IV. From WHIT-SUNDAY, inclusively, to the end of the Octave of CORPUS CHRISTI. V. The FEAST of SS. PETER and PAUL, and during the Octave. VI. From the Sunday, inclusively, preceding the Festival of the ASSUMPTION of the B. V. MARY, to the 22d day of Aug. inclusively. But if the Festival of the ASSUMPTION fall on a Sunday, the Indulgence begins on that day. VII. From the Sunday, inclusively, preceding the Festival of St. MICHAEL, to the Sunday following, inclusively. But if the Festival of St. MICHAEL fall on a Sunday, the Indulgence begins on that day. VIII. From the SUNDAY, inclusively, preceding the Festival of ALL SAINTS, to the 8th day of November, inclusively. But if the Feast of ALL-SAINTS fall on a Sunday, the Indulgence begins on that day. CONDITIONS of the II. IV. & VIII. 1. That the Faithful confess their sins, with sincere repentance, to a Priest approved by the Bishop. 2. That they worthily receive the Holy Communion. 3. That if their state and condition allow it, they give some alms to the poor, either on the eve or on the day of their communion. ; 4. That on the day of their communion, they offer up some prayer to God, for the whole state of the Catholic Church throughout the world for the bringing back all straying souls to the fold of Christ; for the general peace of Christendom, and for the blessing of God upon this nation CONDITIONS of the I. III. VI. & VII 1. That the faithful confess their sins, with sincere repentance, to a Priest approved by the Bishop. 2. That they worthily receive the Holy Com. munion. 3. That they visit some Chapel or Oratory, where Mass is celebrated, and pray to God for the peace of the Church. 4. That they be in a readiness of mind to assist the poor with alms in proportion to their abilities; or to frequent catechism and sermons as often as they can do it without great inconvenience; or to afford their assistance to the sick, or to such as are near their end, out of the motive of Christian charity. Note. It is not required for the gaining these four Indulgences, granted by Pope Benedict XIV., that these works of mercy, corporal or spiritual, or the assisting at catechisms and sermons, should be done on the same day with the communion; but only that persons be then in a disposition or readiness of mind to do these things, or some of them at least, when they may have an opportunity. CONDITIONS of the V. 1. That the faithful confess their sins, with sincere repentance, to a Priest approved by the Bishop. 2. That they worthily receive the Holy Communion. 3. That for some space of time, they pray to God with a sincere heart, for the conversion of infidels and heretics, and for the free propagation of the holy faith. London, Feb. 22. 1810. William Acanthen, V. A. 10 The principal Festivals expounded. SUNDAY was dedicated by the Apostles to the more particular service and honour of Almighty God, and transferred from Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath, which they then abolished, to the day following, in memory that Christ our Lord rose from the dead, and sent down the Holy Ghost on that day, whence it is called the Lord's day and Sunday, from the heathens dedicating it to the sun. 1 Jan. The Circumcision of our Lord is called New Year's Day, from the Romans beginning their year on it. 6 Jan. Epiphany of our Lord, is a feast solemnized in memory and honour of Christ's manifestation to the Gentiles by an extraordinary star. 12 Jan. St. Bennet, surnamed Biscop, was the venerable Bede's Master, and abbot of Were, near Durham. After he had five times visited the Apostolic See, and thence obtained very large and ample privileges for two stately monasteries which he had erected in honour of God, and in memory of the apostles Peter and Paul, he reposed in our Lord in a venerable old age, replenished with sanctity, anno 703, and was buried in the monastery of St. Peter. He was the first that united the Benedictines or Black Monks of our Island into one body, and is therefore venerated by that illustrious order as chief patron of the English congregation. 25 Jan. Conversion of St. Paul, is a feast instituted by the Church, to perpetuate the me. mory of his miraculous conversion, which happened on this day in the 35th year of Christ. 2 Feb. The Purification of the B. Virgin, or Candlemas day, is a feast in commemoration and honour, both of the presentation of our blessed Lord, and the purification of our Lady in the temple of Jerusalem, the fortieth day after her happy delivery, performed according to the law of Moses. Septuagesima, Sexagesima, and Quinquagesima Sundays are days set apart by the Church for acts of penance and mortification, and a certain gradation or preparation to the devotion of Lent. Shrovetide signifies the time of confession. Ash-Wednesday is a day of public penance and Lumiliation in the whole Church of God, so called from the ceremony of blessing ashes, wherewith the priest signs the people with a cross on their foreheads, giving them this wholesome admonition: Remember, man, that thou art dust, and into dust thou shalt return, Gen. iii. 19. Lent, in Latin, is called Quadragesima, because it is a fast of forty days, (except Sundays, which are only abstinence,) instituted by the Church, in grateful commemoration of Christ's fasting forty days in the desert. Passion-Sunday, so called from the passion of Christ, then drawing nigh. Palm-Sunday, in memory and honour of our Lord's triumphal entry into Jerusalem, is so called from the palm branches strewed under his feet by the Hebrew children, crying, Hosanna to the Son of David. Matt. xxi, Maundy-Thursday, in memory of our Lord's last supper, when he instituted the blessed sacrament of his precious body and blood, is so called from the first word of the anthem, Mandutum, &c. John xiii. 34. 1 give you a new command, that you love one another, as I have loved you. Good Friday is the anniversary of that most sacred and memorable day on which the great work of our redemption was consummated, by our Saviour Jesus Christ, on his bloody cross. On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, in Holy week, the offices called Tenebræ were formerly mournfully sung, in lamentation of our Lord's Passion. But because these offices are now anticipated on the evenings of Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, they have obtained the name of Tenebræ Days, from that tenebræ or darkness which overspread the face of the earth at the time of his passion. The four Ember Weeks, in Latin, Quatuor tempora, are times of public prayer, fasting, and procession. The Wakes, or Country Feasts, are usually observed on the Sunday next after the Saint's day on which the parish church is dedicated. 24 Feb. St. Matthias, chosen by the college of apostles to supply the place of Judas the traitor. 12 March. St. Gregory, surnamed the Great, on account of his admirable works and indefatigable labours. 17 March. St. Patrick, bishop and confessor, ordained by Pope Celestin, anno 431, and sent to preach the gospel to the Irish, whose nation he converted and became its apostle. He died full of sanctity and miracles, at the venerable age of 122, anno 491. 19 March. St. Joseph, the reputed father of our blessed Saviour, and spouse of our blessed Lady; he died in Judea, about the 12th year of Jesus Christ. 21 March. St. Benedict the Great, abbot and patriarch of monks who restored the almost decayed monastic discipline of the Western church. 25 March. Annunciation of our Lady: a feast in memory of the Angel Gabriel's most happy embassy, when by her consent, and the operation of the Holy Ghost, the Son of God became incarnate in her sacred womb. Easter-day, in Latin Pascha: a great festival in memory and honour of our Saviour's resurrection from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. Low-Sunday, in Latin, Dominica in albis, the Octave of Easter-day, is so called from the catechumen's white garments, emblems of innocence and joy, which they put on at their baptism, and solemnly put off this day. Ascension-day, a feast solemnized in memory of Christ's glorious ascension into heaven on the fortieth day after his resurrection. 23 April. St. George, a martyr of Cappadocia about the year 300, of whom the Roman |