Several authors argued that any inversion of the Canonical Hours, if frequent, is a mortal sin, but the opinion which says that the inversion of the Hours is only a venial sin is the more probable (St. Alph.

Again, a priest may not have the lessons for Matins at hand, but he may recite the psalms for Matins, Lauds, and add the lessons at Matins when they are to hand (Gury, n. 78; St. Alph., n. 170).

But if the mutilation be small in quantity there is only a venial sin committed, and often no sin at all may be committed, as the mutilation of words or syllables may be quite involuntary, or may be done inadvertently, or may arise from an inveterate habit very difficult to correct, and in the attempt to cure it time and patience may have been spent (St. Alph., 164-165).

Any reasonable cause for interruption (e.g., to obey a bell call, to see a parishioner who calls, to hear a confession) excuses from all fault (St. Alph., n. 168).

Hence, a priest reading his office as a mere study or as a means of remembering the words of the psalms does not validly recite his office (St. Alph., n. 176).

However, in this matter of external attention no rule can be formulated for all Breviary readers; for what may lightly disturb and distract one reader may have no effect on another, and yet may seriously disturb the recitation of another (St. Alph., n. 176).

There is Coleridge, at his will can conjure up icy domes, and pleasure-houses for Kubla Khan, and Abyssinian maids, and songs of Abara, and caverns, Where Alph, the sacred river, runs, to solace his night solitudeswhen I cannot muster a fiddle.

In Xanadu did Kubla Khan A stately pleasure-dome decree: Where Alph, the sacred river, ran Through caverns measureless to man Down to a sunless sea.

Whom if your highnes should so much neglect As to forsake his sister and delude him, Considering already your olde jarre With the stoute Lantsgrave, what harmes might ensue? Alph.

Your grace would satisfie th'embassador. Alph.

But will your Highnes then Forsake Hyanthe? Alph.

How will you then content th'embassadour? Alph.

What kinde excuse, my Lord? Alph.

Yes, my good Lord. Alph.

[Exeunt all but Alph.

Exceeding well and gravelie good, my lord. Alph.

with Hyan. Alph.

Exit [Alph. Hard.

"Knight, on the Greek Alph., p.

"Knight, on the Greek Alph., p. 37.

"Knight, on the Greek Alph., p. 16.

"Knight, on Greek Alph., p. 52.

"Knight, on Greek Alph., p. 106.

EVERS, ALPH.

EVERS, ALPH. SEE EVERS, ALF.