E SACRIFICE OF THE MASS

82 THE PREFACE.
EXPLANATION OF THE INTRODUCTION
TO THE PREFACE.
The words Per omnia saecula saeculorum belong
to the Secret. The Introduction consists of three ver-
sicles with their responses. The priest opens with the
customary greeting Dominus vobiscum, without
turning as usual towards the people, thereby showing
that he is wholly wrapt in the thought of the great
action soon to be accomplished. He is conversing with
God face to face. The server answers, or at High Mass
the choir chants, et cum spiritu tuo may God be with
thy spirit, O Priest. The Priest raising his hands, suit
ing the action to the word, says the words Sursum
corda lift up your hearts as an invitation to raise
our thoughts to heavenly things. To this invitation the
people respond, we have them lifted up unto the
Lord, that is, our hearts are already lifted up and with
our Lord. The priest joins his hands and bows his head
while he adds Let us give thanks to the Lord our
God,
a tribute which is due to God for all His benefits
and especially for the gift of the Blessed Sacrament
which comes to us through the Holy Mass. The word
Eucharist, as we have seen, means thanksgiving. The
faithful answer through the server, it is meet and
just : meet in respect of His manifold benefits, and
just on our part who so largely enjoy them.
These words close the introduction which is thought
to have been composed by the Apostles.