thy assistance, to put off the old man with all his acts, by a candid and naked confession of all my past sins. O grant that I may never appear naked of virtue in thy sight; but may be clad with the white robe of innocence when I shall be presented before thy awful tribunal. Pierce my heart with the thorns of penance and compunction here, that I may, through thy merits, be crowned with glory hereafter. Grant that whenever I am under any affliction, meet with any adversity, disgrace or contempt, or feel any part of the thorny crown on my head, I may rejoice in bearing such a resemblance of thy sufferings, and show by my patience and humility whose disciple I am. {378} Give me grace to submit with cheerfulness to the rod of thy paternal correction; and support my natural weakness, that I may not sink under the weight of any cross with which it shall please thy Divine Providence to visit me. Disengage my heart from all earthly affections. Raise and elevate my soul to thee, that I may always live and converse in heaven, where thou, my only treasure, art. I now presume to join my unworthy voice with the heavenly choirs of all thy angels and saints, who are incessantly singing eternal praises to thee: _Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Sabaoth; Heaven and Earth are full of thy glory: Blessed is he who cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosannah in the highest, &c._ Explanation. "The Canon, which is the most sacred and most solemn part of the Mass, is read in a low voice, to denote the mourning and affliction of the faithful at the time of our Saviour's passion, which amazed and silenced all nature. The priest raises his hands, in imitation of Moses, who, as we read, (_Exodus_ xvii.) prayed with his hands lifted up, whilst Josue was combating with the Amalekites. After the _Memento_ for the living he spreads his hands over the bread and wine that are to be consecrated, in imitation of the priests of the old law, who were ordered, (_Lev_. 1.) when they offered sacrifice, to lay their hands upon the victim before it was immolated. These ceremonies represent Christ led away to be crucified, carrying his cross on his shoulders to Mount Calvary, admonishing the devout women on the way, who wept over him, to mourn for themselves and for their children; and when he arrived at the end of his painful journey, stripped again of his garments, and laid on the painful bed, without any other pillow to support his head but the thorns with which he was crowned. {379} The signing of the oblation with the sign of the cross, denotes how his hands and feet were stretched and nailed on the cross. The separated consecration of the bread and wine, represents his body slain, and his blood shed, for the remission of our sins. The elevation of the consecrated Host, represents him exalted on the cross in the sight of the whole multitude. The elevation of the Chalice represents the sacred blood flowing