On a table are placed the following requisites:
1. The chalice for the mass, prepared as usual and covered with white veil and burse, unless the Feast of the Purification falls on one of the privileged Sundays, when the color should be violet.
2. A white chasuble, stole, and maniple. 3. The censer and incense-boat.
4. The holy water vessel and aspersory.
5. A dish or plate, with a slice of bread and a vessel of water for washing the celebrant's hands, together with a towel for wiping them.
6. The wine and water-ruets, and the finger-towel.
7. A book or books containing the antiphons, to be recited during the procession.
On the altar the ornaments—viz., the antependium and tabernacle veil— are violet, but beneath them are similar ornaments of white. The violet ones are removed before the mass begins, unless, as above, the day be one of the privileged Sundays, for which violet is the proper color. The flowers and other movable ornaments are also removed from the altar during the blessing of the candles, etc., but are replaced before the mass. At the epistle corner is placed the missal on its stand. In the sanctuary, at the epistle corner, is placed a table covered with a white cloth. On this are placed the candles to be blessed, and over all another white cloth is drawn. Near the table stands the processional cross. In the sacristy are prepared for the celebrant, amice, alb, cincture, violet stole, and cope.
THE BLESSING OF THE CANDLES.
The celebrant, having put on the vestments, proceeds to the altar. At the foot of the altar he makes the proper reverence, ascends the steps kisses the altar, and goes to the missal at the epistle corner. Having turned towards the missal, he says, Dominus vobiscum, and reads the five prayers which follow. Before each one he says Oremus, but neither disjoins his hands nor bows. While saying the words, he makes the sign of the cross over the candles with his right hand, keeping, meantime, his left on the altar. Having recited the fifth prayer, he puts incense into the censer, blessing it with the usual formula; then takes the aspersory and sprinkles the candles while saying the Asperges me, &c., and afterwards incenses them. He may then deliver a short instruction to the people on the institution and meaning of the Feast of the Purification, and on the symbolism of the blessed candles.
THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE CANDLES.
The celebrant, immediately after incensing the candles, goes to the centre of the altar, kneels on the upper step, and takes from the altar one of the blessed candles, previously placed there by the server, kisses it, and hands it to the server. He then rises and returns to the missal, and reads, in an audible tone, the antiphons and the canticle. Having repeated the antiphons, the celebrant proceeds to distribute the candles to the people kneeling at the rails. He begins at the epistle side, and proceeds to the other extremity of the sanctuary, after which he returns again to the epistle side, and so on. When all have received candles, he goes to the epistle side of the altar, and there, standing on the floor, washes his hands, after which he comes to the front of the altar, makes the proper reverence, and goes up to the missal, and reads the antiphons and prayers.
THE PROCESSION.
If it is customary to have the procession, the celebrant, having said the prayer Exandi, after the distribution of the candles, goes to the middle of the altar, and receives from the server a lighted candle and a book containing the antiphons to be recited during the procession. Then, turning towards the people, he says Procedamus in pace, or sings it, if there is a choir. The choir, where there is a competent one, will also sing the antiphons during the procession. The procession may go outside the Church, or may be confined to the interior, according to custom or circumstances. If it goes outside, the Responsory Obtulerunt is begun when it returns. Arrived at the altar, the celebrant gives his candle to the first server, and goes to the bench to vest for mass. He puts off the cope and violet stole, and' puts on white vestments, unless the day be one of the privileged Sundays, the color for which is violet.
The server removes the violet ornaments from the altar and replaces the flowers. If the mass is of the Feast, lighted candles should be held during the Gospel, and from the Sanctus to the Communion.
- The Manual of the Holy Catholic Church, Imprimatur 1906 -
1. The chalice for the mass, prepared as usual and covered with white veil and burse, unless the Feast of the Purification falls on one of the privileged Sundays, when the color should be violet.
2. A white chasuble, stole, and maniple. 3. The censer and incense-boat.
4. The holy water vessel and aspersory.
5. A dish or plate, with a slice of bread and a vessel of water for washing the celebrant's hands, together with a towel for wiping them.
6. The wine and water-ruets, and the finger-towel.
7. A book or books containing the antiphons, to be recited during the procession.
On the altar the ornaments—viz., the antependium and tabernacle veil— are violet, but beneath them are similar ornaments of white. The violet ones are removed before the mass begins, unless, as above, the day be one of the privileged Sundays, for which violet is the proper color. The flowers and other movable ornaments are also removed from the altar during the blessing of the candles, etc., but are replaced before the mass. At the epistle corner is placed the missal on its stand. In the sanctuary, at the epistle corner, is placed a table covered with a white cloth. On this are placed the candles to be blessed, and over all another white cloth is drawn. Near the table stands the processional cross. In the sacristy are prepared for the celebrant, amice, alb, cincture, violet stole, and cope.
THE BLESSING OF THE CANDLES.
The celebrant, having put on the vestments, proceeds to the altar. At the foot of the altar he makes the proper reverence, ascends the steps kisses the altar, and goes to the missal at the epistle corner. Having turned towards the missal, he says, Dominus vobiscum, and reads the five prayers which follow. Before each one he says Oremus, but neither disjoins his hands nor bows. While saying the words, he makes the sign of the cross over the candles with his right hand, keeping, meantime, his left on the altar. Having recited the fifth prayer, he puts incense into the censer, blessing it with the usual formula; then takes the aspersory and sprinkles the candles while saying the Asperges me, &c., and afterwards incenses them. He may then deliver a short instruction to the people on the institution and meaning of the Feast of the Purification, and on the symbolism of the blessed candles.
THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE CANDLES.
The celebrant, immediately after incensing the candles, goes to the centre of the altar, kneels on the upper step, and takes from the altar one of the blessed candles, previously placed there by the server, kisses it, and hands it to the server. He then rises and returns to the missal, and reads, in an audible tone, the antiphons and the canticle. Having repeated the antiphons, the celebrant proceeds to distribute the candles to the people kneeling at the rails. He begins at the epistle side, and proceeds to the other extremity of the sanctuary, after which he returns again to the epistle side, and so on. When all have received candles, he goes to the epistle side of the altar, and there, standing on the floor, washes his hands, after which he comes to the front of the altar, makes the proper reverence, and goes up to the missal, and reads the antiphons and prayers.
THE PROCESSION.
If it is customary to have the procession, the celebrant, having said the prayer Exandi, after the distribution of the candles, goes to the middle of the altar, and receives from the server a lighted candle and a book containing the antiphons to be recited during the procession. Then, turning towards the people, he says Procedamus in pace, or sings it, if there is a choir. The choir, where there is a competent one, will also sing the antiphons during the procession. The procession may go outside the Church, or may be confined to the interior, according to custom or circumstances. If it goes outside, the Responsory Obtulerunt is begun when it returns. Arrived at the altar, the celebrant gives his candle to the first server, and goes to the bench to vest for mass. He puts off the cope and violet stole, and' puts on white vestments, unless the day be one of the privileged Sundays, the color for which is violet.
The server removes the violet ornaments from the altar and replaces the flowers. If the mass is of the Feast, lighted candles should be held during the Gospel, and from the Sanctus to the Communion.
- The Manual of the Holy Catholic Church, Imprimatur 1906 -
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