E SACRIFICE OF THE MASS

EXPLANATION OF THE PAX. 171
the Apostles days. To avoid all danger of abuse the
sexes were after some time rigidly separated. The
separation of men and women found sometimes in the
present day in Catholic churches, at home and abroad,
reminds us in its origin of the kiss of peace, given by
the celebrant to the deacon, by him to the subdeacon,
thence passed down to the clergy in the sanctuary, and
from them to the men in the congregation.
In all the Eastern as well as in the Mozarabic and
Ambrosian liturgies the kiss is given before the Offertory
and Consecration. In the Roman Mass the kiss of
peace follows the Consecration, and is clearly connected
with the Communion.
The kiss strictly so called was given as late as the
thirteenth century during High Mass by the celebrant
to the deacon, and by him to the subdeacon. At the
end of the thirteenth century the kiss of peace gave
way to the use of the Osculatorium, called also Instmnientuni
or tahda pads. This Osculatorium was a plate with a
figure of Christ Crucified stamped upon it. This plate
was kissed first by the priest, and then by the clerics
and congregation. The Osculatorium was introduced
into England by Archbishop Walter of York in 1250.
The embrace now substituted for the kiss of peace
dates from the Reformation. The Pax, as it is called,
is not given at Low Mass. At High Mass after the
first of the three prayers before Communion, the deacon
rises from his knees and kisses the altar with the
celebrant. Next the celebrant, placing his hands on
the shoulders of the deacon, inclines towards his cheek,
the deacon Et
saying Pax tecum, and is answered by
cum Spiritu tuo. The deacon then goes to the subdeacon
and gives him the Pax in the same way.
The Pax is not given on the three last days of Holy