THE BLESSING OF THE PALMS. The Lord be with you. R. And with thy spirit. Let us pray. Auge fidem.

INCREASE, O God, the faith of them that hope in thee, and mercifully hear the prayers of thy suppliants; let thy manifold mercy come upon us, and let these branches of palm trees, or olive trees be blessed; and as in a figure of the church thou didst multiply Noe going out of the ark, and Moses going out of Egypt with the children of Israel, so let us, carrying palms and branches of olive trees, go and meet Christ with good works, and enter through him into eternal joy. Who, &c. R. Amen.

V. The Lord be with you. R. And with thy spirit. V. Raise up your hearts on high. R. We have raised them up to the Lord. V. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. R. It is meet and just.

It is truly meet and just, right and available to salvation, always and in all places to give thee thanks, Ó holy Lord, almighty Father, eternal God, who art glorious in the assembly of thy saints. For thy creatures serve thee, because they acknowledge thee for their only Creator and God. And the whole creation praiseth thee, and thy saints bless thee, because they confess with freedom, before the kings and powers of this world, the great name of thy only-begotten Son. Before whom the angels and archangels, the thrones and dominations stand, and with all the troops of the heavenly host, sing a hymn to thy glory, saying without ceasing: Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord the God of armies. The heavens and the earth are full of thy glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

The Lord be with you. R. And with thy spirit.

Let us pray. Petimus.

We beseech thee, O holy Lord, almighty Father, eternal God, that thou wouldst be pleased to bless and sanctify this creature of the olive tree, which thou madest to shoot out of the substance of the wood, and which the dove returning to the ark brought in its bill; that whoever receiveth it, may find protection of soul and body, and that it may prove, O Lord, a saving remedy, and a sacred sign of thy grace. Through. R. Amen.

Let us pray. Deus, qui dispersa.

O God, who gatherest what is dispersed, and preserveth what is gathered; who didst bless the people, that carried boughs to meet Jesus; bless

also these branches of the palm tree and olive tree, which thy servants take with faith in honour of thy name; that into whatever place they may be carried, the inhabitants of that place may obtain thy blessing, and thy right hand preserve from all adversity, and protect those that have been redeemed by our Lord Jesus Christ thy Son. Who liveth. R. Amen.

Let us pray. Deus qui miro.

O God, who by the wonderful order of thy providence wouldst even in insensible things show us the manner of our salvation; grant, we beseech thee, that the devout hearts of thy faithful may understand to their benefit the mystical meaning of that ceremony, when the multitude, by direction from heaven, going this day to meet our Redeemer, strewed under his feet palms and olive branches. The palms represent his triumph over the prince of death; and the olive branches proclaim, in some manner, the coming of a spiritual unction. For that pious multitude then knew, what was by them signified, that our Redeemer, compassionating the misery of mankind, was to fight for the life of the whole world

with the prince of death; and to triumph over him by his own death. And therefore in that action they made use of such things, as might declare both the triumph of his victory and the riches of his mercy. We also with a firm faith, retaining both the ceremony and its signification, humbly beseech thee, O holy Lord, almighty Father, eternal God, through the same Lord Jesus Christ, that we, whom thou hast made his members, gaining by him, and in him, a victory over the empire of death, may deserve to be partakers of his glorious resurrection. Who liveth. R. Amen.

Let us pray. Deus, qui per oliva.

O God, who by an olive branch didst command the dove to proclaim peace to the world; sanctify, we beseech thee, by thy heavenly benediction, these branches of olive and other trees; that they may be serviceable to all thy people unto salvation. Through. R. Amen.

Let us pray. Benedic.

Bless, O Lord, we beseech thee, these branches of the palm tree, or olive tree; and grant that what thy people this day act corporally for thy honour, they may perform the same spiritually with the greatest devotion, by gaining a victory over their enemy, and ardently loving mercy. Through. R. Amen.

Here the Priest sprinkles the Palms with Holy Water, saying Sprinkle, &c., as in page 33, and having fumed them thrice with incense, he says:

The Lord be with you. R. And with thy spirit. Let us pray. Deus qui, Filium.

O God, who, for our salvation, didst send into this world thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord, that he might humble himself to our condition, and call us back to thee: for whom also, as he was coming to Jerusalem to fulfil the Scriptures, a

multitude of faithful people with a zealous devotion spread their garments together with palm branches in the way: grant, we beseech thee, that we may prepare him the way of faith, out of which the stone of offence and the rock of scandal being removed, our actions may flourish with branches of righteousness, so that we may be worthy to follow his steps. Who liveth. R. Amen.

During the distribution,

The Palma, being blessed, are distributed to the people kneeling and kissing them, as well as the Priest's hand. the following Anthems are sung:

PUERI Hebræorum portantes ramos olivarum, obviaverunt Domino, clamantes et dicentes, Hosanna in excelsis.

Pueri Hebræorum vestimenta prosternebant in via, et clamabant dicentes: Hosanna Filio David: benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini.

THE Hebrew children carrying olive branches met the Lord, crying out, and saying: Hosanna in the highest.

The Hebrew children spread their garments in the way, and cried out saying: Hosanna to the Son of David: blessed is he that cometh_in the name of the Lord.

Then the Pricst says:

The Lord be with you.

R. And with thy spirit. Let us pray. Omnipotens.

O almighty and eternal God, who wouldst have our Lord Jesus Christ ride on the colt of an ass, and didst inspire the crowds of people to spread their garments and branches of trees in the way, and to sing Hosanna to his praise: grant, we beseech thee, that we may imitate their innocence, and deserve to partake of their merits. Through. R. Amen.

Here the Procession begins in the usual form, during which some of the following Anthems are sung. The Priest or Deacon giving notice thereof by saying:

Let us set out in peace. R. In the name of Christ. Amen.

Anthems during the procession.

ANTHEM. Matt. xxi. When the Lord drew nigh to Jerusalem, he sent two of his disciples, saying: Go ye into the village that is over against you; and you will find the colt of an ass tied, upon which no man hath sat; loose it, and bring it to me. If any one ask you any questions, say: The Lord wanteth it. They untied, and brought it to Jesus, and laid their garments upon it; and he seated himself on it. Others spread their garments in the way; others cut branches from the trees; and those who followed, cried out, Hosanna, blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; and blessed be the reign of our father David: Hosanna in the highest. O Son of David, have mercy on us.

ANTHEM. When the people heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, they took palm branches, and went out to meet him; and the children cried out, saying: This is he, who hath come for the salvation of the people. He is our salvation, and the redemption of Israel. How great is he, whom the thrones and dominations go out to meet! Fear not, O daughter of Sion: behold thy King cometh to thee sitting on an ass's colt, as it is written. Hail, O King, the Creator of the world, who art come to redeem us.

ANTHEM. Six days before the solemnity of the Passover, when the Lord was coming into the city of Jerusalem, the children met him, and carried palm branches in their hands; and they cried out with a loud voice, saying: Hosanna in the highest: blessed art thou who art come in the multitude of thy mercy; Hosanna in the highest.

ANTHEM. The multitude goeth out to meet their Redeemer with flowers and palms, and payeth the homage due to a triumphant con