Reply to Karen - 3
The Sacred Ministers now prepare the altar for the sacrifice, while Jankyn &
co. sing the Offertory. This, for Amalarius, represented the entry of
Christ into Jerusalem. The return of the priest to the altar represented
Christ's visit to the Temple.
But now in the thirteen century the Mass is performed much more dramatically
than in Amalarius' day. During the last century the altars have been moved
from their original position, in the crossing, with the priest behind it
facing the people, to the east end of the chancel, against the wall, the
priest now standing with his back to the people. This increases the air of
mystery. The east end of the church is dark, with coloured shafts of light
coming through the stained glass like spotlights in a theatre. The Mass is
being performed in the morning, as the rising sun shines through the east
window. The priest, in his coloured vestments, moves in and out of the
coloured shafts, the smoke of the incense swirling around him. He prays
silently.
Suddenly he raises his voice: "HOC EST CORPUS MEUM" - This is my body. And
bells are rung as he raises the consecrated host, which you believe to be
now the Body of Christ, above his head. You want to see this moment: it is
the highlight of the Mass. For many hundreds of years it has been rare for
anyone except the celebrating priest actually to receive Communion at the
Mass, but you do expect to see the Host. For you, this represents Christ
lifted up on the Cross. A moment later the priest stands with his arms
outstretched. This gesture, known as the "Extensio manuum", the extension
of hands, visibly reinforces the association of the consecration with the
crucifixion of Christ.
After the consecration comes the Peace. Duffy, p. 125:
"The next ceremony which was elaborated on Sunday was the pax: just before
his own communion the priest kissed the corporas [corporal?] on which the
Host rested, and the lip of the chalice, and then kissed the paxbred, a disk
or tablet on which was carved or painted a sacred emblem, such as the Lamb
of God or the Crucifix. This pax was then taken by one of the ministers,
or, in small parishes, by the clerk, to the congregation outside the screen,
where it was kissed by each in turn, once more observing seniority. Primers
often supplied a short prayer for use at this point, asking for peace in our
times and deliverance from enemies, spiritual or bodily."
At the end of the Mass, Oswald the Deacon (or Brictric, if it is a Low Mass)
dismisses you with the words, "Ite, missa est", or at Christmas,
"Benedicamus Domino."
There's a rather fun Middle English lyric which goes through the Mass in
verse. I'll tell you it tomorrow.
Bill.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|