CHAPTER THE FIRST. ON HEARING MASS, DURING THE TIME AFTER 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, and they are full of instruction and blessing;-the Asperges, or sprinkling of the Holy Water, and the Procession. During the Asperges, you should unite with the intentions which the Church has in this ceremony, so venerable by its antiquity:-you should pray for that purity of heart, which is needed for worthily assisting at the Mysteries, wherein God himself becomes present, and unites heaven and earth so closely together. The Procession, which in many Churches immediately precedes a Solemn Mass, is a prelude to the great Act which is about to be accomplished. It originated from the practice used in Monasteries, of going through the Cloisters, every Sunday, whilst chanting certain appointed Responsories; and during which, the Hebdomadarian went through all the Conventual Places, blessing each of them. practice is still in use. The 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. 3 THE ORDINARY OF THE MASS. In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen. V. Introibo ad altare Dei. B. Ad Deum qui lætificat juventutem meam. Judica me, Deus, et discerne causam meam de gente non sancta; ab homine iniquo et doloso erue me. Quia tu es, Deus, fortitudo mea: quare me repulisti ? et quare tristis incedo, dum affligit me inimicus ? 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 lætificat juventutem meam. Confitebor tibi in cithara, Deus, Deus meus: quare tristis es anima mea ? et quare conturbas me? Spera in Deo, quoniam adhuc confitebor illi: Salutare vultus mei, et Deus meus. Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto. Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in sæcula sæculorum. Amen. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. I unite myself, O my God, with thy holy Church, who thrills with joy at the approach of 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 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 that 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, O my soul! Why wouldst thou be troubled ? Hope in him, who will soon show himself unto thee, as thy Saviour, and thy God. 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. B . Introibo ad altare Dei. B. Ad Deum qui lætificat juventutem meam. . Adjutorium nostrum in nomine Domini. B. Qui fecit coelum et terram. I am to go to the altar of God, and feel the presence of him who desires to give me a new life! This my hope comes not from any merits of my own, but from the all-powerful help 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 omnipotens Deus, et dimissis peccatis tuis, perducat te ad vitam æternam. May Almighty God have mercy on thee, and, forgiving thy sins, bring thee to everlasting life. The Priest having answered Amen, make your confession, saying with a contrite spirit: Invoke the divine assistance, that you may approach to Jesus Christ. . Deus, tu conversus, vivificabis nos. B. Et plebs tua lætabitur in te. . Ostende nobis, Domine, misericordiam tuam. R. Et Salutare tuum da nobis. . Domine, exaudi orationem meam. B. Et clamor meus ad te veniat. V. O God, it needs but one look of thine to give us life. B. And thy people shall rejoice in thee. V. Show us O Lord, thy mercy. B. And give us to know and love the Saviour whom thou hast sent unto us. . O Lord, hear my prayer. B. And let my cry come unto thee. The Priest here leaves you to ascend to the altar; but first he salutes you: . Dominus vobiscum. Answer him with reverence : B. Et cum spiritu tuo. V. The Lord be with you. B. And with thy spirit. |