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the command to sacrifice his son. We must be faithful
to God even at the cost of the hardest sacrifices. The
SECOND and THIRD prophecies of this day (fourth and
eleventh of Holy Saturday) recall, first the passage of
the Red Sea a symbol of Baptism, and the second is
an exposition of the obligations contracted in Baptism.
In the FOURTH prophecy (eighth on Holy Saturday)
Isaias recounts the favours which God bestows on the
children of His predilection. The FIFTH prophecy is
from Baruch (the sixth on Holy Saturday) . Finally the
SIXTH (seventh on Holy Saturday) taken from the Pro
phet Ezechiel, sets forth the dogma of the resurrection
of the body which is founded on the explicit promise
of God. EACH PROPHECY is followed by a SPECIAL
PRAYER OR COLLECT, but owing to it being the Paschal
season, the genuflection before these prayers is omitted.
The ceremony of the blessing of the baptismal font in
all particulars resembles that on Holy Saturday, even
the Paschal candle is again brought forth to teach the
newly baptised that Jesus is the light
of the world.
Returning from the font to the sanctuary, the same order
is observed and the Litanies are sung as on that day;
similarly also, the Mass has no Introit. With the ex
ception of this omission, the Mass of the Vigil of Pente
cost is the same as all other Masses, having Offertory,
Agnus Dei and Communion. It is not followed by
Vespers as on Holy Saturday.
The Lessons, sung parts and prayers of the Mass, all
relate to the mission of the Holy Ghost, but they also
have some reference to the newly-baptized . The Epistle
taken from the Acts of the Apostles relates an incident
of the preaching of Saint Paul who declares the neces
sity of Baptism for participation in the gifts of the
Holy Ghost. The Gospel reminds us of the promises of