Grant, Christ, that we, fulfilling Thy commands,

Of Thy blest presence may approach the seat, With hearts by Thee made pure, and holy hands; May love for Thy dread altars make us meet.

Son of the eternal Father, God above,

May all the world beneath Thy feet adore, Who sendest down the Spirit, with Thy love Thy Priesthood to anoint for evermore.

AT THE MATTINS.

No man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.-HEB. V.

"O sacerdotum veneranda jura."

AWFUL is the priestly state,
Which, by faith beheld aright,
Closes and unbars the gate,

Though unseen by mortal sight.
Christ, in this His earthly seat,
Holds in them the balance meet,
Binds and lets the sinner's feet

In His own appointed rite.

When they ply their healing art,
"Tis His hand in them is found;

When they soothe the wounded heart,
His anointing heals the wound.
When they speak, the faithful sheep
Drink their words and hide them deep,
For the law of God they steep

First in their own hearts profound.

When the wrath is going forth,

And the vial in mid air,

They stand forth to stop the wrath
With deep importuning prayer.
May they, Lord, themselves be wise,
Who touch Thy dread mysteries,
Mirrors, in their people's eyes,
Worthy of the things they bear.

Father, Spirit, Son Divine,

Who dost rescue from the grave,
From Heav'n's central echoing shrine
Let Thy glory, wave on wave,
Fill the all-surrounding sea
Of shoreless eternity,

Singing, Priest of Priests, of Thee,
And Thy mighty power to save.

COMMEMORATION

OF ABBOTS, MONKS, AND ANCHORITES.

AT THE FIRST VESPERS.

Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.-2 COR. vi.

"Felices nemorum pangimus incolas."

HAPPY are they whom God's protecting love, From out the world's contagious influence, Hath hid, as in some calm and sheltering grove, In sweet designs of holiest Providence.

With heart that seeks for Thee, for Thee which longs, City, and home, and friends, themselves they leave;

For poor is all which to this earth belongs,
To them who try to know what they believe.

The wrestler, who an earthly crown would gain, Casts each besetting care and weight behind; The mariner, to cross the distant main,

Gives thoughts of rest and softness to the wind.

For wealth that lasts, and joys that cannot fail,
They every fading trifle cast aside,

With sound true heart, if so they may prevail,
Trusting in hopes which with their God abide.

Therefore their glory is to be despised,

And all their wealth is cheerful poverty; Thus best they find what they have mostly prized, Their consolation daily death to die.

Grant, Lord, that we with sooth'd and soothing mind,

May take the penalties to sinners due, Wean'd from the world, and to its ills resigned, Building our trust in mansions ever true.

Glory to God the Father, Thee we call;
Glory to God the Son who sits above;
Glory to Thee, Great Spirit, holding all,

Great Spirit, holding all in bonds of love.

AT THE MATTINS.

The multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul; neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.-ACTS iv.

"O pulchras acies, castraque fortia."

FAIR camp in arms of peaceful fortitude,
And no ungentle warfare, in one band
Together knit of holy brotherhood,-

One faith, one hope, one Leader, sternly train'd, Far from earth's noise, to learn the eternal song, And gain the conquest of a heavenly land.

By prayer, and holy plaints which heav'n's gate throng,

And discipline of penitential ways,

The flesh is weaken'd, but the soul is strong.

Each for himself, and each for other prays, All for God's Church; thus, in blest union, The strength of interwoven shields they raise