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After the priest washes his fingers, the acolytes descend to their standard positions to the right of the altar. The acolytes then face the First Thurifer as he incenses them. The thurifers then turn to the people, step forward and the First Thurifer incenses them.

When the First Thurifer is finished incensing the people, the torch bearers walk to their positions shown in Figure XVIII. The thurifers turn to face the altar and genuflect in unison with the torch bearers. Then the thurifers and torch bearers walk into the sacristy to prepare for the Sanctus.

After the thurifers and torch bearers have gone into the sacristy, the acolytes walk to the center of the foot of the altar, genuflect, and kneel at the corners of the altar as shown in Figure XIX. The MC stands just to the left of the priest to assist him with readings. After the priest has washed his fingers, he prays a solemn prayer to the Most Holy Trinity at the center of the altar. He then turns to face the people to ask for their prayers with the following dialogue:

P) Orate, fratres, ut meum ac vestrum sacrificium acceptabile fiat apud Deum Patrem omnipotentem.
S) Suscipiat Dominus sacrificium de manibus tuis ad laudem et gloriam nominis sui, ad utilitatem quoque nostram totiusque Ecclesiae suae sanctae.
P) Amen.

The Secret
The priest then reads the Secret proper to the Mass of the day inaudibly. The Secret is a special prayer in which the priest acts as a mediator speaking directly to God on behalf of man.

Preface STAND
When he has finished the Secret, the priest leads the following chant dialogue aloud to begin the Preface. As he begins, all servers stand and remain standing for the entire Preface.

P) Per omnia saecula saeculorum.
S) Amen.
P) Dominus vobiscum.
S) Et cum spiritu tuo.
P) Sursum corda.
S) Habemus ad Dominum.
P) Gratias agamus Domino Deo nostro.
S) Dignum et justum est.
P) Vere dignum et justum est . . .(the priest chants the remainder of the Preface himself)

Sanctus KNEEL
When the priest finishes the preface, he then recites aloud the Sanctus, printed below, and the choir sings the first part of the Sanctus. As soon as the priest begins the Sanctus, both acolytes kneel, and the First Acolyte rings the bells 3 times. At the same time, the torch bearers, now with lighted torches, and the thurifers return from the sacristy, line up behind the acolytes at the foot of the altar in the positions shown in Figure XX, genuflect, and kneel.

(3 Bells) P) Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Dominus Deus Sabaoth. Pleni sunt caeli et terra gloria tua. Hosanna in excelsis. Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini. Hosanna in excelsis.