the deep waters of the proud, that Thy people may pass through. safely into the Land of Promise; for Thy dear Son's sake. Amen. L II ORD JESUS, Who, as on this day, didst curse the figtree bearing leaves, and nothing but leaves; grant that we, warned by this example, may never seek to make a fair show in the flesh, but strive to bring forth the fruit of a holy and religious life, acceptable in Thy sight; Who with the FATHER, and the HOLY GHOST, art one GOD, world without end. Amen. Wednesday ON WHICH DAY THE SUN, MOON, AND STARS WERE CREATED ; AND OUR BLESSED LORD WAS BETRAYED. I GOD, Who, as on the fourth day, didst create great lights in the firmament of Heaven; shed the bright beams of Thy Sun of Righteousness on our benighted hearts: that, illumined by the warmth of His Love, we may in safety pass the dark days of our pilgrimage here, and at length be made worthy to shine in glory as the stars for ever; through JESUS CHRIST, our Lord. Amen. L II ORD JESUS, betrayed and sold, not by an enemy, for then thou couldest have borne it, but by Thy friend, Thine own familiar friend, who did eat of Thy Table; grant unto us, whom Thou hast chosen, and called not servants but friends, that we may ever fear the awful doom of Judas, and turn away our eyes from covetousness; for Thy Merit's sake. Amen. Thursday THE DAY ON WHICH THE FOWLS OF THE AIR, AND THE FISHES OF THE SEA WERE CREATED; ON WHICH THE HOLY EUCHARIST WAS INSTITUTED; AND OUR LORD ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN. I GOD, Who, on the fifth day, didst create every living O creature that moveth in the waters, and every winged fowl that may fly in the open firmament of Heaven; Grant that being borne safely through the troubled waters of this life, we may rise on the wings of Thy HOLY DOVE to find our only rest in Thy Eternal Home; through JESUS CHRIST our LORD. Amen. II LESSED LORD JESUS, Who, when about to depart out of this world, having loved Thine own, and loving them to the end, didst institute the Holy Eucharist of Thy Body and Blood, Thy dying legacy of Love; vouchsafe, we earnestly pray Thee, that we may never draw near Thine Altar, save with hearts enkindled by the flame of Thy Love, that we come not together to condemnation; for Thy dear sake. Amen. III ORD JESUS, Who didst ascend to Thy FATHER'S Right Hand, that Thou mightest prepare a place for us among those many mansions in Thy FATHER'S House; Make us so to feel the burden of this our earthly tabernacle, that we may earnestly desire to be clothed upon with our House which is from Heaven; to Whom, with the FATHER, and the HOLY GHOST, be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen. Friday THE DAY ON WHICH MAN AND THE LAND ANIMALS WERE CREATED; AND OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST WAS OFFERED ON THE CROSS. I GOD, Who, on the sixth day, didst make man after Thine own Image, that he might have dominion over every living thing that moveth on the earth; let not the foot of pride come against us, lest, in the profusion of Thy Gifts, our hearts be lifted up, and we forget Thee Who hast dominion over us; hear us, O LORD, for Thy dear SON's sake. Amen. II HOLY VICTIM, Precious SAVIOUR, Adorable REDEEMER, by Whose condemnation we are acquitted, by Whose stripes we are healed, by Whose death we have life, by Whose cross we gain our crown; keep us, we beseech Thee, ever mindful of this Thy boundless Love in suffering all that we might enjoy all; and when Thou dost call on us to bear for a while Thy Cross,1 make us to rejoice that we are counted worthy to suffer for Thy sake, and accept our feeble sacrifice through the blood of Thine Atonement. Amen. Saturday THE DAY ON WHICH GOD RESTED FROM THE WORK OF CREATION; AND OUR BLESSED LORD RESTED IN THE GRAVE, AFTER COMPLETING THE WORK OF OUR REDEMPTION. O I GOD, Who, on the seventh day, didst rest from all Thy works which Thou hadst created and made; teach us 1 The reference here is to Simon of Cyrene, and is suggestive not so much of the daily cross we have always to bear, as of those keener forms of trial which, from their greater intensity, give us a closer participation in our Blessed Lord's sufferings. so to fulfil the work Thou hast given us here to do, that at length we may enter into that rest which remaineth, where nevertheless they rest not day nor night in Thy perfect service; through JESUS CHRIST our LORD. B II Amen. LESSED LORD JESUS, lying as on this day in the grave, make my body the Tomb wherein to deposit Thy sacred Body for its Resurrection. Hew it out anew in the stubborn rock of my rebellious heart, that having held Thee there in Thy Death, I may embalm Thee with the spices and sweet odours of a loving penitence, and enwrap Thee in the fair linen of a pure conscience, and at length attain to a share in the glory of that bright Resurrection morn when sin shall be no more; for Thy Merit's sake. Amen. PROPER PSALMS First Week SUNDAY Morning Antiphon. Yea, because of the house of the LORD. WHY PSALM II. Quare fremuerunt gentes? HY do the heathen so furiously rage together: and why do the people imagine a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth stand up, and the rulers take counsel together against the LORD, and against His ANOINTED. 3 Let us break their bonds asunder and cast away their cords from us. 4 He that dwelleth in heaven shall laugh them to scorn: the LORD shall have them in derision. 5 Then shall He speak unto them in His wrath and vex them in His sore displeasure. 6 Yet have I set My KING: upon My holy hill of Sion. 7 I will preach the law, whereof the LORD hath said unto Me : Thou art My SON, this day have 8 Desire of Me, and I shall give Thee the heathen for Thine inheritance and the utmost parts of the earth for Thy possession. 9 Thou shalt bruise them with a rod of iron and break them in pieces like a potter's vessel. io Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be learned, ye that are judges of the earth. II Serve the LORD in fear : and rejoice unto Him with rever ence. 12 Kiss the SON, lest He be angry, and so ye perish from the right way: if His wrath be kindled, (yea, but a little,) blessed are all they that put their trust in Him. |