THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. I have sworn once by My holiness, that I will not fail David. His seed shall endure for ever, and His seat is like as the sun before Me.-PSALM lxxxix. "Mortale, cœlo tolle, genus, caput." MORTAL race, enwrapt in gloom Night's black horrors troop away, Now earth's teeming breast portends, Lo, from Jesse's root this hour, Heav'n's own dews shall on Him rest, Faith, chaste Fear, and holy Love, Ancient Time, from days of yore, And hath watch'd the opening door. Haste thou on, approaching morn, Praise the Triune God of all, ST. MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS. AT THE FIRST VESPERS. His throne was like the fiery flame; thousand thousands ministered unto Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him.-DAN. vii. "Christe qui sedes olympo." O CHRIST, who sit'st with God on high, In equal majesty, Where angels in Thy glory's blaze Do tremble as they gaze; Grant us unblamed to speak in song Of that celestial throng. One o'er the rest with shining sheen, In the victorious fight, And hurl'd him in black overthrow, Unto the deeps below. With lifted arm, and thund'ring cry, "Who shall our God defy?" Thou stood'st; then the dark rebel rout Fell scatter'd all about; And He who gave the victory, O fairest in that winged band, 'Tis thine to set the spirit free In death's last agony, Coming in calm unearthly light, To walk through death's dim night, And bear her from her chains away, To mansions of the day. Glory to the Eternal Three, To Him who did our being give, Whose breath Divine doth us restore, And cherish evermore. Amen. AT THE MATTINS. Blessed art Thou upon the throne of Thy kingdom, and to be praised and glorified above all for ever. Blessed art Thou that beholdest the depths, and sittest upon the cherubims.-DAN. iii. "Mille quem stipant solio sedentem." O THOU, around whose everlasting throne Throng countless hosts, a glorious multitude, Free from all bodily weight; make us Thine own, Whom Thou to Thee hast hallowed with Thy blood Those happy seats, wherein Thy kingdom lies, Thou sendest friendly guides to lead us there. May the repeller of unearthly harms, To shield us from the foe, and keep us Thine! May Gabriel his sweet aid around us plant, |