Introit of the Mass until the Celebrant has arrived at the Altar: according to a decree of the Sacred Congregation of Rites, April 14, 1753.

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6. At the conclusion of the Confiteor, he ascends to the Altar with the Ministers, and assists with the incense; he then descends to the lowest step at the Epistle corner, and when the Celebrant is about to incense that side of the Altar, he removes the missal, and replaces it afterwards without making any genuflections.

7. After the incensation of the Celebrant, if convenient, he will indicate with his hand the beginning of the Introit; and this he will invariably observe when attending the Celebrant at the book, raising or lowering it according to circumstances, indicating to him when to read or sing, turning the leaves, &c.

8. When the Celebrant has said the last Kyrie, if the singing be long, he will invite him to pass by the shorter way to sit on the seats prepared for the purpose. Common chairs are forbidden by the Ceremonial of Bishops (lib. i. cap. xii. n. 3), and by a decree of the Sacred Congregation of Rites (Sept. 17, 1822). Having descended to the pavement, he remains standing at the right of the Deacon, with his hands modestly placed before his breast, which posture he will also retain at the Gloria and Credo, while the Celebrant and Ministers are seated.

9. Whilst the last Kyrie is being sung by the choir, he invites the Celebrant and Ministers to the Altar with a moderate inclination, and proceeds himself to the Epistle corner. When the sacred Ministers do not sit down, at the last Kyrie sung by the choir, he gives them a signal to join in a line, one after the other, in the centre before the Altar; and when the Celebrant has intoned the Gloria in excelsis Deo, he intimates to the Deacon and Subdeacon to take their station at his sides, to recite it with him.

10. The Gloria being recited, he invites them to pass by the shorter way to sit down, observing, however, not to do so during the singing of the words, Adoramus Te, Gratias agimus Tibi, Jesu Christe, Suscipe deprecationem nostram. When seated, during the singing of those words, he will signify to them, with a moderate inclination, to uncover, he himself standing and inclining towards the Altar.

Should the Blessed Sacrament be in the Tabernacle, he makes a genuflection together with the Thurifer before going up.-Favrel.

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11. When the choir sing Cum Sancto Spiritu,' he makes a signal for the Celebrant and sacred Ministers to rise and proceed to the Altar, while he himself takes his station at the Epistle corner to find the Collects which are to be sung, to indicate them to the Celebrant, and to turn the leaves of the missal.

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12. At the commencement of the last Collect, he proceeds to the credence, and having taken the missal, holds it by the sides with both hands, the opening being towards the right; he presents it to the Subdeacon, with an inclination before and after, and then stations himself a little behind on his left hand. At the conclusion of the last Collect, he makes an inclination of the head at the words Jesum Christum, proceeds to the centre of the Altar, and having there genuflected with the Subdeacon, he salutes the choir, and returns to the same place. He will then point out the Epistle to the Subdeacon, assisting at his left during the singing of it. He genuflects with him at the words, In nomine Jesu, &c., and inclines with him at the names of Jesus, Mary, or of the saint of whom commemoration is made, remembering also to give a previous intimation to the choir to genuflect, or take off the birretta.

Note. If the choir sing some sequence, or long tract, immediately the Celebrant has recited it, he will invite the sacred Ministers to pass by the shorter way to their seats, observing to assist there as at the Gloria. The sequence, or tract, being concluded, he will make a sign to proceed by the shorter way to the Altar, where, the Celebrant passing to the middle, says the Munda cor meum; the Subdeacon carries the missal and its stand to the Gospel corner, and the Deacon, in due time, places the missal upon the Altar, and proceeds to the Epistle corner to receive the incense, in the usual

manner.

13. The Epistle being sung, he returns with the Subdeacon to the centre of the Altar, and having there genuflected and saluted the choir, accompanies him as he proceeds to the Epistle corner to receive the benediction of the Celebrant. Afterwards receiving from him the missal with the usual inclinations, he presents it to the Deacon with similar saluta

1 In Masses of the figured music, however, the Celebrant will not go till near the conclusion of the Amen.

2 Or Book of Epistles and Gospels if in a separate volume.

tions, at the moment the Celebrant commences the Gospel; which being concluded, he ascends upon the predella, or upon the highest step, at the Epistle corner, to receive the incense, presenting the boat open to the Deacon.

Note. On the ferial days of Lent, at the words Adjuva nos Deus, the Celebrant and Ministers kneel upon the edge of the predella; it would then be advisable that the incense were previously put into the thurible, in order that the Deacon might at the same time say the Munda cor meum. As in this case the organ would not be playing, he could request the singers to prolong the piece, that thereby the ceremonies may proceed without confusion.

14. While the Deacon is receiving the benediction of the Celebrant, he approaches him to render any assistance that may be required. Having descended, he takes his position at the right of the Thurifer, so that three pairs may be formed; namely, the sacred Ministers the first, the Master of Ceremonies and Thurifer the second, and the two Acolytes the third. All simultaneously genuflect and salute the choir before passing to the place where the Gospel is usually sung.1 The Master of Ceremonies places himself to the right of the Deacon, a little behind him. After the Sequentia Sancti Evangelii, he presents the thurible to him, and receives it again after the incensation of the book. Having consigned the thurible to the Thurifer, he approaches the Deacon to turn the leaves of the book.

Note.-If during the Gospel there be occasion to genuflect or incline the head, as at the name of Jesus, &c., he will do so facing the Altar, that it may serve as a signal to the Celebrant.

15. The Gospel being finished, he advances towards the Epistle side, and then genuflects with the others. Having received the missal from the Subdeacon, with the proper inclinations, he replaces it on the credence, and proceeds to

I The following is the order of proceeding to the place of the Gospel, given in the Ceremonial of Bishops: "Præcedit cæremoniarius, mox thuriferarius cum thuribulo et navicula, sequuntur duo ceroferarii cum candelabris ac cereis accensis, deinde Subdiaconus manibus junctis, ultimo Diaconus, librum Evangeliorum clausum ante pectus portans " (lib. ii. cap. viii. n. 44).

2 That is to say, at the same time with the Acolytes, when he passes before the Altar in proceeding to the Epistle side, where he should receive the book of the Subdeacon.-Favrel.

the Epistle corner, where he remains until the Ministers have terminated the Credo, inclining his head and making the sign of the Cross with the Celebrant.1

16. When the Celebrant says Et incarnatus est, the Master of Ceremonies genuflects with one knee; and when the ministers have recited the whole of the Credo, he makes a signal for them to proceed by the shorter way to take their seats. He assists as usual to notify to them when they should uncover. When the choir sings Et incarnatus est, he kneels conjointly with the inferior ministers, the Celebrant and sacred Ministers in this case only uncover.

Note.-In the Masses of Christmas and the Feast of the Annunciation, the Celebrant and sacred Ministers also kneel at the Et incarnatus est, and therefore cushions should be duly prepared. Should the Feast of the Annunciation be translated, they genuflect on the day of translation only (Sacred Cong. of Rites, June 16, 1663; July 11, 1701; and Sept. 25, 1706).

17. The Et homo factus est being sung, he signifies to the Deacon to accompany him to the credence for the burse, where having presented it to him, he returns to the seats of the sacred Ministers. At the words Et vitam venturi, or a little before, he makes a sign for the Celebrant and sacred Ministers to proceed to the Altar, he himself taking his position at the Epistle corner.

18. After the Celebrant has sung Oremus, he apprises the Subdeacon to genuflect and proceed to the credence, where he will put the humeral veil over his shoulders, allowing it to hang a little lower on the right side. He will now accompany him to the Altar, and carry the ciborium himself, which, if required, should have been prepared on the credence. He assists at the uncovering of the chalice, and when the Subdeacon has retired with the paten, with the incense in the usual manner.

19. He then retires to the Epistle corner, and when the

1 Should a sermon be given, he will assist the preacher by accompanying him to the pulpit.

2 According to Merati, the Master of Ceremonies does not go to the credence, but to the book, to point out the offertory to the Celebrant. Then the Subdeacon goes alone to the credence, where he takes the veil, assisted by the Acolytes. This last manner is more conformable to the Ceremonial of Bishops (book i. chap. x. n. 5; book ii. chap. viii. n. 60). It seems natural, also, that the Master of Ceremonies should assist the Celebrant in preference to his Ministers.-Favrel.

Celebrant incenses the Cross, or the Epistle side, passes over to that of the Gospel, making a genuflection in the centre; he then removes the missal, descends in plano, and after the Celebrant has incensed that side, replaces it. He stations himself at the missal to assist the Celebrant as usual, by pointing out the places and turning over the leaves.1

20. The Preface being concluded, he makes a sign to the Deacon to ascend the predella, to the right of the Celebrant, to say the Sanctus; and, where it is customary, he will make a signal also to the Subdeacon, to take his position at the left of the Celebrant, to join him also (Sacred Congregation of Rites, Nov. 12, 1831). At the Te igitur the Deacon proceeds to the left of the Celebrant, and the Master of Ceremonies passes over to the Epistle corner, both observing to genuflect at the centre of the Altar.3 He remains there until the words Qui pridie quam pateretur, at which having put incense in the thurible (Carem. Epis. lib. ii. cap. viii. n. 10), he kneels with the Thurifer, and at the Elevation rings the bell three distinct times, making with the Thurifer a profound inclination before and after each Elevation.

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21. He then rises and remains there, or ascends to the highest step near the Altar, where he continues until the Nobis quoque peccatoribus, when he passes over to the other side, making a genuflection in the centre, but always behind the Subdeacon.

22. The Deacon having quitted the left of the Celebrant, the Master of Ceremonies takes his place, repeating the genuflection conjointly with the Celebrant and the Deacon, who should now occupy the right. Here he continues to assist at the missal until the Agnus Dei, always making the genuflections with the Celebrant, and turning over the leaves when required, &c.

23. Before the commencement of the Pater noster, he signifies to the Deacon to genuflect, and take his place on the usual step behind the Celebrant. At the Dimitte nobis he again

He retires a little at the Orate, fratres, to allow the Celebrant to turn round with facility.

2 If, however, as is customary in England, the Subdeacon has taken the Master of Ceremonies' place at the Sanctus, the latter will have retired at that time.

3 The author does not suppose that the Blessed Sacrament is in the Taber. nacle; should, however, this be the case, the Ministers, when passing from one side of the Altar to the other, should make on the predella one genuflection on leaving, and another on arriving, and not in the middle. Such is always the rule after the consecration.-Favrel.