follows.

Lesson V.

WHAT matters, then, our praise to

the Saints? To what purpose is our glorification? To what purpose is this our celebration? What are earthly honours to those whom, according to the faithful saying of the Son, the Heavenly Father honours? What to them are our praises? They are full already. That is true, most beloved; the Saints need no honours of ours: nor do we give them anything by our devotions. It is clearly for our own advantage, and not theirs, that we venerate their memory. Would you know to how great an extent? I confess that I feel a strong and threefold longing kindled within me from this thought.

Ry. The fellow-citizens. p. cxx.

Lesson VI.

IT is a common saying, that what the

eye sees not, the heart grieves not. My memory is my eye; and to think of the Saints is in a manner to see them. Thus, indeed, we have our portion, and that not a small one, in the land of the living; if only, as is fitting, affection accompanies memory. Thus, I say, our conversation is in Heaven; and yet ours not so as theirs. For theirs is the substance there; ours, but the longing they are there in actual presence, we, only in thought.

Ry. O praiseworthy constancy. p. cxx.

THIRD NOCTURN.

A Homily of S. Augustine the Bishop.

Book 1 on the Sermon on the Mount.

And therefore, if we reckon as it there the fear of God is first, were in a gradually ascending series, piety second, knowledge third, for

titude fourth, counsel fifth, understanding sixth, wisdom seventh. The fear of God corresponds to the humble, of whom it is here said, Blessed are the poor in spirit, that is, those not puffed up, nor proud; to whom the Apostle says, Be not high-minded, but fear; that is, be not lifted up. Piety corresponds to the meek: for he who inquires piously honours Holy Scripture, and does not censure what he does not yet understand, and on this account does not offer resistance; and this is to be meek whence it is here said, Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

those hungering and thirsting: for Fortitude corresponds to they labour in earnestly desiring joy eagerly seeking to turn away their love from things that are truly good, and in from earthly and corporeal things: and of them it is here said, Blessed are

to S. Matthew.

Lesson VII. Chap. v.

AT that time: Jesus, seeing the multitudes, went up into a mountain: and when He was set, His disciples

righteousness. Counsel corresponds to the merciful: for this is the cne remedy for escaping from so great evils, that we forgive, as we wish to be

ourselves forgiven; and that we assist others where we are able, as we ourselves desire to be assisted where we

are not able; and of them it is here said, Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

Ry. I heard a voice. p. cxxi.

Lesson IX.

UNDERSTANDING corresponds to the pure in heart, the eye being as it were purged, by which there may be beheld what eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, and what hath not entered

into the heart of man: and of them it is here said, Blessed are the pure in heart. Wisdom corresponds to the peacemakers, in whom all things are

now brought into order, and no passion

is in a state of rebellion against reason, but all things together obey the spirit of man, while he himself also obeys God: and of them it is here said, Blessed are the peacemakers. Moreover, the one reward, which is the kingdom of heaven, is variously named according to these stages.

Ry. Grant to us, Lord. p. cxxi.
Te Deum. p. 15.

NOVEMBER 7.

Seventh Day in THE OCTAVE OF ALL SAINTS.

In the First Nocturn, Lessons of the occurrent Scripture.

SECOND NOCTURN.

A Sermon of S. John Chrysostom.

Lesson IV.

A Sermon on the Martyrs, that they be

imitated, or not praised.

IF any one with reverent love admires the merits of the Saints, and discourses with frequent praise on the glories of the just, let him be an imitator of their holy character and righteousness: since if the merit of any Saint is pleasing to any one, the like obedience in the service of God

ought to be pleasing to him. Wherefore if he praises, let him imitate, or if he declines to imitate, let him not praise; for whoso praises another ought to become praiseworthy: and whoso admires the merits of the Saints, should become admirable by

holiness of life. For if we love the righteous and the faithful, because we perceive in them righteousness and faith, we can also ourselves be what they are, if we do what they do. Ry. Among those. p. cxix.

Lesson V.

FOR it is not a hard matter that we

imitate their deeds; since we behold such deeds done by those of old time without any previous example; they were not themselves emulous of others, but became examples to us of emulating virtue: so that while we profit by them, and others in turn profit by us, Christ will be glorified in His holy Church by a continual succession of servants. Whence from the beginning of the world, Abel being innocent is slain; Enoch being found pleasing to God is translated; Noah is faithful; Moses is distinguished as found righteous; Abraham is proved meek; Joshua as chaste; David as gentle; Elias was taken up: Daniel was holy; the three Children were conquerors.

R7. The fellow-citizens. p. cxx.

Lesson VI.

THE Apostles, the disciples of masters of believers. Taught by them, Christ, are reckoned as the Confessors fight most courageously; Martyrs, being made perfect, triumph; and the Christian hosts, armed with Deity, are always vanquishing the devil. In them we behold ever like excellencies, but dissimilar conflicts, and glorious victories. Wherefore thou, O Christian, art but a tender soldier, if thou thinkest that thou

canst conquer without a battle, and triumph without a conflit. Put forth thy strength, fight with courage, contend boldly in that battle; consider thine engagement, give heed to thy condition, know thy warfare: the engagement to which thou hast pledged thyself, the condition under which thou hast joined, the warfare to which thou hast given in thy name. Ry. O praiseworthy constancy. p.

CXX.

THIRD NOCTURN.

Lesson of the Holy Gospel according to S. Matthew.

Lesson VII. Chap. v.

At that time: Jesus, seeing the multitudes, went up into a mountain: and when He was set, His disciples came unto Him. And that which follows.

A Homily of S. Augustine the Bishop.

Book 1 on the Sermon on the Mount.

IN the first stage, as ought to be the

case, is placed the kingdom of heaven, which is the perfect and highest wisdom of the rational soul.

Thus, therefore, it is said, Ble sed are

the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. As if it were said, The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom To the meek an inherit ance is given, as it were the testament of a father to those dutifully seeking it: Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. To the mourners comfort, as to those who know what they have lost, and in what evils they are sunk: Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. To those hungering and thirsting, a full supply, as it were a refreshment to those labouring and bravely contending for salvation: Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Ry. Let your loins. p. cxxi.

Lesson VIII.

To the merciful, mercy, as to those following a true and excellent

counsel, so that this same treatment is extended toward them, by one who is stronger, which they extend toward the weaker: Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. To the pure in heart is given the power of seeing God, as to those bearing about with them a pure eye for beholding eternal things: Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. To the peacemakers the likeness of God is given, as being perfectly wise, and formed after the image of God by newed man: Blessed are the peacemeans of the regeneration of the remakers: for they shall be called the children of God. And those promises can indeed be fulfilled in this life, as we believe them to have been fulfilled in the case of the Apostles. For that all-embracing change into the angelic form which is promised after this life, cannot be explained in words at all. Ry. I heard a voice. p. cxxi.

Lesson IX.

BLESSED, therefore, are they which

are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. This eighth sentence, which goes back to the starting point, and makes manifest the perfect man, is perhaps set forth in its meaning both by the circumcision on the eighth day in the Old Testament, and by the

Resurrection of the Lord after the

sabbath, on the day which is certainly the eighth, and at the same time the first day; and by the celebration of the eight festival days which we celebrate in the case of the regeneration of the new man; and by the very number of Pentecost. For to the number seven seven times multiplied, by which we make forty-nine, as it were an eighth is added, so that fifty is made up, and we, as it were, return to the starting-point; on which day the Holy Spirit was sent, by Whom we are led into the kingdom of heaven, and receive the inheritance and are com

forted; and are fed, and obtain mercy, and are purified, and are made peacemakers; and being thus perfect, we bear all troubles brought upon us from without for the sake of truth and righteousness.

Ry. Grant to us, Lord. p. cxxi.
Te Deum. p. 15.

NOVEMBER 8.

OCTAVE OF ALL SAINTS.

of their own immortality, and as yet anxious for our salvation. To attain to the beholding and the embrace of these, what joy for them and us to share in common! What delight there in the kingdom of heaven will be ours, without fear of dying, with an eternity of life! what perfect, what perpetual felicity!

Ry. The fellow-citizens. p. cxx.
Lesson VI.

SECOND NOCTURN.

From the Book of S. Cyprian, Bishop and Martyr, on Mortality.

Lesson IV.

WE must consider, beloved brethren, and repeatedly reflect, that we have renounced the world, and that meanwhile we spend our time here as strangers and pilgrims. Let us welcome the day which assigns us each to our own home, which restores us, after we have been delivered hence, and released from the snares of this life, to Paradise and a heavenly kingdom. Who that is stationed abroad, would not hasten to return to his native

Apostles, there the band of exulting Prophets, there the innumerable company of Martyrs, crowned for victory in strife and suffering. There are the triumphant Virgins, who have subdued the concupiscence of the flesh and body by the might of continence. The merciful are rewarded, who have

wrought the works of righteousness in feeding and bestowing bounty on the poor; who, observing the precepts of the Lord, have turned their earthly patrimonies into heavenly treasures. To these, beloved brethren, let us hasten with eager desire, and let us long to be soon with these, so that it may soon be our lot to be with Christ. Rz. O praiseworthy constancy. p.

CXX.

THIRD NOCturn.

to S. Matthew.

embrace his dear ones?

Ry. Among them. p. cxix.

Lesson V.

WE reckon Paradise as our native country, we have already begun to esteem the Patriarchs as our fathers. Why do we not make speed and hasten, that we may be able to behold our country and salute our fathers? A great company of dear ones is there waiting for us; a thronging and overflowing multitude of parents, brothers,

3, is longing for us, already secure

AT

Lesson VII. Chap. v.

T that time: Jesus, seeing the multitudes, went up into a mountain and when He was set, His disciples came unto Him. And that

which follows.

A Homily of S. Augustine the Bishop.

Book 1 on the Sermon on the Mount.

Blessed are ye, says He, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven. Let any one wh

is seeking after the delights of this world and the riches of temporal things under the Christian name, consider that our blessedness is within; as it is said of the soul of the Church by the mouth of the prophet, The king's daughter is all glorious within; for, outwardly, revilings, and persecutions, and disparagements are promised; and yet, from these things there is a great reward in heaven, which is felt in the heart of those enduring them, of those who can now say, We glory in tribulations: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope; and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. Ry. Let your loins. p. cxxi.

Lesson VIII.

FOR it is not simply the endurance

of such things that is advantageous, but the bearing of such things for the Name of Christ, not only with tranquil mind, but even with exultation. For many heretics, deceiving souls by means of the Christian name, endure many such things; but they are excluded from the reward on this account, that it is not said merely, Blessed are they which endure persecution; but it is added, for righteousness' sake. Now, where there is no sound. ness in the faith, there can be no righteousness; for the just (righteous) man lives by faith. Neither let schismatics promise themselves anything of that reward; for similarly, where there is no love, there cannot be righteousness; for love worketh no ill to his neighbour; and if they possessed it, they would not tear asunder His Body, which is the

Church.

the higher parts of this visible world that are here called heaven. For our reward, which ought to be immoveable and eternal, is not to be placed in things fleeting and temporal. But I think the expression in heaven means, in the spiritual firmament, where dwells everlasting righteousness; in comparison of which a wicked soul is called earth, as it is said to it when it sins, Earth thou art, and unto earth shalt thou return. Of this heaven the Apostle says, For our conversation is in heaven. Hence they who rejoice in spiritual blessings are conscious of that reward now; but then it will be perfected in every part when this mortal also shall have put on immortality.

[Ry. Grant to us, Lord. p. cxxi.]
Te Deum. p. 15.)

NOVEMBER 29.

VIGIL OF S. ANDREW.

If the Festival of S. Andrew fall on Monday, the office of the Vigil is said on the preceding Saturday.

Lesson of the Holy Gospel according

to S. John.

Lesson I. Chap. i.

AT that time: John stood, and two

of his disciples; and looking upon Jesus as He walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God. And that which follows.

A Homily of S. Augustine the Bishop. Tract 7 on S. John.

SINCE John was so much the friend

of the Bridegroom, he sought not his own glory, but bare witness to the truth. Did he then wish his disciples to remain with him, so that they should be hindered from following the Lord? Nay; he rather shewed his disciples Whom they should follow; for they regarded him as the Lamb. And he saith; Why do ye regard me? I am