-
cost will complete the glory of this favoured Bay.
Jesus' apparition to the Eleven, and the victory
he gains over the incredulous Thomas, — these are the
special subjects the Church brings before us to-day.
By this apparition, which is the seventh since his
Resurrection, our Saviour wins the perfect faith of
his Disciples. It was impossible not to recognise
G-od, in the patience, the majesty, and the charity of
Him who showed himself to them. Here again, our
human thoughts are disconcerted ; we should have
thought this delay excessive ; it would have seemed
to us, that our Lord ought to have, at once, either
removed the sinful doubt from Thomas' mind, or
punished him for his disbelief. But no : Jesus is
infinite wisdom, and infinite goodness. In his wis-
dom, he makes this tardy acknowledgement of Thomas
become a new argument of the truth of the Resur-
rection ; in his goodness, he brings the heart of the
incredulous Disciple to repentance, humility, and love,
yea, to a fervent and solemn retractation of all his
disbelief. We will not here attempt to describe this
admirable scene, which holy Church is about to bring
before us. We will select, for our to-day's instruc-
tion, the important lesson given by Jesus to his
Disciple, and through him, to us all. It is the lead-
ing instruction of the Sunday, the Octave of the
Pasch, and it behoves us not to pass it by, for, more
than any other, it tells us the leading characteristic
of a Christian, shows us the cause of our being so
listless in Grod's service, and points out to us the
remedy for our spiritual ailments.
Jesus says to Thomas : Because thou hast seen me,
thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not
seen, and have believed ! Such is the great truth,
spoken by the lips of the God-Man : it is a most im-
portant counsel, given, not only to Thomas, but to
all who would serve God and secure their salvatiou.
LOW SUNDAY. 335
What is it that Jesus asks of his disciple ? Has he
not heard him make profession that now, at last, he
firmly believes ? After all, was there any great fault
in Thomas' insisting on having experimental evidence
before belie\dng in so extraordinary a miracle as the
Resurrection ? Was he obliged to trust to the testi-
mony of Peter and the others, under penalty of
offending his divine Master ? Did he not evince his
prudence, by withholding his assent until he had
additional proofs of the truth of what his Brethren
told him ? Yes, Thomas was a circumspect and
prudent man, and one that was slow to believe what
he had heard : he was worthy to be taken as a model
by those Christians, who reason and sit in judgment
upon matters of faith. And yet, listen to the re-
proach made him by Jesus. It is merciful, and,
withal, so severe ! This Jesus has so far condescended
to the weakness of his Disciple, as to accept the
condition, on which alone he declares that he will
believe : now that the Disciple stands trembling
before his Risen Lord, and exclaims, in the earnest-
ness of faith : 2Iy Lord ! and my God ! oh ! see
how Jesus chides him ! This stubbornness, this
incredulity, deserves a punishment : — the punish-
ment is, to have these words said to him : Thomas !
thou hast believed^ because thou hast seen I
Then, was Thomas obhged to believe before having
seen? — Yes, undoubtedly. Not only Thomas, but
all the Apostles were in duty bound to believe the
Kesurrection of Jesus, even before he showed him-
self to them. Had they not lived three years with
him ? Had they not seen him prove himself to be
the Messias and Son of God by the most undeniable
miracles ? Had he not foretold them, that he would
rise again on the third day ? As to the humiliations
and cruelties of his Passion, had he not told them, a
short time previous to it, that he was to be seized by
the Jews, in Jerusalem^ and be delivered to th©
336 PASCHAL TIME.
G-entiles? that he was to be scourged, spit upon,
and put to death ? ^
After all this, they ought to have believed in his
triumphant Resurrection, the very first moment they
heard of his Body having disappeared. As soon as
John had entered the Sepulchre, and seen the
Winding Sheet, he at once ceased to doubt, — he
believed. But, it is seldom that man is so honest as
this ; he hesitates, and Grod must make still further
advances, if he would have us give our faith ! Jesus
condescended even to this : he made further advances.
He showed himself to Magdalene and her compa-
nions, who were not incredulous, but only carried
away by natural feeling, though the feeling was one
of love for their Master. When the Apostles heard
their account of what had happened, they were
treated as women, whose imagination had got the
better of their judgment. Jesus had to come in
person : he showed himself to these obstinate men,
whose pride made them forget all that he had said
and done, and which ought to have been sufficient to
make them believe in his Resurrection. Yes, it was
pride, for Faith has no other obstacle than this. If
man were humble, he would have Faith enough to
move mountains.
To return to our Apostles : — Thomas had heard
Magdalene, and he despised her testimony ; he had
heard Peter, and he objected to his authority ; he had
heard the rest of his fellow-Apostles and the two
Disciples of Emmaus, and no, — he would not give up
his own opinion. How many there are among us,
who are like him in this ! We never think of
doubting what is told us by a truthful and disinte-
rested witness, unless the subject touch upon the
supernatural ; and then, we have a hundred diffi-
culties. It is one of the sad consequences left in us
1 3t, Luke, xviii. 32, 35-
LOW SUNDAY. 337
by original sin. Like Thomas, we would see the
thing ourselves : that alone is enough to keep us
from the fulness of the truth. We comfort ourselves
with the reflection that, after all, we are disciples of
Christ ; as did Thomas, who kept in union with his
brother- Apostles, only he shared not their happiness.
He saw their happiness, but he considered it to be a
weakness of mind, and was glad that he was free
from it !
How like this is to our modem Rationalistic
Catholic ! He believes, but it is because his reason
almost forces him to believe ; he believes with his
mind rather than from his heart. His faith is a
scientific deduction, and not a generous longing after
Grod and supernatural truth. Hence, how cold and
powerless is this faith ! how cramped and ashamed !
how afraid of believing too much ! Unlike the
generous unstinted faith of the Saints, it is satisfied
with fragments of truth, with what the Scripture
terms dimini.shed truths} It seems ashamed of
itself. It speaks in a whisper, lest it should be criti-
cised ; and when it does venture to make itself heard,
it adopts a phraseology, which may take off the
sound of the divine. As to those miracles which it
wishes had never taken place, and which it would
have advised Grod not to work, — they are a forbid-
den subject. The very mention of a miracle, parti-
cularly if it had happened in our own times, puts it
into a state of nervousness. The lives of the Saints,
their heroic virtues, their sublime sacrifices, — it
has a repugnance to the whole thing ! It talks
gravely about those who are not of the true
Iteligion being unjustly dealt with by the Church
in Catholic Countries : it asserts that the same
liberty ought to be granted to error as to truth :
it has very serious doubts whether the world
' Ps. xi. 2.
338 PASCHAL TTME.
has been a great loser by tbe secularisation of
society.
Now, it was for the instruction of persons of this
class, that our Lord spoke those words to Thomas :
Blessed are they who have not seen, and have
believed. Thomas sinned in not having the readi-
ness of mind to believe. Like him, we also are in
danger of sinning, unless our Faith have a certain
expansiveness, which makes us see everything with
the eye of Faith, and gives our Faith that progress
which Grod recompenses with a superabundance of
light and joy. Yes, having once become members of
the Church, it is our duty to look upon all things
from a supernatural point of view. There is no
danger of our going too far, for we have the
teachings of an infallible authority to guide us. The
Just man liveth by Faith} Faith is his daily bread.
His mere natural life becomes transformed for good
and all, if only he be faithful to his Baptism. Could
we suppose, that the Church, after all her instructions
to her Neophytes, and after all those sacred rites of
their Baptism which are so expressive of the super-
natural life, would be satisfied to see them straight-
way adopt that dangerous system, which drives
Faith into a nook of the heart and understanding
and conduct, leaving all the rest to natural principles
or instinct ? No, it could not be so. Let us, there-
fore, imitate St. Thomas in his confession, and
acknowledge that, hitherto, our faith has not been
perfect. Let us go to our Jesus, and say to him :
"Thou art my Lord and my God ! But, alas ! I have
many times thought and acted as though thou wert
my Lord and my God in some things, and not in
others. Henceforth, I will believe without seeing ;
for I would be of the number of them, whom thou
callest blessed f^^
1 Horn. i. 17.
LOW SUNDAY: MASS. 339
This Sunday, commonly called with us, Loic
Sunday^ has two names assigned to it in the Liturgy:
Quasimodo, from the first word of the Introit ; and
Sunday in albis (or, more explicitly, in albis deposi-
tis,) because it was on this day, that the Neophytes
assisted at the Church services attired in their
ordinary dress. In the Middle- Ages, it was called
CIme-Pasch, no doubt in allusion to its being the last
day of the Easter Octave. Such is the solemnity of
this Sunday, that not only is it of a Double rite, but
no Feast, however great, can ever be kept upon it.
At Rome, the Station is in the Basilica of Saint
Pancratius, on the Aurelian Way. Ancient writers
have not mentioned the reason of this Church being
chosen for to-day's assembly of the Faithful. It
may, perhaps, have been on account of the Saint's
being only fourteen years old when put to death, —
a circumstance which gave the young Martyr a sort of
right to have the Neophytes round him, now that
they were returning to their every day Hfe.
MASS.
The Introit repeats those beautiful words of St.
Peter, which were addressed, in yesterday's Epistle,
to the newly baptised. They are like new-born
Babes, lovely in their sweet simplicity, and eager to
drink from the breasts of their dear Mother, the
Church, the spiritual milk of Faith, — that Faith which
will make them strong and loyal.
INTROIT.
As new born Babes, al- Quasi modo geniti infan-
leluia : desire the rational milk tes, alleluia : rationabiles,
•without guile. Alleluia, al- sine dolo lac concupiscite.
leluia, alleluia. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
340
PASCHAL TIME.
Ps. Exsultate Deo adju-
tori nostro : jubilate Deo
Jacob.
^. Gloria Patri. Quasi
modo.
Ps. Rejoice to God our
helper : sing aloud to the God
of Jacob.
f. Glory, &c. As new-born,
&c.
On this the last day of the great Octave, the
Church, in her Collect, bids farewell to the glorious
solemnities that have so gladdened us, and asks our
Lord to grant, that our lives and actions may ever
reflect the holy influence of our Pasch.
COLLECT.
Praesta, qusesumus, om-
nipotens Deus : ut qui pas-
chalia festa peregimus :
hsec, te largiente, moribus et
vita teneamus. Per Domi-
num.
Grant, we beseech thee, 0
Almighty God, that we, who
have celebrated the Paschal
solemnity, may, by the as-
sistance of thy divine grace,
ever make the effects thereof
manifest in our lives and
actions. Through, &c.
EPISTLE.
Lectio Epistolse beati Joan-
nis Apostoli.
1. Cap. V.
Charissimi, omne, quod
natum est ex Deo, vincit
mundum : et haec est vic-
toria, quae vincit mundum,
fides nostra. Quis est, qui
vincit mundum, nisi qui
credit, quoniam Jesus est
Filius Dei ? Hie est, qui ve-
nit per aquam et sangui-
nem, Jesus Christus : non
in aqua solum, sed in aqua
et sanguine. Et spiritus est,
qui testificatur, quoniam
Christus est Veritas. Quo-
niam tres sunt, qui testi-
monium dant in coelo : Pa-
Lesson of the Epistle of Saint
John the Apostle.
I. Ch. V.
Dearly beloved : Whatso-
ever is born of God, over-
cometh the world : and this is
the victory which overcometh
the world, our faith. Who is
he that overcometh the world,
but he that believeth that
Jesus is the Son of God ? This
is he that came by water and
blood, Jesus Christ : not by
water only, but by water and
blood. And it is the spirit
which tostifieth, that Christ is
the truth. And there are three
who give testimony in heaven,
the Father, the Word, and the
LOW SUNDAY : MASS. 341
Holy Ghost. And these three ter, Verbum et Spiritus
are one. And there are three Sanctus : et hi tres unum
that give testimony on earth : sunt. Et tres sunt, qui tes-
the spirit, the water, and the timonium dant in terra :
blood, and these three are one. Spiritus, et aqua et sanguis:
If we receive the testimony of et hi tres unum sunt. Si
men the testimony of God is testimonium hominum ac-
greater. For this is the testi- cipimus, testimonium Dei
mony of God which is greater, majus est : quoniam hoc est
because he hath testified of his testimonium Dei quod ma-
Son. He that believeth in the jus est, quoniam testificatus
Son of God, hath the testimony est de filio suo. Qui credit
of God in himself. in Filium Dei, habet testi-
monium Dei in se.
The Apostle St. John here tells us the merit and
power of Faith : it is, says he, a victonj, which
conquers the ircr/d, both the world outside, and the
world within us. It is not difficult to understand why
this passage from St. John's Epistles should have been
selected for to-day's Liturgy : — it is on account of its
being so much in keeping with the Grospel appointed
for this Sunday, and in which our Lord passes such
eulogy upon Faith. If, as the Apostle here assures
us, they overcome the world who believe in Christ, —
t/ipf/ have not sterling Faith, who allow the world to
intimidate their Faith. Let us be proud of our Faith,
esteeming ourselves happy that we are but Little Chil-
dren when there is question of our receiving a divine
Truth ; and let us not be ashamed of our eager readi-
ness to admit the testimony of Grod. This testimony
will make itself heard to our hearts, in proportion to
our willingness to hear it. The moment John saw the
winding-bands which had shrouded the body of his
Master, he made an act of faith ; Thomas, who had
stronger testimony than John, (for he had the word of
the Apostles, assuring him that they had seen their
Risen Lord,) refused to believe : /le had not overcome
the world and its reasonings, because he had not Faith.
The two Alleluia- Yersicles are formed of two texts
342
PASCHAL TIME.
alluding to the Resurrection. The second speaks of
the scene which took place on this day in the
Cenacle.
Alleluia, alleluia.
y. In die resurrectionis
mese, dicit Dominus, prse-
cedam vos in Galilseam. Al-
leluia, alleluia.
y. Post dies octo, januis
clausis, stetit Jesus in me-
dio discipulorum suorum, et
dixit : Pax vobis. Alleluia.
Alleluia, alleluia.
y . On the day of my Eesur-
rection, saith the Lord, I will
go before you into Galilee.
Alleluia, alleluia.
f. After eight days, the
doors being shut, Jesus stood
in the midst of his Disciples,
and said : Peace be with you.
Alleluia.
GOSPEL.
Sequentia sancti Evangelii
secundum Joannem.
Cap. XX.
In illo tempore : Quum se-
ro esset die illo, una sabbato-
rum, et fores essent clausre,
ubi erant discipuli congre-
gati propter metum Judseo-
rum : yenit Jesus, et stetit
in medio, et dixit eis : Pax
vobis. Et cum hoc dixisset,
ostendit eis manus et latus.
Gavisi sunt ergo discipuli,
viso Domino. Dixit ergo eis
iterum : Pax vobis. Sicut
misit me Pater, et ego mitto
vos. Hsec cum dixisset, in-
sufi9.avit, et dixit eis : Acci-
pite Spiritum Sanctum ;
quorum remiseritis peccata,
remittuntur eis : et quorum
retinueritis, retenta sunt.
Thomas autem unus ex
duodocim, qui dicitur Di-
dymus non orat cum eis
quando venit Jesus. Pixo-
Sequel of the holy Gospel
according to John.
Ch. XX.
At that time : When it was
late that same day, the
first of the week, and the
doors were shut, where the
disciples were gathered to-
gether for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood in the
midst, and said to them : Peace
be to you. And when he had
said this he shewed them his
hands and his side. The
disciples therefore were glad
when they saw the Lord. He
said therefore to them again :
Peace be to you. As the
Father hath sent me, I also
send you. When he had said
this, he breathed on them ;
and he said to them : Receive
ye the Holj'' Ghost : whose
sins you shall forgive, they
are forgiven them : and whose
sins you shall retain, they are
LOW SUNDAY : MASS.
343
retained. Now Thomas, one
of the twelve, who is called
Didymus, was not with them
when Jesus came. The other
disciples therefore said to him :
We have seen the Lord. But
he said to them : Except I
shall see in his hands the print
of the nails, and put my finger
into the place of the nails, and
put my hand into his side, I
will not believe. And after
eight days, again his disciples
were within, and Thomas with
them. Jesus cometh, the doors
being shut, and stood in the
midst, and said : Peace be to
you. Then he said to Thomas :
Put in thy fingers hither, and
see my hands, and bring hither
thy hand, and put it into my
side ; and be not faithless,
but believing. Thomas an-
swered, and said to him : My
Lord and my God I Jesus saith
to him : Because thou hast
seen me, Thomas, thou hast
believed : blessed are they that
have not seen, and have be-
lieved. Many other signs also
did Jesus in the sight of his
disciples, which are not writ-
ten in this book. But these
are written, that you may be-
lieve that Jesus is the Christ,
the Son of God : and that be-
lieving you may have life in
his name.
runt ergo ei alii discipuli :
Vidimus Dominum. Ille au-
tem dixit eis : Nisi videro in
manibus ejus fixuram cla-
vorum, et mittam digitum
meum in locum clavorum,
et mittam manum meam in
latus ejus, non credam. Et
post dies octo, iterum erant
discipuli ejus intus : et Tho-
mas cum eis. Venit Jesus
januis clausis, et stetit in
medio, et dixit : Pax vobis.
Deinde dicit Thomco : Infer
digitum tuum hue, et vide
manus meas, et affer ma-
num tuam, et mitte in latus
meum : et noli esse incre-
dulus, sedfidelis. Respondit
Thomas, et dixit ei : Do-
minus mens, et Deus mens.
Dixit ei Jesus : Quia vidisti
me, Thoma, credidisti : beati
qui non viderunt et credi-
derunt. Multa quidem et
alia signa fecit Jesus in con-
spectu discipulorum suo-
rum, quoe non sunt scripta
in libro hoc. Haec autem
scripta sunt, ut credatis,
quia Jesus est Christus Fi-
lius Dei : et ut credentes,
vitam habeatis in nomine
ejus.
We
have said enough about
St. Thomas' incre-
dulity ; let us now admire his faith. His fault has
taught us to examine and condemn our own want of
faith ; let us learn from his repentance how to become
true believers. Our Lord, who had chosen him as
one of the pillars of his Church, has been obliged to
344 PASCHAL TIME.
treat him with an exceptional familiarity : Thomas
avails himself of Jesus' permission, puts his finger
into the sacred Wound, and immediately he sees the
sinfulness of his past incredulity. He would make
atonement by a solemn act of faith, for the sin he
has committed in priding himself on being wise and
discreet : he cries out, and with all the fervour of
faith : Mij Lord and my God ! Observe, he not
only says that Jesus is his Lord, his Master, the
same who chose him as one of his Disciples ; — this
would not have been faith, for there is no faith
where we can see and touch. Had Thomas believed
what his Brother- Apostles had told him, he would
have \idudi faith in the Resurrection ; but now he sees,
he has experimental knowledge of the great fact ;
and yet as our Lord says of him, he Jias faith. In
what ? In this, that his Master is God. He sees
but the Humanity of Jesus, and he at once confesses
him to be God, From what is visible, his soul, now
generous and repentant, rises to the invisible : "Thou
art my God P^ Now, 0 Thomas ! thou art full of
faith ! The Church proposes thee to us, on thy
Feast, as an example of faith. The confession thou
didst make on this day is worthy to be compared
with that which Peter made, when he said : Thou
art Christ, the Son of the living God ! ^ By this
profession, which neither flesh nor blood had revealed
to him, Peter merited to be made the Rock whereon
Christ built his Church : thine did more than com-
pensate thy former belief ; it gave thee, for the
time, a superiority over the rest of the Apostles, who,
so far at least, were more taken up with the visible
glory, than with the invisible Divinity, of their Risen
Lord.
The Offertory gives us another text of the Gospel,
relative to the Resurrection.
i St. Matth. xvi. 16,
LOW SUNDAY I MASS. 345
OFFERTORY.
An Angel of the Lord came Angelus Domini descen -
down from heaven, and said dit de coelo, et dixit mulie-
to the women : He whom ye ribus : Quern quseritis, sur-
seek is risen, as he said, alle- rexit sicut dixit. Alleluia.
luia.
In the Secret, the Church expresses the holy en-
thusiasm wherewith the Paschal mystery fills her ;
she prays, that this joy may lead her to the never-
ending one of the eternal Easter.
SECRET.
Receive, we beseech thee, Suscipe munera, Domine,
O Lord, the offerings of thy quaesumus, exaltantis Ec-
joyful Church : and as thou desire : et cui causam tanti
hast given occasion to this great gaudii proestitisti, perpetuse
joy, grant she may receive the fructum concede laetitise.
fruits of that joy, which will Per Dominum.
never end. Through, «S:c.
Whilst giving the Bread of Heaven to her Neo-
phytes and other Children, the Church sings in her
Communion- Antiphon, the words spoken by Jesus to
Thomas. This Apostle was permitted to touch our
Lord's sacred Wounds ; we, by the Holy Eucharist,
are brought into still closer intimacy with this same
Jesus : but, that we may derive the profit intended
by such condescension, we must have a faith lively
and generous, like that which he exacted from his
Apostle.
COMMUNION.
Put forth thy hand, and Mitte manum tuam et
mark the place of the nails, cognosce loca clavorum, al-
alleluia : and be not incredu- leluia : et noli esse incredu-
lous, but believe. Alleluia, lus, sed fidelis. Alleluia,
alleluia. alleluia.
The Church concludes the prayers of her Sacrifice,
by asking, that the divine mystery, instituted to be
346
PASCHAL TIME.
a support to our weakness, may give us untiring
perseverance.
POSTCOMMUNION.
Qusesumus, Domine Deus
noster : ut sacrosancta mys-
teria, quae pro reparationis
nostroe munimine contulisti,
et praesens nobis remedium
esse facias et futurum. Per
Dominum.
Grant, we beseech thee, O
Lord our God, that the sacred
mysteries thou hast given us
to preserve the grace of our re-
demption, may be our present
and future remedy. Through,
&c.
YESPEES.
When the Feast of the Annunciation is deferred
till after Easter, it is kept on the Monday following
Low Sunday : its First Vespers are now sung, and a
commemoration only is made of the Sunday, at the
end of the Office. We have given these below, j^^ig^
350. Other years, the Vespers are those of Paschal
Time, which will be found in page 91.
ANTIPHON OF THE MAGNIFICAT.
Ant. Post dies octo, ja-
nuis clausis, ingressus Do-
minus, dixit eis : Pax vobis.
Alleluia, alleluia.
OREMUS.
Prsesta, quaesumus, omni-
potens Deus : ut qui pascha-
lia festa peregimus : haec te
largiente, moribus et vita
teneamus. Per Dominum.
Ant. After eight days, the
doors being shut, the Lord
entering, said : Peace be to
you. Alleluia, alleluia.
LET TJS PRAY.
Grant, we beseech thee,
0 Almighty God, that we who
have celebrated the Paschal
solemnity, may, by the assist-
ance of thy divine grace, ever
make the effects thereof mani-
fest in our lives and actions.
Through, &c.
As an appropriate prayer, wherewith to close the
day, we offer to our readers the following beautiful
one, wherein the Grothic Church of Spain celebrates
the mystery of the eighth day, — the Octave of Easter,
LOW SUNDAY I VESPERS.
347
0 Son Begotten of the Un-
begotten Father I thou again
invitest us to honor this eighth
day, on which thou didst per-
mit thy Disciples to see and
touch thee. The Sunday,
though made before the other
days, becomes the Eighth by
following the seven preceding
it. It was on this day that
thou didst rise from the Tomb
and Death ; it was on this
same thou enteredst where
thy Disciples were assembled,
and, the doors being shut, didst
honor them by thine inestima-
ble visit. Thus didst thou
adorn with a mystery well suit-
ed to each, both the beginning
and the close of the Pasch : for
thy Eesurrection struck terror
into the soldiers that guarded
the Tomb, and thy apparition
confirmed the doubting hearts
of thy Disciples. We, therefore,
who possess the knowledge of
all these mysteries, beseech
thee to grant that the faith
whereby we believe, may pre-
sent us before thee after this
life, free from sin. May neither
sloth engender, nor indiscreet
prying foster, any misgiving of
doubt or error concerning thee.
Preserve in thy holy name
them thou hast redeemed by
thy precious blood. Let our
souls contemplate thee : and
vouchsafe to enter into our
hearts. 0 thou, that, on this
day, didst appear in the midst
of thy disciples and greet them
with Peace, abide ever with us.
Thou didst breathe upon them
the Spirit of Life; grant us
the consolation of the same
Holy Spirit.
Ingeniti Genitoris genite
Fili, qui in eo nobis diei
hujus octavi renovas cul-
tum, in quo te discipulorum
aspectibus hodie proebuisti
palpandum. Nam licet hie
dies sit prior prse ceteris
conditus, octavus post sep-
tem efficitur revolutus, quo
ipse sicut admirabiliter e
sepulchro surrexisti a mor-
tuis, ita ad discipulos inae-
stimabiliter intrasti januis
obseratis. Initium videlicet
Paschre ac finem exornans
congruis sacramentis, cum
et resurrectio tua custodi-
bus terrorem incuteret, et
manifestatio discipulorum
corda dubia confortaret.
Quiesumus ergo, ut nos his
sacramentis imbutos fides
qua te credimus post istud
sceculum tibi reprppsentet
illsesos. Nullum nobis de to
scrupulum dubitationis er-
rorisque, aut otium pariat,
aut qusesitio incauta enu-
triat. Serva in nomine tuo
quos redemisti sanguine
pretioso. Coutemplanduia
te nostris sensibus prsebe :
nostrumque cor dignatus
ingredere. Esto semper in
medio nostri qui hodie pa-
cem nuntians discipulorum
in medio astitisti. Quique
in eis insufflasti Spirit um
vit?o, nobis largire ejusdem
Spiritus consolationem.
348
PASCHAL TIME.
Once more let us listen to the devout Adam of
Saint- Victor. His Sequences were great favourites
with our Catholic Forefathers of the Middle Ages.
The triumph of our Redeemer over Death was a
subject which this great liturgical Poet has often
treated in a most masterly way.
SEQUENCE.
Mundi renovatio
Nova parit gaudia ;
Eesurgenti Domino
Conresurgunt omnia.
Elementa serviunt,
Et auctoris sentiunt
Quanta sit potentia.
Ignis volat mobilis,
Et aer volubilis :
Fluit aqua labilis,
Terra manet stabilis :
Alta petunt levia,
Centrum tenent gravia,
Eenovantur omnia.
Coelum fit serenius,
Et mare tranquillius ;
Spirat aura levius,
Vallis nostra floruit.
Eevirescunt arida,
Eecalescunt frigida,
Postquam ver intepuit.
Gelu mortis solvitur,
Princeps mundi tollitur,
Et ejus destruitur
In nobis imperium ;
Dum tenere voluit
In quo nihil habuit,
Jus amisit proprium.
Vita mortem superat ;
Homo jam recuperat
Quod prius amiserat,
Paradisi gaudium :
Viam proBbet facilem,
Cherubim versatilom
Amovendo gladium.
The world's renovation cre-
ates new joy. All creatures
rise together with their Lord.
The elements obey him, and
feel their Creator's mighty
power.
Fire is impetuous in its
flight ; air is swift ; water is
flowing ; earth is firm ; light
things tend aloft, and those
that are heavy seek their
centre : but all are now re-
newed.
Heaven is more serene,
the sea more tranquil, the
winds breathe softer. Our
valley is filled with flowers ;
and now that gentle Spring
is come, the dry things have
put on green again, and the
cold a genial warmth.
The frost of death is thawed.
The prince of this world is
made captive, and has no
longer power over us : by
striving to take Him, over
whom he had no claim, he
lost his own.
Life conquers Death ; man
now regains what he had
lost, — the joys of heaven ;
the Angel sheathes his two-
edged sword, and leaves the
passage free,
LOW SUNDAY
349
Jesus opens heaven, and
liberates them, whom sin had
made captives of death. For
this great victory, be glory to
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
Amen.
Christus coelos reserat,
Et captives liberat,
Quos culpa ligaverat
Sub mortis interitu.
Pro tanta victoria
Patri, Proli gloria
Sit cum Sancto Spiritu !
Amen.
350 PASCHAL TIME.
THE ANNUNCIATION
OF THE EVER BLESSED VIRGIN.
It very frequently happens, that the twenty-fifth of
March falls between Palm Sunday and Low Sunday :
on these occasions, the feast of our Lady's Annuncia-
tion, being out of keeping both with the dolorous
mysteries of Holy Week and with the splendour of
the Resurrection, is deferred to the Monday follow-
ing Low Sunday. For the convenience of the Faith-
ful, we have here repeated the Vespers and Mass of
this great Feast. As to the instructions we gave
upon the mystery of the Annunciation, our readers
must refer to our volume of "Lent."
FIRST VESPERS.
The Office of First Vespers is always the com-
mencement of a Feast. The Antiphons of the Ves-
pers, at which we are going to assist, are taken from
the Grospel of St. Luke, where the Evangelist reveals
to us the sublime interview between the Angel and
the Virgin. The Psalms are those which tradition
has consecrated to the celebration of Mary's glories.
We have elsewhere^ shown how each of the five refers
to the Mother of Grod.
Ant. Missus est Gabriel Ant. The Angel Gabriel
Angelus ad Mariam Virgi- was sent to Mary, a Virgin,
1 See our volume for "Advent," in the Vespers for the 8th of
December.
THE ANNUNCIATION.
361
espoused to Joseph, alleluia. nem desponsatam Joseph,
alleluia.
PSALM 109.
The Lord said to my Lord,
his Soji : Sit thou at my right
hand, and reign luith me.
Until, on the day of thy last
coming, I make thy enemies
thy footstool.
0 ! Christ the Lord thy
Father, -v^ill 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 also judge among
nations, he shall fill the ruins
of the v:orld : he shall crush
the heads in the laud 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 Angel Gabriel
was sent to Marj% a Virgin
espoused to Joseph, alleluia.
Dixit Dominus Domino
meo : * Sede a dextris meis.
Donee ponam inimicos
tuos : * scabellum pedum
tuorum.
Virgam virtutis tuae emit-
tet Dominus ex Sion : * do-
minare in medio inimico-
rum tuorum.
Tecum principium in die
virtutis tuDD, in splendoribus
sanctorum : * ex utero ante
luciferum genui te.
Juravit Dominus, et nou
poenitebit eura : * Tu es Sa-
cerdos in asternum secun-
dum ordinem Melchisedech.
Dominus a dextris tuis : *
confregit in die ira3 suae re-
ges.
Judicabit in nationibus
implebit ruinas : * conquas-
sabit capita in ten-a multo-
rum.
De torrente in via bibet : *
propterea exaltabit caput.
Ant. Missus est Gabriel
Angelus, ad Mariam Virgi-
nem desponsatam Joseph,
alleluia.
352
PASCHAL TIME.
Ant. Ave, Maria, gratia
plena, Dominus tecum : be-
nedicta tu in mulieribus, al-
leluia.
Ant. Hail, Mary, full of
grace, the Lord is with thee :
Blessed art thou among wo-
men, alleluia.
PSALM. 112.
Laudate pueri Dominum :
* laudate nomen Domini.
Sit nomen Domini bene-
dictum : * ex hoc nunc et
usque in sseculum.
A solis ortu usque ad oc-
casum : * laudabD.e 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 pau-
perem.
Ut collocet eum cum prin-
cipibus : * cum principibus
populi sui.
Qui habitare facit steri-
lem in domo : * matrem fi-
liorum Isetantem.
Ant. Ave, Maria, gratia
plena, Dominus tecum : be-
nedicta tu in mulieribus,
alleluia.
Ant. Ne timeas, Maria :
invenisti gratiam apud Do-
minum ; occe concipies, et
paries filium, alleluia.
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.
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. Hail, Mary, full of
grace, the Lord is with thee :
Blessed art thou among wo-
men, alleluia.
Ant. Fear not, Mary ; thou
hast found grace with God :
behold thou shalt conceive,
and shalt bring forth a son,
alleluia.
iy-
THE ANNUNCIATION.
353
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, O Jerusalem I Our
heart loves and confides in tJiet,
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
i'udgment ; seats upon the
LOUse of David ; and Mary is
of a Jcinyly 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. Fear not Mary, for
thou hast found grace with
God : behold thou shalt con-
ceive, and shalt bring forth a
son, alleluia.
Ant. And the Tjord shall
g've unto him the throne of
avid his father, and he shall
reign for ever, alleluia.
Lsetatus sum in his quae
dicta sunt mihi : * in do-
mum Domini ibimus.
Stantes erant pedes nos-
tri : * in atriis tuis, Jeru-
salem.
Jerusalem quae sedificatur
ut ci vitas : * cujus partici-
patio ejus in idipsum.
lUuc enim ascenderunt
tribus, tribus Domini : * tes-
timonium Israel ad confiten-
dum Nomini Domini.
Quia illic sederunt sedes
in judicio : * sedes super
domum David.
Rogate quae ad pacem sunt
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 : * quaesivi bona
tibi.
Ant. Ne timeas, Maria :
invenisti gratiam apud Do-
ininum ; ecce concipies et
paries filium, alleluia.
Ant. Dabit ei Dominus
sedem David patris ejus, et
re^nabit in aeternum, alle-
luia.
2a
354
PASCHAL TIME.
PSALM 126.
Nisi Dominus aedificaverit
domum . * in vanum labora-
verunt qui sedificant 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 hsereditas
Domini, filii, merces, fruc-
tus ventris.
Sicut sagittse in manu
potentis : * ita filii excus-
sorum.
Beatus vir, qui implevit
desiderium suum ex ipsis :
* non confundetur cum lo-
quetur inimicis suis in
porta.
Ant. Dabit ei Dominus
sedem David patris ejus, et
regnabit in aeternum, alle-
luia.
Ant. Ecce ancilla Do-
mini : fiat mihi secundum
verbum tuum, 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 inheri-
tance 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. And the Lord shall
give unto him the throne of
David his father, and he shall
reign for ever, alleluia.
Ant. Behold the handmaid
of the Lord : be it done to me
according to thy word, alle-
luia.
PSALM 147.
Lauda, Jerusalem, Domi-
num: * Lauda Deum tuum.
Si on.
Quoniam confortavit soras
portarum tuarum : * bene-
dixit filiis tuis in te.
Praise the Lord, 0 Mary,
thou true Jerusalem : 0 Mary,
O Sion ever holy, praise thy God.
Because he hath strengthen-
ed against sin the bolts of thy
gates : ho hath blessed thy
children within thee.
THE ANNUNCIATION.
355
Who hath placed peace in
thy borders : and fiUeth thee
with the fat of com, with
Jesus loho is the Bread of life.
Who sendeth forth hy thee
his Word to the earth : his
Word runneth swiftly.
Who giveth snow like wool :
scatteretii mists Uke ashes.
He sendeth his crystal like
morsels : who shall stand be-
fore the face of his cold ?
He shall send forth his Word,
hy Mary, and shall melt them :
Ms Spirit shall breathe, and the
waters shall run.
Who declareth his Word to
Jacob : his justices and his
judgments to Israel.
He hath not done in like
manner to every nation : and
his judgments he hath not
made manifest to them.
Ant. Behold the handmaid
of the Lord : be it done to mo
according to thy word, alleluia.
Qui posuit fines tuos pa-
cem : * et adipe frumenti
satiat te.
Qui emittit eloquium su-
um terrse : * velociter currit
sermo ejus.
Qui dat nivem sicut la-
nam : * nebulam sicut ci-
nerem spargit.
Mittit crystallum suum.
sicut buccellas : * ante fa-
ciem frigoris ejus quis sus-
tinebit ?
Emittet Verbum suum,
et Uquefaciet ea : * flabit
Spiritus ejus, et fluent aquae.
Qui annuntiat Verbum
suum Jacob : * justitias, et
judicia sua Israel.
Non fecit taliter omni na-
tioni : * et judicia sua non
manifestavit eis.
Ant. Ecce ancilla Domini :
fiat mihi secundum verbum
tuum, alleluia.
CAPITULUM.
{Is. mi.)
Ecce virgo concipiet et
pariet filium, et vocabitur
nomen ejus Emmanuel. Bu-
tyrum et mel comedet, ut
sciat reprobaro malum, et
eligere bonum.
Behold a Virgin shall con-
ceive, and bear a son, and his
name shall be called Em-
manuel. He shall eat butter
and honey, that he may know
to refuse the evil, and to
choose the good.
HYMN.*
Hail, Star of the Sea ! Bless- Ave, maris stella,
ed Mother of God, yet ever Dei Mater alma,
• In Monastic Churches it is preceded by this Responsory : —
R7. Breve. Angelas Domini nuntiavit Mariae. * Alleluia, alle-
luia. Angelus.
y. Et concepit de Spiiitu Sancto.
Angelus.
Alleluia. Gloria Patri.
356
PASCHAL TIME.
Atque semper Virgo,
Felix coeli porta.
Sumens illud Ave
Gabrielis ore,
Punda nos in pace,
Mutans Evse nomen.
Solve vincla reis,
Prefer lumen csecis.
Mala nostra pelle.
Bona cuncta posce.
Monstra te esse Matrem,
Sumat per te preces,
Qui, pro nobis natus,
Tulit esse tuus.
Virgo singularis,
Inter omnes mitis;
Nos culpis solutes,
Mites fac et castes.
Vitam praesta puram,
Inter para tutum,
Ut videntes Jesum,
Semper collsetemur.
Sit laus Deo Patri,
Summo Christo Decus,
Spiritui Sancto,
Tribus honor unus.
Amen.
^. Ave, Maria, gratia
plena, alleluia.
5t. Pominus tecum, alle-
luia.
a Virgin ! 0 happy gate of
heaven !
Thou that didst receive the
Ave from Gabriel's lips, con-
firm us in peace, and so let Eva
be changed into an Ave of
blessing for us.
Loose the sinner's chains,
bring light to the blind, drive
from us our evils, and ask all
good things for us.
Show thyself a Mother, and
offer our prayers to Him, who
would be born of thee, when
born for us.
0 incomparable Virgin, and
meekest of the meek, obtain us
the forgiveness of our sins, and
make us meek and chaste.
Obtain us purity of life, and
a safe pilgrimage ; that we may
be united with thee in the bliss-
ful vision of Jesus.
Praise be to God the Father,
and to the Lord Jesus, and to
the Holy Ghost : to the Three
one self- same praise.
Amen.
t. Hail, Mary, full of grace,
alleluia.
gt. The Lord is with thee,
alleluia.
ANTiPHON OF THE Magnificat.
Spiritus Sanctus in te
descendet, Maria, et virtus
Altissimi obumbrabit tibi,
alleluia.
The Holy Ghost shall come
upon thee, 0 Maiy, and the
power of the Most High shall
overshadow thee, alleluia.
OREMUS.
Deus, qui de beatse Ma-
ria) Virginis utero Verbum
tuum, Angelo nuntiante,
carnem suscipere voluisti :
praesta supplicibus tuis, ut
LET US PRAY.
O God, who wast pleased
that thy Word, when the Angel
delivered his message, should
take flesh in the womb of the
Blessed Virgin Mary, give ear
THE ANNUNCIATION. 357
to our humble petitions, and qui vere earn Genitricem
grant that we who believe her Dei credimus, ejus apud te
to be truly the Mother of God, intercessionibus adjuvemur.
may bo helped by her prayers. Per eumdem.
Through the same, &c.
Then is made a Commemoration of Low Sunday,
as in 2^(ty^ 346.
MASS.
The Church has taken most of the chants of to-
day's Mass from the Forty-fourth Psalm, wherein the
Royal Prophet celebrates the mystery of the Incar-
nation, Iq the Introit, she greets Mary as the Queen
of the human race, to whom every creature should
pay respectful homage. It was her Virginity that
fitted Mary to become the Mother of God. This
virtue will be imitated in the Church, and each gene-
ration wiU produce thousands of holy Virgins, who
will walk in the footsteps of her that is their Mother
and their model.
INTROIT.
All the rich among the Vultum tuum depreca-
people shall entreat thy coun- buntur omnes divites ple-
tenance : after her shall vir- bis : adducentur Regi virgi-
gins be brought to the King : uesposteam: proximsoejus
her neighbours shall be adducentur tibi in Isetitia et
brought to thee in joy and exsultatione. Alleluia, alle-
gladness. Alleluia, alleluia. luia.
Ps. My heart hath uttered Ps. Eructavit cor meum
a good word : I speak my verbum bonum : dico ego
works to the King. ^. Glory, opera mea Regi. y. Gloria
&c. All the rich. Patri. Vultum tuum.
In the Collect, the Church glories in her faith in
the divine Maternity ; she puts it forward as a claim
to Mary's interceding for her with this God, who is
her Son. This dogma of Mary's being the Mother
of God is founded on the mystery of the Incarnation,
which is the basis of our Faith.
358
PASCHAL TIME.
COLLECT.
Deus, qui de beatse Marise
Virginis utero, Yerbum
tuum, Angelo nuntiante,
carnem suscipere voluisti :
praesta supplicibus tuis : ut
qui vere earn Genitricem
Dei credimus, ejus apud te
intercessionibus adjuvemur.
Per eumdem.
O God, who wast pleased
that thy Word, when the
Angel delivered his message,
should take flesh in the womb
of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
give ear to our humble peti-
tions, and grant that we who
believe her to be truly the
Mother of God, may be helped
by her prayers. Through the
same, &c.
EPISTLE.
Lectio Isaise Prophetae.
Cap. VIL
In diebus illis : Locutus
est Dominus ad Achaz, di-
cens : Pete tibi signum a
Domino Deo tuo, in prof nu-
dum inferni sive in excel -
sum supra. Et dixit Achaz :
Non petam, et non tentabo
Dominum. Et dixit: Audite
ergo domus David : Num-
puid parum vobis est, moles-
tos esse hominibus, quia
molesti estis et Deo meo ?
Propter hoc dabit Dominus
ipse vobis signum. Ecce
Virgo concipiet, et pariet
Filium : et vocabitur nomen
ejus Emmanuel. Butyrum
et mel comedot, ut sciat re-
probare malum et eligere
bonum.
Lesson from Isaias the
Prophet.
Ch. VIL
In those days : the Lord
spoke unto Achaz, saying :
Ask thee a sign of the Lord
thy God, either unto the depth
of hell, or unto the height
above. And Achaz said : I
will not ask, and I will not
tempt the Lord. And he
( Isaias) said : Hear ye there-
fore, 0 house of David : Is it
a small thing for you to be
grievous to men, that you are
grievous to my God also ?
Therefore the Lord himself
shall give you a sign. Behold
a Virgin shall conceive and
bear a Son, and his name shall
be called Emmanuel. He shall
eat butter and honey, that he
may know to refuse the evil,
and to choose the good.
The Prophet is speaking to a wicked king, who
refused to accept a miraculous proof of God's merci-
ful protection over Jerusalem ; and he makes this an
opportunity for announcing to Juda the great poi'
THE ANNUNCIATION. 359
tent wliich we are celebrating to-day : A Virgin
shall coHceirc, and bear a Son. And when was it,
that God fulfilled the prophecy ? It was in an age,
when mankind seemed to have reached the highest
pitch of wickedness, and when idolatry and immora-
lity reigned throughout the whole world. The ful-
ness of time came^ and the tradition, which had found
its way into every country, that a Virgin should
bring forth a son, was exciting much interest. To-
day, we are celebrating the sublime Mystery ; let us
adore the power of Grod, and the fidelity wherewith
he fulfils his promises. The author of the laws of
natui'e suspends them ; he acts independently of
them : Virginity and Maternity are united in one
and the same creature, for the Child that is to be
bom, is God. A Virgin could not bring forth other
than God himself : the Son of Mary is, therefore,
called Emmanuel, that is, God with us.
Let us adore this God, this Creator of all things
visible and invisible, who thus humbles himself.
Henceforth, he will have every tongue confess, not
only his divinity, but also his Human Nature, which
he has assumed in order that he might redeem us.
From this day forward, he is truly the Son of Man.
He will remain nine months in his mother's womb,
as other children. Like them he will, after his
birth, be fed on milk and honey. He will sanctify
all stages of human life, from infancy to perfect
manhood, for he is the New Man, who has come
down from heaven that he might restore the Old.
Without losing aught of his Divinity, he shares in
our weak finite being, that he may make us partakers
of the dib'ine nature.^
The first Alleluia-Versicle repeats the AngeFs
Salutation to Mary. Let us, with Gabriel, bow down
before this Holy Virgin, the master-piece of nature
1 2 St. Pet. i. 4.
360
PASCHAL TIME.
and grace, predestined from all eternity to be the
Mother of Grod.
Alleluia, alleluia.
Ave, Maria, gratia plena,
Dominus tecum : benedicta
tu in mulieribus.
Alleluia, alleluia.
Hail, Marj^ full of grace,
the Lord is with thee : blessed
art thou among women.
The second Yersicle celebrates in sublime and
enthusiastic words, the effects of the divine mystery
of the Incarnation : — peace between G-od and man
re-established in the virginal womb of Mary, wherein
the Divine and Human Nature are united in the
Person of the Child, whom she conceives the very
instant she consents to the will of the Most High.
Alleluia.
Yirga Jesse floruit : Virgo
Deum et hominem genuit :
pacem Deus reddidit, in se
reconcilians ima summis,
alleluia.
Alleluia.
The rod of Jesse hath
brought forth its flower ; a
Virgin hath conceived Him
who is God and Man ; God
hath restored peace, by uniting
in himself the lowest with the
highest, alleluia.
GOSPEL.
Sequentia sancti Evangelii
secundum Lucam.
Cap. I.
In illo tempore : Missus
est Angelus Gabriel a Deo in
civitatem Galilseao, cui no-
men Nazareth, ad virginem
desponsatam viro cui no-
men erat Joseph, de domo
David : et nomen virginis,
Maria- Etingressus Angelus
ad eam, dixit : Ave, gratia
plena ; Dominus tecum :
benedicta tu in mulieribus.
Quas cum audisset, turbata
est in sermone ejus : et cogi-
tabat qualis esset ista salu-
Sequel of the holy Gospel
according to Luke.
Clu I.
At that time : The Angel
Gabriel was sent from God
into a city of Galilee, called
Nazareth, to a Virgin espoused
to a man whose name was
Joseph, of the house of David ;
and the Virgin's name was
Mary. And the Angel being
come in, said unto her : Hail,
full of grace, the Lord is with
thee : blessed art thou among
women. Who having heard,
was troubled at this saying,
and thought with herself
THE ANNUNCIATION.
361
what manner of salutation
this shonld be. And the
Angel said to her : Fear not,
Mary, for thou hast found
grace with God. Behold thou
shalt conceive in thy womb,
and shalt bring forth a son
and thou shalt call his name
Jesus. He shall be great, and
shall be called the Son of the
Most High, and the Lord God
shall give unto him the throne
of David his father : and he
shall reign in the house of
Jacob for ever, and of his
kingdom there shall be no end.
And Mary said to the Angel :
How shall this be done, be-
cause I know not man ? And
the Angel answering, said to
her: The Holy Ghost shall
come upon thee, and the
power of the Most High shall
overshadow thee. And there-
fore also the Holy which shall
be bom of thee, shall be called
the Son of God. And behold
thy cousin Elizabeth she also
hath conceived a son in her
old age ; and this is the sixth
month with her that is called
barren : because no word shall
be impossible with God. And
Mary said: Behold the hand-
maid of the Lord, be it done
to me according to thy word.
By these last words of thine, 0 Mary ! our happi-
ness is secured. Thou consentest to the desire of
Heaven, and thy consent brings us our Saviour.
0 Virgin-Mother I BIch-^ccI (unonfj H'0)non ! we unite
our thanks with the homage that is paid thee by the
Angels. By thee is our ruin repaired ; in thee is our
nature restored ; for thou hast wrought the victory
of man over fcJatan ! — Saint Bernard, in one of his
tatio. Et ait Angelus ei : Ne
timeas, Maria : invenisti
enim gratiam apud Deum.
Ecce concipies in utero, et
paries filium : et vocabis
nomen ej us Jesum. Hie erit
magnus : et Filius Altissimi
vocabitur. Et dabit illi Do-
minus Deus sedem David
patris ejus : et regnabit in
domo Jacob in seternum ;
et regni ejus non erit finis.
Dixit autem Maria ad Ange-
lum : Quomodo fiet istud ?
quoniam virum non cog-
nosce. Et respondens An-
gelus, dixit ei : Spiritus
Sanctus superveniet in te ;
et virtus Altissimi obumbra-
bit tibi. Ideoqiie et quod
nascetur ex te sanctum, vo-
cabitur Filius Dei. Et ecce
Elizabeth cognata tua : et
ipsa concepit filium in se-
nectute sua. Et hie mensis
sextus est illi, quae vocatur
sterilis ; quia non erit im-
possibile apud Deum omne
verbum. Dixit autem Ma-
ria : Ecce ancilla Domini :
fiat mihi secundum verbum
tuum.
362 PASCHAL TIME.
Homilies on this Grospel, thus speaks : " Rejoice, 0
" thou our father Adam ! but thou, 0 mother Eve,
" still more rejoice ! You were our Parents, but you
'' were also our destroyers ; and what is worse, you
" had wrought our destruction before you gave us
" birth. Both of you must be consoled in such a
'' Daughter as this ; but thou, 0 Eve, who wast the
" first cause of our misfortune, and whose humilia-
" tion has descended upon all women, thou hast a
" special reason to rejoice in Mary. For the time is
^' now come, when the humiliation is taken away,
" neither can man any longer complain against the
" woman, as of old, when he foolishly sought to
" excuse himself, and cruelly put all the blame on
" her, saying : The wotnan, whom thou gavest me,
" gave me of the Tree, and I did eat. Gro, Eve, to
" Mary ; go, Mother, to thy Daughter ; let thy
" Daughter take thy part, and free thee from thy
" disgrace, and reconcile thee to her father : for if
" man fell by a woman, he is raised up by a woman.
" What is this thou sayest, Adam ? The icoman,
" lohom thou gavest me, gave me of the Tree, and 1
" did eat ? These are wicked words ; far from effac-
" ing thy fault, they aggravate it. But divine
" Wisdom conquered thy wickedness, by finding in
" the treasury of his own inexhaustible mercy a
*' motive for pardon, which he had in vain sought to
" elicit by questioning thee. In place of the woman,
" of whom thou complainest, he gives thee another :
" Eve was foolish, Mary is wise ; Eve was proud,
" Mary is humble ; Eve gave thee of the tree of death,
*' Mary will give thee of the Tree of life ; Eve offered
" thee a bitter and poisoned fruit, Mary will give thee
"the sweet Fruit she herself is to bring forth, the
" Fruit of everlasting life. Change then thy wicked
" excuse into an act of thanksgiving, and say : The
" Woman, whom thou hast given me, 0 Lord, hath
^* given me of the Tree of Life, and I have eaten
THE ANNUNCIATION. 363
" thereof ; and it is siveeter than honey to my mouth,
^^ for hy it thou hast given me lifey^
In the Offertory, the Church addresses Mary, in the
words spoken to her by the Archangel, to which she
also adds those used by Elizabeth, when she saluted
the Mother of her God.
OFFERTORY.
Hail, Mary, full of grace, Ave, Maria, gratia plena,
the Lord is with thee : blessed Dominus tecum : benedicta
art thou among women, and tu in mulieribus, et bene-
blessed is the fruit of thy dictus fructus ventris tui,
womb, alleluia. alleluia.
In the Secret, the Church renews her profession of
faith in the mystery of the Incarnation ; she con-
fesses the reality of the two Natures, Divine and
Human, in Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Son of
Mary.
SECRET.
Strengthen, we beseech thee, In mentibus nostiis, quao-
0 Lord, in our soul, the mys- sumus, Domine, vera? fidei
teries of the true faith : that sacramenta confirma : ut,
we who confess him, that was qui conceptum de Virgine
conceived of a Virgin, to be Deum verum et hominem
true God and true Man, may, confitemui-, per ejus saluti-
by the power of his saving ferae resurrectionis poten-
resurrection, deserve to come tiam, ad aeternam mereamur
to eternal joys. Through the pervenire lastitiam. Per
same, &c. eumdem.
The greatness of the Solemnity obliges the Church
to substitute for the Paschal Preface, the one she
uses on our Lady's Feasts,
PREFACE.
Itis truly meet and just, right Vere diguum et justum
and available to salvation, that est, acquum et salutaro, nos
we should always, and in all tibi semper et ubique gratiag
^ St- Bernard. Homil. IL super Misaua est.
364
PASCHAL TIME.
agere, Domine sancte, Pater
omnipotens, seterne Deus :
Et te in AnDuntiationebeatoe
Mariae semper virginis col-
laudare, benedicere, et proe-
dicare. Quae et Unigenitum
tuum Sancti Spiritus obum-
bratione concepit, et virgini-
tatis gloria permanente, lu-
men seternum muudo eff udit
Jesum Christum Dominum
nostrum. Per quem majes-
tatem tuam laudant Angeli,
adorant Dominationes, tre-
muut Potestates. Coeli, Coe-
lorumque Yirtutes, ac beata
Serapbim, socia exsultatione
concelebrant. Cum quibus
et nostras voces ut admitti
jubeas deprecamur, supplici
confessione dicentes : Sanc-
tus, Sanctus, Sanctus.
places, give thanks to thee, O
holy Lord, Father Almighty,
eternal God : And that we
should praise, bless, and glorify
thee, ontheAnnuntiationof the
Blessed Maryever a Virgin, who
by the overshadowing of the
Holy Ghost conceived thine On-
ly-Begotten Son, and, the glory
of her virginity still remaining,
brought forth to the world, the
eternal Light, Jesus Christ our
Lord. By whom the Angels
praise thy Majesty, the Domi-
nations adore it, the Powers
tremble before it ; the Heav-
ens, the heavenly Virtues, and
blessed Seraphim, with com-
mon jubilee glorify it. To-
gether with whom we beseech
thee that we may be admitted
to join our humble voices say-
ing : Holy! Holy! Holy!
The Communion-Anthem repeats the prophetic
words of the Epistle. It is a Virgin that has con-
ceived and brought forth Him, who being Glod and
Man, is also the living Bread that came down from
heaven, whereby Grod is ivith us, and in us.
COMMUNION.
Ecce Virgo concipiet, et
pariet filium : et vocabitur
nomen ejus Emmanuel, al-
leluia.
Behold a virgin shall con-
ceive and bring forth a son,
and his name shall be called
Emmanuel, alleluia.
In the Postcommunion, the Church gratefully
recals to mind all the Mysteries which Grod has
achieved for our salvation, and which were the con-
sequences of the one of to-day. After the Incarna-
tion, which unites the Son of Grod to our Human
Nature, we have had the Passion of this our Divine
THE ANNUNCIATION.
365
E-edeemer ; and his Passion was followed by his
E-esurrection, whereby he triumphed over our enemy,
Death.
POSTCOMMUNION.
Pour forth we beseech thee,
O Lord, thy grace into our
hearts ; that we, to whom the
Incarnation of Christ thy Son
was made known by the mes-
sage of an Angel, may, by his
Passion and Cross, be brought
to the glory of his Eesurrec-
tion. Through the same, d'c.
Gratiamtuam, quresumus,
Domine mentibus nostris
infunde : ut, qui Angelo
nuntiante, Christi Filii tui
incarnationem cognovimus ;
per Passionem ejus et Cni-
cem, ad Eesurrectionis glo-
riam perducamur. Per eum-
dem.
SECOND VESPEES.
The Antiphons, Psalms, Hymn, and Yersicle, are
the same as in the First Vespers, pages 350-357.
The JIagniJi cat- Ajiti^hon is alone changed, and is
as follows:
ANTIPHON OF THE MAGNIFICAT.
The Angel Gabriel spoke
unto Marj^ saj-ing : Hail, full
of grace, the Lord is with thee :
blessed art thou among women,
alleluia.
Gabriel Angelus
locutus
est MarisD dicens: Ave, gra-
tia plena, Dominus tecum ;
benedicta tu in mulieribus,
Alleluia.
The Prayer is the Collect of the Mass, page. 358.
END OF THE FIRST VOLUME OF PASCHAL TIME.
662-20
BX 1970 .G8313 1868 v. 7 IMS
Gueranger. Prosper.
Liturgical year 2nd ed. ~
PONTIs=^tCAL INSHTUr*
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