and Laurence O'Ferrall is only one of many instances of the bloody deeds
of that fearful time.

Whilst thus we close our sketch, we venture a hope that at no distant
day the present venerated successor of Saint Mel may, in the cause of
Catholic education, be able to introduce the cloistered sisters of Saint
Dominic to revive the name, the spirit, and the good works of the old
Dominican Convent of Saint Brigid.

J. R.

LITURGICAL QUESTIONS

(_From M. Bouix's "Revue des Sciences Ecclesiastiques"_).

1. At Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, ought the profound
inclination be made during the singing of the two verses _Tantum ergo
Sacramentum, Veneremur cernui_, or only during the singing of the words
_Veneremur cernui_?

2. What ceremonies are to be observed by the deacon, or by the assistant
priest, when, acting on the permission given by the Decree of the 12th
August, 1854, the deacon consigns the ostensorium to the celebrant
before the Benediction, and receives it from him after the Benediction
has been given?

3. What rule should a priest follow when he finds in the Ordo a
regulation which he believes to be certainly incorrect?

* * * * *

1. It is beyond doubt, that the inclination ought to be made whilst the
entire verses _Tantum ergo Sacramentum, Veneremur cernui_, are being
sung; and if, in any church, custom has limited the inclination to the
two last words, it has arisen from this, that whenever the celebrant
intones the hymn, he makes the inclination only after the intonation.
The ministers, however, are wrong in imitating him in this.

"Tum in officio divino", says Cavalieri, t. iv., c. viii., _Inst.
Clem._, Sec. 33, n. 49, "quam in precibus omnibus coram SS.
Sacramento, dum praedictus versus _Tantum ergo_ dicitur, ab omnibus
omnino persistendum erit in inclinatione usque ad _cernui_. Haec
est", says Gardellini (_Inst. cl. ibid._ n. 19), "praxis quae
obtinet in majoribus Urbis basilicis".

This doctrine is followed by modern authors.

2. Before we reply to the question, it will be useful to make two
remarks. The first has reference to the difference between the functions
of the deacon and those of the assistant priest. If the celebrant be
assisted by a deacon and sub-deacon, the assistant need not do more than
place the Blessed Sacrament on the throne, and lower it thence at the
proper time. He may also extract the Blessed