E SACRIFICE OF THE MASS

170
EXPLANATION OF THE PAX.
FROM THE PATER NOSTER TO THE
COMMUNION.
The celebrant sings the Pater noster to a tone pre
scribed in the Missal. At the Ne nos inducas in tentationem
the deacon and subdeacon, having genuflected
at their places, go up to the altar. The subdeacon
gives the paten to the deacon, who wipes it with the
purificator, and gives it to the priest after the Pater
noster, kissing the edge and the priest s hand. An
attendant removes the long veil from the shoulders of
the subdeacon, who genuflects and returns to his
place. The deacon remains near the celebrant at his
right to remove the pall from the chalice and steady it
when necessary. The priest sings to the tone pre
scribed in the Missal the Pax Domini. Then the sub-
deacon joins him at the altar, and with the deacon,
accompanies the priest in saying the Agnus Dei. This
over the subdeacon goes to his place, and the deacon
remains on both knees while the celebrant says the first
of the three prayers before the Communion. The Pax
is given after that prayer.
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EXPLANATION OF THE PAX OR KISS
OF PEACE.
The Pax or kiss of peace is the memorial of the holy
kiss of
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peace mentioned by St. Peter in his first
Epistle v. 14 ; by St. Paul, Rom. xvi. 16 ; and in
i Cor. xvi. 20. The kiss of peace is the symbol of charity
and of Christian peace. It was given at Mass from