to those hundred and forty and four thousand who remain virgins, and in whose mouth is found no guile, and mayest cause him to remain without spot through Thine unspotted SON. With Whom. Then shall be said or sung the Te . Stablish the thing, O God, which Thou hast wrought in us. Ry. For Thy Temple's sake at Jerusalem. . The LORD, &c. R. And with, &c. V. Bless we the LORD. R. Thanks be to God. Benediction. The peace of God, &c. INSTALLATION OF THE SUPERIOR OF A BROTHERHOOD. Sup.-El. I will do so, by the help of Gop. Offic. Dost thou promise not to take any steps affecting the welfare of thy Community without the consent of the Chapter? Sup.-El. I do promise. Offic. Wilt thou endeavour to restore whatever has become relaxed or impaired through neglect or mishap? Sup.-El. I will do so. Offic. Dost thou promise to rule with equity and kindness, not by favour and harshness, but to set a good example to thy brethren? Sup.-El. I do so promise. Offic. GOD give thee faith and constancy, that thou mayest fulfil and keep these things. . The LORD, &c. with, &c. LORD, have mercy, &c. Ry. And Y. O LORD, save, &c. Ry. Who putteth, &c. . The LORD preserve thy going out and coming in. Ry. From this time, &c. . The LORD keep thee from all evil. R. Yea, may the LORD keep thy soul. V. O LORD, arise, &c. R. And deliver, &c. V. The LORD, &c. R7. And with, &c. y. Let us pray. 603. Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty GoD, the gift of Thy grace unto Thy servant, whom we have chosen to the rule of souls, that of Thy bounty this our choice may be pleasing unto Thee. Through. Let us pray. 604. We beseech Thee, O LORD, mercifully look upon this Thy servant, and give him true knowledge, steadfast hope, right judgment, and holy doctrine, that being found meet to receive the grace of Thy benediction, he may without offence follow the footsteps of the Saints, and by his godly admonitions cause those under him to do the I like, knowing that he who taketh upon him the rule of souls must in the Day of Judgment give an account of them all to our LORD JESUS CHRIST. Who. Then shall be sung the Veni Creator, all kneeling. Then the Bishop rising shall give him the Rule. Receive the Rule given to thee to govern the flock intrusted to thee by GOD, according as He shall give thee strength, and so far as human frailty shall permit. Then the Staff shall be blessed, if this have not been previously done. V. Our help, &c. R. Who hath, &c. y. Let us pray. 605. O God, the stay of man's weakness, bless this Staff, and let Thy merciful lovingkindness inwardly work in the life of this Thy servant what is outwardly figured thereby. Through. Giving the Staff into the hands of the Superior, the Officiant shall say, In the Name of our LORD JESUS CHRIST receive the Pastoral Staff to 606. O God, the Fountain of all good things, Who rewardest the progress of the just; grant, we beseech Thee, that Thy servant may perform all the office which he hath obtained, and show by good works that it hath been given him by Thee. Through. Then shall follow the Te Deum. Y. Stablish the thing, &c. Ry. For Thy Temple's sake, &c. Then shall the Bishop pronounce this Benediction: GOD of heaven bless thee. CHRIST, the SON of the living GOD, help thee, and preserve thy body in His service. Ry. Amen. CLOTHING OF A NOVICE IN A SISTERHOOD. The Bishop, or some one in his stead, vested in alb, stole, and cope, shall stand in front of the Altar. The Postulant shall kneel at a faldstool at the entrance of the Sanctuary, in a secular dress. The Mother and Sisters shall be ranged in their places according to seniority. The Officiant, turning to the people, shall say, V. The LORD, &c. R. And with, &c. . Let us pray. By Thy Holy Nativity, tion, By Thy wonderful Ascension, By the coming of the HOLY GHOST, That this Community may be blessed with the fulness of Thy Love, That Thou wouldst prosper the work whereunto Thou hast called us, For our Mother, and for all that are in authority under her, That Thou wouldest direct their counsels for the good of us all, For the Sisters and Novices here gathered into one, That unity and love may be promoted amongst us, That in quietness and confidence our strength may shown, be That we may incite one another by a holy example, That Thou wouldst cause our hearts to long after perfection, For N., Thine handmaiden, who desires to join us, That Thou wouldst accept her devotion and increase her love, That she may grow in grace and in the knowledge of Thee, We beseech Thee to hear us, O JESU. Save us, O JESU. Deliver us, &c. That in all things she may take pattern by Thy most holy Life, That Thou alone mayest be the end of her desires, That Thou wouldst grant her grace to persevere unto the end, That Thou wouldst bring us all unto life eternal, That Thou wouldst cause us to see Thy glorious Counte nance, O Lamb of GOD, &c. We beseech Thee, &c. prayer. R. And let our cry come unto Thee. Let us pray. O GOD, Who turnest us from earthly vanity and kindlest us with desire for the prize of our high calling, and Who preparest mansions in the heavens for them that renounce the world; gladden the heart of this Thine handmaid with heavenly gifts, that she may be united with us in the bonds of sisterly love, that so being of one mind, steadfast, sober, single Pour into our hearts the Spirit hearted, and peaceable, she may of love. O Lamb of GOD, &c. constantly observe her Rule, and attain by Thy help to that perfec Enlighten our minds with the tion of spirit whose first beginning Spirit of truth. O Lamb of GOD, &c. LORD, have mercy, &c. she has received of Thine inspiration. Through. Then shall follow the Benediction of the Candle, in this wise: . Our help is in the Name of the LORD. R. Who hath made heaven and earth. . Blessed be the Name of the LORD. R. From this time forth for evermore. . The LORD, &c. Ry. And with, &c. Let us pray. 607. O LORD JESU CHRIST, true Light which lighteth every man which cometh into the world, we beseech Thee to bless this Candle, and grant that she who beareth it may never walk in darkness, but may have the light of life. Through Thy mercy, Who, with the FATHER and the HOLY GHOST, livest. . Let Thy loving mercy come also unto us, O LORD. Ry. Even Thy salvation, according to Thy. Word. . Be unto us, O LORD, a tower of strength. R. From the face of the enemy. . Let us pray for this Sisterhood. Ry. Peace be within its walls, and plenteousness within its habitations. . O stablish us according to Thy Word, that we may live. Ry. And let us not be disappointed of our hope. V. Let us pray for N. who desires to join us [or to make her profession amongst us]. Ry. O LORD, save Thine handmaid, who putteth her trust in Thee. V. Send her help from the Sanctuary. Ry. And strengthen her out of Sion. y. Let the enemy have no advantage over her. Ry. Nor the wicked approach to hurt her. V. Give Thine Angel charge over her. Ry. To keep her in all Thy ways. . Let us pray for the faithful departed. Ry. Eternal rest grant unto them, O LORD, and Light perpetual shine upon them. . LORD, hear our Ry. Amen. Then the Officiant shall light the Candle, and place it in the hand of the Postulant, saying, Receive, my daughter, this light, a type of the light that should be within thee, to drive away all the darkness of ignorance and sin, that illumined with the rays of divine wisdom and the fervour of the HOLY GHOST, thou mayest ever be united to JESUS CHRIST, the Bridegroom of the Church. Who. stool. If there be a Sermon, it shall follow robe of eternal joy; we humbly behere, the Postulant seating herself seech Thy mercy, that Thou wouldst on a chair placed behind her fald-vouchsafe to bless this Habit, betokening lowliness of heart and contempt of the world, wherewith Thine handmaiden is to be visibly put in mind of her holy resolve, that through Thy protection, she may keep that purity which she has received of Thy grace, and as Thou dost clothe her here with the garments of promise, so grant her to be clad with everlasting blessedness. Through. The Sermon being ended, the Veni Creator shall then be sung kneeling, after which the Superior and Assistant Superior shall lead the Postulant to the Officiant, before whom she kneels whilst he addresses her. My daughter, what dost thou desire ? Postulant. I desire the mercy of GOD, and admission to the Religious life and habit. Officiant. Dost thou believe that thou art called by GOD to this estate, and not moved by self-will or fancy? Post. I do so believe. Offic. Dost thou promise to remain in the holy estate of chastity [or widowhood] during the time of probation? Post. I promise so to do, GOD being my helper. Offic. Wilt thou during the same time submit thyself faithfully to the Rule of this Community? Post. By GoD's help I will do so. Offic. Is it thy desire that thou mayest be found worthy to persevere unto the end in this thy calling? Post. I do so desire. Offic. GOD, Who hath given thee a good will, give thee grace and strength to perform the same. The LORD put off from thee the old man with his works. Rz. Amen. And clothe thee with the new man, which after GOD is created in righteousness and true holiness. Ry. Amen. Then shall the Novice's Habit be blessed as follows: Our help, &c. 608. O GOD, Who dost most faithfully promise and most surely bestow everlasting blessings, Who hast promised unto Thy faithful the garments of salvation and the to our prayers, and pour down the The Bishop shall then deliver the Receive this Habit that thou mayest wear it unspotted before the Judgment seat of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, to Whom boweth every knee of things in heaven and things in earth, and things under the earth, and Who liveth. The Novice is then led out to be clothed in the Habit: the Sacristan meantime taking charge of her Candle: during her absence some of the Gradual Psalms shall be sung, as time may require, with this Antiphon: For my brethren and companions' sakes: I will wish thee prosperity. |