mains, although we now have the elevations at the Consecration in order to call forth our adoration of Christ in his presence at the altar.


THE LORD'S PRAYER

To the modern worshiper it may seem strange that the Lord's Prayer was not found in the earliest forms of the Mass, yet it may serve to remind him that the liturgy has developed from action to word, rather than from word to action. The petitions of the Lord's Prayer are so obviously appropriate, teaching us to pray for our daily bread, and to seek for forgiveness from sin, that sooner or later they were certain to find their way into the order of the Mass as an act of preparation for the receiving of Holy Communion. The Lord's Prayer is introduced by a special formula, which reminds us that just as the offering of the Holy Sacrifice is an act of obedience to the Lord, so also, is the use of the Lord's Prayer "as our Savior Christ hath commanded us."

At some time in the fourth or fifth century the use of the Lord's Prayer began to be common, but the place at which it was said still remained uncertain. Its present position is due to St Gregory the Great, who also inserted the prayer that follows it, the Libera Nos, taking up the petition for deliverance in its last clause, said by the Priest.

THE FRACTION

The third thing that Our Lord did at the Last Supper was to break the consecrated Bread; the Church follows his example in the Fraction. Not only was the Fraction originally a following of the example of Him who instituted the Blessed Sacrament, but it served also the practical pur