The Celebrant having resumed his Cope, the ceremony concludes with the following prayers:

The rest of the Lord's Prayer is said in silence, as far as the last two petitions.

THE OFFICE OF TENEBRÆ.

At a late hour in the afternoon, the Night Office of Good Friday is anticipated, as was done yesterday. The Faithful repair to the Church at the time specified. Let them remember, that the Bells are not rung from this till Saturday.

The Office of Tenebræ for Good Friday is given below, page 414.

THE EVENING.

Judas has left the Cenacle, and, profiting of the darkness, has reached the place where the enemies of his Saviour are assembled. Jesus then turns to his faithful Apostles, and says to them: Now is the Son

of Man glorified. Yes, his Passion is to be followed by triumph and glory; and the Passion has already begun, for Judas has commenced his work of betraying him. Meanwhile, the Apostles,-forgetting the trouble, into which they had been thrown by Jesus' telling them, that one of the Twelve was about to betray him,-begin to dispute among themselves, which of them should seem to be greater ?2 They have not forgotten the words spoken by Jesus to Peter, when he made him the Rock, on which he would build his Church; and here, at the Supper, they have seen their Divine Master wash the feet of Peter first. On the other hand, John's affectionate familiarity with Jesus, during this same Supper, has made some of them argue, that he who was most loved, would be most honoured.

3

Jesus puts an end to this dispute, by giving to these future Pastors of his Church a lesson of humility. There shall, it is true, be a Head among them; but, says our Redeemer, let him that is the greater among you, become as the younger; and he that is the leader, as he that serveth. He bids them look at him he is their Master, and yet, says he, I am in the midst of you, as he that serveth. Then turning towards Peter, he thus addresses him: Simon, Simon! behold Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and thou, being once converted, confirm thy Brethren. This last interview is, as it were, our Saviour's Testament; he provides for his Church, before leaving her. The Apostles are to be Peter's Brethren, but Peter is to be their Head. This sublime dignity is to be enhanced by the humility of him that enjoys it: he shall be "The Servant of the Servants of God." The Apostolic College is to be exposed to the fury of hell; but

1 St. John, xiii. 31.

St. Luke, xxii. 24.

St. Luke, xxii. 26, 27. 4 Ibid., 31, 32.

Peter alone is to confirm his Brethren in the faith. His teaching shall ever be conformable to Divine Truth; it shall be ever Infallible: Jesus has prayed that it may be so. Such a prayer is all-powerful; and thereby, the Church, ever docile to the voice of Peter, shall for ever maintain the doctrine of Christ.

Jesus, after having provided for the future of his Church by the words he addressed to Peter, thus speaks affectionately to all the eleven: Little children! yet a little while I am with you. Love one an other. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one for an other. Peter says to him: Lord! whither goest thou?-Whither I go, answers Jesus, thou canst not now follow me; but thou shalt follow hereafter.-Why cannot I follow thee now? again asks Peter: I will lay down my life for thee.- Wilt thou, replies Jesus, lay down thy life for me? Amen, amen, I say to thee: the cock shall not crow, till thou deny me thrice.1 Peter's love for Jesus had too much of the human about it, for it was not based on humility. Presumption comes from pride: it almost always results in a fall. In order to prepare Peter for his future ministry of pardon, as also to give us a useful lesson, God permits that he, who was soon to be made Prince of the Apostles, should fall into a most grievous and humiliating sin.

But let us return to the instructions contained in the last words spoken by our Jesus before he leaves his disciples. I am, says he, the Way, the Truth, and the Life. If you love me, keep my commandments. I will ask the Father, and he shall give you another Paraclete, that he may abide with you for ever. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, do I give unto you. Let not your

1 St. John, xiii. 33-38.

heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. If you loved me, you would indeed be glad, because I go to the Father. I will not now speak many things with you, for the prince of this world cometh, and in me he hath not anything. But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father hath given me commandment, so do I, arise, let us go hence. Deeply impressed by these words, the Disciples arise, and, after the hymn of thanksgiving has been said, they accompany Jesus to Mount Olivet.

He continues his instructions as they go along. He takes occasion from their passing by a Vine to speak of the effect produced by divine grace in the soul of man. I am the true vine, he says, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me, that beareth not fruit, he will take away, and every one that beareth fruit, he will purge it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abide in the vine ; so neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the Vine, you are the branches: he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same beareth much fruit: for without me you can do nothing. If any one abideth not in me, he shall be cast forth as a branch, and shall wither, and they shall gather him up, and cast him into the fire, and he burneth. You have not chosen me: but I have chosen you, and have appointed you, that you should go, and should bring forth fruit, and your fruit should remain.2

He next speaks to them of the persecutions that await them, and of the hatred the world will have of them. He renews the promise he had made them of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, and tells them that it is to their advantage that he himself should leave them. He assures them, that they shall obtain whatever they ask of the Father in his name. The

1 St. John, xiv.

2 St. John, xv.