of that fixed attention which excludes distraction, a book must be placed in their hand, containing the service which is going on, so that they may be enabled to join the faithful in the psalms and hymns, or in prayer; their parents are supposed to have previously instructed them in the different exercises of devotion, for it is no time for doing so when they should be joining in prayer, and following the psalms and hymns. They should be early accustomed to preserve a decent and respectful demeanour while in the church, neither turning, their head from one side to the other, nor gazing around; they should be occupied solely with what is passing at the altar. 6th. The mass is the most august act of religion, and with what respect we ought to assist at its celebration! At low mass children should not be allowed to sit Down, if they are at all able to remain on their knees: at grand mass it is usual to sit during the Kyrie Eleison, the Gloria, the Epistle, the Gradual, and so on till the commencement of the Canon, standing up, however during the Gospel; during the Canon all are to kneel, except in a case where one is unable to do so. In churches where there are organs, children are in the habit of making various motions, keeping time with the music, either with their feet, head, or hands; they must be taught that all such conduct is highly improper, and that the holy joy inspired by the psalms and hymns, and the sacred music, should never carry the Christian so far as to make him lose sight of the respect and reverence due to the presence of God. At other times children fall asleep; if it be from weariness, they must be gently awoke, but if they really cannot remain awake, they ought to be taken home. At other times children eat in the church, and this is exceedingly indecent and irreverent. Have ye not houses wherein to eat or drink, says St. Paul, or do ye despise the Church of God? 7th. Children should be accustomed to listen attentively to the word of God, so that they may not give way to weariness or drowsiness during the sermon or lecture; let them be severely corrected on reaching homo, if they have effected to cough without any real necessity, to spit or use their handkerchief with a noise, during the discourse, or to stand up on a seat to look around. 8th. They should be inspired with a great respect not only for the priests of the Lord, and for all the ceremonies established by the Church, but also for every thing connected with religion and divine worship. 9th. It is not right to quit the church before the priest who said the mass has returned to the sacristy; nor after vespers, until the service is entirely finished. 10th. It is allowable to sit during vespers, but one should incline their head as often as the Gloria Patri is sung; all should remain standing until the first psalm is commenced, and also during the Magnificat, the prayers, he Nunc Dimittis, and the anthem to the Blessed Virgin. 11th. In processions which are made outside the Church, children should avoid disturbing the order of the ranks, by going or coming to and fro, walking now behind, now before, and sometimes close beside the priests; as also by singing louder, quicker, or slower than the chanters. It is also extremely disrespectful to look around on such ocsasions, gazing up at the windows, calling out or speaking to any one, chatting, laughing, running, or any other such indecorous behaviour. FEASTS AND FASTS. HOLY DAYS ON WHICH THERE IS STRICT OBLIGATION TO HEAR MASS, AND REMAIN FROM SERVILE WORK. ALL Sundays in the year. The Feast of the Circumcision of our Lord, Jan. I. The Epiphany, Jan. 6. The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin, March 25. Ascension of our Lord. Corpus Christi, or the Feast of the Blessed Sacrament. Assumption of the B. V. Mary, Au gust 15. Feast of all Saints, November 1. Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Dec. 8. Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ December 25. FASTING DAYS ON ONE MEAL. All days in Lent, except Sundays. - The Quarter-Tenses, or Ember-days, which occur in the four seasons of the year, viz: the Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays 1. Immediately after the first Sunday in Lent; 2. In Whitsunweek; 3. Immediately after the 14th of September; 4. Immediately after the third Sunday of Advent. The Vigil of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the Vigil of all Saints. Every Friday in Advent, and Christmas-Eve. N. B. When a fasting day falls upon a Sunday, the Fast is observed on the Saturday preceding that Sunday. DAYS OF ABSTINENCE FROM FLESH MEAT. All the Sundays in Lent, except when the use of meat is allowed by the Archbishop or Bishop of the Diocese. |