Part I.

The Preparation Of The Offerers, By Acts Of Humility, Praise, Faith, Etc.

The Priest beginning at the foot of the Altar, says,

In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.

In the name of the Father, &c. Amen.

_Ant_. Introibo ad altare Dei.

_Ant_. I will go unto the altar of God.

R. Ad Deum qui lætificat juventutem meam.

R. To God, who rejoiceth my youth.

The following Psalm (42nd) is omitted in Passion time, and in Masses for the Dead.

Judica me, Deus, et discerne causam meam de gente non sancta: ab homine iniquo et doloso erne me.

Judge me, O God, and distinguish my cause from the nation that is not holy: from the unjust and deceitful man deliver me.

R. Quia tu es, Deus, fortitudo mea, quare me repulisti? et quare tristis incedo, dum affligit me inimicus?

R. Since thou, O God, art my strength, why hast thou cast me off? and why do I go sorrowful, while the enemy afflicteth me?

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P. Emitte lucem tuam et veritatem tuam: ipsa me deduxenmt et adduxenint in montem sanctum tuum, et in tabernacula tua.

P. Send forth thy light and thy truth: they have conducted and brought me to thy holy mount, and into thy tabernacles.

R. Et introibo ad altare Dei: ad Deum qui lætificat juventutem me am.

R. And I will go unto the altar of God; to God who rejoiceth my youth.

P. Confitebor tibi in cithara, Deus, Deus, meus: quare tristis es, anima mea; et quare conturbas me?

P. I will praise thee on the harp, O God, my God: why art thou sorrowful, O my soul; and why dost thou disturb me?

R. Spera in Deo, quoniam adhuc confitebor illi: salutare vultus mei, et Deus meus.

R. Hope in God, for I will yet praise him: the salvation of my countenance, and my God.

P. Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto:

P. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, &c.

R. Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in sæcula sæculorum. Amen.

R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

P. Introibo ad altare Dei.

P. I will go unto the altar of God.

R. Ad Deum qui lætificat juventutem meam.

R. To God who rejoiceth my youth.

P. Adjutorium nostrum in nomine Domini.

P. Our help is in the name of the Lord.

R. Qui fecit cœlum et terrain.

R. Who made heaven and earth.

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P. Confiteor Deo omnipotenti, &c.

P. I confess to almighty God, &c.

R. Misereatur tui omnipotens Deus, et dimissis peccatis tuis, perducat te ad vitam æternam.

R. May almighty God be merciful to thee, and forgiving thee thy sins, bring thee to life everlasting.

P. Amen.

P. Amen.

R. Confiteor Deo omnipotenti, beatæ Mariæ, semper virgine, beato Michaeli archangelo, beato Joanni baptistæ, Sanctis apostolis Petro et Paulo, omnibus Sanctis, et tibi, pater, quia peccavi nimis cogitatione, verbo, et opere: _mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa_. Ideo precor beatam Mariam semper virginem, beatum Michaelem archangelum, beatum Joannem baptistam, sanctos apostolos Petrum et Paulum, omnes sanctos, ette, pater, orare pro me ad Dominum Deum nostrum.

R. I confess to almighty God, to blessed Mary, ever virgin, to blessed Michael the archangel, to blessed John the baptist, to the holy apostles Peter and Paul, to all the saints, and to thee, O father, that I have grievously sinned in thought, word, and deed: _through my fault, through my fault, through my exceeding great fault._ Therefore I beseech the blessed Mary, ever virgin, blessed Michael the archangel, blessed John the baptist, the holy apostles Peter and Paul, and all the saints, and thee, O father, to pray to the Lord our God for me.

P. Misereatur vestri omnipotens Deus, et dimissis peccatis vestris, perducat vos ad vitam æternam.

R. Amen.

P. May almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you your sins, and bring you to life everlasting.

R. Amen.

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P. Indulgentiam, absolutionem, et remissionem peccaturum nostrorum, tribuat nobis omnipotens et misericors Dominus.

R. Amen.

P. May the almighty and merciful Lord grant us pardon, absolution, and remission of our sins.

R. Amen.

P. Deus, tu conversus vivificabis nos.

P. O God, thou being turned towards us, wilt receive us.

R. Et plebs tua lætabitur in te.

R. And thy people shall rejoice in thee.

P. Ostende nobis, Domine, misericordiam tuam.

P. Show us thy mercy, O Lord.

R. Et salutare tuum da nobis.

R. And grant us thy salvation.

P. Domine, exaudi orationem meam.

P. O Lord, hear my prayer.

R. Et clamor meus ad te veniat.

R. And let my cry come unto thee.

P. Dominus vobiscum:

P. The Lord be with you:

R. Et cum spiritu tuo.

R. And with thy spirit.

When the Priest goes up to the Altar, say,

Take away from us our iniquities, we beseech thee, O Lord, that we may be worthy to assist with pure minds at the celebration of these tremendous mysteries; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

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When he bows down before the Altar, say,

We beseech thee, O Lord, by the merits of thy saints, whose relics are enclosed in this altar, and of all the saints, that thou wouldst vouchsafe to forgive us all our sins. Amen.

Here at Solemn Masses, the Priest having blessed the incense with the sign of the cross, and these words, "Mayest thou be blessed by him in whose honour thou wilt be burned," fumes the altar therewith, and then turning to the book, reads the Introit, which, being different every day, may be supplied by the following prayer:

It is in thy name, O adorable Trinity! it is to honour thee, and to do thee homage, that I assist at this most holy and august sacrifice. Permit me, then, O Lord, to unite my intention with that of thy minister now at the altar, in offering up this precious victim; and give me the same sentiments I ought to have had on Mount Calvary, had I been an eye-witness of that bloody sacrifice.

After which follows:

P. Kyrie eleison.

P. Lord have mercy on us.

R. Kyrie eleison.

P. Lord have mercy on us.

P. Kyrie eleison.

P. Lord have mercy on us.

R. Christe eleison,

R. Christ have mercy on us.

R. Christe eleison,

R. Christ have mercy on us.

R. Christe eleison,

R. Christ have mercy on us.

P. Kyrie eleison.

P. Lord have mercy on us.

P. Kyrie eleison.

P. Lord have mercy on us.

P. Kyrie eleison.

P. Lord have mercy on us.

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Then, if it be neither Lent or Advent, nor a Mass for the Dead, is said or sung the angelical hymn, "Gloria in Excelsis."

Gloria in excelsis Deo, et in terra pax hominibus bonæ voluntatis. Laudamus te, benedicimus te, adoramus te, glorificamus te. Gratias agimus tibi propter magnam gloriam tuam, Domine Deus, Rex cœlestis, Deus Pater omnipotens. Domine Fili unigenite Jesu Christe, Domine Deus, Agnus Dei, Filius Patris, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis; qui tollis peccata mundi, suscipe deprecationem nostram; qui sedes ad dexteram Patris, miserere nobis. Quoniam tu solus sanctus, tu solus Dominus, tu solus altissimus, Jesu Christe, cum Sancto Spiritu, in gloria Dei Patris. Amen.

Glory be to God on high, and on earth peace to men of good will. We praise thee, we bless thee, we adore thee, we glorify thee. We give thanks to thee for thy great glory, O Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father, almighty. O Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son. O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, who takest away the sins of the world have mercy on us; who takest away the sins of the world, receive our prayer; who sitteth at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us. For thou only art holy, thou only art the Lord, thou only, O Jesus Christ, together with the Holy Ghost, art most high, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

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The Priest, turning towards the people, says,

P. Dominus vobiscum:

P. The Lord be with you:

R. Et cum spiritu tuo.

R. And with thy spirit.

Going to the book, he reads the Collects, which being different every day, may be supplied by the following prayer:

Almighty and eternal God, we humbly beseech thee to look down from thy heavenly sanctuary upon this congregation, and graciously hear these prayers which thy Church addresses to thee for us by the ministry of this thy priest. Grant us, in thy infinite mercy, pardon of our sins, health of mind and body, peace in our days, unity and increase of Catholic faith, fervent charity, sincere devotion, patience in suffering, and every thing else conducive to thy glory and our own salvation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

At the end of the Collects, the Clerk answers, Amen. Whilst the Priest reads the Epistle for the day,* the following prayer may be said.

O eternal God, who never ceasest to excite us to the worship and love of thy holy name, or to arm us against the attacks of the world, the flesh, and the devil, by the public ministry of thy church, by the doctrine of thy prophets and apostles, and by many other holy admonitions; grant we may faithfully attend to these lessons of salvation, that thus our knowledge of thy law may never rise in judgment against us, but guide us securely to thee: through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

* See Gospels and Epistles for all Sundays and festivals, p. 388 to 481.

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At the end of the Epistle, the Clerk answers,

R. Deo gratias.

R. Thanks be to God.

Whilst the Priest reads the Gradual, or the Tract, which differs every day, the following may be said:

How wonderful, O Lord, is thy name throughout the whole earth: I will bless our Lord at all times; his praise shall be always in my mouth. Be thou my God and my protector. In thee alone will I put my trust; O let me never be confounded.

The Prayer Before The Gospel.

Cleanse my heart and my lips, O almighty God, who didst cleanse the lips of the prophet Isaiah with a burning coal; and vouchsafe, through thy gracious mercy, so to purify me, that I may worthily attend to thy holy gospel: through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Bless me, O Lord.

May the Lord be in my heart, and on my lips, that I may worthily and in a becoming manner, attend to his holy gospel. Amen.

P. Dominus vobiscum:

P. The Lord be with you:

R. Et cum spiritu tuo,

R. And with thy spirit.

P. Sequentia [_vel_ initium] sancti Evangelii secundum, &c.

P. The continuation [_or_ the beginning] of the holy Gospel according to St. &o.

R. Gloria tibi, Domine.

R. Glory be to thee, O Lord.

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Whilst the Priest reads the Gospel of the day, [Footnote 3] the following prayer may be said:

[Footnote 3: See Gospels and Epistles for all Sundays and festivals, pp. 388-481.]

It is not thy interpreters, O God, who are now to instruct me; it is thy only Son; it is his word I am about to hear. I most gratefully embrace this heavenly doctrine. I _stand up_ to declare in the face of heaven and earth, that I will walk faithfully in that way which he hath marked out for me. He tells me here, "that it will avail a man nothing to gain the whole world, if he lose his own soul; that the sensual, the covetous, the worldling, the libertine, the detractor, and such as are insensible to the miseries of the poor, shall have no share in his heavenly kingdom; and that in order to become his disciple, I must take up my cross and follow him." I receive with my whole heart all these sacred maxims. Grant me the grace to put them in practice; for to what purpose should I declare myself thy disciple, if I were not to live according to the maxims of thy gospel?

At the end of the Gospel, the Clerk answers,

R. Laus tibi Christe.

R. Praise be to thee, O Christ.

Then say with the Priest, in a low voice, "May our sins be blotted out by the words of the Gospel."

The Nicene Creed.

Credo in unum Deum, Patrem omnipotentem, factorem cœli et terrae, visibilium omnium et invisibilium.

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Et in unum Dominum Jesum Christum, Filium Dei unigenitum; et ex Patre natum ante omnia sæcula; Deum de Deo; Lumen de Lumine; Deum verum de Deo vero; Genitum non factum; consubstantialem Patri, per quem omnia facta sunt. Qui propter nos homines, et propter nostram salutem, descendit de cœlis, et incarnatus est de Spiritu Sancto, ex Maria Virgine; [Footnote 4] ET HOMO FACTUS EST. Crucifixus etiam pro nobis, sub Pontio Pilato passus, et sepultus est; et resurrexit tertia die, secundum scripturas; et ascendit in cœlum, sedet ad dexteram Patris et iterum venturus est cum gloria judicare vivos et mortuos; cujus regni non erit finis.

Et in Spiritum Sanctum, Dominum et Vivificantem, qui ex Patre Filioque procedit; qui cum Patre et Filio simul adoratur et conglorificatur; qui locutus est per prophetas. Et unam sanctam Catholicam et Apostolicam Ecclesiam Confiteor unam Baptisma in remissionem peccatorum. Et expecto resurrectionem mortuorum, et vitam venturi sæculi. Amen.

I Believe in one God the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God; and born of the Father before ail ages; God of God; Light of Light; true God of true God; begotten, not made; consubstantial to the Father, by whom all things were made. Who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost, of the Virgin Mary; [Footnote 4] AND WAS MADE, MAN. Was crucified also for us, suffered under Pontius Pilate, and was buried; and the third day he rose again, according to the scriptures; and ascended into heaven, sitteth at the right hand of the Father, and shall come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead; of whose kingdom there shall be no end.

And in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life, who proceedeth from the Father and the Son; who, together with the Father and the Son, is adored and glorified; who spake by the prophets. And one holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. I confess one baptism for the remission of sins. And I expect the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

[Footnote 4: At these words the people kneel down to adore God for the ineffable mystery of the incarnation.]

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