Page images
PDF
EPUB

noster, continues it in an undertone, and in due time says Et ne nos inducas, &c., with the versicles, to all of which the choir respond: having come to the Dominus vobiscum, he rises, and says the Prayer Fidelium, &c., which being concluded, he adds Requiem æternam, &c. (Carem. Epis. ibid.)

9. The Acolytes, making the usual reverence to the Officiant, proceed to the centre, genuflect, deposit the candles in the proper place, and having there left them, return to the centre. After the Cantors have terminated the Requiescant in pace, &c., they genuflect, and retire, with hands joined, to the sacristy, followed by the choir and the Officiant.

PART III.

OF THE PONTIFICAL OFFICES.

CHAPTER I.

PONTIFICAL HIGH MASS.

ART. I.-Preparations.

1. In the sacristy, the usual vestments for the Deacon and Subdeacon, but without the maniples. In a convenient place a small carpet with a chair placed upon it. The canon and bugia (or hand-candle), together with the buskins and sandals of the Bishop, should be placed near the vestments of the sacred Ministers.

2. Should the Blessed Sacrament be at the Altar, It is to be removed to another prepared for the purpose. The Altar-cards are not required.

3. On the High Altar, the Bishop's vestments; namely, the chasuble, dalmatic, tunic, stole, pectoral cross, girdle, alb, amice, and the gloves on a silver plate: all these should be covered with a gremial veil, which serves as an apron for the Bishop. A parte Evangelii, the costly mitre,

The following chapters-Nos. I., III., VI., IX., and X., on the Pontifical Offices, have been given by Baldeschi for the use of those Bishops who officiate out of their own dioceses; he has therefore supposed the Bishop to be placed at a faldstool, and not at the throne, in accordance with the terms of the following decree: "Episcopus extra suam diocesim pontificalia exercens uti debet faldistorio, nec ei licet sedere in cathedrâ sub baldachino, etiam annuente Episcopo loci." (S. R. C. Junii 29, 1856; Marti 6, 1706.) As there must necessarily be some difference of ceremonial when the Bishop celebrates in his own diocese and at his throne, we have given the remaining chapters, Nos. II., IV., V., VII., and VIII., on the subject. The minor details, however, are supposed to be acquired from those by Baldeschi.

Referring to Mass celebrated Pontifically, it should be remembered, that, apart from the privileges granted to Prothonolaries and others, the Prelates of the Roman Curia, Ecclesiastics even when privileged to wear the Rochet and Mantelletta may not be treated with Episcopal honours.

with the veil for the Mitre-bearer; a parte Epistolæ, the gold mitre, with the infulæ or ribands hanging a little over the antependium.1

4. On the credence-table, two candlesticks, and between them, in the centre, the chalice, with the purificator, paten, host, pall, and burse containing the corporal; the Missal, inclosing the Bishop's maniple in the place of the Gospel of the day, a second Missal for the Epistle and Gospel, a cushion or book-stand, the wine and water-cruets, the small bell, the amice and cope for the Assistant Priest, the maniples for the Deacon and Subdeacon, a basin and ewer for washing the hands, two towels, one for the cruets, the other for the Bishop's hands, and finally, the Thurible and incense-boat.3

5. In a suitable place, a small grate with lighted charcoal, and a pair of tongs; and four torches for the Elevation.4

6. If the credence-table be incapable of containing the above articles, the Master of Ceremonies should prepare another, and place on the first, that is, the one more proximate to the Altar, the chalice, candlesticks, and cruets, putting the remainder on the other; an exclusive adherence, however, to this arrangement is not necessary if inconvenient.

7. At the centre of the Altar, on the lowest step, a cushion; at the place where the Epistle is usually sung, a platform of moderate elevation," covered with a carpet of appropriate colour, on which is to be placed the faldstool." If the sacred Ministers be of titled dignity, it would be advisable to prepare, a parte Epistolæ, a bench, with a covering of a proper colour.

A seventh candle on the Altar is not required for a Bishop who celebrates out of his own diocese, nor for a Bishop coadjutor.

2 The credence should be covered with a white linen cloth, hanging on all sides down to the ground.

3 The whole may be covered with the humeral veil.

The number of torches may vary according to the solemnity of the Festival, but not exceed eight in number. (Cærem. Epis.)

At Rome this platform is usually about six inches high.

This chair, or faldstool, usually has two arms, but no back, and is covered with rich hangings of the colour of the day.

ARTICLE II. From the departure of the Ministers from the Sacristy until the vesting of the Bishop.

8. The Bishop having arrived at the sacristy sits down in the chair already prepared, a clerk kneels before him with the canon open at the Preparation, and an Assistant Priest, vested in surplice, holds the bugia: they assist throughout the entire preparation. When the Bishop has commenced the Psalms of the Preparation, his servant advances and assists to put on the buskins and sandals; in the mean time, the Ministers, aided by the Acolytes, vest themselves.

9. The Bishop having concluded the Prayers, and put on his buskins and sandals, the Master of Ceremonies will have the canon and bugia conveyed to the credence. The Deacon and Subdeacon, without maniples, bearing their berrettas in their hand, make an inclination to the Cross and to the Bishop, put on their berrettas, and issue from the sacristy, preceded by the second Master of Ceremonies, and followed by those Acolytes and Clerks who minister at the Altar, and carry the episcopal ornaments. Should they pass before the Altar of the Blessed Sacrament, the Deacon and Subdeacon uncover, and simultaneously make a genuflection. Having arrived at the Altar at which the Mass is to be sung, they again genuflect, and the two sacred Ministers proceed to the faldstool, the Deacon placing himself to the right, and the Subdeacon to the left of it. They give their berrettas to the Master of Ceremonies, and remain with their faces turned towards the people, and their hands joined. The Clerks, having also genuflected, retire to their places.

10. The Ministers and Clerks being thus arranged, the Bishop, vested in mantelletta, issues from the sacristy, having his berretta in his hand. He is accompanied by the Assistant Priest at his left, and by the first Master of Ceremonies, who walks in advance. They proceed to the High Altar, and as they approach, the Deacon and Subdeacon make a reverence to the Bishop. The Bishop having made an inclination only, to the Cross, kneels on the cushion previously prepared, and after a short prayer, rises,

makes an inclination to the Cross, and, accompanied by the first Master of Ceremonies and the Assistant Priest, proceeds to the faldstool, the second Master of Ceremonies immediately placing the cushion behind it. The Ministers now salute the Bishop, who sits down and puts on his berretta. Whenever he is required to cover or uncover, he should do it himself, in conformity with a decree of the Sacred Congregation of Rites, dated August 21, 1604, and June 24, 1683. The Deacon then takes from the Bishop the pectoral Cross, presenting it to him to be kissed; and the mantelletta, giving both to the Master of Ceremonies. Some attendant, not, however, a livery servant, now advances, for the Bishop to wash his hands, and kneels the Sacred Ministers hold the towel, and presently apply it to the Bishop's hands.

Note. Should the Bishop make the preparation at the Altar, the Master of Ceremonies will prepare on the credence the buskins, and sandals on a salver, the veil for him who is to carry them, the canon, and the bugia. The Bishop and Ministers having arrived at the faldstool as above, a Clerk, with the canon open at the Preparation, presents himself, and kneels in a convenient manner, and the Assistant Priest, holding the bugia, stands at the left. The Bishop then reads the Preparation, uncovering at the Gloria Patri, and in the mean time, four or six clerks place themselves in a semicircle before the Bishop, having first made a reverence to him. A Clerk, with the humeral veil over his shoulders, as the Subdeacon at Mass, carries the buskins and sandals on the salver, the whole being covered with the extremities of the veil, accompanied by the domestic servant, who assists to put on the buskins and sandals, first on the right foot and then on the left this being done, all the Clerks make an inclination and retire. The Bishop having arrived at the Kyrie in the Prayers, uncovers, rises (the Ministers in the mean time changing places), and reads the remainder turned towards the Altar. The Clerk appointed to hold the canon will rest it against his forehead. The Prayers being concluded, the Bishop again sits down, and the Ministers resume their former places; he then puts on his berretta and reads the prayers

« EelmineJätka »