down as spurious. See then how that the Divine will is neither a sublime things he should speak who matter of regret nor of too curious is likened to an eagle: yet we, crawl-investigation. For since Peter was ing on the ground, weak and of small always impetuous, breaking out into account among men, dare handle interrogations of this sort, CHRIST, these matters, and expound : and again checking his fervour, answered deem that we apprehend when we thus, forbidding further inquiry. think, or are apprehended when we Ry. This is that John p. xxxv. speak, of them. Ry. In the midst of the Church p. xxxiv. Lesson IX. THEN went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die; yet JESUS said not unto him, He shall not die, but, "If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee ?" Do not suppose, He saith, that I have ordained the same sorrow for both of you. And this He said to take away any unseasonable affection and desire of companionship. For since they were For about to undertake the care of the When CHRIST had spoken these great things to Peter, intrusting him with the care of the whole world, foretelling his martyrdom, bearing witness to his pre-eminent love toward Himself, Peter desiring that John should be his companion and colleague, said, 66 Lord, and what shall this man do?" Shall he accompany me on the same way? And as at the supper he dared not to ask a question himself, but instigated John, so now he returns the favour, thinking that John desired, All as on the Festival, p. xxxv., except but had not the courage, to inquire concerning himself. Then Christ replied, "If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?" Ry. In that day p. xxxv. Lesson VIII. FOR when Peter spoke thus, from excess of affection not being willing to be separated from John, CHRIST, to shew him that his love, however great it might be, was surpassed by His own, said, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? Teaching us by these words Te Deum, p. 15. OCTAVE OF THE HOLY INNOCENTS. the Lessons. FIRST NOCTURN. Of the Epistle to the Romans. Lesson I. Chap. v. THEREFORE being justified by faith, we have peace with GOD through our LORD JESUS CHRIST: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: and hope maketh not ashamed; | is drawn, and there is no cause; envy because the love of God is shed abroad alone cries for blood, seeing that in our hearts by the HOLY GHOST He Who is born doth violence to no which is given unto us. Ry. I beheld (p. xxxvi). Lesson II. FOR when we were yet without strength, in due time CHRIST died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But GOD com mendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, CHRIST died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. Ry. I heard under the Altar (p. xxxvi). Lesson III. FOR if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to GOD by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in GOD through our LORD JESUS CHRIST, by whom we have now received the atonement. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. Ry. They worshipped (p. xxxvi). SECOND NOCTURN. A Sermon of S. Augustine the Bishop. Lesson IV. Sermon I. Of the Innocents. THE LORD being born, mourning begins: not in heaven, but in the world. Lamentation among mothers; joy among angels; migration among infants. It is GOD Who is born; Innocents are fit sacrifice for Him, Who comes to condemn the wickedness of the world. Little lambs are fitly offered because the Lamb shall be crucified, Who takes away the sins of the world. But the ewes complain, for the loss of their lambs bleating without voice. O mighty martyrdom! O cruel sight! The sword man. But we see the ewes mourning over their lambs. In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning. They are pledges, not entrusted, but created; not left, but merely shown. Ry. They have poured. p. xxxvi. NATURE herself is witness, which struggled when the tyrant attacked the infant martyrs. The mother scattered the hair of her head, when she was losing the true ornament of her head. In how many ways she sought to hide the infant, which yet betrayed itself by its infant cries! It knew not silence, for it had not yet learned fear. The mother strove, and the executioner; he dragged, she held it back. To the executioner the mother cried: Why partest thou from me him whom I love? My womb bare him, and so long as he lived, he never sought vainly at my breasts for milk. Carefully I have carried him whom I see flung down by thee with cruel hands. My bowels have but just brought him forth, and thou hurlest him on the ground. Ry. These are the Saints. p. xxxvii. ANOTHER mother cried out, be cause the cruel robber forced not the mother to be slain with the child. Ye Why sendest thou me empty away? If there be guilt, it is mine; even if not, add death and free a mother. Another said: What seek ye? seek One, and slay many; and that One only ye cannot reach. And again another cried: Come now, O come, Thou Saviour of the world, how long shalt Thou be sought? Thou fearest none: let the soldier see Thee, and spare our infants. Amid the mingled laments of the mothers, the oblation of the children ascended to heaven. Ry These are they. p. xxxvii. e THIRD NOCTURN. Lesson IX. Lesson of the Holy Gospel according FOR verily when Saint Joseph saw to S. Matthew. Lesson VII. Chap. ii. AT that time: The Angel of the LORD appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young Child and His Mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word. And that which follows. A Homily of S. John Chrysostom. From the 8th Hom. on S. Matthew. When Joseph had heard these things he neither took offence nor said: This matter is uncertain, and thoroughly doubtful. But just now thou didst declare that He should save His people, and now indeed He is not able to set Himself free from peril: but flight, and pilgrimage, and journeying to a far distance are needful for us. the Virgin great with Child, he fell into great uneasiness: but the Angel came on a sudden, wholly quenching his dread. Afterwards, when he saw the new born Child, he was filled with much rejoicing: but again weighty peril followed hard upon this joy, when the whole city was everywhere moved, the King himself raged, and sought the Child to slay Him. But gladness also came again after this bitterness, to wit, the appearing of the Star, and the worshipping of the Magi. After this delight also again was danger, again was fear. For Herod, saith He, seeks the life of the Child, and there is need to flee and to go into a far country. Te Deum, p. 15. That which cometh to pass is in all All points contrary to that which was promised. But nought whatever of this kind objected he, for he was a faithful man: neither does he narrowly ask after the time of return, which in truth was not plainly set forth by the Angel: but, Be thou there, quoth he, until I shall tell thee. Ry. They sang. p. xxxvii. Lesson VIII. BUT neither by this was he made tardier, but obeyed right willingly, and believed, enduring with gladness every tribulation. And in truth the merciful God mingled certain joys with his sorrows. Which, in good sooth, He doth for all His Saints, whom He suffereth to have neither tribulation nor suffering continually: but weaveth together the life of the righteous both in adversity and in health, in a wondrous diversity. Which, do thou consider, He also did in this case. Ry. I saw. p. xxxvii. with Glory. VIGIL OF THE EPIPHANY. Double of the Second Class. as on the Octave of the Nativity, p. xli., except the Lessons. FIRST NOCTURN. Of the Epistle to the Romans. K NOW ye not, brethren, (for I speak she is loosed from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress; but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man. Ry. Behold the Lamb. p. xlii. WHEREFORE, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of CHRIST; that ye should be married to another, even to Him who is raised from the dead, that Lesson III. lost. As man confesses in the Psalms: Lesson VI. MIRACLES! O prodigies! My brethren, the laws of nature are GOD is born, a WHAT shall we say then? Is the changed in man: law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. Ry. Blessed is he that. p. xlii. SECOND NOCTURN. Virgin conceives: without an hus- Ry. Blessed and holy. p. xliii. THIRD NOCTURN. Lesson of the Holy Gospel according to S. Matthew. Lesson VII. Chap. ii. AT that time: when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the LORD Egypt saying, Arise, and take the appeareth in a dream to Joseph..in young Child and His Mother, and go into the land of Israel. And that which follows. A Homily of S. Jerome the Priest. Book 1 Com. S. Matt. ii. From this passage we see that not only Herod, but also the priests and the Scribes were at the same time meditating the death of the LORD. And he arose and took the young Child and His Mother:-not his young child and his wife, but the young Child and His Mother; as if he was the guardian, not the husband. Ry. Holy and immaculate. p. xxix. Lesson VIII. BUT when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither. Many have fallen into error from their ignorance of history, thinking that this is the same Herod by whom our LORD was mocked in his Passion, and who is now said to be dead. But that Herod, who afterwards made friends with Pilate, was son of this Herod, and the brother of Archelaus. Ry. The Virgin Mother. p. xliv. HE shall be called a Nazarene. If the Evangelist had quoted some definite passage of Holy Scripture, he would not have said, Which was spoken by the Prophets, but which was spoken by the Prophet. But now he uses the plural Prophets, to show that he has not taken the words of Scripture but the sense. Nazarene being interpreted means holy. And thus Scripture testifies that the promised LORD was to be holy. Te Deum, p. 15. THE EPIPHANY. He takes not earthly realms away. And by their gifts their GOD confess'd. In holy Jordan's purest wave The heav'nly Lamb vouchsaf'd to lave; New miracle of Power Divine ! He spake the word; and pour'd the wave FIRST NOCTURN. Ant. Bring unto the LORD, O ye mighty, and worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. Ps. xxix., Afferte Domino, p. 17. Ant. The river of the flood thereof shall make glad the city of GOD. Alleluia. Ps. xlvi. Deus Noster, p. 28. Ant. O sing praises, sing praises unto our GOD: O sing praises, sing praises unto our King. Sing ye praises with understanding. Alleluia. Ps. xlvii. Omnes gentes. p. 28. y. Let all the earth worship Thee. Ry. And sing praises unto Thy Name, O LORD. Of Isaiah the Prophet. Lesson I. Chap. Iv. Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without Wheremoney and without price. fore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people. Ry. To day the LORD was baptised in Jordan. The Heavens were opened, and the SPIRIT descended like a dove, and the voice of the FATHER was heard. This is my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. y. The Holy |