.^H.'' 
 
 HOLY OAYS 
 
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10 
 
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THE HOLY DAYS OF THE CHURCH. 
 
me ^xaim ®^ee, # ©o^* 
 
THE 
 
 HOLY DAYS OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 MRS. MARY E. BRADLEY 
 
 ^Oh say not, dream not, heavenly notes 
 
 To childish ears are vain. 
 That the young mind at random floats. 
 
 And cannot reach the strain. 
 Dim or unheard the words may fall. 
 
 And yet the heaven-taught mind 
 May learn the sacred air, and all 
 
 The harmony unwind." 
 
 NEW YORK: 
 
 ^eit. ^rof. (!fpistopal ^irttbag ^t^iaol Winmx Hub 
 Cl^itrclj '§Dok ^otutg, 
 
 762 BROADWAY. 
 1861. 
 
Entered according to Act of Congress in tlie year 1860, 
 
 By tlie Genekai. Protestant Episcopal Sunday Sonooi, 
 
 Union and Church Book Society, 
 
 in the Clerk's office of the District Court of the United States, for the 
 
 Southern District of New York. 
 
 O. A. ALVORD, ELEOTROTYPEK AND PRINTER, 15 V ANDEWATER ST., N. 
 
PUBLISHED 
 
 ^fnrl)cr of 'Srac? ©JfiHrrb ^^mtiap §:cf)t}d, 
 
 PROVIpEXCK. HHODB ISLAND, 
 
 IN ilEUOEY OF 
 
 A LAMB OF THE Fl.OGK, 
 
 WtlO DIED JANUARY 15, 1860. 
 
 i" 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 This little hook is desis^ned to s^ive 
 simple explanations of tlie Holy Days 
 of tlie Cliurcli, adapted to cliildren, 
 and to all^ indeed, who ask, with 
 regard to them, "What mean ye by 
 this service?" The poetry and illus- 
 trations are added to make it more 
 attractive to the young, but it will be 
 found that the former often imbodies in 
 a devotional form the teaching of the 
 day. It is not intended to take the 
 place of the excellent works of Nelson 
 and Bishop Hobart on the Festivals 
 and Fasts, but to furnish a more con 
 venient manual for children, parents, 
 and Sunday-school teachers, and for cir- 
 culation by missionaries. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Pagf 
 THE CHRISTIAN YEAR, . . . . .11 
 
 THE lord's day, ..... 14 
 
 ST. Andrew's day, . . . . .17 
 
 ADVENT, . 21 
 
 THE EMBER DAYS, . . . . .24 
 
 ST. THOMAS' DAY, ..... 26 
 
 CHRISTMAS DAY, ...... 29 
 
 ST. Stephen's day, ..... 35 
 
 ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST, . . . .38 
 
 THE HOLY innocents' DAY, ... 42 
 
 THE CIRCUMCISION, . . . . .45 
 
 THE EPIPHANY, ..... 47 
 
 SUNDAYS AFTER THE EPIPHANY, . . .50 
 
 THE CONVERSION OF ST. PAUL, ... 51 
 THE PRESENTATION OF CHRIST IN THE TEMPLE, 54 
 
 ST. MATTHIAS' DAY, . ' . . .57 
 
 THE ANNUNCIATION, ..... 59 
 SEPTUAGESIMA, SEXAGESIMA, AND QUINQUAGES- 
 
 IMA, 62 
 
 ASH-WEDNESDAY AND LENT, . . . .63 
 
 SUNDAYS IN LENT, ..... 66 
 
10 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 PALM SUNDAY, 
 
 WEDNESDAY BEFORE EASTER, 
 
 THURSDAY BEFORE EASTER, . 
 
 GOOD FRIDAY, 
 
 EASTER EVEN, 
 
 EASTER DAY, 
 
 SUNDAYS AFTER EASTER, 
 
 ST. mark's day, 
 
 ST. PHILIP AND ST. JAMES' DAY, 
 
 THE ROGATION DAYS, 
 
 ASCENSION DAY, 
 
 WHITSUN-DAY, 
 
 TRINITY SUNDAY, . 
 
 SUNDAYS AFTER TRINITY, 
 
 ST. BARNABAs' DAY, 
 
 ST. JOHN THE BAPTISt's DAY, 
 
 ST. Peter's day, . 
 
 ST. JAMEs' DAY, 
 
 ST. Bartholomew's day, 
 ST. Matthew's day, 
 
 ST. MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS, 
 
 ST. LUKe's day, 
 
 ST. SIMON AND ST. JUDE, 
 
 ALL SAINTS, 
 
THE HOLY DAYS. 
 
 THE CHKISTIAN YEAK. 
 
 ^O the cliildren of the Church there is 
 a special beauty and comfort in the 
 Church'' s anniversaries. Coming from 
 year to year at their stated times, each 
 with its A'oice of warning or bless- 
 ing, they bid us pause awhile in the rush 
 and hurry of our worldly employments, to 
 give ear to some tender memory, some solemn 
 admonition, or some blessed example, and by 
 the aid of its teaching conform our lives more 
 and more to the rule laid down by our Lord 
 and Saviour — 
 
 " Be ye, therefore, perfect, even as your 
 Father in Heaven is perfect." 
 
 None can tell how sweet and holy an in- 
 fluence they have exerted in all the ages 
 through which they have been handed down 
 
12 THE HOLY DATS. 
 
 to US. How the Church's rejoicings at Christ- 
 mas, her solemn contrition and self-abasement 
 in Lent, her triumphant exultation at Easter, 
 have thrilled and softened hearts that without 
 such aids and reminders would have continued 
 forever " dead in trespasses and sins ;" how 
 they have nerved and strengthened anew souls 
 that were fainting, almost despairing, in their 
 weary struggle with " the world, the flesh, and 
 the devil." 
 
 We go at Christmas-tide into God's " holy 
 temple," and our hearts burn within us as we 
 listen to the heavenly song of "peace on earth, 
 good will to men." We commemorate His 
 manifestation to the Gentiles, and give inward 
 thanks for our gracious calling, typified there- 
 by. AVe humble our souls with fasting and 
 prayer as the time of His great sorrow ap- 
 proaches. We follow Him to His cross on the 
 awful day when He ''^was contented to he be- 
 trayed^ and given tip into the hands of wicked 
 menP We Avait at the door of the sealed sep- 
 ulchre, trembling wdth joyful hope of the 
 resurrection. We swell with glad, exulting 
 voices the thrilling strain, " Christ is risen 
 from the dead!" when Easter morning dawns 
 upon us in its beauty. 
 
 Then, when the happy days in which the 
 
THE CHRISTIAN YEAR. 13 
 
 disciples belield their Master once more, have 
 passed, we witness with them His glorious 
 ascension. At Whitsnn-tide we are " with one 
 accord in one place," to give thanks for the 
 gift of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter sent unto 
 us from the Father ; and soon again we as- 
 semble for the feast of Trinity, and adore our 
 Father, our Saviour, our Comforter, as one God. 
 
 So the Church's year bears us onward from 
 one j)i*ecious season to another ; and so the 
 memory of all these solemn mysteries — so 
 awful, so needful to be remembered ! — is kept 
 alive in our hearts — hearts that of themselves, 
 alas ! are too prone to forget and pass them by. 
 
 Alas! too, that with all the aids the Church 
 offers her children, in thus providing stated 
 times and occasions when by solemn outward 
 ceremony we may recall the sacred scenes of 
 our Saviour's presence amongst us, and culti- 
 vate such tempers as shall fit us for his second 
 coming — so many of us should be heartless 
 and indifferent still ! 
 
 God forgive us all ! and help us so to love 
 His holy word, and so to cherish all things that 
 may aid us in the better understanding of it, 
 that " His household, the Church," may be 
 no longer open to such reproach, but " kept 
 in continual godliness." 
 2 
 
14 
 
 THE HOLY DAYS. 
 
 SUNDAY, OE THE LOED'S DAY. 
 
 UNDAY is always a feast in the Church 
 
 — that is, a day of religions joy. As 
 every Friday through the year reminds 
 us of the crucifixion, so Sunday contin- 
 ually recalls the bright Easter, when 
 our Lord rose from the darkness of the 
 tomb to die no more. Therefore it is called 
 the Lord's day — the day of all the seven 
 which Lie honored by His resurrection, and 
 which all Christians hallow with prayer and 
 praise, resting from common labor. 
 
SUNDAY, OR THE LORD S DAY. 15 
 
 Sunday is not the Sabbath. The Sabbath 
 was the seventh day of the week; Sunday, 
 the Lord's day, is the first. The Sabbath cel- 
 ebrated God's rest from the work of creation ; 
 Sunday remembers our Lord's resurrection. 
 The Sabbath was Jewish ; the Lord's day is a 
 Christian festival. Early Jewish Christians 
 kept both days, the seventh and the first ; and 
 writers of the Greek Church refer to their 
 custom of assembling for worship on the Sab- 
 bath and the Lord's day, meaning Saturday 
 and Sunday. Languages of Europe make the 
 same proper distinction ; thus, Sdhato in Ital- 
 ian, Sdhado in Spanish, meaning Sabbath, is 
 the name for Saturday; and Domenica in 
 Italian, Dortxingo in Spanish, meaning Lord's 
 day, is the name for Sunday. 
 
 Evangelists and apostles, in the I^ew Testa- 
 ment, refer always to the seventh day, Satur- 
 day, when they speak of the Sabbath ; but 
 when they speak of the chief occasion of 
 Christians' meeting for the eucharist, and offer- 
 tory, and preaching, they call it, as St. Luke 
 in the Acts, and St. Paul to the Corinthians, 
 " the first day of the week ;" or, with St. John, 
 the Lord's day, for he says in the Apocalypse, 
 " I was in the spirit on the Lord's day." 
 
 Our Church applies these names with cor- 
 rectness and propriety. Of course, she would 
 
16 THE HOLY DAYS. 
 
 Hot alter the language of Scripture when re- 
 citing the commandments from the Old Testa- 
 ment. But when she tells us, "keep holy the 
 Sabbath day," and "the Lord blessed the 
 seventh day," she instructs us to observe the 
 law m its spirit, by making of one day in the 
 seven a special rest and holy day of worship. 
 Taught by our Lord's authority, through His 
 inspired apostles, we use, with " the holy 
 Church throughout all the world," the first 
 day instead of the seventh — the Lord's day in- 
 stead of the Jewish Sabbath. And her lan- 
 guage is fitly conformed to her usage when 
 she refers to the first day of the week by its 
 proper name ; for through all the Prayer-book 
 it is Sunday — the Sundays in Advent, Sun- 
 days after Epiphany, Sundays in Lent, Sundays 
 after Easter, Sundays after Trinity. " Let us 
 no longer sdbhatize^ but keep the day on which 
 our Lord arose." 
 
ST. ANDREW 8 DAT. 
 
 17 
 
 ST. ANDEEWS DAY. 
 
 (NOVEMBER 30.) 
 
 "One of the two whicli heard John 
 speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, 
 Simon Peter's brother."— John i : 40. 
 
 ^HIS feast is placed at the beginning of 
 
 the Church's year, 
 
 because St. Andrew 
 
 was the first called 
 Qj to be an apostle, and 
 the first to proclaim to others 
 the coming of the Messiah. 
 Advent Sunday is always 
 the one nearest it, either be- 
 fore or after, and may even 
 fall upon the same day. St. 
 Andrew was born in Beth- 
 saida of Galilee, was a broth- 
 er of St. Peter, and, like 
 him, a poor fisherman un- 
 til both were called by 
 our Lord to become " fish- 
 ers of men." Church history says that after 
 2* 
 
18 THE HOLY DAYS. 
 
 our Saviour's ascension, he preached the Gos- 
 pel on the shores of the Black Sea, or the 
 region now known as the famous Crimea, and 
 that he was martyred at Patrse, in Achaia. 
 By urging his converts there to be stead- 
 fast, and not return to their old idolatry, 
 he enraged the heathen magistrate, who had 
 him cruelly scourged and then crucified. 
 His cross was shaped like an X — the Greek 
 initial for the name of Christ — and he was 
 bound to it with cords, in order to make 
 his death more lingering. We are told 
 that he hung upon it two days, exhorting the 
 people ; and when they besought the magis- 
 trate to spare his life, he prayed that God 
 would permit him to die then, and seal his 
 doctrine with his blood ; and his prayer was 
 granted. His body was embalmed and 
 buried by a noble lady named Maximilla, and 
 was afterward removed to Constantinople by 
 Constantine, the first Christian emperor, who 
 there buried it in a great church he had built 
 to the honor of the apostles. 
 
 St. Andrew is an example to us not only in 
 his constancy, but in his act of bringing his 
 brother to Christ. Let us ponder it deeply, 
 and urge ourselves onward to new labors of 
 love for the souls that are most dear to us. It 
 
19 
 
 may be but a little while tliat we shall see 
 around our firesides the faces that we love best 
 in this life, and bitter exceedingly would be 
 the thought that in another world any one of 
 them should be shut out from our sight for- 
 ever. All of us — even the smallest child that 
 has learned its need of a Saviour — may do 
 something, if only by a simple word now and 
 then, the silent force of a meek and pious life, 
 or the loving prayer that God hears in secret 
 but rewards openly. Let us, then, do what 
 we may while yet we have time, and especially 
 at this season, lose no opportunity to "bring 
 unto Jesus" some "brother" who has not yet 
 *' found the Messiah." 
 
 RE there for us some brethren dear, 
 Near to our hearts, but not so near 
 To God, as they should be ? 
 For whom we know no peace or rest, 
 Until they choose the thing that's best. 
 And Christ's salvation see ? 
 
 Then let us come, and one and all 
 Use this glad Christian festival 
 
 For special prayer and praise ; 
 Prayer for the lost to be restored. 
 Praise for the loved ones, whom the Lord 
 
 Hath brought unto His ways. 
 
20 
 
 THE HOLY DAYS. 
 
 • And as the rolling year brings round 
 The memory of some lost one found, 
 
 Some loved one gone astray ; 
 Still let each household grief or joy, 
 Our hearts' best faith and love employ, 
 
 On each St. Andrew's Dav." 
 
ADVENT. 21 
 
 ADVENT. 
 
 " The niglit is far spent, the day is at 
 hand." — RoMANsxiii: 12. 
 
 S the seasons of oiir civil year change 
 with the conrse of the world around 
 ^the central sun, so do the Church's 
 seasons wait upon Him who is " the 
 Sun of Kighteousness. " First in order 
 is Advent, and its name means " coming." 
 
 At this time we are not only reminded of 
 our Saviour's first coming " in great humility" 
 to our sinful world, but more especially of 
 His second appearing " in glorious Majesty," 
 when " He shall come to judge both the quick 
 and the dead." During the four Sundays of 
 Advent, while we are drawing near the Feast 
 of our Lord's Nativity, and are bidden to 
 meditate in their turn the final judgment, the 
 sacred Scriptures, the ministry of Jesus, and 
 to "rejoice in the Lord alway," a voice of 
 warning sounds through them all, reminding 
 us that "now it is high time to awake out of 
 sleej)." Tlie Lord is near, though hidden 
 from mortal eyes. 
 
22 THE HOLY DAYS 
 
 Let US then renew oar self-examinations 
 and add fervor to our prayers. IN^ow is the 
 time to trim onr lamps that they be in readi- 
 ness for the Bridegroom's coming; to shake 
 off spiritual languor and heaviness; to break 
 the chains of evil habits that have fastened 
 upon us unaware, and drive out unholy 
 thoughts that have crept, we scarce know how 
 or when, into our bosoms. 
 
 While we prepare to keep the Feast of the 
 Saviour's Birth, may we heed the stirring call 
 to be ever watchful, ever ready for His second 
 Advent, which shall be proclaimed with the 
 Trump of the Archangel. 
 
 " ^MP^^ • -^^ conies, in clouds descending, 
 ^ f\ Once on earth for sinners slain ; 
 0^5 Thousand, thousand saints attending, 
 Swell the triumph of His train. 
 Hallelujah ! 
 Jesus comes on earth to reign. 
 
 " Every eye shall now behold Him, 
 Robed in dreadful majesty ; 
 Those who set at naught and sold Him, 
 Pierced and nailed Him to the tree. 
 Deeply wailing. 
 Shall the true Messiah see. 
 
ADVENT. 
 
 23 
 
 '' Yet with mingled hope and fearing, 
 Wait we still our Judge to see ; 
 In the day of Thine appearing, 
 Spotless, blameless may we be ! 
 
 Ever watching, 
 
 Teach us, Lord, to welcome Thee." 
 
24 
 
 THE HOLY DAYS. 
 
 EMBEE DAYS. 
 
 " Know tliem wliicli are over you in the 
 Lord." — Thess. iv: 12. 
 
 HERE are certain days set apart for 
 fasting and prayer, before the ordina- 
 tions which are performed in the 
 Chnrch on the following Sundays. 
 In this practice we copy the example 
 of the apostles, who prayed and fasted be- 
 fore laying their hands on those sej)arated for 
 the w^ork of the ministry. 
 
 The Ember days occur at four seasons of 
 the year, being the Wednesday, Friday, and 
 Saturday after the first Sunday in Lent, after 
 Whitsun-day, after the fourteenth of Septem- 
 ber, and after the thirteenth of December. 
 
EISEBEE DAYS. 
 
 25 
 
 It is proper that deacons and priests should be 
 ordained on the Sundays immediately follow- 
 ing these Ember fasts. 
 
 Let us all at such times earnestly pray for 
 our bishops and pastors. 
 
 ND, at each solemn Ember-tide, 
 
 When those who rule God's Church, 
 accord 
 
 The lot they cast, but cannot guide. 
 For its disposal to the Lord ; 
 
 " Let us their consecrating hands 
 
 With fervent faith sustain on high, 
 And o'er the kneeling, white-robed bands 
 Thus help to guide them wiUingly." 
 3 
 
26 
 
 THE HOLY DAYS. 
 
 ST. THOMAS' DAY. 
 
 (DECEMBER 21.) 
 
 " Then saitli He to Thomas, Reach 
 hither thy finger, and behold my hands. 
 . . . And be not faithless, ])iit believ- 
 ing. And Thomas answered and said 
 unto Him, My Lord and my God." — St. 
 John xx : 27, 28. 
 
 HE name of St. Thom- 
 as has been handed 
 down to ns as that of 
 the doubting apostle. 
 When the rest of the 
 apostles assured him of our 
 Saviour's resurrection, lie re- 
 fused to believe until his own 
 eyes had seen, and his own 
 hands touched Him. Our 
 Lord then, pitying his weak- 
 ness, and wdllins: to silence 
 his doubts forever, appeared 
 again to His disciples w^lien 
 Thomas was with them, and 
 quickly convinced him of the 
 blissful certainty. 
 
 This act of unbelief on the 
 
 ,^Y*^v\i'Ai >, 
 
2T 
 
 part of St. Tliomas has an advantage for ns, 
 inasmucli as it confirms our faitli in our 
 Saviour's resurrection, 'and assures us most 
 truly that He rose again in the very same 
 body in whicli He suffered death. Thus we 
 see how out of evil God can draw good, and 
 make even the falls and faults of His saints 
 the means of safety and life to others. 
 
 After the ascension he preached the Gospel 
 in Parthia, and some of the ancients tell how he 
 met with the Magi, countrymen of those wise 
 men who came from afar to worship the new- 
 born Saviour. He baptized several of them, 
 and made use of them as assistants in his min- 
 istry. After whicli he passed through Ethi- 
 opia, and at last came to India ; where, after 
 having made many converts, he was mur- 
 dered by the soldiers one day, while praying 
 outside of the city of Melapore. His body 
 was buried by his disciples in a church 
 which he had caused to be built in the same 
 city. 
 
 OUBTING soul, lay down thy fears, 
 
 For the Lord is nigh thee ; 
 Joy for sadness, smiles for tears, 
 Jesus will supply thee. 
 
28 THE HOLY DAYS. 
 
 '' Plead not reason's poor pretence, 
 Trust what God hath told thee ; 
 Lean not on thine erring sense 
 When His arms infold thee. 
 
 " Thou would' st with thine eyes behold 
 What thy soul desireth ; 
 Thou would' st to thine ears have told 
 What thy sense requireth. 
 
 " Faith, inured to harder tasks, 
 In submission kneeleth, 
 Nor with doubting Thomas asks 
 More than God revealeth." 
 
CHRISTMAS DAY. 29 
 
 CHRISTMAS DAY. 
 
 (DECEMBER 25.) 
 
 " Unto you is born this day, in tlie city 
 of David, a Saviour, whieli is Christ the 
 Lord." — Luke ii: 11. 
 
 0-DAY we celebrate the IS'ativity, or 
 Birth of Christ. It is a day of glad- 
 ness and rejoicing, since the Incarna- 
 tion of the Son of God, or " the Word 
 made flesh," is the most snblime mys- 
 tery of our redemption, and the source of all 
 our blessings. Although any day set apart 
 by the Church for special commemoration 
 claims our thankful observance, yet this one 
 we honor as in very deed the birth-day of our 
 Lord. 
 
 It was kept in the earliest ages of the 
 Church, for we may be sure the exact day 
 would never be forgotten by the first Chris- 
 tians, or their descendants. 
 3^ 
 
CHRISTMAS DAY. 31 
 
 The beloved St. John, who took home the 
 mother of our Lord, would doubtless tell it to 
 his disciples as learned from her own lips. 
 Moreover, the birth of our Saviour occurred 
 at the time of the taxation or enrolment of 
 all the world under the decree of the Roman 
 emperor Caesar Augustus, as you may read in 
 the second chapter of St. Luke. It was there- 
 fore duly registered in the public records, 
 kept in the city of Rome, and being connected 
 with this great census could easily be found 
 at any time. 
 
 These records were not destroyed until the 
 end of the fourth century, when Rome was 
 sacked by the Goths, and the Christian re- 
 ligion had been for one hundred years the 
 established faith of the empire. 
 
 Early writers refer to them in this manner : 
 " Finally concerning the census (or enrolment) 
 of Augustus, which the Roman archives pre- 
 serve as a faithful witness of the Lord's 
 Nativity." 
 
 St. Augustine, who was fifty-six years old 
 at the time of the invasion of the Goths, has 
 left thirteen Christmas sermons, preached by 
 him on the 25th of December, in which he 
 says that it was our Lord's birth-day, without 
 any attempt to prove it;, as though proof 
 
32 THE HOLY DAYS. 
 
 was unnecessaiy, because the fact was well 
 known. 
 
 Before the custom of its observance had be- 
 come general throughout the entire Churcli, 
 St. Chrysostom says in a sermon preached 
 A. D. 386 : " It is lawful for any one who 
 wishes to know accurately, to search the an- 
 cient records publicly deposited in Rome, 
 and there learn the time of that enrolment ;" 
 " we have received this day from those who 
 have tarried there, having celebrated it from 
 the beginning." From the days of these emi- 
 nent bishops until the present time, we know 
 that it has been thus kept by the great body 
 of the Church Universal. 
 
 When this day of all days dawns upon the 
 earth, the Christian world to its furthest limit 
 sends upward the glad song of praise, " Glory 
 to God in the highest !" Friends and brothers 
 meet together, and good wishes and congratu- 
 lations pass from heart to heart; the children 
 greet one another with loving words and 
 happy faces ; gifts of affection are inter- 
 changed, and the Christmas fires glow warm 
 and bright as the happy household groups 
 cluster about them. Even the faces of the 
 poor and sorrowful shine for a while with the 
 universal joy ; for now is the time when all 
 
CHRISTMAS DAY. 33 
 
 who love tlieir Lord will especially remember 
 His poor children, and gladly distribute to 
 their necessities. Christ has come to bring 
 pardon and peace to lis, and we in turn should 
 extend love, and kindness, and forgiveness to 
 all who have done us wrong. In His holy 
 temple, the air is fragrant with the spicy 
 breath of woven wreaths, and clustered boughs 
 and branches that loving hands have brought 
 to " beautify the place of His sanctuary ;" 
 throngs of worshippers blend their voices in 
 prayer and praise, and the Holy Church 
 throughout all the world acknowledges her 
 Lord, and does honor to His birth-day. May 
 it grow more and more holy to us, and each 
 succeeding year find our spirits more attuned 
 to its sacred joy, more meet to welcome Him 
 who is our Saviour, our Lord, and our King 
 forever. 
 
 tNGELS, from the realms of glory, 
 Wing your flight o'er all the earth, 
 ^::;;^ Ye who sang creation's story, 
 Now proclaim Messiah's birth ; 
 
 Come and worship, 
 Worship Christ, the new-born King. 
 
M THE HOLY DAYS. 
 
 " Shepherds in the field abiding, 
 
 Watching o'er your flocks by night, 
 God with man is now residing — 
 Yonder shines the infant light ; 
 
 Come and worship. 
 Worship Christ, the new-born King. 
 
 " Sages, leave your contemplations, 
 Brighter visions beam afar, 
 Seek the great Desire of nations, 
 Ye have seen His natal star ; 
 
 Come and worship, 
 Worship Christ, the new-born King. 
 
 " Saints, before the altar bending. 
 Watching long in hope and fear, 
 Suddenly the Lord descending. 
 In His temple shall appear ; 
 
 Come and worship. 
 Worship Christ, the new-born King. 
 
 " Sinners, wrung with true repentance, 
 Doom'd for guilt to endless pains. 
 Justice now revokes the sentence, 
 Mercy calls you, break your chains ; 
 
 Come and worship. 
 Worship Christ, the new-born King." 
 
ST. STEPHEN S DAY. 
 
 35 
 
 ST. STEPHEN'S DAY. 
 
 (DECEMBER 26.) 
 
 " And lie kneeled down, and cried with 
 a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to 
 their charge ! and when he had said this, 
 he fell asleep." — Acts vii: 55. 
 
 E celebrate on this day the festival of 
 St. Stephen, 
 the first Mar- 
 tyr to the 
 truth of Je- 
 sns, and the first-named 
 of the seven Deacons 
 whom the Apostles ap- 
 pointed as the treasur- 
 ers of the Church, to administer to the necessi- 
 ties of the poor, make provision for the pubhc 
 feasts, and perform other holy offices appro- 
 priate to their rank as ministers of Christ. 
 
 St. Stephen, we are told, was " a man full 
 of faith and of the Holy Ghost," and "did 
 
36 THE HOLT DAYS. 
 
 great wonders and miracles among the peo- 
 ple." He was brought before the council on 
 a false charge of blasphemy, and there by his 
 fervent and fearless eloquence, so enraged the 
 judges, that '' they ran upon him with one 
 accord, and cast him out of the city, and 
 stoned him." 
 
 In dying he imitated the example of his 
 Lord, to whom he had been faithful unto 
 death, by praying for his murderers, and thus 
 proves to us the possibility of obeying, even 
 to the letter, our Saviour's command, " Love 
 your enemies, do good to them that hate you, 
 pray for them that despitefully use you and 
 persecute you." Let us rightly improve this 
 Festival by taking this holy lesson into our 
 hearts, as well as by stirring up our minds to 
 emulate the earnest zeal and the lofty courage 
 and constancy with which St. Stephen labored 
 and died in his Master's cause. 
 
 " (^'^^ITH awful dread his murderers shook, 
 As radiant and serene, 
 The lustre of his dying look 
 Was like an angel's seen, 
 Or Moses' face of paly light, 
 
 When down the mount he trod, 
 All glowing from the glorious sight 
 And presence of his God. 
 
ST. STEPHEN S DAY. 
 
 37 
 
 " To us with all his constancy, 
 
 Be his rapt vision given, 
 To look above by faith and see 
 
 Revealnients bright of heaven ; 
 And power to speak our triumphs out, 
 
 As our last hour draws near, 
 While neither clouds of fear or doubt 
 
 Before our view appear." 
 
 4 
 
THE HOLY DATS. 
 
 ST. JOHN'S DAY. 
 
 (DECEMBER 27.) 
 
 "Now tliere was leaning on Jesus' 
 bosom one of His disciples wliom Jesus 
 
 loved." — John xiii : 23. 
 
 T. JOHN, the 
 
 Evangelist, was 
 the beloved dis- 
 ^^i ciple of our 
 ^ Lord, the one 
 who above all others 
 was distinguished by 
 His favor, and who 
 above all others, per- 
 haps, returned it with 
 a peculiar devotion. 
 He leaned upon Jesus' 
 bosom ; he followed 
 Him into the high 
 priest's hall when all 
 the rest had fled, and 
 even Peter stood aloof; 
 
39 
 
 and to him was given by om* Saviour on the 
 cross, the precious charge of providing for 
 and cherishino^ the virgin Mother. 
 
 His ministry was exercised in Asia Minor, 
 and probably in other parts of the East. He 
 founded six of the churches mentioned in the 
 Apocalypse, and dwelt chiefly at Ephesus, 
 where St. Paul had many years before planted 
 the Church. From this place he was carried a 
 prisoner to Rome, where by command of the 
 Emperor Domitian he was cast into a cauldron 
 of oil set on fire; but by command of One 
 greater than Domitian, the flames had no 
 power to harm him, and he came forth alive. 
 The emperor, disappointed and enraged, paid 
 no heed to the miracle, but ordered him to be 
 banished into the island of Patmos, in the 
 Archipelago, where he wrote his sublime 
 Revelation, and instructed the inhabitants in 
 the faith of Christ. He was recalled, after 
 some years, by the Emperor iSferva, and re- 
 turned to Ephesus, where he wrote his Gospel 
 and Epistles, and governed the Chm-ch until 
 the time of Trajan ; in the beginning of whose 
 reign he died. 
 
 The ministry of St. John was peculiarly a 
 ministry of love — the love to God and our 
 neighbor, which our Lord Himself declared, 
 
40 THE HOLY DAYS. 
 
 fulfils all the commandments. "Little cliil- 
 dren, love one another," was his perpetual ex- 
 hortation, when age and weakness prevented 
 him from preaching any thing more. Shall 
 not we "little children" especially remember 
 this injunction on the day which the Church 
 appoints for lionoring one whom the Master 
 so honored, and let its gentle influence ever 
 pervade our lives ? 
 
 His symbol is an eagle ; as if he would soar 
 into the mysteries of Christ's divine nature, 
 or bear on wings the everlasting Gospel to the 
 ends of the earth. 
 
 N my Saviour's bosom leaning, 
 Drawing thence his mystic meaning, 
 Hearing there the springs that move 
 His unutterable love. 
 
 " Waiting, watching, ling'ring near Him, 
 All fife long to love and fear Him, 
 Finding this my best employ, 
 Ceaseless business, purest joy ! 
 
 " Thus while years away are wearing, 
 For the coming night preparing, 
 For the night, and then the day, 
 When the shadows flee away. 
 
ST. JOHN S DAY. 
 
 41 
 
 " So, my soul, with each returning 
 Of this day, let all my yearning 
 Be, with gentle John to rest 
 Ever on my Saviour's breast." 
 4* 
 
4:2 THE HOLY DAYS. 
 
 THE mjNTOCElsrTS' DAT. 
 
 (DECEMBER 28.) 
 
 " These were redeemed from among 
 men, being tlie first fr^uits unto God and 
 to tlie Lamb." — Revelation xiv : 4. 
 
 ]^ this festival, the Church lovingly re- 
 members those little ones slain by the 
 cruel Herod, who were the first martyrs 
 for their Lord. For " it hath been ob- 
 served, that there are three sorts of 
 martyrdoms : the first in will and deed, which 
 was the case of most of the Apostles; the 
 second in will, but not in deed, Avhich was the 
 case of St. John the Evangelist ; the third in 
 deed, but not in will, which was the case of 
 the Holy Lmocents." The Collect says that 
 they glorified God by their deaths, and the 
 
THE innocents' DAY. 43 
 
 Revelation counts tlieni amono; those blest 
 souls '' wliicli follow the Lamb whithersoever 
 He goeth," "being the first fruits" of His 
 redeemed. 
 
 This, the Church's Feast for Children, re- 
 minds us of their relations to the kingdom of 
 heaven. 
 
 Since our Saviour said, "Suffer them to 
 come unto me," thej should be made His own 
 in Holy Baptism, and trained for His service. 
 When even those of mature years would come 
 to that sacrament, they must first " become as 
 little children." 
 
 You, in your youth, who hear to-day the 
 touching story of the infant martyrs, may not 
 be called as they were to glorify God by your 
 deaths ; but each one of you may glorify Him 
 as well by a gentle and obedient life, by try- 
 ing to avoid every wrong thing that w^ould 
 grieve Him, and also by loving and reverenc- 
 ing the holy days and services of His Church. 
 
 ^IjN Bethlehem was heard a cry, 
 ^Jll Voices of wo and wailing, 
 
 Whose mingled dirge rose mournfully 
 With sorrow unavailing. 
 
44 THE HOLY DAYS. 
 
 'Tis very sad to bid farewell 
 
 To fathers, sisters, brothers ; 
 But the deep grief, oh ! who may tell, 
 That wrings bereaved mothers ? 
 
 " To take the stars away from heaven. 
 
 And leave it all in sadness ; 
 To take from earth the bright flowers given 
 
 To lend it joy and gladness ; 
 To take, when all with music rife. 
 
 The birds from out the wild- wood ; 
 Oh, such it is to take from life 
 
 Bright, happy, laughing childhood. 
 
 " But they are now bright flowers above, 
 
 To Paradise transplanted. 
 And blooming in a soil of love. 
 
 Where constant sunshine's granted. 
 Yea, they are blessed and radiant now, 
 
 In green and tranquil places. 
 Eternal glory on their brow. 
 
 Smiles ever on their faces." 
 
THE CIRCUMCISION OF CHRIST. 45 
 
 THE CIKCUMCISIOlSr OF CHKIST. 
 
 (JANUAEY 1.) 
 
 "The Lord, tliy God, will circumcise 
 thine heaii:." — ^Deuteronomy xxx: 6. 
 
 LL the world knows that to-daj is l^ew 
 Year's Day, and all the world will 
 celebrate it after some fashion or other, 
 because it is the beginning of another 
 year of man's busy, working, crowded 
 The Clmrcli of Christ calls her children 
 to celebrate it because on this day her Lord 
 began His saving work for us. He submitted 
 to the rite of circumcision that He might fulfil 
 the law, and so render a perfect obedience for 
 us : as in his baptism and regard for every 
 
46 THE HOLY DAYS. 
 
 duty, He sets us a beautiful example how we 
 should "fulfil all righteousness." 
 
 Let us begin this l^ew Year — ^fuU of untold 
 trial and temptation — with the earnest resolves 
 that the feast is designed to call forth ; " mor- 
 tifying the flesh," and seeking the fulfilment 
 of God's promise, that He will circumcise our 
 hearts^ that we may live. 
 
 Y soul ! wouldst thou with happiness 
 The opening year begin ? 
 Come kneel by Jesus' cradle-bed, 
 And count the cost of sin ! 
 
 " His tears were wept to dry thine eyes. 
 His grief was for thy gain. 
 The octave of thy song of joy 
 Was His first cry of pain. 
 
 " Thence let the year its coloring 
 Of sober duty take. 
 Rise up, go forth, do every thing 
 For thy dear Saviour's sake." 
 
THE EPIPHANY. 
 
 4T 
 
 THE EPIPHA^^Y. 
 
 (JANUARY 6.) 
 
 "And lo, tlie star wHcli they saw in 
 tlie east went before tliem till it came 
 and stood where the young child was.'' 
 
 — St. Matthew ii : 9. 
 
 r^ HIS feast is observed with great pro- 
 priety by the Church, and should be 
 celebrated with great thankfulness by 
 us Gentiles, because on this day (whose 
 name signifies 'inanife station) the Sa- 
 viour of the world was made known to the 
 
48 THE HOLY DAYS. 
 
 Gentiles. A strange and beantiful star ap- 
 peared to certain wise men of the East, and 
 God put it into tlieir hearts to follow the star 
 until it led them to the spot where the Infant 
 King lay ; showing thus that it was His will 
 to include, not only His chosen people the 
 Jews, but all the nations of the earth, "even 
 to its uttermost parts," in His great salvation. 
 
 The day is also called Twelfth-day, as 
 it falls on the twelfth after Christmas, 
 and Twelfth-night is often a time of merry- 
 making and gayety. There was an ancient 
 custom of preparing for this festival little 
 cakes of spice covered with gold, in memory 
 of the gold, frankincense, and myrrh which 
 the wise men presented to our Saviour. From 
 this came the practice of malting the rich and 
 gayly-ornamented loaves which are known 
 as Twelfth-night cakes, and which in England 
 are everywhere exhibited on this holiday. 
 
 Gifts of gold were offered to kings, fumes 
 of burning incense rise to God as prayer, and 
 myrrh embalmed the dead. So, by their offer- 
 ings, the Magi own our Saviour, King, and 
 God, and Sacrifice. Let us, too, bring Him 
 our golden charity, the incense of devotion, 
 and the myrrh of self-denial. 
 
THE EPIPHANY. 49 
 
 " C^fO^^^^ time ago, a wondrous star 
 ^ h Led o'er a trackless way 
 C^^ Three Gentile sages from afar, 
 To where an Infant lay — 
 
 " In swaddling clothes all helpless bound, 
 In poor and mean abode ; 
 And there in Him all Gentiles found 
 Their Saviour and their God. 
 
 "Thence come all joy, all love, all light 
 That gladden Christian homes ; 
 Our very safety day and night 
 From that one Dwelling comes. 
 
 " Cold, then, and heartless they must be, 
 Who all these blessings share, 
 Yet grudge, on Christ's Epiphany, 
 Their meed of praise and prayer. 
 
 " Lord, keep us from such sinfulness, 
 And give us grace to prove. 
 How they, who daily debts confess. 
 
 Should render love for love." 
 5 
 
50 THE HOLY DATS. 
 
 SUl^DAYS AFTEE EPIPHANY. 
 
 S on the feast of the Epiphany our 
 Saviour was shown to the Gentiles, 
 kings, and Magians from the East, so 
 the Sundays after the Epiphany serve 
 to manifest His glory further to the 
 Avorld by recounting His miracles, 
 signs that He is the expected Messiah, and 
 proofs of. His divine and wondrous power. 
 The Gospels display His wisdom among the 
 doctors, His prophecies to His disciples, or 
 His mighty deeds on land and sea ; now 
 changing water to wine at Cana, now curing 
 a leper by a touch, a paralytic by a word, 
 or stilling the waves of stormy Gennesaret. 
 The number of the Sundays after Epiphany 
 varies from one to six, in dependence on the 
 moveable feast of Easter, queen of festivals. 
 
TnE CONYEESION OF ST. PAUL. 51 
 
 THE COITYEESIOISr OF ST. PAUL. 
 
 (JANUARY 25.) 
 
 "And suddenly there sMned round 
 about Mm a liglit from heaven. And lie 
 fell to the earth." — Acts ix : 3, 4. 
 
 HIS feast is worthily placed next to 
 the Epiphany, for it commemorates the 
 manifestation of Christ to one who was 
 at first a great persecutor, and afterward 
 a great teacher and leader of the Chris- 
 It pleased the Lord to make himself 
 known to Sanl in a wonderful manner, at the 
 very time when he was breathing out threaten- 
 
 tians. 
 
52 THE HOLT DAYS. 
 
 ings and slaughter against the disciples. His 
 eyes were blinded, but his soul was enlight- 
 ened ; and thenceforth he himself became will- 
 ing to suffer all things, even unto death, in be- 
 half of the Master whom he had despised, 
 and whose followers he had pursued with such 
 cruel hatred. 
 
 We may well remember this event with 
 reverence and thankfulness, since it not only 
 proved so wonderfully the power of God, but 
 has left such mighty and enduring results for 
 our good. Though the last called, St. Paul 
 labored more abundantly than any of the 
 Apostles, and did more to extend the Gospel, 
 by planting churches "even to the utmost 
 bound of the west," and writing for their in- 
 struction and confirmation epistles which shall 
 remain for the edification of the Christian 
 world, to the end of time. He has well de- 
 served by his labors among heathen nations 
 the title of " Apostle to the Gentiles." After 
 a life of unexampled suffering and achieve- 
 ments, he was beheaded at Rome in a general 
 persecution of the Christians, under Nero. 
 
THE CONVERSION OF ST. PAUL. 53 
 
 "^^^HOSE is that sword— that voice and eye 
 of flame, 
 That heart of inextinguishable ire ? 
 Who bears the dungeon-keys, and bonds, and 
 fire? 
 Along his dark and withering path he came — 
 Death in his looks, and terror in his name. 
 Tempting the might of Heaven's Eternal Sire. 
 Lo, the Light shone ! the sun's veiled beams 
 expire. 
 
 " A Saviour's self, a Saviour's lips proclaim ! 
 Whose is yon form stretched on the earth's cold 
 bed, 
 
 With smitten soul, and tears of agony, 
 Mourning the past ? Bowed is the lofty head — 
 
 Rayless the orbs that flashed with victory. 
 Over the raging waves of human will 
 The Saviour's spirit walked — and all was stiU !" 
 
 5* 
 
54 THE HOLT DAYS. 
 
 THE PEESEISTTATION^ OF CHRIST. 
 
 (FEBRUARY 2.) 
 
 "They brought him to Jerusalem, to 
 present him to the Lord." — St. Luke ii: 22. 
 
 HIS is a double festival, bringing to 
 remembrance the presentation of the 
 Holy Child in the temple, according to 
 the law, and also the oiferiiig made by 
 His mother, her purification being ac- 
 complished. For, forty days after the birth 
 of a son, the mother, if rich, offered a lamb 
 for a sacrifice, or if poor, like blessed Mary, 
 she brought two turtle-doves, or pigeons. It 
 is called Candlemas day in England, from an 
 ancient practice of lighting candles in the 
 churches at its celebration, symbolizing " the 
 light to lighten the Gentiles^^ of whom Simeon 
 spake. We learn from its observance to 
 purify ourselves both in body and soul ; and 
 to practise that obedience which our Saviour 
 
THE PRESENTATION OF CHRIST. 
 
 55 
 
 and the blessed Yirgin taught by their ex- 
 ample. 
 
 ^HE days of separation past, 
 ulh Commanded by the word, 
 The Yirgin Mary brings her child 
 To offer to the Lord. 
 
56 
 
 THE HOLY DAYS. 
 
 " More than a mother's common joy 
 
 Her thoughtful heart beguiled, 
 For to her breast she knew she prest 
 
 More than a common child. 
 
 " The hope of all the ends of earth 
 
 Then on her bosom lay, 
 Whom saints had sought, while prophets taught 
 
 The coming of His day." 
 
ST. MATTHIAS BAY. 
 
 67 
 
 ST. MATTHIAS' DAY. 
 
 (FEBRUARY 24.) 
 
 " The lot fell upon Matthias ; and lie 
 was numbered witli tlie eleven apostles." 
 — Acts i: 26. 
 
 T. MATTHIAS was probably one of 
 
 the seventy disciples ^ 
 
 chosen under divine 
 
 guidance to be an 
 
 apostle in the place 
 of the traitor Judas. The 
 Church on this day prays 
 to be preserved from false 
 apostles, and guided by 
 true and faithful pastors. 
 Let us who love the Church join in the prayer 
 that those who have received the seal of their 
 ministry in direct and unbroken succession 
 from the hands of Christ's chosen apostles, 
 may in no wise bring dishonor upon their 
 sacred calling, but with the same faith, love, 
 and zeal, devote themselves to their Master's 
 service. 
 
58 
 
 THE HOLY DATS. 
 
 ORD, guard Thy holy spouse, the Church, 
 From every taint of sin, ^ 
 
 Nor let a traitor Judas come 
 Her altar rails within ! 
 
 " Give to Thy ministering servants zeal 
 To spend for Thee their breath. 
 And, like Matthias, take their cross 
 And follow Thee to death. 
 
 " Give them, like Thee, apart to kneel 
 Upon the mount of prayer. 
 Thence to the world with strength return 
 To labor and to bear." 
 
SEPTUAGESIMA, SEXAGESTTVT A , ETC. 59 
 
 SEPTUAGESIMA, SEXAGESIMA, AND 
 QUESTQUAGESIMA. 
 
 C^^/HESE Sundays, meaning respectively 
 Mto) Seventieth, Sixtieth, and Fiftieth, com- 
 c^S^ i^g before Lent, signify that the first 
 of them is, in round numbers, though 
 not exactly, seventy days before Easter, 
 or the end of Lent, and the next one sixty, 
 and the last one fifty, as the beginning of 
 Lent is forty days before Easter. They begin, 
 by their solemnities, to prepare our hearts and 
 minds for the sorrow and humiliation of the 
 great fast of forty days. 
 
 They were observed as early as the time of 
 Gregory the Great, about the year of our 
 Lord 600. 
 
60 THE HOLY DAYS. 
 
 THE a:n"nui^ciation of the 
 
 YIKGESr MAEY. 
 
 (MARCH 25.) 
 
 " Hail ! thou tliat art liigUy favored, 
 tlie Lord is witli tliee ; blessed art thou 
 among women." — Luke i: 28. 
 
 HE Church commemorates to-day the 
 declaration made by the angel Gabriel 
 to the Yirgin Mary, that she should 
 become the mother of Christ ; and also 
 remembers the incarnation of our Sa- 
 viour, who, being the Eternal Son of the 
 Father, was at this time made flesli. Let us 
 pray, as the Collect for tlie day directs us, that 
 having known the incarnation of our Lord by 
 the message of an angel, we may by faith in 
 His cross and passion share in the glory of His 
 resurrection. 
 
/-^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 ;^„;i5 mi 
 
62 THE HOLY DATS. 
 
 ESIDE the poor man's humble door 
 His snowy wing the angel stayed ; 
 And to the peasant's promised bride 
 He said, ' Hail, highly favored maid !' 
 
 " He spake of God's mysterious will. 
 
 While marvelled much the maiden mild. 
 As the rapt stranger gladly poured 
 The wonders of her heaven-sent Child. 
 
 " Then meekly bowed the Virgin's head. 
 As deep her thoughtful soul adored : 
 ' Be it to me as thou hast said ; 
 
 Behold the handmaid of the Lord.' 
 
 " Most loved, most favored, whose young arm 
 Was cradle for her Saviour's rest ; 
 Above all women honored high. 
 Above all earthly mothers blest. 
 
 " Alas ! that human hearts have erred, 
 Profaning her dear name with words 
 That would have grieved her lowly heart, 
 With prayers that should be all her Lord's. 
 
 " We bless her with a meeter love. 
 
 And think the while, with awful praise, 
 Who said, ' Yea, rather blest are they 
 
 Who hear My word, and choose My ways.' " 
 
LENT. 
 
 63 
 
 LENT. 
 
 ASH-WEDNESDAY. 
 
 "Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify 
 a fast, call a solemn assembly." — Joel ii : 15. 
 
 HE solemn fast of Lent takes its name 
 from the season in which it falls. 
 The meaning of the Saxon word is 
 sjpmng^ at which time the Chnrch, by 
 fasting and prayer, makes her prepara-- 
 tion for the festival of Easter. It extends 
 over a period of forty days, not coimting the 
 Sundays which lie between; for Sunday, 
 being the day on which 
 our Saviour arose, is a 
 feast-day throughout the 
 year. The iirst day of 
 Lent is known as Ash- 
 Wednesday, and is so called from a custom 
 that prevailed in the ancient Church of put- 
 ting ashes on the heads of penitents on this 
 day, in token of their humiliation. 
 
 The observance of Lent as a preparation for 
 
64 THE HOLY DAYS. 
 
 Easter has been handed down to us from the 
 earliest ages of the Christian Church ; and 
 no one who recalls the frequent exhortations 
 of our Saviour to the duty of fasting, can 
 doubt the wisdom and benefit of such an in- 
 stitution. For though it is as much a duty to 
 live a holy life at one time as at another, yet 
 every one knows how apt we are to indulge 
 ourselves, how reluctant to cross our wishes or 
 appetites, how easily we put out of our minds 
 and indefinitely postpone the duties which 
 are unwelcome to our natural instincts and 
 self-love. Therefore it is a very wise and 
 happy provision of the Church thus to set 
 aside stated seasons for recollection and repent- 
 ance, and for special lessons in self-denial, 
 when solemn ceremonies and the example of 
 others may, as it were, compel us to stop and 
 ponder whether we are going on as we should 
 in our Christian life, cherishing our baptismal 
 grace, remembering our confirmation vows, 
 and keeping ourselves " unspotted from the 
 world." 
 
 The Church does not lay down any precise 
 rule for the manner of our fasting during this 
 season, leaving it to be governed by our con- 
 science and circumstances. There are many 
 who cannot fast, in the strict sense of the 
 
LENT. 65 
 
 word, abstaining from all food, and of whom 
 it is not required; but few who may not 
 deny themselves some indulgence of appe- 
 tite, and dress, and amusement, for His sake 
 who spent these long and lonely days in the 
 wilderness, hungering, and burdened with 
 the weight of our sins. 
 
 May He help us all to follow the example 
 of His patience and humility, that "when 
 Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then 
 shall we also appear with Him in glory." 
 
 " ^^t^I^C^^E, deare feast of Lent ; who loves 
 (^pFJ not thee, 
 
 He loves not temperance nor authoritie, 
 But is composed of passion. 
 The Scriptures bid us fast; the Church says 
 
 now: 
 Give to thy mother what thou wouldst allow 
 To ev'ry corporation. 
 
 " Yet, Lord, instruct us to improve our fast 
 By star\ing sinne, and taking such repast 
 
 As may our faults controU : 
 That ev'ry man may reveU at his doore, 
 Not in his parlour ; banqueting the poore, 
 
 And among those his soul." 
 
Q6 
 
 THE HOLY DAYS. 
 
 SUIsTDAYS m LENT. 
 
 LTHOIJGH these Sundays occur in 
 the midst of a season of penitence and 
 fasting, it should be noted that the 
 Sundays themselves, while in Lent, are 
 not a part of Lent. Our divine Lord 
 rose on the first day of the week, and His Res- 
 urrection, so fraught with hope and blessed 
 promise to our souls, makes Sunday ever a 
 day of gladness. It is a shadow of the com- 
 ing Easter, a glimpse of joy to gild our grief. 
 This season of the Church is much em- 
 ployed, and very properly, in preparing for 
 the holy rite of Confirmation, and also by 
 those who have not yet communicated, in mak- 
 ing themselves ready, by God's grace, to kneel 
 with the faithful at the Lord's Supper on 
 Easter day. 
 
PALM SUNDAY. 
 
 67 
 
 PALM SUNDAY. 
 
 " On tlie next day mucli people that 
 were come to tlie feast, when they heard 
 that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took 
 branches of palm-trees, and went forth to 
 meet Him, and cried Hosanna." — John 
 xii: 12, 13. 
 
THE HOLY DAYS. 
 
 I ALM SUE'DAY is the beginning of the 
 Hoi J Week, in which our Saviour suf- 
 fered. Its name commemorates His 
 entry into Jerusalem, when the multi- 
 tude carried palm-branches, emblems of 
 victory, in their hands, and the air was 
 filled with shouts in His honor from the same 
 voices that were so soon to cry : " Away with 
 Him ! crucify Him !" They entered the holy 
 city in triumph, and the children who marched 
 in the procession chanted the Hosanna to His 
 praise when they reached the temple. 
 
 The whole week is one of great solemnity, 
 and the Church calls her children together 
 day by day to hear the story of His Passion ; 
 that with more and more awe, reverence, and 
 humiliation we may approach the final day 
 when His great sorrow was crowned, and His 
 great sacrifice completed. 
 
 'OME, strew your garments in the way, 
 
 Your wreaths of palm triumphant bring ; 
 Fling wide thy gate, Jerusalem, 
 And welcome loud thy lowly King ; 
 He comes, whom Prophet's sang of old, 
 Meek riding, as their lays foretold. 
 
• PALM SUNDAY. 60 
 
 But palms are for the conqueror, 
 In triumph's hour to deck his brow ; 
 
 He comes to shame, He comes to death. 
 For whom ye strew those branches now ; 
 
 He comes to bear the Hebrew's scorn, 
 
 The Gentile's scourge, and nail, and thorn. 
 
 Lord, when Thy little children come 
 To worship at Thy glorious throne. 
 
 To praise their own victorious King, 
 
 Oh ! let their thoughts and words be one ; 
 
 And make them live in faith and love. 
 
 And bear hereafter palms above." 
 
70 
 
 THE HOLY DAYS. 
 
 WEDNESDAY BEFOEE EASTER. 
 
 '^Ck^.yGs)^ remember on Wednesday liow 
 Jndas betrayed bis Master, as on 
 Friday we tbink on tbe Crucifixion. 
 Tbe memory of tbe traitor, selling 
 bis Lord, wakes our sorrow, and 
 warns ns to w^atcb our own souls in 
 
 temptation. Wednesday is one of tbe three 
 
 Litany days of eacb week. 
 
 INCE one of Christ's own twelve on earth 
 
 Forswore his faith, betrayed his trust, 
 And gave what whole worlds were not worth. 
 For some few grains of silver dust ; 
 
 How should we watch our hearts, and mark 
 The first small covetous desire. 
 
 And quench the little growing spark. 
 That else may kindle endless fire !" 
 
THURSDAY 'BEFORE EASTER. 
 
 Yl 
 
 THUKSDAY BEFOKE EASTER. 
 
 MAUNDY THURSDAY. 
 
 " TMs do in remembrance of Me." — . 
 St. Luke xxii: 19. 
 
 PIE Thursday before Easter is called 
 the day of the command, because on 
 c^St/Q this day om' Saviour mstituted the 
 Holy Sacrament of His Supper. Let 
 us never turn away with cold hearts 
 from this precious feast, but come to it even 
 with fresh love and thankfulness that we are 
 allowed to " do this in remembrance of" Him 
 who did every thing for us. 
 
 '^f^WAS on that dark, that doleful night, 
 When powers of earth and hell arose 
 Against the Son of God's deUght, 
 And friends betrayed Him to His foes ; 
 
72 THE HOLT DAYS. 
 
 " Before the mournful scene began, 
 
 He took the bread, and bless' d, and brake ; 
 What love through all His actions ran ! 
 What wondrous words of grace He spake ! 
 
 " ' This is My body, broke for sin ; 
 Receive and eat the living food ;' 
 Then took the cup, and bless'd the wine : 
 ' This the new covenant in My blood.' 
 
 " Jesus ! Thy feast we celebrate, 
 
 We show Thy death, we sing Thy name, 
 Till Thou return, and we shall eat 
 The marriage supper of the Lamb." 
 
GOOD FEIDAY. 73 
 
 GOOD FEIDAY. 
 
 " And wlien they were come to the 
 place called Calvary, tliere they crucified 
 Him. — Luke xxiii : 33. 
 
 HIS day is well called Good^ since all 
 onr peace in this world, and all our 
 hope for another, rest upon the work 
 that was this day consummated. It 
 is also rightly made the most solemn 
 fast-day of the year, since it was our disobe- 
 dience that rendered the atonement necessary, 
 our sin for which the Son of God suffered at 
 this time the long, lingering passion of the 
 Cross. 
 
 We sometimes see in pictures and in stained 
 church windows the symbols of our Saviour's 
 7 
 
74 THE HOLY DAYS. 
 
 suffering — the several instruments of His tor- 
 ture — the whip which scourged Him, the 
 crown of thorns, the spikes and hammer, the 
 sponge upon a reed, the soklier's spear, the 
 ladder mounted to let down the precious 
 corpse. For six hours He hung in anguish on 
 the cross. He was nailed to it in the morning, 
 at the third Jewish hour, or nine o'clock. 
 From the sixth to the ninth hour, that is, with 
 us, from noon till three o'clock, when he ex- 
 pired, darkness like a pall lay on the land — 
 nature, fueling for her Lord, uttered her signs 
 of grief — and, as He died, the earth shook, 
 rocks hurst, and the temple veil was torn. 
 
 Oh, how humhly, how penitently, how sor- 
 rowfully should we kneel hefore Him to-day, 
 adoring His infinite love, entreating His par- 
 don for the past offences that have so often 
 " crucified Him afresh," praying for a heart 
 to love Him more who has loved us so won- 
 derfully ! 
 
 ^ESUS! Gentle Sufferer! say, 
 
 How shall we, this dreadful day, 
 Near Thee draw, and to Thee pray ? 
 
 We, whose sins with awful power, 
 Like a cloud did o'er Thee lower, 
 In that God-excluding hour ; 
 
GOOD FEroAY. 
 
 76 
 
 " We, who still in thought and deed 
 Often hold the bitter reed 
 To Thee, in Thy time of need. 
 
 " Canst Thou pardon ? wilt Thou pray, 
 As Thou didst that dreadful day. 
 For those who took Thy life away ? 
 
 " Yes ! Thy blood is all my plea, 
 It was shed, and shed for me. 
 Therefore to Thy cross I flee. 
 
 " Save me. Saviour ! stoop and take 
 Pity on my soul, and make 
 This day bright, for Thy dear sake." 
 
76 
 
 THE HOLY DAYS. 
 
 EASTEK EYEIsT. 
 
 "And wlien Joseph had. taken tlie 
 body, lie wrapped it in a clean linen 
 cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb." 
 — St. Matthew xxvii : 59, 60. 
 
 r^^^HE Church celebrates to-day the gi^eat 
 vigil before our Saviour's resurrection, 
 when He lay in the grave and de- 
 scended into the state of the dead. 
 He told the penitent thief on the cross, 
 
 " This day shalt thou be with me in Para- 
 They both then rested in Paradise, a 
 
EASTEK EVEN. 77 
 
 place of pleasure, directly after their painful, 
 shameful death. But this Paradise is not 
 highest Heaven, for when Jesus had arisen 
 from the tomb he said to Mary, " Touch me 
 not, I have not yet ascended to my Father T 
 Indeed, He taught us that none of the dead, 
 that "No man hath ascended up into Heaven, 
 but he that came down from Heaven, even 
 the Son of Man which is in Heaven." All 
 the dead wait, then, in "their own place," in 
 partial joy or partial wo, until they rise at 
 the last day, and are first judged for their 
 good or evil deeds, before they are assigned 
 to Heaven or Hell. Tliis intermediate state, 
 this place between death and judgment, is 
 known by the several names, Sheol or Hades, 
 Hell, Abraham's Bosom, and Paradise. 
 
 The ancient Church observed Easter Eve 
 with great pomp and '^. . 
 
 solemnity, illuminat- ' *' 
 
 ing both the churches 
 and their private 
 houses with multi- 
 tudes of lighted torch- 
 es, and continuing their 
 vigil till midnight at least, and in some 
 places till morning. It was their custom 
 at this time to baptize adult converts, and 
 7* 
 
78 THE HOLY DAYS. 
 
 some observe the custom still, bringing 
 the catechumens who have been prepared 
 during Lent to the font on Easter Eve. The 
 custom has a beautiful significance when we 
 remember how " we are hiiried with Him hy 
 haptism into death : that like as Christ was 
 raised from the dead hy the glory of the 
 Father^ even so we also should walk in new- 
 ness of lifeP 
 
 " (^^"^^-^ ^^^ ^^^ ^^^ over now ; 
 
 Bring the spice and bring the myrrh, 
 Fold the limb and bind the brow, 
 In the rich man's sepulchre ; 
 Far within the garden gloom 
 Leave Him in His new-made tomb. 
 
 ' We, till lights the Easter Heaven, 
 
 With a holy purpose come, 
 Watching all this solemn even 
 
 By our Saviour's lowly tomb , 
 Thinking we are buried too, 
 We must live with him anew. 
 
 In the fresh Baptismal tide 
 
 In our early childhood dim. 
 When our evil nature died, 
 
 We were buried deep Avith Him, 
 We must live like men new-born 
 Waiting for a brighter morn." 
 
EASTEK BAY. 
 
 79 
 
 EASTER DAY. 
 
 " Wliy seek ye tlie living amongst the 
 dead? He is not here, but is risen." — 
 St. Luke xxiv : 5, 6. 
 
 HE term Easter, as ii sed by the CliiiTch, 
 is from the old Saxon word Oster, sig- 
 nifying " to rise :" the day of the 
 Lord's rising from the dead. 
 
 The Church has always celebrated 
 this great festival of the Resurrection (and uni- 
 versally, on the same day, since A. D. 325) as 
 the most important festival of the year. The 
 joy, the glory, tlie triumph of this day lias 
 been her song, as year after year, since ever 
 
80 THE HOLY DAYS. 
 
 the true PascLai Lamb was slain, she has kept 
 at this time " the Lord's Passover." 
 
 Christ is risen ! In despite of watch and 
 seal, the stone is rolled away from the sepnl^ 
 chre ; and as angels brought the glad tidings 
 of His birth, they bring also the glorious news 
 of His resurrection — pledge of our own rising 
 from the dead. Li joyful anthems and exult- 
 ing hymns the Church takes up the strain, 
 and our hearts thrill even as though, with the 
 disciples, we beheld again " the linen clothes 
 lying ;" and, with Mary, heard once more the 
 voice of our risen Lord. 
 
 Li primitive times, rulers released prisoners 
 on this day, and made gifts to the poor. It 
 was a day for the general exercise of mercy. 
 Freedom was granted slaves, and the rulers 
 gave rich banquets to the people. Hence to 
 this day, in some parts of the country, the 
 Monday following is a holiday with our 
 schools and servants. 
 
 The early Christians greeted each other on 
 Easter morning with "Christ is risen;" and 
 were answered in the Latin Church, "He is 
 risen indeed !" or, in the Greek Church, 
 " And hath appeared unto Simon." 
 
 " Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us, 
 therefore let us keep the feast." Oh, with 
 
EASTER DAY. 81 
 
 what love, joy, and tliaukfulness should we 
 keep the feast which typifies to ns an eternal 
 Feast in His promise, " where there shall be 
 no more death, neither sorrow nor crying!" 
 
 ■ ^?^HE Lord is risen, indeed ! 
 
 mj j The grave hath lost its prey; 
 
 With Him shall rise the ransom'd seed, 
 To reign in endless day. 
 
 The Lord is risen, indeed! 
 
 He lives to die no more ; 
 He lives His people's cause to plead. 
 
 Whose curse and shame He bore. 
 
 ■ The Lord is risen, indeed ! 
 
 Attendmg angels, hear ; 
 Up to the courts of Heaven with speed 
 The joyous tidings bear. 
 
 ■ Then take your golden lyres. 
 
 And strike each living chord : 
 Join all the bright, celestial choirs, 
 To sing our risen Lord !" 
 
82 
 
 THE HOLT DAYS. 
 
 SUiTDAYS AFTEE EASTEE, 
 
 HEEE are five Sundays after Easter, 
 falling within the great forty days that 
 come between our Lord's Eesurrection 
 and His Ascension. Between His ris- 
 ing from the tomb and ascending from 
 Mount Olivet to the skies, he passed forty 
 days, appearing at times to His disciples, and 
 giving them those instructions which should 
 prepare them to organize His Church, and go 
 abroad upon their missions to the world. 
 
ST. MAKE S DAT. 
 
 ST. MARK'S DAY. 
 
 (APRIL 25.) 
 
 "And He gave some Apostles, and 
 some Prophets, and some Evangelists." — 
 Ephesians iv; 11. 
 
 HE name Evangelist is from the Greek, 
 and means " a mes- 
 senger of good tid- 
 ings," and hence 
 "a writer of the 
 
 gospel or good news." It 
 
 was at first given to all that 
 
 preached the Gospel, but 
 
 afterward it was confined 
 
 to those four who wrote 
 
 the history of our Saviour's life and teachings. 
 St. Mark was one of the Evangelists. He 
 
 was the constant companion of St. Peter, 
 
 wrote his Gospel under St. Peter's direction. 
 
84 
 
 THE HOLY DATS. 
 
 and was by him sent into Egypt, where he 
 planted the Church of Alexandria, and where 
 he finally sufiered martyrdom, being seized 
 by the heathen while engaged in the services 
 of the Chnrcli at Easter-tide, and dragged 
 through the streets till he died. His symbol 
 is a lion ; he tells us of Him who is the Lion 
 of the tribe of Judah. 
 
 NB holy men, who lived with our deai 
 Lord, 
 Knew all His love, and looked on all 
 His wo, 
 By God's great Spirit moved, for us have poured 
 The words He spake, the deeds He wrought 
 below; 
 Cast on our earthly path truth's golden ray. 
 And told of heavenly joys, and showed the only 
 way. 
 
 " We round our happy hearths, in quietness 
 Pore o'er the page, and ponder the sweet strain, 
 
 Mindful of them who, in their deep distress. 
 Evangelist, and saint, and martyr train, 
 
 Nursed the pure flame through heathen ages dark. 
 
 And call their names to mind, as thine to-day, 
 Saint Mark ! 
 
ST. ATA-RK S DAT. 
 
 85 
 
 " And even for the love we bear that Word, 
 Those honored names shall fall upon our ear 
 
 With a sweet grateful sound ; we love the bird 
 That sang the strain we loved at twilight clear, 
 
 And " beautiful their feet," th' inspired band 
 
 Who poured salvation's strain through all the 
 darkened land." 
 8 
 
86 
 
 THE HOLY DAYS. 
 
 ST. PHILIP AND ST. JAMES. 
 
 (MAY 1.) 
 
 " I am the way, and tlie truth, and the 
 life : no man cometh unto the Father but 
 by me." — John xiv: 16. 
 
 'HE Church celebrates to-day the fes- 
 tival of two apostles. St. Philip was 
 one of the earliest disciples of our 
 Lord, and preached after the ascension 
 in Upper Asia, where he made many 
 converts. Toward the close of his life he 
 came to Hierapolis in Phrygia, a great city 
 devoted to the worship of 
 a monstrous serpent. By 
 his prayers and preach- 
 ings, he succeeded in de- 
 stroying this hideous idol- 
 atry ; but the magistrates 
 were so enraged at his 
 success in spreading the 
 Gospel amongst the peo- 
 ple, that they ordered him to be crucified. 
 
ST. PHILIP AND ST. JAlkrES. O < 
 
 St. James is called the hrother of our Lord. 
 Among the Hebrews, cousins were counted 
 brothers. He was chosen Bishop of Jerusa- 
 lem, and from the holiness of his life gained 
 /the title of St. James the Just. He was mar- 
 jtyred by the Scribes and Pharisees, who set 
 'him upon a pinnacle of the temple at the 
 feast of the Passover, hoping to compel him 
 to renounce Christ in the sight and hearing 
 of all the multitude. But he fearlessly de- 
 clared Him to be the Son of God ; and they, 
 in the fury of disappointment, threw him 
 down from the high place, and with stones 
 and clubs completed his destruction, even 
 while he prayed for them. 
 
 " ^j^HUS with Thee are linked the names 
 (^ Of St. Philip and St. James ; 
 
 Thee they found both night and day, 
 Precious Truth, and guarded Way ; 
 And in the last martyr strife, 
 Thee, O Lord, they found their Life. 
 Sure, what Thou wast to them of yore. 
 Unchangeable Thou art, and shalt be evermore.'* 
 
88 THE HOLY DAYS. 
 
 eogatio:n^ days. 
 
 '" Ask, and it shall be given you."- 
 St. Matthew vii : 7. 
 
 OGATION DAYS are the Monday, 
 Tuesday, and Wednesday before Ascen- 
 sion. Their name signifies supplication, 
 and they have been kept by the Church 
 as days of fasting and prayer since the 
 middle of the fifth century. At that time 
 Mamercus, Bishop of Yienne, in France, fear- 
 ing that disasters were about to befall his 
 diocese, appointed these days to be observed 
 with litanies and penitence, to appease the 
 wrath of God, and turn aside His judgments. 
 The design in observing them is to prepare 
 us for the feast of the Ascension, to pray for 
 God's mercy to protect us from all calamities, 
 and for His blessing upon the fruits of the 
 field. 
 
 ORD, in Thy name Thy servants plead, 
 
 fAnd Thou hast sworn to hear ; 
 Thine is the harvest, Thine the seed, 
 The fresh and fading year. 
 
ROGATIOIf DAYS. 
 
 89 
 
 The former and the latter rain, 
 
 The summer sun and air, 
 The green ear and the golden grain. 
 
 All Thine, are ours by prayer. 
 
 " Thine too, by right, and ours by grace, 
 
 The wondrous growth unseen. 
 The hopes that soothe, the fears that trace. 
 
 The love that shines serene. 
 So grant the precious things brought forth 
 
 By sun and moon below. 
 That Thee in Thy new heaven and earth, 
 
 We never may forego." 
 
 8* 
 
90 THE HOLY DAYS. 
 
 THE ASCENSION DAY. 
 
 (holy THURSDAY.) 
 
 " And it came to pass while He blessed 
 them, He was parted from them, and car- 
 ried up into Heaven." — St. Luke xxiv: 51. 
 
 ^^^HE last day of our Lord's dwelling on 
 earth lias come. For forty days since 
 His resurrection He has lingered near, 
 appearing to one and another, *'bythe 
 Y wayside," and " as they sat at meat ," 
 whenever He saw that sinking courage and 
 wavering faith needed His divine comfort and 
 strengthening. But now the appointed time is 
 over; the last day has come, and with that 
 parting blessing — so precious, so dear forever ! 
 — He is borne up and away, far beyond the 
 longing gaze of those avIio stand straining their 
 eyes to behold the last gleams of His glory. 
 
 With joy and praise the Church celebrates 
 this day always, for now is our hope made 
 sure and perfect. The ascension of Christ is 
 the completion of his sacrifice, the consumma- 
 tion of His atonement, the fulfilment of 11a 
 
THE ASCENSION DAY. 
 
 91 
 
 the promises. We know now that our Lord 
 has " gone up to prepare a place for us, that 
 where He is, thither we might also ascend and 
 reign with Him in glory." And oh, what man- 
 ner of lives should we lead in such an anticipa- 
 
 tion ! How should we watch, and pray, and 
 hope, and wait, for the day when He shall 
 come again and receive us unto Himself! 
 Let us pmy that "we may also in heart 
 
92 
 
 THE HOLY DAYS. 
 
 and mind thither ascend, and with Him con- 
 tinually dwell," even in this our earthly 
 home ; so that each and all of us may stand 
 ready and waiting when the message comes 
 that " the Master hath need of us." 
 
 ' ^p'HE Saviour stood at Olivet, 
 (Ijlh His earthly task was o'er ; 
 ^^"^ And wherefore should He linger yet 
 On this world's dreary shore ? 
 He raised on high His hands divine, 
 
 He blessed His faithful train ; 
 Oh, when shall Adam's guilty line 
 Such blessing hear again ? 
 
 Then slowly tow'rd the expecting sky, 
 
 The sky's Creator rose ; 
 Angelic watchers, ranged on high, 
 
 Bade Heaven's bright gates unclose ; 
 And in He came, the Lord of Might, 
 
 Eternal and supreme. 
 Whose presence e'en those worlds of light 
 
 Illumed with brighter beam. 
 
 Oh, Thou who thus exalted art, 
 
 On whom our souls rely. 
 Grant to us now in mind and heart, 
 
 To dwell with Thee on high ! 
 
THE ASCENSION DAY. 
 
 93 
 
 And when at length, redeemed by Thee, 
 The just that sleep shall rise, 
 
 With theirs our hajDpy portion be, 
 A home beyond the skies." 
 
94: 
 
 THE HOLY DAYS. 
 
 WHITSU]^-DAY. 
 
 " And tliere appeared unto tliem cloven 
 tongues, like as of iire, and it sat upon 
 each of them." — Acts ii: 3. 
 
 HIS festival commemorates the coming 
 
 of "■ the Comforter, 
 
 which is the Holy 
 
 Ghost," j)i'omised 
 
 by om* Saviour to 
 His disciples, and waited 
 for by them with such eager 
 hope and expectation. It 
 took place on the Jewish feast of Pentecost, 
 the anniversary of the giving of the law at 
 Mount Sinai. A rushing, mighty wind filled 
 all the house where they were assembled, 
 cloven tongues of fire rested u^^on them, and 
 they were filled with the Holy Ghost, so 
 that they were enabled to speak in all lan- 
 guages ; and the great multitude present 
 there from all countries heard, each in his 
 native tongue, the wonderful works of God. 
 
WHITSUN-DAY. 96 
 
 Not visibly, not witli a rushing wind or 
 tongues of fire does the Holj Sj^irit descend 
 upon ns now when we gather together in the 
 temple of the Lord. Yet is He present with 
 US still, though unseen, at the font, or in the 
 laying on of hands, in prayer or sacred medi- 
 tation, hovering above us with gifts of com- 
 fort and wisdom, ready to enter into every 
 heart that will open to receive Him. Let us 
 then keep this blessed feast of the Church 
 with love, and faith, and special prayer, that 
 we may never grieve or resist the Holy Spirit 
 of God, but that our whole lives may prove His 
 presence in our hearts. 
 
 The name Whitsun-day may be derived 
 from Pentecost. The festival, like Easter, in- 
 cludes also the Monday and Tuesday follow- 
 ing, that we may more fully understand its 
 great imj)ortance, and enter more heartily 
 into the true spirit of its observance. 
 
 "(^/Y<^HEN God of old came down from heaven, 
 Li power and wrath He came ; 
 Before His feet the clouds were riven, 
 Half darkness and half flame : 
 Aromid the trembhng mountain's base 
 
 The j^rostrate people lay ; 
 A day of wrath and not of grace, 
 A dim and dreadful day. 
 
96 
 
 THE HOLY DAYS. 
 
 " But when He came the second time, 
 
 He came m power and love, 
 Softer than gale at morning prime 
 
 Hover'd His holy Dove. 
 The fires that rushed on Sinai down, 
 
 In sudden torrents dread, 
 Now gently light, a glorious crown 
 
 On every sainted head." 
 
TKLNITY SUNDAY. 
 
 9T 
 
 TKmiTY SUNDAY. 
 
 "Thou art wortliy, O Lord, to receive 
 glory, and honor, and power ; for Thou 
 hast created all things." — Revelation iv : 2. 
 
 HE observance of Trinity Sunday is of 
 more recent origin 
 than that of the 
 otlier important fes- 
 tivals. The ancient 
 Church thought it unnec- 
 essary to set apart a spe- 
 cial day for the praises that 
 were celebrated every day 
 in the hymns, creeds, and doxology. But in 
 consequence of the Arian and other heresies — 
 that is, the unbelief of Arius and his followers, 
 who denied this mystery of the Trinity— the 
 Church thought proper to order a particular 
 day for its solemn commemoration. And this 
 day was preferred to any other, because it was 
 not until after the Ascension and the coming 
 ot the Holy Ghost, that our knowledge of the 
 divine mysteries was completed. 
 9 
 
98 THE HOLY DAYS. 
 
 It is the proper culmination of all the great 
 festivals of the year. The Church having 
 celebrated the Birth and Manifestation, the 
 Resurrection and Ascension of our Saviour, 
 and the descent of the Holy Spirit, concludes 
 them all with a special service in honor of the 
 '' Holy, blessed, and glorious Trinity, three 
 persons and one God," by whom we were 
 created, redeemed, and sanctified, and who 
 is the centre of all our faith, hope, and love. 
 
 The design of the Church, in the Sundays 
 after Trinity, is to instruct us in the duties and 
 advance us in the graces of the Christian life. 
 As in the earlier part of the year we were 
 " rooted and grounded" in the great doctrines 
 of our faith, we are now taught to put them 
 into practice in our daily life. Let us ask of 
 Him who only can give it, "the spirit to think 
 and do always such things as are right," that 
 with a quiet mind and peaceful heart we may 
 go through the changing year until Advent 
 comes again. 
 
100 THE HOLY DAYS. 
 
 [>EAD US ! Heavenly FATHER, lead us 
 O'er the world's tempestuous sea ; 
 Guide us, guard us, keep us, feed us, 
 For we have no help but Thee ; 
 Yet possessing every blessing, 
 If our GOD our FATHER be. 
 
 " SAVIOUR, breathe forgiveness o'er us, 
 All our weakness THOU dost know ; 
 
 Thou didst tread the earth before us, 
 Thou didst feel its keenest wo : 
 
 Lone and dreary, faint and weary, 
 Through the desert THOU didst go. 
 
 *' SPIRIT of our GOD descending. 
 Fill our hearts with heavenly joy ; 
 Love with every feeling blending 
 Pleasures that can never cloy : 
 Thus provided, pardoned, guided, 
 " Nothing can our peace destroy." 
 
SUNDAY AFTEi: TKtNITY 
 
 101 
 
 SUNDAYS AFTEE TEINITY. 
 
 fN the first half of the Church year, the 
 Sundays take their character from some 
 f special events relating to the birth, life, 
 deeds, death, resurrection, and ascension 
 of our blessed Lord. On Pentecost, or 
 Whitsun-day, His Holy Spirit descends to 
 guide His Church into all truth ; and on 
 Trinity Sunday, the great doctrine of three 
 persons in one Godhead is set forth. Then 
 we enter on a new phase of the religious year, 
 and through the Sundays after Trinity, les- 
 sons of duty engage our attention, and we are 
 moved by the sublime precepts of our Master, 
 to cultivate the graces of the Christian life. 
 9^^ I 
 
102 
 
 THE HOLY DAYS. 
 
 ST. BAKKABAS' DAY. 
 
 (JUNE 11.) 
 
 "The son of consolation, a Levite." — 
 Acts iv: 36. 
 
 r^^'HE proper name of this saint was 
 
 Joses ; bnt the surname 
 
 Barnahas, wliich means 
 
 " son of consolation," 
 
 was given him by the 
 Apostles for his prophetic gifts, 
 his skill in comforting the 
 troubled conscience, or on ac- 
 count of his kindness and char- 
 ity to the poor. He is sup- 
 loosed to be one of the seventy disciples chosen 
 by our Saviour, and he proved his love and 
 zeal in Jesus' service by selling all his lands, 
 and giving the money entirely to the poor. 
 He was of the tribe of Levi, and is called by 
 St. Luke and early fathers an Apostle himself. 
 He first introduced St. Paul, after his con- 
 version, to the Apostles, and convinced them 
 of its sincerity ; and he afterward was a com- 
 
ST. BAKNABAS' DAY. 103 
 
 panion and co-laborer with St. Paul in many 
 places. He suffered martyrdom at Salamis, a 
 city in liis native island of Cyprus, being 
 stoned to death by the Jews. St. Barnabas 
 has left behind him an epistle addressed to 
 Jewish converts. 
 
 " ^i^ Judas here, or Demas there, 
 
 ^1 Shadowed the Church with shame, 
 Cl3 And left the stain of love of gain 
 Upon the Chriscian name : 
 
 " If Anauias and his wife 
 
 Kept back the price and lied ; 
 St. Barnabas, through Thy great grace, 
 More than their lack supplied. 
 
 " In nature and iu name alike, 
 
 True to Thy Church and Thee ; 
 The Son of Consolation called. 
 And rightly named was he." 
 
104 
 
 THE HOLY DAYS. 
 
 KATIYITY OF ST. JOHN THE 
 BAPTIST. 
 
 (JUNE 24.) 
 
 "Many sliall rejoice at Ms birth."- 
 St. Luke i: 14. 
 
 in commemorating 
 
 her 
 
 HE Churcli 
 saints usually cele- 
 brates the day of 
 their death, because 
 it was in their 
 deaths that they glorified 
 their Master. But in the 
 case of St. John the Baptist 
 she departs from the rule, 
 because his birth, like that 
 of our Lord, was not only wonderful in itself 
 but the occasion of great rejoicing to those 
 who looked for the coming of the Messiah. 
 
 It was declared by the angel who foretold 
 his birth to his father, that he should be the 
 messenger to prepare the way of the Lord, 
 and turn the hearts of the people to Him; 
 
NATIVITY OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST. 105 
 
 and we know tliat by his lioly life and earnest 
 preaching, he converted ninltitudes of the 
 Jews, and prepared them for the near ap- 
 proach of our Saviour. 
 
 He is called the Baptist, because he bap 
 tized all his converts, and had the honor, 
 moreover, of baj)tizing our Lord Himself. 
 The Church exhorts her children to "repent 
 truly, according to his preaching," to imitate 
 his holy life, and to follow his example of 
 boldly speaking the truth, and patiently suf- 
 fering for its sake. 
 
 ^. 'HIS day the Church commemorates 
 Jlj The birth-day of St. John; 
 
 Except our Lord's Nativity, 
 She keeps this only one. 
 
 Be this its holy use, to make 
 
 The birth-days of each year, 
 Tho' dear for all their human joy, 
 
 As helps to Heaven most dear. 
 
 The Baptist's pure and holy life, 
 
 Severe from early youth, 
 His bold rebuke of haughty vice, 
 
 His patience for the truth, 
 
106 
 
 THE HOLY DAYS. 
 
 " His preparation of Thy way, 
 His living in Thy love, 
 His brief, but hard and toilsome day, 
 His early rest above ; 
 
 " Be these our birth-day monitors. 
 Our souls for Heaven to train. 
 Teaching us how ' to live is Christ,' 
 And how ' to die is gain.' " 
 
ST. PETER S DAT. 
 
 lo: 
 
 ST. PETER'S DAT. 
 
 (JUNE 29) 
 
 "Lord, Thou knowest that I love 
 Thee." — John xxi. 15. 
 
 [P^E commemorate 
 1) to-day the mar- 
 tyrdom of St. 
 Peter, a prince 
 of the apostles, 
 brother of St. 
 Andrew. He was a fish- 
 erman of Galilee, but, 
 at our Saviour's com- 
 mand, left his employ- 
 ment and followed Him ; 
 and thenceforth was one 
 of His most devoted dis- 
 ciples. In a moment 
 of weakness and great 
 temptation, he denied 
 his Master ; but he re- 
 pented bitterly, and 
 spent all the rest of 
 his life in most earnest 
 and self-sacrificing ser- 
 
108 THE HOLY DAYS. 
 
 vice; preaching in Samaria, Antioch, Asia, 
 and elsewhere, and bringing many thousands 
 of the Saviour's wandering " sheep" into the 
 fold of the true Shepherd. It is said that he 
 was put to death at Kome, and chose to be 
 crucified with his head downward, because he 
 thought himself unworthy to die in the same 
 position in which his Master suffered. One 
 of St. Peter's symbols, the cock that crowed, 
 has been sometimes placed on steeples, a 
 warning to unfaithful teachers, lest they deny 
 their Lord. He is usually represented with 
 keys in his hand, as it was said to him, " Unto 
 thee will I give the keys of the kingdom of 
 Heaven." 
 
 " (M>^I^I^5 Thou knowest that I love Thee, 
 Whom have I in Heaven but Thee ? 
 None on earth I prize above Thee, 
 Oh, be gracious unto me. 
 Henceforth all my life's devotion, 
 I shall deem too poor to prove 
 With what trembHng, fond emotion 
 
 I repent, and trust, and love : 
 Thankful even if my falhng 
 
 May to others warning be, 
 And my gentle, kind recalling 
 
 Draw some wand'rer back to Thee." 
 
DAY. 109 
 
 ST. JAMES' DAY. 
 
 (JULY 25.) 
 
 " And lie killed James the brother of 
 Jokn witli tlie sword."— Acts xii : 2. 
 
 HE Chiircli calls iis to-day to observe 
 
 the example of St. 
 
 James, who left his 
 
 father and all he had, 
 
 to follow Jesns. He 
 is called James the Great, 
 either because he was older 
 than James the Less, or 
 greatly honored by our Lord, 
 being one of His three favored friends. St. 
 James was a Galilean, a fisherman, and a 
 brother of St. John the Evangelist. St. John 
 and he were called, by our Saviour, Boanerges, 
 or " sons of thunder," in token of the force 
 and vehemence with which they should preach 
 the Gospel, and rouse the nations as it were 
 by a voice of thunder. His ministry was 
 confined to Judea ; and — ^first martyr among 
 10 
 
110 THE HOLY DATS. 
 
 the apostles — ^he was beheaded at Jerusalem 
 by the order of Herod, who had just begun 
 his reign, and thought by this act to make 
 himself popular with the Jews. 
 
 " ^f ^^ brothers freely cast their lot 
 (u\) With David's royal Son ; 
 
 The cost of conquest counting not, 
 They deem the battle won. 
 Brothers in heart, they hope to gain 
 
 An undivided joy. 
 That man may one with man remain, 
 As boy was one with boy. 
 
 " Christ heard, and willed that James should fall, 
 
 First prey of Satan's rage ; 
 John linger out his fellows all, 
 
 And die in bloodless age. 
 They rest to meet once more above, 
 
 Before the Conqueror's throne : 
 Thus God grants prayer, but in His love 
 
 Makes times and ways His own." 
 
ST. BARTHOLOMEW S DAY. 
 
 Ill 
 
 ST. BAKTHOLOMEWS DAY. 
 
 (AUGUST 24.) 
 
 " When thou wast under the fig-tree, I 
 
 saw thee." — John i: 58. 
 
 BAETHOLOMEW was one of 
 twelve apostles, and is 
 generally believed to 
 be identical with that 
 IN^athanael whom Jesus 
 ■nnder the fig-tree," be- 
 mortal eyes could have 
 discerned him, and of whom 
 He said, " Beliold an Israelite 
 indeed, in whom is no guile." 
 
 He preached the Grospel in Arabia Felix 
 and India, travelled through Asia, and finally 
 settled in a city of Armenia ; where he was 
 most cruelly martyred by the idolatrous peo- 
 ple whom he had tried to turn to the faith of 
 Christ — flayed alive, it is said, by order of 
 Astyages, the king. Let us try to imitate the 
 example of his ready faith and patient obe- 
 
112 THE HOLY DAYS. 
 
 clience, that we may be " faithful over a few 
 things," and, with him, hereafter " enter into 
 the joy of our Lord." 
 
 IDDEN close from human eye, 
 
 f Violets do love to lie. 
 Only for the tell-tale air, 
 No one could discover where : 
 \Bnt there's an Eye which on them dwells, 
 With sunshine soft and true, 
 A Hand which fills their purple bells 
 With drops of morning dew. 
 
 " So beneath the fig-tree's shade. 
 
 Where of old Nathanael paid 
 
 To the Lord his hidden vows ; 
 
 Through its broad and verdant boughs, 
 Upon the saint's lone hour of need 
 
 Fell Heaven's approving smile. 
 And owned an Israelite indeed, 
 
 In whom there was no guile. 
 
 " Thence the man unknown and lowly. 
 
 Set apart by God, and holy. 
 
 Changed in office and in name, 
 
 St. Bartholomew became ; 
 And on his day, the Church doth pray. 
 
 Of God, in Jesus' name, 
 ' To love that word which he believed, 
 
 Preach, and receive the same.' " 
 
ST. MATTHEW S DAY. 
 
 113 
 
 ST. MATTHEWS DAY. 
 
 (SEPTEMBER 21.) 
 
 "And lie arose and followed Him."- 
 St. Matthew ix : 9. 
 
 HE example of St. Matthew teaches us 
 to prefer the ser- 
 
 ^ "^ earthly gahi and 
 
 f 
 
 advantage. He 
 was a tax-gatherer, " sit- 
 ting at the receipt of 
 cnstom ;" hut when Je- 
 sus called him, he left 
 his employment at a 
 word, giving up with it all his prospects of 
 future wealth, and henceforth followed the 
 Lord. 
 
 He wi'ote the Gospel that bears his name, 
 and preached in Judea for about eight years ; 
 after which he went into Parthia and Ethio- 
 pia, and was probably martyred there, though 
 the manner of his death has not been recorded. 
 His symbol is a man or angel : he tells us of 
 our Saviour's genealogy and human nature. 
 10* 
 
lU 
 
 THE HOLY DATS. 
 
 ^ROM fisher's net, from fig-tree's shade, 
 
 God gathers whom He will ; 
 'Touched by His grace all men are made 
 His purpose to fulfil. 
 So Matthew left his golden gains 
 
 At the great Master's call ; 
 His soul the love of Christ constrains 
 Freely to give up all. 
 
 " O, Saviour ! when prosperity 
 
 Makes this world hard to leave, 
 And all its j)omps and vanity 
 
 Their meshes round us weave ; 
 Then grant us grace, that to Thy call 
 
 We may obedient be, 
 And, cheerfully forsaking all. 
 
 May follow only Thee." 
 
ST. MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS. 
 
 115 
 
 ST. MICHAEL AND ALL AJS^GELS. 
 
 (SEPTEMBER 29.) 
 
 " Are they not all ministering spirits, 
 sent fortli to minister for tliem wlio sliall 
 be heirs of salvation?" — Hebrews i: 14. 
 
 'HE Church keeps this feast that we 
 may express our thankfulness for God's 
 loving care and kindness in sending 
 forth guardian angels to minister to 
 His children. Tliey do not appear to 
 us now in visible presence, as in the early 
 days when they were so often God's messen- 
 
116 
 
 THE HOLY DAYS. 
 
 gers to men ; but we cannot doubt that thej 
 are about us still, unseen and unheard, yet 
 ever watchful to shield us from danger, com- 
 fort us in trouble, and strengthen us against 
 temptation. 
 
 Of little children especially, we are told 
 that " their angels" always behold the face of 
 the Father ; and who can tell what perils and 
 troubles the heedless feet of the young might 
 stray into, were it not for the constant watch 
 and ward of these " ministering spirits ?" 
 Children, then, should love this festival, and 
 learn from it not only to be thankful for the 
 holy and blessed guardianship of angels, but 
 to remember that they are always in the pres- 
 ence of those pure and gentle creatures, and 
 try to be like them in gentleness and purity ; 
 driving away evil thoughts, refraining from 
 angry words and sinful acts, and ever ready 
 to do kind things for others. 
 
 Among the choirs and orders of angels, St. 
 Michael is an arch-angel, that is over one of pe- 
 culiar power and dignity, having an army of 
 angels under his command, and is frequently 
 mentioned in Scripture as coming to the help 
 of God's servants. He is held as the cham- 
 pion of the Church, watching its welfare and 
 defeating the dragon, the Devil. 
 
ST. MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS. 117 
 
 (^}|'N our journeyings, in our restings, on the 
 1 land or on the sea, 
 
 In our sohtude and sorrow, in our gather- 
 ings and glee, 
 In the day of degradation, in the hour of joy 
 
 and pride, 
 Those pure and watchful ministers are ever by 
 
 our side ; 
 Sweet messengers of love and hope, they journey 
 
 to and fro. 
 And consolation follows in their footsteps as 
 
 they go. 
 O Thou, whom angels worshipped ere time or 
 
 wo began. 
 And whose divine compassion gave their guar- 
 dianship to man. 
 Throughout this mortal warfare let them still my 
 
 champions be, 
 And in the last stern conflict, ' give them charge 
 
 concerning me!"' 
 
118 
 
 THE HOLT DAYS. 
 
 ST. LUKE THE EYAKGELIST. 
 
 (OCTOBER 18.) 
 
 " Luke, tlie beloved physician." — Co- 
 LOSsixiNS iv: 14. 
 
 T. LUKE was born in Antioch, a 
 famons for learn- 
 ing and wealth, 
 
 city 
 
 but more honored 
 
 for the fact that 
 here the disciples of Jesus 
 were first called Chris- 
 tians. His peculiar pro- 
 fession was that of physic, 
 but it is said that he was also skilful in paint- 
 ing, and there are j)ictures still in existence 
 that some claim to have been drawn by him. 
 He was probably converted by St. Paul, dur- 
 ing his abode at Antioch ; for after his con- 
 version, he became St. Paul's inseparable com- 
 panion, sharing all his labors and all his dan- 
 gers, even when others forsook him, and never 
 leaving him till his death. 
 
ST. LUKE THE EVANGELIST. IIV^ 
 
 He wrote the Gospel wliicli bears liis name 
 during liis travels with St. Paul in Achaia, 
 and liis history of the Acts of the Apostles 
 during St. Paul's two years of imprisonment. 
 It is not certainly known where or how he 
 died, though some historians affirm that he 
 preached tlie Gospel successfully in Egypt 
 and Greece, until a party of infidels, getting 
 him into their power, hanged him upon an 
 olive tree. His symbol is a calf or ox, for 
 Jesus was a saciifice, and his Gospel sets forth 
 our Lord most plainly as both Priest and 
 Victim. 
 
 H, God ! on such a day as this, 
 
 Let us with special prayer 
 All those who heal throughout our land 
 Commend to Thy good care. 
 
 " And make them hallowed means of good 
 In all they think and do, 
 While truthful to their heahng art, 
 Not imto Thee less true. 
 
 " Physicians of the body they — 
 By grace's soft control. 
 May they become, like good St. Luke, 
 Physicians of the soul !" 
 
120 
 
 THE HOLY DAYS. 
 
 ST. SIMON AND ST. JUDE. 
 
 (OCTOBER 28.) 
 
 " Jude, tlie servant of Jesus Clirist." — 
 St. Jude i: 1. 
 
 T. SIMOK and St. Jude were both 
 apostles. The first 
 is also called Si- 
 mon Zelotes, and 
 the Canaanite, to 
 distinguish him from 
 Simon Peter. He preach- 
 ed the G-ospel in Egypt 
 and Africa, and after- 
 ward in Britain, where, 
 as some say, he was crucified. But others 
 state that he died in Persia, by the hands of 
 idolatrous priests, and that he was sawn 
 asunder. 
 
 St. Jude is reckoned among the brethren 
 of our Lord, being the son of Joseph and 
 brother of James; but in his humility he 
 calls himself only " the servant of Jesus 
 
 ^--'H.^J^ 
 
ST. SIMON AND ST. JUDE. 121 
 
 Christ." He is called in Scripture Lebb(JBits, 
 expressive of prudence and understanding, 
 and also Thaddeus^ to denote one zealous in 
 God's praise. He preached in Judea and 
 Galilee, and has left one epistle. It is be- 
 lieved that he was put to death in Persia by 
 the Magi. 
 
 H, warm, devoted men were ye, 
 And zealous for your Lord — 
 Dispensiug wide with fervency, 
 The pure, life-giving word ! 
 
 " Your various names the truth attest 
 That ye were filled with zeal — 
 Men that could neither pause nor rest 
 Till ye made others feel. 
 
 " Fond history loves the tale to tell 
 
 That ye together strove, 
 Together bade this world farewell, 
 
 To wait your crowns above." 
 11 
 
122 
 
 THE HOLY DATS. 
 
 
 ALL SAINTS' DAY. 
 
 (NOVEMBER 1.) 
 
 "Here are they tliat keep tlie com- 
 mandments of God, and tlie faitli of 
 
 Jesus. — Revelation xiv: 12, 
 
 ^^^HE design of the Church in appointing 
 this festival is chiefly to honor God in 
 the holy example of His saints, and 
 also to encourage us who remain yet 
 f upon the battle-ground, to fight the 
 same " good fight of faith." As she cannot 
 assign a special day for every saint and mar- 
 tyr, she here includes them all in one common 
 
123 
 
 festival. She inculcates, too, at this time, the 
 important doctrine of the "communion of 
 saints," reminding us that all true Christians 
 are "fellow-citizens witli the saints, and of 
 the household of God," of the same family 
 with those in Paradise. Therefore, as we 
 thank God for their good example and their 
 labors of love, so we cannot doubt that they 
 rejoice in our conversion, and praj that we 
 may also enter into their unspeakable joy. 
 
 Oh, let us then run with patience this race 
 that is set before us, following in the footsteps 
 of those who have " kept the commandments 
 of God, and the faith of Jesus," that at the 
 end we also may stand before the Lamb, and 
 join in their glorious song — 
 
 "Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and 
 thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and 
 might, be unto our God forever and ever! 
 Amen." 
 
 " ^fHESE thi'ough fiery trials trod ; 
 
 These from great affliction came ; 
 Now before the throne of God, 
 Sealed with His eternal name : 
 Clad in raiment pure and white, 
 
 Victor palms in every hand, 
 Through their great Redeemer's might. 
 More than conquerors they stand. 
 
124 
 
 THE HOLY DAYS. 
 
 " Hunger, thirst, disease unknown, 
 
 On immortal fruits they feed ; 
 Them the Lamb amidst the throne 
 
 Shall to living fountains lead : 
 Joy and gladness banish sighs, 
 
 Perfect love dispels their fears ; 
 And forever from their eyes 
 
 God shall wipe away their tears." 
 
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