Original

-I6 4 -
CHAPTER XV
Second Week of Lent. Liturgy of Wednesday,
Friday and Saturday in this second -week.
WEDNESDAY. Station at the Basilica of Saint Cecilia. Sources
of the liturgy : Introit, Ps. xxxvn, 22-23. Epistle, Esther,
xm, 8-11, 15-17. Gradual, Ps. xxvn, 9 and 1. Tract, Ps.
en, 10; LXXVIII, 8-9. Gospel, St. Matth., xx, 17-28. Offer
tory, Ps. xxiv, 1-3. Communion, Ps. x, 8.
FRIDAY. Station at the Church of Saint Vitalis. Sources of
the liturgy : Introit, Ps. xvi, 15. Epistle, Genesis, xxxvn,
6-22. Gradual, Ps. cxix, 1-2. Tract, Ps. en, 10 and
LXXVIII, 8-9. Gospel, St. Matth., xxi, 37-46. Offertory,
Ps. xxxix, 14-15. Communion, Ps. xi, 8.
SATURDAY. Station at the Church of Ss. Marcellinus and Peter.
Sources of the liturgy : Introit, Ps. xvm, 8. Epistle, Gene
sis, xxvii, 6-40. Gradual, Ps. xci, 2-3. Gospel, St. Luke,
xv, 11-32. Offertory, Ps. xn, 4-5. Communion, St. Luke,
xv, 32.
In the Lessons of the Mass for Wednesday in this
second week of Lent, we are taught the conditions of
salvation for sinners. In the Epistle we read the prayer
of Mardochias on behalf of the Jewish people who were
threatened with death, and this prayer reminds us of
the part taken by Esther in the deliverance of her
people. The Gospel reminds us how our divine Saviour
Himself made known to His apostles His Passion
and Death as the necessary conditions for our sal
vation. The indiscreet interference of the mother of