The Customary of Grace Church

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THE RITE

1. Rite II is used.

2. The choir sings the introit, normally to Gregorian chant; but sometimes a composed setting is used.

3. The Opening Acclamation and Collect for Purity are omitted.

4. The Kyrie and Gloria are used on all Sundays except in Advent and Lent, when only the Kyrie is used. The congregation normally sings the Gloria or Kyrie, but on some occasions the choir sings them.

5. A responsorial psalm follows the first lesson.

6. A sequence hymn follows the second lesson.

7. An Alleluia or tract precedes the Gospel.

8. The people almost always sing the Creed. Once or twice a year the choir may sing an elaborate setting.

9. Forms I, IV, and V are normally used for the Prayers of the People.

10. The choir sings the offertory antiphon, followed by an anthem or motet. A hymn follows. The gifts are brought to the altar as soon as the collection is finished, normally during the motet or anthem.

11. Eucharistic Prayer B is used from Advent Sunday to the First Sunday after Epiphany. Eucharistic Prayer D is used during Easter Season. At other times Prayers A and B are used in alternation, replaced on occasion by Prayer D. Eucharistic Prayer C is not used.

12. The Sanctus is usually sung by the whole congregation.

13. The choir sings the Agnus Dei as a fraction anthem.

14. The choir sings a Gregorian communion antiphon, followed by an anthem or motet. The latter covers the ablutions.

15. Proper postcommunion prayers from the post-Conciliar Missale Romanum, translated in the style of the Prayer Book's contemporary collects, are used in place of the Prayer Book's fixed postcommunion prayers.

16. A hymn follows the dismissal.

17. During the choir recess in the Summer, the people sing the Agnus Dei, and on those Sundays when a volunteer chant choir cannot be assembled: a metrical hymn replaces the introit; an organ solo replaces the Offertory anthem.

 

THE CEREMONIES OF THE RITE

The Preparations

 

• The Gospel book is placed on the altar upright, resting against the door of the (empty) tabernacle.

• The following items are placed on the credence:

  • The altar book on its stand (back and center)

  • The principal chalice and paten (veiled, in front of the altar book)

  • The lavabo bowl and towel (to the left of the principal chalice and paten)

  • The wine and water cruets (to the right of the principal chalice and paten)

  • The extra chalice and paten (behind the lavabo bowl)On occasions when it will be needed Book of Occasional Services (behind the cruets)

• Space is left at the back of the credence for the processional candles.

• Another altar service book (with collects pointed for singing), two service leaflets, and three hymnals are placed on the small table beside the M.C.'s chair (on the north side of choir)

• On Sundays only the font cover is removed, and the vat containing reserved baptismal water (or other holy water), with its sprinkler, is placed inside the font.

• A decanter of wine and a canister filled with large hosts are placed on a table at the back of the nave.

• The alms basins are placed in the narthex.

• The lectionary, open to the first reading, is placed at the ambo.

The Ministers

The ministers participating the liturgy are:

• The celebrant.

• Two lay eucharistic ministers.

• Two readers.

• An acolyte ("master of ceremonies" or "M.C.")

• A thurifer.

• Two candlebearers.

• [On some occasions, a crossbearer]

• [On some occasions a boat bearer]

• [On some occasions, two, four, or six torchbearers]

The celebrant vests in alb, stole, and chasuble. The other ministers vest in albs.

 

 

The Entrance Rite

• The ministers assemble in All Saints' Chapel for preparatory prayers. At the conclusion of the prayers, the celebrant, assisted by the thurifer and M.C., puts on incense. [If a boat bearer is present, he, rather than the M.C., assists at the preparation of incense.] Then the M.C. gives a signal to the choirmaster.

• When the choir has begun the introit, the procession enters the church through the north transept in the following order:

  • The thurifer (carrying the smoking censer in his right hand and the boat in his left, unless a boat bearer carries the boat)

  • [The boat bearer, walking at the left of the thurifer]

  • The M.C. [or crossbearer] carrying the cross, flanked by the two candlebearers, carrying lighted candles: the first candlebearer on his right, the second on his left.

  • [The torchbearers, walking two abreast, without torches]

  • The two readers, walking two abreast.

  • The two lay eucharistic ministers, also walking two abreast.

  • [The M.C., if he does not carry the cross.]

  • The celebrant.

• On passing through the rails, the thurifer [and boat bearer] bow profoundly to the altar.  The thurifer [or boat bearer] puts the boat on the credence. (It may rest atop the Book of Occasional Services.)  They go to their places.

  • When no boat bearer is present, and the M.C. has carried the cross, the thurifer sits in the easternmost of the old sedilia.

  • When a boat bearer is present, but the M.C. has carried the cross, the thurifer sits in the chair on the south side of the credence, and the boat bearer sits in the easternmost of the old sedilia.

  • When both a boat bearer and crossbearer are present, the thurifer sits in the chair on the north side of the credence, the boat bearer sits in the chair on the south side of the credence, and the crossbearer sits in the easternmost of the old sedilia.

  • When those who occupy the chairs beside the credence stand, they stand in line with the other servers, facing north.  They do not stand facing the congregation.

• Just inside the rails the M.C. [or crossbearer] and the candlebearers stop (but do not bow). Turning right, they go to the south side of the sanctuary. The candlebearers place their candles on the credence and go to their places at the sedilia. The M.C. [or crossbearer] places the cross in its holder.  If the M.C. serves as crossbearer, he remains by the cross.  If another minister serves as crossbearer, he goes immediately to his place.

• [Just outside the rails the torchbearers, if present, bow to the altar and go to their places in the stalls on the north side of the choir.]

• Just outside the rails the readers bow profoundly to the altar. Then, turning right, they go to their stalls on the south side of choir, near the ambo.

• Just outside the rails the lay eucharistic ministers bow profoundly to the altar. Then they go to their stalls on the north side of the choir.

• [When the M.C. does not serve as crossbearer, and follows the lay eucharistic ministers in the procession, he bows profoundly to the altar after passing through the rails and goes to stand by the processional cross.]

• On Sundays only the celebrant, when he arrives at foot of the chancel steps, goes directly to the font (without bowing) and takes the vat and sprinkler. He walks through the nave, sprinkling the people. Returning to the chancel, he sprinkles the ministers. On other occasions he proceeds directly to the altar. 

  • Note:  The font is located at the foot of the chancel steps, on the north side, opposite the ambo.

• On Sundays only, as the celebrant passes through the rails, the M.C. steps forward to meet him. The M.C. takes the vat from the celebrant. The two bow profoundly to the altar. The M.C. places the vat on the credence and then returns to the processional cross.

• The celebrant ascends the steps and kisses the altar.

• The thurifer, ascending the steps on the south side, walks right up to the celebrant and hands him the censer. Then he withdraws to the second step (on the south side) while the celebrant censes the altar.

• When the celebrant has finished censing the altar, the thurifer receives the censer from him. He descends the steps on the south side, returns to his place, and puts down the censer.

• Meanwhile, the celebrant goes to the middle of the altar and turns west.

• At the moment when the celebrant returns the censer to the thurifer, the M.C., without bowing to the altar, walks directly to his chair on the north side of choir. The celebrant follows him, taking his place at his own chair, facing the people.

• NOTE:  When the choir moved to the west gallery, all but two rows of choir stalls were removed from the chancel.  Remaining stalls are situated along the north and south walls.  Two (or three) chairs (for the M.C., celebrant, and deacon, if present) are placed in front of the stalls on the north side, facing south.

• The celebrant and M.C. (and deacon, if present) face east for the Kyrie and Gloria.

• When the Kyrie and Gloria are concluded, the celebrant faces west and extends his hands and sings, "The Lord be with you."  The celebrant faces east to sing the Collect of the Day, as the M.C. (facing west opposite the celebrant) holds the book. The M.C. stands slightly to the north as he holds the book so as not to obstruct the sight line to the altar for the celebrant. 

• At the conclusion of the collect all sit.  The M.C., before sitting,  gives the celebrant a service leaflet.

 

The Liturgy of the Word

• The first reader goes to the ambo and reads the first lesson. After "Thanks be to God" has been said, he remains standing at the ambo in silence for about fifteen seconds, then returns to his stall.

• The cantor (who normally comes from the organ gallery) goes to the ambo to sing the gradual psalm.

• At the conclusion of the psalm, the second reader goes to the ambo to read the second lesson. After "Thanks be to God" has been said, he remains standing at the ambo in silence until the organist begins the sequence hymn, then returns to his stall.

• The candlebearers, taking their candles from the credence, go outside the rails, where they stand facing east.

• The thurifer, taking the censer and boat, goes to the celebrant's chair, bowing profoundly to the altar on the way. The M.C. also approaches the celebrant and holds the boat while the celebrant puts on incense. Then he returns the boat to the thurifer.

  • [If a boat bearer is present, he accompanies the thurifer to the celebrant's chair and holds the boat while the celebrant puts on incense.  Then, bowing to the altar on the way, he puts the boat on the credence and goes to his place.]

• The thurifer goes to stand behind one of the candlebearers, facing east. The M.C. and the celebrant, passing between the candlebearers, go to the pavement and make the appropriate reverence to the altar. The thurifer moves to the center and stands between the candlebearers.

• While the M.C. remains standing on the pavement, the celebrant ascends the altar steps. He bows profoundly in silent prayer. Then he takes up the Gospel book.

• When the cantor intones the Alleluia (or tract), the celebrant turns west.

• The M.C., thurifer, and candlebearers turn west also. The thurifer leads the procession to the ambo. Next go the candlebearers, then the M.C., and finally the celebrant, carrying the Gospel book.

• The thurifer does not descend the chancel steps. On reaching the steps, he turns left and goes to stand behind the ambo, a little to the north. He stands facing west.

• The candlebearers descend the chancel steps and go to stand in front of the ambo, facing each other.

• The M.C., on passing the thurifer, takes the censer from him.  He goes a little to the south of the ambo, where he waits until the celebrant has passed.  Then he stands directly behind the ambo.

• The celebrant goes to the ambo.

• When he announces the Gospel, the celebrant signs the text and then signs his forehead, lips, and breast.

• While "Glory to you, Lord Christ" is being sung, the M.C. and passes the thurible to the celebrant, who censes the book. The M.C. receives the censer from the celebrant and returns it to the thurifer.

• At the conclusion of the Gospel, the celebrant kisses the text and hands the book to the M.C.

• The thurifer returns to his place and puts down the censer [and boat].

• The candlebearers place their candles on the credence and then return to their seats.

• The M.C., without bowing to the altar, takes the Gospel book to the table beside his chair.

• The celebrant preaches from the ambo. At the conclusion of the sermon, he returns to his chair, bowing to the altar on the way.

• When he has arrived at his chair, the Creed is sung (celebrant facing east).

• All bow their heads at "Jesus Christ" and bow profoundly at "by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary and was made man." (On Christmas Day and on the Feast of the Annunciation they genuflect.)

• A cantor leads the Prayers of the People from the head of the nave (remaining there for the Confession of Sin and Absolution). The celebrant extends his hands to sing the concluding collect.

• The celebrant leads the Confession of Sin (except during Easter season) and pronounces the absolution from his chair. All except the celebrant, the M.C., and the cantor kneel for the confession and absolution.

• The celebrant goes to the chancel step, says "The peace of the Lord be always with you," and then exchanges the Peace with those nearby. The people exchange the Peace.

 

The Liturgy of the Eucharist

• Having made announcements, the celebrant recites an offertory sentence.

• All sit. While the choir is singing the offertory antiphon, the M.C. goes to the credence, unveils the chalice and paten, and takes them (together with the burse containing the corporal) to the altar.

• He spreads the corporal. Then he descends the steps on the north side and sits in the chair beside the processional cross.

• When the ushers have finished collecting the people’s money offerings, the celebrant goes to the opening in the rails, where he stands facing west.

• The M.C. comes forward and stands at the celebrant's left. [If a food basket is to be presented, the second candlebearer comes forward with the MC and stands at the celebrant's right.]

• When the representatives of the congregation approach, the celebrant receives the bread and wine and carries them to the altar.

• The M.C. receives the alms and places them on the altar at the south end (far right).

• [The second candlebearer carries the food basket to the north end of the altar, places it on the second step, and then returns to the south side, bowing to the altar on the way.]

• The first candlebearer takes the water cruet from the credence and ascends to the second step on the south side.  He gives the cruet to the M.C., waits on the second step until the M.C. has returned the cruet, takes the cruet back to the credence, and returns to his place.

• [If torchbearers are present, they go out through the door on the north side of the choir to get their torches as soon as the representatives of the congregation who have brought up the gifts have returned to the nave. (A lay eucharistic minister accompanies them and lights the torches.)  They line up, single file, outside the door on the north side of choir. There they wait.]

• The celebrant takes as many large hosts as are needed from the container and places them on the paten. He places the paten on the corporal at the left side, without elevating it and without saying anything.

• He pours wine from the decanter and water from the cruet into the chalice and places it on the corporal at the right side, without elevating it and without saying anything.

• The celebrant pours a little water into the decanter and sets the decanter on the corporal behind the chalice.

• The M.C. takes the ciborium in which the bread has been presented to the credence.

• The thurifer picks up the censer and boat.

• The thurifer and the M.C. ascend the steps on the south side together (the M.C. at the left). The M.C. takes the boat. The celebrant puts on incense.

  • [If a boat bearer is present, he and not the M.C. approaches the celebrant with the thurifer.]

• The thurifer and the M.C. [or boat bearer] withdraw to the second step (on the south side) while the celebrant censes the oblations and the altar (the M.C. still holding the boat).

• The thurifer receives the censer from the celebrant and the boat from the M.C. [or boat bearer].  He goes to the credence and puts down the boat. [The boat bearer returns to his place.]

• The M.C. takes the alms from the altar. The M.C. hands the alms to the second candlebearer, who goes to the north side and passes the alms over the rail to a designated person, bowing profoundly to the altar when he goes and when he returns.

• The M.C. takes the altar service book (on its stand) to the altar. (He goes up the steps on the south side and walks along the second step, passing behind the celebrant and going to his left.) The M.C. and the celebrant turn west.

• While the M.C. is returning to the altar with the book, the thurifer goes to the chancel step. Turning east, he censes all the ministers (collectively) with three swings, bowing slightly before and after censing. The celebrant and the M.C. then turn east. The thurifer, turning west, censes the people in the same way, bowing slightly before and after he censes them. He returns to his place and puts down the censer.

• [If torchbearers are present, they enter as soon as the thurifer has returned to his place, standing along the rail, those on the left side of the opening holding their torches in the left hands, those to the right of the opening holding them in their right hands.  They hold the torches at their sides (so as not to hide them), resting the bases of the torches on the floor.]

• The celebrant goes to the south side of the altar, where the first candlebearer, standing on the predella, ministers the lavabo.

• The ministers and people stand throughout the Eucharistic Prayer. The thurifer and candlebearers remain at their places. The M.C. stands on the predella at the left of and a little behind the celebrant. When the celebrant turns west to sing the Sursum corda, the M.C. makes a quarter turn, so as to face south.

• The celebrant recites the Eucharistic Prayer with hands extended, except as otherwise noted:

  • He joins his hands for the Sanctus.

  • As he begins the institution narrative, he joins his hands.

  • At the words concerning the bread, he takes a large host (or the paten) into his hands and holds it slightly raised above the altar.

  • He does not elevate the host or genuflect.

  • At the words concerning the cup he takes the chalice with both hands and holds it slightly raised above the altar.

  • He does not elevate the chalice or genuflect.

  • At the epiklesis he stretches his hands over the gifts. He makes the sign of the cross over the gifts at the words "Body and Blood."

  • He (and all) make the sign of the cross on themselves at "sanctify us also" (in Prayer A), "being sanctified by the Holy Spirit" (in Prayer B), and "your Holy Spirit may descend upon us" (in Prayer D).

  • During the concluding doxology and "Amen" he elevates the bread and wine both high enough to make his gesture clearly visible to the congregation.

  • After the "Amen" has been sung, the celebrant and M.C. genuflect.

• The celebrant sings the introduction to the Lord's Prayer with hands joined. He extends his hands for the prayer itself.

• He proceeds to break the bread. He breaks one host. Silence is kept for a moment. Then he sings the Pascha nostrum. While the choir sings the Agnus Dei, the celebrant continues breaking the bread.

• When the Agnus Dei begins, the second candlebearer brings the second chalice from the credence to the altar. Walking up to the celebrant's right and turning east, he places it on the altar (just to the right of the corporal). Then he descends the steps on the south side and stands by the Sanctus bells.

• If he deems it advisable to put on more incense, the thurifer does so as soon as the Agnus Dei begins. When the second candlebearer has taken his place by the Sanctus bells, the thurifer, with the censer in hand, goes to stand at his left.

• The M.C. meanwhile descends the steps, genuflects on the pavement, and goes to stand by the processional cross.

• When the celebrant has finished breaking the bread, he fills the second chalice.

  • NOTE: When the M.C. is acting as one of the lay eucharistic ministers, he does not leave the altar during the Agnus Dei.

• At the conclusion of the Agnus Dei the celebrant, holding the host and chalice, turns west and says, "The Gifts of God for the People of God." The second candlebearer rings the bells three times. The thurifer censes the blessed sacrament with three swings. The thurifer and first candlebearer return to their places. The thurifer puts down the censer.

• The lay eucharistic ministers approach the altar, genuflecting together on the pavement. They ascend the steps and stand at the right and left of the celebrant.

• As soon as the lay eucharistic ministers have ascended the altar steps, the torchbearers (if present) genuflect (all together) and go out. They put their torches away and return to the north door of choir. There they wait until space is available for them at the communion rail.

• The celebrant turns back to the altar and communicates himself. Then he communicates the two lay eucharistic ministers, who stand facing north and south, respectively, to receive the sacrament.

• The thurifer, candlebearers, and M.C. receive holy communion standing at their places. (After receiving communion they may sit, if necessary.)

• The readers, choir, and people receive holy communion at the rail.

• After the torchbearers (if present) have received communion, they return to their places.

• After communicating the people, the celebrant and lay eucharistic ministers return to the altar. They do not genuflect. After setting their chalices on the altar and helping the celebrant consume what remains of the consecrated gifts, the lay eucharistic ministers descend the steps and, genuflecting together on the pavement, return to their stalls.

• The M.C. ascends the steps at the south end and stands at the celebrant's right.

• The first candlebearer goes up to the second step on the south side.  The M.C. hands him the decanter, which he takes to the credence.

• Then the M.C. carries the second chalice and paten to the credence.

• Finally, the celebrant carries the principal chalice and paten to the credence.

• The M.C. ministers the ablutions. He pours water into the decanter, swirls it around, and pours it into the second chalice. The celebrant consumes it. The M.C. then pours water over the celebrant's fingers into the principal chalice. The M.C. reassembles the vessels.

• Meanwhile, the thurifer and second candlebearer go to the altar, walking along the pavement to the midst and bowing before ascending the steps.

• The second candlebearer takes the purificators in his right hand and the palls in his left hand, goes immediately to the credence, and gives them to the M.C. when the M.C. is ready to receive them.

• The thurifer at the same time folds the corporal and puts it into the burse. Laying the burse down on the altar, a little to his right, he moves the altar book to the center. Then he takes the burse to the M.C. (at the credence)

• When the celebrant has consumed the ablutions, he goes to his chair. He sits during a period of silence that precedes the postcommunion prayer.

• Returning to the altar, he ascends the steps. The ministers and people stand. He sings the proper postcommunion prayer with hands extended.

• He turns west and sings the Blessing and Dismissal. In Lent, when a Prayer Over the People, preceded by the bidding, "Bow down before the Lord," replaces the usual blessing, the ministers and people bow profoundly for this prayer, rising for the dismissal.

• As the final hymn begins,

  • [The torchbearers, if present, line up outside the rail, where they stood during the Eucharistic Prayer.]

  • The the thurifer takes the censer and boat and goes outside the rails, where he stands facing east.

  • The M.C. and candlebearers, (with cross and candles), stand in front of the thurifer (just inside the rails), also facing east.

  • The lay eucharistic ministers and the readers go to the rails (on their respective sides–to the right and left of the torchbearers, if they are present) and stand facing east.

• The celebrant kisses the altar, descends the steps, turns east, and bows profoundly. When he bows, all the ministers except those holding cross and candles bow with him.

• When the celebrant turns west, all the ministers except the torchebearers (if present), readers and lay eucharistic ministers turn west. The torchbearers, readers, and lay eucharistic ministers turn north and south, respectively. The procession sets out. As it advances, the torchbearers, the readers, then the lay eucharistic ministers, walk forward and join it. The celebrant goes out last.

 

 

WHEN A DEACON ASSISTS

• The deacon vests in alb, stole, and dalmatic. All is done in the same way as at a mass without assisting clergy except as noted below.

• An extra chair for the deacon is placed to the west of the celebrant's chair.

• The deacon walks at the celebrant's right in the entrance procession.

• On Sundays only he accompanies the celebrant to the font and holds the vat for him as he sprinkles the people and ministers with holy water. When he reaches the altar steps, he hands the vat to the M.C.

• The celebrant and deacon together bow profoundly to the altar, ascend the steps, and kiss the altar. The deacon stands beside the M.C. while the celebrant censes the altar.

• The deacon, preceding the celebrant, follows the M.C. to his chair.

• During the sequence hymn the deacon holds the boat when the celebrant puts on incense. Standing before the celebrant, he says "N., give me your blessing." He bows profoundly while the celebrant blesses him, saying, "The Lord be in your heart and upon your lips, that you may worthily proclaim his Holy Gospel, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." The deacon says "Amen."

• The deacon and the M.C. approach the altar. The deacon ascends the steps. When the cantor begins the Alleluia (or tract), the deacon turns west and proceeds to the ambo, following the M.C.

• He sings the Gospel, doing all as the celebrant does at a mass without assisting clergy.

• At the conclusion of the Gospel, having handed the Gospel book to the M.C., he returns to his seat, bowing to the altar on the way.

• The deacon leads the Prayer of the People from the head of the nave (remaining there for the Confession of Sin and Absolution).

• The deacon prepares the gifts, doing all that the celebrant does when no deacon is present. The celebrant remains at his chair.

• When the celebrant approaches the altar, the deacon moves to the right. The thurifer approaches. The deacon holds the boat while the celebrant puts on incense. The thurifer, taking the boat, returns to his place. The deacon stands on the second step (at the south end) while the celebrant censes the oblations and the altar.

• When the celebrant has finished censing the altar, the deacon receives the censer from him and proceeds to the chancel step, bowing profoundly to the altar on the way.  Meanwhile, the M.C. takes the alms from the altar, hands them to a candlebearer, and returns to the altar with the altar service book (on its stand). When he has taken his place at the celebrant's left, the two turn west.

• At the chancel step the deacon turns east and censes the ministers (collectively). Then he turns west and censes the people. He returns the censer to the thurifer.

• After the lavabo, he ascends to the celebrant's right.

• He turns north when the celebrant turns west to sing the Sursum corda. Then he turns east.

• Throughout the concluding doxology of the Eucharistic Prayer and the "Amen" he elevates the chalice while the celebrant elevates the paten. Then he genuflects with the celebrant and M.C.

• When the second candlebearer brings the second chalice from the credence (during the Agnus Dei) and places it on the altar in front of the deacon, the deacon fills the chalice from the decanter and places it on the corporal.

• The deacon ministers the chalice.

• After communion, the celebrant descends to the pavement while the deacon and lay eucharistic ministers consume what remains of the consecrated gifts. The deacon performs the ablutions with the assistance of the M.C. (in the same way that the celebrant does at a celebration without assisting clergy). During the ablutions, the celebrant goes to his chair and sits.

• When the celebrant ascends the steps for the postcommunion prayer, the deacon ascends the steps at the south side and stands at the celebrant's right.

• When the celebrant turns west to sing the blessing, the deacon turns north.

• The deacon turns west to sing the dismissal.

• The deacon walks at the right of the celebrant in the exit procession.

 

WHEN TWO DEACONS ASSIST

• The deacons vest in alb, stole, and dalmatic. All is done in the same way as at a mass without assisting clergy except as noted below.

• Two extra chairs for the deacons are placed to the west of the celebrant's chair.

• The first deacon walks at the celebrant's right in the entrance procession. The second deacon walks at the celebrant’s left.

• On Sundays only they accompany the celebrant to the font, and the first deacon holds the vat for the celebrant as he sprinkles the people and ministers with holy water. When they reach the altar steps, the first deacon hands the vat to the M.C.

• The celebrant and deacons together bow profoundly to the altar, ascend the steps, and kiss the altar.  The deacons stand on the second step (facing east) while the celebrant censes the altar.

• When the altar has been censed, and the celebrant has returned the thurible to the thurifer, the M.C. leads the deacons and the celebrant to their seats. Without bowing to the altar, they go in single file: M.C., second deacon, first deacon, celebrant.

• During the sequence hymn the first deacon holds the boat when the celebrant puts on incense.

• When the thurifer has moved away from the celebrant’s chair, the first deacon bows before the celebrant and says "N., give me your blessing." He bows profoundly while the celebrant blesses him, saying, "The Lord be in your heart and upon your lips, that you may worthily proclaim his Holy Gospel, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." The deacon says "Amen."

• During the last stanza of the hymn the deacon and the M.C. approach the altar. The deacon ascends the steps. When the cantor begins the Alleluia (or tract), the deacon turns west and proceeds to the ambo, following the M.C.

• He sings the Gospel, doing all as the celebrant does at a mass without assisting clergy.

• At the conclusion of the Gospel, having handed the Gospel book to the M.C., he returns to his seat, bowing to the altar on the way.  (The M.C., holding the Gospel book, does not bow but walks walk directly to his place.)

• The first deacon leads the Prayers of the People from the head of the nave (remaining there for the Confession of Sin and Absolution).

• The celebrant goes to the chancel step to give the Peace.  The two deacons stand at his right and left.

• After the Peace, the celebrant and deacons return to their seats.

• The M.C. takes the vessels (i.e., on chalice and paten) from the credence to the altar and spreads the corporal.

• When the alms have been collected, the second deacon (with the M.C.) receives the offerings and prepares the table.

• The first deacon remains at his seat until he accompanies the celebrant to the altar.

• When the gifts have been prepared, the first deacon (at the signal from the M.C.) precedes the celebrant to the foot of the altar, where he moves to the celebrant’s left.  Together they bow to the altar and ascend the steps.  The first deacon stops on the second step, where he waits until the censing is finished and the M.C. has put the missal in place.

• The second deacon holds the boat as the celebrant puts on incense and then stands at the south end on the second step  while the celebrant censes the altar.

• Meanwhile, the M.C. takes the missal from the credence to the north side of the sanctuary.  As soon as the celebrant has finished censing the altar, he places the missal on the altar and returns to the south side of the sanctuary. He removes the alms basin from the altar, as usual.

• The first deacon ascends to the predella.  He and the celebrant turn west to be censed (collectively, with all the ministers)

• A candlebearer ministers the lavabo, after which the second deacon, having given the thurible to the thurifer, ascends to the celebrant’s right.

• The deacons turn toward the celebrant (i.e., they face north and south) when the celebrant turns west to sing the Sursum corda. Then they turn east.

• During the Eucharistic Prayer the first deacon tends the missal.

• Throughout the concluding doxology of the Eucharistic Prayer and the "Amen" the second deacon elevates the chalice while the celebrant elevates the paten. Then he genuflects with the celebrant and M.C.

• When the second candlebearer brings the second chalice from the credence (during the Agnus Dei) and places it on the altar in front of the second deacon, the second deacon fills the chalice from the decanter and places it on the corporal.

• After receiving the sacrament himself, the celebrant communicates the deacons, who stand on the predella to receive.

• After communion, the celebrant and the first deacon return to their seats while the second deacon and the M.C. consume what remains of the consecrated gifts (at the altar) and perform the ablutions (at the credence) 

• When the ablutions are finished, the first deacon (at the signal from the M.C.) precedes the celebrant to the foot of the altar.  The first deacon moves to the left.  Together they bow to the altar and ascend the steps.  The second deacon goes to the celebrant’s right.

• The celebrant sings the postcommunion prayer.

• When the celebrant turns west to sing the blessing, the deacons turn to face him (as at the Sursum corda)

• The second deacon turns west to sing the dismissal.

• The deacons walk at the right and left of the celebrant in the exit procession.

 

WHEN A PRIEST ASSISTS WITHOUT "JOINING IN THE CONSECRATION OF THE GIFTS"

 

• A priest who assists without "joining in the consecration of the gifts" vests in alb and stole. All is done in the same way as at a mass without assisting clergy except as noted below.

• The assisting priest precedes the celebrant and follows the lay eucharistic ministers in the entrance procession.

• Outside the rails he bows profoundly to the altar and then goes to the westernmost of the stalls on the north side of choir.

• If no deacon is present, he sings the Gospel. If he does, he does not ask the celebrant's blessing; but after the celebrant has put on incense, he does all as the celebrant does at a mass without assisting clergy.

• If no deacon is present, he lead the Prayers of the People (at the head of the nave).

• If no deacon is present, he prepares the table, doing all as the celebrant does at a Mass without assisting clergy.

• After preparing the table, he descends the steps at the south side and waits with the other ministers during the censing and lavabo. After the lavabo, he ascends to the altar, standing at the celebrant's right if no deacon is present--otherwise to the right of the deacon.

• He turns north when the celebrant turns west to sing the Sursum Corda.

• He does not elevate the chalice during the concluding doxology. The celebrant himself does so.

• He administers communion in both kinds to the celebrant.  Then the celebrant administers communion to him.

• He (along with the celebrant and lay eucharistic ministers) distributes communion to the other ministers and people.

• With the lay eucharistic ministers he consumes what remains of the consecrated gifts.

• With the M.C. he performs the ablutions. (During the ablutions the celebrant sits.)

• If he is to sing the dismissal, he goes up to the celebrant's right when the celebrant returns to the altar to sing the postcommunion prayer.

• He precedes the celebrant in the exit procession.

 

CONCELEBRATION

All is done as at a mass without assisting clergy except as noted below.

• The concelebrants (vested in alb, stole, and chasuble) walk ahead of the principal celebrant in the entrance procession, two abreast.

• On passing through the rails, bow profoundly to the altar. They walk up the steps, kiss the altar, descend the steps on the north side and wait until the celebrant has gone up to the altar. Then, without bowing to the altar again, they go, single file, to their places in the stalls on the north side of choir.

IF NO DEACON IS PRESENT:

• A concelebrant may read the Gospel. He does not ask the celebrant's blessing, but after the celebrant has put on incense, he does all as the celebrant does at a mass without assisting clergy.

• A concelebrant, remaining at his place, may lead the Prayers of the People.

• A concelebrant prepares the gifts just as the celebrant does when there are no assisting clergy. When he has done so, he returns to his stall. (If only one concelebrant is present, he descends the steps on the south side and remains there during the censing and lavabo.)

• After the lavabo the concelebrants go to the altar.

  • If there is one concelebrant, he stands at the principal celebrant's right.

  • If there are two concelebrants, one stands at the principal celebrant's right, and the other stands to the left of the M.C.

  • If there are three concelebrants, two stand at the principal celebrant's right and one at the left of the M.C.

  • If there are more than three, the remainder must stand on the second step at the sides of the altar. But NOTE that if a deacon is present, he stands at the right of the principal celebrant.

• They stand with hands joined throughout the Eucharistic Prayer, except as otherwise noted.

• When the principal celebrant turns west to sing the Sursum corda, they turn inward, so as to face him. They turn back to the altar when he does.

• The principal celebrant sings the preface by himself. The concelebrants join in singing the Sanctus.

• With hands extended they recite a portion of the Eucharistic Prayer with the celebrant. They recite it submissa voce, that is, in a voice audible only to themselves. The portion of the prayer they recite is:

  • In Prayer A: From "On the night before he suffered" to "joy of your eternal kingdom."

  • In Prayer B: From "On the night before he died for us" to "being sanctified by the Holy Spirit."

  • In Prayer D: From "When the hour had come" to "the Body and Blood of your Son Jesus Christ."

• At the words "This is my Body..." and "This is my Blood..." they extend their right hands toward the gifts.

• At the epiklesis, when the principal celebrant stretches his hands over the gifts, the concelebrants extend both hands (palms down) toward the gifts.

• All genuflect with the principal celebrant at the end of the Eucharistic Prayer.

• If necessary, the minister at the principal celebrant's right, whether deacon or concelebrant, moves out of the way during the Agnus Dei to allow the candlebearer to place the second chalice on the altar.

• The concelebrants turn toward the celebrant when he turns west to say "The Gifts of God for the People of God."

• The concelebrant closest to the celebrant gives communion to the celebrant; then the celebrant gives communion to him. The two then communicate the other concelebrants, who descend to the second step at the center, one at a time.

• Then, genuflecting on the pavement, they return to their stalls, unless they are to administer communion (in which case they return to their stalls after communion).

• During the final hymn they line up at the rail, facing east. When the principal celebrant bows to the altar, they all bow. When the principal celebrant turns west, they turn south. They follow the readers in the exit procession, walking two by two.