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human race which had fallen under a curse, and through sin had been borne away to death and corruption, did, according to the Scriptures, take hold of the seed of Abraham, and become partaker of flesh and blood, that is, He became man; and took flesh, and made it His own, and was born in flesh of the holy Mary, mother of God.

Ry. Then said Mary, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the Angel said unto her,* The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee. . Therefore also that Holy Thing which shall be born of thee, shall be called the Son of God. The Holy Ghost.

Lesson VIII.

NOT that His Divine Nature re

nothing surpassing ourselves. If so, how is it that every knee shall bow to Him, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father? How is it that Angels, and the holy multitude of the heavenly powers, adore Him? In no other way can we regard Him as adorable, than by believing that the very Word from God, Who is adored by all creation, became flesh, according to the Scriptures: not having been changed into flesh, but having taken flesh from the holy Virgin, and passed through a human birth; that being made man for us, He might die humanly, and rise again divinely, having trampled down the power of death.

Ry. Rejoice with me, all ye that love the Lord; for being little, I pleased the Most High; * and from my womb I brought forth God and Man. . All generations shall call me blessed, for the Lord hath regarded the lowliness of His handmaiden. And from. Glory. And from.

APRIL 25.

ceived a beginning of existence, when He is said to have been born in flesh. On the contrary, He was and is naturally and really the Word from God the Father. But since He Who was born of the holy Virgin is not regarded as being simply a man like ourselves, but as the Word Himself Incar- Festival of S. Mark, Evangelist and nate, and owning, as His property, the Body which He took from her, therefore He is said to have been born in flesh, since He appropriates to Himself the birth of that flesh which is His own.

Ry. And Mary said unto the Angel, Behold the handmaid of the Lord Be it unto me according to thy word. . The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee; and when the Angel thus made answer, Mary said. Be.

Lesson IX.

[If in Lent, Lesson of the occurrent feria.]

IF the Holy Virgin did not, accord

ing to the flesh, bring forth God Incarnate, it must be admitted that she brought forth a mere man, in

Martyr.

All of the Common of Apostles in Eastertide. p. 77, except that which follows. Hymn. Annue Christe, p. i.

FIRST NOCTURN.

Lessons of the Common of Evangelists, P. 74. with RZR7. of Common of Apostles in Easter-tide, p. 77.

SECOND NOCTURN.

From the Book of S. Jerome the Priest on Ecclesiastical writers.

Lesson IV.

MARK, the disciple and interpreter

of Peter, remembering that which he had heard Peter relating, and being asked by the brethren at Rome, wrote a short gospel, which when Peter

S. MARK, EVANGELIST: SS. PHILIP AND JAMES, APOSTLES.

had heard, he both approved it and gave it to be read by the Church with his own authority. Taking, therefore, with him the gospel which he had composed, he departed into Egypt, and was the first to preach Christ at Alexandria, and founded the Church there; shewing such soundness of doctrine and such holiness of life, as to leave an example to all the followers of Christ.

RIR. of the Common.

Lesson V.

PHILO, the most learned of the

Jews, seeing the primitive church at Alexandria as yet observing the Mosaic law, wrote a book on their conversation, as in praise of his own people. And as Luke relates, that they who believed at Jerusalem had all things in common, so Philo reports of the Church in Alexandria, as he had seen it under Mark. He died in the eighth year of Nero, and was buried at Alexandria, being succeeded by Anianus.

From the Exposition of S. Gregory the Pope on Ezekiel the Prophet. Lesson VI.

Homily 3. L. i.

THE four sacred Living Creatures which by the spirit of prophecy foresee things to come, are described in typical story, when it is said: Every one had four faces, and every one had four wings. What is expressed by the face save knowledge, and what by the wings save flight? By the face, doubtless, is every one known: and by wings are the bodies of fowls lifted on high. The face, therefore, belongeth to faith, the wings to contemplation. For by faith are we known to Almighty God, even as He saith Himself of His sheep: I am the good Shepherd, and know My sheep, and am known of Mine. And again He saith: I know whom I have chosen. But by

xxiii

contemplation we are raised above ourselves, as though we were lifted in the air.

THIRD NOCTURN.

Homily on the Gospel, I am the true Vine, of the Common of Martyrs in Eastertide, p. 89, and RR, p. 89.

MAY 1.

Festival of SS. Philip and James, Apostles and Martyrs.

All of the Common in Eastertide, P. 77, except the Lessons. Hymn. Annue Christe, p. i.

In the 1st Nocturn, if the Epistle of S. James be not in course of reading, the beginning of his Epistle is read, as on the 4th Sunday after Easter.

But if it be in course of reading, the lesson for the day is read.

SECOND Nocturn.

Lesson IV.

PHILIP, born at Bethsaida, was one of those among the Apostles who were first called by Christ our Lord; from whom when Nathanael had heard

that the Messiah promised in the law had come, he was brought to the Lord. How familiar he was with Christ is proved by this: that those Greeks who were desirous of seeing the Lord, made their request to Philip: and the Lord, when He intended to feed the multitude in the wilderness, said unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread that these may eat? He, when he had received the Holy Ghost, and when Scythia fell to his province for the preaching of the gospel, converted almost all that nation to the Christian faith. Lastly, when he had come to Hierapolis, in Phrygia, he was crucified for the Name of Christ, and stoned on the kalends of May. His

body, buried there by the Christians, was afterwards brought to Rome, and interred in the church of the Twelve Apcstles, together with that of blessed James the Apostle.

Lesson V.

and prayed to God for their salvation in these words: Lord, forgive them, for they know not what they do. While in prayer, being struck heavily on the head with a fuller's club, he gave up his spirit to God, in the seventh year of Nero; and he was buried near the

He wrote one

been thrown down.
Epistle, which is among the seven
general Epistles.

JAMES, the brother of the Lord, sur-temple, in the place where he had named the Just, from his earliest age drank no wine nor strong drink, abstained from flesh, and never used ointment or the luxurious bath. He alone was permitted to enter into the Holy of holies. He wore linen garments; and his assiduity in prayer had so hardened his knees, that the skin was as callous as that of a camel. After the Ascension of Christ, the Apostles

created him bishop of Jerusalem; to hia also, the prince of the Apostles sent to give him tidings when he was delivered by the Angel from prison. When in the council of Jerusalem, a controversy had arisen, concerning the law and circumcision, James spoke to the brethren, and proved the vocation of the Gentiles, and gave advice that an epistle should be written to the absent brethren to the effect that the Mosaic law should not

be bound upon the Gentiles. Of whom also the Apostle speaketh to the Galatians: Other of the Apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.

SUCH

Lesson VI.

was the holiness of the life of James, that men pressed upon each other to touch the hem of his garment. And when he was ninetysix years old, and had presided in a most holy manner for thirty years over that Church, and most constantly had preached Christ the Son of God, he was first attacked with stones; then he was led up to the highest place of the temple, and cast down from thence. And as his legs were broken and he lay half alive, he stretched forth his hands to heaven,

THIRD NOCTurn.

Lesson of the Holy Gospel according to
S. John.

Lesson VII. Chap. xiv.

AT that time: Jesus said unto His

disciples: Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions. And that which follows.

A Homily of S. Augustine the Bishop.

Tract 67 on S. John.

attention more steadily to God, that we We must, my brethren, lift up our the words of the holy gospel which have may take in with our understanding just been sounding in our ears. For the Lord Jesus says, Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me. Lest they should fear death as men, and therefore be troubled, He comforts them, declaring that He also is God. Ye believe, He saith, in God, believe also in Me. For the conclusion is: If ye believe in God, believe also in Me: which would not follow necessarily if Christ were not God.

Lesson VIII.

YE believe in God, believe also in

Him, Whose nature and no robbery it is to be equal with God. For He humbled Himself, not however losing the form of God, but taking the form of a servant. Ye fear death,

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coming to this form of a servant; let
not your heart be troubled: the form
of God shall raise it up. But what
is that which follows: In My Father's
House are many mansions, unless they Wherefore, when the sacred fulness

And the multiform deceiver's
Art by art would overthrow,

And from thence would bring the medicine
Whence the insult of the foe.

had feared for themselves also? Where-
fore they needed to hear, Let not your
heart be troubled. For which of them
would not fear, when it was said to
Peter, the most competent and eager
of them: The cock shall not crow till

thou hast denied Me thrice?

Lesson IX.

THEY were naturally troubled as

though they were about to perish from Him. But when they hear: In My Father's House are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you; I go to prepare a place for you: they recover from their trouble, sure and confident that even after the perils of temptation, they should abide in God's dwelling, with Christ. Because, although one is stronger than another, one wiser than another, one juster than another, one holier than another, In My Father's House are many mansions. None of them shall be exiled from that house, where each shall receive a mansion according to his desert.

MAY 3.

Festival of the Invention of the Cross.

*

Inv. Alleluia. All hail, O holy Cross, all hail. Alleluia. Venite, Ps. xcv. p. 3.

HYMN. Pange lingua.

ING, my tongue, the glorious battle
With completed victory rife;

And above the Cross's trophy
Tell the triumph of the strife;
How the world's Redeemer conquer'd,
By surrendering of His Life.

God his Maker, sorely grieving

That the first-made Adam fell, When he ate the fruit of sorrow, Whose reward was death and hell, Noted then this wood, the ruin

Of the ancient wood to quell. For the work of our salvation

Needs would have his order so,

Of th' appointed time was come,
This world's Maker left His Father,
Sent the heavenly mansion from,
And proceeded, God Incarnate,
Of the Virgin's holy womb.
To the Trinity be glory
Equal to the Father, equal
Everlasting, as is meet;

To the Son and Paraclete;
Trinal Unity, Whose praises
All created things repeat. Amen.

FIRST NOCTURN.

Ant. under which the three psalms are said. We worship Thee, O Christ, and bless Thee: for by Thy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world. Alleluia.

81. Domine in virtute. Ps. xxi. p. 83. Domine Dominus Noster, Ps. viii. p. Domini est terra. Ps. xxiv. p. 92.

. This sign of the Cross shall be in heaven.

Ry. When the Lord shall come to judge.

of the Epistle of S. Paul the Apostle

to the Galatians.

Lesson I. Chap. iii.

FOR as many as are of the works of

the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

R. Sweetest wood, and sweetest iron, sweetest weight was hung on thee. Thou alone wast counted worthy this world's ransom to uphold. Alleluia. V. This sign of the Cross shall be in heaven, when the Lord shall come to judge. Thou.

Of the Epistle of S. Paul the Apostle to the Philippians. Lesson II. Chap. ii.

ET this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of GoD, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men : and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a Name which is above every name: that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue_should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Ry. This sign of the Cross shall be in heaven when the Lord shall come to judge. *Then the secrets of all hearts shall be revealed. Alleluia. Alleluia. . When the Son of man shall sit in the throne of His glory: and shall begin to judge the world by fire. Then.

Of the Epistle of S. Paul the Apostle to the Colossians.

Lesson III. Chap. ii.

FOR in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in Him, Which is the head of all principality and power: In Whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:

buried with Him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with Him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised Him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath He quickened together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses; blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His Cross; and having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

Ry. We worship Thee, O Christ, and bless Thee: * for by Thy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world. Alleluia. Alleluia. . We venerate Thy Cross, O Lord, and celebrate Thy glorious Passion. For. Glory. For. The Sarum use has but one nocturn in Easter-tide.

SECOND NOCTURN.

Ant. 1. Save us, O Christ our Saviour, by the virtue of the holy Cross : as Thou savedst Peter in the sea, and have mercy upon us. Alleluia. Exaltabo. Ps. xxx. p. 18.

Ant. 2. O Saviour of the world, Who by Thy Cross and Blood hast redeemed us: save us, and help us, we beseech Thee, our God. Alleluia. Omnes gentes. Ps. xlvii. p. 29.

Ant. 3. We venerate the sign of the Cross: whereby we have received the pledge of salvation. Alleluia. Jubilate. Ps. lxvi. p. 36.

Lesson IV.

AFTER the great victory gained by

the emperor Constantine over Maxentius, under the sign of the

Lord's Cross, received by him from heaven, Helena, the mother of Constantine, being warned in sleep, came to Jerusalem desiring to discover the Cross: where she cast down a marble statue of Venus, that had stood for about one hundred and eighty years, having been set up by the hea

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