HIGH MASS ON SUNDAY WAS AN OCCASION OF GREAT DRAMA, WITH PROCESSIONS AND BEAUTIFUL VESTMENTS AND ARTEFACTS, accompanied by the sweet fragrance of incense and the mellifluous singing of Gregorian chant or perhaps in some of the larger churches new polyphonic compositions.
In accordance with ancient tradition, the priest would celebrate facing east, the expected direction of the parousia, the Lord’s Second Coming. The congregation would have been very familiar with the Mass, to which they added their private devotions.
The high point, of course, was the consecration with the elevation of the Host, which all would clamour to see and revere. Squints, small openings in the wall, would enable even passers-by outside the Church, to witness this special moment.
There were other ways in which the congregation would be involved. During a sermon, the priest might read the Gospel in English and explain it or teach important elements of the Faith or morality, often using simple stories. Before the sermon, there would often be bidding prayers in English, where the priest would pray for the Pope and clergy, the King and people, those in special need and the dead.
Perhaps because of the sense of great reverence for the Sacrament or fears of hygiene when plague was prevalent, parishioners rarely received Communion. However, they were required to do so at least once a year, at Easter.
But two customs, sacramentals, reminded them of the unity that the Sacrament confers. After receiving the Precious Blood, the priest would kiss a tablet made usually of metal or wood, the pax brede, which would then be passed to the other sacred ministers, and then to members of the congregation who would kiss it in turn. One of the parishioners would bring up a “holy loaf” to be blessed: non-Eucharistic bread which after Mass was shared among those present.
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