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super populum, she teaches us that public prayer to God
banishes sin from the bosom of the Church.
In the sung parts of the Mass for Thursday in the first
week of Lent, we are urged to be zealous in all our acts
of piety, whether to obtain forgiveness of our sins, or
to perform works pleasing to God. The ROMAN STA
TION for this day is at the Church dedicated to the
Martyr, Saint Lawrence, who is so great an example
of zeal in works of mercy. Having won the martyr s
palm, he now enjoys an everlasting reward. In
the Introit of the Mass, which is the same as on the
Martyr s Feast, homage
is rendered to the munificence
of God who crowns the martyrs. God preserves and
protects those who suffer for justice sake (GRADUAL).
His angels guard those who fear Him (OFFERTORY).
He gives to them, as their food, the Body of His wellbeloved
Son, who was sacrificed for the redemption
of the world (COMMUNION).
In the prayers of this Mass, we implore God to have
regard to our zeal in practising abstinence and mor
tification (COLLECT) ; to be pleased to accept the offer
ing of our penitential works in union with the adorable
sacrifice of the altar, and thus render them effectual for
our salvation (SECRET). In the Postcommunion? we
pray, that by truly participating in this divine Sacrifice,
we, here on earth, may be animated with renewed cour
age, and be prepared, each one of us, for our regene
ration in the life to come. The Oratio super populum
begs of God that all Christian people may have a
better knowledge of the truths of faith, and may learn
to love more and more the divine gifts, in which they
so frequently participate. In the Epistle of this day s
Mass the Prophet Ezechiel, inspired by God, tells us that
expiation for sin is wholly a personal matter, that every