to have all things in common for God's sake, and to distribute to those who were in need. This holy and heavenly mode of life was learnt in the first instance by the holy Apostles from our Lord Jesus Christ Himself; thereafter they were careful to observe it; and they continued so to do throughout their lives, which they ended by dying for the Faith of Jesus Christ.
I praise and bless Thee, Holy Father, Almighty Everlasting God, together with Thy Only-begotten Son, and the Holy Ghost, the Paraclete, for all Thy benefits and spiritual gifts, which of old Thou didst bestow upon Thy chosen friends, and upon the holy Patriarchs and Prophets. Long ages since, Thou didst reveal to them through the Holy Ghost, both by words and by signs, the secret things of Thy Wisdom, and the judgements of Thy Mouth, and chiefly the mystery of Thy Incarnation. But after Thy coming, O loving Jesus, Thou didst fulfil and make plain in Thy Own Life many of the hidden things of Scripture, and didst expound others of them more fully — still, however, lovingly postponing till after the mission of the Holy Ghost those things which mere babes in Christ were not able to receive. And further — what is still more wonderful and praiseworthy — Thou didst of a sudden inflame with the fire of the Holy Ghost the untutored minds of the Apostles, and didst perfectly instruct the hearts of those whom Thou hadst drawn away from earthly vanities, and who were devoted to Thee; making them wiser than the wise of this world, and giving them strength to convert the whole world.
I praise and glorify Thee, most illustrious Jesus Christ, Enlightener and Restorer of the entire human race, for the conversion and gathering to-
