Miserere.—Meaning "Have Mercy." The Latin title of the 51st Psalm which is used in the Penitential Office appointed to be read on Ash Wednesday.
Missal.—In the early ages of the Church the Office of the Holy Communion was contained in several separate volumes, one for the Epistles, one for the Gospels, another for the anthems and a fourth for the service itself with the Collects. These four volumes were eventually united into one volume under the name Missal, i.e., pertaining to the Mass, and therefore, it is the old title of the book containing all that pertains to the Office of the Holy Communion.
Mission.—A sending forth to preach the Gospel, as when our Lord sent forth His Apostles. The word involves also the idea of power and authority and also a definite sphere of operations. Thus when a Bishop is consecrated, it is for some particular Diocese where he has, by reason of his consecration, "the power of Mission." So also, a Priest who is Rector of a Parish has the "power of Mission" in that Parish. And the Bishop has no authority to minister in any other Diocese, nor the Priest in any other Parish, save only {189} as they may be invited to do so by the ecclesiastical authority thereof. Such "power of Mission" is bestowed by the Church through her Bishops and it is thus that she maintains order and prevents confusion in her work.
Mission. Parochial.—The word "Mission" is also applied to a special effort made in a parish to arouse and quicken its people; to lead them to a deeper realization and appreciation of the privileges and blessings of Christ's Religion; to set forth clearly by a series of addresses and instructions how they can bring the Church's system to bear on their hearts and lives and to lead them to ask, "Can we not all do more than we are now doing and do all with a better spirit?" A Mission is conducted by a Priest specially invited for the purpose and is chosen for his aptness in carrying on such special work. If well conducted and blessed of God a Mission brings great spiritual blessings to the Parish in which it is held and its happy results are to be seen in the awakened life and renewed energy of its people.
Missionary.—One who is sent, whether Bishop, Priest, Deacon or Layman, to do the work of the Church where it has not been established, whether at home or abroad. As an adjective, the word means, of or pertaining to Missions.
Missionary Council, The.—(See DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN MISSIONARY
SOCIETY.)
Missioner.—The name given to the Priest who conducts a Parochial
Mission. (See MISSION, PAROCHIAL.)
Missions.—The Missionary work of the Church. This includes Foreign Missions, as in Africa, China, {190} Japan, etc., and Domestic Missions, i.e., the Church's work within the United States where there are no Dioceses; also work in towns and villages in Dioceses where parishes have not been established. This last is called DIOCESAN MISSIONS (which see, also, DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY).
Mitre.—The official covering for the head worn by the order of Bishops. It represents mystically the cloven tongues of fire which lighted on the heads of the Apostles on the Day of Pentecost. The mitre is worn by many Bishops of the American Church, and the General Convention, by its Committee on Vestments, declared, "The first Bishop of the American Succession (Bishop Seabury) was accustomed to wear the mitre in certain offices; and the first of our Bishops ever consecrated in America (Bishop Claggett of Maryland) continued its use. It has not been generally followed, but in the opinion of this Committee this historic fact justifies any Bishop in resuming it."
Mixed Chalice.—The symbolical mixing of water with wine in the Holy Communion to represent the union of the human with the Divine nature in the Incarnation. It is also a lively memorial of Him who for our Redemption did shed out of His most precious side both Water and Blood. This mixing of Water with Wine for this purpose seems to have been an Apostolical use and very probably was practiced by our Lord Himself. This ancient practice remained universal for the first 1,500 years after Christ in all Churches, and is now quite common.