low, because there is no display in ceremony about
it. Next we have the High Mass--called Missa Cantata (sung)--at which
the priest and choir sing in turn. Lastly, we have the Solemn High Mass,
at which we have three ministers or priests, and singing by both
ministers and choir, as well as all the ceremonies prescribed by the
Church. When any of these Masses are said in black vestments they are
called Requiem Masses, because the priest offers them for the rest or
happy repose of the soul of some dead person or persons, and the word
requiem means rest. Vespers is a portion of the Divine Office of the
Church. It is sung generally on Sunday afternoon or evening in the
church, and is usually followed by Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.
It is not a mortal sin to stay from Vespers on Sundays, even willfully,
because there is no law of the Church obliging you to attend.
Nevertheless all good Catholics will attend Vespers when possible.

To continue about the ministers of the Church: When the subdeacon is
ordained a deacon, he can wear still more of the priestly vestments, and
also baptize solemnly, preach, and give Holy Communion. After a time the
deacon is ordained a priest, and receives power to celebrate Mass and
forgive sins. If afterwards the priest should be selected by the Holy
Father to be a bishop, he is consecrated; and then he has power to
administer Confirmation and Holy Orders, ordaining priests and
consecrating bishops. Thus you see there are grades through which the
ministers of the Church must pass. First the tonsure, then Minor Orders,
then subdeaconship, then deaconship, then priesthood. Nuns, Sisters,
Brothers, etc., are not, as some might think, ministers of the Church,
because they have never received any of the Holy Orders.

The ordained ministers of the Church can perform the duties of any
office for which they have ever been ordained, but not the duties of any
office above that to which they have been ordained. For example, a
subdeacon cannot take the place of a deacon at Mass, nor a deacon the
place of a priest; but a priest may take either of their places, because
he has, at one time, been ordained to both these offices.

Altar boys should never forget that they are enjoying a very great
privilege in being allowed to take the place of an ordained minister of
the Church, and serve Mass without being ordained acolytes.

In olden times princes and noblemen used to seek for this wonderful
favor, a