Baltimore Catechism Volume Ii Part 17

The priest turns to the people and says:

The Lord be with you.

And with your spirit.

THE COLLECT

The priest goes to the right side of the altar and reads from the book.

*Let us pray: Let Your grace and pity guide our hearts, we beg You, O Lord. For without You we cannot please You. Through Our Lord, Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Ghost, world without end. Amen.

THE EPISTLE

The Epistle is a letter. Most of these letters were written by Saint Paul. The priest now reads one of these. You may read the following:

Dear children: Be happy, be good, be brave; agree with one another, and be at peace. The grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ, G.o.d's love, and the wisdom of the Holy Ghost be with you all. Amen.

Thanks be to G.o.d.

The altar-boy carries the book to the left side of the altar. The priest bows at the middle of the altar and says a prayer.

THE GOSPEL

The priest goes to the left and reads from the book.

Stand

While Jesus was speaking to the people, mothers brought their children to Him, that He might bless them. The disciples told them not to bother Jesus. But Jesus said, "Suffer the little children to come to Me and forbid them not. For of such is the kingdom of heaven." And Jesus blessed the children.

Praise be to You, O Christ.

Sit

The priest now turns back to the middle of the altar and says the Creed.

You also say it (see page 2).

THE Ma.s.s OF THE FAITHFUL (From the Offertory to the Communion)

THE OFFERING OF THE HOST

The priest takes the cloth off the chalice. Then he holds up a small gold plate on which is the bread, called the host.

*Take, O holy Father, almighty and eternal G.o.d, this spotless host which I, Your unworthy servant, offer to You for my many sins and for all who serve You, living and dead. May it help them and me to gain eternal life.

The priest goes to the right side of the altar. He pours wine and water into the chalice. Then the priest goes back to the middle of the altar and raises the chalice.

THE OFFERING OF THE CHALICE

*We offer You, O Lord, this chalice. May it help us and all the world to gain eternal life. Amen.

The priest goes to the right side of the altar to wash his hands.

Returning to the middle of the altar, the priest bows down and says some prayers. Then he turns to the people and says the Orate Fratres.

Now the priest prays in a low voice and then in a louder voice he says the Preface:

Truly, it is right and just that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, O holy Lord, Father almighty, Who, with Your only Son and the Holy Ghost are one G.o.d, one Lord. All the angels daily praise You, singing with one voice:

*THE SANCTUS

Holy, holy, holy Lord, G.o.d of hosts.

Heaven and earth are full of Your glory.

Hosanna in the highest.

The bell is rung three times.

Kneel

THE CANON

[Note,--By a Decree of the Church (Aug. 4, 1922), the prayers during the Canon, i.e. from the Sanctus to the Pater Noster, must be said in silence.]

The priest bows low and kisses the altar.

O most merciful Father, we pray You, through Jesus Christ, Your Son, Our Lord, to take and bless these gifts. We offer them to You for Your holy Catholic Church, for our Pope and Bishop and for all those in the Catholic Faith.

PRAYER FOR THE LIVING

Be mindful, O Lord, of Your servants (name those for whom you wish to pray especially), and all who are now hearing this Ma.s.s. Hear, O Lord, the prayers they are offering for themselves, their friends and their families.

THE CONSECRATION OF THE HOST

The priest now bends low over the host and says:

THIS IS MY BODY

At these words, the bread is changed into the body of Our Lord. The bell rings. The priest kneels and then raises the Sacred Body of Our Lord.

Now look at the Sacred Host and say: My Lord and my G.o.d. Then bow your head as the priest kneels again.