E SACRIFICE OF THE MASS

THE KYRIE ELEISON. 39
characteristic virtues thus, St. Francis of Assisi, who
was distinguished by his love of the Cross, has for his
Introit the words of St. Paul: God forbid that
I should glory save in the Cross of our Lord
Jesus Christ, while to St. Ignatius of Loyola, the
singular honour belongs of having
in the Introit an
allusion to the name of his Order, the Society of Jesus :
In the name of Jesus let every knee bow of
those that are in Heaven, on earth, and under
the earth : and let every tongue confess that our
Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the
Father (Philip, ii.), followed by the Psalm : All they
that love Thy name shall glory in Thee, for Thou
wilt bless the just. (Ps. v.)
Enough
has been said to show that the Introit is
a part of the Mass which gives it a character according
to the day or season.
THE KYRIE ELEISON.
Originally the Kyrie was said at the Epistle side :
the custom survives at High Mass.
" Lord have mercy on us," is
The Kyrie eleison,
said at every Mass without exception at Low Mass
beneath the crucifix, at High Mass on the Epistle side
after the Introit.
Kyrie Eleison is said thrice in honour of the
Father ; thrice in honour of the Son ; thrice in
honour of the Holy Ghost. We pray for mercy in
the three-fold misery of ignorance, sin, and punish
ment. (S. Th. Hi. q. 3. ad 4.) The cry for mercy and
forgiveness is most appropriately
introduced at the
beginning of the Sacrifice ; the cry is repeated again
and again, that we may offer the spotless Sacrifice
with pure hands.