RITES IN THE UNITED STATES 231 



in Roman form), and the ordinary Roman chasuble make up 

 the vestments worn by the priest at Mass. Bishops use a 

 cross, mitre and staff of the Roman form. The sacred vessels 

 used on the altar are the chalice, paten or disk, and a small 

 star or asterisk to cover the consecrated Host. They, like us, 

 use a small cross or crucifix, with a long silken banner attached, 

 for giving the blessings. The Maronites use unleavened bread 

 and have a round Host, as in the Roman Rite. 



The Maronite Mass commences with the ablution and vest- 

 ing at the foot of the altar. Then, standing at the middle of 

 the sanctuary, the priest recites Psalm xlii, "Introibo ad al- 

 tare," moving his head in' the form of a cross. He then 

 ascends the altar, takes the censer and incenses both the uri- 

 covered chalice and paten, then takes up the Host and has it 

 incensed, puts it on the paten and has the corporals and veils 

 incensed. He next pours wine in the chalice, adding a little 

 water, and then incenses it and covers both Host and chalice 

 with the proper veils. Then, going again to the foot of the 

 altar, he says aloud the first prayer in Arabic, which is followed 

 by an antiphon. The strange Eastern music, with its harsh 

 sounds and quick changes, is a marked feature of the Maronite 

 Rite. The altar, the elements, the clergy, servers and people are 

 incensed, and the Kyrie Eleison (Kurrilison) and the "Holy 

 God, Holy strong one, etc.," are sung by choir and people. 

 Then comes the Pater Noster in Arabic, with the response: 

 "For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, world 

 without end. Amen." The celebrant and deacon intone the 

 Synapte for peace, which is followed by a short form of the 

 Gloria in excelsis: "Glory be to God on high, and on earth 

 peace and good hope to the sons of men," etc. The Phrumiur 

 is then said ; this is an introductory prayer, and always comes 

 before the Sedro, which is a prayer of praise said aloud by the 

 priest standing before the altar while the censer is swung. It 

 is constructed by the insertion of verses into a more or less 

 constant framework, commemorative of the feast or season, and 

 seems to be a survival of the old psalm verses with the Gloria. 

 For instance, a Sedro of Our Lady will commemorate her in 

 many ways, something like our litany, but more poetically and 

 at length ; one of Our Lord will celebrate Him in His nativity, 

 baptism, etc. Then come the commemorations of the Proph- 

 ets, the Apostles, the martyrs, of all the saints, and lastly the 



