AT THE SECOND VESPERS.

Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you; for I was an hungered, and ye gave Me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave Me drink: I was a stranger and ye took Me in. MATT. XXV.

"Intrante Christo Bethanicam domum."

Lo, Christ hath gone to Bethany,
And Simon hath prepared the board;
Amid that blessed company,

There let us stand, and see the Lord.

What doth the busy Martha seek?
Is that the dead doth sit and eat?
But where is Mary-she so meek?
She leaneth o'er her Saviour's feet.

Hanging her locks, in holy fear,

She

opes the odorous 'nard, 'tis she O'er His blest head, and far and near, "Tis fragrant with her piety.

Oh, let not whispering envy blame,
Nor avarice in wisdom's guise,
The anointing of the dying Lamb,

For His approaching obsequies.

Where o'er the earth, from clime to clime,
The messenger of peace shall call,

So far shall bear recording time
Meek Mary's blest memorial.

Then may we praise Him without blame The Father, Son, and Spirit's Name, The Son who came meek Mary's Guest, Who now in Him hath endless rest.

THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY.

I have sworn once by My holiness, that I will not fail David. His seed shall endure for ever, and His seat is like as the sun before Me.-PSALM 1xxxix.

"Mortale, cœlo tolle, genus, caput."

MORTAL race, enwrapt in gloom
Of thine awe-inspiring doom,
Lift thy head above the tomb.

Night's black horrors troop away,
And a white emerging ray
Speaks the coming of the day.

Now earth's teeming breast portends,
And high Heaven to meet it bends,
And the big rain-drop descends.

Lo, from Jesse's root this hour,
Springs a shoot touch'd by the shower,
And reveals a nascent flower.

Heav'n's own dews shall on Him rest,
Keep His stainless leaflets blest,
And embalm His opening breast.

Faith, chaste Fear, and holy Love,
And strict Justice from above,
All around His coming move.

Ancient Time, from days of yore,
Eagerly hath bent before,

And hath watch'd the opening door.

Haste thou on, approaching morn,
And Thou, glorious Child be born,
Only hope of earth forlorn.

Praise the Triune God of all,
Who in pity for our thrall,
Doth unto His mercy call.

ST. MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS.

AT THE FIRST VESPERS.

His throne was like the fiery flame; thousand thousands ministered unto Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him.-DAN. vii.

"Christe qui sedes olympo."

O CHRIST, who sit'st with God on high,

In equal majesty,

Where angels in Thy glory's blaze

Do tremble as they gaze;

Grant us unblamed to speak in song

Of that celestial throng.

One o'er the rest with shining sheen,
And glittering sword is seen;
"Tis he who crush'd the dragon's might

In the victorious fight,

And hurl'd him in black overthrow,

Unto the deeps below.