XV. MASS, Os justi, of ABBOTS. COLLECT. May the intercession, O Lord, of the blessed Abbot N. recommend us to thee; that what we cannot hope for through any merits of our own, we may obtain by his prayers. Thro'. LESSON. Eccles. xlv. 1.6.-This saint was beloved of God and men: whose memory is in benediction. He made him like the saints in glory, and magnified him in the fear of his enemies. And with his words he made prodigies to cease. He glorified him in the sight of kings, and gave him command. ments in the sight of his people, and shewed him his glory. He sanctified him in his faith and meekness, and chose him out of all flesh. For he heard him and his voice, and brought him into a cloud. And he gave him commandments before his face, and a law of life and instruction. GRAD. Ps. xx.-Lord, thou hast prevented him with thy sweet blessings: thou hast set on his head a Crown of jewels. V. He asked life of thee, and thou hast given him length of days for ever and ever. Alleluia, Alleluia. V. Justus ut palma florebit: sicut cedrus Libani multiplicabitur. Alleluia. V. The just shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall thrive like the cedar of Libanus. Alleluia. From Septuagesima till Easter, instead of the foregoing Alleluias and V. is said the TRACT. Beatus vir, p. 467. At that time: Peter said to Jesus: Behold we have left all things, and have followed thee: what therefore shall we have? And Jesus said to them: Amen, I say to you, that you who have followed me, in the regeneration, when the Son of Man shall sit on the seat of his majesty, you also shall sit on twelve seats, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or land for my name's sake, shall receive an hundred-fold, and shall possess life everlasting. OFFERT. Ps. xx.-Thou hast granted him, O Lord, his soul's desire, and hast not disappointed him of what he asked. Thou hast set on his head a crown of jewels. SECRET. May blessed N. the Abbot intercede for us, O Lord, that the offerings we have laid on thy altars, may avail us unto salvation. Thro'. - COMM. Luke xii.-This is the faithful and prudent servant, whom the Lord placed over his family, to give them their measure of wheat in due season. P. COMM. Protegat. May the receiving of this sacrament, and the intercession of blessed N. the Abbot, protect us, O Lord, that we may both copy after the virtues of his life, and experience the help of his intercession. Thro'. XVI. MASS, Loquebar, of a Virgin and Martyr. INSTRUCTION. HE state of virginity, whatever objections human po. christian system. An incarnate God recommends it by word and example; St. Paul bestows the greatest encomiums on it; and in every age, those who preserved their virginity were always esteemed the noblest portion of the flock of Christ. On the festivals therefore of these illustrious spouses of the Son of God, let us beseech him to grant the grace of perseverance to all such as by vow have voluntarily consecrated themselves to his service in that perfect state, as well as for that purity of soul, which is so essentially necessary for every one, that without it, no one can see God. I INTROIT. Ps. cxviii. Spoke of thy law in LOquebar de testimo the presence of kings, nis tuis in conspec and was not ashamed. I tu regum, et non confun meditated on thy commandments, which I love ed exceedingly. Ps. Bles sed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord. V. Glory. debar: et meditabar in mandatis tuis, quæ dilexi nimis. Ps. Beati immaculati in via, qui ambulant in lege Domini. V. Gloria. COLLECT. Deus, qui.-O God, who amongst other miracles of thy power, hast bestowed the crown of martyrdom even on the weaker sex: mercifully grant that we, who solemnize the feast of blessed N. thy Virgin and Martyr, may, by following her example, come to thee. Thro'. LESSON. Eccles. li. 1. 8.-I will give glory to thee, O Lord, my king, and I will praise thee, O God, my Saviour. I will give glory to thy name : for thou hast been a helper and protector to me, and hast preserved my body from destruction, from the snare of an unjust tongue, and from the lips of them that forge lies, and in the sight of them that stood by, thou hast been my helper. And thou hast delivered me, according to the multitude of the mercy of thy name, from the roaring of lions, that were ready to devour me. Out of the hands of them that sought my life, and from the gates of afflictions, which compassed me about: from the oppression of the flame that surrounded me: and in the midst of the fire I was not burnt. From the depth of the belly of hell, and from an unclean tongue, and from lying words, from an unjust king, and from a slanderous tongue: my soul shall praise the Lord even to death, because thou succourest those that trust in thee, and deliverest them from the hands of the Gentiles, O Lord our God. GRAD. Ps. xliv. — Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest iniquity. V. Therefore hath Gód, thy God, anointed thee with the oil of gladness. Alles Allel. luia, Alleluia. V. Adducentur Regi Virgines post eam; proxima ejus afferentur tibi in lætitia. V. Virgins shall be brought in her retinue to the King: her relations shall be presented to thee with joy. Alleluia. From Septuagesima till Easter, instead of the foregoing Alleluias and V. is said the TRACT. Ps. xliv. Veni sponsa Christi, ac cipe coronam, quam tibi Dominus præpuravit in ater. num pro cujus amore sanguinem tuum fudisti. Come, spouse of Christ, receive the crown which the Lord hath prepared for thee for ever; for whose love thou didst shed thy blood. V. Thou lovedst righteousness, and hatedst iniquity; therefore hath God, thy God, anointed thee with the oil of glad. ness in a more excellent manner than thy compani ons. . In thy comeliness and beauty go on with prosperity, and reign. Gospel. Matt. xxv. 1. 13-At that time : Jesus spoke to his disciples this parable: The kingdom of heaven is like to ten virgins, who taking their lamps went out to meet the bridegroom and the bride. And five of them were foolish, and five wise. But the five foolish, having taken their lamps, did not take oil with them: but the wise, took oil in their vessels with the lamps. And the bridegroom tarrying, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made: Behold the bridegroom cometh, goye forth to meet him. Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise: Give as of your oil, for our lamps are gone out. The wise answered, saying: Lest perhaps there be not enough for us and for you, go you rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. Now whilst they went to buy, the bridegroom came: and they that were ready, went in with him to the marriage, and the door was shut. But at last came also the other virgins, saying: Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered, saying: Amen, I say to you, I know you not. Watch ye, therefore, because you know not the day nor the hour. OFFERT. Ps. xliv.-Virgins shall be brought in her retinue to the king: her relations shall be presented to thee with joy and gladness: they shall be introduced into the temple to the Lord the King. SECRET. Receive, O Lord, the offerings we bring on the solemnity of blessed N. thy Virgin and Martyr, by whose intercession we hope to be delivered. Thro'. COMM. Ps. cxviii. Let the proud be con. founded for unjustly persecuting me but I will keep thy commandments and thy ordinances, that I myself may not be confounded. P. COMM. Auxilientur.-May the mysteries we have received, O Lord, be a help to us, and, by the intercession of blessed N. thy Virgin and Martyr, cause us to enjoy her continual protection. Thro'. XVII. MASS, Me expectaverunt, of the same. SINNER INNERS have lain in wait for me to destroy me but I have studied thy law, O Lord. I have seen the end of all perfection; but thy law hath no end. Ps. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord. F. Glory. COLLECT. ME expectaverunt ΜΕ peccatores, ut perderent me: testimonia tua, Domine, intellexi. Omnis consummationis vidi finem: latum mandatum tuum nimis. Ps. Beati immaculati in via, qui ambulant in lege Domine. V. Gloria. Indulgentiam.-Let blessed N. thy Virgin and Martyr, O Lord, sue for our pardon; |