" B o r k e , ^JO^A 
J > \ e - -A-oi+s. . . 

A d i ¿ S a i 
The FRUITS of LENT 

Compiled from the Liturgy 

By 
John J. Burke, C.S.P. 

» m 
New Y o r k 

T H E PATTLIST P E E S S 
4 0 1 W e r t 5 9 t h S t r e e t 





THE FRUITS OF LENT 

C O M P I L E D F R O M T H E L I T U R G Y 

B Y 

John J. Burke, C.S.P. 

New York 
T H E P A U L I S T P R E S S 

401 W e s t 59th S t r e e t 



INTRODUCTORY. 
L E N T is a t i m e of invitation a n d promise on the 

p a r t of God: of self-denial a n d p r a y e r on our p a r t . 
God invites u s t o a clearer knowledge of Himself, to 
more enlightened s t a n d a r d s of a c t i o n : He p r o m i s e s 
t h e solicitude of a F a t h e r , t h e all-embracing redemp-
tion of a Saviour, t h e heavenly intimacies of Divine 
Love. 

Holy Church invites us, i n t h e w o r d s of h e r 
Beloved, to "Come u n t o H i m : " to participate m o r e 
f r e q u e n t l y in the Holy Sacrifice of Calvary p e r p e t u -
ated in t h e Mass: she sets before u s t h e divine w o r d s 
of t h e sacred L i t u r g y a n d invites u s t o t a s t e and 
relish a n d k n o w t h a t they a r e sweet; she spreads for 
u s t h e heavenly b a n q u e t of t h e Body, Blood, Soul a n d 
Divinity of J e s u s Christ, h e r L o r d a n d ours a n d in-
vites u s t o feed o u r souls o n Him W h o s e F l e s h is 
m e a t indeed a n d W h o s e Blood is d r i n k indeed. 

W e m u s t come to h e r table empty, if we wouid be 
filled: we m u s t f a s t f r o m the m a t e r i a l to m a k e place 
f o r the spiritual. W e m u s t t u r n aside f r o m w o r l d l y 
pleasures, if we would enter t h i s g a r d e n of t h e L o r d : 
we m u s t p u t on the wedding g a r m e n t of p u r i t y by 
contrition a n d penance, if we would w a l k a n d talk 
w i t h God in this e a r t h l y p a r a d i s e . W e m u s t re-
spond to t h e invitation w i t h p r a y e r f o r God's gifts. 

Let u s a s k of the Holy Spirit His gifts of reverent 
fear a n d holy piety t h a t we m a y "go u n t o the altar 
of the L o r d " a n d taste of His mercies. 

C O P Y R I G H T , 1920, B Y " T H E M I S S I O N A R Y S O C I E T Y o r 

S T . P A U L T H E A P O S T L E I N T H E S T A T E 

OF N E W Y O R K " 

D e a c f d l e d 



ASH WEDNESDAY. 
INVITATION: T h u s saith the L o r d : "Be con-

verted to Me w i t h all your h e a r t in f a s t i n g a n d in 
weeping a n d in m o u r n i n g . And r e n d y o u r h e a r t s 
a n d n o t y o u r g a r m e n t s , a n d turn to the Lord your 
God f o r He is gracious a n d m e r c i f u l , p a t i e n t a n d rich 
in m e r c y " ( L e s s o n : Joel ii. 12, 13). 

P R O M I S E : " I will send you corn a n d w i n e a n d 
oil a n d you shall be filled w i t h t h e m " ( L e s s o n : Joel 
ii. 19). 

R E S P O N S E : G r a n t to T h y f a i t h f u l , O Lord, t h a t 
they m a y begin t h e venerable solemnities of fasting 
w i t h suitable piety a n d p e r f o r m t h e m w i t h t r a n q u i l 
devotion (Collect of the Mass). 

R E F L E C T I O N : " W h e r e t h y t r e a s u r e is, t h e r e is t h y 
h e a r t also" (Gospel: Matt. vi. 21). T h e " t r e a s u r e " 
God offers u s is—Himself. If He is t r u l y our 
" t r e a s u r e , " our h e a r t s will abide w i t h Him in p i e t y : 
not only will we love Him directly, b u t all our loves 
will lead t o Him, not f r o m Him. O u r h e a r t s will 
abide w i t h Him in tranquillity, not tossed to a n d f r o 
by every impulse of desire a n d dislike. "He w h o 
shall meditate u p o n t h e law of t h e Lord day a n d 
night, shall b r i n g f o r t h His f r u i t i n due season" 
( C o m m u n i o n : Ps. i. 2, 3 ) . 

F R U I T OF T H E D A Y : J o y i n p e n a n c e ; i. e., work, 
self-denial, p r a y e r , f o r the L o r d s a y s : " W h e n thou 
fastest, a n o i n t t h y head a n d w a s h t h y f a c e ; t h a t 
thou a p p e a r not to m e n to f a s t , b u t to t h y F a t h e r 
W h o is in secret" (Gospel: Matt. vi. 17, 18). 

P R A Y E R : Incline, O Lord, t h e ear of T h y mercy 
to T h y people p r o s t r a t e before T h y m a j e s t y ; t h a t 
as we have been r e f r e s h e d by t h e divine gift, we m a y 
ever be sustained by heavenly aids ( P r a y e r over t h e 
people). 



THURSDAY AFTER QU1NQUAGESIMA. 
INVITATION: "Cast t h y care u p o n the L o r d a n d 

He shall s u s t a i n t h e e " ( I n t r o i t : Ps. liv. 23). 
P R O M I S E : T h u s saith t h e L o r d : " I have h e a r d 

t h y p r a y e r a n d I have seen t h y t e a r s : behold I will 
add to t h y days fifteen y e a r s " ( L e s s o n : Is. x^xviii. 
5 ) . " I will come a n d heal h i m " (Gospel: Matt, 
viii. 7 ) . 

R E S P O N S E : " L o r d I a m n o t w o r t h y t h a t T h o u 
shouldst enter u n d e r m y r o o f ; b u t only say t h e w o r d 
a n d m y soul shall be h e a l e d " (Gospel: Matt. viii. 8 ) . 

P R A Y E R : O God, W h o by sin a r t offended a n d by 
penance pacified, m e r c i f u l l y r e g a r d the p r a y e r s of 
T h y s u p p l i a n t people a n d t u r n away t h e scourges of 
T h y w r a t h , w h i c h we deserve f o r our sins (Collect). 

R E F L E C T I O N : "Go a n d as t h o u h a s t believed so be 
it done u n t o t h e e : a n d the servant w a s healed at t h e 
same h o u r " (Gospel: Matt. viii. 13). F a i t h is t h e 
highest act of worship of a creature. By it we be-
lieve in God's power a n d love w i t h o u t asking t o see 
or u n d e r s t a n d . It is perfectly expressed by our 
Blessed Mother: "Behold t h e h a n d m a i d of t h e 
L o r d : be it done u n t o me according to t h y w o r d . " 
Because she had believed, great things were accom-
plished in h e r . So, too, will God fill the m e a s u r e of 
our f a i t h w i t h His gifts. " I n Thee, O m y God, I p u t 
m y t r u s t " ( O f f e r t o r y : P s . xxiv. 1-3). 

F R U I T OF T H E D A Y : Humility, Confidence: con-
fession of our unworthiness, t r u s t in God's goodness. 

P R A Y E R : Spare, 0 Lord, spare T h y people, t h a t 
whereas they have been deservedly chastiled, they 
may find r e s t in T h y compassion ( P r a y e r over t h e 
people). 



THURSDAY AFTER QU1NQUAGESIMA. 
INVITATION : "Be ye perfect as also your heavenly 

F a t h e r is p e r f e c t " (Gospel: Matt. v. 4 8 ) . 
P R O M I S E : "And T h y F a t h e r W h o seeth in secret, 

will repay t h e e " (Gospel: Matt. vi. 4 ) . 
R E S P O N S E : "How b e a u t i f u l a r t Thou, m y love, 

h o w b e a u t i f u l a r t T h o u ! " ( L e s s o n : Cant. iv. 1). 
P R A Y E R : Regard the f a s t we have begun, we be-

seech Thee, O Lord, w i t h k i n d f a v o r ; t h a t t h e ob-
servance we exhibit corporally, we m a y be able also 
t o exercise w i t h sincere m i n d s (Collect). 

R E F L E C T I O N : "Love y o u r enemies, do good to 
t h e m t h a t h a t e you, a n d p r a y f o r t h e m t h a t persecute 
a n d c a l u m n i a t e y o u : t h a t you m a y be t h e children 
of y o u r F a t h e r AVho is in heaven, W h o m a k e t h His 
sun to shine u p o n t h e good a n d t h e bad, a n d r a i n e t h 
u p o n the j u s t a n d t h e u n j u s t " (Gospel: Matt. v. 44, 
4 5 ) . T h i s is t h e exercise of Christian sincerity: to 
love as Christ loves in service u n t o d e a t h ; to p r a y as 
Christ p r a y s : " F a t h e r forgive t h e m , f o r they know 
not w h a t they do." T h e Church teaches u s to p r a y 
" t o be m a d e p a r t a k e r s of His divinity, W h o vouch-
safed to become p a r t a k e r of our h u m a n i t y . " "A 
crown of gold w a s u p o n h i s h e a d w h e r e i n w a s en-
graved holiness, a n o r n a m e n t of honor, a costly 
w o r k " ( G r a d u a l : Ecclus. xlv. 14). 

F R U I T OF T H E D A Y : Love of our neighbor f o r the 
love of God, proved by u n o s t e n t a t i o u s acts of 
t h o u g h t f u l n e s s a n d kindness. 

P R A Y E R : P o u r f o r t h u p o n us, O Lord, the Spirit 
of T h y love; t h a t by T h y m e r c y T h o u mayest m a k e 
those of one m i n d w h o m T h o u h a s t fed w i t h one 
celestial food ( P r a y e r a f t e r C o m m u n i o n ) . 



THURSDAY AFTER QU1NQUAGESIMA. 
I N V I T A T I O N : "He cometh to t h e m walking u p o n 

the sea . . . a n d He said to t h e m : 'Have a good 
h e a r t , it is I ; f e a r ye n o t ' " (Gospel: Mark vi. 48-50). 

P R O M I S E : " T h e L o r d will fill t h y soul w i t h 
b r i g h t n e s s . . . a n d t h o u shalt be like a w a t e r e d 
garden a n d like a f o u n t a i n of w a t e r whose w a t e r s 
shall n o t f a i l " ( L e s s o n : Is. lviii. 11). 

R E S P O N S E : "One t h i n g I have asked of t h e Lord, 
t h i s will I seek a f t e r , t h a t I m a y dwell in t h e house 
of t h e L o r d " ( G r a d u a l : P s . xxvi. 4 ) . 

P R A Y E R : Give ear, O Lord, to our supplications; 
a n d g r a n t t h a t w e m a y celebrate w i t h devout service 
this solemn fast, w h i c h T h o u h a s t ordained as a 
s a l u t a r y r e m e d y b o t h f o r our souls a n d bodies 
(Collect). 

R E F L E C T I O N : " W h i l e t h o u dost n o t t h y own ways, 
a n d t h y own will is not f o u n d to speak a w o r d ; t h e n 
shalt t h o u be delighted in t h e L o r d a n d I will l i f t 
thee above t h e high places of t h e e a r t h " ( L e s s o n : Is. 
lviii. 13, 14). J e s u s comes to u s to be the W a y . 
Until we t a k e u p our cross a n d follow H i m ; u n t i l we 
say w i t h H i m : " F a t h e r , n o t m y will b u t T h i n e , " we 
c a n n o t taste of t h e delights of u n i o n w i t h God a n d be 
u p l i f t e d by Him above worldly things. "O L o r d en-
liven me according to T h y w o r d t h a t I m a y k n o w 
T h y testimonies" ( O f f e r t o r y : P s . cxviii.). 

F R U I T OF T H E D A Y : T o m a k e God's w a y our w a y ; 
His will o u r will. 

P R A Y E R : May T h y f a i t h f u l , O God, be strength-
ened b y T h y g i f t s ; t h a t by p a r t a k i n g of t h e m they 
m a y still continue to seek a f t e r t h e m , a n d by seeking 
them, c o n s t a n t l y p a r t a k e of t h e m ( P r a y e r over the 
people). 



FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT. 
INVITATION : " W e exhort you t h a t you receive n o t 

t h e grace of God in vain. . . Behold n o w is t h e ac-
ceptable t i m e ; behold n o w is t h e day of salvation" 
( E p i s t l e : 2 Cor. vi. 1, 2 ) . 

P R O M I S E : " T h e L o r d will overshadow t h e e with 
His shoulders a n d u n d e r His wings t h o u s h a l t t r u s t : 
His t r u t h shall compass thee w i t h a shield" (Offer-
t o r y : P s . xc. 4, 5 ) . 

R E S P O N S E : " T h e L o r d m y God will I adore a n d 
Him only will I serve" (Gospel: Matt. iv. 10). 

PRAYER : O God, W h o dost p u r i f y T h y Church by 
t h e yearly f a s t of Lent, g r a n t to T h y household t h a t 
w h a t we strive to obtain f r o m Thee by abstinence, by 
good w o r k s we m a y secure (Collect). 

R E F L E C T I O N : " J e s u s w a s led by t h e Spirit into 
t h e desert to be tempted by t h e devil" (Gospel: Matt, 
iv. 1). Our Blessed L o r d submitting to t h e ignom-
i n y of temptation, offers u s a two-fold consolation: 
F i r s t , t h a t t e m p t a t i o n is n o t sin unless w e consent 
to i t : God p e r m i t s t e m p t a t i o n " t h a t His power may 
be m a d e perfect in o u r i n f i r m i t y . " Second, t h a t in 
m o m e n t s of t e m p t a t i o n J e s u s is ever w i t h u s to over-
shadow, to protect, to shield. T e m p t a t i o n overcome 
by grace is a n acceptable time, our day of salvation. 
God's promise is w i t h u s : "He shall call u p o n Me 
a n d I will h e a r h i m ; I will deliver h i m a n d glorify 
h i m " ( I n t r o i t : P s . xc. 15). 

F R U I T OF T H E D A Y : T O p u t God above all t h i n g s 
a n d to fly t o Him i n t e m p t a t i o n . 

PRAYER : May t h e holy libation of T h y S a c r a m e n t 
r e f r e s h us, O Lord, and, p u r i f y i n g u s f r o m our old 
life, m a k e u s pass on to the fellowship of T h y saving 
mystery ( P r a y e r a f t e r C o m m u n i o n ) . 



THURSDAY, FIRST WEEK. 
INVITATION : "Come ye blessed of My F a t h e r , pos-

sess you t h e kingdom p r e p a r e d f o r you f r o m t h e 
f o u n d a t i o n of the w o r l d " (Gospel: Matt. xxv. 34). 

P R O M I S E : Behold I Myself will seek My sheep a n d 
will visit t h e m " (Lesson: Ezech. xxxiv. 11). « 

R E S P O N S E : " I will l i f t u p m y eyes, a n d consider 
T h y wonders, O Lord, t h a t T h o u mayest teach me 
T h y j u s t i c e s ; give m e u n d e r s t a n d i n g a n d I will l e a r n 
T h y c o m m a n d m e n t s " ( O f f e r t o r y : Ps. cxviii.). 

P R A Y E R : Convert us, O God, our Saviour: a n d 
t h a t t h e f a s t of Lent m a y profit us, i n s t r u c t our m i n d s 
w i t h its heavenly discipline (Collect). 

R E F L E C T I O N : "Amen I say to you, as long as you 
did it to one of these My least b r e t h r e n , you did it to 
Me." O u r Blessed L o r d n o t only became m a n a n d 
died for us, b u t He identiiies Himself w i t h each one 
of u s a n d t a k e s as done to Himself every good a n d 
every ill t u r n done to our neighbor, a n d conditions 
our r e w a r d or p u n i s h m e n t u p o n our exercise of a 
brotherly love like u n t o His own. " I will seek t h a t 
which w a s lost. . . I will bind u p t h a t w h i c h w a s 
broken. . . I will strengthen t h a t which w a s w e a k ; 
a n d t h a t which w a s strong I will preserve" ( L e s s o n : 
Ezech. xxxiv. 16). 

F R U I T OF T H E D A Y : T O t r e a t our family, our em-
ployers, our employees, our co-workers as we w i s h 
our L o r d to t r e a t us. 

P R A Y E R : Being filled w i t h t h e gift of T h y salva-
tion, we h u m b l y beseech Thee, O Lord, t h a t as we 
rejoice in the experience thereof, we may also be 
made over by its effects ( P r a y e r a f t e r C o m m u n i o n ) . 



THURSDAY, FIRST WEEK. 
INVITATION : "Let t h e wicked f o r s a k e his way, a n d 

the u n j u s t m a n his thoughts, a n d let h i m r e t u r n to 
our God, f o r He is b o u n t i f u l to forgive" ( L e s s o n : Is. 
lv. 7). 

P R O M I S E : "As the r a i n a n d snow come down f r o m 
heaven. . . a n d soak the e a r t h a n d w a t e r it a n d 
m a k e it to spring a n d give seed to the sower a n d 
bread to the e a t e r ; so shall My w o r d b e " ( L e s s o n : 
Is. lv. 10, 11). 

R E S P O N S E : "Let m y p r a y e r be directed as incense 
i n T h y sight, O L o r d " ( G r a d u a l : Ps. cxl.). 

P R A Y E R : Look down, O Lord, u p o n T h y f a m i l y 
a n d g r a n t t h a t while we chastise ourselves by the 
mortification of the flesh, our m i n d s m a y glow w i t h 
a desire of T h e e (Collect). 

R E F L E C T I O N : " F r o m eternity a n d to eternity T h o u 
a r t God" ( I n t r o i t : Ps. Ixxxix.). God owes u s noth-
ing : all t h a t we have, all t h a t we a r e is His. "As the 
heavens are exalted above the earth, so are My ways 
exalted above your ways a n d My t h o u g h t s above your 
t h o u g h t s " ( L e s s o n : Is. lv. 9 ) . But He willed to send 
His W o r d to regenerate t h e world of men. J e s u s 
drives out the material, t h e c o m m e r è i a l : "My house 
shall be called the house of prayer, b u t you have 
m a d e it the den of thieves," He says (Gospel: Matt, 
xxi. 13). T h r o u g h Him all t h a t God has, all t h a t 
God is, is ours, a n d we may m a k e His ways o u r ways, 
His t h o u g h t s our thoughts. 

F R U I T OF T H E D A Y : Realization of God's rights 
over u s ; of our boundless debt. 

P R A Y E R : W e beseech Thee, Almighty God, t h a t 
we m a y receive thé effect of t h a t salvation of which 
in these mysteries wè have received a pledge 
( P r a y e r a f t e r C o m m u n i o n ) . 



WEDNESDAY, EMBER DAY. 
INVITATION: "Come u p to Me into the m o u n t a n d 

be t h e r e ; a n d I will give thee the c o m m a n d m e n t s 
which I have written, t h a t t h o u mayest teach t h e m " 
( I n t r o i t : Ps. xxiv.). 

P R O M I S E : "Whosoever shall do t h e w i l l ' O F My 
F a t h e r t h a t is in heaven h e is My b r o t h e r a n d sister 
a n d m o t h e r " (Gospel: Matt. xii. 50). 

R E S P O N S E : " T o Thee, O Lord, have I lifted up 
m y s o u l : i n Thee, O m y God, I p u t m y t r u s t " 
( I n t r o i t : P s . xxiv.). 

P R A Y E R : Mercifully h e a r our prayers, we beseech 
Thee, O L o r d ; a n d stretch f o r t h the r i g h t h a n d of 
T h y m a j e s t y against all our adversaries (Collect). 

R E F L E C T I O N : God, O u r Creator a n d F a t h e r , h a s 
given u s c o m m a n d m e n t s : we should know a n d love 
t h e m : " I will meditate on T h y c o m m a n d m e n t s , 
which I have loved exceedingly" ( O f f e r t o r y : Ps. 
cxviii.). J e s u s Christ, our Redeemer, m a k e s those 
His own w h o keep the law of His F a t h e r a n d t h e i r s : 
f u r t h e r m o r e He feeds u s f o r t h e effort w i t h a Bread 
greater t h a n t h a t given to E l i a s : we should, there-
fore, keep God's c o m m a n d s eagerly a n d feed on the 
Bread of Life t h a t we m a y be able to do s o : "Arise 
eat, f o r t h o u h a s t yet a great w a y to go." ( L e s s o n : 
3 Kings xix. 7, 8 ) . 

F R U I T OF T H E DAY : Willing a n d exact observance 
of t h e c o m m a n d s of God a n d the C h u r c h ; s w i f t re-
pentance f o r t r a n s g r e s s i o n s : "See m y abjection a n d 
m y labor, a n d forgive me all m y sins" ( G r a d u a l : P s . 
xxiv.). 

P R A Y E R : Illuminate our minds, we beseech Thee, 
O Lord, by t h e light of T h y brightness t h a t we m a y 
be able to see w h a t WG ought to do, a n d have power 
t o do w h a t is r i g h t ( P r a y e r over t h e people). 



THURSDAY, FIRST WEEK. 
INVITATION:, " T a s t e a n d see t h a t t h e L o r d is 

sweet" ( O f f e r t o r y : Ps. xxxiii.). "Sing ye to the 
Lord a new canticle: sing to the L o r d all t h e e a r t h " 
( I n t r o i t : Ps. xcv.). 

P R O M I S E : " T h e Bread t h a t I will give is.My Flesh 
f o r t h e life of the w o r l d " ( C o m m u n i o n : J o h n . vi. 
52). 

R E S P O N S E : "Keep me, O Lord, as t h e apple of 
T h y eye; protect me u n d e r t h e shadow of T h y wings" 
( G r a d u a l : Ps. xvi.). 

P R A Y E R : Mercifully look down, we beseech Thee, 
O Lord, u p o n the devotion of T h y people, t h a t they, 
whose bodies are mortified by fasting, may, t h r o u g h 
t h e f r u i t of good works, be r e f r e s h e d in m i n d 
(Collect). 

R E F L E C T I O N : O u r L o r d gives u s Himself to be 
our f o o d : He invites, He urges, He c o m m a n d s us, 
t h r o u g h His Church, to n o u r i s h our souls w i t h t h i s 
Divine Food. To those w h o feed u p o n Him rever-
ently, He promises protection a n d s t r e n g t h : " T h e 
angel of t h e Lord shall e n c a m p r o u n d about t h e m 
t h a t f e a r H i m a n d shall deliver t h e m " ( O f f e r t o r y : Ps. 
xxxiii.). If we go to Him h u m b l y a n d persistently, 
like t h e w o m a n of Canaan, we will a s surely h e a r the 
same w o r d s : "Great is t h y f a i t h ; be it done to thee 
a s t h o u w i l t " (Gospel: Matt. xv. 28). 

F R U I T OF T H E D A Y : T o receive Holy Communion 
w i t h strong f a i t h a n d deep humility, t h i n k i n g m u c h 
of Christ a n d little of ourselves. 

P R A Y E R : Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord, to all 
Christian people, t h a t they m a y acknowledge w h a t 
they p r o f e s s ; a n d love t h e heavenly m y s t e r y which 
t h e y f r e q u e n t ( P r a y e r over t h e people). 



WEDNESDAY, EMBER DAY. 
INVITATION: "I looked f o r one t h a t would grieve 

together w i t h Me a n d .there was n o n e : I sought one 
t h a t would c o m f o r t Me a n d I f o u n d n o n e " ( G r a d u a l : 
P s . lxviii.). 

P R O M I S E : " I will p o u r o u t t h e spirit of grace a n d 
of p r a y e r s : a n d they shall look u p o n Me W h o m they 
have pierced: a n d they shall m o u r n f o r Him as one 
m o u r n e t h f o r a n only s o n " ( L e s s o n : Zach. xii. 10). 

R E S P O N S E : "Surely He h a t h borne our infirmities 
a n d carried o u r sorrows. . . a n d by His bruises we 
a r e h e a l e d " ( T r a c t : Is. liii.). 

P R A Y E R : Be merciful, O Lord, to T h y people; a n d 
a s T h o u m a k e s t t h e m devout to Thee, m e r c i f u l l y re-
f r e s h t h e m w i t h k i n d assistance (Collect). 

R E F L E C T I O N : E a c h of u s is guilty of t h e sufferings 
a n d d e a t h of Christ, not only His avowed enemies, 
b u t those w h o p r o f e s s discipleship, yet sin against 
Him by denial, by infidelity, by indifference: " W i t h 
these I w a s wounded in t h e house of t h e m t h a t loved 
Me," He says. T h e m e a s u r e of our love can never 
be c o m m e n s u r a t e w i t h the m e a s u r e of His infinite 
love which p u r c h a s e d f o r u s r e d e m p t i o n a n d only 
asks of our helplessness: " W i l t t h o u be m a d e 
w h o l e ? " (Gospel: J o h n v. 6 ) . 

F R U I T OF T H E D A Y : To be virile i n following 
Christ: " t o arise a n d w a l k " w i t h H i m : to "sin n o 
more, lest some worse t h i n g h a p p e n " (Gospel: J o h n 
v. 14). 

P R A Y E R : O L o r d J e s u s Christ, W h o didst offer 
Thyself u p o n t h e cross a n i m m a c u l a t e a n d v o l u n t a r y 
holocaust to God t h e F a t h e r ; vouchsafe t h a t t h e 
adorable oblation of t h e same Sacrifice m a y obtain 
f o r u s p a r d o n a n d glory ( P r a y e r a f t e r C o m m u n i o n ) . 



W E D N E S D A Y , EMBER DAY. 
INVITATION: "Always rejoice. P r a y w i t h o u t ceas-

i n g : Prove all t h i n g s ; hold f a s t t h a t which is good. 
F r o m all appearance of evil r e f r a i n yourselves" 
(Epistle: 1 Thess. v. 16, 17, 18, 21, 22). 

P R O M I S E : " T h e L o r d h a t h chosen thee this day . . 
to keep all His c o m m a n d m e n t s . . to His own praise 
a n d Name a n d glory: t h a t t h o u mayest be a holy 
people" ( L e s s o n : Deut. xxvi. 18, 19). 

R E S P O N S E : "jLift u p T h y h a n d over t h e strange 
nations, t h a t they m a y see T h y power. F o r as Thou 
h a s t been sanctified i n u s in their sight, so T h o u shalt 
be magnified among t h e m in our presence, t h a t they 
m a y k n o w T h e e as we also have k n o w n Thee, O 
L o r d " ( L e s s o n : Ecclus. xxxvi. 3-5). 

P R A Y E R : Look down u p o n us, O God, our Pro-
tector ; t h a t we w h o a r e pressed down by t h e weight 
of our evils, having received T h y mercy, m a y serve 
Thee w i t h a f r e e m i n d (Collect). 

R E F L E C T I O N : God wishes u s to accept t h e im-
mense g i f t of r e d e m p t i o n gratefully, a n d in all 
humility to serve Him joyfully, weighing, appropri-
ating, rejecting according to t h e m i n d of Christ, our 
Redeemer. Appreciation of His greatness and His 
love will m a k e u s eager to have others Know Him as 
we know H i m : it will forbid cowardly humility, or 
selfish piety. As God h a s helped us, even t h r o u g h 
us, He m a y help others. 

F R U I T OF T H E D A Y : A joyous spirit, based on 
God's goodness; zeal, based on t r u s t in God's grace. 

P R A Y E R : Prevent, we beseech Thee, O Lord, our 
actions by T h y inspirations a n d f u r t h e r t h e m with 
Thy continual h e l p : t h a t every p r a y e r a n d w o r k of 
ours m a y always begin f r o m Thee a n d t h r o u g h Thee 
be likewise ended (Gradual). 



SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT. 
INVITATION: " T h i s is My beloved Son, in W h o m I 

am well pleased; h e a r ye Him. . . Arise a n d f e a r 
n o t " (Gospel: Matt. xvii. 5, 7). 

P R O M I S E : " T h i s is the will of God, y o u r sanctifica-
tion . . . f o r God h a s not called u s u n t o uncteanness, 
b u t u n t o sanctification; in Christ J e s u s Our L o r d " 
(Epistle: 1 Thess. iv. 3, 7). 

R E S P O N S E : "Lord, it is good f o r u s to be h e r e " 
(Gospel: Matt. xvii. 4 ) . 

P R A Y E R : O God, W h o seest u s to be destitute of 
strength, keep u s both i n w a r d l y a n d o u t w a r d l y ; t h a t 
we may be defended in the body f r o m all adversities 
a n d cleansed i n o u r m i n d s f r o m evil t h o u g h t s 
(Collect). 

R E F L E C T I O N : Even a s J e s u s took Peter, J a m e s a n d 
J o h n u p i n t o a high m o u n t a i n a n d w a s t r a n s f i g u r e d 
befor e them, so God leads u s by f a i t h to k n o w J e s u s 
Christ as God, co-equal w i t h t h e F a t h e r i n power a n d 
m a j e s t y . W e k n o w t h a t hearing Him, we h e a r God; 
t h a t following Him, we need k n o w no fear : t h a t His 
s t r e n g t h will c a r r y our w e a k n e s s : t h a t " i n Christ 
J e s u s " we m a y a t t a i n t h e holiness to which He calls 
u s : "Give glory to t h e Lord, f o r He is good : f o r His 
m e r c y e n d u r e t h forever. W h o shall declare the 
powers of t h e L o r d ; w h o shall set f o r t h all His 
p r a i s e s " ( T r a c t : Ps. cv.). 

F R U I T OF T H E D A Y : T O dare to aspire to be holy: 
to live w i t h God constantly i n p r a y e r ; to lift our 
h e a r t s to Him I n c a r n a t e ; h a n g i n g on t h e cross, 
hidden in the Blessed Sacrament, glorified in heaven, 
for "it is good f o r u s to be here." 

P R A Y E R : " U n d e r s t a n d my c r y : h e a r k e n to the 
voice of m y prayer, O m y King a n d m y God: f o r to 
Thee will I pray, O L o r d " ( C o m m u n i o n : Ps. v.). 



WEDNESDAY, SECOND WEEK. 
INVITATION : "If you believe not t h a t I a m He, you 

shall die in y o u r sin," t h a t I a m " t h e Beginning W h o 
also speak to y o u " (Gospel: J o h n viii. 24, 25). 

P R O M I S E : " W h e n you shall have lifted u p t h e Son 
of Man, t h e n shall you k n o w t h a t I a m He" (Gospel: 
J o h n viii. 28). 

R E S P O N S E : " I will bless t h e Lord, W h o h a t h 
given me u n d e r s t a n d i n g : I will set t h e L o r d always 
in m y sight; for He is a t m y r i g h t h a n d , t h a t I be 
not moved" ( O f f e r t o r y : Ps. xv.). 

P R A Y E R : "O m y God, it is not f o r our justification 
t h a t we p r e s e n t our p r a y e r s before T h y face, b u t for 
t h e m u l t i t u d e of T h y t e n d e r mercies" ( L e s s o n : Dan. 
ix. 18). 

R E F L E C T I O N : F a i t h i n t h e Divinity of Christ is 
essential f o r salvation. T r u e h u m i l i t y does not re-
j e c t Christ as t h e Son of God u n d e r pretext of m a n ' s 
unworthiness, nor does it claim salvation as a r e w a r d 
of m a n ' s merit. T r u e h u m i l i t y accepts, on f a i t h , t h e 
great m y s t e r y of Divine Love, t h a t t h e W o r d , w i t h 
God a n d in God f r o m t h e beginning, became Man for 
o u r salvation, lives w i t h us, speaks to us, suffers f o r 
us, is lifted u p on t h e cross a n d dies f o r u s : on His 
m e r i t a n d " t e n d e r mercies" t r u e h u m i l i t y bases hope. 

F R U I T OF T H E D A Y : Constantly to l i f t u p the 
example of t h e Son of Man before us, t h a t knowing 
Him more intimately, we m a y follow H i m more 
closely. " O Lord, h o w w o n d e r f u l is T h y Name i n 
all t h e e a r t h " ( C o m m u n i o n : Ps. viii.). 

P R A Y E R : Be attentive to our supplications, O Al-
mighty God, a n d graciously bestow u p o n u s t h e effect 
of T h y accustomed mercy, to w h o m T h o u grantest 
the confidence of h o p e f u l devotion ( P r a y e r over the 
people). 



WEDNESDAY, SECOND WEEK. 
INVITATION: Cast thy care upon the Lord, a n d He 

shall sustain t h e e " ( G r a d u a l : Ps. liv.). 
P R O M I S E : "Whosoever shall exalt himself shall be 

h u m b l e d ; a n d he t h a t shall h u m b l e himself shall be 
exalted" (Gospel: Matt, xxiii. 12). 

R E S P O N S E : " T h e L o r d is my light a n d m y salva-
t i o n : w h o m shall I f e a r ? " ( I n t r o i t : Ps. xxvi.) 

P R A Y E R : P e r f e c t w i t h i n us, we beseech Thee, O 
Lord, in T h y mercy, the benefits of this holy observ-
a n c e : t h a t those things which T h o u h a s t appointed 
for u s to do, we m a y by T h y assistance be enabled 
to fulfill (Collect). 

R E F L E C T I O N : God w a n t s u s to t r u s t Him com-
pletely: He sent Elias to a widow extremely poor to 
a s k f o r food. The f a i t h of Elias did not f a l t e r : God 
h a d s a i d : "Go." He invites t h e w o m a n to s h a r e his 
confidence: " F e a r n o t , " he said. " F o r t h u s saith the 
Lord t h e God of Israel, ' t h e pot of meal shall not 
waste, n o r the cruise of oil be diminished' " ( L e s s o n : 
3 Kings xvii. 8-16). God also w a n t s u s to act sin-
cerely; not to "say a n d do n o t , " or to "bind heavy 
a n d insupportable b u r d e n s a n d lay t h e m on m e n ' s 
shoulders; b u t w i t h a finger of their own they will 
not move t h e m " (Gospel: Matt, xxiii. 3, 4 ) . 

F R U I T OF T H E D A Y : Practical f a i t h t h a t God h a s 
given no law t h a t m a y n o t be kept. To let no motive 
of expediency, nor spirit of compromise blind u s t o 
the j u s t claims of God a n d our fellowmen. 

P R A Y E R : T h a t we may be m a d e worthy, O Lord, 
of T h y sacred gifts, g r a n t us, we beseech Thee, ever 
to obey T h y c o m m a n d m e n t s ( P r a y e r a f t e r Com-
m u n i o n ) . 



WEDNESDAY, SECOND WEEK. 
INVITATION: "Can you d r i n k t h e chalice t h a t _ 

shall d r i n k ? " (Gospel: Matt. xx. 22.) 
P R O M I S E : "My chalice indeed you shall d r i n k . . . 

Whosoever will be the greater among you, let h i m be 
y o u r minister . . . even as t h e Son of Man" 
(Gospel: Matt. xx. 23, 26-28). 

R E S P O N S E : " T o Thee, O Lord, have I lifted u p my 
soul; in Thee, O m y God, I p u t m y t r u s t , let me not 
be a s h a m e d ; f o r none of t h e m t h a t wait on Thee 
shall be c o n f o u n d e d " ( O f f e r t o r y : Ps. xxiv.). 

P R A Y E R : F a v o r a b l y r e g a r d T h y people, we be-
seech Thee, O Lord, a n d g r a n t t h a t we, w h o m T h o a 
c o m m a n d e s t to abstain f r o m c a r n a l food, m a y also 
cease f r o m noxious vices (Collect). 

R E F L E C T I O N : O u r L o r d ' s s t a n d a r d is not the 
w o r l d ' s s t a n d a r d . He willed to t a k e u p o n Himself 
t h e c o m m o n lot of m a n : He redeemed u s t h r o u g h 
suffering. F o r the Christian suffering h a s a n aton-
ing w o r t h : he accepts it w i t h resignation, even with 
j o y because it is t h e chalice his loving Lord d r a n k 
first a n d to the dregs. Sacrifice is t h e spirit of Christ, 
so too is service. T h e world seeks t h e first place. 
T h e Son of God "emptied Himself t a k i n g t h e f o r m 
of a servant." 

F R U I T OF T H E D A Y : T O w a l k i n t h e higher w a y 
of Christ by readiness i n self-sacrifice a n d loving 
service: to ask of God t h e s t r e n g t h to do t h i s : " F o r -
sake me not, O L o r d . . . a t t e n d u n t o m y help, O Lord, 
the s t r e n g t h of m y salvation" ( I n t r o i t : , Ps. xxxviii.). 

P R A Y E R : O God, t h e restorer, a n d lover of inno-
cence, direct toward T h e e the h e a r t s of T h y servants, 
t h a t being inflamed by the fervor of T h y Spirit, they 
m a y be f o u n d both s t e a d f a s t i n f a i t h a n d zealous 
in w o r k s ( P r a y e r over t h e people). 



WEDNESDAY, SECOND WEEK. 
INVITATION : " T h e m a n t h a t t r u s t e s t i n t h e L o r d 

• . . shall be as a tree t h a t is planted by t h e waters, 
it shall n o t f e a r w h e n the h e a t cometh . . neither 
shall it cease a t a n y time to bring f o r t h f r u i t " 
( L e s s o n : J e r e m . xvii. 7, 8 ) . 

P R O M I S E : "He t h a t eateth My flesh a n d d r i n k e t h 
My blood, abideth in Me a n d I i n H i m " ( C o m m u n i o n : 
J o h n vi. 5 7 ) . 

R E S P O N S E : "Help us, O God, our Saviour; a n d f o r 
t h e h o n o r of T h y Name, O Lord, deliver u s " 
( G r a d u a l : Ps. Ixxviii.). 

P R A Y E R : G r a n t us, we beseech Thee, O Lord, t h e 
help of T h y grace; t h a t duly applying ourselves to 
f a s t i n g s a n d prayers, w e m a y be delivered f r o m all 
enemies of m i n d a n d body (Collect). 

R E F L E C T I O N : O u r L o r d n o t only sets before u s a 
s t a n d a r d , a n ideal. He m a k e s it possible for u s to 
realize it. If we root our f a i t h i n H i m t He p r o m -
ises u n f a i l i n g moisture, a b u n d a n t f r u i t : if we will 
eat of Him a n d d r i n k of Him in Holy Communion, 
His life shall be i n us. But if we prefer "good t h i n g s 
in our l i f e - t i m e : " if we r e f u s e to eat, or eat " n o t dis-
cerning t h e body of t h e L o r d , " t h e f a u l t of our e t e r n a l 
f a i l u r e is o u r s n o t God's. 

F R U I T OF T H E D A Y : T O feed our souls constantly 
a n d devoutly on the Bread of Life, sure t h a t God will 
perfect t h e w o r k He h a s begun. 

P R A Y E R : Be present, O Lord, w i t h T h y servants 
w h e n t h e y call u p o n Thee a n d bestow on t h e m T h y 
p e r p e t u a l goodness; t h a t w h e r e a s they glory i n Thee 
as their A u t h o r a n d Governor, T h o u mayest gather 
a n d restore to t h e m T h y gifts a n d m a y keep alive in 
t h e m w h a t T h o u h a s t restored ( P r a y e r over t h e 
people). 



WEDNESDAY, SECOND WEEK. 
INVITATION': " T h e Stone which t h e builders re-

jected, the same is become t h e head of the corner. 
By the Lord t h i s h a s been done a n d it is w o n d e r f u l 
i n our eyes" (Gospel: Matt. xxi. 42). 

P R O M I S E : "Behold, t h y Saviour c o m e t h ; behold 
His r e w a r d is w i t h Him . . this b e a u t i f u l one in His 
robe, walking in t h e greatness of His strength. I 
t h a t speak justice, a n d a m a defender to save" 
( L e s s o n : Is. lxii. 11; lxiii. 1). 

R E S P O N S E : "I will r e m e m b e r t h e t e n d e r mercies 
of the Lord, t h e praise of t h e Lord f o r all the things 
t h e L o r d h a t h bestowed on u s " ( L e s s o n : Is. lxiii. 
7). 

P R A Y E R : May this sacrifice, O God, b o t h r e m a i n 
in u s in action a n d we be strengthened by its opera-
tion (Secret). 

REFLECTION : J e s u s Christ ignored by some, 
plotted against by others, acclaimed, t h e n rejected by 
t h e m a n y , becomes t h e corner-stone of all f u t u r e 
civilization. T h u s t h e wisdom of God overcomes the 
foolishness of m e n . Men call Him a c r i m i n a l a n d 
blasphemer a n d mock His helplessness. T h e Holy 
Spirit of God points Him out as a Saviour, b e a u t i f u l 
in His royal crimson blood-robes, great of strength, 
treading t h e wine-press alone, a defender to save. 
" T h e L o r d J e s u s Christ h u m b l e d Himself u n t o d e a t h : 
w h e r e f o r e God h a t h exalted Him a n d given Him a 
Name w h i c h i s above every n a m e " ( I n t r o i t : Phil, 
ii. 8 ) . 

F R U I T OF T H E D A Y : To strive against h u m a n re-
spect. T o j u d g e by spiritual values, not externals. 

PRAYER : By the operation of t h i s mystery, O 
Lord, m a y our vices be cleansed away a n d our j u s t 
desires accomplished ( P r a y e r a f t e r C o m m u n i o n ) . 



W E D N E S D A Y , SECOND WEEK. 
INVITATION: "Son, t h o u a r t always w i t h Me, a n d 

all t h a t I have is t h i n e ; b u t this t h y b r o t h e r w a s 
dead a n d is come to life again; h e w a s lost a n d is 
f o u n d " (Gospel: L u k e xv. 31, 32). 

P R O M I S E : "God give thee of the dew of heaven, a n d 
of the f a t n e s s of t h e e a r t h " (Lesson: Gen. xxvii. 28). 

R E S P O N S E : "It is good to give praise to the Lord 
a n d to sing t o T h y name, O Most High, to show f o r t h 
T h y mercy i n t h e m o r n i n g a n d T h y t r u t h in t h e 
n i g h t " ( G r a d u a l : Ps. xci.). 

P R A Y E R : Grant, O Lord, a s a l u t a r y effect to our 
f a s t s ; t h a t t h e chastisement of t h e flesh, w h i c h we 
have t a k e n u p o n us, m a y p r o m o t e t h e vigoi of our 
souls (Collect). 

R E F L E C T I O N : " T h e law of t h e Lord is unspotted, 
converting souls; t h e testimony of t h e Lord is f a i t h -
ful, giving wisdom to little ones" ( I n t r o i t : Ps. 
xviii.). It is not f o r u s to question t h e ways of God. 
He knows souls as we do not k n o w t h e m ; He d r a w s 
t h e m according to His wisdom. R u t while we m a y 
not question, w e should study t h e ways of God: we 
m u s t p r a y : " E n l i g h t e n m y eyes t h a t I m a y never 
sleep i n d e a t h " (Offertory: P s . xii.); t h a t we m a y be 
filled w i t h His wisdom, w i t h His generosity in our 
dealings w i t h o t h e r s : t h a t we m a y be satisfied to be 
His children, t a k i n g f r o m His h a n d , i n love, n o t h i n g 
doubting, j u s t w h a t He chooses to give. 

F R U I T OF T H E D A Y : Strong f a i t h in God's provi-
dence, whatever befall; genuine interest i n t h e happi-
ness of others. 

P R A Y E R : May t h e divine libation of T h y Sacra-
ment, O Lord, be i n f u s e d into the i n m o s t recesses of 
our h e a r t s ; a n d efficaciously r e n d e r u s p a r t a k e r s of 
t h e same ( P r a y e r a f t e r C o m m u n i o n ) . 



THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT. 
INVITATION : "Be ye followers of God, as m o s t d e a r 

c h i l d r e n ; a n d walk in love, as Christ also h a t h loved 
us, a n d h a t h delivered Himself f o r u s " ( E p i s t l e : E p h . 
v. 1, 2 ) . 

P R O M I S E : "Blessed are they w h o h e a r t h e w o r d 
of God a n d keep i t " (Gospel: L u k e xi. 28). 

R E S P O N S E : " T h e justices of t h e L o r d a r e right, 
rejoicing t h e h e a r t , a n d His j u d g m e n t s are sweeter 
t h a n honey a n d t h e h o n e y c o m b : f o r T h y servant 
keepeth t h e m " ( O f f e r t o r y : Ps. xviii.). 

P R A Y E R : W e beseech Thee, Almighty God, r e g a r d 
t h e desires of the humble, a n d stretch f o r t h t h e r i g h t 
h a n d of T h y m a j e s t y to be our defence (Collect). 

R E F L E C T I O N : T h e filial a t t i t u d e toward God; t h e 
h u m b l e effort t o cooperate w i t h t h e a b u n d a n t grace 
received t h r o u g h Christ Jesus, our sweet Oblation, 
brings its own r e w a r d . Our eyes are opened to the 
Tightness of His j u s t i c e : His will becomes sweet to 
our taste. T h e p a i n of conflict: of opposing o u r will 
to His is removed, a n d interior peace reigns even 
u n d e r t r y i n g c i r c u m s t a n c e s : "My eyes are ever 
t o w a r d s t h e L o r d : f o r He shall p l u c k m y feet o u t of 
t h e s n a r e : Look u p o n me, a n d have mercy on me, 
f o r I a m alone a n d p o o r " ( I n t r o i t : Ps. xxiv.). 

F R U I T OF T H E D A Y : T o cultivate t h e spirit of being 
a t h o m e w i t h God everywhere a n d especially to d r a w 
n e a r Him immolated f o r u s on t h e altar every m i n u t e 
of t h e d a y : " T h e s p a r r o w h a t h f o u n d herself a house, 
a n d t h e t u r t l e a nest, w h e r e she m a y lay h e r y o u n g : 
T h y altars, O L o r d of h o s t s " ( C o m m u n i o n ) . 

P R A Y E R : Mercifully absolve us, O Lord, f r o m all 
guilt a n d danger, on w h o m T h o u bestowest t h e p a r -
ticipation of so great a m y s t e r y ( P r a y e r a f t e r Com-
m u n i o n ) . 



WEDNESDAY, THIRD WEEK. 
I N V I T A T I O N : "Let h i m come to me a n d k n o w t h a t 

t h e r e is a p r o p h e t in Israel" ( L e s s o n : 4 Kings v. 8 ) . 
P R O M I S E : " W a s h a n d t h o u shalt be clean: And 

his flesh w a s restored like the flesh of a little child 
a n d he was m a d e clean" (Lesson: 4 Kings v. 13, 14). 

R E S P O N S E : " I have declared to Thee my l i f e : 
T h o u h a s t set m y t e a r s in T h y sight" ( G r a d u a l : Ps. 
lv.). 

PRAYER : P o u r f o r t h in T h y mercy, O Lord, T h y 
grace into our hearts, t h a t as we abstain f r o m flesh, 
m a y also r e s t r a i n our senses f r o m all h u r t f u l excess 
(Collect). 

R E F L E C T I O N : N a a m a n w a n t e d to be cleansed f r o m 
his leprosy, yet he rebelled a g a i n s t t h e cure com-
m a n d e d by God's prophet. Men o f t e n feel the weight 
of their sins, yet they r e f u s e the cure established a n d 
c o m m a n d e d by Christ, our Lord. As f o r N a a m a n 
t h e r e w a s no other w a y t h a n God's way, so too f o r 
u s : we m u s t confess our sins to t h e priest ordained 
by God to cleanse t h e m ; we m u s t prove our con-
trition by h u m b l e obedience to the ordeal of the con-
fessional, by h u m b l e fulfillment of the conditions 
imposed, if we really desire to be cleansed. W e m u s t 
allow our L o r d ' s redeeming Blood to be poured over 
our souls in t h e w o r d s of absolution if we really 
desire strength. 

F R U I T OF T H E D A Y : An increased appreciation of 
God's healing g i f t : t h e s a c r a m e n t of penance. To 
accept a n d welcome its humiliating necessity. 

P R A Y E R : Let T h y mercy, O Lord, assist us, t h a t , 
by T h y protection, we m a y deserve to be delivered 
f r o m the t h r e a t e n i n g dangers of our sins, a n d to be 
saved by T h y deliverance ( F i n a l P r a y e r ) . 



WEDNESDAY, THIRD WEEK. 
INVITATION: " W h a t wilt t h o u have Me d o f o r 

thee?" ( L e s s o n : 4 Kings iv. 2.) 
P R O M I S E : " A m e n I say to you, whatsoever you 

shall bind u p o n earth, shall be b o u n d also in heaven; 
a n d whatsoever you shall loose u p o n earth, shall be 
loosed also i n h e a v e n " (Gospel: Matt, xviii. 18, 19). 

R E S P O N S E : " T h e right h a n d of the L o r d h a t h 
w r o u g h t strength, t h e right h a n d of t h e L o r d h a t h 
exalted m e : I shall not die b u t live, a n d declare t h e 
works of t h e L o r d " ( O f f e r t o r y : Ps. cxvii.). 

P R A Y E R : Graciously h e a r us, O almighty a n d 
m e r c i f u l God; a n d favorably g r a n t to v s t h e gifts of 
salutary t e m p e r a n c e (Collect). 

R E F L E C T I O N : O u r L o r d ' s t r e m e n d o u s commission 
to His Apostles, giving t h e m t h e power to bind a n d 
to loose sins in t h e s a c r a m e n t of penance, should be 
a n i m m e n s e consolation to u s i n our w e a k n e s s t h a t 
r e n d e r s u s liable to repeated falls. God's p a r d o n will 
raise u s u p , God's power will sustain u s in t h e w a y 
of v i r t u e : "Lord, w h o shall dwell in T h y taber-
nacle? or w h o shall r e s t in T h y holy hill? He t h a t 
w a l k e t h w i t h o u t blemish, a n d w o r k e t h j u s t i c e " 
( C o m m u n i o n : Ps. xiv.). T o w a l k w i t h o u t blemish 
is impossible to u s alone, b u t God s t a n d s r e a d y to 
give u s w h a t we ask. W h a t shall it be? 

F R U I T OF T H E D A Y : T O ask of God spiritual g i f t s : 
greater p u r i t y of h e a r t , sensitiveness of conscience: 
" F r o m my secret sins cleanse me, O L o r d ; a n d f r o m 
those of others cleanse T h y s e r v a n t " ( G r a d u a l : Ps. 
xviii.). 

P R A Y E R : Reing expiated by these mysteries, w e 
beseech Thee, O Lord, t h a t we m a y obtain b o t h p a r -
don a n d grace ( P r a y e r a f t e r Communion.) 



WEDNESDAY, THIRD WEEK. 
INVITATION: " Y O U shall m a k e a n altar of e a r t h 

u n t o Me, a n d you shall oiler u p o n it y o u r holocausts 
a n d peace-offerings . . . in every place w h e r e the 
m e m o r y of My n a m e shall be" ( L e s s o n : Exod. xx. 24). 

P R O M I S E : "Every p l a n t w h i c h My heavenly 
F a t h e r h a t h n o t planted shall be rooted u p " (Gospel: 
Matt. xv. 13). 

R E S P O N S E : " T h o u h a s t m a d e k n o w n to me the 
ways of l i f e : T h o u shalt till me w i t h j o y w i t h Thy 
countenance, O L o r d " ( C o m m u n i o n : Ps. xv.). 

P R A Y E R : " O Lord, be m e r c i f u l to me f o r Thy 
n a m e ' s sake, because T h y mercy is sweet" ( O f f e r t o r y : 
Ps. cviii.). 

R E F L E C T I O N : T h e a l t a r God c o m m a n d s u s to erect 
to Him is t h e altar of o u r hearts. Upon this altar 
should be offered unceasingly t h e holocaust of all t h a t 
is not of God: t h a t cannot be m a d e acceptable to 
Him. A strong t h o u g h filial f e a r should deter u s 
f r o m offending against the law of God; intense filial 
piety should m a k e u s eager to practice His precepts. 
But these things can only be accomplished by con-
s t a n t appeal to God's grace, by f a i t h f u l cooperation 
w i t h His i n s p i r a t i o n s : "Have mercy on me, O Lord, 
f o r I a m w e a k : heal me, O Lord. All m y bones a r e 
t r o u b l e d : a n d m y soul is troubled exceedingly" 
( G r a d u a l : Ps. vi.). 

F R U I T OF T H E D A Y : Let our speech prove our 
h e a r t ' s purity, f o r " t h e things w h i c h proceed out of 
the m o u t h , come f o r t h f r o m t h e h e a r t a n d those 
t h i n g s defile a m a n " (Gospel: Matt. xv. 18). 

P R A Y E R : Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, 
t h a t we w h o seek the grace of T h y protection, being 
delivered f r o m all evils, may serve T h e e w i t h t r a n q u i l 
m i n d ( P r a y e r over t h e people), 



WEDNESDAY, THIRD WEEK. 
INVITATION: "Make your ways a n d y o u r doings 

good; a n d I will dwell w i t h you i n this place" 
(Lesson: J e r . vii. 3 ) . 

P R O M I S E : "If you will order well y o u r ways a n d 
y o u r doings; if you will execute j u d g m e n t between a 
m a n a n d his neighbor; if you oppress n o t t h e 
stranger, t h e f a t h e r l e s s a n d t h e widow, I will dwell 
w i t h you i n t h i s place" (Lesson: J e r . vii. 5-7). 

R E S P O N S E : " T h o u h a s t c o m m a n d e d T h y com-
m a n d m e n t s to be k e p t exceedingly: oh, t h a t m y 
ways m a y be directed to keep T h y justifications" 
( O f f e r t o r y : Ps. cxxxvii.). 

PRAYER : May t h e blessed solemnity of T h y saints 
Cosmos a n d D a m i a n m a g n i f y Thee, O L o r d ; by 
w h i c h T h o u h a s t b o t h g r a n t e d eternal glory to t h e m 
a n d help to u s by T h y ineffable providence (Collect). 

R E F L E C T I O N : God's c o m m a n d m e n t s a r e very ex-
plicit; His law of j u s t i c e is very strict, His law of 
charity all-embracing. W e c a n n o t sin against our 
fellowmen w i t h o u t sinning against God. His bless-
ings are contingent u p o n our a t t i t u d e t o w a r d s His 
creatures, our b r o t h e r s i n J e s u s Christ. To J e s u s 
"all they t h a t h a d a n y sick with« divers diseases 
brought t h e m . . . b u t He laying His h a n d s on every 
one of t h e m , healed t h e m " (Gospel: L u k e iv. 40). 

F R U I T OF T H E D A Y : An effort to enter into t h e 
m i n d s of o t h e r s : to a n s w e r their n e e d s ; " O Lord, 
T h o u openest T h y h a n d a n d fillest every living t h i n g 
w i t h blessing" ( G r a d u a l : Ps. cxliv.). 

P R A Y E R : May T h y heavenly m e r c y increase T h y 
obedient people, O Lord, we beseech Thee, a n d m a k e 
t h e m ever , servants of T h y c o m m a n d m e n t s ( P r a y e r 
over t h e p e o p l e ) . 



WEDNESDAY, THIRD WEEK. 
INVITATION: "Give Me to d r i n k . . . If t h o u didst 

know the gift of God . . . thou wouldst have asked 
of Him, a n d He would have given thee living w a t e r " 
(Gospel: J o h n iv. 7, 10). 

P R O M I S E : " T h e w a t e r t h a t I will give-him s h a l l 
become in h i m a f o u n t a i n of water, springing u p i n t o 
everlasting l i f e " (Gospel: J o h n iv. 13, 14). 

R E S P O N S E : "Give me t h i s w a t e r t h a t I m a y n o t 
t h i r s t " (Gospel: J o h n iv. 15). 

P R A Y E R : O God, W h o by t h e passion of T h i n e 
dnly-begotten Son, a n d t h e shedding of His blood 
t h r o u g h His five wounds, h a s t renewed the n a t u r e of 
m a n t h a t w a s r u i n e d by sin; g r a n t to us, we beseech 
Thee, t h a t as we venerate on e a r t h t h e w o u n d s t h a t 
He received, so we m a y deserve to obtain the f r u i t 
of His most precious blood in heaven (Collect). 

R E F L E C T I O N : O u r L o r d vouchsafes to ask u s to 
come to H i m : to s a t i s f y His t h i r s t f o r souls: to 
c a r r y on His w o r k . He asks u s to serve Him i n 
order to give u s of His a b u n d a n t grace; to u n i t e u s 
to Himself, t h a t filled w i t h Him we m a y show f o r t h 
His beauty, m a y a t t r a c t to Him those about us. He 
w a n t s u s to a s k f o r His grace, t h a t He m a y give u s 
more t h a n w e can imagine a n d desire. If we do n o t 
receive, it is because we are n o t willing to acknowl-
edge our need, our emptiness. 

F R U I T OF T H E D A Y : Renewed confidence t h a t God 
wishes u s to know Him, to love Him, to serve Him. 

P R A Y E R : Refreshed w i t h life-giving food, we be-
seech Thee, O Lord our God, t h a t we w h o t h i s d a y 
devoutly venerate the w o u n d s of our L o r d J e s u s 
Christ, m a y ever have t h e m impressed u p o n our 
hearts, in our life a n d conduct ( P r a y e r a f t e r Com-
m u n i o n ) . 



W E D N E S D A Y , THIRD WEEK. 
INVITATION: "GO, a n d now sin no m o r e " (Gospel: 

J o h n viii. 11). 
P R O M I S E : "Neither will I c o n d e m n t h e e " (Gospel: 

J o h n viii. 11). 
R E S P O N S E : "If I should w a l k in t h e midst of the 

shadow of death, I will fear no evils: for T h o u a r t 
w i t h me, O L o r d " ( G r a d u a l : Ps. xxii.). 

PRAYER : Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, 
t h a t they w h o in afflicting their flesh, abstain f r o m 
food, may, by following justice, f a s t f r o m sin 
(Collect). 

R E F L E C T I O N : Christ, our Lord, came not to con-
d e m n b u t to save. Because He is God of God, He 
offered f o r u s a n infinite, sufficient a t o n e m e n t to 
save u s f r o m the eternal p u n i s h m e n t due to sin. 
Because He is Man, He offers u s a perfect a n d possible 
example of how to live w i t h o u t sin. Yet Jesus, per-
feet God a n d sinless Man, is more m e r c i f u l to the 
sinner, w h o falls t h r o u g h weakness, t h a n we im-
p e r f e c t a n d s i n f u l men. He is always willing to 
give a n o t h e r c h a n c e : always r e a d y to t r u s t u s to 
use more f u l l y His m a n y graces. But we c a n n o t ex-
pect these graces unless we t u r n to Him a n d t r u s t 
Him more t h a n ourselves. W e cannot expect to win 
His p a r d o n a n d s h a r e His perfection, unless we pre-
f e r trial, suffering, a n d even d e a t h w i t h Him, r a t h e r 
t h a n sin w i t h o u t Him. 

F R U I T OF T H E D A Y : A firm p u r p o s e of amend-
ment : to avoid evil, to better good: "Direct m y steps 
according to T h y w o r d " ( O f f e r t o r y : Ps. cxviii.). 

PRAYER : Extend, O Lord, to T h y f a i t h f u l the right 
h a n d of T h y heavenly a i d ; t h a t they m a y seek Thee 
w i t h their whole heart, a n d deserve to obtain w h a t 
they ask f o r worthily ( P r a y e r over t h e people). 



FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT. 
INVITATION: "Make t h e m e n sit down . . . And 

J e s u s took t h e loaves; a n d . . . distributed to t h e m 
...as much as they would" (Gospel: J o h n vi. 10, 11). 

P R O M I S E : " T h e y t h a t t r u s t in the L o r d shall n o t 
be moved forever. . . T h e Lord is r o u n d - a b o u t ' H i s 
people f r o m h e n c e f o r t h now a n d f o r e v e r " ( T r a c t : 
Ps. cxxiv.). 

R E S P O N S E : " W e are f r e e by t h e f r e e d o m where-
w i t h Christ h a t h m a d e u s f r e e " ( E p i s t l e : Gal. iv. 31). 

P R A Y E R : Grant, we beseech Thee Almighty God, 
t h a t we w h o j u s t l y suffer for our deeds m a y be re-
lieved by the consolation of T h y grace (Collect). 

R E F L E C T I O N : Everything we have in the n a t u r a l 
o r d e r is f r o m God—life, health, talents, t h e ability 
a n d intelligence to sustain ourselves by our labor, 
t h e f r u i t s of t h e earth, by w h i c h we are nourished, 
the m a t e r i a l s w h i c h afford u s shelter. W e have n o 
excuse f o r self-sufficiency. All t h a t we have i n t h e 
s u p e r n a t u r a l order is f r o m God—our soul m a d e i n 
His image, our re-birth as children of God, t h e blood 
of J e s u s Christ t h a t cleanses u s in the s a c r a m e n t of 
penance, a n d feeds u s in Holy Communion, His grace 
t h a t suggests, leads, upholds. T h e L o r d is r o u n d 
a b o u t us, r e a d y to give u s as m u c h as we will receive. 

F R U I T OF T H E D A Y : T O open t h e h e a r t to the lib-
erty of God which frees f r o m t h e p e t t y a n d the per-
sonal. " P r a i s e ye the Lord, f o r He is good: sing ye 
to His n a m e , f o r He is sweet" ( O f f e r t o r y : Ps. 
cxxxiv.). 

P R A Y E R : Grant us, we beseech Thee, O m e r c i f u l 
God, t h a t we m a y celebrate w i t h sincere homage, a n d 
ever receive w i t h f a i t h f u l m i n d the holy things w i t h 
w h i c h we a r e continually fed ( P r a y e r a f t e r Com-
m u n i o n ) . 



i THURSDAY, FOURTH WEEK. 
INVITATION : " T a k e these things hence a n d m a k e 

not My F a t h e r ' s house a house of traffic" (Gospel: 
J o h n ii. 16). 

P R O M I S E : "Destroy t h i s temple a n d in t h r e e days 
I will r a i s e it u p " (Gospel: J o h n ii. 19). 

R E S P O N S E : "Save me, O God, by T h y name, a n d 
i n T h y s t r e n g t h deliver m e " ( I n t r o i t : Ps. liii.). 

P R A Y E R : Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, 
t h a t celebrating w i t h yearly devotion these sacred 
fasts, we m a y please Thee both i n body a n d m i n d 
(Collect). ' 

R E F L E C T I O N : God m a d e u s f o r something higher 
t h a n m e r e m a t e r i a l t h i n g s : business, pleasure are 
not t h e end a n d a i m of life. W e are t h e temples of 
t h e Holy Ghost. W h i l e it is our God-given duty, to 
strive f o r our own a n d t h e s u p p o r t of those dependent 
u p o n us, while recreation is u s e f u l a n d necessary, our 
business dealings, our pleasures m u s t be w o r t h y of 

• a n i m m o r t a l soul for w h o m Christ gave His body 
u n t o d e a t h a n d raised it u p t r i u m p h a n t on the t h i r d 
day. "Serve ye t h e Lord w i t h gladness: come in 
before His presence w i t h exceeding great j o y : f o r 
t h e L o r d He is God" ( O f f e r t o r y : Ps. xcix.). 

F R U I T OF T H E D A Y : More scrupulous care to 
p u r i f y every action a n d offer it to God: " F r o m my 
secret sins cleanse me, O L o r d : a n d f r o m those of 
others s p a r e T h y s e r v a n t " ( C o m m u n i o n : Ps. xviii.). 

P R A Y E R : Mercifully h e a r o u r supplications, we 
beseech Thee, O Lord, a n d to those to w h o m T h o u 
givest t h e desire to pray, g r a n t t h e help of T h y 
defence ( P r a y e r over t h e people). 



i THURSDAY, FOURTH WEEK. 
INVITATION: "If a n y m a n do t h e -will of Him, he 

shall k n o w of the doctrine, w h e t h e r it be of God" 
(Gospel: J o h n vii. 17). 

P R O M I S E : "He t h a t speaketh of himself, seeketh 
his own glory; b u t he t h a t seeketh the glory of Him 
W h o sent him, h e is t r u e " (Gospel: J o h n vii. 18). 

R E S P O N S E : " W h y , O Lord, is T h y indignation en-
kindled against T h y people, w h o m T h o u h a s t 
brought out of t h e l a n d of Egypt w i t h great power 
a n d with a m i g h t y h a n d ? " ( L e s s o n : Exod. xxxii. 11). 

PRAYER : W e beseech Thee, O Lord, t h a t the f a s t s 
of this holy observance m a y m a k e u s to improve in 
holy conversation, a n d p r o c u r e u s t h e continual aid 
of T h y loving-kindness (Collect). 

R E F L E C T I O N : W e a r e s u r r o u n d e d b y estimates 
a n d s t a n d a r d s t h a t a r e not of God; consciously or 
unconsciously we a r e led into ways t h a t are not God's 
w a y s : " T h e y have quickly strayed f r o m the w a y 
w h i c h t h o u d i d s t show t h e m ; a n d t h e y have m a d e * 
to themselves a molten calf, a n d have adored i t " 
( L e s s o n : Exod. xxxii. 8 ) . If, i n spite of all God's 
graces, we follow in t h i s easy way, seeking our own 
glory, w e lose His support, if we are "troubled a t the 
voice of the enemy, a n d a t t h e tribulation of t h e 
s i n n e r " ( I n t r o i t : P s . liv.) a n d seek God's will a n d 
God's glory, we will grow in t h e spirit of knowledge, 
of counsel, of u n d e r s t a n d i n g . 

F R U I T OF T H E D A Y : Let a c o n s t a n t desire f o r t h e 
glory of God direct our speech: "He p u t a n e w 
canticle into m y m o u t h , a song to our God" (Offer-
t o r y : Ps. xxxix.). 

PRAYER : Have mercy, O Lord, on T h y people, a n d 
m e r c i f u l l y r e f r e s h t h e m laboring u n d e r c o n t i n u a l 
tribulations ( P r a y e r over t h e people). 



i THURSDAY, FOURTH WEEK. 
INVITATION: " W a s h yourselves, be clean, t a k e 

away t h e evil of your devices . . . cease to do per-
versely, learn to do well" ( L e s s o n : Is. i. 16). 

PROMISE-: " I will give you a new heart, a n d p u t a 
new spirit w i t h i n you . . . a n d you shall be My 
people, a n d I will be y o u r God" ( L e s s o n : Ezech. 
xxxvi. 26, 28). 

R E S P O N S E : " T h e L o r d anointed m y eyes: a n d I 
went, a n d I Washed, a n d I saw, a n d I have believed 
i n God" ( C o m m u n i o n : J o h n ix.). 

P R A Y E R : O God, W h o grantest t h e r e w a r d of 
their m e r i t s to t h e j u s t a n d p a r d o n to s i n n e r s t h r o u g h 
their f a s t s ; have mercy on T h y suppliants, t h a t t h e 
confession of o u r guilt m a y p r e p a r e u s to receive 
t h e forgiveness of our sins (Collect). 

R E F L E C T I O N : W e are b o r n b l i n d : i n sin. Our 
L o r d J e s u s Christ opens our eyes a n d gives u s power 
to become t h e sons of God. Common sense obliges 
u s t o acknowledge o u r sin. Common gratitude 
forces u s to acknowledge t h e power of Him t h r o u g h 
W h o m w e a r e m a d e whole. Every day w e expe-
rience His goodness, every day we have "seen Him, 
a n d it is He t h a t t a l k e t h w i t h t h e e ' " (Gospel: J o h n 
i x ; 37) t o p r o m p t u s to good, to enable u s to w i n t h e 
r e w a r d s He longs to p o u r out u p o n us. 

F R U I T OF T H E D A Y : Deep sense of our s i n f u l n e s s 
w i t h abiding confidence i n our L o r d ' s will a n d power 
t o overcome evil in u s : "Bless t h e L o r d W h o h a t h 
s e t m y soul u n t o l i f e " ( O f f e r t o r y : P s . lxv.). 

P R A Y E R : Let t h e ears of T h y mercy, O Lord, be 
open to t h e p r a y e r s of T h y s u p p l i a n t s ; a n d t h a t 
T h o u mayest g r a n t t h e desires of those w h o seek, 
m a k e t h e m t o a s k w h a t is pleasing to T h e e ( P r a y e r 
over t h e people), 



i THURSDAY, FOURTH WEEK. 
J N V I T A T I O N J " W e e p not . | . Young m a n I say t o 

thee, Arise" CGospel: L u k e vii. 13, 14). 
P R O M I S E : " T a k e u p t h y s o n " ( L e s s o n : 4 Kings 

iv. 3 6 ) . 
R E S P O N S E : 'Give glory to the Lord, a n d call u p o n 

His N a m e : declare His deeds a m o n g t h e gentiles" 
( I n t r o i t : Ps. civ.). 

P R A Y E R : Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, 
t h a t we w h o are chastised by votive f a s t s m a y also 
be gladdened w i t h holy devotion, t h a t our e a r t h l y 
affections being weakened, we m a y m o r e easily ap-
p r e h e n d heavenly things (Collect). 

R E F L E C T I O N : T h e compassion a n d loving-kind-
ness of the Lord. He is Master of life a n d death. 
He lived our h u m a n life a n d died our h u m a n d e a t h 
t h a t t h r o u g h Him we might rise f r o m d e a t h a n d live 
again a new life. T h e intimacy of His u n i o n w i t h 
u s is t r e m e n d o u s . He does for u s w h a t Eliseus did 
f o r t h e dead c h i l d : "He p u t his m o u t h u p o n his 
m o u t h , a n d his eyes u p o n his eyes, a n d his h a n d s 
upon his h a n d s a n d bowed himself u p o n him, a n d 
t h e child's flesh grew w a r m " ( L e s s o n : 4 Kings iv. 
3 4 ) . T h u s will He restore our life, if we b u t t u r n 
to Him in h u m b l e p e n i t e n c e : "Have regard, O Lord, 
to T h y covenant a n d forget not to t h e end t h e souls 
of T h y p o o r " ( G r a d u a l : Ps. Ixxiii.). 

F R U I T OF T H E D A Y : Sorrow for every least sin. 
Persevering p r a y e r f o r a n increase of divine life in 
u s : "As t h e L o r d liveth . . . I will n o t leave T h e e " 
( L e s s o n : 4 Kings iv. 30). 

P R A Y E R : O God, t h e Creator a n d Ruler of T h y 
people, drive away the sins by w h i c h they are as-
sailed, t h a t they m a y be ever pleasing to Thee, a n d 
be secure by T h y protection ( P r a y e r over t h e people). 



i THURSDAY, FOURTH WEEK. 
INVITATION: " I am the resurrection a n d the l i f e : 

he t h a t believeth in Me, although he be dead, shall 
live" (Gospel: J o h n xi. 35, 26). 

P R O M I S E : "Did I not say to thee, t h a t if t h o u be-
lieve, t h o u shalt see the glory of God" (Gospel: J o h n 
xi. 40). 

R E S P O N S E : w ' T h o u h a s t redeemed us, O Lord, i n 
T h y blood . . a n d h a s t m a d e u s to our God a 
k i n g d o m " ( I n t r o i t : Apoc. v . ) . 

P R A Y E R : Almighty, everlasting God, W h o h a s t 
ordained T h i n e only-begotten Son to be the Re-
deemer of the world, a n d h a s t pleased to be recon-
ciled u n t o u s in His blood; g r a n t u n t o us, We be-
seech Thee, so to venerate w i t h sole*»ii worship the 
price of our redemption, a n d to oe on e a r t h so de-
fended by its power f r o m the evils of this p r e s e n t life, 
t h a t we m a y rejoice in its p e r p e t u a l f r u i t in heaven 
(Collect). 

R E F L E C T I O N : Again a n d yet again our L o r d in-
vites -us to perfect f a i t h in t h e overwhelming power 
of His redemption. T h i s s t u p e n d o u s fact floods the 
world w i t h the sunlight of h o p e : f o r " t h e chalice 
of benediction which we bless, is it not the com-
m u n i o n of t h e blood of Christ? And t h e bread which 
we break, is it not t h e p a r t a k i n g of the body of the 
L o r d ? " ( O f f e r t o r y : 1 Cor. x.) 

F R U I T OF T H E D A Y : T O m a k e the immense obli-
gation of Calvary a n d its daily p e r p e t u a t i o n on our 
altars, a n active principle in our daily conduct. 

PRAYER : Having been admitted to the holy table, 
O Lord, we have d r a w n w a t e r in joy f r o m the foun-
t a i n s of the Saviour: m a y His blood, we beseech 
Thee, become w i t h i n u s a f o u n t a i n of w a t e r spring-
ing u p to eternal life ( P r a y e r a f t e r Communion); 



i THURSDAY, FOURTH WEEK. 
I N V I T A T I O N : "You t h a t t h i r s t come to the waters, 

saith the L o r d ; a n d you t h a t have no money, come 
a n d d r i n k w i t h j o y " ( I n t r o i t : Is. Iv.). 

P R O M I S E : "I a m the light of the w o r l d : he t h a t 
followeth Me, w a l k e t h not in d a r k n e s s , b u t shall have 
the light of l i f e " (Gospel: J o h n viii. 12). 

R E S P O N S E : " T h e L o r d is become my f i r m a m e n t , 
a n d my refuge, a n d m y deliverer: a n d in Him will 
I p u t m y t r u s t " ( O f f e r t o r y : Ps. xvii.). 

P R A Y E R : May the affection of our devotion be 
m a d e f r u i t f u l by T h y grace, we beseech Thee, O 
L o r d ; f o r t h e n will our f a s t s avail us, w h e n they 
are pleasing to T h y mercy (Collect). 

R E F L E C T I O N : W h e n we are poor in our own esti-
mation a n d t h i r s t for God: w h e n we see Him all 
about a n d a r o u n d u s as t h e all-encompassing firma-
ment, t h e n t r u l y is life illumined with the light of 
h e a v e n : t h e n " t h e y shall not hunger, nor t h i r s t , 
neither shall the sun strike t h e m ; for He t h a t is 
m e r c i f u l to t h e m shall be their Shepherd, a n d at t h e 
f o u n t a i n s of w a t e r s He shall give t h e m d r i n k . . . 
Can a w o m a n forget her i n f a n t , so as not to have pity 
on the son of her womb? And if she should forget, 
yet will not I forget thee; sftith t h e Lord Almighty" 
( L e s s o n : Is. xlix. 0, 10, 15). 

F R U I T OF T H E D A Y : D r a w away f r o m e a r t h l y 
t h i n g s a n d look u p to the firmament of God's bound-
less bounties w i t h h u m b l e joy. 

P R A Y E R : O God W h o choosest r a t h e r to pity t h a n 
to be a n g r y w i t h those w h o hope in T h e e : g r a n t u s 
worthily to l a m e n t the evils we have done, t h a t we 
m a y deserve to find the grace of T h y consolation 
( P r a y e r over the people). 



PASSION SUNDAY. 
INVITATION: "Amen, a m e n I say to you, if a n y 

m a n keep My word he shall not see d e a t h f o r e v e r " 
(Gospel: J o h n viii. 46, 51). 

P R O M I S E : " T h i s is My body which shall be de-
livered for y o u : this is the chalice of t h e new testa-
ment in My blood. ( C o m m u n i o n : 1 Cor. xi.). 

R E S P O N S E : "Send f o r t h T h y light a n d T h y t r u t h : 
they have conducted me and b r o u g h t me u n t o T h y 
holy hill, a n d into T h y t a b e r n a c l e s " ( I n t r o i t : Ps. 
xlii.). 

P R A Y E R : W e beseech Thee, Almighty God, gra-
ciously to look u p o n T h y f a m i l y ; t h a t by T h y b o u n t y 
it may be governed in body, a n d by T h y protection be 
guarded in m i n d (Collect). 

REFLECTION : "Christ being come, a high priest of 
t h e good things to come, by a greater a n d more per-
fect tabernacle, not m a d e w i t h h a n d s . . . by His 
own blood entered once into the Holies, having ob-
tained eternal redemption. F o r if the blood of goats 
a n d of oxen . . . sanctify such as are defiled, to t h e 
cleansing of t h e flesh, how m u c h more shall the 
blood of Christ, Who, by the Holy Ghost, offered 
Himself w i t h o u t spot to God, cleanse our conscience 
f r o m dead works, to serve the living God?" ( E p i s t l e : 
Heb. ix. 11-15.) 

F R U I T OF T H E D A Y : "I will confess to Thee, O 
Lord, w i t h m y whole h e a r t : r e n d e r to T h y s e r v a n t ; 
I shall live a n d keep T h y w o r d s : enliven me accord-
ing to T h y word, O L o r d " ( O f f e r t o r y : Ps. ex. a n d 
cxviii.). 

P R A Y E R : Be present w i t h us, O Lord our God, 
and defend with continual support those w h o m T h o u 
h a s t r e f r e s h e d with T h y mysteries ( P r a y e r a f t e r 
C o m m u n i o n ) . 



WEDNESDAY, PASSION WEEK. 
INVITATION: "Arise, . . . a n d p r e a c h . . . the 

preaching t h a t I bid t h e e " ( L e s s o n : J o n a s iii. 2 ) . 
P R O M I S E : "If a n y m a n thirst, let h i m come to Me 

And d r i n k . He t h a t believeth in Me, as t h e Scripture 
saith, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living w a t e r " 
(Gospel: J o h n vii. 37, 3 8 ) . 

R E S P O N S E : "Let men . . . cry to t h e L o r d w i t h 
all their s t r e n g t h a n d let t h e m t u r n every one f r o m 
his evil w a y " ( L e s s o n : J o n a s iii. 8 ) . 

P R A Y E R : Grant to us, O Lord our God, t h a t t h i s 
saving victim m a y p u r i f y u s f r o m all our sins, a n d 
be a propitiation f o r u s before T h y divine Majesty 
(Secret). 

R E F L E C T I O N : God designs to use His h u m a n 
c r e a t u r e s to c a r r y His message, to p r e a c h His doc-
trines, to p e r p e t u a t e His life of love a n d sacrifice. 
" T h e L o r d of hosts, He is the King of glory" (Com-
m u n i o n : P s . xxiii.), yet, in a sense, His glory is 
o f t e n at our mercy. U n f o r t u n a t e l y a n d u n j u s t l y 
Christ is o f t e n j u d g e d by Christians. T h e f a i l u r e of 
Christians to act, to speak consistently w i t h Christ's 
teaching is j u d g e d as His failure. T h e j u d g m e n t is 
u n j u s t , b u t t h e f a u l t of the scandal is o u r s : t h e fail-
u r e of m e n to embrace t h e t r u t h s of Christ is largely 
due to t h e f a c t t h a t we do n o t practice w h a t we 
preach, or t h a t , t h r o u g h cowardice, we do not speak 
Christ's t r u t h w h e n His interests a r e at stake. 

F R U I T OF T H E D A Y : Strong f a i t h begets f o r t i t u d e : 
we will speak w h a t w e know a n d believe, t r u s t i n g 
God to direct a n d bless our words. 

P R A Y E R : Grant to T h y people, we beseech Thee, 
O Lord, h e a l t h of m i n d a n d body; t h a t cleaving to 
good works, they may ever deserve to be defended by 
T h y protection ( P r a y e r over the people). 



WEDNESDAY, PASSION WEEK. 
INVITATION: "Expect the Lord a n d do m a n f u l l y : 

let t h y h e a r t t a k e courage a n d wait t h o u f o r the 
L o r d " ( I n t r o i t : Ps. xxvi.). 

P R O M I S E : " T h o u servant of God, t a k e the d i n n e r 
t h a t God h a t h sent t h e e " ( L e s s o n : Dan. xiv. 3 6 ) . 

R E S P O N S E : " T h o u h a s t remembered me, O God, 
a n d T h o u h a s t not f o r s a k e n t h e m t h a t love T h e e " 
( L e s s o n : D a n . xiv. 37). 

P R A Y E R : May our f a s t s be acceptable t o Thee, O 
L o r d ; a n d by expiating our sins, r e n d e r u s w o r t h y of 
T h y grace, a n d conduct u s a t last to eternal r e m -
edies (Collect). 

R E F L E C T I O N : It is very easy to d r i f t w i t h t h e cur-
r e n t : if we do j u s t w h a t others about u s do, w i t h o u t 
question, t h i n g s will seem to go s m o o t h l y : " T h e 
world c a n n o t h a t e you, b u t Me it hateth, because I 
give t e s t i m o n y of it, t h a t t h e w o r k s thereof are evil" 
(Gospel: J o h n vii.). R u t to d r i f t w i t h t h e c u r r e n t , 
is not to follow Christ: it is to be of t h e " w o r l d " He 
called "evil." W e m u s t stand f o r t h e right, we m u s t 
be t r u e , be honest, j u s t , k i n d not counting t h e cost, 
if we a r e to be children of God, b r o t h e r s of Christ: 
we m u s t d a r e t h e lions' den, like Daniel. 

F R U I T OF T H E D A Y : F r e q u e n t l y t o call to m i n d 
t h e suffering a n d persecution w h i c h befell t h e well-
beloved Son of God i n doing t h e will of Him W h o 
sent Him, i n order to f o r t i f y ourselves i n well-doing, 
t r u s t i n g i n t h e L o r d : " F o r T h o u dost not f o r s a k e 
t h e m t h a t seek T h e e " ( O f f e r t o r y : P s . ix.) 

P R A Y E R : Grant us, w e beseech Thee, O Lord, a 
persevering obedience to T h y will; t h a t in our days 
the people w h o serve Thee m a y increase b o t h i n 
m e r i t a n d n u m b e r ( P r a y e r over the people). 



WEDNESDAY, PASSION WEEK. 
INVITATION: "If I do not the w o r k s of My F a t h e r , 

believe Me n o t : b u t if I do, t h o u g h you will not be-
live Me, believe t h e w o r k s " (Gospel: J o h n x. 37, 38). 

P R O M I S E : "My sheep h e a r My voice, a n d I k n o w 
them, a n d t h e y follow Me. And I give, t h e m life 
everlasting" (Gospel: J o h n x. 27, 28). 

R E S P O N S E : "O Lord, m y God, I have cried to 
Thee, a n d T h o u h a s t healed m e : T h o u h a s t b r o u g h t 
f o r t h m y soul f r o m hell" ( G r a d ú a l : Ps. xxix.). 

P R A Y E R : W e beseech Thee, O God, by the sancti-
fication of this f a s t , m e r c i f u l l y to enlighten the h e a r t s 
of T h y f a i t h f u l ; a n d g r a n t u n t o those u p o n w h o m 
T h o u bestowest t h e grace of devotion a favorable 
hearing w h e n they call u p o n T h e e (Collect). 

R E F L E C T I O N : W e a r e u n d e r no illusion as to w h a t 
are a n d w h a t a r e not " t h e w o r k s of God." They a r e 
very explicitly s t a t e d : "You shall not steal. You 
shall n o t lie: neither shall a n y m a n deceive his 
neighbor. You shall n o t swear falsely by My n a m e 
. . . T h o u shalt not c a l u m n i a t e t h y neighbor, nor 
oppress h i m by violence. T h e wages of him t h a t 
h a t h been hired b y thee shall n o t abide w i t h t h e e 
until the m o r n i n g . . . Respect not t h e person of t h e 
poor, nor h o n o r t h e countenance of the mighty. . . 
T h o u shalt n o t be a detractor, nor a whisperer 
. . . Thou shalt not h a t e t h y b r o t h e r in t h y h e a r t . . . 
Seek n o t revenge. . . T h o u shalt love t h y f r i e n d a s 
t h y s e l f " ( L e s s o n : Levit. xix. 10-19). 

F R U I T OF T H E D A Y : To have b u t one s t a n d a r d of 
conduct—God's s t a n d a r d . 

P R A Y E R : Listen to our supplications, O Almighty 
God, a n d graciously bestow the effect of T h y wonted 
mercy u p o n us, to w h o m T h o u g r a n t e s t t h e confi-
dence of h o p e f u l devotion ( F i n a l P r a y e r ) . 



WEDNESDAY, PASSION WEEK. 
INVITATION: " T h o u gavest Me no w a t e r f o r My 

f e e t ; b u t she w i t h tears h a t h washed My feet, a n d 
w i t h her h a i r s h a t h wiped t h e m . T h o u gavest Me 
n o k i s s ; b u t she since she came in, h a t h not ceased 
to kiss My f e e t " (Gospel: L u k e vii. 41-46). 

P R O M I S E : "Many sins are forgiven her, because 
she h a t h loved m u c h : b u t to w h o m less is forgiven, 
he loveth less" (Gospel: L u k e vii. 4 7 ) . 

R E S P O N S E : "Now we follow Thee w i t h all our 
heart, a n d seek T h y face. . . Deal w i t h u s according 
to T h y meekness a n d according to the m u l t i t u d e of 
T h y mercies" ( L e s s o n : Dan. iii. 41-43). 

P R A Y E R : Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, 
t h a t t h e dignity of h u m a n n a t u r e w h i c h h a s been im-
paired by intemperance, m a y be restored by the 
practice of s a l u t a r y self-denial (Collect). 

R E F L E C T I O N : O u r L o r d h a s given all; He a s k s all 
i n r e t u r n , n o t only service b u t love, intimate, alfec-
tionate love. He w a n t s u s to desire His presence and 
to feel His absence. Incomprehensible a s this is, 
it is undoubtedly t r u e . W h e n we really love, we 
forget self: we yield our j u d g m e n t to the beloved 
So we should be w i t h our soul's Beloved: "All Thou 
h a s t done to us, O Lord, T h o u h a s t done in true 
j u d g m e n t . . . Give glory to T h y n a m e a n d deal with 
u s according to t h e m u l t i t u d e of T h y m e r c y " ( I n t r o i t : 
Dan. iii.). 

F R U I T OF T H E D A Y : To d a r e to speak to God inti-
mately, w i t h r e s p e c t f u l f a m i l i a r i t y : to assure Him 
of our love a n d ask its increase. 

P R A Y E R : Be propitious to T h y people, we beseech 
Thee, O Lord, t h a t rejecting those things which dis-
please Thee, they m a y be filled w i t h the delights of 
T h y c o m m u n i o n ( P r a y e r over the people). 



WEDNESDAY, PASSION WEEK. 
INVITATION: " W o m a n , behold t h y Son. Behold 

t h y m o t h e r " (Gospel: J o h n xix. 26, 27). 
P R O M I S E : "It is expedient f o r you t h a t one Man 

should die f o r t h e people" ( L a s t Gospel: J o h n xi 
50). • ' 

R E S P O N S E : "Blessed be t h e Lord W h o m a d e 
heaven a n d e a r t h , because He h a t h so magnified thy 
i ame this d a y t h a t t h y praise shall not d e p a r t out 
of the m o u t h of men, w h o shall "be m i n d f u l of the 
power of t h e L o r d f o r e v e r " ( L e s s o n : J u d i t h xiii 
24, 2 5 ) . 

P R A Y E R : Mercifully i n f u s e T h y grace into our 
hearts, we beseech Thee, O L o r d ; t h a t r e f r a i n i n g 
f r o m sin by v o l u n t a r y chastisement, we may be 
r a t h e r afflicted in time t h a n condemned in p u n i s h -
m e n t f o r eternity (Collect). 

R E F L E C T I O N : O u r Lord gave His life f o r His 
people: He did not hesitate to a s k of His dearly 
loved Mother to m a k e w i t h Him t h e s u p r e m e sacri-
fice. He asked her to accept u s as her c h i l d r e n : to 
be willing to see Him die f o r us, since it w a s the 
will of God to redeem t h e world of m e n . W h a t 
should be our gratitude to H i m : w h a t should be our 
appreciation of h e r ? Gratitude craves to express it-
self: to m a k e some r e t u r n ; appreciation strives to 
imitate w h a t it loves a n d admires. Are we t r u l y 
g r a t e f u l ? Do we t r u l y appreciate? 

F R U I T OF T H E D A Y : To go to Mary, our Mother, 
a n d learn of h e r p e r f e c t love for, a n d perfect obed-
ience to, t h e will of God. 

P R A Y E R : Let not t h e p e r p e t u a l protection of t h e 
sacrifice we have received f o r s a k e us, O L o r d ; a n d 
m a y it ever repel f r o m u s all t h a t is h u r t f u l ( P r a y e r 
a f t e r C o m m u n i o n ) . 



W E D N E S D A Y , PASSION WEEK. 
INVITATION: "Amen, a m e n I say to you, unless 

t h e grain of w h e a t falling into t h e ground die, itself 
r e m a i n e t h alone; b u t if it die, it bringeth f o r t h m u c h 
f r u i t . He t h a t loveth His life shall lose i t ; a n d he 
t h a t h a t e t h his life in t h i s world keepeth it u n t o life 
e t e r n a l " (Gospel: J o h n xii. 24, 2 5 ) . 

P R O M I S E : "And I , if I be lifted u p f r o m t h e earth, 
will d r a w all things to Myself" (Gospel: J o h n xii. 
;32, 36). 

R E S P O N S E : " W e would see J e s u s " (Gospel). 
P R A Y E R : May t h e people, we beseech Thee, O 

Lord, w h o a r e dedicated to T h e e increase in the affec-
tions of pious devotion; t h a t being t a u g h t by holy 
actions, t h e y m a y increase the more in gifts, accord-
ing as they become m o r e pleasing in t h e sight of 
T h y m a j e s t y (Collect). 

R E F L E C T I O N : Life is not stagnation, it is action, 
progress. T h e spiritual life m e a n s progress t o w a r d s 
God: action generated by grace. W e m u s t let t h e 
divine influence sluff off t h e dry, f r u i t l e s s h u s k of 
self, a n d m a k e alive a n d f r u i t f u l t h e soul: we m u s t 
be lifted u p t o u n i o n w i t h Christ crucified. W e m u s t 
see J e s u s as He was—poor, hard-working, p r a y e r f u l , 
courageous, long-suffering, persecuted, despised, in-
sulted, crucified, a n d seeing all this, we m u s t know 
Him God, God showing u s t h e best w a y to be the 
children of God. 

F R U I T OF T H E D A Y : To m a k e one loving step 
t o w a r d s t h e Cross today by interior self-denial. 

P R A Y E R : Let T h y right h a n d defend T h y sup-
pliant people, O Lord, a n d duly i n s t r u c t their puri-
fied minds, t h a t by p r e s e n t consolation, they may 
arrive at f u t u r e r e w a r d s ( P r a y e r over t h e people). 



PALM SUNDAY. 
INVITATION: " W h a t ! Could ye not w a t c h one 

h o u r w i t h Me? w a t c h ye a n d pray, t h a t ye enter 
not into t e m p t a t i o n . T h e spirit indeed is willing, 
b u t the flesh is w e a k " ( P a s s i o n : Matt. xxvi. 40, 4 1 ) . 

P R O M I S E : "Rise, let u s go; behold h e is a t . h a n d 
t h a t will b e t r a y Me" (Passion:. Matt. xxvi. 4 6 ) . 

R E S P O N S E : " I k n o w n o t t h e M a n " ( P a s s i o n ) . 
P R A Y E R : Almighty a n d everlasting God, W h o 

didst cause o u r Saviour to t a k e u p o n Him our flesh, 
a n d to suffer d e a t h u p o n t h e cross, t h a t all m a n k i n d 
should imitate t h e example of His h u m i l i t y ; merci-
f u l l y g r a n t t h a t we m a y deserve both to keep in 
m i n d t h e lessons of His patience, a n d also to be m a d e 
p a r t a k e r s of His r e s u r r e c t i o n (Collect). 

R E F L E C T I O N : "Christ J e s u s . . . emptied Him-
self, t a k i n g t h e f o r m of a servant, being m a d e in t h e 
likeness of men, a n d i n habit f o u n d a s a m a n . He 
h u m b l e d Himself, becoming obedient u n t o death, 
even t h e d e a t h of t h e cross. F o r which cause God 
also h a t h exalted H i m " (Epistle: Phil. ii. 7-9). 
Have we even t h e m i n d to be like o u r Lord i n h u m i l -
ity a n d obedience; do we w a t c h w i t h H i m ; do we 
p r a y ; do we go courageously to meet t r i a l a n d 
trouble, strong in the presence of God? or do we, 
w h e n we have to face opposition, or trouble, d e n y b y 
w o r d a n d act t h a t we are t h e f r i e n d s of Christ? 

F R U I T OF T H E D A Y : Confess o u r disloyalty. 
T h a n k God we have not been w o r s e : " T h o u h a s t 
held me by m y r i g h t h a n d . . . . B u t m y steps h a d 
well-nigh slipped" ( G r a d u a l : Ps. Ixxii.). 

P R A Y E R : By t h e operation of this mystery, O 
Lord, m a y our vices be cleansed away, a n d o u r j u s t 
desires fulfilled ( P r a y e r a f t e r C o m m u n i o n ) . 



WEDNESDAY, HOLY WEEK. 
INVITATION : " I have given My body to t h e s t r i k e r s 

a n d My cheeks to t h e m t h a t plucked t h e m : I have 
not t u r n e d away My face f r o m t h a t t h a t r e b u k e s Me 
a n d spit u p o n Me" (Lesson: Is. 1. 6 ) . 

P R O M I S E : " W h o is there a m o n g you t h a t feareth 
the L o r d ? t h a t h a t h walked in d a r k n e s s a n d h a t h no 
light? let h i m hope i n the n a m e of t h e Lord and 
lean u p o n h i s God" ( L e s s o n : Is. 1. 10). 

R E S P O N S E : "Deliver me f r o m my enemies, O 
L o r d ; to T h e e have I fled, t e a c h me to do T h y will" 
( O f f e r t o r y : Ps. cxlii.). 

P R A Y E R : Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, 
t h a t we w h o fail t h r o u g h our infirmity, in so m a n y 
difficulties m a y be relieved by t h e passion of T h y Son 
interceding f o r u s (Collect). 

R E F L E C T I O N : O u r L o r d ' s sacrifice w a s complete 
in those t h i n g s m o s t t r y i n g to h u m a n n a t u r e — i n -
sults a n d humiliations. How rarely do we feel called 
u p o n t o e n d u r e them, yet h o w o f t e n the mild answer 
will t u r n away w r a t h , how o f t e n might a humiliation 
be accepted sweetly w i t h benefit to two souls. W e r e 
we as keen a b o u t t h e honor of Christ as about our 
own, we would c o u r t h u m i l i a t i o n &nd insult in de-
fending t h e T r u t h or t h e Right. Mary Magdalen 
converted, expressed her love a n d worship of her 
Saviour publicly (Gospel: J o h n xii. 1-9). 

F R U I T OF T H E D A Y : T O accept humiliations, ex-
cept f r o m those u n d e r our authority, i n u n i o n w i t h 
o u r L o r d a n d i n a t o n e m e n t for our sins. 

P R A Y E R : Assist us, O God of our salvation, and 
vouchsafe t h a t we m a y d r a w nigh w i t h joy, to keep 
the m e m o r y of those mercies whereby T h o u h a s t gra-
ciously restored u s to a new life ( P r a y e r over t h e 
people). 



WEDNESDAY, HOLY WEEK. 
INVITATION: " W h e r e is My refectory, w h e r e I m a -

eat the pascli w i t h My disciples?" ( P a s s i o n : Mark 
xiv. 14.) 

P R O M I S E : "Amen I say to you, one of you t h a t 
eateth w i t h Me shall b e t r a y Me" ( P a s s i o n : -Mark 
xiv. 18). . ' " 

R E S P O N S E : "Is it I ? " ( P a s s i o n : Mark xiv. 1 8 ) . 
P R A Y E R : O Almighty a n d everlasting God, g r a n t 

us so to celebrate the mysteries of our L o r d ' s pas-
sion, t h a t we m a y deserve to receive T h y p a r d o n 
(Collect). 

R E F L E C T I O N : "It behooves u s to glory in t h e cross 
of our L o r d J e s u s Christ; in W h o m is our salvation, 
life a n d r e s u r r e c t i o n ; by W h o m we a r e saved a n d 
delivered" ( I n t r o i t : Gal. vi.). If we w a n t our L o r d 
to come in a n d sup w i t h u s ; if we would not b e t r a y 
Him, we m u s t ask f o r t h e s t r e n g t h t o w i t h s t a n d our 
w e a k e r selves, even at the cost of suffering to m a k e 
u p w h a t is w a n t i n g of the sufferings of Christ for 
His body, the Church. F o r , " t h e y t h a t sat in t h e 
gate were b u s ' - I against m e ; a n d they t h a t d r u n k 
wine m a d e m e t h e i r song. B u t a s f o r me, m y p r a y e r 
is to Thee, O L o r d ; for t h e t i m e of T h y good pleas-
ure, O God, in t h e m u l t i t u d e of T h y m e r c y " (Com-
m u n i o n : P s . Ixviii.). 

F R U I T OF T H E D A Y : T O m a k e o u r s t a n d a r d in 
dress a n d a m u s e m e n t s m o r e fitting to a follower of 
Christ. 

P R A Y E R : Let T h y mercy, O Lord, cleanse u s f r o m 
all the deceits of our old n a t u r e , a n d enable u s 
to be f o r m e d a n e w u n t o holiness ( P r a y e r over the 
people). 



WEDNESDAY, HOLY WEEK. 
INVITATION: "He t h a t is the greater among you, 

let h i m be as the y o u n g e r ; a n d he t h a t is the leader 
a s he t h a t serveth. F o r . . . I a m in the midst of 
you as He t h a t serveth" ( P a s s i o n : L u k e xxii. 26, 27). 

P R O M I S E : "You . . . w h o have continued with 
Me in My t e m p t a t i o n s . . . I appoint to you as My 
F a t h e r h a t h appointed t o Me, a k i n g d o m " ( P a s s i o n : 
L u k e xxii. 28, 29). 

R E S P O N S E : "Lord, I a m r e a d y to go w i t h Thee 
b o t h i n t o p r i s o n a n d to d e a t h " ( P a s s i o n : L u k e xxii. 
3 3 ) . 

P R A Y E R : O God, W h o w e r l pleased t h a t T h y Son 
should u n d e r g o f o r u s t h e ignominy of t h e cross, 
t h a t T h o u mightest drive a w a y f r o m u s the power of 
t h e e n e m y ; g r a n t to u s T h y servants t h a t we m a y 
obtain the grace of r e s u r r e c t i o n (Collect). 

R E F L E C T I O N : "All we like sheep have gone astray, 
every one h a t h t u r n e d aside i n t o his own way, a n d 
t h e L o r d h a t h laid on Him t h e iniquity of u s all. He 
w a s offered because it w a s His own will, a n d He 
opened n o t His m o u t h . . . . He h a t h delivered His 
soul u n t o death, a n d w a s r e p u t e d w i t h the w i c k e d : 
a n d He h a t h b o r n e t h e sins of many, a n d hatix prayed 
f o r t h e t r a n s g r e s s o r s " ( L e s s o n : Is. liii. 6-12)» Do we 
realize w h a t God h a s done f o r us, a n d w h a t we do 
f o r Him. 

F R U I T OF T H E D A Y : Resolve t o be obedient to a 
cultivated conscience: to r e f u s e God n o t h i n g we be-
lieve He asks. 

PRAYER : Look down, O Lord, u p o n this T h y f a m -
ily, f o r w h i c h our Lord J e s u s Christ hesitated not to 
be delivered u p into t h e h a n d s of wicked men, and 
to undergo t h e t o r m e n t of the cross ( P r a y e r over t b s 
people). 



MAUNDY THURSDAY. 
INVITATION: "Know ye w h a t I have done to 

you? You call Me Master a n d L o r d ; a n d you say 
well, f o r so I a m : if t h e n I, being y o u r Lord a n d 
Master, have washed y o u r feet, you also ought to 
wash one a n o t h e r ' s f e e t " (Gospel: J o h n xiii. 12-.15). 

P R O M I S E : " F o r as o f t e n as you shall" eat this 
bread a n d d r i n k this chalice, you shall show the 
d e a t h of t h e L o r d u n t i l He come" ( E p i s t l e : 1 cor. 
xi. 26, 29). % 

R E S P O N S E : " T h e r i g h t h a n d of t h e L o r d h a t h 
wrought s t r e n g t h ; I shall n o t die b u t live and shall 
declare t h e w o r k s of the L o r d " ( O f f e r t o r y : Ps. 
cxvii.). 

P R A Y E R : O God, f r o m W h o m J u d a s received the 
p u n i s h m e n t of his guilt, a n d the good thief t h e re-
w a r d of his confession; g r a n t u s the effect of T h y 
clemency, t h a t as our L o r d J e s u s Christ, in His pas-
sion, gave to each a different r e t r i b u t i o n according 
to his desert, so He would deliver u s f r o m our old 
sins a n d g r a n t u s the grace of His resurrection 
(Collect). 

R E F L E C T I O N : O u r L o r d wishes u s to pass on to 
others all He h a s done f o r us. If we receive Him 
worthily, w i t h a more a n d more purified conscience, 
in each Communion we will die more to self a n d 
live the c h a r i t y of Christ: c h a r i t y of j u d g m e n t , c h a r -
ity of word, c h a r i t y of deed. 

F R U I T OF T H E D A Y : T O see in every one a soul 
f o r w h o m Christ h a s given His life, n a y more, Christ 
Himself, a m e m b e r of His Mystical Body. 

P R A Y E R : R e f r e s h e d w i t h life-giving n o u r i s h m e n t , 
we beseech Thee, O Lord our God, t h a t w h a t we per-
f o r m in the time of our mortality, we may obtain by 
the gift of T h y i m m o r t a l i t y ( P r a y e r over t h e people). 



GOOD FRIDAY. 
INVITATION: " I t h i r s t " ( P a s s i o n : J o h n xiv. 28). 
P R O M I S E : "Everyone t h a t is of t h e t r u t h h e a r e t h 

My voice" ( P a s s i o n : J o h n xviii. 37). 
R E S P O N S E : "Come a n d let u s r e t u r n to t h e L o r d ; 

f o r He h a t h t a k e n us, a n d He will heal u s : He will 
strike a n d He will c u r e us. . . He will raise u s u p 
a n d we shall live in His sight. W e shall know a n d 
w e shall follow on t h a t w e m a y know t h e Lord. . . 
He will come to u s as t h e early a n d t h e latter r a i n 
t o t h e e a r t h " ( L e s s o n : Osee vi. 1-3). 

P R A Y E R : O almighty a n d eternal God, W h o h a s t 
revealed T h y glory in Christ t o all nations, preserve 
t h e w o r k s of T h y m e r c y ; t h a t T h y Church spread 
over t h e wl ole world, m a y persevere w i t h s t e a d f a s t 
f a i t h in t h e confession of T h y n a m e (Collect). 

R E F L E C T I O N : " I t is c o n s u m m a t e d . " O u r blessed 
L o r d a n d Redeemer h a s drained to t h e dregs the 
chalice His F a t h e r h a s given H i m to d r i n k : He h a s 
died t h a t we might live. He t h i r s t s f o r our souls: 
f o r t h e success of His sacrifice. W e alone can s a t i s f y 
His t h i r s t . O u r wills c a n s t a n d out against t h e im-
m e n s i t y of His a t o n e m e n t a n d n u l l i f y its effects f o r 
us. God p e r m i t s u s to choose: W i l l we pierce the 
H e a r t of Christ, or will we slake His b u r n i n g t h i r s t 
for souls? 

F R U I T OF T H E D A Y : I will love t h e Lord, .my God, 
w i t h all m y h e a r t , w i t h all m y soul, w i t h all m y 
mind, w i t h all m y strength. 

P R A Y E R : O Almighty a n d eternal God, the conso-
lation of t h e sorrowful, t h e s u p p o r t of the afflicted, 
m a y t h e p r a y e r s of those t h a t cry to Thee in a n y 
tribulation reach T h y e a r s ; t h a t all m a y rejoice t h a t 
in their necessities T h y mercy came to their relief 
(Collect)., 



HOLY SATURDAY. N 
INVITATION: "If you be risen w i t h Christ, seek 

the things t h a t are above." F o r you are dead, a n d 
your life is hid w i t h Christ in God. W h e n Christ 
shall appear, Who is your life, t h e n you also shall 
appear w i t h Him in glory" ( E p i s t l e : Colos. iii. 1,-4). 

P R O M I S E : " F e a r not you, f o r I k n o w l h a t you 
seek J e s u s W h o w a s crucified" (Gospel: Matt, xxviii.). 

R E S P O N S E : " T h e y were called, a n d they said, Here 
we a r e ; a n d w i t h c h e e r f u l n e s s they have shined f o r t h 
to Him t h a t m a d e t h e m " ( P r o p h e c y VI.: B a r u c h iii.).* 

P R A Y E R : O God, W h o dost illustrate t h i s most 
holy night by t h e glory of our L o r d ' s r e s u r r e c t i o n ; 
preserve i n t h e new progeny of T h y f a m i l y t h e spirit 
of adoption w h i c h T h o u h a s t given; t h a t renewed in 
body a n d mind, they m a y exhibit in T h y sight a p u r e 
service (Collect). 

R E F L E C T I O N : If we t r u l y seek J e s u s W h o w a s 
crucified, we need have no fear, He w h o seeks, finds, 
a n d finding Him, h a s f o u n d the solution to every 
problem, " i e f o u n d a t i o n of all life. He w h o finds 
Christ crucified will rise w i t h Him above the p e t t y 
viewpoint of e a r t h a n d will read the riddle of time 
by the light of eternity. He will shed its light cheer-
f u l l y bearing his p a r t in t h e labor of life, by his little 
best, m a k i n g all better. 

F R U I T OF T H E D A Y : Not to s t a n d aloof: to m a k e 
our new life in Christ practical b y giving t h e best 
God h a s given u s to the service of our fellows, our 
country, t h e Church, God. 

P R A Y E R : P o u r into us, O Lord, t h e spirit of T h y 
love; t h a t by T h y mercy T h o u mayest m a k e to be of 
one m i n d those w h o m T h o u h a s t nourished w i t h t h e 
P a s c h a l Sacraments. Amen ( P r a y e r a f t e r Com-
m u n i o n ) . 



Ignorance 
is the greatest enemy of the Church. 

What are you doing to combat it ? 

T H E C A T H O L I C W O R L D 
has been recognized as t h e 
leading Catholic Monthly for 
over sixty years. I t is pub-
lished by the Paulist Fathers. 

Send in yourJ order 

today, f Your t sub-

scription mil begin 

with the next number. 

Special 
I n t r o d u c t o r y 

O f f e r 
A Months 
for only ^1,00 1 

! THE CATHOLIC WORLD 
I 411 West 59th Street, New York, N. Y. 

I am enclosing one dollar. Please enter my sub-
scription for four months to begin with your next issue. 
Name 
Address 



Lenten Pamphlets«-
The Paulist Purple Series 

H O W A B E Y O U G O I N G TO K E E P L E N T ? ( 4 p a g e L e a f l e t ) $ 2 . 5 0 p e r . t h o u s a n d S . A T H O U G H T A DAY F O R L E N T . R e v . J a m e s M. Gillis, C . S . P . A C C E P T A B L E T I M E , T H E . D a i l y R e a d i n g s f o r L e n t f r o m T h o m a s a K e m p i s . i _ _ 
C H R I S T ' S L A S T AGONY. Key. H e n r y E . ( V K e e f f e , C.S.I". D I D C H R I S T R I S E A G A I N ? Rev.' P a u l S c h a n z . F B U I T S O F L E N T , T H E . Compiled f r o m t h e L i t u r g y . Kev. 

J o h n J . B u r k e , C . S . P . H I S G B E E T M G S . M o t h e r S t . , P a u r . _ 
L E N T I N P B A C T I C E . Rev.- J o h n J . B u r k e , p . S . P . • . . L E N T , I T S M E A N I N G A N D P U B P O S E . F r o m t h e L i t u r g i c a l Y e a r b y Dom G u S r a n g e r . s T , , n a n S E L E C T E D P R A Y E B S F O B L E N T . R e v , J a m e s M. Gillis, T E N E B B A E F O B GOOD F B I D A Y . » 
T H O U G H T S ON H O L Y W E E K . S e l e c t e d f r o m T h o m a s & 
T H O U G H T S ON T H E P A S S I O N O F J E S U S C H B I S T . B i s h o p 

R o s e c r a n s . 
T H E F O U R T E E N S T A T I O N S W I T H A S K E T C H O F T H E I R 

O R I G I N . V . R e v . J . McSorley, C . S . P . - _ 
S O M E T H O U G H T S p N T H E W A Y O F T H E C B O S S . R e v . 
L I T ° T L E J ' S T A T H ) N S S O N T H E W A Y O F T H E C B O S S . B e v . 
S T A T I O N S B O F * T H E C R O S S F O B C H I L D B E N . , A Religious; 

of t h e Cenacle, • ' , ' , ' ' . ' 
S i n g l e copies, 5 c e n t s ; $ 3 . 5 0 p e r 1 0 0 ; $30 p e r 1,000 C a r r i a g e E x t r a 

D E V O T I O N S F O R T H E T H R E E H O U R S ' AGONY. B y 
P a u l i s t F a t h e f . f . 

L I T T L E C A N T I C L E S O F L O V E - A u g u s t a T h o m p s o n ^ 
S i n g l e copies, 10 c e n t s — $ 6 . 0 0 p e r h u n d r e d 

. C a r r i a g e E x t r a 

THE MASS BOOK 
A v e r y p o p u l a r p o c k e t size g r a y e r b o o k c o n t a i n i n g a n ex-

p l a n a t i o n of t h e p r i n c i p a l d o c t r i n e s of t h e C h u r c h a n d t h e 
Significance of e a c h s t e p of t h e H o l y S a c r i f i c e a s w e l l a s 
p r a y e r s f o r a l l o c c a s i o n s . 

P a p e r , 10 c e n t s — $ 6 . 0 0 p e r 100 
L e a t h e r e t t e , 20 c e n t s — $ 1 5 . 0 0 p e r 100 

C a r r i a g e E x t r a 

THE PAULIST PRESS 
401 West 59th Street New York, N. ¥ .