Jam fundata et firmata Ibidem orbem gubernat Ecclesia. Fide Petri fundamentum Juncta ad officia. Petro namque sub pastore Gratulatur et rectore Inter fluctus sæculi; Pauli viget ex doctrina, Vitæ sumpta medicina Grex fidelis populi. Iste verbo instruit, Ille cœlum aperit Verbo vitæ credulis, Et quod unus prædicat Alter verum comprobat Crebris hoc miraculis. Hic Judæos, ille gentes Viam vitæ nescientes Ad salutem convocat; Ambo præsunt convocatis, Ambo certant desolatis, Hostis ne prevaleat. Contra summæ potentiæ Ad justorum transmeant; ed; and in that same Rome the Church has been founded and built up, and rules the world. The Church is founded on Peter's faith, and strengthened by Paul's teaching; one holds the key of authority, the other that of knowledge, both for the same work. With Peter for their shepherd and guide, the faithful people rejoice amid the billows of this world; while they grow strong and receive lifegiving medicine from Paul's doctrine. Paul instructs them by his word, Peter opens heaven to believers in the word of life, and what the one preaches the other proves by many miracles. One calls the Jews to salvation, the other the Gentiles ignorant of the way of life; together they direct the called, together they strive lest the enemy should prevail against them. They stand against the highest power of the empire, and incur the penalty, one of the cross, the other of the sword. Thus they suffer death in the same city, on the same day, and together pass to the reward of the just; by their prayer may they deliver us from all evil, and make us companions of the blessed. Amen. To-day let us call to mind and complete the instructions we received on the general feast of the Dedication of churches; and let us conclude with the following Sequence, worthy of the pen of Adam of St. Victor, to whom it was long attributed. It sets forth in all the figures once so well known, the great mystery of Christ's union with the human race, which is expressed in the consecration of Christian temples. SEQUENCE. Quam dilecta tabernacula Domini virtutum et atria! Quam electi Architecti, Tuta ædificia, Quæ non movent Arca ligno fabricata um. Servus bibit qui legatur Beauteous are its foundations, aptly prefigured by the mysteries of the time of shadows! While Adam sleeps Eve comes forth from his side, the first type of an eternal union. The ark, built of wood, preserves Noe, safely sailing through the deluge that destroys the world. Sara, advanced in years, laughs joyously to see herself a mother suckling the child whose name signifies our joy. The servant sent as ambassador drinks from Rebecca's pitcher, and she waters his camels; then she adorns herself with ear-rings and bracelets, that she may appear as beseems a virgin. Synagoga supplantatur In bivio tegens nuda, Tinctus ejus sanguine; Hic transitur rubens unda, Egyptios sub profunda Obruens voragine. Hic est urna manna plena, Hic mandata legis dena, Sed in arca foederis. Hic sunt ædis ornamenta, Hic Aaron indumenta Quæ præcedit poderis. Hic Urias viduatur, Hæc futura Quæ figura The synagogue, wandering away and trusting too much to the letter, is supplanted by Jacob. Many things lie hid from blear-eyed Lia, which are a strength to Rachel the clear-sighted, and give her equal rights. Thamar, long a widow, veils herself on the highway, and gives twin sons to Juda. Moses, in a wicker-basket, is found by the maiden as she is bathing. The male lamb being immolated, the Israelites are fed therewith, and are marked with its blood. They cross the Red Sea, whose rushing waves engulf the Egyptians. Here is the urn full of manna; here in the Ark of the Covenant are the ten commandments of the Law. Here are the ornaments of the temple; here the garments of Aaron, and first of them all the Pontiff's ephod. Bethsabee, widow of Urias, is raised as bride even to share the royal throne, and stands before the king in robes of gold and all variety, even as the daughters of princes. Hither comes the queen of the South, whom Solomon instructs with his divine wisdom; though black, she is beautiful, breathing the fragrance of myrrh and incense and every perfume. These future things foreshadowed thus in figures, the Obumbravit, Reseravit Nobis dies gratiæ; Jam in lecto Cum dilecto Quiescamus, Et psallamus: Adsunt enim nuptiæ. Quarum tonat initium In tubis epulantium Et finis per psalterium. Sponsum millena millia Una canunt melodia, Sine fine dicentia: Alleluia! Amen. day of grace has revealed to us; let us rest in peace with the Beloved and sing to him, for it is the Nuptial-day. The feast was opened by the clang of trumpets, and closes with the psaltery. Millions of voices hail the Spouse with one same melody, repeating without end: Alleluia ! Amen. NOVEMBER 19. SAINT ELIZABETH OF HUNGARY DUCHESS OF THURINGIA. ALTHOUGH the blessed in heaven shine each with his own peculiar glory, God is pleased to group them in families, as he groups the stars in the material firmament. It is grace that presides over the arrangement of these constellations in the heaven of the Saints; but sometimes it seems as if God wished to remind us that he is the sole Author of both grace and nature; and inviting them, in spite of the fall, to honour him unitedly in his elect, he causes sanctity to become a glorious heirloom, handed down from generation to generation in the same family on earth. Among these races, none can compare with that royal line which, beginning in ancient Pannonia, spread its branches over the world in the most flourishing days of Christendom: Rich in virtue and studying beautifulness1, as Scripture says, it brought peace into all the royal houses of Europe, with which it was allied; and the many names it has inscribed in the golden book of the blessed, perpetuate its glory. Among these illustrious names, and surrounded by them as a diamond set in a circle of pearls, the 1 Eccli. xliv. 6. |