from any vain-glory: because the LORD also commandeth us to beware of wolves in sheep's clothing: But by their fruits, saith He, shall ye know them. Ry. The word of the LORD. p. cxv. Ben. The King of Angels. Lesson III. elders of the Jews, beseeching Him that He would come and heal his servant. And when they came to JESUS they besought Him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom He should do this: for he loveth our nation, and hath built us a synagogue. Then He went with them: and when He was now not far from the FOR when in certain trials, those house, the centurion sent friends to things which, under this pretence they had obtained, or sought to obtain, shall begin to be taken from them or denied to them, then, of necessity, it will appear, whether it be a wolf in sheep's clothing, or a sheep in her own. Nevertheless, a Christian man should not flatter the eyes of men with a superfluous adorning, on the plea that even deceivers often wear a garment that is scanty and barely sufficient, to beguile the unwary; for the sheep should not lay aside their own clothing, even though wolves may sometimes cover themselves with the like. Him, saying unto Him : LORD, trouble not Thyself, for I am not worthy that Thou shouldest enter under my roof. Ry. LORD, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented: * verily I say unto thee, I will come and heal him. . LORD, I am not worthy that Thou shouldest come under my roof, but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. Verily. Lesson II. IF the circumstances were so, (as S. Luke has related them) how is S. Matthew's narrative true: There came Ry. Abram removed. p. cxvi. with unto Him a certain centurion: seeing Glory. THURSDAY. that he did not come himself, but sent friends? Not unless we perceive on careful examination, that S. Mat Lesson of the Holy Gospel according thew has here employed a customary to S. Matthew. Lesson I. Chap. viii. AT that time: When JESUS was entered into Capernaum, there came unto Him a centurion, beseeching him, and saying, LORD, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. And that which follows. A Homily of S. Austin the Bishop. Book 2 of the Harmony of the Evan., c. 20. Let us see whether Matthew and Luke agree together concerning this servant of the centurion. For Matthew saith: There came unto Him a centurion, beseeching Him, and saying, My servant lieth at home sick of the palsy. That which Luke saith seemeth to contradict this: And when he heard of JESUS, he sent unto Him the method of speech. For we are accustomed to say that a man came, even before he arrives at the place, of the which it is said that he came thither; thus we say: he came a little way, or he came a considerable way, towards that point which he desires to reach. And not only so, but also we speak of a journey as having been accomplished even though he who is said to arrive does not see the person to whom he has journeyed; as when a man reaches any one through the intervention of a friend, whose good offices are needed for such a purpose. This custom of speech has so much obtained, that persons who by skilful efforts influence the minds of powerful men difficult of access, by employing suitable agents, are commonly called by a name which implies that they have actually arrived at the persons whom they have but indirectly in- | known that CHRIST commandeth not fluenced. Ry. While Abraham. p. cxiii. Lesson III. S. MATTHEW then, wishing to state briefly that the centurion obtained access to the LORD by means of others, does not speak foolishly, but rather in a way that would generally be understood, saying: there came unto Him a centurion. And yet the depth of this mystical speech of the Holy Evangelist is not to be lightly regarded, according as it is written in the Psalms, Draw nigh unto Him and be enlightened. For whereas JESUS Himself praised the faith of the centurion who truly came to Him, saying, I have not found so great faith, no not in Israel, the wise Evangelist means to say that the centurion himself came to CHRIST, rather than those persons by whom he sent his message. The LORD did tempt. p. cxvi. FRIDAY. what is impossible, but what is perfect. This did David towards Saul, and towards Absalom: Stephen also, the martyr, prayed for his enemies that stoned him: and Paul wished himself anathema for his persecutors. This also JESUS both taught and did, saying: FATHER, forgive them; for they know not what they do. Ry. The Angel of the LORD. p. cxiv. THAT ye may be the children of your FATHER which is in heaven. If by keeping the commandments of GOD, any one is made a son of GOD: then he is not a son by nature, but by his own choice. When therefore thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. He who soundeth a trumpet when he doeth his alms is an hypocrite. He who when he fasteth disfigureth his face, that the emptiness of his belly may be Lesson of the Holy Gospel according shown by his countenance, he also is an hypocrite. He who prayeth in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that he may be seen of men, is an hypocrite. Ry. The Angel of the LORD called. p. cxiv. Lesson III. FROM all this it may be gathered that they are hypocrites who do anything that they may have glory of men. And he also seemeth to me to be one, who saith to his brother: Let me take the mote out of thine eye; for he seemeth to do this for glory, that he may appear to be righteous himself, whence it is said unto him by the LORD: Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye. It is not therefore the mere virtuous act, but the cause of the virtuous act that hath its reward with GoD: and if thou turn aside from the right way but ever so little, it maketh no matter whether it be to the right hand or to the left, since thou hast lost the true path. Ry. God of my master. p. cxiv. SATURDAY. OF Lesson III. a truth He forgetteth not the complaint of the poor, nor turneth away His face from them that trust in Him: yea rather, doth He aid them that are doing battle with their foes that they may overcome them, and Lesson of the Holy Gospel according crowneth the conquerors to everlasting. AT to S. Mark. Lesson I. Chap. vi. T that time when even was come the ship was in the midst of the sea, and JESUS alone on the land. And that which follows. Whence it is also in this place plainly said that He saw them toiling in rowing. Verily the LORD saw them toiling on the sea, though He is on the land: because even though for a while He seemeth to be slack in sending help to the afflicted, nevertheless lest they faint in their tribulations, He strengtheneth them by looking at length by open help he setteth upon them with loving kindness: and them free, when He hath overcome all their adversities, and, as it were, trodden under foot, and calmed the surging of the waves. Ry. Abram removed his tent. p. cxvi. A Homily of Ven. Bede the Priest. Book 2, c. xxviii, on S. Mark vi. The toil of the disciples in rowing, and the wind contrary to them, setteth forth the divers toils of the Holy Church: which endeavoureth, amid the waves of the opposing world, and the winds of the unclean spirits, to reach the stillness of the heavenly fatherland, as a safe harbour on the FIRST SUNDAY IN LENT. shore. It is well said that the ship was in the midst of the sea, and He Inv. It is not vain that ye haste to alone on the land: because some-the LORD hath promised the crown * for rise up early, before the light, times the Church, by such great per-unto them that watch. secutions of the heathen, is not only cast down, but is also rent, so that, if that could be, her Redeemer would verily seem to have, for a while, forsaken her. Ry. I came this day. p. cxv. Lesson II. HENCE cometh that cry of hers, P. 3. Ps. Venite. HYMN. Ex more docti mystico. Twe keep in solemn course once more: HE fast, as taught by holy lore, The fast to all men known, and bound The law and seers that were of old Which CHRIST, all seasons' king and guide, In after ages sanctified. The words we speak, the food we take, when taken amid the waves and storms of overflowing temptations, and when, groaning, she seeketh the aid of His protection with a loud cry: Wherefore art thou absent so far off, O LORD, and hidest Thy face in the needful time, and in trouble? And in like manner the voice of the perse-Thy grace have we offended sore cuting enemy is expressed, when, in By sins, O GOD, which we deplore, the following part of the Psalm, it is But pour upon us from on high, added: He said in his heart, GOD hath | O pardoning One, Thy clemency! forgotten, He hideth away His face, Remember Thou, though frail we be, He will never see it. That yet thine handiwork are we; Nor let the honour of Thy Name Be by another put to shame. Rz. The word of the LORD. p. cxv. Forgive the sin that we have wrought: FIRST NOCTurn. Of the 2nd Epistle of S. Paul the Lesson I. Chap. vi. Lesson II. YE Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged. Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels. Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged. Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? and what concord hath CHRIST With Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? and what agreement hath the temple of GOD with idols? for ye are the temple of the living GOD; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them: and I will be their GoD, and they shall be my people. WE then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of GoD in vain. (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) Giving no Ry. In all things let us approve ouroffence in any thing, that the ministry selves as the ministers of God, in be not blamed: but in all things ap-be not blamed. V. Behold, now is much patience: that the ministry proving ourselves as the ministers of GOD, in much patience, in afflictions, the accepted time; behold, now is the in necessities, in distresses, in stripes, day of salvation: let us commend in imprisonments, in tumults, in ourselves in much patience. That. labours, in watchings, in fastings; by Lesson III. Chap. vii. AM filled with comfort, I am ex pureness, by knowledge, by long-I suffering, by kindness, by the ceeding joyful in all our tribulation. GHOST, by love unfeigned, by the word For, when we were come into Maceof truth, by the power of God, by the donia, our flesh had no rest, but we armour of righteousness on the right were troubled on every side; without hand and on the left, by honour and were fightings, within were fears. dishonour, by evil report and good Nevertheless GOD, that comforteth report: as deceivers, and yet true; those that are cast down, comforted us. as unknown, and yet well known; as by the coming of Titus: and not dying, and, behold, we live; as by his coming only, but by the conchastened, and not killed; as sorrow-solation wherewith he was comforted ful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. Ry. Behold, now is the accepted time, behold, now is the day of salvation; let us commend ourselves in much patience, in many fastings: * by the armour of righteousness of the strength of GOD. V. In all things let us approve ourselves as the ministers of GOD, in much patience, in many fastings. By. in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more. For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season. Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance. Ry. With fasting and weeping let the priests pray, saying: * Spare, Ovances is relaxed, and when the cares LORD, spare Thy people, and give not Thine heritage to destruction. . Let the priests weep between the porch and the altar: saying. Spare. Glory. Spare. SECOND NOCTURN. A Sermon of S. Leo the Pope. Lesson IV. Sermon 4 on Lent. SINCE I am about to preach to you of the most great and holy fast, how can I more fitly begin than in the words of the Apostle by whom CHRIST spake, and by saying that which has just been read: behold, now is the accepted time: behold, now is the day of salvation? For although there is no time which is not filled with the divine gifts, and, by the grace of God, access is ever given to His mercy : yet all hearts should be moved to greater spiritual progress, and animated with more perfect confidence, now that the recurrence of that day on which we were redeemed, invites us to the performance of all religious duties, to the end that we may celebrate with purified minds and bodies, the most excellent Sacrament of the LORD'S Passion. R. Let us amend those things wherein we have ignorantly sinned: lest, suddenly prevented by death, we should seek a place of repentance, and 'find it not: * Hear, LORD, and have mercy for we have sinned against Thee.. Help us, O God of our salvation, and for the glory of Thy Name, O LORD, deliver us. Hear. Lesson V. of this world are multiplied, it must needs be that even religious hearts become defiled with the dust of this earth: hence it has been provided, by the great wisdom of the Divine Institution, that the exercise of forty days should repair the purity of our minds, in which, by pious works and holy fastings, we may atone for the faults of other seasons. Ry. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the LORD, and He will have mercy upon him. For the LORD our GoD is gracious and merciful, longsuffering, and of great kindness, and repenteth Him of the evil. V. The LORD willeth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. For. Lesson VI. SINCE therefore we are about to enter these holy days, instituted for the purifying of our bodies and souls, we ought to walk according to the Apostle's precepts, cleansing ourselves from all filthiness, both of the flesh and spirit, that by means of the struggles between these two substances, the mind, which, subject to GOD'S government, is the fitting ruler of the body, may attain to the dignity of its pre-eminence; so that, giving no offence to any man, we may not give a handle to the calumnies of gainsayers. For rightly shall we be corrected by unbelievers, and impious tongues will injuriously assault our religion on account of our faults, if the morals of those who fast be not in accordance with the purity of a perfect continence. For the sum of our fast stands not in WE ought, indeed, to pay such the abstinence from meat alone; and it ceaseless devotion and continual reverence to these mysteries as to remain such manner of persons in the sight of GoD, as it is meet we should be found on the Paschal Feast. But since such fortitude belongs only to few, while owing to the infirmity of the flesh, the severity of our obser is useless to hold back food from the body unless the soul be also held back from sin. Ry. The time of fasting opens to us the gates of paradise; let us receive it with prayers and supplications: that in the day of Resurrection we may rejoice with the LORD. V. In all |