E SACRIFICE OF THE MASS

THE CONCLUSION OF THE CANON. 121
mediator. With Him.*J The Father and Holy
Ghost receive all honour and glory with the Son, for
Christ is true God. In Him.*!* The Father and Holy
Ghost are glorified in Jesus Christ because the three
Persons of the Blessed Trinity, by their one essence
and nature, must necessarily receive the same honour
and glory.
THE SIGNS OF THE CROSS MADE
DURING THIS PRAYER.
The three signs of the Cross made over the Chalice
at the words sanctify, vivify, bless, signify the sanctification,
quickening, and benediction caused in the
bread and wine by conversion into Christ s Body and
Blood at the Consecration ; while they remind us of
the fulness of every grace which the Eucharist bestows
upon the Church. After the prayer a sudden change
is seen in the Rubric. For the priest in saying the
words through Him, with Him, in Him, makes the
sign of the Cross three times over the Chalice not
with his hand but with the Host, and at the mention
of the Father and Holy Ghost makes the sign of the
Cross twice between the Chalice and his breast. It is
extremely difficult to give a satisfactory explanation of
these signs of the Cross. Perhaps, as Gihr suggests
(vol. ii. p. 367, French translation), the reason is that as
the Son is mentioned three times the Cross is made thrice
over the Chalice which contains His Body and Blood.
The Cross and Crucifixion are distinctive of the Second
Person of the Blessed Trinity. The Crucifixion of
Christ, whom we believe to be present in the Chalice,