edification during the Synod. The Bishop then gives the solemn blessing.

9. On the second day of the Synod the Clergy again assemble in the Church, and Mass being ended, the Bishop, vested as on the first day, proceeds to the foot of the Altar, accompanied by the Deacon and Subdeacon, also vested as before. Kneeling before the faldstool, without mitre, the Bishop commences the antiphon Propitius esto, which is continued by the choir. The psalm Deus venerunt gentes is then sung. After the intonation of the psalm, the Bishop sits and receives the mitre.

10. The antiphon of the psalm having been repeated, the Bishop gives up the mitre, rises, and being turned towards the Altar, says the prayer Nostrum Tibi, and the others given in the Pontifical. The Bishop then proceeds to the faldstool on the predella, and the Gospel is sung with the same Ceremonies as on the preceding day.

The hymn Veni Creator, the address and discourse are given as on the first day.

11. All this concluded, the Archdeacon reads the decrees of the Holy See which have not yet been promulgated, as well as any others the Bishop may direct. The Diocesan Constitutions are next read. This over, the Bishop rises, gives his solemn blessing, and all retire.

12. The Ceremonial of the third day resembles that of the first and second down to the end of the singing of the hymn Veni Creator, after which the Bishop, seated, addresses the Clergy, Venerabiles fratres &c., or he may direct some Ecclesiastic to deliver a discourse.

13. The Constitutions are then read, and all things being concluded, the Bishop being seated, and having on his mitre, commends himself to the prayers of all. When the names of the Clergy who should be present are read out, each one rises, and answers, Adsum. The absent are marked for the information of the Bishop. Then the Bishop, being still seated with the mitre on, admonishes those who are present, in the words of the Pontifical, Fratres dilectissimi, &c., or otherwise at his discretion.

14. The Bishop then gives up his mitre and rises. Being turned to the Altar, he says the prayer, Nulla est, &c., at

the conclusion of which he turns to the Clergy and gives his solemn blessing. Then the Archdeacon, standing by the Bishop's side, says Recedamus in pace, to which all answer In nomine Christi, Amen. The Bishop is then accompanied by the Clergy to his home.

15. If either on the first or second day the business of the Synod is completed, the Bishop commends himself to the prayers of all, as in No. 13, the names of those who should be present are read, the Bishop delivers the admonition, and the Synod closes in the manner prescribed

above.

PART IV.

THE CEREMONIES TO BE OBSERVED ON CERTAIN GREATER DAYS OF THE YEAR.

CHAPTER I.

THE FEAST OF THE PURIFICATION.

ARTICLE I.-Preparations.

1. In the sacristy, in the usual place, the cope for the Celebrant, with the stole, girdle, alb, and amice; for the Deacon, the folded chasuble, stole, girdle, alb, and amice; and similar vestments for the Subdeacon, with the exception of the stole. The vestments should be purple.

2. The Altar should be prepared with the usual candlesticks and Cross, and with a purple antependium over a white one.

3. Near the Altar, on the Epistle side, a small credence, covered with linen, on which are the candles to be blessed, covered with a white veil. (Memoriale Rituum, tit. i. cap. i.)

4. On the credence, the vase of holy water, with its aspersory; in the centre, the chalice, and other things necessary for the Mass (all of which should be covered with a purple veil during the blessing of the candles); as also the ewer of water and towel, for the washing of the hands. (Memoriale, part iv. tit. xiv. n. 5.)

5. In a convenient place, the processional Cross; the thurible, and boat with incense; a grate with burning charcoal, to replenish the thurible, and the small tongs. (Memor. Rit. ibid.)

6. On the bench of the sacred Ministers, or in some other convenient place, the vestments for Mass, namely,the chasuble, stole, and maniple for the Celebrant; the

dalmatic, stole, and maniple for the Deacon; and the tunic and maniple for the Subdeacon; all of white colour.

7. If the Mass be not in honour of the Blessed Virgin, the vestments proper to the day should be prepared.

ARTICLE II. From the vesting of the sacred Ministers to the distribution of the candles.

8. At the proper time, the sacred Ministers will vest themselves: they take the amice, alb, and girdle, and the Deacon the stole, in addition. After having vested the Celebrant with the cope, they themselves take their folded chasubles, but not their maniples. (Carem. Epis. lib. ii. cap. xvii. n. 1.) At the intimation from the Master of Ceremonies, they proceed to the Altar, having the Celebrant between them, the borders of whose cope they raise on either side. All three wear their berrettas. (Mer. part. iv. tit. xiv. n. 6.)

9. Having arrived in choir, they give their berrettas to the Master of Ceremonies, make the proper reverence to the Cross,' and ascend to the predella; the Celebrant kisses the Altar (Gav. part. iv. tit. xiv. in Rubr. 3, litt. E; Mer. ibid. n. 7); and the Ministers at the same time make a genuflection. They then retire in cornu Epistolæ, where they place themselves in this order :-the Celebrant is in the middle, having the Subdeacon at his left, and the Deacon on the step at his right, both at some distance from the Altar. (Mer. ibid. tit. vii. n. 12.) The Master of 'Ceremonies then uncovers the candles.

10. The Ministers being thus arranged, the Celebrant, with hands joined, sings the Dominus vobiscum in a ferial tone (Rubr. Miss. ut in die); and afterwards adds Oremus, and the prayer Domine Sancte, with the other four which follow. When he blesses the candles, he places his left hand on the Altar, and at the same time the Deacon raises the border of the cope (Mer. ibid. tit. xiv. n. 8), which he should also do when the Celebrant uses the aspersory or the thurible.

11. At the commencement of the prayers, the Thurifer

Or, to the Blessed Sacrament if present.