MASS
865
IVIASS
upon all Sundays, and many other festival days, stand- ing in the middle of the altar, he recites the Nicene Creed, kneeling down at the words ' He was made man,' in reverence to the great mystery of our Lord's incarna- tion. Then the priest turns about to the people and says, 'Dominus vobiscum' (The Lord be with you). Having read in the book a verse or sentence of the Scripture, which is called the oj}'ertoi-y, and is everj' day different, he imcovers the chalice, and, taking in his hand the paten, or little plate, offers up the bread to God ; then, going to the corner of the altar, he takes the wine and pours it into the chalice, and mingles with it a small quantity of water, in remembrance of the blood and water that issued out of our Saviour's side ; after which he returns to the middle of the altar and offers up the chalice. Then, bowing down, he begs that this sacrifice, which he desires to offer with a contrite and humble heart, may find acceptance with God ; and, blessing the bread and wine with the sign of the cross, he invokes the author of all sanctity to sanctify this of- fering. At the end of the oifertory, the priest goes to the comer of the altar and washes the tips of his fingers, to denote the cleanness and purity of soul with which we ought to approach to these divine mysteries, saying, * Lavabo,' etc. (I will wash my hands among the iimo- cent, and I will encompass thy altar, O Lord, etc.), as in the latter part of the 26th Psalm. Then returning to the middle of the altar, and there bowing down, he begs of the blessed Trinity to receive this oblation in memo- ry of the passion, resurrection, and ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ, and for an honorable commemoration of the blessed Virgin and of all the saints, that they may intercede for us in heaven, whose memory we celebrate upon earth. Then the priest, kissing the altar, tiurns to the people and saj's, ' Orate, fratres,' etc. (Brethren, pray tliat my sacrifice and yours may be made acceptable to God the Father Almighty). Then the priest says in a low voice the prayers called secreta, which correspond to the collects of the day, and are different every day. The priest concludes the secreta by saying aloud, 'Per omnia srecula steculorum' (World without end). An- swer : Amen. Priest : ' Dominus vobiscum' (The Lord be with you). Answer : ' Et cum spiritu tuo' (And with thy spirit). Priest : ' Sursum corda' (Lift up your hearts). Answer : ' Haberaus ad Dominum' (We have them lifted up to the Lord). Priest : ' Gratias agamus Domino Deo nostro' (Let us give thanks to the Lord our God). Answer : ' Dignum et justum est' (It is meet and just). Then the priest recites ih^ preface (so called because it serves as an introduction to the canon of the mass). After the preface follows the canon of the mass, or the most sacred and solemn part of this divine ser\'- ice, which is read with a low voice, as well to express the silence of Christ in his passion, and his hiding at that time his glory and his divinity, as to signify the vast importance of that common cause of all mankind, which the priest is then representing, as it were, m se- cret to the ear of God, and the reverence and awe with which both priest and people ought to assist at these tremendous mysteries. The canon begins by invoking the Father of mercies, through Jesus Christ his Son, to accept this sacrifice for the holy Catholic Church, for the pope, for the bishop, for the king, and for all the professors of the orthodox and apostolic faith tlirough- out the whole world. Then follows the memento, or commemoration of the living, for whom in particular the priest intends to offer up that mass, or who have been particularly recommended to his prayers, etc. To which is subjoined a remembrance of all there present, followed by a solemn commemoration of the blessed Virgin, of the apostles, martyrs, and all the saints — to honor their memory by naming them in the sacred mysteries, to communicate with them, and to beg of God the help of their intercession, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Then the priest spreads his hands, accord- ing to the ancient ceremony of sacrifices, over tlie bread and wine which are to be consecrated into the body and v.— 1 1 1