Page:Low Mass Ceremonial (Burnett).djvu/16

bows, all below the upper part of the body should be kept rigidly upright. It is after this manner that the priest bows upon his arrival before the altar at which he is about to celebrate the mass, if the Blessed Sacrament be not reserved at that altar; and again before beginning the devotional preparation at the foot of the altar steps; while saying the Confession in the said devotions; and while saying the private prayers, "Cleanse my heart," etc., and "Give me, O Lord," etc. before reading the Gospel. The moderate bow is made at the Versicles which follow the Confession in the preparatory devotions; at the prayers, "We pray thee, O Lord," etc., "In the spirit of humility," etc., "Receive, O Holy Trinity," etc.; at the Sanctus; at each act of consecration; at the prayers immediately before the priest's communion; and when he communicates himself with the Host. The slight bow is made to the cross in the sacristy before proceeding to the altar and on return thereto; each time the holy name is mentioned; at the Gloria Patri at the end of the psalms Judica and Lavabo; at the words "Let us pray"; at the word "God" in the beginning of the Creed; at the word "worshipped" in the Creed; at the words, "and when he had given thanks"; at the Agnus Dei; in the Gloria in excelsis, at the word "God" in the beginning, and at the words "We worship thee," "We give thanks to thee," "receive our prayer," and "O Christ"; during the prayer, "Let the homage," etc.; each time the priest comes before or goes away from the midst (except he has just bowed profoundly, or is about to kiss the altar), and when, at the end of the Mass, standing at the foot of the altar-steps the priest is about to return to the sacristy. At the mention of the holy name in Collect, Epistle, and Post-Communion prayer, the priest bows his head towards the altar-cross; but, if the name occur in the Gospel, he bows towards the book. The head should be slightly inclined towards the book, when, in the prescribed reading, the name of the Blessed Virgin, or the name of the saint whose festival is being celebrated, occurs. If the holy name occur several times in one short passage, the priest should not bow repeatedly, but keep his head inclined throughout the passage.