The Little Book of the Most Holy Child Jesus/Serving at Mass

by John Priestly Warmoll

SERVING AT MASS.

There is nothing more wonderful on earth or in heaven than Holy Mass. In it the greatness and love of God are shown to the utmost.

Jesus Christ, the eternal Son, God, equal to the Father and the Holy Ghost, offered Himself, bleeding and dying, upon the Cross for us and for our salvation. Holy Mass is that same Sacrifice going on now.

Wherever it is being offered, the same Jesus, not bleeding, dying, or dead—although this is all shown forth—but risen and glorified, with the wounds still in His Side, Hands, and Feet, offers Himself to the Father for us.

The priest whom we see at the Altar represents Him; but it is He who is the real Offerer through the priest. And He is as really the Victim present upon the Altar as He is present at the right hand of the Father.

There is nothing else on earth so wonderful as this. There is no other act so wonderful and honourable as this of the priest.

And you are allowed to help him—to serve at the Altar of the great God.

Be reverent and devout; serve as you have been taught. Do not stare about you; and when you have to genuflect, do so always with your face towards the Altar and your right knee to the ground.

MANNER OF SERVING AT MASS.

Kneeling at the left hand of the Priest, answer him as follows:

Priest. Introibo ad altare Dei.

Clerk. Ad Deum qui lætificat juventutem meam.

P. Judica me, Deus, et discerne causam meam de gente non sanctâ: ab homine iniquo et doloso erue me.

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

P. Emitte lucem tuam etveritatem tuam; ipsa me deduxerunt et adduxerunt in montem sanctum tuum, et in tabernacula tua.

C. Et introibo ad altare Dei; ad Deum qui lætificat juventutem meam.

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

C. Spera in Deo, quoniam adhuc confitebor illi; salutare vultus mei, et Deus meus.

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

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

P. Introibo ad altare Dei.

C. Ad Deum qui lætificat juventutem meam.

P. Adjutorium nostrum in nomine Domini.

C. Qui fecit cœlum et terram.

P. Confiteor Deo, &c.

Bow your head when the Priest begins the 'Confiteor,' and continue with your head bowed until you also have finished it.

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

P. Amen.

C. Confiteor Deo omnipotenti, beatæ Mariæ semper Virgini, beato Michaeli Archangelo, beato Joanni Baptistæ, Sanctis Apostolis Petro et Paulo, omnibus Sanctis, et tibi,^[1] pater, quia peccavi nimis cogitatione, verbo, et opere [Here strike your breast three times], meâ culpâ, meâ culpâ, meâ maximâ culpâ. Ideo precor beatam Mariam semper Virginem, beatum Michaelem Archangelum, beatum Joannem Baptistam, sanctos Apostolos Petrum et Paulum, omnes sanctos, et te, pater, orare pro me ad Dominum Deum nostrum.

P. Misereatur vestri, &c.

C. Amen.

1. Here turn your head towards the Priest, and then go on.

P. Indulgentiam, absolutionem, &c.

C. Amen.

Bow your head until the Priest says, 'Dominus vobiscum.'

P. Deus, tu conversus vivificabis nos.

C. Et plebs tua lætabitur in te.

P. Ostende nobis, Domine, misericordiam tuam.

C. Et salutare tuum da nobis.

P. Domine exaudi orationem meam.

C. Et clamor meus ad te veniat.

P. Dominus vobiscum.

C. Et cum spiritu tuo.

Here rise, and kneel on the lower step of the Altar.

P. Kyrie eleison.

C. Kyrie eleison.

P. Kyrie eleison.

C. Christe eleison.

P. Christe eleison.

C. Christe eleison.

P. Kyrie eleison.

C. Kyrie eleison.

P. Kyrie eleison.

P. Dominus vobiscum.

C. Et cum spiritu tuo.

P. Per omnia sæcula sæculorum.

C. Amen.

At the end of the Epistle say, 'Deo gratias.' The Epistle and what follows being read, remove the book to the right hand of the Altar, genuflecting as you pass before the middle of the Altar. Always stand or kneel on the contrary side to the book.

P. Dominus vobiscum.

C. Et cum spiritu tuo.

P. Sequentia sancti Evangelii, &c.

Make the sign of the Cross on forehead, lips, and breast, and say, 'Gloria tibi, Domine.'

Bow at the beginning and end of the Gospel, and at the name of 'Jesus;' and at the end say:

C. Laus tibi Christe.

P. Dominus vobiscum.

C. Et cum spiritu tuo.

Here give the wine and water, afterwards the basin, water, and towel for the Priest. When the Priest has washed his fingers, kneel in your former place, and answer:

P. Orate, fratres, &c.

C. Suscipiat, Dominus, sacrificium de manibus tuis ad laudem et gloriam nominis sui, ad utilitatem quoque nostram, totiusque ecclesiæ suæ sanctæ.

P. Per omnia sæcula sæculorum.

C. Amen.

P. Dominus vobiscum.

C. Et cum spiritu tuo.

P. Sursum corda.

C. Habemus ad Dominum.

P. Gratias agamus Domino Deo nostro.

C. Dignum et justum est.

At 'Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus,' &c, ring the bell. Also at the elevation of the Host and of the Chalice.

P. Per omnia sæcula sæculorum.

C. Amen.

P. Et ne nos inducas in tentationem.

C. Sed libera nos a malo.

P. Per omnia sæcula sæculorum.

C. Amen.

P. Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum.

C. Et cum spiritu tuo.

After the Priest has received Holy Comhnmion, serve him with wine and water for the ablution; then remove the book to the left-hand side of the Altar, and return to your place.

P. Dominus vobiscum.

C. Et cum spiritu tuo.

P. Per omnia sæcula sæculorum.

C. Amen.

P. Ite, missa est. Or, Benedicamus Domino.

C. Deo gratias.

In 'Black Masses:'

P. Requiescant in pace.

C. Amen.

Remove the book, if left open, to the Gospel side; receive the Priest's blessing, answering:

Amen.

Rise.

P. Dominus vobiscum.

C. Et cum spiritu tuo.

P. Initium, or, Sequentia sancti Evangelii, &c.

At the end:

Deo gratias.