E SACRIFICE OF THE MASS

THE GRADUAL. 51
a verse of Scripture, and a third Alleluia. From
Septuagesima to Holy Saturday Alleluia is not said
at
in
Mass. The Gradual is omitted from the Saturday
Easter Week to the Octave of Pentecost. During
this period the Gradual (except on fast days) gives
place to the major Alleluia, which, strictly speaking,
ushers in the Eastertide. The major Alleluia is so
called to distinguish it from the Alleluia verse or
minor Alleluia. The major Alleluia consists of two
Alleluias prefixed to two verses, and Alleluia is added at
the end of each verse.
Why, it may be asked, is the Gradual retained in
Easter Week? We reply that the Church had a
special reason during the first thousand years of its
existence for inserting the Gradual during Easter
Week. The Church had before her mind in her
liturgical worship the newly baptized, who on Holy
Saturday were born again by Baptism to a higher
life. During Easter Week the neophytes continued
their instruction in the mysteries of the faith, and
wore white garments, which in some places were laid
aside on Saturday in Easter Week and in others on
Low Sunday: hence the titles, Sabbato in Albis, Dominica
in Albis, in the Roman Missal. Liturgists tell t us that
the Gradual lies midway between thejmournful Tract
and joyful Alleluia. It denotes, as we are told, the
toilsome journey of the Christian to the BetterVLand.
The Gradual at Eastertide was an admonition to the
newly baptized that Heaven is gained
after a conflict.
Saturday was the octave of Solemn Baptism ; and
the octave is said to symbolize eternal beatitude,
when the newly baptized reach their home in Heaven
and the great end of Baptism is thus obtained. The
Gradual ceases on Saturday in Easter Week and the