P. COMM. Beati Joannis.-May the prevailing prayers of blessed John the Baptist, O Lord, accompany ours: and may he implore the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ on our behalf, whose coming he foretold, and who with thee liveth, &c.

XXIV. NATIVITY of St. JOHN BAPTIST. INTROIT Ps. xlix.-From my mother's womb did the Lord call me by my name; and he made my mouth like a sharp sword; under the shadow of his hand hath he protected me, and made me as a chosen arrow. Ps. It is good to praise the Lord, and sing to thy name, O thou the Most High. V. Glory.

COLLECT. Deus, qui præsentem. O God, who hast honoured this day by the birth of blessed John the Baptist: grant that thy people may rejoice in spirit, and guide them in the way of eternal salva

tion. Thro'.

Give ear, ye

LESSON. Isaiah xlix. 1. 7. islands, and hearken ye people from afar. The Lord hath called me from the womb, from the bowels of my mother he hath been mindful of my name. And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword: in the shadow of his hand he hath protected me, and hath made me as a chosen arrow; in his quiver he hath hidden me. And he said to me: Thou art my servant in Israel, for in thee will I glory. And now saith the Lord that formed me from the womb to be his servant: Behold, I have given thee to be the light of the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation even to the farthest part of the earth. Kings shall see, and princes shall rise up and adore for the Lord's sake, and for the Holy One of Israel who hath chosen thee.

GRAD. Jer. i. Before I formed thee in the womb, I knew thee: and before thou camest forth from the womb did I sanctify thee. V. The Lord

put forth his hand and touched my mouth: and said to me: Alleluia, Alleluia: V. Thou, child, shalt be called the Prophet of the Most High: thou shalt go before the Lord to prepare his ways. Alleluia. Gospel. Lukei. 57. 68. Elizabeth's full

time of being delivered was come, she brought forth a son. And her neighbours and kinsfolk heard that the Lord had shewed his great mercy towards her, and they congratulated with her. And it came to pass that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they called him by his father's name Zachary. And his mother answering said: Not sn, but he shall be called John. And they said to her: There is none of thy kindred that is called by that name. And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called. And demanding a writingtable, he wrote, saying: John is his name. And they all wondered. And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke blessing God. And fear came upon all their neighbours; and all these things were noised abroad over all the hill-country of Judea and all they that had heard them, laid them up in their hearts, saying: What an one, think ye, shall this child be? For the hand of the Lord was with him. And Zachary his father was filled with the Holy Ghost; and he prophesied, saying: Blessed be the Lord God of Israel. because he hath visited and wrought the redemption of his people.

OFFERT. Ps. xci. The righteous man shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall thrive like the cedar of Libanus.

SECRET. We heap offerings, O Lord, on thy altars, celebrating with due honour his nativity, who both foretold the coming of the Saviour of the world, and shewed him when come, Jesus Christ our Lord thy Son. Who liveth.

COMM. Luke i.-Thou, child, shalt be called

the Prophet of the Most High: for thou shalt go be. fore the face of the Lord to prepare his ways.

P. COMM. Sumat. - Let thy Church, O God, rejoice on the nativity of blessed John the Baptist, by whom she came to the knowledge of the author of her regeneration, our Lord Jesus Christ thy Son. Who liveth.

XXV. St. WILLIAM, Abbot of York.

All as in the XV. Mass, Os justi, p. 495. except COLLECT. Deus, qui. O God, who in thy saints hast afforded both an example and help to our weakness, in order to enable us to walk in the road of salvation: grant us so to revere the merits of the blessed Abbot William, that we may feel the benefit of his suffrages, and tread in his steps. Thro'.

XXVI. SS. JOHN and PAUL, Martyrs.

INTROIT. Ps. xxxiii.- Many are the tribulations of the righteous, but the Lord hath delivered them from all. The Lord keepeth all their bones, and not one of them shall be broken. Ps. I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall be for ever in my mouth. V. Glory.

COLLECT. Quæsumus.· -We beseech thee, O Almighty God, that we may receive this day re doubled joy from the glorious solemnity of the blessed Martys, John and Paul, who, in their faith and sufferings, were truly brothers. Thro'.

LESSON. Eccles. xliv. 10. 15.-These were men of mercy, whose godly deeds have not failed: good things continue with their seed, their posterity are a holy inheritance, and their seed hath stood in the covenants: and their children for their sakes remain for ever: their seed and their glory shall not be forsaken. Their bodies are buried in peace, and their names liveth unto generation and

generation. Let the people shew forth their wis dom, and the Church declare their praise.

GRAD. Ps cxxxii. - Behold how good and delightful it is for brethren to dwell in peace. V. It is like the perfumed oil which from the head came down all over the beard of Aaron. Alleluia, Alleluia. V. These were truly brothers, who triumphed over the iniquity of the world, followed Christ, and are now in possession of the glorious kingdom of heaven. Alleluia.

Gospel. Luke xii. 1. 8. At that time: Jesus said to his disciples: Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed: nor hidden, that shall not be known. For whatsoever things you have spoken in darkness, shall be published in the light: and that which you have spoken in the ear in the chambers, shall be preached on the house-tops. And I say to you, my friends: Be not afraid of them who kill the body, and after that have no more they can do. But I will shew you whom you shall fear: fear ye him who after he hath killed, hath power to cast into hell. Yea I say to you, fear him. Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? Yea the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore you are of more value than many sparrows. And I say to you, whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of Man also confess before the angels of God.

OFFERT. Ps. v.-All that love thy name shall glory in thee, because thon, O Lord, wilt bless the righteous man: thou hast covered us, O Lord, as with the shield of thy love.

SECRET. Mercifully receive, O Lord, the offerings consecrated to thee by the merits of thy holy Martyrs John and Paul: and grant they may be to us a continual support. Thro'.

COMM. Wisd. iii.-Tho' they suffered torments in the sight of men, God only tried them; like gold in the furnace he proved them, and as an holocaust he accepted them.

P. COMM. Sumpsimus. — Having received, O Lord, thy divine sacraments on the festival of thy holy Martyrs John and Paul: grant, we beseech thee, that what we here celebrate in time, we may hereafter receive in a happy eternity. Thro'.

XXVII. St. LEO, Pope and Confessor, sd. All as in the XI. Mass, Sacerdotes, p. 487, except COLLECT. Deus, qui.-O God, who didst ren. der blessed Leo worthy of the rewards of thy saints: mercifully grant that we, who keep his festival, may likewise follow the example of his holy life.

Thro'.

Here and at the Secret and P. Comm. is made a Commem. of St. John Baptist; and also of the Vigil of SS. Peter and Paul as below.

Gospel, Matt. xxv. p. 486.

SECRET. Grant, we beseech thee, O Lord, by the intercession of blessed Leo, that this obla tion may be available to us, by the offering of which thou wast pleased to blot out the sins of the whole world. Thro'.

P. COMM. Deus, qui animæ.-O God, who hast bestowed on the soul of thy servant Leo the re wards of eternal happiness: mercifully grant, that we, who are burdened with the weight of our sins, may, by his intercession, find relief." Thro'.

XXVIII. VIGIL of SS. PETER and PAUL. INTROIT. John xxi.-The Lord said to Peter: when thou wast younger, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst where thou wouldst : but when thou shalt grow old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and