sacristy precisely in the same order as they entered the choir. Having arrived in the sacristy, they part asunder on either side, forming two lines. The Celebrant, having arrived, salutes them all with an inclination of the head, which they return by a similar reverence; they then unvest themselves with all possible modesty, gravity, and silence.

CHAPTER II.

THURIFER.1

1. A QUARTER of an hour before Mass, the Thurifer should present himself in the sacristy, put on his cotta, and in default of the Acolytes, assist the sacred Ministers

to vest.

2. At the beginning of Mass he prepares fire in the thurible. At the end of the Confiteor he approaches the Altar,2 ascends upon the predella at the corner of the Epistle, presents the navicula (or incense-boat) to the Master of Ceremonies, and receives incense in the thurible; after it has been put in and blessed, he lowers the cover of the thurible, and presents it to the Deacon; then retaking the boat in his left hand, and having his right extended on his breast, he descends to the pavement.3

3. During the incensing of the Celebrant, he stands near the Deacon, and makes with him an inclination before and after. He receives the thurible with his right hand, and carries it to the proper place, observing to genuflect in passing before the Altar where the blessed

1 For the Asperges the Thurifer will consult chap ii., part vi.

2 The Thurifer, having made the proper reverences on arriving in front of the Altar, if holding the thurible, will place himself opposite the corner of the Epistle, on the pavement at some little distance from the steps.

It is as well, also, here to remark, that when the Bishop is present in the sanctuary, he generally blesses the incense; the Thurifer will therefore present the thurible to him in a kneeling posture, with the usual reverences, on arriving at the throne, and on leaving it.

4 A little behind, on his right hand.

Sacrament reposes. choir.

He then returns to his place in

4. All the Collects being sung, he proceeds to prepare his thurible, and as soon as the Celebrant has finished reading the Gospel (at least if there be not a long Tract to be sung), he approaches the Altar to receive incense.' The incense being blessed, he takes the thurible in the right hand and the boat in the left, and having descended to the pavement, precedes the Acolytes to the centre of the choir before the Altar, at some distance from the steps, where he will station himself at the left of the Master of Ceremonies. When the signal is given, he genuflects before the Altar, and having saluted the choir with the sacred Ministers, allows the first Acolyte to pass, and afterwards proceeds to the left of the Deacon, placing himself a little behind him so as to face the first Acolyte.

5. In due time he presents the thurible to the master of Ceremonies, and having again received it, raises the cover a little, and gently swings it, lest the fire be extinguished, it being presently required for the incensing of the Cele

brant.

6. The Gospel being finished, he approaches the Deacon, presents the thurible, and makes with him the usual salutation before and after the incensing of the Celebrant. If the Credo be sung, after genuflecting behind the Subdeacon, he stands still, makes an inclination at the word Deum, and then proceeds to deposit the thurible in its proper place: returning to the credence, he joins the others.2 Should the Credo not be sung, the Thurifer, after having genuflected at the Altar, proceeds to prepare the thurible for the incensing of the oblations and the altar.

7. The choir having nearly finished the Credo, he proceeds to prepare his thurible, and will be in readiness to approach the Altar after the offering of the chalice. He receives incense in the usual manner, retakes the boat, places it on the credence, and there remains at the Epistle side, with his hands placed on his breast. He assists the

1 See note (3) on p. 8.

2 When a

sermon is given immediately after the Gospel, he retires without delay.

Deacon while he incenses the Celebrant, the choir, and the Subdeacon, standing at his left hand, but a little behind, and making the salutations and genuflections conjointly with him. He then retakes the thurible, and when the Deacon has arrived at his place behind the Celebrant, in-. censes him with two double swings. Afterwards, he incenses the Acolytes with one double swing for each; and finally, presenting himself at the entrance of the choir, he incenses the people with three double swings; that is, the first towards the centre, the second to his left, and the third to his right; observing, in every case, the due salutations before and after, and the genuflections in passing and repassing the Altar. He afterwards carries the thurible to its proper place.

8. He will again renew the fire, and a little before the Elevation, approach the Altar, at the Epistle side, to the right of the Master of Ceremonies, who puts incense in the thurible. This being done, he kneels on the pavement, and incenses the Sacred Host at the time of the Elevation with three double swings, making both before and after a profound inclination. He repeats the same at the Elevation of the Chalice. (Rubr. Miss. part ii. tit. viii. n. 8.) He then makes a genuflection to the Most Holy Sacrament, proceeds to deposit the thurible in its place, and returns to the Altar.

9. Here his office terminates, at least if the Acolytes do not continue with their torches until the Communion; for in such case he would in due time' untie and remove the veil from the Subdeacon's shoulders, fold it up, and carry it to the credence.

10. Having received the Pax from the one standing next to him in the choir, or from the Master of Ceremonies, according to his situations, he carries the veil of the chalice to the Gospel side of the Altar, in due time presents the cruets for the purification and ablution, and having deposited all on the credence, returns to his place.

That is, at the Dimitte nobis in the Pater noster.

11. If after the Pax the clergy go to communion, having taken the veil and cloth for the Communion, he passes over to the other side and kneels on the pavement; after the Indulgentiam he kneels on the lateral edge of the predella, to extend or uphold the cloth in conjunction with the Master of Ceremonies. After the Communion he descends to the pavement, genuflects with the Master of Ceremonies, and proceeds to the credence to minister the cruets as above.

Note 1.-The Thurifer genuflects on one knee when he leaves or enters the choir, when he leaves or approaches the Altar, and on passing or repassing from one side to the other.

Note 2.-When the thurible does not contain blessed incense, he holds it in his left hand, and the boat in his right; but when it does contain blessed incense, vice versa. During the more ceremonial parts of the function, such as at the singing of the Gospel and during processions, he places the little finger in the ring of the small cover, and the thumb of the same hand in the ring of the chain connected with the large cover; on other occasions, such as when he proceeds to receive incense, &c., he generally holds it at the top of the chains under the small cover, in such a manner, however, that the large cover will be somewhat raised, this being understood of instances apart from the act of incensing.

CHAPTER III.

ACOLYTES.1

1. A QUARTER of an hour before Mass, the Acolytes, who should be of equal stature (Carem. Epis. lib. i. cap. xi. n. 8.), having vested themselves in cotta, go to the Altar, and prepare everything requisite for the occasion; they then assist the Deacon and Subdeacon to vest. They light the candles on the Altar (unless for convenience an other be appointed to do it), the one on the one side

For the Asperges the Acolytes will consult chap. ii. part vi.

and the other on the other side, observing to commence with those nearest the Cross: they extinguish them, however, on the contrary, commencing with those farthest removed from the Cross. If only one Acolyte light them, he begins on the Epistle side and terminates on that of the Gospel; but in extinguishing them he commences on the Gospel side.

Note.--On these occasions care should be taken lest any wax fall on the Altar-cloth.

2. The second Acolyte lights their candles in the sacristy.

3. The Celebrant being vested, they put the maniples on the sacred Ministers, having previously presented them to be kissed.1

4. At the intimation of the Master of Ceremonies they take their candlesticks, and, having united, make the proper reverence to the Cross, or picture in the sacristy: then, with eyes modestly cast down, they slowly precede the clergy to the Altar. (Rubr. Miss. part ii. tit. ii. n. 5.)

5. The first Acolyte, being at the right of the second, carries his candlestick by the knob, with his right hand, and places the left under the foot; the second Acolyte, on the contrary, carries it by the knob with his left hand, and places the right under its foot. (Carem. Epis. ibid.)

6. Having arrived at the foot of the Altar, they genuflect on the pavement with one knee, and retire on either side to the two corners of the steps, turning so as to face each other.2

7. The Celebrant and his Ministers having arrived at the steps, the Acolytes turn themselves towards the Altar, and make a genuflection with them; they afterwards unite to carry their candlesticks to the credence (Rubr. ibid.), kneel with hands joined, facing the Altar, and respond in an undertone to the Confiteor, &c. They rise as the Celebrant goes up to the Altar, and remain standing near the credence..

1 Supposing the Asperges not to be given, otherwise they would be placed on the seats of the sacred Ministers.

2 Whenever they pass before the Altar, they genuflect on the pavement, even should the Blessed Sacrament not be in the Tabernacle.