Try to feel a real love to God the Father for giving His Son for us, to God the Son for giving Himself to suffer death upon the cross for us, and in gratitude we say,

We were desired to feel in our heart and soul thankful; now we are to express our thanks with bodies and lips. It is indeed meet and right to do so.

Here the priest repeats the response of the people, for the people, showing how deep an impression this should make in our hearts.

¶ After which the Priest shall proceed,

saying,

Lift up your hearts.

Answer. We lift them up unto the Lord.

Priest. Let us give thanks unto our Lord God.

Answer. It is meet and right so

to do.

IT

Then shall the Priest turn to the
Lord's Table, and

say,

T is very meet, right, and our bounden duty, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto thee, O Lord, Holy Father,i Almighty, Everlasting God.

1These words [Holy Father] must be omitted on TrinitySunday.

And he declares that we are not by ourselves, but that we are in company (or communion) with the saints and angels of all time and of all places in praising and making great the fame of His mercy.

Here we burst out, in accordance with the priest's declaration, in that Song of Praise which St. John has told us the four-and-twenty elders sing in heaven, namely,

After the Sanctus or Holy, Holy, Holy, say to yourself,

BLESSED IS HE THAT COMETH IN THE NAME OF THE LORD: HOSANNA

IN THE HIGHEST.

In some churches the above is sung by the choir; if it is sung, join in the singing.

Here, shall follow the proper Preface, according to the time, if there be any specially appointed: or else immediately shall follow,

TH

HEREFORE with Angels and Archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify thy glorious Name; evermore praising thee, and saying,

Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts, heaven and earth are full of thy glory: Glory be to thee, O Lord most High. Amen.

Here at Christmas-time, Easter-tide, Ascension-time, Whitsun-tide, and on Trinity Sunday, the priest says a few extra sentences. They will be found at the end of this book printed crossways; the time each is used is placed against each.

This prayer should make us very humble. In it we say we are unworthy to go up to receive Christ's body, or even to come to the meanest part of His Church, farthest from the altar, to represent to God Christ's Body and Blood, in memory of Christ's own offering of Himself on Calvary.