Then, still standing, 13 he places his arms lightly upon the altar, and moderately bending forward, reverently places both parts of the host upon his tongue. Then he places the paten upon the corporal, and rubs his forefingers and thumbs over it to remove any fragments. Holding his head erect, he joins both hands. together (the thumbs and forefingers being joined), before his face, taking care that they do not touch the face, and remains for a short space in meditation on the most holy Sacrament.

(b). Afterward he places the extremities of the last three fingers on the foot of the chalice, and removes the pall, in the manner before directed; then placing both hands upon the corporal, he genuflects and rises, saying at the same time:

WHA

Quid retribuam.

HAT reward shall I give unto the Lord for all the benefits that he hath done unto me? (Here he takes the chalice into his hands, that is, the knop with his right hand, and the foot with his left hand, in the manner before directed, saying:) I will receive the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord. I will call upon the Lord which is worthy to be praised; so shall I be safe from mine enemies.14

Then, still standing, he reverently raises the chalice as high as the breast, and signing himself with it, says:

Sanguis Domini.

HE Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was

THE

shed for me, preserve my body and soul unto everlasting life. Amen.

13 See Notes on the Mass, xi., p. 31.

14 Ps. CXVI., 11, 12, and xviii. 2.

Having said these words, he places the chalice to his lips and receives the sacred Blood with the particle which was placed in the chalice.15 After he has communicated himself, he carefully removes from the lip of the chalice with his own lips the sacred Blood which adheres to it. Then he replaces the chalice on the corporal, and placing the left hand on the foot of the chalice, covers it with the pall.16 Afterwards, placing both hands upon the corporal, he genuflects and rises.

7. If a ciborium is used to hold the small hosts for the Communion of the people, so that there were no other hosts upon the paten but the large one, immediately after the Priest has received the Body of the Lord and genuflected, he takes the paten between the fore and middle finger of the right hand, and carefully examines the corporal, collecting the least fragments that may be upon it. Then taking the paten into his left hand, he rubs whatever particles may have been collected upon it, into the chalice, with the thumb and forefinger of the right hand, as directed on page 139. Then he places the paten upon the corporal at his left hand, and detaches any fragments from his thumbs and forefingers over the chalice. Afterwards, he proceeds as directed above, saying, "What reward shall I give," etc.

8. As soon as the Priest has received the sacred Blood, the server immediately rises, genuflects in the

15 The Priest should be careful to receive the particle when he communicates himself with the Sacred Blood, so that it will not be in the chalice at the communion of the people. Cf. rubric in the Roman Pontifical at the Consecration of a Bishop: Consecrator corpus Domini sumpserit cum particula Hostia in colicem missa.

16 See second rubric in Order of Communion of 1548, and Merati, p. ii. tit. x. xxiii.

17

midst, and goes to the credence, where he replaces the sacring bell. He then spreads the houselling cloth18 over the communion-rail, for the Communion of the people. But, if there are any of the clergy present to be communicated, before spreading this cloth, he takes another and smaller cloth,19 and accompanied by another acolyte, goes up to the altar. They kneel on the foot-pace, or on the step below the foot-pace, the one at the Gospel side of the altar, and the other at the Epistle side, directly facing each other. In this position they hold the houselling cloth by the four corners with both hands, so that it will be spread out, and raised to about the lower part of the breast of the clergyman when he kneels to be communicated.20

9. The Priest having received the Communion in both kinds himself, shall ¶ proceed to deliver the same to the Bishops, Priests, and Deacons, in like manner, (if any be present) and, after that, to the People also in order, into their hands, all devoutly kneeling. And sufficient opportunity shall be given to those present to communicate. Immediately after he has received the sacred Blood and genuflected, as directed above, he takes the paten between the fore and middle finger of the left hand, so that the joined thumb and forefinger will rest on the paten, and the other fingers support it beneath. Or, if a ciborium is used, he moves it forward on the corporal, placing it before the chalice; he removes the

17 Bauldry, Manuale, p. i. cap. xvii, xl, xli.

18 This houselling cloth, according to Gavantus, is made of white linen the length of the communion rail, and about one yard wide. For examples shewing its continuous use in the Church of England, see Hierurgia Anglicana, 1902, pt. i., pp. 127-131.

19 The houselling cloth for the communion of the clergy is necessarily somewhat smaller than the one spread on the rail for the people. It ought to be at least as long as the altar, and about one-half yard wide. 20 Merati, Nov. Ob., etc., t. i. pars. ii. tit. x. liii.

cover, placing it on the altar beyond the corporal; after which he genuflects; then he takes the ciborium by the knop between the joined thumb and forefinger and the middle finger of the left hand. Then taking one of the small hosts between the thumb and forefinger of the right hand, he holds it a little raised over the paten or ciborium (which he holds as high as his breast), so that the hand rests upon the rim of the paten or ciborium. He turns by his right towards the people, and stands directly before the midst of the altar, so that the Sacrament may be seen by the people.* Keeping his eyes fixed upon the host held in his hand, he says once privately:

B

Ecce, Agnus Dei.

EHOLD, the Lamb of God; behold him that taketh away the sins of the world.

Then he says thrice privately:

Domine non sum dignus.

LORD, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come

under my roof; but speak the word only and my soul shall be healed.

The Communion of the Clergy.

10. As soon as the Priest turns towards the people, as directed above, the Bishop of the diocese, or the Bishop having jurisdiction in that place (if present to receive the Holy Communion), first approaches the altar. Having a stole over the usual choral habit worn

* Our custom of the Celebrant turning to the people and shewing them the Sacrament before the Communion (necessitated by the rubric, "And sufficient opportunity," etc.) corresponds exactly in its character to the rite of the Sancta Sanctis in the Eastern liturgies, and affords a like opportunity for acts of praise and worship.

by Bishops, he goes before the lowest step of the altar, where he genuflects, then he goes up and kneels before the houselling cloth, over which he holds his right hand supported by his left. The Celebrant delivers to him the Body of the Lord in the manner directed below at the Communion of the people. Afterwards, the Celebrant replaces the paten upon the corporal, removes the pall from the chalice and genuflects. Then taking the chalice, he administers it to the Bishop in the manner directed below. Then the Bishop rises, goes down below the lowest step of the altar, where he again genuflects in the midst, and then returns to his place. Then the other Bishops approach, one after the other, each wearing a stole. They go to the altar in the same way as the first, and receive Holy Communion after the same manner. Then having genuflected before the lowest step of the altar, they return to their places.21

II. The Priests are next communicated in order, the superior clergy approaching first. Each having a stole over his surplice, they go two by two before the lowest step of the altar, genuflect together, and go up and kneel before the houselling cloth. Having received the Holy Communion in both kinds, they rise, take a single step, the one towards the Gospel side, and the other towards the Epistle side, and then turn (the one at the Gospel side by his right hand, and the other by his left, so as not to turn their backs on the Sacrament), and go down below the lowest step of the altar, where they again genuflect together, and then return to their places.

The Deacons are communicated next. They each 21 De Herdt, Praxis Pontificalis, t. iii. lib. ii. 25, 26.