BENEDICTION OF A CEMETERY.

Praeparanda.

In the cemetery five crosses should be prepared. One in the centre, one at the end of cemetery in front of middle cross, one at the other end back of middle cross, another to its right and another to its left; before the middle cross a faldistorium. The four crosses at the ends of cemetery should be about five feet, the middle one larger. Before each cross something should be prepared to hold three candles. A step-ladder, a bucket of water, a vessel with salt, a sprinkler, censer and boat, a table upon which these things are placed.

Function.

The benediction takes place in the morning. The Bishop is vested in amice, alb, cincture, white stole and cope, plain mitre.

B. cum m. b. between Deacon and Subdeacon preceded by cross bearer and acolytes and clergy and followed by mitre bearer and crozier bearer, goes to cemetery before middle cross, sits, exhorts the people. The candles are lighted.

B. sine m. b. standing before middle cross, says:

Oremus. Omnipotens Deus................... C.

D. N.

R. Amen.

B. cum m. kneels at fald. Litany is chanted as on page 22 up to:

Ut omnibus fidelibus, etc. incl.

B. rises cum m. b.

Ut hoc coemeterium purgare, et bene dicere digneris.

R. Te rogamus, audi nos.

Ut hoc coemeterium purgare, bene✈ dicere, et sanctificare digneris.

R. Te rogamus audi nos.

Ut hoc coemeterium purgare, bene + dicore, sanctificare, et consecrare digneris.

R. Te rogamus audi nos.

B. kneels cum m. Litany is finished.

B. cum m. rises and blesses salt and water as on page 113.

B. cum m. goes in procession to cross which is before the middle cross, then B. sine m. intones Ant. Asperges me, then cum m. goes around cemetery towards his right, sprinkling it. Choir continues:

Domine hyssopo, et mundabor: lavabis me, et super nivem dealbabor.

Ps. 50 Miserere mei Deus, etc., as on page 99. Gloria Patri. Sicut erat.

Ant. is repeated. B. returning to this cross and standing before it sine m. says:

Oremus. Deus, qui es.......... P. C. D. N.
R. Amen.

B. cum m, then puts in and blesses incense; then with bow towards cross (before and after incensing, ministers genuflect,) incenses the cross triplici ductu. He then fixes one of the candles on the top of cross, another on the right arm, and the other on the left.

B. cum m. b. goes to cross, which is behind the middle one, sprinkling the cemetery as he goes. Choir:

Ps. 6. Domine ne in furore page 95, sine Gloria Patri, and Ps. 31, Beati, quorum remissae, page 96, sine Gloria Patri.

B. standing before Cross, sine m. says:

Oremus. Domine sancte.......... saecula saeculorum.

R. Amen.

B. incenses cross and fixes the three candles. B. cum m. goes to cross at the right of middle one, sprinkling cemetery as he goes. Choir:

Ps. 37, Domine ne in furore, page 97, sine Gloria Patri.

B. standing before cross, sine m. says:

Oremus. Domine Deus.......... P. C. D. N. R. Amen.

The cross is incensed and the three candles fixed on it as before. B. cum m. goes to cross to the left of middle one, in the meantime sprinkling cemetery. Choir:

Ps. 101. Domine exaudi, page 100, sine Gloria Patri.

B. standing before cross, sine m. says: Oremus. Domine Jesu............ et saeculum per ignem.

R. Amen.

The cross is incensed and the three candles fixed on it. B. cum m. goes to middle cross sprinkling cemetery. Choir:

Ps. 129. De profundis, page 102, sine Gloria, and Ps. 142 Domine exaudi, page 103, sine Gloria.

B. standing before cross, sine m. says:

Oremus. Adesto, quaesumus........... Spiritus sancti Deus (extensis manibus). Per omnia saecula saeculorum.

R. Amen.

B. Dominus vobiscum.

R. Et cum spiritu tuo.

B. Sursum corda.

R. Habemus ad Dominum.

B. Gratias agamus Domino Deo nostro. R. Dignum et justum est.

B. Vere dignum et justum est............saeculorum.

R. Amen.

E. incenses cross and fixes the three candles. B. facing cross, says:

Oremus. (Deacon:) Flectamus genua. R. Levate.

B. Domine sancte... saecula saeculo

rum.

R. Amen.

B. gives solemn benediction. All enter church where the Mass of the day is said. To the Orations of the day added sub una, the Orations given in the Pontifical.