If it be a High Mass, the Priest, before proceeding further with the Sacrifice, takes the thurible a second time. He first censes 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 fragrant incense, more and more fervent, the nearer the solemn moment approaches. St. John tells us, that the incense he beheld burning on the Altar in heaven is made up of the Prayers of the Saints; let us take a share in those prayers, and with all the ardour of holy desires.

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But the thought of his own unworthiness becomes more intense than ever in the heart of the Priest. The public confession made, by him, at the foot of the altar, does not satisfy the earnestness of his compunction. He would now, at the altar itself, express before the people, in the language of a solemn rite, how far he knows himself to be from that spotless sanctity, wherewith he should approach unto 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 the Psalm :

PSALM 25.

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

Ut audiam vocem laudis; et enarrem universa mirabilia tua.

Domine, dilexi decorem domus tuæ, et locum habitationis gloriæ tuæ.

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

meam.

I, too, would wash my hands, O Lord, and become like unto them that are innocent; that so I may be worthy to approach thine 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 ene

mies both to thee and me. Thy mercy having separated me from them, I entered once more on the path of innocence, because restored to thy grace; but have pity on my weakness still; redeem me yet more, O 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 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.

In quorum manibus iniquitates sunt: dextera eorum repleta est muneribus.

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

Pes meusstetit in directo: in ecclesiis benedicam te, Domine.

Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto.

Sicut erat in principio, et nunc et semper, et in sæcula sæculorum. Amen.

The Priest, taking encouragement, from the act of humility he has just made, returns to the middle of the altar, and, full of respectful awe, bows down, begging 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.

O Holy Trinity, graciously accept the Sacrifice we have begun. We offer it in remembrance of the Passion, Resurrection, 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 lie here under our altar awaiting their resurrection, and the Saints whose memory we this day celebrate. Increase the glory they are enjoying; and receive the prayers they address to thee for us.

Suscipe, sancta Trinitas, hanc oblationem, quam tibi offerimusob memoriam Passionis, Resurrectionis, et AscensionisJesu Christi Domini nostri, et in honorem beatæ Mariæ semper Virginis, et beati Joannis Baptistæ, et sanctorum Apostolorum Petri et Pauli, et istorum, et omnium Sanctorum: ut illis proficiat ad honorem, nobis autem ad salutem: ut illi pro nobis intercedere dignentur in cœlis, quorum memoriam agimus in terris. Per eumdem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.

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 present. He says to them:

Orate, fratres: ut meum ac vestrum sacrificium acceptabile fiat apud Deum Patrem omnipotentem.

Brethren! pray that my Sacrifice, which is yours also, may be acceptable unto God, our Almighty Father,

Scarcely has he uttered the first words, than 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:

Suscipiat Dominus sacrificium de manibus tuis, ad laudem et gloriam nominis sui, ad utilitatem_quoque nostram totiusque Ecclesiæ suæ sanctæ.

May our Lord accept this Sacrifice at thy hands, to the praise and glory of his name, and for our benefit and that of his holy Church throughout the world.

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 our heavenly Father, the chief of which is the having sent us his own Son. The blessing of a new visit from this divine Word is just upon us; and in expectation of it, and in the name of the whole Church, the Priest 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

God for all his gifts, he interrupts his own and

their silent and mysterious prayer by terminating it

In the same feeling answer your Amen! Then he continues:

Answer him with all the earnestness of your soul:

Cœli cœlorumque Virtutes, ac beata Seraphim, socia exsultatione concelebrant. Cum quibus et nostras voces, ut admitti jubeas deprecamur, supplici confessione dicentes:

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:

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:

Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus Dominus Deus sabaoth! Pleni sunt cœli et terra gloria tua.

Hosanna in excelsis! Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini.

Hosanna in excelsis !

Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of hosts!

Heaven and earth are full of thy glory.

Hosanna in the highest ! Blessed be the Saviour who is coming to us in the name of the Lord who sends him. Hosanna be to him in the highest!

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.1 Let a profound respect stay all distractions, and keep our senses in submission to the soul. Let us respectfully fix our eyes on what the Priest does in the Holy place.

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.

1 Wisd. xviii. 14, 15.