Gospel, he returns to the centre, where, at the signal of the Master of Ceremonies, he makes a simple inclination to the Cross, descends from the Altar, and makes the proper reverence. Should the clergy remain in choir, he salutes them on either side; then, receiving his berretta from the Deacon, puts it on, and returns to the sacristy, following the Deacon.1

23. Having reached the sacristy, if the clergy there await him, he takes off his berretta, and salutes them conjointly with the sacred Ministers, who are at his sides. He commences on the right, should the highest Dignitary stand on that side. Having made a reverence to the Cross or image of the sacristy, he salutes the Ministers of the Altar, who then assist him to unvest, &c.; which being finished, he again salutes them and retires.

CHAPTER VIII.

DUTIES OF THE MASTER OF CEREMONIES AND OTHER MINISTERS AT MASSES FOR THE DEAD.

1. THE black vestments, and all else necessary for the offices, should be prepared in the sacristy.

2. The bench upon which the ministers are to sit should be uncovered. (Ĉærem. Epis. lib. ii. cap. xi. n. 1.)

3. At the Altar, the antependium and the carpeting2 should be of purple colour; the predella only should be covered, and not the steps. (Carem. Epis. ibid.)

4. The credence should be covered with a small linen cloth hanging down but a short distance over the sides; upon it should be placed, in addition to the chalice, cruets, &c., the candles to be distributed amongst the choir. The

1 See note 1 page 25.

2 The Ceremonial of Bishops enjoins a black antependium. It would be incongruous to cover the Tabernacle with black, and purple would naturally suggest itself for this purpose in churches where there is but one Altar, and that of the Blessed Sacrament. The Blessed Sacrament ought, however, if possible, to be removed. The Ceremonial of Bishops makes no mention of the Tabernacle, for it supposes that these offices never take place at the Altar of the Blessed Sacrament.

whole should not be covered with the long veil, as it is not used during the Mass.

5. Whilst the Confession is being said by the sacred Ministers, the Master of Ceremonies kneels on the pavement at the Epistle corner. After the Confession, he intimates to the Deacon and Subdeacon that, without ascending to the Altar, they should place themselves one after the other behind the Celebrant; whilst he kisses the Altar, they make the genuflection, and proceed to the Epistle corner to assist as usual, at the Introit, the incensing of the Altar being omitted. (Rubr. Miss. part. ii. tit. xiii. n. 2.) When the Celebrant begins the Introit, he places his left hand on the Altar, and with his right makes the sign of the Cross upon the Missal, saying Requiem æternam, &c. (Sacred Congregation of Rites, Sept. 7. 1816.)1

Note. The clergy in choir kneel during the singing of the Collects.

6. The Epistle being sung, the Subdeacon does not present himself to the Celebrant with the Missal, nor does he receive the benediction, or kiss the hand of the Celebrant (Rubr. ibid.), but, having made the usual salutations to the choir, he consigns the book to the Master of Ceremonies.

7. During the singing of the Sequence, the Celebrant, having first read it, will proceed per breviorem with the sacred Ministers to sit down.2 The Clerks appointed, will distribute candles amongst the clergy, who hold them lighted during the singing of the Gospel, and from the Sanctus to the Communion of the Celebrant inclusively. (Rubr. ibid. n. 3.)

8. A little before the conclusion of the Sequence,3 the Master of Ceremonies makes a sign to the sacred Ministers to proceed per breviorem to the Altar. The Celebrant, inclining himself at the centre, says the Munda cor meum,

1 Question: An Sacerdos in Missa de Requiem ponere debeat_manum sinistram super Altare dum facit signum Crucis ad introitum ? Answer: Affirmative.

2 Some authors on the Ceremonies instruct the Celebrant to read the Gospel before going to sit down, but such is not the practice at Rome. 3 At the words Oro Supplex.

and the Subdeacon transfers the Missal and its stand in cornu Evangelii. The Deacon, in due time, carries the Missal more solito to the Altar, and having deposited it, kneels on the edge of the predella, where he says the Munda cor meum, without asking the Celebrant's blessing or kissing his hand. (Rubr. ibid.)

9. The Celebrant having finished reading the Gospel, the Master of Ceremonies makes a signal to the Deacon and Subdeacon to descend in plano, the incense not being required. The two Acolytes, without candles, but with hands joined, will have placed themselves in the middle. (Rubr. ibid.) They then proceed to the singing of the Gospel.

10. The Deacon neither incenses the book, nor the Celebrant after the singing of the Gospel. (Rubr. ibid.)

11. The Gospel being sung, the Subdeacon does not present the book to the Celebrant to be kissed (Rubr. ibid.), but consigns it immediately to the Master of Ceremonies. All having made a genuflection, each Minister returns to his place.

12. The Celebrant having said the Oremus of the offertory, the Master of Ceremonies directs the Subdeacon to genuflect and proceed to the credence, from whence he takes the chalice, covered with the little veil and the burse, which he carries to the Altar in cornu Epistolæ.

13. The Deacon takes the burse, extends the corporal as usual, and the Subdeacon withdraws the veil from the chalice, and gives it to the Acolyte. He puts the water into the chalice, without asking the benediction.

Note. When they present incense, the cruets, the towel, or any other article, or when they receive anything, they neither kiss the hand nor the thing presented.

to

14. As the Subdeacon does not hold the paten during this Mass, the Master of Ceremonies directs him to pass the Celebrant's left; he will genuflect only on passing the centre of the Altar. (Rubr. ibid.)

15. After the offering of the chalice, the Deacon places the paten partly under the corporal, and covers the remainder with the purificator. In due time, he presents the incense, which being blessed by the Celebrant, the

oblations and the Altar are incensed as usual, both the sacred Ministers raising the chasuble. Afterwards the Deacon incenses the Celebrant only. (Rubr. ibid.)

16. The Celebrant having been incensed, the Subdeacon receives the cruet and basin from one of the Acolytes; and the Deacon, having consigned the thurible to the Thurifer, receives the towel from the other: both assist in washing the Celebrant's hands. They then place themselves unus post alium, and the Deacon in due time responds to the Orate, fratres.

17. After the Preface, the Master of Ceremonies makes a sign to the Deacon and Subdeacon, that the former may proceed to the right, and the latter to the left, of the Celebrant, to join him in saying the Sanctus. This concluded, the Subdeacon returns to his place, and the Deacon passes over to the left of the Celebrant, to render assistance more solito.

18. At the words Quam oblationem, the Master of Ceremonies directs the Deacon to proceed to the right of the Celebrant; and the Subdeacon to proceed in cornu Epistolæ. The Subdeacon, kneeling on the lowest step with his face towards the Gospel side, receives the thurible from the Thurifer (the incense being already placed in it), and incenses the Blessed Sacrament with three swings at each elevation. Having restored the thurible, he returns to his place, where he genuflects, and remains standing until the Pax Domini.

Note.-The Acolytes remain kneeling with the torches until the Communion of the Celebrant. (Rubr. ibid. tit. vii. n. 8.)

19. At the words Dimitte nobis, the Master of Ceremonies gives notice to the Deacon only, to genuflect and ascend to the right of the Celebrant to present the paten to him.

20. A little before the Celebrant says the Agnus Dei, the Master of Ceremonies gives notice to the Subdeacon to genuflect and go to the left of the Celebrant. Having arrived, he genuflects with the others, and profoundly inclining towards the Blessed Sacrament, says the Agnus Dei without striking his breast.

21. After the Agnus Dei, as the Pax is not given, the

Master of Ceremonies directs the Deacon and Subdeacon to change places, the Deacon passing to the left, and the Subdeacon to the right of the Celebrant: both genuflect before leaving and after having arrived. (Rubr. ibid. n. i.) They then proceed as usual.

22. After the last Dominus vobiscum has been sung, the Deacon, apprised by the Master of Ceremonies, sings the Requiescant in pace without turning round, and always in the plural number. The Celebrant should also recite it with his face turned towards the Altar, according to a decree of the Sacred Congregation of Rites, dated Sept. 7, 1816. The Celebrant, without giving the benediction (Rubr. ibid.), continues as in other Masses.

CHAPTER IX.

MASS SUNG WITHOUT DEACON AND SUBDEACON.

1. THE Acolytes appointed for the purpose of serving this Mass should observe to the letter the ceremonies given for low Mass,' and, in addition, those which are here subjoined.

2. At the proper time, they put on their cottas, and prepare all that is necessary; namely - on the Altar, the chalice placed on the extended corporal, and, if required, the ciborium behind it; and on the Epistle side the Missal open, having the markers in the proper places.

3. On the credence-the cruets, the towel, the book for the Epistle, and the Communion-cloth. The first Acolyte should prepare to sing the Epistle with propriety.

Note. In these Masses the Rubrics do not sanction the use of incense, although in some churches the practice exists, in opposition to a decree of the Sacred Congregation of Rites, dated Dec. 18, 1779.

The manner of serving a Low Mass is given at length in Part vi.