of souls, and that he might incite others to dispose themselves to see the things which he saw, and to believe and love that which he himself believed and loved.

I rejoice, O glorious S. Stephen, for the fortitude with which thou didst defend the honour of thy Master, honouring Him Who honoured thee, and offering to die for Him Who died for thee.

Oh that I could imitate the faithfulness of this pure warrior, and be clothed with the same armour from above, that imitating him in the conflict, I might likewise attain the crown.

O most loving JESUS, grant that I may believe with a lively faith whatever Thou hast revealed to us, and that by continually ascending to Thee in meditation and contemplation, I may in the end come to the clear vision of Thy Godhead. Lift up my spirit to heavenly places, that I may look for the help which Thou offerest me, and for the reward which Thou hast promised me; and that I may esteem it the highest favour to follow Thy providence, and to die in Thy love.

O merciful JESUS, receive my soul, together with the souls of all the faithful, and take it under Thy protection; so that, having served Thee on earth, I may afterwards enjoy Thee in heaven. Amen.

Joyously hath the illustrious memory of the martyr dawned upon us, dispersing the darkness of malice, and interceding for the world.

Saintly Stephen! thou didst stand before the tribunal with unconquered boldness, thrillingly proclaiming the Incarnation of Him that emptied Himself to the form of a servant, our Redeemer.

Not in wisdom, not in might, not in wealth do we trust; but in Thee, O CHRIST! the substantial Wisdom of the FATHER. For there is none holy but Thou, O Lover of men.

Our FATHER, &c.

Blessed is the womb of the Virgin Mary, which bare the SON of the Eternal FATHER. And blessed are the breasts which gave suck to CHRIST our LORD.

Glory be to the FATHER, &c.
As it was in the beginning, &c.

O Captain of the Martyr Host,
O glorious in renown!

Not from the fading flowers of Earth
Weave we for thee a crown.

O earliest victim sacrificed,
To thy dear Victim LORD!
O earliest witness to the faith
Of thy Incarnate GOD;

Thou to the heavenly Canaan first
Through the red sea didst go,
And to the martyrs' countless host,
Their path of glory show.

Erewhile a servant of the poor,-
Now at the LAMB's high Feast,
In blood-empurpled robe arrayed,
A welcome nuptial guest,

TO JESUS, born of Virgin bright,
Praise with the FATHER be;
Praise to the Spirit Paraclete,
Through all eternity.

PSALM XII.

Amen.

Salvum me fac.

Help me, LORD, for there is not one godly man left: for the faithful are minished from among the children of men.

They talk of vanity every one with his neighbour: they do but flatter with their lips, and dissemble in their double heart.

The LORD shall root out all deceitful lips: and the tongue that speaketh proud things; Which have said, With our tongue will we prevail: we are they who ought to speak, who is lord over us?

Now for the comfortless troubles' sake of the needy: and because of the deep sighing of the poor,

I will up, saith the LORD and will help

:

every one from him that swelleth against him, and will set him at rest.

The words of the LORD are pure words: even as the silver, which from the earth is tried, and purified seven times in the fire.

Thou shalt keep them, O LORD: Thou shalt preserve him from this generation for

ever.

The ungodly walk on every side: when they are exalted the children of men are put to rebuke.

Glory be to the FATHER, &c.
As it was in the beginning, &c.

S. JOHN'S DAY.

Let us commemorate the blessed John, who was lying on JESUS' breast at supper. This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true.

This is My disciple. If I will that he tarry until I come, what is that to thee? I say unto you, that some of them that stand here shall not see death, until the Son of Man come in His kingdom.

These are Mine, whom I have chosen, upon them will I pour the SPIRIT of GOD.

Greatly is blessed John to be had in honour; for he leant on JESUS' bosom at the Last Supper, and to him were made known the secrets of heaven.

"There was leaning on JESUS' bosom one of His disciples, whom JESUS loved."

What man more blessed than this? Who was ever more favoured than he? It was a sweet memory to S. John, in his old and solitary age, to remember that night of awe, in which he lay upon the bosom of his LORD. What was all that he had ever suffered, long years of toil and weariness, with contradiction and persecution, bondage, and a martyrdom of will, to the consciousness of his Master's love? And yet it was doubtless for some deeper reason that the Evangelist wrote these words; it was not to publish abroad his own peculiar favours; nor to prefer himself to others in his Master's Presence. He had long since unlearned to seek the right hand or the left in His kingdom; and he sought herein rather to reveal the deep and Divine mysteries of love, which lie hid in the Incarnation of the Eternal Word. And we are each called to share S. John's blessing, for