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instruction regarding the holy Sacrifice of the Mass. As to the dispositions wherewith they should assist at it, they are given in the present Chapter, in which we explain briefly, and yet, as we believe, completely, the meaning of each ceremony and expression. Whilst thus endeavouring to initiate the Faithful into these sublime mysteries, we have not given them a bare and indiscreet translation of the sacred formulæ, but have taken, what seemed to us so much better a plan, of suggesting such Acts as will enable those, who hear Mass, to enter into the ceremonies and spirit of the Church and the Priest. The conclusion to be drawn from this is one of great importance: it is, that, in order to derive solid profit from the assisting at the Holy Sacrifice, the Faithful must attentively follow all that is being done at the Altar, and not stand aloof, as it were, by reading Books which are filled with devotions of a private and unseasonable character.

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.

ANTIPHON OF THE ASPERGES.

Asperges me, Domine, hyssopo, et mundabor: lavabis me, et super nivem dealbabor.

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

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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. The practice is still in use.

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.

THE ORDINARY OF THE MASS.

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, also, 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.

Let me, then, see him who is the light and the truth; it is he will open 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.

Having seen him, I will sing in my gladness. Be not sad, O my soul! why wouldst thou be longer 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.

VOL. X.

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.

D

V. Introibo ad altare Dei: B. Ad Deum qui lætificat juventutem meam.

V. Adjutorium nostrum in nomine Domini.

B. Qui fecit cœlum et ter

ram.

I am going to the altar of God; there I shall feel the presence of Him who desires to give me a new life.

This my hope comes not to me as thinking that I have any merits; but because of 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:

Confiteor Deo omnipotenti, beatæ Mariæ semper Virgini, beato Michaeli Archangelo, beato Joanni Baptistæ, sanctis Apostolis Petro et Paulo, omnibus sanctis, et tibi, Pater, quia peccavi nimis cogitatione, verbo et opere, mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa. Ideo precor beatam Mariam semper Virginem, beatum Michaelem Archangelum,

I confess to Almighty God, to blessed Mary ever Virgin, to blessed Michael the Archangel, to blessed John Baptist, to the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, to all the Saints, and to thee, Father, that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word, and deed, through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault. Therefore I beseech the blessed Mary ever Virgin,

blessed Michael the Archangel, blessed John Baptist, the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and all the Saints, and thee, Father, to pray to our Lord for me.

beatum Joannem Baptistam, sanctos Apostolos Petrum et Paulum, omnes Sanctos, et te, Pater, orare pro me ad Dominum Deum

nostrum.

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

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

B. Amen.

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

B. Amen.

Misereatur vestri omnipotens Deus, et dimissis peccatis vestris, perducat vos ad vitam æternam. B. 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:

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 the Saviour, thou art preparing to give us. y. O Lord, hear my prayer,

B. And let my cry come unto thee.

V. Deus, tu conversus vivificabis nos.

B. Et plebs tua lætabitur in te.

V. Ostende nobis Domine misericordiam tuam, R. Et Salutare tuum da nobis.

V. Domine, exaudi orationem meam,

B. Et clamor meus ad te veniat.

The Priest here leaves you and ascends to the altar; but first he salutes you:

V. The Lord be with you.

V. Dominus vobiscum.

Answer him with reverence:

B. And with thy spirit.

R. Et cum spiritu tuo.

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