The compleat office of the Holy Week with notes and explications / translated out of Latin and French ; published with allowance.

ON EASTER-DAY At MASS.

The station in the Church of St. Mary Major.

At Rome the Station is this day at our Ladies Church, to re∣present unto us, that no Creature had so great a share in the Glory of our Saviour's Resurrection as the Blessed Virgin; be∣cause the Body of this adorable Saviour risen again was formed in her Womb; and as by her Faith she merited to be the Mo∣ther of our Saviour in his Incarnation, so by the same Faith she merited to receive all those advantages due unto her, as a Mo∣ther in the glorious Resurrection of her Son.

The INTROIT, taken out of the 138th Psalm.

The Church teaches us, that Christs Humanity was not sepa∣rated from his Divinity, neither in his Death nor Resurrection; and that nothing happened in the marvellous work of our Re∣demption, but by order of the Divine Providence, whose Judg∣ments are incomprehensible. 'Twas Gods will, that his only Son should become Man, suffer Death, and rise again: to the end, that having by his death expiated the sins of Men, which subjected them to death, he gave them hopes of Resurrection, by his own; and of following him, their Head and Leader, into Glory, whither he went before, to establish them there with him.

I Am risen, and yet I am with thee: Praise God. Thou hast put thy hand upon me: Praise God. Thy knowledge is wonder∣ful: Praise God, praise God.

PSALM CXXXVIII.

In this Psalm the Church instructs us, that there is not any Man so Holy, who can represent himself before God at the Re∣surrection, without trembling and dread of his Judgments. That Christ was the only Person not apprehensive of them, be∣ing absolutely assured that he was free from all that could be offensive to the Divine Eye, that only knows perfectly all that is in Man.

LOrd, thou hast proved me, and hast known me: thou hast known my sitting down, and my rising up.

Kyrie eleison, &c. as before, pag. 36. And as our Saviours Glorious Resurrection crowns the My∣stery of his Incarnation. The Faithful testifying their joy and acknowledgments, by singing that Canticle which the Angels used when the Divine Word became Man, to the end, to praise God for this great work, which gave to his Majesty a perfect Adorer, and to Men a Sovereign Mediator; who reconciles them by his Divine Grace unto him, and settles Peace between Hea∣ven and Earth, which Sin had broken. Gloria in Excelsis Deo, &c. as before, pag. 167.

The COLLECT.

The Faithful beg of God, that as Christs Humanity being united to his Divine Person by an Hypostatick Union, was never separated from his Divinity; so that being united to Jesus Christ, as to their Head, by the Union of his Grace, may ne∣ver

be divided from his Majesty, but being freed from Death, and Sin conquered by Christ, they may follow him as their Guide into the state of Glory, whither he is gone before them to esta∣blish them there with him.

Let us Pray.

O God, who this day hast opened to us, by thy only begotten Son, the entrance to Eternity, through his victory over death, vouchsafe, by thy mercy, to grant those Peti∣tions which thy preventing grace inspires. Through the same, our Lord Jesus Christ, who, with thee, liveth and reigneth, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Lesson out of the First Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians, and Fifth Chapter.

The Church instructs us, that we are to dye unto sin, that so we may be capable of the benefit of Jesus Christs Resurrection. That is to say, that as Jesus Christ dyed, and by dying destroyed that flesh, which in appearance was Criminal; and as he ex∣tinguished that sin which was not in him, but because he would take it upon him to satisfie the Divine Justice; so we must put off the Old Man, which truly is a sinner, and putting on the New, destroy sin, which is truly ours, to live the life of Grace, which the life of Glory will follow, if we be united as perfectly with Jesus Christ as the condition of our Mortality permits. To entertain us in this new life of Grace, given us by the Merits of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ; This Di∣vine Saviour was pleased by an excess of love to give himself un∣to us for our Spiritual Nourishment, figured by the Paschal Lamb. This Lamb immolated in the Ancient Law, was the Jewish Pasch, and Jesus, immolated on the Cross, is our Pasch. The Jews were not to eat the Paschal Lamb but with unleavened Bread; yet since it was but a figure of Jesus Christ, who gives himself

in the new Banquet, whereunto he calls us, far more excellent than their Pasch; we ought to purifie our hearts from the old leaven, that is, from our former sins; and instead of Malice and Iniquity, we there must lodge Innocence and Truth, being ob∣liged to be as new Paste without Leven, that is, without sin.

BRethren, purge the old leven, that you may be a new paste, as you are azyms, for our Pasch Christ is immolated, therefore let us feast not in old leven, nor in the leven of malice and wickedness, but in the azym of sin∣cerity and truth.

The GRADUAL, taken out of the 117th Psalm.

The Church representing unto us how Jesus Christ hath by his Death freed us from the Tyranny of the Devil, and Servitude of Sin; and how by his Resurrection hath given us here a new Life, and Glory hereafter, expressed her resentments and joy in the same words which the Royal Prophet used in expectation of this day revealed unto him by God, according to St. Chrysostome in his Homily upon this day.

THis is the day which our Lord hath made: let us rejoyce and be glad in it.

V. Confess ye unto the Lord, for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever.

Alleluia, Alleluia.

V. Jesus Christ, who was our Pasch, hath been immolated.

The Church, by the following Prose, tells us, that our sins and the Devil being vanquished by Jesus Christ, we have cause to sing Songs of Praise with more joy than the Israelites, when they had passed the Red Sea, and beheld the Egyptians on all sides stretcht out upon the Sands, and their Chariots drowned in the bottom of the Sea.

The PROSE.

BRing all, ye dear-bought Nations, bring Your richest Praises to your King; That spotless Lamb, who, more than due, Paid for his Sheep, and those Sheep, you; That Innocent Son, who wrought your peace, And made his Father's anger cease. Life and Death together fought; Each to a strange extream were brought; Life died, but soon revived again, And even by death's self has slain. Say, happy Magdalen, O say, What didst thou see these by the way? I saw the Tomb of my dear Lord; I saw himself, and him ador'd; I saw the Napkin, and the Sheet, That bound his Head, and wrapt his Feet; I heard the Angels witness bear, Jesus is risen, he's not here. Go, tell his followers, they shall see. Thine and their hope in Galilee. They, Lord, with faithful heart and chearful voice, We on thy glorious rising day rejoyce. O thou, whose conquering pow'r o'recame the grave, By thy victorious grace, us sinners save. Amen. Alleluia.

Munda cor meum, as before, pag. 14.

The Sequence of the Holy Gospel, according to St. Mark, Chap. 16.

MUNDA COR MEUM, &c. as before, pag. 14. Wherein the Church, relating what happened at our Saviours Sepulcher at his Resurrection, teacheth us what we ought to do to prepare our selves for the celebrating worthily this Solemnity, and then proposes to us the advantages we reap. 1. This Gospel teacheth us, that the three Maries went early in the Morning with Perfumes to seck Jesus Christ in his Sepul∣cher. The Example of these Holy Women tell us our obligation of going to seek for Christ in his Sepulcher, as soon as we are enlightned with his grace: That is, in the Sacrament of Penance, which is the figure of it, there to bury our sins, making a stock of Good Works, signified by the Perfumes. 2. These Holy Women had the happiness to see the Angels, to teach us, that the Souls which seek Christ with Holy desires, and the Odour of Vertues, have a particular assistance from the Blessed Spirits. 3. The Angel appeared to these Holy Women in white, as a token of Innocence and Joy, to tell us with what purity and joy we are to solemnize the Resurrection of our Lord. This Joy is common to us with the Angels; who rejoyce because the void places of their Hierarchies are replenished; and we ought to rejoyce, for that by its vertue we are raised in this World from the death of sin to a life of grace; and we receive a pledge of happy Immortality, whereunto we aspire. 4. The Angel appeared sitting on the right hand, which sig∣nifies, that by Christs Resurrection we are called to possess Spi∣ritual Blessings, expressed in Holy Scripture by the right hand. 5. These Holy Women were surprised with fear at their ar∣rival, but afterwards were emboldned by the Angel. To teach us, that Souls which seek God carefully, and are toucht with a Holy fear, which is the first gift of the Holy Ghost, are con∣firmed with Celestial consolations. 6. The Angel recommended to these Holy Women to publish our Saviours Resurrection, namely, to St. Peter, to shew us the Providence which God hath for true Penitents, and the hope he gives them to partake of the Glory of his Sons Resurrection.

AT that time Mary Magdalene, and Mary of James and Salome, brought spices, that coming they might anoint Jesus: And very early, the first of the Sabboths, they came to the monument, the sun being now risen. And they said one to another, Who shall roul us back the stone from the door of the monument? And looking, they saw the stone rouled back; for it was very great. And, entring into the monument, they saw a young man sitting on the right hand, covered with a white robe. And they were astonished, who said to them, Be not dismayed: You seek Jesus of Nazareth, that was crucified; he is risen, he is not here; be∣hold the place where they laid him. But go tell his disciples and Peter, that he goeth be∣fore you into Galilee; there you shall see him, as he told you.

CREDO, as before, pag. 54, 55.

The OFFERTORY, taken out of the 75th Psalm.

The Church represents unto us, that if the Earth trembled at Christs Resurrection, and that all present were astonished at his going forth of his Tomb when he came in Mercy to men, how much more cause have we to fear and tremble when we consider the severity of his Justice, at his coming to examine us a Judge, whose Judgments are so piercing, that he sees into the most secret corner of our hearts; yea, what our selves cannot dis∣cover, when at the general Resurrection he shall come to Judge

the living and the dead in such Majesty and Power, that the Heavens and all the Elements will be reduced to a condition of Horror and Terror. This fear of Gods Judgment when it is joyned to the hope we have through his Mercy to reap the Fruit of our Saviours Resurrection, makes our hopes the more be∣neficial.

THe earth trembled, and was still, when God arose in judgment. Alleluia.

Suscipe Sancte Pater, &c. till the Secret, as before, pag. 56.

The SECRET.

The Priest begs of God, on the behalf of the Faithful, to give them the grace to celebrate worthily the Mysteries of the Re∣surrection of Jesus Christ, so that they may reap its wholsom effects.

ACcept, O Lord, we beseech thee. the Prayers of thy People, with the Obla∣tion of these Hosts; that these Paschal My∣steries, which we celebrate, may be wholesom; and, by thy assistance, availing us to ob∣tain Life Everlasting. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, &c.

The Preface, till Vere dignum & justum est, &c. as be∣fore, pag. 60, &c.

The Priest, in the name of the Faithful, acknowledges the Obligation we have of giving continual thanks to God for Christs Resurrection, whereby to raise us again to Life Everlasting; and confessing that of himself he cannot worthily acquit this Duty, he joyns with the Angels, Thrones, and Dominations, and the rest of the Celestial Spirits, who in Heaven sing incessantly Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, and the Canticle which the Children

sung at Christ's Triumphant entry into Jerusalem, Benedictus qui venit, &c. as a testimony of the Spiritual Union between Men and Angels in praising his Divine Majesty; and to confess that the Purity of Angels, and Innocence of Infants is required to praise God worthily.

IT is truly meet and just, right and whole∣som, O Lord, that at all times we set forth thy praises: But more especially in this Night, wherein Jesus Christ, our Paschal Lamb, was immolated, who hath taken away the sins of the World: who, by dying, hath destroyed our death; and by rising again, hath restored life. And therefore with Angels and Arch∣angels, with the Thrones and Dominations, together, with the Celestial Host, we sing this Hymn of thy Glory, without end, say∣ing, Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God of Sabbath. The Heavens and Earth are full of thy Glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he that comes in the Name of our Lord: Hosanna in the highest.

The CANON, to Communicants, as before, pag. 63.

COMMƲNICANTES.

The Priest, by vertue of the Union between the Church Mi∣litant with the Triumphant; and in memory of this Blessed Day, whereon our Saviour rose again, beseeches God to supply the defects of his Prayers, whereby he begs his Protection by the Merits and Suffrages of the Blessed Virgin, the Apostles, Martyrs, and of Saints.

PArtaking in the same Communion, and celebrating the Solemnity of this blessed Day, wherein our Lord Jesus Christ, rose again according to the flesh: and in the first place, honouring the memory of the ever blessed Virgin, Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ; and of the blessed Apostles, and Martyrs, Peter and Paul, Andrew, James, John, Thomas, James, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Simon and Thad∣deus, Linus, Cletus, Clement, Xystus, Corne∣lius, Cyprian, Lawrence, Chrysogonus, John and Paul, Cosme and Damian, and all the other Saints; by whose Merits and Prayers vouch∣safe to grant us the assistance of thy pro∣tection. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

HANC IGITƲR OBLATIO∣NEM, &c.

The Priest spreads his hands over the Host and Chalice, to testifie to God, that he Offers and Sacrifices himself unto him joyntly, therewith begging four things. 1. That he will please to accept this Oblation. 2. To grant us Peace. 3. To deliver us from Hell. 4. To admit us among the Blessed.

WE beseech thee therefore, O Lord, to accept this Oblation of our Duty, and of thy whole Family; which we offer up unto thee also, for those whom thou hast vouch∣safed

to regenerate by Water, and the Holy Ghost; granting them pardon of all their sins, and graciously to give Peace in our days; and, preserving us from Eternal Damnation, to bring us among thy Elect; Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

All the rest till the Communion, as before, pag. 79.

The COMMUNION, taken out of the First Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians, Chap∣ter 5.

Wherein the Church, as in the Epistle of this Mass represents unto us that Jesus Christ immolated on the Cross, is our Pasch, who gives himself unto us in this new Banquet, whereunto he calls us; far exceeding the Jewish Pasch. That therefore we may worthily celebrate this Pasch, we must purifie our Hearts from the old Leaven, that is, their former sins, and plant In∣nocence and Truth there, in lieu of Malice and Iniquity.

CHrist, our Passover, is sacrificed for us, therefore let us keep the Feast with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Alle∣luia, Alleluia, Alleluia.

The POST-COMMUNION.

We beg Gods grace to celebrate this Divine Pasch worthily, wherein Jesus Christ gives himself unto us for our Spiritual Food, to the end, we may be all united in him as inseparable Members of his Body.

INfuse, O Lord, into us the spirit of thy love, that whom thou hast satiated with thy Paschal Sacraments, thou, of thy good∣ness, unite in heart and will. Through our Lord, &c.

All the rest as before, pag. 81, 82.

At the Sixth Hour.

Pater noster, &c. Ave Maria, &c.

O God, incline unto my aid. O Lord, make hast to help me.

Glory be to the Father, &c. Alleluia. Defecit in salutare, &c. as before, pag. 142. Quomodo dilexi, &c. as before, pag. 144. Iniquos odio habui, &c. as before, pag. 145. Haec dies, &c. as before, pag. 318.

Let us Pray.

Deus qui hodierna die, &c. as before, pag. 312.

At the Ninth Hour.

Pater noster, &c. Ave Maria, &c.

O Lord, incline unto my aid. O Lord, make hast to help me.

Glory be to the Father, &c. Alleluia.

Mirabilia testimonia tua, &c. as before, pag. 147. Clamavi in toto corde meo, &c. as before, pag. 149. Principes persecuti sunt me gratis, &c. as be∣fore, pag. 151. Haec dies, &c. as before, pag. 318.

Let us Pray.

Deus qui hodierna die, &c. as before, pag. 312

Thanks be to God.