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Saints to whom you bear a particular devotion, either as your Patrons or otherwise; as also of those whose feast is kept in the Church that day, or at least who have been commemorated in the Divine Office.

This done, remember the necessities of the Church Suffering, and beg of God that he will give to the souls in Purgatory a place of refreshment, light, and peace. For this intention recite the usual prayers.

PSALM 129.

De profundis clamavi ad te, Domine: Domine, exaudi

vocem meam.

Fiant aures tuæ intendentes in vocem deprecationis

meæ.

Si iniquitates observaveris, Domine Domine, quis sustinebit?

Quia apud te propitiatio est et propter legem tuam sustinuiˇte, Domine.

Sustinuit anima mea in verbo ejus speravit anima mea in Domino.

A custodia matutina usque ad noctem speret Israel in Domino. Quia apud Dominum misericordia: et copiosa apud eum redemptio.

Et ipse redimet Israel; ex omnibus iniquitatibus ejus. Requiem æternam dona eis, Domine.

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From the depths I have cried to thee, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice.

Let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication.

If thou wilt observe iniquities, O Lord, Lord, who shall endure it?

For with thee there is merciful forgiveness; and by reason of thy law I have waited for thee, O Lord.

My soul hath relied on his word; my soul hath hoped in the Lord.

From the morning watch even until night, let Israel hope in the Lord.

Because with the Lord there is mercy, and with him plentiful redemption.

And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

Eternal rest give to them, O Lord.

And let perpetual light shine upon them.

V. From the gate of hell.
R. Deliver their souls, O
Lord.

V. May they rest in peace.
R. Amen.

. O Lord, hear my prayer.

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Here make a special memento of such of the Faithful departed as have a particular claim upon your charity; after which, ask of God to give you his assistance, whereby you may pass the night free from danger. Say then, still keeping to the words of the Church:

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mine, habitationem istam, et omnes insidias inimici ab ea longe repelle: Angeli tui sancti habitent in ea, qui nos in pace custodiant, et benedictio tua sit super nos semper. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum, Filium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia sæcula sæculorum. Amen.

Lord, this house and family, and drive from it all snares of the enemy: let thy holy Angels dwell herein, who may keep us in peace, and may thy blessing be always upon us. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.

And that you may end the day in the same sentiments wherewith you began it, say once more to your God these words of the Royal Prophet:

Miserere mei, Deus, secundum magnam misericordiam tuam.

Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy great mercy.

CHAPTER THE FIFTH.

ON HEARING MASS, DURING THE SEASON OF

LENT.

THE Christian who enters into the spirit of the Church during this Season of Lent, will find an increase in his soul of that holy Fear of God, which the Psalmist tells us is the beginning of wisdom.1 The remembrance of his sins, the practice of the holy penances of Lent, the example of a God expiating our sins by fasting in the desert, the Church's ceaseless prayer for her guilty children,-all combine to arouse him from the indifference which so easily fastens on the soul. He has need, therefore, of some refuge, some powerful and saving help, which may re-enkindle within his heart that Christian Hope, without which he cannot be in the grace of God. Nay more, he has need of a Victim of Propitiation, which may appease the divine anger; he has need of a Sacrifice, whereby to stay the arm of God, that he knows is raised to punish his sins.

This Victim is ready; this infinitely efficacious Sacrifice is prepared for us. We shall soon have to celebrate the sad anniversary of his being offered upon the Cross: meanwhile, he is daily offered to the Divine Majesty, and it is by assisting at this Holy Sacrifice that we shall be taking the most efficacious means for obtaining the regeneration of our souls. When, therefore, we would offer to our God the sacrifice of a contrite and humble heart, let us ensure its acceptance by going to the Altar, and supplicating

1 Ps. cx. 10.

the Victim, who there offers himself for our sakes, that he join His infinite merits with our feeble works. When we leave the House of God, the weight of our sins will be lessened, our confidence in divine mercy will be increased, and our love, renewed by compunction, will be firmer and truer.

We will now endeavour to embody these sentiments in our explanation of the Mysteries of the Holy Mass, and initiate the Faithful into these divine secrets; not, indeed, by indiscreetly presuming to translate the sacred formulæ, but by suggesting such Acts, as will enable those who hear Mass, to enter into the ceremonies and spirit of the Church and the Priest.

The purple Vestments, and the penitential rites, already explained, give to the Holy Sacrifice, during Lent, an air of sadness, which harmonises with the mysteries of this Season. But if, on the week-days, there occur a Saint's feast, the Church keeps it, and laying aside her purple vestments, she celebrates the Holy Sacrifice in memory of the Saint.

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, let us ask with David, whose words are used by the Church in this ceremony, that our souls may be purified by the hyssop of humility and become whiter than snow.

ANTIPHON OF THE ASPERGES.

Asperges me, Domine, hyssopo, et mundabor; lavabis me, et super, nivem dealbabor.

Ps. Miserere mei, Deus, secundum magnam misericordiam tuam.

Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, O Lord, and I shall be cleansed; thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow.

Ps. Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy great

mercy.

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