rificatis tibi mentibus famulari, et in paradiso cum beatis parvulis perenniter sociari. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. B. Amen. minds, and to be united hereafter with thy blessed children in heaven. Through. B. Amen. NOVEMBER 8. OCTAVE DAY OF ALL SAINTS. 66 How could we more appropriately conclude the teachings of this Octave, than by quoting the words used by the Church herself in to-day's Liturgy? Strangers as we are and pilgrims on the earth, let "us fix our hearts and our thoughts on the day which "will give to each of us a home, and restore us to "Paradise. Who, that is on a voyage, would not "hasten to return to his country! Who, that is on "the way home, would not eagerly desire a favour"able wind, that he might the sooner embrace his "dear ones! Parents, brothers, children, friends in "multitudes impatiently await us in our heavenly fa"therland; blessed crowd! already secure of their own eternal happiness, they are solicitous about our "salvation. What joy for them and for us, when "at length we see them and they may embrace us! "How great the delight of that heavenly kingdom: "no more fear of death; but eternal and supreme happiness! Let all our earnest desires tend to this: "that we may be united with the Saints, that together with them we may possess Christ." 66 66 These enthusiastic words, borrowed from St. Cyprian's beautiful book "On Mortality," are used by the Church in her second Nocturn; and in the third 1 S. CYPRIAN. De Mortalitate, xxyi, she gives us the strong language of St. Augustine, consoling the faithful, who are obliged still to remain in exile, by reminding them of the great beatitude of this earth the beatitude of those who are persecuted and cursed by the world. To suffer gladly for Christ, is the Christian's glory, the invisible beauty which wins for his soul the good pleasure of God, and procures him a great reward in heaven.1 He that hurteth, let him hurt still, says our Lord; and he that is filthy, let him be filthy still; and he that is just, let him be justified still; and he that is holy, let him be sanctified still. Behold I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to render to every man according to his works. I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. Patience, then,Christians! Patience, all who are now despised, for time is short; the fashion of this world passeth away! It is in the light of our Baptism that we must look upon those foolish men, who think themselves strong, because they are violent; who call themselves wise, because pleasure is their only law. When the ManGod, with the spirit of his mouth, shall take vengeance on Satan their leader, their lot will be the indignant sentence heard by the Prophet of Patmos : Without are dogs, murderers, every one that loveth and maketh a lie. Meanwhile the whole creation, which they made the unwilling slave of their corruption, will answer to their digraceful fall by a triumphant song of deliverance. Itself will be transformed into new heavens and a new earth. It will partake of the glory of the children of God, delivered like itself, and will be worthy to contain the new Jerusalem, the holy city, where in our flesh we shall see God; and where, seated at the right hand of the Father in 1 S. AUG. De Sermone Domini in monte, Lib. i. cap. v. Apoc. xxii. 15. the Person of Jesus Christ, our glorified human nature will enjoy for ever the honours of a bride. Let us go in spirit to Rome, and direct our steps towards the ancient church on the Coelian Hill, which bears the name of the Four crowned Martyrs, There are few Saints whose Acts have been more disparaged “by a superficial criticism ignorant of "archeological science," such as that of the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries. But now "the history and tra"ditions relating to the august monument on the "Cœlian have been restored to honour by learned "men and antiquaries, whom no one could accuse of "superstition, or of a blind credulity with regard to "mediæval legends." "1 Such is the unanswerable decision of the Commandant de Rossi. Let us, then, with the holy Liturgy, offer our homage and prayers to the titular Saints of this venerable church, who once held offices of trust in the empire; and let us not forget those other Martyrs, the five sculptors, who like the former preferred death to infidelity, and now share the glory of their tomb. PRAYER. Præsta, quæsumus omnipotens Deus: ut, qui glorioSOS Martyres fortes in sua confessione cognovimus, pios apud te in nostra intercessione sentiamus. Per Dominum. Grant we beseech thee, O Almighty God, that we who know thy glorious Martyrs to have been strong in their confession of thee, may experience their compassion by their interceding for us with thee. Through our Lord. Let us honour all the Saints by a Sequence long sung on this Octave day by the church of Seville. 1 DE Rossi. Bullet: 1879. Ad honorem Salvatoris, SEQUENCE. Admirandus est in sanctis Tandem bonis satiat, Numquid, Christe, pie odis Sed non odit, sed explorat Quanta sit devotio. Certant enim contra mundum, Hostem nequam et immundum, Carnis quoque vitia ; Hac imprimis confessores Martyresque formant mores Virili constantia. Est certamen speciale Quod confligit capitale Martyri supplicium; Sed interdum confessori Litor deest in lituri To the honour of our Saviour, let this assembly sing, both with the inward music of the heart, and with the outward sound of the voice; sweet will be the melody if these three be of one accord: heart, lips, and action. God is wonderful in his Saints; but since at the last he satisfies them with such good things, wherefore, while they live this life, are they scarce able to breathe, he so Scourges and torments them? Is it, O Christ, that thou dost lovingly hate them, since thou judgest well that they should suffer in so many ways, and permittest them often to be crushed under tortures and subjected to a cruel death? Nay, he hates them not, but seeks to know with how much love each one labours in his service; he loves them all, yet he proves, by the toil and the strife, how great is their devotedness. For they strive against the world, the wicked unclean foe, the vices of the flesh; 'tis chiefly by this manly constancy that confessors and martyrs form themselves to virtue. The special combat for the martyr is that which gives him the stroke of death; but for the confessor the executioner is wanting; he must |