midst, towards the altar), puts away the censer, and then returns to his place at the Epistle corner of the altar. 2. The Communion. When the Celebrant turns towards the people with the Sacrament in his hands, the torch-bearers rise and then stand facing each other, as at High Mass. The two servers also turn and face each other, and if any are to receive the Communion, the servers hold the houselling cloth.* If any persons receive the Communion, all is done as at Low Mass; the clergy and acolytes kneeling at the altar, and the people at the chancel rail. When the Celebrant turns (holding up the Sacrament) towards the people, the torch-bearers bow their heads, and the other acolytes bow more profoundly. When, after the Communion, or when after he has given "sufficient opportunity to those present to communicate," the Celebrant replaces the Sacrament upon the altar, the torch-bearers kneel again as before, and the servers stand in their places facing the altar. The Post-Communion. At the Gloria in excelsis, or hymn in lieu thereof, the torch-bearers, and all in the church, stand erect. Towards the end of the Gloria in excelsis, or other hymn, the second server† moves the book (as the SubDeacon does at High Mass) to the Epistle corner, and If the servers are engaged at this time in holding torches, the censerbearer and the boat-bearer may hold the houselling cloth if it be needed; or the boat-bearer lacking, the second server holds both torches, and the first server assists the censer-bearer in holding the cloth. If the servers are holding torches the censer-bearer, or another acolyte, moves the book. then goes directly to the floor before the Epistle corner, and then to his place opposite the Gospel corner. All the acolytes kneel for the blessing, and then rise and stand erect. 4. The Ablutions. Immediately after the blessing the first server* rises, goes to the midst, makes the due act of reverence towards the altar, then goes to the credence, and after removing the stoppers, carries the cruets, (the wine in his right hand, the water in his left), to the second step at the Epistle corner of the altar; when the Celebrant holds out the chalice, he steps upon the foot-pace, genuflects, rises and pours into the chalice a little wine, then he ministers, as usual, the wine and the water, after which he returns to the credence, puts down the cruets thereon, and goes to the midst, makes the due act of reverence, and then goes to his place opposite the Epistle corner, where he stands as before. Immediately after the Celebrant has received the ablution of wine, the torch-bearers rise, go to the sacristy, extinguish and put away their torches, and return promptly to their places in the sanctuary, as at High Mass. After the Celebrant has received the ablutions, the second acolyte moves the book, if it is to be moved, to the Gospel corner, making due reverence towards the cross as he passes the midst, and having turned the leaves of the Mass Book, so as to have it open at the proper Gospel, he stands on the second step, facing towards the Epistle side, and awaits the Celebrant. * If need be the censer-bearer may act in lieu of the server. If the Celebrant, after singing the Post-Communion, has closed his book, the second server goes to the midst at the time when the first server returns from the credence, makes there with him the due act of reverence, and then turning by his left, goes to the Gospel corner, and takes up the Gospel card, and goes down to the second step, and there facing towards the Celebrant holds the card as the Sub-Deacon does at High Mass. 5. The Last Gospel. At the last Gospel all the acolytes make the accustomed signs with the Celebrant as he announces the Gospel, and bow as he does, and make, together with him, the genuflection, if any is to be made. The last Gospel ended, the second server closes the book (with its opening towards the Gospel corner) or lays down the Gospel card upon the gradine, and goes directly to the floor before the altar, and then to his place opposite the Gospel corner, and the first server goes to the sedilia, where he takes up the Celebrant's biretta and returns to his place. Meanwhile all the acolytes go and stand before the altar as they did on arrival before it at the beginning of the Mass. If the two acolyte servers acted also as candle-bearers, they go now to the credence, take up their candlesticks and return to their places before the altar. If this is done, the first server will take up the Celebrant's biretta from the sedilia, as he goes to the credence. When the Celebrant comes down from the foot-pace and stands facing the altar, all make due act of reverence towards the altar, and then return to the Sacristy in the usual manner, The Order of the Ceremonies of a 1. The Preparation. The times when Requiem Masses may not be said have been already mentioned under the Ceremonies of Low Mass (Vide vol. i, p. 148.) On All Souls' Day a Mass of Requiem should be sung at an hour which will best suit the convenience of the people. On the previous evening, after the Vespers of All Saints, there should be sung the Vespers of the Dead. It will be well if at the Vespers and also at the Mass there be read the names of the parishioners who have died during the year, and also the names of any others of the faithful dead for whom the people have desired prayers. If it be the day of interment, the body should be received at the door of the Church. Then will follow the office prescribed in the Prayer Book. After the prayers which follow the Lesson, will be sung the Mass. The black vestments for the Celebrant and the sacred ministers are laid out in the sacristy in the accustomed manner, and all other things necessary are made ready as usual. If the Blessed Sacrament be reserved in the tabernacle at the altar where the Mass of Requiem is to be celebrated, the veil of the tabernacle should be violet in colour. It is desirable that Mass of Requiem be celebrated at an altar where the Blessed Sacrament is not reserved. The altar frontals, chalice veil and burse should be black in colour. The foot-pace may have a black covering, and the steps of the altar left bare. The altar candles, if possible, should be of unbleached wax. The cover of the credence should be somewhat smaller than usual, and fall only a little over the sides and front. If the body of the deceased for whom the Mass is celebrated be present, and the prayers and ceremonies called The Absolution are to follow the Mass, a book containing the order of that service should be laid upon the credence; a processional cross should be placed near the credence, and also a vessel of holy water with the sprinkler." There will also be provided a black cope, which will be laid upon the sedilia. The candles used in the candlesticks and torches of the acolytes should be, if possible, of unbleached wax. 2. General Directions. If the body of the deceased person, for whom the Mass is celebrated, be present, it should rest upon a bier placed on the floor of the nave, near the entrance to the chancel, with the feet towards the altar. If on account of contagious disease, or for other good reason, the body of the dead person cannot be brought to the 2 If it be the custom, candles (which the clergy in attendance hold lighted in their hands during the reading of the Gospel, and from the Elevation until the first ablution after the Blessing, and during the Absolution), are placed upon or near the credence. |