NOTE. A few words seem necessary concerning the contents of this book. The devotions for daily use are from Arvisinet: the first form of Divine worship entitled Sacrifice' consists of the Communion Office, otherwise called the Mass,' of the Eng lish Church, with additional prayers from the Sarum and Roman Missals; the Prefaces for Maundy Thursday, Corpus Christi, the Transfiguration, All Saints, the Dedication of a Church, Requiem for the dead, are from the Paris Missal. All the other prayers in this form or method, as well as in those entitled Communion, and Requiem, are collected from old English and Latin books of prayers by different authors and compilers. The remainder of the book, consisting of the Proper of the Season, of the Saints, &c., the Services of the days not provided for in the English Prayer book, but which days by the authority of that book are to be observed, are almost, following the usage of the Prayer book, without exception from the Sarum book; any such exception being thus signified, (P) Paris Use, (R) Roman Use. The same system has been followed with regard to the Services for Divers persons, objects, and means of grace,' all are from the Sarum book, except where it is otherwise noted. Persons using this book may at first find a little difficulty in the references to the Common of Saints. To have printed the whole Service for each day to be observed, would have made the book far too costly by reason of its size; to have followed simply the present Roman Use would be found by experience wearisome by reason of frequent repetition; it therefore seemed best to try to follow the Sarum method, which affords larger scope for change; while a little familiar acquaintance with the book by practise, will very soon remove what appears at first sight somewhat puzzling. The Kalendar consists of the days which are commemorated according to the Kalendar of the first and present English Prayer book; with the addition of other Saints' days, such as are found in the Kalendars of Office books in use amongst us at the present day, such as the Day Office of the Church' and Breviary Offices, and therefore probably are of observance in Religious houses. It may be added that for greater clearness, those Saints printed in Old English and in capitals have their days and services provided in the body of the book; those in italic have only been inserted by eclecticism, some because they are found in the Sarum or other English Kalendars, others because they are Saints, to whose memory Churches in this Country have been dedicated, and others whose lives are associated with some great events, doctrines, or religious movements in the Church at large; for all these, reference for observance must be made to the Common of Saints. The great need of a book for English Catholics, complete in itself for worship and communion at Divine Service, useful as a manual for priests and people, helpful as a means and guide to teach the mystery of the worship of God in spirit and in truth, must be the Editor's apology for such a trial as attempting to undertake a work, for which he has found himself so little competent. He will be thankful that any suggestions and criticisms, in the event of a second edition being required, should be addressed to him under care of the Publisher. Lent, 1878. |