Collect. ALMIGHTY and everlasting. God, who grantest us in one solemnity to venerate the merits of all Thy Saints; we beseech Thee, that, our intercessors being multiplied, Thou wouldest bestow upon us the desired abundance of Thy propitiation. Through &c. : sun, having the sign of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four Angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, saying, Hurt not the earth, nor the sea, nor the trees, till we sign the servants of our God on their foreheads. And I heard the number of them that were signed: an hundred forty and four thousand were signed, of every tribe of the children of Israel. Of the tribe of Juda twelve thousand were signed: of the tribe of Ruben twelve thousand signed of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand signed of the tribe of Aser twelve thousand signed of the tribe of Nephthali twelve thousand signed: of the tribe of Manasses twelve thousand signed: of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand signed of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand signed: of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand signed: of the tribe of Zabulon twelve thousand signed: of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand signed: of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand signed. After this* I saw a great multitude which no man could number, of all nations, and tribes, and peoples, and tongues, standing before the Throne, and in the sight of the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; and they cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God who sitteth upon the Throne, and to the Lamb. And all the Angels stood round about the Throne, and the Elders and the four : Living Creatures; and they fell down before the Throne upon their faces, and adored God, saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, honour, and power, and strength to our God for ever and ever. Amen. (Apoc. 7.) Gospel. T that time, Jesus seeing the multitudes, went up into a mountain; and when He was sat down, His disciples came unto Him. And opening His mouth, He taught them, saying, Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are the meek; for they shall possess the earth. Blessed are they that mourn; for they shall be comforted. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice; for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart; for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye when they shall revile you, and persecute you, and speak all manner of evil against you untruly, for my sake: be glad and rejoice, for your reward is great in heaven. (Matt. 5.) EVENING OFFICE.-Psalms as for feasts of Our Lord, p. 181: Lesson, the latter part of the Epistle, I saw a great multitude &c.; Hymn, Placare, p. 418. 2. Annual commemoration of ALL THE FAITHFUL DEPARTED; introduced by S. Odillo, Ab. of Cluny, O.S.B., n 998. (p. 343.) 3. S. WINEFRID E, V.M., Patron of Holywell; a Welsh maiden, who, having consecrated her virginity to God, was slain in its defence. 630. To this day miracles attest the efficacy of her intercession. 4. S. CHARLES of Borromeo, Cardinal and B. of Milan a true image of the Good Shepherd, he is especially remark. able for the wise energy with which he pushed on, and himself carried out, the reforms of the Council of Trent, for the austerity of his life, and the inexhaustible charity with which he devoted himself to the poor. Founder of the Oblate Priests of S. Charles. 1584. 9. Anniversary of the DEDICATION of the Basilica of OUR SAVIOUR (otherwise called S. John Lateran), by S. Sylvester in 330; the cathedral of, and first church publicly consecrated in, Rome. (p. 342.) 10. S. ANDREW AVELLINO, of Naples, a Theatine Pr. of eminent sanctity, who bound himself by vow always to resist his own inclination, and never to stop in the way to greater perfection. 1608. 11. S. MARTIN, B. of Tours; a native of Hungary, completed by his preaching and miracles the conversion of Western Gaul, and is thence called one of its Apostles. Whilst yet a catechumen and a soldier, he gave the half of his cloak to a naked beggar, and was rewarded the same night by seeing that Our Lord Himself was covered with it. 397. 12. S. MARTIN, P.M., endured persecution for his opposition to the Monothelite heresy, and died in exile. 655. 13. S. DIDACUS, a Spanish lay-brother, O.S.F.; of great sanctity, charity, and spiritual wisdom. 1463.-S. STANISLAS KOSTKA, S.J., a Pole, displayed mature sanctity in a tender age. 1568, aged 17, at Rome. 14. S. ERCONWALD, B. of London, O.S.B., famed for his virtues, was descended from Offa, King of East-Anglia, and was a convert from heathenism. 690. 15. S. GERTRUDE, V., O.S.B., Ab. of Helfda in Saxony, was endowed with great natural and supernatural gifts. Filled with devotion to the Passion of Our Lord and the B. Sacrament, she had many visions. Her prayers and exercises are still in high repute. 1292. 16. S. EDMUND, B. of Canterbury, O.S.B., fearlessly opposed the encroachments of Henry III., and died in exile at Pontigny in France, where his body still lies. 1242. 17. S. HUGH, B. of Lincoln, of the Carthusian Order, was a native of Burgundy. An exemplary prelate, and a courageous upholder of Church rights, he rebuilt Lincoln Cathedral. 1200. 18. Anniversaries of the DEDICATION of the Roman BASILICAS of S. PETER on the Vatican (cons. 330, and 1626), and of S. PAUL "outside the walls " (cons. 330 and 1854); each erected on the spot of the Apostle's confession. (p. 342.) 19. S. ELIZABETH, of Hungary, W. of Louis Margrave of Thuringia; O.S.F., is especially famous for her charity her humility, and her many miracles. 1231, aged 24. 20. S. EDMUND, the virtuous King of East-Anglia, was taken prisoner by the Danes, and on refusing to renounce Christ, was cruelly martyred by them. 870. Buried at Bury S. Edmunds. 21. The PRESENTATION OF THE B.V. MARY in the Temple. (p. 305.) 22. S. CECILIA, V.M.: a Roman lady who had consecrated herself to God, and being married against her will, converted her husband (S. Valerian, M. Ap. 14.) on the day of their marriage, and was afterwards condemned to death. The executioner only partially severed her head, and she lingered on for two days. About 232. The Patron Saint of music. 23. S. CLEMENT, P.M., 3rd successor of S. Peter; mentioned by S. Paul as a fellow-labourer. Owing to the great increase of Christians during his pontificate, he was banished by Trajan, and afterwards cast into the sea. Ab. 102. 24. S. JOHN OF THE CROSS, PR., 1st Prior of the Barefooted Carmelites, endured much persecution whilst introducing S. Theresa's Reform. 1591. 25. S. CATHERINE, V.M., a lady of Alexandria, famed for her sanctity and learning, boldly rebuked the Emperor Maximinus for his persecutions, and was in consequence cruelly tortured and beheaded. Ab. 307. Her heavenly marriage, her martyrdom (she is represented with a broken wheel at her side), and her entombment by the Angels, have been favourite subjects of Christian art. 26. S. FELIX, of the royal family of VALOIS; was cofounder with S. John of Matha (Feb. 8), of the Trinitarian Order for ransoming Christian captives. 1212. 27. S. GREGORY THAUMATURGUS, or the Wonderworker, B. of Neo-Cæsarea in Asia Minor, was a zealous preacher of the Gospel and opponent of Arianism. 270. 30. S. ANDREW, AP., Patron of Scotland: the first called of the Apostles; is styled by the Ven. Bede, the "Introducer to Christ," because of his having brought S. Peter and others to Our Lord. He preached in Thrace, and was crucified in Greece on a cross in the form of an X. DECEMBER. 2. S. BIBIANA, V.M., a distinguished Roman Martyr under Julian the Apostate, whose parents and sister likewise obtained the crown of martyrdom. 363. 3. S. FRANCIS XAVIER, S.J., PR., Apostle of the Indies, a Spaniard. On account of his indomitable zeal, and almost incredible missionary labours and successes, he may be called another S. Paul. 1552. 4. S. PETER CHRYSOLOGUS or Golden-speeched, B. of Ravenna, D.; an eminent preacher and doer of the Gospel. 450.-S. BARBARA, of Egypt, V.M. 3rd or 4th cent.; the Patron of a Good Death. 5. S. BIRIN US, B., O.S.B., was sent to England by Pope Honorius I., and converted the West-Saxons. He founded the see of Dorchester (Oxfordshire), afterwards removed to Winchester. 650. 6. S. NICHOLAS, B. of Myra in Asia Minor; famous for his many works of mercy, and his miracles both during and after life. Ab. 327. The Patron Saint of Russia, of children, and of the distressed. 7. S. AMBROSE, D., was elected B. of Milan whilst governor of the province and only a catechumen. A zealous upholder of the Catholic faith and of ecclesiastical discipline, he fearlessly reproved two emperors, and led a life of dis tinguished holiness and charity. 397. 8. THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE B.V. MARY. (p. 308.) 11. S. DAMAS US, P., ordained that the Gloria Patri should be said after every Psalm. 384. 13. S. LUCY, V.M., of Syracuse, having consecrated herself to God, was denounced by a youth who vainly sought her in marriage. After being torn with pincers and otherwise cruelly tortured, she was beheaded. 304. 16. S. EUSEBIUS, B. of Vercelli, M., manfully opposed the Arian heresy, and was in consequence exiled and cruelly persecuted. 370. 21. S. THOMAS, A P., slow at first to believe in the resurrection of his Master, he carried His Gospel to the Medes and Persians, and even to India, where he was slain pierced with arrows. 25. S. ANASTASIA, M., of Rome, was burnt alive in Illyria. 304. 26 to 31, see Part III., p. 355. |