Chapter V. on Hearing Mass, During the Season of Christmas

Such is the number and importance of the Feasts kept during this Holy Season, that even those of the Faithful, who have not the habit of hearing Mass daily at other times, look upon it as a sort of duty to do so now : and rightly ; for, the Lamb, who is offered up in this Divine Sacrifice, is He, whom they have been asking of the Eternal Father with so much earnestness during Advent, in those words of the Prophet Isaias : Send forth, 0 Lord, the Lamb, the Ruler of the Earth}

This tender Lamb is come ; the Child is born unto us, and even now is on the Altar of his Sacrifice. St. Paul tells us, that this Jesus, on his first entrance into the world, said to his Father : Sacrifice and oblation thou willedst not; but a Body thou hast fitted unto me. — Then said I ; Behold I come : — to do thy will, 0 God. It is true, that the Sacrifice of the Cross, of which that of the Mass is the continuation, was the Sacrifice of Christ at the end of his Three-and-Thirty Years ; still, during these days of Christmas, when we have so much to learn from the mystery of the Sacred Infancy, we shall be in strict accordance with the spirit of the Church, if, whilst assisting at Mass, we keep before our minds, not only the bleeding Victim of Calvary, but likewise the sweet Lamb of Bethlehem. Moreover, does not oui Jesus offer himself, for us, to his Father, from his Crib as well as from his Cross ? Thus, we read in

1 Is. xvi. 1. 2 Ibid, ix. 6. 3 Heb. x. 5. the Acts of the Saints, that as often as this our Redeemer wished to requite the faith and love of his servants, by manifesting to them his real Presence in the sacred Host, he appeared to them in the form of a lovely Babe.

The Liturgical Iconography of the Greeks represents the mystery of the Eucharist under the symbol of a Babe reposing on a Paten. So, too, in many of our Latin Missals, up to the end of the 16th century, we find an illumination or engraving, as the case may be, representing a Priest vested in a Chasuble, standing at the Altar, and holding in his hands the Body of our Saviour, under the form of a Child.

Let the Faithful, therefore, enter the House of God in the dispositions, wherewith the Shepherds and the Magi were animated, when they went to Bethlehem, the House of Bread. They, too, must come with haste ;l from the mid-night of this world, to that Light which shineth in darkness. They must come to the Altar as to the Crib of Jesus, and in the joy of this Mystery, they must offer their whole heart to the New-Born Babe. Then, uniting themselves with Mary and the Church, they must offer the Lamb of God to the heavenly Father, and themselves together with him — and all this, with the humility and simplicity of Little Children.

We will now endeavour to embody these sentiments in our explanation of the Mysteries of the Holy Mass, and initiate the Faithful into these divine secrets; not, indeed, by indiscreetly presuming to translate the sacred formulas, but by suggesting such Acts, as will enable those who hear Mass, to enter into the ceremonies and sentiments of the Church and the Priest.

During a considerable portion of this Season, the Mass is celebrated in commemoration of the great

1 St. Luke, ii. 16. 2 St. John, i. 5.

MASS. 53

Mysteries, which were accomplished at this period of the Liturgical Year ; and the Prayers used by the Church, on these great Feasts, will be found on the respective days. During the remaining forty days, the Holy Sacrifice is either of the Saints or of the Sundays, which come during this time, and on which there does not occur a Double Feast. The Sundays of Septuagesima and Sexagesima sometimes fall during Christmastide ; and when this happens, they cannot be put out by any Feast, save those of the Patron of the Place, or of the Titular or Dedication of the Church.

In all the Masses of the Sundays, as also on those Feasts which are called simples and semi-doubles, the Priest makes a commemoration of our Blessed Lady as Mother of God, and this by three Prayers, which we give in their proper places. With regard to the colours of the Vestments, used during this holy Season, we have explained them in a previous chapter.

On the Sundays, if the Mass, at which the Faithful assist, be the Parochial, or, as it is often called, the Public Mass, two solemn rites precede it, which are full of instruction and blessing — the Asperges, or sprinkling of the Holy Water, and the Procession.

Daring the Asperges, let them unite with the intentions of the Church in this venerable rite, and pray for that purity of heart, which will fit them for admission into that Stable of Bethlehem, wherein the Word Incarnate first appeared to his creatures.

ANTIPHON OF THE ASPEKGES.

Domine, et mundabor ; lavabis me, et super nivem dealbabor.

Thou shalt sprinkle me with Asperges me, hyssop, O Lord, and I shall be hyssopo, cleansed ; thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow.

Ps. Have mercy on me, O Ps. Miserere mei, Deus,

God, according to thy great secundum magnam miseri- mercy. cordiam tuam.

CHEISTMAS. ft. Gloria Patri, &c.

Ant. Asperges me, &c. ft. Ostende nobis, Domine, misericordiam tuam.

1^. Et salutare tuuni da nobis. ft. Domine, exaudi orationem meam.

1$. Et clamor mens ad te veniat. ft. Dominus vobiscum.

I£. Et cum spiritu tuo.

OEEMUS.

Exandi nos, Domine sancte, Pater omnipotens, seterne Deus : et mittere digneris sanctum Angelum tuum de ccelis, qui custodiat, foveat, protegat, visitet atque defendat omnes habitantes in lioc habitaculo. Per Christum Dominum nostrum.

1^. Amen. ft. Glory, &c.

Ant. Sprinkle me, &c. ft. Show us, O Lord, thy mercy.

^. And grant us the Saviour, whom we expect from thee. ft. O Lord, hear my prayer.

1$. And let my cry come unto thee. ft. The Lord be with you. ^. And with thy spirit.

LET US PRAY.

Graciously hear us, O holy Lord, Father Almighty, eternal God : and vouchsafe to send thy holy Angel from heaven, who may keep, cherish, protect, visit, and defend all who are assembled in this place. Through Christ our Lord.

]^. Amen.

The Procession, which immediately precedes the Mass, should remind us of the Shepherds and Magi going to Bethlehem, and how, after a holy impatience to reach the holy spot, they arrived, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the Infant lying in the manger.

But see, Christians, the Sacrifice begins ! The Priest is at the foot of the altar ; God is attentive, the Angels are in adoration, the whole Church is united with the Priest, whose priesthood and action are those of the great High Priest, Jesus Christ. Let us make the sign of the cross with him.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

I unite myself, 0 my God, with thy Church, who comes to seek consolation in Jesus Christ thy Son, who is the true Altar.

Like her, I beseech thee to defend me against the malice of the enemies of my salvation.

It is in thee that I have put my hope ; yet do I feel sad and troubled at being in the midst of the snares which are set for me.

Send me, then, him who is light and truth ; it is he will open to us the way to thy holy mount, to thy heavenly tabernacle.

He is the Mediator, and the living Altar ; I will draw nigh to him, and be filled with joy.

When he shall have come, I will sing in my gladness, Be not sad, 0 my soul ! why wouldst thou be troubled %

Hope in his coming ; he who is thy Saviour and thy God, will soon be with thee.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

I am to go to the altar of God, and feel the presence of him who consoles me !

In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.

"Jv. Introibo ad altare Dei. ^. Ad Deum qui laetificat juventutem meam.

Judica me, Deus, et discerne causani meam de gente non sancta : ab homine iniquo et doloso erue me.

Quia tu es, Deus, fortitudo mea : quare me repulisti 1 et quare tristis incedo, dum affligit me inimicus 1

Emitte lucem tuam et veritatem tuam : ipsa me deduxerunt et adduxerunt in montem sanctum tuum, et in tabernacula tua.

Et introibo ad altare Dei : ad Deum qui laetificat juventutem meam.

Confitebor tibi in cithara Deus, Deus meus : quare tristis es anima mea'? et quare conturbas me %

Spera in Deo, quoniam adhuc confitebor ilk' : salutare vultus mei, et Deus meus.

Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto.

Sicut erat in principio, et nunc et semper, et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.

$\ Introibo ad altare Dei.

I£. Ad Deum qui laetificat juventutem meam. ft. Adjutorium nostrum This my hope comes not in nomine Domini. from any merits of my own,

I£. Qui fecit ccelum et but from the all-powerful help terram. of my Creator.

The thought of his being about to appear before his God, excites, in the soul of the Priest, a lively sentiment of compunction. He cannot go further in the holy Sacrifice without confessing, and publicly, that he is a sinner, and deserves not the grace he is about to receive. Listen, with respect, to this confession of God's Minister, and earnestly ask our Lord to show mercy to him ; for the Priest is your Father ; he is answerable for your salvation, for which he every day risks his own. When he has finished, unite with the Servers, or the Sacred Ministers, in this prayer :

Misereatur tui omnipo- May Almighty God have tens Deus, et dimissis pec- mercy on thee, and, forgiving catis tuis, perducat te ad thy sins, bring thee to ever- vitam seternam. lasting life.

The Priest having answered Amen, make your confession, saying with a contrite spirit :

Confiteor Deo omnipo- I confess to Almighty God, tenti, beatse Marise semper to blessed Mary ever Virgin,

Virgini, beato Michaeli to blessed Michael the Arch-

Archangelo, beato Joanni angel, to blessed John Baptist,

Baptistse, Sanctis Apostolis to the holy Apostles Peter and

Petro et Paulo, omnibus Paul, to all the saints, and to

Sanctis, et tibi, Pater : quia thee, Father, that I have sinned peccavi nimis, cogitatione, exceedingly in thought, word, verbo, et opere : mea culpa, and deed, through my fault, mea culpa, mea maxima through my fault, through my culpa. Ideo precor beatam most grievous fault. There-

Mariam semper Virginem, fore I beseech the blessed beatum Michaelem Arch- Mary ever Virgin, blessed angelum, beatum Joannem Michael the Archangel, blessed

Baptistam, sanctos Aposto- John Baptist, the holy Apos- los Petrum et Paulum, om- ties Peter and Paul, and all the nes Sanctos, et te, Pater, saints, and thee, Father, to orare pro me ad Dominum pray to our Lord God for me. Deum nostrum.

Receive with gratitude the paternal wish of the Priest, who says to you :

May Almighty God he merciful to you, and, forgiving your sins, bring you to everlasting life.

1$. Amen.

May the almighty and merciful Lord grant us pardon, absolution, and remission of our sins.

1$. Amen.

Misereatur vestri omnipotens Deus, et dimissis peccatis vestris, perducat vos ad vitam aeternam.

I£. Amen.

Indulgentiam, absolutionem, et remissionem peccatorum nostrorum, tribuat nobis omnipotens et misericors Dominus.

B. Amen.

Invoke the divine assistance, that you may approach to Jesus Christ. ft. 0 God, it needs but one look of thine to give us life.

1$. And thy people shall rejoice in thee. ft. Show us, 0 Lord, thy mercy.

I£. And give us the Saviour whom thou hast prepared for us. ft. O Lord, hear my prayer.

I£. And let my cry come unto thee. ft. Deus, tu conversus vivificabis nos.

I£. Et plebs tua lastabitur in te. ft. Ostende nobis, Domine, misericordiam tuam.

1$. Et Salutare tuam da nobis. ft. Domine, exaudi orationem meam.

1$. Et clamor meus ad te veniat.

The Priest here leaves you to ascend to the altar ; but first he salutes you : ft. The Lord be with you. ft. Dominus vobiscum.

Answer him with reverence : R. And with thy spirit. 1$. Et cum spiritu tuo.

LET US PRAY. OREMUS.

He ascends the steps, and comes to the Holy of Holies. Ask, both for him and yourself, the deliverance from sin :

Aufer a nobis qusesumus, Take from our hearts, O

Domine, iniquitates nos- Lord, all those sins, which tras ; ut ad Sancta sanctorum make us unworthy of thy visit ; puris mereamur mentibus we ask this of thee by thy introire. Per Christum Do- divine Son, our Lord, minum nostrum. Amen.

When the Priest kisses the altar, out of reverence for the relics of the Martyrs which are there, say :

Oramus te, Domine, per Generous soldiers of Jesus merita sanctorum tuorum Christ, who have mingled quorum reliquiae hie sunt, et your own blood with his, in- omnium Sanctorum : ut in- tercede for us that our sins dulgere digneris omnia pec- may be forgiven : that so we cata mea, Amen. may, like you, approach unto

God.

If it be a High Mass at which you are assisting, the Priest incenses the Altar in a most solemn manner; and this white cloud, which you see ascending from every part of the Altar, signifies the prayer of the Church, who addresses herself to Jesus Christ; and which this Divine Mediator then causes to ascend, united with his own, to the throne of the majesty of his Father.

The Priest then says the Introit. It is a solemn opening-anthem, in which the Church, at the very commencement of the Holy Sacrifice, gives expression to the sentiments which fill her heart.

It is followed by nine exclamations, which are even more earnest, for they ask for mercy. In addressing them to God, the Church unites herself with the nine choirs of Angels, who are standing round the altar of Heaven, one and the same as this before which you are kneeling.

To the Father, who has sent us his Son :

Kyrie eleison. Lord, have mercy on us !

Kyrie eleison. Lord, have mercy on us !

Kyrie eleison. Lord, have mercy on us !

To the Son, who has come down to us:

Christ, have mercy on us ! Christe eleison.

Christ, have mercy on us ! Christe eleison.

Christ, have mercy on us ! Christe eleison.

To the Holy Ghost, whose operation has accomplished the mystery:

Lord, have mercy on us ! Kyrie eleison.

Lord, have mercy on us ! Kyrie eleison.

Lord, have mercy on us ! Kyrie eleison.

Then, mingling his voice with that of the heavenly host, the Priest intones the sublime Canticle of Bethlehem, which announces glory to God, and peace to men. Instructed by the revelations of God, the Church continues, in her own words, the Hymn of the Angels. She celebrates, with rapture, the Lamb of God, who taketh aivay the sins of the world. She offers to this Lamb, in return for the humiliations of the Stable and the Crib, the homage of her fervent praise, declaring that He alone is Holy, He alone is Lord, He alone Most-High. Enter, Christians, into these sentiments of profound adoration, of confidence, and of tender love, towards the Divine Lamb. the angelic hymn.

Glory be to God on high, Gloria in excelsis Deo, and on earth peace to men et in terra pax homini- of good will. bus bon^ voluntatis.

We praise thee : we bless Laudamus te : benedici- thee : we adore thee: we mus te : adoramus te : glori- glorify thee : we give thee ficamus te : gratias agimus thanks for thy great glory. tibi propter magnamgloriam tuam.

O Lord God, Heavenly Domine Deus Rex coeles-

King, God the Father Al- tis, Deus Pater omnipotens. mighty.

O Lord Jesus Christ, the Domine, Fili unigenite, only begotten Son. Jesu Christe.

Domine Dens, Agnus Dei, O Lord God, Lamb of God,

Films Patris. Son of the Father.

Qui tollis peccata mundi, Who takest away the sins miserere nobis. of the world, have mercy on us.

Qui tollis peccata mundi, Who takest away the sins of suscipe deprecationem nos- the world, receive our humble tram. prayer.

Qui sedes ad dexteram Who sittest at the right

Patris, miserere nobis. hand of the Father, have mercy on us.

Quoniam tu solus sanctus, For thou alone art holy, tu solus Dominus, tu solus thou alone art Lord, thou

Altissimus, Jesu Christe, alone, 0 Jesus Christ, together cum Sancto Spiritu, in glo- with the Holy Ghost, art most ria Dei Patris. Amen. high, in the glory of God the

Father. Amen.

The Priest turns towards the people, and again salutes them, as it were to make sure of their pious attention to the sublime act,, for which all this is but the preparation. The words of this greeting are especially beautiful during the season of Christmas : The Lord be with you ! Isaias had foretold that it would indeed be verified, and the Angel confirms the prophecy to St. Joseph, when he thus says to him : He shall be called Emmanuel, that is, God with us.

Then follows the Collect or Prayer, in which the Church formally expresses to the divine Majesty the special intentions she has in the Mass which is being celebrated. You may unite in this prayer, by reciting with the Priest the Collects which you will find in their proper places : but on no account omit to join with the server of the Mass in answering Amen.

Then follows the Epistle, which is, generally, a portion of one or other of the Epistles of the Apostles, or a passage from some Book of the Old Testament. Whilst it is being read, thank Him, who, not satisfied with having, at sundry times, spoken to us by the

1 St. Matth. i. 23.

Prophets, has deigned, in these days, to speak to us by his Son.

The Gradual is an intermediate formula of Prayer between the Epistle and Gospel. It again brings to our attention the sentiments which were expressed in the Introit. Read it with devotion, so as to get more and more into the spirit of the Christmas Mystery.

The song of praise, the Alleluia, is next heard. Let us, whilst it is being sung, unite with the holy Angels, who, at the Birth of the Divine Lamb, made our earth echo with their heavenly chants.

One of the princes of this heavenly host, said, speaking to the shepherds : Behold I evangelise to you (that is, / bring you good tidings of) a great joy — for this day is born unto you a Saviour, in Bethlehem, the City of David. Afterwards, came the Apostles, and they evangelised this same joy to the whole world ; and the Book, which contains the words which gave joy to mankind, is called the Gospel — Evangelium. A passage from this divine Book is now going to be read to the assembly of the Faithful ; we shall hear the very words of Him, who became a Little Child, in order to be thus able to speak to us.

If it be a High Mass, the Deacon prepares to fulfil his noble office, that of announcing the Good Tidings of salvation. He prays God to cleanse his heart and lips. Then kneeling, he asks the Priest's blessing ; and having received it, he at once goes to the place where he is to sing the Gospel.

As a preparation for hearing it worthily, you may thus pray, together with the Priest and Deacon :

Alas! these ears of mine Munda cor meum, ac labia are but too often defiled with mea, onmipotens Deus, qui

1 Heb. i. 1, 2. 2 St. Luke, ii. 10, 11.

G2 CHKISTMAS. labia Isaise Prophetae calculo the world's vain words ; cleanse nxundasti ignito : ita me tua them, O Lord, that so I may grata miseratione dignare hear the words of eternal life, mundare, ut sanctum Evan- and treasure them in my heart, gelium tuum digne valeam Through our Lord Jesus Christ, nuntiare. Per Christum Do- Amen, minum nostrum. Amen.

Dominus sit in corde meo, Grant to thy ministers thy et in labiis meis : ut digne grace, that they may faithfully et competenter animntiem explain thy law ; that so all,

Evangelium suum : In no- both pastors and flock, may mine Patris, et Filii, et Spi- be united to thee for ever, ritus Sancti. Amen. Amen.

You will stand during the Gospel, as though you were waiting the orders of your Lord ; and at the commencement, make the sign of the Cross on your forehead, lips, and breast ; and then listen to every word of the Priest or Deacon. Let your heart be ready and obedient. Whilst my Beloved was speaking, says the Spouse in the Canticle, my soul melted within me} If you have not such love as this, have at least the humble submission of Samuel, and say : Speak, Lord ! thy servant heareth.

After the Gospel, if the Priest say the Symbol of Faith, the Credo, you will say it with him. Faith is that gift of God, without which we cannot please him. It is Faith that makes us see the Light which shineth in darkness, and which the darkness of unbelief did not comprehend. It is Faith that shows us Him we are to love. It is Faith, too, that makes us become little children again ; for, such we must be, if we would have access to the Crib of Him, whom Clement of Alexandria so beautifully calls the King of Infants. Let us, then, say with the Catholic Church, our Mother :

1 Cant. v. 6, 2 I. Kings, iii. 10.

THE NICENE CREED.

I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God. And born of the Father before all ages ; God of God, light of light ; true God of true God. Begotten, not made ; consubstantial to the Father, by whom all things were made. Who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven. And became incarnate by the Holy Ghost, of the Virgin Mary ; and was made man. He was crucified also for us, under Pontius Pilate, suffered, and was buried. And the third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures. And ascended into heaven, sitteth at the right hand of the Father. And he is to come again with glory, to judge the living and the dead ; of whose kingdom there shall be no end.

And in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and giver of life, who proceedeth from the Father and the Son. Who together with the Father and the Son, is adored and glorified ; who spoke by the Prophets. And one holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the remission of sins. And I expect the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Credo in unum Deum, Patrem omnipotentem, factorem cceli et terras, visibilium omnium et invisibilium.

Et in unum Dominum Jesum Christum, Filium Dei unigenitum. Et ex Patre natum ante omnia ssecula, Deum de Deo, lumen de lumine,Deumverum de Deo vero. Genitum non factum, consubstantialem, Patri, per quern omnia facta sunt. Qui propter noshomines,et propter nostram salutem, descendit de ccelis. Et incarnatus est de Spiritu Sancto, ex Maria Virgine ; et homo

FACTTTS EST. CmcifixUS etiam pro nobis sub Pontio Pilato, passus, et sepultus est. Et resurrexit tertia die, secundum Scripturas. Et ascendit in ccelum ; sedet ad dexteram Patris. Et iterum venturus est cum gloria judicare vivos et mortuos ; cujus regni non erit finis.

Et in Spiritum Sanctum, Dominum et vivificantem, qui ex Patre Filioque procedit. Qui cum Patre et Filio simul adoratur, et conglorificatur ; qui locutus est per Prophetas. Et unam sanctam Catholicam et Apostolicam Ecclesiam. Confiteor unum Baptisma in remissionem peccatorum. Et exspecto resurrectionum mortuorum, et vitam venturi sseculi. Amen.

The Priest and the people should, by this time, have their hearts ready : it is time to prepare the offering itself. And here we come to the second part of the Holy Mass, which is called the Oblation, and which immediately follows that, which was called the Mass of Catechumens, on account of its being formerly the only part, at which the candidates for Baptism had a right to be present,

See, then, dear Christians ! bread and wine are about to be offered to God, as being the noblest of inanimate creatures, since they are made for the nourishment of man ; and even that is only a poor material image of what they are destined to become in our Christian Sacrifice. Their substance will soon give place to God himself, and of themselves nothing will remain but the appearances. Happy creatures, thus to yield up their own being, that God may take its place ! We, too, are to undergo a like transformation, when, as the Apostle expresses it, that which to us is mortal, shall put on immortality. Until that happy change shall be realised, let us offer ourselves to God, as often as we see the bread and wine presented to him in the Holy Sacrifice ; and let us glorify Him, who, by assuming our human nature, has made us partakers of the divine nature.

The Priest again turns to the people with the usual salutation, as though he would warn them to redouble their attention. Let us read the Offertory with him, and when he offers the Host to God, let us unite with him in saying :

Suscipe, sancte Pater, All that we have, O Lord, omnipotens asterne Deus, comes from thee, and belongs hanc immaculatam hostiani, to thee ; it is just, therefore, quam ego indignus famu- that we return it unto thee, lus turns offero tibi Deo meo But, how wonderful art thou vivo et vero, pro innumera- in the inventions of thy im-

1 I. Cor. xv. 53. 2 II. St. Pet i 4. mense love ! This bread which we are offering to thee, is to give place, in a few moments, to the sacred Body of Jesus. We beseech thee, receive, together with this oblation, our hearts which long to live by thee, and to cease to live their own life of self. bilibus peccatis et offensionibuset negligentiismeis, et pro omnibus circumstantibus, sed et pro omnibus fidelibus christianis vivis atque defunctis ; ut mini et illis proficiat ad salutem in vitam aeternam. Amen.

When the Priest puts the wine into the chalice, and then mingles with it a drop of water, let your thoughts turn to the divine mystery of the Incarnation, which is manifested to the world by the Birth of our Emmanuel ; and say :

O Lord Jesus, who art the true Vine, and whose Blood, like a generous wine, has been poured forth under the pressure of the Cross ! thou hast deigned to unite thy divine nature to our weak humanity, which is signified by this drop of water. O come and make us partakers of thy divinity, by showing thyself to us in thy sweet and wondrous visit.

Deus qui humanse substantia© dignitatem mirabiliter condidisti,etmirabilius reformasti : da nobis per hujus aquae et vini mysterium, ejus divinitatis esse consortes, qui humanitatis nostrae fieri dignatus est particeps, Jesus Christus Filius tuus Dominus noster: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.

The Priest then offers the mixture of wine and water, beseeching God graciously to accept this oblation, the figure of which is so soon to be changed into the reality, of which it is now but the figure. Meanwhile, say, in union with the Priest :

Graciously accept these gifts, O sovereign Creator of all things. Let them be fitted for the divine transformation, which will make them, from

Offerimus tibi, D online, calicem salutaris, tuam deprecantes clementiam : ut in conspectu divinae Majestatis tuae, pro nostra et totius F nmndi salute, cum odore being mere offerings of created suavitatis ascendat, Amen, things, the instrument of the world's salvation.

After having thus held up the sacred gifts towards heaven, the Priest bows down : let us, also, humble ourselves, and say ;

In spiritu humilitatis, et Though daring, as we do, to in animo contrito suscipia- approach thy altar, 0 Lord, mur a te, Domine : et sic fiat we cannot forget that we are sacrificium nostrum in con- sinners. Have mercy on us, spectu tuo hodie, ut placeat and delay not to send us thy tibi, Domine Deus. Son, who is our saving Host.

Let us next invoke the Holy Ghost, whose operation is about to produce on the altar the presence of the Son of God, as it did in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in the divine mystery of the Incarnation :

Veni, Sanctificator omnipotens seterne Deus, et benedic hoc sacrificium tuo sancto nomini praeparatum.

Come, 0 Divine Spirit, make fruitful the offering which is upon the altar, and produce in our hearts Him whom they desire.

If it be a High Mass, the Priest, before proceeding any further with the Sacrifice, takes the thurible a second time. He first incenses the bread and wine which have been just offered, and then the altar itself; hereby inviting the faithful to make their prayer, which is signified by the incense, more and more fervent, the nearer the solemn moment approaches. St. John tells us, that the incense, which burns on the Altar in heaven, is made of the Prayers of the Saints. During Christmastide, therefore, we may look on the fragrant cloud, which covers our Altar here on earth, as an emblem of the prayers said by the Shepherds round the Crib, and of the adorations paid by the Magi to the Infant-God. Let

THE OEDINAEY OF THE MASS. us imitate them; for, this. same Jesus is soon to be on our Altar.

But the thought of his own unworthiness becomes more intense than ever in the heart of the Priest. The public confession, which he made at the foot of the altar, is not enough ; he would now, at the altar itself, express to the people, in the language of a solemn rite, how far he knows himself to be from that spotless sanctity, wherewith he should approach to God. He washes his hands. Our hands signify our works ; and the Priest, though by his priesthood he bear the office of Jesus Christ, is, by his works, but man. Seeing your Father thus humble himself, do you also make an act of humility, and say with him these verses of psalm 25.

I, too, would wash my hands, 0 Lord, and become like unto those who are innocent, that so I may be worthy to come near thy altar, and hear thy sacred Canticles, and then go and proclaim to the world the wonders of thy goodness. I love the beauty of thy House, which thou art about to make the dwelling-place of thy glory. Leave me not, O God, in the midst of them that are enemies both to thee and me. Thy mercy having separated me from them, I entered on the path of innocence, and was restored to thy grace ; but have pity on my weakness still ; redeem me yet more, thou who hast so mercifully brought me back to the right path. In the midst of these thy faithful people, I give thee thanks. Glory be to

Lavabo inter innocentes manus meas : et circumdabo altare tuum, Domine.

Ut audiam vocem laudis : et enarrem universa mirabilia tua.

Domine, dilexi decorem domus tuse, et locum habitationis glorias tuse.

Ne perdas cum impiis, Deus, animam meam, et cum viris sanguinum vitam meam.

In quorum manibus iniquitatessunt : dexteraeorum repleta est muneribus.

Ego autem in innocentia mea ingressus sum : redime me, et miserere mei.

Pes meus stetit in directo : in ecclesiis benedicam te, Domine.

Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto.

Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in saecula the Father and to the Son, saeculorum. Amen. and to the Holy Ghost ; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

The Priest, taking encouragement from the act of humility he has just made, returns to the middle of the altar, and bows down full of respectful awe, begging of God to receive graciously the Sacrifice which is about to be offered to him, and expresses the intentions for which it is offered. Let us do the same.

Suscipe, sancta Trinitas, O hanc oblationem, quam tibi offerimus ob memoriam Pasrememsionis, Resurrectionis, et censionis Jesu Christi mini nostri : et in honore beatse Marise semper Virginis, et beati Joannis Baptistse, et sanctorum Apostolorum Petri et Pauli, et istorum, et omnium Sanetorum : ut illis proficiat ad honorem, nobis autem ad salutem : et illi pro nobis ccelis, quorum memoriam agimus in terris. Per eumdem Christum Dominum adnostrum. Amen.

Holy Trinity, graciously accept the Sacrifice we have begun. We offer it in As- brance of the Passion, Resur- Do- rection, and Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ. Permit thy Church to join with this intention that of honouring the ever glorious Virgin Mary, the Blessed Baptist John, the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, the Martyrs whose relics he here under our altar awaiting their resurrection, and the intercedere dignentur in Saints whose memory we this day celebrate. Increase the glory they are enjoying, and receive the prayers they dress to thee for us.

The Priest again turns to the people ; it is for the last time before the sacred Mysteries are accomplished. He feels anxious to excite the fervour of the people. Neither does the thought of his own unworthiness leave him ; and before entering the cloud with the Lord, he seeks support in the prayers of his brethren who are present. He says to them :

Brethren, pray that my Sa- Orate, fratres : ut meum crifice, which is yours also, ac vestrum sacrificium ac- may be acceptable to God, our ceptabile fiat apud Deum

Almighty Father. Patrem omnipotentem.

With this request he turns again to the altar, and you will see his face no more, until our Lord himself shall have come down from heaven upon that same altar. Assure the Priest that he has your prayers, and say to him :

May our Lord accept this Suscipiat Dominus sacri-

Sacrifice at thy hands, to the ficium de manibus tuis, ad praise and glory of his name, laudem et gloriam nominis and for our benefit and that of sui, ad utilitatem quoque his holy Church throughout nostram totiusque Ecclesiae the world. suae sanctae.

Here the Priest recites the prayers called the Secrets, in which he presents the petition of the whole Church for God's acceptance of the Sacrifice, and then immediately begins to fulfil that great duty of religion, Thanksgiving. So far he has adored God, and has sued for mercy ; he has still to give thanks for the blessings bestowed on us by the bounty of oar heavenly Father, and expressly for that chiefest of all his gifts — the Messias. We are on the point of receiving a new visit of this Son of God ; the Priest, in the name of the Church, is about to give expression to the gratitude of all mankind. In order to excite the faithful to that intensity of gratitude which is due to God for all his gifts, he interrupts his own and their silent prayer by terminating it aloud, saying :

For ever and ever ! - Per omnia saecula saeculo- rum !

In the same feeling, answer your A men ! Then he continues :

Jr. The Lord be with you. "ff. Dominus vobiscum.

1$. And with thy spirit. I£. Et cum spiritu tuo.

$". Lift up your hearts ! % Sursum corda !

Let your response be sincere :

1$. Habemus ad Domi- 1$. We have them fixed on num. God.

And when he adds :

]v. Gratias agamus Do- fl. Let us give thanks to mino Deo nostro. the Lord our God.

Answer him with all the earnestness of your soul : I£. Dignumet justumest. I£. It is meet and just.

Then the Priest : preface •}

Vere dignum et justum It is truly meet and just, est, aequum et salutare, nos right and available to salva- tibi semper et ubique gra- tion, that we should always tias agere : Domine sancte, and in all places give thanks

Pater omnipotens, seterne to thee, O holy Lord, Father

Deus ; quia per inearnati Almighty, eternal God ; for

Verbi mysterium, nova men- that, by the mystery of the tis nostrse oculis lux tute Incarnate Word, a new ray of claritatis infulsit : ut dum thy glory has appeared to the visibiliter Deum cognosci- eyes of our soul : so that, while mus, per hunc in invisibi- we behold God visibly, we may lium amorem rapiamur : et be carried by him to the love ideo cum Angelis et Arch- of things invisible : and there- angelis, cum Thronis et Do- fore, with the Angels and minationibus, cumque omni Archangels, with the Thrones militia ccelestis exercitus, and Dominations, and with all hymnum glorias tuae cani- the heavenly host, we sing a mus, sine fine dicentes. hymn to thy glory, saying unceasingly :

1 This Preface is said on Christmas Day, and during its Octave ; on the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus ; and on the Purification of the Blessed Virgin. The Prefaces for the Epiphany, of the Blessed Trinity, and of the Apostles, will be given in their proper places. — The following is the Common Preface, which is said as often as there is not a proper one assigned.

PREFACE.

Vere dignum et justum est, It is truly meet and just, right sequum et salutare, nos tibi and available to salvation, that semper et ubique gratias agere : we should always and in all places

THE OEDINARY OF THE MASS.

Here unite with the Priest, who, on his part, unites himself with the blessed Spirits, in giving thanks to God for the unspeakable Gift : bow down and say :

Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of hosts !

Heaven and earth are full of thy glory.

Hosanna in the highest !

Blessed be the Saviour whom we were expecting, and who is coming to us in the name of the Lord who sends him.

Hosanna be to him in the highest 1

SanctUs, Sanctus, Sanctus, Dominus Dens sabaoth !

Pleni sunt cceli et terrae gloria tua.

Hosanna in excelsis !

Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini.

Hosanna in excelsis !

After these words commences the Canon, that mysterious prayer, in the midst of which heaven bows down to earth, and God descends unto us. The voice of the Priest is no longer heard ; yea, even at the altar, all is silence. It was thus, says the Book of Wisdom, in the quiet of silence, and while the night was in the -midst of her course, that the Almighty Word came down from his royal throne. Let us await him in a like silence, and respectfully fix our eyes on what the Priest does in the holy place. give thanks to thee, 0 holy Lord, Father Almighty, eternal God : through Christ our Lord ; by whom the Angels praise thy majesty, the Dominations adore it, the powers tremble before it ; the heavens and the heavenly Virtues, and the blessed Seraphim, with common jubilee, glorify it. Together with whom, We beseech thee that we may be admitted to join our humble voices, saying:

Domine sancte, Pater omnipotens, seterne Deus, per Christum Dominum nostrum ; pe quern ma jestatemtuam laudant Angeli, adorant Dominationes, tremunt Potestates, Cceli, ccelorumque Virtutes, ac beata Seraphim, socia exultatione concelebrant. Cum quibus et nostras voces, ut admitti jubeas deprecamur, supplici confessione dicentes.

1 Wisd. xviii. 14, 15.

THE CANON OF THE MASS.

In this mysterious colloquy with the great God of heaven and earth, the first prayer of the sacrificing Priest is for the Catholic Church, his and our Mother.

Te igitur, clementissime Pater, per Jesum Christum Filium tuum Dominum nostrum supplices rogamus ac petimus, uti accepta habeas, et benedicas hsec dona, hsec munera, haec sancta sacrificia illihata, in primis quae tibi offerimus pro Ecclesia tua sancta Catholica : quam pacificare, custodire, adunare, et regere digneris toto orbe terrarum, una cum famulo tuo Papa nostro N. et Antistite nostro N., et omnibus orthodoxis, atque catholicae et apostolicae fidei cultoribus.

O God, who manifestest thyself unto us by means of the mysteries which thou hast entrusted to thy holy Church, our Mother ; we beseech thee, by the merits of this sacrifice, that thou wouldst remove all those hindrances which oppose her during her pilgrimage in this world. Give her peace and unity. Do thou thyself guide our Holy Father the Pope, thy Vicar on earth. Direct thou our Bishop, who is our sacred link of unity ; and watch over all the orthodox children of the Catholic Apostolic Roman Church.

Here pray, together with the Priest, for those whose interests should be dearest to you.

Memento, Domine, famulorum famularumque tuarum N. et N., et omnium circumstantium, quorum tibi fides cognita est, et nota devotio : pro quibus tibi offerimus, vel qui tibi offerunt hoc sacrificium laudis, pro se, suisque omnibus, pro redemptione animarum suarum, pro spe salutis et incolumitatis suae ; tibique reddunt vota sua seterno Deo, vivo et vero.

Permit me, O God, to intercede with thee in more earnest prayer for those, for whom thou knowest that I have a special obligation to pray : * * * Pour down thy blessings upon them. Let them partake of the fruits of this divine Sacrifice, which is offered unto thee in the name of all mankind. Visit them by thy grace, pardon them their sins, grant them the blessings of this present life and of that which is eternal.

Here let us commemorate the Saints : they are that portion of the Body of Jesus Christ, which is called the Church Triumphant.

But the offering of this Sacrifice, O my God, does not unite us with those only of our brethren who are still in this transient life of trial : it brings us closer to those also, who are already in possession of heaven. Therefore it is, that we. wish to honour by it the memory of the glorious and ever Virgin Mary, of whom Jesus is born to us ; of the Apostles, Confessors, Virgins, and of all the Saints ; that so they may assist us, by their powerful intercession, to become worthy to see Jesus in Bethlehem, and to contemplate thee, as they now do, in the mansion of thy glory.

Commnnicantes, et memoriam venerantes, in primis gloriosae semper Virginis Mariae, Genitricis Dei et Domini nostri Jesu Christi : sed et beatorum Apostolorum ac Martyrum tuorum, Petri etPauli, Andreae, Jacobi, Joannis, Thomas, Jacobi, Philippi, Bartholomasi, Matthaei, Simonis, et Thaddaei : Lini, Cleti, Clementis, Xysti, Cornelii, Cypriani, Laurentii, Chrysogoni, Joannis et Pauli, Cosmae et Damiani, et omnium sanctorum tuorum, quorum meritis precibusque concedas, ut in omnibus protectionis tuae muniamur auxilio. Per eumdem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.

The Priest, who, up to this time, had been praying with his hands extended, now joins them, and holds them over the bread and wine, as the High Priest of the Old Law did over the figurative victim : he thus expresses his intention of bringing these gifts more closely under the notice of the Divine Majesty, and of marking them as the material offering whereby we profess our dependence, and which is, in a few instants, to yield its place to the living Host, upon whom all our iniquities are to be laid.

Vouchsafe, O God, to accept this offering which this thy assembled family presents to thee as the homage of its most happy servitude. In return, give us peace, save us from

Hanc igitur oblationem servitutis nostras, sed et cunctae familiae tuae, quaesumus Domine, ut placatus accipias : diesque nostros in tua pace disponas, atque ab aeterna damnatione nos eripi, et in electorum tuorum jubeas grege numerari. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.

Quam oblationem tu Deus in omnibus qusesumus, benedictam, adscriptam, ratam, rationabilem, acceptabilemque facere digneris j ut nobis Corpus et Sanguis fiat dilectissimi Filii tui Domini nostri Jesu Christi. thy wrath, and number us among thy elect, through Him who is coming to us, thy Son our Saviour.

Yea, Lord, this is the moment when this bread is to become his sacred Body, which is our food ; and this wine is to be changed into his Blood, which is our drink. Ah ! delay no longer, but send to us this divine Son our Saviour !

And here the Priest ceases to act as man ; he now becomes more than a mere minister of the Church. His word becomes that of Jesus Christ, with all its power and efficacy. Prostrate yourself in profound adoration ; for the Emmanuel, the God with us, is coming down from heaven.

Qui pridie quam pateretur, accepit panem in sanctas ac venerabiles manus suas : et elevatis oculis in ccelum, ad te Deum Patrem suum omnipotentem, tibi gratias agens, benedixit, fregit, deditque discipulis suis, dicens : Accipite, et manducate ex hoc omnes.

HOC EST ENIM COEPTJS METJM.

What, 0 God of heaven and earth, my Jesus, the long expected Messias, what else can I do at this solemn moment but adore thee, in silence, as my sovereign Master, and open my whole heart to thee, as to its dearest King ! Come, then, Lord Jesus, come !

The Divine Lamb, the Son of Mary, is now lying on our Altar ! Glory and love be to him for ever ! But he is come, that he may be immolated. When Isaias, in prophetic vision, contemplated this Child that is born unto us, he saw, that even then his government was upon his shoulder, and this was the Cross. Hence, the Priest, who is the minister of the will of the Most High, immediately pronounces over

1 Is. ix. 6.

THE OEDINARY OF THE MASS. the Chalice those sacred words, which will produce the great mystical immolation, by the separation of the Victim's Body and Blood. The substances of bread and wine have ceased to exist : the species alone are left, veiling, as it were, the Body and Blood, lest fear should keep us from a mystery, which God gives us in order to give Us confidence. Let us associate ourselves to the Angels, who tremblingly look upon this deepest wonder.

O Precious Blood ! thou price of my salvation ! I adore thee ! Wash away my sins, and give me a purity above the whiteness of snow. Lamb ever slain, yet ever living, thou comest to take away the sins of the world ! Come also and reign in me by thy power and by thy love.

Simili modo postquam ccenatum est, accipiens et hunc praeclarum Calicem in sanctas ac venerabiles manus suas : item tibi gratias agens, benedixit, deditque discipulis suis, dicens : Aecipite et bibite ex eo omnes.

HlC EST ENIM CALIX SAN- GUINIS MEI, NO VI ET JETEENI TESTAMENTI : MYSTEEIUM FIDEI : QUI PEO VOBIS ET PEO MULTIS EFFUNDETUE IN EEMISSIONEM PECCATO- eum. Haec quotiescumque feceritis, in mei memoriam facietis.

The Priest is now face to face with God. He again raises his hands towards heaven, and tells our heavenly Father, that the oblation, now on the altar, is no longer an earthly offering, but the Body and Blood, the whole Person, of his divine Son.

Father of infinite holiness, the Host so long expected is here before thee ! Behold this thy eternal Son, who suffered a bitter passion, rose again with glory from the grave, and ascended triumphantly into heaven. He is thy Son ; but he is also our Host — Host pure and spotless

Unde et memores, Domine, nos servi tui, sed et plebs tua sancta, ejusdem Christi Filii tui Domini nostri tarn beatse Passionis, nee non et ab inferis Resurrectionis, sed et in ccelos gloriosse Ascensionis : offerimus prseclarae majestati tuae de tuis donis ac datis Hos- tiam puram, Hostiam sanctam, Hostiam immaculatam : Panem sanctum vitas aeternse, et Calicem salutis perpetuse.

Supra quae propitio ac sereno vultu respicere digneris : et accepta habere, sicuti accepta habere dignatus es munera pueri tui justi Abel, et sacrificium Patriarchs nostri Abrahaa, et quod tibi obtulit summus Sacerdos tuus Melchisedeeh, sanctum sacrificium, immaculatam hostiam.

— our Meat and Drink of everlasting life.

Heretofore thou didst accept the sacrifice of the innocent lambs offered to thee by Abel ; and the sacrifice which Abraham made thee of his son Isaac, who, though immolated, yet lived ; and, lastly, the sacrifice, which Melchisedeeh presented thee, of bread and wine. Receive our Sacrifice, which is above all those others. It is the Lamb, of whom all others could be but figures : it is the undying Victim : it is the Body of thy Son, who is the Bread of Life, and his Blood, which, whilst a Drink of immortality for us, is a tribute adequate to thy glory.

The Priest bows down to the altar, and kisses it as the throne of love on which is seated the Saviour of men. Do you look at it with love, as the Crib, whereon is laid, veiled in the eucharistic elements, that Jesus who has said : I am the Bread of life.

Supplices te rogamus, omnipotens Deus : jube hsec perferri per manus sancti Angeli tui in sublime Altare tuum, in conspectu divinse Majestatistuse : ut quotquot ex hac altaris participatione, sacrosanctum Filii tui Corpus et Sanguinem sumpserimus, omni benediction e ccelesti et gratia repleamur. Per eumdem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.

But, O God of infinite power, these sacred gifts are not only on this altar here below ; they are also on that sublime Altar of heaven, which is before the throne of thy divine Majesty. These two altars are but one and the same, on which is accomplished the great mystery of thy glory and our salvation. Vouchsafe to make us partakers of the Body and Blood of the august Victim, from whom flow every grace and blessing.

THE ORDINAEY OF THE MASS.

Nor is the moment less favourable for making supplication for the Church Suffering. Let us, therefore, ask the divine Liberator, who has come down amongst us, that he mercifully visit, by a ray of his consoling light, the dark abode of Purgatory, and permit his Blood to flow, as a stream of mercy's dew, from this our altar, and refresh the panting captives there. Let us pray expressly for those amongst them, who have a claim on our suffrages.

Dear Jesus ! let the happiness of this thy visit extend to every portion of thy Church. Thy face gladdens the elect in the holy City ; even our mortal eyes can see beneath the veil of our delighted faith ; ah ! hide not thyself from those brethren of ours, who are imprisoned in the place of expiation. Be thou refreshment to them in their flames, light in their darkness, and peace in their agonies of torment.

Memento etiam, Domine, famulorum famularumque tuarum N. et N. qui nos prsecesserunt cum signo fidei, et dormiunt in somno pacis. Ipsis Domine, et omnibus in Christo quiescentibus, locum refrigerii, lucis et pacis, ut indulgeas, deprecamur. Per eumdem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.

This duty of charity fulfilled, let us pray for ourselves, sinners, alas ! and who profit so little by the visit, which our Saviour pays us. Let us, together with the Priest, strike our breast, saying :

Alas ! we are poor sinners, O God of all sanctity ! yet do we hope that thy infinite mercy will grant us to share in thy kingdom, not, indeed, by reason of our works, which deserve little more than punishment, but because of the merits of this Sacrifice, which we are offering to thee. Remember, too, the merits of thy holy Apostles, of thy holy Martyrs, of thy holy Virgins,

Nobis quoque peccatoribus famuhs tuis, de multitudine miserationum tuarum sperantibus, partem aliquam et societatem donare digneris cum tuis Sanctis Apostolis et Martyribus : cum Joanne, Stephano Mathia, Barnaba, Ignatio Alexandra, MarceUino, Petro, Felicitate, Perpetua, Agatha, Lucia, Agnete, Csecilia, Anastasia, et omni- bus Sanctis tuis ; intra quo- and of all thy Saints. Grant us, rum nos consortium, non by their intercession, grace in

^estimator meriti, sed venise, this world, and glory eternal qusesumus, largitor admitte. in the next : which we ask of

Per Christum Dominum nos- thee, in the name of our Lord trum. Per quern haec omnia, Jesus Christ, thy Son. It is

Domine, semper bona creas, by him thou bestowest upon sanctificas, vivificas, bene- us thy blessings of life and dicis, et prsestas nobis : per sanctification ; and by him ipsum, et cum ipso et in also, with him, and in him, in ipso, est tibi Deo Patri om- the unity of the Holy Ghost, nipotenti, in unitate Spiri- may honour and glory be to tus Sancti, omnis honor et thee ! gloria.

Whilst saying these last few words, the Priest has taken up the sacred Host, which was on the altar; he has held it over the chalice, thus re-uniting the Body and Blood of the divine Victim, in order to show that He is now immortal. Then raising up both Chalice and Host, he offers to God the most noble and perfect homage which the divine Majesty could receive.

This solemn and mysterious rite ends the Canon. The silence of the Mysteries is broken. The Priest concludes his long prayers, by saying aloud, and so giving the faithful the opportunity of expressing their desire that his supplications be granted :

Per omnia saecula ssecu- For ever and ever, lorum.

Answer him with faith, and in a sentiment of union with your holy Mother the Church :

Amen. Amen ! I believe the mys- tery which has just been accomplished. I unite myself to the offering which has been made, and to the petitions of the Church.

It is time to recite the prayer, which our Saviour himself has taught us. Let it ascend up to heaven together with the sacrifice of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. How could it be otherwise than heard, when he himself who made it for us, is in our very hands now whilst we say it ? As this prayer belongs in common to all God's children, the Priest recites it aloud, and begins by inviting us all to join in it.

LET US PRAY. OREMUS.

Prseceptis salutaribus moniti, et divina institutione formati, audemus dicere :

Having been taught by a saving precept, and following the form given us by a divine instruction, we thus presume to speak ;

THE LOED'S PRAYER,

Our Father, who art in hea- Pater noster, qui es in ven, hallowed be thy name ; ccelis : Sanctificetur nomen thy kingdom come ; thy will tuum : Adveniat regnum be done on earth as it is in tuum : Fiat voluntas tua, heaven. Give us this day our sicut in ccelo, et in terra. daily Bread ; and forgive us Panem nostrum quotidia- our trespasses, as we forgive num da nobis hodie : Et them that trespass against us ; dimitte nobis debita nostra, and lead us not into tempta- sicut et nos dimittimus de- tion. bitoribus nostris. Et ne nos mducas in tentationem.

Let us answer, with deep feeling of our misery : But deliver us from evil Sed libera nos a malo.

The Priest falls once more into the silence of the holy Mysteries. His first word is an affectionate imm to your last petition — deliver us from evil — on which he forms his own next prayer : and could he pray for anything more needed ? Evil surrounds us everywhere, and the Lamb on our altar has been sent to expiate it and deliver us from it.

How many, O Lord, are the Libera nos, quaesumus evils which beset us ! Evils Domine, ab omnibus malis, past, which are the wounds prseteritis, prsesentibus et left on the soul by our sins, futuris : et intercedente and strengthen her wicked beata et gloriosa semper Vir- gine Dei Genitrice Maria, cum beatis Apostolis tuis Petro et Paulo, atque drea, et omnibus Sanctis, da propitius pacem in diebus nostris : ut ope misericordiae molest tua3adjuti,etapeccatosimus semper liberi, et ab omni tisement deperturbatione securi. Per eumdem Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium tuum, qui tecum vivit seech et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus. inter- propensities. Evils present, that is, the sins now at this An- very time upon our soul ; the weakness of this poor soul ; and the temptations which her. There are, also, future evils, that is, the chaswhich our sins serve from the hand of thy justice. In presence of this Host of our Salvation, we bethee, O Lord, to deliver us from all these evils, and to accept in our favour the cession of Mary the Mother of Jesus, of thy holy Apostles Peter and Paul and Andrew. Liberate us, break our chains, give us peace : through Jesus Christ, thy Son, who with thee liveth and reigneth God.

The Priest is anxious to announce the Peace, which he has asked and obtained ; he therefore finishes his prayer aloud, saying :

Per omnia ssecula ssecu- World without end. lorum. 1$. Amen. 1$. Amen.

Then he says :

Pax Domini sit semper May the Peace of our Lord vobiscum. be ever with you.

To this paternal wish reply :

1$. Et cum spiritu tuo. 1$. And with thy spirit.

The Mystery is drawing to a close : God is about to be united with man, and man with God, by means of Communion. But first, an imposing and sublime rite takes place at the altar. So far the Priest has announced the Death of Jesus ; it is time to proclaim his Resurrection. To this end, he reverently breaks the sacred Host, and having divided it into three parts, he puts one into the Chalice, thus reuniting the Body and Blood of the immortal Victim. Do you adore, and say :

Glory he to thee, O Saviour Hsec commixtio et conse- of the world, who didst, in thy cratio Corporis et Sanguinis

Passion, permit thy precious Domini nostri Jesu Christi,

Blood to be separated from fiat accipientibus nobis in thy sacred Body, afterwards vitam seternam. Amen, uniting them again together by thy divine power.

Offer now your prayer to the ever living Lamb, whom St. John saw on the Altar of Heaven standing, though slain : say to this your Lord and King :

Lamb of God, who takest Agnus Dei, qui tollis peeaway the sins of the world, cata mundi, miserere nobis, have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, who takest Agnus Dei, qui tollis peeaway the sins of the world, cata mundi, miserere nobis, have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, who takest Agnus Dei, qui tollis peeaway the sins of the world, cata mundi, dona nobis pagive us Peace. cem.

Peace is the grand object of our Saviour's coming into the world : he is the Prince of Peace. The divine Sacrament of the Eucharist ought therefore to be the Mystery of Peace, and the bond of Catholic Unity ; for, as the Apostle says, all we who 'partake of one Bread, are all one Bread and one Body. It is on this account that the Priest, now that he is on the point of receiving, in Communion, the Sacred Host, prays that fraternal Peace may be preserved in the Church, and more especially in this portion of it, which is assembled round the altar. Pray with him and for the same blessing :

Lord Jesus Christ, who Domine Jesu Christe, qui saidst to thy Apostles, " my dixisti Apostolis tuis : Pa-

1 1. Cor. x. 17.

G cem relinquo vobis, pacem meam do vobis : ne respicias peccata mea, sed fidem Ecclesiae tuse : eamque secundum voluntatem tuam pacificare, et coadunare digneris. Qui vivis et regnas Deus, per omnia saecula sasculorum. Amen. peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you :" regard not my sins, but the faith of thy Church, and grant her that peace and unity which is according to thy will. Who livest and reignest God for ever and ever. Amen.

If it be a High Mass, the Priest here gives the kiss of peace to the Deacon, who gives it to the Sub- Deacon, and he to the Choir. Daring this ceremony, you should excite within yourself feelings of Christian charity, and pardon your enemies, if you have any. Then continue to pray with the Priest :

Domine Jesu Christe, Fili Dei vivi, qui ex voluntate Patris, cooperante Spiritu Sancto, per mortem tuam mundum vivhicasti : libera me per hoc sacrosanctum Corpus, et Sanguinem tuum, ab omnibus iniquitatibus meis, et universis malis, et f ac me tuis semper inhserere mandatis, et a te nunquam separari permittas. Qui cum eodem Deo Patre et Spiritu Sancto vivis et regnas Deus in ssecula saeculoruni. Amen.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, who, according to the will of thy Father, through the co-operation of the Holy Ghost, hast by thy death given hfe to the world ; deliver me by this thy most sacred Body and Blood from all my iniquities, and from all evils ; and make me always adhere to thy commandments, and never suffer me to be separated from thee, who with the same God the Father and the Holy Ghost, livest and reignest God for ever and ever. Amen.

If you are going to Communion at this Mass, say the following Prayer ; otherwise, prepare yourself to make a Spiritual Communion :

Let not the participation of thy Body, O Lord Jesus Christ, which I, though unworthy, presume to receive, turn to my judgment and condemnation ; but through thy mercy may it be a safeguard

Perceptio Corporis tui Domine Jesu Christe, quod ego indignus sumere praesumo, non mihi proveniat in judicium et condemnationem : sed pro tua pietate prosit mihi ad tutamentum and remedy both to my soul mentis et corporis, et ad and body. Who with God medelam percipiendam. Qui the Father, in the unity of the vivis et regnas cum Deo

Holy Ghost, livest and reign- Patre in unitate Spiritus est God for ever and ever. Sancti Deus, per omnia sse-

Amen. cula saeculorum. Amen.

When the Priest takes the Host into his hands, in order to his receiving it in Communion, say :

Come, my dear Jesus, come ! Panem coelestem acci- piam, et nomen Domini invocabo.

When he strikes his breast, confessing his unworthiness, say thrice with him these words, and in the same disposition as the Centurion of the Gospel, who first used them :

Lord, I am not worthy thou Domine, non sum dignus, shouldst enter under my roof ; ut intres sub tectum meum : say it only with one word of sed tantum die verbo, et sa- thine, and my soul will be nabitur anima mea. healed.

Whilst the Priest receives the sacred Host, if you also are to communicate, adore profoundly your God, who is ready to take up his abode within you, and again say to him with the spouse : Come, Lord Jesus, come !

But should you not be going to receive sacraraentally, make a Spiritual Communion. Adore Jesus Christ wTho thus visits your soul by his grace, and say to him :

I give thee, O Jesus, this Corpus Domini nostri heart of mine, that thou may- Jesu Christi, custodiat ani- est dwell in it, and do with mam meam in vitam aeter- me what thou wilt. nam. Amen.

Then the Priest takes the Chalice, in thanksgiving, and says :

What return shall I make Quid retribuam Domino to the Lord for all he hath pro omnibus, quae retribuit mihi 1 Calicem salutaris accipiam, et nomen Domini invocabo. Laudans invocabo Dominum, et ab inimicis meis salvns ero. given to me ? I will take the Chalice of salvation, and will call upon the name of the Lord. Praising I will call upon the Lord, and I shall be saved from mine enemies.

But if you are to make a Sacramental Communion, you should, at this moment of the Priest's receiving the precious Blood, again adore the God who is coming to you, and keep to your canticle : Come, Lord Jesus, come !

If, on the contrary, you are going to communicate only spiritually, again adore your divine Master, and say to him :

Sanguis Domini nostri I unite myself to thee, my

Jesu Christi custodiat ani- beloved Jesus ! do thou unite mam meam in vitam aster- thyself to me ! and never let nam. Amen. us be separated.

It is here that you must approach to the altar, if you are going to Communion. The dispositions suitable for Holy Communion during this season of Advent, are given in the next Chapter, 'page 88.

The Communion being finished, and whilst the Priest is purifying the Chalice the first time, say :

Quod ore sumpsimus, Do- Thou hast visited me, O mine, pura mente capiamus : God, in these days of my pil- et de munere temporali fiat grimage ; give me grace to nobis remedium sempiter- treasure up the fruits of this num. visit for my future eternity.

Whilst the Priest is purifying the Chalice the second time, say :

Corpus tuum, Domine, Be thou for ever blessed, O quod sumpsi, et Sanguis my Saviour, for having ad- quem potavi, adhsereat vis- mitted me to the sacred mys- ceribus meis : et prsesta ut tery of thy Body and Blood, in me non remaneat scele- May my heart and senses pre- rum macula, quern pura et serve, by thy grace, the purity sancta refecerunt Sacra- which thou hast imparted to them ; and I thus be rendered menta. Qui vivis et regnas less unworthy of thy divine insseculasseculorum. Amen, visit.

The Priest having read the Antiphon called the Communion, which is the first part of his Thanksgiving for the favour just received from God, whereby he has renewed his divine presence among us — turns to the people with the usual salutation ; after which he recites the Prayers, called the Postcommunion, which are the completion of the Thanksgiving. You will join him here also, thanking God for the unspeakable gift he has just lavished on you, and asking him, with most earnest entreaty, that he will permit you to continue, for ever, in the company of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.

These Prayers having been recited, the Priest again turns to the people, and full of joy for the immense favour he and they have been receiving, he says:

The Lord be with you. Dominus vobiscum.

Answer him :

And with thy spirit. Et cum spiritu tuo.

Go, the Mass is finished. Ite, Missa est.

]$. Thanks be to God. I£. Deo gratias.

The Priest makes a last Prayer, before giving you his blessing : pray with him :

Placeat tibi, sancta Trinitas, obsequium servitutis mese, quod oculis tuae majestatis indignus obtuli, tibi sit acceptabile, mihique, et omnibus, pro quibus ilhid sit, te miserante, pro- Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen,

Eternal thanks be to thee, O adorable Trinity, for the mercy thou hast showed to me, in permitting me to assist at this divine Sacrifice. Pardon me the negligence and coldness wherewith I have re- obtuli, ceived so great a favour, and pitiabile. deign to confirm the Blessing, which thy Minister is about to give me in thy Name.

CHKISTMAS.

The Priest raises his hand, and thus blesses you

Benedicat vos omnipotens Deus, Pater, et Filius, et Spiritus Sanctus.

J$. Amen.

May the Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, bless you !

I£. Amen.

He then concludes the Mass, by reading the first fourteen verses of the Gospel according to St. John, which tell us of the eternity of the Word, and of the mercy which led him to take upon himself our flesh, and to dwell among us. Pray that you may be of the number of those, who, now that he has come unto his own, receive him, and are made the sons of God.

The beginning of the Holy Gospel according to John.

Initium sancti Evangelii secundum Joannem.

Cap. 1.

In principio erat Verbum, et Verbum erat apud Deum, et Deus erat Verbum. Hoc erat in principio apud Deum. Omnia per ipsum facta sunt ; et sine ipso factum est nihil. Quod factum est, in ipso vita erat, et vita erat lux hominum : et lux in tenebris lucet, et tenebrse earn non comprehenderunt. Fuit homo missus a Deo, cui nomen erat Joannes. Hie venit in testimonium, ut testimonium perhiberet de lumine, ut omnes crederent per ilium. Non erat ille lux, sed ut testimonium perhiberet de lumine. Erat lux vera, quae illuminat omnem hominem venientem in hunc mundum. In mundo erat, et mundus per ipsum factus est, et mundus eum non cognovit. In propria venit, et sui eum non receperunt. Quotquot autem receperunt eum,

Ch. 1.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him, and without him was made nothing that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men ; and the light shineth in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to give testimony of the light, that all men might believe through him. He was not the light, but was to give testimony of the light. That was the true light which enlighteneth every man that cometh into this world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them he gave power to be made the sons of God ; to them that believe in his name, who are born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us ; and we saw his glory, as it were the glory of the only-begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. I£. Thanks be to God. dedit eis potestatem filios Dei fieri, his, qui credunt in nomine ejus: quinonexsanguinibus, neque ex voluntate carnis, neque ex voluntate viri, sed ex Deo nati sunt. Et Verbum caro factum est, et habitavit in nobis : et vidimus gloriam ejus,gloriam quasi Unigeniti a Patre, plenum gratise et veritatis.