DECREE OF POPE BENEDICT XV.

New Zealand Tablet, 18 March 1915, Page 26

DECREE OF POPE BENEDICT XV.

ACTA BENEDICTI PP. XV. DECRETUM. Preces pro pace certis diebus dicendae PRAESCRIEUNTUR. N - (Official Version) Decree of Pope Benedict XV. appointing Sexagesima Sunday (February 7) in all European countries, and Passion Sunday (March 21) in all dioceses outside of Europe as a Day of Expiation and Intercession for Peace. DECREE. • His Holiness our Sovereign Lord, Pope Benedict XV., in deep affliction at the sight of a war which destroys thousands of young lives, brings misery to families and cities, and rushes flourishing nations to the brink of ruin, yet bearing in mind that Almighty God, Whose prerogative it is to heal by chastisement and through pardon to preserve, is moved by the prayers which spring from contrite and humble hearts, desires ardently that above the clang of arms may be heard the voice of Faith, Hope, and Charity, alone capable of welding together the hearts of men in one mind and one spirit. Therefore, while He exhorts the clergy and the faithful of the whole world to works of mortification and piety in expiation for the sins by which we have called down upon ourselves the just wrath of God, the Holy Father has ordained that throughout the Catholic Church solemn prayers shall be offered in order to obtain from the mercy of Almighty - God the peace which all desire. For this purpose it is hereby decreed that in every Metropolitan Cathedral, Parochial and Conventual Church in all European countries, on the 7th day of February next (being the Sunday called Sexagesima), and in all dioceses situated outside of Europe on the Ist day of March (being Passion Sunday), there shall be celebrated special religious functions in the following order: In the morning, immediately after the Conventual or Parochial Mass, the Most Blessed Sacrament shall bo exposed with all solemnity, and duly incensed after which the Psalm Miserere nnei, Dens (Ps. 50) shall be sung with the Antiphon : Da pacem, Domine, in diehiis nosfrix, (/inn non ex! alius qvi pm/net -pro nobis nisi Tv, Dais nosier, followed by the V. Fiat pax in virtute tua, 1\ . Ft abundant la in fnrribus tuis; and the Collect, Dans, a quo sancta desideria, etc. The Most Blessed Sacrament shall then remain exposed to public veneration till evening and it is desirable that arrangements be made whereby children also should take due part in the public adoration. In the evening, previously to the deposition of the Most Blessed Sacrament, the third part of the Rosary is to be recited, followed by the annexed prayer, expressly composed by His Holiness in order to obtain the benefit of peace; then the Litanies of the Saints, according to the form prescribed for the devotion of the Forty Hours’ Prayer in the lid vale Tiomanum of the year 1913. Immediately after the Litanies shall be sung the Farce, Famine, parce populo tuo; ne in aeternum irasenris nobis, with the Versiclcs and Prayer usually recited after the Procession in quacumque trihvlatione as in the Rituale Romanum, with the addition of «tho Collect Devs, a quo sancta, desideria. The sacred function shall conclude with the Tantum Dr go and Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament,/ more, solito. In the hope that Almighty God may pour forth in yet greater abundance His Divine Grace, the Sovereign Pontiff exhorts the faithful to approach the Sacrament’ of Penance and to receive Holy Communion, and grants to all those who, after Confession and Communion, shall assist at one or other of the sacred functions as above ordered, or shall pray for some time before, the Mr. Chase, in responding on behalf of Mrs. Chase and

Most Blessed Sacrament while solemnly exposed, a Plenary Indulgence. From the Vatican, January 10, 1915. Peter Cardinal Gasparri, Secretary of State , ORDER OF DEVOTIONS. The following will be the order of devotions; After Mass'the Blessed Sacrament is exposed with all solemnity and incensed. The psalm ‘ Miserere mei, Deus ’ is sung (where possible). PSALM L. Miserere mei, Deus, secundum magnam misericordiam tuam. Et secundum multitudincm miseratiouum tuarum dele iniquitatem mcam. Amplius lava me ab iniquitate mea, et a peccato meo munda me. Quoniam iniquitatem mcam ergo cognosce, et peccatum meum contra me est semper. Tibi soli peccavi, et malum coram tc feci, ut justificeris in sermouibus tills, et vincas cum judicaris. Ecce enim in iniquitatibus conccptus sum, et in peccatis concepit me mater mea. Ecce enim veritatem dilexisti : inoerta et occulta sapiential true manifestasti mi hi. Asperges me hyssopo, et mundabor: lavabis me, et super nivem dealbabor. Auditui meo dabis gaudium et lietitiam, et exultabunt ossa humiliata. Averte faciem tuam a peccatis meis, et omnes iniquitates meas dele. Cor munduni crea in me, Deus, et spiritual rectum innova in visceribus meis. Ne projicias me a facie tua, et Spiritum sanctum tuum ne auferas a me. Redde mihi lietitiam saint aris tui, et spiritu principal! confirma me. Docebo iniquos vias tuas, et impii ad tc convertentur. Libera me de sanguinibus, Deus. Deus salutis meas ; et exultabit lingua mea justitiam tuam. Domine, labia, mea aperies, et os meum annuntiabit laudem tuam. Quoniam si voluisses sacrificium, dedissem utique holocaustis non delectaberis. Sacrificium Deo spiritus contribulatus: cor contritum et humiliatum, Deus, non despicies. Benigne fac, Domino, in bona voluntate tua Sion, ut sedificentur muri Jerusalem. Tunc acceptabis sacrificium justitiie, oblationes, et holocausta: tunc imponeiit super altare tuum vitulos. Gloria Patri, etc. Antiphon. Da pacem, Domine, in diebus uostris, quia non est alius cpii pugnet pro nobis nisi Tu, Deus noster. V. Fiat pax in virtute tua. R. Et Abundantia in turribus tills. Orem us. Deus a quo sancta desideria, recta consilia et justa sunt opera; da servis tuis illam, quam mundus dare non potest, pacem : ut et corda nostra mandatis tuis dedita, et hostium sublata formidine, tempera siut tua protectione tranquilla. Per. At the evening devotions (1) five decades of the Rosary, (2) the following prayer by his Holiness Benedict XV. : Dismayed by the horrors of a war which is bringing ruin to peoples and nations, we turn, O Jesus, to Thy most loving Heart as to our last hope. O God of Mercy, with tears we invoke Thee to end this fearful scourge : O King of Peace, we humbly implore the peace for which we long. From Thy Sacred Heart Thou didst shed forth over the world divine charity, so that discord might end and love alone might reign among men. During Thy life on earth Thy Heart beat with tender compassion for the sorrows of men ; in this hour, made terrible with burning hate, with bloodshed, and with slaughter, once more may Thy Divine Heart be moved to pity. Pity the countless mothers in anguish

for the fate of their sons; pity the numberless families now bereaved of their fathers; pity Europe, over which broods such havoc and disaster. Do Thou inspire rulers and peoples with counsels of meekness, do Thou heal the discords that tear the nations asunder ThoijWho didst shed Thy Precious Blood that they might live as brothers, bring men together once more in loving harmony. And as once before, to the cry of the Apostle Peter: Save us, Lord, we 'perish, Thou didst answer with words of mercy and didst still the raging waves, so now deign to hear our trustful prayer, and give back to the world peace and tranquillity. And do thou, O most holy Virgin, as in other times of sore distress, be now our help, our protection, and our safeguard. Amen. 3. The Litany of the Saints as prescribed for the Devotion of the Forty Hours is sung. 4. Antiphon : Parce, Domine, parce populo tuo, ne in aeternum irascaris nobis. V. Dens refugium nostrum et virtus. E. Adjutor in tribulationibus. V. Salvos fac servos tuos Domine. R. Dens meus sperantes in Te. V. Sanctus Deus, sanctus fortis, sanctus immortalis. R. Miserere nobis. V. Adjuva nos, Deus salutaris noster. R. Et propter gloriam nominis Tui, Domine, libera nos. AC Domine, exaudi orationem meam. R. Et clamor meus ad Te veniat. V. Dominus vobis cum. R. Et cum spiritu tuo. Orem us. Ne despicias, omnipotens Deus, populum tuum in afflictione clamanlem ; sed propter gloriam nominis Tui, tribulatis succurre placatus. Per D. Deus a quo sancta desideria, recta consilia, et justa sunt opera ; da servis tuis illam, quam mundus dare non potest, pacem : ut et corda nostra mandatis tuis dedita, et hostium sublata formidine, tempora sint Tua protect lone t ranquil la. Per D. Taut Ergo and Benediction. PSALM L. 1. Unto the end, a psalm of David, 2. When Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had sinned with Bethsabee. (II Kings, xii.) 3. Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy great mercy. And according to the multitude of Thy tender mercies blot out my iniquity. 4. Wash me yet more from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 5. For I know my iniquity, and my sin is always before me. 6. To Thee only have I sinned, and have done evil before Thee (Rom. iii. 4) : that Thou mayst be justified in Thy words, and mayst overcome when Thou art judged. 7. For behold I was conceived in iniquities; and in sins did my mother conceive me. 8. For behold Thou hast loved truth ; the uncertain and hidden things of Thy wisdom thou hast made manifest to me. 9. Thou shaft sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be cleansed : Thou shaft wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow. (Lev. xiv.) 10. To my hearing Thou shalt give joy and gladness ; and the bones that have been humbled shall rejoice. 11. Turn away Thy face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. 12. Create a clean heart in me, O God: and renew a right spirit within my bowels. 13. Cast me not away from Thy face; and take not Thy holy spirit from me. 14 Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation, and strengthen me with a perfect spirit. 15. I will teach the unjust Thy ways: and the wicked shall be converted to Thee. 16. Deliver me from blood, O God, Thou God of my salvation ; and my tongue shall extol Thy justice.

17. O Lord, Thou wilt open my lips : and my mouth shall declare Thy praise. 18. Tor if Thou hadst desired sacrifice, I would indeed have given it; with burnt-offerings Thou wilt not be delighted. ; IIAl l A sacrifice to God is an afflicted spirit: a contrite and humbled heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise. 20. Deal favorably, O Lord, in Thy good-will with Sion that the walls of Jerusalem may be built ud. 21. Then shalt Thou accept the sacrifice, of justice, oblations, and whole burnt-offerings then shall they lay calves upon Thy altar. O God from Whom holy desires, right counsels, and just works proceed, give unto Thy servants that peace which the world cannot give ; that our hearts being devoted to Thy commandments, and the fear of enemies removed, our times may by Thy protection be peaceful. Through, Christ, Etc. Amen.