ROGATION DAYS

Rogation Days

THE Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday before the Ascension are observed as days of solemn supplication, and are called Rogation Days, from the Latin word rogatio, meaning Litany, because the Litany of Saints is chanted on those days in the processions which take place.

The Rogation days originated in France. In the year 469 the city of Vienne suffered from earthquakes, failure of crops, and other clamities. The pious Bishop Mamertus, who saw in the events the judgement of God, called upon his flock to appease Heaven by penances, processions, and prayers during the three days before Ascension day. The example of Mamertus was followed by all the French bishops, and the custom finally became general. These three Rogation days serve also as a preparation for the feast of the Ascention, which  reminds us that we have the most powerful intercessor in Our Saviour, Who is now enthroned at the right hand of the Father.

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Next: Feast of the Ascension

FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER

Fifth Sunday After Easter

Introit of the Mass is again a joyful thanksgiving for our redemption. “ Declare the voice of joy, and let it be heard, alleluia; declare it even to the ends of the earth; the Lord hath delivered His people, alleluia, alleluia” (Isaias xlviii.  20). “ Shout with joy to God, all the earth, sing ye a psalm to His name, give glory to His praise” Glory be to the Father, etc.

Prayer.

O God, from Whom all good things proceed, grant to Thy suppliants that by Thy inspiration we may think those things that are right, and by Thy direction perform them. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, etc.

EPISTLE. James i. 23-27.

Dearly Beloved: Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only: deceiving your own selves. But if a man be a hearer of the word, and not a doer: he shall be compared to a man be holding his own countenance in a glass: for he beheld himself, and went his way, and presently forgot what manner of man he was. But he that hath looked into the perfect law of liberty, and hath continued therein, not becoming a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.  And if any man think himself to be religious, not bridling his tongue, but deceiving his own heart, this man s religion is vain. Religion clean and undefiled before God and the Father, is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their tribulation: and to keep one s self unspotted from this world.

GOSPEL. John xvi. 23-30.

At that time Jesus said to His disciples: Amen, amen I say to you: if you ask the Father anything in My name, He will give it you. Hitherto you have not asked anything in My name: ask, and you shall receive, that your joy may be full. These things I have spoken to you in proverbs. The hour cometh when I will no more speak to you in proverbs, but will show you plainly of the Father: in that day you shall ask in My name : and I say not to you, that I will ask the Father for you : for the Father Himself loveth you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came out from God. I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world : again I leave the world and I go to the Father. His disciples say to Him: Behold now Thou speakest plainly, and speakest no proverb ; now we know that Thou knowest all things, and Thou needest not that any man should ask Thee. By this we believe that Thou comest forth from God.

Why does God wish us to pray to Him?
To remind us: 1. That all good things come from Him, and that without Him we have nothing. 2. That we may confide in Him and try to make ourselves worthy of His divine grace, by thoughts pleasing to Him, and valuing more, and using better, the graces we receive.

Why is our prayer often not heard?
Because we often ask for something that would be more hurtful than profitable to us.

When ought we to pray?
At all times, but especially at, 1, morning, noon, and night; 2, in time of great temptation; 3, when receiving the sacraments; 4, when about to undertake anything important;5, at the hour of death.

Which is the best of all prayers?
The Lord s Prayer; but though we say it a hundred times, it will fail to produce its beneficial effects if we repeat it thoughtlessly, without thinking of its meaning or purpose.
 

SHORT EXPLANATION OF THE LORD’S PRAYER.

Why does this prayer commence with the Our Father ?
To encourage us thereby to a child-like confidence in God.  as our Father, Who loves all men, and is ever ready to help them.

Why do we say, “ Who art in heaven,” since God is everywhere?
To admonish us to lift up our hearts to heaven, our true home, where God has set up the throne of His kingdom.  

What do we ask of God in this prayer?
In the first petition, “ hallowed be Thy name,” we pray that God may be known and loved by all men, and that His name may be glorified by a Christian life.

In the second petition, “ Thy kingdom come,” we pray God to enter and rule in our hearts by His grace, to spread His Church throughout the whole world, and after our death to award us eternal happiness.

In the third petition, “Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven,” we offer ourselves entirely to God, and declare our selves ready to be subject to the dispositions of His holy will, as are the angels in heaven, and pray to Him for grace to do this. 

In the fourth petition, “give us this day our daily bread,” we ask for all things which we need; for the body, as food and clothing, and for the soul, as grace and the divine word.

In the fifth petition, “forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those that trespass against us,” we pray to God for forgiveness, but only so far as we forgive those that injure us. We must therefore remember that we shall not obtain forgiveness from God so long as we have in our hearts hatred against anyone.

In the sixth petition, “and lead us not into temptation,” we acknowledge our frailty, and ask God to remove temptations from us, or, if He permit us to fall into those which the world, the flesh, and the devil prepare for us, to give us grace not to consent to them, but, by combating and overcoming them, to gain the merit and the crown of justice.

In the seventh petition, “but deliver us from evil,” we pray to God to preserve us from sin, and the occasions of sin; an evil death and hell; also from all temporal evils, so far as may be for the salvation of our souls.

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Next: Rogation Days

FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER

Fourth Sunday After Easter

THE Introit of the Mass of to-day is a song of praise and thanksgiving. Sing ye to the Lord a new canticle, alleluia, for the Lord hath done wonderful things, alleluia. He hath revealed His justice in the sight of the gentiles, alleluia, alleluia. His right hand hath wrought for Him salvation, and His arm is holy. Glory be to the Father, etc.

Prayer.

O God, Who dost unite the hearts of the faithful in one will, grant to Thy people to love what Thou commandest, and to desire what Thou dost promise, that among the changes of this world our hearts may be fixed on that place where true joys reside. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, etc.

EPISTLE. James i. 17-21.

Dearly Beloved : Every best gift, and every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with Whom there is no change, nor shadow of alteration. For of His own will hath He begotten us by the word of truth, that we might be some beginning of His creatures. You know, my dearest brethren. And let every man be swift to hear : but slow to speak, and slow to anger. For the anger of man worketh not the justice of God. Wherefore casting away all uncleanness, and abundance of naughtiness, with meekness receive the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

Practice.

In this epistle the Church teaches us that every good gift comes from God. But the most precious gift is, that He of His grace through the doctrines and institutions of Christianity, has made us new men, children of God, and heirs of the kingdom of heaven. The Church admonishes us, further, to walk worthy of this grace ; to love God as our Father, to listen to His word willingly, without complaining when He chastises us, and to shun all impurity, anger, and multiplicity of words, in which " there shall not want sin “. (Prov. x. 19).

Aspiration.

Help me, O God, to preserve the grace received in baptism ; give me, therefore, a great love for Thy word. Deliver me from all inordinate passions, that I may walk worthy of Thee, purely and with patience.

GOSPEL. John xvi. 5-14.

At that time Jesus said to His disciples : I go to Him that sent Me ; and none of you asketh Me : Whither goest Thou ?  But because I have spoken these things to you, sorrow hath filled your heart. But I tell you the truth : it is expedient to you that I go : for if I go not, the Paraclete will not come to you : but if I go, I will send Him to you. And when He is come, He will convince the world of sin, and of justice, and of judgment ; of sin : because they believed not in Me. And of justice : because I go to the Father : and you shall see Me no longer.  And of judgment: because the prince of this world is already judged. I have yet many things to say to you : but you cannot bear them now. But when He the Spirit of truth is come, He will teach you all truth ; for He shall not speak of Himself ; but what things soever He shall hear, He shall speak, and the things that are to come He shall show you. He shall glorify Me : be cause He shall receive of Mine, and shall show it to you.

Why did Jesus say, “ I go to My Father”?
To reprove His disciples for giving way to excessive sorrow over His departure, which was to be the means of purifying and strengthening their virtue, and of perfecting the work of redemption, for them and for all the world. Learn from this, not to give way to too much sorrow in adversity.

 How has the Holy Ghost convinced the world of sin, of justice, and of judgment?
He has convinced the world, 1, of sin, by making the Jews know and lament the monstrous crime which they committed against Christ, and this He effected particularly at Pentecost. 2.Of justice, by teaching the innocence and holiness of Jesus, on account of which God gave Him a kingdom, and required men to worship Him as the true God. 3.Of judgment, by everywhere overcoming the prince of darkness, destroying his kingdom, casting down the temples of idolatry, and in their place, by seemingly weak means, establishing the kingdom of truth and virtue.  How does the Holy Ghost teach all truths?  By preserving the pastors and teachers of the Church from all errors, in their teaching of faith and morals, and by instructing each member of the Church in the truths of salvation.

Aspiration.

Whither am I going? Will my life bring me to God? O my God and my Lord, direct my feet in the way of Thy commandments, and keep my heart free from sin, that the Holy Ghost, finding nothing in me worthy of punishment, may teach me all truth, and bring me safely to Thee, Who art the eternal truth. Amen.
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Next: Fifth Sunday After Easter

THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EASTER-PATRONAGE OF ST. JOSEPH

Third Sunday after Easter—Patronage of St. Joseph.

EPISTLE AND GOSPEL OF THE FEAST.

EPISTLE. Gen. xlix. 22-26.

JOSEPH is a growing son, a growing son and comely to behold : the daughters run to and fro upon the wall. But they that held darts provoked him, and quarrelled with him, and envied him. His bow rested upon the strong, and the bands of his arms and his hands were loosed, by the hands of the mighty one of Jacob : thence he came forth a pastor, the stone of Israel.  The God of thy father shall be thy helper, and the Almighty shall bless thee with the blessings of heaven above, with the blessings of the deep that lieth beneath, with the blessings of the breasts and of the womb. The blessings of thy father are strengthened with the blessings of his fathers : until the desire of the everlasting hills should come; may they be upon the head of Joseph, and upon the crown of the Nazarite among his brethren.

GOSPEL. Luke iii. 21-23.

At that time : It came to pass when all the people was bap tized, that Jesus also being baptized and praying, heaven was opened : and the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape as a dove upon Him : and a voice came from heaven : Thou art My beloved Son, in Thee I am well pleased. And Jesus Himself was beginning about the age of thirty years, being (as it was supposed) the son of Joseph.

WHAT WE ABE TO BELIEVE CONCERNING THE EVANGELICAL COUNSELS.

In what does the perfection of the Christian life consist?  In the perfection of love (Col. iii. 14). The more a man separates himself from the world, and unites himself with God, the more perfect he will be. We can attain to the perfection of the Christian life by means of certain excellent practices known as the evangelical counsels which Jesus Christ lays before us, and to which He calls us, without directly commanding us to adopt them. So that the difference between the commandments and the evangelical counsels consists in this : that the commandments bind us by an indispensable obligation, but the evangelical counsels do not. The evangelical counsels are: 1. Voluntary poverty. 2. Perpetual chastity. 3. Entire obedience under a spiritual director.
By voluntary poverty is understood a free-will renunciation of the riches and goods of this world in order to follow Jesus Christ in His poverty. By perpetual chastity we understand a free-will, life-long abstinence, not only from everything that is contrary to purity, but also abstinence from marriage, in order to live only for God and His holy service in virginal purity.  By entire obedience we are to understand a voluntary renunciation of one s own will in order to follow the will and command of a superior whom one chooses for himself. In practising the evangelical counsels there are three points to be observed, in order that they may serve, or help to eternal salvation : 1. They must be practised with a pure intention, seeking thereby nothing else than to please God and to praise His holy name.2.With great humility, in no way giving ourselves preference over others. 3. By great fidelity in observing not only what one has vowed, but also what is commanded. Also, one should live diligently and strictly according to the commandments, otherwise the practising of the evangelical counsels will be of no avail.

INTROIT, PRAYER, EPISTLE, AND GOSPEL OF THE SUNDAY.

The Church continues to encourage us to rejoice and praise God for the resurrection of Jesus, and sings accordingly, at the Introit of the Mass, “ Shout with joy to God, all the earth, alleluia. Sing ye a psalm to His name, alleluia. Give glory to His praise, alleluia ! alleluia ! alleluia ! Say unto God how terrible are Thy works, O Lord. In the multitude of Thy strength, Thy enemies shall lie to Thee” (Ps. Ixv.).

Prayer

O God, Who dost show the light of Thy truth to those that go astray that they may return to the way of justice, grant to all who are numbered among Christians to reject those things which are incompatible with this name, and to pursue those which are becoming. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, etc.

EPISTLE, i. Peter ii. 11-19.

Dearly Beloved: I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, to refrain yourselves from carnal desires which war against the soul, having your conversation good among the gentiles: that whereas they speak against you as evil doers, they may, by the good works which they shall behold in you, glorify God in the day of visitation. Be ye subject therefore to every human creature for God s sake : whether it be to the king as excelling : or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evil doers, and for the praise of the good : for so is the will of God, that by doing well you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men : as free, and not as making liberty a cloak for malice, but as the servants of God. Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. For this is thanks-worthy, in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Explanation.

St. Peter here reminds us, 1, that we are only pilgrims on earth and should not fasten our hearts on the world and its goods. He admonishes us, 2, to lead an edifying life, particularly when we are among the adversaries of our faith, for, while we may thus do great good, and awaken respect for the Church an un-Catholic and un -Christian life not only brings shame upon him who leads it, but gives scandal to non -Catholics, and places the Church in a false light. He admonishes us, 3, to be subject to our superiors, for God s sake, for it is He Who commands this obedience (Rom. xiii. 1).

Aspiration.

O Jesus, I will impress deeply upon my heart the teaching of Thy apostle, that this world is not my home. Though I should meet in my pilgrimage many adversities, I will patiently combat them, and will not suffer anything to keep me from the way to my true home, heaven. Give me Thy grace, O God, to fulfil this resolution.

GOSPEL. John xvi. 16-22.

At that time Jesus said to His disciples : A little while, and you shall not see Me : and again a little while, and you shall see Me : because I go to the Father. Then some of His disciples said one to another : What is this that He saith to us : A little while, and you shall not see Me : and again a little while, and you shall see Me, and because I go to the Father? They said therefore: What is this that He saith, a little while? we know not what He speaketh. And Jesus knew that they had a mind to ask Him, and He said to them: Of this do you inquire among yourselves, because I said : A little while, and you shall not see Me : and again a little while, and you shall see Me ? Amen, amen, I say to you, that you shall lament and weep, but the world shall rejoice : and you shall be made sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. A woman, when she is in labor, hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but when she hath brought forth the child, she remembereth no more the anguish for joy that a man is born into the world. So also you now indeed have sorrow, but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice : and your joy no man shall take from you.

What is the meaning of the expression, “yet a little while”?
Jesus meant that He was soon to leave His disciples, and that during the time of His passion they would have much to endure; but that He would soon see them again, and that then no one should any more take their joy from them. What, in deed, are the sufferings of time, in comparison with the eternal joy to follow, but a small and trivial thing, passing away in the twinkling of an eye? (2 Cor. iv. 17, 18.)

Why did Jesus tell His disciples beforehand of their sufferings and joys?
1.That they might bear their trials the more easily. 2.That they might not believe their master to be unable to preserve them from sufferings. 3. That by looking to the eternal joy they might make light of present troubles, and keep up their courage! Therefore, says St. Chrysostom, “Tell me, if you were called to a temporal kingdom, but before entering into the palace, where you were to be crowned, had to spend the night in a dark and offensive stable, would this be hard for you?  would you not bear it cheerfully in expectation of the kingdom?

ENCOURAGEMENT TO PATIENCE IN ADVERSITY.

“ You shall lament and weep.”  John xvi. 20.

Many think that true happiness on earth consists in honors, riches, or pleasures, but Christ, calls, not the rich, but the poor and persecuted, “blessed.” He even predicts to His disciples nothing but sorrows in this world ; while to the rich and great, who set their hearts on this world, He predicts nothing but woe, mourning and weeping in the world to come. How much, therefore, are they to be pitied, who, regardless of this truth, think only of spending their days in luxury, but encourage themselves in the illusory hope of reaching heaven, when Christ and all saints have ascended thither only by the way of the cross, and by way of suffering, and when it is certain that on one can have part in their joys who has not also first borne part of their sorrows.
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Next: Fourth Sunday after Easter

SECOND SUNDAY AFTER EASTER

Second Sunday after Easter.

THE Church continues to praise God for the resurrection of Jesus, and the graces thereby procured for us, and sings accordingly, at the Introit of the Mass : “The earth is full of the mercy of the Lord, alleluia. By the word of the Lord the heavens were established, alleluia, alleluia. Rejoice in the Lord, O ye just; praise becometh the upright.” Glory be to the Father, etc.

Prayer.

O God, Who by the humility of Thy Son hast raised up a fallen world, grant to Thy faithful everlasting joy, that those whom Thou hast delivered from the evils of eternal death Thou mayest make to enjoy everlasting happiness. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, etc.

EPISTLE, i. Peter ii. 21-25.

Dearly Beloved: Christ suffered for us, leaving you an example that you should follow His steps ; Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth. Who, when He was reviled, did not revile: when He suffered He threatened not: but delivered Himself to him that judged Him unjustly: who His own self bore our sins in His body upon the tree : that we being dead to sins, should live to justice : by Whose stripes you were healed.  For you were as sheep going astray, but you are now converted to the shepherd and bishop of your souls.

Practice.

From the example of Christ we should learn to bear in patience crosses, adversities, and even unjust persecutions. How otherwise could we be true sheep of this Good Shepherd, if at the least suffering, at the scoffs and mockeries which men cast at us, we should become angry and revengeful, and seek to retaliate with the like?

Aspiration.

O Lord, grant me grace to follow Thee, my shepherd, not to revile and threaten when I am reviled, calumniated, or persecuted for justice sake, but for love of Thee to suffer all with patience.

GOSPEL. John x. 11-16.

At that time Jesus said to the Pharisees: I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd giveth his life for his sheep.But the hireling and he that is not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming and leaveth the sheep, and flieth : and the wolf catcheth and scattereth the sheep : and the hireling flieth, because he is a hireling, and he hath no care for the sheep. I am the good shepherd: and I know Mine, and
Mine know Me. As the Father knoweth Me, and I know the Father: and I lay down My life for My sheep. And other sheep I have, that are not of this fold : them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice, and there shall be one fold and one shepherd.

How does Christ show that He is the good shepherd?

I By taking all pains to seek, to find, and to bring back to the right way the lost sheep---that is, the sinner; finally, that He offers up His life for His flock, and gives Himself to be their food, and a pledge of eternal life
( I. John v.10; Rom. V.8)

How do we know the sheep of Christ?
By their hearing and following the voice of Christ. By  their willingly receiving and striving to fulfil His teachings. By their obeying the Church and her ministers,  for whoever hears her, hears God Himself, and, as S Augustine says, he who will not have the Church for his mother cannot have God for their Father. By receiving, often and gladly, the food of the Good Shepherd---the holy communion. By being patient and meek, forgiving their enemies readily and willingly. By loving their fellow-men, and by seeking to bring into the one fold those who are out of it.

WHAT WE MUST BELIEVE CONCERNING HOPE.

“ I lay down My life for My sheep” John x. 15.

Jesus Christ, by His death, has obtained for us not only forgiveness of our sins, the grace and means of leading lives pleas ing to God, but also eternal happiness in the life to come.

In what does eternal happiness consist?
In the clear contemplation and perfect love of God.

What is necessary to obtain eternal happiness?
Before all else, the grace of God, which enlightens our faith, confirms our hope, inflames our love, and, through the holy sacraments, imparts the strength required to do good.

Have we nothing more to do?
We must pray for the grace of God, and zealously cooperate with it, since, as st. Augustine says, though God has created us without our concurrence, yet will He not save us unless we work with Him.

When should we make an Act of Hope?
1. In time of tribulation, and of temptation against this virtue. 2. At receiving the holy sacraments.
3. Frequently during our ordinary life, and at the hour of death.
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Next: Third Sunday after Easter

FEAST OF THE FINDING OF THE HOLY CROSS, MAY 3

Feast of the Finding of the Holy Cross

MAY 3.

WHY is this day so called?

Because on this day the Church celebrates the finding by St. Helena, mother of the Emperor Constantine, of the cross on which Christ died, after it had been for a long time lost.  Where had the holy cross been up to the time that it was thus found again?

At Jerusalem, near the holy sepulchre, hidden under a mass of rubbish. For the Emperor Adrian endeavored not only to desecrate the holy places of the death and burial of Jesus Christ, but also to hide the very knowledge of them. The cave of the holy sepulchre was filled up, and by the erection of a temple of Venus, built over the spot, came to be quite lost sight of.

Prayer.

O God, Who, in the miraculous finding of the saving cross, didst revive the miracles of Thy passion, grant that, by the ransom paid on the wood of life, we may obtain the suffrages of life eternal. Who livest and reignest, etc.

EPISTLE. Phil. ii. 5-11.

Brethren : Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus : Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God : but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men, and in habit found as a man. He humbled Himself, becoming obedient unto death : even to the death of the cross. For which cause God also hath exalted Him, and hath given Him a name which is above all names: that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth. And that every tongue should confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father.

GOSPEL. John iii. 1-15.

At that time there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night, and said to Him : Rabbi, we know that Thou art come a teacher from God : for no man can do these signs which Thou dost, un less God be with him. Jesus answered, and said to him : Amen, amen I say to thee, unless a man be born again, he can not see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith to Him : How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter a second time into his mother s womb, and be born again? Jesus answered: Amen, amen I say to thee, unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.  That which is born of the flesh is flesh : and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Wonder not, that I said to thee, you must be born again. The Spirit breatheth where He will; and thou hearest His voice, but thou knowest not whence He cometh or whither He goeth : so is every one that is born of the Spirit.  Nicodemus answered, and said to Him : How can these things be done? Jesus answered, and said to him: Art thou a master in Israel, and knowest not these things? Amen, amen, I say to thee, that we speak what we know, and we testify what we have seen, and you receive not our testimony. If I have spoken to you earthly things, and you believe not : how will you believe if I shall speak to you heavenly things? And no man hath ascended into heaven, but He that descended from heaven, the Son of man Who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of man be lifted up : that whosoever believeth in Him may not perish, but may have life everlasting.

Salutation of the Church to the Holy Cross.

 O glorious and venerable cross ! O precious wood ! O wonderful sign, by which sin, the devil, and hell were overcome, and the world redeemed through the blood of Christ, thou art exalted above all the cedars of the forest, for on thee hung the life of the world ! On thee Christ gained the victory, and by His dying overcame death forever. Alleluia.  O Lord Jesus Christ, we adore and bless Thee ; for through Thy cross Thou hast redeemed the world.

ON THE SIGN OF THE CROSS.

Why do we sign ourselves with the sign of the cross?
1.    To testify that we are Christians and worshippers of the Crucified. 2. To profess our faith in the Most Holy Trinity. 3.  In honor and thankful remembrance of the sufferings and death of Christ. 4. In order to overcome the devil and his temptations, inasmuch as he is by nothing more easily driven away than by the sign of the cross.

Is it an old custom to make the sign of the cross?
The earliest fathers of the Church make mention of this custom, and say that it came to them from the apostles ; nay, they charge Christians to make the sign of the cross at eating and drinking, at walking and rising, at sitting and speaking, and, in a word, before every undertaking.

Why do the priests at divine service make the sign of the cross over the people?
That therewith there may be imparted to Christians the abundant blessing of grace which Christ has obtained for us by His cross, as St. Paul says, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who hath blessed us with spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ" (Eph. i. 3). This custom is of great antiquity in the Church. The Council of Agde, for example, in the year 506, directed that after prayers the people should be dismissed by the priest with a blessing.
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Next: Feast of St. Aloysius, June 21