with reverential awe, were themselves the authors of these trifling and silly usages. In their ceremony of the consecration of the candles, they addressed the Deity and our Saviour in fixed and formal prayers, imploring that the "Creature of Wax" might receive the heavenly benediction; and, as the climax of absurdity, even, offered up petitions to the Waxen Creatures, themselves, that they would, "in the name of our Lord and the Holy Trinity, &c. &c. repel, extirpate devils," and so forth.

When the Christian Bishops instituted this festival, there can be little doubt but that they substituted it in place of the Pagan Lupercalia, which had been before kept on the 15th of February. To ensure success in the primitive church, it became absolutely necessary to have recourse to policy; the great body of the people were ignorant and profligate in the extreme, and it would have been impossible to have overthrown long established usages, without affording them some other means of indulging themselves in relaxation. By insensible degrees, therefore, for almost every Pagan ceremony, some Christian rite was introduced, bearing, as nearly as circumstances would admit, and religion justify, an ap parent affinity to the antient customs. The people wanting only revelry, hesitated not in conforming to the new establishment, provided they were not deprived of their accustomed holiday. To change the name of any species of relaxation

could not be much regretted, nor was it probable that a slight difference in the observance would be opposed, while a total abolition might have been impracticable. Instead, therefore, of the more gross observation of the Lupercalia, which was regarded both as a feast of Purification, and as being intended to render the females fruitful, the Christians offered up thanksgivings, on this day, in commemoration of the ceremony of the Purification of the Holy Virgin. Adverting to the expression of SIMEON, they also adorned their churches with numerous lights, parading about with flambeaux and candles, in close imitation of the Pagan custom of brenning, in honour of FEBRUA, or JUNO, who, in heathen mythology, was deemed to preside over the purification of In this instance, therefore, there is a strict conformity with the old Pagan superstitions; while in the Reformed church we have gradually dropped most of these absurd practices; which, although justifiable, and perhaps almost necessary at the time of their original introduction, would of course be exploded, when mankind became so far enlightened, as to be capable of reflecting properly upon the attractive and majestic simplicity of the Christian religion.

women.

By abolishing the old usages which were engrafted upon the superstitions of the Heathens, we have in this kingdom happily attained such a clearness of intellectual perception and soundness of understanding, that superstition of every kind

seems nearly to have lost its power; while in those countries which still persevere in the antient, mode of worship, few except the most enlightened characters are free from its degrading influence. It is true, that some ignorant and timid persons in this country still light candles as a charm against thunder and lightning, in the efficacy of which 'there was in former times a belief almost universally prevalent, "Provided that the Priest had given them his benediction on the day of Purification." On the Continent, that practice is not only retained, but the candles which have received benediction are even considered as possessing a virtue, sufficiently powerful to frighten away devils. They are accordingly often placed in the hands of persons while in the agonies of death, to protect them from all the spirits of darkness, who are considered as not daring to intrude, while this holy light is shining around them.

In the "CATHOLIC CHRISTIAN INSTRUCTED," published by the R. R. RICHARD CHALLONERr, D. D. V. A. &c. in 1810, we are favoured with the following illustration of "the meaning of the lighting of a blessed Candle, and keeping it burning during a person's agony" in death. "This Light"-continues the Right Rev. Doctor, Vicar Apostolick, &c.—" represents the light of the faith in which a Christian dies, and the light of glory which he looks for. Besides, these candles are blessed by the Church, with a solemn prayer to God, to chase away the Devils from those places where they shall be lighted.

"Our help is in the name of the Lord

"Who made Heaven and Earth."

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"Let us pray.

O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God,

bless by our prayers these Candles; pour forth.. upon them by the virtue of the holy

Cross, thy

heavenly benediction, who hast given them to mankind to chace away darkness; and may they receive such a blessing by the sign of the holy Cross, that in what place soever they shall be lighted, the Rulers of Darkness, with all their Ministers, may depart, and trembling fly from those dwellings, nor presume any more to disturb or molest those. that serve thee, Almighty God, who livest and reignest for ever and eyer, Amen."!!!

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"Antiently this day was likewise called Christ's. Presentation, the Holiday of St. Simeon, styled Hypapante, or Hypante, in the Greek Church

and, lastly, the Wives' Feast, from the excessive feasting with which the Churching and Purification of women was celebrated by the Gossips.

Sexagesima Sunday.

(2ND FEBRUARY, 1812.)

See Septuagesima, page 183.

་ན་

St. Blase.

(3RD FEBRUARY.)

ST. BLASE, BLAIZE, BLASUS, or BLASSIUS, appears by some of his legends to have been bishop of Sebasta, or Sebask, in Cappadocia; according to others, of Sebastia, a city of Armenia, of which he is considered the tutelar saint, and where in honour of him a Military Order was formerly instituted. He was a learned and good man, and a zealous supporter of the oppressed Christians under the reign of DIOCLESIAN; and for that cause alone is said to have suffered martyrdom by decapitation in the year 289, after having been cruelly whipped with scourges, and his flesh lacerated with "Combes of Bren." The monkish historians, who are very concise in their accounts of this saint in matters of fact, have attempted to supply

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