PALM SUNDAY.

THE first day of this Week is called Palm Sunday, being appointed to honor the triumphant entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem, when many of the Jews cut off branches from the trees, and strewed them in the way through which he was to pass. It is in memory of this triumph that the Palms are blessed, distributed to the faithful, and carried by them in solemn procession. They hold them also in their hands, while the history of the Passion is read out of St. Matthew's Gospel, to signify by that ceremony that they are to partake of the triumph of Jesus Christ by the virtue of his death and passion.

In the benediction of the Palms are mentioned tre branches of the Palm-tree, Olive-tree, and other trees, which are made use of in countries where these trees grow; but in our northern countries we supply that defect with any sort of green boughs, which are called Palms, from the original ceremony, and they are intended to represent to us our Saviour's victory over the prince of death, and the riches of his mercies; the Palm branches being emblems of victory, and the Olive branches of mercy.

We may also observe, that Christ enters Jerusalem on a day that answers to the tenth day of the moon; when the Jews brought to their house (Exod. xii.) the lambs that were to be killed and eaten on the Passover, in memory of their deliverance from the slavery of Egypt, and of their entrance into the Land of Promise, by their miraculous passage over the Red Sea. Hence, in the procession of this day, the opening of the door of the Church by knocking with the foot of the Cross, signifies not only the triumphant entry into Jerusalem, but also that the gates of the celestial Jerusalem were opened for us by Christ, the true Paschal Lamb, dying on the Cross, to redeem us from the slavery of sin.

After the Sprinkling of Holy Water, the Palms are blessed as for lows. The Choir sings:

HE Lord be
with you.

R. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray.

O God! whom to love

et amare justitia est, in- is righteousness, multi

ply in our hearts the gifts of thy unspeakable grace, and as by the

effabilis gratiæ tuæ in nobis dona multiplica: et qui fecisti nos in morte Filii tui sperare death of thy Son thou quæ credimus; fac nos hast made us hope for eodem resurgente per- those things which we venire quo tendimus: believe, grant that by his qui tecum vivit et reg- resurrection we may arnat in unitate Spiritus rive at the happy end of Sancti Deus, per, etc. our journey; who liveth and reigne'h, etc. sings the following lesson : The lesson from the book of Exodus, xv. and xvi. N those days, the children of Israel

After this, the Subdeacon Lectio libri Exodi, cap. xv. et xvi.

IN

N diebus illis: Vene-
runt filii Israel in

IN

Elim, ubi erant duode- came to Elim, where cim fontes aquarum, et there were twelve founseptuaginta palmæ; et tains of water and sevcastrametati sunt juxta enty palm-trees; and aquas. Profectique sunt they encamped by the de Elim, et venit omnis waters. And they set multitudo filiorum Israel forward from Elim, and in desertum Sin, quod all the multitude of the est inter Elim et Sinai; children of Israel came quintodecimo die men- into the desert of Sin, sis secundi, postquam which is between Elim egressi sunt de terra and Sinai, the fifteenth Ægypti. Et murmura- day of the second month vit omnis congregatio after they came out of filiorum Israel contra the land of Egypt. And Moysen et Aaron in so- all the congregation of litudine. Dixeruntque the children of Israel filii Israel ad eos: Uti- murmured against Moses. nam mortui essemus per and Aaron in the wilmanum Domini in terra derness. And the chilÆgypti, quando sedeba- dren of Israel said to mus super ollas carnium, them: Would to God et comedebamus panem we had died by the hand in saturitate: cur edux- of the Lord in the land istis nos in desertum of Egypt, when we sat istud, ut occideretis over the flesh pots and omnem multitudinem eat bread to the full; fame ? Dixit autem why have you brought Dominus ad Moysen: us into this desert, that Ecce, ego pluam vobis you might destroy all panes de cœlo; egredi- the multitude with famatur populus, et colligat ine? And the Lord quæ sufficiunt per sin- said to Moses, Behold

gulos dies: ut tentem I will rain bread from eum, utrum ambulet in heaven for you; let the

people go forth and gather what is sufficient

lege mea, an non. Die autem sexto parent quod inferant, et sit duplum for every day, that I quam colligere solebant may prove them whether per singulos dies. Dix- they will walk in my law, eruntque Moyses et or no. But the sixth Aaron ad omnes filios day let them provide for Israel: Vespere scietis, to bring in; and let it quod Dominus eduxerit be double to that they vos de terra Ægypti: et were wont to gather mane videbitis gloriam every day. And Moses Domini. and Aaron said to the children of Israel: In the evening you shall know that the Lord hath brought you forth out of the land of Egypt; and in the morning ye shall see the glory of the Lord.

R. Collegerunt Pontifices et Pharisæi concilium, et dixerunt Quid facimus, quia hic homo multa signa facit ? Si dimittimus eum sic, omnes credunt in eum: *Et venient Romani, et tollent nostrum locum

et gentem.

R. The Chief Priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said: What do we, for this man doth many miracles? If we let him alone so, all men will believe in him; and the Romans will come and take away our place and nation.

*

V. Unus autem ex il- V. But of them, named

Caiphas, being the high priest that year, said to

lis, Caiphas nomine, cum esset pontifex anni illius, prophetavit, dicens: them: It is expedient Expedit vobis, ut unus for you that one man moriatur homo pro po- die for the people, and pulo, et non tota gens that the whole nation pereat. Ab illo ergo perish not. From that die cogitaverunt interfi- day therefore they decere eum, dicentes: vised to put him to Et venient, etc. death, saying: And the Romans, etc.

*

Aliud R. In monte Oliveti oravit ad Patrem: Pater, si fieri potest, transeat a me calix iste. * Spiritus quidem promptus est, caro autem infirma: fiat volun

tas tua.

V. Vigilate, et orate, ut non intretis in tentationem. * Spiritus quidem, etc.

*

Another R. On Mount Olivet he prayed to his Father: O Father! if it is possible, let this chalice pass from me. *The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak; thy will be done.

V. Watch ye and pray, that ye enter not into temptation. *The spirit, etc.

Then the Deacon sings the following Gospel, with the usual cere