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In praise of our incomparable Penitent, we offer to the reader the following beautiful Sequence, taken from the ancient Missals of Germany.

SEQUENCE.

This daughter passes from the Egypt of Pharao to the espousals with Jesus, our true Solomon. She that was abject, is made a chosen one; she that was deformed, is made fair; the vessel of dishonour is made one of honour.

The Star of the Sea shone upon her, and leading her to her beloved Son, has knit the bond of peace. The Mother of God interceded; Christ forgave; the sinner's sins are pardoned.

She that led a carnal life, came to Jerusalem, to be espoused to the King of Peace; leaving her false lover, she is united to the true Spouse, honoured by the wonderful One.

She strives to enter the House of God, but her unworthiness forbids it; she is compelled to retire. Then does she return to her own heart; she weeps for her sins, and her weeping blots them out.

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Pacis nectens fœdera Matre Dei mediante, Peccatrici, Christo dante,

Sunt dimissa scelera. Vitam ducens hæc carnalem,

Pervenit in Jerusalem,

Nuptura Pacifico;
Hinc excluso adultero
Maritatur sponso vero

Ornata mirifico.
Dei templum introire
Dum laborat, mox redire

Necdum digna cogitur ; Ad cor suum revertitur, Fletu culpa submergitur, Fletu culpa teritur.

Locus desertus quæritur, Leviathan conteritur,

Mundus, caro vincitur, Domus patris postponitur, Vultus mentis componitur,

Decor carnis spernitur.

Lætare filia Thanis, Tuis ornata tympanis, Lauda quondam sterilis,

Gaude, plaude, casta, mun-
da,
Virtutum prole foecunda,
Vitis meri fertiles.

Te dilexit noster risus, Umbilicus est præcisus Tuus continentia; Aquis lotam, pulchram to

tam

Te salivit, te condivit
Sponsi sapientia.

Septem pannis involuta,
Intus tota delibuta

Oleo lætitiæ;
Croco rubens charitatis;
Bysso cincta castitatis,
Zona pudicitiæ.

Hinc hyacintho calciaris,
Dum superna contemplaris,

Mutatis affectibus ; Vestiris discoloribus, Cubile vernat floribus Fragrat aromatibus.

O Maria, gaude quia
Decoravit et amavit
Sic te Christi gratia,
Memor semper peccatorum,
Et cunctorum populorum,
Plaude nunc in gloria.
Amen.

and sing. Exult and be joyful, for now thou art chaste and pure, fruitful in virtue, a vine that yields a precious fruit.

He that is our Joy hath loved thee; the shame of thy disorders is effaced by the merit of thy purity. Cleansed and all fair, the wisdom of thy heavenly Spouse has given thee the incorruption of his grace.

Robed in the seven-fold veil of his Spirit, thou wast anointed with the oil of gladness. The scarlet of charity, the lily of chastity, the girdle of modesty, all were upon thee.

Thy feet were decked with violet, for thy affections were changed from earthly to heavenly things. Thy vesture was of every richest hue, and thy couch was decked with flowers, sweeter than those of spring.

Rejoice, O Mary, in that Christ so loved thee, and beautified thee with grace. Be mindful of us sinners; pray for all mankind; feast now in thy eternal glory! Amen.

Thou wilt sing for all eternity, O Mary, the mercies of the Lord, who changed thee from a Sinner, into so glorious a Saint, we join thee in thy praises, and we give him thanks for having shown us so evidently, in thy person, that a true penitent, whatever and how great soever may have been his sins, may not only avoid eternal torments, but merit everlasting bliss. How light must now appear to thee, O Mary,

that forty years' penance, the very thought of which terrifies us! How short a time, when compared with eternity! How insignificant its austerity, if we think of Hell! And how rich must not its reward seem to thee, now that thou art face to face with Infinite Beauty. We, too, are Sinners; dare we say, that we are Penitents? Aid our weakness, O Mary! Thou wast made known to the world at the close of thy hidden life, in order that Christians might learn from thee the grievousness of sin, of which they make so little account; the Justice of God, of which they are so apt to form so false an idea; and the goodness of that Father, which they care not to offend. Pray for us, O Mary, that we may profit by the instructions given to us, so profusely, during this holy Season. Pray, that our conversion may be complete; that we may leave our pride and our cowardice; that we may appreciate the grace of reconciliation with our Maker; and, lastly, that we may ever approach to the Holy Table with compunction and love like those thou hadst, when, in thy last happy Communion, Jesus gave himself to thee in his Sacrament, and then took thee to himself, in the kingdom of everlasting rest and joy.

END OF LENT.

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