THE ASPERGES

The following order for the aspersion of holy water is to be observed on all Sundays before the principal Mass. From Trinity Sunday to Palm Sunday is sung:—

    Antiphon. Thou shalt purge me, O Lord, with hyssop, and I shall be clean: thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
    Psalm 51. Have mercy upon me, O God, after thy great goodness. Glory be to the Father, etc.
    Antiphon. Thou shalt purge me, etc.

But from Easter Sunday until Pentecost inclusively instead of the above is sung:—

    Antiphon: I beheld water issuing out from the right side of the temple, alleluia: and all to whom that water came were saved, and they shall say, alleluia, alleluia.
    Psalm 118. O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is gracious: because his mercy endureth for ever. Glory be to the Father, etc.
    Antiphon. I beheld water issuing, etc.

After which on all Sundays the priest proceeds as follows:—

V. O Lord, shew thy mercy upon us. (Alleluia.)
R. And grant us thy salvation (Alleluia.)
V. Lord, hear my prayer.
R. And let my cry come unto thee.
V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.

Let us pray.

O LORD holy Father almighty, everlasting God, we beseech thee to hear us: and vouchsafe to send thy holy Angel from heaven, to guard and cherish, protect and visit, and evermore defend all that dwell in this dwelling-place. Through Christ our Lord. R. Amen.

THE ORDINARY OF THE MASS

THE PREPARATION

High Mass begins with the singing of the Introit and Kyrie Eleison, during which the Preparation is said as follows:

The Priest makes the sign of the Cross, saying:

IN the Name + of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
Priest. I will go unto the altar of God.
Server. Even unto the God of my joy and gladness.

Psalm 43.

    Priest. Give sentence with me, O God, and defend my cause against the ungodly people; O deliver me from the deceitful and wicked man.
    Server. For thou art the God of my strength, why hast thou put me from thee? and why go I so heavily, while the enemy oppresseth me?
    Priest. O send out thy light and thy truth, that they may lead me, and bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy dwelling.
    Server. And that I may go unto the altar of God, even the God of my joy and gladness: and upon the harp will I give thanks unto thee, O God, my God.
    Priest. Why art thou so heavy, O my soul, and why art thou so disquieted within me?
    Server. O put thy trust in God, for I will yet give him thanks, which is the help of my countenance, and my God.
    Priest. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
    Server. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
    Priest. I will go unto the altar of God.
    Server. Even unto the God of my joy and gladness.
    Priest. Our help + is in the Name of the Lord.
    Server. Who hath made heaven and earth.

Then the Priest says the Confiteor:

    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 you, brethren, that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word, and deed, through my fault, through my own fault, through my own most grievous fault. Therefore I beg Blessed Mary Ever-Virgin, blessed Michael the Archangel, blessed John Baptist, the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and all the Saints, and you, brethren, to pray to the Lord our God for me.
    Server. Almighty God have mercy upon thee, forgive thee thy sins, and bring thee to everlasting life. Amen.

The Server now says the Confiteor in the name of the people.

    I confess, etc. ... to pray to the Lord our God for me.
    Priest. Almighty God have mercy upon you, forgive you your sins, and bring you to everlasting life.
    Server. Amen.
    Priest. May the Almighty and merciful Lord grant to us pardon +, absolution, and remission of our sins.
    Server. Amen.
    Priest. Wilt thou not turn again and quicken us, O God?
    Server. That thy people may rejoice in thee.
    Priest. Show us thy mercy, O Lord.
    Server. And grant us thy salvation.
    Priest. Lord, hear my prayer.
    Server. And let my cry come unto thee.
    Priest. The Lord be with you.
    Server. And with thy spirit.
    Priest. Let us pray.

After which he says in a low voice:

OUR FATHER

ALMIGHTY GOD, unto whom all hearts be open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid; cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love thee, and worthily and magnify thy holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE INTROIT

Taken from the Psalms with Gloria and Antiphon. This is read aloud, and is followed by:

THE KYRIE ELEISON

Priest. Kyrie eleison (Lord have mercy upon us).
Server. Kyrie eleison (Lord have mercy upon us).
Priest. Kyrie eleison (Lord have mercy upon us).
Server. Christe eleison (Christ have mercy upon us).
Priest. Christe eleison (Christ have mercy upon us).
Server. Christe eleison (Christ have mercy upon us).
Priest. Kyrie eleison (Lord have mercy upon us).
Server. Kyrie eleison (Lord have mercy upon us).
Priest. Kyrie eleison (Lord have mercy upon us).

The hymn the Angels sang on Christmas Night, called “Gloria in excelsis,” is sometimes said here in accordance with ancient custom.

The priest kisses the Altar, and turning to the people, says:

V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.

Let us pray.

THE COLLECTS

After which he will say:

The Lesson from the Epistle of blessed —— the Apostle to the ——.

THE EPISTLE

From the writings of one of the Apostles or Prophets.

    R. Thanks be to God.

Then the Priest reads aloud

THE GRADUAL

A Prayer from the Holy Bible, followed by the Alleluias or Tract, according to the season. (At High Mass this will be sung by the Choir.) The Priest, standing in the middle of the Altar, prays that his lips may be worthy to proclaim the Gospel, and, passing to the North Side of the Altar, says:

V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.

    + The continuation of the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mark, Luke, or John).

    R. Glory be to thee, O Lord.

THE HOLY GOSPEL

Wherein is proclaimed the teaching of our Saviour himself.

    R. Praise be to thee, O Christ.
 

THE CREED

After the Gospel on Sundays and Festivals the following Creed is said by the Priest alone; it is not said on ordinary week days. Kneel down at the words in capitals, which proclaim our faith in God being made Man. When the Creed is sung, the Priest, having said it to himself, usually sits down: having said it privately to yourself, you may also sit.

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. Begotten of his Father before all worlds. God of God, Light of Light, Very God of very God. Begotten, not made, Being of one substance with the Father: By whom all things were made. Who for us men, and for our salvation came down from heaven. AND WAS INCARNATE BY THE HOLY GHOST OF THE VIRGIN MARY, AND WAS MADE MAN. And was crucified also for us: under Pontius Pilate he suffered and was buried. And the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures. And ascended into heaven: And sitteth on the right hand of the Father. And he shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead: Whose kingdom shall have no end.
    And I believe in the Holy Ghost the Lord, and Giver of life: Who proceedeth from the Father and the Son, Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified: Who spake by the Prophets. And I believe one holy Catholick and Apostolick Church. I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins. And I look for the Resurrection of the dead, And the life of the world to come. + Amen.

If there is a Sermon, it is preached here in many churches.

Before placing the bread and wine on the Altar, the Priest again salutes the people:

V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.

Let us pray.

THE OFFERTORY

A sentence from Holy Scripture.

At Low Mass the Priest will read it in a clear voice, but at High Mass it is sung by the choir, the Priest then reading it privately. After singing the Offertory the choir generally sings some Hymn or Motet.

The Priest now offers to God bread and wine, which are to be changed into the Body and Blood of our Saviour. The wine is mixed with a little water to remind us that the Son of God took to himself our human nature, in order to make us sharers in his divine Nature. The Priest washes his hands that they may be clean to handle the Body of the Lord. He recites meanwhile part of Psalm 26: “I will wash my hands in innocency, O Lord.” This is called the Lavabo.

The Offertory being completed, the Priest turns to the congregation, and, with his hands extended, invites them to pray with him.

    Let us pray: for the whole state of Christ’s Church, militant here in earth.
    R. The Lord receive this sacrifice at thy hands, to the praise and glory of his Name, both to our benefit and that of all his holy Church.

The Prayers immediately following the Offertory are said by the Priest in a low voice in accordance with ancient custom, and are known as

THE SECRET PRAYERS

I. For the Church

ALMIGHTY and everliving God, who by thy holy Apostle hast taught us to make prayers, and supplications, and to give thanks, for all men; We humbly beseech thee most mercifully to accept our alms and oblations, and to receive these our prayers, which we offer unto thy Divine Majesty; beseeching thee to inspire continually the universal Church with the spirit of truth, unity, and concord.

2. For Unity in the Church

    And grant, that all they that do confess thy holy Name may agree in the truth of thy holy Word, and live in unity, and godly love.

3. For the King and Council.

    We beseech thee also to save and defend all Christian Kings, Princes, and Governors; and specially thy servant N. our King; that under him we may be godly and quietly governed.
    And grant unto his whole Council, and to all that are put in authority under him, that they may truly and indifferently minister justice, to the punishment of wickedness and vice, and to the maintenance of thy true religion, and virtue.

4. For Prelates and Priests

    Give grace, O heavenly Father, to all Bishops and Curates, that they may both by their life and doctrine set forth thy true and lively Word, and rightly and duly administer thy holy Sacraments.

5. For the Congregation

    And to all thy people give thy heavenly grace; and specially to this congregation here present; that, with meek heart and due reverence, they may hear, and receive thy holy Word; truly serving thee in holiness and righteousness all the days of their life.

6. For the Tempted and Tried

    And we most humbly beseech thee of thy goodness, O Lord, to comfort and succour all them, who in this transitory life are in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness, or any other adversity.

7. For Grace to Follow the Saints

    And we also bless thy holy Name for all thy servants departed this life in thy faith and fear; beseeching thee to give us grace so to follow their good examples, that with them we may be partakers of thy heavenly kingdom.

            The Secret Prayers correspond in number to the Collects, at their conclusion the Priest says:

    Grant this, O Father, for Jesus Christ’s sake, our only Mediator and Advocate, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God,

Here the Priest raises his voice, saying aloud (or at High Mass singing),

World without end. R. Amen.

If there be a Communion of the faithful in Mass, “The Communion Prayers,” will now follow, unless they are to be said immediately after the Priest’s Communion; but if not, they will be omitted, and the Priest will pass straight from the Secret Prayers to the Preface.
 

THE COMMUNION PRAYERS

YE that do truly and earnestly repent you of your sins, and are in love and charity with your neighbours, and intend to lead a new life, following the commandments of God, and walking from henceforth in his holy ways; Draw near with faith, and take this holy Sacrament to your comfort; and make your humble confession to Almighty God, meekly kneeling upon your knees.

Then shall the Deacon (or Server) say:

THE CONFESSION

ALMIGHTY GOD, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Maker of all things, Judge of all men; we acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness, which we, from time to time, most grievously have committed, by thought, word, and deed, against thy divine Majesty, provoking most justly thy wrath and indignation against us. We do earnestly repent, and are heartily sorry for these our misdoings; the remembrance of them is grievous unto us; the burden of them is intolerable. Have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us, most merciful Father; for thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, forgive us all that is past; and grant that we may ever hereafter serve and please thee in newness of life, to the honour and glory of thy Name. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE ABSOLUTION

ALMIGHTY GOD, our heavenly Father, who of his great mercy hath promised forgiveness of sins to all them that with hearty repentance and true faith turn unto him; have mercy upon you; pardon + and deliver you from all your sins; confirm and strengthen you in all goodness; and bring you to everlasting life. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. R. Amen.

THE COMFORTABLE WORDS

    Hear what comfortable words our Saviour Christ saith unto all that truly turn to him.

COME unto me all that travail and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you.
    So God loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, to the end that all that believe in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

THE PREFACE

V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.
V. Lift up your hearts.
R. We lift them up unto the Lord.
V. Let us give thanks unto our Lord God.
R. It is meet and right so to do.

IT is very meet, right, and our bounden duty, that we should at all times and in all places, give thanks unto thee, O Lord Holy, Father Almighty, Everlasting God.

Then follows the proper Preface if there is one; if not, is said at once:

THEREFORE with Angels and Archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify thy glorious Name, evermore praising thee, and saying:

Here the bell is rung.

Holy, holy, holy Lord God of hosts.
Heaven and earth are full of thy glory.
Glory be to thee, O Lord most high.
Blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.

At High Mass the Choir sings the Sanctus, and the Priest goes on to say the prayers of the Canon as far as “who in the same night.”

The Bread and Wine are now going to be changed into the Body and Blood of our Lord. Remember that he who comes upon our Altar is all the while adored by Saints and Angels in heaven.

According to ancient and universal custom the Priest hushes his voice as he prepares to act the very part of Christ Himself, and recites all the prayers of the Canon secretly.

At the Consecration think of what is being done. Place yourself in spirit with our Blessed Lady and Saint John at the foot of the Cross. When the bell rings and the Priest holds up the Body and Blood of Christ, it is that you may adore. Watch with great reverence, and say, like Saint Thomas, “My Lord and my God.”
 

THE CANON OF THE MASS

WE do not presume to come to this thy Table, O merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in thy manifold and great mercies. We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under thy Table. But thou art the same Lord, Whose property is always to have mercy: Grant us, therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the + Flesh of thy dear Son Jesus +Christ, and to drink his + Blood, that our sinful bodies may be made clean by his Body, and our souls washed through his most precious Blood, and that we may evermore dwell in him, and he in us. Amen.

Here the priest prays privately for the living, and beseeches God to grant him protection at the prayers of the Saints.

ALMIGHTY GOD, our heavenly Father, who of thy tender mercy didst give thine only Son Jesus Christ to suffer death upon the Cross for our redemption; who made there (by his one oblation of himself once offered) a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice, oblation, and satisfaction, for the sins of the whole world; and did institute, and in his holy Gospel command us to continue, a perpetual memory of that his precious death until his coming again;

HEAR us, O merciful Father, we most humbly beseech thee; and grant us that we receiving these thy crea+tures of br+ead and wi+ne, according to thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ’s holy institution, in remembrance of his death and passion, may be partakers of his most blessed Bo+dy and Blo+od;

WHO, in the same night that he was betrayed, took Bread; and, when he had given thanks, he brake it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, Take, eat,
    FOR THIS IS MY BODY WHICH IS GIVEN FOR YOU.
    Do this in remembrance of me.

Here the bell is rung.

LIKEWISE after supper, he took the Cup; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of this;
    FOR THIS IS MY BLOOD OF THE NEW TESTAMENT, WHICH IS SHED FOR YOU AND FOR MANY FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS.
    Do this as oft as ye shall drink it in remembrance of me.

Here the bell is rung.

At High Mass, the Consecration being completed, it is customary for the Choir to sing “Blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord. Hosanna in the Highest,” or some Hymn or Antiphon in honour of the most Holy Sacrament. The Priest meanwhile proceeds as follows:

WHEREFORE, O Lord and heavenly Father, we thy humble servants entirely desire thy fatherly goodness mercifully to accept this + our + sacrifice + of praise + and thanksgiving +; most humbly beseeching thee to grant, that by the merits and death of thy Son Jesus Christ, and through faith in his Blood, we and all thy whole Church may obtain remission of our sins, and all other benefits of his Passion.

AND here we offer and present unto thee, O Lord, ourselves, our souls, and bodies, to be a reasonable, holy and lively sacrifice unto thee; humbly beseeching thee, that all we, who are partakers of this holy + Communion +, may be fulfilled with thy grace and heavenly benediction.

Here the Priest prays privately for the dead, and for fellowship and union with the Saints.

AND although we be unworthy, through our manifold sins, to offer unto thee any sacrifice, yet we beseech thee to accept this our bounden duty and service; not weighing our merits, but pardoning our offences, through + Jesus + Christ + our Lord;

BY whom +, and with whom +, in the unity + of the Holy Ghost; all honour + and glory + be unto thee, O Father Almighty,

Here the Priest raises his voice, saying aloud (or at High Mass, singing):

WORLD without end. Amen.
Let us pray: As our Saviour Christ hath commanded and taught us, we are bold to say:
Our Father, etc.
V. And lead us not into temptation.
R. But deliver us from evil.

The Priest, breaking the Host, prays secretly that we may be delivered from all evil, now and always, and raising his voice he says (at High Mass sings):
    World without End. R. Amen.
    The peace + of the Lord be + always with + you. R. And with thy spirit.

The Priest then says (and at High Mass the Choir sings):

O LAMB of God, that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.
    O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.
    O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, grant us thy peace.

The Priest, then bowing down, prays privately for the unity of the Church, after which at High Mass he gives the Deacon the kiss of peace.

Then follow two private prayers in preparation for his own Communion. Striking his breast, he says three times:

    Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof, but speak the word only and my soul shall be healed.

At each repetition of the words the bell may be rung, and, if Communion is to be given, the faithful at once approach the Altar.

The Priest receives the Host and the Precious Blood himself, and then communicates the faithful, if there is a Communion in Mass. If they have not already been said, “The Communion Prayers” will be said here.

The Communion being over, the Priest cleanses the vessels and covers them with the veil, and goes on to say
 

THE COMMUNION

Consisting of a text from the Bible, which at High Mass will be sung by the Choir, after which he turns to the people and says:

V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.

Let us pray.

THE POSTCOMMUNIONS

These, which correspond in number with the Collects and Secret Prayers, will generally include the following:

ALMIGHTY and everliving God, we most heartily thank thee, for that thou dost vouchsafe to feed us, who have duly received these holy mysteries, with the spiritual food of the most precious Body and Blood of thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ;

AND dost assure us thereby of thy favour and goodness towards us; and that we are very members incorporate in the mystical Body of thy Son, which is the blessed company of all faithful people: and are also heirs through hope of thy everlasting kingdom, by the merits of the most precious death and passion of thy dear Son.

AND we most humbly beseech thee, O heavenly Father, so to assist us with thy grace that we may continue in that holy fellowship, and do all such good words as thou hast prepared for us to walk in: through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, world without end. R. Amen.

On Sundays (except in Advent and Lent) and on Holy Days the Gloria in excelsis is now said by the Priest alone, if it has not already been said. When it is sung by the Choir, the Priest having said it to himself, usually sits down: having said it privately to yourself, you may also sit.

THE GLORIA IN EXCELSIS

GLORY be to God on high, and in earth peace, good will towards men. We praise thee, we bless thee, we worship thee, we glorify thee, we give thanks to thee for thy great glory, O Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty.
    O Lord, the only-begotten Son Jesu Christ; O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou that takest away the sins of the world, receive our prayer, Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us.
    For thou only art holy; thou only art the Lord; thou only, O Jesu Christ, with the Holy Ghost, art most high in the glory of God the Father. + Amen.

At the end of the Gloria, the Priest kisses the Altar and turns to the people, saying:

V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.
V. Depart in peace or, Let us bless the Lord.
R. Thanks be to God.

The Priest bowing down before the Altar prays secretly, after which he kisses the Altar, saying:

THE peace of God which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

And, turning to the people, adds:

And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father +, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be amongst you and remain with you always.

R. Amen.

He then reads

THE LAST GOSPEL

V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.
+ The beginning of the holy Gospel according John.
R. Glory be to thee, O Lord.

During the reading of this Gospel you should stand, kneeling when the Priest kneels.

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 not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that light, but was sent to bear witness of that light. That was the true light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, 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 gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his Name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (Here kneel.) AND THE WORD WAS MADE FLESH, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only-begotten of the Father) full of grace and truth. R. Thanks be to God.

If a Saint’s Day falls on a Sunday and the Office of the Saint’s Day is said, the Last Gospel will be the Gospel appointed for the Sunday, and not as above.