THE ORDINARY OF THE MASS. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. I unite myself, O my God, with thy holy Church, who thrills with joy at the approach of Jesus Christ thy Son, who is the true Altar. Like her, I beseech thee to defend me against the malice of the enemies of my salvation. It is in thee that I have put my hope; yet do I feel sad and troubled at being in the midst of the snares which are set for me. Send me, then, him who is light and truth: it is he that will open to us the way to thy holy mount, to thy heavenly tabernacle. He is the Mediator, and the living Altar; I will draw nigh to him, and be filled with joy. When he shall have come, I will sing in my gladness. Be not sad, O my soul! Why wouldst thou be troubled ? Hope in Him, who will soon show himself unto thee, as thy Saviour, and thy God. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end, Amen. I. V. Introibo ad altare Dei. R. Ad Deum qui lætificat juventutem meam. . Adjutorium nostrum in nomine Domini. R. Qui fecit coelum et terram. I am to go to the altar of God, and feel the presence of him who desires to give me a new life! This my hope comes not from any merits of my own, but from the all-powerful help of my Creator. The thought of his being about to appear before his God, excites, in the soul of the Priest, a lively sentiment of compunction. He cannot go further in the holy Sacrifice without confessing, and publicly, that he is a sinner, and deserves not the grace he is about to receive. Listen, with respect, to this confession of God's Minister, and earnestly ask our Lord to show mercy to him; for the Priest is your Father; he is answerable for your salvation, for which he every day risks his own. When he has finished, unite with the Servers, or the Sacred Ministers, in this prayer: Misereatur tui omnipotens Deus, et dimissis peccatis tuis, perducat te ad vitam æternam. May Almighty God have mercy on thee, and, forgiving thy sins, bring thee to everlasting life. The Priest having answered Amen, make your confession, saying with a contrite spirit: Confiteor Deo omnipotenti, beatæ Mariæ semper Virgini, beato Michaeli Archangelo, beato Joanni Baptistæ, sanctis Apostolis Petro et Paulo, omnibus Sanctis, et tibi, Pater, quia peccavi nimis cogitatione, verbo, et opere: mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa. Ideo precor beatam Mariam semper Virginem, beatum Michaelem Archangelum, beatum Joan I confess to Almighty God, to blessed Mary ever Virgin, to blessed Michael the Archangel, to blessed John Baptist, to the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, to all the Saints, and to thee, Father, that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word, and deed; through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault. Therefore I beseech the blessed Mary ever Virgin, blessed Michael the Arch- nem Baptistam, sanctos Apostolos Petrum et Paulum, omnes Sanctos, et te, Pater, orare pro me ad Dominum Deum nostrum. angel, blessed John Baptist, the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and all the Saints, and thee, Father, to pray to our Lord God for me. Receive with gratitude the paternal wish of the Priest, who says to you: Invoke the divine assistance, that you may approach to Jesus Christ. The Priest here leaves you to ascend to the altar; but first he salutes you: V. The Lord be with you. Answer him with reverence: B. And with thy spirit. V. Dominus vobiscum. R. Et cum spiritu tuo. He ascends the steps, and comes to the Holy of Holies. Ask, both for him and yourself, the deliverance from sin: OREMUS,. Aufer a nobis, quæsumus Domine, iniquitates nostras; ut ad Sancta sanctorum puris mereamur mentibus introire. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen. LET US PRAY. Take from our hearts, O Lord, all those sins, which make us unworthy to appear in thy presence; we ask this of thee by thy divine Son, our Lord. When the Priest kisses the altar, out of reverence for the relics of the Martyrs which are there, say: Oramus te, Domine, per merita sanctorum tuorum, quorum reliquiæ hic sunt, et omnium sanctorum: ut indulgere digneris omnia peccata mea. Amen. Generous soldiers of Jesus Christ, who have mingled your own blood with his, intercede for us that our sins may be forgiven: that so we may, like you, approach unto God. If it be a High Mass at which you are assisting, the Priest incenses the Altar in a most solemn manner; and this white cloud, which you see ascending from every part of the Altar, signifies the prayer of the Church, who addresses herself to Jesus Christ; and which this Divine Mediator then causes to ascend, united with his own, to the throne of the majesty of his Father. The Priest then says the Introit. It is a solemn opening-anthem, in which the Church, at the very commencement of the Holy Sacrifice, gives expression to the sentiments which fill her heart. It is followed by nine exclamations, which are even more earnest, for they ask for mercy. In addressing them to God, the Church unites herself with the nine choirs of Angels, who are standing round the altar of Heaven, one and the same as this before which you are kneeling. Then mingling his voice with that of the heavenly host, the Priest intones the sublime Canticle of Bethlehem, which announces glory to God, and peace to men. Instructed by the revelations of God, the Church continues, in her own words, the Hymn of the Angels. THE ANGELIC HYMN. Glory be to God on high, and on earth peace to men of good will. We praise thee: we bless thee: we adore thee: we glorify thee: we give thee thanks for thy great glory. O Lord God, Heavenly King, God the Father Almighty. ŎLord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son. O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father. Who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. Gloria in excelsis Deo, et in terra pax hominibus bonæ voluntatis. Laudamus te: benedicimus te: adoramus te: glorificamus te gratias agimus tibi propter magnam gloriam tuam. Domine Deus, Rex cœlestis, Deus Pater omnipotens. Domine, Fili unigenite, Jesu Christe. Domine Deus, Agnus Dei, Filius Patris. Qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis. |