CONCLUSION.

Recapitulate the several points. Infer that there is no authority on earth more venerable than that of the Church; that we are, therefore, to cherish the greatest respect for her laws, and that we should regulate our lives in strict accordance with them, recollecting the words of our Divine Lord, that, hearing the pastors of the Church, we hear Him, that not hearing them, we are guilty of not hearing Him, and he that will not hear the Church, though being within her pale, is in the eyes of God as a heathen and a publican, &c.

Consult Theology, Church Treatise; also Guillet's "Projets d'Instructions," lvii. Inst., and Bishop Hay's Sincere Christian," vol. 1, chap. xv.

FIRST PRECEPT OF THE CHURCH.

"To hear Mass on Sundays and all Holidays of obligation."

INTRODUCTION.

Refer to previous instruction, and recapitulate the chief points, after which say, we proceed to treat of these Precepts singly, and in order, beginning with the first as announced in the text.

A word or two on its importance, observing that it is placed at the head of the others, and rightly so, because it relates immediately to the service of God and His worship. [A short invocation.]

BODY OF THE SUBJECT.

1. Considerations.

Ist. Repeat Precept, and observe, that it is dictated in part by the natural law, and in part by the divine law, and finally fixed and determined by the Church; dictated by the natural law, because, even though the divine law and the Church were silent, still a natural sense of obligation towards God would urge us to give Him some of our time, in worshipping Him, in adoring Him, &c.; dictated also by the divine law, because God ordained, by positive precept in the Old Law, that one day in every week, and several days throughout the year besides, should be consecrated to His service and worship. Finally, it was the Church that fixed and determined for us the observance of Sundays and Holidays according to our present obligations.

2ndly. As regards the Sunday, it is the change from Saturday, the weekly Sabbath day of the Jews in the

Old Law, to Sunday, which we call the Christian Sabbath, for, according to St. Paul, "the priesthood being translated, it was necessary that a translation also be made of the law" (Heb. vii. 12); that is, the priesthood of Aaron, or of the Old Law, having ceased, in order to give room to the Christian priesthood, a change should also take place in the public worship of God; and, amongst many other things, this change brought with it a transfer of the Sabbath from Saturday, the last day of the week, to Sunday, the first." (Quote Catechism Council of Trent, part iii. chap. iv. sect. 25.) Also, St. Leo the Great: "This day, Sunday, is consecrated by such great mysteries of divine appointment, that whatever has been constituted by God as specially wonderful, has been effected on this day. On this day the world took its beginning; on this day, by the Resurrection of Christ, death met its end, and life its commencement; on this day the Apostles received orders to preach the Gospel to the whole world; on this day they received power of forgiving sin; on this day the Holy Ghost, as promised by our Divine Lord, came, and so the Gospel law was published on the day of Pentecost." (Serm. p. 361, in fine.) Infer, that, although not exactly of divine institution, as is generally thought, the appointment of Sunday, to supersede the Saturday Sabbath of the Old Law, is at least of apostolic origin, judging according to the rule laid down by St. Augustine: "that what the entire Church holds, and was not instituted by Councils, but always retained, is to be most justly believed as handed down only by apostolic authority;" which rule he expressly

applies to the Sunday, the Apostles and apostolic men having sanctioned Sunday to be kept with religious solemnity, because upon it our Redeemer arose from the dead.

2. Festivals stand on the same religious footing as the Sunday.

They are certain days set apart for religious worship, to commemorate and celebrate certain great facts, or mysteries of religion, or the virtues and rewards of God's saints, in order to glorify Him in them. The institution of festivals comes in part from the natural law, as nothing can be more in accordance with natural reason than to render public homage to God, praising Him, blessing Him, and glorifying Him for His mercy, goodness and power, so signally manifested to mankind in His mysteries, and in the graces bestowed on His illustrious servants. Others of them are more especially of divine institution, like the Pasch, Pentecost, the Feasts of Tabernacles, of Expiation, and of Trumpets, in the Old Law; and others, in fine, are of human origin, like several of the Old Law, and all the festivals of Christian observance, which were instituted at different periods, from the apostolic times, by the Church.

Some of our festivals are of obligation, and others. of devotion only. On almost every day of the year the Church celebrates some festival, either in honour of the saints, or some mystery of religion. A few only are, however, of obligation, namely (here recite them).

3. How Sundays and Holidays are to be observed. Two things are prescribed as of special obligation,

hearing Mass, and refraining from servile work, as well as everything, that would profane the day, or hinder its religious observance. These two things equally required for festivals as well as for Sundays. Moreover, both recommended to be spent in observances of piety and religion, as for example (here recite them).

Refute the pretexts alleged for not observing the festivals of the Church. They are chiefly loss of time, and detriment to one's employment, or business. Answer by observing, Ist, how few the festivals of obligation are, only nine in number, including Christmas Day itself; 2ndly, how one may lose more time by sickness, which might be entailed as a punishment from God for disobeying the Precept of the Church in the matter; 3rdly, how much more time do people spend foolishly and sinfully, and perhaps on the very holiday itself, than they would lose by observing it.

Observe, however, that the Church, as an indulgent mother, is always ready to admit a sufficient reason for not observing her Precepts, and that, consequently, she yields the obligation wherever there is a real cause, and not a mere pretext. Explain, that to be sure of such a cause, it would be well to consult one's confessor, or be guided by the example of good Christians in similar circumstances, and finally urge, that when it may be impossible to refrain from temporal occupation, it may be in one's power to assist at Mass, and it would be obligatory to do so.

CONCLUSION.

Recapitulate the points briefly, and offer a short prayer, that by religiously observing the Sabbath of the Lord and His festivals, as well as those of His saints, we may merit to enter into His everlasting rest, and enjoy a never-ending festival in company with the blessed inhabitants of His heavenly kingdom.

Consult Theology, Catechism of Council of Trent, Guillet's Projets d'Instructions," lviii. Inst.; "Sincere Christian," chap. xv., sect. 1.

Hay's