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*There are proper Second Lessons for both Morning and Evening Prayer, and the ordinary ones were doubtless left in by mistake.

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1] The accounts of the life of ST. GILES, or Ægidius, are rather confused, on account of there having been an Abbot of Arles of the same name in the preceding century. The saint commemorated on this day was born at Athens, about the middle of the seventh century, and was of noble parentage. When a young man he sold all that he had, and retired into a forest in the diocese of Nismes, where he lived in seclusion with one companion named Veredemus. Here they lived on such food as the forest afforded, and were nourished also by the milk of a tame hind. The creature having been scented by the King's dogs, was driven to her masters for protection, and thus the King discovered St. Giles in his retreat. Here he gave him land for a monastery of Benedictine monks, where he ruled as abbot for upwards of fifty years, and the spot was called Vallis Flaviana, from the name of its founder, Flavius Wamba. In A.D. 720 he had to take refuge from the Saracens at Orleans. He was, however, enabled to return to his abbey, where he died, A.D. 725. From his being said to have refused to be cured of a lameness, he is esteemed as the patron of cripples, and the churches dedicated to him, which are numerous both in this country and on the Continent, have generally been in the suburbs of cities, in order to afford poor and lame travellers a ready opportunity of resorting to them, on their entering from the country. [Sar. Ep. and Gosp.: Ecclus. xxxix. 5-9. St. Luke xi. 33-36.]

7] ST. EUNURCHUS, or Evortius, Bishop of Orleans, was famous in the ancient Western Martyrologies, and hence probably has found a place in our Calendar. There are various stories relating to him, but no important information of a reliable nature, farther than that he flourished about the middle of the fourth century. He is said to have been pointed out as a fit person for the office of a bishop by a dove alighting on his head; but the story is told of others, and is plainly symbolical of his designation for that office by the Holy Ghost.

8] The institution of the Feast of the NATIVITY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN has been ascribed to Pope Servius, cir. A.D. 695, and was universally celebrated in Mediæval times, with octave and vigil. We have no other particulars respecting the parentage of the Blessed Virgin, than that she was "of the house and lineage" of David. Tradition names her father Joachim, and her mother St. Anne (see July 26). [Sar. Ep. and Gosp.: Ecclus. xxiv. 17-22, and Wisd. iv. 1-7. Alternate days during the Octave, St. Matt. i. 1-16. The Octave, St. Luke xi. 27, 28.]

14] HOLY CROSS DAY.-This is also called the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross ; and though it is not in Bede's Calendar, it, as well as the 3rd of May, was called "Roodmasday" by our Saxon ancestors. It is kept in honour of the public exposition of a portion of the Cross, in the basilica erected at Jerusalem by the Empress Helena (see May 3). This church was solemnly consecrated on Sept. 13, A.D. 335, and on the next day, being Sunday, the precious relic was exposed from a lofty place within the building. The custom was continued annually, and so the festival has been observed on this day ever since, both in the East and in the West. This festival also commemorates that famous appearance of the "sign of the Son of Man in the heavens" which is said to have decided the conversion of the Emperor Constantine; and another event connected with it is the recovery by Heraclius (A.D. 629) of that portion of the Cross which had been carried away from Jerusalem by Chosroes, King of the Persians, A.D. 614. There are no less than 106 churches in England under the designation either of Holy Rood or of St. Cross.

The Ember Days in September are the Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday after Holy Cross Day. [Sar. Ep. and Gosp.: Gal. v. 10-12, and vi. 12-14. St. John xii. 31-36.]

17] ST. LAMBERT, or Landebert, was born of Christian parents of rank and wealth, at Maestricht, where, after a careful education, he was committed to the care of St. Theodard, the Bishop, at whose death he succeeded to the see. When Childeric, King of France, was dethroned and murdered, in A.D. 673, Lambert, who was known to be his friend, was driven into exile. Being afterwards restored, he laboured much for the conversion of the heathen. In the fortieth year of his episcopate he was murdered, on the 17th of September, A.D. 709, having incurred the

anger of the King's officer, Pepin, Lord of Herstal, by boldly rebuking vice; and thus he came to be considered a martyr. Through the translation of his relics thither, the village of Liège became a city; but the Cathedral of St. Lambert was destroyed at the Revolution. [Sar. Ep. and Gosp.: Heb. v. 1–6. St. Matt. ix. 35-38, and x. 7, 8. 16.]

26] ST. CYPRIAN, ARCHBISHOP Of Carthage, and MARTYR. —This festival was originally kept, together with that of St. Cornelius, Bishop of Rome, on the 14th of September, but on account of Holy Cross Day, was transferred to the 16th, on which day the Eastern and Roman Churches still keep it, as did the Mediæval English Church. In the Sarum and Roman Calendars the 26th was devoted to another St. Cyprian, a converted magician of Antioch. The famous St. Cyprian, of Carthage, was born in that city to the rank of a senator, and for many years he was celebrated for his eloquence, and as a teacher of rhetoric. When past middle age he was converted, and having been prepared for baptism by a priest named Cæcilius, he took from him his Christian name. Being ordained priest, he soon after this succeeded Donatus in the see of Carthage, A.D. 248. He is described as having been a model of what a bishop ought to be. But the Decian persecution soon disturbed the Church, and the decree reached Carthage, A.D. 250. The heathen furiously raged together, crying, “Cyprianus ad leones; Cyprianus ad bestias,” and also calling him Coprianus in contempt, thus fulfilling literally the words of St. Paul (1 Cor. iv. 13). He used the liberty which our Lord had given (St. Matt. x. 23) to flee from persecution for the sake of his flock, and after the death of the tyrant was enabled to return. Great difficulty was now felt respecting the restoration of those who had lapsed, and St. Cyprian assembled a synod, at which a wise and moderate conclusion was arrived at. About A.D. 255 arose that famous controversy with St. Stephen, Bishop of Rome, on the subject of heretical baptism, which shows so conclusively that the African Church did not consider that the word of the Bishops of Rome at once settled any such matter. St. Cyprian held, contrary to the opinion which has generally prevailed since, that such baptism, even if administered with the right words and the right matter, was invalid. He was at last beheaded by the Emperor Galerius, Sept. 14, A.D. 258. His works have great value. [Sar. Ep. and Gosp.: Wisd. v. 15-19. St. Matt. x. 23-25.]

30] ST. JEROME, PRIEST, CONFESSOR, AND DOCTOR.-This celebrated Father was born at Stridonium (now Sdrigni), in Italy, near Aquileia, about A.D. 342. He was educated in his native town for some years, and then was sent to Rome to study under Donatus and Victorinus, two famous grammarians. Here he made great progress, being stimulated by the feeling that the Christians were despised as too illiterate to worthily explain their tenets. He then travelled through Thrace and the provinces of Asia Minor, after which, in disgust at the half-pagan manners of the Christians, he retired, at the age of thirty-one, to a desert in Syria, where he led a very austere and studious life. Here he studied Hebrew with a converted Jew; and after visiting Jerusalem and Bethlehem was ordained priest at Antioch, A.D. 378. After this he led a very wandering life, studying at all the great seats of learning, and living in constant mortification. The latter part of his life was mainly occupied in writing against heretics. He peacefully departed, Sept. 30, A.D. 420, and was buried in a monastery he had founded at Bethlehem, whence his body was afterwards translated to the Church of St. Maria Maggiore at Rome. His greatest work was the translation of the Scriptures into Latin, and he was well fitted for it by his knowledge of Eastern languages, localities, manners, and customs. This formed the basis of the Latin Vulgate, from which were taken most of the portions of Scripture used in the Western Offices, and which has been universally received in the Latin Church.

St. Jerome is represented as an old man engaged in study, with a skull near him. He has generally a lion by his side, and wears or has near him a broad hat, having cords ending in plain tassels, similar to that of a cardinal, but the cords of the latter end in a sort of network terminating in tassels. [Sar. Ep. and Gosp.: Ecclus. xlvii. 8-11. St. Matt. v. 13—19.]

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1] ST. REMIGIUS, BISHOP OF RHEIMS.-This saint, often called St. Remi, the "Apostle of France," was born about A.D. 439, of noble parents, long after their other children, his birth having been foretold by a hermit named Montanus. He received an education suitable to his station, and was always remarkable for the holiness of his life. So celebrated was he for his spiritual and other qualifications, that he was made Bishop of Rheims in the twenty-second year of his age, and was afterwards made Primate of Gaul, since which time Rheims has been the Metropolitan See of France. He is most known as having been instrumental in the conversion of King Clovis, from whom the subsequent French kings appear to have derived the titles of "Eldest Son of the Church," and "Most Christian King." The ampulla with which St. Remi anointed Clovis at his baptism is still preserved at Rheims, and has generally been used at the coronations of the French kings. He died in the ninety-sixth year of his age, and seventy-third of his episcopate, and was buried in the Church of St. Christopher at Rheims. His body was translated to the Benedictine Abbey, Oct. 1st, 1049, since which, Oct. 1st has been his festival instead of Jan. 13th, the day of his death. His distinguishing emblem is a dove bearing the ampulla. [Sar. Ep. and Gosp.: Heb. vii. 23-27. St. Luke xii. 35-40.]

6] ST. FAITH, V. AND M.-This Virgin Martyr, also called Fides, suffered under Datian, the Roman Prefect of Gaul, in the latter part of the third century. She was born of Christian parents, and while still very young was brought to her trial. Refusing to sacrifice to Diana, she boldly confessed Christ, notwithstanding the most horrible tortures; endeavouring, as she said, to support in reality what her name signified. She was at last beheaded, having been previously beaten with rods, and bound with chains to a brazen bed, under which fire was placed; when several of the spectators, rebuking the tyrant, and following her example in refusing to sacrifice, suffered with her. St. Vincent (see Jan. 22) endured many tortures under this same Datian, who appears to have been one of the greatest monsters of cruelty that the ages of persecution ever produced. St. Faith is represented with the instruments of her martyrdom, and wears the crown of victory. Sixteen churches, including that under the choir of St. Paul's Cathedral, which is now used only for burials, are dedicated to her. [Sar. Ep. and Gosp.: Ecclus. li. 9-12. St. Matt. xiii. 44-52.]

9] ST. DENYS AREOP., B. and M.-It would seem that in the Roman and Sarum Missals this saint has been confounded with the Patron of France, for the "companions" of this later St. Denys are mentioned together with him in the Calendar, Collect, &c., while the Epistle is from the Acts of the Apostles, and relates to the conversion of "Dionysius the Areopagite," the "woman named Damaris, and others with them;" an inconsistency which remains to this day in the Roman Offices. St. Denys, or Diony. sius, was a member of the Upper Council of Athens, which held its sittings on "Mars' Hill," and was converted by the preaching of St. Paul when the Apostle was brought before that Court. Eusebius mentions him as having been first Bishop of Athens, where also he is related to have suffered martyrdom under Domitian, cir. A.D. 96. The celebrated treatise on the Heavenly Hierarchies, ascribed to him, is generally considered to be spurious. In the Greek Church he is commemorated on the third of the month. This saint has no distinguishing emblem, but his namesake of France bears a mitred head in his hands, symbolizing his death by decapitation. [Sar. Ep. and Gosp.: Acis xvii. 16—34. St. Luke vi. 17-23.]

13] TRANSL. OF King Edward CONF.-St. Edward the Confessor is pre-eminently our national saint. He was born in Oxfordshire, and succeeded his father, King Ethelred, A.D. 1041. Having suffered much at the hands of the Danes, he had in his youth vowed to make a pilgrimage to Rome, and wished to fulfil his intention as soon as he became King. But such was the danger attending his absence from England, that Leo IX. dispensed with the performance of the vow on condition that he would give to the poor the money the pilgrimage would have cost him, and found or re-found a monastery in honour of St. Peter.

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This led to the re establishment of the then ancient Abbey of Westminster on a new and magnificent footing. The buildings were completed and solemnly dedicated to St. Peter on the Feast of the Holy Innocents, A.D. 1065, and considerable portions of them remain to this day. The King was unable, through sickness, to be present at the dedication, and only just lived to know that the work was accomplished, for he died January 5th, A.D. 1066, and was buried in the new Abbey Church before the high altar, a great concourse of nobles and ecclesiastics attending. His tomb was adorned with silver and gold by William the Conqueror, and enclosed in a shrine. The body was removed by St. Thomas of Canterbury to a richer shrine, Oct. 13th, A.D. 1163, and after the rebuilding of the church by Henry III., that monarch had a most sumptuous shrine erected, the wreck of which still remains, with a superstructure of wood in the debased style of the sixteenth century. The former translation, which was probably connected with the canonization of the saint, is the one commemorated. The touching for the King's Evil dates from St. Edward, and was last performed by Queen Anne, in whose reign a special Office was used. The same power was claimed by the Kings of France for many ages. A ring given by St. Edward in his last illness to the Abbot of Westminster was long preserved as a relic, and applied to the cure of nervous diseases. Succeeding kings used to bless rings on Good Friday for the same purpose, and these were called "cramp rings." St. Edward the Confessor is distinguished by holding the ring (often disproportionately large) in his hand. The arms attributed to him are, Az. a cross patonce between five martlets, Or; but these belong to a much later period. [Sar. Ep. and Gosp.: Ecclus. xxxix. 5-9. St. Luke xi. 33-36.]

17] ST. ETHELDREDA, VIRGIN QUEEN.-St. Etheldreda was born in Suffolk, in the seventh century, and was the daughter of Anna, King of the East Angles, whose queen was a sister of St. Hilda, Abbess of Whitby. Having been religiously brought up, she was married to the Prince of the Girvii. Being left a widow, she retired to Ely, where she led a solitary and mortified life. In A.D. 660 she was married to Egfrid, a Northumbrian prince, with whom she lived as a sister rather than a wife for twelve years. On his succeeding to the throne she retired to a monastery, from which the King attempted to withdraw her, whereupon she fled to her old retreat at Ely. Here she founded a convent, over which she presided as abbess for some years, and at last died during a pestilence, June 23rd, A.D. 679. She was succeeded by her sister, St. Sexburga, who translated her remains, and placed them in a coffin of white marble, Oct. 17th, A.D. 695. Her history is represented in sculptures under the lantern of Ely Cathedral, which arose out of the monastery founded by her. She is represented as an abbess with pastoral staff, a celestial crown on her head, and the insignia of earthly royalty lying behind her. [Sar. Ep. and Gosp.: 2 Cor. x. 17-xi. 2. St. Matt. XXV. 1-13.]

25] ST. CRISPIN, MARTYR.-In the ancient Calendar, St. Crispin was commemorated together with his twin brother Crispinian. They were famous in France owing to their having been among the companions of St. Denys, together with St. Quintin and others who came as missionaries from Rome into Gaul in the third century. Fixing their abode at Soissons, they preached and instructed the people by day, and when not so engaged, exercised the trade of shoe-making for a maintenance, supplying the poor free of charge. Hence they have been considered the tutelar saints or patrons of that craft, and of two famous societies in France, called Frères Cordonniers. The two brothers were beheaded Oct. 25th, A.D. 288, after severe tortures, under Rictius Varus, the Roman Governor of Soissons, during the progress of the Emperor Maximian through Gaul. In the sixth century a church was built and dedicated to them at Soissons, their probable place of interment, though there is a curious tradition in Kent that they were buried at Stones End, in that county. Their emblems are the martyr's palm and the shoemaker's awl, or knife. There is an interesting reference to the "Feast of Crispian" in Shakspeare (Henry V., Act iv. Sc. iii.), in connexion with the great battle of Agincourt. [Sar. Ep. and Gosp.: 1 Cor. iv. 9-14. St. Matt. x. 16-22.]

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Note, that a Ecclus. 25 is to be read only to Verse 13. And b Ecclus. 30, only to Verse 18. And Ecclus. 46, only to

Verse 20.

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