Original

ibus, he strikes his breast and begs that he may be
one day admitted into the company of the saints. He
concludes the Canon by a slight elevation of the Sacred
Host and the chalice together, declaring that through
Jesus Christ all honour and all glory is given to God.
The act of Communion consists of the preparation
for Communion and the Communion itself. The PRE
PARATION comprises the Pater noster, the prayer com
posed by our Lord ; the breaking of the Host in re
membrance of our Lord s act, when having changed
the bread into His Body, He broke and gave to His
disciples ; the mingling of a part of the consecrated
Host with the Precious Blood in the chalice, to signify
the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and also that His Body
and His Blood are both present under each separate
species. The Agnus Dei, a prayer composed of the
words used by Saint John the Baptist when he pointed
out Jesus Christ to the Jews as their Saviour ; the three
prayers
before the Communion and the Domine non
sum dignus. The ACT OF COMMUNION : The priest ani
mated with sentiments of faith, humility, and gra
titude receives the Body of our Lord and then His
Precious Blood. He then takes the ablutions, reciting
the prayers which accompany them. During this time
and whilst the faithful receive holy Communion, the
choir sings an anthem called Communion, which like
the Introit, in former times was composed of an
entire psalm with an antiphon. Often, when there was
not time at the Introit to finish the psalm, it was
continued at the Communion.
All- that follows until the end of the Mass may be re
garded as thanksgiving. The priest recites or sings the
Postcommunion in his own name and in the name of
all those who have received holy Communion. He