The Church of the Advent - Liturgical Customary: Solemn Mass Celebrated by the Ordinary

[Note: These directions were prepared for, and reflect the personality of, the present Bishop of Massachusetts, who is a Cowley Father. Future Ordinaries may have other requirements for which these instructions may be adjusted.]

An extra chair is placed at the sedilia, to the left of the Subdeacon, for the Chaplain. There will be a hook in the wall nearby to hold the Bishop's crosier.

There is a seventh candle on the gradine, signifying the presence of the Ordinary.

If Confirmation, Reception, and/or the Reaffirmation of Vows is to be administered, the portable throne is placed in the choir, off to one side so that it is not in the way of traffic.

An extra cushion is provided for the Chaplain to kneel during the Canon of the Mass.

The Bishop may or may not wear a cope.

THE ENTRANCE

The Choir will be in place before the service begins.

The MC carries the aspersorium and aspergillium.

The Thurifer carries the thurible with coals charged but no incense.

At the appointed hour, the servers and clergy enter through the North Door and proceed in silence [or to a subdued organ accompaniment] up the North aisle to the back of the church. The Bishop and Chaplain go out the West door.

TH stops at door. CR and AA go into the aisle and turn to face the door. D and SD remain outside the inner doors. The Bishop will rap on the door with his crosier. The Rector goes to the door and opens it to receive the Bishop. He then brings the Bishop into the Church.

The Bishop kneels and the Rector presents him with a small crucifix to venerate. The Bishop then rises and the MC hands him the aspersorium and aspergillum. He asperses the congregation from the back of the church (while others stand aside) and returns the implements to the MC.

The thurifer approaches to have incense laid on and blessed (kneeling on the left knee to the Bishop), then hands off the thurible to the Bishop who censes the congregation (center-left-right) from the back of the church and hands the thurible back to the thurifer.

The entrance procession now forms in the usual order except that the Bishop's Chaplain follows the Deacon of the Mass, preceding the Bishop. The procession should go at a slightly slower pace than usual.

As the procession starts up the aisle the Choir intones the chant Ecce sacerdos magnus… ("behold a great high priest").

All go to their accustomed places in the lineup. The Chaplain goes to the Subdeacon's left, between the SD and the Thurifer (who should leave room). When the D has placed the Gospel Book and returned to the lineup, MC cues ALL to genuflect. The Choir begins the Introit and the Sacred Ministers ascend to the altar for the censing. All retire to their usual places.

When the Bishop is not wearing the miter, it rests on the horn of the altar opposite the Missal. The Chaplain is responsible for placing it appropriately and retrieving it when necessary. When the Chaplain must handle the Bishop's crosier, responsibility for the miter shifts to the Deacon of the Mass, who may don a vimpa (a form of humeral veil) to handle the miter.

THE LITURGY OF THE WORD

The Liturgy of the Word is as usual except that the Thurifer, coming to the Bishop/celebrant for incense to be laid on, kneels.

After the Gospel, the Verger escorts the Bishop to the pulpit.

If Confirmation/Reception/Reaffirmation are to be administered, at the conclusion of the Sermon, the Crucifer moves the portable throne to the middle of the Choir, at the top of the steps (leave room for confirmands to kneel). The Deacon [clad in vimpa] bearing the miter and Chaplain bearing the crosier go to center, genuflect, and descend into the Choir, the chaplain first, to meet the Bishop at the throne. The Bishop dons the miter and sits. The Chaplain remains standing, holding the crosier, throughout.

The Rector (or other cleric appointed) presents the confirmands et al.

The Confirmation service proceeds as set forth in the Prayer Book.

The Bishop bids the Peace ("somewhat exuberantly," according to the Rector) from the throne. Be prepared for some congenial disorder at the sedilia when he returns thereto.

If Confirmation/Reception/Reaffirmation are not administered, after the Sermon the service proceeds per custom with the Creed, Intercessions, Confession, and Peace.

THE OFFERTORY AND CANON OF THE MASS

After the Bishop exchanges the Peace with the confirmands, clergy, Chaplain, and Deacon, and anyone else who catches his fancy, the Deacon and Chaplain escort him back to the sedilia. They genuflect at the altar steps and come over to the sedilia. The Chaplain replaces the crosier in its hook. The Bishop exchanges the Peace with the rest of the altar party.

The Offertory proceeds as usual. The Bishop may sit to lay on incense. If he is wearing a cope, he changes to chasuble - assisted by the Deacon and Subdeacon - after incense is laid on and blessed.

The Canon of the Mass, Communion, and Ablutions proceed as usual.

After the Post-Communion Prayer the Sacred Ministers move to the center on their respective steps. The D and SD split and kneel for the Pontifical Blessing. If the Bishop is not prepared to say or chant the versicles from memory, the Chaplain may come up to the predella and kneel, facing the Bishop, holding the text.

After the Blessing, the Bishop says or chants "The Lord be with you." The congregation responds. The Deacon stands, turns, and bids the Dismissal appropriate to the season. The congregation responds again.

All rise and take their places for the departing lineup. If the Chaplain is at the predella, he descends to the sedilia to fetch the crosier.

The departing procession is as usual except for the Chaplain, who follows the Deacon and precedes the Bishop.

The Bishop leads the Angelus in the Baptistry.