Course 4, Chapter 21: Christianity visible. — The fourth part of the Mass continued

1. What does the priest do before the consecration?

Before the consecration the priest takes posses sion of the victim, by extending his hands over the bread and wine; during this ceremony we must consider ourselves as victims, and offer ourselves to God.

2. What does the priest then ask for?

The priest then asks for the greatest of miracles, the change of the bread and wine into the body and blood of Jesus Christ; he has the right to ask it, and the power to obtain it.

3. . Who has given him this power?

Our Lord himself gave him this power, when, after consecrating the bread and the wine, he said tc his apostles, and their successors: Do this in commemoration of me.*

4. What nsxt does the priest do?

Ho next rehearses what the Saviour did at the last supper; and then pronounces in a simple, uninterrupted tone, as used by Jesus Christ when he performed miracles, the words of consecration.

5. Why does he elevate the host an I the chalice?

He elevates the host and the chalice, for the adoration of the Saviour, who has first been immolated.

6. . What prayer does the priest say after the elevation of the chalice?

370 CATECHISM OF PERSEVERANCE.

A. After the elevation the priest says a prayer, in which he offers Christ to God his Father, in memory of his passion, his resurrection, and his ascension.

7. What does he ask of God?

He asks of him to receive favorably the victim which he presents to him, and with it the hearts of the faithful, which he offers him at the same time.

8. What is the memento of the dead?

The memento of the dead, which follows, is a prayer by which the priest asks for the souls in purgatory admission into the heavenly Jerusalem.

9. WThat desires should animate us during all these prayers?

During all these prayers we should be animated with an ardent desire to become victims worthy of God, in order to attain heaven, the end for which the sacrifice is offered; and to obtain which, we must confide fully in the infinite merits of our Lord.