Ode on the Mass from the Pater Noster to Communion

The Canon ended, the priest extends his hands and dares to say
The words Christ taught, when the disciples asked how to pray
That the Father's name be blessed, kingdom come, will be done
And our souls be sated, sins forgiven, as we forgive everyone
Adding that we be delivered from evil, given peace in our day
That through His mercy sin and disquiet won’t come our way
Breaking the host as our Lord broke the bread, a particle he takes
Prays the Lord's peace be with us and with it a cross he makes
Placing the particle in the chalice, he asks for eternal life
Recalling ancient customs to preserve the Church from strife
When bread blessed by the pope, deacons to other churches pass
Or priest's left at the altar a host to be taken at the next mass[1]
Striking his breast the priest repeats John the Baptist's word
Declaring Christ the Lamb of God, who takes sin from the world
Silently he prays the Lord, like to the apostles, his peace impart
Look not upon the Church's sinful past but the faith at its heart
Kissing the altar which is Christ, the priest turns without a sound
Exchanges the pax with the deacon, who passes it around
To the subdeacon, who gives it to the head of each choir
Then the emcee, who does the same with servers, thurifer
In preparation for communion, the priest asks to be made free
From all sin and evil, that he may abide in the Trinity
Prays this communion be not for judgement and condemnation
But for soul and body a source of protection and sanation
Genuflecting he takes the host and invokes the Lord's name
Confessing thrice with the centurion his poverty and shame
Signing the paten with the host, he consumes it with reserve
Praying the Lord's body unto eternal life his soul preserve
After collecting any fragments and purifying the paten
He makes return to the Lord with words from a psalm in Latin
Taking up the chalice in his right, he drinks of the precious blood
Elevating the host a little, shows the faithful the Lamb of God
Beating their breasts they admit their unworthy but can be healed
By just one word from Christ, who in this host is revealed
Processing to the altar rail, they kneel down and patiently wait
The priest gives communion, as the deacon holds the plate

[1] The rite of fermentum and the sancta

© Lactantius 2006