voice, In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

Immediately after pronouncing the blessing, the Celebrant extends his right hand, palm downward. upon the book, which the Deacon elevates a little and inclines towards him, and the Deacon at once kisses the Celebrant's hand.

The Deacon then rises, bows to the Celebrant, turns by his left a little towards the Epistle side of the altar, so as not to turn his back upon the cross, and goes directly down the altar steps to the sanctuary floor, where he turns towards the altar, and holding the book, closed, before his breast, with both hands, he stands facing the midst of the altar.

The Celebrant, immediately after the Deacon kisses his hand and withdraws the book, joins his hands, moves to the midst of the altar, makes a profound bow towards the altar cross; then turning himself towards the Epistle side, he goes along the foot-pace to the Epistle corner of the altar, where he turns and faces the altar, and stands in that position until the Deacon is about to announce the Gospel.

10. The Procession of the Gospel.

While the Celebrant is blessing the Deacon, or shortly thereafter, the Master of Ceremonies directs by a sign the candle-bearers13 at the credence to take up

13 In the ancient ceremonials, the Roman Ordines, Nos. 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6, lights are ordered to be borne and incense burnt at the reading of the Gospel: "Et procedunt ante ipsum (Diaconus) duo sub-diaconi cum duo thuribulis, sive uno, levantes thymianterium de manu sub-diaconi sequentis, mittentes incensum, et duo acolythi portantes duo cero-stata.' (Migne, Vol. 78, Ordo ii., p. 971.)

"Acolytes, in Greek, are called Ceroferarii in Latin, from their carrying wax candles when the Gospel is to be read, or the sacrifice to be offered. For then lights are kindled by them, and borne, not to drive away darkness, as the sun is shining, but for a sign of joy, that under the form of material light may be represented that Light, of

their candlesticks and to follow the censer-bearer. Then at once (the Master of Ceremonies leading, the censer-bearer and the candle-bearers following, or, if space will permit, walking on either side of him) all go by the floor of the sanctuary to the midst before the altar; where, without making any bow or genuflection at this time, they stand facing the altar in this order: The Master of Ceremonies at the left of the SubDeacon; the second candle-bearer at the left of the Master of Ceremonies; the censer-bearer at the right of the Deacon; the first candle-bearer at the right of the censer-bearer; all being on a line parallel with and immediately before the lowest step of the altar. If space be lacking for the above order, they may take either of the following positions:

Thus standing before the altar, all bow profoundly; or if the Blessed Sacrament be in the tabernacle, all genuflect, the Deacon and Sub-Deacon upon the lowest step of the altar, the others upon the floor. Then, standing erect, all go in the following order to the place where the Gospel is to be sung.* The Master which it is read in the Gospel, "This is the true Light.'" (S. Isidore, Bp. of Seville, A. D. 636. Etymol., Lib. vii., c. xii., sec. 29, 30, tom. iii.)

"Duæ candela evangelium præcedunt, quia lex et prophetæ præcesserunt qui evangelium prædicaverunt. Duo candelabra quæ præ feruntur sunt duo præcepta charitatis quæ per evangelium instruuntur. Duo acolyti qui ea portant, sunt Moyses et Helias, inter quos Dominus ut sol in monte fulgebat." (Gemma Anima, c. xv.)

*On ordinary Sundays and on ferias, the place where the Deacon sings the Gospel is at a little distance from the lowest step of the altar and opposite the Gospel corner of the altar. On such occasions, commonly,

of Ceremonies, having his hands joined, leads the procession; after him the censer-bearer walks, carrying the censer as at the first approach to the altar, and gently swinging the censer; the candle-bearers, carrying their candlesticks in the usual manner, follow the censer-bearer, the second on the right hand of the first. Then comes the Sub-Deacon, and last of all the Deacon; or the Sub-Deacon may walk with the Deacon at his left. In this order they proceed to the place for singing the Gospel, which on ordinary occasions is the Gospel side of the sanctuary below the lowest step, or on the presbytery. On the greater feasts, the place of the Gospel is just within and a little north of the midst of the entrance to the choir, in lieu of the ambo.

Having arrived at the place appointed for singing the Gospel, the Master of Ceremonies turns aside to his right, so as to allow the candle-bearers and SubDeacon to pass by him, and then faces towards the censer-bearer. The latter on his arrival turns to his left, faces the Master of Ceremonies, and stands, gently moving the censer in order that the fire may not die out. The candle-bearers pass on between the Master of Ceremonies and censer-bearer and go a pace or two beyond; then they turn about, separating a little as they turn, so as to allow the Sub-Deacon to stand between them and on a line with them. The second

the lack of space and the shortness of the distance to be traversed will not permit of the formal procession for which directions are here given. In such cases, after the common act of reverence, the Master of Ceremonies will turn by his right so as to have his side (not his back) to the altar: The censer-bearer will turn and go to his place at the left of where the Deacon will stand: The candle-bearers go a little beyond the Master of Ceremonies, then turn and face southward: The Sub-deacon turns by his left and advances to the point between the candle-bearers, where he turns again by his left, faces the Deacon and receives the book: The Deacon, turning by his left, follows the Sub-deacon, stands in his place, with the Master of Ceremonies on his right and the censerbearer on his left, both a little behind him, and sings the Gospel. (Cf. Merati, et Van Der Stappen, in loco.)

candle-bearer faces towards the Master of Ceremonies, and the first towards the censer-bearer. The SubDeacon passes on until he comes to the place where the candle-bearers are; and then turning himself (by his right) so as to face towards the south, he stands between the candle-bearers, and on a line with them. The Deacon, coming to the Sub-Deacon and facing towards the north, gives the Sub-Deacon the book open at the Gospel for the day. The Sub-Deacon takes the book with both hands1 and holds it, open towards the Deacon, at such height as may enable the Deacon conveniently to sing the Gospel.15

If the choir sing Gradual, Tract or Sequence they should so measure their song that it will not end before the Deacon stands ready to announce the Gospel.

11. The Singing of the Gospel by the Deacon.

The Deacon, as soon as the book is held up before him, says, in a low voice, "The Lord be with you;" and response is made by the acolytes saying in a low voice, "And with thy spirit." At this moment the Celebrant standing at the Epistle side, turns towards the book of the Gospels, not fully, but with his right side to the altar; and so remains until he has been

14 "Elevatum ante pectus et oculos suos, ita ut Diaconus in eo legere commodè possit, et oculi sub-diaconi impediantur à libro, ne recta videant Diaconum." Merati, Nova Observ., in Gav., Thes. Sac. Rit., pt. ii., tit. vi. xxx. et Bauldry, Man. Sac. Cærem., pt. iii., cap. xi., art. v.

15 According to old English and French uses, a processional cross was used, on double feasts, at the reading of the Gospel. The Sarum customary mentions lights borne and incense used at the Gospel, and the reading thereof by the Deacon facing towards the north. "Et si duplex festum fuerit crux precedat," etc. Et cum ad locum legendi pervenerit, textum ipsum sub-diaconus accipiat et a sinistris ipsius diaconi quasi oppositus ipsum textum dum evangelium legitur, teneat, ceroferariis diacono assistentibus, uno a dextris reliquo a sinistris ad eum conversis, Thuribularius stet post diaconum ad eum conversus. Et semper legatur evangelium ad missam versus aquilonem." Frere, Cust. Sarum., pp. 73, 74.

censed by the Deacon, just before the Creed, except when he is required to turn and bow, or to genuflect towards the altar.

"Then the people, all standing up," the Deacon, as he sings "the Holy Gospel is written," places his left hand upon the book and makes the sign of the cross with the thumb of his right hand upon the text16 of the Gospel at its beginning; then placing his left hand extended, palm towards himself, below his breast, he sings "in the Chapter of, beginning at the Verse," at the same time signing himself with the thumb of his right hand upon his forehead, lips and breast; and then joins his hands before his breast.

The Master of Ceremonies, when the Deacon signs himself, makes the like signs and turns a little towards the Celebrant as a signal to him to sign himself likewise. All others, except the candle-bearers, SubDeacon and censer-bearer (who are hindered) make the sign of the cross at the same time.

While the choir sing the response, "Glory be to thee, O Lord," the censer-bearer passes behind and to the right of the Deacon, and holding the top of the chains in his right hand, and the chains near the censer in his left hand, he presents the censer to the Deacon, putting the top of the chains into the Deacon's left hand and the chains near the censer cover into his right hand. The censer-bearer bows to the Book of the Gospels before and after the censing, not to turn his back upon the altar.

the censer, the Deacon bows to the

and stands so as Having received book, and then

14 "Signat primò librum, non quasi benedicens librum, sed quasi dicatur, Hic est liber Crucifixi,' Quartus, Com. Rub. Mis., pt. ii. tit. vi. *See Ceremonies of Low Mass, pp., 5 and 75.