The Mass in Köln (the Use of Köln, Germany), part 4

The Gero Crucifix (Gerokreuz in German), commissioned by Archbishop Gero of Cologne and created somewhere around 965-970, is the oldest large sculpture of the crucified Christ north of the Alps, and has always been displayed in Cologne Cathedral in Germany.

Ad ablutionem digitorum hic nihil est dicendum. Sed statim digitis lotis et extensis signat se signo sanctae Crucis. Deinde osculatur altare super corporale, postea crucem sub crucifixio. Deinde aspiciendo devote coelum ac manus conjugendo inclinat se, dicens:

Te igitur, clementissime Pater, per Jesum Christum Filium tuum, Dominum nostrum, supplices rogamus ac petimus, hic erigat se dicendo uti accepta habeas, et benedicas haec + dona, haec + munera, haec + sancta sacrificia illibata; in primis quae tibi offerimus pro Ecclesia tua sancta catholica; quam pacificare, custodire, adunare, et regere digneris toto orbe terrarum: una cum famulo tuo Papa nostro N.,et Antistite nostro N., et Rege nostro N., et omnibus orthodoxis, atque catholicae et apostolicae fidei cultoribus.

Deinde: Memento, Domine, famulorum famularumque tuarum N. Hic recitet nomina vivorum eorum maxime pro quibus orare tenetur et omnium circumadstantium, quorum tibi fides cognita est, et nota devotio, pro quibus tibi offerimus, vel qui tibi offerunt hoc sacrificium laudis, pro se suisque omnibus, pro redemptione animarum suarum, pro spe salutis, et incolumitis suae: tibique reddunt vota sua aeterno Deo, vivo et vero.

Deinde. Communicantes, et memoriam venerantes, in primis gloriosae semper Virginis Mariae, Genitricis Dei et Domini nostri Jesu Christi: sed et beatorum Apostolorum ac Martyrum tuorum, Petri et Pauli, Andreae, Jacobi, Joannis, Thomae, Jacobi, Philippi, Bartholomaei, Matthaei, Simonis, et Thaddaei: Lini, Cleti, Clementis, Xysti, Cornelii, Cypriani, Laurentii, Chrysogoni, Joannis et Pauli, Cosmae et Damiani, et omnium Sanctorum tuorum; quorum meritis precibusque concedas, ut in omnibus protectionis tuae muniamur auxilio. Per eundem Christum Dominum nostrum.

Hic inclinet se Sacerdos dicendo. Hanc igitur oblationem servitutis nostrae, sed et cunctae familiae tuae quaesumus, Domine, ut placatus accipias: diesque nostros in tua pace disponas, atque ab aeterna damnatione nos eripi, et in electorum tuorum jubeas grege numerari. Per Christum Dominum nostrum.

Hic erigat se Sacerdos dicendo. Quam oblationem tu, Deus, in omnibus, quaesumus, bene+dictam, adscrip+tam, ra+tam, rationabilem, acceptabilemque facere digneris,. ut nobis Cor+pus, et San+guis fiat dilectissimi Filii tui Domini nostri Jesu Christi.

Hic purget digitos et accipiat hostiam dicendo. Qui pridie quam pateretur, accepit panem in sanctas ac venerabiles manus suas, et elevatis oculis in coelum ad te Deum Patrem suum omnipotentem, tibi gratias agens, bene+dixit, fregit, diditque discipulis suis, dicens: Accipite, et manducate ex hoc omnes:

HOC EST ENIM CORPUS MEUM.

Elevet corpus Domini: quo reposito accipiat calicem dicendo. Simili modo postquam coenatum est, accipiens et hunc praeclarum Calicem in sanctas ac venerabiles manus suas: item tibi gratias agens, bene+dixit, deditque discipulis suis, dicens: Accepite, et bibite ex eo omnes:

HIC EST ENIM CALIX SANGUINIS MEI,
NOVI ET AETERNI TESTAMENTI:
MYSTERIUM FIDEI:
QUI PRO VOBIS ET PRO MULTIS EFFUNDETUR
IN REMISSIONEM PECCATORUM.

Hic elevet calicem dicendo: Haec quotiescumque feceritis, in mei memoriam facietis.

Extendat brachia in modum Crucis: Unde et memores, Domine, nos servi tui, sed et plebs tua sancta, ejusdem Christi Filii tui Domini nostri tam beatae Passionis, nec non et ab inferis Resurrectionis, sed et in coelos gloriosae Ascensionis: offerimus praeclarae majestati tuae de tuis donis ac datis, hostiam + puram, hostiam + sanctam, hostiam + immaculatam, Panem + sanctum vitae aeternae, et calicem salutis perpetuae.

Ponat manibus junctas super utrumque: Supra quae propitio ac sereno vultu respicere digneris, et accepta habere, sicuti accepta habere dignatus es munera pueri tui justi Abel, et sacrificium patriarchae nostri Abrahae, et quod tibi obtulit summus sacerdos tuus Melchisedech, sanctum sacrificium, immaculatam hostiam.

Cancellatis manibus se inclinet. Supplices te rogamus, omnipotens Deus, jube haec perferri per manus sancti Angeli tui in sublime altare tuum, in conspectu dininae majertatis tuae: ut quoquot ex hac altaris participatione, sacrocanctum Filii tui Cor+pus, et San+guinem sumpserimus, hic signet seipsum signo crucis dicendo: omni benedi+ctione coelesti et gratia repleamur. Per eumdem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.

Deinde. Memento etiam, Domine, famulorum famularumque tuarum qui nos praecesserunt cum signo fidei, et dormiunt in somno pacis N. Hic recitet nomina defunctorum.

Ipsis, Domine, et omnibus in Christo quiescentibus, locum refrigerii, lucis et pacis, ut indulgeas, deprecamur. Per eumdem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.

Tundat pectus et exaltet vocem. Nobis quoque peccatoribus famulis tuis, de multitudine miserationum tuarum sperantibus, partem aliquam, et societatem donare digneris, cum tuis sanctis Apostolis et Martyribus, cum Joanne, Stephano, Matthia, Barnaba, Ignatio, Alexandro, Marcellino, Petro, Felicitate, Perpetua, Agatha, Lucia, Agnete, Caecilia, Anastasis, et omnibus Sanctis tuis: intra quorum nos consortium, non aestimator meritim sed veniae, quaesumus, largitor admitte. Per Christum Dominum nostrum.

Per quem haec omnia Domine, semper bona creas, Hic signet utrumque. sancti+ficas, vivi+ficas, bene+dicis, et praestas nobis.

Hic faciat quattuor cruces super calicem cum hostia: et quintam crucem in labra calicis dicendo. Per ip+sum, et cum ip+so, et in ip+so, est tibi Deo Patri + omnipotenti, in unitate Spiritus + Sancti, omnis honor et gloria. Hic tangat calicem cum hostia: et mutet vocem. Per omnia saecula saeculorum.
Amen.

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At the washing of hands here, he shall say nothing. But at once he shall wash his fingers clean and sign himself with the Sign of the Cross. Then he shall kiss the Altar over the Corporal, afterwards the cross under the crucifix¹. Then he shall gaze devotedly toward Heaven; and joining his hands, he shall bow and say:

Therefore, most gracious Father, we humbly beg of You and entreat You through Jesus Christ Your Son, our Lord, here he shall rise and say to deem acceptable and bless these + gifts, these + offerings, these + holy and unspotted oblations which, in the first place, we offer You for Your Holy Catholic Church, that You would deign to give her peace and protection, to unite and guard her throughout the world, together with Your servant our Pope N., and our Bishop N., and our king N.; and all true believers who cherish the Catholic and Apostolic Faith.

Then: Remember, O Lord, Your servants and handmaids, N. Here he shall recite the names of the living on behalf of which he prays and all here present, whose faith and devotion are known to You, for whom we offer, or who offer up to You this Sacrifice of praise for themselves and all those dear to them, for the redemption of their souls and the hope of their safety and salvation: who now pay their vows to You, the everlasting God, living and true.

Then: In communion with, and also reverencing the memory, first, of the glorious Mary, ever Virgin, Mother of our God and Lord Jesus Christ: and also of Your blessed Apostles and Martyrs, Peter and Paul, Andrew, James, John, Thomas, James, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Simon and Thaddeus, Linus, Cletus, Clement, Sixtus, Cornelius, Cyprian, Lawrence, Chrysogonus, John and Paul, Cosmas and Damian, and of all Your Saints. Grant for the sake of their merits and prayers that in all things we may be guarded and helped by Your protection. Through Christ our Lord.

Here the priest shall bow and say: We therefore beseech You, O Lord, to graciously to accept this oblation of our service and that of Your whole household. Dispose our days in Your peace, preserve us from final damnation and rank us in the number of Your Elect; through Christ our Lord.

Here the priest shall rise and say: We ask You, O God, to be pleased to make this same offering wholly blessed +, to consecrate + it and approve + it, making it reasonable and acceptable, that it may become for us the Body + and Blood + of Your dearly beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Here he shall purify his fingers, take the Host and say: Who, the day before He suffered, took bread into His holy and venerable hands, and having raised His eyes to heaven, to You, O God, His almighty Father, giving thanks to You, He blessed +, broke it, and gave it to His disciples, saying: All of you take and eat of this:

FOR THIS IS MY BODY.

He shall evelate the body of the Lord; putting It down, he shall take the chalice and say: In the same manner after supper, taking also into His holy and venerable hands this goodly chalice, again giving thanks to You, He blessed it +, and gave it to His disciples, saying: Take and drink this, all of you:

FOR THIS IS THE CHALICE OF MY BLOOD, OF THE NEW AND ETERNAL TESTAMENT; THE MYSTERY OF FAITH,WHICH WILL BE SHED FOR YOU AND FOR MANY FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS.

Here he shall elevate the chalice and say: As often as you shall do these things, do this in memory of Me.

He shall extend his arms in the form of a cross: Wherefore, O Lord, we Your servants and Your holy people are mindful both of the blessed passion of Christ Your Son, our Lord, and also His Resurrection from hell, and His glorious Ascension into heaven and offer unto Your most sovereign Majesty out of Your own gifts and presents, a pure + Victim, a Holy + Victim, a Spotless + Victim; the holy Bread + of life eternal, and the Chalice of everlasting Salvation.

He shall then place his joined hands over the Altar: And this deign to regard with gracious and kindly attention and hold acceptable, as You deigned to accept the offerings of Abel, Your just servant, and the sacrifice of Abraham, our patriarch, and that which Your chief priest Melchizedek offered to You, a holy sacrifice and a spotless victim.

He shall cross his hands and bow. Most humbly we implore You, almighty God, bid these offerings to be brought by the hands of Your holy angel to your altar above; before the face of Your Divine Majesty; that those of us who, by sharing in the Sacrifice of this altar, shall receive the Most Sacred + Body and + Blood of Your Son, Here he shall sign himself with the Sign of the Cross, saying may be filled with every heavenly bles+sing and grace. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

Then: Remember also, O Lord, Your servants and handmaids, who have gone before us with the sign of faith, and rest in the sleep of peace, N. Here he shall recite the names of the dead To these, O Lord, and all who rest in Christ, we beg You to grant of Your goodness, a place of comfort, light and peace. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

He shall beat his breast and raise his voice: To us sinners, also, Your servants, hoping in the multitude of Your mercies, deign to grant some part and fellowship with Your holy apostles and martyrs: with John, Stephen, Matthias, Barnabas, Ignatius, Alexander, Marcellinus, Peter, Felicitas, Perpetua, Agatha, Lucy, Agnes, Cecilia, Anastasia, and with all Your saints; into whose company we ask You to admit us, not considering our merit, but of Your own free pardon. Through Christ our Lord.

Through Whom, O Lord, You create, + sanctify, + fill with life, + bless, and bestow upon us all good things.

Here he shall make four crosses over the chalice with the Host; and the fifth he shall make in the rim of the chalice, saying: Through + Him, and with + Him, and in + Him, is to You, God the Father + almighty, in the unity of the Holy + Spirit, all honor and glory. Here he shall touch the chalice with the Host, and changes his voice: Forever and ever.
Amen.

FOOTNOTE
1. The cross under the crucifix: It has become customary to include an image of the crucifixion in altar missals at the left facing page of the Roman Canon; this, in turn, had developed from the practice of decorating the "T" of the Te igitur, either as an enlarged and splendidly-decorated initial or as an image of the crucified Jesus (with the "T" serving as the Cross). This was a visual aid to recognize the action that was being intended, the making present of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

We should note that in many places during the medieval period, the officiating priest was instructed to kiss an image of the cross in the missal or sacramentary he was using at the start of the Canon. Perhaps in order to avoid damage to the painted surface, crosses (usually gilded; see here, here, here, and here for examples) were painted below the actual images themselves; that way, the priest could fulfill the rubric of 'kissing the cross' while protecting the miniatures from any damage.