10. After the Communion, the Bishop makes the purification, washes his hands, returns to the throne, and the choir begin the Alleluia for Vespers, during which the Bishop sits. The Subdeacon pre-intones the antiphon of the Magnificat to the Bishop, who rising, repeats it; then sitting with his mitre, he blesses incense, more solito. The Magnificat being commenced, the Bishop goes to the Altar and incenses it as usual; presently he returns to his throne, and is incensed, as well as the others, more solito. The Bishop stands without mitre until the end of the Magnificat. (Ibid. n. 27.)

11. During the repetition of the antiphon, the Bishop sits and receives the mitre; at its conclusion, he goes to the Altar, and says the Dominus vobiscum and the Prayer. The Deacon sings the Ite missa est, Alleluia, Alleluia. The Bishop gives his benediction, and the Indulgences are published, as at other times.

PART V.

CEREMONIES TO BE OBSERVED ON CERTAIN GREATER DAYS OF THE YEAR IN THOSE SMALLER CHURCHES WHERE THERE ARE NOT SACRED MINISTERS.

CHAPTER I.

THE FEAST OF THE PURIFICATION.

ARTICLE I.-Preparations.

1. Upon the credence of the High Altar:-1st, the chalice for the Mass, with the ornaments of white,-unless this Feast fall on a privileged Sunday, for then the colour will be purple ; 2nd, the white chasuble, stole, and maniple,-or purple, if the feast fall on Sunday; 3rd, the thurible and boat with incense; 4th, the holy water, with the aspersory; 5th, some crumb of bread, and a vessel for washing the hands of the Celebrant, together with a towel for wiping them; 6th, the cruets, filled with wine and water, on their stand, with a small napkin; 7th, the books for the procession.

2. At the Altar:-1st, the purple ornaments, placed so as easily to be removed, in case white should be used when a Mass of the Blessed Virgin is said; 2nd, the Missal, on a purple cushion or small stand, on the Epistle side.

3. Near the corner of the Epistle, below the steps:-1st, a small table, covered with a white cloth, and on it the candles to be blessed, also covered with a white veil; 2nd, the processional Cross.

4. In the Sacristy:-1st, three cottas for the Clerks; 2nd, the amice, alb, girdle, and purple stole and cope for the Celebrant; 3rd, a small grate with fire, and tongs.

ARTICLE II.-The Blessing of the Candles.

1. Towards the hour of Terce, the three clerks who are to assist the Celebrant present themselves in the sacristy, and

vest in cassock and cotta; they dispose everything in its place, as above. The people are called to the church by the sound of the bells rung in a festal manner. The Celebrant, having made his preparation for the Mass, washes his hands in the sacristy, vests himself over the cotta,1 with amice, alb, girdle, and purple stole and cope: he is assisted in this by the second and third Clerks.

Note. Should the feast occur on Sunday, the Celebrant, before vesting, blesses water for the Asperges, as is given in the Missal.

2. In the mean time, the first Clerk removes the vases of flowers from the Altar, and lights the candles.

3. The Celebrant, having with the Clerks made a reverence to the Cross of the sacristy, proceeds to the Altar with hands joined and head covered; he is preceded by the first Clerk, who also walks with joined hands; the borders of his cope are raised on either side by the second and third Clerks.

4. Having arrived at the foot of the Altar, he takes off his berretta, and gives it to the first Clerk, who puts it in its place, and then uncovers the candles.

5. The Celebrant, having in plano made a profound inclination to the Cross, or a genuflection upon the lowest step, if the Blessed Sacrament is in the Tabernacle, ascends and kisses the middle of the Altar.

Note. Should the Celebrant make the Asperges, he kneels on the lowest step, performs the aspersion, as given in the Missal, and afterwards ascends, &c.

6. The Celebrant, having kissed the Altar, goes to the Epistle corner, always between the two Clerks, as in No. 3.

7. The Celebrant, being turned towards the Altar, says in the ferial tone, and with hands joined, Dominus vobiscum, the Prayer, Domine Sancte, &c., and the four which follow.

8. In the mean time, the first Clerk puts fire in the thurible, and takes the boat.

9. During the fifth Prayer, the third Clerk, who was at the left of the Celebrant, having made a genuflection to the Altar, takes the holy water from the credence, and approaches together with the Thurifer, near the Celebrant.

Such is strictly the rule, although the custom of laying aside the cotta is now almost universal.

10. The Celebrant, having finished the fifth Prayer, the second Clerk, who is at his right, presents the boat with the usual kisses: the Celebrant puts in the incense and blesses it.

11. The second Clerk presents the aspersory, and the Celebrant thrice asperses the candles,-first towards the middle, then to his right, and afterwards to his left, saying submissa voce, Asperges me, &c., without the Psalm.

12. He thrice incenses the candles in the same way, without any form of words.

13. The blessing over, the Celebrant returns to the middle of the Altar, and makes the proper reverence. He then sits upon a seat prepared on the Gospel side, covers, and gives an instruction to the people upon the institution of this solemnity, upon the mystic significations, and the advantages of blessed candles; he exhorts the faithful to draw near and receive them with becoming reverence.

ARTICLE III.-The Distribution of the Candles.

1. The exhortation over, the first Clerk takes a candle for the Celebrant from the table, and, if there be no Priest to give it to him, he places it on the middle of the Altar.

2. The Celebrant having made the proper reverence at the middle of the Altar, kneels on the predella, being turned towards the Cross.

3. Thus kneeling, he takes the candle upon the Altar, kisses it, and gives it in charge to the first Clerk.

Note.-If there be a Priest present, he gives the candle to the Celebrant, who receives it standing, turned towards the people. He who gives the candle, as well as the Celebrant who receives it, kisses the candle only. (Bauldry, part iv. cap. iii. art. ii. n. 13; Gavant. in Dom. Palm. n. 14, litt. G.)

4. The Celebrant then goes to the corner of the Epistle (Bauldry, loc. cit. art. iv. n. 3), and recites, alternately with the Clerks, in a clear and uniform tone of voice, the antiphon, Lumen, and the canticle, Nunc dimittis.

5. Having said the Gloria Patri, and repeated the antiphon, Lumen, the Celebrant makes an inclination to the Cross, turns to the people, and distributes the candles,-first to the Priests, if any be present, afterwards to the Clerks, on the edge of the predella, the senior being the first, at the corner of the Epistle: all should kneel, and kiss the candle and the hand of the Celebrant.