The Novice returning, clad in her Habit, and having received the Candle, shall be again led to the Altar-step to be invested with the Girdle, Veil, and Cross, which shall be blessed as follows:

THE GIRDLE.

Our help, &c.

Let us pray.

O GOD, Who to set the bondservant free, didst will that Thy SON should be bound by the hands of ungodly men, bl+ess, we beseech Thee, this Girdle, and grant that Thy handmaid who is to be girded therewith may ever be mindful of the bonds of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, and feel herself to be evermore bound unto Thy service. Through.

The Officiant shall then deliver the Girdle to the Novice, who shall be assisted in putting it on by the Mother, or her deputy, the Officiant saying,

The LORD turn thy heaviness into joy and gird thee with gladness, that thou mayest give thanks unto Him for over.

THE VEIL.

Our help, &c.

Let us pray.

610. We humbly beseech Thee, O LORD, that Thy merciful bless+ ing may descend upon this vestment to be placed upon the head of Thy servant, and that it may be bles+sed, hal+lowed, spotless, and holy. Through.

Receive the white veil, the token of inward purity, that thou mayest follow the Lamb without spot, and walk with Him in white. In the Name.

THE CROSS.

Our help, &c.

Let us pray.

611. Bl+ess, O LORD, we beseech Thee, and sanctify this Cross, that she who weareth it, persevering in Thy service, may by the Cross attain unto the Crown. Through.

The Officiant shall put the Cross round her neck, saying,

Receive the Cross of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, as a Novice of this Community. In the Name.

&c.

. The LORD, &c. Ry. And with, . Let us pray.

612. We humbly beseech Thy majesty, O LORD, that Thou wouldst vouchsafe to clothe amongst Thy disciples with power from on high this Thy handmaid, upon whom we, trusting in Thy grace, have bestowed the Religious Habit; fortify her with the breastplate of righteousness, and cover her with the garment of salvation, that serving Thee steadfastly in this lowly Habit she may attain the robe of everlasting glory. Through.

613. O Almighty GoD, Who hast hallowed woman by the birth of Thine Only-begotten SoN, our GOD, from a Virgin after the flesh, and Who hast given the grace and visitation of Thy HOLY SPIRIT not to men alone, but to women also; look now, O LORD, upon this Thy handmaid whom Thou hast called

to devote herself unto Thy service. of Thy HOLY SPIRIT, that conSend down upon her the rich gift tinuing steadfast in the faith, she may fulfil her course in blameless will. Of Thy mercy, Ŏ our GOD, conversation, according to Thy Who art blessed, and livest, and reignest.

Then all shall rise, and the Mother and Sisters shall severally give to the Novice the Kiss of Peace, saying, "Peace to thee, Sister," the Choir in the mean time singing Ps. 133.

Behold, how good and joyful a thing it is brethren, to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down unto the beard: even unto Aaron's beard, and went down to the skirts of his clothing.

Behold, how good. . . . unity. Like as the dew of Hermon: which fell upon the hill of Sion. Behold, how good, &c.

For there the LORD promised His blessing and life for evermore. Behold, how good, &c.

:

. Glory, &c. Ry. As it was, &c. Behold, how good, &c.

. Stablish the thing, O LORD, which Thou hast wrought in us. Ry. For Thy Temple's sake at Jerusalem.

Benediction. GOD, the SON of GOD, make thee to be glad and to rejoice with all thine heart, O daughter of Jerusalem, and cast out thine enemy, so that thou shalt not see evil any more.

The peace of God, &c

this Novice should make her profession amongst you?

Psalm:

Superior. We have so consented. Then the Bishop, addressing the Novice, shall say,

My daughter, what dost thou

Then the Novice who is to be professed shall kneel at the entrance of the Sanctuary, and the Chaplain shall address the Bishop: Right Reverend Father in GOD, the Community of S. and especially the Mother Superior, beseech you to bless and consecrate this devout woman, and admit her to full profession.

Bishop. Are you satisfied of her fitness and vocation?

Priest. So far as human frailty and man's knowledge allow, I believe her to be fit.

Then the Bishop shall address the
Superior.
Have you and the Chapter of

Novice. The mercy of GOD, and liberty to make my profession in the Community of Ñ.

Bishop. Dost thou ask this of thine own free will, and not of constraint?

practise obedience to thy Rule, and to those set over thee by it?

Nov. I do promise, GOD being my helper.

Bishop. Dost thou promise to devote every faculty of soul and body

to God's service for ever?

Nov. I do promise, GOD being my helper.

Bishop. GOD grant thee perseverance in thy holy resolve, and vouchsafe of His mercy to bring it to good effect. In the Name.

Then shall follow the Litany as in the Office for Clothing a Novice, to the end of the Preces (see pp. 300, 301). After which shall be sung the Veni Creator, all kneeling. If the Habit for a Professed Sister be different from that of the Noviciate, the Bishop shall proceed to bless it according to the form on p. 302, and shall deliver it with the words there used. During her absence the Gradual Psalms shall be sung as before. But if the Habits be the same, the Bishop shall bless the Veil and Ring immediately after the Veni Creator as follows:

. Our help is in the Name of the LORD. Ry. Who hath made heaven and earth. . The LORD, &c. Ry. And with, &c. . Let us pray.

614. O GOD, Who for our sakes didst vouchsafe to assume the Veil of our flesh, bl+ess, we beseech Thee, and sanc+tify this Veil, that she who is to wear it may be clothed with Thy love here, and be made worthy of Thy vision hereafter. Who.

The Novice, taking the Veil, is assisted by the Superior in arrang· ing it, saying at the same time, The LORD hath clad me with a vesture of gold, and adorned me with priceless jewels.

V. Our help, &c. Ry. Who hath made, &c. . The LORD, &c. Ry. And with, &c. . Let us pray.

615. Creator and Preserver of the human race, Giver of every spiritual benediction, Author of eternal Salvation, bl+ess, O LORD, we beseech Thee, and sanctify this Ring, that she who is to wear it may be fortified with heavenly virtue, may retain the faith undefiled, may persevere in every good resolution, and may inherit Thine everlasting kingdom. Through. The Bishop shall then place the Ring on the fourth finger of the Novice, saying,

Receive the Ring of Faith, the Pledge of the HOLY GHOST, that thou mayest be called the Bride of GOD, and ever remain so from henceforth, and wear it in the Presence of the Lamb, thy Bridegroom, JESUS CHRIST, on the day of His heavenly marriage, if thou faithfully serve Him. In the Name.

Having received the Ring, the Sister shall say,

My LORD JESUS CHRIST hath betrothed me with His Ring, and adorned me as His Spouse with a Crown.

[The Garland of Flowers (which shall not be used for a widow) shall then be blessed as follows:

. Our help, &c. Ry. Who hath, . The LORD, &c. R. And . Let us pray.

with, &c.

same.

616. Bl+ess, O LORD, this Garland, and grant, as we call upon Thy Name, that she who wears it may serve Thee faithfully, and receive in heaven that Crown which it typifies. Through.

Holy FATHER, Almighty, Everlasting GOD. O LORD, Who graciously dwellest in the temple of pure bodies and lovest undefiled souls, mercifully look upon this Thy handmaid who has vowed her devotion and

Sister shall say,

communicate.

Then the Sacristan shall put a lighted taper into her hand, and she shall kneel as before.

V. The LORD, &c. Ry. And with, &c. . Let us pray.

618. O LORD, mercifully look upon this Thine handmaid, that she may keep by Thy governance that holy resolution which she has made at Thine inspiration. Through.

. The LORD, &c. Ry. And with, &c. . Lift up your hearts. Ry. We lift them up unto the LORD.. Let us give thanks unto our LORD GOD. Ry. It is meet and right so to do.

619. It is very meet, right, and our bounden duty, that we should

seeches Thine aid that she may be hallowed and stablished with Thy

Be

blessing, guarded and ruled by Thy protection, that the ancient enemy may in no wise prevail against her. Grant her by the gift of Thy HOLY SPIRIT modesty, wisdom, lovingkindness, gentleness, gravity, and rity, and love Thee above all things, prudence. Let her be fervent in chalive a praiseworthy life and not desire to be praised, glorify Thee in the sanctification of body and purity of soul. Be Thou her crown, her joy, her gladness, her comfort in sorrow, her counsel in doubt. ence in trouble, her abundance in her defence in suffering, her patipoverty, her food in fasting, her Physician and medicine in sickness. Grant her to keep that which she has vowed, and that she may please the Searcher of hearts, not in body only, but in soul. Admit her into the number of the wise virgins, that with oil ready and lamp burning she may await the heavenly Bridegroom, and untroubled at the sudden coming of the King may joyfully go forth to meet Him with the choirs of Virgins, and not be shut out with the foolish, but may be suffered to enter the King's gate with the wise Virgins, and abide in the perpetual fellowship of the Lamb, Thy SON our LORD. Through

the same.

Then, turning to the newly professed, he shall pronounce this Benediction.

HOLY GHOST, bless thee with all GOD, the FATHER, SON, + and spiritual benediction, that thou mayest abide incorrupt, inviolate, and spotless, after the example of

He may find in thee nothing foul, nothing stained, nothing corrupt, but a pure and snow-white soul in a shining and glorious body. Ry. Amen.

Therefore when that awful day of the reward of the righteous and the punishment of the wicked cometh, let not the avenging flame find aught to burn in thee, but the loving-kindness of GOD somewhat to crown, in that thy devout conversation shall have purified thee altogether in this world.

Ry. Amen.

So that ascending to the Judgment-seat and the glorious palace of the King, thou mayest have thy portion with them that follow the Lamb, and who cease not to sing the new song, that there thou mayest have thy reward after toil, and ever abide in the land of the living, and He Himself bl+ess thee from heaven, Who, by the Passion of His Cross on earth, vouchsafed to redeem mankind, JESUS CHRIST Our LORD. Who.

Then the Sister shall rise, and the following Responsory shall be said

or sung:

Choir. As the Bridegroom rejoiceth over the Bride: so shall thy Gon rejoice over thee.

Sister. He is my Beloved and He is my Friend: O daughters of Jerusalem.

Choir. Thy Maker is thine Husband: the LORD of Hosts is His Name.

Sister. My Beloved is mine and I am His: He feedeth among the lilies.

Choir. Hearken, O daughter, and consider, incline thine ear: forget also thine own people, and thy father's house.

Sister. My heart is inditing of a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made unto the King.

Choir. So shall the King have pleasure in thy beauty: for He is