United States or Malta ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !


All stand, as at the gospel: he incenses the book, and then sings the Exultet . After the words curvat imperia, he fixes in the candle the five grains of incense in the form of a cross . At the words "ignis accendit" he lights the paschal candle with one of the three lights . When the blessing, as it is called, is ended, the paschal candle is left lighted near the pulpit and the seats of the Card. deacons, and the triple candle is placed near the altar on the gospel-side . The deacon then takes off his white vestments, puts on others of a purple colour, and joins the Card, celebrant, who accompanied by the ministers takes his seat on Faldistorio near the altar on the epistle-side, to hear the prophecies recited.

After the offertory, besides the bread and wine, the crucifix, the altar, the celebrant and the Pope, the Cardinals and the first in rank among the prelates and other personages are incensed by the deacon. At the elevation the blessed Sacrament alone is incensed.

M. Sagrista delivers the B. Sacrament to the Cardinal celebrant, who presents it to the Pope; His Holiness covers it with the end of the veil placed over his shoulders and the procession returns to the Sixtine chapel . In the mean time the choir sings the hymn "Vexilla Regis prodeunt". When the Pope arrives at the altar, he delivers the B. Sacrament to the Card.

"Omnium deorum Boream maxime celebrant." And although many controversies have arisen upon that matter, yet so much is undisputed, that from a region of the like denomination the most refined AEolists have borrowed their original, from whence in every age the zealous among their priesthood have brought over their choicest inspiration, fetching it with their own hands from the fountain-head in certain bladders, and disploding it among the sectaries in all nations, who did, and do, and ever will, daily gasp and pant after it.

Tommasi, following S. Cesarius of Arles, calls it the office, and not the mass of good-Friday; for mass, strictly speaking, is not offered up on this day, since no consecration takes place, and the B. Sacrament is received by the celebrant under the form of bread alone, as it could not be preserved with safety under the form of wine . The Card.

Further, the Word and the Sign of Power summon to the celebration the Angels specially concerned with the materials used and the nature of the act performed, and they lend their powerful aid, pouring their own magnetic energies into the subtle counterparts, and even into the physical ether, thus reinforcing the energies of the celebrant.

Through the candelabra of the High Altar beneath the dome, she can see the moving figures of the priests, the wreaths of incense ascending. The face of the celebrant Cardinal, which had dropped out of sight, reappears.

One placed on the elder's head what seemed a crown all a mass of flaming jewels; another laid upon him a cloak of cloth of gold; a third slipped a ring over one of his fingers; whereupon the venerable celebrant drew nearer the altar, and, after a prayer, took up a chalice and raised it as if in honor to an image of Christ on a cross in the agonies of crucifixion.

The celebrant then advanced: he stood at the further side of the altar, where the candles are now, with his face to the people, and then began the holy sacrifice. First he incensed the oblata, that is, the loaves and chalice, as an acknowledgment of God’s sovereign dominion, and as a token of uplifted prayer to Him.

Immediately after mass the cardinal celebrant with his ministers leaves the chapel; the other cardinals, bishops and mitred abbots, put on their respective sacred vestments, and the Uditori di Rota, the Cherici di Camera, Votanti, and Abbreviatiori, their surplices: the other prelates wear their usual cappe.