A TABLE OF THE VIGILS, FASTS, AND DAYS OF ABSTINENCE TO BE

OBSERVED IN THE YEAR.

The Nativity of our Lord.
The Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin.
Easter-day.
Ascension-day.
Pentecost.

Saint Matthias.
The Evens or Vigils be- Saint John Baptist.
fore

Saint Peter.
Saint James.
Saint Bartholomew.
Saint Matthew.
Saint Simon and Saint Jude.
Saint Andrew.
Saint Thomas.
All Saints.

Note, That if any of these Feast-days fall upon a Monday, then the Vigil or Fast.

day shall be kept upon the Saturday, and not upon the Sunday next before it.

DAYS OF FASTING OR ABSTINENCE.

I. The Forty Days of Lent.
II. The Ember-days at the Four Sea-

The First Sunday in Lent.

The Feast of Pentecost. sons, being the Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday after

September 14.

December 13. III. The Three Rogation-days, being the Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, EXTERNAL acts of piety and devotion, and the frequent returns of them, are necessary to keep up a sense of religion, which the affairs of the world will otherwise wear out of men's hearts. And the frequent returns, whether of public derotions or of any thing else to introduce religion into men's serious thoughts, will have an influence upon them in proportion as they are susceptible of religion, and not given over to a reprobate mind. For this reason, besides others, the service of the Church ought to be celebrated as often as you can have a congregation to attend it. But since the body of the people, especially in country places, cannot be brought to attend it oftener than one day in a week, and since this is in no sort enough to keep up in them a due sense of religion, it were greatly to be wished they could be persuaded to any thing which might, in some measure, supply the want of more frequent public devotions, or serve the like purposes. Family prayers, regularly kept up in every house, would have a great and good effect.

Bishop Butler's Charge to his Clergy in 1751.

Family Prayers

POR

SUNDAYS AND WEEK-DAYS,

"TO BEGIN AND END THE DAY WITH GOD WILL BE THE LIKELIEST WAY

TO MAKE SERVANTS FAITHFUL, CHILDREN DUTIFUL, WIVES OBEDIENT, AND HUSBAND3 SOBER, LOVING, AND CAREFUL: EVERY ONE ACTING AS IN THE SIGHT OF GOD."

BISHOP WILSON's Paroch.

Family Prayers.

SUNDAY MORNING.

All standing, the head of the family (or the priest or deacon,

if present) says:
Ť. O Lord, open Thou our lips.
Ry. And our mouth shall shew forth Thy praise.

. O God, make speed to save us.
Ry. O Lord, make haste to help us.

. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

RY. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Then he says one of the following Psalms :
PSALM 26.
cency, O Lord : and so will I

go

Thine altar;
E Thou my ,

shew the

to

me

trust hath been also in the Lord, wondrous works. therefore shall I not fall.

Lord, I have loved the habitation Examine me, O Lord, and prove of Thy house : and the place where

: try out my reins and my Thine honour dwelleth. heart.

O shut not up my soul with the For Thy loving-kindness is ever sinners : nor my life with the bloodbefore mine eyes : and I will walk thirsty; in Thy truth.

In whose hands is wickedness : I have not dwelt with vain per- and their right hand is full of gifts. sons : neither will I have fellowship But as for me, I will walk innowith the deceitful.

cently : O deliver me, and be merI have hated the congregation of ciful unto me. the wicked : and will not sit among My foot standeth right: I will the ungodly.

praise the Lord in the congregaI will wash my hands in inno- tions.