A. To profit by this festival we must follow the star which conducts us to Jesus Christ, that is to say, the inspirations of his grace.

Q. What else are we to do?

A. Instead of dissolute feasting, we must make pious presents to Jesus Christ. Q. How are we to do this?

A. By giving alms to the poor.

Q. You have said that on the day of the Epiphany, the Church celebrates, moreover, the Baptism of our Saviour?

A. Yes, the Church, moreover, celebrates on that day, the Baptism of our Saviour, by St. John the Baptist.

Q. At what age was our Lord Jesus Christ baptized?

A. At the age of thirty years.

Q. Was it necessary that Christ should be baptized?

A. No, since he was sanctity itself: but it was his will to receive a Baptism, which signified penance and remission of sins, in order to bear a resemblance with us in our faults, which he came to expiate.

Q. What remarkable occurrences took place at the Baptism of Jesus Christ?

A. The remarkable occurrences which took place at the Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ, were: 1st. A voice from heaven was heard to say, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased:" and 2nd. The Holy Ghost descended in the form of a dove.

Q. At the Baptism of our Lord, was there not a manifestation of the three Divine Persons?

A. Yes, this manifestation took place at the Baptism of our Lord; the Father appears in the voice which was heard, the Son was manifested in his humanity, and the Holy Ghost, by his appearance, under the form of a dove.

Q. You have said that the third mystery which

the Church celebrates on the feast of the Epiphany, is the miracle which Christ performed at the marriage feast of Cana, by changing water into wine: what was the effect of this miracle?

A. This first miracle of Jesus Christ, manifested his glory to his disciples, who believed in him, as it is written in the Gospel of St. John.

LESSON XCV.

THE PRESENTATION OF JESUS CHRIST IN THE TEMPLE, AND THE PURIFICATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN.

Q. When was Jesus Christ presented in the Temple?

A. Jesus Christ was presented in the temple forty days after his birth.

Q. By whom was he presented?

A. He was presented by Mary his mother, in conformity with the law of Moses, making the offering prescribed by that law.

Q. Was it necessary that the Blessed Virgin should submit to this law?

A. No, the Blessed Virgin had no occasion to submit to this law, but she submitted to it through humility, and in order to set an example of conformity to the general law.

Q. Why did Jesus Christ submit to this law?

A. In order that he might also obey the law of Moses, and to offer himself to his Father for our salvation.

Q. What do the lighted tapers signify that are used on this feast?

A. The lighted tapers signify, that Jesus Christ is the light of nations.

Q. Was he not acknowledged in this quality,

at the moment when he was presented in the Temple?

A. Yes, on occasion of his presentation in the Temple, he was acknowledged by the holy Simeon, as the Saviour of the world, and the light of all nations.

LESSON XCVI.

ON LENT, THE EMBER DAYS, AND VIGILS.

Q. What is Lent?

A. Lent is a fast of forty days, as ancient as the Church, and observed every where since the time of the Apostles.

Q. Why was Lent established?

A. Lent was established, 1st. In order to imitate the fast of Jesus Christ in the desert: 2nd. As a penance for our sins: and 3rd. To dispose us to celebrate with piety, the feast of Easter.

Q. What is the most meritorious kind of fast? A. The most meritorious kind of fast, is that of abstaining from sin,

Q. What must we do in order to abstain from sin, and render the fast of Lent beneficial to our souls?

A. In order to abstain from sin, and render the fast of Lent beneficial to our souls, we must 1st. Abstain from worldly diversions; 2nd. We must give abundant alms to the poor; 3rd. We must pray and hear Mass, as frequently as possible: 4th We must be assiduous in hearing the word of God; 5th. We must prepare, by sentiments of sincere contrition, to make a good confession.

Q. Why does the Church_put_ashes on the heads of her children, on the first day of Lent? A. The Church puts ashes on the heads of her

children, on the first day of Lent, 1st. In order to preserve the memory of public penance; 2nd. To excite us to contrition, by reminding us of the decree of death pronounced against us.

Q. How does the Church remind us of this decree?

A. The Church reminds us of this decree, by repeating the words which Almighty God addressed to our first parents after their sin, "Remember, man, that thou art dust, and unto dust shalt thou return."

Q. What do you mean by the Ember days?

A. The Ember days are the three days of fasting, and abstinence, appointed by the Church, at the commencement of each of the four seasons of the year.

Q. Why were the Ember days instituted?

A. The Ember days were instituted, 1st. In order to consecrate to God, the seasons of the year; 2nd. In order to draw down the blessing of God on the fruits of the earth, and to thank him for those he has given us; 3rd. To obtain from Almighty God, worthy ministers of our Altars.

Q. Why do we pray to God for the ministers of the Altar, at the four seasons of the year?

A. Because at those periods the Bishops confer Holy Order.

Q. What are Vigils?

A. Vigils are the eves of festivals, from which we endeavour to draw more fruit, by sanctifying with fasting and abstinence, the day which precedes them.

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LESSON XCVII.

ON HOLY WEEK.

Q. Why is the week which precedes the feast of Easter, called Holy Week?

A The week which precedes the feast of Easter, is called Holy Week, on account of the great and holy mysteries which our Lord performed in that week.

Q. What are these mysteries?

A. These mysteries are the triumphant entrance of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem; the institution of the Sacrament of the Eucharist; his sufferings and death; his descent into hell and his burial.

Q. On what day did Jesus Christ make his triumphant entrance into Jerusalem?

A. This entrance took place on Palm Sunday, so called, because on this day palms are blessed, and carried in procession.

Q. Why are these palms carried?

A. We carry these palms in remembrance of those which were carried by the people of Jerusalem, when our Lord was received there in triumph.

Q. With what song did the people of Israel accompany this triumphant procession?

A. The people accompanied this triumphant procession, singing, "Blessed is He who cometh in the name of the Lord."

Q. What occurred on Holy Wednesday?

A. On Holy Wednesday Jesus Christ was sold by Judas.

Q. What mystery does the Church honour on Holy Thursday?

A. On Holy Thursday the Church honours, principally, the institution of the priesthood, and the Blessed Eucharist.

Q. What other mysteries does the Church commemorate on the same day?