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the Lessons and the sung parts of the Mass, are direc
ted during these three days.
On Wednesday, the Church, to encourage her children
to practise the Lenten penance and that of the Ember
days, reminds them of the fast of forty days observed
by Moses on Mount Sinai (FIRST LESSON, from the Book
of Exodus), and next, of the fast of Elias, for the same
number of days, on Mount Horeb (SECOND LESSON, from
the third Book of Kings). In the Gospel, we are re
minded of the penance done by the inhabitants of
Ninive, and the necessity of unceasing resistance to
the devil, for, driven awacy the first time, he returns
to attack the soul with redoubled strength and fury.
In the Prayers of the Mass for this Wednesday, the
Church proposes to us, at first, an appeal to the divine
clemency that we may be protected, by
the hand of
the Most High, from the power of all our enemies
(COLLECT). In our name, she implores God to pardon
our sins and strengthen our inconstant hearts (SE
CRET). She invokes the Lord in our name, that our
souls may be purified and delivered from sin (POST-
COMMUNION). Looking to the future, she invites us to
pray for light that we may know what we should do, and
for strength to accomplish it (Oratio super populum).
The Introit, which we shall find repeated on the se
cond vSunday of Lent , is a prayer in which we ask
God to be mindful of His mercy and goodness. The
two Graduals express the increasing anguish, pain
and humiliation of the sinful soul, as it becomes
conscious of its sins. The Offertory expresses our reso
lution to meditate on the divine precepts, and to make
them the object of our affections. Finally, in the Com
munion, is repeated the cry of distress which the soul
sends forth to God, as the expression of her earnest prayer.