E SACRIFICE OF THE MASS

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THE SOLEMN OFFERTORY.
THE SOLEMN OFFERTORY.
The Creed having been sung by the choir the priest
attended by the deacon and subdeacon goes to the
altar in the same manner as after the Gloria and sermon.
The deacon and subdeacon fall into their places behind
the priest, and the celebrant after kissing the altar
sings the Dominus vobiscum and is answered by the
choir. He then sings the Oremus before the Offertorium,
which he says in a low voice.
The deacon now leaves his place and goes to the
Epistle side of the altar, while the subdeacon proceeds
to the credence-table, where he finds the chalice and
paten with bread prepared for the Sacrifice, covered
with a long veil of the colour of the day as well as with
the small veil by which they are always covered when
not in use. Wearing the long veil the subdeacon pro
ceeds to the altar, where the deacon puts the small veil
aside, receives the chalice and paten and sets them on
the altar. The deacon then presents the priest with the
paten bearing the bread of the Sacrifice, kissing the paten
and his hand. While the priest offers the host the
deacon pours wine into the chalice ; and the sub-
deacon, holding the cruet of water, invokes the blessing
of the celebrant in the words Benedicite, Pater rcverende,
using the plural (benedicite) as a mark of respect. The
celebrant as at Low Mass blesses the water and the
subdeacon pours a drop or two into the chalice. The
deacon and subdeacon have each their proper functions
in High Mass the subdeacon sings the Epistle the
deacon the Gospel, to the deacon belongs the wine
the matter of the Precious Blood to the subdeacon