Veni Mater gratiæ,

Fons misericordiæ

Dona nos remedium.

Veni, lux Ecclesiæ,

Tristibus lætitiæ

Tu infunde radium.

Sis memor quod Angliæ

Dicta fuit Dos tua

Et tuum Imperium.

Salva Regnum Angliæ.

Ama dici patriæ

Dulce patrocinium.

ΑΜΕΝ.

Sarum Gradual.

INTRODUCTION

By ABBOT Gasquet

THE Life of Father Bridgett, as told in the following pages, requires no introduction in the ordinary sense of the word. It will be found to be the simple, straightforward history of a holy priest, a fervent and exact Religious, a zealous missionary, a faithful friend, and a prudent Director of souls. To Catholics, of course, both in England and Ireland, for nearly half-a-century the name of Father Bridgett has been familiar by reason of his Missions and Retreats, whilst many a Religious House and Convent has treasured memories of the Spiritual Exercises he had at one time or other of his ministry conducted for them. To others who are not Catholics he was also known as a writer, mainly, perhaps, in the later years of his life, by his biographies of Blessed John Fisher and Blessed Sir Thomas More, which commanded the attention of the reading public as sound pieces of historical work.

The seventy years of Father Bridgett's pilgrimage on earth were mostly spent in the direct service of God. In the year 1850, at the age of twenty-one, he was converted to the Catholic faith, and im