E SACRIFICE OF THE MASS

THE CANON OF THE MASS. 89
profound inclination of the body. Ail these acts
indicate the homage and reverence of the priest before
entering on the most august portion of the Mass.
Te igitur, clementissime
Pater, per Jesum
We therefore humbly pray
Christum and beseech Filium tuum Dominum nostrum,
supplices rogamus, ac
Thee, most
merciful Father, through
Jesus Christ petimus,
Thy Son, our
uti accepta habeas,
et benedicas haec J* dona,
haec 4" munera, haec J-
sancta sacrificia illibata in ;
Lord (he kisses the Altar),
that thou wouldst accept and
bless these f- gifts, these %
presents, these % holy unprimis,
quae tibi offerimus spotted Sacrifices, which, in
pro Ecclesia tua sancta the first place, we offer
catholica : quam pacificare, Thee for Thy holy Catholic
custodire, adunare, et regere Church, to which vouchsafe
digneris toto orbe terrarum, to grant peace, as also to
una cum famulo tuo Papa protect, unite, and govern it
nostro N., et Antistite nostro throughout the world, together
N., et omnibus orthodoxis, with Thy servant N. our Pope,
atque catholicae, et apos- A 7 , our Bishop, as also all
tolicae fidei cultoribus. orthodox believers and pro
fessors of the Catholic and
Apostolic Faith.
EXPLANATION OF THE FIRST PRAYER IN THE CANON
BEFORE THE CONSECRATION.
The first prayer in the Canon is divided into three
parts. The first part begins We, therefore, humbly
pray and beseech Thee, and ends with the words of
the Catholic and Apostolic Faith. The second part
is the commemoration of the Living from, Be mindful,
O Lord, of Thy servants, to Living and true God.
The third part is during the Action from the words
Communicating with down to through the same
Christ our Lord. These are not three separate
prayers, but one prayer with the one and the same
ending, through the same Christ our Lord.