prophet? And he answered: No. They said therefore unto him: Who art thou, that we may give an answer to them that sent us? What sayest thou of thyself? He said: "I am the voice of one crying crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Isaias. And they that were sen were of the pharisees. And they asked him and said to him: Why then dost thou baptize, if thou be not Christ, nor Elias, nor the prophet? John answered them, saying: I baptize, with water; but there hath stood one in the midst of you, whom you know not. The same is he that shall come after me, who is preferred before me; the latchet of whose shoe I am not worthy to loose. These things were done in Bethania beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing. CREDO.

OFFERT. Ps. lxxxiv. Lord, thou hast blessed thy land: thou hast turned away the captivity of Jacob. Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people.

SECRET. May we always, O Lord, offer thee this sacrifice of our devotion, both to comply with the institution of these sacred mysteries, and wonderfully to procure ourselves that salvation which thou designest us. Thro'.

For the other Secrets, see p. 52.

COMM. Is. xxxv.-Say, be comforted, O ye fearful of heart, and fear not; behold our God will come and save us.

P. COMM. Imploramus. We implore, O Lord, thy mercy, that these divine helps having cleansed us from sin, may prepare us for the ensuing solemnity.

For the rest of the Postcommunions see pp 52 md 53.

QUATUOR TEMPORA, OR EMBER-DAYS.

The

HE Ember-days, (so called from our forefathers' fast. on those days in sackcloth and ashes, or from their eating nothing but cakes baked under the embers,) re the Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday of the first week of Lent, of Whitsun-week, of the third week in September, and of the third week in Advent. The spirit of the Church is, to engage her children at these stated times to pray, fast, and perform such other good works as may prevail with God to furnish his Church with good pastors; Saturday in Ember-week being the appointed day for ordaining and consecrating persons to the sacred ministry. We are likewise to beg God's blessing on the fruits of the earth, and give him thanks for those we have already received.

D

WEDNESDAY IN EMBER WEEK.
INTROIT. Is. xlv. Ps. xviii.

ROP down dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the just: let the earth be opened and bud forth a Saviour. Ps. The heavens show forth the glory of God, and the firmament declareth the work of his hands. V. Glory.

After Kyrie eleison is said, Let us pray.

Let us kneel down*.

R. Stand up again.

1

COLLECT. Præsta quæsumus. Grant we beseech thee, O Almighty God, that the approaching solemnity of our redemption may afford us the succours of this present life, and heap on us the rewards of eternal happiness. Thro'.

1. LESSON. Is. ii. 2. 5. In those days the prophe. Isaiah said: In the last days, the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be prepared on the top of

* At solemn Masses this is sung by the Deacon; when all kneel, till the Subdeacon, after a little pause, bids them stand up again to join with the Priest whilst he says the Collect.

the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills: and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go, and say: Come and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob, and he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths; for the law shall come forth from Sion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And he shall judge the Gentiles, and rebuke many people; and they shall turn their swords into plough-shares, and their spears into sickles: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they be exercised any more to war. O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the Lord.

GRADUAL. Ps. xxiii.-Lift up your gates O you princes: and be you lifted up, O eternal gates, and the King of Glory shall enter in. Who shall ascend into the mountain of the Lord: or who shall stand in his holy place? The innocent in hands, and clean of heart.

The Lord be with you. R. And with thy spirit. COLLECT. Festina. Make haste, we beseech thee O Lord, and delay not; but grant us the assistance of thy heavenly grace; that they who trust in thy goodness, may be relieved by the comfort of thy coming. Who livest.

Here are said the other Collects, as directed, p. 50.

II. LESSON. Is. vii. 10, 16.-In those days: The Lord spoke unto Achaz, saying: Ask thee a sign of the Lord thy God, either unto the depth of hell, or unto the height above. And Achaz, said: I will not ask, and I will not tempt the Lord. And he said: Hear ye therefore, O house of David; Is it a small thing for you, to be grievous to men, that you are grievous to my God also? Therefore the Lord himmself shall give you a sign. Behold a Virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel. He shall eat butter and honey, that he may know to refuse the evil, and to choose the good.

GRADUAL. Ps. cxliv. The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him; to all that call upon him in truth. V. My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord: and let all flesh bless his holy name.

GOSPEL. Luke i. 26. 38.-At that time: The angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the Virgin's name was Mary. And the angel, being come in, said to her; Hail full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. Who having heard, she was troubled at his saying, and thought with herself what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said to her: Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God. Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son: and thou shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of David his father: and he shall reign in the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there shall be no end. And Mary said to the Angel: How shall this be done, because I know not man? And the angel answering, said to her: The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of thee, shall be called the Son of God. And behold thy cousin Elizabeth she also hath conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her that is called barren; because no word shall be impossible with God. And Mary said: behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done to me according to thy word.

OFFERTORY. Is. xxxv.--Take courage, and

fear not: for behold our God will do justice; he will come himself, and save us.

SECRET. Let our fasts, we beseech thee, O Lord, be acceptable to thee, that by atoning for our sins, they may both make us worthy of thy grace, and bring us to the everlasting effects of thy promises. Thro'.

COMM. Is. vii.-Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bring forth a Son; and his name shall be called Emmanuel.

P. COMM. Salutaris. Being filled, O Lord, by the participation of thy saving mysteries, we humbly beseech thee, that as we rejoice in the taste thereof, we may be renewed by their effects. 'Thro'.

FRIDAY IN EMBER-WEEK.
INTROIT. Ps. cxviii.

THOU HOU art near, O Lord: and all thy ways are truth. I have known from the beginning concerning thy testimonies: that thou hast founded them forever. Ps. Blessed are the undefiled in the way who walk in the law of the Lord. V. Glory.

COLLECT. Excita, quæsumus. Exert, O Loru, we beseech thee, thy power, and come: that they who trust in thy goodness, may speedily be delivered from all adversity. Who livest.

LESSON. Is. xi. 1.5. Thus saith the Lord God: And there shall come forth a rod out of the root of Jesse, and a flower shall rise up out of his root. And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him: the spirit of wisdom, and of understanding, the spirit of counsel, and of fortitude, the spirit of knowledge, and of godliness, and he shall be filled with the spirit of the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge according to the sight of the eyes, nor reprove according to the hearing of the ears. But he shall judge the poor with justice, and shall reprove with equity for

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