Part II.

The Preparation And Sanctification Of The Bread And Wine For The Use Of The Sacrifice.

P. Dominus vobiscum:

P. The Lord be with you:

R. Et cum spiritu tuo.

R. And with thy spirit.

P. Oremus.

P. Let us pray.

During the Offertory, which differs every day, may be said the following Prayers:

O Holy Father, almighty and eternal God, how unworthy soever I may appear in thy presence, yet I presume to offer thee this host, by the hands of the priest, with the same intention which Christ my Saviour had when he first instituted this august sacrifice, and which he now has at this very instant that he immolates himself for us. {351} I offer it in acknowledgment of thy supreme dominion over me and all creatures. I offer it in expiation of my crimes, in thanksgiving for all thy benefits. I offer it to obtain from thy infinite goodness, for my parents, benefactors, friends, and enemies, all those precious gifts and graces which only through him can be obtained, who is JUST by excellence, and who became a victim for the sins of man. I earnestly entreat thee to bless and protect the holy Catholic Church; our chief pastor the Pope, our Bishops and Clergy; the Queen and Royal Family; and all our fellow-subjects of every denomination. Remember also, O Lord, the souls of the faithful departed; and grant them, through the merits of thy Son, eternal light and peace. Have mercy upon all heretics, infidels, and sinners. Bless and preserve all mine enemies; and as I freely forgive them the injuries they have done, or mean to do me, so do thou, in thy mercy, forgive me mine offences. Amen.

The Priest offering up the Host, says,

Accept, O holy Father, almighty and eternal God, this unspotted host, which I, thy unworthy servant, offer unto thee, my living and true God, for my own innumerable sins, offences, and negligences, and for all here present, as also for all faithful Christians, both living and dead, that it may avail both me and them unto eternal life. Amen.

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Putting the Wine and Water into the Chalice, he says,

O God, who, in creating human nature, hast wonderfully dignified it, and still more wonderfully reformed it, grant that, by the mystery of this water and wine, we may be made partakers of his divinity, who vouchsafed to become partaker of our humanity, _namely_, Jesus Christ our Lord, thy Son, who, with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth God, for ever and ever. Amen.

At Offering the Chalice, he says,

We offer thee, O Lord, the chalice of salvation, beseeching thy clemency, that it may ascend before thy divine Majesty, as a most sweet odour, for our salvation, and for that of the whole world. Amen.

The Priest humbly bowing himself, says,

Accept us, O Lord, in the spirit of humility, and contrition of heart; and grant that the sacrifice which we offer this day in thy sight, may be pleasing to thee, O Lord God.

At blessing the Bread and Wine, he says,

Come, O almighty and eternal God, the Sanctifier, and bless this sacrifice prepared for the glory of thy holy name.

Here, in solemn Masses, he blesses the Incense, saying,

May the Lord, by the intercession of the blessed Michael the Archangel, who standeth at the right side of the altar of perfumes, and of all his elect, vouchsafe to bless this incense, and receive it as an odour of sweetness: through Christ our Lord. Amen.

At incensing the Bread and Wine, he says,

May this incense which thou hast blessed, O Lord, ascend to thee, and may thy mercies descend upon us.

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At incensing the Altar, he says, Psalm cxl.

Let my prayer ascend, O Lord, like incense, in thy sight; and the lifting up of my hands, as an evening sacrifice: place, O Lord, a guard upon my mouth, and a gate of prudence before my lips; that my heart may not wander after words of malice, to seek excuses in sin.

Giving the Censer to the Deacon, he says,

May the Lord enkindle within us the fire of his love, and the flames of everlasting charity. Amen.

At washing his Hands, he says, Psalm xxv. 6.

I will wash my hands among the innocent; and go up to thy altar, O Lord, that I may hear the voice of praise: and publish all thy wonderful works. O Lord, I have loved the beauty of thy house, and the place where thy glory dwelleth. Destroy not my soul with the impious: nor my life with men of blood. In whose hands are iniquities: their right hand is filled with bribes. But I have walked in mine innocence: rescue me, and have mercy on me. My feet have stood in the right path: in the assembly of the faithful I will bless thee, O Lord. Glory, &c.

Bowing in the midst of the Altar, he says,

Accept, O holy Trinity, this oblation which we make thee, in memory of the passion, resurrection, and ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ; and in honour of the ever blessed Virgin Mary, the blessed John Baptist, the holy apostles Peter and Paul, and all the saints, that it may be available to their honour and to our salvation. And may they vouchsafe to intercede for us in heaven, whose memory we celebrate on earth: through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

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Turning himself towards the People, he says,

Brethren, pray that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable in the sight of God the Father Almighty.

R. May the Lord receive the sacrifice from thy hands, to the praise and glory of his own name, and to our benefit, and that of all his holy church.

When the Priest says the Secret Prayer in a low voice, which differs every day, you may say as follows:

Mercifully hear our prayers, O Lord, and graciously accept this oblation, which we thy servants are making to thee; that as we offer it to the honour of thy name, so it may be to us a means of obtaining thy grace in this life, and in the next everlasting happiness: through, &c.

P. Per omnia sæcula sæculorum.

P. World without end.

R. Amen.

R. Amen.

The Preface.

P. Dominus vobiscum:

P. The Lord be with you:

R. Et cum spiritu tuo.

R. And with thy spirit.

P. Sursum corda.

P. Raise up your hearts on high.

R. Habemus ad Dominum.

R. We have raised them to the Lord.

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P. Gratias agamus Domino Deo nostro.

P. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

R. Dignum et justum est.

R. It is meet and just.

The Preface for all the Sundays in the year, except from Christmas to the Octave of the Epiphany, and from Ash-Wednesday to Whit-Sunday, inclusively.

It is truly meet, just, right, and available to salvation, that we should always and in all places give thanks to thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty, eternal God, who, together with thine only begotten Son, and the Holy Ghost, art one God and one Lord; not in a singularity of one person, but in a trinity of one substance. For what, according as thou hast revealed, we believe of thy glory, the same we believe of the Son, the same we believe of the Holy Ghost, without any difference or distinction. So that in the confession of the true and eternal deity, we adore a distinction in the person, an unity in the essence, and an equality in the majesty; which the angels and archangels, the cherubim, and likewise the seraphim, praise, and cease not daily to cry out with united voice, saying,

Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God of Hosts. The heavens and the earth are full of thy glory. _Hosanna_ to him who is on high. Blessed is he who cometh in the name of the Lord. _Hosanna_ to him who is on high.

The Common Preface for Festivals which have none proper, and in Masses for the Dead.

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It is truly meet and just, right and available to salvation, that we should always, and in all places, give thanks to thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty, eternal God, through Christ our Lord; by whom the angels praise thy Majesty; the dominations adore it; the powers tremble before it; the heavens, the heavenly host, and blessed seraphim, with common jubilee glorify it: together with whom we humbly beseech thee to admit our voices of praise, saying in the most suppliant manner, Holy, Holy, Holy, &c. (as in the foregoing Preface for Sundays.)