SOLEMN HIGH MASS

Deacon and Subdeacon

*Straw Subdeacon does all Subdeacon does, with three exceptions (which are highlighted)*

GENERAL PRINCIPLES / INSTRUCTIONS –

1. The celebrant should never have to wait on the ministers (unless the rubrics absolutely
necessitate it).
2. D and SD always walk at C’s sides if he is processing in cope (D at right), in front of him
and in single file if not. When holding C’s cope, hold with inside hand at shoulder level.
3. First and last genuflection are made on the floor; all other genuflections are made on the
step.
4. If all ministers are genuflecting with C and then C is ascending steps, hold C’s alb while still
genuflecting. If ministers are not genuflecting before ascending (e.g. after prayers at foot of
altar), simply bend over at waist to assist with C’s alb. Both D and SD assist with alb when
ascending steps.
5. General rules for genuflecting when leaving or arriving on predella:
a. If Blessed Sacrament is exposed and minister is not crossing to the other side of altar
he genuflects upon leaving position but not upon arriving.
b. If Blessed Sacrament is exposed and minister is crossing to the other side of altar he
genuflects upon leaving and upon arriving to the other side.
c. If Blessed Sacrament is not exposed and minister is not crossing to the other side of
altar he does not genuflect upon leaving or upon arriving to position.
6. D and SD always bow to C and then one another before sitting. 1 (SD’s bow to D should be
slightly deeper than D’s to him.)
7. When at the altar, make every effort to hand or move objects with only your right hand -
with common sense prevailing.
8. Ministers only bow to tabernacle when directly in front of it (or when C is directly in front of
it and they are bowing with him). So, for example, after SD dresses chalice, he does not
bow to tabernacle before descending.
9. When C is at center of altar reciting from card (e.g. Gloria, Credo), D and SD have bodies
turned in at an angle towards card.
10.D and/or SD always turn toward the altar (without completely turning their back to C)
when moving to the corner of the predella for consumption of host, Confiteor etc.
11.SD should always bow deeper than D (e.g. the Confiteor, the incensation of SD, the pax).
12.When standing at base of altar, SD stands so that there is the same amount of distance
between him and D as there is between D and C when all 3 ministers are lined up.

VESTING –
Subdeacon: Amice, alb, cincture, tunicle, maniple. Straw subdeacons do not wear a maniple.
Deacon: Amice, alb, cincture, stole, dalmatic, maniple.
N.B. If there will be an Asperges before Mass, maniples are to be put on at the sedilia after the
Asperges.

1
Rev. J.B O’Connell in his The Celebration of Mass (Fourth edition, says Benedicite, Pater Reverendissime.
Major ministers do not kneel to impose incense even if C is a bishop.
?
SD does not genuflect when cross

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ASPERGES – Process in at C’s sides or in single file according as C is wearing cope or not. Kneel
and stand at MC’s signal; upon turning, switch sides in front of C (D closest to C). Switch again in
the back after genuflecting, and proceed back to the altar. Genuflect and hold card with outside
hand for C to recite the post-asperges prayer. Do not return card to MC until after genuflection.
Vest at sedilia (D assists C with maniple immediately after C loses cope) and return to altar for
prayers at the foot as usual.

INCENSATION AND INTROIT-- D holds the boat for imposition of incense. He says Benedicite,
Pater Reverende.2 After altar is incensed, D incenses C with three double swings with SD at D's left.
(At Requiem Mass this incensation is omitted). D lines up with his left shoulder in line with C's
right shoulder. SD lines up with his left shoulder in line with D's right shoulder. This is the only
time you line up staggered. Make sign of cross with C (omitted at Requiem). D and SD alternate
Kyrie with C.

GLORIA – Go to center in straight line behind C. After Gloria is intoned, MC will signal D to take
his place at the C’s right, SD at C’s left. Recite the rest of the Gloria with C. Genuflect on predella,
and go directly to the sedilia.

COLLECT(S) AND EPISTLE – Return to altar, genuflect, and line up. Stay lined up, and go with
C to missal at epistle side. During last Collect MC will bring Epistolarium to SD. After SD has
received Epistolarium he turns toward altar but waits to be led by MC to center of altar steps, bows
with MC at end of Collect, genuflects, turns to his right and, allowing MC to precede him, goes to
sing Epistle at edge of sanctuary. After the Epistle SD genuflects at foot of altar, waits for the MC
to precede him, and goes around to epistle side where he ascends and kneels on the predella for
C's blessing. Hold book so C can put his hand on it, and kiss his hand. Step down and return
Epistolarium to MC; go to your place behind the D. D assists at the missal when MC leaves for the
Epistle and returns to his place behind C shortly after SD receives the blessing from C. (At a
Requiem Mass after returning to the altar and genuflecting, SD hands Epistolarium back to MC and no
blessing follows.)

GOSPEL – All arrive to foot of altar and genuflect. SD immediately gets missal from altar.
Meanwhile D takes Evangeliarium from MC and once SD has descended, goes to set Evangeliarium
in front of tabernacle with the leaves facing toward the gospel side. SD genuflects alone and puts
the missal near. (At Requiem Mass - or any Mass in which there is no Credo - put missal near
tabernacle.) Incense is imposed in usual way, D and SD assisting. (Incense omitted at Requiem
Masses.) SD then steps down to wait for the gospel procession. D says the Munda cor meum
kneeling towards altar and bowing (medium bow of the body) on predella. He then picks up the
book, kneels facing C, asks for a blessing saying Jube, domne, benedicere, kisses C’s hand, stands (no
bow to tabernacle) and joins the procession. (At Requiem Mass D prays Munda cor meum, but he does
not receive C’s blessing.) At signal of MC all genuflect; SD precedes D in following others to where
Gospel is sung. SD steps back between Acs and holds Evangeliarium positioned against his
forehead. D sings Dominus Vobiscum , then lays left palm down on the missal and with right
thumb traces a cross at the gospel proper (i.e. after In illo tempore). He signs the text while singing
Sequentia, his forehead at sancti, lips at Evangelii and breast at secundum... After incensing and
singing the Gospel, D points out the beginning thereof to SD. SD indicates the beginning of the
Gospel with his right hand and goes directly to C for it to be kissed3. SD holds book such that C

2
ing before the tabernacle because at the moment he is the bearer of the word of God, even if the Most
Blessed Sacrament be exposed,
3
e.g. Forty Hours Devotion.

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does not have to bend too far and can put his hands on the sides. After C kisses book, SD closes it
with opening towards tabernacle, bows to C, then descends epistle side, where he returns book to
MC. After D finishes incensing C, SD goes left of center at foot of altar and awaits D to genuflect.
Meanwhile, D takes thurible from thurifer where Gospel was sung and once C has kissed
Evangeliarium, D incenses C in the usual manner (at Requiem Mass after D finishes, SD hands
Evangeliarium immediately to MC. C does not kiss the Gospel, nor is he incensed.). After C is incensed D
returns to right of center at foot of altar.
IF SERMON – D and SD wait for C to genuflect with him and, allowing him to pass, go to the
sedilia.
IF NO SERMON – D and SD genuflect and then line up for Credo.

CREDO – After Credo is intoned, MC will signal D and SD to take their places: D at C's right, SD
at his left. Kneel on lowest step for sung Et incarnatus est, and then go to sedilia. C sits. D and SD
bow to him but not each other. SD turns to stand facing same direction as C - SD does not sit
while D is attending to altar. D receives burse from MC bowing before and after and, holding
burse at eye level, is led by MC to altar steps, genuflects, spreads corporal before tabernacle, inserts
key into tabernacle and places missal next to corporal. He then genuflects (on predella) and goes
per breviorem to the sedilia; D and SD bow to C and then to one another and sit.
N.B. There is a correct way to spread a corporal! Every other way is wrong. Unfold toward the
gospel side, then toward the epistle side, then back toward the tabernacle then toward the
front. Reverse the process to fold it. The stitched cross should be toward the edge of the altar
and right side up.

OFFERTORY – Line up after genuflecting at foot of altar. After Oremus, D ascends to C's right.
SD genuflects with MC and goes to get the chalice. MC will take humeral veil and puts humeral
veil on SD. SD, with right flap of humeral veil over chalice, left flap hanging to his side, right
hand on top of veil/pall (i.e., visible) with fingers joined and pointing straight forward brings up
the chalice and presents it to D (If there is no Credo, SD also brings the burse on top of the humeral
veil.) D removes pall (suggestion: if there is a ciborium, you’re less likely to forget about it if you
place it on corporal and uncover it before removing the pall) and hands paten to C with kisses (if
ciborium D uncovers (put cover straight down so that it doesn’t roll around) and raises it slightly
during Suscipe Sancte Pater and covers it after this prayer. SD, unless straw, wipes inside of
chalice; if not, D does. After SD finishes wiping, he holds chalice in right hand and folds
purificator over right thumb such that the left half of the purificator is free for D to insert his left
thumb into it. D takes chalice with left hand, sliding his thumb into the empty left half of
purificator, pours wine, judging for himself when to stop, then wipes cruet lip on purificator. SD,
unless straw, pours water - Benedicite, Pater Reverende; if not, D does. D wipes drops and then
gives chalice to C (hold it so that C can easily grasp the node) with kisses. C offers chalice, D
assisting by touching the base of chalice with his right hand and saying Offerimus tibi prayer with
C. D covers chalice and then gives paten to SD, who receives it in the palm of his bare right hand,
covers it with the right flap of humeral veil (leaving the left flap hanging at his side) and goes to
foot of altar, where he genuflects. There he holds the paten aloft before his face, supporting his
right elbow with his left hand. D lays purificator about a hand’s width to the right of the corporal,
with open end towards tabernacle. (During Requiem Mass the blessing of the water is not asked, nor
does SD take paten, but he assists with incensation of altar.)

? During Requiem Mass all kisses of hand and object are omitted, including those “integral to ceremony”, i.e. paten and
chalice. Cf. R, XIII, 2; C.E., I, xviii, 16; I

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INCENSATION – C incenses altar. D incenses C, bishop in choir, priests in choir who are wearing
surplices (individually), choirs (collectively, dignior side first), SD. D then ascends to second step,
genuflects, and is incensed. If D is in place, he answers Suscipiat; if not, SD does. At end of Preface
on signal from MC, D and SD take their places at C's right and left. They say the Sanctus with C.
SD turns to the beginning of the Canon and then returns to the foot of altar without genuflecting
or bowing. D switches sides, genuflecting in the center.

CANON – D turns pages. Step back at commemorations. At words Quam oblationem D goes to C's
right, genuflecting in middle. If there is a ciborium or luna, D uncovers it. All kneel at signal. D
stands as soon as C has genuflected after first elevation, covers ciborium, uncovers chalice and
kneels. He stands immediately after second elevation, covers chalice, genuflects with C, switches
sides, turns page and finally genuflects. SD stands with others at signal. At Per quem haec omnia D
genuflects, switches sides and uncovers chalice. After minor elevation D covers chalice and
immediately returns to center behind C (During Requiem Mass Th will bring thurible to SD and assist
at his right during the consecration).

PATER NOSTER – At Panem Nostram, on signal from MC, D and SD genuflect and both go to C's
right. SD gives D the paten and then gives the humeral veil to Ac. SD genuflects on predella at
the same time as Ac genuflects in plano and returns to his place, without an additional
genuflection. (At Requiem Mass SD stays at foot of altar.) D wipes paten and gives it to C, setting it
on the edge of the corporal, vertically, with kisses (no kisses in requiem). D uncovers chalice for
Sacred Particle to be put in and covers it again.

PAX DOMINI – At signal from MC, SD genuflects and goes to C's left for Agnus Dei. All genuflect
after D covers chalice. D and SD respond to Agnus Dei. SD then genuflects with MC and returns
to his place. D kneels at C's right for prayer Domine Jesu Christi. D stands and kisses altar at the
same time as C (with hands folded). C gives D Pax. D genuflects and goes per breviorem to B in
choir to give him Pax. D returns, gives SD Pax and, without genuflecting, goes directly to C’s left,
genuflecting upon arrival. SD and MC genuflect immediately after SD receives Pax. SD goes
with MC to give Pax to first priest in choir on each side (dignior first). (At Requiem Mass after Agnus
Dei SD and D genuflect and switch sides - unless straw SD, then he stays on gospel side - as there is no
Pax.)

COMMUNION – SD returns and gives Pax to MC. Both genuflect and SD goes to C's right to
uncover and cover chalice for C’s Communion – unless straw SD who would go to C’s left, D
switching to right to uncover chalice. After C consumes the Precious Blood and chalice is covered,
D and SD switch sides genuflecting before and after if ciborium on altar, if not then in center when
passing. SD assists by holding tabernacle veil; D opens tabernacle (all genuflect if there is not
Sacred Species already present on the altar), removes ciborium from tabernacle, uncovers ciborium
(all genuflect again because Sacred Species is present on the altar in a new - uncovered - form). D
& SD move one step below predella where D, standing bowed, sings Confiteor (still on epistle side)
while SD bows but does not sing. After Indulgentiam both return to altar and genuflect with C. SD
takes paten off corporal and passes it to D. If D and SD are to communicate, they kneel for the
Ecce Agnus Dei…Domine non sum dignus (if there is a SDCB, he will come up to left of SD, who
would then kneel in middle of top step). Otherwise, they switch sides and stand next to C for this
prayer. D holds the paten for Communion, after themselves receiving, D goes to the right of
priest, SD to left. After distribution of Communion they switch sides behind C and accompany
him to predella. C puts ciborium on corporal and D puts paten on corporal (such that when C
genuflects, he has room to put his hands on corporal), all three genuflect.

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ABLUTIONS – D puts ciborium into tabernacle and locks it, with genuflections. D removes pall
and then D and SD switch sides, genuflecting in the middle. SD pours wine and water for
ablutions; after pouring water, he immediately gives C the purificator, draping it over his fingers.
D and SD then switch sides with missal and pall. D sets the missal to the proper and then goes to
his place behind C. SD wipes chalice, dresses it (when taking chalice off corporal, put it to left of
corporal), takes it in his left hand, and descends (without a bow to tabernacle), and goes to
credence. While purifying, if there are any doxologies, Oremus, etc, SD does bow to the tabernacle
for them. If there is a ciborium to purify, the chalice gets purified first, because of its greater
dignity. An Acolyte or MC will take the ciborium back to the credence. (N.B. A straw SD cannot
wipe out the chalice. In this case C or D will do it. SD will then finish putting it together, etc.) SD
joins C and D: if it’s at the missal, no genuflection; if in the center, genuflection.

ITE MISSA EST – D turns via his right to sing Ite missa est, via his left in turning back toward the
altar. If D sings Benedicamus Domino or Requiescant in Pace, he does not turn toward the people;. D
and SD kneel on predella for last Blessing. SD then goes immediately to gospel side to hold card
for last Gospel – not against his forehead. He does not genuflect during the last Gospel. C, D, SD
go to center, bow, descend, genuflect and recess to sacristy in single file (unless for some reason C
is in cope).

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