The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1877-01-14
SCRIPTURE IN THE MASS.

1t has perhaps seldom struck persons OF
other creeds than our own, that the Cathoiis
| prayers, especially thOse publicly used by
| the Church, aud even many belonging to
the domain of private devotion. are mainly
{ scriptural. To begin with the Mass-two-
| tbirda of it are made up of Scripture pas
cages, while the remainder contains many
alinsions to the sayingsof Holy Writ or to
| custoDa.
l. TIC Mass opens with the Forty sec-
nnd Psalm, Judge me, 0 God" which Mr.,
Oakeley, in his "OIder and Ceremonial OF
| the Macs" says was used nj der the Old Dis
pensation psalm OF preparation for the
| alter. After tire Ccnfiteor cOmes an anti
| phoDal passage, in winch the priest and the
server, who represents the people. answer
each other in sentences taken from the
| Eight fourth Psalm.
2. The Introit cor sists of a short pas
| sage, uearly always chosen from Holy
Writ, with the addition of a verse OF some
| chosen psalm.
3 The opening sentence of the
Gloria" consists of the words that
angels Gang on the night Of our Lords
birth. duke ii. LAY. This led to the
| Gloria being also called the Angelical
Hymn.
4. Then follows the eslutation " Domi
nus robis CUM" The Lord be with you,''
which was used by the angels in ealutiug
Gideon Judges vi. 14). bv Boaz in address
ing FeSp6IS (NuIu liz ~. anu py O3UIlSl
| in salntiug the Blessed Virgin (Lnke i.
2S). This is repeated several times during
the Mass.
5. The epistie or Lesson. Every one
knows that Uhis is a portion of Scripture,
sometimes from the Old Testament, but
more often from the New. The Epistle is
generally taken from st. Paul, and the Les
sou, if from the Old Testament, from the
Prophets. On Wednesdays of the EmbeI
| weeks the Epistle is precs ded by portion
of the prophecies and this custom Ia refer
red by tradition to the rule etjDiniDg
those who receive Holy Orders TO bs
instructed both IN the Old and the New
| Testaments.
| 6 The Gradual is kind of response Il
the Epistie, an echo of its meaning, and i,
| commonly interspersed with one or more
verses OF the Psalms. It's called Gradua
from the circumstance OF It's being suns
from the steps of the altar, when the MAJ
| is sung with all the proper iovmaiitie!.
I. The " Tract" which ia used ut pen
itential seasons, IS always a short poruot
ofthe Psslms.
g. With the " Gospel" every ono i
familiar. In Holy Week the Whole Passion
is inserted in tho Mass, !. e, GU Sunday
Tuesday. Wednesday, and Friday just be
fore The Gospel.
9. The '' Offertory" is composed o
verses almost invariably chosen from som
psalm or psalms, and varies according t
the fease--iike the Introit, the Gradual
the Tract, and the Communion and Pest
Communion.
10. The Larabo" consists of seve
verses of the Twenty fifth Psalm, IS Jud g
me, o Lord" and begins with the sixt
verse, % will wash my hands among til
Innocent" etc.
IL. The "Sanetus" consists of the Sc
, raphims' words Is. vi. 3, aud the words {
the Hebrew children on ChJist's eutrane
into Jerusalem, the Sunday before his pas
, sion Matt xxi9).
, ID. The substance of the ".Consecrs
. tiou' is Scriptural, though the form is mac
up of words takon from the first three {
: synoptical Gospels. In the conservation
the chalice, Ine words, - aud eternal
: aud the mystery of faith" ar" not take
trom Hoy Writ.
ID The " Pater' or Lords Prayer
r perhaps the beet known pprtinu # al! Strii
rure among Christians OF all denomination
. Mate. vi. aud Luxe xi p.
IA The ."Pac doDaini sat semper rob;
:, cam" ard AT High Mass, the Pdr teen
which accompanies the " kiss of peace
;. arc dlpt.d from our Lords salntation
His dIsciplies, when He stood III the mid
- of them, after his resurrection. duke XXI
- 36. John Xxx. 10. 26).
"a Is. TIE " domino non sum dignuS' is
= prayer used before tho COMMUNION of IL
% priest, and repeated before that of tn" PEI
Pile, aud with the single 81 Institution of so,
i |
y centurion to Christ. (Matt, viii. 81.
16. The COnnWwnio IS a short seDreu
g which takes the place of psalm, which
Is come ancient lIturgies, was sung immed
- ately after the Communion of the peopi
"a Ia process of time, this, like the Iutroit al
-, - the Offertory, seemed to have been curtai
10 d into single verse.
. II. The Gospel of St. J ohm is the end
- the Mass. 1t il from the fret chapte
Is verses to 4, and treats of the "Word mas
y flesh " and the mission of Christ on cart
Besides these directly spiritual porto
~ of the Mass, there are other parts alludil
- to passages in the Holy Books, for instan
y the Alleluias which occur at the Gradsa
~ and arc doubled at Easter tide, and whit
" are used in commemoraton of the Apost
-, 40 lie Injunction, "Rejoice in the Lord Away
10 again 1 say rejoice. (Phil. iv. a."
i The prayer, In the spirit of hnmilit
~ and in contrite heart grant us Lor
os to be received by Thee" ETC., which
y" said between the OffertOry and the Pr
face ia founded on the prayer in DAM