tions; 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 earth quakes, 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 belov ed: 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 convert him: he must 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 shal' 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 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 libera 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 YRIE eleison. Christe Sancte Michael, ora. ora. ora. Keisel. Kyrie elei Sancte Gabriel, son. Christe audi nos. Christe exaudi nos. Pater de cœlis Deus, Miserere nobis. Fili Redemptor mundi Deus, miserere nobis. Spiritus sancte Deus, miserere nobis. Sancta Trinitas unus Deus, miserere nobis. Sancta Maria, Ora pro nobis. Sancta Dei genitrix, ora pro nobis. Sancte Raphael, Omnes sancti Angeli et orate. Omnes sancti beatorum ora. ora. orate. Omnes sancti Patriarchæ Sancte Paule, ora. Sancte Andrea, ora. Sancta Virgo Virginum, ora pro obis. Sancte Laurenti, Sancte Vincenti, *Sancti Fabiane et Sebastiane, orate pro nobis. *Sancti Joannes et Paule, orate pro nobis. *Sancti Cosma et Damiane, orate. ora. *Sancta Catharina, ora. Sancta Anastasia, Omnes sanctæ Virgines et Viduæ. orate. *Sancte Gervasi et Pro- Propitius esto, Parce 10 *Ab insidiis diaboli, libera nos Domine. *Ab ira, odio, et omni mala voluntate, libera nos Domine. *A spiritu fornicationis, libera nos Domine. *A fulgure et tempestate, libera nos Domine. A morte perpetua, libera nos Domine. Per mysterium sanctæ incarnationis tuæ, libera nos Domine. Per adventum tuum, libera nos Domine. Per nativitatem tuam, libera nos Domine. Per baptismum et sanctum jejunium tuum, libera nos Domine. Per crucem et passionem tuam, libera, &c. Per mortem et sepulturam tuam, libera, &c. Per sanctam resurrectionem tuam, libera, &c. Per admirabilem ascensi ɔnem tuam, libera, &c. Per adventum Spiritus sancti Paracliti, libera nos Domine. In die judicii, libera, &c. Peccatores, te rogamus audi nos. Ut nobis parcas, te rogamus audi nos. *Ut nobis indulgeas, te rogamus audi nos. *Ut ad veram pœnitentiam nos perducere digneris, te rogamus, &c. Ut Ecclesiam tuam sanctam regere et conservare digneris, te rogamus audi nos. Ut domnum Apostolicum et omnes Ecclesiasticos Ordines in sancta religione conservare digneris, te rogamus audi nos. Ut inimicos sanctæ Ecclesiæ humiliare digneris, te rogamus, &c. Ut Regibus et Principibus Christianis pacem et veram concordiam donare digneris, te rogamus audi nos. *Ut cuncto populo Christiano pacem et unitatem largiri digneris, te rogamus audi nos. nosmetipsos in tuo sancto servitio confortare et conservare digneris, te rogamus, &c. *Ut mentes nostras ad Ut cœlestia desideria erigas, te rogamus, &c. Ut omnibus benefactori bus nostris sempiterna bona retribuas, te rogamus audi nos. *Ut animas nostras, fratrum, propinquorum, et benefactorum nos H h |