worthy to be presented in the holy temple of thy glory. Thro' the same. R. Amen.

Let us pray. Domine Jesu. ORD Jesus Christ, the true light, that enlighteneth every man that cometh into the world: pour forth thy blessing upon these candles, and sanctify them by the light of thy grace: and grant in thy mercy, that as these candles, by their visible light, dispel the darkness of the night, so our hearts, burning with invisible fire, and enlightened by the grace of the Holy Ghost, may be delivered from all blindness of sin: that the eye of our soul being purified, we may discern those things that are pleasing to thee, and beneficial to our souls: that after having finished the darksome passage of this life, we may come to never-fading joys through thee, O Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world, who, in perfect Trinity livest. R. Amen.

Let us pray. Omnipotens sempiterne. ALMIGHTY and Eternal God, who, by thy servant Moses, commandest the purest oil to be prepared for lamps, continually to burn in thy presence, mercifully pour forth the grace of thy blessing on these candles: that as they supply us with visible light, so, by thy assistance, the light of thy Spirit may never be wanting inwardly in our souls. Thro'. R. Amen.

Lo

Let us pray. Domine Jesu.

ORD Jesus Christ, who appearing amongst men in the substance of her flesh, wast pleased this day to be presented in the temple by thy parents, and whom the venerable Simeon, enlightened by the Holy Ghost, publicly confessing, received in his arms, and blessed mercifully grant, that, being inspired and taught by the grace of the same holy Spirit, we may sincerely acknowledge and faithfully love thee: who with God the Father, in the unity of the same Holy Spirit, livest, &c. R. Amen.

Here the Priest having put incense in the Censer sprinkles the Candles with Holy Water, saying, Sprinkle, &c. p. xiii. without the Ps. After fuming them he distributes them to the Faithful, who receive them kneeling, first kissing the Candle, and then the Hand of the Priest. During the Distribution of the Candles is sung,

ANT. Lumen ad revelationem Gentium, et gloriam plebis tuæ Israel.

CANTICLE, Luke ii.

UNC dimittis servum tuum Domine:

NUNC

secun

dum verbum tuum in pace. Ant. Lumen, &c. Quia viderunt oculi mei: * salutare tuum.Ant. Lumen, &c.

Quod parasti ante faciem omnium populorum. Ant. Lumen, &c.

Gloria Patri, &c. Ant. Lumen, &c.

Sicut erat in principio, &c. Ant. Lumen, &c.
Then is sung the following

Ant. Exurge Domine adjuva nos: et libera nos propter nomen tuum. Ps. Deus auribus nostris audivimus; patres nostri annuntiaverunt nobis. V. Gloria. Ant. Exurge, to Ps.

After Septuag. when this Festival does not fall on a Sunday, is said

P. Flectamus genua. R. Levate.

PRAYER. Exaudi.-Give ear, we beseech thee, O Lord, to thy people; that what we outwardly perform by this yearly devotion, we may inwardly obtain the effects of, by the light of thy grace. Thro'. Amen.

At Mass the Candles are held lighted during the Gospel, and from the Consecration, till after the Com

munion.

INTROIT, * Suscepimus, as in p. 411.

COLLECT. Omnipotens.—O Almighty and Eternal God, we humbly beseech thy divine majesty, that as thy only Son in the substance of our flesh,

was this day presented in the temple, so our souls, being perfectly cleansed, may become a pure oblation and presented to thee. Thro'.

LESSON. Mal. iii. 1. 4.-Thus saith the Lord God: Behold I send my angel, and he shall prepare the way before my face. And presently the Lord whom you seek, and the angel of the Testament whom you desire, shall come to his temple. Behold he cometh, saith the Lord of hosts: and who shall be able to think of the day of his coming? and who shall stand to see him? For he is like a refining fire, and like the fuller's herb: and he shall sit refin ing and cleansing the silver, and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and shall refine them as gold, and as silver, and they shall offer sacrifices to the Lord in justice. And the sacrifice of Judea and Jerusalem shall please the Lord, as in the days of old, and in the ancient years: saith the Lord Almighty.

GRAD. Ps. xlvii.-We have received thy mercy O God, in the midst of thy temple; according to thy name, O God, so also is thy praise unto the ends of the earth. V. As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of our God, on his holy mountain. Allelvia, Alleluia. V. The old man carried the Child, and the Child governed the old man. Alleluia.

After Septuag. instead of Alleluia and V. is said TRACT. Nunc dimittis.-Now thou dost dismiss thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word, in peace. Because my eyes have seen thy salvation. Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people. A light to the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

GOSPEL. Luke ii. 22. 32.- -At that time: After the days of the purification of Mary, according to the law of Moses, were accomplished, they carried Jesus to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord. As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male opening the womb shall be called holy to the Lord.

And to offer a sacrifice according as it is written in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtle doves, or two young pigeons. And behold there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was in him. And he had received an answer from the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. And he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when his parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law, he also took him into his arms, and blessed God, and said: Now thou dost dismiss thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word, in peace. Because my eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples: a light to the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. CREDO.

OFFERT. Ps. xliv.-Grace is spread on thy lips, therefore hath God blessed thee for ever and ever. SECRET.-Mercifully hear our prayers, O Lord, and grant us the assistance of thy mercy, that what we offer to thy divine majesty may be worthy to be accepted. Thro'.

PREFACE, Quia per incarnati, p. xxx.

COMM. Luke i.-Simeon, received an answer from the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death till he beheld the Christ of the Lord.

P. COMM. Quæsumus.-We beseech thee, O Lord our God, that the sacred mysteries we have received to preserve our new life, may by the intercession of blessed Mary, ever a Virgin, become a remedy to us both now and for the future. Thro'.

When the Purification falls on Septuagesima, Sexagesima, or Quinquagesima Sunday, although the Candles are blessed, &c. yet the Mass is deferred till next day.

IV. St. ANDREW CORSINI, bp. c.

All as in Mass X*. p. 482, except

COLLECT. Deus, qui-O God, who in every age furnishest the Church with fresh examples of virtue: grant thy faithful so closely to imitate blessed Andrew, thy Confessor and Bishop, as to be, one day, partakers in his reward. Thro'.

V. St. AGATHA, v. m.

All as in Mass XVI. p. 493, except

INTROIT.-Let us rejoice in the Lord, and celebrate this festival in honour of blessed Agatha the Martyr, for whose martyrdom the angels rejoice, and join in the praises of the Son of God. Ps. My heart hath uttered a good word: I speak my works to the king. V. Glory.

EPISTLE. 1 Cor. i. 26. 31.- -Brethren: See your vocation, that there are not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble: but the foolish things of the world hath God chosen, that he may confound the wise: and the weak things of the world hath God chosen, that he may confound the strong: and the base things of the world, and the things that are contemptible hath God chosen, and things that are not, that he might bring to nought things that are, that no flesh should glory in his sight. But of him are you in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and justice, and sanctification, and redemption: that, as it is written, He that glorieth, may glory in the Lord.

GRAD. Ps. xlv.-God will assist her with his looks: God is in her, and she shall not fail. V. A swift running stream rejoiceth the city of God: the Most High hath consecrated his tabernacle. Alleluia,