ARTICLE 1.-Preparations ib. ib. ib. 246 ib. ib. 261 III.-Benediction of the Most Holy Sacrament IV. The manner of serving a Low Mass CEREMONIAL ACCORDING TO THE ROMAN RITE. PART I. OF SOLEMN HIGH MASS. CHAPTER I. RULES TO BE OBSERVED BY ECCLESIASTICS IN CHOIR. ARTICLE I.-The Mode of proceeding to Choir. 1. THOSE of the Clergy who are vested in cassock and cotta should issue from the sacristy, two and two, united in such a manner, that the right shoulder of the one may come nearly in contact with the left of the other; and thus each two, maintaining an equal distance from the other, will proceed with measured pace, grave deportment, and heads uncovered, holding their birrettas with both hands, below the breast. 2. Having arrived at the Altar they genuflect to the Cross,1 observing in this action, as well as in slowly and composedly arising, a simultaneous motion, which constitutes the uniformity and decorum of ceremonial observance. The second and third pair, and so on, in succession, will genuflect in the same place and manner as the first; for which reason it is essential that those who follow should proceed at a slower pace than those more in advance, and thus enable them to genuflect without any appearance of hurry. After the genuflection, those who form each pair, face one another, mutually bow, and retire to their places at opposite sides of the choir, where they remain standing. It should be here observed, that although the Blessed Sacrament is not in the Tabernacle, yet a genuflection is to be made by all Ecclesiastics except Canons, and this not only at arriving before the Altar, but also before the Bishop (Corem. Epist. lib. i. cap. xviii. n. 3). 2 The Ceremonial frequently enjoins that Ecclesiastics, on going into choir, shall kneel and remain some time in prayer; but this appears to presume that they do not enter processionally. B |