When the Mass is to begin the priest takes the chalice in the left hand, and lays the right on the burse. The veil should cover the chalice in front, so that it cannot be seen. If the veil has a cross or ornament on one side, the chalice should be held so that this be in front. Holding the chalice so, with head covered, he bows slightly to the cross in the sacristy, then follows the server into the church.

On arriving at the altar he stops before its lowest step and first hands his biretta to the server. If the Blessed Sacrament is reserved here, he genuflects on the ground, otherwise he makes a profound bow.

Then he goes up to the altar, puts the vessels on the gospel side, takes the burse, opens it, takes out the folded corporal and puts it on the altar. He puts the burse on the gospel side, leaning against the gradine or a candlestick. Then he spreads the corporal in the middle of the altar, and puts the chalice on it, with the chalice veil covering the whole chalice. He should do this so that room is left in front of the chalice for him to kiss the altar. With joined hands he then goes to the missal at the epistle side, and opens it at the Introit of the Mass, (or if the Introit is not used, at the Collect for Purity). He comes back to the middle, bows slightly to the cross, turns by the epistle side, and comes down to the ground in front of the steps in the middle. If the Blessed Sacrament is reserved on the altar, he genuflects on the lowest step; otherwise he bows low.

TO THE GOSPEL

The celebrant begins the Preparation, standing before the lowest altar step. He signs himself at the Invocation. He bows at the Gloria Patri and makes the sign of the cross again at “Our help is in the Name of the Lord”. While he says the Confiteor he bows profoundly. He strikes his breast three times at the words “my fault, my own fault, my own most grievous fault.” He does not turn to the server at the words, “you brethren.” He remains profoundly bowing while the server says the prayer “Almighty God etc.” Then he stands erect. He makes the sign of the cross again as he says “The Almighty and Merciful Lord...” He bows slightly during the verses “Wilt thou not turn again....” to the prayer “Almighty God etc.”

During all this time, except when he makes the sign of the cross, the priest holds his hands joined before his breast.

As he says “Let us pray” before the prayer “Almighty God” he separates his hands and joins them again, but does not raise them. Having said, “Let us pray” he stands erect and says the Collect for Purity (unless this and the Summary of the Law are used instead of the Introit; see below). He then goes up to the altar, saying silently the prayer “Take away from us, etc.” Arrived at the middle of the altar, he bows slightly, laying the joined hands on the altar, so that the ends of the longer fingers rest on it. So he says the prayer, “We beseech thee, O Lord, etc.” At the words “by the merits” he bends down, separates the hands, laying each with palm downwards on the altar, outside the corporal on either side of it, and kisses the altar in the middle, (This position of the hands is to be observed every time he kisses the altar, To do so conveniently, he should stand slightly away from the altar, so that when he bends his head he can just touch the altar with the closed lips, an inch or so from its outer edge.) Then he says the Summary of the Law (unless it is used with the Collect for Purity instead of the Introit), and, making no further reverence to the cross, he goes with joined hands to the missal at the epistle side. As he goes he continues the prayer.

Here he reads the Introit of the Mass (or the Collect for Purity and the Summary of the Law) in a clear voice. As he begins it he makes the sign of the cross laying, as always, the left hand on the breast. Joining the hands again, he continues the Introit. At the Gloria Patri he turns and bows towards the cross. In repeating the antiphon of the Introit he does not again make the sign of the cross. (If he has to turn a page during the reading of the Introit, or of any part of the propers said at either end of the Altar, he does so laying the left on the missal). When the Introit (or Summary) is finished, and having turned the page to the collect if necessary, he comes to the middle, makes no reverence to the cross and here says the Kyrie eleison alternately with the people.

If the Gloria in excelsis is to be said, and if it is said here, he begins it as soon as the Kyrie is ended, standing at the middle of the altar. As he says the first words, he separates the hands, extends them, elevates them about to the height of the shoulders, joins them and bows at the word “God”. With joined hands he continues the Gloria. He bows the head at the words “we worship thee,” “Jesus Christ,” “receive our prayer.” At the last words, “in the glory of God the Father” he makes the sign of the cross, then lays the hands on the altar, and kisses it. If the Gloria in excelsis is not said, he kisses the altar, in the same way, as soon as the Kyrie eleison is finished.

With joined hands he turns, by the epistle side, to face the people. He says “The Lord be with you” at the same time extending the hands and joining them again. Turning back by the epistle side he goes to the missal. (He always turns by the epistle side, i.e. by the right and back by the left unless otherwise directed.) Facing the altar he says “Let us pray.” At the same time he extends the hands and joins them again, while he bows, slightly, to the cross. Then he reads the collect, holding the hands uplifted and extended, at about the height of the shoulders, the palms facing one another. When he says “through (the same) thy Son Jesus Christ, etc.” he joins the hands. He bows again to the cross at the holy Name. In the same way he says the following collects, if there are several.

After the last collect he lays his hands on the book, one on either side, the palm downwards, so that the ends of the fingers rest on it, while he reads the epistle; if the epistle be read facing the people, he will take the missal in his hands and turn by the left (towards the cross), when the epistle is ended, he will turn back by the right. (If “here endeth the epistle” is not said at the end, it is usual to give a sign to the server when the epistle is ended, that he may answer “Thanks be to God.” This is best done by raising slightly the left hand for a moment).

After the epistle, the priest goes on at once to read, in the same tone of voice, the gradual, tract, Alleluia, or sequence, as these occur in the missal, if this is the custom of the place. Meanwhile he still holds his hands on the book.

He then (or, if the gradual is not said, after the epistle) comes to the middle of the altar with hands joined. In the middle he looks up to the cross, then bows low, without laying the hands on the altar, and so says “Cleanse my heart and my lips etc.” “Pray, Lord, give me thy blessing. The Lord be in my heart, etc.” (if for any reason the server does not carry the missal across to the gospel side, the priest does so first, bowing to the cross as he passes. He lays the missal on its stand at the gospel end diagonally, so that he will turn somewhat towards the people when reading the gospel, then comes hack to the middle and says “Cleanse my heart” and the rest).

FROM THE GOSPEL TO THE PREFACE

When the celebrant has said the prayer “The Lord be in my heart, etc.” he comes with joined hands to the book at the gospel side. He does not here turn his back to the people, but he faces half towards them looking across the gospel corner diagonally. Without separating the hands he says “The Lord be with you.” Then “The Holy Gospel is written etc.” or “The beginning (or continuation) of the Holy Gospel according to...” As he says these words he lays the left hand on the book. He holds the right stretched out, the fingers joined, the palm downwards, and so makes the sign of the cross with the thumb on the book, at the beginning of the gospel. Then, still holding the hand stretched out in the same way, he makes the sign of the cross with the thumb on his forehead, lips and breast, laying the left hand on the breast. When the server has answered “Glory be to thee, O Lord” the priest reads the gospel, with hands joined. If, however, the gospel be read facing the people he will take the missal in his hands and turn by the right (towards the cross). When the gospel is ended he will turn back by the left. If in the gospel the holy Name occurs, or any other word at which he bows, he does so towards the book.

When the gospel is finished he raises the book with both hands, bows his head and shoulders and kisses it at the beginning of the gospel, saying, “By the gospel words, etc.” He places the book on the stand and brings it to the middle of the altar. He places it here at the middle, but on the gospel side of the corporal, turned diagonally towards the middle. It should not stand on the corporal, but as near to it as possible.

If the creed is to be said, he begins it at once in the middle of the altar. As he says “I believe in one God” he extends his hands, lifts them to the height of the shoulders, joins them as he says the word, “God” and bows the head. He says the creed with joined hands. At the holy Name he bows. As he says the words “And was Incarnate” he lays the hands on the altar outside the corporal and genuflects on one knee. He does not rise from this genuflection till he has said “and was made man.” It is better to make the whole genuflection slowly, rather than to rest with one knee on the ground. He does not bow the head at these words. He bows at the word “worshipped.” As he says the last words “and the life of the world to come” he makes the sign of the cross, laying the left hand on the breast.

After the creed he does not join the hands, but lays them on the altar at once and kisses it. Then he turns, by the epistle side, and says “the Lord be with you” in the usual manner.

If there is no creed in the Mass, he kisses the altar and turns to say “The Lord be with you” as soon as he is at the middle, after the gospel.

Facing the altar again, with joined hands, he reads the offertory sentence.

The offertory act now follows. The celebrant takes the chalice veil from the chalice with both hands, folds it and lays it on the altar at his right, just outside the corporal. He lays his left hand on the altar outside the corporal. With the right he takes the chalice by the knob of its stem and stands it outside the corporal, at his right side. He takes the pall from the chalice and lays it on the folded veil. He takes the paten and goes to the epistle side and places on it as many wafers as are needed. He returns to the center and holds the paten with both hands over the middle of the corporal at about the height “of his breast. He should hold it with the thumb and first finger of each hand touching its edge, the other fingers under it. Holding it thus he looks up and then down at the bread and says silently the prayer “Receive, O Holy Father, etc.” If other breads are in a ciborium it is put on the corporal and opened, then shut again after the priest has made the sign of the cross with the paten.

When the prayer “Receive O Holy Father” is finished, the celebrant lowers the paten; still holding it as before he makes the sign of the cross with it over the corporal, tracing first a line towards himself then one from left to right. He slides the host on to the corporal in the middle, in front, and places the wafers to the left of the chalice. Then he lays the left hand on the altar, as always in such cases, outside the corporal. He puts the paten on the altar, at his right, and slips half of it under the corporal.

With folded hands he comes to the epistle corner. He takes the chalice at its knob with the left hand, and the purificator (which lies on it) with the right. With this he wipes the inside of the chalice. Then, he rests the chalice on the altar, and still holding the knob of the chalice in the left hand, he puts the purificator so that it hangs over the left thumb by the side of the chalice. He takes the cruet of wine from the server in his right hand and pours as much as is needed into the chalice. The server holds up the water cruet. The priest makes the sign of the cross over it, as he begins to say the prayer “O God, who didst wonderfully create etc.” He continues this prayer; as he says the words “grant unto us that through the mystery” he takes the cruet and pours a little water in the chalice. Then he wipes away any drops there may be at the sides of the chalice. As he says the holy Name at the end of the prayer he bows towards the cross. With the left hand he puts the chalice near the corporal. He comes to the middle holding the purificator. At the middle he arranges the purificator so that, folded lengthwise, it will cover the half of the paten not already under the corporal. Meanwhile he lays the left hand on the altar. With the right he takes the chalice by its knob; he holds its foot with the left, lifts it so that the top is about the level of the eyes, and so holding it says the offertory prayer: “We offer unto thee, etc.” When this is said he lowers the chalice and he makes the sign of the cross over the middle of the altar with it, as before with the paten, not extending the cross over the host. He then puts the chalice in the middle of the corporal, behind the host. Laying the left hand on the foot of the chalice, he takes the pall with the right and covers the chalice. He bows moderately, lays the hands, joined, on the altar in front of him, and so says the prayer “in the spirit of humility, etc.” silently. He stands erect, extends and raises his hands, looks up for a moment, then lowers the eyes and joins the hands, before the breast. While doing so he says the prayer “Come O Sanctifier etc.” At the word “Bless” he lays the left hand on the altar and with the right makes the sign of the cross over the bread and chalice together. He then places the right hand on the altar and then joins the hands.

He receives the alms, in a decent basin provided by the parish, from the server who stands beside him on the footpace. He raises the basin to about the height of his shoulders and places it on the altar at the right of the corporal and returns it to the server.

With joined hands he now goes to the epistle end of the altar. Facing the server, who stands there, he holds his hands over the dish, so that the server pours water over the thumb and forefinger of each. Then he takes the towel and dries them. As soon as he begins to wash his hands he says silently the verses of the psalm “I will wash my hands etc.” and continues while drying them. He stands at the end of the altar while saying these verses; he bows towards the cross as he says the Gloria Patri. Then he comes to the middle with joined hands, while saying “as it was in the beginning etc.” At the middle he looks up and then lowers the eyes. Laying the hands joined on the altar before him. and bowing moderately, he says silently the prayer “Receive, O Holy Trinity etc. Then he kisses the altar. Joining the hands he turns by his right side to the people. Facing them he stretches out the hands and joins them again, (as he does when saying “the Lord be with you”). Meanwhile he says “Pray, brethren, etc.,” He turns back to the altar by his right side (thus completing the circle). At the conclusion of the people’s response, “The Lord receive, etc.” he says “Amen” silently. He then reads silently the Secret Prayer or Prayers. Then, still facing the altar, he says, “Let us pray for the whole state of Christ’s Church,” at the same time extending his hands and joining them. (If it is not the custom of the place to say “Pray, brethren, etc.” and the Secrets, the celebrant, having kissed the altar after the prayer, “Receive, O Holy Trinity, etc.,” turns by the right side to the people. Facing them he stretches out his hands and joins them again, meanwhile saying, “Let us pray for the whole state of Christ’s Church.” He then turns back to the altar by the right side.) With hands extended he says the Prayer for the Church. If he makes a silent commemoration of anyone by name he joins the hands and bows momentarily. At the words “Grant this, O Father, etc.” he joins his hands. He bows at the mention of the Holy Name.

He now faces the people and with joined hands says the invitation “Ye who do truly etc.” He then turns to the altar, and stands facing it while the server says the general confession. If for any reason the server does not say it the celebrant must say it himself. When the confession is finished, he faces the people and with joined hands says the absolution. At the words “Pardon and deliver you etc.” he lays his left hand on his breast and with the right makes the sign of the cross over the people. He makes this sign holding the right hand upright with the fingers joined, the little finger toward the people. He then joins his hands again. He bows at the holy Name. When the server has said “Amen,” the celebrant, still facing the people, and with hands joined says the Comfortable Words.

He then extends his hands and says “The Lord be with you.” Then he raises the hands to the height of the shoulders holding them with the palms facing one another as during the collects. So he says “Lift up your hearts.” He turns to the altar with joined hands and says “Let us give thanks etc.” As he says “unto our Lord God” he looks up to the cross, then bows. As he begins the preface he holds the hands again extended and remains in that position till it is ended.

If the Communion devotions are omitted the celebrant says the closing words of the prayer for the Church “Our only Mediator etc.” with his hands on the altar on either side of the corporal; says “The Lord be with you” in the same position and “Lift up your hearts” with hands raised and extended, still facing the altar.)

At the end of the preface he joins his hands, bows over the altar slightly, not resting the hands on it, and says the Sanctus. As he says Benedictus qui venit he stands erect and makes the sign of the cross. Then, laying the right hand on the altar, he finds with the left the beginning of the canon in the missal.

THE CANON TO THE COMMUNION

The celebrant looks up to the cross, extends and lifts the hands, then looks down, joins the hands, bows low, lays the joined hands on the altar, and so begins “All glory be to thee.” When he has said “Jesus Christ” he lays the hands on the altar, one on either side outside the corporal, kisses the altar, then stands erect, and extends his hands. During the words “a full perfect....world” he lays his left hand on the altar and with the right makes the sign of the cross thrice over host and chalice together. He then extends his hands as before. At the words “and did institute” he extends his hands over the oblation. Before the words “For in the night” he will uncover the ciborium, if there is one on the corporal, covering it again after the consecration of the bread. All bread to be consecrated must be on the corporal at the time.

He wipes the thumb and forefinger of each hand on the forecorners of the corporal. As he says “For in the night etc.” he lays the forefinger of the left hand on the upper part of the bread; then he takes it by the lower extremity of the circle with the thumb and forefinger of the right, then in the same way with those of the left. He so lifts the host a little from the corporal and places the other fingers of each hand, joined and extended behind it. He rests the hands on the altar. Still standing erect he continues the words “he took bread.. He looks up to the cross and at once looks down. As he says “and when he had given thanks” he bows, and holding the bread in the left hand only, makes the sign of the cross over it with the right. In doing this he does not keep the thumb and forefinger joined, but holds the hand straight out, in the usual way when blessing. Then, at once, he again holds the bread in both hands as before, and continues, “He brake it, and gave it to his disciples saying, “Take eat.” He bows now over the altar leaning the forearms on it. Holding the bread before him, he says “This is my Body which is given for you.” He then stands erect and continues “Do this in remembrance of me.” After the words “Do this etc.” he genuflects, still holding the Host with both hands over the altar as before. He rises at once lifts the Host straight up before him to such a height that it may be seen from behind, over his head, holding it over the corporal. He lowers it again and places it reverently on the corporal, at the same place as before. He leaves it there, lays his hands on the altar, on the corporal, and genuflects again.

From this moment till the ablutions at the end the celebrant keeps the thumb and forefinger of each hand joined, except when he touches the consecrated bread. In turning pages, holding the chalice, on doing any other such action, he uses the other fingers, in such a way as not to separate these.

From now till the ablutions every time he lays his hands on the altar he does so on the corporal.

Rising from the second genuflection he takes the pall from the chalice and lays it on the epistle side, meanwhile steadying the chalice by placing his left hand on its base. Whenever he covers or uncovers the chalice he so steadies it. Then he rubs the thumb and forefinger of the hands over the chalice, to let any crumb there may be fall into it. He does this every time after he has touched the Host. Standing erect he says “Likewise after supper.” Saying “he took the cup,” he takes the chalice with both hands, holding it by the stem between the knob and the cup; he lifts it a little above the altar and sets it down again at once. He continues the words, still holding the chalice with both hands. As he says “and when he had given thanks” he bows, and makes the sign of the cross over the chalice with the right (keeping the thumb and forefinger always joined) and holds it still in the same way with the left. Then he holds the knob with the right hand and the foot with the left as he says “he gave it to them saying, Drink ye all of this for”. He bends over the altar leaning the forearms on it. He lifts the chalice a little from the altar, putting the second, third, and fourth fingers of the left hand joined under the foot. He holds the chalice quite straight, not sloping towards him, and so says “This is my blood of the New Testament which is shed for you and for many for the remission of sins”. He sets the chalice on the altar, stands erect, and says, “Do this as oft as ye shall drink it in remembrance of Me.”

He takes his hands from the chalice and lays them on the altar on either side (on the corporal) and genuflects. He stands, takes the chalice with both hands, holding the knob with the right and the foot with the left partly under it as before. So he elevates it slowly and straight up over the corporal. He sets it on the corporal, covers it with the right hand, while he holds the foot with the left. Then he genuflects as before, standing erect and holding the hands extended on either side (but now always keeping the thumbs and forefingers joined) he continues to say the canon at the words, “Wherefore O Lord.” As he says “Divine Majesty” he joins the hands before his breast; then as he says “Holy gifts” lays the left hand on the corporal and with the right makes the sign of the cross once over both the Holy Bread and the Chalice. He then places his right hand on the corporal, then joins his hands and extends them. At the word “vouchsafe” he joins his hands before his breast. As he says “bless and sanctify” he lays the left hand on the corporal, and with the right makes the sign of the cross twice over the Host and the Chalice. Then he places his right hand on the corporal, then joins his hands and extends them. As he says “partakers of” he joins his hands before his breast; then as he says “Body” lays the left hand on the corporal and with the right he makes the sign of the cross over the Host only, and at “Blood” over the chalice only.

He extends the hands, as before, and continues “And we earnestly desire, etc.”

He bows profoundly, lays the joined hands on the altar before him, and so says “And here we offer etc.” to the words “Holy Communion.” Here he lays his hands on the corporal on either side, and kisses the altar once in the middle. He stands erect, joins the hands and continues “that we and all others.” At the word “Body” he makes the sign of the cross over the Host; at “blood” over the chalice, as before. As he says “heavenly benediction” he signs himself with the sign of the cross, holding the left hand on the breast. Then he joins the hands.

As he says “And although we are unworthy” he lays the left hand on the corporal and strikes his breast with the right. He does so with the second, third and fourth fingers extended. He continues “through our manifold etc.” erect, with hands extended. At the words “through Jesus Christ our Lord” he joins his hands before his breast and bows. With the right he then uncovers the chalice and lays the pall on the right. Placing the hands on the corporal on either side, he genuflects and rises at once. He takes the Host with the right hand between the thumb and forefinger. with the left he holds the chalice by its knob. He makes the sign of the cross thrice with the Host over the chalice, not extending this sign beyond the cup, as he says “by whom and with whom in the unity of the Holy Ghost”. Still holding the chalice in the same way with the left, he makes the sign of the cross twice over the corporal between himself and the chalice, as he says “all honour and glory”. Then he holds the Host over the chalice upright, holding it still with the forefinger and thumb of the right hand, by the lower edge. He may rest the lower part of the hand on the edge of the chalice. With the left he continues to hold the chalice at its knob. So, with both hands, he elevates the Host and chalice together a little above the altar, as he says “be unto thee... without end”. Then he places the chalice back on the altar, and the Host in the place where it was before, in front of the chalice, still holding the chalice with the left. He rubs the fingers of both hands over the chalice, lays the left on its foot, while the right covers it with the pall] then genuflects, laying both hands on the corporal as usual.

(If where it is the custom there have been no genuflections during the Narrative of Institution, a marked elevation is to be made at the words “be unto thee, etc.” In this case the bell would not be rung by the server at the words of the Institution but at the genuflections and elevations at the end. At a sung Mass the use of incense would be similarly modified.)

He joins the hands before his breast, bows to the Sacrament and says “Let us pray.” Erect, with hands joined he says the introduction to the Lord’s prayer, “And now, as our Saviour Christ etc.” As he begins “Our Father” he extends the hands, and looks at the Host. In this position he says the prayer. At the end of the prayer with the left hand on the corporal he takes the paten in the right from under the corporal and purificator. He wipes it with the purificator, then lays the purificator back on the epistle side near the corporal. He holds the paten in the right hand between the joined forefinger and thumb together and the second finger. He holds it outside the corporal on his right, upright, so that its inside faces the middle. So he says silently the embolism, “Deliver us we beseech etc.” And as he says “and all thy saints” he lays the left hand on the breast. As he says “favourably grant peace in our time”, he makes the sign of the cross on himself with the paten. As soon as he has made this sign he kisses the paten, not in the middle, but at its upper edge. Then he slips the paten under the Host, laying meanwhile the forefinger of the left hand on the farther edge of the Host, while he continues the prayer.

He uncovers the chalice in the usual way and genuflects with the hands on the corporal. Rising, he takes the Host in the right hand, holding its lower edge between the thumb and forefinger, and assisting, if necessary, with the left. He holds it over the chalice; then with both hands he breaks it in a straight line down the middle, using both hands to do so, holding each half between the forefinger and thumb of either hand. Meanwhile he continues “through the same Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord.” Still holding one fragment in the left over the chalice he lays the other with the right on the paten. With the right hand he now breaks off a small part of the half of the Host he holds over the chalice in his left. Holding this particle in the right over the chalice, with the left he lays the rest of the fragment on the paten by the side of the half already there. He grasps the knob of the chalice in the left hand. Holding the particle in the right over the chalice he rests that hand on the edge of the chalice. So he says aloud “ever one God, world without end.” He makes the sign of the cross thrice with the particle in his right over the chalice from edge to edge of the cup, not going outside this, as he says “The peace of the Lord be always with you”. When the people have answered “and with thy spirit” he says silently “May this mingling etc.” and lets the particle fall into the chalice. He rubs the fingers over the chalice, then at once joins the forefinger and thumb of each hand. He covers the chalice with the pall and genuflects.

Rising and bowing slightly towards the Sacrament, with hands joined before the breast, but not on the altar, he says “O Lamb of God etc.” He lays the left hand on the corporal; with the second, third and fourth fingers of the right he strikes his breast as he says “have mercy upon us.” He does not join the hands after this, but holds them in the same position, the left on the corporal, the right resting on the breast, till he says the second time “Have mercy upon us” then he strikes the breast again. So, in the same way, till and while he says “grant us thy peace.”

Then he joins the hands and lays them on the edge of the altar. Bowing, he says silently the prayer, “O Lord Jesus Christ, who saidst, etc.” He then says aloud the Prayer of Humble Access. If, however, the Communion Devotions have been omitted earlier in the service, the Prayer of Humble Access is not said. Instead, the celebrant says silently the other two prayers beginning “O Lord Jesus Christ.” Then he stands upright, genuflects and says “I will receive the bread of heaven and call upon the Name of the Lord.”

He now takes the Host in the left hand. The most convenient and reverent way to do this is thus: The Host lies on the paten in two halves, side by side, the half on the celebrant’s left being without the small fragment which has been put into the chalice. On these he lays the forefinger and thumb of the left hand, one on either fragment. So he pushes them gently forward till their upper edge projects a little beyond the upper part of the paten. He takes the two fragments here, at their upper part, between the thumb and forefinger of the right hand. The fragments are side by side, so as to form a circle, as if the Host were not broken in the middle. So he can hold them between the right thumb and forefinger together, just at the place where they are divided. Taking the two fragments thus in the right, he places them in the left hand. The left hand receives them at the bottom in the same way, holding them together, just at the line of fraction, between the thumb and forefinger. Then, with the right, he takes the paten at the top (not separating the thumb and forefinger) and puts it under the forefinger of the left between that and the second finger. So he holds them in front of him not resting the forearm on the altar. He bows, and bowing slightly, he strikes the breast with the second, third, and fourth fingers of the right hand as he says “Lord I am not worthy”. As he says these words he raises the voice; then silently he continues “that thou shouldst come under my roof; but speak the word only and my soul shall be healed.” He does this thrice in the same way.

He stands erect; with the right hand he takes the fragment of the Blessed Sacrament at his right at its upper edge, and places it exactly above the other half, Then he takes the two fragments, placing one on the other at the lower edge, with the right hand. The left hand still holds the paten as before; its thumb and forefinger are now joined over the paten. With the Host he makes the sign of the cross in front of himself over the paten as he says silently “The Body of our Lord Jesus Christ etc.” He leans over the altar, resting the forearms on it, and receives the Host. He then lays the paten on the corporal, rubs the fingers lightly over it, stands upright holding the hands joined before him for a moment, which should not be prolonged. Then he separates his hands, lays the left on the foot of the chalice; with the right he takes the pall, lays it on the epistle side, and genuflects. Meanwhile he says “What reward shall I give etc.” silently. Rising he takes the paten in the right, scrapes the corporal where the Host lay, to gather up any crumbs. He then holds the paten over the chalice and with the left thumb and forefinger wipes it, so that crumbs fall into the chalice. He passes the paten to the left hand and holds it lying on the corporal before him. He takes the chalice in the right, holding it by the knob between the forefinger and the other fingers. He makes the sign of the cross before him with the chalice, saying “The Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, etc.” He holds the paten in the left hand under the chin. Raising the chalice he communicates himself taking care to consume the particle of the Host in the chalice.

DISTRIBUTION OF HOLY COMMUNION.

The celebrant replaces the chalice and paten on the corporal. Holding the knob with his right hand, he cleanses the lip of the chalice with the thumb and forefinger of the left, immediately joining them again. He covers the chalice with the pall.

He then genuflects. If the Hosts are in a ciborium he uncovers this. If they lie immediately on the corporal he puts them on the paten, using the thumbs and forefingers only.

If he is to take the Sacrament from the tabernacle, as soon as he has covered the chalice he removes the altar-card from before the tabernacle, draws aside the tabernacle veil, takes the key (which should be on the altar or the gradine), opens the tabernacle, genuflects, takes the ciborium from it with the right hand, and places it in the middle of the corporal. He shuts the doors of the tabernacle, not locking them, uncovers the ciborium and genuflects again.

He takes the ciborium in the left hand at its knob, or the paten at its edge between the forefinger and second finger. With the forefinger and thumb of the right hand he takes one Host and holds it above the ciborium or paten, upright, and so turns to the people by the right-hand side, and stands with his back to the middle of the altar.

If it be the custom of the place, looking at the Host, he says aloud “Behold the Lamb of God etc.”, then, throe times “Lord I am not worthy etc.” He says this standing on the footpace. Then he goes to the communion rail, at the epistle end, holding the one Host above the ciborium or paten. Here he says the form of administration, “The Body of our Lord etc.” making the sign of the cross over the paten with the Host he holds in his right. Then he lays the Host in the communicant’s hand or on his tongue. When all at the rail have received the Host, he goes straight back to the middle of the altar, not genuflecting, saying nothing. He places the paten or ciborium on the corporal. He then uncovers the chalice and genuflects. He takes the chalice by the knob with his right hand and with his left holds its foot, keeping the thumb and forefinger of each hand joined. He turns the chalice so that the side from which he has communicated will be towards the communicants. He turns by the right and goes again to the Communion rail. He says the form of administration “The Blood of our Lord etc.” He carries the chalice to the communicant’s mouth. He does not let go the chalice. He does not turn the chalice but communicates each person at the place on the lip of the chalice where he himself has communicated. When all have received the chalice he returns to the altar. If there are more people to communicate, he covers the chalice as before, genuflects and again takes the ciborium or paten, turns by the right, and without saying “Behold the Lamb etc.” and “Lord I am not worthy etc.,” goes at once to the rail and administers as before. Then he again takes the chalice.

When all have communicated, he places the chalice on the corporal, not covering it. He genuflects. If he has to replace the ciborium in the tabernacle, he covers it with its lid, puts it in the tabernacle, genuflects, then closes and locks the tabernacle.

He now consumes any Hosts which may remain. He cleanses the corporal with the edge of the paten of any crumbs. Holding the paten with his right hand over the chalice, with the forefinger of his left hand he brushes any crumbs into the chalice.

He takes the chalice by the knob with his right hand, holding the paten under his chin with his left, and consumes what remains of the consecrated wine.

FROM THE ABLUTIONS TO THE END OF MASS.

He holds out the chalice to the server on the epistle side, meanwhile laying the left hand, still holding the paten, on the corporal. The server pours wine into the chalice for the ablution. Meanwhile the celebrant says the prayer “Grant O Lord that what we etc.” He turns the chalice about gently, so that the wine gathers up any of the consecrated wine remaining in the chalice. Then he drinks the ablution, using the same side of the chalice from which he received Communion, holding the paten with the left hand under his chin, not making the sign of the cross with the chalice, saying nothing. He lays the paten on the altar, on the gospel side of the corporal, and sets the chalice in the middle. He now puts the thumbs and forefingers of both hands over the cup of the chalice and grasps the cup with the other fingers and goes to the epistle side. The server pours first wine, then water, over the celebrant’s fingers into the chalice. More water than wine should be poured. Meanwhile the celebrant says the prayer “Let thy Body O Lord”. Other fingers that have touched the sacrament also have wine and water poured over them. The celebrant sets the chalice on the altar, near, but not on, the corporal, on the epistle side, then takes the purificator and dries the fingers. From this moment he no longer holds the thumbs and forefingers joined. He goes to the center. He holds the purificator in the left hand under his chin, takes the chalice in the right, and drinks the ablution, saying nothing. He then places the chalice on the altar outside the corporal, on the gospel side, grasps it by the stem in the left hand, and with the right wipes it out thoroughly with the purificator.

He places the chalice near the corporal on the gospel side, lays the purificator over it, as it was at the beginning of Mass, and the paten, and the pall on this. He takes the corporal, folds it, and puts it back into the burse. He covers the chalice with the veil, sets it in the middle of the altar, covered with the burse and veil, so that the veil covers it completely in front.

With joined hands he goes to the missal at the epistle side and there reads the Prayer of Thanksgiving, with hands extended, (if, however, the Communion Devotions have “been omitted, this prayer is also omitted.) He then reads, with joined hands, the Communion Antiphon.

With joined hands he comes to the middle. If the Gloria in Excelsis is said in this place, on days when it is to “be said he “begins it and continues, following the directions given above. When the Gloria is ended, or, if it is not said here, when he comes to the middle, he kisses the altar, turns and says “The Lord be with you” in the usual manner. He goes again to the epistle side, says “Let us pray” bowing toward the cross, and says the post-communion prayer or prayers, exactly as he said the collects, with hands extended.

If the last gospel is the prologue of the fourth gospel, he shuts the missal when he has finished the conclusion of the last postcommunion, leaving it so that the edges of the pages face the middle of the altar. If there is a proper last gospel, he leaves the book open at the place where the gospel is printed.

He comes to the middle, kisses the altar, turns and says “The Lord be with you” as usual. On days when the Gloria has been said, without turning back to the altar, still facing the people, he says “Depart in peace” with hands joined. On days when the Gloria is not said he turns back to face the altar, and says “Let us bless the Lord” in that position.

Facing the altar, bowing not low, with the hands joined on the altar before him, he says the prayer “Let this my bounden duty etc.” silently. Then he kisses the altar, joins the hands, and says “The peace of God etc.” At the words “And the blessing of God Almighty” turns by the epistle side, lays the left hand on the breast, and with the right makes the sign of the cross, over the people, saying, “the Father etc.” (He makes this sign holding the right hand upright, with the fingers joined, the little finger towards the people.) He joins the hands, turns, this time by the gospel side, completing the circle, goes straight to the altar-card at the gospel side and there says “The Lord be with you” facing the card, that is, half turned towards the people, as at the first gospel. He lays the left hand on the altar and with the right thumb he makes the sign of the cross on the altar, then on his own forehead, lips and breast. While he signs himself he lays the left hand on the breast. Meanwhile he says “The beginning of the Holy Gospel according to John”. As he says the words “And the word was made flesh” he genuflects, laying the hands on the altar.

If the last gospel be proper, he lays the left hand on the missal, and makes the sign of the cross at the place marked in it with a cross at the beginning of the gospel. He does not kiss the book at the end, but closes it, when he has finished, with the right hand. (If there is a proper last gospel, and if he himself moves the missal, he does so after having given the blessing.)

He goes to the middle, takes the chalice, holding it in the left hand by the knob and laying the right on it. He comes again to the foot of the steps, makes a profound inclination to the altar, or a genuflection if the sacrament is there reserved, takes the biretta from the server, puts it on. He follows the server to the sacristy, saying silently the Thanksgiving.

At a Requiem Mass the following points are to be observed:

In the preparation, the Psalm, Give Sentence with Me, etc. is omitted. The antiphon, I will go unto the Altar of God, etc. is said as usual, and then at once the verse, Our help is in the Name of the Lord, and all that follows.

At the Introit, the celebrant does not make the sign of the cross on himself. He lays the left hand on the altar and with the right makes a sign of the cross over the missal.

Neither the Gloria in excelsis nor the Creed are said.

After the prayer Cleanse my heart, etc. before the Gospel, the form of blessing Give me Lord, and the prayer, The Lord be in my heart, are omitted. After the Gospel the celebrant neither kisses the book, nor says the prayer, By the Gospel words, etc.

Before pouring the water in the chalice, the prayer, O God, who didst wonderfully create, etc. is said, as usual; but the priest does not make the sign of the cross over the cruet.

He omits Glory be to the Father, etc. at the end of the Lavabo psalm.

The text of the Agnus Dei is changed. The last clauses are Grant them rest, twice; then, the third time, Grant them rest everlasting. While saying this the priest does not strike the breast. He holds the hands joined before him, not lying on the altar.

The first prayer before Communion, O Lord Jesus Christ, who saidst, etc. is omitted.

At the end, instead of Depart in peace, he says, May they rest in peace. This is always said in the plural. He turns towards the altar, after The Lord be with you, for this verse, and says it at the middle, facing the altar, with hands joined before the breast. The blessing is not given. The priest says the prayer, Let this my bounden duty, etc. silently, kisses the altar, and goes at once to the gospel end and begins the last gospel.

On certain days, notably the Ember days, there is a series of lessons each preceded by a collect, before the epistle. In this case “The Lord be with you” is said only before the collects preceding the epistle. Immediately after the Kyrie eleison the celebrant, instead of saying “The Lord be with you” goes at once to the missal. He says each collect and the following lesson in the usual way. Then, at the place marked in the missal, he comes to the middle, kisses the altar, and says “The Lord be with you” and continues as above. If “Let us bow the knee” is to be said, as soon as the celebrant has said “Let us pray” he lays his hands on the altar and genuflects while he says “Let us bow the knee”. The server at once answers “Arise; he rises and goes on with the collect.