Page:Complete ascetical works of St Alphonsus v6.djvu/39

Rh same sacrifice as that of the Cross, Jesus Christ being there the principal offerer and the victim that is offered.

Orate, fratres, etc. ("Brethren, pray, etc."). By these words the priest exhorts the people to supplicate the Lord to receive this sacrifice for the glory of his name and the good of the faithful. The server then answers in the name of the people by praying to God to accept this sacrifice: Suscipiat Dominus Sacrificium de manibus tuis, etc. (" May the Lord receive this sacrifice from thy hands, etc.").

Then follows the Secret, a prayer that refers to the offerings made by the people, namely, of the bread and wine that are to be changed into the body and the blood of Jesus Christ. The Church asks the Lord to bless them and to render them profitable, not only to those who present them, but to all the faithful, just as may be seen in the Secret of the fifth Sunday after Pentecost: "Mercifully receive, O Lord, these offerings of thy servants; that what each hath offered to the honor of thy name, may avail to the salvation of all." Thus the Offertory is concluded.

Before passing to the Canon, the priest reads the Preface, in which he exhorts the faithful to raise their hearts to God: ("Lift up your hearts"). The people answer that they have already done so: Habemus ad Dominum ("We have lifted them to the Lord"). And the priest continues by inviting them to unite with him in thanking the Lord: Gratias agamus Domino Deo nostro ("Let us give thanks to our Lord God"). He afterwards says that it is just and salutary to render thanks through Jesus Christ, who alone can worthily give thanks for the eternal salvation and for so many benefits granted to men and also to angels, who also give thanks to God through Jesus Christ for all the gifts that they