E SACRIFICE OF THE MASS

xviii
INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER.
Hours and the various Offices of the Church ?
Benedict XIV., a safe authority, gives
the reason.
He informs us (The Mass, bk. ii.p.n^) that the Creed
with the Pater noster were among those prayers never
recited in the public Services of the Church at which
pagans and catechumens assisted. Both pagans and
catechumens had left the church at the Pater noster,
hence there was no reason for saying the Pater noster
inaudibly ; but as pagans and catechumens were
allowed to be present at Prime, Vespers, Matins, &c.,
the Pater noster in their presence was said in secret.
And the custom lives to this day.
Let us take a few more instances. The priest s
berretta at Mass dates from about the tenth century.
Before that time the amice served as a covering for the
head. Even at the present time many Religious wear
the amice over the head until the beginning of Mass,
when they cast it back between the shoulders.
Why is it the custom for the priest to vest in the
sacristy and the Bishop at the altar? In earlier ages
(as now on solemn occasions) the Bishop was received
at the church door, a procession was formed, and the
Bishop was conducted to a side altar where he vested
before the principal Mass, and remained seated to
receive the homage and offerings of the congregation.
The Bishop then proceeded to the high altar and Mass
began. In time the procession ceased, the Bishop s
vestments were transferred to the high altar, and he
vested as now within the sanctuary. There was no