XX.
The Deacon.
Let us stand well, let us stand reverently, let us stand in the fear of God, and with compunction of heart. In peace let us pray to the Lord.
The Priest.
For God of peace, mercy, love, compassion, and loving-kindness art Thou, and Thine only-begotten Son, and Thine all-holy Spirit, now and ever.
The People.
Amen.
The Priest.
Peace be to all.
The People.
And to thy spirit.
The Deacon.
Let us salute one another with an holy kiss. 1 Let us bow our heads to the Lord.
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[The sexes sat apart, the salutations of each confined to its own: an apostolic feature. 1 Pet. v. 14 et alibi; and see Clementine, [325]p. 486, supra. [Note that beautiful tribute of Augustine to the purity of primitive rites, "Honesta utrinsque sexus discretione," Civ. Dei, lib. ii. cap. xxviii. p. 77, ed. Migne.] See vol. ii. 291 and iii. 686, this series.] ↩
