E SACRIFICE OF THE MASS

166 THE INCENSING AT THE OFFERTORY.
The priest in blessing the incense says, By the
intercession of blessed Michael the Archangel,
standing on the right hand of the altar of incense
(St.Lttke i. n) and of all His elect, may the Lord
vouchsafe to bless ^ this incense, and to receive it
in the odour of sweetness, through Christ our
Lord, making over the incense the sign of the Cross.
The Church begs of God by the sign of the Cross
to bless the incense and to accept it as a thing con
secrated to His service. To obtain her request
more surely she has recourse to the intercession of
St. Michael and all the saints.
EXPLANATION OF THE PRAYER IN BLESSING THE
INCENSE.
By the intercession of blessed Michael the
Archangel his name is mentioned in the Confiteov and
now again as the leader of the heavenly host whose
duty in fact is to offer to God the prayers of the faithful
which rise like incense. Standing at the right hand
of the altar of incense this is said of St. Gabriel in
Luke (i. n), and because of this verse in St. Luke
various Missals introduced St. Gabriel s name here.
And of all His elect, that is, all the saved, may the
Lord vouchsafe to bless this incense by consecrating
it to His service and to receive it in the odour of
sweetness, through Christ our Lord. The priest
asks not merely that God will accept this incense, but
accept it as a gift sweet smelling in His sight.
The priest then receiving the thurible from the
deacon proceeds to incense the oblation or the bread
and wine of the Sacrifice. Making over them with the
thurible three crosses, saying at the first, Incensum