have been used only in the locality of its origin; from there its use would have spread to neighbouring districts; as it got more known it would have been more widely adopted, and the compactness and lucidity of its statements, and the enthusiasm-inspiring character of its style would have contributed to make it highly prized wherever it was known.  Then would come speculation as to its authorship, and what wonder if in uncritical times an Athanasian authorship was first guessed, then confidently affirmed and believed?” (Father Sydney F. Smith, S.J., The Month, October, 1904).

This opinion is only one of several held by Catholic scholars.  Dom Morin holds strongly, and gives very good reasons for his view, that it was written by Martin of Braga between the years 550 and 580.  It was written, he says, for the people of Galicia in Spain, who had been recently converted from Arianism (Journal of Theological Studies, April, 1911).  It was adopted into Gallican liturgy and office about 980, and in the Roman office only when the Curial Breviary was adopted.

“The liturgical use of the Athanasian Creed was Frankish in origin (ninth century) and spread through the influence of the Cluniac reform (tenth century), but only found its way to Rome in the Supplementary prayers in the twelfth and thirteenth century” (Burton and Myers, op. cit., p. 51).

Rubrics.  Athanasian Creed, to be said (1) Trinity Sunday, (2) Sundays after Epiphany, (3) Sundays after Pentecost unless there be in (2) and (3) the commemoration of a double, or of an octave.

Why is prayer offered at this first hour of the day?

Writers on liturgy answer, 1st to offer to God the first fruits of our day, of our work, of our devotion, following in this the example of Christ, Who from His first entry into the world offered Himself to His Father for the salvation of mankind. 2d To beg of Him to keep us safe during the day, 3d To beg of Him to keep us free from sin, “ut in diurnis actibus nos servet a nocentibus.”

     “May God in all our words and deeds
      Keep us from harm this day. 
      May He in love retain us still,
      From tones of strife and words of ill,
      And wrap around and close our eyes
      To earth’s absorbing vanities. 
      May wrath and thoughts that gender shame
      Ne’er in our breasts abide. 
      And painful abstinences tame
      Of wanton flesh, the pride” (Hymn at Prime).

Rubrics.  The Office of Prime begins in choir with the silent recitation of Pater Noster, Ave, Credo.  Then, if in choir (aloud) Deus in adjutorium. ...  Domine ad adjirvandum. ...  Gloria Patri....  Alleluia, or Laus tibi....  Then the hymn fam lucis is said.  The antiphon for the day is said as far as the asterisk (*), then the Psalms of the day’s Office as arranged in the new Pian Psaltery, according to the day of the week, except on some special feasts, when the Psalms