The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-09-12

the reading of portions of Scriptures with the same object-A circumstance that ex- plains the reading of epistles and Gospels in tne Ma0 and to the congregation Natural- " the passages read would be explained by competent instructors and would be followed ny . srand act of faith: therefore the priest usually breaches after the reading of the Gospel. and after his instruction he pro- claims the "Credo," T believe" a symbol which popular tradition ascribes to the twelve apostles. each having a share in its composition. and which framed at the gen. eral conference of Nicaea. or Nice. 325 A. D., deploys the articles of Catholic faith tn simple majesty. Before turning to the moral aspect of this instruction I we, would @ call your attention to the Grad the Epistle. The Gradual is a spon- taneous expression of gratitude for the unspeakable mercy of the Re- sivins with the ss early Christians when Tn their gatherings the fact of eternal life was retold and 1t Is so today. We, We call 1t the Gradual from the srads Lasin The expression "a gradual ascent" is steps" by grades" and the draduai evoked by the thought of Gods great "srades" of the altar. Words or He a9rm m aTe suss tSe h the
  tribute from the language of the an- gels. The church originally was prin- cipally formed out of three distinct the Hebrews. To testify that the be- lief of those nations was one and the same. words and phrases from their languages were tntrodvced into the Divine services. and, although for req sons given on a former occasion the Latin or Roman language Is now prin- cipally employed in our liturgy, yet tion are still retained as g reminder of our unity and universality.
 We have briefly considered the ceremonies peculiar to the great act of Catholis worship as far as the offertory. which with what follows we shall reserve for a future occa- sion. The Mass in its first stages began at the offertory. Everything that we have just been contemplating was merely a prepara. ton. consisting. as we have seen, in tho main of prayers, readings from Scripture and moral discourses delivered to the faith ful, which have now in substance become an integral part of the sacrifice. A relic of this rite is preserved in Solemn Pontifical Masses. when the bishops read sing. as the case may be, all that precedes the of- fertory. in the sanctuary before ascending the altar. Another peculiarity you must have noticed is the unusual manner in which the priest prays. like another Noses with extended hands His prayers are inter. woven with repeated rows and inclinations towards the crucifix, the emblem of pro. pitiation and with an almost continuous series of signs of the cross and blessings This seemingly strange proceeding Is not
 Christ prayed and died upon the cross with arms extended because His mercy em- braced the world; the priest prays with arms extended to remind us of this and the Mass Is but the renewal in un- bloody manner of the crucifixion, the fre- quent signs of the cross and reverences to- wards the crucifix centre our expectations on the awful tragedy. whose re-enactment is the foundation of our liturgy. Calvary is our only hope; the merits of the crucified Redeemer alone will us The altar itself raised above the plane of surrounding objects Is 6 silent reminder of the cross; 1t has its arms and it's body. where the Great Heart of the Redeemer longingly posed. Its left arm Is the scene of func- tions. to the lessons of which, if we are true we shall be found worthy recipients of the word of life propounded at It's right, and If this word sink deep into our souls. permeating our entire moral being with healthy desires fruitful in true repentance. we shall be received at the altars centre into the bosom of Christ our Saviour. who reclines there as long the Blessed Sacra- ment is retained. We can not measure the effects of one single Mass for they are in- finite Neither can we estimate the in- numerable graces of which 1t is the source, for they can not be circumscribed by time; their measure is eternity.
 The Mass brings heaven upon our altars. It's reflection must be the light that shall ever guide us in our darkness. Life is a bridge that spans vast abyss. a bridge that Is dark and full of pitfalls for the un- wary. a connecting span between our or igin and our destiny leading. if I may SO express 1t, from eternity to eternity. We need kindly guiding light in our passage to the eternity to which ever hurry ing. clear light ethat will enable to avoid the pitfalls which are the snakes of Satan. an unerring light that will confi- dently direct our footsteps, and that kindly, guiding. clear, unerring light will be the reflection within souls of the Mass, the exemplification of redemption.
 Rejoice, and praise. O thou inhabitant of Sion. for great is He that is in the midst of thee. the Holy One of Israel" Is. xii 6.