those whom thou hast permitted to partake of those divine mysteries. Through.

Instead of the foregoing, may be said the following:

P. COMM. FOR THE POPE. Hæc nos. May the participation of this divine sacrament protect us, we beseech thee, O Lord; and always procure safety and defence to thy servant N., whom thou hast appointed Pastor over thy Church, together with the flock committed to his charge. Through.

On the week days in Advent, the Mass of the foregoing Sunday is said, unless there be a proper Mass for the day, but the Alleluias and V. fol lowing the Gradual are omitted.

SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT.
Introit. Is. xxx.

POPULUS Sion, ecce

Dominus veniet ad salvandas Gentes; et auditam faciet Dominus gloriam vocis suæ in lætitiâ cordis vestri. Ps. lxxix. Qui regis Israël intende; qui deducis velut ovem Joseph. V. Gloria Patri.

PEOPLE of Sion, be

hold the Lord will come to save the Gentiles; and the Lord will make the glory of his voice to be heard, to the joy of your hearts. Ps. lxxix. Give ear, O thou that rulest Israel; thou that leadest Joseph like a sheep. V. Glory.

I. COLL. Stir up, O Lord, our hearts to prepare the ways of thy only-begotten Son; that by his coming we may be enabled to serve thee with pure minds. Who livest.

For the II. and III. Collects, see page 87.

EPISTLE. Rom. xv. 4. 13. Brethren: What things soever were written, were written for our learning, that through patience and the comfort of the scriptures we might have hope. Now the God of patience and of comfort grant you to be

of one mind one towards another, according to Jesus Christ; that with one mind and with one mouth you may glorify God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherefore receive one another, as Christ also hath received you unto the honour of God. For I say that Christ Jesus was minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers. But that the Gentiles are to glorify God for his mercy, as it is written: "Therefore, will I confess to thee, O Lord, among the Gentiles, and will sing to thy name." And again he saith: "Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people." And again: "Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles, and magnify him, all ye people." And again Isaias saith: "There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise up to rule the Gentiles, in him the Gentiles shall hope." Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope, and in the power of the Holy Ghost.

GRAĎ. Ps. xlix. Out of Sion the loveliness of his beauty; God shall come manifestly. V. Gather ye together his saints to him, who have set his covenant before sacrifices. Alleluia, Alleluia. V. I rejoiced at the things that were said to me: we shall go into the house of the Lord. Alleluia.

GOSPEL. Matt. xi. 2. 10. At that time: When John had heard in prison the works of Christ, sending two of his disciples, he said to him: Art thou he that art to come, or look we for another? And Jesus making answer, said to them: Go and relate to John what you have heard and seen. The blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead rise again, the poor have the gospel preached to them; and blessed is he that shall not be scandalized in me. And when they went their way, Jesus began to say to the multitudes, concerning John: What went you out into the desert to see? A

reed shaken with the wind? But what went you out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Behold, they that are clothed in soft garments are in the houses of kings. But what went you out to see? A prophet? Yea, I tell you, and more than a prophet. For this is he of whom it is written: Behold, I send my angel before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee. CREDO.

OFFERT. Ps. lxxxiv. Thou wilt turn, O God, and bring us to life, and thy people shall rejoice in thee. Show us, O Lord, thy mercy, and grant us thy salvation."

I. SECRET. Be appeased, O Lord, we beseech thee, by our humble prayers and sacrifices; and although we can allege no deserts on our part, grant us thy protection. Through.

For the II. and III. Secrets, see p. 89.

COMM. Bar. iv. Arise, O Jerusalem, and stand on high, and behold the joy that cometh to thee from thy God.

I. P. COMM. Being filled, O Lord, with this spiritual food, we humbly beseech thee to teach us, by partaking of this mystery, to despise earthly things, and to love such as are heavenly. For the II. and III. Postcommunion, see p. 89.

THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT.
Introit. Phil. iv. Ps. lxxxiv.

GAUDETE in Domino

semper; iterum dico, gaudete. Modestia vestra nota sit omnibus hominibus; Dominus enim prope est. Nihil soliciti sitis; sed in omni oratione petitiones vestræ innotescant apud Deum.

REJOICE in the Lord always; again, I say, rejoice. Let your modesty be known to all men; for the Lord is nigh. Be nothing solicitous; but in every thing by prayer let your petitions be made

THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT.

Ps. Benedixisti, Domine, terram tuam; avertisti captivitatem Jacob. V. Gloria.

known to God. Ps. O Lord, thou hast blessed thy land; thou hast turned away the captivity of Jacob. V. Glory. I. COLL. Bend thine ear, O Lord, we beseech thee, to our prayers, and enlighten the darkness of our minds by the grace of thy visitation. Who livest.

For the other Collects, see p. 87.

EPISTLE. Philip. iv. 4. 7. Brethren: Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I say, rejoice. Let your modesty be known to all men." The Lord is nigh. Be nothing solicitous; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your petitions be made known to God. And the peace of God, whieh surpasseth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord.

GRAD. Ps. lxxix. Thou, O Lord, that sittest on the Cherubim, stir up thy might and come. V. Give ear, O thou that rulest Israel; thou that leadest Joseph as a sheep. Alleluia, Alleluia. V. Stir up, O Lord, thy might, and come to save us. Alleluia.

GOSPEL. John i. 19. 28. At that time: The Jews sent from Jerusalem Priests and Levites to John, to ask him: Who art thou? And he confessed, and did not deny; and he confessed: I am not the Christ. And they asked him: What then? Art thou Elias? And he said: I am not. Art thou the 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 in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Isaias. And they that were sent 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.

I. 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. Through.

For the other Secrets, see page 89.

COMM. Is. XXXV. Say: Ye faint-hearted, Take courage, and fear not; behold our God will come and will save us.

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

For the other Postcommunions, see page 89.

Quatuor Tempora, or Ember Bays.

The Ember Days (so called from our forefathers fasting on those days in sackcloth and asbes, or from their eating nothing but cakes baked under the embers) are 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.