WHITSUN-EVE.

HE Vigil of Pentecost, like that of Easter, has

to fasting and prayer. The primitive Christians, after the usual prayers of the day, spent the greatest part of the night in the Church, and hence originates the word Vigil or Wake.

The Mass, like that of Holy Saturday, is preceded by several Lessons and Tracts out of the Old Testament, and by the Blessing of the Font.

I. PROPHECY.-In those days: God tempted Abraham, p. 310.

Let us pray. Deus, qui.

GOD, who by this action of thy servant Abraham hast given to mankind an excellent example of obedience; grant us, both to break our perverse wills, and to fulfil thy righteous commands. Thro'.

II. PROPHECY.-In those days: It came to pass in the morning watch and TRACT, Let us sing to the Lord, p 312.

Let us pray. Deus, qui primis.

GOD, who, by the light of the New Testament, hast expounded the miracles wrought in the first ages of the world; so that the Red Sea was a figure of the sacred font, and the deliverance of the people out of Egypt did represent the Christian sacraments: grant that all nations who have now obtained the privilege of Israelites by the merit of faith, may be born again by the participation of thy spirit. Thro'.-in unity of the same.

III. PROPHECY.-In those days: Moses wrote, p. 319, and TRACT, Hear, O ye, p. 320.

Let us pray. Deus glorificatio.

GOD, the glory of the faithful and the life of the righteous, who hast instructed us also by the canticle of thy servant Moses: grant thy mercy to all nations, by giving them happiness and diminishing their frights, that the revenge threatened may turn to their eternal salvation. Thro'.

IV. PROPHECY.-In that day seven women, p. 317, and TRACT, My beloved had, p, 318.

Let us pray. Omnipotens.

ALMIGHTY and Eternal God, who, by thy only Son, hast shewn the care thou takest of thy Church; mercifully cultivate every branch which bringeth forth fruit in that same Christ, who is the true vine, that it may be more fruitful: and let not the thorns of sin prevail against thy faithful, whom thou hast brought out of Egypt by the baptismal font; but protect them by thy holy spirit, that they may be continually enriched by the fruits of good works. Thro' the same-in unity, &c.

V. PROPHECY. Hear, O Israel, p. 314.

Let us pray. Deus, qui nobis.

GOD, who hast commanded us, by thy prophets, to relinquish the things of this world, and to hasten to those that are eternal; grant, that by the heavenly inspiration we may comply with what we know thou hast commanded. Thro'.

VI. PROPHECY. In those days: The hand of the Lord, p. 316.

Let us pray. Domine Deus.

LORD God of Hosts, who raisest up what is fallen, and keepest up what is raised; increase the number of those who are to be renewed by thy holy name: that all who receive holy baptism, may always be governed by thy holy inspirations. Thro❜. While the Celebrant goes towards the Font is said the TRACT, As the heart panteth, as on Holy Saturday, p. 323; but if there be no blessing of the Font then is sung the Litany, p. 359.

MASS on WHITSUN-EVE.

INTROIT. Ezech. xxxvi.

When I shall be acknowledged the Holy One amongst you, I will gather you from all parts of the world; and I will pour upon you clean water, and you shall be cleansed from all your stains: and I

will give you a new spirit, Alleluia, Alleluia. Ps. xxxiii. I will for ever bless the Lord: his praise shall be always in my mouth. V. Glory.

The Introit is only said at Private Masses, when the Prophecies, &c. have been omitted.

COLLECT. Præsta, quæsumus.-Grant, we beseech thee, O Almighty God, that the rays of thy brightness may shine upon us; and that the light of thy light may, by the power of the Holy Spirit, strengthen the hearts of those who have been born again by thy grace. Thro' in unity, &c.

LESSON. Acts xix. 1. 8.-In those days: It came to pass while Apollo was at Corinth, that Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus, and found certain disciples: and he said to them: Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed? But they said to him: We have not so much as heard whether there be a Holy Ghost. And he said: In what then were you baptised? Who said: In John's baptism. Then Paul said: John baptised the people with the baptism of penance, saying: That they should believe in him who was to come after him, that is to say, in Jesus. Having heard these things, they were baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had imposed bis hands on them, the Holy Ghost came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. And all the men were about twelve. And entering into the synagogue, he spoke boldly for the space of three months disputing and persuading concerning the kingdom of God.

Alleluia. V. Praise the Lord, for he is good; and his mercy endureth for ever.

*TRACT. Ps. cxvi.-Praise the Lord, as p. 327. GOSPEL. John xiv. 15.-At that time: Jesus said to his disciples: If you love me keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he shall give you another Paraclete, that he may abide

with you for ever, the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not nor knoweth him but you shall know him: because he shall abide with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you orphans: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more. But you see me; because I live, and you shall live. In that day you shall know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me. And he that loveth me, shall be loved of my Father: and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

OFFERT. Ps. ciii.-Send forth thy Spirit, and they will be created; and thou wilt renew the face of the earth; let the glory of the Lord be for evermore. Alleluia.

The Preface, as in the Ordinary, p. xxxii. Secret and Communicantes, as to-morrow, p. 377. The Hanc Igitur, as on Easter Sunday, p. 331.

COMM. John vii.-The last day of the feast Jesus said: Whoever believeth in me, rivers of living water shall flow from his heart: and this he said of the spirit, which those were to receive who should believe in him, Alleluia, Alleluia.

P. COMM. (Sancti Spiritus) as to-morrow, p. 378.

Whit Sunday.

Took its name from the circumstances of the newly baptised among our English ancestors assisting at Mass in the white garments they yesterday received at the baptismal font. Its ecclesiastical name Pentecost signities the fiftieth, because the mystery which it celebrates was accomplished on the fiftieth day after Christ's resurrection. The object of this great festival is, to return thanks to God for the visible descent of the Holy Ghost on the apostles, the establishment of the new law, and propagation of our holy religion.

INTROIT. Wisd. i.

HE spirit of the Lord

THE

hath filled the whole earth, Alleluia: and the whole universe hath heard his voice, Alleluia, Alleluia. Ps. Let God arise, and his enemies be dispersed: let them who hate him, fly before his face. V. Glory.

SPIRITUS Domini replevit orbem terrarum, Alleluia: et hoc quod continet omnia, scientiam habet vocis, Alleluia, Alleluia.

Ps. Exurgat Deus, ei dissipentur inimici ejus: et fugiant, qui oderunt eum, a facie ejus. V. Gloria.

COLLECT. Deus, qui.-0 God, who, by the light of the Holy Ghost, didst this day instruct the hearts of the faithful: grant, by the direction of the same Holy Spirit, that we may relish what is right, and always enjoy his consolation. Thro'-in the

unity of the same, &c.

LESSON. Acts ii. 1. 11.-When the days of Pentecost were accomplished, they were all together in one place and suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a mighty wind coming, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them parted tongues as it were of fire, and it sat upon every one of them: and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they began to speak with divers tongues according as the Holy Ghost gave them to speak. Now there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men out of every nation under heaven. And when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded in mind, because that every man heard them speak in his own tongue. And they were all amazed and wondered, saying: Behold, are not all these, that speak, Galileans, and how have we heard, every man our own tongue wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphilia, Egypt and the