Musings of an Old Curmudgeon: Memoriale Rituum - Part III

CHAPTER I - THE THINGS TO BE PREPARED FOR THE FUNCTIONS OF THIS SUNDAY

On a Table or the Credence of the High Altar.

1. The chalice for the Mass, with veil and burse of purple colour.
2. Purple maniple and chasuble.
3. Thurible and incense boat.
4. Dish and ewer for the washing of hands.
5. Towel.
6. Dish with wine and water cruets and lavabo towel.
7. Copies of this book for use in the processions.

On the Altar.

1. Purple antependium or frontal.
2. Missal, with stand or purple cushion, at the Epistle side.
3. Palm branches between the candlesticks in the place of flowers.

Near the Epistle Side in Plano.

1. A table covered with a white cloth, and on it the palms to be blessed.
2. Processional cross, covered with a purple veil, and two purple strings or ribbons with which to tie palm to the cross.

In the Sacristy.

1. Three surplices for the servers.
2. Amice, alb, girdle, and purple stole and cope for the Celebrant.
3. Vessel of lighted charcoal and pair of tongs.
4. Vessel of holy water and the aspersory.

CHAPTER II - THE SACRED CEREMONIES TO BE OBSERVED ON PALM SUNDAY

§ 1. THE BLESSING OF THE PALMS

1. When everything has been prepared, let the bells be rung in a festive manner at a suitable hour, and the people summoned to the Church.
2. In the Sacristy the Celebrant, with the assistance of the second and third servers, vests over his cotta with the amice, alb, girdle, and purple stole and cope.
3. In the same place he blesses the holy water, as laid down in the Missal; and in the meantime the first server lights the Altar candles.
4. The first server carries the holy water just blessed, and the Celebrant, wearing his biretta, and accompanied by the second and third servers, goes to the Altar, and genuflects on the lowest step for the Asperges.
5. The Asperges is given in the usual manner, after which the first server replaces the Missal on the stand at the Epistle side of the Altar.
6. The third server takes the maniple from the credence, and fastens it on the left arm of the celebrant.
7. The Celebrant with his servers, as in no. 4, ascends the Altar and kisses it in the middle; then, at the Epistle side, in a loud and even voice, he begins the Antiphon Hosanna, etc., which Antiphon he continues with his servers.

Antiphona.

Hosanna filio David: benedictus, qui venit in nomine Domini.
O rex Israel: Hosanna in excelsis.

8. Standing in the same place, with hands joined, he says, Dominus vobiscum, and then the prayer Deus quem diligere, etc.
9. He adds the lesson, and afterwards says with his servers the Responsory Collegerunt, etc., and In monte Oliveti, etc.

Responsorium Joan. xi.

Collegerunt Pontifices et Pharisaei concilium et dixerunt:
Quid facimus, quia hic multa signa facit?
Si dimittimus eum sic, omnes credent in eum.
Et venient Romani, et tollent nostrum locum et gentem.
V. Unus autem ex illis, Caiaphas nomine, cum esset pontifex anni illius, prophetavit, dicens:
Expedit vobis, ut unus moriatur homo pro populo, et non tota gens pereat.
Ab illo ergo die cogitaverunt interficere eum, dicentes:
Et venient Romani, et tollent nostrum locum et gentem.

Aliud Responsorium. Matt. xxvi.

In monte Oliveti oravit ad Patrem: Pater, si fieri potest, transeat a me calix iste.
Spiritus quidem promptus est, caro autem infirma: fiat voluntas tua.
V. Vigilate, et orate, ut non intretis in tentationem.
Spiritus quidem promptus est, caro autem infirma: fiat voluntas tua.

10. Standing in the same place, he says the Munda cor meum, reads the Gospel, and kisses the Missal text, and afterwards takes off the maniple.
11. He then says, Dominus vobiscum, the prayer and the preface, having his hands joined both at these and the subsequent prayers.
12. The servers say, Sanctus, Sanctus, etc.

Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Dominus Deus Sabaoth.
Pleni sunt coeli et terra gloria tua: Hosanna in excelsis.
Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini.
Hosanna in excelsis.

13. The Celebrant, having first said, Dominus vobiscum, adds the five remaining prayers.
14. Meanwhile the first server prepares the thurible and incense boat.
15. While the fifth prayer is being said the third server, after making a genuflection to the Altar, takes the holy water from the credence, and, together with the thurifer, goes to the celebrant.
16. The Celebrant, with the ministration of the second server, puts incense in the thurible, the usual kisses and blessing being given.
17. He then sprinkles the palms, three times, at the same time in a low voice saying the Asperges, without the Psalm, and afterwards incenses them.
18. The Celebrant again says, Dominus vobiscum, and the sixth prayer.
19. The first server puts aside the thurible, and the third server goes to the left hand of the Celebrant.
20. The Celebrant sits down, and delivers a sermon appropriate to the solemnity.

§ 2. THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE PALMS

1. The first server takes palms from the credence for the Celebrant and the servers, and places them on the Altar.
2. The Celebrant, having made a reverence to the cross, kneels at the middle of the Altar.
3. He takes his palm from the Altar while kneeling, and, after kissing it, hands it to be taken care of by the first server.
[If another Priest is present, he gives the palm to the Celebrant, in the same way as the candle was given on the Feast of the Purification.]
4. The Celebrant goes to the Epistle side, and with his servers recites the Antiphons Pueri Hebraeorum, etc.

Antiphona.

Pueri Hebraeorum portantes ramos olivarum obviaverunt Domino, clamantes, et dicentes:
Hosanna in excelsis.

Alia Antiphona.

Pueri Hebraeorum vestimenta prosternebat in via, et clamabant dicentes:
Hosanna filio David: benedictus, qui venit in nomine Domini.

5. Then, having made a bow to the cross, he turns to the people and distributes the palms - first to the Priests, if any are present; secondly to the servers, who kneel on the predella, the seniors on the Epistle side. All kiss first the palm and then the hand of the Celebrant.
6. The Celebrant goes down, and, after making a reverence to the Altar, approaches the Altar-rails on the Epistle side.
7. Receiving the palms from the first server at his left hand, the Celebrant distributes the palms to the people - first to the men and then to the women.
8. The distribution finished, the Celebrant, assisted by the servers, washes his hands at the Epistle side in plano.
9. He returns to the altar, per longiorem, and then, at the Epistle side, says Dominus vobiscum and the final prayer.
10. Meanwhile the first server ties with the purple ribbon a palm-branch on the top of the processional cross.
11. The prayer finished, the first server gives to the Celebrant and his two servers their palms and copies of this book for use in the procession.

§ 3. THE PROCESSION

1. The Celebrant, holding his palm in his hands, and standing in the middle of the Altar, turns towards the people and say, Procedamus in pace; and the servers answer, In nomine Christi. Amen. The Celebrant then commences, Cum appropinquaret, etc.
2. The procession is arranged thus: The first server, with the cross, walks in front, and is followed by the Celebrant, with a server at each side, who recite aloud, alternately with the Celebrant, the following Antiphons, arranged in verses.
3. They go to the principal door, keeping to that side of the Church which is at the right of the Celebrant, meanwhile reciting as follows:

Antiphona

Cum appropinquaret Dominus Jerosolymam: misit duos ex discipulis, dicens:
Ite in Castellum, quod contra vos est: et invenietis pullum asinae alligatum, super quem nullus hominum sedet.
Solvite: et adducite mihi.
Si quis vos interrogaverit: dicite opus Domino est.
Solventes adduxerunt ad Jesum: et imposuerunt illi vestimenta sua, et sedit super eum.
Alii expandebant vestimenta sua in via: alii ramos de arboribus sternebant.
Et qui sequebantur clamabant: Hosanna, benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini.
Benedictum regnum Patris nostri David. Hosanna in excelsis, miserere nobis fili David.

Alia Antiphona

Cum audisset populus, quia Jesus venit Jerosolymam: acceperunt ramos Palmarum.
Et exierunt ei obviam: et clamabant pueri dicentes:
Hic est: qui venturus est in salutem populi.
Quantus est iste: cui Throni, et Dominationes occurrunt.
Noli timere filia Sion, ecce Rex tuus venit tibi sedens super pullum asinae: Sicut scriptum est.
Salve Rex fabricator Mundi: qui venisti redimere nos.

Alia Antiphona

Ante sex dies solemnis Paschae: quando venit Dominus in Civitatem Jerusalem.
Occurrerunt ei pueri: et in manibus portabant ramos Palmarum.
Et clamabant voce magna, dicentes: Hosanna in excelsis.
Benedictus qui venisti in multitudine misericordiae tuae: Hosanna in excelsis.

Alia Antiphona

Occurrunt turbae cum floribus, et Palmis Redemptori obviam: et victori triumphanti digna dant obsequia.
Filium Dei ore gentes praedicant: et laudem Christi voces tonant per nubila, Hosanna in excelsis.

Alia Antiphona

Cum Angelis, et pueris fideles inveniamur: triumphatori mortis clamantes, Hosanna in excelsis.

Alia Antiphona

Turba multa, quae convenerat ad diem festum clamabat Domino: Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini, Hosanna in excelsis.

4. The first server, with the cross, stands outside with his face turned towards the door.
5. The second and third servers enter the Church, and, the door having been closed, they turn towards it and say:

V. Gloria, laus, et honor tibi sit Rex Christe Redemptor: Cui puerile decus prompsit hosanna pium.

6. The Celebrant, outside the Church, wearing his biretta, and facing the door, repeats: