II. The Preface and the Canon.

At the Preface, the assistant Priest withdraws to a stall in the choir, and his seat near the Bishop's throne, is removed by an acolyte.

At the Preface and the Sanctus, the Bishop stands with uncovered head. He says the Sanctus with his assistants.

After the Benedictus qui venit and the prayer, "We do not presume," etc., the Bishop wearing his mitre and carrying the pastoral staff, and attended by his Deacons, goes to the faldstool before the altar. After removing his mitre and laying aside the staff, he there kneels down until after the elevation of the chalice, the Deacons kneeling on either side a little behind him, and the other ministers of the Bishop directly behind him. After the elevation the Bishop rises, resumes the mitre and staff, and returns to his seat. He there lays aside the mitre and staff, and remains standing at his seat, but bowing moderately, until after the Celebrant has received the first ablution.

12. The Kiss of Peace.

After the Celebrant and his sacred ministers have said the Agnus Dei (which the Bishop also says with his assistants), the Deacon withdraws behind the Celebrant while the assistant Priest comes to receive the Kiss of Peace, returning after the Priest has departed, to the right of the Celebrant, where he remains until the Sub-Deacon has returned from the choir. The assistant Priest having received the Peace from the Celebrant in the accustomed manner, goes directly to the Bishop to whom he gives the Peace, and then with

draws to his stall in the choir. If there be no assistant Priest, the Sub-Deacon takes the Peace to the Bishop, and to others, after the accustomed manner.

The Bishop, having received the Peace, gives it first to the senior and then to the junior assistant Deacons. They first make act of reverence towards the altar, and another to the Bishop, as they stand before the lowest step of the Bishop's throne; then they go up in succession to the Bishop, receive from him the Peace, and then go directly to their places, on either side.1

When the Bishop has given the Peace to his Deacons, the Sub-Deacon (who, after saying the Agnus Dei with the Celebrant, descended to the floor, and stood facing the altar on the Gospel side), goes accompanied by the Master of Ceremonies, to the assistant Priest from whom he receives the Peace, which he then proceeds to give to the clergy in the choir, the Deacon at the altar and lastly to the Master of Ceremonies.15

13. The Communion.

If the Bishop receives the Sacrament, he approaches the altar accompanied by his two Deacons before the Deacon and Sub-Deacon of the Mass have been communicated. He is communicated as directed in the Ceremonies of High Mass.

14. The Gloria in excelsis and the Blessing.

At the Gloria in excelsis all stand. At the blessing the Bishop stands holding his staff (but without his mitre, because the Sacrament is still upon the altar), and, turned towards the people, gives the blessing. 14 Praxis Pontif., tom. ii., 160-164.

15 Ibid, 165.

All kneel, except the Celebrant who, standing where he said the Post Communion Collect, with his right side towards the altar, profoundly inclines himself towards the Bishop. The sacred ministers kneel, each on his own step, behind the Celebrant.

After the blessing the Celebrant and his ministers go to the midst, and all is done as at High Mass. The Sub-Deacon when he comes down to the floor, as he bears the chalice to the credence bows to the Bishop. After the blessing the Bishop lays aside his staff and continues standing until after the first ablution, when he sits down and resumes his mitre.

After the last Gospel the Celebrant and his ministers descend, as usual, to the floor, make the due act of reverence towards the altar, bow to the Bishop, and with the acolytes, go to the sacristy, in the order in which they entered the sanctuary.10

unvest.

The Bishop at his seat is assisted by his Deacons to The vestments are laid again upon the altar by the assisting Deacons or by acolytes. After he has laid aside his vestments, the Bishop receives his mozetta or chimere and his biretta; then he goes with his Deacons and kneels, with his head uncovered, before the altar; then he rises, covers his head, and attended as before, returns to the sacristy.17

10 Ibid, 155.

17 If the Bishop vested in the sacristy, he returns thither, accompa nied as at first, immediately after the Celebrant has left the sanctuary.

The Order of the Ceremonies at the
Burial of the Dead

1. The Preparation in the Church.

If the deceased be an adult, the altar vestments should be black in colour, the altar should be bare of festal ornaments or flowers, and be furnished simply with the altar-cross and the six, or at least the two, candlesticks with candles of unbleached wax.

Six large candlesticks, with candles of unbleached wax, should be placed near where the bier is to rest, three on either side. These candles should be lighted before the Priest goes to meet the corpse, and remain lighted as long as the body is in the Church. If a Mass of requiem is to be said or sung, the altar and credence should be prepared as directed above on pages 137 and 138.

2. The Preparation in the Sacristy.

There should be in readiness in the sacristy, a surplice, black stole and biretta, and (if convenient) a black cope, for the Priest; surplices and black cassocks for the acolytes; two torches or candlesticks, with candles of unbleached wax, for the candle-bearers; a processional cross; a vessel with holy water and sprinkler; and a Prayer-book. When they are to be borne outside of the Church, it may be convenient to

provide two processional lanterns (i. e., torches with candles enclosed in glass cases), in place of the ordinary candlesticks.

If there is to be a Mass the vestments should be laid out as usual, and all things needed be made ready.

The choristers should be vested as usual, and should enter the Church and take their places in the stalls about the time the Priest goes to meet the corpse; or, if it be the custom, they may follow the cross, in the procession to the door.

3. The Meeting the Corpse.

The Priest vested in surplice, stole, cope and biretta, and preceded by a cross-bearer with two acolytes carrying lighted candles, meets the corpse at the entrance of the church-yard, or at the door of the Church.

The attendant clergy should be vested in surplices, and walk two by two immediately in advance of the Priest.

If a solemn High Mass is to be sung the Deacon, vested in surplice, should walk at the left of the Priest and support his cope, and the Sub-Deacon, vested in surplice, should bear the cross; and the acolyte who is to be the censer-bearer in the Mass should carry the holy water vessel.

At the church-yard entrance or at the door of the Church, a pall of black cloth (which may be ornamented with bands of white or of a red or golden colour, in the outline of a cross), may be laid over the coffin.