E SACRIFICE OF THE MASS

CHAPTER the TWELFTH.
PART THE THIRD.
THE CANON OF THE MASS.
THE word Canon (KCUXUV) signifies a straight rod, then a
rule used by masons or carpenters, or a measuring
rule. Canon by an obvious metaphor was used and
is still used as a rule in art ; thus we speak of
something being against all the Canons of literary
taste. The underlying sense of something fixed is
found in the various uses to which the word Canon
is applied by the Church. Thus, the Canon of Scripture
is the fixed list of books which the Church recognizes
as inspired ; ecclesiastical laws and definitions of
councils are called Canons, they
are fixed rules in
faith or conduct ; Canon-ization is the fixed list of
saints whom the Church places on her altars ; Canon,
now an ecclesiastical title, meant originally a fixed
list of clerics attached to a church. The Canon in
Mass means the fixed rule according to which the Holy
Sacrifice is offered. Briefly, we may say the Canon
of the Mass means the fixed portion of the Mass.
Other portions vary with the feast and the season,
while the Canon (if you except slight additions