under the guidance of the Holy Ghost. The framing of the Ritual may have been the work of human hands; but the materials of which it is composed are the words of the Spirit. of God. The Psalms and the Scriptures of inspired men under the Old Law and the New, with the writings of the Saints, are all interwoven into a wonderful texture of prayer and praise, of worship and witness of the kingdom of God, and of the Communion of Saints. The perpetual revolution of yearly solemnities and festivals—winter and spring, summer and autumn—brings round continually the whole revelation of faith. Prophets and Apostles, Evangelists and Saints, speak to us with voices that never die. The whole history of the kingdom of God is always returning upon our sight.
A devout soul asked of S. Peter Damian "why it is that we say Dominus vobiscum, as if many were present, when in truth none are there, and we are all alone?" He answered: "Because we are never alone. We are always worshipping with the whole Church throughout the world, and we pray that the presence of the Lord may be with all the faithful upon earth." We say "The Lord be with you," for we are adoring God on behalf of the whole visible Church, and in fellowship with those whose union
