The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1922-02-11
TIE PosT.coMMuNIoN.

THE PoST-coMMuNIoN.
The sacrifice of the Mass is now
completed, and we come to that part
of the ceremony known as the Post
Communion, or the prayers after the
reception by the priest of the Body and
Blood of the Lord.
The Post-Communion is contin.
uation of the collect and the sec1.t
which occur earlier in the Mass, but
instead of being entirely prayer OF
petition, it usually expresses the
thanks and gratitude of the partici-
pants for the stupendous supernat-
ural fayors they have received from
God through the merits of Jesus
Christ, His Son.
In addition to expressing the graf
itude of the congregation for the
graces that have already been re-
ceived in such fullness in the Post
Communion, the priest prays that
these graces may be allowed to re-
main in the soul to inspire and
strengthen it in the war that is still
to be waged against the principalities
anu powers OIL udTKueSS.
What is more natural than that a
prayer uttered in the name of those
who are now in such close bodily and
spiritual union with the Author Of
all grace will avail much more than
request made by those who, because
of the tolls and worries of the day,
stand little farther away from Him ?
After the Post-Communion, accord
ing to the nature of the Mass, come
the words, lite missa est" "Benedica-
mus Domino" or "Requiescant in
pace"
The first, meaning go, the, Mass
is ended" is the ancient conclusion of
the complete ceremony. 1t was and
is now said only on those feasts
which are of joyful character. On
other days, as in Lent, when the forty
days fast of our Lord is commemorat.
ed, the words of dismissal are omit
ted. Instead, "Benedicamus Domino
LET US bless the Lords substi-
tuted, the rule being that in Masses
in which the angelic hymn, "Gloria in
excelsis Dec" is not said, the words,
lite missa est" are not used.
The obvious reason for this change
is that during the penitential season,
the people were not dismissed imme-
diately after the sacrifice was ended,
but were expected TO- remain for a
while in prayer and penance in CON-
memoration of the sufferings of Christ.
Both these endings, "Ite missa est"
and "Benedicamus Domino" are omit
ted from the Requiem Or Black
Mass, since sorrow is the dominant
feature of this ceremony. An addi-
tional reason why the people are not
dismissed from Requiem Masses at
this time is because of the prayers
and absolution which are to follow
the Mass. This is particularly clear
from funeral Mass.
In the Masses for the dead, the
prayer, "Requiescant in pace"-"May
they rest in peace"-aSks that God
may grant eternal rest not only to the
soul or souls for whom the Mass is
specifically offered, but for all the
souls of the faithful departed.
From Earlier centuries.
In the earlier centuries, one of these
three prayers concluded the ceremo
MES, but from the twelfth century to
the sixteenth other prayers were add
ed and finally accepted by the Church
as fitting and suitable
The first of these is the "Placeat
tibi," ETC., which, when translated
reads, MAY the performance of my
homage be pleasing to Thee, o Holy
Trinity: and grant that the sacrifice
which I, though unworthy, have of
fered up in the sight of Thy Majesty
may be acceptable to Thee, and may
through Thy mercy, be Precipitation
for myself and all those for whom
have offered it. Through Christ, oul
Lord. Amen"
This prayer is simply a repetition
and a synopsis Of the requests made
before and after the conservation
The Mass was commenced with the in
vocation of the blessed Trinity. the
Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost
1t is now completed with an express
sion of homage to the same Trinity
and a hope that the sacrifice may be
accepted in spite of the weakness and
frailties Of the human participants.
The "Placeat" is not only recapit
ulation Of the petitions that have gone
before; it is, in addition, prepare
ton for the final solemn blessing
which the priest pronounces over the
heads of the faithful: MAY Almighty
God bless you-the Father, the SoI
and the Holy Ghost"
The, Life Of Christ.
This blessing is similar in many
respects to that given by the Savior
to His Apostles and Disciples just be
fore He ascended into heaven. Fol
the whole sacrifice of the Mass may
be regarded as reproduction of the
entire life of Christ on earth from
His birth to His ascension. 1t is
therefore fitting that the blessing He
gave to those who were with Him be
fore He ascended to His Father should
be given by His minister before the
curtain is lowered on the ceremon!
which re-enacts His life on earth.
The blessing is also intended to re
mind us to live so that we may merit
the reward which Christ will give to
the just on the last day when He vii
say: Come, you blessed Of My Father
possess the kingdom prepared for YOU
from the foundation of the world"