Plenary Indulgence for all the faithful, by communicating, and furthermore, for the Brethren, a Plenary Indulgence, being truly penitent and confessed, and praying for the pious intentions of the Church at the Chapel or Altar of the Confraternity.

On the 1st and 4th Sundays in Lent, Holy Thursday, Easter Sunday, Ascension Thursday, Pentecost, Corpus Christi, and the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity, by communicating and prayer for the pious intentions of the Church.

On every Sunday in Lent, being truly penitent and confessed, they can gain a Plenary Indulgence from the First Vespers to the setting of the sun the following day, by devoutly visiting the Chapel of the Altar of the Confraternity, and there reciting three Paters and Aves in honour of the B. Trinity, and for the intention of the Pope, or of the Church.

May 4th.-The Feast of our holy mother, St. Monica, for all the faithful, by Communion, a Plenary Indulgence; but for the Brethren, by way of Jubilee, by saying five Paters and Aves for the pious intentions of the Pope and Church.

June 12th.-St. John of Facundo, for all the faithul, praying at the altar after Confession and Communion

for the usual intentions of the Church.

24th.-The Feast of St. John the Baptist, by saying, after Communion, the prayer as at Jan. 6th, or one

Pater.

29th. The Feast of SS. Peter and Paul, or on any day within the Octave, by saying after Communion the prayers as at January 6th, or one Pater.

July 2nd.-The Visitation of the B. V. M., being truly penitent and confessed, and praying at the Altar for the intentions of the Church.

* Wherever this asterisk is put the indulgence is not applicable to the souls in purgatory. All the others are.

The number of Plenary Indulgences granted to our Cinctured throughout the year amounts to over 130, without including the Portiuncula Indulgences, and those of the privileged churches

of Rome.

August 15th.-The Assumption of the B. V. M., the same as at the 25th of March.

18th. The Feast of St. Clare of Montefalco, V., O.S.A., a Plenary Indulgence, for all the faithful, visiting an Augustinian Church after Confession and Communion, and prayer for Holy Church.

27th. The Vigil of our Holy Father St. Augustine— a fast for the Cinctured of our Order.

28th.-The Feast of our Holy Father St. Augustine, the same as on the 4th of May.

The Sunday within the Octave, the Feast of the Glorious Virgin Mary, Mother of Consolation, for all the faithful, by praying for the pious intentions of the Church, after Communion.

Sept. 8th.-The Nativity of the B. V. M., a Plenary Indulgence, by being truly penitent and confessed, and praying for the usual intentions of the Church; and furthermore, a Plenary Indulgence by praying as at the 6th Jan. And the Brethren and Sisters of the Holy Cinctured, being truly penitent and confessed, who, from the first Vespers until the second of this Feast, visit the Church and Altar of the Order, and there say, with devotion, five Paters and Aves, to gain that same indulgence and remission of sins, which in anywise they do gain, who, on the 1st and 2nd day of August, visit the church of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Portiuncula, called Angels, outside the walls of Assisi. (See page 344.)

ioth.--St. Nicholas of Tolentine, the same as at the 4th of May.

The Sunday within the Octave, the indulgence called of Portiuncula, as at Sept. 8. (See above.)

18th.- St. Thomas of Villanova, for all the faithful, a Plenary, by communicating and praying for the pious intentions of the Church.

29th.-St. Michael, the Archangel, the same as at the 6th January.

Nov. Ist.-The Feast of All Saints, the same as at the 6th January.

5th. Dedication of all the Churches, O.S.A., a

Plenary Indulgence, for all the faithful, visiting an Augustinian church, after Confession, Communion, and prayer for Holy Church.

13th.-*The Feast of all the Saints of the Order ot St. Augustine, for all the faithful, as at the 18th Sept., Nov. 21, by Communion, &c.

Dec. 18th.-The Conception of the B. V. M., the same as at the 2nd July.

25th. The Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, for all the faithful, a Plenary, by saying at the altar three Paters and Aves; and furthermore, for the Brethren, a Plenary, praying as at the 6th Jan.

The "Cinctured" can receive the General Absolution on Jan. 6; Feb. 2; June 24 and 29; Aug. 15 and 28: Sep. 8 and 29; Nov 1; Dec. 25; 1st and 4th Sunday of Lent, Holy Thursday, Easter, Ascen., Pent., Corp. Christi, and 1st Sunday of Advent.

On the 4th Sunday of every month, a Plenary Indulgence for all the faithful in Ireland, on conditions marked (b), page 31.*

On every Saturday throughout the year, by Confession and Communion, and praying for the intentions of the Pope and the Church.

Obs.-In making the visits to the altars to gain the daily Plenary and Partial Indulgences of the seven privileged Churches of Rome, as explained in Table II., No, 27. page 34, of this Manual, the following prayer may be said, though not of obligation :

I humbly offer these devotions for the pious motives and ends of the Church, and the Pastor thereof, Pope N., and unite my intentions with theirs, for obtaining the graces, favours, privileges, and indulgences annexed to the seven privileged Churches of Rome this day, which I offer by way of suffrage for the relief of the souls of the faithful detained in purgatory, particularly N. N., beseeching Thee, O Lord, to mitigate their

This indulgence is independent of the Three Plenary Indulgences, which our Cinctured can gain on the Fourth Sunday. (See page 38.)

punishment and hasten their delivery, that they may enjoy thy glorious countenance, and praise Thee without end, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

CHAPTER VI.

ON CONFRATERNITIES IN GENERAL.

NOW that we have considered the Excellence of our

Sacred Cincture from its origin, prerogatives efficacy, and indulgences, our next study should be the nature, constitution, and rules of the Archconfraternity. And, firstly, let us reflect briefly on confraternities in general.

The old adage, "Union is strength," nowhere finds a truer realisation than in communities and associations, whose members are bound together by religious motives, are animated by a true spirit of religion, and jointly labour in earnest for their individual sanctification and the greater glory of God. We go back to the public life of the world's Redeemer, to find the first instance of a confraternity, called together, directed and instructed by Jesus Himself. The chosen twelve, ever with Him-ever together, that they might learn his spirit, and at the same time instruct and encourage each other by example.

As time flowed on, holy men, by an impulse little short of inspiration, gathered around them generous and devoted souls, and after the model of the Sacred College of Apostles, formed themselves into communities, and adopted rules for their direction. Thus was it of old with our Holy Father St. Augustine; and, in later times, with St. Dominick and St. Francis, and the other saintly founders of religious Orders. What the solemnity of vows, and the safeguard of the religious state are to the consecrated members of religious Orders, the rules and practices or devotion of confraternities, approved by the Church, are to the faithful of Jesus, whose lot in life lies in the turmoil of

the world. The prayers and devotions of the members said in common have a special blessing, and are particularly fruitful of the glory of God. Jesus has Himself promised to be in the midst of such associations. (Matt. xviii. 20.) The example and edification that fervent members of confraternities can give, become a stimulus to their less earnest brethren, while these effects are by no means unfelt on society itself. The prayers of many in common win special graces for individuals, and bring blessings on families and congregations. Though the cold grave may have closed over all that is mortal of a brother or sister of a confraternity;-though the memory of the departed one may be fading from the minds of mere earthly friends; -though few relations may be thoughtful enough to pray for the eternal repose of the departed soul; yet true friends-the loving brothers and sisters in Jesuswill still, at the prescribed times, assemble, and, with Jesus in their midst, ask a prayer lovingly for the welfare of their dear departed. There is, then, no fervent, earnest member of an approved confraternity who cannot but feel that he is quietly doing a grand work for God, for himself, and for his fellow-men; and that when his days are running out, and life is ebbing fast, the review of a life so spent will open up fountains of consolation, encouragemert, ard confidence in that last and fearful moment, teeming with unknown terror for the negligent Christian. To reap a these blessings which attend fidelity to the rules and devotions of an approved confraternity, the members must be in earnest, they must appreciate the grace and privileges that God has given them, and denied to others; and, finally, they must seek to acquire the spirit of the peculiar confraternity to which they belong. Difficulties will be encountered; discouragement, and, perchance, weariness, may intrude themselves; the pressure of worldly affairs may create an obstacle; but before an earnest spirit, animating a heart devoted to God, far greater difficulties have melted away, denser clouds have been dissipated. Look over the world, and see the triumphs