prepare us for our Pentecost that the Church imposes on us to-day the obligation of Fasting. Formerly, this Vigil was kept like that of Easter. The Faithful repaired to the Church, in the evening, that they might assist at the solemn administration of Baptism. During the night, the Sacrament of Regeneration was conferred upon such Catechumens as sickness or absence from home had prevented from receiving it on Easter Night. Those, also, who had then been thought insufficiently tried or instructed, and had, during the interval, satisfied the conditions required by the Church, now formed part of the group of aspirants to the New Birth of the sacred Font. Instead of the Twelve Prophecies, which were read, on Easter Night, whilst the Priests were performing over the Catechumens the rites preparatory to Baptism,-six only were now read; at least, such was the usual custom, and it would. lead us to suppose that the number of those baptised at Pentecost was less than at Easter. The Paschal Candle was again brought forward during this Night of grace, in order to impress the newly baptised with respect and love for the Son of God, who became Man that he might be the Light of the World.1 The rites already described and explained for Holy Saturday were repeated on this occasion, and the Sacrifice of the Mass, at which the Neophytes assisted, began before the break of day. In later times, when the charitable custom of conferring Baptism on children immediately after their birth passed into a general law, the Mass of WhitsunEve was said early in the morning, as was done in the case of Easter-Eve. The six Prophecies, of which we have just spoken, are now read before the celebration PASCH: TIME: III. 1 St. John, viii. 12. ́ Ꭲ . of the holy Sacrifice; after which, the Baptism Water is solemnly blessed. The Paschal Candle is used at this ceremony, and the Faithful should consider it a duty to assist at it. First Vespers are sung in the afternoon. We do not insert them, because Whitsun-Eve can never occur on a Sunday; whereas, for other Feasts, for which we have given the First Vespers, the Vigil may be a Sunday. Moreover, the First and Second Vespers of Whit-Sunday are almost exactly the same. We will close this day by inserting one of the finest Sequences composed by Adam of Saint Victor on the mystery of Pentecost. This great liturgical poet of the Western Church has surpassed himself in what he has written on the Holy Ghost; and more than once, during the Octave, we will select from his rich store. But the Hymn we give to-day, is not merely a composition of poetic worth ;-it is a sublime and fervent prayer to the Paraclete, whom Jesus has promised to send us, and whom we are now expecting. Let us make these sentiments of the devout poet of the 12th century our own; let us imitate him in his longings for the Holy Spirit, who is coming that he may renew the face of the earth, and dwell within us. SEQUENCE. Qui procedis ab utroque, Genitore Genitoque, Pariter Paraclite, Redde linguas eloquentes, Amor Patris Filiique, Permanens immobilis. O Divine Paraclete, who proceedest equally from the Father and the Son! with thy glowing fire, give eloquence to our tongues, and make our hearts fervent in their love for thee. Love of the Father and Son! equal and co-equal with them in essence! thou fillest and fosterest all things: and though in thyself immoveable, thou governest the stars, and givest motion to the heavens. Light most dear and bright! thou puttest to flight the gloom of our soul's darkness. 'Tis thou that purifiest the pure, and takest away sin and its rust. Thou teachest us the truth; thou showest us the way of peace and the path of justice. Thou shunnest the hearts of perverse sinners; thou enrichest the hearts of the good with the gift of knowledge. With thee as teacher, there is no obscurity; when thou art present, there is no impurity. The soul that possesses thee, is cheerful; and her conscience is joyful and pure. Thou changest the elements; by thee have the Sacraments their efficacy; thou drivest away all evil power; thou bringest to nought the wickedness of our enemies. When thou comest to us, our hearts are soothed; when thou enterest, dark clouds are put to flight. O sacred Fire! when thou visitest us, thou inflamest our souls; not burning them, but purging them from the dross of care. Thou givest wisdom and fervour to souls that once were ignorant and drowsy and heedless. Thou inspirest the tongue, thou formest its speech; and the charity thou givest, makes the heart prompt to all that is good. O helper of them that are heavily laden! O Comforter of the afflicted! O refuge of Lumen charum, lumen clarum, Internarum tenebrarum Effugas caliginem ; Per te mundi sunt mundati; Tu peccatum et peccati Destruis rubiginem. Veritatem notam facis, Et ostendis viam pacis Et iter justitiæ. Perversorum corda vitas, Et bonorum corda ditas Munere scientiæ. Te docente nil obscurum Te præsente nil impurum ; Gloriatur mens jocunda; Per te læta, per te munda Gaudet conscientia. Tu commutas elementa; Per te suam sacramenta Habent efficaciam : Hostium nequitiam. Erudis et excitas. Foves linguas, formas sonum, Cor ad bonum facit pronum A te data charitas. O juvamen oppressorum, O solamen miserorum, Pauperum refugium, Da contemptum terreno- the poor !-give us a contempt rum: Ad amorem supernorum Cordium humilium, Tu qui quondam visitasti, Docuisti, confortasti Timentes discipulos, Visitare nos digneris; Nos, si placet, consoleris Et credentes populos. Par majestas personarum, Par potestas est earum, Et communis deitas : Tu procedens a duobus Coæqualis es ambobus: In nullo disparitas. Quia tantus es et talis, Quantus Pater est et qualis; Servorum humilitas Deo Patri, Filioque Redemptori, tibi quoque Laudes reddat debitas. Amen. for earthly things, and draw our affections to the love of what is heavenly. Consoler and creator, and guest, and lover of humble souls!-drive all evil from us, cleanse our sins, bring concord where now is discord, and support us by thy protection. O thou that heretofore didst visit, teach and strengthen the timid Disciples, deign to visit us; vouchsafe to console us and the faithful throughout the world. Equal is the majesty, equal the power, and one the divinity, of the Three Persons. Thou proceedest from the Father and the Son, and art co-equal in all things with them. Being, therefore, infinite in all perfections as is the Father, accept from us thy poor servants the praise that is due to thee, equally with the Father and the Son. Amen. WHIT SUNDAY, THE DAY OF PENTECOST. Come, O Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of thy faithful, and enkindle within them the fire of thy love. Veni, sancte Spiritus, reple tuorum corda fidelium, et tui amoris in eis ignem accende. THE great day, which consummates the work that God had undertaken for the human race, has, at last, shone upon the world. The days of Pentecost, as St. Luke says, are accomplished. We have had seven weeks since the Pasch; and now comes the day that opens the mysterious number of Fifty. This day is the Sunday, already made holy by the Creation of the Light, and by the Resurrection of Jesus; it is about to receive its final consecration, and bring us the fulness of God.2 In the Old and figurative Law, God foreshadowed the glory that was to belong, at a future period, to the Fiftieth Day. Israel had passed the waters of the Red Sea, thanks to the protecting power of his Paschal Lamb! Seven weeks were spent in the Desert, which was to lead to the Promised Land ; and the very morrow of those seven weeks was the day, whereon was made the alliance between God and his people. The Pentecost (the Fiftieth Day) was honoured by the promulgation of the ten com 1 Acts, ii. 1. 2 Eph. iii. 19.-See the Chapter on the Mystery of Easter, at the beginning of our Volume; pages 19 and 20. |