particularly and chiefly the holy and glorious, ever Virgin, Mother of God, the most holy Mary; St. John, Baptist, Precursor, and Martyr; St. Stephen, &c. and St. N., whose memory we celebrate this day, and the whole choir of thy Saints, through whose prayers and supplications, have mercy on us all, and save us for the sake of thy holy name, which is invoked upon us.” Renaudot. T. i. p. 18.—A similar prayer, and in the same words, is found in the following:
ALEXANDRIAN LITURGY OF St. Basil, G.C.-1b. p. 72.
COPTIC LITURGY OF ST. GREGORY, G.C.--Ib. p. 33.
ALEXANDRIAN LITURGY OF ST. GREGORY, G. C.-Ib. p. 111.
Coptic LITURGY OF ST. CYRIL, G. C.- 1b. p.41.
COUNCIL OF TRENT.
The holy Synod commands all Bishops, and others, to whom is entrusted the office of teaching, that—according to the practice of the Catholic and Apostolic Church, received from the earliest ages of the Christian religion, and according to the united opinions of the Fathers, and the decrees of holy Councils—they, in the first place, diligently instruct the faithful on the intercession and invocation of Saints; the honour due to Relics, and the lawful use of images; teaching them, that the Saints, reigning with Christ, offer up their prayers to God for men; that it is good and profitable suppliantly to invoke them, and to have recourse to their supplications and assistance; in order to obtain favours from God, through his Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who is our only Redeemer and Saviour.” Sessio xxv. de Invocat. SS. p. 287.
