Almighty God, that thou wouldst not leave exposed to the dangers of this life, those whom thou hast joyfully made partakers of this divine food. Thro'. As there cannot be less than 23, nor more than 28 Sundays after Pentecost, it is to be observed, that the Mass of the 24th is always said on that Sunday which immediately precedes Advent. When therefore it happens that there are any intervening Sundays between the 23d and the last, the Introit, Gradual, Offertory, and Communion, are taken from the 23d, and the rest of the Mass from the Sundays which were omitted after Epiphany: for instance, if but one Sunday, the Mass is of the 6th after Epiphany; if two, of the 5th and 6th; if three, of the 4th, 5th, and 6th; and if four, of the 3d, 4th, 5th, and 6th. XXIV. Or last SUNDAY after PENTECOST. All as on the twenty-third Sunday, except. COLLECT. Excita.-Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the hearts of thy faithful: that, becoming more zealous in the performance of good works, they may receive from thy goodness more effectual remedies for their disorders. Thro'. EPISTLE. Colos. i. 9. 14.-Brethren: We cease not to pray for you, and to beg that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will, in all wisdom, and spiritual understanding: that you may walk worthy of God, in all things pleasing: being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God: strengthened with all might, according to the power of his glory, in all patience and long-suffering with joy. Giving thanks to God the Father, who hath made us worthy to be partakers of the lot of the saints in light: who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love Q q In whom we have redemption through his blood, the remission of sins. GOSPEL. Matt. xxiv. 15. 35.-At that time: Jesus said to his disciples: When you shall see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place: he that readeth, let him understand. Then they that are in Judea, let them flee to the mountains; and he that is on the house-top let him not come down to take any thing out of his house: and he that is in the field, let him not go back to take his coat. And wo to them that are with child, and give suck in those days. But pray that your flight be not in the winter, or on the Sabbath. For there shall be then great tribulation, such as hath not been from the beginning of the world until now, neither shall be. And unless those days had been shortened, no flesh could be saved: but for the sake of the elect, those days shall be shortened. Then if any man shall say to you: Lo here is Christ, or there: do not believe him: For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders, insomuch as to deceive (if possible) even ue elect. Behold I have told it you, before hand, if therefore they shall say to you: Behold he is in the desert; go ye not out: Behold he is in the closets, believe it not. For as lightning cometh out of the east, and appeareth even into the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be. Wheresoever the body shall be, there shall the eagles also be gathered together. And immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be moved: and there shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven: and then shall all tribes of the earth mourn: and they shall see the Son of Man, coming in the clouds of heaven with much power and majesty. And he shall send his angels with a trumpet, and a great voice: and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the farthest parts of the heavens to the utmost bounds of them. And from the fig-tree learn a parable: when the branch thereof is now tender, and the leaves come forth, you know that summer is nigh. So you also, when you shall see all these things, know ye that it is nigh even at the doors. Amen, I say to you, that this generation shall not pass, till these things be done. Heaven and earth shall pass, but my words shall not pass. CREDO. SECRET.-Mercifully receive, O Lord, the prayers and offerings of thy people: turn our hearts to thee; that being freed from earthly concupiscence, we may desire heavenly pleasures. Thro'. P. COMM. Concede.-Grant, we beseech thee, O Lord, that whatever vice our souls are subject to may be cured by the virtue of the sacrament we have received. Thro'. COMMON OF SAINTS. INCE the Church of Christ, under the immediate has instituted in honour of the Apostles, Martyrs, Confessors, &c. who, either by their preaching their miracles-the shedding of their blood, or the purity of their lives, have borne ample testimony to the truth of our holy religion, let us regard them as our Ancestors, from whom the precious inheritance of faith hath descended to us; let us thank God on their several anniversaries, for having made us members of his one, holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church and whilst we submit our reason and understanding to the sublime mysteries she teaches, let us bend our stubborn wills to the practice of the heavenly precepts she inculcates. : MASS on the VIGIL of an APOSTLE. INTROIT. Ps. li.-I as a fruitful olive, true Q ૧૩ in the house of the Lord, have hoped in the mercy of my God: and I will wait on thy name, for it is good in the sight of thy saints. Ps. Why dost thou glory in mischief, that art mighty in iniquity? V. Glory. COLLECT. Da, quæsumus.-Grant, we beseech thee, O Almighty God, that the venerable solemnity of thy blessed apostle N. which we are now preparing to celebrate, may increase our devotion and advance our salvation. Thro'. LESSON. Eccles. xliv. and xlv.-The blessing of the Lord is on the head of the righteous man. Therefore did the Lord give him an inheritance, and assign him a part among the twelve tribes; and he found grace in the sight of all flesh. And he made him great to the terror of his enemies, and by his words he tamed monsters. He rendered him glorious in the presence of kings, and gave him his commandments in the sight of his people, and shewed him his glory. For his faith and meekness he sanetified him, and made choice of him among all flesh: and publicly gave him his precepts, and the law of life and discipline, and highly exalted him. He settled with him an eternal covenant, and encompassed him with the girdle of righteousness and the Lord hath put on him a crown of glory. GRAD. Ps. cxi.-The just shall flourish like the palm-tree: he shall grow up like the Cedar of Libanus in the house of the Lord. V. To shew forth thy mercy in the morning, and thy truth in the night. GOSPEL. John xv. 12. 16.- -At that time: Jesus said to his disciples: This is my commandment, that you love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love than this no man hath, that a man lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends, if you do the things that I command you. I will not now call you servants; for the servant Knoweth not what his lord doth. But I have called you friends: because all things whatsoever I have heard of my Father, I have made known to you. You have not chosen me: but I have chosen you; and have appointed you that you should go, and should bring forth fruit; and your fruit should remain that whatsoever you shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. OFFERT. Ps. viii.-Thou hast crowned him with glory and honour, and hast set him over the works of thy hands, O Lord. SECRET.-Whilst with respect for the Apostolic dignity, we offer these sacred mysteries, grant, we beseech thee, O Lord, (by the intercession of blessed N. thy Apostle, whose triumphs we are preparing to celebrate) that thy people may ever pray to thee, and obtain their desires. Thro'. COMM. Ps. xx.-His glory is great in thy salvation: glory and great beauty shalt thou lay upon him. P. COMM. Sancti.-Being appeased, O Lord, by the prayers of thy holy apostle N. grant us forgiveness, and a remedy against all future relapses. Thro'. MASS I. Statuit, of a MARTYR and BP. INTROIT. Eccles. xlv. THE Lord settled with him a covenant of peace, and made him a Chief that he might have the honour of Priesthood for ever. Ps. O Lord, remember David, and all his meekness. V. Glory. COLLECT. TATUIT ei Dominus STAT testamentum pacis, e principem fecit eum: ut sit illi Sacerdotii digni tas in æternum. Ps. Me mento, Domine, David, et omnis mansuetudinis ejus. V. Glory, |