E SACRIFICE OF THE MASS

28
THE ORDINARY OF THE MASS.
reciting psalms is said to have been instituted by
St. Ignatius, one of the Apostolic Fathers. In the
Latin Church it owed its origin to St. Ambrose of
Milan, in the fourth century. The word antiphon has
now a more restricted sense ; it means a verse prefixed
to or following a psalm or psalms, as a sort of key
perhaps to the intention of the Church in using the
of it on
psalm, or as drawing attention to that part
which she desires to lay peculiar stress. The minister
or server answers : To God, who giveth joy to my
youth.
The joy here referred to in connection with youth
has evidently a spiritual meaning. Whenever sanctify
" new creature
ing grace is first given to the old
soul, a
the death of the
man
is
"
created, causing
"
Now, one end of the Sacrifice is the forgiveness
of sins ; when mortal sins are forgiven the soul is
renewed in its youth by sanctifying grace, and the
"
of sin.
Eucharist itself is the pledge of everlasting glory.
There is a singular propriety in reminding the priest of
this attribute of Almighty God as renovator of youth at
the moment that the priest stands like the Publican
" afar off" from the altar waiting for encouragement to
carry his desire into effect. (See Oakeley s Ceremonies of the
Mass, p. 12.)
The priest and server next recite in alternate verses
the psalm Judica.
The 42nd Psalm was composed by King David after
his sin and the rebellion of his son Absalom. Surrounded
by his enemies, full of sorrow for his past offences, King
David makes a direct appeal to God from whom alone
strength can be obtained, and lays his cause before his
Maker.
This Psalm, used in the Old Dispensation as a pre-