Explanation of the Prayers and Ceremonies of Holy Mass, Dom Prosper Guéranger - Hanc igitur

This Prayer being ended, the Priest, extending his hands over the Oblation, prays anew.  This gesture is of high importance and must be here remarked; it comes to us from the Old Law.  When a Victim was presented in the Temple to be offered in Sacrifice, the right of the imposition of hands had a twofold meaning and was of double efficacy.  The victim was, by means of this rite, set apart for ever from all profane use, and was devoted to the service and honour of God alone.  The Lord, thereby, took possession of the victim, whatever it happened to be.  So now, Holy Church after having already, at the Offertory, alienated the Bread and Wine from all profane use, and having offered them unto God, does so now once again, and yet more earnestly, seeing that the moment of Consecration is close at hand.  In the holy impatience of an expectation well nigh realised, the Priest stretches out his hands over the Bread and Wine, so that his oblation may have favourable acceptance, before the Throne of God; and he says these words: Hanc igitur oblationem servitutis nostrae, sed et cunctae familiae tuae, quaesumus Domine, ut placatus accipias: diesque nostros in tua pace disponas, atque ab aeterna damnatione nos eripi, et in electorum tuorum jubeas grege numerari.  Thus, whilst offering the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and at this very moment when he is so specially pointing to his Oblation itself, the Priest prays for himself, for all those who are present, and for all those who are united with them; and he begs that peace may be granted unto us in this world, that we may escape hell, and that we may, together with the elect, enjoy the Glory of Heaven.

There is an addition in this Prayer which deserves our notice.  Holy Church had not, at first, these words: diesque nostros in tua pace disponas.  They were added by Pope Saint Gregory the Great, whilst Rome was being besieged by the Lombards, and the City was, consequently, in the utmost peril.  Holy Church, since then, has judged it expedient to continue this petition for peace at the present; she was heedful not to retrench from her text words inspired to so holy a Pope, by the Holy Ghost Himself, Who, as we are told by John the Deacon, often showed Himself visibly in the form of a Dove on the head of Saint Gregory, whispering in his ear what he was to say or do, on certain grave occasions.  This Prayer ends with: Per Christum Dominum nostrum, which words are said by the Priest, with hands joined, and to which he adds for himself in a whisper: Amen.