strengthened to do God's most holy will.

Before the Priest's Communion, he bows down in prayer for the worthy receiving of the Blessed Sacrament. As we are about to receive the sacred Body and Blood of Our Lord, we are bound to be conscious of our unworthiness and to pray to God to make us worthy. The Body and Blood of the Lord are given us for the hallowing of our souls and bodies; through them we dwell in Christ and he in us (John 6:56).

As the minister of God and of the Church, the Priest has been fulfilling his office for the sake of the whole Body, but he can only do this to his own soul's health if he is also sustained by the grace of God. In leading the worship of the people, it requires constant watchfulness for him not to neglect his own soul; and it is the Bread of life alone that will be his support in his daily ministry. This would be a suitable point in the service at which to offer a prayer to God for his Priests, and especially for the Celebrant of the Mass.

THE PEOPLE'S COMMUNION

The Priest turns from the altar, holding one of the Hosts over the Paten (if there are few communicants) or the ciborium (if there are many). Standing thus, he says the words of St John the Baptist: "Behold the Lamb of God, behold Him that taketh away the sins of the world," and then says with the people the words: "Lord I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof but speak the Word only, and my soul shall be healed." The Lord, whose sacred Body we receive in Holy Communion, is the Lamb of God who, fulfilling the sacrifices of the Old Testament, was himself offered a perfect Victim on the Altar of the Cross. By our Communion we partake of his