The fruits of the earth make plenteous;
All Thou seest best ordain for us,
Such grace to us Thou send,
That in our last end,
When this world and we shall sever,
Bring us to joy that lasts for ever. Amen.
ADMINISTERING HOLY COMMUNION WITH HOUSEL CLOTH.
EARLY XIV. CENT. MS., ROYAL, 2 B VII., f. 260 v.
At the sacring bell do reverence to Jesus Christ’s presence, holding up both hands, and looking upon the elevation;[241] and if you have nothing better prepared to say, say this which follows—
Loved be Thou, king,
And blessed be Thou, king,
Of all thy giftes good;
And thanked be Thou, king,
Jesu, all my joying,
That for me spilt Thy blood.
And died upon the rood.
Thou give me grace to sing,
The song of thy loving.
Pater noster. Ave maria. Credo.
After the sacring, pray for the dead, that they may have part in this mass:—
When the priest the elevation has made
He will spread his arms on-brade,[242]
Then is the time to pray for the dead,
Father’s soul, mother’s soul, brother dear,
Sister’s souls, sibmen, and other sere,[243]
That us good would, or us good did,
Or any kindness unto us kyd.
And to all in purgatory pine
This mass be mede and medicine;
To all Christian souls holy
Grant Thy grace and Thy mercy;
Forgive them all their trespass,
Loose their bonds and let them pass
From all pine and care,
Into the joy lasting evermore. Amen.
Listen for the priest to begin Pater noster, and be ready to answer at temptationem, Sed libera nos a malo. Amen. And then say the Lord’s Prayer to yourself as here given—
Fader our, that is in heaven,
Blessed be Thy name to neven.[244]
Come to us Thy kingdom.
In heaven and earth Thy will be done.
Our ilk-day bread grant us to-day,
And our misdeeds forgive us aye,
As we do them that trespass us
Right so have mercy upon us,
And lead us in no founding,
But shield us from all wicked thing. Amen.
At the Pax pray for peace and charity. Lastly, he is to pray for the grace of having heard the mass, making it a kind of spiritual communion—