6. The holy pontiff, who _in a humble spirit_[1166] often brought peace-offerings to the heavens, to-day in his own person has _gone unto the altar of God_,[1167] himself the victim and the priest. With the departure of the priest the rite of sacrifice is changed into a better thing. The _fountain of tears_[1168] is dried up, every burnt sacrifice is made _with gladness and rejoicing_.[1169] _Blessed be the Lord God of_ Malachy, who by the ministry of so great a pontiff _hath visited his people_,[1170] and now, _taking him up into the holy city_,[1171] ceaseth not, by the remembrance of so great sweetness to _comfort our captivity_.[1172] Let _the spirit of_ Malachy _rejoice in the Lord_,[1173] because he is freed from the heavy load of the body, and is no longer hindered, by the weight of impure and earthly matter, from passing with all eagerness and fullness of life, through the whole creation, corporeal and incorporeal, that he may enter entirely into God, and _joined to_ Him may with Him _be one spirit_[1174] for ever.[1175]
7. _Holiness becometh_ that _house_[1176] in _which the remembrance of_ so great _holiness_[1177] is celebrated. Holy Malachy, preserve it _in holiness and righteousness_[1178] pitying us who in the midst of so many and great miseries _utter the memory of thine abundant goodness_.[1179] Great is the dispensation of the mercy of God upon thee, who made thee _little in thine own sight_,[1180] great in His; who _did_ great things by thee, in saving thy country, _great things to thee_,[1181] in bringing thee into His glory. May thy festival, which is deservedly devoted to thy virtues, have a saving efficacy for us by thy merits and prayers. _May the glory of thy holiness_,[1182] which is celebrated by us, be continued by angels: so shall it meetly be pleasant for us, if it be also fruitful. While thou departest be it allowed to us, who are met together to-day in thy so delicious feast, to preserve some remnants of the fruits of the Spirit, loaded with which thou ascendest.
8. Be to us, we beseech thee, holy Malachy, another Moses, or another Elijah, like them imparting _of thy spirit_[1183] to us, for thou hast come _in_ their _spirit and power_.[1184] Thy life was _a law of life and knowledge_,[1185] thy death the port of death and the portal of life,[1186] thy memory the delight of sweetness and grace, thy presence _a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord_[1187] thy God. O _fruitful olive tree in the house of God_![1188] O _oil of gladness_,[1189] giving both anointing and light, cherishing with favours, _resplendent with miracles_,[1190] make us partakers of that light and graciousness which thou enjoyest.[1191] O sweet-smelling _lily, blossoming and budding_ evermore before the Lord, and spreading everywhere a _sweet_ and life-giving _savour_,[1192] _whose memorial is blessed_[1193] with us, whose presence is in honour with those who are above, grant to those who sing of thee that they may not be deprived of their share in so great _an assembly_.[1194] O _great luminary_[1195] and _light_ that _shinest in darkness_,[1196] illuminating the prison, _making glad the city_[1197] by the rays of thy signs and merits, by the lustre of virtues put to flight from our hearts the darkness of vices. O _morning star_,[1198] more brilliant than the rest because thou art nearer the day, more like to the sun, deign to go before us, that we also may _walk in the light as children of light_, and _not_ children _of darkness_.[1199] O thou who art the dawn breaking into day upon the earth, but _the noon light_[1200] illumining the higher regions of heaven, receive us in the fellowship of light, by which illuminated thou sheddest light far without, and sweetly burnest within, by the gift of our Lord Jesus Christ, who with the Father and the Holy Spirit reigneth One God, world without end.--Amen.