ALTAR CARDS

For the greater convenience of the priest there are always, placed on the altar three large cards, standing upright, containing certain portions of the Mass which may be read at sight. The priest, it is true, is expected to have these already committed to memory; but as the memory often fails when we least expect it, it has been deemed advisable to have certain prayers always in sight, and not trust to uncertainty of any kind.

The card at the Gospel side contains the Gospel of St. John. That in the centre the “Gloria in excelsis” and “Credo,” as well as all the prayers said at the Offertory; also the “Qui pridie,” or beginning of the Canon, the form of consecration, the prayers before Communion, and the last prayer, or “Placeat.” The card at the Epistle side contains the prayer recited in putting the water into the chalice, and that said at the washing of the fingers. Strictly speaking, only the centre card is necessary, and it is the only one the rubric calls for; the other two have been introduced by custom.