COLLECT. Excita quæsumus.-Exert, we beseech thee, O Lord, thy power, and come: and succour us by thy great might: that by the assistance of thy grace, thy indulgent mercy may hasten, what is delayed by our sins. Who livest.

EPISTLE. 1 Cor. iv. 1.-Brethren: Let a man so account of us as of the ministers of Christ, and the dispensers of the mysteries of God. Here now it is required amongst the dispensers that a man be found faithful. But to me it is a very small thing to be judged by you, or by man's day: but neither do I judge my own self. For I am not conscious to myself of any thing: yet I am not hereby justified; but he that judgeth me is the Lord. Therefore judge not before the time till the Lord come; who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the council of hearts: and then shall every man have praise from God.

GRAD. Ps. cxliv.-The Lord is nigh unto all those who call upon him; to all that call upon him in truth. V. My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord: and let all flesh bless his holy name. Alleluia Alleluia.

V. Come, O Lord, and delay not: release thy people Israel from their sins. Alleluia.

V. Veni, Domine, et noli tardare: relaxafacr· nora plebis tuæ Israel. Alleluia.

GOSPEL. Luke iii. 1. 6.—Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Cæsar (Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod Tetrarch of Galilee, and Philip his brother Tetrarch of Iturea, and the country of Trachonitis, and Lysanias Tetrarch of Abilina under the high Priests Annas and Caiphas) the word of the Lord came to John the son of Zachary in the desert. And he came into all the country about the Jordan, preaching the baptism of penance for the remission of sins, as it was

written in the book of the words of Isaias the pre phet: "A voice of one crying in the wilderness prepare ye the way of the Lord: make straight h paths, every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low: and the crooked shall be made straight: and the rough ways plain:" and all flesh shall see the salvation of God. CREDO.

OFFERT. Luke i.-Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

SECRET. Hear us, O Lord, we beseech thee, and being appeased by these offerings, grant they may increase our devotion, and advance our salvation. For the rest of the Secrets see p. 52.

COMM. Is. vii.-Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bare a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel.

P. COMM. Sumptis.-Having received what has been offered to thee, O Lord, grant, we beseech thee, that the more frequently we partake of these sacred mysteries, the more our devotion may increase. For the rest of the Postcommunions see pp. 52, 53.

CHRISTMAS EVE.

INTROIT. This day you shall know, that the Lord will come, and save us: and in the morning you shall see his glory. Ps. The earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof: the world, and all that dwell therein. V. Glory.

COLLECT. Deus qui nos.-O God, who makest us rejoice in the yearly expectation of the feast of our redemption: grant, that we who cheerfully receive thy only begotten Son as a redeemer, may behold without fear the same Lord Jesus Christ, coming as our judge. Who livest.

This is the only Collect, unless it be Sunday, when a Commem. of it is here made, as well as at the Se cret and P. Comm. but its Gospel is net end at the end of Mass.

EPISTLE. Rom. i. 1.6.-Paul a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, which he had promised before by his prophets in the holy scriptures, concerning his Son, who was made to him of the seed of David according to the flesh; who was predestinated the Son of God in power according to the spirit of sanctification, by the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead; by whom we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith in all nations for his name, among whom are you also the called of Jesus Christ.

GRAD. As the Introit to Ps. V. Thou who rulest Israel, hearken, thou who leadest Joseph like a sheep: thou who sittest on the Cherubim, shew thyself to Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasses. If it be Sunday add Alleluia, Alleluia.] V. To-morrow the sins of the earth shall be cancelled, and the Saviour of the world shall reign over us. Alleluia.

GOSPEL. Matt. i. 18. 20.-When Mary the mother of Jesus was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Whereupon Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing publicly to expose her, was minded to put her away privately. But while he thought on these things, behold the angel of the Lord appeared to him in his sleep, saying: Joseph, son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a Son: and thou shalt call his name Jesus; for he shall save his people from their sins.

OFFERT. Ps. 23.-Lift up your gates, O ye princes: and be ye lifted up, O eternal gates, and the King of glory shall enter in.

SECRET. Grant, we beseech thee, O Almighty God, that as we celebrate the eve of the adorable birth of thy Son, we may one day receive with joy ais eternal rewards. Who liveth.

COMM. Is. xl.—The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see the salvation of our God.

P. COMM. Grant us, we beseech thee, O Lord relief by celebrating the birth of thy only Son whose sacred mysteries are our meat and drink. Thro

CHRISTMAS.

this solemn Festival three Masses are sung or

came into the world to save, 1. Those who were before the Law: 2. Those who were under the Law: 3. Those under the Gospel. By these three Masses the Church likewise honors a threefold Nativity of Christ. 1. His eternal generation and Nativity, boru from all eternity and before all time of his Father: 2. His nativity and generation in time according to his human nature, being born of the Blessed Virgin Mary: 3. His spiritual birth by grace in the souls of the just.

CHRISTMAS. I. Mass. At Midnight.

INTROIT. Ps. ii.-The Lord hath said to me: Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. Ps. Why have the Gentiles raged, and the people devised vain things? V. Glory.

COLLECT. Deus, qui hanc.-O God, who hast enlightened this most sacred night by the brightness of him who is the true light; grant, we beseech thee, that we who have known the mysteries of this light on earth, may likewise come to the enjoyment of it in heaven. Who liveth.

EPISTLE. Tit. ii. 11. 15.—Dearly beloved: The grace of God our Saviour hath appeared to all men. Instructing us, that denying ungodliness and worldly desires, we should live soberly, and justly, and godly, in this world, looking for the blessed hope, and coming of the glory of the great God

and our Saviour Jesus Christ: who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and might cleanse to himself a people acceptable, a pursuer of good works. These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

GRAD. Ps. cix.-With thee is the principality in the day of thy strength: in the brightness of the saints: from the womb before the day-star I begot thee. V. The Lord said to my Lord: Sit thou at my right-hand: until I make thy enemies thy footstool. Alleluja, Alleluia. V. Ps. ii. The Lord hath said to me: Thou art my Son, this day have 1 begotten thee, Alleluia.

GOSPEL. Luke ii. 1. 14.-And it came to pass that in those days there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that the whole world should be enrolled. This enrolling was first made by Cyrinus the governor of Syria. And all went to be enrolled, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee out of the city of Nazareth into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem: because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary his espoused wife, who was with child. And it came to pass, that when they were there, her days were accomplished, that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her first-born son, and wrapped him up in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger: because there was no room for them in the inn. there were in the same country shepherds watching and keeping the night watches over their flock. And behold an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the brightness of God shone round about them, and they feared with a great fear. And the angel said to them: Fear not: for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, that shall be to all the people: for this G

And