Page:Withgodbookofpra00las.djvu/171

 "Holy Mass  is  the  sun  of  Christianity,  the  soul  of faith,  the  center  of  the  Catholic  religion,  the  grand object  of  all  her  rites,  ceremonies,  and  sacraments; in  a  word,  it  is  a  summary  of  all  that  is  grand  and beautiful  in  the  Church  of  God." — St.  Leonard  of Port  Maurice.

When a  priest  celebrates  Holy  Mass  he  honors God, he  rejoices  the  angels,  he  edifies  the  Church,  he helps  the  living,  he  obtains  rest  for  the  departed,  and makes himself  partaker  of  all  blessines."  —  "Following of Christ."

"With the  view,  therefore,  that  God  may  receive from  His  creatures  that  clean  oblation  which  alone  is worthy  of  Him,  and  that  the  faithful  be  not  deprived of  the  immense  benefit  of  the  same  adorable  sacrifice, Holy  Church  commands  her  children  under  pain  of grievous  sin  to  hear  Mass  on  all  Sundays  and  holydays of  obligation.  But,  surely,  no  Catholic  who  has  any right  idea  of  the  importance  and  value  of  Holy  Mass will  remain  satisfied  with  this.  He  will  attend  Holy Mass  as  often  as  he  can  on  week-days  as  well.  He will,  likewise,  have  Masses  offered  up  by  the  priest, both  for  himself  and  others,  living  or  dead." — Father Fiege in "The  Paraclete."

The priest,  standing  at  the  foot  of  the  altar,  bows down, signs  himself  with  the  sign  of  the  cross,  and  says;

n the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.