peace; may she marry in Christ, faithful and chaste, and remain a follower of holy women; may she be amiable to her husband like Rachel, wise like Rebecca, long-lived and faithful like Sara. In none of her deeds may that author of deceit have any power over her; may she abide firmly knit to the faith and the commandments; joined unto one bed, may she fly all unlawful approaches; may she fortify her weakness by the strength of discipline; may she be in shamefacedness grave, in modesty venerable, in heavenly doctrines learned; may she be fruitful in offspring, approved and innocent; and attain unto the rest of the blessed and unto the heavenly kingdom; that they both may see their children's children unto the third and fourth generation, and arrive at a desired old age. Through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.

Then the priest, returning to the middle of the altar, says: Libera nos, &c., as usual; and, after he has received the Blood, communicates the newly-married couple and proceeds with the Mass: and having said the Benedicamus Domino, or Ite, Missa est, before he blesses the people he turns to the bride and bridegroom, and says:

May the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob be with you, and himself fulfil his blessing upon you; that you may see your children's children unto the third and fourth generation; and may afterwards have everlasting life, without end, by the help of our Lord Jesus Christ; who, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth, God, world without end. Amen.

BENEDICTION AFTER CHILDBIRTH.

When a woman after childbirth comes to the church to give thanks to God, and to ask the priest's benediction, she kneels at the door or entry of the church, holding a lighted candle in her hand; and the priest, vested

in a surplice and white stole, sprinkles her with holy water, and then says:

V. Our help is in the name of the Lord.

R. Who hath made heaven and earth.

Ant. She shall receive a blessing from the Lord, and mercy from God her Saviour: for this is the generation of them that seek the Lord.

Psalm xxiii. Domini est terra.

The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof: the compass of the world, and all that dwell therein.

For he hath founded it upon the seas: and prepared it upon the floods.

Who shall ascend into the mountain of the Lord: or who shall stand in his holy place?

He that hath clean hands and a pure heart: that hath not taken his soul in vain, nor sworn deceitfully to his neighbour.

He shall receive blessing from the Lord: and mercy from God his Saviour.

This is the generation of them that seek him: of them that seek the face of the God of Jacob.

Lift up your gates, O ye princes, and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors: and the King of glory shall come

in.

Who is this King of glory? the Lord, strong and mighty: the Lord, mighty in battle.

Lift up your gates, O ye princes, and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors: and the King of glory shall come

in.

Who is this King of glory? the Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory.

Glory be to the Father.

The antiphon, She shall receive, is repeated. Then, reaching the end of his stole to the woman's hand, the priest introduces her into the church, saying: Enter into the temple of God, adore the Son of the

blessed Virgin Mary, who giveth thee fruitfulness of offspring.

And she, entering in, kneels before the altar, and prays, giving thanks to God for the benefits bestowed upon her; and the priest says:

Lord have mercy.

mercy.

Our Father, secretly.

Christ have mercy. Lord have

V. And lead us not into temptation.
R. But deliver us from evil.

V. Save thine handmaid, O Lord.
R. Who hopeth in thee, O my God.

V. Send her help, O Lord, from the sanctuary.
R. And defend her out of Sion.

V. Let not the enemy prevail against her.

R. Nor the son of iniquity approach to hurt her.
V. O Lord, hear my prayer.

R. And let my cry come unto thee.

Let us pray.

Almighty, everlasting God, who, through the delivery of the blessed Virgin Mary, hast turned into joy the pains of the faithful in childbirth, look mercifully upon this thine handmaid, coming in gladness to thy temple to offer up her thanks: and grant that, after this life, by the merits and intercession of the same blessed Mary, she may merit to arrive, together with her offspring, at the joys of everlasting happiness. Through Christ our Lord.

R. Amen.

Then he sprinkles her with holy water in the form of a cross, saying:

The peace and blessing of God Almighty, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost, descend upon thee, and abide for ever. Amen.

NOTE. This Benediction is not given except to those in lawful wedlock.

BENEDICTION OF A WOMAN IN PREGNANCY,

WHERE THERE IS DOUBT OF HER SAFETY,

V. Our help is in the name of the Lord.
R. Who hath made heaven and earth.
V. Save thine handmaid, O Lord.
R. Who hopeth in thee, O my God.
V. Be unto her, O Lord, a tower of strength.
R. From the face of the enemy.

V. Let not the enemy prevail against her.
R. Nor the son of iniquity approach to hurt her.
V. Send her help, O Lord, from the sanctuary.
R. And defend her out of Sion.

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.

R. And let my cry come unto thee.
V. The Lord be with you.

R. And with thy spirit.

Let us pray.

Almighty, everlasting God, who hast given to thy servants, in the confession of the true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and, in the power of majesty, to adore the Unity; grant, we beseech thee, that, by steadfastness in the same faith, this thine handmaid may ever be defended from all adversities. Through our Lord, &c.

Let us pray.

Lord God, Creator of all things, strong and terrible, just and merciful, who alone art good and kind; who deliveredst Israel from all evil; who madest whom thou wouldest chosen fathers, and sanctifiedst them with the gift of thy Spirit; who, by the co-operation of the Holy Spirit, didst prepare the body and soul of the glorious Virgin Mary, that she might be worthy to be made a fitting habitation of thy Son; who madest John the

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BENEDICTION OF A WOMAN IN PREGNANCY,

Baptist to be filled with the Holy Spirit, and to leap in his mother's womb; accept the sacrifice of a contrite heart, and the fervent desire of thine handmafd, N., who humbly beseecheth thee for the preservation of the feeble offspring which thou hast given her to conceive; preserve thine handmaid in childbearing, and defend her from all craft and injury of the direful enemy; that, by the helping hand of thy mercy, her offspring may come safe to this light of day, and may be preserved for holy regeneration, may evermore serve thee in all things, and may merit to attain unto everlasting life. Through the

same our Lord, &c.

R. Amen.

Then she is sprinkled with holy water, while the 66th Psalm, with the Gloria, is being said.

Psalm lxvi. Deus misereatur.

May God be merciful unto us, and bless us: may he cause the light of his countenance to shine upon us, and be merciful unto us.

That we may know thy way upon earth: thy salvation among all nations.

Let the people praise thee, O God: let all the people praise thee.

Let the nations rejoice and be glad: for thou judgest the people with equity, and rulest the nations upon earth.

Let the people praise thee, O God, let all the people praise thee the earth hath given forth her fruit.

May God, even our God, bless us; may God bless us: and all the ends of the earth fear him.

Glory be to the Father.

V. Let us bless the Father and the Son, with the Holy Spirit.

R. Let us praise and highly exalt him for ever.
V. God shall give his angels charge concerning thee.
R. To keep thee in all thy ways.