John's
gospel or some other gospel appropriate to the day. We shall on other
occasions recur to various ceremonies of the mass[21].
[Sidenote: Latin the language of the liturgy.]
The language of our liturgy has descended to us as a precious legacy
from the time when Peter and Paul preached in Rome. It would be
incongruous that our ancient hierarchy robed in ancient vestments
should perform our ancient liturgy in a moderne language. As in all
parts of the globe there are members of the Catholic church, she has
wisely preserved in her liturgy a language common to all countries,
the language too of majesty, civilisation and science, as De Maistre
observes. Like her divine founder she is the same yesterday and
to-day: like the rock, on which she is built, she is proof against
the winds and waves; she is unchanged and unaffected by the wayward
caprices of fashion. Translations of her liturgy are published for the
use of those who are unacquainted with Latin so that they may either
join in reciting the prayers of the church, or say others which their
own devotion may suggest.
Having described the ceremonies of low-mass, we shall subjoin a brief
account of those customary at high-mass when celebrated in the papal
chapel: we shall thus avoid unnecessary repetitions in the course of
this work. The beginning of the mass is said by all persons within
the sanctuary: and the Pope recites it before the altar with the
celebrant.
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