CATHOLIC READER, T. FRANCIS DE SALES, speaking of the Mass, sacrifice; the sun of spiritual exercises;-the centre of the christian religion;-the heart of devotion, and the soul of piety-a mystery so ineffable, as to comprise within itself that abyss of divine charity, from whence God communicates himself really to us, and, in a special manner, replenishes our souls with spiritual graces and favours. "When prayer," continues the Saint, "is united to this divine sacrifice, it becomes so unspeakably efficacious as to cause the soul to overflow, as it were, with heavenly consolations. Here she re clines upon her well-beloved, who fills her with so much spiritual sweetness, that she resembles (in the language of the Canticles) a pillar of smoke issuing from a fire of aromatic wood, myrrh, and frankincense. "Endeavour therefore to assist at Mass every day, that you may, jointly with the priest, offer up the holy sacrifice of your Redeemer to God his Father, for yourself and the whole Church. The angels, says St. Chrysostom, always attend in great numbers to honour this adorable mystery; and we, by associating ourselves to them with the same intention, cannot but receive many favourable influences from so holy a society. The choirs of the triumphant and militant Church unite themselves to our Lord in this divine action; that with Him, in Him, and through Him, they may ravish the heart of God the Father, and make his mercy all our own." At sprinkling the Holy Water, before SOLEMN MASS on Sundays, the following ANTHEMS are sung. ANTHEM. Asperges me, Do. Sprinkle me, O Lord! mine, Hyssopo, et mundabor: lavabis me, et super nivem dealbabor. Ps. Miserere mei, Deus, secundum magnam misericordiam tuam. V. Gloria Patri, &c. with Hyssop, and I shall be cleansed: wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow. Ps. Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy great mercy. V. Glory be to the Father, &c. &c. Anth. Sprinkle me, The Priest, being returned to the Foot of the Altar, says, V. Ostende nobis, V. Shew us, O Lord, Domine, misericordiam thy mercy. The Prayer, Exaudi, as in the next Page. B From EASTER to WHIT-SUNDAY, inclusively, instead of the foregoing Ant. (Asperges, &c.) the following is sung, and Alleluias are added to the V. (Ostende nobis,) and its R. (Et salutare, &c.) ANTHEM. VIDI aquam egredi. Saw water flowing entem de templo a latere dextro, Alleluia: et omnes ad quos perve nit aqua ista, salvi facti sunt et dicent, Allel. Ps. Confitemini Domino, quoniam bonus: quoniam in sæculum misericordia ejus. Gloria. from the right side of the temple, Alleluia: and all to whom that water came, were saved, and they shall say, Allel. Ps. Praise the Lord, because he is good: be cause his mercy endureth for ever. Glory, &c. The Prayer, Exaudi. HEAR us, O holy Lord, Almighty Father, eternal God! and vouchsafe to send thy holy angel from heaven, to guard, cherish, protect, visit and defend all that are assembled in this place, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. PROST Preparatory Prayer before Mass. ROSTRATE in spirit at the foot of thy holy altar, I adore thee, O Almighty God! and firmly believe that the Mass, at which I am going to assist, is the sacrifice of the body and blood of thy Son, Christ Jesus. O! grant I may assist thereat with the attention, respect, and awe, due to such august mysteries and that by the merits of the Victim there offered for me, I myself may become an agreeable sacrifice to thee, who livest and reignest with the same Son and Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen. THE ORDINARY Of the MASS The Priest at the Foot of the Altar, beginning, saith, P Send forth thy light and thy truth: they have conducted and brought me unto the holy Mount, and into. thy Tabernacle. R. And I will go unto the altar of God to God who rejoiceth my youth. R. Ad Deum qui lætificat juventutem meam. P. Adjutorium nostrum in nomine Do. mine. R. Qui fecit cœlum et terram. P. Confiteor Deo omnipotenti, &c. R. Misereatur tui omnipotens Deus, et dimissis peccatis tuis, perducat te ad vitam æternam. P. Amen. R. Confiteor Deo omnipotenti, beatæ Mariæ semper Virgini, beato Michaeli Archangelo, P. I will praise thee on the harp, O God, my God; why art thou sorrowful, O my soul? and why dost thou disturb me? R. Hope in God, for him will I still praise; he is my God, and the Saviour I look for. P. Glory be to the Father, and to, &c. R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. P. I will go unto the altar of God. R. To God who rejoiceth my youth. P. May our help be in the name of the Lord. R. Who made heaven and earth. P. I confess to Almighty God, &c. R. May Almighty God be merciful to thee, and, forgiving thee thy sins, bring thee to everlasting life. P. Amen. R. I confess to Almighty God, to the blessed Mary, ever a Virgin, blessed Michael beato Joanni Baptistæ, the Archangel, blessed sanctis Apostolis Petro John Baptist, the holy |