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adhesion to the testimony of God establishes the soul in
that solid peace which our Lord came to bring to His
own.
It is worthy of note that the Church, contrary to her
usual practice, takes the INTROIT, the two verses of the
ALLELUIA, the OFFERTORY and the COMMUNION from the
the NEW TESTAMENT. The Introit recalls the gentle
exhortation of Saint Peter in his Epistle of the pre
vious day to the "
neophytes. Be as children in the
service of the Lord,
"
says the Prince of the apostles.
"
Act with simplicity and holy freedom, if you would
grow and make progress in the sight of the Lord.
"
The
two verses of the Alleluia refer to the Resurrection.
The first recalls the promise made by Jesus before His
death to His apostles, the second notes the sweet and
touching fulfilment of this promise. The Offertory
reminds us of the fact that the first announcement of the
Resurrection was made to the holy women by an angel ;
as on Christmas day, heaven united with earth in glori
fying the work of the Incarnate God. The Communion
dwells upon the sweet intercourse which Jesus would
have with us, as with Saint Thomas ; willingly He re
sponds to our demands, but on our part He expects
lively, active, courageous faith.
In the prayers of the Mass for this Sunday, the Church
asks for her children that the remembrance of the Paschal
solemnities may leave their imprint on their life and con
duct (COLLECT) ; that the Easter gladness of this life
may be changed into the joy
of the eternal Easter
(SECRET) ; that the mystery instituted to strengthen
their weakness here on earth may be the guarantee of
their future perseverance (POSTCOMM UNION.)