Alleluia. V. I spoke of thy testimonies before kings; and I was not ashamed. Alleluia. After Septuag. instead of Alleluia and V. is said TRACT, Qui seminant, p. 476. GOSPEL. Matt. xix. 3. 12. At that time: The Pharisees came to Jesus tempting him, and saying Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? Who answering, said to them: Have ye not read, that he who made man from the beginning, made them male and female? And he said: For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife, and they two shall be in one flesh. Therefore now they are not two, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let no man put asunder. They say to him: Why did Moses command to give a bill of divorce, and to put away? He saith to them: Because Moses, by reason of the hardness of your heart, permitted you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. And I say to you, that whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery; and he that shall marry her that is put away, committeth adultery. His disciples say unto him: If the case of a man with his wife be so, it is not expedient to marry. Who said to them: All men take not this word, but they to whom it is given. For there are eunuchs, who were born so from their mother's womb and there are eunuchs, who were made so by men: and there are eunuchs, who have made themselves eunuch's for the kingdom of heaven. He that can take, let him take it. COMM.-He who vouchsafed to heal all my wounds, and restore my breast to my body, is the living God, whom I call upon. VIII. St. JOHN of MATHA, c. All as in Mass XIII. p. 488, except COLLECT. Deus.-O God, who by Holy John was pleased under thy heavenly directions to institute the Order of the Most Holy Trinity, for the redemption of captives out of the hands of the Saracens: grant, we beseech thee, that by his merits we may be delivered, by thy grace, from all captivity of both body and mind. Thro'. X. St. SCHOLASTICA, v. All as in Mass XIX. p. 498, except COLLECT. Deus, qui.-O God, who to recommend to us innocence of life, wast pleased to let the soul of thy blessed Virgin Scholastica ascend to heaven in the shape of a dove: grant by her merits and prayers, that we may lead innocent lives here, and ascend to eternal joys hereafter. Thro'. XIV. St. VALENTINE, pr. and m. COLLECT. Præsta.-Grant, we beseech thee, O Almighty God, that we who solemnize the festival of blessed Valentine, thy Martyr, may, by his instruction be delivered from all the evils that threaten us. Thro'. SECRET-Be appeased, O Lord, we beseech thee, with the offerings we have made, and by the intercession of blessed Valentine, thy martyr, defend us from all dangers. Thro'. P. COMM. Sit nobis.-May this divine sacrament strengthen us, O Lord, both in body and soul, that by the intercession of blessed Valentine, thy Martyr, we may receive the effects of what we celebrate. Thro'. ЗАЗ XXIV. or XXV. St. MATTHIAS, ap. INTROIT, Mihi autem, as in p. 524. COLLECT. Deus.--O God, who didst add blessed Matthias to the number of thy Apostles, grant, we beseech thee, that by his prayers we may be ever sensible of the effects of thy mercy. Thro'. LESSON. Acts i. 15. 26.-In those days: Peter rising up in the midst of the brethren, said: (now the number of persons together was about an hundred and twenty.) Men brethren, the scripture must needs be fulfilled which the Holy Ghost spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who was the leader of them that apprehended Jesus: who was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry. And he indeed hath possessed a field of the reward of iniquity, and being hanged, burst asunder in the midst: and all his bowels gushed out. And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem: so that the same field was called in their tongue Haceldama, that is to say, the field of blood. For it is written in the book of Psalms: Let their habitation become desolate, and let there be none to dwell therein. And his bishopric let another take. Wherefore of these men who have companied with us, all the time that the Lord Jesus came in and went out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day wherein he was taken up from us, one of these must be made a witness with us of his resurrection. And they appointed two, Joseph, called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. And praying they said: Thou, Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, to take the place of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas hath by transgression fallen, that he might go to his own place. And they gave them lots, and the lot fell upon Matthias and he was numbered with the eleven apostles. GRAD. Ps. cxxxviii.-Thy friends, O God, are made exceedingly honourable: their principality is exceedingly strengthened. V. I will number them, and they shall be multiplied above the sand. TRACT, Desiderium animæ, p. 462. GOSPEL. Matt. xi. as on 15th January, p. 537. OFFERT. Ps. xliv.-Thou shalt make them princes over all the earth: they shall remember thy name, O Lord, throughout all generations. SECRET.-Grant, O Lord, that (the prayer of blessed Matthias thy apostle, accompanying the offerings we make to thy holy name) we may be both cleansed from our sins, and defended thereby. Thro'. COMM. Matt. xix.-You who have followed me, shall sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. P. COMM. Præsta.-Grant, we beseech thee, O Almighty God, that by virtue of the sacrament we have received, and the intercession of blessed Matthias, thy apostle, we may obtain the pardon of our sins and peace. Thro'. March II. St. CHAD, Bishop of Litchfield. COLLECT. Omnipotens.-Almighty and eternal God, who rejoicest us this day in the observation of the festival of blessed Chad, thy confessor and bishop, we humbly beseech thy clemency, that, as we devoutly observe his solemnity, we may through his intercession obtain the reward of eternal life. Thro'. SECRET.-Be favourable, O Lord, to our prayers: and grant, by the intercession of blessed Chad, thy confessor and bishop, that by assisting at these mysteries, we may be delivered from all sin, and purified by thy grace. Thro'. P. COMM. Præsta.-Grant, we beseech thee, O Lord, our God, that we who have offered to thee these divine mysteries, may obtain thy mercy and advance to a full enjoyment of them above. Thro'. IV. St. CASIMIR, c. All as in Mass XIII. p. 488, except COLLECT. Deus, qui.—O God, who amidst the delights of a court, and the attractive snares of the world, didst preserve holy Casimir constant and faithful in thy service: grant, we beseech thee, that by his intercession, thy people may despise the transitory things of this world, and eagerly pursue those that are everlasting. Thro' Here is made a Commem. of St. Lucius by the Collect, &c. of Mass II. v. 464. VII. St. THOMAS of AQUIN, c. D. COLLECT. Deus, qui.-0 God, who by the wonderful learning of blessed Thomas, thy confessor, hast illustrated thy Church, and by his virtues hast enlarged it: grant, we beseech thee, that we may understand what he taught, and, in our lives, follow what he practised. Thro'. LESSON. Wisd. vii. 7. 14.—I wished, and understanding was given me and I called upon God, and the spirit of wisdom came upon me: and I preferred her before kingdoms and thrones, and esteemed riches nothing in comparison of her. Neither did I compare unto her any precious stone, for all gold in comparison of her is as a little sand, and silver in respect to her shall be counted as clay. I loved her above health and beauty, and chose to have her instead of light, for her light cannot be put out. Now all good things came to me together with her, and mnumerable riches through her hands. And I re |