6. Afterwards, the Celebrant, having made the proper reverences to the Altar, goes to the balustrade to distribute the candles to the congregation, commencing by the side of the Epistle. 7. The Clerks, placed on each side, assist him. The third Clerk, at his left, presents the candles, which he has himself received from the first Clerk, who carries them. The Celebrant distributes them, first to the men, and then to the women. 8. The distribution over, the Celebrant washes his hands, being below the steps at the Epistle corner; the first Clerk pours the water, and the two others present the towel. 9. Having washed his hands, the Celebrant returns before the Altar, always below the steps, and, having made in the centre the proper reverence to the Cross (Castaldi, lib. iii. sec. viii. cap. iii. n. 7; Gavant. part iv. tit. x. litt. G. n. 18), he ascends, and passes to the corner of the Epistle, where he recites, in a clear voice, with his Clerks, the antiphon, Exurge Domine.1 10. Afterwards, remaining in the same place, he says Oremus; and should this feast fall after Septuagesima, on any other day than Sunday, he himself, having the Clerks at his sides, adds Flectamus genua, genuflecting equally with all the others; the second Clerk rising, the first answers, Levate. 11. The Celebrant afterwards says the Prayer Exaudi, quæsumus, having always his hands joined. ARTICLE IV.-The Procession. 1. The above Prayers over, the Celebrant goes to the middle of the Altar, and there receives from the first Clerk his candle lighted, and the book out of which he is to sing the antiphons of the procession.2 2. The second and third Clerks also take their lighted candles, and books. 3. The Celebrant, turned towards the people, says, Procedamus in pace; to which the Clerks answer, In nomine Christi. Amen. 4. The Celebrant commences to recite the antiphon, 1 Unless there are singers to sing it. 2 Should there be a number of Clerks to join the procession, the Celebrant may bless incense at the middle of the Altar. (Merati, part iv. tit. ix. n. 20, §3.) In the procession, the Thurifer walks before the Cross, which is carried between two other Clerks acting as Acolytes. (Merati, ibid.) Adorna; he continues it, and the others which follow, alternately with his Clerks. 5. After the response, In nomine Christi, Amen, the first Clerk takes the processional Cross, makes a genuflection to the Altar, turns himself towards the people, and moves forward to without the church, if such is the custom; or else, he directs the procession in the interior, turning by the right. Having made the circuit, he returns to before the Altar. 6. The Celebrant walks after him, wearing his berretta, between the other Clerks, who recite with him the antiphons of the procession, divided in verse, for their greater convenience, as follows: Ant. Adorna thalamum tuum Sion, * et suscipe Regem Christum. Amplectere Mariam, * quæ est cœlestis porta. novi luminis. Subsistit Virgo, adducens manibus Filium ante luciferum genitum. Quem accipiens Simeon in ulnas suas, prædicavit populis * Dominum eum esse vitæ et mortis, et salvatorem mundi. Responsum accepit Simeon a Spiritu Sancto, non visurum se mortem, nisi videret Christum Domini. Et cum inducerent puerum in templum, * accepit eum in ulnas suas, et benedixit Deum, et dixit: Nunc dimittis servum tuum, Domine, secundum verbum tuum in pace. Cum inducerent puerum Jesum parentes ejus, ut facerent secundum consuetudinem legis pro eo, * ipse accepit eum in ulnas suas. 7. When the procession re-enters the church, if it took place outside, or at the entrance of the Sanctuary, if it were performed within, the Celebrant recites the following responses with his Clerks : Obtulerunt pro eo Domino par turturum, * aut duos pullos columbarum : Sicut scriptum est in lege Domini. * Postquam impleti sunt dies purgationis Mariæ * secundum legem Moysi, Tulerunt Jesum in Jerusalem, ut sisterent eum Domino. Sicut scriptum est in lege Domini. Gloria Patri, et Filio, * et Spiritui Sancto. Sicut scriptum est * in lege Domini. 1 Unless there be Cantors to commence it. 8. The first Clerk having arrived at the Altar, genuflects, and puts the Cross in its place. 9. The Celebrant concludes the responsory before the Altar. ARTICLE V.-The Mass. 1. The responsories over, the first Clerk having taken the candles from the Celebrant and the other Clerks, extinguishes, and puts them on the credence. 2. The Celebrant, having made the proper reverence to the Altar, retires below the steps near the corner of the Epistle, to the place where he usually sits at Solemn Mass; and there, aided by the second and third Clerks, takes off his purple cope and stole, and afterwards takes the white maniple, stole, and chasuble, if he is to say a Mass of the Blessed Virgin; if otherwise, after having taken off the cope, he takes the purple maniple and chasuble for the Mass of the Sunday. 3. During this time, if a Mass of the Blessed Virgin be said, the first Clerk removes those purple ornaments which cover the white ones, and puts vases of flowers between the candlesticks; afterwards he carries the chalice, with its veil, to the Altar, extends the corporal, and places the chalice in the centre.1 4. The Celebrant, having gone to the Altar, commences the Mass, during which the Clerks hold their lighted candles at the Gospel, and from the consecration to the Communion, supposing a Mass of the Blessed Virgin be said. (Gavant. part iv. tit. xiv. n. 10; et alii.) 5. Whilst the Celebrant reads the Communio, the first Clerk removes the chalice from the Altar, and places it on the credence.2 6. The Mass over, the Celebrant returns with joined hands3 to the sacristy, preceded by the Clerks; he unvests, and makes his thanksgiving, as usual. 7. The Clerks bring from the Altar and the credence whatever they had prepared before the Mass, and consign everything to its proper place. Should he not have permission to touch the sacred vessels, the Celebrant will himself extend the corporal, and place the chalice on it. 2 Supposing him to have the necessary permission. 3 Or carrying the chalice. CHAPTER II. ASH-WEDNESDAY. ARTICLE I.-Preparations. 1. On the credence of the High Altar:-1st, the chalice for Mass, with the purple veil and burse; 2nd, the maniple and chasuble, of the same colour; 3rd, the thurible and boat with incense; 4th, the holy water, with aspersory; 5th, some crumb of bread, and a vessel for washing the hands of the Celebrant after the distribution of the ashes; 6th, a towel; 7th, the cruets of wine and water upon the plate, with a small napkin. 2. At the Altar:-1st, purple ornaments, the Cross, the candlesticks with their candles, but without vases of flowers; 2nd, the Missal on its cushion or stand, on the Epistle corner; 3rd, a small vase of silver, or other becoming material, containing the ashes made from the palms blessed on the preceding year, dried and well sifted. This vase should have a coverlet of the same material, or it may be covered with a purple veil. It is placed between the Missal and the Epistle corner of the Altar. 3. In the sacristy:-1st, three cottas for the Clerks; 2nd, the amice, alb, girdle, with purple stole and cope for the Celebrant; 3rd, a small grate of fire, and tongs. ARTICLE II.-The Blessing of the Ashes. 1. All things being prepared, as above, the Clerks, vested in cottas, call the people to the church by the ordinary ringing of the bells. 2. The Celebrant, having washed his hands in the sacristy, vests himself over the cotta, in amice, alb, girdle, and purple stole and cope; he is aided in this by the second and third Clerks. 3. The first Clerk lights the candles on the Altar, and returns to the sacristy. 4. The Celebrant, having made the proper reverence to the Cross, or principal image of the sacristy, goes to the Altar, with his Clerks. 5. The first Clerk precedes, with hands joined; the Celebrant, with head covered, follows, walking between the two other Clerks. R 6. Arriving at the Altar, the Celebrant gives his berretta to the first Clerk, and makes the proper reverence. 7. He goes up to the Altar, having the second and third Clerks at his sides, and kisses the middle of it. 8. In the mean time, the first Clerk, having placed the berretta on the seat, uncovers the vase of ashes. 9. The Celebrant passes to the Epistle corner, and recites with his two Clerks the antiphon, Exaudi, given in the Missal. 10. During this time, the first Clerk prepares the thurible. 11. The antiphon being repeated, the Celebrant, still in the same place, without turning to the people, recites or sings, on the ferial tone, with hands joined, Dominus vobiscum, and the four Prayers which follow. 12. During the singing of the fourth Prayer, the third Clerk, having made a genuflection to the Altar, takes the holy water, and approaches the Celebrant, together with the Thurifer. 13. The Celebrant, assisted by the second Clerk, puts incense into the thurible; he asperses and incenses the ashes, more solito. 14. The Benediction over, the vase of ashes is placed on the middle of the Altar. 15. The Celebrant, then sitting in the usual place, instructs the faithful concerning the Benediction, and the imposition of the ashes. (See n. 13, page 237.) ARTICLE III.--The Distribution of the Ashes. 1. The Celebrant, when there is no other Priest, having made a profound inclination to the Cross, kneels on the middle of the predella. 2. Thus kneeling, he himself places the ashes on his head, nihil dicens. If there be another Priest, he approaches the Altar in his choral dress, without stole, and, saying, Memento, homo, &c., places ashes upon the head of the Celebrant, who, in this case, will stand inclined, being turned towards the people. 3. The Celebrant, having received ashes, passes to the corner of the Epistle, recites with his Clerks the antiphon Immutemur, and that which follows in the Missal.1 4. Afterwards he imposes ashes on all the Clerks, who 1 When they are sung by a choir, the Celebrant need not recite them. |