procure for himself spiritual blessings, which can only be obtained from God by the means of prayer." This doctrine is confirmed by the teaching and practice of all the saints, who evince in the strongest terms their belief in the necessity of prayer. Some compare the man who neglects prayer to a tree without roots, which quickly withers and dies, and is only fit to be cast into the fire; others compare him to a fortress without walls, which is continually exposed to the attacks of the enemy. Some say that a man without prayer is like a fish out of water, that dies immediately; others say that he is like a body without a soul -a corpse, deprived of life and motion. Since, then, prayer is absolutely necessary for the attainment of eternal life, apply yourself with all diligence, O Christian soul, to this holy exercise, and take all possible care to perform it with fervor and devotion. Whatever your condition may be, whether you are in honor or abjection, in abundance or poverty,- "Let nothing hinder you from praying always; and be not afraid to be justified even to death."* "Pray without ceasing. In all things give thanks; for this is the will of God concerning you." "Take unto you the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, by all prayer and supplication, praying at all times in the Spirit." ‡ Eccles. xviii. 22. +1 Thess. v. 17, 18. Ephes. vi. 17, 18. W DECORUM IN CHURCH. HEN you enter the church, go to your place as quietly as possible. Some people make a great deal of noise in getting to their seats. This is calculated to disturb the congregation, and is exceedingly unbecoming. The church is the temple of the living God, not merely because it is dedicated to his service, but because he dwells therein. The very walls of it are sanctified. It is at all times holy, and is therefore always to be entered with the respect due to the house of God. "The Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him.' Do not walk up the aisles with an air of pride, such as the people of the world may put on in a ballroom. You may be regarded by the world as rich, intelligent, and accomplished; in the church, you are a poor, blind, and sinful being, and should come in all humility to implore the grace and mercy of God. It is still more necessary to observe these rules, if you enter the church after Mass has commenced. If you happen to enter during the elevation or communion, kneel by the door, and remain there during those more solemn parts of the Mass; you can afterwards retire quietly to your place. You should assist with attention at the holy Sacrifice. When you are not reading your prayer-book, keep your eyes fixed on the altar on which that adorable Sacrifice is offered, and never gaze around in the church. Do not leave the church until the priest is retiring from the altar to the sacristy. Those who are the last to come to it, and the first to rush out of the church, seldom derive any benefit from Mass, and often do not hear it properly. The practice of all pious Catholics is, to spend some time after Mass in thanksgiving. Do not remain standing before the church, as if you had no other object in coming than to see and be seen. If you have time before Mass, say the Rosary, the Stations of the Cross; employ the time in spiritual reading, or in adoring Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. Remember what those who have gone before you in the faith endured that they might be present at the holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and reflect with what attention and piety they must have assisted at it. During the early persecutions, no churches could be built. The divine mysteries could not be celebrated anywhere in public. The faithful were compelled to go into subterranean vaults, called catacombs, where Mass was offered on the tombs of the martyrs. The candles we burn on our altars remind us of those days, and of the brightness of faith that made them days, not of mourning, but of joy. To assist properly at Mass is one of the most important acts of the Christian life; and hence the Church declares it to be a mortal sin to neglect to hear Mass on Sundays or Holydays. The Year of Our Lord. TABLE OF MOVABLE FEASTS. May 31 27 Dec. 2 1877 Feb. 14 April 1 May 10 May 20 1878 Mar. 6 April 21 May 30 June 9 1879 Feb. 26 April 13 May 22 June 1 1880 Feb. 11 Mar. 28 May 6 May 16 1881 Mar. 2 April 17 May 26 June 5 June 16 24 Nov. 27 1882 Feb. 22 April 9 May 18 May 28 June 8 26 Dec. 3 1883 Feb. 7 Mar. 25 May 3 May 13 May 24 28 Dec. 2 1884 Feb. 27 April 13 May 22 June 1 June 12 25 Nov. 30 1885 Feb. 18 April 5 May 14 May 24 June 4 26 Nov. 29 1886 Mar. 10 April 25 June 3 June 13 June 24 23 Nov. 28 1887 Feb. 23 April 10 May 19 May 29 June 9 25 Nov. 27 1888 Feb. 15 April 1 May 10 May 20 May 31 27 Dec. 2 1889 Mar. 6 April 21 May 30 June 9 June 20 24 Dec. 1 1890 Feb. 19 April 6 May 15 May 25 June 5 26 Nov. 30 1891 Feb. 11 Mar. 29 May 7 May 17 May 28 27 Nov. 29 1892 Mar. 2 April 17 May 26 June 5 June 16 24 Nov. 27 1893 Feb. 15 April 2 May 11 May 21 June 1 27 Dec. 3 1894 Feb. 7 Mar. 25 May 3 May 13 May 24 28 Dec. 2 1895 Feb. 27 April 14 May 23 June 2 June 13 25 Dec. 1 1896 Feb. 19 April 5 May 14 May 24 June 4 26 Nov. 29 1897 Mar. 3 April 18 May 27 June 6 June 17 24 Nov. 28 1898 Feb. 23 April 10 May 19 May 29 June 9 25 Nov. 27 1899 Feb. 15 April 2 May 11 May 21 June 1 27 Dec. 3 1900 Feb. 28 April 15 May 24 June 3 June 14 25 Dec. 2 1901 Feb. 20 April 7 May 16 May 26 June 6 26 Dec. 1 1902 Feb. 12 Mar. 30 May 8 May 18 May 29 27 Nov. 30 1903 Feb. 25 April 12 May 21 May 31 June 11 25 Nov. 29 1904 Feb. 16 April 3 May 12 May 22 June 2 26 Nov. 27 1905 Mar. 8 April 23 June 1 June 11 June 22 24 Dec. 3 1906 Feb. 21 April 8 May 17 May 27 June 7 28 Dec. 2 1907 Feb. 13 Mar. 31 May 9 May 19 May 30 27 Dec. 1 1908 Mar. 4 April 19 May 28 June 7 June 18 24 Nov. 29 1909 Feb. 24 April 11 May 20 May 30 June 10 25 Nov. 28 JANUARY. 1A CIRCUMCISION OF OUR LORD. 2 b S. Fulgentius, Bishop and Confessor. 3 e S. Genevieve, Virgin. 4d S. Titus, Bishop of Crete. 5 e S. Telesphorus, Pope and Martyr. 13 f S. Veronica, of Milan, Virgin. 16 b S. Marcellus, Pope and Martyr. 17 c S. Anthony, Abbot. 18 d Chair of St. Peter, at Rome. 19 e S. Canute, King of Denmark, Martyr. 22 A SS. Vincent and Anastasius, Martyrs. 27 f S. John Chrysostom, Bishop and Doctor. 29 AS. Francis of Sales, Bishop. 30 b S. Martina, Virgin and Martyr. 31 c S. Peter Nolasco, Confessor. On the second Sunday after Epiphany, the MOST HOLY NAME OF JESUS. |