"God.1 Let us make our promises with confidence "and love; He will enable us to keep them

* *

'And when I speak of promises, I would not have any one think that I mean the promise of fleeting "and earthly goods. No-I mean, that each of us "should offer what our Saviour redeemed, namely, our soul. But how,' some one will say, 'how shall "we offer our souls to Him, to whom they already 'belong?' I answer-by leading holy lives, by chaste thoughts, by fruitful works, by turning away from evil, by following that which is good, by loving God, "by loving our neighbour, by showing mercy, (for we "ourselves were in need of it, before we were redeemed,) by forgiving them that sin against us, (for we ourselves were once in sin,) by trampling on pride, since it was by pride that our first Parent was deceived and fell.”2

66

3

It is thus our affectionate Mother the Church invites sinners to the Feast of the Divine Lamb; nor is she satisfied until her House be filled. The grace of a New Birth, given her by the Sun of Justice, fills this Spouse of Jesus with joy. A new year has begun for her, and, like all that have preceded it, it is to be rich in flower and fruit. She renews her youth as that of an eagle. She is about to unfold another Cycle, or Year, of her mysteries, and to pour forth upon her faithful children the graces, of which God has made the Cycle to be the instrument. In this season of Christmas, we have the first-fruits of these graces offered to us; they are the knowledge and the love of our Infant-God: let us accept them with attentive hearts, that so we may merit to advance, with our Jesus, in wisdom, and age, and grace, before God and men. The Christmas Mystery is the gate of all the others of the rest of the year; but it is

1 Ps. lxxv. 12.

2 Fourth Homily On the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ.
3 St. Luke, xiv. 23.
4 Ibid. ii. 52.

a gate which we may all enter, for, though most heavenly, yet it touches earth; since, as St. Augustine beautifully remarks, in one of his sermons for Christmas: "We cannot as yet contemplate the splendour of Him, who was begotten of the Father, before the "Day Star,2 let us, then, visit Him, who was born of "the Virgin, in the night-hour. We cannot understand how his Name continueth before the sun;3 "let us, then, confess that he hath set his tabernacle “in Her that is purer than the sun.1 We cannot as yet see the Only Begotten Son dwelling in the "Father's Bosom; let us, then, think on the Bride"groom that cometh out of his bride chamber.5 We "are not yet ready for the banquet of our heavenly Father; let us, then, keep to the Crib of Jesus our Master."

1 Eleventh Sermon On the Nativity of our Lord.

2 Ps. cix. 3.

3 Ibid. lxxi. 17.

4 Ps. xviii. 6.

5 Ibid.

6 Is. i. 3.

CHAPTER IV.

MORNING AND NIGHT PRAYERS

FOR CHRISTMAS.

DURING Christmas, the Christian, on waking in the morning, should unite himself with the Church, who, in her Office of Matins for Christmas Day, thus invites the faithful to come and adore the Messias :

Christus natus est nobis ; venite, adoremus!

Christ is born unto us; come, let us adore him!

He should profoundly adore this dear King, who has rendered himself so accessible to his creatures; and in this disposition of loving reverence, he should perform the first acts of religion, both interior and exterior, wherewith he begins the day. The time for Morning Prayer being come, he may use the following method, which is formed upon the very prayers of the Church :

MORNING PRAYERS.

First, praise and adoration of the Most Holy Trinity:

. Benedicamus Patrem et Filium, cum Sancto Spiritu :

B. Laudamus et superexaltemus eum in sæcula. V. Gloria Patri et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto;

R. Sicut erat in principio, et nunc et semper, et in sæcula sæculorum. Amen.

V. Let us bless the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost.

R. Let us praise him and extol him above all, for ever.

V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

R. As it was in the begining, is now, and ever shall be world without end. Amen.

Then, praise to our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ:

. We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless thee.

R. Because by thy Cross thou hast redeemed the world. Thirdly, invocation of the Come, O Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of thy faithful, and enkindle within them the fire of thy love.

V. Adoramus te, Christe, et benedicimus tibi.

R. Quia per Crucem tuam redemisti mundum. Holy Ghost :—

Veni, Sancte Spiritus, reple tuorum corda fidelium, et tui amoris in eis ignem accende.

After these fundamental acts of Religion, you will recite the Lord's Prayer, asking of God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to grant that his holy Name may be glorified on earth, now that he has blessed it by sending it his Son, over whose Crib the Angels sang: Glory be to God in the highest! This divine. Messias is come to establish the Kingdom of God on earth he is come to do the will of his Father, and to teach us to do it here on earth, as it is done in heaven. Let us reverently share in these divine intentions. Let us, also, ask, with all instance, that we may be granted to partake of that heavenly Bread, which is now born to us in Bethlehem :

THE LORD'S PRAYER.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name: thy kingdom come: thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us: and lead us not into temptation: but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Pater noster, qui es in cœlis, sanctificetur nomen tuum: adveniat regnum tuum fiat voluntas tua sicut in cœlo, et in terra. Panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie: et dimitte nobis debita nostra, sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris: et ne nos inducas in tentationem: sed libera nos malo. Amen.

a

Lady, using the words

Then address our Blessed of the Angelical Salutation. It is now that she is

Blessed among all women:

her virginal womb has

yielded the divine Fruit, of which the world was in expectation every creature should proclaim her to be the Mother of God.

THE ANGELICAL SALUTATION.

After this, recite the Symbol of Faith; and as you pronounce the words, Born of the Virgin Mary, dwell on them with a special attention, adoring the Saviour, who has deigned to come down from heaven, and be born in a stable.

THE APOSTLES' CREED.