he seeth, not the lintel and the two sideposts sprinkled with the blood of a lamb, but the mouth of the faithful Christian, the living dwelling of the Holy Ghost, shining with the blood of the True Messiah. If the Angel let the type be, how shall not the enemy quail before the Reality? Wouldest thou hear more of the power of that Blood? I am willing. Consider from what source it welleth, from what fountain it springeth. Its fountain is the Heart of the Lord, pierced for us upon the Cross. "Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with Him; but when they came to JESUS, and saw that He was dead already, they brake not His Legs, but one of the soldiers with a spear pierced His Side, and forthwith came thereout Blood and Water," (John xix. 32-34,) whereof One is a figure of Baptism, and the other of the Sacrament [of the Altar.]* Fifth Responsory. Ye are bought with a great price, therefore glorify God and bear Him in your body. Verse. Ye are bought with a pricebe not ye the servants of men. Answer. Glorify God and bear Him in your body. Sixth Lesson. ONE of the soldiers with a spear pierced His Side-the veil of the Temple of His Body was rent in twain. (John ii. 19-21, Matth. xxvii. 51.) O how glorious is the treasure that is laid open to me therein! How noble the riches that it is my joy there to have found! Thus was it with the Paschal lamb. The Jews slew the typical sheep, but to me also is it given to know the worth of the thing typified. "One of the soldiers with a spear pierced His Side, and forthwith came thereout Blood and Water." I would not, O my hearer, that thou shouldest pass by the depths of such a mystery as this without pausing. I have some mystic and hidden words to say. I have said that that Blood and Water were a figure of Bap tism and of the Mysteries [of the Altar.] These are the foundations of the Church, "the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost." (Tit. iii. 5.) I say [that the Church is founded in these things, whereof the substance came out of the Redeemer's Side, namely,] in Baptism and the Mysteries [of the Altar.] It was therefore out of the Side of Christ that the Church was created, just as it was out of the side of Adam that Eve was raised up to be his bride. (Gen. ii. 21, 22.) This is the reason why Paul saith, no doubt in allusion to the [bride of the Second Adam, even the Holy Church to which we belong, coming, like the bride of the first Adam, out of the] Side [of her Husband] "We are members of His Body, [of His Flesh,] and of His bones." (Eph. v. 30.) For even as God made the woman Eve out of the rib which He had taken out of the side of Adam, so hath Christ made the Church out of the Blood and Water Which He made to flow for us out of His Own Side. : Sixth Responsory. 4God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, in due time Christ died for us. Verse. Much more then being now justified by His Blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. Answer. In that, while we were yet sinners, in due time Christ died for us. Verse. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. Answer. In that, while we were yet sinners, in due time Christ died for us. THIRD NOCTURN. First Antiphon. "Then came JESUS forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them: Behold the Man! Ps. lxxiii. O God, why hast Thou, &c., (p. 57.) Second Antiphon. And He, bearing His Cross, went forth into a place called "the place of a Skull," where they crucified Him. 1 I.e., probably, as wet from the Eucharistic chalice. After this comes a passage which I omit, as it relates to a reading in the Gospel of St. John, used by St. Chrysostom, but rejected by the present Greek and Latin texts. 31 Cor. vi. 20; vii. 23. 4 Rom. v. 8, 9, 6. 5 John xix. 5, 17, 33, 4. Ps. lxxxvii. O LORD God, &c., (p. 68.) Third Antiphon. [But] when they [came to JESUS, and] saw that He was dead already, they brake not His Legs; but one of the soldiers with a spear pierced His Side, and forthwith came thereout Blood and Water. Ps. xciii. The LORD God to Whom vengeance, &c., (p. 71.) Verse. 'Christ loved us Answer. And washed us from our sins in His Own Blood. fruit of a great evil. And here we have the Second Adam bowing His Head, and the deep sleep of death falling upon Him upon the Cross, and He sleepeth, that the Lord God may take a thing out of His side, and may make thereof a wife for Him. O what a death was His, which quickeneth the dead! What is cleaner than His Blood? What more health-giving than His wounding? Seventh Responsory. "This is He That came by Water and Blood, even JESUS Christ; not by Water only, but by Water and Blood. Verse. In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness. Answer. Not by Water only, but by Water and Blood. Eighth Lesson. MEN were being held bondsmen to Homily by St. Austin, Bishop [of MEN Hippo.] (120th Tract on John.) "One of the soldiers with a spear pierced His Side, and forthwith_came thereout Blood and Water." The Evangelist speaketh carefully. He saith not that he smote the Side, nor yet that he wounded It, nor yet anything else, but "pierced"-" pierced" It, to fling wide the entrance unto life, whence flow the Sacraments of the Church, those Sacraments without which there is no entrance unto the life which is life indeed. That Blood which was shed there was shed for the remission of sins, that Water is the water that mantleth in the cup of salvation. Therein are we washed, and thereof do we drink. Of this was it a type when it was said unto Noah: "The door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof. . . . and of every living thing of all flesh shalt thou bring into the ark to keep them alive." (Gen. vi. 16, 19.) A figure this of the Church. Thus was it that the first woman was made from the side of her husband while he slept, and she was called [Eve, which is, being interpreted,]"Life," "because she was the mother of all living." (Gen. iii. 20.) This name set forth a great good, before it became associated with the bitter 1 Apoc. i. 5. 3 Zech. xiii. 1. the devil, slaves to evil spirits. But they have been redeemed from that bondage. They had been able to sell themselves, but they were not able to redeem themselves. A Redeemer came and paid the price for them. He shed His Blood, and at that cost bought the world. Ye ask what He bought? Look what He paid, and ye shall see what He bought. Christ's Blood was the price. What is His Blood worth? What, but the whole world? What but all men? They are very unthankful for His redemption, or very proud, who say that It only precious enough to buy the Africans, or that they themselves are so precious that It was shed only for them. Let there be an end to such conceit, an end to such vain-glory. What He paid, He paid for all. Eighth Responsory. 'God hath predestinated us unto the adoption of children by JESUS Christ, in Whom we have redemption through His Blood, Verse. The forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace, wherein He hath abounded toward us. Answer. In Whom we have redemption through His Blood. 21 John v. 6. + Eph. i. 5-7. Verse. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. Answer. In Whom we have redemption through His Blood. The Ninth Lesson is the Homily of the Sunday, and the Hymn "We praise Thee, O God, &c.," is said at the end. LAUDS.1 First Antiphon. What are these * which are arrayed in white robes? And whence came they? Second Antiphon. These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes [and made them white] in the Blood of the Lamb. Third Antiphon. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night. Fourth Antiphon. And they overcame the dragon by the Blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony. Fifth Antiphon. Blessed are they * that wash their robes in the Blood of the Lamb. Chapter. (Heb. ix. 11.) BRETHREN, Christ being come an High Priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His Own Blood, He entered in once into the Holy Place, having obtained eternal redemption. Hymn.2 HAIL, Holy Wounds of JESUS, hail! Sweet pledges of the saving Rood! Whence flow the streams that never failThe purple streams of His dear Blood. Brighter than brightest stars ye show, Portals are ye to that dear Home, What countless stripes our Jesus bore, His comely brow, O shame and grief, By the sharp thorny crown is riven, Through Hands and Feet, without relief The cruel nails are deeply driven. But when for our poor sakes He died, Beneath the winepress of God's wrath, To save our souls from endless pains, Still hour by hour His Blood flows forth Till not a single drop remains. Come, bathe you in that healing flood, All praise to Him, the Eternal Son, Amen. Verse. Being justified by the Blood of Christ Answer. We shall be saved from wrath through Him. Antiphon at the Song of Zacharias. The blood shall be to you for a token, saith the Lord, and when I see the Blood I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you.3 Prayer throughout the Office. ALMIGHTY and Everlasting God, Who hast appointed Thine Onlybegotten Son to be the Redeemer of the world, and hast been pleased to be reconciled unto us by His Blood, grant us, we beseech Thee, so to use this solemn worship of the price of our salvation, that the Power thereof may here on earth keep us from all things that may hurt us, and the purchase of the same may gladden us for ever hereafter in Heaven. Who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen. Antiphons from Apoc. vii. 13-15; xii. 11; xxii. 14. * Translation extracted from the Hymnal Noted. 3 Ex. xii. 13. PRIME. Antiphon. What are (First Antiphon at Lauds.) FEAST-DAYS IN JULY. these, &c., Ps. liii. and the two first sections of cxviii. The Creed of St. Athanasius is not said. In the Short Responsory, instead of "Thou That sittest, &c.," is said, Verse. Thou That hast redeemed us by Thy Blood. Chapter. (Heb. ix. 19.) MOSES took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, saying: This is the blood of the Testament which God hath enjoined unto you. TERCE. Antiphon. These are they, &c., (Second Antiphon at Lauds.) Chapter from Lauds. Short Responsory. Lord, Thou hast redeemed us by Thy Blood. Answer. Lord, Thou hast redeemed us by Thy Blood. Verse. Out of every kindred, and tongue, and people. Answer. By Thy Blood. Verse. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. Answer. Lord, Thou hast redeemed us by Thy Blood. Verse. The Blood of JESUS Christ, the Son of God Answer. Cleanseth us from all sin. SEXT. Antiphon. Therefore are they, &c., (Third Antiphon at Lauds.) Chapter. (Heb. ix. 13.) F the blood of bulls and of goats, and If the ashes of an heifer, sprinkling the unclean sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the Blood of Christ, Who through the Holy Spirit, offered Himself without spot to God, purge our conscience from dead works, to serve the living God? Short Responsory. The Blood of JESUS Christ, the Son of God, cleanseth us. Answer. The Blood of JESUs Christ, the Son of God, cleanseth us. Verse. From all sin. Answer. Cleanseth us. Verse. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. Answer. The Blood of JESUS Christ, the Son of God, cleanseth us. Verse. Christ loved us Answer. And washed us from our sins in His Own Blood. NONE. Antiphon. Blessed are they, &c., (Fifth Antiphon at Lauds.) Chapter as at the end of Prime. Short Responsory. Christ loved us, and washed us from our sins in His Own Blood. Answer. Christ loved us, and washed us from our sins in His Own Blood. Verse. And hath made us unto our God and Father a kingdom and priests. Answer. In His Own Blood. Verse. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. Answer. Christ loved us, and washed us from our sins in His Own Blood. Verse. Being justified by the Blood of Christ, Answer. We shall be saved from wrath through Him. SECOND VESPERS. Same as the First except the following. Last Psalm. Ps. cxlvii. Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem, &c., (p. 170.) Verse. We pray Thee therefore, help Thy servants, Answer. Whom Thou hast redeemed by Thy Precious Blood. Antiphon at the Song of the Blessed Virgin. This day shall be unto you for a memorial, and ye shall keep it a Feast to the Lord throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a Feast by an ordinance for ever. Commemoration of the Second Vespers of the Sunday. JULY 1. Octave-Day of the Birth of St. John the Baptist. Double. All as on the Feast-day except the following. FIRST NOCTURN. Lessons from Scripture according to the Season. SECOND NOCTURN. Fourth Lesson. The Lesson is taken from the Sermons of St. Maximus, Bishop [of Turin.] (3rd for the Birth-day of St. John the Baptist.) DEARLY beloved brethren, the feast which we this day keep hath been hallowed by the true Birth of the worshipful Baptist, John. He was a man whom God was pleased to send into this world, not only that he himself might fill the glorious office of a Prophet, but also that by him the words of all the other Prophets might be established. That we should give him, as we now do, the chiefest honour among them all, is right; for he had poured upon him this special blessing, that, being the last who prophesied in the world the coming of Him Who came to redeem the world, he was the first who, when He came, pointed to Him as already come. The other Prophets, at the distance of ages, knew that our Lord JESUS Christ was to come; the Prophet John alone was worthy to see Him with his very eyes, and to proclaim Him actually present. Fifth Lesson. THIS is he concerning whom the seer Isaiah, by the inspiration of God, said: "The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness: Prepare ye the way of the LORD." (xl. 3.) How meetly, dearly beloved brethren, is this blessed John called "a voice"-he who was sent to be at once the herald and the witness of the Word from heaven! This is he whose birth, whose name, and whose work were foretold by the angel Gabriel. This is he who in the sight of heavenly knowledge is more honourable than any other man, as hath been declared by the Lord: "Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist." (Matth. xi. 11.) How beautifully is it said, "born of women"-since He Who was infinitely greater than John was born of a Virgin! Sixth Lesson. IN sight of these things, consider, dearly beloved brethren, in how great worship, in how great love ye are behoven to hold him, who is thus honourable, that he hath been foretold by the Holy Ghost, promised by an Angel, extolled by the Lord Himself, and hallowed by the everlasting glory of an holy death. His birth, surrounded with wonders, is the meet beginning of a wondrous life, that holy, sinless life the meet fore-runner of a death which was a gift to God. It is but just then, my brethren, that the Church of Christ should on this day with keen joy keep throughout the whole world the Feast of his Birth, even his, who arose a right faithful witness to tell a wondering world that a life of eternal gladness was lying open to the choice of dying creatures. THIRD NOCTURN. Seventh Lesson. The Lesson is taken from the Holy Gospel according to Luke (i. 57.) ELIZ should be delivered; and she LIZABETH'S full time came that brought forth a son. And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had showed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her. And so on. Homily by St. Ambrose, Bishop [of Milan.] (Bk. ii. on Luke i.) "He shall be called John." Elizabeth who had herself prophesied of Christ, could not fail to recognise the Fore-runner of the Lord. It is well added: "There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name"-whereby we know that he was named, not as the son of Zacharias, but as the Prophet of God. "And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called" -but since unbelief had bereft him of |