The layman's ritual containing practical methods of Christian duties both religious and moral drawn out of H. Scripture, the Roman ritual, the catechism ad parchos &c. / by C.T.

CHAP. XIV. Of Hearing Mass.

In every Place there is Sacrificing, and there is offer'd to my Name a clean Oblation: Because my Name is great among the Gentiles, says the Lord of Hosts.

Mal. 1.11.

MASS (the Supreme Act of Christian Religion) is the

Unbloody Sacrifice of Christ's Body and Blood, Consecrated and Offer'd to God, (under the outward Forms of Bread and Wine, with divers Ceremonies, Prayers, and Sacred Words) for the Quick and the Dead; to whom it applies the Merits of the Bloody Sacrifice of the Cross.

And as it was prefigured by the Sacrince of Melchisedech (a), so it was Instituted by Christ himself, as to its Substance, in his last Sup∣per (b); and as to its Ceremonies, &c. by the Apostles and their Suc∣cessors (c). Again, as the Faithful, both Quick and Dead, were Bene∣fited by the Carnal-unclean Sacrifices of Beasts offer'd for them in the Old-Testament (d); so (and much more) are they help'd in the New-Testament, by the Spiritual and Clean Oblation of Christ's Body and Blood (e).

This therefore being of all Re∣ligious Mysteries the most Sacred and Divine, it ought to be Cele∣brated and Assisted at with all possible Diligence and Devotion; otherwise we shall bring upon our Heads a Curse, instead of a Blessing: Because, Accursed is he, that does the Work of God negligently. Jer. 48.10.

To hear Mass then, as you ought, your Thoughts and Affections must correspond to the Priest's Words and Actions; either by Reading with Attention and Devotion the Prayers at Mass in the Manual; or by ap∣plying the Offices and Devotions in the Primer to the Mass, as follows.

1. Entring into the Church or Chappel, say, O Lord, in the Multi∣tude, &c. Next, taking H. Water, say, (with Contrition for your Sins), Thou shalt sprinkle, &c. Then kneel∣ing down Respectfully, as in the Presence of God, say the Prayer be∣fore Mass, viz. O most Clement Fa∣ther, &c. as in the Daily Exercise. After which, make your Intention thus:

Together with all the Masses that have been, are, and shall be said throughout the whole World, I do here offer to thee, my God, this H. Sacrifice, with the Inten∣tion of my Dearest Saviour, and his Holy Church, in Honour and Acknowledgment of thy Sove∣raignty and Dominion over me, and all Creatures; in Memory of my Saviour's Humanity and Pas∣sion; in Commemoration of his B. Virgin-Mother, and of the S••ints of this Solemnity; of such and such my H. Patrons, and of all the Saints in Heaven; in Thanks∣giving for all thy Benefits; in Sa∣tisfaction and Propitiation for my Sins; for obtaining thy Grace, and special Aid, in Proportion to my Present Necessities, [here speci∣fie your Spiritual Wants]; and for prevailing with thy Goodness, to Protect and Bless me, thy Un∣worthy Creature, my Relations, Benefactors, &c. That without Fear, being deliver'd from the Hand of our Enemies, we may serve thee

in Holiness and Justice, all our Days, and may at last Die in thy Favour.

I offer also this Sacrifice to thee, Dear Lord, for all that Died in Unity of the Catholick Church, and particularly for the Souls of my Parents, Relations, Benefa∣ctors, and all those, for whom thou wouldst have me offer it. Eternal Rest give unto them, O Lord, and let Perpetual Light shine to them.

2. At the Beginning of Mass, call to Mind the most grievous Sins, of which you have been, and are guil∣ty, and, in the Spirit of Humility and Repentance, say along with the Clerk, Confiteor Deo, &c. or, I confess to Almighty God, &c.

3. While the Priest reads the Col∣lects, read you the Antiphon, Verse, Response and Prayer, for the Day, either Proper, or Common, as you find them towards the end of the Primer.

4. At the Gospel, (having read it at Home in English) reflect upon some Sentence thereof, or upon one

of the Eight Beatitudes, or any other Point of Christ's Doctrine; and, gi∣ving him Thanks for the same, pray for Grace to practice it, &c.

5. While the Priest says, Credo in Deum, &c. say you, I believe in God, &c. and pray, that you Live and Die in the Catholick Faith.

6. At the Offertory of the Bread and Wine, offer therewith to God your Body, Soul, Life, Health, &c. beseeching him so to Sanctifie them, that you may be a Living Sacrifice, Holy, and Acceptable to him. Rom. 12.1.

7. After Sanctus, whilst the Priest makes his Memento for the Living, read you the Prayers for the Church, for the Chief Bishop, for the King, for Hereticks, for Friends, for Ene∣mies, &c. These you'll find a∣mongst Prayers to be said after the Litanies, according to the Diversity of Times, and amongst those, that are Appointed for Invocating the Grace of the Holy Ghost.

8. At the Elevation, (1st,) of the Host, say, Hail true Body, &c. as

in the Daily Exercise. (2dly,) Of the Chalice, say, Hail true Blood of my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, and of the New-Testament that was shed for me, and all Man∣kind, to the Remission of our Sins : Cleanse, Sanctifie, and keep my Soul, I beseech thee, to Everlasting Life.

And these two Addresses you must say by Heart, your Book being laid a∣side, during the Elevation.

9. Soon after the Elevation follows the Memento for the Dead: Whilst the Priest makes it, read you the Three first Prayers at the end of the Office for the Dead, with the Prayer for either, or both of your Deceased Pa∣rents, and for some particular Friend, either Man or Woman, departed; according to your Duty and Obli∣gation in this Kind.

10. Say the Pater Noster with the Priest, either in Latin, or English.

11. At Agnus Dei, &c. consider Christ Jesus as an Innocent Lamb, Slain (on the Cross Really, and on the Altar Mystically) to take away

the Sins of the World, and beseech him to discharge you of all your Failings, and especially of those you are most subject to.

12. At Domine, non sum Dignus, &c, put on the Humility of the Ca∣nanean Woman, acknowledging your self Unworthy of the Bread, yet desirous of the Crumbs of your Master's Table, and say, Lord, I am not worthy, &c. Then make your Spiritual Communion thus:

B. Saviour, I believe, that thou art Really present in this H. Sa∣crament: I hope, that thou wilt make me a Partaker of the Effects of this Divine Food: I love thee above all things, who hast Hum∣bled thy self so low, as to put thy self under the Form of a little Bread, for Love of me; and I de∣sire nothing more, than to be In∣separably united to thee, by Grace here, and by Glory hereafter.

13. At the Post Communion, read the Anthem, O Sacred Banquet! &c. with the Prayer, O God, who under, &c. as before, Chap. V. § III.

Lastly, Read S. John's Gospel with the Priest, as at the Beginning of the Primer.

After Mass, give Thanks to Christ for so great a Benefit, and for his Passion and Death represented and applied to us thereby; intreat him to Assist you in all your Underta∣kings that Day, and Daily: Exa∣mine your self, &c. as after Prayer, Chap. XII. § III. And depart with due Respect and Reverence to the Altar, &c.

{inverted ⁂} In the foregoing Points you must keep pace exactly with the Priest: And when any one of them is not sufficient for your Enter∣ment, until he comes to the next in course, you may make out, by Reading the Prayers, or Meditations of the Passion of our Lord, which sollow the Prayers after Commu∣nicating: Those Devotions being most proper for the Time and Place, wherein a most Lively and Life-gi∣ving Memorial, and Representation of Christ's Death, is made, 1 Cor. 11.24. &c.

For other Methods of Hearing Mass, see a Treatise, named, In∣structions and Devotions for Hear∣ing Mass.

{inverted ⁂} The Church obliges the Faith∣ful to Hear Mass upon all Sundays and Holy-Days of Obligation; and the Omission of so Important a Du∣ty is a Mortal Sin, unless some Law∣ful Impediment excuses it.

Notes

• (a)

  Gen. 14.18. Ps. 109.4. Heb. 5.10. c. 6. v. last. c. 7. v. 11, 15, 17.
• (b)

  Mat. 26.26. &c. Luk. 22.19.
• (c)

  Conc. Trid. Sess. 22. cap. 1, 4, 5.
• (d)

  Lev. 1, 3, 4. 2 Mach. 12.43. &c.
• (e)

  Conc. Trid. Sess. 22. cap. 2.
• Luk. 1.74, 75.
• Mat. 26.28.
• Mat. 15.27.