E SACRIFICE OF THE MASS

162 THE SINGING OF THE GOSPEL.
Gospels to the altar at the beginning of the Mass and
leaving it until the deacon needed it. He next assists
the priest in putting the incense into the thurible with
the same ceremonies as before. The deacon then recites
the Mnnda cor meum. This prayer has been already
explained. He kneels before the celebrant with the
book of the Gospels, and asks his blessing thus,
Jube, Domne, benedicere pray, sir, bless me. The
celebrant then pronounces the blessing Our Lord be
on thy heart and on thy lips, that worthily and
competently thou mayest announce His Gospel in
the name of the Father and of the Son and of the
Holy Ghost. Amen, at the same time making the
sign of the Cross over him with his right hand, which
the deacon kisses.
The deacon, subdeacon, acolytes with lighted
candles, thurifer and master of ceremonies proceed to
the fixed place where the Gospel is sung. The Church
surrounds the singing of the Gospel with extraordinary
solemnity. It is difficult to think of anything in her
Liturgy to which she pays more honour than to the
Gospels.
The congregation stand as a mark of respect. The
acolytes lighted candles are a symbol of our Lord, who
by teaching was the Light of the world.
"
Thy
word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my paths."
(Ps. cxviii. 105.) The incense with
represents
its sweet smell
the good odour of Christ.
" For we are the
good odour of Christ with God, in them that are saved,
and in them that perish. To the one indeed the odour
of death unto death : but to the others the odour of life
unto life." (2 Cor. ii. 15, 16.)
The subdeacon holds the book and the deacon sings
in a loud voice Domjnus vobiscum. The choir