Sell what you possess and give alms. Make to yourselves bags, which grow not old, a treasure in heaven which faileth not: where no thief approacheth, nor moth corrupteth. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

OFFERT.-Ps. xx.-In thy strength, O Lord, the just shall joy and in thy salvation, he shall rejoice exceedingly thou hast given him his soul's desire.

SECRET.-Grant, we beseech thee, O Almighty God, that our humble offerings may be acceptable to thee, for the honour of thy saints, and purify us both in body and mind. Thro'.

COMM. Matt. xix.-Amen, I say to you, that you who have foresaken all things and followed me, shall receive an hundred fold, and shall possess life everlasting.

P. COMM. Quæsumus.-We beseech thee, O Almighty God, that by the intercession of thy holy confessor N. the heavenly food we have received may defend us from ali adversity. Thro'.

MASS XV.* Os justi of ABBOTS. INTROIT, us in Mass XIII. p. 488.

COLLECT. Intercessio.-May the intercession, O Lord, of the blessed Abbot N, recommend us to thee: that what we cannot hope for through our own merits, we may obtain by his prayers. Thro'.

LESSON. Eccles. xlv. 1. 6.-This saint was beloved of God and men: whose memory is in benediction. He made him like the saints in glory, and magnified him in the fear of his enemies. And with his words he made prodigies to cease. He glorified him in the sight of kings, and gave him commandments in the sight of his people, and shewed him his glory. He sanctified him in his faith and meekness, and chose him out of all flesh. For he heard him and his voice, and brought him into a cloud. And he gave him commandments before his face, and a law of life and instruction.

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GRAD Ps. xx.-Lord thou hast prevented him with blessings of sweetness: thou hast set on his head a crown of precious stones. V. He asked life of thee, and thou hast given him length of days, for ever and ever. Alleluia, Alleluia. V. Justus et palma florebit: sicut cedrus Libani multiplicabitur Alleluia. The just shall flourish like the palm tree he shall grow up like the cedar of Libanus. Alleluia. After Septuag. instead of Alleluia and V. is said

TRACT, Beatus, p. 465.

GOSPEL. Matt. xix. 27. 29.- -At that time: Peter said to Jesús: Behold we have left all things, and have followed thee: what therefore shall we have? And Jesus said to them: Amen, I say to you, that you who have followed me in the regeneration, when the Son of Man shall sit on the seat of his majesty, you also shall sit on twelve seats judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for my name's sake, shall receive an hundred fold, and shall possess life everlasting.

OFFERT. Ps. xx.- -Thou hast given him, O Lord, his soul's desire: and hast not withholden from him the will of his lips. Thou hast set on his head a crown of precious stones.

SECRET.-May blessed N. the Abbo Abbot intercede for us, O Lord, that the offerings we have laid on thy altars, may avail us unto salvation. Throm 3p

COMM. Luke xii.-This is the faithful and prudent servant, whom the Lord placed over his family, to give them their measure of wheat in due season.

P. COMM. Protegat. May the receiving of this sacrament, and the intercession of blessed N. the Abbot, protect us, O Lord; that we may both copy after the virtues of his life, and experience the help of his intercession. Thro

MASS XVI. Loquebar, of a Virgin and Martyr. WHATEVER objections human policy may urge against the state of virginity, it is nevertheless perfectly agreeable to the christian system. An incarnate God recommends it by word and example:St. Paul bestows the greatest encomiums on it; and in every age, those who preserved their virginity were always esteemed the noblest portion of the flock of Christ. On the festivals therefore of these illustrious spouses of the Son of God, let us beseech him to grant the grace of perseverance to all such as by vow have voluntarily consecrated themselves to his service in that perfect state, as well as for that purity of soul, which is essentially necessary for every one, since without it, no one can see God.

INTROIT. Ps. cxvill

SPOKE of thy testimonies before kings, and I was not ashamed: I meditated also on thy commandments, which I loved exceedingly.

Ps. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord. V. Glory.

LOQUEBAR de testi

moniis tuis in conspectu regum, et non confundebar: et meditabar in mandatis tuis que dilexi nimis.

Ps. Beati immaculati in via, qui ambulant in lege Domini, V. Gloria.

COLLECT. Deus, qui.-O God, who amongst other miracles of thy power, has bestowed the crown of martyrdom even on the weaker sex: mercifully grant that we, who solemnize the festival of blessed N. thy Virgin and Martyr, may, by following her example, come to thee. Thro

LESSON. Eccles. li. 1. 8.-1 will give give glory to thee, O Lord, my king, and I will praise thee, O God, my Saviour. I will give glory to thy for thou hast been a helper and protector to me, and hast preserved my body from destruction, from the snare of an unjust tongue, and from the lips of

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them that forge lies, and in the sight of them that stood by, thou hast been my helper. And thou hast delivered me, according to the multitude of the mercy of thy name, from the roaring lions, that were ready to devour me. Out of the hands of them that sought my life, and from the gates of afflictions, which compassed me about; from the oppression of the flame which surrounded me, and in the midst of the fire I was not burnt. From the depth of the belly of hell, and from an unclean tongue, and from lying words, from an unjust king, and from a slanderous tongue: my soul shall praise the Lord even to death, because thou succourest those that trust in thee, and deliverest them from the hands of the Gentiles, O Lord our God.

GRAD. Ps. xliv.-Thou hast loved justice and hated iniquity. V. Therefore, God, thy God hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness. Alleluia, Alleluia. V. Adducentur Regi Virgines post_eam: proximæ ejus afferentur tibi in lætitia, Alleluia, V. After her shall virgins be brought to the king: her neighbours shall be brought to thee with joy. Alleluia. After Septuag. instead of Alleluia and V. is said

TRACT. Ps. xliv.-Veni sponsa Christi, accipe coronam, quam tibi Dominus præparavit in æternum : pro cujus amore sanguinem tuum fudisti. Come, spouse of Christ, receive the crown which the Lord hath prepared for thee for ever: for whose love thou didst shed thy blood. V. Thou hast loved justice, and hated iniquity: therefore O God, thy God hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. V. With thy comeliness and thy beauty set out, proceed prosperously and reign.

GOSPEL. Matt. xxv. 1. 13.- -At that time: Jesus spoke to his disciples this parable: The kingdom of heaven shall be like to ten virgins, who taking their lamps went out to meet the bridegroom and the bride. And five of them were foolish, and five

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wise. But the five foolish, having taken their lamps, did not take oil with them: but the wise took oil in their vessels with the lamps. And the bridegroom tarrying, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made: Behold the bridegroom cometh, go ye forth to meet him. Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise: Give us of your oil, for our lamps are gone out. The wise answered, saying: Lest perhaps there be not enough for us and for you, go you rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. Now whilst they went to buy, the bridegroom came and they that were ready, went in with him to the marriage, and the door was shut. But at last came also the other virgins, saying: Lord, Lord open to us. But he answered, saying: Ainen, I say to you, I know you not. Watch ye, therefore because you know not the day nor the

hour.

OFFERT. Ps. xliv.-Virgins shall be brought ir her retinue to the king: her relations shall be presented to thee with joy and gladness: they shall be introduced into the temple to the Lord the King.

SECRET.-Receive, O Lord, the offerings we bring on the solemnity of blessed N. thy Virgin and Martyr by whose intercession we hope to be delivered. Thro',

COMM. Ps. cxviii.-Let the proud be ashamed, because they have done unjustly towards me, but I will be employed in thy commandments, in thy justifications that I may, not be confounded.

P. COMM. Auxilientur.-May the mysteries we have received, O Lord, be a help to us, and, by the intercession of blessed N. thy Virgin and Martyr, cause us to enjoy her continual protection. Thro'."