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Cor sanctuarium novi Intemeratum fœderis, Templum vetusto sanctius, Velumque scissum utilius.

Te vulneratum charitas Ictu patenti voluit, Amoris invisibilis Ut veneremur vulnera.

Hoc sub amoris symbolo Passus cruenta et mystica, Utrumque sacrificium Christus sacerdos obtulit.

Quis non amantem redamet?

Quis non redemptus diligat, Et corde in isto seligat Eterna tabernacula ?

Decus Parenti et Filio, Sanctoque sit Spiritui, Quibus potestas, gloria, Regnumque in omne est

sæculum. Amen.

O Heart! Thou spotless Sanctuary of the New Covenant! Thou Temple, holier than the one of old! Thou Veil, that wast torn, but by a tearing of such greater boon to us!

It was thy love that would have thy Heart wounded with this open Wound, that we might see (through it) the wounds of thine unseen love, and venerate them.

Under this symbol of love, Christ, our High Priest, having suffered both cruelly and mystically, offered the twofold Sacrifice.

Who would not love the Saviour who loves him? Who would not love Him, by whom he has been redeemed? Who would not wish to take up his abode for ever in this his Jesus' Heart.

Be honour to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost! To whom are power, glory, and the Kingdom, for all ages!

Amen.

THE THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.

MASS.

THE faithful soul has witnessed, through the sacred Liturgy, the close of the mysteries of our Redemption, which were wrought, in succession, by our Jesus, and applied to us, one after the other, by his Church, in her divine worship of them. The Holy Ghost has been sent, by the Father and Son, and he has lovingly and graciously come, to continue amongst us the work of the Incarnate Word. He, the Spirit of the Father and Son, is come to support the Christian in this second portion of both time and season; it is, as far as the Year of Grace is concerned, the second portion of that Year; and the Holy Spirit is to rule it; and he does so by bringing before us gradually, we might say, week by week of this Time after Pentecost, the fulness of the Christian life, as we received it from our Redeemer, who has now ascended into heaven, and thence has sent us this beautiful Paraclete, to form within us that life, to its full development. Amongst other gifts he gives us for the purpose, he shows us how to pray. Prayer, as our Jesus told us, must be continual; we must be always praying, and not faint or fail.1 And yet, we know not what we should pray for, nor how we should pray, so as to obtain. This is quite true; but He, the Holy Spirit, knows it all; and comes to us, helping our infirmity, yea, and himself asking for us, with unspeakable groanings. In the Introit and

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2

3 Ibid.

the whole Mass for this Sunday, we are taught that Prayer must have, amongst its other requisite qualities, that of humble repentance for our past sins, and of confidence in God's infinite mercy.

This is the Third Sunday after Pentecost; it is the first which has no rubrical connexion with the great Feasts we have been solemnising; it is a Sunday with all the simplicity of the Office of the Time.

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blessed Mary, the ever Virgin-Mother of God, of Blessed Joseph, of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, of Blessed N. (here is mentioned the Titular Saint of the Church), and of all the Saints, grant us, in thy mercy, health and peace; that, all adversities and errors being removed, thy Church may serve thee with undisturbed liberty.

semper Virgine Dei Genitrice Maria, cum beato Joseph, cumque beatis Apostolis tuis Petro et Paulo, atque beato N. et omnibus Sanctis, salutem nobis tribue benignus et pacem; ut destructis adversitatibus et erroribus universis, Ecclesia tua secura tibi serviat libertate.

The third Collect is left to the Priest's own choice.

EPISTLE.

Lesson of the Epistle of St. Peter the Apostle.

1 Ch. V.

Dearly beloved be ye humbled under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in the time of visitation. Casting all your care upon him, for he hath care of you. Be sober and watch: because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, goeth about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist ye, strong in faith; knowing that the same affliction befals your brethren who are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us into his eternal glory in Christ Jesus, after ye have suffered a little, will himself perfect you, and confirm and stablish you. To him be glory and empire for ever and ever. Amen,

Lectio, Epistolæ beati Petri Apostoli.

1 Cap. V.

Charissimi, humiliamini sub potenti manu Dei, ut vos exaltet in tempore visitationis : omnem sollicitudinem vestram projicientes in eum, quoniam ipsi cura est de vobis. Sobrii estote, et vigilate: quia adversarius vester diabolus tanquam leo rugiens circuit, quærens quem devoret: cui resistite fortes in fide: scientes eamdem passionem ei, quæ in mundo est, vestræ fraternitati fieri. Deus autem omnis gratiæ, qui vocavit nos in æternam suam gloriam in Christo Jesu, modicum passos ipse perficiet, confirmabit, solidabitque. Ipsi gloria, et imperium in sæcula sæculorum. Amen.

The miseries of this present life are the test to which

God puts his soldiers; he passes judgment upon them, and classifies them, according to the degree of courage they have shown. Therefore is it, that we all have our share of suffering. The combat has commenced. God is looking on, watching how each of us comports himself. The day is not far off, when the Judge will pass sentence on the merits of each combatant, and award to each one the recompense he has won. Combat, now; peace and rest and a crown, then. Happy they who, during these days of probation, have recognised the mighty hand of God in all the trials they have had, and have humbled themselves under its presure, lovingly and confidingly! Against such Christians, who have been strong in faith, the roaring lion has not been able to prevail. They were sober, they were watchful, during this their pilgrimage. They were fully convinced of this, that every one has to suffer in the present life; they therefore never sighed and moaned, as though they were the only sufferers; they did not assume the attitude of victims, and call it Resignation! but they took each trial as it came, and, without talking to every one about it, they quietly and joyously united it with the sufferings of Christ. O true Christians! you will be joyous for all eternity, when there will be made the manifestation of that eternal glory in Christ Jesus, which he will pass on to them, that they may share it with him for ever!

The Gradual keeps up the same strain;-it encourages the faithful soul to confidence. Let him cast all his care upon his heavenly Father; has he not always graciously heard him in all his troubles and necessities? As to enemies, let him cast away the thought; God will think of that, and, if it so please him, will avenge the soul they persecuted.

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