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. A Prayer at the Offertory. Accept, O eternal Father, this 'offering which is here made to thee by thy minister, in the name of us all here present, and of thy whole Church. It is as yet only bread and wine; but by a miracle of thy power and grace, will shortly become the Body and Blood of thy beloved Son. He is our HighPriest and our Victim. With him and through him we desire to approach to thee this day, and by his hands to offer thee this sacrifice, for thine own honour, praise, and glory; in thanksgiving for all thy benefits; in satisfaction for all our sins, and for obtaining conversion for all unbelievers, and mercy, grace, and salvation for all thy faithful. And with this offering of thine only-begotten Son, we offer ourselves to thee, begging, that by virtue of this sacrifice we may be happily united to thee, and that nothing in life or death may ever separate us from thee any more. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. O my Lord Jesus Christ, in remembrance and praise of thy boundless love, with which Oblation of the Chalice. OFFERIMUS tibi, Domine, Calicem salutaris, tuam deprecantes clementiam, ut in conspectu divina Majestatis tuæ, pro nostrâ et totius mundi salute, cum odore suavitatis ascendat. Amen. WE offer unto thee, O Lord, the Chalice of salvation, beseeching thy clemency, that it may ascend before thy divine Majesty, as a sweet odour, for our salvation, and for that of the whole world. Amen. When the Priest bows before the Altar. IN spiritu humilitatis, et in animo contrito suscipiamur à te, Domine; et sic fiat sacrificium nostrum in conspectu tuo hodiè, ut placeat tibi, Domine Deus. ACCEPT us, O Lord, in the spirit of humility, and contrition of heart; and grant that the sacrifice we offer this day in thy sight, may be pleasing to thee, O Lord God. When he blesses the Bread and Wine. VENI, sanctificator, omnipotens æterne Deus, et benedic hoc sacrificium tuo sancto nomini prepa COME, O almighty and eternal God, the sanctifier, and bless this sacrifice, prepared for the glory of thy holy name. ratum. Here, at High Mass, he blesses the Incense, saying: PER intercessionem bea- MAY the Lord, by the inti Michaelis archangeli tercession of blessed Mistantis a dextris Altaris chael the archangel standIncensi, et omnium elec- ing at the right hand of torum suorum, incensum the Altar of Incense, and istud dignetur Dominus of all his elect, vouchsafe benedicere, et in odorem to bless this incense, and suavitatis accipere. Per receive it as an odour of Christum Dominum nos- sweetness. Through, &c. trum. Amen. Amen. thou didst give thyself wholly to us upon the altar of the cross, behold I offer unto thee. this day this present sacrifice of the Mass, together with all those which are celebrated throughout the world by the hands of thy Priests, to be presented to thy eternal Father, in union with, and in virtue of, that oblation in which thou thyself, dying on the cross, didst offer thy sacred Body and Blood for the salvation of the world. O eternal Father, who wast pleased to institute this most holy sacrifice of the new law, wherein thy only-begotten Son might be offered to thee; I offer the same to thy divine Majesty, and in union therewith I offer myself, and all that of thy bounty thou hast bestowed upon me. Look upon me, and have mercy upon me. Amen. After the offering of the chalice, the Priest, bowing down, 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 the offering. You may join with him, and say: In a contrite heart and humble spirit may we be accepted by thee, O Lord; and let our sacrifice be made in thy sight this day, so that it may please thee, O Lord God. Come, O almighty and eternal God, the At incensing the bread and wine, he says: INCENSUM istud a te benedictum, ascendat ad te Domine, et descendat super nos misericordia tua. MAY this incense which thou hast blest, O Lord, ascend to thee, and may thy mercy descend upon us. At incensing the Altar, he says: LET my prayer, O Lord, be directed as incense in thy sight; and the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice. Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth, and a door round about my lips, that my heart incline not to evil words, to make excuses DIRIGATUR, Domine, ora- On giving the Censer to the Deacon, he says: MAY the Lord enkindle within us the fire of his love, and the flame of everlasting charity. Amen. Washing his hands, he says, Ps. xxv. 6: LAVABO inter innocentes I WILL wash my hands manus meas; et circumdabo altare tuum, Domine. Ut audiam vocem laudis; et enarrem universa mirabilia tua. Domine, dilexi decorem domûs tuæ, et locum habitationis gloriæ tuæ. among the innocent; and will compass thy altar, O Lord. That I may hear the voice of thy praise, and tell all thy wondrous works. I have loved, O Lord, the beauty of thy house, and the place where thy glory dwelleth. Sanctifier, and bless this sacrifice prepared for thy holy name. At HIGH MASS the Priest incenses the altar. Whilst he is doing so, you can say the following prayer: Let A Prayer at the incensing of the Altar. Vouchsafe, O Lord, to receive this incense which thy Priest blesses in thy name. May it ascend to thee as an odour of sweetness, and may thy mercy descend upon us. my prayer, O Lord, be directed as incense in thy sight, and the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice. Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth, and a guard round about my lips; that my heart incline not to evil words and to make excuses for sin. Enkindle within us, O Lord, the fire of thy love, and the flame of everlasting charity. Amen. A Prayer at the Lavabo, or washing the fingers. O my Jesus, would that I could take thee to witness the holiness of my life and the innocence of my heart! But with the prophet, I must cry out, it is in thy mercy only that I place my hope; my consolation is in meditating on thy promises to the penitent heart, and thy faithfulness in performing them. Confounded at all that I have committed to this day, and encouraged by the favours that |