DEDICATION OF THE MASS
This service is to be held in the morning. A male priest presides, a female priest assists. Full communion equipment plus three like containers of oil.
Presiding Priest kneels at the altar and gives the following prayer of absolution:
O GLORIOUS FATHER, THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, SEND DOWN THY HOLY ANGELS OF LIGHT TO DISPERSE THE DARKNESS OF OUR SINS. PREPARE US FOR THE MOST HOLY OF ALL PASSIONS, THAT WE MIGHT STAND IN THE SHADOW OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. THAT THE SORROWS OF OUR EARTHLY LIFE PASS AWAY, SO THAT WE MIGHT REJOICE IN THE GLORY OF THE GIFT WHICH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST GAVE UNTO US AT CALVARY.
LET EACH BEAT OF OUR MORTAL HEARTS BE IN TRUE REPENTANCE OF ALL SINS OF THE PAST YEAR. BLESS US, FATHER; BLESS US, CHRIST; BLESS US, O HOLY JESUS; AND LET US TRULY PREPARE OUR BODIES THAT WE MAY WILLINGLY WALK IN THE SHADOW OF OUR LORD JESUS ON HIS JOURNEY TO CALVARY.
PREPARE US THAT WE MAY, IN ALL SOLEMNITY, DURING THE COMING FORTY DAYS AND SEVEN RETROSPECT OUR PAST LIVING OF THE YEAR IN THIS ROYAL ORDER OF CHRIST THE KING, SO THAT WE MAY TAKE ON A TRUE FORM AND A TRUE REALITY OF PENANCE.
Presiding Priest stands, turns to face the Congregation and gives them absolution with the following:
AS JESUS SAID TO HIS DISCIPLES, "WHEN YOU FAST, DON'T GO AROUND LOOKING DISMAL LIKE A HYPOCRITE OR THEY THAT DISFIGURE THEMSELVES THAT OTHERS MAY SEE THEIR FASTING."
WHERE JESUS STATED, "ARE YOU SURE THEY HAVE RECEIVED THEIR REWARD? WHEN YOU FAST, GROOM YOUR HAIR AND WASH YOUR FACE, FOR THAT WAY NO ONE WILL KNOW YOU ARE FASTING, BUT YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN, WHO SEES WHAT IS INVISIBLE.
"DO NOT KEEP STORING UP EARTHLY TREASURE, WHERE MOTHS OR RUST CAN MAKE THEM VANISH, OR THIEVES CAN BREAK IN AND STEAL THEM. BUT MAKE YOUR PRACTICE TO STORE UP HEAVENLY TREASURE, WHERE NONE MAY STEAL. REMEMBER THAT WHERE YOUR TREASURE LIES, THERE ALSO LIES YOUR HEART."
Male Priest reads:
O LORD OF EARTH, AND OUR HOLY FATHER ALMIGHTY, AND OUR ETERNAL GOD, RELEASE AND FORGIVE US OF OUR MISGIVINGS. GRANT US GRACE FOR USING OUR BODILY FASTING AND SUPPLICATIONS TO ELEVATE OUR MINDS.
WE BESEECH THEE TO BESTOW UPON US THE VIRTUES THROUGH CHRIST OUR LORD, THROUGH THE ANGELS THAT CLAIM YOUR MAJESTY AND DOMINION OVER OUR ABODE, AND THE POWER OF OUR WORSHIP; WE ARE IN AWE OF THEE..
WE BEG YOU TO LET OUR VOICES BLEND WITH THOSE OF HEAVEN AS IN HUMBLE PRAISE WE SAY OUR PRAYER OF CONTRITION.
Presiding Priest turns to the Congregation and says:
O LORD, MAY THIS SACRAMENT WHICH WE ARE ABOUT TO RECEIVE MAKE US ACCEPTABLE IN THY SIGHT, AND BE A HELPFUL REMEDY TO OUR SOUL THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, OUR LORD.
LET US PRAY.
All bow their heads for 5 minutes of total silence and prayer, in the act of contrition.
Presiding Priest turns and blesses the oil, and proceeds to say the communion. He then gives communion to the assisting priests, after receiving himself.
All congregational members pass in three lines in front of the altar rail, kneeling momentarily while 3 assisting priests anoint the member's forehead with oil by dipping the right thumb in the oil and making the sign of the cross on the forehead saying:
LET THE HOLY SPIRIT FALL UPON THIS BROTHER/SISTER, AND MAY THE COSMIC LIGHT FILL HIS/HER BEING.
After all have received this blessing, a fourth priest enters the altar and all four priests administer communion to the congregation.
At the completion of the communion, just before the benediction, the priests say:
GO YE FORTH, KNOWING THAT YE SHALL HAVE BODIES OF LIGHT, FOR THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, WE HAVE OVERCOME DEATH. AMEN.
The priests stand together, facing the congregation, and make the sign of the cross.
