Thanksgiving.—Ps. 112, 113, 116, 125, 148.

In Trouble.-Ps. 4, 5, 30, 142.

For Superiors.—Ps. 19.

In Disquietude of Mind.-Ps. 6.

Shortness of this Life.-Ps. IOI, 102.

The Good and the Wicked.-Ps. 5, 7, 23, 24, 31, 83,

90, 118, 126, 127.

Excellence of God's Law.-Ps. 118.

Historical.-Ps. 113.

Seeking after God.-Ps. 41, 62, 66, 83.

For Holy Communion.-Ps. 19, 24, 41, 53, 84, 117, 137, 148.

PSALMS SUITABLE FOR THE VARIOUS
SEASONS.

ADVENT, Ps. 84; CHRISTMAS, Ps. 83, 102; LENT, Ps. 4, 30, 39, 110, 115, and the Seven Penitential Psalms; EASTER, Ps. 15, 109, 117; ASCENSION, Ps. 23, 102, 131; PENTECOST, Ps. 133, 150.

THE BLESSED VIRGIN.

Ps. 23, 109, 112, 121, 126, 147.

THE HOLY ANGELS.

Ps. 90, 102, 148.

THE CHURCH.

Ps. 121, 131, 147, 149.

FOR THE DEAD.

Ps. 5, 6, 7, 22, 24, 26, 39, 40, 41, 50, 62, 64, 129, 131, 137.

Benediction of the Blessed Sacra

ment.

HE Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament is a Rite in which Jesus, in the Sacrament of His love, is not only exposed to the adoration of the faithful, but in which He, present in that Sacrament, is implored to bless the faithful present before the Altar. It is not so much the Priest who blesses the people by this Rite, as it is Jesus Christ Himself, in the Blessed Sacrament, who bestows His benediction upon them..

In this country Benediction usually follows Vespers. After the final Antiphon of the Blessed Virgin is said, the Priest, vested in surplice, stole, and cope, goes up to the Altar, while the choir sings the O salutaris Hostia; and opening the Tabernacle, he makes a genuflection, and taking out a consecrated Host enclosed in a kind of locket, called a luna, places this in the centre of the Monstrance or Ostensorium--a stand of gold or silver, with rays like the sun. He then descends to the foot of the Altar, and puts incense in the censer; kneeling again, he receives the censer from the hand of the acolyte, and incenses the Adorable Host. When the choir sings the second line of the Tantum ergo, all bow humbly down, and then, or during the Genitori, the Priest again incenses the Blessed Sacrament.

As soon as the choir has ended the hymn the Priest chants the Versicle; and after the Response he chants the Prayer of the Blessed Sacrament, and sometimes another prayer. He then

kneels again, and a veil is placed around his shoulders, after which he ascends again to the Altar, and, making a genuflection, takes the Monstrance, and, turning to the people, gives the Benediction in silence, making the sign of the Cross over the kneeling congregation.

Replacing the Host in the Tabernacle, he descends, and, preceded by his assistants, retires, while the choir chants the 116th Psalm, Laudate Dominum omnes gentes, or some other Psalm or Canticle permitted by the usage of the place.

During this holy Rite the devout worshipper may either join in the chant of the choir, or pour out his soul in aspirations of love, adoration, gratitude, petition, or contrition to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, thus humbled for our love.

When the Priest has exposed the Blessed Sacrament, the choir sings:

Here is frequently sung the Litany of Loreto (p. 95) some hymn in honor of the Blessed Sacrament p. (58).

Lastly is sung the Tantum Ergo; during which incense is again offered to the Blessed Sacrament, and all prostrate themselves at the second line.

ANTUM ergo Sacra- Do OWN in adoration

mentum,

Veneremur cernui ;

falling,

Lo! the sacred Host we

hail!

Salus, honor, virtus quo- With the Holy Ghost pro

R. Omne

delectamen

R. Having in it the sweetness of every taste.

tum in se habentem.

[In Easter-tide, and during the octave of Corpus Christi, Alleluia is added to V. and R.]

Rising, he sings the following prayer:

Oremus.

Let us pray.

DEUS, qui nobis, sub O GOD, who, under a

wonderful

Sacra

sacramento mirabili, passionis tuæ memo- ment, hast left us a meriam reliquisti: tribue, morial of Thy passion: quæsumus, ita nos corpo- grant us, we beseech Thee, ris et sanguinis tui sacra so to venerate the sacred mysteria venerari, ut re- mysteries of Thy Body and demptionis tuæ fructum Blood that we may ever in nobis jugiter sentiamus. feel within ourselves the Qui vivis et regnas in sæcu- fruit of Thy Redemption.

la sæculorum.

R. Amen.

Who livest and reignest, world without end.

R. Amen.

The Benediction Veil is now placed upon the shoulders of the Priest. He ascends the steps of the Altar, takes the Monstrance containing the Blessed Sacrament in his hands, and solemnly and in silence makes with It the sign of the Cross over the kneeling people. (Meanwhile a bell is rung by an acolyte.)

After the Blessed Sacrament has been replaced in the Tabernacle all

rise and sing: