The words of this decree do not refer to a psalm or prayer, but simply to the passion of St. John, and hence, as far as our question is concerned, no conclusion can be clearly established except by analogy, and by whatever weight may attach to the authority of Merati, who manifestly thus extends the meaning of the decree. After writing these lines, we have learned from a distinguished ecclesiastic, that there exists a Rescript of the Holy See about the recital of the _De profundis_ in Ireland after Mass. He has kindly promised to procure it for a future number of the _Record_, when we shall gladly insert it. The same reverend correspondent calls our attention to another matter which indeed is of very great importance, and on which we shall make a few remarks. Our correspondent says, that the altar bread used in this country is of a very inferior kind, and not elegant, and that it leaves on the corporal many fragments. If this be the case in some parts of the country, it is unnecessary to say that it is a matter of such importance that immediate attention should be called to it by the parish priests or the superiors of the different churches. As far as we are aware, we have no grounds for complaint on this head, as generally speaking the breads are made in this city with care and neatness and very few fragments fall from them. It is quite possible, however, that in some districts sufficient care may not be bestowed on this matter, and the breads may not be made with that care which the majesty of the great Sacrifice demands. We have heard from persons competent to give an opinion on the subject, that in some districts abuses have crept in; for instance, when the superior of a church, personally responsible for the due observance of the rubrics concerning the Holy Sacrifice, leaves to a servant the making and cutting of the breads for the use of the altar. In such cases there is great danger that through carelessness or negligence they will not be properly made. The cutters or the machines for making them in the course of time will become impaired and quite unfit for their purpose, and a mere servant may not try to remedy the evil. For this reason, we would strongly recommend all concerned to engage some community of nuns or others well versed in such matters, and who at the same time fully understand the importance of what they are engaged in, to make the altar breads. We have ourselves examined the altar breads made by various communities, and seldom had we any reason to find fault, except in some instances when the large altar breads appeared to us to be too thick. This suggestion, we think, will meet our reverend correspondent’s question as to the improvements that may be made in connection with this matter.