a few feasts (Easter, Whitsunday, Corpus Christi, All Souls' Day, etc.) there is further a metrical hymn, called the Sequence. Before the introduction of other chants, such as the Introit or the Agnes Dei, the Gradual was the special chant of the day, and highly regarded as such.

THE GOSPEL

After praying for purity of heart and lips, the Deacon processes to chant the Holy Gospel. In announcing the Gospel, he makes the sign of the Cross on brow, lips and breast to show that we believe, proclaim, and love the Gospel of Christ. In the Gospels, we have the inspired record of the deeds and words of the Savior Himself.

It is therefore natural that the Church should treat the Gospel lessons with special honor. In the course of the year they recount to us the story of the earthly life of Our Lord, his death and resurrection, and bring before our minds his teaching, both by word and by his acts of mercy. Although the Gospel reading is one of the earliest elements of the Mass, it was not until the seventh century that the arrangement of the Gospels for each Sunday of the year was completed, and it took even longer for it to become the universal custom. The Gospels for ordinary Sundays were chosen out of a group of suitable passages, and those for special days, such as Easter, were more speedily settled than those for other days. The Sunday Gospel may well furnish us with material for meditation during the following week. It is the ancient custom of the Church that the sermon on Sunday mornings be used for the exposition of the meaning of the Gospel just read.

THE SERMON FOLLOWS THE GOSPEL

After the words of the Prophets or Apostles, the Gospel