And the words of Christ are our guide to the perfect expression of our best. Therefore the earnest Christian is willing to give time to the careful study of them, and of the whole ideal of life that is contained in them. He is not concerned with what they will cut him off from; he is concerned with that to which they will admit him. He is concerned to find the meaning of Christ's teaching. This that S. Paul says is fundamental is his rule of life: "Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
Of one that is so fayr and bright
Velut maris stella,
Brighter than the day is light,
Parens et puella;
I crie to thee, thou see to me,
Levedy, preye thi Sone for me,
Tam pia,
That I mote come to thee
Maria.
Al this world was for-lore
Eva peccatrice,
Tyl our Lord was y-bore
De te genetrice.
With Ave it went away
Thuster nyth and comz the day
Salutis;
The welle springeth ut of the,
Virtutis.
Levedy, flour of alle thing,
Rosa sine spina,
Thu here Jhesu, hevene king,
Gratia divina;
Of alle thu ber'st the pris,
Levedy, quene of paradys
Electa:
Mayde milde, moder es
Effecta.
PART TWO
CHAPTER XV
WHO IS MY MOTHER?
Whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother,
S. Matt. XII, 50.
Grant, we beseech thee, almighty God, that we may keep with an immaculate heart the sacrament which we have received in honour of the blessed virgin mother Mary; so that we who celebrate her feast now, may be found worthy when we have left this life to pass into her company. Through &c.
SARUM MISSAL.
