Blessed are the undefiled in the way: who walk in the law of the Lord. V. Glory.

COLLECT. Da nobis.-Grant, O Lord, we heseech thee, that we may imitate him whose memory we celebrate, so as to learn to love even our enemies, because we now solemnize his martyrdom, who knew how to pray, even for his persecutors, to our Lord Jesus Christ, thy Son. Who liveth.

Commem. of Christmas, by the Collect, Secret, ana P. Comm. of the III. Mass, p. 77.

LESSON. Acts vi. 8. 10. vii. 54. 69.-In those days: Stephen, full of grace and fortitude,.did great wonders and signs among the people. Now there arose some of that which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of them that were of Cilicia and Asia, disputing with Stephen. And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit that spoke. Chap. vii. 54. Now hearing these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed with their teeth at him. But he being full of the Holy Ghost, looking up steadfastly to heaven, saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right-hand of God. And he said: Behold I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the righthand of God. And they, crying out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and with one accord ran violently upon him. And casting him forth without the city, they stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, invoking and saying: Lord Jesus receive my spirit. And falling on his knees, he cried with a loud voice, saying: Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he said this, he fell asleep in the Lord.

GRAD. Ps. cxviii.-Princes sat, and spoke against me: and the wicked persecuted me. V. Help me, Q

Lord my God: save me for thy mercies sake. Alleluia, Alleluia.

V. I see the heavens opened, and Jesus standing at the right hand of the power of God. Alleluia.

GOSPEL. Matt. xxiii. 34. 39.-At that time. Jesus said to the Scribes and Pharisees: Behold 1 send to you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them you will put to death, and crucify, and some you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city: that upon you may come all the just blood that hath been shed upon the earth, from the blood of Abel the just, even unto the blood of Zacharias the son of Barachias, whom you killed between the temple and the altar. Amen. I say to you, all these things shall come upon this generation. Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou' that killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered together thy children, as the hen doth gather her chickens under her wings, and thou wouldst not? Behold, your house shall be left to you desolate. For I say to you, you shall not see me henceforth till you say: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. CREDO.

OFFERT. Acts vi. 7.-The Apostles chose Stephen, a Levite, full of faith, and of the Holy Ghost, whom the Jews stoned, praying and saying: Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. Alleluia.

SECRET. Receive, O Lord, these offerings in memory of thy saints: and as their sufferings have made them glorious, so may our devotion render us free from sin. Thro'.

COMM. Acts vii.-I see the heavens opened, and Jesus standing on the right-hand of the power of God: Lord Jesus receive my spirit, and lay not this sin to their charge.

P. COMM. Auxilientur.-May the mysteries we

ave received, O Lord, be a help to us, and, by the intercession of the blessed martyr, Stephen, strengthen us with thy perpetual protection. Thro'.

St. JOHN the EVANGELIST.

INTROIT, In medio, as in MASS XII. Common of Doctors.

COLLECT. Ecclesia.-Mercifully, O Lord, enlighten thy Church, that being taught by blessed John, thy Apostle and Evangelist, she may come to thy eternal rewards. Thro'.

The Commem. of Christmas, and of St. Stephen, by their several Collects, Secrets, and P. Comms.

LESSON. Ecclus. xv. 1. 6.-He that feareth God, will do good: and he that possesseth justice, shall lay hold on her. And she will meet him as an honourable mother, With the bread of life and understanding, she shall feed him, and give him the water of wholesome wisdom to drink: and she shall be made strong in him, and he shall not be moved: and she shall hold him fast, and he shall not be confounded: and she shall exalt him among his neighbours, and in the midst of the Church she shall open his mouth, and shall fill him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding, and shall clothe him with the robe of glory. She shall heap upon him a treasure of joy and gladness, and our Lord God shall cause him to inherit an everlasting name.

GRAD. John xxi.-A report was spread among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: but Jesus said hot, he should not die. V. But, so I will have him remain till I come: follow thou me. Alle

luia, Alleluia. V. This is the disciple that beareth testimony of these things, and we know his testimony is true. Alleluia.

GOSPEL.

John xxi. 19.

24.-At that time Jesus said to Peter: follow me. Peter turning about, saw that disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also leaned on his breast at supper, and said: Lord, who is he that shall betray thee? Him therefore when Peter had seen, he saith to Jesus: Lord and what shall this man do? Jesus saith to him: So I will have him to remain till I come, what is it to thee? follow thou me. This saying, therefore, went abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die. And Jesus did not say to him: He should not die; but, so I will have him to remain till I come, what is it to thee? This is that disciple who giveth testimony of these things, and hath written these things: and we know that his testimony is true. CREDO.

OFFERT. Ps. xci.-The just shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow up like the cedar of Libanus.

SECRET. Receive, O Lord, the offerings we make to thee, on his feast, by whose intercession we hope to be delivered. Thro'.

COMM. John xxi.-A report was spread among the brethren, that that disciple should not die. But Jesus said not, he should not die; but so will I that he remain till I come.

P. COMM. Refecti cibo.-Being refreshed, O Lord, with this heavenly meat and drink, we humbly beseech thee, that we may be assisted by his prayers, on whose feast we have received these sacred mysteries. Thro'.

The HOLY INNOCENTS.

INTROIT. Ps. viii.-Out of the mouth of infants and sucklings thou hast perfected praise to confound thy enemies. Ps. O Lord, our Lord, how admirable is thy name in the whole earth! V Glory.

Gloria in Excelsis is not said, except it be Sunday, or the Octave-day.

COLLECT. Deus, cujus.-O God, whose praise the Holy Martyrs, the Innocents, published this day, not by speaking, but by dying: mortify in us all our vicious inclinations, that we may shew forth, in our actions, thy faith which we profess with our lips. Thro'.

The Commems. of Christmas, of St. Stephen, of St. John, by their respective Collects, Secrets, and P. Communions, as pp. 77. 79. and 81.

LESSON. Rev. xiv. 1. 5.-In those days: I beheld, the Lamb standing on mount Sion, and with him a hundred forty-four thousand, having his name, and the name of his Father written on their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of great thunder: and the voice which I heard, was as the voice of harpers, harping on their harps. And they sung as it were a new canticle, before the throne, and before the four living creatures, and the ancients, and no man could say the canticle, but those hundred forty-four thousand, who were purchased from the earth. These are they who were not defiled with women: for they are virgins. These follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were purchased from among men, the first fruits to God, and to the Lamb: and in their mouths there was found no lie; for they are without spot before the throne of God.

GRAD. Ps. Our soul hath been delivered, as a sparrow out of the snare of the fowlers. V. The snare is broken, and we are delivered: our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

Alleluia, Alleluia. V. Praise the Lord: you his servants, praise ye the name of the Lord. Alleluia. If it be not the Octave-day or Sunday, the above Alleluias and V. are omitted; and in their stead 19 aid the Tract.