E SACRIFICE OF THE MASS

160 THE CEREMONIES OF HIGH MASS.
regarded as the conclusion of the prayers said at the
foot of the altar. It is unaccompanied by any prayer.
The celebrant places the incense three times in the
thurible, saying : Mayest thou be blessed by Him in
whose honour thou shalt be consumed, and makes
the sign of the Cross over it. He then incenses three
times with a double swing the crucifix next he incenses
the relics of the saints on the altar out of respect to
their memory, and then the altar itself- the place of
sacrifice. The altar is the holiest of inanimate things
in the church and has been solemnly consecrated, or at
least the altar-stone, by the Bishop. It therefore merits
incensing. The incensing of the altar over, the
celebrant hands the thurible to the deacon, who
incenses the celebrant three times (as he incensed the
crucifix), as the representative at Mass of the great
High Priest Jesus Christ.
The first incensing is meant chiefly for the altar.
THE KYRIE AND THE GLORIA IN
EXCELSIS. THE EPISTLE.
The priest recites in a low voice the Kyrie at the
Epistle side of the altar, where it was originally said
at Low Mass the deacon and subdeacon recite
alternately
with him. The celebrant intones the
Gloria. The choir take it up. The deacon and sub-
deacon repeat with the celebrant the words of the Gloria.
Then all go to their seats where they remain with
covered heads (except at the words at which inclination