Page 11

Once the priest has taken the chalice veil from the Second Acolyte, the acolytes descend the altar from the sides, walk back to the center of the foot of the altar, genuflect, walk to their standard positions to the right of the altar as shown in Figure XXIX, and kneel. Then the MC ascends the altar to assist the priest with the book on the Epistle side of the altar.

The priest then walks to the book to read the Communion Verse, after which he returns to the center of the altar.

Postcommunion STAND
At the center of the altar, the priest turns to face the people and leadsthe following dialogue to begin the Postcommunion. As he does this, all servers stand.

P) Dominus vobiscum.
S) Et cum spiritu tuo.

Then the priest walks to the book, where he reads the Postcommunion verse. When he is finished, he again returns to the center of the altar, kisses it, turns to the people and leads the following dialogue.

P) Dominus vobiscum.
S) Et cum spiritu tuo.
P) Ite, Missa est.
S) Deo gratias.

The Last Blessing KNEEL
All servers immediately kneel. The priest says a short prayer silently asking God to permit the sacrifice just offered to be acceptable to Him. He then kisses the altar once more and turns to the people to give the final blessing. Making the sign of the cross, he says aloud:

P) Benedicat vos omnipotens Deus,Pater, et Filius, et Spiritus Sanctus.
S) Amen.

The Last Gospel STAND
All servers immediately stand. The priest now walks to the Gospel side of the altar to recite the Last Gospel. He begins by leading the following dialogue:

P) Dominus vobiscum.
S) Et cum spiritu tuo.
P) Initium sancti Evangelii secundum Joannem.
S) Gloria tibi, Domine.

The priest continues by reciting the beginning of St. John's Gospel. As he does, the acolytes pick up their candles, the MC retrieves the beretta, and then all servers come to the foot of the altar and take the positions shown in Figure XXX.

As the priest nears the end of the Last Gospel recitation he genuflects when he says the following words, and all servers genuflect in unison with him:

When the priest finishes reciting the Last Gospel, the response is:

S) Deo Gratias.

The priest then comes to the foot of the altar to join the serves next to the MC, where all genuflect in unison and walk to the sacristy as shown in Figure XXXI.