Unusual Features of this Liturgy:
Incense is not used until the Offertory, and the Offertory censing is truncated.
The Crucifer may also act as Thurifer, since there is no incense until the Canon of the Mass.
The Lesson is 1 Cor. 15:51-57.
The Gospel Procession is reduced, with only the MC, SD, and D participating.
The Creed, Intercessions, and Confession are omitted.
The Memorare is interpolated into the Canon of the Mass.
There is a symbolic ‘Commendation’ (as in the Burial rite) at the end of the service.
The people are dismissed but not blessed at the conclusion of the Mass.
Preparation:
The altar and SMs are vested in black.
Normal High Mass Setup.
A catafalque is set up on the choir floor.
The Collect is #8, “For the Departed.”
The aspersorium, containing a small amount of holy water, and aspergillum are placed at the sedilia for use during the final Commendation.
A black cope is placed in the Lady Chapel or some other convenient spot to be retrieved for the Commendation.
[When the Pie Jesu is to be sung, MC should place a note in the Altar Book warning CEL to pause for the singing of this text before the Lord’s Prayer.]
The entire service is printed in the leaflet and there is one hymn at the Offertory. Programs and hymnals should be placed before the service so that servers can enter and exit empty-handed.
Entrance:
Choir enters from side door before Mass begins.
All others enter from North door and proceed the short way during the Introit. The Choir will wait to begin until the North doors open and the people rise for the procession. ACrA lead the Procession, followed by: the Verger; [Th without thurible;] choir ministers, MC, and SMs all in customary order.
Proceed to lineup at altar steps. MC cues genuflection. Servers peel off as SMs go up to Altar.
SMs go up to Altar and bow but do not kiss the Altar, then go into straight “I” formation at center for Kyrie.
The Salutation and Collect of the Day are as usual. Immediately after the Collect of the Day the SD departs to the Lectern for the Epistle (1 Cor. 15:51-57). Following the Epistle, the SD goes up to Altar to move the Missal, then retires to sedilia.
ALL sit for the Gradual, Tract, [and Sequence, Dies Irae, omitted in some years].
At the end of the Tract, ALL rise. D fetches Gospel Book and goes to CEL for a blessing. If the Dies Irae is sung, D may move at the verse “Inter oves locum præsta“/”With thy sheep a place provide me.”
The Gospel Procession is as usual except for the missing parts (no AA or TH).
The Gospel Lesson is John 6:37-40. The Gospel Book is neither censed nor kissed. The Deacon does not sign the Cross on forehead, lips or breast while announcing the Gospel. The Deacon closes the Gospel Book after the lection and the SD returns to the sedilia without presenting the Book to the Celebrant.
After the Gospel, the D or an assisting priest goes to the pulpit for the Prayer for the Departed. The people are usually directed to sit for the reading of the list of commemorations. TH should depart at this time to prepare thurible for Offertory. (The list is usually very long so TH will have plenty of time.)
After the Prayer for the Departed, if the D has been reading the names, he returns to the sedilia as choir begins the Offertory chant. The Creed, Intercessions, and Confession are omitted.
The Peace is not bidden here.
During the Offertory chant, in the absence of an Offertory Procession, the D sets the table and returns to the sedilia.
At the end of the Offertory chant, the Sacred Ministers go to center, genuflect, and ascend to the footpace. TH enters as SMs ascend to footpace, and waits at credence. AA bring up the flagon and ciborium and the vessels are prepared.
Once the vessels are prepared, TH goes up to the footpace and incense is laid on.
The Oblations and Altar are censed as usual, but only the CEL is censed (by the D). Other SMs, servers, etc., are not censed. The elements are censed as usual during the Canon.
The Canon of the Mass proceeds as usual [except that the Choir may sing Pie Jesu before the Lord’s Prayer]. The Memorare is interpolated into the Canon (clipped into the Altar Book at the appropriate place).
At the Fraction, CEL sings “The Peace of the Lord … “.
The Prayer of Humble Access is omitted.
During Communion, TH prepares 3 coals for the Commendation.
The Ablutions are as usual.
ALL kneel for the Postcommunion Prayer.
Following the Postcommunion Prayer, SMs go to center, ascend to Altar and bow but do not kiss it.
SMs then descend to sedilia where SD and D assist CEL to change into cope. Chasuble is laid over altar rail. The altar party then assembles at bottom of altar steps.
AA come out with candles to outside positions at bottom of steps (aligned with the horns of the altar). TH enters from smoke sacristy and lines up at D’s right. MC with aspersorium and aspergillum takes his/her place at TH’s right.
SMs, MC, and TH go down to the catafalque, MC leading followed by TH and then SMs in single file.
SMs take places three abreast at head of catafalque, facing west. CEL reads the Commendation prayer, then takes aspergillum from MC and sprinkles the catafalque, then returns aspergillum to MC. CEL then takes thurible from TH and censes the catafalque. During the sprinkling and censing MC holds right side of CEL’s cope. The edges of the pall are not lifted (as they would be at a funeral) during the sprinkling and censing.
Following the censing, CEL returns thurible to TH, who exits discreetly to smoke sacristy. If TH is serving as CR s/he quickly returns to chancel for the departing procession.
With SMs still standing three abreast at the head of the catafalque facing it, CEL bids the Dismissal and D chants: “May they rest in peace.” The reply is “Amen.”
ALL remain in place, SMs and MC facing catafalque, AA facing altar, CR standing in stall, while choir sings In Paradisum.
Following In Paradisum, MC cues CR to meet AA. A CR A then turn and lead procession out the short way (through the North Door) in silence. The Choir then departs quietly via the All Saints Chapel door.
Order: ACrA, Verger, Choir Clergy, MC, SMs