THE CONVERSION OF ST. PAUL

JESU, Our Shepherd, cease not

Thy flock from harm to free, And, when Thy sheep are wandering, O lead them back to Thee.

To FATHER, SON, and SPIRIT

All glory, praise, and might, Who called us out of darkness To His own glorious light. Amen.

He which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed."

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WE sing the glorious conquest Before Damascus' gate, When Saul, the Church's spoiler, Came breathing threats and hate; The ravening wolf rushed forward Full early to the prey; But lo! the Shepherd met him, And bound him fast to- day. Oh, glory most excelling

That smote across his path! Oh, light that pierced and blinded The zealot in his wrath!

Oh, voice that spake within him The calm reproving word! Oh, love that sought and held him The bondman of his LORD! O Wisdom, ordering all things In order strong and sweet, What nobler spoil was ever Cast at the Victor's feet? What wiser master- builder E'er wrought at Thine employ Than he, till now so furious Thy building to destroy? LORD, teach Thy Church the lesson, Still in her darkest hour Of weakness and of danger To trust Thy hidden power: Thy Grace by ways mysterious The wrath of man can bind, And in Thy boldest foeman Thy chosen Saint can find.

I Conscious of hidden Deity, ¹ The lowly Virgin brings Her new- born Babe, with two young Her tender offerings.[ doves,

Amen.

Presentation of Christ in the Temple,

COMMONLY CALLED

The Purification of St. Marp the Virgin.

" The Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly 407 come to His temple."

O SION, open wide thy gates, Let figures disappear;

A Priest and Victim, both in one, The Truth Himself, is here.

The aged Simeon sees at last His LORD so long desired, And Anna welcomes Israel's Hope, With holy rapture fired.

No more the simple flock shall bleed; Behold, the FATHER'S SON Himself to His own Altar comes, For sinners to atone.

But silent knelt the Mother blest Of the yet silent WORD, And, pondering all things in her heart. With speechless praise adored.

All glory to the FATHER be, All glory to the SON, All glory, HOLY GHOST, to Thee, While endless ages run. Amen.

The following Hymns are suitable: 449 The GoD, Whom earth, and sea, and sky.

450 Shall we not love thee, Mother dear.

St. Matthias the Apostle. " And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was 408 numbered with the eleven Apostics." BISHOP of the souls of men,

When the foeman's step is nigh, When the wolf lays wait by night For the lambs continually, Watch, 0 LORD, about us keep, Guard us, Shepherd of the sheep. When the hireling flees away, Caring only for his gold, And the gate unguarded stands At the entrance to the fold, Stand, O LORD, Thy flock before, Thou the Guardian, Thou the Door.

LORD, Whose guiding finger ruled In the casting of the lot, That Thy Church might fill the throne Of the lost Iscariot, In our trouble ever thus Stand, good Master, nigh to us. When the Saints their order take In the New Jerusalem, And Matthias stands elect,

Give us part and lot with him, Where in Thine own dwelling- place

We may witness face to face. Amen. The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

" Behold, a Virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a Son, and they shall call His Name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with 9."

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PRAISE we the LORD this day, This day so long foretold, Whose promise shone with cheering On waiting saints of old

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