41. Whilst the Priest is signing himself with the chalice,1 the Server should not ring the bell, since the Elevation of the chalice is not now made to excite the people to the adoration, which is already over, but the Priest only signs himself as he did with the Host. Besides, the Rubric prescribes that the bell should only be rung at the Sanctus and at the Elevation; and to do so at this time would merely cause the people to stand up, whereas they should remain kneeling till the benediction, inclusively.2

42. The Server will take both the cruets at the same time, in order to pour out the wine and water for the purification of the Priest's fingers. He will, if possible, stand below the predella, and not incline over the table of the Altar, observing also the usual kisses and reverences. He should be careful never to touch, with the cruets or his hand, either the fingers of the Priest or the chalice; in withdrawing the cruets, he will be cautious lest any drops of wine or water fall upon the Celebrant's hands, on the foot of the chalice, or on the Altar-cloth.

43. The cruets will be carried to their proper place and covered, and the Elevation-candle extinguished; all should be done briskly, yet with reverence.

44. The Missal, with its cushion or stand, should then be removed to the Epistle side of the Altar, the Server observing the proper genuflections. This done, he returns to the Gospel corner, and kneels till after the Priest's benediction."

45. When the Gospel of St. John is not said, but some other, he will convey the Missal to the Gospel side, after the Priest has said the Ite missa est.1

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46. Having taken the birretta in his hand, he will not place it on the Missal, or on the Altar; but when the Celebrant has finished, and has descended to the pavement, he

1 Should any of the faithful approach for Holy Communion, he will now say the Confiteor. He should not accompany the Priest when he communicates the people, but, if necessary, he may assist to sustain the cloth.

2 Custom would seem to allow the bell to be thrice rung at the Domine, non sum dignus, in the Mass, but not, however, at the giving of the Holy Communion. It is also usual in many countries to ring the bell at the "Hanc igitur oblationem," though Baldeschi does not recognize the custom.

3 Before removing the Missal, he will carry the veil of the chalice (folded) to the Gospel side, and place it so that the Priest may readily take it.

4 Having placed it there, he may kneel in the centre for the Priest's benediction, and then pass over to the Epistle corner.

5 Should the Missal be required in the sacristy, the Server will take it from the stand, or cushion, on the Altar, just before he takes the birretta.

should genuflect, and then (not before) kiss the birretta, and present it to the Priest with his right hand, in such a manner that it may be conveniently taken.

47. On reaching the sacristy, the Server will step a little aside, and as the Priest passes him, make a profound reverence: he will also incline in the same manner to the Cross or Image of the sacristy. Having laid aside the Missal, he will stand to the left, and assist the Priest to unvest, kissing those vestments which are marked with the Cross,-viz. the stole, maniple, and amice. In receiving the alb, he should so raise it that it may not trail on the ground. When all is done,' he will make a final reverence to the Priest.

48. He then returns to the Altar, where, having made the proper genuflections, he puts out the candles, first on the Epistle side, and then on that of the Gospel. Should there be several candles burning, he will commence with the last, that is, the farthest from the Cross, and so on successively until they are all extinguished. They should not be left smoking, as is too often the case, nor should they be put out by the breath, but with the proper extinguisher.

49. Should he, however, extinguish the candles before leaving the Altar with the Priest, in order that they may remain lighted to the end of the Gospel, he will first extinguish that on the Gospel side, but yet not before he has answered, Deo gratias; afterwards that on the Epistle side, as above.

50. Finally, we have to observe that the Server should not ring the bell at the Sanctus or Elevation, when the Most Holy Sacrament is exposed on the Altar, there being then no occasion to excite the faithful to adoration, since the public exposition is sufficient, and ordained for that purpose. This will also be observed during the time of High Mass, or other solemn functions, — as funerals, processions, &c., in order not to oblige the Ministers and choir to kneel at a time they should be standing or sitting,

1 Should the Priest wash his hands, the server will again assist at the lavatory.

CHAPTER V.

THE MANNER OF GIVING HOLY COMMUNION OUT OF MASS.

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1. As it often happens that Holy Communion has to be given out of Mass, it will be useful to give the Priest some instructions concerning it. He washes his hands, and vests in cotta and stole of the colour of the office of the day. If the Priest who gives Communion be a Canon, having the use of the cappa, he should lay it aside, and take a cotta and stole. (S. R. C. 12 Julii, 1628, et 19 Junii, 1773; Rit. Rom.) Thus vested, the Priest puts on his birretta, and goes to the Altar of the Blessed Sacrament with hands joined, and preceded by a Clerk, who carries the corporal enclosed in a burse.?

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2. Having arrived at the Altar, he gives his birretta to the Clerk, and makes in the middle a genuflection in plano. He ascends to the Altar, extends the corporal, and places the burse, as at Mass. Having then opened the Tabernacle, he makes a genuflection, brings out the ciborium, and places it upon the corporal. He then opens it, places the cover on the corporal a little behind, but not far from the ciborium, and repeats the genuflection. He then continues as in the ordinary Mass, with the exception of the following particulars :When the Priest returns to the Altar, he places the ciborium on the corporal, and genuflects; he then lightly rubs together the thumb and forefinger of the right hand over the ciborium. Afterwards, continuing to hold the thumb and finger united, he covers the ciborium without making another genuflection; he then purifies his fingers in the small vase prepared for the purpose, and wipes them with the purificator. Whilst doing this, he says the antiphon, O Sacrum Convivium, &c.: in Paschal time he adds, Alleluia. After this, he says, Panem de cœlo, &c., to which the Clerk responds, Omne delectamentum, &c. They also add, Alleluia, during Paschal time, and the whole of the Octave of Corpus Christi. The Priest then says, Domine exaudi, &c.; Dominus vobiscum, Oremus, and the Prayer, Deus qui nobis sub Sacramento, &c. The Clerk

Juxta Ritualis Romani Rubricam (stola pro ministranda SS. Eucharistia),

debet esse coloris officio convenientis. (S. R. C. 12 Mart. 1836.)

2 Should the Server not be a Clerk, the Priest will carry it himself.

will make the proper answers. In Paschal time, in lieu of the preceding Prayer, he says the following:-Spiritum nobis, Domine, tua caritatis infunde: ut, quos Sacramentis paschalibus satiasti tua facis pietate concordes. Per Christum Dominum nostrum.-R. Amen.

3. The Priest then replaces the ciborium in the Tabernacle, which he does not close until he has made a genuflection. Afterwards, raising his eyes to the Cross, extending and joining the hands, and inclining the head towards the Cross, he says aloud, Benedictio Dei omnipotentis; then turning himself towards those who have communicated, he continues: Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti; at the same time, he makes the sign of the Cross towards them with his right hand; he concludes by saying, Descendat super vos et maneat semper; he returns to the Altar by the same side without having made a circle. The Clerk answers, Amen. The Priest folds the corporal, puts it into the burse, which he gives to the Clerk, or retains to carry himself; makes an inclination of the head to the Cross, descends in plano, makes a genuflection, and retires to the sacristy.

4. When, for any pressing reason, a Priest, vested in the sacred vestments, is obliged to give Holy Communion immediately before or after Mass, he ought also to do it in the manner we have given above.

5. But the rules are not the same if Holy Communion is given during Mass, for taking the ciborium from the Tabernacle. Then, after having received the Precious Blood, the Priest covers the chalice, and places it at the extremity of the corporal on the side of the Gospel. Afterwards (having always the thumb and forefinger of each hand united), he removes the Altar-card from the middle, opens the Tabernacle, genuflects, and takes out the ciborium; he continues with the rest, as we have given above, except that at the end the Priest does not say any prayer, and does not rub his fingers over the ciborium; but, as soon as he has genuflected, covers it, places it in the Tabernacle, which he closes after another genuflection, and continues the Mass as usual.

possible, should avoid standing on the predella.1 The birretta should never be left upon the Altar, but upon the credence, or elsewhere.

13. The Server does not open the Missal, for it is prescribed that the Priest do so himself.

14. The Server should observe never to leave the Priest alone at the Altar, except for some very urgent reason.

15. He will proceed to the Gospel side, making a genuflection in the centre. In genuflecting he will not bend himself in an ungraceful manner, but descend straight to the ground on the right knee, with the face turned towards the Altar.

16. Should the Priest inadvertently have put the burse of the corporal where it is liable to be stained by wax from the candles, the Server will place it in a better position; he will also do the same, at the proper time, with regard to the veil of the chalice.

17. He kneels, with hands joined, on the pavement upon which the Celebrant stands: he may kneel upon the step after the Priest has ascended to the Altar. He will respond with a clear and modest tone of voice, taking care to pronounce the words entire, not halving, leaving out, or proceeding with too great haste. He should have committed to memory beforehand, the whole of the answers for the Mass.

18. Throughout the Mass he should be in uniformity with the Priest, in making the sign of the Cross, genuflecting, striking the breast, inclining, &c. And here, in order that these things may be better attended to, we may as well state, that one should abstain from reading the office, or reading spiritual books, as also from speaking with others, or turning round to look at what is going forward. This is what St. Charles Borromeo enjoined the Clerics of his diocese, so that they might be wholly intent on performing well this part of

1 The Rubric of the Missal allows the Clerk to proceed without the Missal, supposing it to be prepared beforehand on the Altar; in this case, he will proceed at once to place the birretta on the credence.

2 When the book is on the Epistle side of the Altar, the Server kneels or stands below the steps on the Gospel side; but when the book is on the Gospel side, he will kneel on that of the Epistle. There is but one exception, namely, when the book is closed during the last Gospel, at which time he kneels on the same side upon which is the book, i. e. at the Epistle corner below the steps.

3 The Server should not use a cushion to kneel upon.