19.-SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL, Confessor, 20.-SAINT JEROME EMILIAN, Confessor, Same day.-SAINT MARGARET, Virgin and Martyr, August 11.-SECOND DAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF August 12.-SAINT CLARE, Virgin, 1 FORD LIBRARY CHAPTER THE FIRST. ON HEARING MASS, DURING THE TIME AFTER On the Sundays, if the Mass, at which the Faithful assist, be the Parochial, or, as it is often called, the Public Mass, two solemn rites precede it, and they are full of instruction and blessing;-the Asperges, or sprinkling of the Holy Water, and the Procession. During the Asperges, you should unite with the intentions which the Church has in this ceremony, so venerable by its antiquity :-you should pray for that purity of heart, which is needed for worthily assisting at the Mysteries, wherein God himself becomes present, and unites heaven and earth so closely together. It The Procession, which in many Churches immediately precedes a Solemn Mass, is a prelude to the great Act which is about to be accomplished. originated from the practice used in Monasteries, of going through the Cloisters, every Sunday, whilst chanting certain appointed Responsories; and during which, the Hebdomadarian went through all the Conventual Places, blessing each of them. practice is still in use. The But see, Christians! the Sacrifice begins! The Priest is at the foot of the Altar; God is attentive, the Angels are in adoration, the whole Church is united with the Priest, whose Priesthood and action are those of the great High Priest, Jesus Christ. Let us make the sign of the Cross with him. |