right hand far from his breast, nor thrust out his right elbow away from his right side. After the consecration, only the three fingers which have not touched the Sacrament are used in striking the breast. During the course of the mass the priest strikes his breast ten times, viz., thrice during the saying of the Confession; once at the utterance of the words, "We are unworthy," towards the close of the Prayer which follows the Invocation, in the Canon; thrice while saying "O Lamb of God," etc., and thrice while saying "Lord I am not worthy," in the private prayers which immediately precede the priest's communion.
Of Bodily Acts of Reverence
1. THE KISSES DURING LOW MASS
As acts expressive of reverential regard for the holy things themselves and for what they symbolize, the kiss which the priest impresses upon the vestments, the altar, and the Book of the Gospels, are in no way superstitious, but edifying ceremonies and the reverent perpetuation of a liturgical custom of great antiquity.
The amice, stole and maniple are kissed while putting on and taking off the said vestments. The page in the mass-book from which the priest has read the Gospel is kissed (out of reverence for the written Word of God) immediately after the reading thereof is ended. The altar, as God's throne upon earth and a symbol also of Christ himself, is kissed in the prayer, "We pray thee, O Lord," etc.; and again immediately before the priest says, "Let us pray for the whole state," etc.; again before the Blessing; and, lastly, immediately after the prayer, "Let this my bounden duty," etc.
The thing to be kissed should be touched by the lips of the priest, without producing any sound.
2. BOWING THE HEAD
Chief among bodily acts of reverence are bowing the head, and kneeling upon one knee (the right) or upon both knees. Bows are made by slightly inclining the head, and by bending in some degree the shoulders as well as the head, and by bending the upper part of the body as well as the head and shoulders. In making the most profound of the said
