tribulation: and to keep one's self unspotted from the world. Alleluia, Alleluia. V. Christ is risen, and hath shone upon us, whom he hath redeemed with his blood. Alleluia. V. I came forth from the Father, and I came into the world: I leave the world again, and go to the Father. Alleluia. V. Exiv a Patre, et veni în mundum: iterum relinquo mundum, et vado ad Patrem. Alleluia, GOSPEL. John xvi, 23. 30.-At that time: Jesus said to his disciples: Amen, amen, I say to you if you ask the Father any thing in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto you have not asked any thing in my name. Ask and you shall receive; that your joy may be full. These things I have spoken to you in proverbs. The hour cometh when I will no more speak to you in proverbs, but will shew you plainly of the Father. In that day you shall ask in my name and I say not to you, that I will ask the Father for you. For the Father himself loveth you, because you have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God. I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again I leave the world, and go to the Father. His disciples say to him: Behold now thou speakest plainly, and speakest no proverb. Now we know that thou knowest all things, and thou needest not that any man should ask thee. By this we believe that thou camest forth from God. CREDO. OFFERT. Ps. lxv.-Bless the Lord our God: Ye Gentiles, and make the voice of his praise be heard, who hath set my soul to live, and hath not suffered my feet to be moved. Blessed be the Lord, who hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me. Alleluia. the * SECRET.-Receive, O Lord, we beseech thee, prayers of the faithful, together with these obla R tious; that by these duties of piety we may obtain eternal life. Thro'. COMM. Ps. xcv.-Sing to the Lord Alleluia, sing to the Lord, and bless his name: publish duly, every day, that he hath saved us. Alleluia, Alleluia. P. COMM. Tribue.-Grant, O Lord by the power of the heavenly nourishment we have received, that we desire what is right, and obtain our desire. Thro.' ROGATION DAYS. WHEN the Diocese of Vienne, in the fifth century, had been dreadfully afflicted by incessant earthquakes, incursions of wild beasts, &c. &c. St. Mamertus its Bishop experienced such happy effects from the public supplications he had appointed for the ceasing of these terrible calamities, that the same pious custom extended itself gradually over the whole Western Church; and hence it is, that on the three days preceding the Feast of the Ascension, abstinence from flesh is enjoined, and the long Litanies are sung in solemn procession in catholic countries: that the wrath of God being appeased by the abstinence and prayers of his Church, we may avert those punishments which are justly due to our sins. INTROIT. Ps. xvii.-He heard my voice from his holy temple, Alleluia. And my cry before him came into his ears. Alleluia, Alleluia. Ps. I will love thee, O Lord, my strength: the Lord is my firmament, my refuge, and my deliverer. V. Glory. COLLECT. Præsta.-Grant, we beseech thee, O Almighty God, that we, who in our afflictions rely on thy goodness, may, under thy protection, be defended against all adversities. Thro'. EPISTLE. James v. 16. 20.-Most dearly beloved: Confess your sins one to another; and pray one for another, that you may be saved. For the continual prayer of a just man availeth much. Elias was a man passable like unto us: and with prayer he prayed that it might not rain upon the earth, and it rained not for three years and six months. And he prayed again and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit. My brethren, if any of you err from the truth, and one couvert him: he inust know, that he who caused a sinner to be converted from the error of his way, shall save his soul from death, and shall cover a multitude of sins. Alleluia. V. Praise the Lord, for he is good, and his mercy endureth for ever. GOSPEL. Luke xi. 5. 13.-At that time: Jesus said to his disciples: Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go to him at midnight, and shall say to him: Friend, lend me three loaves, because a friend of mine has come off his journey to me, and I have not what to set before him: and he from within should answer and say: Trouble me not, the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. Yet if he shall continue knocking, I say to you, although he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend; yet because of his importunity he will rise, and give him as many as he needeth. And I say to you, Ask, and it shall be given to you: seek, and you shall find: knock, and it shall be opened to you. For every one that asketh, receiveth: and he that seeketh, findeth: and to to him that knocketh, it shall be opened. And which of you, if he ask his father bread, will he give him a stone? or a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he ask an egg will he reach him a scorpion? If you then being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father from heaven give the good Spirit to them that ask him? OFFERT. Ps. cviii.-I will give great thanks to the Lord with my mouth, and in the midst of many: I will praise him, because he hath stood at the righthand of the poor to save my soul from persecutors. Alleluia. SECRET.-May these offerings, O Lord, loosen the bonds of our wickedness, and obtain for us the gift of thy mercy. Thro'. COMM. Luke xi.-Ask, and it shall be given you: seek, and you shall find: knock, and it shall be opened to you. For every one that asketh, receiveth : and he that seeketh, findeth: and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened. Alleluia. P. COMM. Vota nostra.-We beseech thee, O Lord, mercifully receive our prayers; that while we partake of thy gifts in our affliction, the comfort we find may increase our love. Thro'. ANTHEM before the Litanies. Exurge, Domine, adjuva nos: et liberá nos propter gloriam nominis tui. Alleluia. Ps. Deus, auribus nostris audivimus; patres nostri annuntiaverunt nobis. V. Gloria, Ant. Exurge, &c. to Ps. The LITANIES. Parts marked thus * are omitted on Holy Saturday. K YRIE eleison. Christe Sancta Dei genitrix, ora ora. ora. ora. Sancte Michael, ora. orate. Omnes sancti beatorum spirituum Ordines orate pro nobis. Sancte J. Baptiste, ora, *Sancte Joseph, Omnes sancti Patriarchæ et Prophetæ, orate, Sancte Petre, ora pro nobis. Sancte Paule, Sancte Andrea, ora. |