Ritual Notes.

OF THE ALTARS AND OTHER SACRED ORNAMENTS.

Of the Altars.

The High Altar may be 3ft. 6in. high, or at most 3ft. 7½in., and 7½ft. long, or longer, if in a large Church, and at least 3ft. 9in. wide, including the space occupied by the steps for the Cross and Candlesticks. The Altars in Side Chapels may be smaller, but should not be less than 6ft. long and 3ft. wide. On the Side-Altars there should be one step, of the length of the Altar, 6in. wide and as many deep, on which to place the Cross and Candlesticks, and the High Altar should have two or three similar steps, but proportionately larger, according to the relative size of the Altar. It is strictly forbidden to use the underneath part of the Altar as a cupboard, or place in which things may be put. In addition to the linen Cloths, on the top of the Altar, the front should be covered, at least during the Holy Eucharist and the Divine Offices, with a hanging of silk or other rich material, suitably ornamented. This should be of the colour of the day, and is called the Antependium. This is the true liturgical decoration of the Altar, but it is a common practice to replace it by a permanent decoration of painting or sculpture on wood, stone, marble, &c.

Of the Altar Cross.

There should be a Cross upon each Altar, which must be sufficiently large to be readily seen, not only by the Priest who celebrates, but by the people who assist at the Holy Sacrifice. A simple Cross will suffice but it will be more suitable, and more in conformity with ancient practice, if it have upon it a Figure of our LORD. It should be placed between the Candlesticks upon the highest gradine or step of the Altar. It ought to be of the same material as the Candlesticks, and so high that the foot of the Cross is on a level with the top of the Candlesticks, the base and stem of which should be of a similar pattern to those of the Cross.

If there be a large carving or painting representing our LORD upon the Cross, immediately over the Altar, a Cross upon the Altar is not required.

Of the Candlesticks.

Each Altar should be furnished with, at least, two Candlesticks, one on either side of the Cross. It is usual to provide the High Altar with six Candlesticks — three on each side of the Cross; they should not be of equal height but should rise gradually towards the Cross. This is the strict letter of the rule but in practice the Candlesticks are more frequently of the same height. It is not permissible to replace the Candlesticks by one or more Candelabra with several branches, or by brackets fastened to the wall. The material of the Candlesticks is not prescribed but it is fitting that those on the High Altar at least, should be, if possible, of a precious metal and in any case they should be of the same material and design as the Cross. The Candlesticks should be furnished with Candles of white wax, except on Good Friday and at Requiems, when the Candles should be of yellow or unbleached wax.

At all Solemn Services on Sundays and Festivals, six Candles should be lighted, but four will suffice on lesser Doubles, Semi-doubles, days within Octaves, and Greater Ferias or for a sung Requiem. On Simples and ordinary Ferias only two should be lighted. When a Low Celebration of the Holy Eucharist is said at the High Altar it is usual, and more convenient, to have two smaller Candlesticks on the lowest step, these should be removed at the conclusion of the Service; not more than [page 2] two Candles should be lighted at a Low Celebration unless the Celebrant be a Bishop, when four candles should be lighted. At a High Celebration when the Celebrant is the Bishop of the Diocese (but not otherwise) a seventh Candlestick, with a Candle a little higher than the others, should be placed behind the Cross,

At Solemn Services, both Acolytes should light the Candles, one on the one side and one on the other, commencing with those nearest the Cross; in extinguishing they commence with those farthest from the Cross. If but one Acolyte light them, he first lights those on the Epistle side and then those on the Gospel side beginning in each case with the one nearest the Cross, but in extinguishing them he proceeds in the contrary order, commencing with the one furthest removed from the Cross on the Gospel side. At a Low Celebration, the Server first lights the Candle on the Epistle side and then that on the Gospel side, extinguishing them in the reverse order. If the Candles be extinguished before the Priest has left the Altar, the Server will first extinguish that on the Gospel side, but he must be careful not to do so until he has answered, Thanks be to God, at the end of the Last Gospel.

Of the Sacred Vessels.

The Chalice should be of gold or silver or, at the least, the cup must be of silver and gilt within. The stem should have a boss or knob about the middle, which should be ornamented in such a manner as not to be inconvenient when taken in the hand. Upon the foot should be a Cross or some sacred Sign to mark the side of the Chalice which should be used in communicating the people. The whole of the Cup, both within and without, should be plain, without engraving or other ornamentation.

The Paten, should be of gold or silver, if of silver it must be gilt upon the surface of the upper side. The whole of the inner part must be perfectly plain, and it is very undesirable to have any engraving or other ornamentation on the outer rim.

The Ciborium is similar to the Chalice, but with a cover. Like the Chalice the cup, at least, must be of silver and gilt within. When there are a large number of Breads to be consecrated, the Ciborium will be found more desirable and convenient than the Paten in communicating the people.

The Chalice and Paten, if possible, should be consecrated by a Bishop, but the Ciborium may be blessed by a Priest. Neither may be handled by anyone not in Holy Orders, except with special permission.

Of the Altar Linen.

The Altar Linen consists of the Cloths of the Altar, the Corporal, the Pall, the Purificator and the Napkin or Towel for the Lavabo.

All these must be made of linen of flax or hemp and not of cotton.

Each Altar should be covered with three clean Cloths.[1] The two under Cloths should not exceed the length of the Altar; they may be replaced by one folded in two. The uppermost and better Cloth should be slightly wider than the Table of the Altar, and should be of sufficient length to hang down at each end to the ground. It may have five Crosses worked upon it, one in the centre and one at each corner, and the ends may be embroidered in white or decorated with lace or linen fringe. The Altar Cloths, the Corporal and Pall are required to be blessed before being used.

The Corporal, the Pall and the Purificator after use may not be touched by Lay persons, except with special permission, nor washed in domestic vessels, until they have been first washed by a Clerk in Holy Orders, when they may be touched by Laics until again used.

The Corporal is the linen on which the Sacred Host is to be placed. It is usually about twenty inches square, but it may be larger or smaller according to the size of the Altar on which it is to be used. It should be made of linen, very white [page 3] and very smooth, and it may have a border of lace or embroidery, but there may not be any ornamentation or embroidery on the parts which are liable to be in contact with the Sacred Species. It is proper to embroider a little Cross in white in the fore­part, near to the border, in one of the squares made by the folds; this Cross designates the side of the Corporal which is to be turned towards the Priest. The Corporal when washed should be stiffened with starch. There are two or three ways of folding the Corporal, but the most usual and most convenient method is to fold it into nine equal squares; it is first folded into three parts, the front (the side with the Cross) being first folded and the back brought over the front, then from the sides again in three, each of the ends being turned over the centre, so that when folded it is still perfectly square. It should be thus folded after being washed, and when in use great care should be taken to fold it in the same manner and to avoid making additional folds and creases. When removed from the Burse it should be withdrawn with the right hand and placed on the Altar and then carefully unfolded (not shaken out) and placed in such a manner that in front it will reach to the edge of the Altar, without any portion hanging over, and that the back part, if possible, shall not be beneath the Altar Card. Corporals which have been used should be left in their Burses, not taken out and put away in drawers.

The Pall is of linen, stretched over a piece of stiff card about seven inches square, and it is used to cover the Chalice and Paten. It should have a white Cross worked in the centre of the upper side.

In Italy, no card is used, but the Pall is of stout linen doubled, and is made as stiff as possible with starch.

The rubrics of the Book of Common Prayer seem to require a “fair linen cloth” for the purpose of covering the Blessed Sacrament during the interval between the Communion of the people and the Ablutions. This, if not considered identical with the Pall, should be of fine white linen, edged with lace or embroidery.

The Purificator is used for wiping the Chalice. It is a small napkin, made of linen, neither coarse nor fine, about thirteen or fourteen inches square, or it may be about sixteen inches long by twelve inches wide, and this form is the more convenient if the Chalice be large or unusually deep. It should have a very small Cross worked in the centre and the two ends may have a border of lace or embroidery.

The Napkins or towels for the fingers should be of linen and may have a fringe of the same material. The size is not prescribed, but Gavantus and others say they should be thirty-six inches long and twenty-seven wide. If they be small, it is desirable that more than one should be prepared on the Credence if several Priests have to celebrate at the same Altar on the same day.

Of the Sacred Vestments.

I. Of the Vestments Generally.

The Vestments which are termed the “Sacred Vestments,” are those which are necessary for the due celebration of the Holy Eucharist and of the other more Solemn Services. The Vestments required for the Holy Eucharist are: for the Celebrant, the Amice, Alb, Girdle, Maniple, Stole and Chasuble; for the Deacon, the Amice, Alb, Girdle, Maniple, Stole and Dalmatic; and for the Sub-Deacon, the Amice, Alb, Girdle, Maniple and Tunicle.

In addition to these Vestments, the Cope, and also the Chalice Veil, Burse and the Antependium of the Altar are included in the term “sacred ornaments” (paramenta sacra), and the Ministers, when vested, are spoken of as the “Sacred Ministers.”

The Amice and Alb must be of linen, and not of cotton. The Girdle should be of linen, of white flax, or thin hemp, with tassels at the ends, of the same material. It may be of the colour of the day but preferably, and more strictly, should be white.

The Stoles, Maniples, Chasubles, Dalmatics, Tunicles and Copes and also the [page 4] Burses and Chalice Veils, should be of silk or velvet and of the colour of the day. Cloth of gold or silver may be employed for the purpose, and Vestments of these materials may be used for all colours, except violet and black.

II. Of their colour.

The colours used by the Church for the Sacred Vestments are white, red, green, violet and black.

WHITE is used from the first Evensong of Christmas until the Octave Day of the Epiphany, except on the Feasts of Martyrs which occur within this period; at the Holy Eucharist on Maundy Thursday and Holy Saturday; from the first Evensong of Easter until Evensong on the Vigil of Pentecost exclusive, except on the Feasts of Martyrs, of the Holy Cross, and of S. John Port Latin, and at the Litany and Holy Eucharist on the Rogation Days; on the Feasts of the HOLY TRINITY, Corpus CHRISIT, Holy Name and Transfiguration; on all Feasts of the Blessed Virgin, except at the Blessing of Candle s and Procession on the Purification; on the Feasts of the Angels, of the Nativity of S. John Baptist, of S. Peter’s Chains, of S. John Evangelist at Christmas, of the Conversion of S. Paul, and of All Saints; on the Feasts of Confessors and of all other Saints not Martyrs; on the day of the Dedication or Consecration of a Church or Altar, and at the Consecration or Enthronement of a Bishop. The same colour is also used throughout the Octaves of these Feasts when the Services are of the Octave, and even on the Sunday (although the Service be then of the Sunday) except it be Septuagesima, Sexagesima or Quinquagesima when the colour will conform to the Service and violet will be used. White is used at Confirmations, Marriages, Ordinations, the latter part of the Baptismal Office, at Communion of the Sick with the Reserved Sacrament, at the Funerals of Infants and at all Services of Special Thanksgiving.

RED is used at the Holy Eucharist and at Evensong on the Vigil of Pentecost; on Whitsun Day and until the first Evensong of Trinity Sunday exclusive; on Feasts of the Holy Cross and of the Beheading of S. John Baptist; on the Feasts of the Apostles and Evangelists, except S. John at Christmas, S. Peter’s Chains, and the Conversion of S. Paul; on the Feast of S. John Port Latin; on that of the Holy Innocents, if it occur on Sunday or be the Patronal Festival; on the Octave Day of the Holy Innocents, under all circumstances, and on all Feasts of Martyrs. Red is also used throughout the Octaves of the Feasts above named, subject to the same rules as the colour white. (See above).

GREEN is used from the Octave of the Epiphany until Septuagesima and from the Monday after Trinity Sunday until Advent, at all Services of the Season, except on Sundays within Octaves when the colour of the Octave is used, and on Vigil and Ember Days.

VIOLET is used from the first Evensong of Advent Sunday until the first Evensong of Christmas exclusive; from the first Evensong of Septuagesima until Holy Saturday, except on Good Friday and at the Holy Eucharist on Maundy Thursday and Holy Saturday; on the Ember Days and on all Vigils which are days of fasting, except the Vigil of Pentecost and the Ember Days within the Whitsun Octave; at the Litany and Holy Eucharist on the Rogation Days; at the Blessing of Candles and Procession on the Feast of the Purification; on the Feast of the Holy Innocents when it is neither a Sunday nor the Patronal Festival, at the first part of the Baptismal Office, at Penance, at Visitation or Unction of the Sick, and at all Special Services of a Penitential or Supplicatory character.

BLACK is used on Good Friday and at all Services for the Departed.

It is permitted to use Vestments of a rose colour at the Solemn Eucharist on the Third Sunday in Advent and on the Fourth Sunday in Lent.

It is not permissible so to intermingle the colours that one set of Vestments may serve for either white, red or green, nor is it allowable to use the ornaments of a different colour to that of the day, under the pretext that they are more handsome or more valuable than the set provided of the prescribed colour.

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III. Of their use.

The AMICE, ALB and GIRDLE are always worn together by each of the Sacred Ministers, and their use is practically confined to the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, the exceptions to this rule are rare, the principal being the occasions when the Bishop officiates or assists pontifically at the Choir Offices.

The MANIPLE is always worn by the Sacred Ministers at the Holy Eucharist, but it is not used by them at any other function, so that when the Celebration is preceded by a Procession or as on Palm Sunday by the blessing of Palms, they do not assume the Maniple, until these preliminary ceremonies are concluded and the Celebrant has exchanged his Cope for the Chasuble. The only exception to this rule appears to be part of the ceremonial on Good Friday.

The STOLE is worn by the Priest when celebrating the Holy Eucharist, and in all administrations of the Sacraments; he will also wear a Stole with a Surplice when conveying the Blessed Sacrament to the sick. A Priest or Deacon assisting the Celebrant by administering the Chalice, should be vested in Surplice and Stole and should also wear the same when making his own Communion. Clergy in Choir will also wear Stoles of the colour of the day at the time of making their Communions.

Stoles will be worn by those Priests who join with the Bishop in the imposition of hands at the Ordination of Priests.

It is permissible for the Preacher to wear a Stole, if it be the custom of the particular Parish or Diocese.

It is also permissible for the Priest who presides at the Office of the Dead or at a Funeral to wear either a Stole or Cope or both.

A Deacon will wear the Stole over his left shoulder, and tied under the right arm, and a Priest when acting as the Deacon at the Holy Eucharist, will also wear his Stole in this manner.

A Priest will usually wear his Stole over both shoulders and pendant on both sides, but when vested in the Alb he crosses the Stole over his breast and passes the ends under the Girdle.

A Bishop when wearing the Stole, having the Pectoral Cross on his breast, will at all times wear it over both shoulders and pendant on both sides.

When putting on or taking off the Stole, it is usual to kiss the Cross in the centre, but these kisses must be omitted if it be necessary to put on or take off the Stole in the Presence of the Blessed Sacrament.

The TUNICLE, DALMATIC, and CHASUBLE are worn by the Sub-deacon, Deacon and Celebrant respectively, and their use is practically restricted to the Holy Eucharist. It is permitted, however, to use the Tunicle and Dalmatic at Processions and other Solemn Functions, but at such times the Chasuble is replaced by the Cope.

The COPE is a Vestment of dignity and is not restricted to any one order of the Clergy. It is worn by the Officiant and also by his Assistants at Solemn Mattins and Evensong and by the Priest-Assistant at a Pontifical Celebration of the Holy Eucharist. The Cope is also worn by the Priest who presides at the Solemn Processions, or at Benedictions which are made at the Altar, such as those of Candles on the Purification or of Palms on Palm Sunday. It is also used at the Office of the Dead and at Funerals, The Bishop will wear a Cope when assisting pontifically at the Holy Eucharist, when administering Con­firmation and upon many other occasions.

The BURSE is the case in which is placed the Corporal; it must be lined with white silk or linen.

The CHALICE VEIL is required to cover the Chalice and Paten, when prepared for placing on the Altar or Credence Table.

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Of the Altar Cards and Missal

For the greater convenience of the Priest, there should be provided three large cards containing certain portions of the Eucharistic Service, which may be read at sight. The Celebrant is expected to commit to memory certain prayers, but, as memory often fails, it is better to have these prayers always in sight, and so prevent uncertainty of any kind. The cards should stand upon the Altar, upright against the steps, and there should be a set for each Altar.

The card at the Gospel side should contain the Last Gospel, S. John i. 1-14; that in the centre, the largest, the Credo, Gloria in Excelsis, all the prayers said at the Offertory, those before the Consecration, the Act of Consecration, the prayers before Communion and the final prayer. This card should contain a representa­tion of the Crucifixion. The card at the Epistle side will contain the prayer, recited in putting the water into the Chalice and the Psalm Lavabo. The cards should be of equal height.

The Altar Book, or Missal, should be printed in red and black, folio or quarto in size, and should contain the whole of the Service for each day in the year. The portions printed in red are termed rubrics and contain certain directions for the Celebrant. Attached to the Missal should be five large ribbons, or book marks, corresponding in colour to the five colours of the Sacred Vestments, so that the Service of the Day may be marked with the ribbon that suits it in colour. Sometimes the ribbons are doubled, thus providing two marks of each colour.

The part of the Missal containing the Canon should have slips or tags of leather, parchment or silk, attached to each page, for the greater convenience of the Priest. Strictly, the Missal should be supported on the Altar by a Cushion, but custom justifies the use of a desk or stand of wood, brass or other suitable material.

The Altar Cards and Missal should not be allowed to remain on the Altar after the conclusion of the Service.

OF THE SPECIAL OBSERVANCES OF THE CHURCH’S SEASONS AND OF CERTAIN GREATER DAYS OF THE YEAR.

Of Advent.

The first Sunday in Advent is always the Sunday nearest to the Feast of S. Andrew, thus Advent may commence on November 27th if that day be a Sunday, or not until December 3rd if November 30th be a Thursday.

The first Sunday in Advent is a Sunday of the first class and it is impossible to observe any other Feast on that day.

The other Sundays are Sundays of the second class and only give way to a Double Feast of the first class, e.g., that of the Patron or Dedication of the Church. All the week-days in Advent are Greater Ferias, and if a Festival be celebrated on one of them, the Feria must be commemorated.

No Feast can be celebrated with an Octave, after O Sapientia, December 16th; at that day all Octaves cease, and if, e.g., the Feast of the Dedication should fall on December 9th, the Octave will be observed as usual until the 15th, but it will cease before Evensong and no notice will be taken of the Octave Day.

During Advent, the Altars and other parts of the Church should be adorned in a simple manner and at all Services of the Season the colour will be violet. Flowers should be used but sparingly and only on Festivals and on the 3rd Sunday, Gaudete, when the Deacon and Sub-deacon will wear Dalmatic and Tunicle. At other times, they should wear folded Chasubles or assist in albis, as in Lent. On the 3rd Sunday and on Festivals the Organ may be used as usual, but at other times it should be silent or used but little. The remarks made on this matter and on the Gloria in Excelsis, in the chapter on Lent, apply equally to the Season of Advent.

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The Office Hymns during Advent should be: at Evensong, Creator alme siderum, (Hymnal Noted, 28; H. A. M., 45; People’s Hymnal, 7), and at Mattins, Verbum supernum prodiens, (Hymnal Noted, 29; H. A. M., 46; People’s Hymnal, 8), or En clara vox, (Hymnal Noted, 118; H. A. M., 47; People’s Hymnal, 14).

Of Christmas-tide.

The first Evensong of Christmas should be said at the usual hour and not deferred till midnight. If it be desired to preface the Solemn Midnight Eucharist with any Office it should be Mattins, and to do this would be in accordance with ancient usage.

The great Festival of the Nativity is a Double Feast of the first class with an Octave, and should be celebrated with every sign of festal joy. It is an ancient practice of the Church to have three Solemn Celebrations of the Holy Eucharist on this day—the first at mid-night, the second at day-break, and the third at mid-day—and it is permissible for each Priest to celebrate three times on this Festival; where this is done the Ablutions at the first and second Celebrations must either be poured into a vessel of glass or silver, prepared for the purpose, and consumed by the Priest after his third Celebration, or else be received at the earlier Service by one of the Communicants. In the Gospel, at the words “And the WORD was made Flesh” it is customary for everyone to kneel. The Last Gospel on Christmas Day should be that of the Epiphany, S. Matt. ii. 1—12, and it is customary to kneel at the words “And fell down and worshipped Him.”

On Christmas Day and on vacant days in Octave, the Office Hymn at Even­song and also at Mattins is, Jesu, Redemptor omnium, (Hymnal Noted, 33; H. A. M., 57; as the proper Hymn is not in People’s Hymnal, No. 25 may be sub­stituted). At Mattins, A solis ortûs cavdine, (Hymnal Noted, 34; H.A.M., 483; People’s Hymnal, 26), may be used instead.

The Octave of Christmas admits of the observance of other Feasts, but a commemoration of the Octave must never be omitted.

The three days following Christmas Day are Doubles of the second class with Octaves; on December 25th, Evensong will be of the Nativity, with Commemora­tion of S. Stephen; on the 26th, of S. Stephen, with Com. of S. John and Christmas; on the 27th, of S. John, with Com. of the Holy Innocents, Christmas and S. Stephen; and on the 28th, of the Holy Innocents, with Com. of Christmas, S. Stephen and S. John. On the [2]29th and 30th the Services will be of Christmas with Com. of the other Octaves; but at Evensong on the 30th, the Office will be of S. Sylvester with Com. of the Octaves; while on the 31st, it will be of the Circum­cision, without any Commemorations.

The Office Hymns on these Festivals are as follows:—

On the Feast of the Circumcision no Commemoration of the Octaves is made, except at the second Evensong and then of S. Stephen only.

On January 2nd, M. and H.E. will be of S. Stephen, with Com. of S. John and Holy Innocents, but Evensong will be of S. John with Com. of S. Stephen and Holy Innocents: on the 3rd, all Services of S. John, with Com. of Holy Innocents; and on the 4th, all Services of the Holy Innocents without any Commemoration.

If S. Stephen, S. John or the Holy Innocents be the Feast of the Patron or [page 8] Title of the Church the following rules must be observed; i. If S. Stephen be the Patron, no change will be made in the order given above, except that on the Octave Day, Evensong will be of S. Stephen with Com. of S. John and Holy Innocents. ii. If S. John, Evensong on the 26th will be of S. John with Com. of S. Stephen and Christmas (colour, white); M. and H.E. on 27th, of S. John with Com. of Christmas only, and E. of S. John with Com. of Holy Innocents and Christmas, iii. If the Holy Innocents, Evensong on the 27th will be of the Holy Innocents with Com. of S. John and Christmas; on the 28th, at Mattins, the Te Deum will be said, and at all Services a Com. of Christmas only will be made; the colour will be red, although the Feast fall upon a week-day.

Of the Epiphany.

The Feast of the Epiphany is a Double of the first class with an Octave. This Octave does not admit of the observance of any other Feast except those of the Patron or Title or of the Dedication of the Church, and even then the Octave must be commemorated; if however one of these Feasts occur on the Octave Day it must be transferred to the first available day and the Services will be of the Octave. At the second Evensong of the Octave Day the Service will be of the Octave with Com. only of any Double Feast that may occur on the following day unless it be a Double of the first or second class, in which case the Evensong will be of the Feast with Com. of the Octave.

If the Epiphany fall on a Sunday, the Services on the Octave Day will be as upon the Feast, and, according to ancient precedent, those of the first Sunday after Epiphany should be said on the Saturday within the Octave.

In the Gospel of the Epiphany, S. Matt. ii. 1—12, it is customary for all to kneel at the words “And fell down and worshipped Him.”

The Office Hymn at Evensong on the Eve and daily during the Octave is Hostis Herodes impie (Hymnal Noted, 42; H. A. M., 75; People’s Hymnal, 43), and at Mattins throughout the Octave, O sola magnarum urbium (Hymnal Noted, 134; H. A. M., 76; People’s Hymnal, 47).

Christmas-tide ends with the Octave of the Epiphany, and all special decorations for the Season should be removed after the Octave Day.

From the Octave of the Epiphany until Septuagesima.

There may be six Sundays between the Epiphany and Septuagesima or there may be but one: when there are less than six Sundays, the Lessons, Collects, Epistles and Gospels provided for the other Sundays will be omitted for that year.

The Office Hymns during this Season, unless a Feast occur, are as follows:—

Of the Feast of the Purification.

If the Second of February be Septuagesima, Sexagesima or Quinquagesima Sunday, or the Feast of the Patron or Dedication of the Church, the Feast of the Purification must be transferred to the Monday, unless that be the Feast of the Patron or Dedication; in the latter case, the Purification must be kept on the 4th, and any Feast belonging to that day will be transferred or commemorated, according to the ordinary rules. The object of this regulation is to prevent the celebration of a Feast so closely identified with the Mystery of the Incarnation, being deferred [page 9] for too long a period. The Blessing of the Candles and the Procession which have been so long connected with this Feast, and, from which it is commonly known as Candlemas Day, are, however, never transferred, but should always take place on February 2nd, before the principal Celebration of the Holy Eucharist, no matter what Solemnity be observed. The candles to be blessed should be of white wax; they should be placed on a small table near the Epistle side of the Altar (unless the blessing take place in the Sacristy) and should be covered with a white veil. The Altar should be prepared and the Candles lighted as usual, but all vases with flowers should be removed until after the Procession. The Altar will be vested with a violet Antependium, placed over one of the colour of the day. In the Sacristy, should be prepared Girdles, Albs and Amices for the Sacred Ministers, with a violet Stole and Cope for the Celebrant and a Stole of the same colour for the Deacon. In Churches where they are used, folded Chasubles should also be prepared for the Deacon and Sub-deacon. The white Chasuble, Stole and Maniple for the Celebrant; the Dalmatic, Stole and Maniple for the Deacon, and the Tunicle and Maniple for the Sub-deacon will be placed in readiness on the Sedilia. The Credence will be prepared as usual but the Chalice should be covered with a violet veil, over one of white. If the Feast of the Patron is to be observed, the Vestments, &c., at the Holy Eucharist, will be of the appropriate colour, and if it be Septuagesima or one of the following Sundays, the white veils and Vestments will not be required, but it will be necessary to place on the Sedilia, only the violet Chasuble and Maniple for the Celebrant, and Maniples of the same colour for the Deacon and Sub-deacon. The Processional Cross, Thurible, &c., should be in a convenient place. The blessing concluded, the candles will be distributed to the Clergy and Choir in due order, and then, if it be customary, to the people who will come up to the Chancel step to receive them, first the men and then the women. If necessary, the Celebrant may be assisted in the distribution by another Priest vested in Surplice and violet Stole. The Sub-deacon will attend at the right of the Celebrant, to hold back the border of his Cope, and the Deacon will be on the left to present the Candles. The distribu­tion completed, the Celebrant and his Ministers retire to the Epistle side of the Altar near the Credence. Here the Celebrant will wash his hands, the Sub-deacon ministering the ewer and basin, and the Deacon the towel. When the time has arrived for the Procession to be formed, the Candles are lighted and the Thurifer obtains incense in the usual manner. The Sub-deacon takes the Processional Cross, and, preceded by the Thurifer, stations himself between the two Acolytes in the centre of the Choir facing the Altar. The Deacon having handed the Cele­brant his candle and received his own, turns towards the people and sings “Let us go forth in peace.” After the response “In the Name of Christ. Amen,” the Procession sets forth and proceeds round the Church in the customary manner. The Choir and Clergy walk two and two as usual, each bearing his lighted Candle in the outside hand; the Celebrant carries his Candle in the right hand and the Deacon will walk at his left, holding back the Celebrant’s Cope with his right hand and carrying his Candle in the left. At the Procession, the ancient Antiphons or a suitable Hymn should be sung. During the Procession, unless it be Septuagesima, or one of the other Sundays, the Sacristan will remove the violet Antependium from the Altar, the violet Chalice Veil from the Credence, and the small table on which the Candles have been placed and then proceed to arrange upon the Altar the vases of flowers, which should have been prepared beforehand in a convenient place. The Procession having returned, the Candles are extinguished and the Celebrant and his Ministers go to the Sedilia and there vest in the Vestments appropriate to the Celebration which is to follow. The Celebrant and the Sacred Ministers then proceed to the Altar and the Holy Eucharist is commenced in the usual manner. If it be the Feast of the Purification, but not otherwise, the Celebrant and all in Choir hold their Candles lighted during the singing of the Gospel, and those in Choir do the same from the Consecration until after the Communion.

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From Septuagesima to Lent

Septuagesima Sunday is always the ninth Sunday before Easter Day. It and the two following Sundays are Sundays of the second class and do not give way to any Feast, unless it be one of the first class, e.g., that of the Patron or Dedication of the Church.

With the commencement of this Season, the Services should assume a more solemn and less festal form; the Te Deum will be omitted at Mattins and Alleluia will cease to be sung. At the Holy Eucharist on Sundays and Festivals, a Tract takes the place of the Alleluia, and on other days only the Gradual is said.

At all Services of the Season the colour of the Vestments will be violet, but the Deacon and Sub-deacon will wear Dalmatic and Tunicle and there may still be flowers on the Altar and the Organ may be used as usual. The Office Hymns at Mattins and Evensong are the same as those used after the Octave of the Epiphany 3 according to the day of the week, vide p. 8.

Of Lent

The first day of Lent is Ash Wednesday, but the first week of Lent is that which follows the 1st Sunday, and, liturgically, the Season commences only at the Evensong of the Saturday before that day; in consequence of this there are no special Office Hymns for Ash Wednesday and the three following days, those common to the days of the week being used until Saturday evening, when the Office Hymn at Evensong, and daily until the Eve of Passion Sunday, will be Audi, benigne Conditor (Hymnal Noted, 48; H. A. M., 87; People’s Hymnal, 62). At Mattins during the same period the Office Hymn should be Ex more docti mystica (Hymnal Noted, 47; H. A. M., 85; People’s Hymnal, 61), or O Sol salutis intimis, (Hymnal Noted, 142).

During Lent, the Altars and other parts of the Church should be adorned in a simple manner. Flowers on the Altars should be used but sparingly and only when the Service is that of a Festival and on the 4th, Laetare or Mid-Lent, Sunday, when the Sacred Ministers will wear the Dalmatic and Tunicle. On the other Sundays in Lent the Deacon and Sub-deacon use folded Chasubles or serve in albis, i.e., the Deacon in Amice, Alb, Girdle, Maniple and Stole, and the Sub-deacon in Amice, Alb, Girdle, and Maniple.

The 1st Sunday in Lent, Passion Sunday, and Palm Sunday are Sundays of the first class, and it is impossible to observe any other Feast on these days. The 2nd, 3rd and 4th Sundays are Sundays of the second class, and only give way to a Double Feast of the first class, e.g., that of the Patron or Dedication of the Church. All the week-days in Lent are Greater Ferias and, if a Festival be celebrated on one of them, the Feria must be commemorated.

On Ash Wednesday and the days of Holy Week no Feast can be kept. All Octaves end on Ash Wednesday, as on December 16th (vide p. 6), and no Feast can be observed with an Octave until after Low Sunday.

Strictly speaking, the Organ should not be played during Lent, except on the 4th Sunday and on Solemn Feast Days, and if used it should be employed as little, and as quietly, as possible. According to ancient custom the Organ was used, at the Solemn Celebration of the Holy Eucharist on Maundy Thursday, till the end of the Gloria in Excelsis and also, on Holy Saturday at the Gloria in Excelsis and for the remainder of the Service, but, as the Gloria is placed in the English Office in a very different position to the one it formerly occupied, it seems impossible to observe any corresponding rule on the subject. For the same reason, if the Gloria in Excelsis be used during Lent (in all old Rituals it is ordered to be omitted at this Season), it seems impossible to recommend the practice of reciting it in a loud (and, as is too frequently the case, discordant) monotone. In the position it now occupies it has ceased to be merely an introductory hymn of praise, and has become a [page 11] Solemn Act of Thanksgiving, and, as it is also said in the actual Presence of the Blessed Sacrament, it would seem more fitting that, at Choral Celebrations, it should be sung, although to music of a more plain and simple character than customary at other times. The Paternoster, after the Communion of the people should be chanted as usual; the not uncommon practice of merely monotoning it during Lent seems to be destitute of any authority.

Of Passion-tide.

Before the first Evensong of Passion Sunday, all the Crosses, images of our LORD, and of the Saints, and any pictures in the Church and Sacristy should be covered; they will remain veiled till Holy Saturday, even should the Feast of the Patron, or of the Dedication, of the Church occur. The veils used for this purpose should be violet; they ought not to be transparent, and should not have a Cross or any emblem of the Passion worked upon them. Of course, this rule does not apply to the images, &c., which are merely ornamental or structural parts of the building, nor does it extend to the series of pictures representing the Way of the Cross. The Candlesticks on the Altar should not be veiled.

The Office Hymn on the Eve of Passion Sunday, and daily until the Wednes­day in Holy Week inclusive, is Vexilla Regis prodeunt (Hymnal Noted, 51; H. A. M., 96; People’s Hymnal, 82). And at Mattins, during the same period, it should be Pange lingua gloriosi Praelium, or Lustra sex qui jam peracta (Hymnal Noted, 52 or 53; H. A. M., 97; People’s Hymnal, 83). On Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday, there are no Office Hymns.

At the Holy Eucharist on Passion Sunday, and daily until Holy Saturday, unless the Service be that of a Festival, the Psalm Judica me in the Preparation, is omitted, and the Gloria Patri is not said at the Introit, or at the end of the Psalm Lavabo.

On Palm Sunday, before the principal Celebration of the Holy Eucharist, branches of palm and of other trees should be blessed by the Celebrant. The palms to be blessed should be placed on a small table near the Epistle side of the Altar (unless the blessing take place in the Sacristy), and should be covered with a white linen cloth. Branches of palm may be placed on the Altar between the Candlesticks. When the blessing is concluded the palms will be distributed to the Clergy and Choir, in due order, and then, if it be customary, to the people who will come up to the Chancel step to receive them, first the men and then the women. If necessary, the Celebrant may be assisted in the distribution by another Priest, vested in Surplice and violet Stole. The Sub-deacon will attend at the right of the Celebrant to raise the border of the Cope, and the Deacon will be at the left to present him the Palms. The Processional Cross should be covered with a violet veil and, during the distribution, the Sacristan will securely fasten one of the blessed Palms to the top with a violet ribbon. The distribution ended, the procession will be formed, and proceed round the Church in the customary manner, but the Processional Cross will be carried by the Sub-deacon. The Clergy and Choir follow the Cross, walking two and two as usual, each bearing his Palm in the outside hand; the Deacon will walk at the left of the Celebrant, raising with the right hand the border of the Cope, and holding his Palm in the left hand. The Celebrant carries his Palm in the right hand. At the Procession, the Hymn Gloria, laus et honor (Altar Hymnal, 23; Hymnal Noted, 54; H. A. M., 98; People’s Hymnal, 84) should be sung. At the Blessing and Procession, the Celebrant will wear Amice, Alb, Girdle, Stole and Cope. The Deacon and Sub-deacon will be vested as usual, but remove their Maniples before the Procession, resuming them again at its conclusion, after they have assisted to take off the Celebrant’s Cope, and to vest him with the Maniple and Chasuble which should be placed in readiness on the Sedilia before the Service begins.

After the Procession, the Holy Eucharist proceeds as usual, except for the omissions commenced on Passion Sunday, and that, at the Gospel, the Acolytes [page 12] carry Palms in their hands in place of their Candlesticks. The Clergy and Choir hold their Palms in their hands during the Gospel, and carry them out with them at the end of the Service. If the Gospel be considered to take the place of the ancient Passion, the Dominus vobiscum and Gloria Tibi usually sung before the Gospel may be omitted throughout Holy Week, and during the same period, when the words “He gave up the Ghost” occur in the Gospel, it is customary for every one to kneel and for a slight pause to be made. On Palm Sunday a genuflection is also made in the Epistle, at the words “At the Name of JESUS, &c.”

If Palms be not blessed, the Celebrant may read S. Matthew xxi. 1—9, for the Last Gospel at the end of the Celebration, in place of S. John i.

On Maundy Thursday, the High Altar, but not any other, should be vested in white and adorned with the most costly ornaments the Church possesses, and the Holy Eucharist will be celebrated with all possible solemnity. The Altar Cross should be covered with a white veil, and the candles should be of white wax. The Vestments of the Sacred Ministers will be white, and the Deacon and Sub-deacon will wear Dalmatic and Tunicle. The High Altar is decorated festally in honour of the Solemn Celebration of the Blessed Sacrament; if, therefore, before this Celebration there be any other Services the white Antependium should be covered with a violet one which can be easily removed. Immediately after the Solemn Celebration the Altar should be denuded of all its ornaments, except the Cross and Candlesticks, and at all other Services on this day, Stoles, &c., should be violet. Evensong should be quite plain. It is an ancient custom to omit the Gloria Patri at all Services on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, and at Mattins on Holy Saturday; it is a significant practice but cannot claim the authority of existing rubrics.

On Good Friday, the Altar Cross will be veiled with black, and the Candle­sticks should be furnished with candles of yellow or unbleached wax; they will remain unlighted, except Evensong be said solemnly. Incense will not be used at any Service on Good Friday, and if the Church possess Sanctuary Lamps they should be extinguished on Maundy Thursday, and not re-lighted until Easter Eve. The principal liturgical Service, it would seem, must be the Communion Service to the end of the Prayer for the Church, with the Reproaches and Veneration of the Cross. (Vide Altar Hymnal, p. 60; Hymnal Noted, p. 160; People’s Hymnal, 88). The Officiant should be vested in Amice, Alb, Girdle, black Stole (crossed), Maniple and Cope. The Deacon and Sub-deacon will assist him in albis. The Acolytes will not carry Candles, but proceed to the Choir as usual, and attend at the singing of the Gospel with hands joined. The Sacred Ministers will proceed to the Altar in silence and at once kneel at the lowest step, and say the Miserere (secretly), in place of the usual preparatory prayers. There should be no Introit, and if it be usual to say Deo gratias after the Epistle, it should be omitted, as well as the Laus Tibi at the end of the Gospel. The most fitting time for the Reproaches would seem to be after the Sermon (if there be one), and then the service can be concluded with the Offertory, Church Militant Prayer, Collects, and Blessing. Prior to the Reproaches, the Altar Cross and all other Crosses in the Church should be unveiled, and not be again covered, but the images and pictures will remain veiled until Easter Eve. The Reproaches should be sung by two Cantors, kneeling at the entrance of the Sanctuary, and the responses by the Choir (Cantoris and Decani alternately). In the meantime the Sacred Ministers may kneel at the Epistle side of the Altar in front of the Sedilia.

On Holy Saturday or Easter Eve, the colour at the Holy Eucharist and at Evensong will be white, but at all other Services, violet should be used. Anciently the Celebration of the Blessed Sacrament on Easter Eve was solemnly and festally rendered and was immediately followed by Vespers, being delayed until late in the afternoon, owing to the large number of preliminary ceremonies then observed. Under present circumstances it would seem better to defer any festal observances until Evensong. Opinions vary, but the weight of authority and precedent would seem to be in favour of using the Collect of Easter Even [page 13] at Evensong, as well as at the preceding Services, reserving that for Easter Day until the morning of the Feast itself.

Of Easter-tide

The great Festival of Easter, the Queen of Feasts, will, of course, be celebrated with all the joy and splendour possible. The Altars will be adorned in a festive manner; the antependia or frontals, as well as the Vestments of the Clergy, should be white or of cloth of gold.

Easter Day is a privileged Sunday of the first class and it is also a Double Feast of the first class with an Octave. The Octave is also privileged, and it is impossible to celebrate any other Feast during this Octave; the Monday and Tuesday are Doubles of the first class but should be celebrated with a less degree of solemnity than Easter Day. Low Sunday, the Octave Day, is a Sunday of the first class and is to be observed in the same manner as a Double Feast.

At Mattins and Evensong on Easter Day, and daily until the following Saturday, there is no Office Hymn, but in its place should be sung, “This is the Day which the LORD hath made, we will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm cxviii. 24). At the first Evensong of Low Sunday, and daily until the Eve of the Ascension, the Office Hymn should be Ad coenam Agni providi (Hymnal Noted, 64; H. A. M., 128; People’s Hymnal, 117); and at Mattins on Low Sunday, and daily till Ascension Day, it should be Aurora lucis rutilat (Hymnal Noted, 58; H. A. M., 126 (i); People’s Hymnal, 131), or Rex sempiterne coelitum (Hymnal Noted, 156; H. A. M., 129; People’s Hymnal, 124).

The proper Processional for Easter Day is Salve! Festa Dies (Altar Hymnal, 25 or 181; H. A. M., 497; Hymnal Noted, 62).

If there be a Paschal Candle it should be placed on a large candelabrum stand­ing on the floor of the Sanctuary at the Gospel side of the Altar. It should be lighted at the Solemn Celebration of the Holy Eucharist and at Evensong on Easter Day and the two following days; also on the Saturday in Easter Week and on all Sundays till Ascension Day. It is also lighted on Ascension Day, but is extinguished at the end of the Gospel and removed at the conclusion of the Service.

Of the Rogation Days and the Feast of the Ascension

The Monday of the Rogations is a Greater Feria and so is the Wednesday, as it is the Vigil of the Ascension. These two days take precedence of any Simple Feast and if superseded by a Feast of higher rank, are always commemorated, unless it be a Double Feast of the first class. Mattins and Evensong on these days should be as on the other week-days in Easter-tide, but on Monday the Benedicite should take the place of the Te Deum at Mattins and on each of the three days the Litany should be said or sung. Its proper place would seem to be immediately before the Holy Eucharist and the colour used at these two services will be violet. In Churches where it is the custom to have more than one Celebra­tion of the Holy Eucharist on these days, if a Double or Semi-double Feast should occur, it is desirable, and quite proper, that the first Celebration should be with the Office and colour of the Feast, and the second, of the Rogations in violet.

The Feast of the Ascension of our LORD is a Double Feast of the first class with an Octave. This Octave, however, does not exclude the observance of Double or Semi-double Feasts but a Commemoration of the Octave must always be made unless the Feast observed be that of the Patron or Title of the Church. It is to be noted that at the first Evensong of the Octave Day the whole Office is to be of the Ascension, with commemoration of a preceding Double Feast, except it be one of the first or second class, in which case the Office will be of the Feast, commemoration being made of the Ascension; at the second Even­song of the Octave Day, commemoration only will be made of a following Double Feast, unless it be one of the first or second class: in that case the Office will be of the Feast with commemoration of the Octave Day. The day after the Octave Day is a Semi-double. At the first Evensong of the Ascension and daily until Whitsun Eve, the Office Hymn is Jesu Redemptor omnium [page 14] (Hymnal Noted, 67; H. A. M., 150; People’s Hymnal, 143), and at Mattins on Ascension Day and daily until Whitsun Eve, it should be Aeterne Rex altissime (Hymnal Noted, 66; H. A. M., 144; People’s Hymnal, 140), or as at Evensong.

Of the Feast of Pentecost and Trinity Sunday.

The Vigil of Pentecost is a Semi-double and is one of those days on which it is forbidden to celebrate any Feast. Whitsun Day and its Octave are of precisely the same rank and have the same privileges as the Octave of Easter, and should therefore be observed in a similar manner. The Octave Day is superseded by Trinity Sunday, which is a Sunday of the first class and a Double Feast of the second class. On the Whitsun Ember Days the colour of the Octave, Red, will be retained, and at a High Celebration of the Holy Eucharist the Deacon and Sub-deacon will wear the Dalmatic and Tunicle.

The Office Hymns are, at Evensong from Whitsun Eve till the following Friday inclusive, Veni Creator Spiritus (Hymnal Noted, 71; H. A. M., 347 or 157; People’s Hymnal, 153); and at Mattins from Whitsun Day to the following Saturday inclusive, Jam Christus astra ascenderat (Hymnal Noted, 69; H. A. M., 152; People’s Hymnal, 151), or Beata nobis gaudia (Hymnal Noted, 70; H. A. M., 153; People’s Hymnal, 155). On Trinity Sunday, both at first and second Evensong, the Office Hymn should be O Lux beata Trinitas (Hymnal Noted, 1; H. A. M., 14; People’s Hymnal, 410); and at Mattins, Tu Trinitatis Unitas (Hymnal Noted, 343): H. A. M., 158 or People’s Hymnal, 162, may be used instead.

Of the Feast of Corpus Christi.

The Feast of Corpus CHRISTI is celebrated on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday, it is a Double Feast of the first class with an Octave. Within this Octave only Double Feasts may be kept, Semi-doubles and Simples being merely commemorated. The days in the Octave must be always commemorated, no matter what Feast may occur, and the Octave Day will only give place to a Double Feast of the first class. The rules given (p. 13) as to the first and second Evensong of the Octave Day of the Feast of the Ascension apply also to the Octave Day of the Feast of Corpus CHRISTI       .

The Office Hymns to be used daily throughout the Octave are, at Evensong, Pange lingua gloriosi (Hymnal Noted, 211 and 212; H. A. M., 309 (i. and ii.); People’s Hymnal, 166), and at Mattins, Sacris solemniis (Hymnal Noted, 217), or Verbum supernum prodiens (Hymnal Noted, 55; H. A. M., 311 (i. and ii.); People’s Hymnal, 167).

From Trinity Sunday to Advent.

There may be twenty-seven, or there may be but twenty-two Sundays between the Feast of the HOLY TRINITY and Advent Sunday. When there are less than twenty-five, the Collects, Epistles and Gospels in excess will be omitted but the Collect, Epistle and Gospel appointed for the 25th Sunday must always be used on the Sunday next before Advent, If there be twenty-seven Sundays after Trinity, on the 25th Sunday will be used the Collect, Epistle and Gospel of the 5th Sunday after Epiphany and on the 26th those of the 6th Sunday after Epiphany. The Sundays during this Season are Semi-doubles and take precedence of other Semi-doubles; the week-days are ordinary Ferias. The Office Hymns are as follows:—

	MATTINS.			EVENSONG.
	H.N.	H.A.M.	P.H.	H.N.	H.A.M.	P.H.
On all Sundays when the Office is of the Sunday, i.e. when the 1st Collect is that of the Sunday, except on the Sunday within the Octave of Corpus CHRISTI	5	34	411	11	38	416
On Mondays	17	2	422	18	39	423
On Tuesdays	19	1	424	20	40	425
On Wednesdays	21	1	426	22	41	427
On Thursdays	23	1	428	24	42	429
On Fridays	25	1	430	26	43	431
On Saturdays	27	1	432	1	14	410

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Of the Commemoration of All Souls.

The Commemoration of All Souls is observed on the 2nd of November, except it be a Sunday, and commences with Vespers of the Dead, which should be said on the afternoon or evening of November 1st, immediately after the 2nd Evensong of the Feast of All Saints.

If November 2nd be a Sunday, the Commemoration must be on the 3rd, and then the Vespers will be said immediately after Evensong on Sunday, and not on the Saturday. No Feast should be transferred to the day of the Commemoration, but if November 2nd be a Sunday, and November 3rd the Feast of the Dedica­tion, or Patron of the Church, then the Commemoration of All Souls must be observed on the 4th, Vespers being said after Evensong on the 3rd.

In the Church should be prepared the Catafalque with Candles in the usual manner.

The Altar will be vested as usual for the Evensong of All Saints’, or of the Sunday, but, if possible, the black Antependium should be placed under the other one; this will be found more convenient than bringing it from the Sacristy before the commencement of the Vespers of the Dead.

A black Cope for the Officiant should be in readiness at the Credence, and if there be Cantors in Copes, black Copes should be provided for them in a convenient place.

At the conclusion of the Evensong of the Day, the white or festal Antependium and other hangings, together with any vases of flowers, should be removed, and the candles at the Catafalque should be lighted; the Officiant and the Cantors will then remove the Copes they have been wearing and assume the black Copes prepared for them.

But if the Officiant at the Vespers of the Dead is not to be the same as at the Evensong of the Day, the Priest who has officiated at the latter will retire to the Sacristy, with the Acolytes, immediately after the conclusion of the Service, and the Officiant at the Vesper Office will enter and proceed to the Altar in the ordinary way, and, without kneeling to say the usual prayer at the Altar step, go to his place, when the Vespers will commence at once, and be sung solemnly.

There should be but one Collect, which should be said with the full ending.

The Commemoration of All Souls has no Second Vespers.

OF THE
FEASTS OF THE PATRON OR TITLE, & OF THE DEDICATION OF A CHURCH

I. Of the Patron or Title

1. The Feast of the Patron is that of the Saint after which the Church is named, e.g., S. Peter, S. John, or S. Mary Magdalen; but it is called “of the Title” if the Church be dedicated in the name of a Mystery, such as the HOLY TRINITY, the Blessed Sacrament, or the Holy Cross, or of an event, as the Ascension of our LORD, the Annunciation B.V.M., &c.

2. The Feast of the Patron or Title is a Double Feast of the first class, and is celebrated with an Octave, except from the 16th December to the Epiphany, from Ash Wednesday until Low Sunday, and from the Vigil of Pentecost to Trinity Sunday, all inclusive, when no notice is taken of the Octave.[3]

3. The days within the Octave are Semi-doubles, and the Octave Day a Double; on the Sunday within the Octave the colour of the Feast will be retained, but the Offices will be of the Sunday with commemoration of the Octave; if the Feast itself be on a Sunday, then on the Octave Day everything will be as on the Feast, with commemoration of the Sunday.

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4. The Feast of the Patron or Title cannot be kept, and must be transferred to the first vacant day, if it occur on Advent Sunday; the Vigil or Feast of the Nativity, the Circumcision, the Epiphany, or its Octave Day; Ash Wednesday; the 1st Sunday in Lent; Passion Sunday; Palm Sunday, or during Holy Week and Easter Week; Ascension Day; from the Vigil of Pentecost to Trinity Sunday inclusive; on the Feasts of Corpus CHRISTI, Nativity S. John Baptist, S. Peter, or All Saints, unless, of course, one of these days itself be the Feast of the Patron or Title.

5. The colour of the Vestments, &c., will be that appertaining to the Feast, according to the usual rules.

6. In the case of a Church dedicated to the HOLY TRINITY, the Feast of the Title will be observed on Trinity Sunday, but the Feast of Corpus CHRISTI, if it be observed, will be celebrated on the following Thursday as usual, no commemora­tion of the Octave being made at any of the Services. On the Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the Service will be of the Octave with commemoration of Corpus CHRISTI.

II. Of the Dedication of a Church.

1. The Feast of the Dedication of a Church is the Anniversary of the day on which the Church was consecrated, and should be observed, every year on the actual day of the Consecration.

2. It is not permissible to celebrate a Feast of Dedication of a Church which has not been consecrated, or, even, of one of which the Consecration is doubtful. A Mission or temporary Church, licensed by the Bishop for Divine Service, cannot keep a Dedication Festival.

3. Rules 2, 3 and 4, relating to the Feast of the Patron are also applicable to that of the Dedication.

4. The colour of the Vestments, &c., in all cases, should be white.

5. Should the Feast of the Dedication occur on the same day as the Feast of the Patron, or Title, the Feast of Dedication will be observed in preference, and the colour will be white, unless, the Feast of the Patron or Title be one of the Feasts of our LORD, or of the B.V.M., or the Feasts of the Nativity of S. John Baptist, S. Peter, or All Saints, in which case it will be preferred to the Feast of Dedication.

The Collect for SS. Simon and Jude may be used, or the following:—

O GOD, Who renewest unto us year by year the day of the consecration of this holy Temple, and dost permit us continually to present ourselves in safety at Thy holy Mysteries; graciously hear the prayers of Thy people, and grant, that whosoever shall enter this Temple to ask good things from Thee, may rejoice in the gaining of all their petitions. Through.

Epistle, Rev. xxi. 2—5. Gospel, S Luke, xix. 1—10.

OF VOTIVE CELEBRATIONS OF THE HOLY EUCHARIST.

A Votive Celebration of the Holy Eucharist is one which neither accords with the Office of the Day nor is prescribed by the Church for that day, but one which the Priest celebrates out of his own devotion or at the special request, or on behalf, of others. Such a Celebration should not take place without good and sufficient reason and cannot be celebrated on all days.

Requiems for the Departed are classed as Votive Celebrations of the Holy Eucharist, they are of two classes and are generally distinguished as ordinary and privileged. Under the title of privileged are included, (I) A Celebration in the presence of the body of a departed person; (II) One directly connected with the obsequies of a departed person, although, from special causes, the body may not be actually present; (III) Those on the 3rd, 7th, and 30th days after death or burial, and (IV) those on Anniversaries. All other Requiem Celebrations, either for a particular soul, or for all the Faithful Departed (except on All Souls’ Day, which has a special privilege) are termed ordinary.

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As a Parish Priest is bound to celebrate, or to provide a Celebration of the Blessed Sacrament, on behalf of his parishioners on all Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation, it is incompatible with this duty, as well as out of harmony with the observance of the Solemnity, for the Celebration, on such days, to be for the Departed, but while an ordinary Requiem Celebration is prohibited, it is permissible, on these days (with some exceptions), to celebrate one of the privileged class, provided it be an additional Celebration, and does not supersede that proper to the day. When, on such days, from deficiency of Clergy, or other cause, it is impractible to have more than a single Celebration, the Requiem Celebration, even if it be part of the Funeral Rites, must be postponed to the first vacant day on which such a Celebration would be permissible, and the same rule applies in the case of a Funeral or Anniversary occuring on those days when a Requiem Celebration is absolutely prohibited, e.g., on one of the three last days of Holy Week, or on Easter Day.

1. A single Celebration* for a departed person, in the presence of the body, is permissible on any day, except the three last days of Holy Week, Easter Day, Whitsun Day, Christmas Day, Epiphany, Ascension Day, (also on the Feasts of Corpus CHRISTI, and Assumption B.V.M.), and on the Feasts of the Nativity of S. John Baptist, S. Peter, and All Saints, and on those of the Dedication, and principal Patron or Title of the Church.

* Strictly, this should be Solemnly Celebrated, but it may be a Low Celebration, if from deficiency of Clergy or Choir a Solemn Celebration cannot be provided.

2. One Solemn Celebration for a departed person on the day of death or before the Burial, in the absence of the body, which, however, must be in a special place near the Church, may be celebrated on any day, except those named in Section 1, and the 1st Sundays in Advent and Lent, Passion Sunday, Palm Sunday, Low Sunday, Trinity Sunday, Ash Wednesday, the whole of Holy Week, the Vigils of Christmas and Pentecost, and the days within the Octaves of the Epiphany, Easter and Pentecost.

NOTE.—If any other Feasts be observed as Doubles of the first class they must be included in the list of days excepted under this section.

3. One Solemn Celebration for a departed person, if the body has been buried the day before without a Celebration of the Blessed Sacrament, or on the day of burial, if the body be neither present nor in the proximity of the Church, or after having notice of death, if the departed died under such circumstances that the body cannot be present, or on the 3rd, 7th, and 30th days after, or on the Anniversary of the death or burial may be cele­brated on any day, except those named in Sections 1 and 2, and the Feast of the Circum­cision, those of the Purification and Annunciation B.V.M., the Apostles, Evangelists, S. Stephen, Holy Innocents, and S. Michael and All Angels.

NOTE.—If any other Feasts be observed as Doubles of the second class they must be included in the list of days excepted under this section.

4. Other, or all ordinary Celebrations of the Blessed Sacrament for the Departed, whether Solemn or Low, are prohibited

On any Feast Day which is a Double.
On any Sunday.
From the Vigil of the Nativity to the Octave of the Epiphany, both inclusive.
On Ash Wednesday, and during Holy Week and Easter Week.
On the Vigil of Pentecost and during Whitsun Week.
On the Feast of Corpus CHRISTI and during the Octave.

Other Votives are the Celebration of the Blessed Sacrament at a Marriage; those which are celebrated for special and grave cause, e.g., In time of War or for Peace; for the Sick or in time of Famine or Pestilence &c., and also those for obtaining special gifts or graces, e.g., the guidance of the holy ghost for a Synod or Diocesan Conference.

A Special Celebration of the Holy Eucharist in commemoration of some Mystery or of a Saint, on a day other than the proper Festival, is also termed a Votive Celebration.

More latitude is allowed by the Church in celebrating the Holy Eucharist at a Marriage than at Requiems and such a Celebration is only forbidden in tempore feriarum, when the solemnization of marriage is forbidden, i.e., from Ash Wednesday to Low Sunday, and from Advent Sunday to the Epiphany inclusive, or when either party to the marriage has been previously married. Such Celebrations also are [page 18] not allowable on Sundays, on Double Feasts of the first and second class, on the Vigil of Pentecost or within the Octaves of the Epiphany, Pentecost and Corpus CHRISTI, but, at these times, it is permissible to make a Commemoration of the Marriage at the Eucharist of the Day.

Other Votive Celebrations of the Holy Eucharist should not be celebrated on Sundays or Double Feasts; or from the Vigil of the Nativity to the Octave of the Epiphany; on Ash Wednesday or during Holy Week, and Easter Week; from the Vigil of Pentecost to Trinity Sunday; on Corpus CHRISTI Day or during the Octave.

In Requiems, the following are the variations from the accustomed order which should be made. The Psalm Judica in the Preparation and the Gloria Patri in the Introit are not said. The Celebrant, instead of signing himself at the Introit, makes the sign of the Cross, with his right hand, over the book without touching it, the left hand meantime being placed on the Altar. But one Collect is said at Requiems on or before the day of Burial, on the 3rd, 7th, and 30th days after Burial, on Anniversaries and on All Souls’ Day; on other days, three, five or seven Collects should be said.

Before the Gospel, the Priest says the prayer, Cleanse my heart and my lips, but omits the benediction and at the end of the Gospel does not kiss the book or say, Through the words of the Gospel, &c.

The usual prayer is said at the mixing of the Wine and Water, but the Water is not blessed and the Gloria Patri at the end of the Psalm Lavabo is omitted.

At the Agnus Dei, in place of Have mercy upon us is said the first and second time Grant them rest, and the third time for Grant us Thy peace is said Grant them rest everlasting. Throughout the Agnus, the Priest keeps his hands joined before him and does not strike his breast, as at other times. The first of the usual prayers before Communion, the Prayer for Unity, is omitted.

According to ancient use, the Creed, Gloria in Excelsis and Benediction were omitted in Requiems, and in place of the last, the Celebrant (at a High Celebration, the Deacon) said, turning to the Altar, May they rest in peace. R/. Amen. It is to be noted that this V/., the Introit, Gradual, Offertory, Agnus Dei and Communion are said in the plural number on all occasions.

At a High Celebration, the Deacon will omit all the usual kisses and Incense should not be used at the Introit or Gospel. At the Offertory and at the Conse­cration, Incense will be used but at the former, the Oblations, the Altar and the Celebrant only will be censed. At the Gospel, the Acolytes assist without their Candles but at the Consecration they remain with their torches until the Communion of the Celebrant.

In other Votive Celebrations, the order of the Service is as usual except that the Creed and Gloria in Excelsis are usually omitted, but both may be sung if the Celebration be a Solemn one and the colour be white or red. Three Collects ordinarily should be said: First, that of the special occasion; second, that of the Day; third, that which should have been said in the second place in the Eucharist of the Day.

WHITE Vestments should be used at Votive Celebrations of the HOLY TRINITY, of the Blessed Sacrament, of S. Mary, of the Holy Angels, of Saints not Martyrs, and at a Marriage; RED at those of the HOLT GHOST, of the Holy Cross and of the Apostles, Evangelists and Martyrs; VIOLET at those of the Passion and at those for any necessity; BLACK at all Requiems.

OF THE RELATIVE DIGNITY OF FEASTS, ETC.

I. Of the Occurrence.

When two Feasts fall upon the same day they are said to be in occurrence and it becomes necessary to know to which the preference should be given. The following is the order of precedence to be observed in such cases:—

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1. A Sunday of the first-class; Ash Wednesday; all the days of Holy Week; the Vigil and Feast of the Nativity; the Circumcision; the Epiphany and its Octave Day; all the days in Easter Week; the Feast of the Ascension; the Vigil of Pentecost and all the days in the Octave; the Feast of Corpus CHRISTI and the Feast of All Saints.

2. A Double Feast of the first class.

3. A Sunday of the second class; the days in the Octave of the Epiphany; the Octave Day of Corpus CHRISTI.

4. A Double Feast of the second class.

5. An Octave Day.

6. A Greater Double.

7. An ordinary Double.

8. An ordinary Sunday.

9. The days in the Octave of Corpus CHRISTI.

10. A Semi-double.

11. The days in Octaves not mentioned above.

12. The Greater Ferias, viz., the week-days of Advent and Lent, the Ember Days, and Rogation Monday.

13. A Vigil not named above.

14. A Simple Feast.

15. An Ordinary Feria.

Sometimes, however, it will happen that two Feasts of the same class will occur together. In such cases the precedence will be determined by the character of the Feast, according to the following order:—i. Feasts of our LORD; ii. Of the Blessed Virgin; iii. Of the Holy Angels; iv. Of S. John Baptist; v. Of the Apostles and Evangelists; vi. Of other Saints which are all of equal dignity, but preference will be given (i.) to the Feast of a Saint especially connected with the particular Church, such as a second or less important Patron, (ii.) to a Feast especially connected with the Diocese, and (iii.) to a Feast celebrated by the Church Universal. The Feast of the principal Patron will always be preferred to that of any other Saint, but gives way to that of the Dedication. (There are, how­ever, some exceptions to the latter rule, for which see page 16, ii. 5.)

The Feast which gives way to another Feast with which it is in occurrence, is treated in one of three ways, either (i.) it is omitted entirely for that year, or (ii.) commemorated in the Services of the day, or (iii.) translated to the first vacant day. (i.) The Offices of the following days are omitted entirely:—Of an ordinary Feria; the Offices of a Vigil, if in occurrence with a Double Feast of the first class or with a Greater Feria; the Offices of a Day in an Octave (other than Christmas, Epiphany and Corpus CHRISTI), when in occurrence with a Double Feast of the first or second class; those of an ordinary Double, Semi-double or Simple Feast in occurrence with a Double Feast of the first class or with one of the three last days of Holy Week, (ii.) The Offices of a Sunday, an Octave Day and of a Greater Feria are always commemorated when in occurrence with those of a greater day, although it be even a Double Feast of the first class. Commemoration will also be made of a Simple Feast unless it be in occurrence with a Double Feast of the first class, and of a Day in an Octave, except it be in occurrence with a Double Feast of the first or second class, but a Simple Feast occurring on the same day as a Double Feast of the second class will be commemorated at Mattins and Holy Eucharist only and not at the first Even­song. Ordinary Doubles and Semi-doubles will be commemorated if in occurrence with a greater day, unless it be a Double Feast of the first class, (iii.) Double Feasts of the first or second class, Greater Doubles and Feasts of the Holy Doctors of the Church, which cannot be observed on their proper days, [page 20] because of occurrence, will be transferred to the first vacant day. When a Feast having an Octave is transferred, the Octave Day is never transferred, but is kept on the same day, as if the Feast had not been transferred. If a Feast must be transferred to a day beyond its proper Octave Day, it will be for that year observed without an Octave.

If the Feast of the Purification or Annunciation fall upon a Sunday of the second class it shall be transferred to the Monday, even if it be already occupied by a Feast of the same rank. If the Monday be a Double Feast of the first class viz., that of the Patron or Dedication, the Feast of the Purification or Annunciation will be observed on the Tuesday. If the Feast of the Annunciation fall upon Palm Sunday or in Holy Week or Easter Week it must be transferred to the Monday after Low Sunday, unless that be a Double Feast of the first class, in which case the Annunciation will be kept on the Tuesday.

If the Feast of the Nativity of S. John Baptist fall on the same Day as Corpus CHRISTI it will be transferred to the day following and the Feast of that day (even if it be a Double Feast of the first class) will be transferred or its observance omitted for that year. If any Feast usually observed with an Octave occur in Lent, the Octave will not be kept that year; but if the Feast happen a little before Lent, the Octave will be kept but will cease entirely when Lent begins. The same rule applies to Octaves, which are not prescribed by rubric, if Whitsun Day or December 16th occur before they are ended.

II. Of the Concurrence.

Festivals are said to concur when two Feasts are kept on succeeding days, so that the first Evensong of one Feast falls on the same day as the second Evensong of the other.

If the second Evensong of a Double Feast of the first class concur with the first Evensong of a Double Feast of the second class, the Service will be of the preceding with a Commemoration of the following, or the reverse, if the concurrence be that of the second Evensong of a Double Feast of the second class with the first Evensong of one of the first class.

If the two Feasts be of equal rank i.e., both Doubles of the first or second class or Greater Doubles, the Evensong will be of the more worthy, with a Commemoration of the less worthy, the decision being made on the same principle as in cases of occurrence, thus if the two Feasts in concurrence are a Feast of the Blessed Virgin, and that of an Apostle, the first will have the preference. If the second Evensong of an ordinary Double be in concurrence with the first Evensong of a Greater Double, the Service will be of the latter with a Commemoration of the preceding.

If two ordinary Doubles are in concurrence, the Service will be of the following with a Commemoration of the preceding. The second Evensong of a Double Feast will take precedence of the first Evensong of a Semi-double and the second Evensong of a Semi-double, of the first Evensong of a Simple Feast.

The first Evensong of any Sunday takes precedence of the second Evensong of a Semi-double Feast, or of the Evensong of a Day within an Octave, but gives way to the second Evensong of all other Festivals; in such cases, however, a Commemoration of the Sunday must always be made.

The second Evensong of a Sunday of the first or second class, gives way to the first Evensong of any Double Feast, but is always commemorated. Low Sunday, however, is an exception to this rule and its second Evensong will only give way to the first Evensong of a Double Feast of the first or second class.

The second Evensong of an ordinary Sunday will give place to the first Evensong of a Double Feast of the first or second class and no Commemoration of the Sunday will be made, but when in concurrence with a Greater or Lesser Double the Sunday will always be commemorated. If an ordinary Sunday be in concurrence with a Semi-double or Simple Feast, the Service will be of the Sunday with a Commemoration of the following Festival.

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If the second Evensong of the Octave Day of Corpus CHRISTI concur with the first Evensong of the Octave Day of S. John Baptist, the Evensong will be of Corpus CHRISTI, with commemoration of S. John Baptist.

At the second Evensong of Doubles of the first class, no commemoration will be made of a Day within an Octave; nor at the second Evensong of Doubles of the second class, unless the Offices of the following day are to be of the Octave. The days in the Octaves of Christmas, Epiphany and Corpus CHRISTI are excep­tions to this rule as a Commemoration of these Octaves must always be made, whatever Festival occur within them.

If many Commemorations have to be made the following is the order which should be observed: Of a Double, of a Sunday, of a Semi-double, of a Day within an Octave, of a Greater Feria or Vigil, of a Simple.

OF PROCESSIONS.

There are two kinds of Processions: 1st, Those on the Feast of the Purifica­tion, Palm Sunday and the Rogations and those on other days according to the custom of each Church; these are termed ordinary. 2nd, The special or extra­ordinary Processions which are ordered or authorised by the Bishop to obtain some particular favour or as a Special Act of Thanksgiving.

As the distinctive observances connected with the Processions on the Purifica­tion and Palm Sunday, are described in the chapters on those days it is unnecessary to refer to them here, and this chapter will only treat of the general rules respecting Processions on all occasions.

There is no doubt that ancient practice would warrant a Procession before the principal Celebration of the Holy Eucharist on all Sundays of the year, and on nearly all Festivals, but in most Parochial Churches it would seem desirable to restrict the Processions to the above named days and to the principal Feasts.

A Procession, as a distinct and separate Service, can take place at any time, but if directly connected with another Service its proper position is before the principal Eucharist or immediately after Evensong.

The Procession should start upon all occasions from the midst of the Choir, the Cross-bearer and Acolytes with the officiating Clergy standing in front of the Altar. The course of the Procession will be down the south aisle, up the centre, and back into the Chancel; but if there be an aisle round the Chancel, behind the Stalls and the High Altar, the Procession will go out at the north gate of the Chancel, turn to the right, pass behind the Altar, and so come into the south aisle. Rogation and Penitential Processions on the contrary will pass out of the Chancel into the north aisle by the centre or south gate of the Chancel and turn to the left throughout their course.

The order of the Procession, on nearly all occasions, is the same and should be as follows:—

Thurifer, with Incense burning.
(1.) Candle-bearer. Cross-bearer. Candle-bearer.
The Choir,
first the boys, then the men, walking two and two, not in pairs shoulder to shoulder, but wide apart, so as to form two separate lines with an open space between.
Clergy (not officiating)
in the order of their dignity, first the Deacons, then the Priests, walking in the same manner as the Choir.
(2.) Sub-deacon. The Celebrant. Deacon.
(3.) The Bishop and his Chaplains (if present).

(1.) If at any point in the Procession it is impossible for the Candle-bearers and Cross-bearer to walk abreast, the Candle-bearers will precede the Cross until a wider path be reached.

(2.) This will be the order at a High Celebration of the Holy Eucharist, the Sacred Ministers attending at the side of the Celebrant to hold back the borders of his Cope. On the occasions when the Sub-deacon is carrying the Cross, the Deacon will walk on the left of the Celebrant.

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At a Missa Cantata, two Acolytes take the place of the Sacred Ministers as also at a Procession at Evensong, and at other times, unless the Officiant be attended by Cantors in Copes. If the Celebrant be not vested in Cope, the Sub-deacon and Deacon will walk before him, one behind the other, but at a Missa Cantata the Acolytes will walk together as usual.

(3.) If the Bishop be accompanied by four Chaplains, two will walk before him, but not immediately in front, and the other two at his side holding back the borders of his Cope; if there be more than four, the remainder will walk after the Bishop, but in the same manner as the Choir with an open space between them. The Bishop should be vested in Cope and Mitre and, if in his own Diocese, should carry his Pastoral Staff in his left hand; if from age or infirmity he be unable to carry the Staff himself it may be borne before him by one of his Chaplains.

If there be school children, Lay Confraternities, or Religious Orders in the Procession they should walk before the Thurifer in the order named, the most recently established Confraternity or Society (if there be more than one) pre­ceding the others. Each Confraternity or Order may have its own Cross or distinctive Banner. Laity who desire to take part in the Procession will follow the Officiant (or Bishop) walking two and two, first the girls and women and then the boys and men. Everyone in the Procession should be careful to preserve the same space between himself and the person in front of him. This space should not be less than three feet. Short steps should be taken, and it is most desirable to avoid swinging the arms; if not carrying a book, the hands should be joined or folded in front. If there be Cantors in Copes their place in the Procession will be immediately before the-officiating Clergy. The Ceremonarius has no fixed place in the Procession since he ought to be where his presence is necessary or useful.

The Cross-bearer, Thurifer and Acolytes are allowed no head covering what­ever and the Ceremonarius, even if he be in Holy Orders, may not under any circumstances, wear more than the zucchetto. The Choir and Clergy may cover their heads outside the Church, but within the Church all must be uncovered, except the Officiant, Deacon and Sub-deacon (unless he be the Cross-bearer). The Cantors in Copes may wear their birettas if in Holy Orders, but not otherwise. All the other Clergy should carry their birettas, with both hands, below the breast.

On the conclusion of a Procession before the Holy Eucharist the Sacred Ministers (at a Missa Cantata, the Acolytes) will proceed with the Celebrant to the Sedilia, they will there take off the Celebrant’s Cope and vest him in the Maniple and Chasuble and then put on their own Maniples. On no account should the Celebrant, unless he be a Bishop, receive the Chasuble, &c., at, or from, the Altar.

If the Procession be at the Holy Eucharist, the Celebrant, or at Evensong the Officiant, will preside at the Procession and not another Priest.

It is most desirable that all Processions should be commenced by the Officiant (at a High Celebration, the Deacon) turning to the people and saying, “Let us go forth in peace,” to which the Choir will respond “In the Name of Christ. Amen.” And that they should be concluded with a V/., R/. and Collect suitable to the occasion, said by the Officiant at the foot of the steps to the Altar. After a Procession at Evensong on one of the greater Festivals, or if the Procession be an Act of Special Thanksgiving, the Te Deum may be fittingly sung on the return of the Procession to the Altar, the whole concluding with suitable Collects and the Blessing. (Note.—There is no authority for censing the Altar at a Solemn Te Deum but, if it follow a Procession, the Thurifer may perhaps continue to swing his censer).

Should it be necessary, in the course of the Procession, to pass before the High Altar each pair of the Choir, Clergy, &c. should turn together on their own ground, and bow at the same moment, the one standing behind the other, and not coming up to the side, lest the regular ranks of the Procession be disarranged. No notice should be taken of any Side Altar in passing.

The Processional Cross should be made to take off the Staff as, at the burial of an infant, it is carried without it. It should have upon it a Figure of our LORD which should be turned away from the Procession, not towards it; the Figure on the [page 23] Cross of an Archbishop, on the contrary, should be turned towards the Prelate. As the Processional Cross is required only on rare occasions it should be provided with a cover in which it may be put away when not in use. If allowed to remain in the Church it will soon be damaged by dust, gas or damp. Processional Banners should not be of triangular form nor resemble those used for military purposes. The devices and mottoes upon them should be such as can be readily understood. Each Banner should have its own cover in which it may be put away when not in use.

OF THE OCCASIONAL OFFICES.

Holy Baptism.

The Font is to be filled with pure Water immediately before the Baptism.

The Priest will wear a Surplice and violet Stole and be attended by, at least, one Assistant vested in Surplice. As the Baptism of Adults should be performed as solemnly as possible, it is fitting that the Priest should also wear a violet Cope; in that case he should be attended by, at least, three Assistants in Surplices. A white Stole, and at an Adult Baptism, a white Cope, will also be required and should be placed in readiness near the Font. Two Stoles should be used, not one that is violet on one side and white on the other.

The Bishop may, if he pleases, administer Holy Baptism as a simple Priest, putting on a Stole over his Rochet, but it is more fitting that it should be administered solemnly and that he should be vested in Amice, Alb, Girdle, violet Stole and Cope and Mitre. He should also carry his Pastoral Staff in his hand when going to or from the Font. The plain or simple Mitre should be used with the violet Vestments and the cloth of gold Mitre with the white Vestments.

The ordinary custom is to exchange the violet Stole and Cope for the white ones after the renunciations and immediately before the Creed, this is in accord­ance with ancient use, but when (as our present Rubrics require) the Baptismal Water is to be blessed during the Service, the violet Vestments should be retained till after the Benediction of the Water.

A shell or other vessel should be provided for pouring the water upon the head of the baptised and also a small linen cloth with which to dry the head after Baptism.

At the words Sanctify this water, in the Prayer of Benediction, the Priest should divide the water in the Font with his right hand, in the form of a Cross.

The water should be poured on the child (or it should be immersed in the water) three several times, once at each of the Names of the Blessed TRINITY. The water which is poured on the head should never be permitted to fall back into the Font. The Sign of the Cross should be made with the thumb of the right hand: the thumb should be dry.

In private Baptisms, the Priest should be vested in Surplice and white Stole.

Water should not be blessed anywhere except in Church. If water cannot be blessed at the Font and carried to the house, ordinary water should be used.

A special vessel of brass, or other material, for the water, should be provided, also a small linen cloth on which to place it.

Unless time will not permit, the Priest should use, at least, the LORD’s Prayer and the Prayer, Almighty and Immortal God.

After a Baptism, the water remaining in the Font should be immediately let off and at a private Baptism, it may be thrown on the earth or into the fire.

Confirmation.

The Bishop should be vested in Rochet, Amice, white Stole and Cope, and Mitre and will carry his Pastoral Staff in his hand.

The Altar will be vested with a white Antependium and the six candles should be lighted.

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The Bishop’s Throne should be prepared in the Sanctuary, as usual, and with the faldstool to be placed in front of the Altar, should be provided with white hangings and cushions. If the Bishop confirm at the Chancel step, a seat should be provided for him there and the place where the candidates are to kneel should be so arranged that the Bishop may not be required to stoop when placing his hand upon their heads. The Bishop before asking the question, Do ye here, proceeds to the seat before the Altar and will sit thereon with his face to the people, having his Mitre upon his head and his Pastoral Staff in his left hand. After the answer, I do, he rises and stands facing the persons to be confirmed, who will all kneel, with their hands joined before their breasts. The Bishop signs himself, with his right hand, with the Sign of the Cross and says, Our help, &c. and then, at the conclusion of the Versicles, with his hands extended towards the candidates, says Let us pray, and the following prayer, which ended, he again sits. The candidates should be presented to the Bishop in order; first the males and then the females. The Bishop should lay his right hand on the head of each candidate and should say the full form over each.

When all have been confirmed, the Bishop, laying aside his Mitre, rises up and standing facing the Altar, with his hands joined before his breast, says the concluding prayers, turning once more to the persons who have been confirmed, when he gives the Blessing.

The all kneeling of the rubric applies, of course, only to the persons confirmed, and the Congregation generally.

Holy Matrimony

The first part of the Office should be said in the Nave and the most suitable place seems to be the open space in front of the Chancel Screen.

The Priest should be vested in Surplice and white Stole and be attended by, at least, one Assistant in Surplice; if the Service is to be followed immediately by the Holy Eucharist, the Priest may be vested in readiness for the Celebration except for the Maniple which should be placed on the Altar, at the Gospel side. When the bride is to be “given away,” as it is termed, her father or one of her friends should take her by the right hand and present her to the Priest who will then cause the man with his right hand to take the woman by her right hand. If the bride be a widow she should have on a glove; if not her hand should be uncovered.

The ring is first to be laid upon the book and with it, the rubric says, “the accustomed duty to the Priest and Clerk.” The Priest, according to ancient use should bless the ring in these words:—

V/.      Our help is in the Name of the LORD.
R/.      Who hath made Heaven and earth
V/.      LORD, hear my prayer,
R/.      And let my cry come unto Thee.
V/.      The LORD be with you.
R/.      And with thy spirit.

Let us pray.

Bless + O LORD, this ring which we bless + in Thy Name, that she who shall wear it keeping true faith unto her husband, may abide in Thy peace and will, and ever live in Thy love, Through CHRIST our LORD. Amen.

He then delivers it again to the man to put upon the fourth finger of the woman’s left hand. The ring was anciently placed, first on the thumb at the Name of the First Person of the TRINITY, on the next finger at the Name of the Second, on the third at the Name of the Third, and on the fourth at the word Amen. The words of the rubric “leaving the ring upon the fourth finger” seem to imply that this custom is still intended.

After the Blessing, all will proceed processionally into the Choir, saying or singing one of the appointed Psalms (the 128th should be said, except the woman be “past child-bearing”). The Priest and his Assistants will proceed to the Altar, the bride and bridegroom kneeling at the Altar step with their friends [page 25] behind them. The Priest will stand in front of the Altar, facing the newly married couple and will retain this position for the remainder of the Service.

The final Exhortation should be omitted if there be a Celebration of the Holy Eucharist, as there will then be a Sermon in the usual place. The word “convenient” in the concluding rubric means “fitting” and it is evidently intended that, if it be possible, the Holy Eucharist should follow immediately and that the new-married persons should communicate. If this be done, it is most desirable that the Marriage should take place at an early hour of the day.

Before commencing the Celebration, the Celebrant if already vested, will assume the Maniple. For the special rules on the occasion, vide p. 17.

Holy Matrimony should not be celebrated in tempore feriarum, i.e., from the first Sunday in Advent to the Epiphany and from Ash Wednesday to Low Sunday, all inclusive.

Churching of Women.

The “convenient place” of the rubric, according to ancient practice, would be just within the Church door, where a prie-dieu to kneel at should be provided for the woman; but in the book of 1549, the rubric directed the Office to be said “nigh unto the quire door” so that outside the Chancel Gates would seem to be a convenient and suitable place.

Bishop Burnet says that the words “decently apparelled” are to be interpreted to mean with a white covering or veil, and, according to ancient usage, the woman should hold a lighted taper in her hand.

The Priest should be vested in Surplice and white Stole and be accompanied by a Server in Surplice who will say the alternate verses of the Psalm and make the proper responses.

The Priest should stand throughout the Service.

The first Psalm should be said if the woman be going to communicate after her Churching and in those cases where the child has died.

This Office should not be used for an unmarried woman until she has done penance or acknowledged her fault before the Congregation. This was so enjoined by Archbishop Grindal in 1571, and by the Bishops in 1661.

The proper time for this Office is immediately before one of the public Services, most appropriately, just before a Celebration of the Holy Communion, as is clearly evidenced by the final rubric.

Visitation of the Sick.

The nature of the preparations will depend very greatly upon the Divine Offices to be performed. For the Visitation Office itself, the Priest should wear a Surplice and violet Stole.

For Communion of the Sick, if it be necessary to have a Celebration in the sick chamber, the same Vestments as are used in the Church will be required.

If the sick person is to be communicated with the Reserved Sacrament, only a Surplice and white Stole will be needed; white is always the colour, even if it be Good Friday. At a Celebration of the Holy Eucharist in a Hospital or under circumstances where the sick person is able to assist, or when the Viaticum is to be administered to a person in good health, as, e.g., a criminal about to be executed, the Vestments should be of the colour of the day, or that which is suited to the special character of the Celebration; therefore, when the Order for the Communion of the Sick is used, the colour will be violet.

If the sick man be a Priest he should be vested before Communion in a Surplice and white Stole, or, at least, with the Stole, if it be inconvenient, on account of the condition of the patient, to put on the Surplice.

For Unction of the Sick, the Priest will require a Surplice and violet Stole.

The chamber of the sick person ought to be as clean as possible and suitably ornamented. In it should be prepared a table, covered with a clean white cloth, and having upon it a Crucifix and, at least, two wax candles. If Holy Unction alone is to be administered, one wax candle will suffice.

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The Burial of the Dead.[4]

The Altar should be vested in a black Antependium and should be unadorned, except for its usual furniture, the Cross and Candlesticks; the latter should be furnished with Candles of yellow or unbleached wax. If the Service be solemnly sung, six Candles should be lighted, but otherwise two will suffice.

The Officiant will wear a Surplice and black Stole, or black Cope, or both Stole and Cope, and be attended by the Cross-bearer, two Acolytes with Candles, and at least, one other Acolyte to bring in the Thurible when required. It will be found more convenient to provide the Acolytes with Processional Lanterns in place of their usual Candlesticks, at least, for the outdoor portion of the Office.

The Bier upon which the Coffin is to be placed should stand at the eastern end of the Nave of the Church, just outside the Chancel gates; but if the departed be a Bishop or a Priest, the body should be carried into the Chancel, and the Bier will then be placed in the centre of the Choir. The body should be placed with the feet towards the Altar, except in the case of a Bishop or Priest, when the head should be towards the Altar. Six large Candlesticks, furnished with Candles of unbleached wax, should be placed round the Bier— three on either side—and should be kept burning the whole of the time the body is in the Church.

The Officiant with the Choir and Clergy, preceded by the Cross-bearer and Acolytes as usual, will proceed processionally to the Lych gate or to the West entrance of the Church to meet the body, and will then precede it into the Church, singing the opening sentences of the Burial Office. The mourners will walk last, following after the body.

The Choir and Clergy will proceed into the Chancel to their accustomed places, and the body being placed upon the Bier, one of the appointed Psalms will be sung.

The Lesson should be read without giving out, and without any formal conclusion, such as Here endeth, &c.

If the Holy Eucharist is to be celebrated, it should follow immediately after the Lesson. (Vide the chapter on Votive Celebrations, p. 16).

After the Holy Eucharist or else immediately after the Lesson, the Officiant with the Choir and Clergy will precede the body as before and proceed to the grave. During this Procession, the Psalm Miserere or Psalms 114, 115 and 25 may be sung. Arrived at the grave, the Choir and Clergy will range themselves on either side in such a manner as to leave ample space for the mourners and for the attendants who are to lower the body. The Cross-bearer and Acolytes will stand at the end of the grave where the head of the departed will be placed, and the Officiant at the opposite extremity facing the Cross. If the grave be not already blessed, the Officiant will at once proceed to bless it, the body in the meantime being deposited at the side. He then receives the Thurible, and censes first the body and then the grave, each with three swings of the censer, the first to the centre, the second to the left and the third to the right.

The sentences Man that is born, &c., are then said or sung, during which the body is made ready and lowered into the grave. The earth should be cast upon the body in the form of a Cross.

At the conclusion of the Office, the Choir and Clergy should return to the Church, or to the entrance of the Cemetery, singing the Psalm De Profundis.

At the burial of children under seven years of age, the Vestments of the Altar and of the Priest should be white, the Candles will be of white wax, and the Processional Cross should be carried without its staff. During the Procession to the grave, Psalms 148, 149 and 150 and on returning, the Benedicite, omnia opera should be sung.

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OF THE COLLECTS.

At Mattins and Evensong there are ordinarily three Collects, viz., i. Of the Day, ii. For Peace, iii. For Grace or For Aid against all Perils. During Advent and Lent a special Collect is appointed to be said daily, this will follow the Collect for the Day and be said immediately before the Collect for Peace. A like rule will be followed when commemoration of a Feast has to be made on a Sunday within an Octave, the Collect of the Feast being said after the Collect of the Day.

At the Holy Eucharist, on all Double Feasts there is usually but one Collect, the only exceptions being occasions when some commemoration has to be made; when such is the case no Supplemental Collect should be added.

On Semi-doubles, there should be three Collects, and a like number on all ordinary Sundays, except on those within Octaves when but two should be said.

On Simples and Ferias there should be three as on Semi-doubles; five or even seven Collects may be said at the discretion of the Priest.

On Passion Sunday, two Collects only should be used and on Palm Sunday but one. On week-days from Passion Sunday till Maundy Thursday and on the four last days of Easter and Whitsun Weeks, two Collects should be said. On the Vigils of Christmas (except it be Sunday), Easter and Pentecost, one Collect only.

At Requiems, one Collect is said on All Souls’ Day, on or before the day of Burial, on the 3rd, 7th and 30th days after Burial and on Anniversaries; but at other times, three, five or seven Collects should be said.

If one Collect be said, it shall have its full ending: if addressed to GOD the FATHER it should conclude “Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the Unity of the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.” If mention be made of GOD the SON in the beginning of the prayer, it should conclude “Through the Same Thy Son, &c. (as before), but, if GOD the SON be mentioned at the end of the prayer it should conclude “Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the Unity, &c.” If the Collect be addressed to GOD the SON the conclusion will be, “Who livest and reignest with the Father, in the Unity, &c.” If the HOLY GHOST has been mentioned, then in the conclusion shall be said “Through, &c., in the Unity of the Same Holy Ghost, &c.” If many Collects are said, the first shall have its full ending as given above; all the rest should be said without ending, and without Amen, except the last, which should be ended in full with its own appropriate conclusion.

NOTE. — It would be exceedingly difficult to draw up an accurate and satisfactory Table of the Supplemental Collects that should be used at the Holy Eucharist on Semi-doubles, &c., but the following suggestions may be useful to those who desire to conform to the ancient usage.

If, when several Collects are said, a Commemoration has to be made of some Saint, the Collect of the Saint is s in the second place and that, which would have been second, is placed third, the third being omitted.

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OF THE OFFICE HYMNS.

The Office Hymn is that which is usually sung after the Third Collect at Mattins or Evensong. Its ancient place was immediately before the Benedictus or Magnificat, and there seems no reason why it should not be restored to this more dignified and appropriate position.

The Office Hymn should be sung antiphonally and to its own proper melody. Like the Psalms, the Office Hymn should on no account be “given out”; there is no authority for this practice which causes an unseemly break in the Service and is most undignified; it is perfectly easy to arrange some other method of notifying to the Congregation the day of the month or the number of the Hymn to be sung.

With but two or three exceptions, noted in loco, the Hymn should invariably correspond with the first Collect used in the Office. The Hymn at the second Evensong of a Feast is always the same as at the first Evensong.

The Office Hymns for the Common and Proper of the Seasons are marked in the Notes on the Seasons, pp. 6—15.

The Office Hymns in the Common of Saints, are:—

	EVENSONG.			MATTINS.
	H.N.	H.A.M.	P.H.	H.N.	H.A.M.	P.H.
On all Feasts of the Blessed Virgin Mary	88	449	189	88 or 204	449	189 or 190
——— of Apostles and Evangelists	188	430	199	76	430	197
——— of Apostles and Evangelists from Easter till Trinity Sunday	77	126 (ii)	201	78	126(iii)	202
——— of Martyrs	81	442	206	81	442	206
——— of Confessors	83	451	214	83	451	214
——— of Confessors and Bishops	83	452	214	84	452	213
——— of a Virgin or Virgin and Martyr	85	455	220	344	455	219
——— of Holy Women	198	457	223	198	457	223
——— of the Dedication of a Church	103 or 101	396 (ii)	308	102	396 (ii)	309

The Hymns in the Common of Saints are used on all Festivals, according to their class, with the exception of the following:—

	EVENSONG.			MATTINS.
	H.N.