268 MICHAELMAS TIDE. 



SEPT. 24. Our Lady of Mercy. 



St. Gerard, bishop of Chonad, a.d. 1046. 

 St. Geremer, abbot, 658. 

 St. Rusticus, bishop of Auvergne, 5th cent. 

 St. Chuniald of Ireland, priest. 



Obs. The festival of the Blessed Vir^n Mary of Mercy is celebrated today, and tliert 

 is a particular office for it in the Breviary. 



St. Gerard, the apostle of a largie district in Hungary, was bom about the beginning 

 of the eleventh century. By taking up the yoke of our Lord in his youth, he found it 

 light, and bore it with constancy and joy. He had the happiness to suffer tor his faith : 

 his martyrdom happened on the 24th of September, 1046. 



St. Rusticus is.abbreviated into Rotiri; St, Geremer into Germer; and St. Chuniold 

 into Conaldi 



Mixen Fungus Agaricus fimetarius fr. 

 Bush Starwort Aster multiflorus fl. 

 Heathleaved Starwort Aster ericifolius fl. 

 Maniflowered Starwort Aster multiflorus fl. 

 W^veleaved Starwort Aster undidatus fl. 

 Panicled Starwort Aster paniculatus fl. 

 Roughstalked Starwort Aster hispidus fl. 

 Divaricated Starwort Aster divaricatus fl. 

 Marigolds Calendula officinalis fullest fl. 



We have again to record a number of that prolific tribe the Starworts, which now 

 continue to blow in succession. 



Marigolds stillremain in full flower: their beautiful shining orange disk well deserves 

 the name of gold ; the first part of their name is derived from the name of the Blessed 

 Virgin Mary. It is said that on every one of the festivals of the Virgin the flower may 

 be seen in temperate climates and mild seasons. 1. On Our Lady's Purification, Feb. 2, 

 a few flowers on old plants, 2. Our Lady's Annunciation, many of its flowers are out. 

 3. Our Lady of Seven Sufferings or Good Friday, the same. 4. Our Lady's Visit, July 2d, 

 full fl. 5. Our Lady of Mount Carmel, July 16th, the same. 6. Our Lady ad NJves, 

 Aug.Sth, younsT plants flower. 7. Our Lady's Assunip. Aug. 15th, thesame. 8. Our Lady's 

 NaFiv. and feast of Holy Name of Mar.v, Sept. 8th, seedlings of the same year flower. 

 9. Our Lady of Mercy,' Sept. 24th, seedling Marigolds full flower. 10. Our Lady's 

 Praesent, Nov. 21st, still in fl. 11. Our Lady's Concep. Dec. 8th, some flowers on 

 •trong plants. 12. Our Lady's Expect. Dec. 18th, the same.— The above is taken from 

 accurate JVotes on the Flora, before cited. 



The frequent comparison of the Virgin to a beautiful flower, of which we shall cite 

 some examples below, also illustrates thi- as well as many other names of plants com- 

 pounded of the word Marv and some brilliant epithet. In the Ejercicio Cottdiann, a 

 small Spanish work published at Gerona, we find, among other pious things, the follow- 

 ing Oracion a la S. Virgen Maria: — Saludote resplandeciente Lyrio de la hermosura y 

 sosegada Priraavera, Virgen Maria, saludote, olorosisima Violeta de suavidad divina. 

 Saludote fresquisinia Rosa de Celestiales deleites, de quien quiso nacery mamar leche el 

 Rey de los CielosJesueristo, resplandor della gloria del Padre y figura de su substancia. 

 Alcanzadine Senora mia, de la raano de tu Hijo todo aqucllo que tu conoces ser nece- 

 sario para mi aninia. Ayuda piadosa madre a mi flaqueza in todas mis tentaciones y 

 necesidades y en la hora de mi niuerte, para que por tu favor y secorro merezca esta'r 

 seguro en aquel grande v pastrero trabajo. 



The well known Mariner's Hymn to Our Lady being still sung by many persons, we 

 ihall give it our readers : 



O sanctissima, O puissima, 



Duicis Virgo Maria, 

 Mater amala intemerata 

 Ora pro nobis. 



