Let us pray.

Look down we beseech thee, O Lord, upon these thy servants, and graciously protect this thy ordinance, whereby thou hast provided for the propaga tion of mankind, that those who are joined together by thy authority, may be preserved by thy help. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

If the nuptial blessing is given the following prayers are added. Let us Pray.

Be favourable, O Lord, to our supplications, and graciously protect thy ordinance, whereby thou hast provided for the propagation of mankind, that what is joined together by thy authority may be preserved by thy help. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Let us Pray.

O God, who by the might of thy power, didst make all things out of, nothing, who when the elements of the universe were reduced to order, and man made to God's image, didst so ordain the inseparable assistance of woman, as to give her body its origin from that of man, thus teaching that what it had pleased thee to fashion out of one and the same flesh, could never be lawfully put asunder; O God, who hast consecrated wedlock to so excellent a mystery, that thou would'st foreshow in the marriage covenant the mysterious union of Christ with his Church; O God, by whom woman is joined to man, and their union established in the beginning is gifted with a blessing, which alone was not taken away either in punishment of original sin, or by the sentence of the Deluge, look graciously upon this thy handmaid, now about to be joined in wedlock, who earnestly entreats to be secured by thy protection, may it be to her a yoke of love and peace;

faithful and chaste may she marry in Christ, and be a follower of holy matrons, may she be pleasing to her husband, like Rachel, wise like Rebecca, longlived and faithful like Sarah. May the author of deceit have no claim on her or any of her deeds, may she abide firmly attached to the faith and the commandments, and being faithful to one marriagebed, may she flee all unlawful addresses. May she render her frailty steadfast by the strength of a chastened life, in shamefacedness be grave, venerable by her modesty, in heavenly doctrines learned; may she be fruitful in offspring; may she be pleasing and blameless; may they both see their children's children to the third and fourth generation, and arrive at a happy old age. Through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Then the Priest pronounces the Blessing, saying:

May the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob be with you, may he fulfil his blessing upon you; that you may see your children's children unto the third and fourth generation; and may afterwards have life everlasting, without end, by the help of our Lord Jesus Christ; who with the Father and the Holy Ghost lives and reigns God for ever and ever. Amen.

THE BLESSING OF A WOMAN AFTER

CHILD-BIRTH.

This blessing is only for married women. If a woman after child-birth wishes to give thanks to God for her safe delivery, and to ask the Priest's blessing; she shall pause at the church door, holding in her hand a lighted taper, where the Priest shall come to her, and sprinkling her with holy water, shall say:

V. Our help is in the name of the Lord.

R. Who made heaven and earth.
Ant. She shall receive.

Psalm xxiii.

The earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof: the world and all that dwell therein.

For he has founded it upon the seas: and upon the streams does he make it fast.

Who shall ascend into the mountain of the Lord? and who shall stand in his holy place?

He that is clean of hands and pure of heart; who has not vainly lifted up his soul, neither hath he sworn dece.tfully.

He shall receive a blessing from the Lord: and mercy from God his Saviour.

This is the generation of them that seek him: that seek the face of the God of Jacob.

Lift up your gates, ye princes, and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors: and the King of Glory shall

come in.

Who is the King of Glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.

Lift up your gates, ye princes, and be ye lifted up ye everlasting doors: and the King of Glory shall

come in.

Who is the King of Glory? the Lord of hosts, he is the King of Glory.

Glory be to the Father, &c.

Ant. She shall receive a blessing from the Lord, and mercy from God her Saviour: for this is the generation of them that seek the Lord.

The Priest, placing the end of his stole into the hand of the woman, leads her into the church, saying:

Come into the temple of God, adore the Son of

Blessed Mary, the Virgin, who has granted theo fruitfulness of offspring.

Having entered she kneels before the altar, giving thanks to God, and the Priest says:

Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy. Lord have mercy.

Our Father, &c., in secret.

V. And lead us not into temptation :

R. But deliver us from evil.

V. Save thy handmaid, O Lord.
R. Who trusts in thee, O my God.

V. Send her help, O Lord, from thy Sanctuary.
R. And out of Sion protect her.

V. Let not the enemy prevail against her.
R. Nor the son of iniquity approach to hurt her.
V. The Lord hear my prayer.

R. And let my cry come to thee.
V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.

Let us pray.

Almighty everlasting God, who by the delivery of Blessed Mary, the Virgin, hast turned into joy the pains of the faithful in child-birth ; graciously look upon this thy handmaid, coming in gladness to thy holy temple to give thee thanks, and grant that after this life, by the merits and intercession of the same Blessed Mary, she may be found worthy to attain, together with her offspring, the joy of everlasting life. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Then the Priest sprinkles her with holy water, saying:

May the peace and blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, come down upon you, and remain for ever.

Amen.

INDULGENCES.

I. What an Indulgence is.

By an Indulgence is meant the remission of the temporal punishment due to us on account of our sins. Every sin, however grievous, is remitted through the sacrament of penance, or by an act of perfect contrition, as regards its guilt and the eternal punishment due to it. But the debt of temporal punishment is not always remitted at the same time. This latter is done away with by deep penitence, or by works of satisfaction, e. g. prayers, alms, fasting, &c.; or by the patient endurance of troubles and adversities sent us by God, &c.; or by tho satisfaction of our Lord Jesus Christ and the saints, applied to us through Indulgences by those who have the power to apply them.

And although, in order to escape this temporal punishment, we must not rely on Indulgences alone, to the neglect of good works; yet because, at the best, our own good works are very imperfect, and the debt of punishment due by us very great, we ought to endeavour, as frequently as possible, to avail ourselves of the benefits of Indulgences.

Indulgences are of two kinds :-1st, A plenary Indulgence, when duly gained, is a fall and entire remission of all the temporal punishment due to sin. The eight Indulgences granted to the faithful in England, at the principal festivals in the year, are plenary Indulgences. A jubilee is also a plenary Indulgence occasionally granted by the Pope to the whole Church, in the most ample manner, and with the greatest solemnity. There are many other plenary Indulgences granted to various good works.