8:4: "And
the smoke of the incense of the prayers of the saints ascended up
before God, from the hand of the angel." But God's "altar on high"
means either the Church triumphant, unto which we pray to be
translated, or else God Himself, in Whom we ask to share; because it
is said of this altar (Ex. 20:26): "Thou shalt not go up by steps
unto My altar, i.e. thou shalt make no steps towards the Trinity." Or
else by the angel we are to understand Christ Himself, Who is the
"Angel of great counsel" (Isa. 9:6: Septuagint), Who unites His
mystical body with God the Father and the Church triumphant.

And from this the mass derives its name (_missa_); because the priest
sends (_mittit_) his prayers up to God through the angel, as the
people do through the priest, or else because Christ is the victim
sent (_missa_) to us: accordingly the deacon on festival days
"dismisses" the people at the end of the mass, by saying: "Ite, missa
est," that is, the victim has been sent (_missa est_) to God through
the angel, so that it may be accepted by God.
_______________________

FIFTH ARTICLE [III, Q. 83, Art. 5]

Whether the Actions Performed in Celebrating This Sacrament Are
Becoming?

Objection 1: It seems that the actions performed in celebrating this
mystery are not becoming. For, as is evident from its form, this
sacrament belongs to the New Testament. But under the New Testament
the ceremonies of the old are not to be observed, such as that the
priests and ministers were purified with water when they drew nigh to
offer up the sacrifice: for we read (Ex. 30:19, 20): "Aaron and his
sons shall wash their hands and feet . . . when they are going into
the tabernacle of the testimony . . . and when they are to come to
the altar." Therefore it is not fitting that the priest should wash
his hands when celebrating mass.

Obj. 2: Further, (Ex. 30:7), the Lord commanded Aaron to "burn
sweet-smelling incense" upon the altar which was "before the
propitiatory": and the same action was part of the ceremonies of the
Old Law. Therefore it is not fitting for the priest to use incense
during mass.

Obj. 3: Further, the ceremonies performed in the sacraments of the
Church ought not to be repeated. Consequently it is not proper for
the priest to repeat the sign of the cross many times over this
sacrament.

Obj. 4: Further, the Apostle says (Heb. 7:7): "And without all
contradiction, that which is less, is blessed by the better." But
Christ,