E SACRIFICE OF THE MASS

THE THIRD PART OF THE PRAYER. 113
conspectu divinae Majestatis Thy Altar on high, in the sight
tuae : ut quotquot (Osculatnr of Thy divine Majesty, that
Altare) ex hac altaris partici- as many of us patione, sacrosanctum Filii tui
(he kisses the
Altar) as by participating in
Cor^f-pus et San4*guinern
sumpserimus,
this Altar, shall receive the
omni benedicti- most sacred 4* one coelesti et gratia repleamur.
Per eumdem Christum
Dominum nostrum. Amen.
Body andf
Blood of Thy Son, may be
filled with all heavenly blessing
and grace. Through the
same Christ our Lord. Amen.
EXPLANATION OF THE PRAYER.
The Church begs by the words, these offering s,
that the mystical body of the faithful with their
needs, labours, pains and prayers and the adorable
Body and Blood, so far as It is offered by us,
may be carried to Thy altar on high, that is, to
Heaven, by Thy holy Angel, either the angel guardian
of the priest, or of the altar, or of the Church, or
some special angel deputed to assist at the Sacrifice,
or in general by the hands of Thy angels (the
singular being put for the plural). Their office is to
present to God the prayers of men, and our offering
united to theirs will merit the Divine favour.
We desire our prayers to be carried to the Father
with the intention that as many of us (the priest
kisses the altar) as by participating in this Altar
shall receive the most sacred^Body and-J-Blood of
Thy Son, may be filled
and grace.
with all heavenly blessing
On the altar lies the Body and Blood of Christ soon
to be our Food and Drink. The Church begs the Eternal
Father that the action of sinful men in offering the
Adorable Sacrifice may be mercifully accepted by Him,
then all heavenly blessing and grace are to be