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of all His enemies. The Gradual proclaims the won
drous change wrought in the soul which trusts in
God, and the Alleluia glorifies the Lord to whom this
grace is due. The Offertory is a fresh homage to
the God who saves and heals. The Communion is an
allusion to the offering of the first fruits prescribed
by Moses, at the time of the harvest, and reminds us
that in order to make the blessings of God our own,
be they material or spiritual, the first fruits must be
offered to Him.
The Collect of the Mass tells us with what dispositions
we should pray. We must acknowledge that God is
the source of all grace ; beg of Him to pour out upon
us His loving kindness with the firm conviction that He
will hear our prayer in a measure far beyond our merits.
The Secret urges us to render to God the homage of
our submission, imploring of Him that He would deign
to accept it, and to come to the heljp of our weak
ness. The Postoiommunion would have us look upon
the participation in the divine mysteries as the remedy
for the evils of both soul and body.
The teachings of the Mass for this Sunday may be
APPLIED TO THE RELIGIOUS LIFE. The SOUls that Wish
to embrace the religious life, must, like the deaf and
dumb man in the Gospel, retire from the world ; fol
low Jesus Christ ; open their ears to His call, and conse
crate their lips to the divine praises. Fidelity to
their vocation and final perseverance depend in great
measure on prayer, the frequentation of the Sacra
ments, amendment of life and the constant practice of
virtue.