What is this silent might, Making our darkness light, New wine our waters, heavenly Blood our wine? Christ, with His Mother dear, And all His Saints, is here, And where they dwell is Heaven, and what they touch, divine. The change of water into wine was believed by the ancients to typify that change which St. Paul in particular so earnestly dwells on: "Old things are passed away: behold, all things are become new." And St. John, "He that sitteth on the Throne saith, Behold, I make all things new." Accordingly St. Cyprian applies this first miracle to the admission of the Gentiles into the Church. (Ep. 63. ed. Fell.) And St. Augustine, to the evangelical interpreta. tion of the Old Testament. (In Joan. Tract. 8.) And St. Cyril of Alexandria (in loc.) to the Spirit superseding the letter. This then being the "beginning of miracles," a kind of pattern of the rest, showed how Christ's glory was to be revealed in the effects of His Sacramental Touch; whether immediately, as when He touched the leper and healed him: or through the hem of His garment: or by Saints, His living members, according to His Promise, "The works that I do shall ye do also: and greater works than these shall ye do, because I go unto my Father." Thus, according to the Scriptures, the Sacramental Touch of the Church is the Touch of Christ: and her system is "deifica disciplina," a rule which, in some sense, makes men gods, and the human, divine; and all this depends on the verity of the Incarnation, therefore His Mother is especially instrumental in it; besides being, as nearest to Him, the most glorious instance of it. "The Mother of Jesus is there, and both Jesus and His Disciples are called,-" (He as the Bridegroom and Author of the whole mystery, they as ministers, servants, and instruments,)-to this mysterious "marriage," or Communion of Saints. 11. WHITE APPAREL. I. THE CHRISOM. "These are they which have washed their robes, and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb." ALL gorgeous hues are in the pure white beam, All Christian graces in one drop of Love That sparkles from the bright baptismal stream Even as from banner waved in Angels' war, The dark Powers flee. But thou, heaven honoured child. Let no earth-stain thy robe of glory mar: Wrap it around thy bosom undefiled; Yet spread it daily in the clear Heaven's sight, To be new-bathed in its own native Light. 11. WHITE APPAREL. II. THE SUNDAY DRESS. "Blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments." So keep thou, by calm prayer and searching thought, And from thy prayer look up with open eye, 11. WHITE APPAREL. III. CONFIRMATION. "Ye shall be as the wings of a Dove, that is covered with silver wings." SPEED on, ye happy Sunday hours, O speed As doves, that to the bright clouds upward draw, 11. WHITE APPAREL. IV. PRIESTS IN WHITE. "When they enter in at the gates of the inner court, they shall be clothed with linen garments." AND even the very walls of the dread place, And the tall windows with their breathing lights, Should in our frail and mortal Angel trace |