2. Should the preacher wear his beretta while preaching?
3. Should the little bell be rung at the moment when Benediction is given with the Blessed Sacrament?
4. Should the thurifer incense the Blessed Sacrament whilst Benediction is being given?
1. It is usual in certain churches not only to leave the altar-charts permanently on the altar, but also to place them on it as an ornament during vespers and other functions, and even to furnish with them altars at which Mass is not said. Now, it is quite certain that whatever specially belongs to the Mass should not be on the altar except during the Holy Sacrifice. The Rubric of the Missal prescribes that the altar-charts should be prepared before Mass, and does not suppose that they remain permanently on the altar. Except at Mass time, and even during the celebration of the divine office, the altar ought to remain covered. In the Caeremoniale Episcop., l. 2, c. 1, n. 13, we read that the acolytes should uncover the altar before the incensation at the Magnificat. "Interim duo acolyti procedunt ad altare, elevantes hinc inde anteriorem partem superioris tobalae, seu veli super altare positi, illamque conduplicant usque ad medium". Nothing is more opposed to the spirit of liturgical rules than objects for which there is no use. Altar-charts are not a decoration, but are made to serve a purpose; therefore they should be displayed when they are wanted. Care should also be taken that they be legible, and not, as sometimes happens, rather pictures than anything else.
2. The Rubric of the Caeremon. Episcop. is clear on this point: "Mox surgit, et capite coöperto incipit sermonem."—(l. 1, c. 22, n. 3). According to the Rubric of the Missal, the preacher uncovers his head as often as he pronounces the holy names of Jesus and Mary, or of the saint whose feast is being celebrated. In order not to do this too often, he should avoid a too frequent mention of their names. "Si SS. nominum Jesu uel Mariæ fiat mentio", says Lohner (Instr. Pract., t. 1., p. 50), "caput discoöperire debet (concionator); si tamen saepe sint repetenda, utatur potius nomine Christi, Redemptoris, Dominæ nostrae, Cœli Reginæ, aut similibus".
We may remark, however, that this regulation of the Rubric is an exception to the general rule. The general rule is, that ecclesiastics in church or choir are never covered except when seated, unless those who, paramentis induti, move from place to place without passing before the clergy. A priest who goes from the sacristy to the choir, or to any other part of the church, if he do not wear at least the stole, should not wear his beretta. Much less should he wear the beretta if he be not in choir habit.
3. No author speaks of this usage. There appears, therefore, no reason why it should be introduced. We would not venture to say that it ought to be suppressed. However, it appears more becoming to reserve for Mass the use of the small bell, and to ring during Benediction the large bells of the church, as is the custom in Rome.
4. During Benediction the thurifer may incense the Blessed Sacrament on his knees, as at High Mass; but it is better to omit such incensation. The first of these assertions rests upon various decrees of the Sacred Congregation of Rites; the second upon authority, especially that of Gardellini.