Project Canterbury

A New Mass Book for the Laity Incorporating All the Most Recent Changes in the Liturgy.

Compiled by Clive R. Beresford and R. E. Young.

Newborough, Peterborough: The Crux Press, 1965.


FOREWORD.

What mean ye by this Service? Exodus vii

THE purpose of the consecration of every House of God is to give every man, woman, boy and girl the proper place for serving God.

This service of God is the offering of Sacrifice and the feeding on the Sacrifice ordered by the Son of God—MY BODY AND MY BLOOD.

Therefore the important words spoken in God’s House are not the words spoken from the pulpit but the words spoken at the Altar, and the purpose of the consecration of every Church has been in vain for those who use it by coming for the sake of the preaching or the singing.

It was consecrated that God might have His Holy Place to which His people may come to give glory to their God by at least one weekly act of obedience to the dying command of the Incarnate Son of God—DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME.

This command is for all priests and for all people OF HOLY OBLIGATION.

R. E. Young.
Worthing, 6th September, 1965.


PREFACE.

THIS little Mass Book is the immediate successor to, and includes much that was contained in a Parish Mass Book which was produced with the aid of a duplicator almost exactly ten years ago and which has served the people of a small country parish for that period of time. The purpose of that earlier attempt to put into the hands of ordinary lay-folk something which might be of use to them and help them to pray with the Church with intelligence and devotion was expressed in the Preface and may perhaps be repeated here, since the reasons for this present production are the same now as they were then.

"This little Missal has been produced with only one object—that of helping the people of Jesus Christ to know, love and be better able to assist at the only Service our Divine Saviour ever instituted, that service which we call the Holy Mass. In it you will find that chief and most ancient Rite of the Church as it was known, loved and assisted at daily by our English forefathers, the same Rite which is to-day used, known and loved all over Western Christendom; of which we, if we are to say that we belong to the Church at all, must assuredly be a part."

Recent changes in the Mass have made the first edition out of date and comparatively useless for the fulfilment of its purpose, but what has been quoted above remains true to-day and at all times. But since, so far as can be ascertained, nothing has as yet been produced for Anglicans which incorporates these important changes and additions, it was felt that a new edition might be welcomed by a considerably wider public than the faithful of a small parish, and it is hoped that this may prove to be the case.

This book contains all the fixed parts of the Mass (the Ordinary) to which has been added a "specimen" of the new Prayer of the Faithful and also the Canon in full. It is hoped that the notes of comment or explanation which have been retained and somewhat amplified in this edition will not be considered out of place. These, with the rubrics, are all printed in ITALICS, and hus may easily be ignored if preferred.

Newborough, 1st October, 1965.

I am most grateful to my old and valued friend, Father R. E. Young, for his great kindness, on the eve of the Diamond Jubilee of his Priesthood, in providing a short Foreword, which, at least in the eyes of all who have the privilege of knowing him, will be no small enhancement of the value of this little book.

C. R. B.


THE ORDINARY OF THE MASS.

I. THE LITURGY OF THE WORD.

NOTE. The following PREPARATION is omitted if Mass is preceded by Asperges or any other Liturgical Function.

Standing at the foot of the Altar, the Priest begins the PREPARATION. The people KNEEL.

IN the name of the Father, + and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

I will go unto the Altar of God.
Even unto the God of my joy and gladness.

Our help is in the name of the Lord.
Who hath made heaven and earth.

The priest bows low and confesses to God, to Our Lady and to all the Saints, and also to YOU, as representing the whole Church, that he has sinned, and he begs God's mercy and your prayers. So you answer

May Almighty God have mercy upon you, forgive you your sins, and bring you to everlasting life.

The priest answers Amen.

Now in turn you say the CONFESSION with the server.

I confess to Almighty God, to Blessed Mary ever-Virgin, to Blessed Michael the Archangel, to Blessed John the Baptist, to the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, to all the Saints, and to you, Father, that I have sinned exceedingly, by thought, word, and deed, by my fault, by my fault, by my own great fault. Wherefore I beg Blessed Mary, ever-Virgin, Blessed Michael the Archangel, Blessed John the Baptist, the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, all the Saints, and you, Father, to pray to the Lord our God for me.

The priest in his turn replies

May Almighty God have mercy upon you, forgive you your sins, and bring you to everlasting life. Amen.

The Almighty and Merciful Lord grant you pardon, + absolution and remission of all your sins. Amen.

Wilt thou not turn again and quicken us, O God?
That thy people may rejoice in thee.

O Lord, show thy mercy upon us.
And grant us thy salvation.

O Lord, hear my prayer.
And let my cry come unto thee.

The Lord be with you.
And with thy spirit.

Let us pray.

The priest now goes up to the Altar and kisses it to show that what he is about to do he does IN UNION WITH JESUS CHRIST, the Eternal High Priest. Pray that you too, together with the whole Church on earth and in heaven, may offer it in union with Him.

At a Solemn Mass, incense is now blessed and the Altar is censed. This is to show that it is set apart for this Sacrifice to God, and as it is surrounded and enveloped in the sweet smelling smoke of the incense, it should remind you of the holiness of God and of the worship of Heaven.

All that follows in this first part of the Mass may now be said or sung from a seat in the Sanctuary, or at a said mass the priest may remain at the Altar.

The priest now says or the Choir sings the INTROIT.

THE KYRIES

KYRIE (CHRISTE) ELEISON is the Greek for LORD (CHRIST) HAVE MERCY. It has been said thus in Greek from the very earliest ages. It is a ninefold cry for God's mercy, and is said or sung alternatively thus.

Kyrie eleison.
Kyrie eleison.
Kyrie eleison.

Christe eleison.
Christe eleison.
Christe eleison.

Kyrie eleison.
Kyrie eleison.
Kyrie eleison.

GLORIA IN EXCELSIS DEO.

Priest Glory be to God on high

And on earth peace to men of good will.
We praise thee. We bless thee. We worship thee. We glorify thee. We give thanks to thee for thy great glory.
O Lord God, Heavenly King, God the Father Almighty.
O Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesu Christ.
O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father.
Who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.
Thou who takest away the sins of the world, receive our prayer.
Thou who sittest at the right hand of the Father,
Have mercy upon us.
For thou only art holy. Thou only art the Lord.
Thou only, O Jesu Christ, with the Holy Ghost, art most high, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

The Church's Prayer for the day, (the COLLECT), follows. It is now recommended that the people follow the more ancient way of Christians at public worship and remain STANDING for the Prayers. But first the priest wishes all present the blessing of Jesus Christ and says

The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.

At the end of the first and last prayers all say Amen.

THE EPISTLE

The people SIT while the Epistle or Lesson of the day is read. At the end they answer

Thanks be to God.

The GRADUAL and ALLELUIA, or, in penitential seasons, the TRACT, follows. On certain Feasts there is also a Hymn called the SEQUENCE. At the end of this the people STAND for the HOLY GOSPEL, before which the Priest prays that he may be worthy to proclaim the very words and actions of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and asks God for His blessing to enable him to do so. All make the Sign of the Cross on their foreheads as a sign of BELIEF in the Gospel; on their lips to show that they will always defend it and never deny it; and on their hearts as a sign of their LOVE for it and their will to make it a guide for and ruler of their lives.

The Lord be with you. R. And with thy spirit.

+ The continuation of the Holy Gospel according to N.
R. Glory be to Thee, O Lord.

At the end of the Gospel you may say

Praise be to Thee O Christ.

and the priest kisses the Gospel Book and says

Through the words of the Gospel may our sins be blotted out.

(N.B. The appropriate place for the SERMON is immediately after the Gospel.)

On Sundays and on the greater Feasts the NICENE CREED follows.

THE NICENE CREED

Priest I believe in one God,

The Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds.
God of God. Light of Light. Very God of Very God.
Begotten, not made, being of one Substance with the Father. By Whom all things were made.
Who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven.

(Here BOW in reverence at the love and humility of the Son of God in becoming Man. On the Feast of the Annunciation and on Christmas Day, all KNEEL instead of only bowing.)

And was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary.
And was made Man.
And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered, and was buried.
And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures. And Ascended into heaven. And sitteth on the right hand of the Father.
And he shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead.
Whose kingdom shall have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Ghost the Lord; And giver of Life. Who proceedeth from the Father and the Son; Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; Who spake by the prophets.
And I believe One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.
I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins.
And I look for the resurrection of the dead: And the life of the world to come. Amen.

Priest. The Lord be with you. R. And with thy spirit.

Let us pray.

On Sundays and certain other Holy Days, the PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL may now follow. All remain STANDING. The Prayers may vary according to the Feast and the particular needs of the times, but there are invariably FIVE PETITIONS, at the end of each of which the Reader says 'Lord hear us,' to which all reply 'Lord, gracious hear us.' The following will serve as an example.

THE PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL.

A. THE INVITATION.

Priest: God, our Father, has brought us here together as His family. Let us now humbly ask Him for all our needs.

B. PETITION FOR THE NEEDS OF THE CHURCH.

Reader: Sanctify all bishops of the Church. Give them the grace to be true shepherds of their flocks especially our own Bishop N. Lord, hear us.

All: Lord, graciously hear us.

C. PETITION FOR NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS.

Reader: Bless our Sovereign N. and all the Royal Family. Guide those who govern our country, that they may rule with wisdom and justice. Lord, hear us.

All: Lord, graciously hear us.

D. PETITION FOR THOSE IN NEED.

Reader: Comfort the suffering, console the lonely, protect the homeless, restore peace to those troubled in mind and body. Lord, hear us.

All: Lord, graciously hear us.

FINAL PETITION.

Reader: Let us commend ourselves and all God's people, living and dead, to the intercession of Our Blessed Lady, the glorious and ever virgin Mother of God.

All: Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Reader: Let us now pray for a while in silence.

(Pause for SILENT PRAYER)

Priest: O God, our refuge and strength, listen to the devout prayers of Thy Church; thou who art the source of compassion; and grant that what we ask in faith, we may obtain. R. Amen.

This ends the LITURGY OF THE WORD.

If the priest has been sitting in the Sanctuary for the first part of the Mass, he now goes up to the Altar to begin

THE EUCHARISTIC LITURGY.

The priest kisses the Altar and then says, or else the Choir sings the OFFERTORY VERSE of the day. The people SIT.

THE OFFERTORY.

This refers, not to the collections of alms which often takes place at this point, but to the setting aside on the Altar and the offering up to God of the Bread and Wine which, by our Saviour's institution, are soon to become His Body and Blood. This is what we offer to God as our Sacrifice of Adoration, Thanksgiving, and Petition, and in Reparation for our sins.

The priest unveils the Chalice and then holds up the Paten on which is the Bread to be consecrated into the Body of Christ, saying

RECEIVE, Holy Father, Almighty, Eternal God, this spotless Host which I, thine unworthy servant, do offer to thee, my God, living and true, for my innumerable sins, offences and negligences; and for all who are present here, as also for all faithful Christians, both living and dead, that it may avail for my own and for their salvation unti life eternal. Amen.

Then, in the middle of the Altar, he receives from the servers, first wine, which he pours into the Chalice, and then a few drops of water which he first blesses, saying this prayer

O GOD, who didst wonderfully create and still more wonderfully renew the dignity of human nature; Grant that by the mystery of this water and wine we may be made partakers of His Godhead, who vouchsafed to become a partaker of our humanity; Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

He raises the Chalice, offering it to God and saying

WE offer to thee, O Lord, the Chalice of Salvation, imploring thy mercy, that in the sight of thy divine Majesty it may ascend as a sweet smell savour for our salvation and that of the whole world. Amen.

Bowing low over the Altar he says

IN a humble spirit and with a contrite heart may we be accepted by thee, O Lord, and so let our sacrifice be offered in thy sight this day that it may be pleasing to thee, O Lord God.

He makes the sign of the Cross over the offerings

COME, Almighty and Eternal God, the Sanctifier, and bless this sacrifice prepared in Thy Holy Name.

At a Solemn Mass incense is again blessed and the Host and the Chalice are censed, and then the Altar, priest and people to remind us that we are a people set apart for God in the Church, and that we must therefore be holy in our lives.

Then, reciting the 25th Psalm which begins "I will wash my hands in innoncency," the priest goes to the side of the Altar and washes his fingers, after which he returns to the middle of the Altar and says the following prayer.

RECEIVE, O Holy Trinity, this oblation which we offer unto Thee in remembrance of the Passion, Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus Christ our Lord, and in honour of Blessed Mary ever Virgin, of Blessed John Baptist, of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, of these and of all the Saints, that it may avail for their honour and our salvation, and may they, whose memory we celebrate on earth, vouchsafe to intercede for us in heaven. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

The priest then kisses the Altar, and turning round to the people, invites the prayers of all present saying

Pray, brethren, that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God the Father Almighty.

All present now STAND and reply

May the Lord receive this sacrifice at thy hands to the praise and glory of His Name, and also to our benefit and that of all His Holy Church.

The priest replies Amen, and then says the PRAYER(S) OVER THE OBLATION, called the SECRET(S). The first and the last end with the words 'For ever and ever,' or 'Throughout all ages, world without end,' to which all reply Amen.

THE PREFACE

The Lord be with you.
And with thy spirit.

Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up unto the Lord.

Let us give thanks unto our Lord God.
It is meet and right so to do.

The Preface varies with the Feast or Season. What follows is the Preface of the Most Holy Trinity, which is used for most Sundays in the year.

IT is very meet, right, and our bounden duty, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto thee, O Lord, holy Father, almighty everlasting God: Who together with thine only-begotten Son and the Holy Ghost art one God, one Lord, not one only person, but three Persons in one substance. For that which, by thy revelation, we believe of thy glory, the same we understand of thy Son, the same of the Holy Ghost, without difference or inequality. That in the confession of the true and everlasting Godhead, distinction in persons, unity in essense, and equality in majesty may be adored. Which the Angels and Archangels, the Cherubim also and Seraphim do praise, who cease not daily to cry out, with one voice saying:

HOLY, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts: Heaven and earth are full of thy glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He who cometh in the Name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

Now begins the great Eucharistic Prayer called the CANON. It is one of the oldest and most venerable prayers of Christendom and in the course of it, the CONSECRATION takes place whereby the Bread and Wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. It is said for the most part SILENTLY, partly from a natural reverence, and partly to remind us of the great Silence of Our Lord upon Calvary. You may follow the Canon with the Priest, inserting the names of the living and the dead for whom you may wish to pray at the appropriate places, as noted below.


CANON OF THE MASS.

The Canon that follows is of the Western, or R.C. rite, as said in the C. of E. until the Reformation, in Latin. We shall keep to what is known as the Interim Rite, that is the Prayer Book Prayer of Consecration, followed by Wherefore and a following prayer.

THEREFORE, O most merciful Father, we humbly pray and beseech thee, through Jesus Christ thy Son, our Lord, that thou wouldst vouchsafe to accept and to bless these + gifts, these + offerings, this + holy and unspotted sacrifice, which we offer first of all for thy Holy Catholic Church, that it may please thee to grant her peace; and also to guard, unite and govern her throughout the world; together with thy servant our Pope N., our Bishop N., and all orthodox believers and those who profess the catholic and apostolic faith.

PRAYER FOR THE LIVING

REMEMBER, O Lord, thy servants and handmaids N. and N., and all here present, whose faith and devotion are known and manifest, and for whom we offer or who themselves offer unto thee this sacrifice of praise, for themselves and for all to whom they are bound; for the redemption of their souls, for the hope of their safety and salvation, and who render their vows unto thee the eternal, living and true God.

JOINING in communion with and venerating the memory, first of the glorious and ever-virgin Mary Mother of our Lord and God Jesus Christ and also of blessed Joseph, her Spouse; as also of thy blessed Apostles and Martyrs, Peter and Paul, Andrew, James, John, Thomas, James, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Simon and Thaddeus; Linus, Cletus, Clement, Xystus, Cornelius, Cyprian, Laurence, Chrysogonus, John and Paul, Cosmas and Damian, and of all thy Saints; by whose merits and prayers grant that in all things we may be defended by the help of thy protection. Through the same Christ, our Lord. Amen.

The priest spreads his hands over the oblation, and the bell is rung once as a warning that the time of Consecration is near.

WE therefore beseech thee, O Lord, to be pleased to accept this oblation of our bounden duty and service which we and thy whole family do make unto thee, and do thou order our days in peace, and grant that we may be delivered from eternal damnation and numbered within the fold of thine elect. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

WHICH oblation do thou, O God, be pleased in all things to make bles+sed, appro+ved, rati+fied, reasonable and acceptable; that it may become for us the Bo+dy and Blo+od of thy most dearly beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

The priest now takes the Bread into his hands, saying

WHO, the day before he suffered, took bread into his holy and venerable hands, and lifting up his eyes to heaven to thee, God, His Almighty Father, and giving thanks to thee, he bles+sed, brake, and gave to his disciples, saying: Take and eat ye all of this,

FOR THIS IS MY BODY.

The priest genuflects and adores, and then raises the Sacred Host for all present to see and adore. The bell rings three times. Then he uncovers the Chalice and, holding it in his hands, continues:

LIKEWISE after supper, he took this excellent Chalice into his holy and venerable hands, and again giving thanks unto thee, he bles+sed it and gave it to his disciples saying: Take and drink ye all of this

FOR THIS IS THE CHALICE OF MY BLOOD,
OF THE NEW AND ETERNAL TESTAMENT:
THE MYSTERY OF FAITH:
WHICH SHALL BE SHED FOR YOU AND FOR MANY
FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS.

As often as you shall do these things, ye shall do them in remembrance of me.

The priest genuflects and adores the Precious Blood, and raises the Chalice to be seen by all present. The bell is rung again three times. The Canon continues.

WHEREFORE, O Lord, we thy servants, together with thy holy people, having in mind the blessed Passion of the same Christ thy Son our Lord, as also his resurrection from hell and glorious Ascension into heaven: do offer unto thy most excellent majesty of thine own gifts bestowed upon us, a pure + victim, a holy + victim, a spotless + victim, the holy + bread of life eternal, and the Chalice + of everlasting salvation.

UPON which vouchsafe to look with a gracious and favourable countenance: and accept them even as thou wert pleased to accept the gifts of thy just servant Abel, and the sacrifice of our patriarch Abraham, and that which thy high priest Melchisedech offered unto thee; a holy sacrifice, an unspotted victim.

Bowing low over the Altar he continues

WE most humbly beseech thee, Almighty God, to command that these things be borne by the hands of thy holy Angels to thine Altar on high, before the sight of thy divine majesty: that, as many of us shall, at this altar, partake and receive of the most holy Bo+dy and Blo+od of thy Son, may be fulfilled with every heavenly bles+sing and grace. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

PRAYER FOR THE HOLY DEAD.

REMEMBER also, O Lord, thy servants and handmaids N and N, who have gone hence before us with the sign of faith, and who rest in the sleep of peace. The priest pauses for a while to mention the names of the departed for whom he is bound, or wishes, to pray. To them, O Lord, and to all who rest in Christ, we beseech thee to grant a place of refreshment, light and peace. Through the same Christ, our Lord. Amen.

The priest strikes his breast, saying aloud

TO us sinners also, (he continues silently) thy servants, who trust in the multitude of thy mercies, do thou vouchsafe to grant some part and fellowship with thy holy Apostles and Martyrs, with John, Stephen, Matthias, Barnabas, Ignatius, Alexander, Marcellinus, Peter, Felicitas, Perpetua, Agatha, Lucy, Agnes, Cecilia, Anastasia, and with all thy Saints, into whose company we beseech thee to admit us, not weighing our merits, but pardoning our offences. Through Christ our Lord.

BY whom, O Lord, thou dost ever create, + sanctify, + quicken, + bless and bestow upon us these good things.

The priests says or sings the final Doxology of the Canon aloud, holding the Host and Chalice slightly raised over the Altar.

THROUGH HIM, and with Him, and in Him, is unto Thee, O God the Father Almighty, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, all honour and glory, throughout all ages, world without end.

All answer, firmly and audibly, AMEN.

Priest: Let us pray. Instructed by the saving precepts and following the divine institution, we are bold to say:

All STAND and join in saying or singing the LORD'S PRAYER:

OUR FATHER, who art in heaven: Hallowed be thy name: Thy kingdom come: Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread: and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

The priest continues aloud

DELIVER us, we beseech thee, O Lord, from all evils, past, present and to come; and by the intercession of the blessed and glorious ever virgin Mary, Mother of God, with thy blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and with Andrew and all the Saints, favourably grant peace in our days, that by the help of thine availing mercy, we may ever both be free from sin and safe from all distress.

The priest breaks the host into three parts saying

Through the same Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, throughout all ages, world without end.

All reply Amen.

The priest places a particle of the Sacred Host into the Chalice, saying as he does so

The peace of the Lord be always with you.
R. And with thy spirit.

MAY this mingling and consecration of the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ avail us that receive it unto everlasting life. Amen.

All join in saying or singing

LAMB OF GOD, who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, grant us peace.

In Masses of Requiem, instead of "have mercy upon us" and "grant us peace," is said "grant them rest," and at the third petition, "grant them rest eternal."

The people KNEEL.

The priest says the following prayers in preparation for his own Communion, in a low voice. The first of these prayers is not said at Masses for the dead.

O LORD JESU CHRIST, who saidst unto thine Apostles peace I leave with you my peace I give unto you, regard not my sins but the faith of thy Church, and vouchsafe to grant her peace and unity according to thy will; who livest and reignest, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

O LORD JESU CHRIST, Son of the Living God, who by the will of the Father hast by thy death, through the cooperation of the Holy Ghost, given life to the world: deliver me by this thy most holy Body and Blood from all my sins and from every evil, and make me ever to cleave to thy commandments and never suffer me to be separated from thee; who with the same God the Father and the Holy Ghost livest and reignest God, for ever and ever. Amen.

LET not the receiving of thy Body, O Lord Jesu Christ, which I, all unworthy, presume to take, turn to my condemnation and judgement, but through thy goodness may it be to me a safeguard and remedy for my soul and body; who livest and reignest with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Ghost God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Holding the Sacred Host, he says

I will receive the Bread of Heaven and call upon the Name of the Lord.

Then, striking his breast, he says the DOMINE NON SUM DIGNUS three times.

LORD, I am not worthy that thou shouldst come under my roof, but speak the word only, and my soul shall be healed.

THE PRIEST'S COMMUNION.

The priest signs himself with the Sacred Host, saying,

The Body of our Lord Jesus Christ preserve my soul to everlasting life. Amen.

And he receives Holy Communion with the Host. He pauses for a while and then continues

What reward shall I give unto the Lord for all the benefits that he hath done unto me? I will receive the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord. I will call upon the Lord who is worthy to be praised, so shall I be safe from mine enemies.

He signs himself with the Chalice, saying

The Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ preserve my soul to everlasting life. Amen.

And he receives the Precious Blood.

THE PEOPLE'S COMMUNION.

The bell rings as a sign that those who wish to receive Holy Communion should now go up to the Altar-rail.

The priest turns to the people and holding up the Blessed Sacrament he says

BEHOLD the Lamb of God; behold Him who takes away the sins of the world.

All who are to communicate now say three times

LORD, I am not worthy that thou shouldst come under my roof, but speak the word only, and my soul shall be healed.

The priest goes down to the Altar rails and gives Holy Communion, saying to each communicant

The Body of Christ.

Each communicant should say distinctly AMEN as an Act of Faith, after which he receives the Sacred Host.

When all have communicated, the priest returns to the Altar and replaces the Blessed Sacrament in the Tabernacle.

THE ABLUTIONS.

First a little wine is poured into the Chalice by the server, while the priest says this prayer.

THAT which we have taken with our mouths, O Lord, may we receive with a pure mind; and from a temporal gift may it be to us an eternal remedy.

LET thy Body, O Lord, which I have taken, and thy Blood which I have drunk, cleave to my members, and grant that no stain of sin may remain in me, whom thou hast refreshed with pure and holy sacraments. Who livest and reignest, world without end. Amen.

The priest wipes the Chalice and veils it and then, in the middle of the Altar, reads the COMMUNION VERSE. The people STAND.

THE POST-COMMUNION PRAYERS.

The Lord be with you.
And with thy spirit.

Let us pray.

The priest reads the POST COMMUNION PRAYER(S) corresponding in subject and number with the Collect(s) and Secret(s). At the end of the first and the last, all present should say or sing AMEN.

THE DISMISSAL.

The priest kisses the Altar, and turning to the people he salutes them, saying:

The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.

It missa est. (Go. Mass is ended.)
Deo gratias. (Thanks be to God.)

In masses of Requiem, in place of ITE MISSA EST, the Priest says, facing the Altar,

Requiescant in pace. (May they rest in peace.)
R. Amen.

The priest then says the final prayer of the Mass, bowing in the centre of the Altar.

MAY the homage of my service be pleasing to thee, O Holy Trinity, and grant, that the sacrifice which I, though unworthy, have offered before the eyes of thy majesty, may be acceptable to thee; and through thy mercy, be a source of forgiveness both for myself and for all those on whose behalf I have offered it. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

THE BLESSING.

He kisses the Altar and turns to the people to bless them. The people KNEEL.

MAY Almighty God bless you, the Father, the Son + and the Holy Ghost.
R. Amen.

The people STAND as the priest leaves the Altar.

THE DIVINE PRAISES.

Blessed be God.
Blessed be His Holy Name.
Blessed be Jesus Christ, True God and True Man.
Blessed by the Name of Jesus.
Blessed be His most Sacred Heart.
Blessed be His most Precious Blood.
Blessed be Jesus in the most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.
Blessed be the Holy Ghost, the Paraclete.
Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary most holy.
Blessed be her holy and Immaculate Conception.
Blessed be her glorious Assumption.
Blessed be the name of Mary, Virgin and Mother.
Blessed be Saint Joseph, her Spouse most chaste.
Blessed be God in His Angels and in His Saints.

LAUS DEO SEMPER.


Project Canterbury