They do not kneel when the choir sings the Et incarnatus est, unless on the Feast of the Annunciation (or the day to which it may be transferred) and Christmas; nor do they kneel when the Bishop gives his solemn benediction. They salute the Bishop by a profound inclination, and not by a genuflection.

38. The CLERKS at the Pontifical Offices, as those who bear the mitre and crosier, should be vested in cotta,1 and walk two and two after the Bishop, when he goes processionally to the Altar. (Ibid. lib. ii. cap. viii. n. 26.) He who carries the crosier is sometimes excepted, for should the Bishop himself not bear it, he carries it before him. When the Bishop is at his throne or at the Altar, they should be near, ready to discharge their particular offices. They should avoid touching the episcopal ornaments with bare hands; they will on every occasion pay the strictest attention to the injunctions of the Master of Ceremonies, bearing in mind that even the Canons themselves are bound to obey him whilst in the exercise of his duties. (Decree of the Sacred Cong. of Rites, 21 May, 1817.)

39. The Clerk charged with the book, will hold it in such a manner that it may easily be opened at the places required. He holds it each time that the Bishop reads from it, but not when he sings aloud; he may, however, in this latter case, aid the Assistant Priest in holding it. (Ibid. lib. i. cap. xi. n. 3.) When he presents or holds the book, he kneels or stands as may best suit the convenience of the Bishop. (Ibid.) The book is required as follows:-1. For the Preparations; 2. for the Prayers of Terce; 3. for the Introit; 4. for the Collects; 5. for the Epistle and Gospel; 6. for the Indulgence, after a sermon; 7. for the Credo; 8. for the Offertory; and 9. for the Thanksgiving at the unvesting after Mass. For the Introit, Collects, Epistle and Gospel, and Offertory, the Missal is required; at all other times the Canon.

40. The Clerk of the bugia approaches at the right of

1 The Ceremonial of Bishops says, that where the custom exists, the. four Acolytes, of the book, bugia, crosier, and mitre, may be also vested in copes. (Book i. chap. xi. n. 1.) In this case, however, they do not wear amices.

the Acolyte of the book, each time that the Bishop reads or sings from the Missal. The ceremonial assigns him the same service at the Altar; serviet etiam ad Altare. (Ibid. lib. i. cap. xi. n. 4; cap. xx. n. 1.)

41. The Clerk of the crosier, who will wear a veil, carries it (at least when walking) with both hands: he presents it kneeling, and kisses the Bishop's hand. The Bishop takes the crosier each time that he goes from the throne to the Altar, and from the Altar to the throne, during the singing of the Gospel, and when he gives his solemn Benediction.

42. The Clerk of the mitre will use a veil to hold it with, at least if he be not vested in a cope. (Ibid. lib. i. cap. xi. n. 6.) At Pontifical Mass the Bishop wears the mitre whenever he passes from the throne to the Altar, or from the Altar to the throne; whenever he sits, washes his hands during the Mass, and when he gives his solemn benediction. An Archbishop, however, does not use it in this latter instance. As a general rule, the costly mitre is used at all times, except when he sits during the singing of the Kyrie, Gloria, and Credo.

43. The Clerk charged with the gremial veil should present it to the Assistant Deacons, to put on the Bishop's knees each time that he takes his seat at the throne. He will fold it and place it on the credence after the Bishop has washed his hands at the offertory.

44. The second Master of Ceremonies will provide a sufficient number of Clerks to carry the episcopal vestments from the Altar to the throne, in the manner given in No. 53 (page 121); some of these may also be employed to hold the torches at the Elevation. As the Master of Ceremonies is more particularly engaged at the throne, it will devolve upon a second to attend to the general ceremonies of the choir, and especially of the Deacon and Subdeacon of the Mass. He will give to them, as well as to the Canons, the necessary intimations when to incline, &c.

ARTICLE III.-Ceremonies preceding the Mass.

45. When for some sacred function the Bishop is ac

companied from his palace to the Church, the Magistrate's servants and then the Bishop's walk first; then, Magistrates, or other persons of consideration, immediately preceding the Bishop, who is followed by the Canons, walking two and two, those of highest dignity being nearest his person. An Archbishop is preceded by his Cross. (Carem. Epis. lib. i. cap. xv. n. 1, 2.) The clergy of the Church and Clerics of the Seminary assist at the door of the Church and follow the canons when the Bishop has entered.

46. On entering the Church, the senior Dignitary of the Chapter1 presents the Aspersorium, with the usual oscula, to the Bishop, who having first received the Asperges himself, gives it to the Canons and others present. (Ibid. n. 3) This is the only Aspersion which is made when the Bishop celebrates pontifically. (Ibid. cap. xxxi. n. 4.) At the arrival of the Bishop, it is proper for the bells of the church to be rung, and on other days when the Rubrics allow it, the organ should be played.

47. The Bishop is then conducted in the same order to the Altar of the Blessed Sacrament, where having first genuflected on the pavement without a cushion, he kneels at a faldstool previously prepared, and says a short prayer. This over, he proceeds to the High Altar, or to some chapel set apart as the Secretarium (see No. 7, page 108), where having saluted the Cross, he kneels to pray, and proceeds to take his seat. In the meantime, the Canons, amongst whom are the Deacon and Subdeacon of the Mass, vest themselves in another place, the Assistant Priest and two Assistant Deacons, who will vest presently, remaining with the Bishop. (Ibid. lib. ii. cap. viii. n. 4.)

2

48. The Canons, having vested themselves, return, make a reverence to the Altar and to the Bishop, and retire to their respective stalls or seats. The Bishop then commences Terce, by saying secretly the Pater and Ave, and

Aspersorium Episcopo ad Ecclesias Civitatis vel Dioecesis accedenti, per Rectorem Ecclesiæ est porrigendum. (S. R. C. 23 Sept. 1820.)

2 The Ceremonial of Bishops (book i. chap. xv. n. 6) prescribes that for vespers the Canons vest "post Episcopum stantes," but for Mass (book ii. chap. viii. n. 4), "Canonici extra illum locum capiant sacra indumenta."

intoning aloud the Deus in adjutorium. A Cantor intones the Hymn at which the organ may play. A Cantor having intoned the antiphon and first Psalm, the Bishop sits, as also all those Canons not immediately engaged in assisting him. The choir continue the Psalms, and should be advised to prolong them, if necessary, by interludes of the organ, until the Bishop has finished his preparations. (Ibid. n. 5, 6, 8.)

49. The Acolytes of the book and bugia now present themselves before the Bishop, the former, in a kneeling posture, holds the book, while the Bishop reads from it, sitting. The Bishop reads the antiphon, Ne reminiscaris, &c., and the following Psalms alternately with his Assistant Priest and Deacons. In the mean time, the Subdeacon, brings from the credence the sandals and buskins of the Bishop, on a salver, covered with a veil, his hands being covered with another veil; and with the assistance of two domestics of the Bishop, kneels and puts them on, while six or eight Clerks, kneeling around, raise and extend the borders of the cappa. This over, the shoes of ordinary use are taken to a convenient place by the servants, and the Subdeacon, taking the salver covered with the veils, retires, and the Clerks proceed to the Altar to be ready to receive the episcopal vestments.

50. The Bishop, having finished the Psalms (and the Antiphon being repeated), rises without berretta and turning towards the Altar, says the Prayers, till that one for the washing of the hands exclusively. He is then divested of the cappa, and reads from the book, or repeats from memory, the Prayers appointed for each vestment, except that for the maniple, which is said after the others.

51. The Bishop, having been divested of the cappa, sits covered, the Ministers of the Mass come to the throne, and he washes his hands, during which time, all, except Canons and Prelates, kneel, unless there be a Legate or a Prelate greater than the Bishop present, in which case all remain standing. (Ibid. lib. ii. cap. viii. n. 10.) The rings will have been taken from him by the Assistant Priest.

52. The Assistant Priest, Deacon, and Subdeacon can hold the towel spread over the Bishop's lap while he washes his hands. The Assistant Deacons having vested, return and stand near the Deacon and Subdeacon.

53. The Bishop is now vested by the Deacon and SubDeacon in amice, alb, girdle, pectoral cross, stole, cope, and mitre, all of which are brought by the Clerks in the manner given in Art. III. of the preceding chapter, with this difference, however, that each Clerk, having received on the predella that which he is to carry, descends to the right of him who has immediately preceded him, so that the line of Clerks may extend from the centre of the Altar towards the Epistle side, and that when all have genuflected together, they turn round to the side of the Gospel, so as to face the episcopal throne.

54. The Bishop, being vested,' sits; the Deacons to the throne, parati, proceed to take their respective positions at the throne; and the Deacon and Subdeacon of the Mass retire to their seat on the Epistle side. All sit till the antiphon is repeated.

55. The Psalms and antiphon being ended, the Bishop stands, and still retaining the mitre, turns towards the Subdeacon or other person appointed, who, assisted by the Master of Ceremonies, sings the Capitulum in the same place as the Epistle of the Mass. The Subdeacon himself holds the book, so as not to turn his back upon the Altar or the Bishop. Having sung the Capitulum, he returns the book to the Master of Ceremonies and goes to his place. Two Clerics in cottas go to the middle of the choir and sing the versicles of the short responsary. (Ibid. n. 15-17.)

56. At the proper time the Acolytes, with their candlesticks, present themselves before the Bishop, and so stand as neither to turn their backs upon him nor the Altar. The Assistant Priest stands between the Acolytes, and holds the book against his forehead. (Ibid. n. 17, 18.) The versicles over, the Bishop, his mitre being taken off,

1 See No. 15, page 92.