Masses among the Catholics are exceedingly numerous; but our limits High or admit of a description of but two-high or solemn mass, and solemn Mass. the mass for the dead.

When there is to be a solemn mass, if it be a bishop who officiates, he is attended to church by the canons and other officers of the church, who go and wait upon him in state at his palace; but if it happens to be too far distant from the church, the whole chapter, who wait at the churchgate, advance to meet him as soon as his lordship appears in sight; and when he draws near to the church, the bells are rung to give the people notice of it, and the moment he sets his foot within the church, the organ begins to play. The master of the ceremonies now gives the sprinkler to the head canon, who presents it to the bishop, after he has kissed both that and his sacred hand. His lordship first sprinkles himself, and then the canons, with it, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; and then proceeds to say a prayer at a desk prepared for that particular purpose, before the altar, on which stands the Holy Sacrament. He performs the same ceremony at the high altar; and thence he withdraws into the vestry, and there puts on such ornaments as are suitable to the solemnity of the mass, in the following manner.

The sub-deacon goes to a little closet contiguous to the altar, and takes from it the episcopal sandals and stockings, which he elevates and presents to the bishop. Then he kneels down, takes off his lordship's shoes and stockings; the bishop, meanwhile, is in the midst of seven or eight acolytes, all upon their knees, and dressed in their robes, who, as well as the deacon, spread the prelate's robes, in order that nothing indelicate may be discerned in putting on his stockings. Two acolytes, after they have washed their hands, now take the sacred habiliments, hold them up, and give them to the two deacon-assistants, to put upon the bishop, as soon as he has washed his hands. The deacon salutes the bishop, takes off his upper garment, and puts on his amict, the cross of which he kisses; then they give him the albe, the girdle, the cross for his breast, the stole, and the pluvial. He kisses the cross that is upon each of them, one after another, and thereby testifies the extraordinary veneration which he has, or ought to have, for the cross of Christ. The deacon-assistants likewise most devoutly kiss those sacred vestments. As soon as the bishop is seated, they put his mitre on, and a priest presents him with the pastoral ring. The deacon then gives him his right glove, and the sub-deacon his left, which each of them kisses, as also the hand he has the honour to serve. Ejaculatory prayers have been adapted to each individual piece of the episcopal robes, and the devotion of this ceremony is supported and confirmed by singing the office of tierce.

According to Casalius and others, there is some mystery in each of the bishop's ornaments: the stole represents the yoke of the gospel; the bishop's shoes are taken off by virtue of what God said to Moses, Put off thy shoes from off thy feet, &c.; the dalmatica, which is in the form of a cross, intimates to the deacon, that he must be crucified to the world; the albe represents the purity of the priest's soul; the pastoral ring points out the bishop's spiritual marriage with the church; his gloves signify that he is to be insensible of his good works, or that he must direct them to a spiritual end; the girdle, that he is to be girded with justice and virtue;

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the sandals, that he ought from thenceforth to walk in the paths of the Lord; the two horns of the mitre represent the Old and New Testament; the shepherd's crook, his correction and paternal authority. The pluvial, which, in former times, was a dress for travelling and fatigue, from whence it manifestly took its name, signifying a protection against rain and storms, shows the miseries of this life, which is ever exposed to temptations and human infirmities.

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The bishop being dressed in all his habiliments, his clergy range themselves round about him. Two deacons, who arè canons, place themselves on each side of him, both in their dalmaticas; and after them, a deacon and a sub-deacon. The incense-bearer appears with the censer, and a priest with the navet, out of which the bishop takes incense, puts it into the censer, and gives it his benediction. After this he kisses the cross, which is upon the vestry-altar, and goes in procession to the other altar, where he is to celebrate mass. The incense-bearer walks at the head of the cession; two wax-candle bearers, with lighted tapers in their hands, march next, on each side of him who bears the cross: all the clergy follow them. The sub-deacon who is to sing the epistle carries before his breast the book of the New Testament, which is shut, and in which is the bishop's maniple. A deacon and a priest, with their pluvials on, march before the bishop, who leans humbly on his two deacon-assistants, with the shepherd's crook in his left hand, and his right somewhat raised, ready to give his benediction to those Christians whom he meets with in his way.

The bishop being now advanced to the altar, salutes his clergy with one single bow of the head. When he is on the lowest step, he delivers his crook to the sub-deacon, and the deacon takes off his mitre. Then the prelate and his officiating clergy make a profound bow to the cross on the altar; after which the clergy all withdraw, except the sub-deacon, who has the charge of the episcopal crook, the incense-bearer, two deaconassistants, one priest-assistant, who stands at the bishop's right hand, one deacon at his left, and one more behind him. The bishop says the Confiteor, and the choir sing the Introite.

At the end of the confession, the sub-deacon takes the maniple, which was in the book of the New Testament, kisses it, and presents it to the bishop for the same purpose; then kisses his lordship's hand, and puts it on his left arm; in the mean time the canons, dressed in their robes, repeat the confession. After this the bishop goes up to the altar, and continuing his prayer, he leans towards the altar, extending his arms upon the table of it, and kissing it with affection in the middle, whilst he makes mention of the sacred relics which are placed therein. The sub-deacon now presents him with the book of the New Testament, which he kisses. The incense-bearer then comes forward with the censer and navet, which he delivers to the deacon, and the bishop receives them from him, in order to bless the incense. The person who officiates then takes the censer, perfumes the altar, gives it back to the deacon, takes the mitre from another deacon, goes to the epistle side, and is thrice perfumed there by the deacon who holds the censer.

After this ceremony is over, the bishop kisses the holy cross, takes the crosier in his left hand, and leaning upon his two deacon-assistants, whilst the deacon and sub-deacon continue at the altar, goes to his episcopal

throne. There, laying aside his mitre, and making the sign of the cross, from the forehead down to the breast, he reads the Introite out of a massbook, which the assistant priest holds for him, whilst another has a waxtaper in his hand to light his lordship. The two deacon-assistants point with their finger to the place where he is to read; then all sing the Kyrie together; after which the bishop puts on his mitre and his gremial, which is a sort of sacerdotal apron, and sits down. The two deacon-assistants now seat themselves on each side of him, and the assistant-priest sits down on a stool. They all rise when the choir concludes the Kyrie: then the bishop, turning towards the altar, gives out the Gloria in excelsis with an audible voice, which he continues saying with his ministers.

There is nothing very remarkable relating to the gradual, the hallelujah, and the gospel, unless it be that the last is ushered in by a kind of procession. The master of the ceremonies walks first, after him the incense-bearer, and then the light-bearers, each with a burning taper. A sub-deacon follows, with his hands joined, as if he were saying his prayers. The deacon comes next, with the New Testament borne upon his breast. This devout assembly, passing in review before the altar, salute it with bended knees as they pass along ; and when they are arrived at the place for reading the gospel, the deacon, who then stands between the two taper-bearers, turns to the right of the altar, opens the book, and begins the lesson out of the gospel. When the deacon says, Dominus vobiscum, the bishop rises, and lays aside his mitre and his gremial. When he comes to these words, Here beginneth the holy gospel, he makes the sign of the cross; and, to conclude, blesses himself by another cross; after which the prelate resumes his crosier, then makes the sign of the cross again, and all his ministers follow his example.

The gospel being read, he who officiates kisses the book, and all of them return in the same order as they came;—the assistant-priest incensing the bishop.

In the next place, the bishop preaches, or some canon, who is a priest, performs that office for him. After the sermon, the deacon, who sings the gospel, goes to the left hand of the bishop, and leaning a little forward, says the Confiteor before him.

After this confession is over, the assistant-priest publishes the indulgences, and the bishop gives the absolution. If there be no sermon, they go on from the gospel to the creed, which is repeated in form like all the

rest.

The offertory follows the creed. The bishop reads it standing and bare-headed. When he has done, he returns to his seat, and puts on his mitre. One deacon takes off his pastoral ring, another his gloves, and some substantial layman presents him the basin to wash his hands. The archdeacon, whom the ceremonial constantly calls the assistant-priest, gives him the napkin. His lordship goes up again to the altar, supported by his two assistants; the sub-deacon goes to the credence-table, and by the help of two acolytes puts on his shoulders the veil which covered the sacred vessels, in such a manner that it hangs a little lower on the right side than on the left. Then with his left hand he takes the chalice and paten, on which are two hosts, duly prepared, and covered with a pall. The right hand lies lightly over the veil, the longest side of which